New hobby...

pretty excited...
I feel like a kid in a candy store...
learning something new...

photography!!!!!

always wanted to try...
who knows???

please stand by...
you... as my friends... may have to suffer through some pretty awful attempts!!


no worries Franklin
I have been practicing 15 minutes a day on the banjo...
(ok, well just since Tues. - but that is a start right?) ;)
now... where is my cd??

A few thoughts

For about the last month, I have been thinking about friendships...
A LOT...
and was going to try to put my thoughts in words today.

I peeked at my regular blogs I visit and this was on my cousin Jessica's site - I could not believe it!! Almost exactly what I would've written but she says it so well.
So I say... DITTO!!!

Thanks Jess - like I told you... I am blog lifting!!


I've just been quite amazed at how people come and go into our lives once or several times in our lifetimes. Its something that I've been more aware of and have come to accept as a part of our life's journeys. I used to think that when someone quit talking to me or just kind of faded into nowhere, that it was something I did. It would haunt for a long time and I would feel like I needed to make this gigantic step of getting back in touch with them. Sometimes that is required, but if the effort is really forced then it obviously wasn't meant to be.
It is always kind of hard to see someone disappear out of your life, but maybe that is why it makes it all the more amazing when they reappear. Maybe the friendship was meant to go another direction and when the timing was right, the friendship would resume (sometimes as though no time has passed). I believe that our relationships with people throughout our lives are meant for us to learn and grow and transform. Some people come into our lives at a certain point just to provide a gift we needed then, and for us to provide them with a gift as well...and then, poof...they are gone. Some people have really left a lasting impression and have touched my heart and soul. Obviously, not all gifts are ones that I've treasured at the time and wonder, "what the hell?"..."why was this person in my life?". Well, to teach you some sort of lesson, dummy. I usually don't see it at the time (but am becoming more aware of it), but later down the road it all makes sense.
It's actually quite amusing if you think about it. It sometimes even makes me laugh inside. Sometimes I've found myself just totally attracting the same types of people in my life all at the same time. This is when it amuses me most. Well, apparently I'm supposed to learn something in this journey of mine right now! I still beat myself up sometimes when I'm unable to find the time to call someone back or just really don't feel like talking at that particular time. I kind of think this is ok though. If it seems more effort than it should, maybe it wasn't meant to be at that moment. Eventually, we make the time (that is sometimes needed) and reconnect up for the time being...and then go our own ways for a few days or months...and the reconnect, etc, etc. Other times, there are friends that you can share a lot with during a particular time and it is effortless. Quite bizarre.
I've been able to reconnect back up with some old friends...some through the wonderful world of Facebook, (internet) and some just naturally. I'm quite grateful for friends in my life because they make my world so much brighter. For those friends who I'm not in constant contact with...I'm still thinking of you always. We are all so connected in so many ways....more than our tiny, little human minds can fathom. Its those instances where you can recognize the connection that is pretty awesome. When you can be in the moment and really be aware that every one you come in contact with every day plays some role in your life...that is quite enlightening.
So, thank you to everyone who is in my life...or who was in my life...I'm grateful...for you have made me who I am. And, who I am, is... who I am.

Waterfront Festival

A few summer fun pics from waterfest weekend...

It was SO HOT at the parade so we went to the "pier" to cool off and it was just the ticket!!

We had a great time "tailgating" for the parade, hanging out with family and old friends and reconnecting with some "new" old friends!

(Apologies, I cannot figure out why these posted out of order but we were at the parade first!!)

Friends

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~Albert Schweitzer

hApPy bIrThDaY tO mE

those letters feel like my life lately...
uP aNd dOwN!!

as a GREAT friend just reminded me...
oNe dAy aT a tImE, cOlLeEn...

hard to remember but so true...
it will still probably be rocky...
but easier to handle!

thanks for all your support and love today...
i feel it!!

today is a great day!

my life, these days

it seems that every time I start to feel hopeful…
like I can breathe a little easier…
and sleep again…
just when I think I start to feel the sun on my face…
that the shadows and dark days are behind us…
and I am looking toward the horizon, hoping for better days…
then…

whamo!

we are talking awful news…
vivid details…
devastating words…
heartbreaking visuals…
dream shattering actions…
out of the clear blue!

things that a mother should not have to hear…
or know…
because…
they should not be happening.

countless times…
in the past year…
monday… again??
it keeps happening…
when will it stop???

and each time, it takes a little more out of me…
each time, it is a longer process…
to recover…
to forgive…
and heal.

I have known others…
who have been forced to travel a similar road…
that have suffered as they watched their children’s mistakes…
or their grand children’s…
but I could have NEVER, NEVER have imagined how hard it is…
or how much it hurts…
or how absolutely helpless I could feel…
and disappointed…
and hopeless…

there are no rules…
or roadmaps…
or designated time frames…
and sometimes…
the tunnel seems endless…
and I wonder how long it will be until I see even the smallest glimmer of light at the end?

My friend Barb rescued me this weekend!

She makes me laugh...

til my tummy hurts...

and it is so good for my soul!!

(We have been friends since we were 4!)