The House is Empty!

It doesn't seem real, but it is, the house is empty! Every doll, dish, table and chair even the piano is gone. They have been divided and and given to family and friends. Gone to be remembered in small pieces. It's as if the family quilt has been disassembled and each piece has been distributed to far away places.

 As you can see the wear on the carpet of a room that was full of joy and well lived in. The songs that were sung by the piano that is no longer there. What are your memories? What stories do you have to tell? Will you write them down or just tuck them away in your memory?

I hope that whoever got the dinning room table is blessed with family, friends, God and good health. There were a lot of stories and prayers at that table. What is your favorite story that you told while sitting at that table? What prayer do you hope that grandma prayed?

Grandmas room......what can I say, still looks peaceful.

And how many times did you swing at the stairs even when you were told not to? Yes, I did swing on it one last time, and mom yelled at me. Well kind of. 

As I close this post always remember that we are a part of a great family. We may not always agree with each other or get along but we are still family. So make peace with those that need it if not for them for yourself. Grandma prayed for each and everyone of us and it's the least we can do for her.

Here are a few more pictures. Remember all the good times and feel free to share them if you like.

We love you Grandma!

Water Fight!

We had a busy weekend. Rod had to work Saturday morning and I had a 31 party. Which was a great show by the way.
I've discovered that there aren't enough hours in the day. We have a lot of things that need to get done and with Rod working the day shift and me working 3 to 4 nights a week it's hard to do. We even made a list of all the things that we need to get done just so we don't forget anything. Sitting here typing I remember a few things that I need to add, be right back. OK that is done.
Sunday Rod and I worked on getting the end of the house cleaned up. We are making it into a rock garden. We've tried to get different things to grow with no luck. So we've decided to grow rocks. No maintenance needed, lol.
2:00 in the afternoon and Rod and I were waiting for everyone to show up for the big water fight. Rod had 2 large trash cans full of water and 3-5 gallon buckets. In our arsenal we had 2-3' water guns 2-2' , 2 smaller ones and 4 foam water guns. 8 squishy hand grenades and 5 squishy footballs. Let's see if I can remember everyone that came to the water fight. Kara, Brock, Ava, Austin. Susan took pictures and the video. Melanie, Trenton's girlfriend, Thomas her son. Melanie's friend and her two kids. She will have to remind me of their names so I can add them to my story.
Now for the water fight. Check out the video. The next time we have a water fight I hope you are in the area so you can join us. The big kids have just as much fun as the little ones.

I like who I am!

Wash Rinse Repeat!

Yep, that is what life is for the most part. We get up do the same thing today that we did yesterday and the out look for tomorrow doesn't look any different. There maybe a few little differences each day but not much changes. Wait, I am mistaken, we change. When we are young we believe what we are told and we view it as the only truth. As we get older we start to see life with a different  set of eyes. We have to live our life and deal with all the heart ache, sorrow and joy all on our own. Our views change, they become our own. We change!

I look in the mirror and I don't know who it is looking back at me. In my mind I still see me at 18 not 48. The person in the mirror looks like she has lived a good life, maybe a little rough at times but good just the same. I think of things that could have been if I would have chosen a different path. but I have no regrets, I like who I have become. I may have been quiet at times when I should have spoken. Loud when I should have been silent. But the things I have been through in my life have made me who I am. I LIKE WHO I AM! Yes I am shouting it, I am who I am. I wouldn't change a thing, well maybe, I wouldn't have gone through the red hair phase.

I can't make decisions for my family only they can do that, they alone. I refuse to feel guilty for the choices that someone else makes. I am not a failure if my kids choose to do something I don't like they are adults. I am not a failure, my kids are grown and have moved out. I guess I finally succeeded at something!

I don't feel guilty for the choices that I have made, they have made me who I am today. I LIKE WHO I AM!

JUMP!

Yesterday was a beautiful day, Rod worked too hard outside and exhausted himself. When he came inside I found him asleep on the couch. It's hard work push mowing around all the trees, maybe we have too many. I should have taken him more lemonade to drink, I think I only took him one glass.
I worked around the flower beds turning the mulch over and pulling the weeds. Trenton's cat tried to help by almost knocking me over, she wanted my attention. I didn't get much done but it is starting to look better.

             

Kara dropped the kids off around 4:30 so they could have a little fun at our house. We got the bounce house out so they could burn up some energy. It was Austins first time in it and he was having a blast. Ava wouldn't get in it last year she said it was too hot outside. I think it was because she didn't have anybody to play with. Here they are having fun.

When they got done jumping we took them for a ride in the golf cart through the woods. Rod found a duck egg in the middle of the path, he just about ran it over. We stopped at the tiny house and visited with mom and dad. Austin was worried about the egg and kept looking for it in the gold cart. Rod had given it to dad. Ava said that it need somebody to take care of it so her and mom went into the house and brought out the stuffed bear. They had the bear lay on top of the egg to keep it warm. She has a way of coming up with great ideas for a 5 year old. I'm sure the next time she is over she will want to check on the egg in the woods. I hope dad put it on a nest.

In the Begining

As far as my title goes 'Creating the Love of Life' that is where I will begin. Most people hate their lives. They are upset at where they are and what they have become. The problem with that is we make the decisions in our life that get us right here! We're not sure how we got here or what road took us to this strange place in our lives. Maybe it was a major event or maybe it was a bunch of little decisions that added up to 'My Life'.

Now to change things. You are where you are in life, deal with it. If you don't like the situation that you are in then start to change them. Small decisions is what got you to where you are so small decisions can get you onto a different path. The hard part is simple (contradiction in terms) YOU must take the first step. Make a decision to move into a different direction and just move! Ask yourself a few questions and be honest with the answers.

1. Where did I think I would be at this age? (different state, different job, etc.)
2. Who am I?(wife, mom, accountant, etc.)
3. Where am I today?
4. Who do I want to be? (wife, mom, artist, single, etc)
5. Where do I want to be? (different state, different job, etc)
6. What steps do I need to take to get there? (look for a different job, sign up for art classes, etc.

Make a list, set some goals. Remember they don't have to be big they just have to be written down so you have a game plan.

What are you waiting for, get a pen and start!