Waving from Heaven

   Last week I sat down to read some Christmas books to my grandson Andrew. He choose one of my favorites, "Polar Express". We snuggled on the sofa with our Christmas tree sparkling in front of us and holiday decor everywhere. I did not see the greeting from heaven coming when I turned to the inscription page and it read, "1993  Happy Birthday Grant, Love your friend Samuel Ford." I gasped when I read this page to myself as it took my breath away. Childhood friend, Samuel Ford passed away this past summer tragically as a young man in his late 20's.  God brought him home on his appointed day. Our hearts have been grieving and remembering him along with his parents. My grandson didn't understand my tears and he craned his neck to look at me, his Nana, crying quietly. I was able to collect myself and read the book to Andrew but, I had forgotten who gave us that precious gift years ago!  How wonderful to experience Samuel "waving" to us from heaven that day. It was as though he was saying, hello ya'all! Don't worry about me. I'm experiencing amazing things here in heaven. I was suddenly filled with great comfort and joy. I quickly took a picture on my phone and sent it to Samuel's parents, Jeff and Maria and our son Grant. The whole experience gave me goosebumps and I smiled with assurance knowing that was a special Christmas moment indeed. It touched me deeply and I pray it is a calming salve for my friends during this first holiday season without their precious boy.
   So my word for the holidays this year is...remember.
~  I will remember as I cook meals and use family recipes.
~  I will remember my loved ones who have passed and raise a glass to toast them.
~  I will remember the "reason for the season"- Jesus' birth.
~  I will remember to listen and love deeply.
~  I will remember to take time to hold the hand of a friend who is suffering loss this season.
~  I will remember to sing long & loud Christmas carols with friends in my car. (you know who         you are!)
~  I will remember to give lavishly.
~  I will remember to be thankful, no matter what the circumstances may be.

   Just last night  friends gave us a Christmas ornament with her son's picture on it. I will treasure this special gift. Holidays have been difficult for them as they mourn the loss of their son.  Nick was a close family friend who passed unexpectedly 3 days after my sister Cheryl succumbed to leukemia in 2013. I knew the healing that had to occur to prepare those ornaments and share them this year. The back of the ornament says"Sing all ye citizens of heaven above!"  Yes! That is what he's doing this year with Cheryl and Samuel! All our deceased loved ones experience a different kind of Christmas then we are.
   So I'm going to remember those we lost too soon and pray for hurting individuals & families this Christmas. May you find comfort and joy this season as I have.

November 17th

November 17th is a good day to be thankful.
 
As the Thanksgiving holiday is upon us I'm truly thankful today for many things. I have a home that is not under siege of fire threat in California to start with. My family is healthy.  My marriage is loving and strong. I have 4 grandchildren who are all so different and amusing. Both my daughters are pregnant and due to deliver 2 more grands we are affectionately calling "the twins" Feb 7th 2019. (What kind of odds are those!?) And...my children adore me. (Right kids?)! In the midst of this season of thankfulness I am choosing joy and remembering my older sister Cheryl Marks Yates Zimmerman who passed from her 6 month battle leukemia almost 6 years ago. Today would of been her 62 birthday. I think about her every single day! Recently my granddaughter Hayley commented on a picture that is placed on my refrigerator of Cheryl. She said, "That is a pretty picture of you Nana." I gulped hard and told her it was a picture of my sister Cheryl who is now in heaven. She looked at the picture for a long stare and said, " She looks like you Nana." Several tears leaked out of my eyes. Cheryl would have loved meeting my grands. She missed the birth of my first grandchild Colton Sterling by mere weeks. She celebrated with me and would text me baby names to pass along to her niece Noelle. She really liked the name Spencer and lobbied hard for it since one of her favorite nurses at University of Washington Medical Center had that name. Sigh- As hard as it is today, I'm thankful I have wonderful memories growing up with her. We did our share of bickering and teasing each other, but in the end she was my big sister and she would always have my back.
   One of my brothers ( Ken- the good brother he calls himself) always sent out his sisters birthday gifts by November 17th each year. That meant that sister Terri and I who have birthdays in August and September would find a lovely package in November waiting for us just in time for Cheryl's birthday. I miss getting my birthday card and gift on Cheryl's birthday now!  I suppose I will ask my brother to send it for  November 17th in the future after all!  Its a good day to remember and be thankful if you are me.

5 Days Grand

Hello friends, family and faithful followers,

   I’m 5 days into being the babysitting grandparent of 2 of my adorable grands. (ages 2 and 4 years old) Their parents are celebrating an anniversary on the beaches of Kauai, Hawaii. A much deserved vacation for 2 incredibley hard working parents of 2 smart precocious toddlers. In keeping with my Wet Mittens theme, I like to share what I have observed or learned while in full control of my grands these past several days.

• “Boo Boos” are a big deal. If you have forgotten this, then let this serve as your warning to get a supply of bandaids in stock for the wee ones visiting your home. Bandaids have magic powers I’m positively sure of it.
• Staying with the “Boo boos” theme here, also be reminded that you will HEAR about this boo boo ALLLLLLL day long and you must have the same compassion for it that you did when the injury first occurred.
• Two children from the same family are in cahoots about sleeping through the night. If one sleeps through the night by some small miracle, then the other MUST wake you at 3:02 AM just to be sure your healthy sleep and REM cycles are disturbed. I tried to catch them in the act planning and scheming but failed. They probably did it when I was passed out on the sofa during an episode of Paw Patrol.
• Keeping with the Paw Patrol theme, This kids show is jackpot. 24K Gold. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner. Thank God for Ryder and his pups. I owe my debt of gratitude to them. I actually said to my husband the other day, “just yelp for help!” And “Nana, on the double!” and I whistled the theme song while sorting out  size 2T and 4T clothes for laundry.
• Serving quinoa is a bad idea to a 2 year old. They might as well be at the beach throwing sand around your kitchen. I won’t repeat a meal with that on the menu no matter how much they whine and demand for it!
• Some 4 year olds,(my granddaughter) can talk and talk and talk all day long without taking a breath to even breathe. This is a modern day miracle that should be recorded somehow.  I am in awe of this ability.
• Getting out the door and loaded into the van is a triathlon sport. I clearly need more strength training.
• Toddlers should not wear socks. The drama department at our local high school should look forward to the upcoming actors they will receive in 2028 from our family. Their play could be called “My Sock Is Hurting!” Or maybe “ If I Pull My Socks Up to My Knees, Then I Can Wear Those Shoes.” 
• I am never alone in the bathroom. They must follow me in there every single time. They must also stand very close and ask questions. They will inspect your skin, your varicose veins, underwear conditions, belly button, how many squares of toilet paper you used. why your tummy is bigger than theirs and other world problems.
• The older sibling is the foreign language interpreter for the younger sibling.  After many attempts of me trying to understand,  “mifundapa” I asked the wise 4 year old guru to give its meaning to me and I was amazed that it was “spatula”.
• You must go to bed when they do or you won’t get a wink of sleep.
• If it’s your idea, it can not possibly be a good one.
• Mustard on scrambled eggs is an acceptable cuisine. 
• The words BLUE and POO can sound the same  ALL of the time. Run to the potty when you hear either. You can also defer to the interpreter if you are not sure.
• Negotiations are needful for a peaceful resolution for picking out clothes daily. See my earlier comment about the drama department recruits forth coming from our grands...
• Unexpected kisses and phrases like “I love you Nana” make Nana forget everything exhausting about the last 5 days being Grand. 

Christmas surprises and traditions

I would be willing to bet that many of you have never heard this family story of mine.
I giggled aloud today when I saw my special Christmas ring on my dresser.
It prompted me to write this just in time for Christmas. My husband and I
celebrated our first married couple Christmas morning with his family in 1980. In his stocking, he had the normal chewing gum, tic tacs breath mints and some other "stuffers", but I had the gift that beat all Christmas stocking stuffers to come in my stocking.  I pulled out a black velvet ring box. You can only imagine what was going through my mind at this point, I joyfully opened it as the entire family gathered around me. It was a LARGE, very ugly, horn of plenty costume jewelry ring with about 8 small rhinestones. He excitedly asked me if I liked it and the other family members oooed and awwwed at how lovely it was. My head was spinning! I was then prompted to put it on and then more compliments came. I was numb. Were they all blind to how ugly and bizarre this choice of ring was!? I could barely breathe as I thought and wondered what I could have the ring made into. I only thought diamonds as I pondered, maybe a necklace or bracelet? Oh dear Lord, I will have to tell my husband privately how sorely wrong his choice for me was! Thankfully they all couldn’t stand to put me through anymore torture and as the living room filled with belly busting laughter my husband grabbed my gawdy adorned ringed hand and took me to a closet where my new set of golf clubs was wrapped in a big red bow! Such sweet relief! We still laugh about what a good sport I was that day and in true Christmas tradition I wear the ring every Christmas morning to remember how thankful I am that I married that man who gave me golf clubs our first Christmas.

Merry Christmas my friends and Happy New Year.

Learning to speak raccoon language from my new BFF

   My new best friend is James, known locally as the "Critter Getter" guy. Our relationship began a few weeks ago. We've been spending lots of time together at different hours of the day. He's so smart! He knows raccoon sign language, and he's been teaching it to me. I am so lucky to have a friend like James. He texts me to tell me when he's coming over. I gave him my home number too. One night James sat out in front of my house until after midnight. Everyone needs a friend like James.

   Several weeks ago my husband, I will call him John for now, confessed that he had found a pried open vent on the foundation of our house several weeks back, and had repaired it. Husband John knows his wife doesn't like the open freeway under our house for rodents.Wife Lorrie realllllly hates rodents. Good husband John dutifully fixed it and was placing traps to catch any unwelcome intruders. The vent and all subsequent vents were all getting destroyed every night now.Very perplexing so my heroic husband said he would replace each vent with brand spanking new vents to fix this problem once and for all! He worked for hours on this project. I love John. That night one of the vents was pulled open like butter and we weren't sure if something was coming or going out! Husband of the year announced it was time to call in the professionals. This is a great quality of my hero husband John, who knows when to throw up the white flag. Other men could learn this redeeming quality from him! It's my husband's fault though that I now spend so much of my free time with James. He made me call him and told him to come over to our house.

   James is teaching me allllllll about raccoons. He knows them very well as he learned about raccoon language from his father. He says I have a mama raccoon under my house and she has babies now there. James has a special camera he placed to record her coming and going from under my house. I love James. He's so techie. James tells me stories of his adventures with raccoons. He has a large scar on his hand from where he was bit once. James is so brave.

   Everything James has told me about this mama raccoon is true! She is a good mama and returns to her babies after going out late at night for water and food. James says she is the best one to take care of those babies. James says after we separate her from the babies, he will then reunite them (the kits) back to her. She will move them to another safe place. But first he has to fix all the vents with super duper special made vents he has made just for him. Then he puts in a special door that locks behind her at night when she emerges. He made sure she would go in and out it one night just to be sure. James is so patient and careful. He records everything so he can know for sure what mama raccoon is doing. I'm so proud of my new friend who is taking good care of me and my foundation house-guests. Yesterday Mama raccoon,let's call her Rhonda now, after my best friend in college. Rhonda was locked out and tried for hours to break into my house foundation but James made a mistake and didn't screw down the crawlspace door completely! Rhonda then pried it open and found her way back to the babies! Hooray! Wait, this is not good. James feels very badly for his mistake but I forgave him because after all he is my new best friend. James is letting Rhonda recover from the trauma and hopes she will move her babies this weekend. Rhonda is being recorded on camera thanks to James. I love James.

   James is teaching me about a mother raccoons unbending love. He is also teaching me to be very very careful with my dog around  Rhonda. So far they haven't met. He is teaching me about being patient. He's trying to save me money too by hoping she moves the babies herself and he won't have to go searching for them under the bowels of my home. One thing he didn't teach me, but I  gleaned on my own... is for me to give his business card to my neighbors. Rhonda will be moving in next week to their house!



 

Sibling love

   This past fall season we said our long slow goodbyes to our mother Shirley. She was the last cog of the family wheel that connected us siblings together. When the story of my life was written by God, I didn't imagine myself grieving the loss of my mother and the loss of my oldest sister 4 years earlier to leukemia so close together. We were siblings of a count of five, but here we were as a clan of four stinging from the loss of one sister and honoring our mother at a graveside. The loss was huge to me.  I truly wasn't prepared for the compounded grief even though I saw it coming. 

       Here I am months later and I can honestly say healing can and has washed over me in wonderful unexpected ways. OK, So, I've been thinking about my siblings quite a bit these days. I recently saw all of them at my mother's funeral on those chilly days in late October. I felt moved and I did tell them, (but I didn't think anyone was listening to the #4 little sister) that now that mom was gone we would need to become more intentional about spending time with one another and communicating better. I am the lone black sheep of the family living in God forsaken land of crazies in California. They all live in the vast and lovely (and too cold for me) Big Sky Country of Montana. The gap and travel chasm has many miles between.

    As I write I've glanced over at my calendar and I smile because my older brother Ken and his wife Paula arrive tomorrow for a visit during a trip they've planned. One week later my oldest brother Ron and wife Nancy arrive and are bringing some of my mom's belongings to me that I chose for myself after the funeral. Then 2 weeks later my youngest sister Terri and my two nieces AND great nephew come for a week! So in one month I will receive a visit from allllllll my siblings! I am so thrilled beyond what you can imagine. Even if they just came for dinner and drove off that night I would still have felt like the King of England had just stopped by for tea. 
   Now back to the part where I said I'd been thinking about my siblings. I had a memory this past week as my friend Denise taught a women's bible study and she recalled a story about sharing a bed with her sister growing up. She as the younger one wanted her sister to just "talk" to her at night. I suddenly remembered sharing a room with my older sister Cheryl and some of our "sister antics" flooded back to me.  She always got the top bunk. Think BIG sister and pecking order for the top bunk rules. So, I never got the top bunk as a little sister. Nightly I laid in the lower bunk below and would push my feet up on the springs and bounce her on her mattress. That turned into a giggle fest or she grew weary and got mad at me, or my legs got tired but most often our dad came in to scold and tell us to knock it off and go to sleep. Those memories triggered something I'd forgotten. I remember we talked a lot. Well, maybe it was me doing most of the talking back then, but I recalled the sister dialogue that took place between the bunks. Conversations that grew us up together. What stayed with me all these years is that she listened to me. I recall a sense of love and belonging because she did. It was a familiar and strong emotion then and  I felt it again as my siblings have made their plans to visit me this month.They listened to the words I communicated from my heart AND they really must love me!? How incredibly blessed am I!? 

    Each one of these brothers and sisters made a unique impression on my life. My oldest brother Ron defined his moment in my life in the early 70's when our father Gene left for several months as he checked into a rehab center for alcoholism. My father left my oldest brother Ron in charge as man of the house during his absence. Ron took it very serious. He also ran the household while our mother worked full time. I recall eating A LOT of spaghetti since that was all he really knew how to cook. Bless his heart.

 Older brother Ken is most famous for rescuing me from bully boys on the playground when I was in first grade and he was in fifth grade. My hero. I won't forget him helping lace and tie my ice skates as a little girl and then "allowing" me to play hockey for a few minutes with his buddies on the far end of Gibson pond in Great Falls, Montana. He always kind of humored me,but kept a protective eye out for me too. I knew how to duck his brotherly punches, but I wasn't quick enough to elude ice cubes down my back and constant teasing though.

    My youngest sister Terri was the family favorite as she was added into the Marks clan 7 years after me. I don't ever remember having an argument with her.I loved her so deeply. Her strawberry red hair and creamy complexion was the envy of  all. Her pretend friends (Dougen and Ricken) and playful personality was our family entertainment and still is to this day. Most of all, she always made me laugh. I thank God for her daily and wish we lived closer to one another. We plan to soak up some sister love time during her visit.   I am blessed they are all visiting me here during our soggy rainy California winter. Hopefully they won't see my tears of joy running down my face then.💗


                                                             


  Brother Ken and Lorrie February 2017

My Perfect Storm

I knew it was coming when I left Montana in August after a visit with my failing mother. It was as they say, the perfect storm.  When I last said goodbye to her I cried and sobbed out of control in the hallway of her resident home with my poor brother Ken who gently patted my back to comfort me. Nobody wants to cry like that in public. It makes everyone feel uncomfortable. Especially your brother!

  As weeks passed into September I could feel mom slowly slipping away as conversations with her became shorter and more difficult for her. She would quit talking and lay the phone down in her lap from fatigue after a few minutes and I would have to hang up. Candid conversations with my siblings about my mothers fast decline made me look at the calendar and wonder how in the name of God Holy Father were things going to work themselves out with my earthly plans? Many questions flooded my mind. When was my mother going to pass to heaven?  Didn't God know my long prayed for granddaughter Mackenzie Jane was due in early October? Did God forget about the pain in my knee that I had been struggling with for a year and after 2 MRI's was finally diagnosed as a meniscus tear? Didn't God see the calendar days ebbing away and I'd met my deductible so surgery had to be this year? Did my siblings know my internal struggle with getting on a plane and flying back up to be with them and my mother for her final days and possibly missing my granddaughters birth? Could I honor my mother and not run to her side? Was my mother hanging onto life because she was waiting for Mackenzie's birth? Did I need to remind her I was a month late when she had me, and then I was 3 weeks late with my daughter Noelle and she was already a week late with her 8th great grandchild? What could I do from California when she was 1079 miles from me? I was slowly going crazy with the reality that babies are born and loved ones die and I couldn't do ANYTHING about it. I was in a constant state of planning in my mind for all the possible scenarios depending on which happened when and where. It was exhausting!

 Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 says "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven. A time to give birth and a time to die." I believed this but as the perfect storm was brewing in my life I truly and honestly was fighting a lack of faith for the first time in a long time. I was suffering because of my lack of peace as well. Sleep eluded me for weeks and I seemed very preoccupied with my circumstances. Several huge events were about to collide and the angst and anxiety were overwhelming my boat that was being tossed about in the storm. Just one thing had to happen and I could see it would all fall into place. I finally decided to trust the one who holds life in His hands. I prayed for perfect timing and asked others to join me. All the miracles began to fall into place. I was able to participate by phone in a final bedside service with mom. Brother Ron held the phone receiver up for me to hear. He said mom opened her eyes when she heard my voice. I was able to tell mom I love her the day before she died. She tried hard to mouth the words "love you" back. I declared to her that Mackenzie was going to be late and we would take good care of her. She needed to go be with Jesus and meet up with daddy and sister Cheryl. I'm not sure how I formed those words cheerfully and strong, but I did. I prayed God would receive my mother into eternity with mercy and love...and He did. My sweet mother passed into heaven early October 5th, 2016 while my sister Terri held her hand and had just texted me. A sense of relief washed over me knowing her suffering was over and her new life had begun. 

 My wonderful siblings gave me several weeks before the burial and memorial service in Montana to greet our new granddaughter who arrived 8 days late October 18, 2016. I liked what my nephew Erik said, "it was like Grama Shirley and Mackenzie passed in the hallway of heaven." After Mackenzie's safe arrival we were able to travel easily to Montana for services October 27-30. We all cried, laughed, and loved for several days. I needed that warm blanket of love from my family. Mom taught us that well. Now I've spent 4 days resting, reading and sleeping in Lake Tahoe and resetting myself back after what was often a schizophrenic emotionally charged month. There was so much joy and so much sorrow as I held little Mackenzie and tearfully told her all about her great grandmother one morning at 3 am while everyone slept. Sorrow in knowing I can't pick up the phone and chat with my mom anymore. Joy in the assurance that my mom is in the presence of the Lord God.  Heavenly rest for my mother, and some earthly rest for me. So now the final piece of the puzzle is being played out next week as I receive out patient surgery to repair my knee. Timing has been perfect. God heard all my prayers (and yours too). So somehow the storm gave me peace in the midst, and strengthened me, strengthened my faith, and my injured knee... imagine that!?

 My mother Shirley holding her first granddaughter Noelle Marie.

 Me holding my new granddaughter Mackenzie Jane.

Thank you for your love support and care these recent weeks. 
As we say at my house LYAAF (love you always and forever)
Lorrie

Home, hearts and Montana!

   The month of October sure did arrive quickly at my house! I can account for every moment of the last several months since I last wrote a blog of my random (very random) thoughts. Can you? Are you making the life moments count toward something meaningful? Are you appreciating the very life breath you have?  Have you counted your blessings and then told those blessings of your love for them? I've decided my tombstone should read someday...Lorraine Estelle Bridges- She tried to live a life of no regrets. It really is my life mantra!
   I have spent most of my adult and married life living away from all of my family in Montana. California has been my home longer than the years I logged in the Big Sky country. I usually feel the pain and separation most when I am with them while visiting my home state. However lets be clear, I don't feel ANY regret during those long winter months while I enjoy the beach temperatures of Northern California.
    I recently traveled back to visit my mother Shirley who is failing slowly, but still failing quicker than we all are ready for. She's preparing herself for entrance to her new home in heaven. She told me during our last visit that she is ready to go and is at peace. Comforting words that I'm thinking about a lot these days as her body is declining and we all say the long slow goodbye to our dear mother/grandmother/great grandmother.
    I had a task of sorting through bins and boxes of photographs in between brief visits with my mom in her assisted living home. What a life passed before my eyes as I sifted through the pictorial memories. There were so many pictures of Montana landscape, animals hunted, fish caught and proudly displayed on the grass, formerly owned cars, trucks and campers, pets, family road trips and decades of family events that cataloged lives well lived. Everyone... smiling for the camera. So much joy pressed in on me while I worked on my laborious job.  I took handfuls of pictures to my mom for her to identify for me. Some people she knew and some forever forgotten. I surprised myself at how excellent I was at my sleuthing abilities to name each family member from their birth! After a week I felt like I had been on a long family adventure with my entire family! I'd spent time with beloved relatives and friends that had passed on as well. I heard their voices as I fingered through the photos. I will admit to a few tearful sessions I experienced alone as I would find a moment captured on film that brought deep emotion. Mom holding her first grandchild Erik, My dad showing my son Grant how to clean his first fish. Pictures of close family friend Shirley Hasenkrug laughing as she blew out a birthday cake. Sister Cheryl kayaking in Alaska with a twinkle in her eye. You know, now as my  mom is slipping away, sorting through those pictures seems to be a treasured gift I received during my visit.  I believed that the longer I'm away the more disconnected I would feel, but it simply isn't true. As my older brother Ken drove me half way across the state to catch a plane home(thanks again my dear brother-extra bro points for you) I felt comfortable with the familiar mountains and valleys in my surroundings. It was like putting on a old comfy pair of shoes or my favorite sweater.  I sure love to visit that place I call "home"!  I like the old saying, " Home is where your heart is." I guess my heart is there and always will be. For my birthday my sister Terri gave me a lovely necklace with the shape of the state of Montana and a heart on it. Appropriate gift for me don't you think?  So many I love are there with my heart including my sweet momma for now.  Maybe I have lots of "homes" and it isn't just in California.

We Aren't in Kansas Anymore

Remember that post I wrote several posts back about Bucket Lists? Well if you haven't read it yet go back and read it here on this site. I'm talking about checking off a bucket list item and you should be up to speed.
 My husband John has been dreaming of a trip to Ireland, Scotland and England for quite a while now. It alllllllll started when the movie  Braveheart came out in mid 1995. We had the privilege  of sitting in the front row of the movie theater and getting to know Mel Gibson up close and personal for several bloody hours all for "Freedom!!!!!" Epic film but that was when John started all this talk about Scotland. Fast forward to 2 years ago when we decided we were really going to go there and chose to travel with as many fun friends who wanted to travel with us. So with a total of 6 fun friends married couples who were willing to take the plunge with us we took a 3 week adventure to the British Isles.
It began with a land tour of Ireland for 5 days to the Cliffs of Moher, through the Irish countryside with lambs on every hillside, exploring the delightful Irish towns and Ring of Kerry, and we fell in love with this lovely place. In Ireland you experience a new meaning to the color GREEN. I suppose living in drought ravaged California made us desire this 40 Shades of Green as sung, by Johnny Cash (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0oTDS9ur_U). We then boarded a ship in London that took us to memorable places for a 12 day cruise. Castles, gardens, lakes and memories we will hold in our hearts forever. Much laughter and adventure with our Fun Friends Forever gang.We ended our trip in London for 4 days and were even there for the famous" Brexit "vote! We will have to return again as we simply could not do everything the city held out for us.
Some favorite memories for me:
~chatting with some 13 yrs old Irish girls at the parliament building in Belfast. They loved Justin Beiber and took selfies with me.Their fair skin tone and freckles made me realize I had found my people! (love)
~pony trap or jaunting cart ride in the park in Killarney, Ireland. An old castle was a surprise ending to the delightful ride.
~seeing how peat moss is made from huge bogs in fields and having Irish coffee at 11 am. yummmm
~purchasing my special keepsake necklace that has my name engraved in an ancient Celtic alphabet called Ogham.
~dinner and whiskey in a real Irish pub.
~the green green green countryside with stone walls and fields of lambs and cattle.
~ witnessing the locals who came out to wave the ship farewell in Cork, Ireland, and Liverpool England, and Greenock Scotland! Pipe bands, waving crowds, period costumes and big fanfare for us.
~visiting Monet's garden and spending one day in France. Also visiting the city of Rouen where Monet lived for a time and  remembering Joan of Arc who was burned at the stake.by the church ruins here.
~visiting Hillsborough Castle just two days after the royals William and Kate were there. This is the family home to Queen Elizabeth.
~ Visiting St Andrews golf course and walking on the beach there where they filmed Chariots of Fire!
~playing croquette  at Dunrobin Castle gardens.
~visiting Glamis Castle which was home to the Queen mum.
~actually singing the famous Scottish song"you take the high road and I'll take the low road" on the bonny bonny banks of Loch Lomond with our tour guide!
~exploring Powerscourt garden and waterfalls not far from Dublin.
~touring a Titanic museum in the last port of call for that fateful voyage in Cork, Ireland.
~eating potatoes at EVERY meal...haha
~Learning the local slang lingo. Example-fairy fingers(foxglove flowers), the necessary (potty break)
~ Having dinner with our fun friends...every ...night!!!
~Seeing the play "Wicked" on the West End in London...wow...just wow.
~Tea at Harrods and Selfridges with John and the Camerons & Kennedys.
~That spaghetti we had at that restaurant our last night in London, and the waitress gave me the recipe! WIN!
~having the courage to ride the London Eye!
~not kissing the Blarney Stone but loved the Castle. Apparently if you kiss someone who did then the gift of eloquence in speech passes to you too. Thanks Roger and Cathy!

I could ramble on about this fabulous vacation, but then you would hate me more then you already do so I will stop and just say this: Go follow after and begin today to implement your dreams no matter what they are! My brother has a goal and dream of visiting every state park in the state of Montana! How cool is that!? He's already crossing them off his list this summer.  I have another friend who wanted to see the Grand Canyon and I had the privilege of standing there with her last October to see it! Go and choose life.

My deep love to my traveling companions Mark & Laurie Cameron, Roger and Cathy Williams, Ed and Michele McDonald, Duane Schwega and Delene Waltrip, and Pam and Jim Kennedy. I love you all so much for helping us check this dream vacation off the bucket list. Fun Friends Forever!!!!

love and blessings,
Lorrie

Coughing the life right outta me

As promised I don't write blogs very often but when I do I try to have something interesting to say that most readers will be able to relate to.You know how you see a friend in Target that you haven't seen in ages and they say, " I haven't seen you in so long! How is your family and what have you been doing?" Sometimes you have a difficult time accounting for yourself and what you have been doing with your precious time, now don't you?. Well, I can account for mine realllllllly well thank you very much.because our family has had a lot going on the past 6 months. So if I evaluate my friend correctly and surmise that they truly care to hear my short summary of the Bridges Chronicles then I give them the Readers Digest version quickly.Here's my speech: Well we took a driving trip to Montana to see our parents. One parent returns with us only to be hospitalized twice while visiting us in California.  One set of parents decided to move out of their home of 30+ years. I had major foot surgery. Parents need help moving into new retirement home. Father in law passes away suddenly. Emotional funeral and goodbyes to Dad our patriarch. Beach family vacation with children and grandchildren. Big family wedding in So Cal with 80th birthday party for mother in law. Fall holidays arrive.  Granddaughter gets potty trained. We are exhausted and take a much needed break to Hawaii. Long awaited news that our oldest daughter is pregnant with our 4th grandchild due in October! Birth of our 3rd grandchild Andrew John!  I get bronchitis and I'm not getting better with given antibiotic. Ok, I brought you up to speed. Are you still with me? This is where it gets interesting!
Cough Cough cough cough COUGH! I tell my husband that I am sore from c o u g h i n g. Then one day last week I tell him I can't move and I'm in severe pain crying. Just ice and take ibuprofen is his calm advice.  I decide that I'm not going to follow his advice and 24 hours later I'm at the Dr getting X-rays that reveal a broken rib and fluid on my lungs. If you have experienced a broken rib before than you totally understand the pain I am talking about right now...It is a 10 on the pain scale those health helpers ask you about. I'm happy to report that a new antibiotic has reduced the cough and with rest I should heal in 4-6 weeks. Tell me why is it, that to really slow down your life, God may have to insert a physical obstacle to make us busy bee types stop long enough to heal? Why can't I seem to understand that  pausing to "heal" daily would be so much easier? The "coming to a screeching halt" is so arduous.See my earlier post about my foot surgery to prove I am clearly not learning this lesson.
Here are a few things I've learned during my broken rib trauma thus far:

1.My brother Ron said to not self diagnose and get back into the Dr. Listen to your older brother.
2.If you are in pain and a friend insists on driving and helping you...you allow her to assist you  and you thank her profusely. Do not act like you are fine with a broken rib. You are not fine. Her name is Laurie I can totally give you her number. Message me.
3. Carry around a soft fluffy pillow to cough into. Yelling after coughing is totally acceptable behavior and is encouraged at my house.
4. Laughing and sneezing hurt like crazy!!! Tell your comedic friends to postpone their visits.
5. This is your time to "rest and slow down". Embrace it.
6.If you let the dog in with wet feet and nobody is around to help you dry him off...then everyone in your home will understand your dilemma and forgive you for his cute little paw prints... everywhere...on the hardwood floor. Sorry honey.
7. I'm either a really poor inefficient cougher OR maybe i'm a reallllllly amazing big girl cougher. Jury is still out on that one since I got the broken rib result.
8. You CAN get stuck in a chair you can't get out of.
9. Be advised to accept any offers of meals, help, sweet pea flowers and sincere sympathy.
10. If you offer to bring me a meal, please don't bring barbecued ribs, braised short ribs or even a full rack of ribs...that is not funny.

Lessons learned can be good and valuable if you choose joy even in the midst of coughing. It took me a few rounds of tears but I eventually got there.

Blessings my friends
In Isaiah 43:2, God says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you" (NKJV).

Lorrie

Remembering my words...again

Dear beloved reader,

I am asking you to reread a blog post I wrote last March.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Remembering my words

I remember the first time my close friend Claudia told me she had cancer. She told me to sit down. I was thankful later she asked me to do that. I don't recall the words that came out of my mouth after that announcement...You want them to be words to encouragement. Words of hope. Words that have clarity and most of all words of love. I remember crumbling to my knees when I was told by my father he had lung cancer...I can't recall what I said to him that day either... To be honest, I don't recall one word I said to any of my friends and family who have shared that painful declaration with me, and unfortunately there have been many. Sigh. 

So this week when my dear friend Kerri told me her cancer had returned after almost 10 years...
I AM going to remember what I said to her. I'm NOT going to forget and be paralyzed in my brain as a close friend bears their raw spirit and pain filled heart and soul. I will not forget what I said:

 Oh Kerri...my dear friend, I am praying and will encourage my family to pray as well. 

My heart is suffering right now with you.
HE is our peace!!!

Today this precious friend found out the extent of cancer and is making decisions about treatment. Not the news she wanted to hear she said. The sharp reality of those words fell hard on my heart. I stood with my phone reading her text while shopping in Costco...crying. What do you say to those suffering and hurting so deeply? I decided to make my words few and said , 

Jesus will carry you. 

My prayer is those words are the beginning of healing for Kerri and maybe  for someone you know that you love deeply. May our words be full of kindness, love, and... hope!

That was written about 9 months ago...My dear sweet friend was "carried by Jesus" into heaven surrounded by her family December 17th 2015. You know, I looked back at what I did say to my hurting friend and it was truth. My family and many friends prayed earnestly for Kerri, and our hearts did suffer with her as she fought like a crazy woman to beat cancer. Kerri always called it "c". She wouldn't give into any part of it! So she minimized it as much as she could. He(Jesus) was her peace. She valiantly called out to HIM alone for strength, endurance and peace to stand strong. Yes, ultimately Jesus carried her right into His loving arms after He carried her through a battle. He is her dance partner now. (Many of you may remember her dancing moves at my son Grant and Taylor's wedding!)  My heart hurts and as I write I swallow hard to relieve the tightness in my throat remembering and now missing my girlfriend from high school and a span of friendship that thrived even as our empty nests arrived. I wrote in my book Wet Mittens a chapter called You Gotta Love Deeply. I think it's the one life lesson I always come back to and write about so often. This past year that lesson was taught  largely by this precious friend. Oh heck, I realize now she has been teaching that to me for years! No worries my Kerri, we will all "Kerri-on" just like you showed us how to !! 

 

A new kind of Christmas tradition

One evening a few years back my husband and I were gleefully stuffing our Christmas cards with our annual letter and listening to Bing Crosby music and getting our holly jolly on..  and...it was December 1st! Many of you know Christmas is on it's way when the Bridges family picture and family quotes arrive in your mailbox early in the Christmas month. That year some fun local friends (smile...yes I'm naming them...Larry and Melissa Walker) called us that December night years ago and said, "Hey Bridges, it's December 1st and we haven't got your Christmas card yet!" We cracked up laughing and said we were actually stuffing envelopes as we spoke. We poked and teased each other and caught up a bit on life details and said we needed to see each other more . We both vowed to make it happen soon. You would think that would have been the end of it...but no it wasn't. We hung up the phone and my adventuresome husband suggested we go right then in our pajamas and take the Christmas card right over to them and sing a carol at the door and wear Santa hats too. Maybe they would have cookies, snacks, or a lovely glass of wine to share too!? A memorable evening of laughter, love and fun ensued.

Spontaneous is so good.

We keep this little tradition going now each year. They tried to surprise us one year, but we weren't home. Then there was the year Melissa's book club was showing up any minute at her house. That was a quick song and dance at their door. One year Larry wasn't home. Two years ago they wrote us a song to the tune of "O Christmas Tree" O Bridges family O Bridges family...(you get the idea there) and sang it on our answering machine. Last night was December 1, 2015 and we were armed and ready to surprise our friends. We weren't disappointed as we donned our Santa hats and sang a happy carol and caught them both at home. For two hours (seemed like 30 minutes) we all talked fast and furious catching up on our lives this past year. How can we live in the same town and not see one another!?  Their youngest daughter is getting married? Didn't she just hang on her mom's waist and wear pig tails last year? The guys had to talk about their cars too! Again we vowed to not let time slip past us and get together more often. It tickles my heart to have this "fun" little game going with them. It really kicks you into the holiday with a smile on your face. Share some fun with somebody this season and rock their world a bit would you please? Be sure and tell me what you do too. Maybe I can use it on the Walkers next year! I think they should just put us on the calendar for December 1, 2016  next year don't you think?  

Birthdays, funeral and a wedding in 30 days

   I have sat down to write this blog 100 times in the last 30 days. I start, then delete, then start again and delete once more. I can't seem to get my scrambled thoughts into any order for a reader to appreciate what I'm trying to convey.  Here goes my 101 attempt and I will begin at the beginning of my last 30 days.
   Early September I had a birthday. I love birthdays. I love to attend the celebrations, plan a surprise party and do something special for someone/anyone on that day. Numerous friends and family remember my birthday too. My older brother Ken used to always send my birthday gift in November near our sister Cheryl's birthday. So my younger sister Terri got her August birthday gift from him then too. One stop shopping for him as we would all get the same or a similar color of gift from him. We really weren't on to his ways because we all lived in 3 different states. One year my younger sister and I were wearing the same shirt and I said "Hey, I have that shirt too!" She said," Ken gave it to me for my birthday!" Upon which we started comparing notes and realized he had been doing this for years and we never noticed. Clever Ken. Smarty Ken. Such a great idea Ken! Since the passing of our sister Cheryl several years ago I now get my gift in September. The recognition of this small realization made me sad this year. I was also feeling sorry for myself this year since I've been recovering from foot surgery and not really mobile and not in a "birthday party" spirit to celebrate. It was a subdued day and my gift from my brother came 2 months early...making me feel a bit sad.  Life just marches on though doesn't it? Fast forward one week and we are ordering a special birthday meal to be delivered for John's father in their new apartment in their retirement community. He was turning 86! We called to wish him happy birthday but he wasn't feeling too sharp that day coughing a bit. He was really looking forward to flying to our home in a few weeks so we could attend a big family wedding event in SoCal. (Southern California for you out of staters) I'll get right to it now and tell you we got that dreaded phone call from John's mother later that evening  stating that his father had gone to sleep and died peacefully and went to the arms of the Lord. He died on his birthday. He left this world celebrating I guess. Even though he was 86 I was still surprised he left us. You think you are ready to say goodbye or in our case, see you later, but it's still very unexpected. A week later we were in Montana planning a funeral. This was simply crazy. You want to know what I love most about this man's life? He lived his life to the very very end the best he could, and he didn't even have a clue he was going to die that day. Maybe we need to be living our life as though it's our birthday every day! It's painful some days as I remember this special man in my life who loved me as though I was his own daughter. What a gift it was to have a father in law who really loved you.. He was crazy in love with me and he thought I hung the moon with computers. HA! I sure had him fooled didn't I?!!
   We traveled back to California with husband John's mom from the funeral to the wedding. So many huge swings of emotions. Highs and lows for many days as we fought to find joy in the midst of grieving. This special wedding of our nephew and his sweet beloved was just the healing we needed. I should have known this as 35 years ago my husbands maternal grandmother passed away just 2 weeks before our wedding. His mother had to bury her mother (in the dress she bought for our wedding) in Oregon and travel back home to prepare for our wedding in the spring of 1980. This was familiar territory for her. History seemed to be repeating itself in our family.  We all linked arms, hearts and tears and celebrated a wedding...just like we did 35 years ago after Grandma Marge died.
   The day after the wedding 25 of us family members gathered to celebrate just ONE more birthday! Hey, I told you I like birthdays at the beginning of this now didn't I? John's Mom was turning 80! She had never had a real birthday party with cake and balloons etc due to severe allergies as a child, Soooooo we gathered at a local pancake house in SoCal and had a cake, presents, a birthday tiara, balloons and those fun birthday candles that re-light after you "think" you've blown them out! We simply smiled laughed and celebrated.
   Maybe we celebrated that sometimes families and friends just need to love on each other when you are hurting from the sting of losing a loved one. I believe these birthdays and the wedding healed us  through some rough days. My heart is grateful today for that.

"Down Time"

One thing you don't have to worry about following my blog is that I'm writing a blog every other day and you can't keep up with me. Ha!
As you can see from the photo I'm experiencing some "down time". You would imagine that I now  have all these pent up writing thoughts ready to go and ME raring write them down...but I don't. Pain has a way of sidelining your brain and your creative thought processes. This my friends is my 3rd foot surgery. The 2 former ones were to repair torn plantar facia tissues in my feet. This latest adventure required a tricky surgery to un-attach my Achilles tendon and remove a very large bone spur from that area that was pushing through the tendon threatening to rupture and causing  a lot of  pain. A year of concealing, denying, limping and creatively trying the "handle" it failed.  Reattachment of the Achilles tendon will require months of recovery. So here I sit staring at my lovely cast and bandage asking myself once again what I am learning through this
experience. I had my "aha moment" yesterday as it was revealed to me. You see, during this time of reflection and quiet I've had time to think and pray for others and their life pains. God seems to surround me with so many wonderful loving family and friends that are going through struggles that pale to mine. You can surely look at my cast and hear the description of the surgery and cringe a bit because my source of pain is so visible to you.  The cast  physically reveals and shouts to you that I am in pain going through something difficult, but what about that friend whose heart is breaking from the ending of a relationship? You can't see her pain in the grocery store. That friend whose father just passed away...we don't really see her pain and suffering do we?  We just really don't know what people around us are facing and battling as we shuffle through our days.I realize that I'm surrounded by many humble caring individuals who have taken time this week in the midst of their chaos to love me while I'm in pain. It's quite overwhelming and brought me to tears yesterday. It's a reminder to just be nice to one another out there this week.! You might not be able to visibly see the pain of those you encounter.

Lighthouse loves

If you have visited my home in the past 5 years you might have stayed in one of our themed rooms. We have the Beach room, Monarch room and our love of lighthouses gave us our favorite aptly named, the" Lighthouse Room". All of our decor centers around lighthouses in this room. Thank you Lisa Redfield for the idea years ago! I can take credit for some of the cool stuff  you will see like the ceramic dresser knobs with lighthouses on them! I can also tell you most of the names of the lighthouses as well and a story or two if you care to sit and listen. My most prized possession is our own local lighthouse painted for me by my father's best friend Roland McNulty. It just says,"I love you" when I look at it. I sat in that room today (my husband likes to take a nap in there) and just looked around at all the memorabilia and took a trip down memory lane. We have traveled to those lighthouses with some of you. It has become such a wonderful "hobby' of ours to visit, view and our tradition is to touch the lighthouse and kiss if possible. I have many kissing pictures taken by strangers and friends. Not exactly sure how we started that habit but it's a good one that causes other visitors to smile and wink at us!  So we recently traveled to Virginia and North Carolina to cross a few major lighthouses off the ole bucket list. Old Cape Henry near Virginia Beach, VA is the oldest lighthouse in the USA. It was commissioned to be built by George Washington in 1792 and still stands AND you can climb it! We also saw the tallest lighthouse in the USA in NC which is the grand daddy of them all, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse! My husbands great great uncle J.B Daniels was a keeper there! We got to see a commemorative stone with his name on it while we were there. Never mind that my husband broke a few park rules to get the photo...See I told you there is always a story I can tell!  They moved that lighthouse about 15 years ago and they call it an engineering feat of the century. Google and read more about it! Anyhow...we convinced our recent traveling companions Roger and Cathy Williams to begin kissing at lighthouses too and they enjoyed climbing them with us. This is really where my story begins. I'm not really sure why I like to climb them. I thought about this a lot as we worked our way to the top of 3 lighthouses.  Here's a few facts for you to ponder that went through my mind. The view is amazing at the top. The wind is usually howling at about 15-30 mph up there on the viewing platform. I have lost a beloved pink Dallas Cowboys cap in the wind at Point Sur  Lighthouse so I know to take off my hat now. The handrails are soooo sticky from everyone using them...ewww. Hand washing is a must afterwards.  I have a torn and now repaired meniscus in my knee from descending a lighthouse on Lake Michigan (Little Sable) ah yes, another great story. I now climb and descend very carefully. I am scared to death when I go out on the open air platform and hug the walls barely able to talk while out there! Taking pictures is a challenge but I press through my fears and as Nike says, "Just do it!". So while visiting Cape Hatteras I stopped to take it allllllll in, calm my fears and realized how thankful I was to be alive and was grateful to be able to climb that historic structure. Many of these beacons of beauty may not survive and be restored so I paused to feel the wind in my face and enjoy the adrenaline rush of climbing a piece of history. Come visit and stay in our room and we can regale you with fun personal stories of our adventures. Maybe the abandoned lighthouse on the Greek island Mykonos we took our friends Jim and Pam Kennedy to! I could tell you about my staying overnight on a rock island for my 50th birthday with friends Mark and Laurie Cameron and Rob and Connie Lee at East Brother Lighthouse near San Francisco! Hopefully the lighthouse in my town, Pacific Grove Point Pinos Lighthouse will light the way for you.

Remembering my words

I remember the first time my close friend Claudia told me she had cancer. She told me to sit down. I was thankful later she asked me to do that. I don't recall the words that came out of my mouth after that announcement...You want them to be words to encouragement. Words of hope. Words that have clarity and most of all words of love. I remember crumbling to my knees when I was told by my father he had lung cancer...I can't recall what I said to him that day either... To be honest, I don't recall one word I said to any of my friends and family who have shared that painful declaration with me. So this week when my dear friend Kerri told me her cancer had returned after almost 10 years...
I AM going to remember what I said to her. I'm NOT going to forget and be paralyzed in my brain as a close friend bears their raw spirit and pain filled heart and soul. I will not forget what I said:

 Oh Kerri...my dear friend, I am praying and will encourage my family to pray as well. 

My heart is suffering right now with you.
HE is our peace!!!

Today this precious friend found out the extent of cancer and is making decisions about treatment. Not the news she wanted to hear she said. The sharp reality of those words fell hard on my heart. I stood with my phone reading her text while shopping in Costco...crying. What do you say to those suffering and hurting so deeply? I decided to make my words few and said , 

Jesus will carry you. 

My prayer is those words are the beginning of healing for Kerri and maybe  for someone you know that you love deeply. May our words be full of kindness, love, and... hope!

Why am I always surprised by love?

My mother Shirley had several strokes a few weeks ago. It's events like this that make it a challenge living so far away from all my family in Montana. You struggle with the timing and expense of getting on a plane and traveling or praying and waiting to see if I'm needed in a few days...it's just plain hard to know and hard to live thousand miles away when your heart is there! Fortunately my good friend Denise just looked at me and said,"You should go tomorrow!" I knew that, but I suppose I needed that assurance from a friend to seal it for me. A little nudge of love from a girlfriend...surprised me. I guess I'm surprised I even needed it.  Before I go any further, my mom Shirley is making a good steady recovery and hopes to be released this week for at home rehab in Missoula, MT in my brothers home. We are grateful God has chosen to keep her here with us for a bit longer. While at the hospital my little sister Terri and I stepped out of my mom's room while they were doing some scans and went to the main waiting room on the first floor. You need to know I adore my little sister. She makes me laugh and I can never spend enough time with her. It truly was a gift to spend several days together alone caring for our mom. Again...love surprised me. In the midst of a difficult time we sisters continue to find deep love for one another. As we were sitting there chatting I looked up and saw the face of a classmate from high school walking toward me. My heart just jumped and I got up from my chair exclaiming " Tom Allen what in the world are you doing here!" We hugged several times as I let my shocked soul settle a bit! He had read on Facebook about my mom's stroke and knew I was in Great Falls so he drove down to see me...Surprised again by love. Incredible kindness from a long time friend blanketed my fears and concerns for my mother. What kind of love prompts someone to do something so unselfish for someone else!? Ahhhh Tom, You win the award for friend of the year!  Little did I realize several days later I would talk on the phone with another long time childhood friend there in town who filled my heart with faith, hope and love. My dear friend Michelle Pidcock Jezewski understood I didn't have time for social calls this trip to Montana and called me late one evening to provide comfort regarding my mother and her stroke. We spoke for over an hour.  She calls me her forever friend...I still tear up thinking about that. Her loving heart surprised and blessed me beyond what I knew I needed! My mother said numerous times that she didn't realize how loved she was by so many. The many visitors, calls, gifts, flowers and prayers surprised her too! Well I guess it just runs in the family then doesn't it?!

Christmas Angel baby

I've been busy knocking off a few "bucket list" items with my husband in Florida this past month. Be sure and read my previous blog about getting your bucket lists in order! 

   Merry Christmas to you from me. I do realize it can be a difficult time for many families and individuals during the holidays. You don't always have your holly jolly going on and it can be a challenging time in your life right now. My heart goes out to you. xoxo  I'm going to share a little experience from yesterday and I hope it encourages you to celebrate the season.
    Just yesterday I offered to babysit my granddaughter so that my daughter could finish her last class on line to renew her CPA license. I knew I'd have the sweet little baby girl all day so as I swept her away the last thing my daughter said was, "Call Carolyn (my neighbor) and have her come over to see the baby". Great idea! The two of us are good friends and love to chat over tea and catch up on our busy lives. The last time I really spent time with her was when we were in France in June and she was there  on extended holiday and we arranged to meet up to see her and have dinner in a quaint restaurant. Neighbors meeting up in Paris! How fun is that!? It was a memory I will always remember.  So I gave her a quick call and she said YES she'd love to come to our house and would be there as fast as she could!  In typical Carolyn fashion she came with Christmas cookies in hand ( but I told her NOT to bring anything as I have a boatload of treats to share!) and a gift bag which turned out to be a special little something for my sweet granddaughter.
We talked and served tea and ate treats while granddaughter Hayley delighted, entertained and snuggled with us. Carolyn admitted that she was having a hard time getting the proper attitude for Christmas and having a baby in her life today was just what the Dr ordered. Life and all it's "stuff" can just get in the way and you lose your focus. Your holly jolly goes kaput! We opened the little gift bag and it was a white little stuffed bear with angel wings! Hayley giggled and squealed when it came out of the bag. You could not have asked for a better response from a 1 year old! After several hours of chatting, snacking, changing a diaper, feeding the baby, more tea, and solving all the problems of the world Carolyn had to go home. Having a baby in her life yesterday helped her remember why we celebrate Christmas. Carolyns' words sum it all up neatly in an email she sent me:

"Oh thank you for brightening my day, and that little baby reminding, that Jesus is the reason  for the season."

 We were calling Hayley the Christmas Angel baby! My phone call came at just the right time to perk up a neighbor and friend. That baby in the manger came at just the right time too... Maybe today is a difficult one for you. Pick up the phone and see if I can come over with my Christmas Angel baby Hayley to put your spirits back into focus for Christmas!!! Better yet, let's let the Christ child in the manger do that for us.

Christmas blessings to you

Bucket Lists

   It's been several weeks since I last wrote a post. I'm really sorry for that.  I've been busy crossing items off our bucket lists!  Actually I was emotionally marrying off my adorable son to the love of his life in mid September(see earlier post We're Getting Married). My husband and I then took an 11 day trip to New Hampshire and Maine to see fall colors and visit family. We love to experience this part of the country.Rural and simple living. It's sooooooo different than California which has been my home for 32 years and even more different than my home state of Montana the 23 years before that! (Yes, I'm 55 if you just did the math...Happy Birthday to me September 2.)  To say that the fall colors at peak time in New England is stunning and amazing doesn't even begin to touch how beautiful it is. Put it on your bucket list to visit there in the fall. Do it next year and don't just wish you had. The God given time we have for a short 100 years or passes quietly and days turn into years and then suddenly my kids grew up and a blue eyed cutie pie child is calling me Nana! Whaaaat? When did THAT happen!? Free advice for today...start saving and plan for a fall colors visit to New Hampshire or Maine.
   I realized 11 years ago today that life was way too short. I lost my best friend Claudia to breast cancer. She was 44 years old.  She slipped away peacefully to the Lord and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her and miss her face. God took her young life and I had to accept that. I decided that day to begin turning a new leaf (see, I was in New Hampshire!) and start living differently. I'm not a procrastinator. I do finish projects that I start and I am crossing items off my bucket list now. Have you ever said out loud, "I've always wanted to do that." ?  Wellllll then my encouragement to you is to make plans to accomplish just that thing! Have you even made a so called bucket list!?
    Okay, so speaking of bucket lists...My husband always wanted to go see where they filmed On Golden Pond at Winnipesaukee and Squam Lakes in New Hampshire. If you are too young and haven't seen this fine film that had 7 academy nominations in 1979 then you must do so. We combined a fall colors trip and went to the famous lakes this fall. We even did a touristy boat tour and saw movie sights and the loons! This random act gave us such happy hearts and we saw a lovely part of the USA as well. Checked it off the bucket list and even added visiting a couple of lighthouses we'd wanted to see in Maine and NH. Bonus bucket list points! I've had some strange bucket list items but it doesn't matter how odd they are because they are YOURS. Want to go see Niagara Falls? Ride your bike across the Golden Gate Bridge? Eat at a greasy spoon restaurant in Los Gatos called The Happy Hound? Eat gluten free for a week? Visit Italy? Learn and then sing to your mom a song called Sweet Lorraine that you were named after? See the fall colors in New England? Write a book...?(Wet Mittens)   Those are just a few of my bucket list items I've completed in the past 10 years.
   I am giving you a nudge as I remember my friend Claudia today and all the FUN adventures we had together. One of my favorite adventures was a summer road trip to Montana to visit Yellowstone, the Tetons and my family in 1990. We bravely drove there with our 5 children under 8 years old...I aided in a bucket list dream for her and sweet memories for me of our wild trip across several states.Tearfully with great joy I will always remember that special trip we made together.

What are some of your "Bucket list" items?

In case you were wondering...sky diving is NOT on my bucket list.
Lovingly,
Lorrie
 

"We're getting married!"

In less than a month my son Grant will be marrying the most amazing young woman-Taylor. We prayed for this day and for Taylor, even when she was a young girl and we didn't know her. We prayed for her family who was raising her too. This really is a match made in heaven, as they say. I remember telling my son a few years ago that he was a fool if he didn't marry her! So glad I have a smart intelligent son who has chosen well for marriage, even though his mother threatened him!  Just kidding...well kind of.
I remember the day we finally got to meet Taylor's parents for dinner in southern California before a college football game during parents weekend a few years ago. Grant told me that I would just love Taylor's mother and we would be fast friends. Sure... I would son...right? The dinner and conversation was easy, fun and full of laughter. As both children desired we all seemed to get along wonderfully! Later Taylor's mom Dee Dee told me how relieved she was to meet us and that we weren't weird or anything. Haha She also thanked me for raising such a wonderful young man who cherishes her daughter. Tears ran down her face as she looked me in the eye and said that. I'm still emotional when I think back to that day and our first "meet the parents" event. I think I became friends right then. We often joke as parents who is getting the better deal when they got engaged last fall. They are getting a son they love and appreciate in Grant (who loves golf too) and we get a delightful loving daughter with Taylor! A few weeks ago I attended a bridal shower for my future daughter in law and had some lovely quality time with her family. Dee Dee told me she doesn't mind sharing her daughter with us...What a gift for her to say that! She told me how much she loves me. I mean really who has in laws like this!? She kept saying all weekend that "we're getting married". I just cracked up laughing every time she said that. It's true though, our families are getting married. We are joining together what we all prayed for as young parents raising these 2 young-uns years ago. I prayed for a bride that would compliment my son and be strong where he is weak. I wanted her to be fun and pretty too! I wanted him to be crazy in love with her. I prayed she would love us too and be thrilled to be in our family. I prayed her parents were caring and loving God fearing people.  I'd say all my prayers are answered. My heart is full of such love as the special day approaches. My last child is getting married...and John and I will be kicking up our heels in celebration! Yep, "we're getting married"!!!!