WE ARE FAMILY

Last night Bubby stayed over. After you got tucked into bed he read to you from 'Cry for the Unicorn', a book you ppicked out for me to read but when you realized that Bubby might read to you, you jumped at the chance to ask. I know you miss him and wish you two were able to be together more often. You do cry for him about every twice a month. After you were asleep he and I had a long talk about your mother's absence and how much he misses seeing you everyday too.
This morning you took advantage of his having just gotten his driver's license. You asked him to drive you to school which he was happy to do.
Tomorrow you test for your yellow stripe belt.
Good Luck!

PRECIOUS

This week you learned that Precious, your pet hamster, passed away. David didn't have the heart to tell you that he had died so he told you that bubby had taken him to his school to live with another hamster. You began to get very mad with bubby for taking your pet without asking you. I didn't want you to be mad at Ed for something he didn't do so I told you the truth. You cried quite a bit as we arrived at your girlscout meeting. I let you sit in my lap until you were feeling better and joined your friends.
It was the first time you had deal with the death of a pet.

YOUR FRIENDS

These days your friends are Katie (in the apartments), Natalie (whom you met at appleseed 4 years ago), Carin (2 houses down from David's house).
You go to girlscouts every other tuesday. For the last several weeks you have been taking western riding horse lessons at Ann Springs Close Greenway. Ms. Close is your instructor in what will probably be her last time at instructing. You also are about to test for you yellow stripe belt in karate next week.

JUST YOU AND ME

Aspen,
your mom has been gone now for 8 months (august 2005). she calls about 3 times a week. you call her a few times a week. you do fine during the day. it is after you talk to her before bed that it is hard on you. you often miss her and are close to tears at least once or twice a week. i wish i could do something to help you.
your mom moving away had nothing to do with how she feels about you. she loves you and misses you, just as much as you miss her. she left for other reasons. she would have taken you with her if she could have but she knew it was best that you stay in charlotte with me and bubby.
he misses your mom just as much as you do. it is hard on him at night too. david tells me that he has broken down and cried too.
im sorry that this chapter in your life is being written. im doing my best to make it as happy a time as possible for you. i cant be your mommy, but ill be the best daddy i know how to be.
hopefully this chapter will only be a temporary one and your mom can find a way to come back here for you and bubby for good.

REGRETS

Aspen,
If you are going to have regrets in life, regretting the things you have never done will always plague you more than regretting the things you have done.