Sometimes You Just Need a Cookie and a Friend

It's getting lonely around here.  The hubby off for a river running weekend (kayaking), daughter off with friends for the evening.  My friend came by and we visited, couldn't decide on any movies worth going to see, so eventually just went to Smart Cookie and had cookies and Frozen Chocolate drink.  Yummy!  Refreshing drink!  Tasty cookies!  Sat outside at a patio table outside the store and ate and chatted.  I am a person who grew up in a large family, but didn't mind having alone time.  Have always needed it really.  One of my sisters schedules her days so full with stuff I don't know how she survives.  I have to have some down time.  But, now with my children getting older, I don't want too much alone time!  Which is why I like the structure of teaching full time in my life right now.  But anyway, tonight it was nice to not be alone at home.  To go out with a friend on a lovely warm summer evening, enjoy a treat, and visit. How lucky am I to have such a good friend, and good cookies?!

Social Saga of a Son

My oldest son stopped by home today.  Finishing up details for his wedding next week, picking up his fiance at the airport.  I'm so excited for him!  He has always been a good child.  Obedient.  Very shy in junior high and high school, which made it tough to make friends and have a social life.  I worried about him in high school, because I knew he wanted to be out socializing.  Finally, the second half of his senior year, a girl asked him to the Sweethearts Dance.  And they were dressed so cute they won the vote for King and Queen of the Dance!  And being asked to the dance and having a good experience really helped him gain confidence in himself.  Then he joined the track team, and there were a number of very nice, friendly kids who included him, including one young man who was a star sprinter on the track team.  This young man became my son's friend and it was wonderful to have my son finally hanging out with friends and doing stuff!  And he asked a girl to prom, and a girl asked him to spring fling!  These experiences made a huge difference in his confidence.

Then he went to his first year of college.  Didn't know his roommate or anyone in his dorm hall.  But ended up becoming best friends with a bunch of them.  They came to our home a couple of times during the school year, they took a trip to California together after school got out (staying at homes of some of the kids), and stayed in touch while on their missions.  Roomed together after their missions.  Now several of them are married, and a lot of them will be here next week for my son's wedding!  What a blessing!!!  I can't even express what a difference their friendship has made to my son.  He has grown so much socially, and is marrying a lovely young lady from a wonderful family!  Aaaah.  The happy peaceful feeling that knowing one of your children is doing well and moving on a good path.

On Getting Older

Growing older is interesting.  All through my forties I felt I still looked pretty good.  I weighed a bit more than I wanted to, but that's another story.  But I exercised regularly and mostly ate healthily and was involved in worthwhile activities.  Then 'the change' happened.  It started three years ago actually, with a couple of migraines.  I'd never had migraines before.  Then hot flashes and night sweats.  About a year of all of that.  Now I'm officially done with 'the change'.  I can tell a definite difference in my energy level and skin.  My skin sags more.  I get tired more easily.  But, on the positive side, I have more time to spend with my husband, because the kids aren't as time consuming!  It's just a bummer that I scare myself when I look in the mirror.

Summer Thunderstorms

Dropped off Noelle to Dance camp this afternoon, did a bunch of wedding 'stuff', then tonight just wanted to sit back and watch a good movie and eat a treat.  Old habits die hard.  Then a summer thunderstorm/rainstorm hit.  Massive amounts of rain!  The most we've had in a loooong time I'd say!  I had to open the front door and just listen and feel the air and smell the damp earth.  Aaaaah.  I love the smell of rain.  I love the sound of rain.  I just love rain.  I remember as a teenager, I would be happy if I woke up and it was raining outside.  Rain is just so....refreshing!  And I needed some refreshment in this busy summer.

Survival of Those Who Endure

You know how they say "survival of the fittest'?  That those who are the most fit or strong are the ones who survive?  Well, I think it's actually "survival of those who endure".  Not necessarily the fittest, most beautiful, most talented, or strongest.  It's the ones who go on the hike even when it scares the heck out of them.  Who continue to put one foot in front of another in a long hike or marathon run. Who keep at the marriage when it's boring or difficult and you feel like you have nothing in common anymore but your children.  Who keep loving their children even when the children make hurtful choices.  It's pretty much life.  Life is not made up mostly of the Christmas photos we see of everyone.  It's made of the sweat and tears and frustration and hurt and laughter and silliness and simple moments of every day.  So, although I did not want to hike in to Havasupai during a heat wave, I did it (albeit we hiked in at 4 a.m.).  And I survived.  And I loved it.  So now I'm glad I endured.  Because I'm learning that if I endure at things, I can surprise myself and make some great memories.

Life is Playing Hardball

Why does life sometimes blast at you?  Instead of throwing you an easy little softball, it throws hard and fast.   Not just one wedding this summer, but three.  Three!  Not just my dad a little sick, but WHAMO!  Oh, he actually has a broken vertebrae, and Oh, he actually has myeloma, a type of cancer that softens his bones and means he has to have chemotherapy treatments for four months.  And BAM!  This week is our awesome hike into Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon, but gee, it happens to be the middle of a heat wave in the west!  Right now I don't even want to go on the trip.  It doesn't sound fun anymore.  A vacation would be for me to stay home.  What a crazy game life can be.