"Carry Me Home..."

Ahhh...it's summer. Finally. Now we can move lazily through our days dreaming of bar-be-que, corn-on-the-cob and Popsicles. Even though I am NOT a fan of the hot and humid weather this season brings, I love the summer. The kids running through the sprinkler, the roar of motorcycles in the distance, the crickets in the evening...the beautiful fresh air filling my house through wide-open windows.

I always look forward to the summer because that's when vacations begin and Happy and her family come to visit for one week. My house is filled with family and friends and the laughter of grandchildren. Oh, that happens whenever they come home to visit, but in the summer...it's just...different. The kids seem happier...maybe it's all that sunshine. And maybe it's because my Mom and Dad are here, too, to enjoy the kids. Yeah, that has a lot to do with it.

So, I read a blog today http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/going-home (I cannot seem to add a link to my blogs...weird.) First of all, the picture is from my friend Sweet T and it's beautiful...and incredibly simple. The blog begins with a poem by Donna Hilbert and by the end of the brief encounter, I was hooked. I loved the poetry...it so reminded me of my own Grandmother and parts of my own childhood...I think I have found a new poet to love.

I spent many summers with my Grandma and Grandpa...all of them fill my mind with sweet, hazy, taking-it-easy, memories that seem to, quite simply, wash me clean. Take pause...relax...find-a-place-wherever-you-are, close your eyes and remind yourself of some beautiful, peaceful place. Meditate on it. Find solace there. Seriously...take a deep breath. Go.

Okay...you all know me by now...you know that I am a born-again-blood-bought-spirit-filled-testifyin' child of the King. I know this all sounds WAY New Age. WAY beyond what Christians do. I know in my heart of hearts...the deepest part of me...in my very spirit, that Christ brings me peace. That He is my solace. He is my rest. He washes me clean. I know that. And I will believe that forever. Nothing but the Blood.

That is not the kind of peace I'm talking about. It's that...sigh. That...I-miss-those-days feeling. It's the feeling I want my kids and grand kids to have when they think about spending summers at Oma's house. That sweet, special, out of the ordinary place that puts a smile on your face when you are alone in a crowd and everyone wants to know "what's up with HER"?

Yeah, I'm thinking about my children and their children and how much my Grandma would have loved to have had them all spend a week with her July. At the pool. At Bay Beach. Laying on the covered patio drinking lemonade and licking fudgesicles. Playing with Laddie. Those were the days...the lazy, hazy days of summer youth.

Oh, and in case you were wondering...I'm doing fine.

Happy Birthday...Happy 25th Birthday...

I would so LOVE to take all the credit for this beautiful woman...but it's NOT about me.
It's about HER.
(Oh yeah...Sweet T...you know who you are! These are still the most beautiful pics of Rachigga...)

Rachigga turns 25 today. A milestone. I have blogged for her birthday before. (www.mylifeisatapestry.blogspot.com/2008/05/happy-birthday-rachigga.html) But today...25 years. I can hardly believe a quarter-of-a-century has gone by. Has FLOWN by. Look at her. Then and now. My Rachigga is not JUST a beautiful woman. She's a beautiful WOMAN. Inside and out. She's special. And creative. Tender and caring. Encouraging and disciplined. A hard worker, a wonderful mother and an awesome wife. Most importantly, at least to me...she's an incredible daughter. She thinks of me. She makes me feel loved and protected. Weird, I know...but if you KNOW Rachigga...she's a protector. She's a prayer warrior and a beautiful worshiper.

Rachigga, I love you incredibly and I am so excited to be able to celebrate this milestone in your life. Your 25th anniversary of your birth.
Such a beautiful family.

Just...that's all...

I'm looking for a picture I took...I can't find it. BOO. I needed SOMETHING visual...to say...

I'm frustrated. I'm prideful. I'm worried. I'm depressed. I am out of fresh ideas. I am tired...feeling...creepy...weird. Something's missing. Get it?



And I wonder. Just...wonder, that's all.


Because I felt like it.

That's Not Yours...So Don't Worry About It...

Okay, so I was watching Dr. Phil today. Yeah, yeah...spare me the rhetoric.

This particular episode was about Inheritance and Pre-Nuptuial Agreements. I don't really care about the pre-nup...it's the inheritance thing. And something the lawyer-woman said. "Intended Inheritance." It means you may or may not get anything. It should really have said: "Ed's money". You know...ED or BOB...yeah, anyway...IT'S NOT YOUR MONEY TO BEGIN WITH!

Seriously...my children know there's no money...and if we get any money...it belongs to US. Mom and Dad. Not them. And we get to spend our money any way we choose. And, in the end...if there's any left, they can split it up any way THEY choose. And, trust me...Chief and I will probably being doing our best to spend whatever money we have on US.

Selfish? Probably. Rude? Not really. I was frustrated with this woman who was really upset with her father because he had invested money in business ventures with her brother, his son, and he lost everything. Including his wife. All told...probably over $1,000,000. Still...it was HIS money. Her name wasn't on any of those President-portrait-ed pieces of green paper. Daddy earned that money all on his own and he did as he wanted with it all. Wise? Ummm...no...BUT...none of her business, really.

I do not want my children to "butt-in" where our money is concerned...and I do not "butt-in" on their choices, either. We all make money mistakes...and we learn from them and grow from them. (Well, hopefully!)

HOWEVER...I do appreciate that my children have been very protective of Mom and Dad concerning some money PROBLEMS during the past couple of years. And supportive. They are the best, and we could never have imagined such encouragement from these fine adults. I do believe we need to look out for one another, offer advice...when it's asked for... and give silent support and encouragement at all times. But, if we make mistakes concerning our money...then we suffer those consequences. If we do something awesome with extra money, and it proves lucrative in the long run...then THEY reap those benefits right along with us...and after, if that be the case.

Worrying about the way my parents are spending "my inheritance" is selfish and disrespectful. I certainly do not want my parents to worry about what money they can leave behind...they should be living out these years to the fullest and having a most beautiful, rewarding life! And if that means spending all the money THEY have EARNED...then so be it.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34

Preach it. Thank you.