Princess of Quite A Lot

A New Day

...is that a Celine Dion song?

Anyways, I have been planning on writing a post where I moaned and complained to all of you about my disappointing summer.  It was going to be filled with drama, whining, all the good stuff that would make you all feel so sorry for me.  Then today happened.

I had a feeling that since we are about half way through the summer I could turn my frown upside down. 

Today was that day.  It started with the Lasch's and Velarde's visiting for a dip in the pool.  Then I took Emma to gymboree.  Back home to chat with Michelle about "stuff" then off to Baja Sonora where I ate yummy shredded beef hard tacos.  Finally off to Kimberly's for a night of Bunco.  I have missed the last two months due to junk and was so excited to be around 11 of my favorite people, peanut m&ms, a yummy drink, and 3 buncos! 

I didn't think things could get any better until I saw that whittikerwoman commented on MY BLOG!!!!  I love her blog and would love to spend a day in her shoes.  She inspires me, makes me laugh, and is one of the most honest bloggers out there.

So, it's a new day, a new week, I am ready to take the rest of the summer head on and make it one of the best ever!

Tastefully Delicious

I love Tastefully Simple!  They are a company that sells spices, mixes, etc to make your life in the kitchen easier and your food taster yummier.  I usually host one party a year to stock up my cupboards and to help my friends stock up theirs.  I am having a party on Thursday, July 31st at 6:30pm at my house.  I would love for any and all to come.  The night is filled with sampling the different food and learning how to incorporate them into your cooking. 

Let me know if you would like to come and I'll email you my address!

Remembering

I love memories, good and bad.  I have recently become obsessed with Facebook.  It has been great connecting with old friends and seeing what everyone is up to.  One person that I have reconnected with is Don Crosswhite.  He is one of the most talented guys I know.  He is super creative and makes you laugh till you pee your pants.  He has created a great website called Remember Life Center.  It is full of old pictures, bulletins, and more.  I can't wait to see what he will add next.  Thanks Donnie for all the great memories.

How Was Camping?

That is the question I have been asked since we got back from camping on Friday.  I so badly want to say, "Amazing, everything that I needed."  However my answer has been, "Rough".  First, I was sick with stomach issues and a bad cold.  Second, I have a 14 month old that is not quite walking on her own but thinks she is.  Third, the campground was infested with yellow jackets and I got stung for the first time in my life.  My finger swelled up, I couldn't move it for almost 24 hours and it hurt REALLY bad.  Trying to keep Emma, the kids, and the other adults away from the yellow jackets was tough.  Laura, Larry, and Emerson all got stung over the week.  We even resorted to eating in tents one night because they would not leave us or our food alone.  Luckily I bought some traps that helped a bit.

Now to the good things.  Lopez Lake is a great campground.  The weather was perfect.  I love the surrounding cities, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, and Pismo.  We had fun visiting all three.  Doc Burnsteins is the cutest ice cream shop I have ever been too.  Emma was great.  Dylan had a fun time.  It was good to escape the reality that was happening back at home.  The company was perfect.  

Even with all the calamity good friends make up for all of it.  Hanging at the campfire, singing songs with the kids, sharing stories, eating smores are memories that will never be forgotten.  Watching the kids all play together like family is priceless.  Seeing all of God's glory around us, deers eating feet away from us, beautiful surroundings, and even the skunks and yellow jackets makes me feel so blessed. 

On Tuesday I said I'd never camp again.  Today I am thinking where will we camp next year. 

   

Loss

I have not experienced a lot of loss over my life.  The hardest of course was when I lost the baby.  I did not go to my first funeral until I was 19.  I have now been to funerals for babies that never got to live a day on this earth, a friend that died of cancer, people I went to church with, a childhood friends dad, and now I will be attending my mother in laws funeral. 

My mother in law passed away this evening after being on life support for a couple of days.  She has been living in great pain for as long as I have known her.  The past year her health has gotten worse.  I am so sad for my father in law, brother in law, extended family and friends and of course for my husband. 

Darrenn loved his mom.  He has lots of stories of how he would drive her crazy, make her laugh, and make her cry.  She also loved him.  She was so proud of him.  She had a poem that he wrote framed in their last house, she would brag about him to anyone who would listen. 

I loved her stories, her generosity, and her love for her friends. Friendships are very important in my life and I loved that she held the same value. 

I know that she is up in heaven, dancing around, pain free.  I look forward to the day I will get to see her in heaven that way.