Renewed With Love!

On September 8, Dick and I will be married for 40 years.  One night, I suggested that it might be nice to renew our vows for our anniversary.  He agreed!  I told the kids and they thought it was a great idea.  Now, to find a time when we could all do it.  September 8 is on a Sunday, so I thought maybe then.  Nope, Abby and Myles will be in New York.  After ruling out two other weekends, August 17 was the winner.  Unfortunately, that only gave us three days to plan.  It was just to be the 13 of us and our daughters took over the planning of the whole event.  Have I ever mentioned that we have a amazing children?   Yeah, I thought I had.

 

Because it is late and I have to be at school tomorrow and the pictures aren't wanting to space the way I want them to, you can just look at some of the pictures from our amazing day.  From the beautiful renewal ceremony with our very favorite priest in our own backyard, to the evening games of wiffle ball and pole barn volleyball.  Can you even believe that there was a gorgeous moon to end a most perfect and love filled day? 

  



I want to say thank you to my daughters and their mates.  They made this day so special in so many ways.  We are truly blessed to have them in our lives.  Dick and I have accomplished so much in all our years together, but they are definitely our best work!

Sharing Our Spoons / August

Jamee at A New Kind of Normal has relaunched Sharing Our Spoons.  I used to do this before and was excited to see it's return. 

Here's a little explanation of how it all works in case you'd like to join in.

1. Physical: could be weight loss or exercise related or it could be goals like eating more veggies or cutting soda
2. Mental/Emotional: take a day to be alone, write a letter, paint, etc
3. Spiritual: start a new devotional book, commit a certain amount of time a day for prayer/meditation
4. Something fun: Take time to treat yourself – maybe a pedicure or Starbucks (if you don’t typically splurge for specialty coffee)
5. BONUS: One thing to get you out of your comfort zone a week – try something new, sign up for a class you maybe have been putting off.

Here are my goals for August................

1.  I just started the new challenge with the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans.  My physical goal for this month will be to walk at least one mile a day.  I'd really like it to be more, but absolutely no less than one mile. 

2.  Believe it or not, I am going to give painting a try.  I actually bought the canvas and paints months ago and still haven't tried it. 

3.  My goal is to not miss church once this month.  What is it about summer that gets me so out of routine?

4.  Something fun!  I am going back to gel nails.  They last so long and I am worth the extra money.  Actually it turns out to be cheaper than weekly manicures.

5.  Something to take me out of my comfort zone is going to be to try tabata classes.  They just started them at the studio I go to and they scare me just a bit.  They seem pretty intense, but I'm still going to try it.

Okay then!  These are my goals for August.  Thanks Jamee for bringing this back.  I missed it.

Just Write

Listen to the song below and then we'll talk!

Make a big mess, use the good dishes, go to a ballgame, make lots of wishes.  When was the last time you can say you did any of those things?   We get so caught up in the very day mundaneness of our lives we forget that there is a lot we are missing.

I have good china that I got for a shower gift 40 years ago.  Do you know the last time that was out of the cabinet and set on the table?  Yeah, neither do I.  I spend my days attempting to not make messes and cleaning up other peoples messes.  Would it be so tragic to just have fun with making a mess?  It will clean up.  I'm sure of it.  I love Cubs baseball, but it has been years since I have been to game.  No real reason, just haven't bothered to do it.  I spend my whole day making wishes.  Wishing I didn't have to get up so early or that I didn't have to go grocery shopping.  I don't take the time to make the fun wishes.  Like wishing the dragonfly would land long enough for me to take his picture.

Maybe it's time to really take a few chances.  Nothing crazy, just everyday life chances.  Smile at someone you don't know on the street.  Chances are they will smile back.  Take some time to talk with God.  Maybe you haven't done that lately or maybe you did it this morning, but it's good for the soul.  Take some time to really give your kids your full attention.  No cellphones or tablets or tv nearby.  Give them all of your attention.  Turn up the music and dance and be silly.  They will love it and you will too.

The chorus of this song says it all.  It's how I am going to strive to be.  It is how I want to be,

Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
And let it all out
Cause you won't regret it
Lookin back from where you have been
Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you lived

Just Write