A Saturday Adventure

Ben and I decided to that we wanted to take a drive. We didn't have a plan, we just didn't want to sit at home, we wanted to do something.  So we jumped in my car and headed out on Lake Mary road.  There were a ton of people out on the Lake.  We kept driving down the road, enjoying the scenery and listening to music.

The pictures that are showing below were from a view point in the area of Lake Mary/Morman Lake.

And we kept driving......and driving.....we had come to the end of Lake Mary Rd and had to choose which direction to go.  The sign read "Winslow" or "Payson".  I shouted out "no not Winslow!"

The drive towards Payson was so pretty!  We drove through Strawberry, which was very small and then Pine.  Pine was so cute, we didn't stop but we said that next time we would.  We kept driving.  

I saw a sign for a place that was on my list of things to go do and see and asked Ben if we could go.  Next thing I knew he turned off at the sign and then he was paying the entrance fee for the park.

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

When I look at this picture that I took of myself I kept help but see a freckled younger teenager of a girl....it sounds silly but that is what I see in my eyes and the way the freckles are showing on my face, the smile and my hair blowing around my face.  Anyways......

It was all so pretty!  I'm glad we stopped.  I can scratch that one of my list :)

It was so hot out there!  94 degrees!

One of the many things I love about Ben is how he can really embrace the present, be in that moment and just be and really enjoy whatever we might be doing at the time.  Its nice because he helps me with my goal of being more intentional and to not worry and stress so much, especially when it comes to what the kids are up to.

After that we got back on the road to Payson.  Ben saw an Arbyss and we pulled in to grab a bite to eat.  I know its funny, it sort of sounds like we took a long drive just to go eat at Arby's in Payson.....hehehe

Just as we were leaving Payson it started to sprinkle, and then there was a huge loud bolt of lightening.  We decided we better hurry and head back to Flagstaff.  The gas station that we stopped at before leaving Payson apparently was affected by the lightening.  The pumps were not working to get gas.  We were alright to wait a little longer before getting gas so we said we would wait until we went back through Pine.

Then we ran into the rain......

By 5:30 we were home safe, and ready to relax.

And that is what we did. 

It was such a fun and perfect day together!!

Celtic Festival 2018

Now need for too many words....the pictures tell the story :)

Children & Changes

When ever you have one child much less three children your life changes then and will always keep changing.  The ups and downs of being a parent can be hard at times but also filled with joy.  Children and Changes sounds like it should be a rollercoaster ride....and by the way I'm not fond of rides but anyways I'm just going to up date you on the lates with each of my children.

Let's start with the oldest......She has just signed up for her next semester at the community college.  She has decided that she doesn't want to pursue Hotel Management/Event Planning.  She changed her major to General Studies for now, that will allow her to have more classes of different things that she can explore.  She is going to take a phycology class and a sociology class.  She is leaning towards more of a social worker type of career, she wants to help people.  She doesn't have long before she will have to leave the community college and go to a major college.  She will be moving out of the student apartment that she has been in for the past year and moving into a student town home.  The rent will be a little less and there will be several roommates than what she has now but she knows them all and is super excited for the change.  She will be 21 in September.  Crazy 21!!!! I can't believe it.  She and I are planning a day down town to celebrate her birthday together.  I'm proud of who she is, a beautiful young woman with a good head on her shoulders.

Now for the middle one.....Since graduation he had been continuing his job at Walmart, working everyday from 2:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. with a few days off in between.  I was noticing that he wasn't doing too much until he would go into work.  I was concerned that he's sleep all day and then go to work.  But he wasn't, he was getting up around 9:00 or 10:00 and then chilling out at home watching something or playing his video games.  Then he would go to work and then come home, stay up late and then start his day over again.  When he had time off he would go hang out with his friends.  But then he apparently was not happy with working at Walmart any longer.  He came home a while back and told me that he had run into Micah and they were talking.  He said that he had asked Micah if he knew of anyone that he could work for that was into constructions, electrician, things in the nature.  Of course Micah said he could always use the help with his painting business.  Kyle wasn't opposed to it but wanted to look for something else.  Micah is a great resource when it comes to knowing people in other businesses due to his line of work.  After Kyle had told me that I realized how proud I was of him, taking the initiative to start looking because he was ready. There are so many times that boy of mine surprises me in good ways and I love it.  After talking with Kyle a little more later he expressed that he wanted to do construction or electrician work, so that took mechanic out, which is fine because he was finally narrowing things down. 

Today is his first day with an electrician.  He got up early and headed out the door.  He will work Monday - Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with the weekends off.  This will work quite nicely, I I get off at 3:00, then he gets off at 4:00 and then we are all home at a good time, to cook and have dinner and enjoy our evenings.  I have met him a long time ago through Micah, so that made me very happy.  He is in his 50s and has his own small business.  Kyle had met with the guy a while back and came home super excited.  I pray that he will like it and that he will do well at it.  This can be a good things for him and its more of a career than a job or at least could turn into that.  I pray that if its not his new boss that it will be another man that he meets or works with that can come along side my son and be of good influence to him and speak into his life. 

Kyle mentioned the word that made my heart leap....moving out.  He said it won't be long now mom that I have a good job and all.  He saw the panic look in my face and said don't worry mom it won't be for a while.  I know that is the next step in his journey and its a step that needs to happen at some point but like a said being a parent is hard and all the changes it brings good or bad is not easy either.  Honestly I think he will do fine, his managing of his money is so different than his older sister.  He has quite a bit right now in the bank.  He said the other day "mom I don't do much of anything anymore and thats okay because I have money for when I do want to do something" That was a proud mom moment right there and then I look around wondering where my little boy went and see a young handsome man instead.

And then there is the youngest.....Well the latest changes with her is that she has her learners permit to learn how to drive.  That is a change that gives me anxiety, but we will make it through.  The thought of my baby growing up so fast and now will be driving.....time goes by so fast.  She will be going into the 10th grade this year.  She will turn 16 this year in December.  My baby 16!!!!  Its too much to think about at times.  She is full of life, bubbly with her smiles and her spirit is quite adventurous....which stresses me out at times.  Its all good and normal since she is young and going through each step as she grows but she is so different than my oldest daughter in the way she thinks and loves to get out about and with others.  She has been trying to heal from a stress fracture in her lower back and has been going to physical therapy.  She has missed out all summer on the summer volleyball program and that has been a bummer for her and a little hard to deal with but she has worked through it.  She has decided that she loves volleyball and wants to play but doesn't want to play with the girls that would be on her team at school, drama and not good team playing skills.  I don't blame her at all.  She says she wants to play a sport in high school, she loves all that goes with it and wants to do something.  I think she might try track this year.

When Kyle moves out one day that would leave just Sara and I.  I'm not sure how to handle that idea.  Part of me gets excited in the idea of my own room and having a normal living room area but then the other part gets a little freaked out.  There are times right now that I struggle with what to do with myself when everyone is out and about doing their own thing.  I'm not needed as much and my role has changed some.  I can and have been taking baby steps into having my own life and doing things with my friends and having a boyfriend, which is great but I still feel as if there is a hole that is empty.  I guess that is part of the phase of when your kids grow and move on their own.  I know that Sara and I will have fun together and enjoy our one on one time together.

For now I have two of them home and I will continue to enjoy them and continue to adjusting to the changes that are going on and coming.  I'm very blest with my children and so very thankful and honored that I was chosen to be their momma.

Rain, Relax and Togetherness

I'm grateful for the restful weekend.  I didn't do much all weekend and it was perfect! Friday evening, Ben and I ran a few errands and then went to the Crown Railroad Restaurant.  That is one place that means something to us.  This time last year that place was one of our first dates.  We order very yummy hamburgers and spent time talking.

So we went there for dinner, I ordered fried shrimp this time, it was good.  Afterward we went to my place.  Kyle was home for a little while before he went out and about with his friends.  Ben and I got comfy on the couch together to watch Netflix.  Sara face timed me, she is in Nebraska with a friend.  She left on Wed, and returns on Tuesday the 17th.   I was nervous for her a little, she hasn't had much experience flying.  She was having a good time.

Saturday we did absolutely nothing!!! Ben let me sleep in some and he went and got some breakfast.  I stayed in my pjs most of the day and then finally got dressed.  I didn't put any make up on.  We enjoyed each others company with talking, cuddling and Netflix.  Late in the afternoon Ben left to go pick up some food that we ordered from the Toasted Owl.   Then for dinner we had pizza delivered.  The rain and cloudy weather made our day perfect.  We also enjoyed some time outside on my porch after the rain, enjoying the fresh cool air and the wet ground and the clouds outside.

Today, Sunday after Ben left I took a shower, got dressed, planned the menu for the week, made the grocery list, I headed out to Walmart.  I called Karlee before heading home to see if she wanted to meet up for lunch.  It was nice to meet up with her and enjoy lunch at Wildflower.

While I was driving home from Karlee's and the rain started to hit hard, and the roads were flooding.  I made my way home carefully.  I unloaded the bags from Walmart and then started to get a few things done around my apartment that I wanted to get done.  Once all that was done I decided to continue the lazy relaxing weekend with sitting on the couch and a funny show that is on dvd.

My plan is to relax until I cook dinner.  I enjoyed the restful weekend.  I think I'm refreshed and ready to focus on the week ahead.  It will be busy next week at work and then Sara has two physical therapy appointments.  I'm looking forward to the next weekend, its the Celtic Festival.

Loss & Peace

Last weekend was a nice weekend but then I discovered on Facebook that an old friend from high school lost her battle with cancer.  I've been part of the journey keeping up with her over the years on Facebook watching from a distance her struggle and battle.  The last post I had seen was by her husband that said that she probably wouldn't make it through the summer and then next thing I knew she was gone.  Julie and I knew each other in high school.  She was always so happy and bubbly and smiling all the time, even when she was down and out she always looked for the best.  From what I could tell in the posts that I read of others memories she was same to this day.  She left behind a husband and two teenage boys.  She will be missed.

The memory that sticks out most in my mind was the time that I had spent the night at her house and we had walked to Northgate movie theater to watch a movie.  We watch the Three Amigos.  It was a funny movie.  On our walk back what stuck out to us most about the movie and what we kept saying and laughing the whole walk back was from a scene in the movie when the turtle says "night ned".  I know its not much and I guess you had to see the movie but for us thats what brought on the laughter.  That was a fun day and a memory I will cherish.

Then you have this guy! :)

My daddy!

His birthday was on Monday, July 9th.  He would have been 68 years old.

I miss him so much!

On Monday the kids and I had pizza in his honor.  He always made sure the kids had pizza for their birthdays.

And of course I had to watch a little Duck Dynasty in his honor too.

I guess you could say we celebrated his birthday, which brought peach and comfort to my heart.

The girls shared what they missed most about Pa.  Kyle, I didn't have a chance to ask he came home to eat and go back to work but I know he misses Pa a ton, he gets a little emotional.

I don't think grieving the loss of someone ever goes away.  The only thing that I can say that helps and brings peace is know that our loved ones are in a better place and that we have memories to rewind in our minds and hearts that can bring peace and comfort.

I think this little quote photo sums it up quite nicely.