On My Mind

Mid-Summer Update

As I sit here, I can look out my back door and see the breeze blowing in the flowers and birds in the feeder. The sun is golden and the grass has gone dry. We're harvesting our garden and delighting in seeing our lovely property bloom over the last year that we've lived and loved here. 

I don't really know why I feel this way, but this seems like the summer of "relish". 

I'm relishing everything that presents to my senses. Every thing I look at is "art". I'm taking it all in, living in the present. I have an immense feeling of gratitude and it makes me feel happy, peaceful and appreciative. 

* Maybe it's because I have a lovely husband of one year who shows me love & support I've never known *

* Maybe it's because I have 3 wonderful children who love me as much as I love them ~ they are my greatest accomplishment *

* Maybe it's because I have a loving family that is fairly drama-free and extremely appreciative of FAMILY *

* Maybe it's because I know time is short and of the essence and knowing this, I make the most of every moment *

* Maybe it's because my mind is always taking artful snapshots and I CHOOSE to see the beauty in everything *

or

*Maybe it's because I have summers off and I'm relishing this time off before I go back to the mayhem *

or 

*Maybe it's because certain toxic people have not been front and center in my life for the last year, and now the restraining order is no longer in effect and I know that the peace may not last * 

MAYBE IT"S BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE ABOVE

at any rate, overcoming obstacles with a right attitude has gotten me to this grateful place in my life, and knowing when it's good and appreciating that. THANKING the Universe for the opportunity to live a life well and hoping I am doing it right and enough. 

That's what I think about... doing it right and doing enough of it. Life is so short and full of complications and Mean People. We have to do things to nourish our souls and recharge when our bliss meters point to near empty. I'm all about BLISS and I am thankful my

life has enough blissful people and things to keep my meter up in the medium to high level almost all the time. 

Some things I've done this summer *so far* that make my heart sing:

*camping with Wade's family, 46 people and 14 dogs all got along*

NOT working, at work. Not missing it one iota. 

Working at home: on a garden, on to do lists, housekeeping, cooking.

Tending a garden and flowers. Reading. Sitting in the quiet. Rocking in my rocking chair.

Camping at the Mopar Nationals, just me and my hubby, our yearly tradition. Rodeo's and fairs, floating our boat on the river. Gathering river rocks. Sitting in the swing and laughing with my girl. Morning coffee on weekends with my husband.

Birthday bash for Kristina and Wade at Kitty's. FAMILY getting together and feeling 

the love, clearly.

LISTENING to the quiet. Taking care of myself. Banking my bliss! I COULD GO ON! 

We'll see how the rest of the summer goes. Update soon! 

First Day of Vacation

Here it is, finally. 

Summer!

The years go by so fast! I look back on my blog posts and 

I was JUST blogging about summer coming and appreciating life by slowing

down.... and here, it has raced yet again, to another summer.

We had a very rough year. And a magical one, too.

Lots of heartache and sorrow and struggle. People we thought loved us

tried to destroy us. Now I watch my back everywhere I go.

But, not to be overshadowed by that, we also had much LOVE!

We got MARRIED! And, it had the look and feel of the wedding of my dreams.

Our family came together and made it beautiful.  

And now we live in a house on a hill with 7 gorgeous acres that I find like paradise.

I LOVE it here, and I love the people I live here with!

This morning was my first vacation day. I savored it.

I moved my glider rocker out to the front porch where I can sit and look at that magnificent

oak tree and gaze out at the mountains and trees. The birds chirp and the dog lays at my feet.

I sip coffee and READ, read, read to my hearts content. 

Then I got up and did a little housework, and then I did some creating. Then I sat back down and 

rested. Did some gardening. Fertilized plants. Admired flowers..... sat and rested. Sipped rootbeer in my 

rocker again. Just love it! 

Taking time to sit and rest and enjoy life..... priceless. 

Our porch is in transition. We poured the concrete and next year it will be  fabulous outdoor room!

This is a wedding item I refurbished by cleaning up and giving it chalkboard paint. Now it's a cute vignette in the yard! (safe from rain, of course!)

Above, partial view of the oak tree. 

Stay tuned for more summer stories! 

Summertime - And The Livin' Is Easy....

As most of you know, well all four of you who read my blog... summer is MY time. I wait all year, starting on the first day of school, for the first day of summer. I count down EVERY day and even proclaim at the end of a working day that we are "one day closer to summer." Some may say this is silly, saying in September that we are one day closer to summer, but take it from me, this is for sanity's sake. It's my way of looking forward to my favorite time and being positive when the weather turns gloomy.. for that is when my mood turns gloomy as well. Summer is my winter's light at the end of the tunnel.

As for THIS summer, well, it's been jam-packed and it's not over yet! We've been camping, floating the river, took a trip to California, lots of bbq's, been to the races and the drags, celebrating family, life and warm weather when we've got it. 

I LOVE SUMMER! 

Now we are in August (ALREADY!?!) and this month we have the Country Music Festival to attend like last year, and Wade's daughter is getting married this month too. Nathan has a birthday and I do believe my first day back to work (ugh) will be this month as well. 

I can honestly say that as busy as this summer has been, and I did at one time complain a bit that it is go, go, go a bit too too much... it has been a wonderful summer full of fun and good times. I never floated a river before, and I've never been to LA. Now I have! My summers of the past have included college, homework, ebay and staying home. I didn't do anything and i thought I liked it that way. 

But now I'm out there living life! LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE! 

There are some who pooh-pooh my enthusiasm. My mush and gush. But, it is who I am and I believe life is for living and we must have a positive attitude or we have a negative life. It's all in how you choose to live and I choose to live as cheerfully as possible!

So, I will enjoy my simple pleasures: a stalk of wheat, a golden sunset, the smell of hay and the sound of frogs croaking at night. The way my curtains blow in the gentle breeze, the song of the yellow finch at the bird feeder, how the light hits the leaves in the maple tree in the front yard. THAT, is truly what life is about. 

Enjoy what remains of your own summer. 

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.  

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.