One of those moments...

This afternoon I had one of those "I'm old!" moments.  I'm visiting my kids who live in Utah (which is where I went to college and then started my family) and my daughter and I went to the mall.  As we drove into the parking lot, my mind went back to the time when that mall was built...around 1970 or 1973.  I remembered it in all its newness...the first mall of the county!  But today the anchor store, Macys, looks old and worn out.  I quickly did the math in my head and realized that the mall is now 40 years old!  No wonder it looks worn out!  Hey, that means I am old!

I guess I should be happy...at least it's still standing  :)

Memorial Day tradition

This morning I got to enjoy a neighborhood tradition with my daughter and her family.  One of their neighbors is a 92 year old veteran of WW2, a former gunner for the Marines.  Every Memorial Day, he shoots off his WW2 cannon, which is a highly anticipated activity by all the kids in the neighborhood and their parents.  (I'm not sure the pets like it though!) 

So, there I was, watching the fun while the boy scouts stopped by each house and planted a large American flag on their lawns.  It was such an idyllic sight.  The old veteran led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance then spoke about his loyalty to our country.  And then the cannon was lit and BAM!  the explosion reverberated throughout the neighborhood.  If anyone was sleeping in, they were now awake  :)

Most people think of Memorial Day as a day off work and a day to have picnics.  This frail old man reminded me that there is so much more to this day.  We honor those who sacrificed everything, even their lives to protect and defend our country.  How easy it is to forget this. 

Thank you dear old man for reminding me...

Beauty everywhere

As I write this, it's pouring rain outside and I'm all bundled up in a blanket with my purring cat Pokey (I am NOT a crazy cat lady!) on my lap.  It's hard to believe it's the end of May.  Somewhere (probably most places) it's a warm Spring evening.

My family moved to the Pacific Northwest several years ago from Arizona because of a job relocation.  We loved Arizona...the heat, the desert, the cacti, the swimming pools.  Stepping off the plane in Portland, OR was a definite culture shock!  We learned really quick we'd need a whole different wardrobe...things like coats, raincoats, rainproof shoes and boots, sweaters, hats.  The t-shirts, shorts and bathing suits weren't going to be of much use here. 

I think a rolling stone COULD gather moss here!

But we quickly learned to love the vibrant colors only a place with abundant rainfall can produce.  We fell in love with rhododendrons, giant fir trees, lakes, and even the rain.  I've never seen so many shades of green or gray!

There is beauty everywhere and it's never as apparent as during the Springtime when everything comes to life again...whether you live in the city or country, desert or mountains or rain forest.

So, I will just sit here and enjoy the soothing sound of the falling rain...

Out of our comfort zone

Oh what a life!

I don't know about you but I like to be comfortable.  I like routine.  I like my own little corner of the universe.  If it were up to me, I'd probably be like my cat...lazing around all day, eating, sleeping, purring and utterly content.

That may be all fine and dandy for a cat but it's not very healthy for a human  :)  We need to be challenged.  We need to be (sometimes) forced out of our comfort zone.  We need to LIVE. 

Adversity is not something we seek after but without adversity, we cannot realize our full potential.  When we are faced with trials, we learn how to become strong.  Like exercise, our bodies need to work and strain and be used constantly or we become soft and flabby.  Difficulties and challenges are the exercise for our minds and spirits...they strengthen us in ways we didn't know possible.

So, although I don't welcome challenge, I recognize that there is something I can and need to learn from it.  I don't want to be all soft and flabby!

A new fire pit!

Me with two of my grandkids admiring our new fire pit!

 This afternoon my son built a fire pit in our backyard!  I've wanted one for so long and now we have exactly what I dreamed of (thanks to Pinterest!)...and just in time for the warmer weather.  We decided that unless it was raining, we'd have a weekly Sunday picnic and invite any of the family who might be available.  I am envisioning many a happy evening sitting around a warm, crackling fire, enjoying the company of my loved ones...sigh.  Thank you son!

Puzzle pieces

When my children were young, I explained to them that our family was like a puzzle and each member of the family was a puzzle piece, integral to the complete picture.  Although every piece of a puzzle is different, each is important and necessary.  When my youngest was born, our puzzle was complete...or so I thought.

I've since come to realize that the puzzle analogy is only partially complete.  As we added more members of the family through marriage and the birth of grandchildren, the puzzle became multidimensional.  It is actually a 3-D puzzle, with more depth and color and shape than the original 2 dimensional puzzle.

As with the original idea, every person adds their unique characteristics to our newly expanded 3-D puzzle.  But I don't think it will ever be complete.   It's a living, growing, changing puzzle and there's always room for the addition of more pieces.

What a beautiful picture our puzzle is turning out to be!

A gracious person

I usually read the daily horoscope in the newspaper, even though I do not believe in astrology or anything like it.  It's just a habit along with reading the comics.  Today a word in the horoscope caught my attention.  That word was gracious.  The horoscope said something about being gracious blah blah blah but I really didn't pay attention to the rest.  That word though, jumped out and got me thinking.  It's not a word that you hear very often any more. 

What do you think of when you hear the word gracious?  I think of someone who is kind, courteous, tactful, compassionate, pleasant.  Aren't those characteristics worthy of emulating?  Wouldn't the world be a better place if people treated each other graciously?  Think how pleasant our homes would be.  Think how much better our relationships with loved ones would be. 

My new goal is to be a gracious person   :)

My lovely project :)

My huge stinky mound of dirt...maybe I'll just plant on the pile!

 When my husband told me he had ordered some garden soil and it would be delivered, I had no idea he'd ordered so much!  That's his motto...why do something if you can overdo it.   :) 

Now I know what I'll be doing in my copious spare time...hauling dirt to the garden.  :)  Oh well, maybe my veggies will grow this year...if the deer don't eat them first!

Legacy

Happy Mother's Day to all my fellow mothers!  And, even though I'm a mother, my thoughts are with my own mother today.  Yesterday she celebrated her 86th birthday and I wish I could have been with her.  I love her and miss her.

I was thinking of her and the legacy she left me...not of money or material possessions but of memories.  What I remember most about her is how calm and unflappable she was in times of stress and crisis.  I don't think I ever saw her upset or freaked out over anything.  When I cut off the end of my finger when I was 10, she calmly wrapped the whole mess in a towel and told me everything would be all right as she drove me to the hospital.  When I cried because I didn't want to go to school (which was often), she'd be sympathetic and loving as she firmly escorted me back to school.  When we had a substantial earthquake in our area, she was the picture of stability during the rocking and rolling.  When my dad got sick, she was supportive and reassuring even though I know it was frightening for her.  Whatever crisis (whether big or small) she was faced with, she handled it with calmness and grace.  I don't think I realized what a gift that was.

Every one of us leaves a legacy for our children.  What will ours be?

What a nice Mother's Day present!

The destroyer of Scotch Broom!

I had one of the best Mother's Day gifts today...my kids (who live close) and their families came over and helped me with projects around the yard!  I always love to see them and really don't expect them to do yardwork for me but it sure was nice to have extra willing hands to tackle some of the larger projects.  It used to be easy keeping two acres of property maintained with eight kids, but it takes a lot longer when it's just me.  With their help, we got an old shed torn down and got the area ready to rebuild it.  We moved some heavy barrels.  We got an area cleared with the weed-eater.  We took a trip to the dump.  The grandchildren gathered earthworms, dug in the newly tilled garden area and "helped".  Then we topped off the activity with grilled chicken sandwiches, chips and fruit.

The day was super tiring but so productive!  I love seeing my kids work, play and laugh together.  Makes my little heart happy  :)  I feel very blessed today.

Wake up call

On April 24th, I wrote about my friend who was having a cancerous lump removed, saying that it was a small procedure and the doctors were pretty confident that the cancer was small and non-aggressive.  Well, today she had her second surgery - this time a bilateral mastectomy.  The cancer turned out to be much larger than expected and had traveled to lymph nodes.  It was not the news she had expected.

As I was visiting with her last night, she told me that this experience has been a wake-up call for her.  Things that had been bothering her now seem small and insignificant.  She is realizing that her priorities have not been where she wants them to be and this is giving her a chance to realign her life with the things that really matter. 

We all have things that are important to us but do we make time for them on a daily basis?  It's so easy to get caught up in the little crises that just seem to drop in our laps or get complacent with our lives as they are.  It's unfortunate that it sometimes takes a major event to remind us of our true priorities. 

I think I need to reexamine my life and see if what I'm doing reflects the things that I truly care about and not worry so much about things I have no control over.

Thank you Mother Nature!

Pokey resting in the shade, keeping me company  :)

Sometimes Mother Nature blesses us with the perfect day and today was one of those days.  In the Pacific Northwest, we are used to cool, rainy temperatures for much of the year but today we had record breaking warmth and sunny, blue skies.  How could anyone stay indoors on a day like this if they didn't have to!

My cat Pokey joined me as I weeded the neglected flower beds and trimmed the lavender plants.  Have you ever spent an afternoon on a sunny day surrounded by lavender plants?  Even before blooming, they give off such a wonderful, calming fragrance.  So delightful!

There is still much to do and the rains will be coming back soon but I will treasure this beautiful day for a long time. 

Do they make us young or old?

Ellie loves the water!

Sitting in the warm sunshine, watching my grandchildren splash in their little plastic pool, my son turned to me and said that he figured out why we have children...it's so we grow up.  He then went on to explain that before children, couples have few responsibilities and lots of free time to play and enjoy themselves.  Then comes the children and all of a sudden, the realization hits that an innocent, helpless little human is depending on YOU for everything.  It was a sobering thought for my son.

I agreed with him and then countered with my opinion that while children "force" you to grow up, they also keep you young.  I'm now on the other side of raising children and my grandchildren are constantly asking me to come play with them, or watch them or get involved in what they are doing.  How can I turn them down?  I can't!  I owe it to them to stay healthy and alive.  Besides, they are so much fun!

Chuck and Lilly enjoying the first really warm day of the year!

Isn't it interesting how little children can have such a big impact on us?  They help us to become grown up adults and they also help us remain young. 

When the cat's away, the mice will play :)

Tonight my husband is coming home from a three day business trip and I've got to say that I've turned it into a kind of vacation for me too.  I slept in.  I ate whatever I wanted (like ice cream for dinner).  I went to stores and took my time just looking and enjoying not having to hurry home.  I didn't do the dishes (shhh, that one is a secret!).  I stayed up late watching stupid TV shows.  How lazy I've been!

Now it's back to reality!  I better get those dishes done and the house clean before he comes home!  Don't want him to think that I've been slacking  :) 

To tell the truth though, I missed him.  

Changing parenting roles

Parenting roles change as kids grow up.  That's a good thing!

Life was so simple when the kids were little.  I could tell them to clean their room or do their chores and (usually) they did it.  When they did something wrong, I could send them to time out or ground them.  I had responsibility over their health and well being.

Now I have to step back and take on a more supportive role.  It's no longer my responsibility to make their decisions for them.  Some of my kids tell me that they wish I'd tell them what they should do in a certain circumstance but I respond that I can make suggestions or offer my opinion but the decision is ultimately up to them.  Even though that frustrates them, I know that they need the experience to help them become wise adults.

So, I listen and give the best counsel and advice I can and then I tell them that I have confidence in their ability to make the right decision and will support them.  I sure do a lot more listening now :)