Discover

Were you beginning to wonder if there was going to be a blog post this week, Dear Readers? Well, truthfully, it just about didn't happen. I took the opportunity to join a very old and dear friend (on very short notice) on a weekend road trip. Fitting to this week's Challenge theme I discovered a lot of things about myself thanks to my wonderful companion forcing me to confront myself.

This is one of the few pictures taken during our adventure. We had just finished a great Thanksgiving meal of smoked turkey and mashed potatoes.

I helped a friend celebrate his birthday shortly after I returned from our jaunt across Iowa. That didn't leave me much time to follow through with my thoughts on this week's Random Photo Challenge theme of Discover. There are much better interpretations over at Photography139. Unfortunately, I haven't taken the time to finish my composition for Impassioned Versifier this week.

We are currently dealing with some medical issues with Sis which means my blogging may be spotty over the next few weeks. Don't lose faith friends, I will be back on here as soon as I can!

Paths

Now that my travels are at a momentary pause (but not my travel blogs, be watching for more from Yellowstone), it is time for me to get back in gear on my ambitions, goals, and challenges.

This week's Random Photo Challenge theme was Paths. I'll admit that this week's submission was hurriedly done to get myself back in the groove but I am still pleased with the results.

You can find the other terrific submissions for this week over at Photography139. You will also find a new poetry submission at Impassioned Versifier.

Isn't It Ironic, Don't Ya' Think?

So my week started out like this:

And ended like this:

It seems that once again fate (or maybe a government conspiracy against me) is trying to have a cruel laugh at my expense.

You see, I finally found a man that I really like and that I'm actually interested in. Someone that I am completely comfortable and happy with and oh, boy attracted to.

I'll give you a minute to climb back up onto your chair and read that again....

Yes, picky little me (who I remind you, was once balked at by a friend for Twittering during a particularly terrible date last year) suddenly found my fear of commitment melt away and my heart open up.

And I've been sporting my Mona Lisa has a secret smile all week.

**

Ahh... a budding romance, a relationship that seems to provide the perfect companionship in so many ways. A man that seems so amazing in my eyes, funny, intelligent, responsible, sweet, passionate.

And now the government wants to take him away from me. Insert self-pity and tears here. Well, OK, it's not the government conspiring against us per se. It's his job.

You see, the place he works for has determined his services are needed several states away.

We are both heartbroken about it. In fact, I'm not even planning to show him this blog until after we know what will happen so not to add to his sadness and anger over the situation. He's doing what he can to protest the transfer. I can only hope that it works.

In the meantime, I will draw on that inner strength that we all know I possess (all too well) and wait.

My plan is to immerse myself once again into the house repairs and exercise (anyone interested in helping with drywall work?). I wouldn't be surprised if you see a new poem or two other than the regularly scheduled Personal Poem Challenges. Maybe I'll even start working on editing for my eventual poetry book. I also plan to get rid of all the riff-raff around here and proceed with the plan to sell the house.

We will cross each bridge as it comes but do have a loose plan in mind if the transfer is forced on him. Good thing we both like to travel.

Which means occasional babysitting jobs will be available.

I could start spouting off all the theories about how "absence makes the heart grow fonder" and all those quotes that would probably make me feel sad right now.

Instead I keep thinking about my favorite Martha Washington quote "I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances"

Easter at the Lake

What a lovely Easter weekend the kids and I had! We were very ready for a vacation, so we headed to my Auntie's house on the lake. We had a perfectly relaxing time just visiting, eating, and enjoying the company of loving family. We came back refreshed and motivated.

Enjoy some photos from our trip:

Sis trying out her new fishing pole. Later in the day she & Ricky wandered down to the grade to try their hand against the seasoned fishermen. They quickly found out that their lack of bites resulted from using minnows instead of mill worms. I didn't really feel like cleaning fish for the anyway. Better luck next time kids!

Saturday was cool and windy, but Sunday was warm & sunny. It didn't take Bug long to kick off his flip flops.

Bug enjoyed watching the waves roll in.

But he enjoyed climbing the rocks even more...

from one side of the property to the other.

After convincing him that he should really change into play clothes, he decided to break in his new pole.

Bug didn't get any bites on his Mister Twisters either, but he had a lot of fun practicing his casting.

I spent 2 hours out on the deck reading. I was so comfortable and relaxed that I didn't even realize until much later in the day that I had developed a slight sunburn.

On the way home we planned to stop at my cousin Jill's house but I knew we had a little time to kill before we were expected to be there. I decided to take the kids on an impromptu detour to the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend. I hadn't been there since I was about Bug's age.

Easter was the perfect day to visit especially since we had missed church due to our mini-vacation.

On the way home Bug asked me if there were any other amazing places in the world that I can show him.

This is the display that moves me the most in the Grotto

Sis wondered how many people thought Dobberstein was insane rather than inspired when he first started his Grotto project. She was amazed by every little stone and needed constant reminding not to touch.

The Stations of the Cross glittered with all their colored mosaics in the setting sun, setting off another wave of awe.

Nervous Butterflies

Once I was a beautiful shell
Giving life to the creatures of the sea
Tides and time pounded on me, breaking me bit by bit

Then I was stuck nowhere to go...
The barnacles found a place to dwell
But Mother Ocean gave me a second chance

The tides washed me upon the shore
There I lay waiting in the sun, dull and chipped and ugly
Then, you came along and found me

The barnacles were picked, the sand washed off
You polished me up and brought out my luster...
I'm still chipped with imperfections
But you laid me out for everyone to see...
The beautiful colors inside me

Now I'm shiny with colors and gold
The tides have yet to see me grow old
With the tenderness and care you gave me
I am once again a beautiful shell

- Vannessa Thibodeau -

Adventure

This week's random photo challenge was "Adventure". I had really planned to take Bug outside and snap a few shots of him knee deep in the snow aiming his bow & arrow at the concrete deer that decorate our garden. With our hectic week and even busier weekend that didn't happen.

Instead I came up with this to somewhat compliment this week's poem, because love is an adventure after all, isn't it?




As always, you can read this week's challenge poem over at Impassioned Versifier. The rest of this week's photo submissions can be found at Photography139.

The Greatest Gift of All

Above is the note that Bug passed to me during a recent Sunday church service. It was written on the back of a gum wrapper in pencil and given to me simply for my enjoyment and his pleasure.




When the voices of children are heard on the green
And laughing is heard on the hill,
My heart is at rest within my breast
And everything else is still.
WILLIAM BLAKE, Nurse's Song



I should have liked, I do confess, to have had the lightest license of a child, and yet to have been man enough to know its value.
CHARLES DICKENS, A Christmas Carol