20 Years of Camping!

We are heading out to go camping! I was trying to find a photo of where we will be going, and I came across the photo that I posted. This photo is our very first camping trip together as a family. I then realized that this was taken 20 years ago this week. My husband Charlie, is a Fourth of July baby. For his birthday, he always wants to go camping. It is the only time he will relax. No phones, computers, nothing and no one calling him to do anything. He is a die hard, camping for a week, creature of habit, kind of guy. There will be a lot of fishing, hiking, and looking for rocks to bring home. He always reminds me that this is not going to be a scene from the movie, The Long, Long Trailer. We always have good food. I don't know why, it always taste better in the High Sierra's. There will be games of horse shoe's and boccie ball. Naps in the hammock. Stories around the campfire, roasting marshmallow's for s'mores. Oh, and of course looking at stars that are right upon you and even closer through a telescope. Plus, bringing a little handful of books is a great way to lounge and get some summer reading in.

My step dad would take us camping when I was growing up. All of us kids could take one friend. We always had a blast! I am happy that this has become a tradition in our family. Even though a couple of our daughter-in-laws do not care for camping, we get to take the grand kids now.

I will read you in a week! Have a great and safe 4th of July!
Muah! I will miss you!
;)

My Beloved ~

My Beloved

I belong to You, my Lord and King,
And I know that Your desire is for
me.
And Your love falls like sweet
refreshing rain,
Gently flowing down again so free.
Lead me to the place
Where I can hear Your words of
healing;
Where the fragrance of Your love
consumes my soul.
Where my heart is overwhelmed
With the mercy that You've given;
Where I hear Your gentle voice call
to me,
You are my beloved.
And many waters cannot quench the
burning flame;
Rivers cannot wash away Your love.
And I know that in You I am safe;
You call me by my name,
Your beloved one.

Holland Davis

Things

Our local news has been covering the fire in South Lake Tahoe. I find it to be devastating and heartbreaking. The news showed people running to their homes, shoving their vehicles full of their belongings. I can not get the look on their faces out of my head. I thought to myself, 'What would we do? What would we take? Where would we go? What would happen to us?' I have been walking through my home, thinking of all the memories, filling it with things that we love and the stories behind a lot of these items. I know that these things that we fill our home with are just that, "things." Some of them handed down through generations.... some not. What these people fleeing their homes must have felt, having to make a decision on what to take and leave behind. I know the bottom line is that items can be replaced and people can rebuild and life outweighs things by a huge long shot. In today's newspaper, it showed a woman sitting in the ashes of where her home once was, holding what was left of her mothers china. She was crying. My heart just goes out to them.

Note~ link

As of tonight there has been 3,100 acres burned and 200 homes destroyed.

Party in the Country

Diandra's best friend's birthday fell on Saturday, the 9th of June. The high school her friend attends graduated on the 7th. It just so happened that this was her friend's 18th birthday, and Diandra knew that her friend, Danielle, was going to be completely jipped an 18th birthday party in the process of a graduation so close. Back in January, she asked Danielle's parents if they'd let her give a surprise party for their daughter. They gave her $500.00 to cover the costs. She came home explaining all of this to me.... I was surprised. She had never done anything like this. I didn't know if she could pull this off. Diandra would discuss all of her ideas, and see what my thoughts were. She would spend time on the computer researching her ideas, make lists, and more lists. If any of you knew Diandra, you'd understand the lists of organization she had going! Diandra told her dad and I what our roles were..... uh? We were involved now. Whoa! There were to be at LEAST 50 people to attend the party, who actually RSVP'd. Diandra was 100% frugal, and used every penny of that $500.00 wisely. She went from one place to another trying to get the best deal possible on each item she needed. Forks, napkins, plates, cups, food, decor...everything that a party entails. She even handmade all the invitations, as well as decorating the dessert plates, and forks and spoons cutely. She was quite Martha Stewart-esc and made the table centerpieces as well. As time went by, her dad and I could both see that she really did need our help. Since the party was being held at her other best friend's house (located in a completely opposite direction from their destination), Diandra had to come up with a means of getting Danielle to the party without her knowing. The only catch was that Diandra was the one who had to get her there; no one else could pull this important part of the plan off because none of Danielle's friends from school or family knew Diandra's best friend.

So, Charlie and I were quite necessary. I was getting so nervous the closer the event got to us. But, she was so calm. I cut up the chicken and put them on skewers, (note: the morning of the party, Diandra and I went bright and early to where the party was going to be to drop off the supplies. Diandra had been helping there the past two days as well). By the time I got home, it was 10:30 a.m. and I started cutting chicken. By the time I finished putting the chicken on skewers, it was 3:00. I was literally crying. The smell and feel of the chicken got to me. I still had to take a shower and get myself ready. I was to be back at the house where the party was going to be at 4:00. I was late.

Details:
I was impressed to see everything my daughter was doing. She first started with the invitations by scanning little drawings she had designed and then arranged neatly on Microsoft Word, eventually printing them all off herself. She took the symbols that she designed on the invitations and painted them on the bottom of each clear desert plate with the same colors she'd used in writing on the invitation. Diandra also made party favors with these designs on the tags. She painted Chinese lanterns to coordinate with the party colors. She made all of the desserts that her best friend liked (chocolate is her favorite, and rightly so!) The invitation said, "Flip flop on over for an old fashioned all white party," along with the details of the event. Everyone was to wear white and khaki and colorful flip flops. There was crochet and boccie ball games going during the party. Diandra wanted me to take pictures throughout the party so that she could make a CD to give her afterwards.

I really don't feel comfortable at things like this and thought that I could make my exit. I really thought that my job was done and at one point, I went up to her and mentioned that I thought that I was going to go. She looked at me with sheer terror on her face and said, "What?" I knew that she really just needed her mom there with her period! I stayed and just made myself busy washing dishes, putting things away, getting things for people and answering any questions that I could. I was there until the very end. She was so appreciative and I was so happy to be there for her. It was a great party and I was so proud of her.

NOTE: For all of you who RSVP, and then decide NOT to go...please, by the kindness invested in you, CALL and let the party giver know. Poor Diandra was ready for 50 people...only half showed. All the money, time, and effort Diandra had worked so hard on...



Old wheel barrel carrying a load of Vinca flowers.

The table center pieces were varying sized, empty boxes with Gerber Daisey's stuck into each one.

Mark, Darlene's son, who's friend's with Diandra, helped her bring 5 large tables, and 50 chairs to the event. What a blessing he was!




Koi fish in the pond


Graduation/18th Birthday presents




This donkey, Jack, enjoyed the festivities as well. All throughout the party, he was "He Hawing." Diandra said it's normal; everyone else heard him each time he did it and just looked at each other with awe. It was so loud and sounded so deep from within. You don't realize these little country sounds actually occur outside of children's books. He really added something to the party.

Lemonade

The menu consisted of Grilled Chicken on skewers with four different sauces to dip them in, pasta salad, mixed green salad, and fruit salad, all of which were homemade.


Diandra painted the Chinese lanterns to coordinate to match the colors of the party and were placed through out the yard.

Diandra seen the bags at Michael's, and decided that she could do them herself. She took colored bags, stenciled and then cut them out, taped wax paper behind each one.

Graham crackers with chocolate frosting placed in bags were the party favors (a treat passed down from Diandra's Great Great Gram).

Tagged ~ One Word

1. Where is your cell phone? table
2. Relationship? TLC
3. Your hair? brown
4. Work? work
5. Your sisters? priceless
6. Your favorite thing? loved ones
7. Your dream last night? Tennessee
8. Your favorite drink? water
9. Your dream car? I am actually driving, but since I am asked, and get another pick, old 53-55 pickup truck (how do you "one word" this?)
10. The room you're in? office
11. Your shoes? off
12. Your fears? losing
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? happy
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? family
15. What are you not good at? tags
16. Muffin? Paris
17. Wish list item? security
18. Where you grew up? California
19. The last thing you did? mending
20. What are you wearing? clothes
21. What are you not wearing? shoes
22. Your pet? dogs
23. Your computer? slow
24. Your life? blessed
25. Your mood? tired
26. Missing? kids
27. What are you thinking about? work
28. Your car? Jaguar
29. Your kitchen? unfinished
30. Your summer? hot
31. Your favorite color? green
32. Last time you laughed? today
33. Last time you cried? yesterday
34. School? painful
35. Love? boundless

My Ballerina~

My daughter Diandra has her dance recital coming up this next week. She has been dancing since she was two years and 10 months old, almost her whole life. Being that she was my only daughter, her room was pink with butterflies, bunnies and full of baby dolls. I couldn't wait to put her into dance after seeing my youngest sister's recital. I was cRaZy to put her into dance at such a young age. What was I thinking about? She was just a baby!

Diandra has stuck with dancing throughout the years, works in the office, and helps as a dance aid in the classes as well. She has helped choreogragh dances and routines for the towns cheerleaders and talent shows. She talks about quiting dance... but I have yet to see her do this. I have to admit it saddens me to think about her not dancing anymore. I always thought that she would be dancing in the light. When I see her up on stage as a young woman, my heart strings are pulled by memories of her as a little girl in her little pink tu-tu, mismatched socks, her brothers soft worn white t-shirt and black leggings calling me "look mommy, look at me dance!" I am smiling with tears in my eyes, "Mommie's looking honey; I see you!" Whether or not she decides when and if she will quit dancing, she will continue to dance all over my heart.


Song: Wild & Free


Song: My little Girl

Undersea

Beneath the waters
Green and cool
The mermaids keep
A swimming school.

The oysters trot;
The lobsters prance;
The dolphins come
To jon the dance.

But the jellyfish
Who are rather small
Can't seem to learn
The steps at all.

By Marchette Chute