5-0!

That cute boy I married turned 50 today!  How did this happen????  I remember, when we were first dating, and I was falling hard for this Jimmy boy, and I told  him, almost w/ tears, how lucky some girl would be someday.  I was 16 and God knows high school romances don't last right?!  Still feeling lucky.....

Winding down.....

So.... just returned from 10 blissful days at Arsenic city where I didn't do a lot....no visitors to tour guide around this year.  I always love visitors but this was very relaxing, not having any "host" obligations.  I think my soul needed it.  Until Jim and Hannah arrived a full week later, it was just the dogs and myself sleeping in the cabin-Tyler and Kimmie were in the Sugar Shack, the 4 boys in the tent.  The nights were dark, the mornings cool and dewy.  Didn't get my requisite days on the beach with my ass in a chair but managed to get thru 4 books-including a tearjerker that had every boy/man in the cabin rolling their eyes as I sobbed-I'm talking Terms of Endearment sobbing.  Played endless board games.  Worked on my Mandolin and listened to the boys play guitar and Tyler play banjo.  It is wonderful to be home but I almost cried when I left.......And now we are staring right into the oncoming headlights of college....one week away from drop off.  The summer has flown by and as I watch my girl continue to blossom I am just so proud I could burst.  She is working and her employer loves her.  She continues to mature and grow into such a lovely young lady.  I hope and pray that her college experience is as wonderful as mine was.  I hope she makes friends with wonderful people that she will continue to love and count on 30 years later (Christine & Rick, David....).  I hope she isn't too homesick, only enough to realize how important those folks she left behind are.

3 days.....

I can remember, just a little over 18 years ago, tying up tomato plants in my garden in mid July and my water broke.  A day and a half later I was holding a beautiful baby girl and I was overjoyed.  Now in a few short days, I will pack that girlie up, drive her 2 hours to Grand Valley, unpack her, kiss her, give her some bit of encouraging wisdom and leave my heart in Allendale.  Where did the time go?  Were we strict enough?  Too strict?  Did I lecture too much?  Not enough?  Did we set a good example?  Will she remember all we taught her?   I am sad/happy/excited/sorrowful/elated/proud.  I feel as if my heart is ready to leap out of my chest sometimes.....I guess it is.  it will live in Allendale now and it will love and laugh and grow and spread its wings and fly.  And that is how it should be I guess.  But I hope she will smile when she remembers her mamma dancing in the kitchen......