Camping with some of our gang

Sam's first cribbage game

Hailey talking to Mom and Katie

Wyatts set and lit his first fire





When do we eat?

Do we get seconds

  

Everybody loved the Uno games and cribbage. scooter races on the hill
 Lets see there was Karol, Donald, Kayla, Katie, Debra, Sherm, Laura. Melissa, Sam, Elizabeth, Kate, Ernie, Wyatt, Hailey, Jerry and the G-Mom Delaine they were not there at the same time but most were.  The food was great even the upside down pie before the coons got to it it is a long story one we will remember for many a year.  We took hikes and walked the beach, I of course was always looking for agates not a very good beach for them but I did find four nice size ones, I missed a lot of goings on because I was always looking down.  It was too cold and damp for swimming, but we were lucky it only rained on us once for about ten minutes not enough to worry about.

 Camping has been a family tradition it is harder each year getting everybody together what with the younger ones out of school and working to get tuition, and the new jobs in general we were lucky this year to have so many join us.

Leader of the pack



We actually got some sunshine

The best that you can be

Just pondering life again and I wondered just how many actually get up and commit to being the best that they could be each day?  How many actually think about their action first, and commit to not letting anyone ruin their day? Sounds easy but you know the drill the first person that walks into your day has a sour attitude and it sets the pace for the whole day; why not beat them to the punch and commit to being happy and productive despite the reality of our lives.  What a different world it would be the sour puss is cut off at the get go with a "good morning, what a wonderful day it is" and a big smile.  Try not to smile back it is not easy smiles are contagious and it has been proven that it takes less muscle power to smile than to frown. 
When I was going through my divorce I would walk to the mirror every morning and say " I will be happy " even if I had to grinch  my teeth to say it, and there were days when there were tears.  I willed myself to be happy and it worked, happiness came to me.  It took time but I was ready for it, and when I look back to those dark days I know that being positive changed the direction of my life.  We are in control of our little space in this world we make our own destiny.  My favorite saying is "When things go wrong don't go with them", and it is just that simple.

Stand up to the dark side and bring light into the room, we can not change 'the' world but we can change where we stand that is our world; by being positive and supportive of others we can make a difference..  Look around and see who is having a bad day and go and encourage them, maybe just a wink will turn their day around, a pat on the shoulder, or a simple "ata girl or boy'.  Nothing is more up lifting than to have someone, say you did a good job; or "your really know how to do that well".  Simple positive gestures are free gifts we can give to others and then the magic happens it come back to you, three fold.  Sounds to easy, well try it for a month and see for yourself it is one of the truisms in life.  And it is free to all who wish to improve their days.

Happy 4th of July

Independence Day

I raised my children to be independent and they are free thinking individuals, strong and standing on their own.

I am a very fortunate woman because all my children love each other.  Some how I was able to instill in them tolerance and patients and an unbreakable bond to each other, that also includes me.  That does not mean we are all perfect, quite the contrary we are diverse and very opinionated, strong willed and stubborn, but when it comes to family we over look the little things; and hold on to the important thing “family love and respect”.  We are passing on the heritage handed down to us from my parents and grandparents we are a family and that includes all of us...

We understand and have learned that demanding to be right, and demanding an apology, is a selfish act, one that makes the demander small in character.  Why do some never forgive little errors in judgment and always remembering every word the offender said, all the while ignoring their own mean remarks?  Why do some use words as a tool to hurt and divide members of their family? Why do some families isolate one member to make another happy or to win anothers love?

The whole thing is cruel and torturous treatment to all concerned.  A family is a sum of its members; each member needs to work to keep sacred the bonds of love and respect.  That bond of love holds us together.

Today we celebrate the American family; our ancestors came together and established a nation of states. Each state is different, all are individuals each keeping their individuality but all working together to make one nation under God.  We are the strongest nation in the world.  We are a beacon to those who have been held down and betrayed by their leaders, they seek to be free like the United States; they want their independence and freedom.  Together we are united as a nation; that is our strength. 

Wow, could that be the same for a family? Of course it is.

Is it that simple? Is that the key, United States, United Nations, United Families, there I go again finding another truism, a truth, right out of God’s word and it applies to the whole world.  As a Nation, we stand United and as a family we stand together united in love and respect, by choice we are united so enjoy this day, Our Independence Day.

Have a wonderful 4^th of July

So much has happened--question is it really summer?

Yesterday was spectacular today glum.  The garden seems to be in suspended state of no growth too cold to grow then it is hot for a day, makes me think about our forefathers trying to eek out a living without Costco.  Those hardy people survived and built this wonderful country on faith and hard work.  Our young people have no concept of what it was like to start out with nothing and build a future.  So many expect a hand out.  They have been taught to be mediocre and the values of stick-to-it ness and the goal of a winning spirit have been watered down in a mind set of "you are okay even if you do not try hard"  as long as you turn something is you pass.  Standards have been lowered to help the low achievers feel good about them selves and the high achievers are not inspired to achieve because there is no advantage, no challenge.  I attended a graduation that was so watered down to make everybody feel good about graduation and yes it was a big deal; so many graduated in name only.  The speeches were about good looking girls and tattoos and friends.  High achievement was not glorified it was ignored.  The Staff adviser's speech was about her finally graduating after 10 years and she spoke in Spanish most of the time. I was not impressed. The crowd was ruckus and loud they did have a lot to celebrate, because most of those kids probably would have dropped out if the standards had not been lowered to accommodate their low achievements.  Was this all about State and Federal funds, teachers Unions and head counts, to keep them in school so the district gets money at any cost; I wonder. 
There were high achievers noted on the program, but no recognition, I for one noticed the stars next to their names and I say well done, be proud of your achievement and go out and change the world for the better.  The future is theirs to build they have the heritage of generations of hardworking people with the grit to succeed.  You few will make the world a better place to live be proud of your achievement's; shine bright in a dark world, be the stars you were meant to be.  Today is the first day of your future make it bright.

My Horn is not loud enough!

Yes it is the Round-a-bout again I enter with all my defencive senses on alert, the Round-a-bout is a fearsome place to enter. Yesterday a little old lady, probably about my age came down the Borgen Hill and sped through my lane like she owned it; no slowing down, no looking, just clenching the wheel and looking straight ahead, she never saw me, and she never even acknowledged my horn. All I could do is slam on my breaks and lean on the horn, which I now know is not loud enough. I want one of those truck air horns; remember those. well from what I have heard they are now illegal but to my way of thinking they are necessary for Round-a-bout survival. When the Round-a-bout was installed I wrote this verse, it seems weak compared to the way I feel now. I know my life is in danger each time I enter the Round-a-bout.


My Life Has Been So Sweet

My body has aged, yet my mind is alert
I remember my youth
Back then, I was always in a hurry.
The smallest things were monumental
Issues were oh so important
Now with twelve grandchildren
A new peace guides my thoughts and wisdom comes slowly
I have learned the lesson of patients
I have truly became a woman at peace
That is until they installed those Round-a-bouts
Now I must confess my aggressions have returned
Each time I enter the Round-a-bout
I am no longer a sweet Grandmother
No one will leave me behind.
As I grip the wheel
My aggressive soul starts to boil
I‘ll fight for my slot in the Round-a-bout
The speed limit, surely they jest
How dare they honk at me?
Did he give me the? Oh dear yes he did
Why he tried to cut me off
Now my knuckles are white as I changes lanes
I straighten my shoulders and hold my head high
I move with careful intention and a new found aggression
Do not cut me off
It has become my creed
Now with my hands on the wheel I am super-charged
I am feeling alive and skilled at the wheel
Yes, my aggressions have come back
I have over come my fear there is no more hesitation
I can conquer them all
The Borgen Round-a-bout taught me how

Why is it so hard to love?

Being a mother is a lifetime job. No matter how old your children are they need our love. and the reassurence that they are loved.


What I do not understand is why is it so hard to love and remain in love with your mate. I will never understand how people stop loving, why does someone put their previous love down when not to long before they were in love and wanted nothing more than to be with that person.


I believe in commitment, making a commitment to another to love and to Cherish, what is it that makes that so hard? We are all so different yet I see so many new lovers jump into marriage have children then jump out just as fast. That would be okay if they did not have children, but most do and then the children are split between mother and dad and grandparents are shunned...It is a mess of heart break. The mother puts down the father cutting him with words that the child hears and soon the child feels confused as to where their loyalties should lie. Fathers do the same thing, somehow justifying their decision to break up the marriage because of the other bad parent. These selfish parents are only hurting their children by teaching them, that self is the only one to be concerned with. The commitment to jointly raise the children in a loving environment goes out with the wash.


The responsibility of a parent is to teach the child loyalty and moral codes to live by; they are to foster love and consideration and give protection from hurt. Yet these selfish parents push that responsibility aside to full fill their own needs. It breaks my heart to see this and now to have to watch it again in my own family. Young parents do not see the pain their children go through but the grandparents have to watch, and in many cases they will loose the precious time they could have spent with their grandchild or children. It all becomes a game of wills; it depends on which side of the family they are on are whether they will be ousted or not. The "Me generation" takes it toll again. The legacy of family must not be broken.


Courtesy is the key to any relationship, if that one factor would prevail families could get through bad situations with dignity. I know that sometimes in the fury of love we have blinders on as to the faults of the other person. Compatability is not just made in the bed, it is a day to day task keeping balance and one day you wake up and look at that person next to you and you feel you do not know them, and you have to get out; fine that happens but do it with digity and keep courtesy as the rule of engagement.


Remember marriage brings families together, and we are all connected so tread easy. When there is a divorce the children remain family to everyone. they are because of their parents. Now because the parents decide to slit, the children should not have to suffer because they remain related to all. So why is it so hard to be courteous to all concerned.


Grandparents do not care who is right or wrong they only are concerned about the children because they have seen more of life and with age comes an understanding a wisdom so to speak about the urgencies of youth, they understand and see the big picture( a picture they did not see when they were young) they see the pain that is caused by divorce and they wish for love to prevale, if not love at least courtesy.


So here we go again, how much pain depends on the parents, will they have the dignaty and play fair teaching their children that even thou they must split they still respect each others place in the lives of their children. Will they make some scrafices to facilitate the transision for the childrens sake above and beyond their own needs, will there be respect?


Time will tell, the teenage years are close and hand and the emotional termoil the children will go through will happen; the reassuring hands of both parents are required to hold them steady; they must work as a team for the childrens sake.


Did we as grandparents teach our children about the legacy of family; did we teach honor and respect for others, you see they are our legancy we gave them tools of survivel in this world of turmoil. Did we do our job so our children can do theirs with courtesy and respect.

Still raining raining raining and rining

We actually had some sun this morning just a teaser, not enough to warm the little seeds that are sitting frozen in the ground waiting to burst forth. I suspect they will mildew before they germinate. I keep going out and watching for them to break ground but alas no seedlings it has been over twelve days and according to directions they should be up by now. I would love to be a gardener, but the pain is too much for me so I have resigned to pot gardening which can be very satisfying when the sun shines but this year is a worry. Our trees are blooming and I found only one bumble bee and a couple of flies not very good for pollination where have all the bees gone? I feel like getting some Que-tips and going out and trying to be mother nature, somewhere in my oh so shaky memory I heard something about doing just that, whether it is a old wives tale or not I am willing to try if there is a chance it will work, of course only the low flowers will get any attention, I am really quite short.
I have been working a lot in the sewing room, not feeling great these days and staying in seems to be the agenda of choice. I have finished one top, and I'm working on another, plus a wall hanging so I am trying to keep busy, I have finished my Clementine doll, (The Hancock Challenge)Jerry made her Herring box shoes and she looks pretty good, hopeefully she will travel well, she seems a little large but she is under the 20' required so she should be accepted. Hopefully she will be honored to tour I do not expect a ribbon but it would be nice to have her travel so others can see her. Well enough for today.
I hope you are all well. Please make a comment when you visit my blog it is so much fun reading them Be Happy