Making each day count.

Hello my musing readers.

I hope you are enjoying mid-summer and making the most of the warm weather and vacation time.

I just returned from our annual vacation week at Lakeside, Ohio. I have written about it at various times in the past, and if you read this site from time to time, you know… I wrote about the trip right before heading up north to the Buckeye state.  And…     just so you know, the talk of politics and our president stayed away the whole time.  Thank goodness.   The week was definitely focused on the four boys of the family  (my grandsons and my great nephews) and it was fun to see them all have such a good time together!   Lakeside is a wonderful place for children and young people!  (And old people too.)  It has so much to offer for them in a pretty safe environment… a splash park, some playgrounds, a pool, a basketball court, and places to get ice cream.   It is a Chautauqua town, a seasonal place designed to offer opportunities to learn, to worship, to rest and renew.

So… the 8 days on vacation with my little grandsons confirmed it: there is nothing better in the world than being with grands!!  I totally loved the time – although I was worn out by the end of the trip.  The first day home was nice, to sleep in, to relax, etc.  but then I found I very quickly missed them!!   The boys are 20 months old now and are at such an adorable stage!  And…   There is nothing better than receiving their hugs! I love to watch them learn new things – and to say new things.  To get excited about accomplishing something.  I love to watch them interact with each other.  To giggle.  To clap (there’s a lot of clapping.)     Every day is an adventure with TWO toddlers!

Also, it continues to make me happy to see my daughter be such a great mom to her twins. It’s such hard work – but it’s worth it and she loves them so much – and it shows.  I’m  proud of her.

I’m back home for a few days and then I am off to visit my other daughter and her hubby on Friday.  One of her good girlfriends is getting married soon (daughter is in the bridal party) and Saturday is the bridal shower.  I have been invited and am looking forward to attending!  One reason is I will see a dear friend from my Frederick, Maryland days.  She and I were neighbors and we both had 2 kids, same ages.   They all became fast friends, and they played together all the time.   It was a wonderful moment in time.  And, as life often surprises us, my mom friend from Maryland is also a friend of the bride’s family.   She will be at the shower.     It really is a small world!

My daughter’s new husband is having a spot on the back of his neck removed today.  It’s been diagnosed:   melanoma.   He’s only 31-  but he loves outdoor sports (golf, water skiing, etc.) and as a young man he didn’t think to put sunscreen on.  So, a word to everyone:  be aware of the damage the sun can do.   I’m glad his spot was caught quickly — and kudos to my daughter for seeing it and making him get checked.

Life can change in a minute.   Right?    We have to remember it – and live each day to the fullest.

A dear lady friend of mine (someone I have always considered a lovely mother figure) had a major cardiac event last week.   I spoke with her husband yesterday and he believes she actually died when it happened, but that the EMT were able to bring her back – to get her heart beating again.   She is in Intensive Care now, and has been in a coma since it happened.   It’s a wait and see time.  It’s out of doctor’s hands….and it’s really up to God, and her…    and I wonder, if she did died for a minute or two, did this faithful woman get a glimpse of heaven?  Did she experience the beauty, and the love there??

Tonight I want to watch two very different TV shows!   Tonight is the finale of “The Bachelorette” – and I still have hope that Heather will pick Peter even though he was sent home yesterday.  I’m hoping she realizes she made a mistake!  Remember Ari??    It can happen!!      The other TV viewing:   The first night of the Democratic Debates from Detroit.   I have a few favorites right now.   So, I want to see how they answer questions, and how they handle themselves.   As we all know now:  WORDS matter!  I want to vote for a presidential candidate who aligns with my economic and social beliefs – BUT I also want to vote for a person who sees the good in people, who can run for office without belittling others, who can speak coherently – and honestly.

Can I also say: I want to vote for a president who vows not to tweet???   That would be SO refreshing!!

Question:   Do you ever print off pictures you take on your iphone?   What do you do with all your pics on the camera/phone?   I’m wondering because I take a lot of pictures!!   A LOT OF PICTURES!   I share some on Facebook and Instagram.  Most go into my cloud. I put them in virtual albums. I just put 108 pics into my “Lakeside” album from last week.  So…   I’m wondering:     Is there a better way to save them?     What do you do?

As I add to my cloud, I continue to try and reduce real things!  I’m still downsizing!  I plan to use the coming month to reduce the stuff I have … to give away more unnecessary things so that I can go from two homes to one.   It’s a process.   It’s work.   But I have to do it.

A new month is coming…  and  as I said earlier in this post, each day counts!

So, here I go!