Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. ~John Lubbock

First day of Summer is this week. Of course I am still stressed about the job and money issues that hover over me like a dark canopy.
But I cannot help but bask in the long awaited sunshine and soak up a little bit of happiness, laziness and relaxation.
This past weekend was an extended family reunion. Over a decade ago, we spent our first reunion at my mothers sisters house to celebrate the beginning of summer, Fathers Day and my maternal grandfathers birthday (all of which happened to fall in the same week as my wedding anniversary) for a family get-together. Although it is no longer my anniversary at least in celebration, and my grandfather has now passed, we continue to celebrate each year.
The weather could not have been more beautiful.
I had a house full. There were twelve adults and three toddlers in this house for two nights. Which is not too bad if everyone pitches in.... that was not the case.
But it was a small sacrifice.

The third weekend in June is also the time for our town celebration and fair. We happen to live on the parade route and merely step outside with cup of coffee in hand to enjoy the festivities.

Could not have crammed more into this three day weekend. It was a needed break from the stresses.

And yesterday, a phone interview for potential employment! Please let this not jinx it.

Hope all of the Fathers had a wonderful day last Sunday. The daughters and sons had a chance to spend it with their fathers. And that those who no longer have opportunity to spend the time physically with their father, at least had a chance to reflect on the time that they did.

I love you Dad. I cherish every day I get to spend with you.

Fathers Day and all its meanings

Fathers Day in our family has special meaning. Not only do I still have my father as a big part in my life, But being a single mother, he is a very important man in my life also. My dad is always here for me. He may not be the handiest dad. And I'm OK with that, we manage together. But he is also emotion support for me when I need it. (I am lucky to be close with both of my parents.)

I am embarrassed to say that a few years ago when a mouse ran across my bare wood (preparing to lay wood flooring) living room floor in front of me, I at the age of 38 drove in a fit of panic and tears to my parents house in fear. Dad laughed, asked me to repeat what I spouted in my blubber of sup sup cries and then left me safe with my mother while he got rid of the critter. Forever!

My dad is emotional, sentimental, loving, even if he has a short fuse once in a while.
He reads my blog. He wants me to succeed, he also wants me to be happy. When we were little, my father being a member of the Elks organization, would take my sister and I to the daddy daughter night dinner every year. We would take turns dancing on daddy's toes. In later years, he would be a date for me and my sister and our own daughters. We all know how to dance. I learned to follow from him and I learned the two-step from him also. I will never forget our dates.
I have posted about our hunting trips, we went camping, he took us on his dirt bike, road trips, too many fun times to say.

Although some of them were stolen from my grandpa, my dad always has a toast for special occasions, he has a personalized toast for every couple on their wedding, including mine. He has a toast for our extended family gatherings often and even brought us to tears last Thanksgiving with a toast to my recently passed grandpa while we were taking turns giving thanks. (Even he was in tears and I love him for that!)

A lot of my friends are with out their fathers. Whether from divorce, distance, alienation, or death. I cant imagine the pain. My own children have spend the larger part of their own lives without their father in their lives. I hate that! I wish that they had the opportunity to love a man like I did. Before they choose the man to spend their lives with. I thank god they have been able to spend time with their grandpa, close loving time.

I have men in my life who have been great with my kids. I imagine they will be life long friends to them. However, nothing replaces a true and present daddy.
I love you dad. Thank you for always being there for us. I couldn't ask for a better dad.

I love you dad! Happy Fathers Day- Again.

Road Trip!!!!!

In the next few weeks, the third born of my mothers 4 younger sisters, Karen, will be turning 60. So her husband Jim and her daughter Summer, planned a huge surprise party with guests from 300+ miles. My younger daughter was attending an acting/ thespian workshop that weekend (more on that later) so it was a road trip for just my older daughter and I.

Some people hate driving....I am not one of them. Maybe it is because I am stir crazy this time of year. Or that we have not been able to afford many trips and road trips have often become our vacations. Or maybe it is just that I love the open road.

My children always behaved well in cars. Many a Sunday my ex husband and I would set up a makeshift 'bed' in the back of our explorer (before seat belts were law) and pick a small town on the map and drive. We saw so many things in those days. We would crank up the radio, cassettes, then CD's to favorite music and belt it all out karaoke style with the kids.

Well, this weekend was no different. We quickly packed on Friday afternoon, gassed up the truck, grabbed a soda and hit the road. Some funny things happened...

First stop, Gas fill up. Not too unlikely, however, a good friend of my mothers and of mine, Tina happened to be at the next pump... quick hello, status updates on ailments and job status, a request to tell my parents hello and we were off.

Silly us, we forgot to get a drink, pulled into station number two... a friend of my daughters is there with her new husband. - more updates.. fill our cups and we are on the road again.

Driving and singing- well to most of the songs- my daughters Ipod has quite an interesting mix. We were two girls on the road- ready to face what life would bring. Ready for warmer weather- in more ways than one!

I was so proud of her! She made it a good 212 miles before she had her bladder moment. Usually she waits until she is about to burst before she tells me to pull over, by the time we get to a town that would have services, she resembles the woman in the incontinence ads... gotta go right now!

The small town that we pulled over into just happens to be the town that my childrens grandparents and two aunts live in. Their fathers family. I am not a bitter divorcee and I get along well with his family, however we had not planned to stop in to see them on this trip. The trip was a short one, I had not seen my parents in months and we just didn't have time. I tend to run at the mouth and if we stopped... well lets just say, we wouldn't have made it to our destination.

As I waited for my daughter to run in and use the facilities, I was a bit humored by the small town character, and characters. There is a whole different kind of person who lives on a farm or ranch and gets to town only once in a while. Granted, there were people of all walks in this store that day. But some of them, I'm just not sure that they knew other people could see them... ratty hair, dirty overalls, some looked as though they were headed out to catch them a bear. - OK I will be nice from here on.... I promise!

A cute couple stepped out of the station, and I noticed them right away, they looked more like the city folks I was accustomed to. Then, I saw him! The male of the couple was my own ex-brother-in-law and my exes sister. Getting into the car parked in the next stall... what are the chances of that? We chatted for a moment, caught up a little until my daughter came out. Seems that they were headed to the same place we were (just an hour from their place) for a seminar. We had a good chuckle and set off again.

The weekend was a blast! Texas hold 'em on Friday night- until way passed my bed time.

Then the party on Saturday.
What a great time!












We have the kind of extended family that gets along well. We laugh and joke, and love each other dearly. My daughter had to babysit that night as it was an adult only party but she made out like a bandit and loves to babysit anyway.

On Saturday we went shopping at a vintage furniture store. They had the most amazing fun stuff in there. Good thing I'm out of work or I may have bought more than I did...which was nothing. Who would think that we would find a used but pristine pair of black Prada boots in downtown St.George... too cool! (didn't buy them either). We walked down the street to a tiny little used book store. I love love used bookstores. There were some awesome finds in there also. A small poem book of Robert Frost poems copyright 1920's. Another book of 'love stories' they were called, were also poems copyright in the 1800's. Beautifully written. I would have loved that book, just didn't have the $23.00. Another book that caught my eye was an old Dr. Seuss book also from the 1920's.

A small 'learn to draw' book I found interesting as it showed the difference between the 1920's and the present day. Pictures of little girls always in cute little dresses and boys with suspenders. Mom did buy me one book, Speaking of Operations by Irvin S. Cobb. Which seems (based on the few pages we browsed) to be a hilarious account of one man's view of surgery. and since this was written copyright 1915, I can imagine it is quite a tale to tell. I have not yet read the first page but I shall keep you posted.

The weather was great, in the 70's. It was nice to feel free of our heavy coats for a short time. It sure helped to take the job hunt off my mind for a couple days. No worries, no stress. But it was all short-lived. Sunday morning we went to breakfast with two of my aunts and their husbands, then we packed it up, hugged mom and dad goodbye, and headed home.

Here are some photos of the trip home. That is Mt. Nebo in the distance, very near our destination- Home.

Waiting at home was my younger daughter, some Superbowl Bingo, a very close and sweet football game, some really bad for us appetizer-like foods, some comfy sweats, some young teenage boys company, and then bed.
All-in-all great time to clear my head.