My Grandma....

There aren't many times when I get overwhelmed by sadness. I have a great life with so many blessings and wonder. In fact, if rainbows chose to turn into fireworks over my life it wouldn't be surprising. But today, for some reason, I am having sad feelings. There are remembrance of my grandma that I can't put behind me.

I think it started with me hearing "The Old Rugged Cross"
and I thought it was her favorite but turns out she loved...

My sadness has nothing to do with hymns or being Christian, or what side of the spectrum my beliefs lie. It was this... I love my parents. I love my in-laws. I miss my grandparents. I miss the grandparents I never knew. I am sad today. Why? I don't know.

Being without those you love whether they are next to you, far away or in the next dimension; family is family. Friends are friends. We know many people. How many do you love? How many are important to you? Treasure those who treasure you back. Even better, treasure those whom you don't even know. They may be worth it.

happyrachael

The Simple Things...

Sometimes...

The simplest things in life...

Bring you the greatest joy...

happyrachael

My Adventure...

We arrived in Denver...
It was truly the easiest travel day of my life.
I hope this isn't an omen, but a sign of the greatest trip of all time!

When we last met, I was planning my big Rock Chick Adventure here in Denver. Well, we are currently still in the planning stages since I haven't been anywhere but my in-laws' house and am only leaving today to drop Jeff off somewhere so he can do something crazy like buy us a new car. What?

It's hotter than a biscuit here in Colorado. Not North Carolina hot like my dad likes to say, but hot none the less. It is currently 87.3 degrees and will only get hotter. The kids biked to the park this morning while I "jogged" alongside them. According to them, this was torture; the worst idea ever! It was too hot. They were going to die. "The heat! The heat is too much mom!"

Because I don't like being accused of torturing small children who exaggerate greatly, we are currently doing this....

Girl got air....

Poor Jeff had to jerry rig (and that is what it is called because I looked it up) the thing with packaging tape. This is how we roll around here!

The pool opens at 3pm, so that is where we will be spending the afternoon. I won't "force" the children to walk or bike there. I am a great mom that way!

happyrachael

PS: I have made reservations at one Rock Chick Stop, The Barolo Grill, but there will be many of those over the next 12 days. I guarantee it. Even if I have to hire babysitters and force a friend to accompany me. I am THAT determined!

PPS: I will not mention that I had my MIL's macaroni and cheese for breakfast and her Buffalo Chicken Dip with chips for lunch. This will not be spoken out loud. Just sayin....

I have been reading...

I started reading in May and haven't stopped. This is why I stopped blogging. Who has time to read and blog? My book choices have ranged from "those" books about Anastasia Steel to Gone Girl and back.

I wish I could say it all started when I was ten and reading was my life line. My dad would take me to a movie and then to pizza. I would read an Archie comic book and he would write the greatest American novel. It is my favorite childhood memory. I can picture us at the local Pizza Hut in suburban Atlanta reading, eating and just hanging. 

I majored in English and became a teacher. Life got in the way and I don't think I ever found my right path; until I was 31. I found my husband. He doesn't share my love of reading, but he does share my love of family. We have children who love to learn and they embrace the new. Lilly loves to read. And James, well when he figures out how to garner his energy into reading, he will love it!

I have an almost stalker love for the author Kristen Ashley. She writes the Rock Chick books and many other novels that are centered in England, parallel worlds and most importantly Denver. The places I can visit next week on our bi-annual trek to the Rockies that are central to her stories are on my list. Jeff said that we have more places to visit than we have time this upcoming trip. I wouldn't have it any other way!

One of the first places to visit in Denver happens to be the restaurant/bar where Jeff was a bartender when we met. I imagine a trip back to Brother's will be fun and sad all at once. When he left there, we began our life together. And what a wonderful life it is. We are blessed.

Watch for my adventures through Denver and beyond!

happyrachael

My ipad just died....

I am in a long term love affair with my ipad. And tonight, it left me. It happened in the middle of a book on my Kindle for ipad, and one saved tweet not to mention a Facebook update. I am lost. Sad. Forlorn.

I guess I will have to start blogging again. Yes, it was a sign from the blogger world to stop reading, stop browsing and begin writing again.

We are one week away from our bi-annual trip to Denver. This year, I have a plan to visit many restaurants and attractions that I never knew existed until I started reading a certain author's books. I will expand more on this next week and I am excited to share my adventures and pictures with all two of my readers (Hi mom and Jim!).

I missed this and I hope to be back for good this time. We shall see....

happymommy

Sometimes you forget...

I love my husband. I have written before about how much I admire him and he how he is mostly perfect. Jeff is a great father, a wonderful husband and friend.

He loves his children. He gives them adventures and hugs. He simply is Jeff. And I love him.

Without him, I would be lost. I was lost. Then I found him. The end.... Much more to come...

happymommy

Goodbye Mr. Gubbles...

Lilly's fish, Mr. Gubbles, died this morning. I cried because of the fish. Lilly comforted me because I was so sad. But, it is just a fish.

I cried in Starbucks. I cried in Costco. I just cried while trying to find a place for the eight cans of refried beans and one hundred green tea bags. But it is just a fish.

When my uncle died last week, and I traveled to North Carolina to say goodbye, I cried. But I also laughed, smiled and hugged many. The time wasn't all sad. It was family and love and so much more. We said goodbye and we are moving on with our lives.

I cry because others have lost so much more than a fish by way of cancer, war and disease. I cry because I will never see any of my grandparents again. I cry because one day I will lose my mom and my dad. I cry because I will continue to have to say goodbye many more times as the years progress.

I cry because Lilly's fish died.

Goodbye Mr. Gubbles...

You were a good little fish!

happymommy

Just because....

I haven't posted in almost exactly four months. Lots of reasons why and none very exciting to share. But this past weekend I had the honor of being part of saying goodbye to a very important man, my uncle. He was loved beyond words by family and friends. So many people were touched by this sweet man, whose hard life and earned lessons were shared to help others become better and make true impacts on the world around them. I am one of them. I am better because I knew him, and he loved me.

Levon Helm, who also died last week and was a HUGE part of the music world, gave us this song in 2009. It couldn't be more appropriate for my uncle's passing, and for everyone who leaves loved ones and affected ones behind. No more crying, just going home...

happymommy