Book Club

This is new for me and I'm not sure about it but I'm excited.  I do like to read and want to become more familiar with the classics and enjoy the social aspect of it all and the discussion part intrigues me.  I think we all have interesting points of views of things and take away different gifts from the book or author as we it comes to us to where we are in life.  I am nervous with a bit of jitter inside with the anticipation hoping for a good turn out and a overall meshing of our club's friendship.
We have seven so far, and from what I have read it seems to be a good number.  This Tuesday is our first meeting, I hope all goes well.  Until then....

Twenty and Rockin'

Well, hello! Haven't written in awhile. It's been kind of a crazy time in our family, my youngest just turned twenty and this was and has been the ordeal. Not that it makes me feel old or anything, an the crazies just seem to get worse around birthday's or is this just menopause! Well the tears were flowing to say the least. Hugs were given and kisses were shared. Cakes were bought, candles blew out.

My baby isn't a baby anymore with talks of tattoos and nose rings with this big smile on her face. Now, as her mother I see her as a young beautiful thing about to embark upon life with exuberance and this picture in my head doesn't have a nose ring hanging off to the side. I'm an open minded mother and have room for growth, I know this. However, my tissue seemed to be rather full of tears from the combination of birthday and all this growth from her.


Being a mother has so many faces that I sometimes I feel like I should be in Drama Class 101. You smile when you feel like crying. Your happy through puddles of tears, while standing in what they call the "peanut gallery." You think if you sit there and keep your mouth shut, that's the right thing to do, although everything you're thinking is wrote as clear as day across your face. Sometimes it is impossible to know what the right thing or which side of the coin to flip, because you have as good a chance of guessing at what to say. You might as well just be yourself. For what it's worth, I have learned it's a bit like a shortcut, you're gonna end up in the same place anyway, might as well just call as you see 'em. Just buy plenty of tissue, with extra aloe!


So, I've got a good kid. She' making good grades at school and she has a level head on her shoulders. If she decided one day to get something tattooed or puts a hole and ring through it, it's her body and I guess I'll have to live with it. I love her and I'll stand by her decision to do whatever, I won't necessarily, like it, and she knows that. But ultimately it will be her decision. Choose wisely grasshopper! Until then....peace out!

Good Intentions Need a Heating Pad

As 2010 started out as with any New Year a clink together of champagne glasses and and a kiss and what we intend on doing in the next year. Mine was to get into shape.  Well we joined the YMCA last Sunday and as promised I have gone all of two times and the weekend isn't even here yet.  However, I'm sitting on the heating pad and the Tylenol is a flowing.  I have a feeling this new endeavor is going to take me awhile to build up the ole' bod.  She ain't what she use to be.  I've moaned and groaned when I've bent over to tie my shoes and to pick up around the house.  It's just plain hell getting old, or should I say back into shape.Well I'm going to have to get used to the soreness, because this extra baggage is coming off for good this time. 
John and Jamin went as well.  We started out on the treadmill.  When I figured out how to work the machine, then it was off on a slow walk, as was Jamin.  John did a little faster pace.  I think for Jamin's first time, and my second, all went pretty well.  Got the heart rate up, and they said that was what was important.  Then we switched to the bikes.  John and I did this for a bit.  This is where I think the trouble started.  Not use to using these muscles. 
Well, I'm going back tomorrow if it kills me.  I'm going to follow through with it.  For one year.  We'll see if it does anything for the weight I've put on around the holidays and over the past few years.  Can't hurt!  Well actually it does, Tylenol is there to help!

Hilton Head and Jamin

John and I just had our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary this past fall and to celebrate this occasion we decided to go to our favorite place on earth.  Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Where the Spanish moss hangs in those gigantic water oaks and gently flows in the oceans breeze. My shoulders come down three inches just seeing the sights.  When we go over the bridge of the Island, I know I'm there and I see the osprey and their nests and the blue heron stepping awkwardly through the edges of the water, looking for their dinner.  This is what I truly love, and what makes me happy in life, to be in the low country.  I am at peace to hear to ocean and to walk in the sands of the most beautiful and peaceful place I know.
We had rented a house in walking distance to the beach for the dogs and us to get our exercise while we were there.  It was just wonderful.  It was like no one was on the beach, we had it all to ourselves.  The dogs played and ran as far as they wanted.  Only the locals were out and about.  It was quite lovely.  Ole' bits of drift wood had washed up from a storm the night before and we were looking at it and wondering how we could get it back to the house without anyone noticing!  It was to heavy, so we sat and just enjoyed it and our nautical view of sea oats, ships and their nets hoping for a good day at sea and the sandy beaches.
That night we decided to go to dinner to one of our favorite places "The Salty Dog."  The have live music and great pizza, and great beer.  It had been a wonderful day and it had been a great time in HHI for our anniversary.  Our daughter Jamin who has down syndrome is very tricky, she is.  She has a big heart for her mom and dad and she never forgets a thing.  Memory like a elephant! She had asked John for a few dollars earlier and of course he gave them to her, not knowing what she wanted them for.  While John went up to the bar to get our drinks, Jamin went up to the guy playing the guitar and taking requests and told him that it was "John and Joy Eilers 25Th Wedding anniversary and to please play, Gone to Carolina, by James Taylor, and tipped him!  One of our favorite songs in the whole wide world!  She didn't say anything, just came and sat back down and smile.  Then all of a sudden....the guy goes well I just want to make an announcement to John and Joy!  We about flipped!  Jamin got the giggles and and he said Happy Anniversary from Jamin! I must say we were all astonished and quite proud of our Jamin, WELL DONE!
 Well to say the least, I started to cry, we all did.  It was a very special night in HHI.  One I will never forget.  Gone to Carolina!  Whether it's North or South, it works!   

My BabyGirl....

Facebook | Joy Harron Eilers

Facebook Joy Harron Eilers: "Laugh and love as often as you can, it has a rippling effect that reaches beyond what we can not fathom. It is called happiness.
**************************
J.H.Eilers"

Monet: Water Lillies

Art...Such a wonderful thing!

My Favorite Quotes....

I take a very practical view of raising children. I put a sign in each of their rooms: "Checkout Time is 18 years."
~Erma Bombeck~

         Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.

         ~John F. Kennedy~

        

         How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have an   enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal and you have to be willing to work for it.

 ~Jim Valvano~

If you learn only methods, you'll be tied to your methods, but if you learn principles you can devise your own methods.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

JOY RISING!!!!!!

Water Over a Fall....

In our world of everyday existence we seem to be amazed at the ease of ebb and flow of life in the midst of the rocks and jagged edges that can sometimes make us swim for the sides for pure survival.  In my on astonishment of the pure tenacity of the everydayness, of the water at its will, not its strength mind you but perseverance that pushes it onward, that leads me to another analogy.
I love nature and I am a believer of how things can teach us in always, shapes and forms and would like to think of myself as an open thinker.  When my daughter took this picture, she didn't send a copy of it right away to me as I do not have a scanner, so I waited.  In the months that pasted, relationships change and I need to recharge my batteries I guess you could say, so when I recieved this copy of this picture it was on a day when I need to let go and get on with things. 
It is 2010, a time to change, for change, to let things go over or under the bridge as they may.  If we can.  Stand up for yourself, no doubt about that, but try and not let things puddle or linger in stagnant water.  Find the beauty of the overflowing fall of emotions, not to extreme of coarse, be healthy and wise.  A sense of humor is a must to live, laugh and love each other!

This was such a beautiful day at looking glass falls!  It's 12 degree with a wind chill of -2.  I needed some warm memories this morning!