DESTINATION AND END OF LIFE'S JOURNEY

When we are born we have a destination; the path is but the detail, it can change many times as we travel down our road of life. We all know our final destination is death......and returning to God. I always tried to stay on the path that would be best for me. I was lucky and chose a wonderful family to be born in. My folks guided and directed me well and set a good examples for me. Of course, I had the free will to choose my path. I grew up, went to college, became a stewardess, these were all in my life's plan. I found a nice man that would be the father of my children. I wanted him to be a hard working, educated, nice looking person who would contribute good genes for happy healthy and cute children. Done......then I came to a bump in my road I had not planned on and I was shattered! Of course, I am only human. But as all strong women find when faced with a crisis I picked up the broken pieces put them back together and have found PEACE. You are never alone in your life's trip to your destination, But after a crisis in your life you may find you have travel mates that aren't to pleasant. Anger, bitterness, despair and grief. It is up to you to decide if you let them be your "forever" travel companions. I must admit it does take a while to get rid of these travel mates, but I have replaced them with new ones, love, peace, confidence and happiness. I look forward to the rest of my trip to my destination, it only gets better.

"A journey's best part is the return home."

SUMMERS HERE

This kind of weather just makes me want to go out and hug a tree.....or two or three and be barefooted! We are on the edge of a little flooding they say, but so far with the warm weather on and off every other day we have lucked out. Sherrie called me from her cabin in Park City and said theyfelt by next week they will be able to drive in for the Young Womens Days up there. Karrie and I just got back from Bear Lake and the lake is up very, very high with much flooding for some of the farmers in the area. The pool is finally open and the grandkids are happy. This weekend is the BIG GARAGE SALE for Richie's fund raising for two weeks volunteer work next March. The whole family has really pitched in to make it a success.......Tomorrow is Sherrie and Darren's wedding anniversary, Tiff's birthday is Sunday on Father's Day and Rob's birthday is the 21st. So many fun things coming up. June is going way to fast.

"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well." Diane Ackerman I am doing everything I can to fill every inch of my life...........with the best of the best.

NOT "DUNROVIN" I GUESS

Every time I think I need to hang my "Dunrovin" sign over the door I find myself thinking about packing and traveling again. I am off to New York and a cruise up to Canada in October with my sister and family. Kar did invite me to go with them over Christmas, but said I'd stay home and tend the dogs. Then I decided I needed to do something fun to celebrate my 80 birthday next year so I signed up for a cruise with my three girls.......YES! On this cruise I can add two more countries to my over 100 countries I have visited in my life time. My goal was 100 countries by the time I was 70, I did it and now belong to the "100 Countries Country Club."

Not much turns me on now days, but a map or a travel brochure really does it. I soak in, wallow in, inhale and immerse my self in each and every new culture I come in contact with. I look forward to adding Beliez and Hondurous to my growing list of visited countries. And have withdrawls if I don't get to Mexico now and then. It's a big world folks and there are millions of wonderful people in it. Some are different colored, use different kinds of money and toilet paper and languages. But more and more McDonalds, french fries and cokes are tying us together with at least one common bond-----"food."

Each of us has our own Life Dance......our way of moving through the world. Thanks to airplanes, ships, taxis, buses etc. I have joyfully been perpelled around the globe, loving every minute of my world's travels. Off to lunch at Shirleys for our big afternoon of Mexican train and catching up on our latest news. Yesterday it was Patty's late birthday lunch, life is good.

OH HAPPY DAY!

When you think about it "a birthday is the first day of another 365 day journey around the sun......enjoy the trip." Everybody is God's somebody and we should feel very important as we live out our days. Today I had Karrie signed me and the three girls up for a cruise for my 80th birthday........next April. It will also be the twins 45th while we are gone. God has been so good to me. Oh yes, today is my X's 82nd birthday, just thought I'd throw that in?

Karrie and I worked on the stuff for her garage sale coming up in two weeks. The family is working on earning money for Richard B. to do a work program in the Phillipines the first part of next year.......what a great little Mom......so much work. Sherrie has been through that when she and Brayden decided to do a work program in Africa. Such great girls. It has been a good chance for the family to clean out a few closets.

Ann, my old travel partner called this morning from the hospital to tell me she fell in the bath tub Sunday and broke her back, she has been struggling to get over a stroke she had. At this age,(a year younger than me) ,she realizes she should have taken better care of herself, lost weight, exercised more, and not over medicated, all of which she was guilty. I am worried about her that she will get discouraged and just give up. Hopefully Sherrie and Kennedy are coming to stay all night with me.

LABYRINTHS

Labyrinths are ancient symbols that represents a journey to our center and back into the world. They have been used for meditation and prayer for centuries by ancient civilizations up to the present. They can be made of stone, grass, fabric, sand, sticks, almost anything. They can be elaborate or very plain they all serve the same purpose . I would love one in my back yard. Diana Carulli has created them all over the world.

Hopefully as you walk or after you walk a labyrinth it will remind you to live this moment. To enjoy each meal, the weather, the touch of a loved one, the friendships or hug of a grandchild. Day by day you will be collecting golden experiencers that help you be the great person you are ment to be.

You walk with no expectations in mind, concentrating on the path, just seeing what happens. It is like a maze, no deadends. It is suggested, find a word you would like and use it as a mantra while you walk. I would love to make labyrinths available for everyone. This is such a stressful time in our world. No jobs, homes lost, divorce, children bullied. We need a cheap escape, a place to maybe find peace and sort things in our life out..........I can't figure out why all at once this is so important to me? A very quiet weekend.

TO DO LIST........

Can't believe how the days just slip by, then the weeks and months! I do love late in the day when your though with all you plan to do. I love that time of night when the sky swallows the sun and gives birth to the moon. But lately too often this time of year the moon disappears and takes the stars with it making the heavens weep. I think it has rained every night this month. The lawns are green and the water bills are down though.

I have been thinking about creating a "to do list"........you know list all the things that need to be done every week of your life. Vacuum, dust, mop floors, bathrooms, water plants, clean the fish bowl, change the sheets laundry etc., etc, etc. Through the week I could check off the things I got around to that day.......or not! Days go by and I try to remember the last time I dusted. I do the laundry when I run out of the underwear I like and all that's left are the kinda raggedy ones, then I do laundry. This way I could check my list to see how long it had been since I cleaned the toilets. You can always get in my house, but don't check out the corners. Cobwebs are harmless? I remember the days when I was married and we had a big golden retriever which shed like crazy. I vacuumed every day, besides it made the shag carpet stand up and look nice. Those days are over for me, I have arthritis and it hurts my back now and I have up graded to hardwood floors.

And then again......why not a list of "things not to do" instead of being roped in by a "To do list". Don't go shopping on black Friday, don't eat outside with bugs, don't dust until you can write your name in the dust. You know use your last years to waste your time on the computer, rearranging your photo albums. Take up painting, volunteering, playing bridge or having fun with the grandkids and just be happy. "Anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."

FOR WE WALK BY FAITH

"For we walk by Faith and not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5;7
Two horses in a field---look alike, but not---one has a bell on his halter the other doesn't and is blind. The blind horse follows the horse with the bell and trusts him, the lead horse waits and is sure the blind horse is safe and hears his bell.
Like the owner of these horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us where we are in need.
Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way.
Good friends are like that, you may not always see them, but you know they are always there. Listen for my bell---I will listen for yours---Be kinder than necessary . Everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Everyday I pray that I may reach out and find someone that could use the ringing of my bell. I Want to help, to listen, to be there for someone as long as I can. Sometimes it is your family, sometimes it is your neighbor or it could even be a stranger. I don't have a friend that I feel I would change their problems for mine. My life has not been without the ups and downs of the road we have traveled, but I have always heard that little bell giving me courage to travel on. May I be there for my siblings, children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews and family and my many wonderful friends. Sherrie and Kennnedy spent the night with me we had fun shopping and eating out. Karrie came by and Pam called! Life is good.......