letting go

I have been reflecting a great deal lately,
As a parent you have many "firsts & Letting go's". after all that is what being a parent is all about.

when you have the baby you are going through the firsts, your first born, first time the child smiled ( even if it was just gas!) ate solid foods, slept through the night, crawled, walked, transitioned to being a big kid and got potty trained!
then you have the other kind of firsts
first dance, first crush, first heartache etc. then those firsts develop into even more, first time they drive alone, go on a date, graduate and go out in the world. As I have been reflecting this I also thought about "letting go" and firsts really go hand in hand, I began to think of it as an art form. because when your child starts to crawl they do it without your help, when they sleep through the night they are alone, when they take those first steps it is without holding on to you. and all the while you are there encouraging them to do so. that is a parents job. in four days I will be experiencing some new firsts and letting go at the same time.

My son is getting ready to go off to UC Santa Cruz and begin his journey in life. I hope it is the greatest experience for him. we have been gathering all the stuff he will need and it is piling up.
when I look at it I get a bit teary eyed and the realization that my son is leaving the only home he has ever known ( leaving in the sense that he will always have his room but he is flying on his own!) hits me. am I crazy! this is what we have all worked towards him especially, he is excited about it. he has worked so hard and well I want to see him happy, we both seem to going through a bit of separation anxiety ( only his maybe cause his girlfriend is staying here!) I am sure though it is cause this will be a whole new world for him. ( mine of course is cause things
are a changing.) I know we will email, text, talk, of course visit. but now (to me it will be on a different kind of level and I have to admit though my son and I are close I am going to miss him
something I will get used to this year.

I will more than likely be posting my thoughts after I have gone through the experience of it.

the last few weeks it has been about some family and friends seeing him and saying "good bye"
I can't tell you how many times we have both been a bit teary eyed. Good tears though.

up, up, and away

Would you like to ride in a beautiful
balloon? I didn't cause I have an issue with heights but the Saturday of Labor day weekend my hubby and I got up early and went
to the Color of the skies hot air balloon festival,
( one of my nieces did a post about it last year) and I decided that I was going to go and test my new camera out.
This hot air balloon festival benefits Children's Hospital of Central California it is one of many fundraising events that they have in the past few years I have done the Change Bandit program where they have put on a country concert for participants.
The reason this hospital does this is so that they are able to provide high quality comprehensive health care services to children regardless of their ability to pay. a few years ago my daughter had knee surgery there and the staff was so wonderful. I will always support this hospital in some way.

this was the balloon that kicked it all off. what an amazing thing they let you get right up to the balloon we were quite impressed by watching all the work that goes into getting these beautiful flying machines in the air

there were a total of 13 balloons I believe perhaps a few more I took
quite a bit of photos to many to post!





this was one of my favorites
I hope you enjoyed the ride
I know my camera and I did.

Design of Love

"Families are God's design of Love on earth, Each person uniquely created,
pieced and stitched together with different qualities and gifts most of all

with Love."
Lessons taught by our parents(both deceased for many years)but I feel their love and guidance with me everyday along with the spirit of my two older brothers my parents raised and taught us six girls and three boys the importance of family.



My five sisters who are all unique in many different ways, me being the youngest I have learned valuable lessons in life and have been blessed to have a unique and different relationship with each of them, I am close to some than others but love is always there. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family filled with six nieces, three nephews, four great nieces plus one on the way, eight great nephews to many photos to choose and to post on this blog.

Then there is my little family,
my husband , my son, my daughter
filled with love, uniquely created pieced and stitched together with different qualities and gifts but most of all LOVE

The quote at the beginning of this post is something I am truly embracing more in my heart and soul, I am big on my entire family, there is nothing I would not do for them nor would they do for me, whenever one is experiencing discomfort or pain of
any kind we are always there for each other if only to pray, talk, listen, comfort. that is what we do, that is the importance of family, that is the design of love

On an Impulse

A few weeks ago I was visiting my sister and I told her that I was going to buy me a convertible by the time I turned 50, then a few days later I was in Sonora having lunch in a nice little restaurant and through the window across the street I noticed this VW Cabrio Convertible which they do not make this car anymore it had all the bells and whistles, cd player, leather seats, seat warmer etc. ( it's no secret that I had the plan when I turn the big 50 in five years that I have always said I wanted to buy me a convertible, ok ,I really wanted to buy me a Porsche ( but even I know that I can never afford that!) anyway I talked my husband into going and looking at it I said I am not planning on buying it! I just want to take a look
so we test drove it and it was ok, left and then ended back up to the same
car lot a few weeks later and well needless to say I ended up with my little convertible! ( I know like I needed another car!) well my daughter is going to start driving and well we all know what her dream car is! anyhow I love my little car, it is the very first car I bought on my own! I have been enjoying my drive in it. I have put the rag top down twice. My son took it for a spin and my husband even likes to drive it! I am willing to bet that my daughter will want to take it for a spin as well. anyway I am not a person to purchase things on an impulse especially a big ticket purchase like this! ah well at least by the time I reach my 50th birthday it will be paid for! ( then perhaps in my golden years I will be able to buy me that Porsche!
have you ever bought anything on an impulse?

Thought for today

Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.

When you thought I wasn't looking

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING
A message every adult should read because children
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each
other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of
your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn' t
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking.'

I AM SENDING THIS TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW
WHO DO SO MUCH FOR OTHERS,
BUT THINK THAT NO ONE EVER SEES.
LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend)
influences the life of a child.

How will you touch the life of someone today? Just by
sending this to someone else, you will probably make
them at least think about their influence on others.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak
kindly.

Leave the rest to God.

One Day At a Time

A friend sent this to me and I thought it profound so I decided to share

The most useless thing to do.....Worry
The greatest Joy.....Giving
The greatest Loss.....Loss of self respect
The most satisfying work.....Helping Others
The ugliest personality trait....Selfishness
The most endangered species....Dedicated Leaders
The greatest shot in the arm....Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome....Fear
The most effective sleeping pill....Peace of Mind
The most crippling disease....Excuses
The most powerful force in life....LOVE
The most dangerous pariah....Gossip
The worlds most incredible computer....The Brain
The worst thing to be without....Hope
The deadliest weapon....The Tongue
The two most powerful filled words....I Can
The greatest asset....FAITH
The most worthless emotion....Self Pity
The most prized possession....Integrity
The most beautiful attire.... A Smile
The most powerful channel of communication....PRAYER
The most contagious spirit....Enthusiasm
The most important thing in life....GOD

Everyone needs this list to live by, I know that I am one day at a time.