Day Camp!

My kids are off to day camp. Oh! Wait. They LIVE at day camp. Yes, that's right, live. Day camp is our HOUSE! I was so excited and looked so forward to school letting out, so we would have time to just hang out and do nothing. PLEASE! I've decided there is no such thing as nothing.

Granted, we don't have a regularly scheduled program. This camp, is totally fly by the seat of your pants, up for anything. Phone rings, we're gone. We place a call and the exodus is just has fast. For the past two weeks, part of our schedule has been me teaching and the kids attending VBS. Outside of that, it could be anything. We spend LOTS of time at the pool, usually with friends. I mean, so much so that the kids and myself are so dark, people ask where we've been on vacation. We have been on miles of bike rides, spend time at the library at least once a week, fish at the lake, hike through the woods, ride four wheelers, and have as many as three additional kids here at any given time. It's heaven!

My free time seems almost non-existent now but I'm not complaining. I love to see my kids or ANY kid, being just that, a kid. They're hot, sweaty, tanned and tired. Just the way I like to see them all. The little bit of time I do get, (which is usually in the wee hours) I try to use wisely. I've been reading like crazy, just flying through the books. Totally keeping my local used book store in business. I've started an online Bible study that I've been thoroughly enjoying and of course I ALWAYS have time for Honey. He is my prize, my reward for running this camp. He is also the financial backer. I can't begin to say how VERY lucky I feel.

Tomorrow, we have a bike rodeo with the Boy Scouts, I'm sure it will be for miles. Honey looked at me and said, "Boy Scouts, hell....we ARE the Boy Scouts!" Maybe so, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Canals

Canal: 1 an artificial waterway for transportation or irrigation. That's what Webster's says they are. There are many of these canals all over the world. There's the Panama, Corinth, Canal de midi, Suez and Rio de la Verona to name a few. Oh, and lets not forget the ROOT canal!

That's the canal I visited the other day, and like many of you know, it's no fun. I mean it certainly wasn't has if I were drifting down a little waterway in Venice, aboard a gondola, being serenaded by a handsome native man all the while wrapped in the arms of my love, staring into a romantic sky.

NO! It was more like being layed out almost completely inverted on a pleather chair, in a room you could hang meat in, while my face was pulled in directions it isn't meant to go and staring into a blinding light. All this, along with the pleasure of gazing into the face of a man behind a clear welders mask, wearing a miners light and so close I could count his nose hairs. He was not alone. His lovely assistant, was also behind goggles and mask and both seemed to take great pleasure in jamming their hands in my mouth and while doing so asked, "could you open any wider?" "WHAT?" I swear, you could have driven a truck in there as it was. But being the cooperative patient I am, I opened wider.

To top off the entire morning, I was informed that my little trip down the canal was going to cost me more than a gondola!

And because the doctors choice for the build up color was blue over white, I will be sporting a real "blue tooth" until I get my crown.

In the beginning...

Yes, that's right where it starts. As I sat bending my brain on a list of things I needed to pick up I thought, "Oh, I have got to get Mina some panties!" Every time I turn around, she is howling how she has NONE. I have no idea what it is she does with them....but I'm not overly concerned, after all she is only 5. Now, 17, I'd sure be asking.

We have everything else, so it's off the the little girls department. This is no easy task, the picking out of panties for an overly fashion conscious 5 years old. Finally, the selections are made. Very bright, full of design with some little fringey, lovely. Michael chimes in and says, "Underwear, what underwear, these look like scarves!!" I say, "WHAT?" "Yeah, Mommy, look at these colors and the edges, man!" "Ok, whatever you say."

Ahh, no wonder when I send Honey to the store with explicit directions and a detailed description of what I need, he comes home with scarves. So you see, it starts way back, in the beginning.

Drinking and Driving

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining in the bluest of skies, there were just enough pillowy white clouds to be pretty and there was no humidity. I throw the kids and bikes in the truck and we're off to meet friends for a bike ride.

Our ride took us along a river where we were able to peddle with ease on it's paved banks. There was sun and shade in almost equal parts, which made for a very nice journey. Although the humidity was low, it was still on the warm side. So, I did pack a backpack with bottled water and some snacks and left a cooler in the car for us on our return. I must say, it was an amazing ride. We rode for over 7 miles and weren't really aware of it.

We're back at the truck and everyone is hungry and still thirsty. We say our goodbyes and it's off. I had given both, Michael and Mina a bottle of water and I too had one as we headed home. While discussing our adventure everyone had to talk at once, as usual. I looked in the rearview to see them both so excited to talk that I just let them go. Meanwhile, I see a red light ahead and realize I'm approaching traffic. I slow down and was at what I thought was a stop while I took a sip from my water bottle and bam. I rolled into the car in front of me.....a beautiful sports car at that. Me, I'm in a land yacht.....a Suburban. I leap out of the car as did the owner of the sports car and we meet at the bumper. He was an older gentleman, dressed very nicely and all smiles. I smiled back a bit nervously and apologizing profusely. He assured me that it was quite alright, that there was no damage and to please not give it another thought.

Now, I'm wondering....could it have had anything to do with the fact I was dressed in a pair of boy-shorty surf shorts, a cropped fitted tank, flip-flops and wearing just enough glisten everywhere from a long, heated bike ride OR was he just THAT nice?

I'm thinking it had to be, that he was just that nice.

My Never, Never Land

Sitting around with friends, having easy conversation and one of the things I hear quite often from others, as well as myself is, "I've never done that!" Or, "That has never happened to me!" So it made me think. Think of the all things that I've never done....

I have never:

- Bit my nails
- Sang Karaoke
- Blacked out from a night out (however, I did lose my car once)
- Sneaked out of my parents house. (did sneak a boy in though....dangerous, very dangerous)
- Wrecked a car
- Broken a bone
- Been arrested (ONLY because I was also, NEVER caught)
- Failed a grade
- Worn 3 inch heels
- Had a same sex experience
- Worn braces
- Cheated ON someone (I plead the 5th on WITH though....)
- Colored my hair
- Used bad language in addressing my parents
- Said "I love you" and didn't mean it
- Ran a marathon
- Been to a nude beach (but would love to go, at least once)
- Lived outside of the United States
- Saw someone die
- Had long hair
- Been divorced
- Been to college
- Jumped out of an airplane (but don't mind leaping out of moving cars)
- Told anyone the thing I'm most ashamed of

I'm told, it's wise to never say never. However, I feel quite confident that most of what is listed above, will never happen!

What's in a house?

Grab a duffel bag, the sleeping bags and the cooler, we're camping again. Only this time tentless. We were invited by friends to join them in their camper. It was a very relaxing, tension free weekend and very much needed. The kids rode bikes, adults took long walks, we spent time at the pool, barbequed and sat around our campfire as well as some of our neighbors. Bliss. Between the sounds of the woods and the laughter of our kids and others, it was heaven.

One neighbor was a once engineer turned singer song writer. He was great and extremely gifted. Not only was he very smart and interesting, he had fabulous humor with just enough sarcasm, that made him fun and a pleasure to talk to. But what struck me most was his passion for his music as well the wonderful relationship he has with his grown daughter, and his undying desire for simplicity. His house for the last nine years has been a thirty one year old RV that he reworked to fit his need. Although is was older and not big at all, it was beautiful.

I found myself, sitting in his camper talking about kids, interests, and life in general. While there I felt completely at home. It wasn't the beauty of the camper that gave me that feeling, it was his wonderful sense of hospitality. Even though his house is a humble RV, that small and old, it was a warm, welcoming home that made you feel comfortable and at ease.

He sings out a meager living but has a level of contentment that shames even me.

Meeting our music man friend this weekend along with reading this..."they are your home." referring to your spouse and family written by someone I've never met but think very highly of, make me certain of what I want in my house......a home!

True, we all need a structure that is known as our house. I find it unimportant, whether it's big or small, new or old, is considered by most a recreational vehicle or if it floats. What is important, it that it's made a home and not left merely a house.

Choices and Change

I've heard said for the past several weeks, many very familiar phrases. "I've made my bed, now I'll lay in it," "I just don't know what the right thing is," and "Yes, I think I'm ok with my decision." None of which have been said by me but all said by three people I know very well and love very much.

What is it about making decisions that scares people to a paralyzing level? That forces them to remain where they are without change. The unknown is a very dark place I know, I've spent a lot of time there myself. But what about it, makes people behave so nonsensically? Is it our age? The fact that we don't want to make a mistake and regret the choice we've made? I mean, now that we're older and supposed to be wiser is the fear of making the wrong choice so overwhelming that we make none at all? Would we rather live in the state on limbo and uncertainty, rather then chance it?

I've heard that starting over, plays a big part in these sort of things. Is the fact that we are now considered "middle aged" weighing so heavy on our minds that we decide to hang with what we have rather than chose something different and possibly better?

I'm not at all sure our age is the bar we should be using. Certainly it's our lifes experiences we should be drawing on at these moments. The things that we've gone through should be what guides us and helps us find our way. Well, that and being honest with who we are and what we really want. Should your lifes experiences leave you short, continue to work with what you have and what you know.

So many times, people, me included, dwell on the things we don't know. What we should be, is focused on the thing we are sure of and work from there. Instead of, "I don't know this or that"....it should be, "Well, I know this, I have to have that and this is a must." Once we have a handle on what we do know, it should be easier to get started in the right direction. In the direction needed to obtain our goal.

Regardless of the situation, be it your work, relationship, family matters, geographical location, etc., if you are certain there are changes that should be made for the betterment of yourself and or family......MAKE THEM. Your age is just your age, a number that is insignificant. However, your life is yours, to live, enjoy and take full advantage of. There is no one that can do it for you. You and only you are at the wheel and able to direct the vehicle that IS your life. Sure, there are usually other people involved in your decision making that need to be considered and they should be. Still the decision needs to be made.

Break the chains of fear and step out there. Take that bit of ground you are standing on, the piece of certainty you have and in the words of Nike...."Just Do It!"

When your name is called, please raise your hand!

There has been a lot going on, with plenty to say. I just can't seem to get my thoughts together enough to write them down. Forgive my absence.