Fun in the garden of life

It's amazing how you find yourself amidst the life you've created for yourself (usually filled with turmoil and angst) only to have the realization that life isn't about all the things you want or the stuff you have but in all actuality, it's about the people you have around you. Friends, family, relationships, etc. They're the glue that keeps you from coming unraveled.

I've always had a select set of friends; relationships that grew over time, ones that I never thought would end or could end. It wasn't until I moved away from home, away from my "select set of friends" that I realized how important those people truly were. As the years passed and my friendships faded, I found myself questioning how life could be so harsh. For a long time, I was in a state of non-friendedness. (yes, it's late so I'm making up words!) I didn't have anyone, aside from Ben and my family, to call my friend. It was very hard to be in that place.

All along, I've known that friendships are like flower gardens.. they must be taken care of, they must be tended to in order for them to grow. Recently, I had the chance to fertilize a friendship and I was thrilled, and still am, at how good it felt to simply laugh and enjoy the company of friends. I am not the keeper of many, but I can honestly say that the friendships I have are good ones. They're friendships that I count on, with people I have grown to care very deeply about. The pains of days gone by seems to be lessened in knowing there are people around that are willing to catch me, if I fall.. and for me, that's a BIG deal because I would have a long fall if my bubble were to burst.

Thanks for putting up with all my antics ladies. You know who you are! Love ya! :)

Camp

For the past 3 years, Serenity has gone to bible camp with her cousin. Each year they've had a blast and insisted on going the next year. It's so fun to see the excitement they have, not only to spend that time together, but to spend it away from parents and in a completely different environment.

They had a new challenge this year.. a less than cohesive room-mate situation. I could envision a problem after the five minutes I spent in the room with the roommate helping Serenity get her bunk made and her things unpacked.. poor girls, that's all I have to say!

Needless to say, girls will be girls and the drama was only magnified with the addition of the roommate. They had a good time avoiding the roommate and laughing at all the odd things she had to say. Ha, ha.

Who knows what next year might bring?! Thanks for all your help and support in making Serenity's camp experience a delightful one!

Too long..

Okay, so I've been busy.. really busy! I've been out of town two times for a week each time (6 hours driving time each trip), not to mention planning and hosting Isaac's birthday party, celebrating my father's-in-law birthday, packing for, delivering to and picking up Serenity from camp, editing, packing orders, taking a bunch of candids of the kids, meeting my new niece Mady, sessions, blah, blah, blah... Oh, not to mention my addiction to Facebook games.. thanks L. & S.

This week is going to be just as busy as the last month, but I'll be staying home for it. But in this moment, I find myself very tired so I must get sleep so I have the energy needed to endure the rest of the week. Sweet dreams!