Give 52 - Weeks 34, 35 & 36 My Mother's Sisters

Give 52 Week 34
Cheryl Houston 2016

 My mother is one of 7 siblings. She was born right in the middle. She has three younger sisters: Carol, Cynthia and Trish. When they're all together you will most likely find them playing a game of Scabble.

Growing up I always looked forward to the holidays when they would travel to my grandparents house in Refugio because they were fun to be around. There was always some kind of game being played and it was fun.

I remember going to my Aunt Cynthia's house in the summer. She lived in San Marcos and we would ride our bikes all over town and then go float down the river.

I spent a lot time with my Aunt Carol because she would let me tag along with them if they were headed to my uncle's parents house in the next town and I would go see them in the summer.

Give 52 Week 35
Cheryl Houston 2016

My Aunt Trish has the best stories about us as kids. My family went to Carlsbad Cavern for our family vacation when I was 3 or 4. Well, at 3 or 4 Carlsbad Cavern scared the hell out of me. My Aunt Trish carried me the whole way down and the whole the way back up!

Today, my mom and her sisters have a weekly conference phone call to keep in touch with each other. They get together often and we all meet for an annual family reunion.

Give 52 Week 36
Cheryl Houston 2016

These ladies had a direct hand in shaping my childhood and my dreams and their laughter and fun is a memory I will always cherish.

This is my gift. I give it to you

Give 52 - A Grouping

I'm going to send weeks 34, 35 & 36 out at the same time later next week so stay tuned...

Give 52 Week 33 - Always Brave

Give 52 Week 33
Cheryl Houston 2016

Week 33 - Always Brave.

I mailed out week 33 to my beautiful friend, Karlie.

Here's what I love about Karlie:
She has the best can-do attitude I have ever witnessed.

She's a super supporter of her friends.

She's a breast cancer survivor and she started a foundation for awareness. She's adamant about educating our younger generation of girls.

 When you meet her, she makes you feel like you've been her best friend forever.

She's full of joy.

The love that she has for her daughter, Sophie, and her husband, Dennis, radiates from her.

So you see, Karlie is one special lady and one I'm so happy to call friend and whatever life throws at her, she is always brave!

This is my gift. I give it to you.

Give 52, Week 32 - Beautiful, Crazy Kind of Good

Give 52, Week 32
Cheryl Houston 2016

Week 32 was mailed out yesterday to another one of my friends that I grew up, Angie Graves.

Who is Angie?

Angie is the beautiful, crazy kind of good presence in the room and in your life. She has this big, bold smile and laugh that is infectious and she is full of overflowing goodness.

When Angie introduced me to her boyfriend (now husband) Tony, she also introduced me to Cory Morrow's song, Brand New Me. It stuck with me. I love that song. It's catchy and upbeat talking about how a person can bring you light and happiness. One of the lines from the songs goes:

You make love feel like it should
It's a beautiful, crazy kind of good

And, that's how love should feel, right? I can't listen to that song and not think about Angie.

I was so happy for Angie when she introduced me to Tony and I love following along with their family events on Facebook. Their lives are filled with family and a bunch of grandchildren and I can see how those kiddos fill them with life. I love it.

Angie is also a darn good photographer. She's always taking pictures. She should publish a book with her photos. Funny, beautiful Angie, I love you!

This is my gift. I give it to you.

Give 52, Week 31 - Be Happy

Give 52 Week 31
Cheryl Houston 2016

This weeks flowers were sent out to one of my friends that I grew up with, Nancy.

I have tons of fun memories of Nancy growing up along with some fun adult memories. I follow along with her life on Facebook. She's got the two cutest, ginger boys you've ever seen.

She's always encouraging and supporting her friends (a lucky crew indeed to have her in their lives) and when I think of her I can hear her voice and laughter. She's got a sarcastic spunk to her that I'm immediately drawn towards.

I picked Nancy for this weeks Give 52 because she was in one of my recent dreams. I was in this studio where artist were making art and I guess she was running it. She knew I wanted to be a part of it and she told me, "Cheryl, you have to submit 90 photos to even be considered. So get busy. You have to get in here." 90 photos! Isn't that a little much!

I don't have a clue what the dream means if anything, but I felt very supported and encouraged and that's what this project is all about, right?

I'm so blessed to have had Nancy as my friend for my whole life. I wish we lived near each other so she could make me laugh on a regular basis.

This is my gift. I give it to you.