White Wednesday

It's White Wednesday again so grab the button and show some of your favorite white things.

About 4 years ago on the first anniversary of my son's death, I wanted to have something that honored him each year, so I went searching for something very special and in my search discovered the most beautiful tiles. They are "Sid Dickens" tiles, handmade into the most beautiful 3-D sculptures. His shop is out of Vancouver Canada. Now every anniversary of my son and every Christmas I purchase one of these beautiful tiles.

Below are the white ones in my collection ...

"The Gift - an infinite moment; survived through forgiveness"

"Victory - with fate's surrender, our love prevails"

"Angelic Spirit - he rode upon a cherub and flewupon the wongs of the wind.

"Ancient Thorn - Holy white and fragrant flower, miracle foreseen by angels"

We Want Everything For Our Kids

It is so hard to be a mom and not be able to do anything to make your kids happy.My daughter and her hubby came to Texas more as a favor to me than anything, hoping to like it and my daughter would do anything to get back to California.

It is so hard to see how sad and miserable she is in Texas. I so wish I had the resources to help her get back there, but I don't; I wish I knew of someone who had a job opening, but i don't; I wish I knew of someone who could rent them a place , but I don't;...it is so hard to not be able to help when you see how desperately your child wants something. They are both working here, but they are not earning enough to move out and get an apartment.

They are newlyweds living with their folks..life is so not want she dreamed it would be the day she got married. And I feel so much to blame for her situation. I thought it would be so good if we all moved to Texas...what a great place to live, but my girl is a California girl through and through and she wants to get back. I know it will happen, just not fast enough for her. I just wish she could be happy for a bit until they do get enough money to head on back to California.

It is hard to be a mom...we want to help, that never stops. We want our kids happy ... that never ends. I pray everyday my daughter will find some inner solace for now.

To my daughter ... California will be there. Something is keeping you here, just be patient and things will unfold. Never ever give up your dream and always have hope.

CAMPING!

I did something this weekend I have not done in over 20 years ... I went camping ... and I went camping In Texas for the first time. We went to Meridian sate Park; it was so much fun, I loved it! I went with my cousins and their gang and my husband, my kiddos all I had to work, and they missed out on a great time. I have not sat around a camp fire and talked and heard scary stories in years, and boy does that bring back memories from the old scouting days!!

Meridian Lake ... isn't it beautiful!

My cousin Chris and his son Noah ... break time after a long upward hike!

Wander who's more tuckered out?!

The family hikin'

Tracy, my cousin and I also played the game 'going' on a picnic and she and I got all the way through the alphabet and remembered everything we were bringing on the picnic!! We brought ... Apple juice, Blueberries,Chimichangas, Ding-dongs, Enchilladas, Frankfurters, Guacamole, Hummus, Ice-cream, Jello, Ketchup, Lollipops, M and M's, Nuts, Oranges, Peanut butter, Quesadillas, Rasberries, Spinach, Tacos, Unicorn cookies, Vegetables, Wasabi, Xuaca (some mexican food), Yogurt and Zingers! How about that, I can still remember! We even got her hubby Greg involved in it.

Boy, one thing I didn't really remember how to do and felt like such a clutz, was ride a bike. Sure I knew how to get on a pedal and all but when it came to switching gears going up a hill...that I completely forgot how to do. And, oh one other thing...I gotta get these thighs of mine stronger. Was the last in the pack!!

Meridian State Park was beautiful. Friday night it got real cold, if you walked away from the camp fire it was definitley freezing but something about being all bundled up that makes it very cool! The next night was actually warm but still had to have our campfire. Whats camping without a campfire? Oh one more thing...we had so'mores ... and they were delicious. Hey have you ever watched a marshmellow swell up on the fire...it never disappears...hmmm, wander what it does in our stomach!! Who cares right, whats better than a so'more on a cold campfire night sitting with your friends and family ... I loved it!!

Texas Thursday

Texas Thursday ... you ask whats that? Well since I just moved here to Texas from California only a month ago, there are alot of things that are different out her in this great state! So every Thursday I am going to pick a couple and give my thoughts ... you ready?

The 20 mile per hour speed limits around schools. I have heard of going slower around school areas and I am all for that in protecting our children and even in California we too lower the speed limits around schools when in session, but, I have never seen this Texas way. You all have flashing lights that tell us to slow down ... so everyone is going like 45 mph and in an instant they slow down to a barely crawl at 20 mph ... they keep this 20 mile per hour thing up the entire time and as soon as they hit the line, you would think there was a fire ... varoom, and every one is off like it's a race. It is the funniest thing for us Californians to see!

Another thing that's different here ... round hay bales. Hay bales are square, who ever thought they would be round. Isn't a bale a square, or I thought it was? Maybe they are not called bales maybe they are called hay rounds or something to that sort, but since I don't know any ranchers so cannot ask them. So if there are any Texans out there who ranch or farm, can you let me know what you all call them out here. One thing is for sure, I surely do enjoy driving down the street and seeing a field full of hay .. bales .. or is it rounds?

Well thats the two things for this Thursday ... there are so many more that I am discovering every day! What an adventure.

White Wednesday

Today is WHITE WEDNESDAY and my first white wednesday! They say whites not a color but I think it is one of the most beautiful colors there is. I love wearing white ... white shirts, white sweaters, white anything and I love it! I love distressed white furniture, frames ...it has such a warm feel to it. White is simple, clean, angelic, luminous ... some beautiful white things ...

Countdown to Holidays

OK today is the day I start! I started back to Curves after years 0f being away...got up at 6:30 AM and went over there and did my 30 minute workout! Since I have not worked out in quite a while it kind of kicked my butt, but it felt great finally sweating and doing something for myself! I love how working out makes you feel. It is just getting to the point where you get up and go. If I can do it for one week I think I have it licked! So lets hope I keep up with it. I am so lacking energy and a sort of enthusiasm in my life and they say working out gets those endorphin things a movin' so get movin' endorphins!

I also will stat eating healthier today..well at least for 4 days then we are going camping with my cousins and you know when you go camping one has to have so'mores! But just for the weekend and then back on to healthy. The holidays are coming real fast and we all know that means ... lots of sweets! Got to be ready for those!!

Hopefully tomorrow I am not too sore. I am going to start with White Wednesdays. Found these great blogs and they do White Wednesdays, Black Fridays and so on, so thought it would be fun to get into that sort of blogging.

O I forgot ... on the list of things about me...I love BIG SHIRTS! My girls hate them, but they are so comfortable. Just bought a few men's flannel shirts from Target and love 'em!

Old Cemeteries

Who would 0f ever thought that one day I would go visiting old cemeteries with my daughter, mom,dad and cousin? Well I did the other day and it was one of the more interesting days I have had in a long time. It is such a strange feeling to be standing on top of or next to a relative who lived over 200 years ago and the grave marker still stands. To find out where my great grandparents and great-great grandparents are buried and once lived.

We also visited several towns my dad's family grew up in and visited quite often ... Wortham and Coolidge Texas. Can't say I would live in Coolidge but definitely can see living in a small town like Wortham.

My dad has been working on genealogy for so long and even has stories about these relatives. What an amazing thing he has done for the family by putting together the "JONES" genealogy history.

It was so cool too to see my daughter and the interest she took in this and she is only 19. It meant so much to my dad to have us all there with him as we visited our long lost relatives ... they are not really lost, they have been found and the stories will continue as long as the Jones family keeps them alive!