Brutal Honesty from my Son

When you reach a certain age (cough, cough) you have to start spending time getting poked and prodded by the doctors every so often. My cancer diagnosis in 2000 sped up the process for me and so today I was at the hospital for a few tests. I had my cholesterol tested because in the past it's been a little high. The doctors have wanted to prescribe a statin drug but I've always resisted.

I've been exercising quite a bit and watching what I eat so I really thought my cholesterol would be good this time around. Well, they called me right way just a few hours after the labwork to tell me it was high and that I needed to come back in asap to see an internest. Ugh. More doctor appointments, just what I want - NOT!

Anyway, we were discussing this tonight before dinner and I was telling my family that we need to take CPR classes because you never know when you might need it. I saw my dad die of a cardiac arrest when I was a young girl and something like that stays with you your whole life long. Women who have hysterectomies when they are young are at a much greater risk for heart attack and so I think our family learning CPR would be a good thing. To which my ten year old son comments: "When it's your time to go, Mom, it's your time to go."

Heartwarming, isn't it?

Sweet Summer

I love summer. I love the warm weather, the freedom, the long days, the thunderstorms, listening to the birds while sitting out on the screen porch, reading a good book, walking with my sister most mornings, bike rides, lazy days at the cabin, walking with dogs out on our trails, all the beautiful wildflowers blooming in the fields... The list goes on and on.

I'm enjoying this summer a lot. Our trip out west in June was amazing. July has been great too: celebrating Independence Day at the cabin with family. We've had more free time this past month and it's been heavenly. The county fair is over and the children all did well. In fact, we got all blue ribbons except on two art projects that my son forgot to sign and date. If he'd have signed and dated them he would have gotten blues on them both, but, alas, he did not. They were framed and under glass (by yours truly, thank you very much) or I would have whipped out a pen right there, although there's something to be said for the judge teaching him the importance of following directions.

July is wrapping up and then it's August and I start to feel sorrowful for the pending ending of all the lovely things I've mentioned above. I want to wring every little bit of joy that I can out of the next four and a half weeks. Don't leave me yet Summer! I'm not ready to let go. I want to revel in your hot, glorious, sun-kissed days!

Bye Bye Sugar...

Mike and I hiking in the Grand Canyon last month.

I haven't been blogging much lately... There's always something going on in the summer it seems. This week is fair week. The children have to get their projects ready to bring to the county fair on Thursday. That's right, it's the day after tomorrow!

I've been walking almost every morning this summer, on a 4.7 mile loop, usually with my sister. You'd think that alone would be enough to keep the extra pounds at bay, but alas, no such luck! I hopped on the scale last week and was dismayed to see that I'd gained more weight and was at the point where I had never weighed more than this except when I was pregnant!

I knew it was time to take action and so when I was in a bookstore and saw "The Bellyfat Cure" by Jorge Cruise I was intrigued. (FWIW, that's where my extra pounds seem to have deposited themselves.) I had a 20% off coupon and even though I need another diet book like I need a hole in the head, I bought it.

Some of what he says I can't agree with but the gist of his plan is this: Stop eating so much sugar and carbs. Limit yourself to 15 grams of sugar a day and 6 carb servings a day. Of course he has a bunch of success stories in his book to motivate his readers and I have to confess that I love success stories! Who doesn't want to read about someone else doing what they want to do?

So, I decided to start right away and here's the amazing part. It works! I don't have a lot of weight to lose, maybe 15-20 pounds and in less than one week I have lost 4.5 pounds and my waist has shrunk by 2". If it hadn't happened to me I wouldn't believe it myself. I'm still eating, just not quite as much and no added sugar. I'm not even eating that much fruit right now but I hope to add more of it in the near future. In the meantime it's vegetables, eggs, low fat meats and seafood with limited fruits and VERY limited breads and sweets.

I'll let you know how things progress as time goes on but I'll admit that I'm pretty excited. Summer is a great time to do something like this: I have more time to exercise and there are so many delicious vegetables and fruits to replace the junk I was eating.

Happy trails!

Summertime=Too Busy to Blog!

Hanging out in a cozy corner in the cabin.

Family photo on the deck.

Thanks Famous Dave's for the fabulous fireworks!

Leah and Sam waiting for the fireworks to begin.

You'd think that when school is out I'd have more time to blog but I've found the opposite is true.

I'm busier than ever. What have we been up to? Well...

We traveled out west for two weeks and took in six gorgeous National Parks: Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Capital Reef, Arches and Rocky Mountain. While all were beautiful, the Grand Canyon literally took my breath away. Photos simply cannot do it justice! If you haven't made the trek out there, I'd encourage you to put it on your list of places to see. It was our first trip out to the southwest and we had a great time.

Once we returned we were home for a few days and then headed up north to the cabin to celebrate Independence Day. We had eight other family members join us (for a total of 13) so our cabin was full. It was great fun. We enjoyed the fireworks show at Famous Dave's, a local rib joint (where Famous Dave's got their start!)

Now we're back home. Well, at least some of us are. My two girls are with my brother and his family attending a supercool Christian concert festival from Wednesday through Sunday called Lifest. I just looked at the lineup and I'm jealous! There are so many good bands and speakers. I know they'll have a ball.

Why am I missing out on all the fun you ask? Well, my youngest wants to have a food booth at a roping at my mom's farm next door. So, all day Saturday and half the day on Sunday we get to grill burgers and hotdogs and sell them to the (hopefully) hungry cowboys. It's his way of earning a Wii system. Meanwhile, I'm just a devoted mom who's willing to sweat and work and help her son become a successful entrepreneur!

I hope you're all having a great summer so far. I know we are - I only wish it would slow down a little!

Memorial Weekend at the Cabin

Mmmmmm... Bruce grilling kabobs. Best meal of the weekend!

My boy and "Flash" Lacey checking out the turtle passing through.

Everyone gathered on the deck for a relaxing afternoon snack break.

Our lovely girls out tubing.

My youngest is a real hotdogger, hamming it up in the tube.

Two little pups disappointed at being left behind.

Good old Dad taking the children tubing.

The girls and I went out for coffee at Mooselips Java Joint. How can you resist a place with a name like that?!

We always go up to the cabin for Memorial weekend. I really love it up there. This year was even more special because a few family members and my daughters' special friend, Rosa, (an exchange student from Spain who heads home next week) were able to join us for the long weekend.

My dear husband has spent countless hours working at building us a lovely northern getaway over the past thirteen or so years and we are all blessed for it. It all began when he decided we should go shopping for lake property on our honeymoon. Instead of heading somewhere exotic or taking a cruise we drove about two and a half hours north and looked at all sorts of lake frontage. Some was good, most was not. I think the realtors did not take us seriously because we were so young and so they sent us out (alone) to look at a lot of junky, swampy land. In the end we discovered the land we ended up buying only because I suggested we drive down an unexplored road after looking at yet another disappointing mucky, swampy lot.

We found a lot for sale at the end of this little dirt road and we really liked it and decided to make an offer. A few months later it was ours! So much for telling my husband that only "old people" own lake cabins. I'm glad he didn't listen to me because we were fortunate enough to buy before the prices went through the proverbial roof. It took a few years for us to pay it off and then we began saving to build the cabin. Every extra penny we had we put away until eight years later we had enough money to put up an unfinished shell. Mike spent roughly the next five years working on finishing everything off and we paid as we went. I guess that's one benefit of taking your time!

Before the cabin was built we camped on the land. I remember the very first time we camped: Memorial weekend of 1991. It rained all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We were all soaked, our gear was soaked and our dog was soaked. We were ready to pack it up and head home when my younger brother said that no matter what anybody else did, he was staying. I don't know why we changed our minds, but we did and everyone else stayed too. That night and the next day ended up being beautiful! :) We were rewarded for our persistence.

We've got a lot of fun memories from many weekends spent up north and I look forward to creating many more. When I hear the loons calling at night I truly feel as though it is a bit of Heaven here on Earth!

Happy Birthday To Me

Just a random photo of Leah and I in Florida this spring.

I'm 45 today.

I've gotten so many lovely birthday wishes on facebook. :) It seems that the era of electronic messages is upon us with a new but fun way to send greetings to friends many miles away. In this busy day and age how very nice to be remembered by so many thoughtful people!

I confess I am partial to traditional greetings and I did receive lovely cards from my husband and children and a few very thoughtful gifts as well. One dear friend stopped by with her beautiful floral arrangements that she is known for. One has Lilies of the Valley and white lilacs and pink bleeding hearts. All favorites of mine. Their perfume is wafting about and my nose is in heaven!

Ever since my cancer diagnosis I have counted my birthdays as bonuses. This is my tenth bonus birthday. Ten years of loving, laughing, living! I'm so grateful for each and every year that I will never be sad about growing older. Never! I vividly remember begging God for these years and I am grateful for each and every one. Lest you think my life is all goodness and sweetness, I can assure you, it is not. Even on the bad days I remind myself that God granted the desire of my heart and His gift of life comes with both good and bad days. It gives me a different perspective and I'm thankful for it.

You don't need to have a cancer diagnosis to embrace the gift of life. Make each day count, they're all "bonuses" if you really think about it!

Around The Corner

Around The Corner

Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.
And I never see my old friend's face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.
And he rang mine but we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.
"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim
Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And the distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner, yet miles away,
"Here's a telegram sir, Jim died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end:
Around the corner, a vanished friend.

Josh Levi Labar


I remember reading this poem in an Ann Landers column a long time ago and being moved by its simple message: Make time for loved ones, family and friends. Carve out and appreciate time spent together.

So go ahead, call that friend you've neglected. Send a note to a family member or friend who lives many miles away. Take a moment and reach out. You'll be blessed in the process!