A Summery Hodgepodge

1. July 5th is National Hawaii Day...have you ever been to Hawaii? 

We visited Hawaii and Kauai in 2002, I think.

Any desire to visit or make a return trip? 

If someone would like to take me there, sure. Otherwise I’m fine with my memories from then. Jay and I had a wonderful time. We stayed at a beautiful Marriott resort and enjoyed seeing all the sights. We took the helicopter ride over the island, rode bicycles down Waimea canyon, saw the memorials for WWII and many other sights. I loved Kauai.

Pineapple, mango, or guava...what's your pleasure? Fresh pineapple would be my favorite.

2. Last time you were 'thrown in at the deep end'? 

This is a tough one for me. Explain. The toughest thing for me in the last two years was the day Jay died. When I took him to the hospital, I had no idea that he would not be returning home with me.

3. Sun, sea, sand, salt...your favorite when it comes to summer?

Maybe the sand in Sandestin, Florida. I love the sun when it isn’t beating you down during those hot Texas temps. Temperatures ranging from 65 to 85 are sun times that are more to my liking.

4. Bury your head in the sand, the sands of time, draw a line in the sand, pound sand, shifting sands...pick one and tell us how the phrase currently relates to your life in some way.

The sands of time. They’re going swiftly through the hourglass. The road ahead is shorter than the road behind now, (but the road behind holds such great memories). I’m thinking of a song:

The sands of time are sinking,

the dawn of heaven breaks,

the summer morn I've sighed for,

the fair sweet morn awakes;

dark, dark hath been the midnight,

but dayspring is at hand,

and glory, glory dwelleth

in Emmanuel's land.*.

5. On a scale of 1-10 (1 = make your own rules and 10=like a warden), how strict were your parents?

Make our own rules??? Ha!!! With my parents, probably an 8. We were quite sheltered, and also, because of our “religion”, there were a lot of rules. My mother made sure to see that we were able to partake in most things, but there were definitely lines drawn and rules. My Dad was more strict than Mom.

If you're a parent where on the scale do you land?

I was stepparent to two, and when I thought my husband was too harsh or too lenient, I was free to share my opinion about what I thought and we would compromise on the rules for them. It was a fortunate thing that his children were such good kids, and it was easy to let them have freedom.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

My random thought is a little whiny today. But, at the same time, I’m also thankful. Since making my move to another state last year, I’ve completed the necessary details of things that had to be done, albeit with many challenges. I have fallen three times now in the past eight months. I took a fall last Fall and hurt my back, in February, I fell on the ice and broke my wrist, and two weeks ago, I fell in the shower while visiting family in Texas. I’m taking physical therapy for my wrist still, after five months, and now I’m trying to figure out what’s gonna happen with my knee.

The reason I’m thankful, is that none of these falls occurred during the time I was taking care of my husband or when I was preparing for my move. I’ve pretty much been able to continue with most things, however, my pickle ball game is just going to have to wait another few months. I had one try at it a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it.

Saving here a few photos of good times in the past few weeks. I went to Texas a couple of weeks ago. My trip to see the kids was cut a little short by the fall, but I had a good time anyway. Brady and I went to Grandscape in The Colony and we had burgers, he drove a race car at Andrettis, and we had ice cream after. Jack and Kate and I shopped around a little at Academy, and Kate in the second picture is holding one of the chickens she finally caught. Notice the chicken coop in the background Jason built. Amy is the one who cleans it out. 

Goofy!

Noah went fishing with his Dad. Very nice fish!

Brady is at camp! He is in the center.

My life group met for fellowship at a local gelato place.

Here are a few of the people in our uke group. There are 9 of us. 

We are beginning to get dates for "gigs" as the shutdown is over.

A hat brunch with a few friends.

And I'm posting this pic because as I type this, today is International Kissing Day!

We always had a good time!

·       * Samuel Rutherford and A.R. Cousins. 1857