THE SCARS OF LIFE
Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.
His father working in the yard saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.
From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.
The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go!"
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go.
In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead.
The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.
God has blessed you, so that you can be a blessing to others. You just never know where a person is in his/her life and what they are going through. Never judge another persons scars, because you don't know how they got them. Right now, someone needs to know that God loves them, and you love them, too- enough to not let them go.
I received the above in an e-mail and I couldn't help but share it - God never lets go!
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Sunday, September 11, 2005
MOMS
It's been awhile since I've written anything here, but today seems like the kind of day where writing is exactly what I need to do. You see, the past month or so has been kind of hard on my heart and mind and soul ~ a direct reflection of the amount of time I have NOT spent writing/reading and listening.
Four weeks ago I had "a talk" with God (yes, you know already how dumb that was...) and I told Him that as far as I go He didn't have to worry about how I was because I wasn't going to bother Him with the dreams and desires of my life. I wasn't in a place of self-pity. No, I was in a place of incredible pain. The details as to why I was there aren't important - hopefully you'll see this isn't about me, but about all of us...and all of our struggles...and God...and the truth of His character. The truth of the matter was, I was there. I was in a place where I believed IN God, but I didn't BELIEVE God. I didn't believe He truly cared - He didn't really hurt when I hurt or even bother with what was bothering me. I know many, many, many incredible Christian people who have been in the same place. The place where everything they once held dear and strong and stood on with confidence seems to crumble beneath their feet and they're left wondering who this God is that they rely on and trust in and, at times, follow without having a logical reason to. That's where I was four weeks ago.
Today is a different story. And I owe my thanks for that to God Himself - and the people on this earth (you beautiful ragamuffins!) He uses to tighten the weave of His tapestry around the very ones He calls His own.
I think it's safe to say that I was feeling unraveled. Yes, that's a very good way to put it. And frayed...and 'fraid. This weekend, however, I had the privilege of being surrounded by women who love the Lord with their real hearts and long to introduce Him to women who may never have the opportunity to know Him through our church's MOMS group. MOMS isn't a Christian Bible Study for Moms group - no, it's more of a covert operation. It's more of an opportunity to come alongside and love some women who, in some cases, are very ANTI-God. In some cases it's an opportunity to come alongside some women who know God, like my friend Tara, but haven't really discovered what it's like to put complete faith in Him and live their lives for Him. In yet other cases it's the humbling experience of letting them come alongside you and help you discover you're not enough - and that's okay because God is.
I think that's where I am today. I'll never be enough - UGH! I hate to even TYPE THAT!!! I want to be enough - I want desperately to know I've got enough in me to take care of my husband and make him feel loved, secure and respected. I want to believe I've got enough to raise my children to be upstanding citizens who will honor and respect others while living their lives for Christ. I want to believe I've got enough to lead others to Christ while walking my walk with Him and not having to depend so much on those around me (...or, dare I say it and risk laying myself out there like a frog on the dissection table...Him). But the truth of the matter is: I'll never be enough. Neither will you.
Nope - the ladies I laughed and cried and munched with this weekend reminded me of that. None of us are ever going to be enough. But thankfully, and I'm clinging to this with the ounce of strength I have, God is. And He's working in ways we don't understand - and He's doing things and allowing things that just don't make sense - but He's working and He always will be.
And, y'know what else? He cares. He really does. His character doesn't allow Him NOT to care. He cares because He loves us. Psalm 103 tells us the truth of who He is...(I had forgotten to read this over and over and over until it sunk in...if only my foolish heart would get out of the way!) Here it is:
Psalm 103 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
Psalm 103 Of David.
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-
18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
I'm reminded of a prayer request I made a few years back - I requested they pray for weakness because I'm a strong woman - I can handle a lot of things - and that's my problem. I need to pray for the strength to be weak.
Ladies of MOMS - I want to thank you for reminding me that we serve a God who is strong enough to handle it all, and longs for the opportunity to be Himself in our lives. I'm looking forward to a great year of reaching out and loving other MOMS into the Kingdom with you. God bless you all and THANK YOU for a FUN WEEKEND!!!
Four weeks ago I had "a talk" with God (yes, you know already how dumb that was...) and I told Him that as far as I go He didn't have to worry about how I was because I wasn't going to bother Him with the dreams and desires of my life. I wasn't in a place of self-pity. No, I was in a place of incredible pain. The details as to why I was there aren't important - hopefully you'll see this isn't about me, but about all of us...and all of our struggles...and God...and the truth of His character. The truth of the matter was, I was there. I was in a place where I believed IN God, but I didn't BELIEVE God. I didn't believe He truly cared - He didn't really hurt when I hurt or even bother with what was bothering me. I know many, many, many incredible Christian people who have been in the same place. The place where everything they once held dear and strong and stood on with confidence seems to crumble beneath their feet and they're left wondering who this God is that they rely on and trust in and, at times, follow without having a logical reason to. That's where I was four weeks ago.
Today is a different story. And I owe my thanks for that to God Himself - and the people on this earth (you beautiful ragamuffins!) He uses to tighten the weave of His tapestry around the very ones He calls His own.
I think it's safe to say that I was feeling unraveled. Yes, that's a very good way to put it. And frayed...and 'fraid. This weekend, however, I had the privilege of being surrounded by women who love the Lord with their real hearts and long to introduce Him to women who may never have the opportunity to know Him through our church's MOMS group. MOMS isn't a Christian Bible Study for Moms group - no, it's more of a covert operation. It's more of an opportunity to come alongside and love some women who, in some cases, are very ANTI-God. In some cases it's an opportunity to come alongside some women who know God, like my friend Tara, but haven't really discovered what it's like to put complete faith in Him and live their lives for Him. In yet other cases it's the humbling experience of letting them come alongside you and help you discover you're not enough - and that's okay because God is.
I think that's where I am today. I'll never be enough - UGH! I hate to even TYPE THAT!!! I want to be enough - I want desperately to know I've got enough in me to take care of my husband and make him feel loved, secure and respected. I want to believe I've got enough to raise my children to be upstanding citizens who will honor and respect others while living their lives for Christ. I want to believe I've got enough to lead others to Christ while walking my walk with Him and not having to depend so much on those around me (...or, dare I say it and risk laying myself out there like a frog on the dissection table...Him). But the truth of the matter is: I'll never be enough. Neither will you.
Nope - the ladies I laughed and cried and munched with this weekend reminded me of that. None of us are ever going to be enough. But thankfully, and I'm clinging to this with the ounce of strength I have, God is. And He's working in ways we don't understand - and He's doing things and allowing things that just don't make sense - but He's working and He always will be.
And, y'know what else? He cares. He really does. His character doesn't allow Him NOT to care. He cares because He loves us. Psalm 103 tells us the truth of who He is...(I had forgotten to read this over and over and over until it sunk in...if only my foolish heart would get out of the way!) Here it is:
Psalm 103 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
Psalm 103 Of David.
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-
18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
I'm reminded of a prayer request I made a few years back - I requested they pray for weakness because I'm a strong woman - I can handle a lot of things - and that's my problem. I need to pray for the strength to be weak.
Ladies of MOMS - I want to thank you for reminding me that we serve a God who is strong enough to handle it all, and longs for the opportunity to be Himself in our lives. I'm looking forward to a great year of reaching out and loving other MOMS into the Kingdom with you. God bless you all and THANK YOU for a FUN WEEKEND!!!
MOBster
Yes, I've decided it's time I joined the MOB. Not just any MOB. Nope, the REAL MOB is the only MOB to belong to! And only certain people are allowed in. You cannot be male, but you must have intimate relationships with males in your life. The intimate relationships you have with the males in your life must not be with your husband because he is not able to be in this MOB. Nope. You've gotta have intimate relationships with males who are younger than you and look up to you for guidance, instruction and affection. To be a member of the REAL MOB you must be the Mother Of Boys.
That's right - I'm the Grandmother MOBster. I've formed a new club for all my friends who have way too many gray hairs way too early in their lives and constantly look like they just stepped off a roller-coaster experience went bad. (in some cases, VERY bad!) MOGs are not allowed as they just don't get it and the purpose of the group is to get away from their looks of "can't you control your child?!"
MOBsters is a support group for women who understand that, "no, we have tried, but we really do not get that testosterone thing and have since accepted that 'the need for speed' is truly ingrained since birth."
If you are a MOBster and would like to have a place where you can go to discuss, vent, laugh, cry and scream about what being in the MOB has done to you please let me know and I will send you an official, bullet-holed, secretive and highly confidential invitation. But, when you get it, remember....MUMS the word!
Now, for those of you who are not MOBsters...read the following and enjoy a sneak peak inside the life of a Mother Of Boys.........
The following came from an anonymous Mother in Austin, Texas... Things I've learned from my Boys (honest and not kidding):
1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.
2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.
3.) A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way
6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9.) A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.
10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old boy.
11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12.) Super glue is forever.
13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15.) VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20.) The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.
21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.
25.) Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
That's right - I'm the Grandmother MOBster. I've formed a new club for all my friends who have way too many gray hairs way too early in their lives and constantly look like they just stepped off a roller-coaster experience went bad. (in some cases, VERY bad!) MOGs are not allowed as they just don't get it and the purpose of the group is to get away from their looks of "can't you control your child?!"
MOBsters is a support group for women who understand that, "no, we have tried, but we really do not get that testosterone thing and have since accepted that 'the need for speed' is truly ingrained since birth."
If you are a MOBster and would like to have a place where you can go to discuss, vent, laugh, cry and scream about what being in the MOB has done to you please let me know and I will send you an official, bullet-holed, secretive and highly confidential invitation. But, when you get it, remember....MUMS the word!
Now, for those of you who are not MOBsters...read the following and enjoy a sneak peak inside the life of a Mother Of Boys.........
The following came from an anonymous Mother in Austin, Texas... Things I've learned from my Boys (honest and not kidding):
1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.
2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.
3.) A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way
6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9.) A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.
10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old boy.
11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12.) Super glue is forever.
13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15.) VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20.) The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.
21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.
25.) Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Family is Forever
What a fun day yesterday was! The Foskett family slept in until 10:40 am (bedtime didn't come until 2:00 am, and we didn't sleep much the night before we left, too...but, yes, we DID sleep half the day away! :) )
Once we finally got going we headed out to the Split Rock Township outside of Sioux Falls to see PaPa T and the big machinery. The boys absolutely loved climbing around on the front end loader, the scraper, the fire truck, the other thing and the other thing and the mower. LOL! We've got great pictures and when we head home I'll post some of the better ones.
After that we headed out and followed PaPa T and his grandkids in PaPa's pickup truck to see where he had been working and almost flipped the mower into the ditch that morning. South Dakota is such a beautiful state. I can do without the mugginess and heat, but the beauty of South Dakota can rival the most beautiful "known" places anywhere.
Then it was off to Uncle Phil & Aunt Sandi's for a time of running around in the yard for the boys and keeping cool in the house for the big kids. Whenever I'm with my family back here (and especially at big family reunions) I have a tendency to give lots of thanks for the fact that I have a big family with lots of great and wonderful Aunts & Uncles. Yesterday was one of those days. When it got time for dinner time (supper time in South Dakota) we headed to The Keg for chicken and chislic. It was the six of us and Uncle Phlip & Aunt Sandi at first - then my cousins Jon & Mark (cuz) showed up with Jon's girlfriend, Diedre and Mark's wife, Heidi and adorable little girl Isabella. Seriously, Isabella is amazingly beautiful ~ big blue eyes and the sweetest personality. It was fun to see how she has changed in the last two years ~ they really do grow up too fast.
After a little bit Uncle Vince showed up (yea! Thanks for putting down the tools and coming up - it wouldn't have been the same without you!) along with my cousin Sara and her daughter Elianna (I don't know if I'm spelling that correctly - sorry Sara!) who is also a beautiful little girl who has grown up so fast. Uncle Pat & Aunt Iris rounded out the fun little family reunion we ended up having. It was so nice to sit next to Uncle Pat and have a conversation with him - the bad thing about having such a big family is not always having the time to talk to each of them and get caught up when we're all together.
Last night ended up with Uncle Vince and Scott & I sitting out on the patio chatting and then a double feature of "24" (6 am to 8 am on the first day of the first season ~ presidential primary day.) We've become a bit addicted and so have been renting the first season discs to get caught up with everything.
It was a good day, to say the least. The boys are loving being with PaPa T and MaMa T. I'm so thankful for this time for them to make memories with the people I love the most.
We're off to Wild Water West this morning and Cabela's in Mitchell this afternoon. I'll update more tomorrow! Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Trayc
Once we finally got going we headed out to the Split Rock Township outside of Sioux Falls to see PaPa T and the big machinery. The boys absolutely loved climbing around on the front end loader, the scraper, the fire truck, the other thing and the other thing and the mower. LOL! We've got great pictures and when we head home I'll post some of the better ones.
After that we headed out and followed PaPa T and his grandkids in PaPa's pickup truck to see where he had been working and almost flipped the mower into the ditch that morning. South Dakota is such a beautiful state. I can do without the mugginess and heat, but the beauty of South Dakota can rival the most beautiful "known" places anywhere.
Then it was off to Uncle Phil & Aunt Sandi's for a time of running around in the yard for the boys and keeping cool in the house for the big kids. Whenever I'm with my family back here (and especially at big family reunions) I have a tendency to give lots of thanks for the fact that I have a big family with lots of great and wonderful Aunts & Uncles. Yesterday was one of those days. When it got time for dinner time (supper time in South Dakota) we headed to The Keg for chicken and chislic. It was the six of us and Uncle Phlip & Aunt Sandi at first - then my cousins Jon & Mark (cuz) showed up with Jon's girlfriend, Diedre and Mark's wife, Heidi and adorable little girl Isabella. Seriously, Isabella is amazingly beautiful ~ big blue eyes and the sweetest personality. It was fun to see how she has changed in the last two years ~ they really do grow up too fast.
After a little bit Uncle Vince showed up (yea! Thanks for putting down the tools and coming up - it wouldn't have been the same without you!) along with my cousin Sara and her daughter Elianna (I don't know if I'm spelling that correctly - sorry Sara!) who is also a beautiful little girl who has grown up so fast. Uncle Pat & Aunt Iris rounded out the fun little family reunion we ended up having. It was so nice to sit next to Uncle Pat and have a conversation with him - the bad thing about having such a big family is not always having the time to talk to each of them and get caught up when we're all together.
Last night ended up with Uncle Vince and Scott & I sitting out on the patio chatting and then a double feature of "24" (6 am to 8 am on the first day of the first season ~ presidential primary day.) We've become a bit addicted and so have been renting the first season discs to get caught up with everything.
It was a good day, to say the least. The boys are loving being with PaPa T and MaMa T. I'm so thankful for this time for them to make memories with the people I love the most.
We're off to Wild Water West this morning and Cabela's in Mitchell this afternoon. I'll update more tomorrow! Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Trayc
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Home, Home on the Range
Hi from South Dakota! Scott and the boys and I flew in yesterday (all day trip ~ who'da thunk it?). It was a nice trip, actually. The boys weren't horrible...and it's over...and we're here in one piece and enjoying being with my Mom & Dad...so it must not have been too bad. :)
The boys and I are here until the 22nd - lots of time for Caleb & Micah to have coffee with PaPa T and tell him how bad smoking is for him - and lots of time to try to see as many of my relatives as I can (okay, there's never enough time for THAT - with all the family I have it would take lots more time to drive around and see them all...and if they were all in one place I wouldn't want the time to end.) We're heading to Wild Water West today ~ it's HOT here, and it's not a dry heat. Tomorrow we're going to Cabela's ~ the outdoors super store/man's paradise in one building ~ and then probably up to the Laura Ingall's Wilder homestead in DeSmet, SD. The Sioux falls has a nighttime light show that we'll try to get to either tonight or tomorrow, and then Friday we'll hopefully head down to Norfolk, NE and see my sister and her family...I can't wait to meet my grand-nephew, Isaiah! Hard to believe I'm (such) a Great Aunt! (teehee!) Then, on Saturday afternoon Scott heads back to Vancouver (where it's hot, but not hot).
THEN the FUN begins! Woo-Hoo!! Ideas on the agenda are: Kansas City to see my cousins, David & Joel and their families; ValleyFair in Minnesota so the boys can ride the kiddie roller coaster I rode as a kid; Going to the Omaha Zoo with Jamie, Shelley, Sophie & Allie; and Hanging out and taking it easy with PaPa and MaMa T. Hmmm...not enough time. :)
I hope you all have a bit of an opportunity to relax and enjoy the summer. Like I said to Dad last night at 12:30 (okay it was this morning) when he was saying he could go for ride in the PT Cruiser convertible we rented some other time....THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT TO START ENJOYING LIFE! (and, yes, I wanted that to be louder...not an actual yell, but loud ;) )
Take care...and drop a comment about your favorite thing to do in the summer time...I need some ideas to add to my list. *grin*
The boys and I are here until the 22nd - lots of time for Caleb & Micah to have coffee with PaPa T and tell him how bad smoking is for him - and lots of time to try to see as many of my relatives as I can (okay, there's never enough time for THAT - with all the family I have it would take lots more time to drive around and see them all...and if they were all in one place I wouldn't want the time to end.) We're heading to Wild Water West today ~ it's HOT here, and it's not a dry heat. Tomorrow we're going to Cabela's ~ the outdoors super store/man's paradise in one building ~ and then probably up to the Laura Ingall's Wilder homestead in DeSmet, SD. The Sioux falls has a nighttime light show that we'll try to get to either tonight or tomorrow, and then Friday we'll hopefully head down to Norfolk, NE and see my sister and her family...I can't wait to meet my grand-nephew, Isaiah! Hard to believe I'm (such) a Great Aunt! (teehee!) Then, on Saturday afternoon Scott heads back to Vancouver (where it's hot, but not hot).
THEN the FUN begins! Woo-Hoo!! Ideas on the agenda are: Kansas City to see my cousins, David & Joel and their families; ValleyFair in Minnesota so the boys can ride the kiddie roller coaster I rode as a kid; Going to the Omaha Zoo with Jamie, Shelley, Sophie & Allie; and Hanging out and taking it easy with PaPa and MaMa T. Hmmm...not enough time. :)
I hope you all have a bit of an opportunity to relax and enjoy the summer. Like I said to Dad last night at 12:30 (okay it was this morning) when he was saying he could go for ride in the PT Cruiser convertible we rented some other time....THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT TO START ENJOYING LIFE! (and, yes, I wanted that to be louder...not an actual yell, but loud ;) )
Take care...and drop a comment about your favorite thing to do in the summer time...I need some ideas to add to my list. *grin*