I kneel and pray...everyday....

When I pray to my Heavenly Father I talk to him like I would my Dad here on this earth.Some may consider that a little irreverent, but at the same time I think my Dad is the greatest ever so it is really a compliment.I prayed a new prayer this morning. I'm not afraid to admit my weaknesses to the entire world and let you know the stress that has compiled over and over on me. Many of you know the pressures of attempting to sell your house. Compound that by an economy in which nobody is buying anything and your business going down the tubes. Right there you have just mixed a recipe for chest pains. So while praying this morning I didn't ask that my trial be removed from me. O no, I am way too smart for that...I asked for the stress to be lessened.

It didn't seem like an unreasonable request by any means except for the fact that on the phone tonight I spoke to one of our high councilmen who asked me to attend Girl's Camp this year...as Head Cook again. I made it through last year and a major anxiety attack. Girl's Camp is just around the corner in July. Can I pull it all together and be prepared to go by then? Will chest pains be a thing of normalcy? i don't have any answers for that. I simply do not understand. So, why am I telling you this then? I am telling you so that together we can watch it unfold. I told Don that it wouldn't be too stressful to complete this calling if we sold the property....just a thought, but i have no clue what is going to happen or how it will play out.

However, let this serve as a reminder to all of you attending or sending your daughters to camp...The Kitchen Nazi...a.k.a. She who must not be named is back!!!

So, there was this weekend....

My weekend contained more twists and turns that Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland....is it possible? Hubby, the kids, and I bolted from the house saturday evening for our own "wild ride."

we planned on heading down south for a quick overnighter with hubby's cousin who I actually knew in high school. A reunion of sorts. The plans were simple...get together, talk, reminisce, BBQ, let kids all play together, walk the beach, relax and enjoy each others company. We had to be back Sunday night, as the kids had school Monday. So...we were ready for the crazed visit.

As with anything in my life...simple and I apparently don't mix... remember that pesky detail that I knew his cousin in high school? Yup, well....I had a MAJOR crush on him. I know. Wow!!! We are talking major surreal moment.

After we arrived the kids quickly split off and disappeared having a great time together. We all sat in the back around a fire pit where I sat between hubby and the crush. My eyes darted back and forth between the two men who were excitedly chatting and catching up on life and then it hit...I burst out into laughter. The entire situation was odd and hysterical to me. They both stared at me as if I just arrived from another planet which sent me into even more giggle fits. They fell back into the conversation and I watched as they caught each other up on the goings on.

That night we all climbed into bed and fell promptly asleep. I, as always, woke up early and climbed out of bed, showered and got myself looking remarkably decent. I tiptoed into the other room where I spent some time writing in my notebook. The kids were asleep around me and I was simply stealing some private time before the chaos hit.

As his cousin came down the stairs I was chastised for not waking him up...well excuse me? I don't believe it would be appropriate to sneak into another man's bedroom and wake him up. Just a thought. needless to say we worked on breakfast while Don was getting up and showered. Once he was ready we had everything else completed. That's when our visit started it's downhill slide. The plans were simple....walk along the beach. Nothing more, nothing less.

While waiting for the sun to peek out from the clouds the kids began wrestling with Don while we all stayed off to the side watching. 6 children darting in and out doing their best to attack the grown man. Everyone was having a great time until....

Whoops! Wrestling doesn't equate too close to having just eaten. Don ran for the bathroom and slightly missed. I of course, having an iron stomach and "Mom abilities" go in to clean it all up...on my knees. Now, if you know me well you can see this is a bad idea getting worse. being on my knees...not a good thing. So, I clean up the mess and then hand my supplies and everything to Hubby who promptly takes it all out. Then disaster hits again....my knee won't straighten.

Are you kidding me?! When this happens it is nothing short of embarrassing let me tell you. I called for the Hubby and he looked at me face and then looked down at my knee knowing full well what had transpired. Bursitis...His face fell, I tried to get to the couch, but it hurt so stinkin' bad. I was given some ibuprofen, which normally works to stop the swelling...normally. So, there I sit and wish I was completely invisible because the entire day is now shot since I can no longer walk.

Embarrassed enough, I simply wanted to hide my head in the sand. I set to work starting on the pasta salad I was making for dinner. All day, as I hobbled taking care of one thing or another I began to hear whispers behind my head. Dear cousin would walk by whispering..."sit down, let us wait on you, don't be stubborn, you are very pig-headed." I have to admit all are true, but I can't help it. I like to be embarrassed in my own home, not at someone else's house. What would you do?

By the end of the visit I learned a few things:

#1- Crushes are crushes- It was a good memory to think back about my high school crush and then see him nearly 20 years later. I love him to death, but I love my hubby more.

#2- If your man vomits at a family member's house...make him clean it up if you actually WANT to WALK on the beach

#3- It doesn't matter what you do...as long as you do it together.

M.I.A.

I feel like I have been Missing In Action lately.

My re-energizing days off have been less than re-energizing, but please know I am not a "Wo is me!" type person. It is never a pleasant thing to know that your life is going down the toilet, but instead of being flushed away with despair I choose instead to do the backstroke.

I've been spending a lot of my free time lately concentrating on my latest writing project. When I start writing and get into I lose all track of time and senses. I am however grateful that my hubby is understanding enough to not lose his cool when he asked me what I am preparing for dinner and I look at him with a blank stare and say: "Dinner? what's that?"

So, today I kicked him out of the store for a day of fishing. It's been so slow around here there is no doubt in my mind that I can handle it. The best part is....during the quiet moments here int he store I can catch up with my bloggy existence before dropping back into the facebook world and eventually ending up back writing the novel again.

Tonight we fly off again. it is something we haven't done in quite a bit. We canceled all vacations to save our pennies, but it is time we flew the coop. So, for little more than a tank of gas we are driving down to the coast tonight to stay with Don's cousin who I happened to know fairly well in high school. It's one of those twists in your life that makes you turn around and repeat my youngest's favorite thing to say when she was three...."What the heckie?!?!?!" The best part is that I met his Mom at a family reunion and we spent several hours talking and laughing when I found out her last name. I mentioned I knew someone in high school with that same last name....Yup!!! It was his mother. She and I have kept in touch all of these years and we just got back in touch with her son and finally made the time to go and see him before we eventually move.

It's some psycho, crazy, weird, time warp thing happening here in our lives, but it promises to be a weekend with more fun, twists and turns than Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in Disneyland.I am a bit worried as the testosterone will out number the estrogen...pray for me girls...pray for me!!!

Thinking back...

I normally try not to look back to often at my life as change becomes drastic from year to year. Although I couldn't help thinking back to our last really big vacation. We never told the kids we were even going. I watched them get excited as Christmas neared and our plan had already been put into action. When they opened their gift from Santa to find a bathing suit, flip flops, a towel, sunglasses and sunscreen they looked at each other as if Santa had truly lost his mind. In perfectly timed form, even the Olympic synchronized swimming team would be impressed with, all three stared up at us. I truly wish I'd had my camera with me at that point. It was priceless. once they found out we were giving them a trip to Maui they ran around like a group of kids allowed to have a Wii before the rest of the public.

What was my point? Oh yes...I miss vacations. I miss running to the airport right after work to jump onto our flight to our latest and greatest destination. My poor hubby has not had a vacation in 2 1/2 years and yet we still push on. What I loved most about Maui...aside from the people, the beach, the fun, the relaxation and of course my favorite frozen lemonade were my feet. I can see each and every one of your faces right now..."Your feet?!?!?!"

I managed to get a rather severe sunburn on my back and I was attempting to lay comfortably in my small cabana on the beach. Hubby snorkeled out in the surf while whales breached several hundred yards out. The kids built their latest and greatest sandcastle on the beach. In each picture I snapped, I found out later, my feet were int he bottom of the shot peeking up from the bottom of the shot...and the fish picture. Apparently he wanted to talk to us. My kids named him sushi.

Now that was a great vacation!!!

What will they choose?

As I sit here at my little pink Dell a very important meeting is happening in the hallowed halls of the California State Supreme Court arguments are flaring of whether or not to uphold the voter's decision to support Proposition 8. For now all is peaceful in the streets here in California. When the ruling is read within the next 90 days it will be another story. It would be a shame if for the second time the State Supreme Court decided against the will of the people. I am sure for making a stance and supporting traditional marriage there will be some notes from others who oppose. The saddest thing of it all is that others complain that the supporters of Prop 8 are taking away their rights, but at the same time they want us to roll over and not use our own rights of free speech. I don't mind opposing views, but there is no room for ANY side to hurl insults. So, we shall see what the judges decide...until then. I will pray.