Coincidence?

Across the road (yeah, I live in the country so we call them "roads" here) there is a rather eccentric family that resides there. They have spent a bazillion dollars on stone fencing, a gorgeously beautiful, to die for, home, a guest home, a view for thousands of miles, 100 acres and the list goes on and on.

We have never been really friendly with these neighbors. We have only exchanged brief phone conversations a handful of times over the past 12 years we have lived here. They keep to themselves (wish I could say the same for our family) and it appears that they aren't really on very good terms with any of my other neighbors up here in the hills.

Okay, more to the point. So Mr. Neighbor came down with dimentia a few years ago and Mrs. Neighbor had cancer. Mrs. Neighbor has an assistant that we will call "Assistant". Assistant lives there and really is a story all of her own. Anyway, Assistant had her ailing mom move in. Mrs. Neighbor and Assistant moved out of the main house and left Mr. Neighbor and Assistant's mom there with some kind of nursing staff to tend to them. Mrs. Neighbor and Assistant moved into the guest house.

Sounds complicated but it all makes perfect sense. Today I just found out that a couple of months ago Mr. Neighbor, Assistant AND Assistant's mom all passed away within a two week period. What are the odds? Now, that leaves Mrs. Neighbor there all by herself.

Okay, so now she's got this beautiful ranch, horses, view etc. etc. etc. and nobody to share it with. Makes you kind of rethink those material things we are always in pursuit of.

What matters in the end . . . what kind of person you are, how you treated others and our Mother Earth and what did you contribute to humanity. Right?

The Calling

So I FINALLY received and accepted a new calling at church. The calling is . . . (drum roll) . . . Activity Day Leader!!! Yeah, it caught me off guard too. I USED to have this calling 6-1/2 million years ago when Brandilyn looked like this (yeah, that would be Cassidy sitting next to her at the top of the photo but don't tell) and it was called Achievement Day Girls.

I have been pretty elusive about callings for about 9 months now and they finally caught up with me. Go figure.

Okay, so I was talking to my darling friend, Jasmine, on the phone today and she informed me that she had that calling not too long ago. She said (and I quote) "you will love it! They are as darling as a . . . as a . . . box of new little puppies."


(Did she really say that?) I then replied, "Well, that's all fine and good as long as one of them doesn't piddle on me!"

I was then counciled by my dear friend, "No problem. Just have your activities near a restroom at all times!"

Advice taken. So now here's my little Courtney who is one of my Activity Day Girls. Any guesses on what she is going to look like in 10 years?

Blast of My Past

Today my dad and the twins and I went up to Amboy to check out their Territorial Days. They had rides and, of course, the twins' eyes were as big as could be. Me, being the mom that I am, said, "NOT!!!" Sad faces.

We walked around and really didn't see much to write home about. But, hey, it's Amboy what did you expect???

Okay, so this is where I laugh at my past. Last year, when Ann and I were getting ready to attend our 20 year high school reunion (Lol), we decided to all out and get really dolled up. We bought really nice gowns and had our hair done and even got our nails done. We both felt like a million bucks.

Well, we got to the reunion and this is what the guys looked like. I was once again the laughing stock of my high school class.

I found this picture at the museum up in Amboy. Actually, they were having some kind of lumberjack contest there and there were guys walking around dressed like this and all the cute little Barbies were fawning all over them.

So, then today, my daddy found this little beauty. It is a Model A - almost exactly a duplicate of the car he drove as a teenager. He was so excited to check this out.

I love it when I see a smile creep across his face. My dad has always been my hero and I look up to him so much!

The Cat's Meow

My sister and her companion just bought this awesome home in Battle Ground, the town I grew up in. It sits on 2-1/2 acres, has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms PLUS this cool barn shaped detached garage with 2 rooms AND a bathroom upstairs. It is absolutely to die for!!!!!

In addition, the 2-1/2 acres is heavely wooded so you can't really see your neighbors on any of the sides, the front lawn is pretty and manageable and the backyard is small and perfect. I fell totally and completely in love with the place.

My sister and mom were a little surprised when I said that this place is the perfect place that I would like to live in. Yes, I am weary of so much to take care of. I love my horses and that would be the ultimate sacrifice for me but to live in a place like this . . . ooooh la la!!

I am so happy for them and plan to make visiting here a continued habit! Congratulations Gail and Leah. Your home is fabulous!

Dumpster Diver!

As we were leaving town and heading for Vancouver for our annual trek up north, Robbie asked if we could go to the local bicycle shop and grab a crate to ship his bicycle up to Seattle on the train with him.

I said, "Uh, Rob darling, don't you know it's Sunday and the store isn't open. Besides, it IS the sabbath day and we aren't supposed to be shopping. Oh, and yeah, money???"

Rob looked at me like I was half out of my mind. "What are you talking about? You are catted! (new slang for ridiculous)."

Was I missing something here? Yup, I sure was! The kid has it going on, I tell you. He wanted to lift a bicycle crate box out of the dumpster. I'm duly impressed.

Now my question . . . how DID he know that that is what is in their dumpster?

Mayberry

We had the privilege to attend Fourth of July festivities with all of our children and grand daughter over in Mountain House yesterday. What a pleasure!

That town is so dog gone cute! It is neat, new and very community oriented. They had the most simple parade that has to be one of my all time favorites. This picture is one of the entries in the parade; a pick-up truck towing a boat with a couple moms and their children waving to the crowd. Of course, Sarah and Ava are sitting right up front. I couldn't believe how stinkin adorable Sarah was up there waving at everyone and throwing candy to the observers. I guess I just never get to see this side of her.

Anyway, the balance of the parade was made up of some motorcycles, corvettes, various children with their groups (i.e. karate, soccer, baseball etc.) a couple of churches with home made banners on their cars and some town officials in cars. Simple and sweet.

Thank you Mountain House for allowing me to share in your fun day and for showing America that being simple really is more fun!

The Journey

Here's the stuff that is keeping me going:

• I'm looking forward to spending as much time as I possibly can with Brandilyn and her husband, Dave, in the next two days. Can't get enough!
• I'm looking forward to picking up my Daddy on Monday and heading up north
• I'm so looking forward to visiting with my sister, Gail, and learning more about her business and, of course, spending time with my own mommy
• I'm looking forward to finishing my class and getting my certificate
• I'm looking forward to riding my horses more - it makes me feel so free and makes me so happy

It's often the "looking forward" to something that makes it so special - I guess that's why we are always told to enjoy the journey.