July 28, 2007 "Family Traditions"

Today my daughter and her mother-in-law and myself went to a party. We had a great time just riding over and spending some time together. I don't usually attend these things but the person giving was a long known friend who I cherish very much and one of the few people I would do this for. It was kind of a Tupperware/pampered chef kind of party but they were selling something more unique. It was ways to create traditions in your family. They had some really cute stuff and some new ideas but what I took away from the party was how important it is to have family traditions and although there is always room for improvement we have developed some pretty good ones in our family. I also realized that I do need to create some special traditions for my granddaughters that are different than what I have done for my children. We went around the room and everyone shared a family tradition that has made an impact on their life. I thought I would share a few from our family.

Every year since our children were babies we have had a special tree decoration party. It usually is the first weekend in Dec. We get the tree and John usually already has it in the stand and the lights around it . We always served the same things but they have been revised now since we eat a little healthier now. Crackers and cheese that you squirt on the cracker, fancy cookies from Publix, apple chips and we always do a toast with eggnog. Everyone has their "Special ornament" to put on the tree and many times we end the night playing board games.

One more is our yearly treks to North Carolina. Being a northern girl from Pennsylvania I very much have missed the seasons, especially fall. So since our daughter was about 3 we pretty much without fail vacationed in North Caroline every fall. When my son came along his first trip was at 7 months. Both Debbie and Johnny still look at N.C. as being a favorite vacation place in the fall and this year we are all going up together once again.



I would love to hear about your favorite family tradition...........

July 26, 2007 "Daughters"

I have been blessed to have the experience of having both a son and a daughter but today I must speak on what a blessing a daughter is. Everyone should have a least one. Son's in their own unique ways show us they love us but daughters are the ones that demonstrate that love in a more tangible way. They are females like us and truly understand what bring us comfort and joy in a way that males sometime can't comprehend. I bring this up today because as you know I have been battling a terrible cold since I came back from vacation. Well, a couple nights ago when I was at my very worst my daughter called and was very concerned that I take care of myself. She admonished me to get some rest and told me she was going to make dinner for me because she knows there are only males in my house and they more than likely would not make a meal on their own. (she was right) I insisted that I was fine but she was determined to make dinner so to my delight (even though I was feeling better) she had a full meal made for me to pick up(her house is on my way home) after work today. I told her when I picked it up that she didn't need to do this and she said, "Mom, do you know how many meals you made for me when I when I was little, I think I can do this for you."

Well, my point in all this is that a daughter is always there to pick up the slack for us moms. My daughter is the one that always checks on me when I'm sick, she's always worried that I'm working too much, she makes sure my birthday is never forgotten, she even got a housekeeper for me. She does the extras...like a card to just say thank you or calling me to let me know the latest that the grand babies are doing or sending me a voice note with my granddaughter singing happy birthday right on my birthday. She's the one you talk to all through the week about babies, cooking and just life. She makes sure we spend special times together for holidays, vacations and Sunday dinners.

Mothers and daughters definitely have their challenges as daughters are growing up and becoming teens and then young adults but then that magical time comes when your daughter becomes a mother and then she understands and then you have a daughter that becomes one of your best friends in life.

Thank you Debbie for being the best daughter anyone could ever ask for....you will receive it back double fold when your two girls grow up!

Tonight's dinner: Chicken Brushetta, Salad and Nine Grain Bread

and I didn't have to make it!!!

"Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all. " Proverbs 31:29

July 25, 2007 The Birthday Hike!!

Today was a good day. For the first time in as long as I can remember I took the day off because of this cold that won't seem to leave. My family told me last night that I need to rest and take a day off because I was sounding and looking terrible last night. So being the obedient person that I am (: I called in sick and took it easy today. It was a good day and I am definitely feeling better as a result of much needed rest.

The Birthday Hike"!! My goal for the "day of" my 50th was to accomplish a difficult hike. Originally I had planned to go to Mt. Rainier, but because of flooding the particular hike I wanted to do was not open this year. Thus, we went to Arcadia, my brother-in-law and wife had scoped out the hikes for us before we went (they are our personal travel planners) on the birthday adventure and recommended the West Face of Cadillac for my Birthday event. I was not disappointed. Cadillac Mountain is at a elevation of 1533 feet. It is the highest point on the Eastern side of the U.S. The West face trail is the fastest and steepest way to get to the top and that is the trail we took on July 17, 2007. Again as we began this hike I began see principles I could use in my spiritual walk. This hike was very steep and the trail was not easy to see but just about the time you weren't sure if you were still on the trail there would be a blue mark on the stone or a tree. Sometimes in life I am not sure if I'm still on the path God wants me on - it gets confusing - but then out of nowhere will be an assurance or a sign or a nudge in my heart that I am exactly where i need to be and I am on the right path. At times we where so winded from the upward hiking that we had to stop to catch our breath and take in some nourishment. Many times in my life I need to stop to rest and reflect and eat of the Word - when I don't do that I become extremely weary. The scenic views during the hike were amazing and beautiful and along the trail were splashes of wild Maine blueberries ready to be eaten. When we finally made it to the top we were well rewarded with a beautiful view. We were not done though as we now had to descend. We took a different trail down and the entire hike took about 4 hours. It was a perfect day that would have a wonderful ending at a restaurant called Galyn's. in Bar Harbor overlooking the seaport. We walked around town for a little while before going to eat and the weather was once again amazing, cool and refreshing. We had reservations at Galyn's at 6 and we were seated at a window overlooking the harbor. The dinner was great as was the entire time spent in Maine. It did help make the sting of turning 50 a little less painful. So this ends my birthday adventure for this year but there will definitely be a new one for next year. For now my upcoming writing will involve everyday life and thots and may be a little less exciting but who knows maybe not!

"I will sing to the Lord as long as I live, I will praise my God to my last breath! May He be pleased by all these thoughts about him, for I rejoice in the Lord." Psalm 104:33,34(NLT)

July 24, 2007 - Bike Day!

Today was a long day. Since I came home from vacation I have been plagued with a cold that won't seem to go away, probably because I am not resting enough. Anyway, it is very hard to sit and counsel people with your head and nose all stuffed up. Well, I told you this would be an exciting Blog!!!

As promised I will now detail out our 2nd day in the Arcadia National Forest. On July 16th we went to The Bar Harbor Rentals and rented 2 mountain bikes for the day. We then started out on our journey. In the Arcadia Ntl Pks they have what they call "Carriage Trails" that are trails just for bikes throughout the park. Mountain biking is very different than biking in Florida as you have hills that seem to never end...they reminded me of how life is sometimes. We seem to endlessly be traveling up the hill, we feel tired, overwhelmed, you see no end in sight, we begin to feel we are not going to make it and we want to give up. Just about the point you feel you can not go any farther you begin to see hope...a crest - a level place and then you feel energized again...telling yourself " I can make it!" You finally get to the top. All along we are asking for God to give us strength and He does. At the top of the hill you realize you have made it and that you are about to have a great time riding down the hill. The way down is wonderful - the cool air hitting you face and the feeling of freedom as you race down the trail. Just like life we have those times of pure joy when we feel completely free. All along the way we saw the most beautiful, breathtaking sights...God's creation is amazing.

We rode for 2 hours looking for our half way destination - The Jordan Pond Lodge - There we stopped for lunch and had the most amazing, fresh popovers with fresh blueberry jam.

We then walked along the Jordon pond path for about a half an hour and then back on the bikes for the 2 hour trip back to town. To tell you the truth by the time we were an hour away from town I was over it with the bikes!! My butt hurt, I was tired of struggling up hills and I was hot and icky. So about that time John says," You know, we have these bikes all day, why don't we just ride them around town for the rest of the day. My reply was as expected, "NO!" It was my birthday week and I wanted a bath before going to eat! Naturally I got my way and we made it back to the Rental place. That evening we ate at a local restaurant called Po-Boys. We sat on the balcony on the second floor outside and the temps were about in the low 60's with a gentle breeze. I ordered the baked Haddock with cheese and stuffing - it was a wonderful ending to another wonderful day....

"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3

Tomorrow will be the "BIG HIKE" at Cadillac Mountain on the BIG BIRTHDAY DAY!!!!!!

July 23, 2007

Well, this is my first blog experience. This will simply be a collection of Kathy "thots" and various other life experiences that may occur in my very exciting life. (:

I hopefully will be consistent in my writings and I sometimes have a tendency to begin projects and not finish them. So if I suddenly disappear one day you will understand. I will begin my blog with my latest trip to Bar Harbor, ME. For my 50th birthday this year I wanted to be in a beautiful, cool,mountainous place that I could hike and feel the cool fresh air on my face. So my sweet husband fulfilled my dream by arranging for us to be in Bar Harbor, ME. on the day of my birthday. We were within walking distance of the Arcadia National Forest, where most of our adventures took place. We hiked, biked and ate for 3 days and stayed in a beautiful B&B. Our first hike on Sunday July 15, The hike is called the Beehive. It sits at a 546 foot elevation. There were places along the hike that you had to grab metal railings to pull yourself up. It was a difficult but fun hike. Tomorrow I will tell you about day 2 of our trip....the mountain bike trip!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6