Sisters

I always wanted a sister, more so now than in my younger years.  I think what great conversations we could have about our family, how much fun it would be to raise children together, someone who could listen, celebrate and stay up all night talking.

Then I had 3 girls!  How lucky are my 3 girls to have each other, grow old together and be best friends - well ok maybe that will come later!  And I have heard rumblings that they wonder what it would be like to have a brother - I've tried to tell them but....more later on that one.

Then I was looking through pictures and came across this one - and you know what?  I HAVE SISTERS!  These women and I have become so close that when we are together we can just be.  I have know them for most of my adult life - cough cough 30 years now. We all live in different places but will be there for each other at the drop of a hat if needed.  We have been through dating, marriages, babies, divorces, death of parents, moves, raising children, illnesses, not having children, careers, travels, etc....  We have committed to seeing each other 4 times a year for a "book club".  There is always a book mentioned but truth be told we just enjoy being together book or no book.

Lesson - thankfully sisters don't have to be related - how lucky I am!

Growing

Looking around this weekend all I could see was growth.  Now I am talking primarily about the yard and the growth I was seeing most were in the form of weeds.  

As I continued working in the same spot I worked in when I was a toddler, growth took a whole new perspective. 

Looking around and my adult nephew who was a great help of strength while running the rototiller and racking the weeks - when did he grow up?

My baby who was driving off to take her ACT exam - is it possible she could be planning for college already?

My husband working hard at one of his prides - the swimming pool and getting it ready for summer fun ( I hope the grown children come home to enjoy this!) He insisted he has earned the privilege of supervisor now days.

Watching changes that new neighbors are making to their yards - yards that have remained unchanged for the past few decades.

My mom who has seems to be able to grow anything in her yard.

And oh how my dad would have enjoyed watching and directing us all during the day - instead of living in his assisted living home (I do believe we did everything just fine if he is reading this).

New new crop of berries and plants I put in today - which if truth be told feels more like a small pasture I planted rather than 5 berries and 3 evergreens! Looking forward to watching this new growth over the next few years.
 
And today I am feeling a little stiff, sore and realizing perhaps I am growing older!

Sunshine

Amazing what a little sunshine can do to your sole.  I was indeed missing the warmth of the sun along with two of my family members so imagine what fun we had on a recent long weekend getaway south.  In addition to exploring new restaurants, farmers markets and breweries there was time to sit in a lounge chair with our toes in the sand just watching the blue sky reflect on the water.  I also got to watch these two in action - reading each others minds and conversations about topics I could not even contribute to.
I rejuvenated with long walks along the water pretending that if I lived there I could indeed run a marathon with all the opportunity to train! Hopefully this was enough to get me through until May when we may seen the warm sun here at home.

Competition

Why is everything today a competition - who is smartest, who makes the most money, who is fastest, who has the best ____ (fill in the blank)?

I am a victim of competition.  There I said it.  In fact I have found myself loosing perspective because of competition. A parent wants the best for their kids - myself included, so I thought if I make a list of what I treasure most about each of my children and their uniqueness it would help me with this little flaw I have...

E~
Calmness
Sense of humor
Creativity
Kindness
Beautiful sole

H~
Independence
Passion
Enthusiasm
Teachable

C~
Confidence
Calmness
Conversationalist
Funny
Perceptive

Lies

Is it ever ok to lie?  This question has crossed my mind as I parent my children.  Is it ok to tell them there is no candy in the house when if they were a foot taller they would see it in the pantry?  Are white lies really any different than full blown lies?  Is it a "character flaw" as my husband describes?  And more important if you get caught in a lie do you lie again to get out of it?  And if so, when does that end?

Regrets

I decided some time back that I don't want to live my life with any regrets if I can help it.  At the end of the day I don't want to "wish I would have done that or said that or didn't do that".  Well some days are certainly better than others.  I have implemented a 24 hour rule when I start to feel an overwhelming and perhaps irrational thought boiling up.  I try my best not to act for 24 hours, this gives me time to calm down and be sure my actions and words are not irrational but intentional. So far I think my 24 hour rule has worked pretty well.



So what to do with those regrets I have from the past?  How not to drag them around with me?  I don't have a good answer for that other than to face it head on and deal with it and move on~also something I am trying to get better at.

Time

When I was young, adults would alway mention "how time flies" or "enjoy this while your young".  Never really paying all that much attention, and perhaps dismissing the importance of their words, I just got busy with life.  Now of course I realize what those words meant. 

This weekend I was looking at my nearly 21 year old daughter, an adult now and busy with school, work and finding her way in the world.  Then there is my 18 year old who is planning for the next stage of her life and worrying about making the right decisions.  Thank fully I have a 13 year olds who is full of enery, still asking me qustions and wanting to know what I think. 

Now I know to cherrish these moments because, before I know it, she will be off finding her own way as well.