As stressful as our life is these days, Gerhardt and I need to run away often. Memorial Day weekend found us at our favorite ocean playground, Ocean Shores, WA, where the three day weekend kicked off the summer's garage sale season.
Not that there's anything I need anymore. In fact, we're having a garage sale this summer to get rid of some stuff! Still, it was fun to go look and see what everybody else in town was getting rid of, and our pal Scott found all kinds of treasures.

We hit the beach, too, in between showers. Is there anything more relaxing than watching those waves crash to shore? Every time I see that sight I'm reminded of how small I am. And how big God is!
We ended the weekend with some miniature golf. Little Sheila did not win. Those courses are harder than they look! I must go back again next time we run away and see if I can improve my score. Crummy as it was, that won't be hard.
Of course, the weekend is really about remembering the fallen. My father-in-law was career army and a World War Two veteran. We lost him last year and he's still missed. His generation sacrificed so much. Big shoes to fill. I hope we can do it!

I've reached the point where I'm not into home parties that involved buying and selling of merchandize. But it's hard to turn down my pal Kimberly so I found myself partying with the girls, looking at cookware and eating. Mostly eating. And visiting. And making new friends. This was a pampered chef party and some of the proceeds on a few select items were going to be donated to cancer research. In light of my recent journey, how could I turn that down?
    It's a lot work hosting this type of party but look at that big smile on my friend's face. I don't think she minded at all. And I sure didn't mind getting a chance to spend time with friends and enjoy an amazing Southwest chicken salad, set out on a teak platter like a work of art. Of course, I vowed to make such appealing presentations myself in the future. (I doubt I'm going to do it though. We've got company joining us at the ocean this weekend and the fare will consist of hot dogs and paper plates!)

Ah, kids. Funny how when you're first pregnant everyone is so excited you're going to have a baby. It's all they talk about, the baby. No one ever tells you about what happens when the baby grows up, that the baby will become a teenager who turns your hair gray or an adult that you can't make behave with threats of "I'm going to send you to your room." Nobody tells you that the baby will fall in love and bring more people into your life to worry about and turn your hair gray.
Ah, but nobody will tell you about the surprise visits, the free labor you get when you're moving, the mother-son talks and the mother-daughter craft projects (that sometimes even turn out!), the fun and laughter you share and the flowers you get on Mother's Day. Yes, children are a blessing, even when they grow up.
I have to admit that there are times I wish mine were little again and I could keep them safe in the backyard under my watchful eye, have the final say in who their friends are, and make their choices for them. I wonder if my own mother ever felt this way about me. Probably. I think, too, I sometimes find myself wishing they were little again so I could be a better mother. A perfect mother. Hmmm Is there such a thing? Probably not.
This Mother's Day I'm thankful for my children. I love them dearly. Happy Mother's Day, kids. Without you what would my life have been?

The neighborhood "Something for Nothing" gang was at it again yesterday, trading treasures at my house. Of course, we started with breakfast where I served my Danish Puff pastry and cantaloupe. The pastry was great. The cantaloupe tasted like old gym shoes. Yuck! But a good time was had by all.
Many of us got our closets cleaned out. I got rid of a bunch of old cookbooks I haven't opened since I bought them. (I really do need to break my cookbook addiction.) Others of us found new treasures. I got some very cool brand new goodies for gift baskets and I even came away with a couple of baskets to put the goodies in. Needless to say I was excited. My buddy Liz took the leftovers for her church's upcoming garage sale so I didn't even have to cart the leftovers to Goodwill.
If you have some closets in need of cleaning why not get together with some of your friends and do some swapping? It's easy enough - just take numbers and take turns picking out treasures. Or, if you're as polite as our bunch is, just dig in. You can donate what's left to your favorite charity thrift store. And who knows what you might come away with? One woman's junk is another woman's treasure!