Wedding!! Congratulations Ty & Kelly!

Yay!!!!! August 28-Ty's wedding day! How exciting! The 2nd Friesen grandchild is getting married today! I'm so proud of Ty and Kelly-they have come so far. Their growth and maturity are truly something that they are to be commended for! It's a bittersweet day-thinking of grandma and Katelyn not being here in person. They would have loved this day! But, they are here in spirit. It's a day to focus on joy and celebration! Two kids making a public commitment. A fun evening with family and friends! Will be wonderful!

Two weeks have gone by quickly. My vacation is drawing to a close. Should be back tomorrow, but I took banked time so I could spend one more day with family after the wedding. As it turns out, Kyle has hockey tomorrow, and I will be taking him. It's a tryout of sorts for him. Saturday and Sunday. It's more of a look see for the team, as its the first year he is able to skate with them, and has to be a pure superstar to make it at his age. And he may be my superstar, but certainly not one for everyone else! :-) Certainly a good experience. The boys have been running all summer, and gradually increasing the amount of physical exercise. They are now at running 3 miles, skipping 15 minutes and then lifting weights. Don't know if thats enough, but it has certainly helped them stay in skating shape. Jaydes endurance last weekend was greatly improved from what it has been. Its been good to see them shave time off their runs!

Back to work for me on Sunday. Good and bad, I guess. Good for the paycheck and bad for the sleep. Have to set an alarm!

Maybe I should give on update on my dad-he seems to be doing well. He is still spending a fair amount of time at his camper. Its easier for him to pass his evenings when he can be in the country, close to family. We did that switcharound in his house, and that has helped him be able to spend a few nights there as well. He has been busy volunteering at the Thrift Shop, and helping his kids with odd projects. Helped Roger with cutting grass and getting ready for the wedding. He needs to feel like he's contributing in some way, and is looking for ways to help others. Good to see him doing stuff.

We went camping last week for another 5 nights. Another wet campground. Took it easy for a couple of days and then we moved to another campground, to where Jayde was having hockey tryouts for a junior A team. He is eligible to skate with them at their camp but too young to actually play for them. Was an excellent experience. He was playing with other guys, ages 15-19. He did not look out of place, and he loved it. Coaches spoke to each player after their last skate, and gave him advice of what to work on and then told him he had had a very good camp. Good news for him. Extra incentive to keep working out and working on his game. Don't know if he'll ever advance beyond this towns hockey, but he'd be one happy boy if he could!

Friendship-thats been on my mind alot lately. What is a true friend???? I don't have any great answers or wise admonitions. I do know that people will always let people down. Thats a given. Remember the saying, "You can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends."? Friends are the people you choose to surround yourself with. To relax with; to talk to; to laugh with; make suppers with and for; to go camping with; to have a weekend at a hotel; to text; to send jokes to; to be there when its really rough; to call when you lose a family member; to unload your ugly day; ......... The list is never ending. What happens when a friend lets you down?????? Love and keep loving. Thats the hardest thing, cuz you simply don't have to keep up that relationship...... Is it true friendship????? Some days are certainly easier to be a friend than others. But it shouldn't be that way. Thick and thin, bad and good. One of my favorite quotes speaks to the connection between friends, and thats why its at the bottom of my blog, but I've included it here as well.

Don Marquis:There is nothing we like to see so much as the gleam of pleasure in a person's eye when he feels that we have sympathized with him, understood him. At these moments something fine and spiritual passes between two friends. These are the moments worth living.

And thats why we love and maintain relationships with our friends. They make it worth it. Those are the people we will be rocking with side by side in the personal care home some day. (lovely thought, isn't it??? drooling, pullups, and open back dresses!!) With that mental picture, I'm closing this thought process!

Have a wonderful weekend. Get out there and enjoy the sunshine. Love your family and friends. Make sure they know you love them. Thats what is important. Work on relationships. Truly care for the people you surround yourself with!

Love you!

Camping pics

One of the best parts of camping-reading-paper, books, or magazines! And eating sunflower seeds!

Kyle with his favorite drink

Kyle, winning another round of Phase 10 -should have Jayde's face in that pic-he's not as excited! :-(

Jayde, enjoying wireless internet at a campground-how spoiled we are, eh?

Playing Phase 10 by the light of camp lights and firelight

Love those fires!

Boys took turns chopping wood. Always a contest!!

Couldn't resist but adding this one. One of the Mother's day gifts from Del-yellow rose bush. It bloomed beautifully! Love those flowers!

lessons learned

I'm paying for time off! Seriously-it happens every time! I take more than a week off, and my body sets me straight and lets me know who is in charge. And this time was no different. I had a week off of vacation followed by a scheduled week off. So, at about day 5, the headaches started. Nothing new there. Thats normal for me. Advil and Tylenol are a staple in our house. Except, this time, I scheduled vacation off at the same time as my doc, my chiropractor, and my massage therapist. No joke!!! Well, the lesson learned is that 5 weeks between massages is 2 weeks too long. Last evening, after spending an evening at my dads with family, the visual disturbances started. Along with an incredible hotness. Ingested Tylenol and Advil, and did make it home. Yes, I was driving. Slept fairly well. This morning, I'm feeling not too bad for the first 15 minutes, and then the eyesight starts going weird. Again. Just my luck. So more Tylenol and Advil. I take Jayde to work. Come home, and back to bed. I'm supposed to work tonight, so I made that phone call. You don't want me at work, and unable to see straight. Or in the bathroom. Or in a bed. Had to do that once when it hit at work. Not good!!! So, fortunately my chiro was back in town today. Gave his hands a workout! He's a great masseusse! His diagnosis was 'tight and tender'. I love it!! Apparently theres a reason I had a tension headache that escalated on. So, whats the lesson learnt? No need for vacation? or, Don't stop taking analgesics on vacation? or, take more vacation more often?? Beats me. And I was looking forward to going to work tonight to catch up with my work friends!! Figures. Oh, well, tomorrow night will be here soon enough. So, today, my ice pack and my meds are my good friends. And my bed. Sofa. Oh, ya, the other lesson i Learnt was on the hottest day of the year, its not a good idea to hoe the flower beds and lay in the sun, and not drink plenty of water. I should know these things. I do, actually. Except when you're enjoying it at the time you don't always take time to do the right thing, right???

Time off was wonderful. Two different camping trips. Both 5 days long. Long sleepins. Beautiful campfires. Excellent food. Games. Biking. Walks. Beach. Picking rocks. Even played tennis for the first time in my life. Great times with the family!!

Working this weekend. Then I have 2 weeks of vacation. What will i do this time?? Visit my massage therapist, the first day of my vacation, and her first day back. Gonna start it right. And then I'm going to stay busy enough that my body doesn't realize its supposed to be relaxing. Ha ha! My nephew, Ty, is getting married in a couple of weeks. Thats a perfect way to end my vacation!

Enough screen for me right now. I'm off to hold my ice pack and rest up. Again.

What with my emotions???

Maybe its the hormones or something. But, seriously, I don't like good-byes. I don't like saying good-bye, and I don't like watching someone else having to say good-bye. This isn't about saying good-bye to death, its about just parting ways in regular everyday activities. I've always had a hang up about this. But, I thought I was getting better at this. Until the other day-I can't even remember exactly where we were. I was with Del and the boys and I think we were walking in the mall or something. And I watched people hugging each other, obviously parting ways. Looked like they must have spent some vacation time together and had to go home to different parts. And wouldn't you know it but I walk away with teary, reddened eyes. Jayde, of course, notices me sniffing and asks me whats wrong. And I reply to him, "you know me-any reason to cry!" What else can I say??!! I'd rather avoid a farewell gathering, and not say good bye, than have to go through the emotions-especially in public. I'm a mess with that!!! It doesn't help that if I see someone else tear up, my eyes instantly follow suit and tear along as well! I've tried to assess and diagnose, and figure out where this comes from. Maybe some crazy parting when I was two??? Someone left me behind?? I don't think its anything like this. Unless someone hasn't told me something. :-) Just a sidenote-I've been this sickening since young-When I had surgery at the age of 2, and longterm hospitalization was necessary, apparently I didn't take too well to staying there alone, as well. I admit it. I don't even like saying good bye to my kids or husband, even for a night or two. I'm a sucker for the people i'm close to. My saying is 'If I choose to like you, I love you a whole lot!!' I've been proud of me tho.......i've gotten much better at letting my kids go. I've managed fine with them going to friends houses and such. And I know they'll be fine where they are, cuz I wouldn't leave them somewhere that I'd worry about. It's just that act of saying good-bye, and then leaving.
Don't know how I should finish this post, as I don't know of a great solution or ending to this. I know of others who have this kind of problem, and they seem stable and fine to me. So maybe thats my consolation-I'm not as nuts as I think I am. I do cope with good-byes, and I do say good-bye when it necessitates. But, my emotions on my sleeve gets a little tiring! Reminds me of the Rascal Flatts song.
Or maybe I take the Bible verse literally-laugh with those who laugh, and weep with those who weep. I can do that. Maybe its empathy......caring.......love........craziness...........friendship.......hormones.........lack of sleep...........

Del, the boys, and I are off camping once again. I better clean the house before I go. Cook some real macaroni salad. Throw some clothes in the camper. Hope you're enjoying this summer! Make the best of it. Make the best of the time you're given!

Camping

5 whole days away with the family. Camping. Awesome!!! Pure laziness...... sleeping, walking, shopping, sleeping some more, cooking, campfires.......Yes, it was wonderful!!! Weather wasn't great, but thats okay. It was away from home, and we were together. Can't remember when we last relaxed and slept in like that!!!

Tonight we are catching up at home. Cutting grass, laundry, and putting away stuff. My dad stopped by to get his ears checked. And I syringed them for him, as his wax build-up is crazy!! Then I gave him a hair cut, which in turn, made the boys have their turns. All in all-successful evening. 4 loads of laundry done, 3 haircuts, supper, ears washed. And the evening is not over.

Rained here when we were gone. Just under 4 inches! Will this never end???? Thinking we would get some yard revision done this year, but at the rate its going, I don't know when it will happen.

On Thursday, we are planning to set up camp at a local campground. Close enough for us to go home if needed, and for Del to go to work. I'm so looking forward to biking, and beaching. Really optimistic, I am, that the forecast is wrong, and there will not be continuous clouds and rain. :-( Then I guess we'll read and play games. It will be what it will be!

I'm out of words. Don't know what else to add thats positive....... I'm off to put away laundry.