No Benjamins

Grapefruit, is that what is on a $100 bill??? Well, no one handed me any of those, but we managed to scrape together about $300. Give or take. That's good, I guess. It was a lot of work, but we did manage to send away some big stuff that we never have to see or move or maneuver around again! Hooray!!! Then we donated the rest. That was like cutting an umbilical cord for my hubby, but he survived. Just like childbirth without the stretch marks. Anyway, we can now make our way through the garage. It's not empty, but it's better!

Count Your Blessings

Even when drowning in self-pity, some story comes along to kick you right in the "reality". There have been several instances of life-changing reports close to home to make me pause and take stock.

How I'm lucky:

I have a lot of love around me. Not right next door, necessarily, but over the phone lines, via email, and even blogging. I think we take it for granted. Some people seem to have a million friends, but they are still lonely. I don't think I'm lonely even though I'm not a "group" person so much, but that is probably because I've learned (slowly) to let love into my life on a more regular basis. It is a great deterrent to lonliness.

I have a lot of support. Even if my life ended right now as I know it (and I managed to get through the shock and the nervous breakdown (LOL)), I know I'd have people there to help us through. If horrific things happened, I would not be alone. And in life, these things do happen and are happening to people I love and care about. I hope they know we are here to support them, cuz when it's my turn, I'm sure they'll be there for me.

I have a lot of laughter. We laugh a lot in my house. My son is always trying to out-joke everyone at the dinner table. If someone manages a good laugh out of the group, he'll try to one-up. Laughter has gotten me through my life. Someone recently said they remembered me as an angry teenager. And oh, I was. She didn't see the half of it! But I still think I always laughed. If even at myself. The last few years, sometimes I had to laugh or I would have ended up crying. Or both. "Laughter & tears. Two of life's sweetest emotions." (I think, from Steel Magnolia's, Dolly Parton's character Trudy). Time + Crisis = Humor.

I'm grateful. I have a lot. Not stuff, although we are blessed that way also. Just good things. My sisters and I have a mutual admiration club (or MAC), most days. I have healthy, wonderful, loving children. I have a devoted and hard-working husband. I have friends and a lot of family. I have a home. I have work. I have volunteering. Friends. I have 4 parents not including my amazing mother-in-law, all different and unique, that have all touched my life and continue to do so in different ways.

And on a shallow note...candles. I adore candles. Illuminations left my life, but I still have Yankee. Nothing puts me in a good mood faster than a delicious candle, a long-distance phone call and a couch. And if it's raining, a fire! And then a cooking show. (I love watching them...didn't say I loved cooking!)

So if you haven't already, count your blessings. You'll feel better instantly and you'll realize you're wasting time!

Live, laugh love. Cuz life is short. You won't want to miss it.

Will You Take a Quarter?

Tomorrow is the BIG day! The day my husband has been waiting for. For years, even. Well, at least two. Four houses later and 2 years. (Yes, that's the official count in a 2 year span). And I know, I can almost GUARANTEE we will be asked: "Will you take a quarter for this?"

Yes, it's Garage Sale time. The DREADED, miserable garage sale. Some people LOVE bargaining (Lane, I would be referring to you, here). I hate it. The price is the price. It's a GARAGE sale for Pete's sake. It's already cheap! Don't question my price! I know it's all part of it, but I loathe the process. Almost as much as buying a car. Or a house.

Even though I'll come out ahead. My garage will be emptier and my trash could be other people's treasure. We could make money. Decent cash. "FREE" money. Sounds like a win-win. It's a rare Saturday that we have free, and we're gonna spend it up at 5 am out in the driveway. Do you see my point here?

Plus, I've just moved. For the 3rd time in 2 years. Getting ready for a garage sale is like adding insult to injury. It's MORE work! I must confess -- I'm feeling pretty done.

My husband, on the other hand, is giddy. Tingly. He LOVES buying a car. All 8 hours. The whole process. I get hives. It's like we're going hunting and he's ready for some fresh meat. And then there's the "what if no one comes?" -- I will have wasted my whole morning and be tired -- a double whammy.

I have siblings and a mother that love a deal like no other. My mom has picked up several treasures at local garage sales. I'm the one that almost buys the new puppy at the garage sale not yet for sale that has nothing to do with used stuff. That gene skipped me. I just like buying what I like or need at the time, regardless of cost. (STOP laughing, Bex, Liz). I mean, if I need it...

That doesn't mean I always get what I like, and I LOVE a good sale, but NOT a negotiation. I'm a straight shooter. It is what it is. Don't argue with me. I'm fairly certain I parent the same way.

Ah well. This, too, shall pass. When I was getting my hair done this morning, my sweet hairdresser (who has tamed these tresses for years) said: "You made it! You got through all that hard stuff). So I will be triumphant, once again, and conquer the angst and the agony in this said garage sale.

And then...I'll take a nap.

Compliments of Grapefruit

Getting together with familiy is always a time to treasure. What remains are memories! Thanks, Grapefruit. (From the sister who forgot her camera...just as well, don't you think?)!

Survivor

Girls Camp was everything you would think camp would be: Not much sleep, tons of starch for breakfast, lunch & dinner, swarms of mosquitoes, loud girls, campfire songs and roasted marshmallows, lots of laughter.

On this day -- we were reminded of God's great gifts...the gift of nature and all of it's splendor. Not only that, but all of the sudden the air was filled with hundreds, no thousands, of baby lady bugs. Our guide said they just hatched and were off to find their way in the world. It was like fairies dancing around in the air, occassionally landing on our arms or legs. It was beautiful. Just like our girls. Close to leaving home and setting foot out in the real world. But they'll be ready. And camp will have helped prepare them. Hopefully I had a hand in that, watching these kids grow...a lot...this week. Some more than others. But it was there and the triumphant spirit grew stronger this week. Not only theirs, but mine as well. Love abounds in nature.

The Camper in Me

I hope I find it soon, cuz I leave in the morning for nearly 6 days at Girl's Camp! The weather forecast includes rain parka's and mosquito repellent. Lots of repellent. And long underwear. My faithful hubby went up to the site on Saturday to set up tents and cots and make things homey. I hear he was incredibly useful relative to some other bodies roaming the campsites. That's my hubby, ever reliable. He IS a camper at heart. I secretly think he's laughing inside because he knows how Im so NOT a camper. Perhaps my occassional mention of pedicures and lunches out were a clue. He said he's worried the cot is going to be too hard for me. (Now that's real love...worrying about the Princess and the pea!) I can tell you right now he's right. We are sardined (yes, I just made that up...c'mon Websters, get on board) into a tent with 5 women. Side-by-side. He's worried about that, too, because he knows me well. And now that I mentioned that...my sisters and my mother are on their knees as well, praying that everyone will have forgiving hearts where I am concerned.

I have a feeling this week is going to be humbling. Haven't had to share this much personal space in a long time. I mean, at my age, you have to worry some noise is going to slip out and someone you don't know very well will hear it, and hopefully not hit the floor laughing just to make that moment that much more embarrassing! Especially if it's in the middle of the night. I'm a little worried about that. Okay, a lot. My body is crazy when I travel. It must have something to do with nerves. I know I sound OCD; I'm really not. But I am feeling a little anxious. Will there be enough fiber in my diet this week? Spirtual fiber, yes. Insoluble fiber, I doubt it!

But this is a time for reflection, instrospection, relaxation, star-gazing and hopefully a nap or two. I'm in dire need. So this may be exactly what the doctor ordered. I'm not one to guess. I'm excited to see my daughter in this social setting for a week and admire the woman she is becoming. She has a smile that lights up the room, let alone a campsite! She loves nature and has so much respect for it, also. I will love watching her exist in nature. I know it will be a week I won't soon forget.

So, Mom. This is me looking at the glass half full. Setting aside my anxiety and replacing it with a positive attitude. Not only will I make friends with mosquitoes as they attack my back side while using the port o potty, but bond with some new friends as well as we drift off into slumberland!

Off I go...the Happy Camper!

Moving On

It's as if Mother Nature was playing along, trying to underscore what a momentous day today would be.


Last night, the lightening started. We were at soccer, sitting on the bleachers, admiring it from afar. Then we noticed practice breaking up, it was time to send the kids home to safety. The lightening kept coming. We started to count 1-1000, 2-1000 -- then more. There was no 3-1000. Something we could never remember seeing here before. An endless lightening show. One strike after another. It was an introduction to today.

Drumroll...Even Dad made it to the 8th grade graduation in an ironed shirt. (No! I did not do that for him!) Mal here receiving her diploma.

Mallory with her best buddy Shea. These two are peas in a pod.

The gang together one last time. (No, that's not Zach & Cody...but they are identical twins).

Mal didn't just receive a diploma. She received the Academic Excellence Honor Award in Language Arts, a Special Honor Roll 4.0 or higher for 4 consecutive semesters Award, A CJSF award, and a "Silly Sierra Award" -- student-voted "Most Creative/Artistic" in her academy. More lightening, please. I'm blushing!

This week nearly killed us...or at least tired us out!

Cute Lindsay -- still has energy to flip through a yearbook. She's so tan and it's only June 4th!

Mallory's first question when we left campus today: "Can I sleep in tomorrow morning?"

My answer: YES, PLEASE!

Hello, Summer!