On Gratitude

On Gratitude.

 I am grateful for old fashioned style love. 

(He did this on his own <3)

I am grateful for traditions.

(this is my brother in law Rick, who always guts the pumpkins before

our annual pumpkin carving family gathering)

I'm grateful for a family that loves to

do things together.

  I'm grateful for natural beauty, 

and even more grateful for the

ability to notice and appreciate it.

I'm grateful for humor. 

And the ability to be different. 

(above, my 83 year old friend Betty, on the left, being different)

I'm grateful for good health, fresh air, beautiful sunsets,

rocks, and even Nascar. 

 My children mean the world to me.

 And so does living in this beautiful, FREE country.

(God bless the USA)

MAY I NEVER LOSE THE ABILITY

TO FULLY APPRECIATE

ALL THAT I HAVE. 

May I always be grateful.  

A Tour of My Appendicitis

Here, I look like I'm having fun.

But actually, I'm just grateful I am FINALLY  going off to surgery.

I had appendicitis. I could tell something wasn't right. Every time I'd eat, I felt like I'd devoured a cow. It just hurt. 

It took a few days, or maybe a couple weeks. Seems like that uncomfortable feeling was there after I ate for awhile. I chalked it up to being piggy. (here is the first sign... people... listen to your bodies) 

Then Sunday night I attended a lovely dinner, and couldn't eat. Felt like a greedy man on Thanksgiving... had to go lay on the rocker with my pants open. REALLY, really uncomfortable. Of course, I didn't lay on the rocker like that, but I sure wanted to. (another sign... I turned down pumpkin pie for dessert)

Later that night... couldn't get comfy..... tried to sleep out in the livingroom so Wade could sleep. I tried the chair, the couch, the floor... everything. Got sick, got mad, cried to God to make it something and not that I just had to poop. (frustration!!!!!)  How long can you put up with the pain? I asked God to give me a sign.. do I need to go to ER? 

So Wade comes out at 3:30. Later, he told he me found me on the floor in a fetal position. LOL  I guess that's a sign. To go to ER!!!!! So, off we went. By 7 am I was transported, via AMBULANCE! to the Portland Kaiser facility (insurance issue) and I think around 3:45 pm I had surgery. 

 Here, you see the hospital staff who cared for me. The first nurse before Nicole, was a blur. Sarah was sweet as pie. She encouraged me to walk and, gave me FOOD!!!! (jello and broth: the BEST thing in the world)...

My bed. I loved those things they put on your legs. Seriously. They were comforting. They constricted night and day. 

 My view.  Isn't it great? These two waited and waited with me. 

I remember coming out of surgery. Alone in that awful recovery room with all the other people recovering from surgery and I might as well have been in the nut house. People crying out, moaning, screaming, writhing around in their beds. I hated it in there. I couldn't open my eyes, but I could hear them around me.  I just wanted to be with my family. And when it finally came time to go to my room, there they were. All standing there, waiting for me. With love in their eyes. Now that's love. I felt really special at that moment. 

Anyway, an appendix is a mysterious little organ between your two intestines that has no use. Mine got infected. Now it's out and I'm home resting. I have 2 weeks to recover before I go back to work.  It's been a week now since my surgery. I feel tired, weak, dizzy and depressed. I want to be doing stuff but I can't. I've never had surgery before so this experience is new to me. I've been well cared for during this experience. But I don't want to do it again. 

And now, you've had a tour of my appendicitis! Thanks for reading!

Camping Alone With Your Honey Can Be Nice

My Wade & I went camping last weekend.

All alone.

That hasn't happened before, and it was quite nice.

Usually we have at least one to several others with us.

This time we decided to go it alone.. a much needed getaway.

We went to MILO McIVER State Park, near Estacada, Oregon.

It's beautiful in the fall, though we've not been any other time of the year till now.

They have two dams, a lake, a river and tons of forested campgrounds to bike, 

hike or walk.  

I'll be excited to see where we go next. On MY wish list is:

Southern Oregon

Redwood Forests

Seattle area

The Gorge 

Silver Creek Falls 

and any other state, anytime. 

 The view from above the park. You can't tell but this is WAYyyyyy above where we were. I zoomed in.

 Milo's tribute.

 The fishing (and the view) is good here.

 The dam, under construction.

 On our way to the fish hatchery at Milo. This is My Wade & Zeus.

<3 is camping alone with my honey. Well, and the little dog, too.

SUMMER IN REVIEW

Our most recent camping trip, this weekend.

A wedding attended and looking forward to our own next summer.

Me and my very special dad.

MISSING TERESA.

CONCERT in Brownsville.

Our trailer, er... love shack?

These beautiful sunrises and sunsets out in the country. I thank God for them every day.

Beautiful fields of wheat, and hazelnut orchards. Right out my back door. And side door. And front door.

A very romantic moment. FLY ME TO THE MOON playing and dancing after we set off our paper lantern.

My favorite picture of us. So in love. Holding on to each other like we never want to let go.

And dancing with my dad. That ranks way up there too.

Reminding myself what is important. I need no reminding.

Garden visitors.

Time with my kids, who are wonderful.

Remembering that time is precious and it goes very fast. I treasure the time I've had this summer.

Events

Nathan graduates this year.

We said goodbye to an old family member.

And hello to a new one. (We're engaged!)

Choosing to live life simply.

And it all begins with knowing where you are. You are here.

Life's EVENTS keep us hopping. And sometimes even skipping.

Beautiful Goodbye

The time came.

I knew.

My friend told me I would just know when it was time.

To let her go.

It was harder than I thought, since I'd been preparing myself since summer.

But when I held her in my arms as she slipped away, it tore at my heart.

We wrapped her in a white baby blanket.

And placed her in a box to take her home.

I just had to see her one last time, and touch her soft fur.

When I opened the blanket, there she was, all curled up, sweet as a sleeping baby doe.

At peace. I knew then I could let her go.

When we first got her, she would sit on my lap and I'd ask her,

"Are you a good girl?" and then she would jump up and lick my face. Every time.

When we put the last of the dirt over her resting spot, and the red tulips were planted,

we stood in silence. And I told her

"You were a good girl."