Adventure with my boys

   My boys and I have been trying to get together for a "Day Adventure."  This is easier said than done when you factor in 5 jobs and a full load of classes between the 3 of us!  Then factor in the availability of yet another "Key" persons schedule and, well, we finally managed to find a date!
   The boys and I wanted to start our day with breakfast out and that presented yet another challenge!  Finding a restaurant that had Gluten Free selections for me was proving to be difficult if not nearly impossible!  It was looking like coffee only would be my breakfast until I called City View Bistro and hit pay dirt:)  The breakfast was great and we had a very nice time!

Drew & Chase.  Great "Dates" for breakfast

   Next up, a "mini road trip" of about 20 minutes or so.  
   To back track just a bit; Chase and Drew and I had an idea about a year ago but never had the time to act on it.  We got back to this discussion this summer and all agreed that now was the time.  In all fairness, we did invite Bri but, she politely (actually, vehemently!) declined, lol!
   We wanted to do something to honor Jeff. And so, after being highly recommended, we visited Dav and Jay at Love Tattoo in Jenison.

Nice place, Nice guys:)

   We each knew what we wanted and all were similar and yet a little different.  We all chose a different size and spot to do this but all were on our "right side."  I'm not sure how or why but, that's the way it worked out!  

First up, me:)    

Ready to go:)

Dav

Yes.  To answer everyone's question, yes, it hurts.  But, just a bit and not the whole time!  Most of the time it is just annoying.  And, to put it in perspective (for me anyway), after everything Jeff went through, this was nothing!!!

Finished!

I decided, before I got home this day, that I need to go back and have a tiny red heart added near the bottom of one of the "tails" of the ribbon.  I actually can't wait!

Next came Drew.  Chase would soon be in with Jay who is quite the artist and quick as well!  We were all impressed with these guys and the facility.  Very clean and professional!  Very nice!

      Drew getting started...

"In for a penny...

in for a pound!"

Soon, Jay came and got Chase so he and Drew were being tattooed at the same time.  Chase needed to get to work!  So did I for that matter...

Making sure it looks centered

Jay getting started on Chase

                                                             A work in progress...

I know, to many this seems like a strange "adventure!"  Breakfast and tattoos are not exactly your typical day out with mom and the boys but to us, it was a wonderful, meaningful day!  A great thing for all of us to do together!  I am so grateful for these boys! 

Chase, Drew, Brenda

Thank you to Dav and Jay for helping us to continue to  
  "Make every moment count!"


(((Hugs)))
   Brenda

The Happy Wanderer

     I'm a walker:)  I have always been.  I grew up in an area where, unless you lived miles from school, you walked.  I live smack in between my elementary school, middle school and high school.  I walked every day (unless the weather was horrible.  Like a raging thunderstorm, not just rain!) until I got a car in high school.  I don't remember ever minding the walk, even when we arrived at school with frozen hair and eyelashes!
   As an adult, I have always enjoyed walking for exercise and for pleasure.  It is like meditation for me.  I don't walk with my i pod.  I like feeling like I am immersed in the sounds of the wind, the waves, the birds etc.

I am lucky to live where I can head out the door with my walking companion and walk to any one of these places to explore.

Bear, my faithful walking companion!

     I live in an area where we have a wonderful bike/walking path system,  where I can walk to so many interesting places. 
   I can and do walk to and explore 2 different cemeteries. 

Beautiful morning:)

I have loved this since I was a child!

  Riley Trails is wonderful for walks.  

Great hiking

 I have recently discovered that I really enjoy "Off Road" hiking or "Trail Hiking"!  Riley Trails is just one of several great spots for this:)










                                     Keppel Forest  Park has been a long time favorite place of mine!

The Cabin

Pond complete with large croaking bullfrogs

     When the kids were little we would walk or bike there and have picnic lunches:)  It is where Chase did his Eagle Project. It has always been one of my "Peaceful Places."

     Kamp Kiwanis.  When I was a little girl and stayed with my gram we would walk through the woods to Kamp Kiwanis.  I camped there once when I was a Girl Scout.  The boys spent a lot of time there (as did we) for Boy Scouts.   It is nice to go back and walk there:)

With a short car ride, I can be at some great trails for walking and Bear is always up for a hike (where he is allowed).

 
    Always a pretty place to hike, any time of the year!  

 

I have become a huge fan of climbing and hiking at Mount Pisgah this year!  Such a beautiful place and always a great workout .  The views are constantly changing but always spectacular!

As we get closer and closer to winter, I keep thinking every walk or hike will be my last!  But, we have been Blessed with an amazing autumn and i keep getting in "1 more hike!"  Today, Drew met me out at Felt Mansion and Shore Acres Park where he loves to go Disc Golfing!   Jeff and I always loved it out there and even had an opportunity to tour the house when it was about 75% of the way through the renovations.  We thoroughly enjoyed the tour and the history!  The property has come a long way and is beautiful for hiking, golfing, exploring and picnicking!  Drew and Bear and I had a lovely time!

Drew was impressed with Bear's ability to trek through the woods and up and down the hills and dunes:)

                                                                                    

Lake Michigan

Happy Bear

And, Drew even got to show off his Disc Golfing skills to me, I am impressed!

   We certainly live in a beautiful area with no shortage of places to visit, explore, hike and enjoy!   I have a list of places I have yet to visit and explore and they are all with in 15-20 minutes of my house!  It doesn't get much better than that:)   

   And, as winter looms large and my hiking days would be winding down, I have decided that I would like to try snow shoeing.  This could open up a whole new world of opportunity and beautiful views!  

And, I will continue to 

Make every moment count!

Happy Trails 

and 

(((Hugs)))

Brenda

Going back

Going Back...

Sometimes, going back can help us move forward.

   There are a couple of things I have been wanting to do.  First, I wanted to go back to the Inn at Freedom Village.  I wanted to go back and thank  all of the wonderful people there who took care of Jeff.  I asked Sandy if she would like to go with me (Sandy was Jeff's room mates (John) wife.)  Sandy said she would but wasn't ready yet this summer.  Late in Sept. we got together for the day and the first thing we did was pick up some flowers and go to the Inn.  It was mostly good.  It was so nice to see the people we spent so much time with for so long!  It was so nice to be able to thank them!  Something I didn't plan on but became clear; it was nice for them too!  They were glad to see us and to see how we were doing.  It was nice for them to be able to express their sympathy.  I had never thought ahead about how our visit could  be a good thing for them.  We laughed a lot!  We hugged a lot!  There were a lot of memories! And yes, there were a few teary moments.  Mostly when one of the staff got teary.  All in all, I am very glad we went!  I am very glad that Sandy and I had each other to lean on and do this together!
   Another place I had been wanting to go back to was Ann Arbor.  It truly holds so many good memories for me!  We loved the area and the people.  We made new friends there.  I had not been there since last winter.  So, Bri and I recently made a trip back.  Bri spent much time there with us and was somewhat familiar with the area.  We knew we would be on a tight schedule and could not see everyone.  I knew going back to the hospital was not a good idea.  In large part because we wouldn't be able to see anyone without an appointment anyway.  But, I knew I did want to see Juliana!  I met Juliana shortly after arriving in AA.  (My sister introduced us.)  Juliana had recently moved to the area and was struggling a bit with the move.  We hit it off and spent hours together over coffee talking and laughing.  Sharing books and getting to know each other.  Juliana and Shelly even came to our hotel one day and we took over the breakfast room and each created our Christmas cards for the year.  Bri wanted to find a dress for graduation.  I had a return to make at World Market and a Birthday gift to purchase.  I really wanted to go back to Hello Faz pizza for lunch, Jeff and I loved that place!  I also wanted to visit "our pond", go to Whole Foods and make a stop at Trader Joes for a friend.  All of these things were accomplished and we did spend some time in the afternoon catching up with Juliana as well!  It was SO NICE to see her again!  I navigated my way around AA as though we had never left.  I would have liked to spend some time in the downtown area but we just did not have enough time.  I guess I'll just have to go back again!   I wondered how it would feel to be back there.  Again, mostly, it was good!  There are a lot of memories in AA for me and a lot of them were good so I tried to focus on those.  Something that surprised me was, on the way there, I found myself remembering many of my thoughts from our very first trip to AA for Jeff's initial consultation.  I'd pass a sign or a land mark and remember what I was thinking about at that time.  I would have expected to remember more from our most recent trips but for some reason, my mind went back to the first trip.  Again, maybe going back helps us move forward?
   Drew is also doing some "going back" business!    Drew decided to go back to school this fall after taking some time off.  He is focused on what he wants and is excited to be back in school!  (I am excited about him being excited!!! I know Jeff would be pleased too!)   And, Drew is going back home.  I admit, at the risk of sounding like a bad parent, I am not as excited about this.  I have mixed feelings.  Mostly, I am glad that this will allow him to get his feet under back under him, save some money and be able to make a decision about where he goes from here without having to rush into it.  (He and Bri are even talking about living together for a bit before she starts grad school!)  But, I have been finding my own way, on my own, for 5 months now.  I feel like I am just feeling comfortable in where I am, even if my "new normal" is not "normal" for others.  I eat when I am hungry which is not always at a "normal meal time hour."  I go to bed when I am tired, often staying up till midnight reading.  I vacuum when I want, do laundry when I want etc. I know this must sound selfish but I am trying to be honest here.  On the other hand, I never considered saying no and will be glad to see him more than I usually do! To add someone back into this equation just when I have gotten to this point will be another learning experience for me.  Probably for Drew too!  But,  Drew is learning to "go back" in order to move forward!
   I have also been going back and catching up with friends from "way back when."  I refer to these friend as "forever friends."  (It is much nicer than saying "old friends")  I have a few friends who live out of state that I have know since grade or middle school.  When they are back in Holland it is so nice to visit in person and catch up!  FaceBook has gone a long way towards keeping people in touch but nothing beats sitting down in person!  I also have some friends from when the kids were little.  As our kids got older, went to different schools and  got involved in different activities , we spent less time together.  But over the years, first through Christmas cards and then FB, we have kept in touch in some way.  Now, I am enjoying being able to reconnect in person, spending time together over coffee or the occasional lunch or supper and I feel very Blessed that both these friends and  so many of my friends, stuck with me, were patient when I couldn't be there for them the last few years and now want to spend time together again!  Forever friends, more recent friends, even new friends.  Just going back to reconnecting with friends is a very good way for me to move forward!  
   Coming up, there will be another opportunity to "go back."  My Gram passed away in August.  As a kid and even when Jeff and I first married, we always went to Grams house with all the relatives for Christmas.  Eventually, we grew to a very large group and it was a lot for Gram so we started going to one of our Aunts houses and even tried other venues.  My Gram lived just about a mile from where I live.  I grew up spending time in this area and at Grams house.  One of my Aunts and Uncle have now purchased Grams house with the intent to do some work on it and eventually live there.  This year, for Christmas, we will all gather once again at Grams house! To be going back to Gram's house for the Holidays after all these years seems to me to be a good way to move forward!  Christmas will be very different this year.  I am still not sure what we are going to do.  I really feel that to do everything exactly the same, as though nothing has changed, would be like ignoring the elephant in the room.  I would like to make some changes (not exactly sure what yet) and still maintain some traditions.  Maybe even start a new tradition?  I have talked to someone at Hospice and received some literature on this.  A good start is going back to Grams house.  A very old tradition, updated.  Similar but different.  Going back. Moving forward.  Whatever we do, we will "Make every moment count!"

(((Hugs)))
  Brenda