This cracks me up how Sophie stretches out. She does this all the time. :-)

Rick and his precious little girl, Claire, came over yesterday to do a little "tool" job. Bob and Sophie shared some moments with Claire. Sophie was really happy to get some treats!

KEEPER
Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress; lawn mower in his hand, and dish-towel in hers. It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep.
It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.
But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So... While we have it... it's best we love it... And care for it..... And fix it when it's broken..... And heal it when it's sick.
This is true... For marriage.... And old cars.... And children with bad report cards..... Dogs and cats with bad hips.... And aging parents.... And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special.... And so, we keep them close!
I received this from someone who thinks I am a 'keeper', so I've sent it to the people I think of in the same way.... Now it's your turn to send this to those people that are "keepers" in your life. Send it back to the person that sent it to you if they too are a keeper. Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

- author unknown

Camouflage Keegan

7.25.09

Elizabeth Mary

Born July 26, 1978 @ 8:50 a.m.

Royal Oak, Michigan

Happy Birthday, Beth!!!

taken 7.18.09

Friday and I have the day off! Yeah
Have lots to do - right now I am going to Walmart and some other places. Maybe I will find a garage sale.
Right now the sun is shining but it is suppose to rain this morning. I sure hope the forecast is right, as we need rain big time.
And so my Friday adventures begin...............

Summertime

I got to thinking about summer in the eyes of a child.

Of course when you are a very little kid....every day is summer-like. But when you start school, it is with anticipation waiting for that last day of school so summer vacation would start. Back then, it seemed like summer went on for eons. Isn't that what ten weeks was?

Sleeping in....being lazy. And doing all the things that kids do. For me there was a family vacation....oftentimes that meant going to Pennsylvania where my family roots are. It was fun spending time with aunts, uncles and cousins that you don't see too often. They sure had cool accents! And pop = soda. There was all that homecooking and going to all the local spots and sharing in my parents' own nostalgia. Going by the coal mines, traveling up and down the hills.... was a treat since where I grew up was just flat land. It was fun having such a big family. And, as for me, I was always sad leaving. I was the crier in the family. In anticipation of our departure, I would start my crying early. I tried to hide from everyone - it was so embarrassing. One time I remember even laying on the floor in the backseat of our family car face down so no one would see the big crybaby. I use to always feel like such an oddball. I really don't know why I always cried.

Just regular summer days were fun. There were no organized play days. It was all homemade fun. Just lazy, easy days. Even porch sitting was fun.

Riding bikes - sometimes putting playing cards held on with clothespins on our spokes, or water balloons. I loved my bike. It was blue. After a rain, riding through the puddles next to the curbs.

Running through the sprinklers on those hot summer days. Going to the park and swinging on the swings and going down the slide. Playing "tennis" with the neighbor. Walking up to the "corner store" a few blocks away, getting a blue double-stick popsicle. Made your lips and tongue look so cool.

Family picnics with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Going for long car rides in the country or around Belle Isle.

It didn't matter what we did - or did nothing. It was easy being a kid growing up in the 1950's.
I am glad for the memories.

Thankfuls

Today - I am thankful for

the beautiful morning and the sun shining on my way into work

growing up in my family, with a great mom and dad, and siblings that I love

aunts, uncles, and plenty of cousins

and in spite of all the years and everyone going in their own directions, we come together to celebrate a cousin whose time on earth is over

It is with sadness that this morning brought the news that my cousin, Joey, passed away.

Joey was the second oldest of five boys and two girls. He is the son of my Aunt Adeline (my mom's sister) and my Uncle Stanley.

And he leaves behind his wife, Linda, a daughter, two sons and a grandson.

May God take care of my little cousin.


Wednesday, July 8th

Remembering Joey -

When he was a little boy, he hated haircuts. My dad was the "barber" of the little boys in the family. "Uncle Walter" would cut Joey's hair and Joey would cry the whole time. Poor little thing. Personally, I would have been afraid too, if I saw my dad coming at me with his scissors and clippers.

On the flip side, when Joey was very young, he liked herring. Well, what an odd thing for a small child to like, don't you think? Indeed it was. Personally, I like herring - but it is not a very popular snack. But I remember very vividly little Joey eating herring. This put smiles on the faces of the family. What a cute little boy.

Joey was very close with his family and will be truly missed by so many. I have imbedded in my mind my own vision of him - a very nice looking guy with a great smile. I am very sad, but I know that he is in a better place. But for us earthlings.....we miss those we love when they are no longer in our midst. And you know, no matter how well we know others - we never know them so much that we know the pains they are experiencing. Much of who we are is kept within our own walls. We walk the walk really alone during our time on earth. I am blessed to be a part of Joey's family and I will remember him forever. I know that when he left this world, he was greeted by so many family members and friends that have been waiting for his arrival. We say goodbye....and they say "Welcome home, Joseph."

Frankenmuth

On Thursday, Beth and Keegan came over and we went to Frankenmuth.
We did some shopping, went on the Riverboat, and had dinner at Zehnder's.
Keegan went on his first covered bridge.