From my friend, Jennifer P.

I read this in the airport waiting area this a.m. and was moved to tears. Read it and see if you can figure out why...


Promises from a mom to herself:

1. I shall not judge my house, my kid's summer activities or my crafting skills by Pinterest's standards.

2. I shall not measure what I've accomplished today by the loads of unfolded laundry but by the assurance of deep love I've tickled into my kids.

3. I shall say yes to blanket forts and see past the chaos to the memories we're building.

4. I shall surprise my kids with trips to get ice cream when they're already in their pajamas.

5. I shall not compare myself to other mothers but find my identity in the God who trusted me with these kids in the first place.

6. I shall remember that a messy house at peace is better than an immaculate house tied up in knots.

7. I shall play music loudly and teach my kids the joy of wildly uncoordinated dance.

8. I shall remind myself that perfect is simply a street sign at the intersection of impossible and frustration in Never Never land.

9. I shall embrace the fact that in becoming a mom I traded perfect for a house full of real.

10. I shall promise to love this body that bore these three children out loud, especially in front of my daughter.

11. I shall give my other mother friends the gift of guilt-free friendship.

12. I shall do my best to admit to my people my unfine moments.

13. I shall say sorry when sorry is necessary.

14. I pray God I shall never be too proud, angry or stubborn to ask for my children's forgiveness.

15. I shall make space in my grown-up world for goofball moments with my kids.

16. I shall love their father and make sure they know I love him.

17. I shall model kind words to kids and grown-ups alike.

18. I shall not be intimidated by the inside of my minivan this season of chip bags, goldfish crackers and discarded socks too shall pass.
19. I shall always make time to encourage new moms.

20. I shall not resent that last call for kisses and cups of water but remember instead that when I blink they'll all be in college.

I definitely wish I had a do-over for my boys!

I have access!!!

Here I am at First German, borrowing a cup of Internet with Linda J.!!

The time is going by but not necessarily quickly. More like normal days some of which are action packed and some of which are more restful. Just the way I like it! My family and I have been eating out, eating in, cooking out and cooking in for our meals. We have done some shopping and plan to do some more!

Later this week my friend, Linda J. and I are attending the LWMS Convention at Lacrosse. My sister, Lynn, is riding along for fun as we are staying with my sister, Lori, in a nearby town. I just know we are going to laugh and laugh, meet and greet, and get filled up with the Word while we are at the Convention and with my family 'out west'!

The weather has been not ideal, at least for my intent and purposes. Some of my sisters suffer from heat and humidity but Mom and I do not. This makes for a battle of the wills and a battle over door open/door closed plus the placement of fans around the room. It will be nice to be home and warm again, through and through. I just wish Mom could come with me so she could enjoy it, too.

Lisa's boys were being cared for by Lynn, their grandma, and we went to the Lighthouse Inn for breakfast on Wednesday. They are so well behaved for her, and we were glad to have them at our table. Later we went to the ice cream parlor for a treat!

I made it!

Justin stayed overnight at my house Monday night so we could hang out together before I left. We enjoyed some Ming Moon delivery and watched a couple news programs---just like old times! Most of my packing for the trip had been completed so the time was available. After I put his laundry in the dryer, we each went to our rooms before 10:00 pm. He said he hits the hay these days by 9:30 “like an old person!” he declared. I had had a short night Sunday and he was tired from a hot day at work. The rest was needed, for both us!

Tuesday morning he was going to make sure I was up before he left for work, but I was awake before he was. I got to hug and kiss him prior to his leaving for work. I carried the garbage down to the bin and went back up to get my luggage and shut everything down for the next couple of weeks. Because I needed my ‘driving down the road’ glasses from the car, I went down earlier than I needed to be. Just as I exited the lobby, Judy C. pulled in. Perfect timing!

She told me about the terrible traffic situation we were facing and we made the decision to go on I-295 and take our chances on the detour rather than trying the downtown route.  A car had gone the wrong way on the freeway and struck a bus loaded with a minor league baseball team. No one on the bus was injured but the driver of the car was killed. The freeway was closed northbound with traffic re-routed for a ways. We managed to follow the few detour signs and got back on the freeway again. Took us just over an hour to get from my house to the airport. Judy was glad we had left when we did! Me too!

Linda collected me in MKE and we stopped at Perkin’s nearby to have a quick bite. I had not eaten in either airport (I was holding out for Auntie Annie’s pretzels sticks in Atlanta and didn’t find any). We shared an appetizer of assorted treats, just enough to hold us over until dinner. Mom was standing on her porch when we pulled in at her building and she buzzed me in. So good to see her again! Later Lynn came over and brought me some sugar cookies. That was so kind of her! She also stocked up the supply of Diet Coke---isn’t that great??!! 

I had a good night’s sleep in Mom’s guest room, finding my legs freezing this morning due to the drop in temperature overnight. When I went to bed I had no covers on but by morning, with the window open, I needed my Barbie blanket over them. Only in the 60’s today but the temps are expected to improve as the week moves along. I will be in the minority of those who enjoy that! Instead of long pants today I opted to wear capris and take my chances!

After I dropped Jill off at work, I went to church to help Linda and talk to people. It was good to see a few of my favorite folks, Larry and Todd, and meet the new pastor, Chris Hoppe. He and I were already friends on Facebook but to meet in the flesh is excellent too. We got to sit and talk a while before he had to get to work and I had to leave. Mom and I were going shopping at Festival Foods and we timed our arrivals back at her place perfectly! She jumped from her friend’s car into mine for our shopping trip. Mom had been at breakfast with friends this a.m. Busy people!

                   

Tonight Lynn and I are going to Linda’s house for dinner and ‘girls night’. I am making taco salad and Lynn is bringing shrimp. Linda is making a fruit fluff recipe she found on Facebook. Good times in store for us!

Mostly packed

Well, there sits the suitcase on the bench on the end of the bed. My desk is very nearly cleaned off and gives the appearance of being organized. My hair is cut and still crisp from the product Barb used to style it. Did I do everything that needs doing before I leave? Not quite yet, but it's getting there!

                                    

Justin is coming over tonight, going to stay over, so we can hang out a bit before I depart. He was with his father yesterday  so I didn't see him for worship or lunch. Justin is going to load some stuff on my laptop for me to use when at Lori's at the end of the month, which will allow me to fall asleep and stay asleep. Such a needy houseguest!!

The end of my bed is stacked with the folded (somewhat) sheets and pillow slips ready for the guests, one of whom might come back with me from WI (whoo hoo!). One of the young people coming, Erynn, who was here last year, will be leaving mid-week of VBS to attend volleyball camp, which frees us the bed in that room. We shall see when the time comes who gets the room...might be my sister!!

Well, folks, if I drop off the blog for awhile, it would be because I don't have access to Wi/Fi to do my updates. Would be a huge pain to do so on my cell phone! See you when I see you...pray for my travel and for my drivers, please!

It's getting to be time

The washer and dryer are handling some of my clothing to prep for the trip to WI. Judy is all set to pick me up at 7:30 on Tuesday morning to drop me at the airport. The sheets for the guest beds are washed and some of them are even folded. 

The next important thing will be to get the suitcase out of the closet, it's almost time to pack!!! This makes my mother so nervous but it really takes little time for me to throw stuff into the luggage. At lunch today I mentioned that I rarely fold anything when I pack to travel. Mike S. asked me if I just wash and iron the items when I arrive at my destination and I told him that normally, I wear it just the way it is. Mike C. said, "Better cover my mom's ears!" as she is a rabid ironer. We will see how the things travel---perhaps a good shake out is all they will need.

My boy had sent me a text message last night about going to Victory today and then to lunch. That was not going to work for me at all---I had folks to say good-bye to at church plus meeting friends at the pool as soon as I got home from Chili's. Later today I found out he had not intended that for me, but for his father! Ooops! I hated having to blow him off for my church family and friends at the pool!

Our service was a bit slow at Chili's and I didn't get home until about 1:30 pm. As quickly as I could turn myself around, I got my suit on and was out the door to the pool. It was cooler outside today, since the front moved through so dramatically on Friday night. The water felt cooler too ("It's 10 degrees colder today!" according to Kathy) but it was tolerable when the sun was out. 

                             

Not actually me!

Jacquie presented me a white picture hat today to wear at the pool. It seems we had "met" earlier last year when at a function in The Club---a fund raiser for Quigley House. She remembers me anyway...I had been seated at a table in the middle dining room at first, seated with Jessica's sister and mom, and, it seems, Jacquie! Before we got settled, I was asked to surrender my seat and join Karrie at the head table to allow for a party of two who did not have a seat. My moving freed up my chair plus one next to mine. I was glad to move out into the garden room and sit with my friend, Penny. 

At that fund raiser, Jacquie won a door prize, the white picture hat! And now her prize is mine! I wonder what would have happened for Jacquie and me if I had not moved away from that table of ladies? Meeting her husband and she officially at the pool in the summer was the start of a great friendship and I rejoice in it!

Breezy fun

As my sweet friend, Betty, reminded us over and over at the pool this afternoon, there was no rain today. What we did have was a dry wind, dry as in 'less humid'. My doors were open all day long as the breeze moved through. The sun played peek-a-boo in the clouds, so it did feel chilly to me when the clouds won. I did get into the water a couple of times and the sun kept me warm enough. Last night's storm took the temperature of the water down a bit overnight.

My lunch was enjoyed poolside, being visited for a bit by Karrie, as she stopped long enough from her working to have a hot dog. Business was booming in the cabana with lots of families and guests from the hotel coming to eat. This year the kids' menu even includes a peanut butter and jelly sandwich which I think is a great idea. Kids can be so easy! And grown-ups as well. 

Got some reading done between visitors at my table before Jacquie and Mark arrived. Mark had gone on an adventure in the morning which delayed their arrival and brought back amusing stories to share. There is never a lapse in fun with these two around! Did not see Maureen this week at all, but hope to see her on Sunday before I leave. 

Betty and Kathy came out so we got in the water once more. Kathy's brother, Gary, stopped by and went for a dip too. The two ladies planned to come out again later for social time and did, with me having being out there the entire day. Hugh and Maureen (a different one than above) came out, and later Miss Chardonnay joined us. 

Having spent the day outside, my desk did not get cleaned off. I want to accomplish this before leaving for WI, having my affairs somewhat in order, so must make good use of my indoor time. 

                

Tonight I stripped the beds in the guest rooms to have the sheets ready for Justin to make the beds up again. My sister is considering coming back with me from WI so we must have a bed ready for her upon arrival. Then, on the 4th of July, my four teenagers arrive! What a great Independence Day celebration that will be for us and them!

What a crazy storm that was!

Oh my goodness! This evening, right in the middle of The Five, or just as it began, so did a HUGE thunderstorm. When the thunder was rolling without end before the storm, I sent Justin a text message to make sure he was some place safe, like at home. He let me know he was actually with his boss, as they were going to dinner together later on. So glad he wasn't on the bridge when it broke loose. I had to apologize to Linda for being distracted while our TV show was on, as I did my play-by-play of the stuff flying past my windows and the deafening claps of thunder. My oh my! I half expected to see an old lady on a bicycle with a dog in the basket go past my windows...

                  

             Taken in San Marco during the storm

Thanks be to God for sparing me from water intrusion this time. Not even sure if my neighbors were home to keep up with the wet vac but somehow, nothing. The wind was wild--I saw on The Weather Channel that we could expect up to 60 mile an hour gusts. Unsure if they were right or not, but stuff from the trees went sailing by. The thunder never stopped to catch its breath and the lightning was terrifying. I understand something at the base was struck by lightning as my friend reported being stranded there due to a power outage. I was so glad when it ended!

                    

      View of the Dames' Point Bridge as the storm rolled in

The good news was no loss of electricity and only a few blinks of the cable. Of course, the storm wiped out my hopes of getting dinner and meeting my neighbors at the cabana. The skies did clear but when the storm came up, the cabana staff closed up and ran for cover. I had come in the from the pool mid-afternoon when it began to sprinkle, just missing Betty and Kathy as they went out. That rain was short lived and they had the place to themselves. Kathy sent me a text message but I missed it, and missed the fun as well. None of us missed this tonight, though, no mistaking it!