the beach...

A week ago my husband and I spent some time on the beaches of the Florida Panhandle. 

Our favorite beaches were Mexico Beach and Cape San Blas! 

And we stayed here....

Mamoo and Papsy came to stay with Jack and the kids.  Mamoo was out of here when we arrived home five days later!  I asked her if she was ready to go home...she said "I just want to read my book!"  I laughed inside because I so understood that reading is a luxury in this house! 

It was a much needed break away from all the things I love so much, and to reconnect with my husband!  Just soak up a little beach time!  Mountains, city, rivers, and all things in between...I love the beach!  Maybe it is all my childhood memories of Maine.  Just something about the sound of the surf, smell of the beach and the sand between my toes.  Standing on any shore is my idea of heaven.  Just like the tide comes in and out...life carries on.  The surf can be loud...but so can life.  It is the one place I feel connected to this earth and the idea of something so much bigger and powerful then myself. 

When I was so much younger and spent my summers in Maine my Nana (aka grandma) would take me for brisk walks on the beach in the morning.  And when my dad happened to be there he would take me in the evenings after dinners.  What I remember is that I always felt so grown up because they would talk to me about so many things.  It was almost as if the beach put a spell on them to talk about any and all things...much like wine does me now!  When I was little and they would spill their secrets to me about the stuff they knew...I felt so big.  Now when I walk the shores...gleaming sea shells, I feel reassured that someone is indeed looking after all of us.  I think that is why I love the shores, and ocean so much.  To me it is food for my soul!  Just wish I didn't live so far away from it's magic! 

The Flu

This weekend Paul and I had planned a trip to Makers Mark to tap into his Bourbon barrel, but the flu had other plans for our Myrt. We had planned to stay over night at a hotel with a water park for her...needless to say everyone was disappointed.

While I hate it when my kids are sick, I wish they NEVER were! There is a flip side to the sickness. There is something to be said about the nurturing that occurs at these times. We spent the day doing puzzles, watching movies and reading her favorite book (Because of Winn Dixie) to each other. While during the night we all snuggled on the sofa together to keep our shivering Macey warm. She was delirious with fever...and would randomly tell us off the wall things in which we would all laugh.

I kind of feel like I could do one of those Visa Card commercials...
Tissues with lotion $4.95
Gatorade $6.98
Vick's Vapor Rub $6.99
Popsicles $3.75
Children's Motrin $7.99
Children's Advin $6.99
One Direction Puzzle $5.00
Movie Rental $2.99
Halls Cough Drops $4.29
Zicam $11.95

Love, health and smiles...priceless!

Journal

All my life I have found myself jotting down the events of my, our days.  I have grand expectations of someday compiling them altogether for me.  I was looking for old journals today and found one for 2007.   Here is what I wrote about the first of my year of 2007...made me laugh!

January 1, 2007
Found a piece of green bubble gum under the sink today while cleaning.  Then Paul P found Gavin seeing how far he could stretch the piece of gum from his mouth. 

Dinner at the Payne's tonight.  Lynn gave both Macey and Gavin a "session" on better behavior.  At least we are staring our new year out in a wonderful home!    Let's hope the year is better worldwide.  We have everything we need.  For this I am grateful.  The world is a sad place and I hope it gets better for the sake of our children.

January 2, 2007
Gavin is sad that Santa did not bring him a magic book that whatever you wrote in it came true.  He wanted to write in it that everything would be free.  He cannot wait to go back to school.

next I found the 2008 journal...here is what I wrote...

January 1, 2008
Macey slept.  We didn't go out...very cold only 5.  It snowed lightly all day.  I figured out how to use and download music on Gavin's new MP3 player.  We also signed him up for Internet.  He wanted his sign on name to be Godilla69...where does he get this?  Macey didn't want to potty in the pot so she got a towel out and peeded on the floor.  Aunt Kaye went to the hospital on Monday to have a feeding tube put in.  They could not, because of the cancer had spread to her stomach.  She was so much better today, actually ate.  However, the priest came and got her ready. 

next I found the 2011 journal, here goes...

December 30, 2010
Daddy bought the Cheesestick..G6.  Earthquakes in Indy but we didn't feel them. 

December 31, 2010
Unseasonably warm today, 50's or 60's, rain, thunderstorms and tornadoes.  Small fire when cooking oysters on the grill.  Macey was at Grammy and Papa's and they told her she was up at midnight...it was only 9:30 and she called to wish us a happy new year.  Then she proceeded to ask us if we were naked.

January 2, 2011 had to say goodbye to Nana and Grumps.  They were going back to Maine on Wednesday.  I gave both of them a hug and told them that I loved them.  Nana said "Love you much."  I like that!  I think I will say that from now on.

2012 Journal
January 1st.  Macey and Daddy stayed up to watch the ball drop.  Big ticket item shopping, a sofa and computer, but neither accomplished.  1st meal of the year, sea scallops.  Gavin comes back home tonight, and back to school tomorrow. 

Love remembering all the little details of my life!

My Favorite Books of 2012

I was only going to pick my top ten, but came out with eleven. Here they are in no particular order. These are the ones that have left marks in my head or heart. Some strike more of a cord than others, or take me places that I understand in my own soul. Here they are... This one had me chewing my finger nails....

The blended family in this book ... I totally got it!

Not my favorite story by her...but I love Sofie. She has the best imagination and always has me laughing out loud. I love her!

This is 2nd in a series about a boy called Harry Clifton. The next book comes out in March. I am counting the days!

LOVED this book...maybe even the most, but it was one of the last I recently read. It had me on the edge of my seat, and after I read it I couldn't get into another book. A heart felt drama.

A true story of a book club between a mother and son, while the mother is enduring cancer treatments. They spend treatments reading books and talking about the big issues in the books...while deep down expressing all the hard things they cannot share with each other.

This might be one of the best books I have ever read. I loved the true soul journey that she took me on. It is amazing the pain a human heart can endure and the ways one finds inside to defeat it! While she was indeed very lost, I understood where she came from.

The religion written about in this book...I got it! Sometimes it is only an act!

Beautiful written...not really happy with the ending, but I still fell in love with some of the characters!

Just like Sofie Kinsella...my loyalties to this author run deep. I love all her books. This one is no exception!

There are no words for this story! Sad and shocking! This story I will remember forever!