Busy, Busy, Busy

Boy it seems like summer is suppose to be a time of fun and relaxation. At my house lately it seems like it is just busy all the time. This week we drove over to Bismarck and spent the night. Nothing like a great fix at Hobby Lobby. I don't get often, but I sure do some damage when I am there.

I was excited because I also purchased our backpacks for Megan and my trip to Europe next summer. When we started planning this trip to Europe I thought I would just fill my suitcase, plan our all the things we wanted to see and do. The further we got in to the planning the more I started realizing what all it would mean. The last couple weeks I was pretty freaked out realizing that we had to pack all our luggage with us through the streets and on the trains to all the different locations. So I bought our backpacks yesterday that hold 3100 cu inches so we are pretty set there, we will have to pack pretty conservative, but I think it will be okay.

I am still pretty freaked about the language, but I have been working on my books and cd's and I have our travel translations books so I am hoping there will be some great English speaking individuals that will take pitty on us if we really are in a bind.

This weekend we are off to Billings to the Chris Daughtry concert and just having a little fun. I can't wait, it will be great. I also get to hit Michaels!!!!! Till next week.

Thankful

I turned 40 last week and while the age part doesn't bother me, the things it represents bother me more. It it a mark in life, halfway. I would like to think I have accomplished so much in my lifetime. I know I have achieved way more than I ever thought I would in life. I would have never guessed I would be 40 years old, have a masters degree (heck when I graduated from high school even going to college was unthinkable.) I have been married for 18 years to the most wonderful man. I am truly so thankful for him each and every day. Don't get me wrong we have our differences, but every day he does the littlest things that me make love him more each day. We have three great children, they will always be children to me even though they think they are adults. I have experienced life, and truly feel like I have been blessed.

Turning 40 got me to thinking of things I still want to do in life. I want to travel more, explore more, and appreciate life in general more. My daughter and I are planning a trip to Europe next summer for 2 weeks when she graduates from high school. We are both looking forward to it, I actually thought in the beginning that 2 weeks would be so long to be away from home, but as we plan I am thinking we are not going to have near enough time to enjoy the things we both want to see. I never thought my husband would ever travel out of the USA, because he just doesn't like traveling long distances. But the more we plan the more he is realizing the things he is missing out on. He even mentioned he would love to do some traveling to German and Italy with me for our 20th anniversary in a couple years. I can't wait.

Life is good.

The tennis star

Megan and I went to Billings, Montana last weekend so she could play in a tennis tournament. She entered into the 18 year old girls singles and the Women's open catagories. She worked her but off and came out the champion in both events. She was so great. She played some of the best matches ever. I was really impressed with her. I loved just getting to spend three days, sitting in a lawn chair under a shade tree watching her play and reading my book. Just a great weekend. The end of this month we are off to Cody Wyoming so she can play in another tournament.

Sam is on vacation for the next 18 days and really looking forward to having so much time off work. I am still going to work, but take off a couple days when we go to Cody.

Great News -- prayer's answered

Well today marks one month since my son broke his humerous just below his shoulder sliding into home plate during his baseball game. He got to experience a lot of firsts that day. His first real ride in an ambulance (don't think he want's to experience that again, it wasn't as great as they make it look in the movies.) His first real extensive broken bone and his first major injury that required extensive time in the ER. Well Monday was the magical day because we had another doctor appoinment. The great news was there is new bone growth and his arm is healing on his own so there will not be any surgery. When he first broke it and we went to the orthopedic surgeon there were 2 options: 1) do surgery right away, setting the break and putting in rods and plates to hold the bone or 2) just wait it out and see if the bone moves into place setting itself with gravity and new bone will begin to grow healing the break (if after a month they would do the surgery than if this didn't happen.) He said there was about a 20% chance he wouldn't need to do surgery but once he did the surgery his arm would forever be weak and many of the activities he enjoys such as baseball and football would be out. Well we figured since he was only 14 and that he had his whole life ahead of him, we would go with option 2 and pray like crazy that he doesn't need the surgery. Well Monday those prayers were answered. The bone is healing all on his own.... no surgery!! Jerad will still be in his cast for another 8 weeks and than begin physical therapy to regain some strength and motion he has lost with his arm tied to his body but all is good.

I worked on a couple layouts last night for a word challenge "go" and "stop". Tomorrow Megan and I are off for a tennis tournament in Billings!!

Happy June

Boy does it feel like June weather, it is cloudy and rainy here again today. I love the smell of rain, but don't so much like when it comes and stays for a week. It is great though because we are actually at about normal percipitation for the year right now which hasn't happened in years. Maybe not near as many forest fires this year.

Glad things for the day:
It is FRIDAY!
I have a crop tonight (love some time with friends).
Mike has a race this weekend over in Dickinson!!
Hubby changed the water in the Hot Tub last night so it is clean and smells so good!!
A weekend of scrapbooking planned!!
And my kit from Scrap in Style will hopefully be here!!

The window is one I altered to hang on my wall. I love it!! I got a bunch of old windows when they remodeled the fair grounds and wasn't sure what to to with them, I just knew I would use them for the craft show this fall. Anyway this is what I came up with. I made it so I can insert new pictures into the layouts. I am also making layouts in the christmas theme so that I can put them in during the holiday season with pictures of past holidays.

Happy Friday, all.

State Tennis

Wow I have to say I was really impressed at the State Tennis meet this week. Megan lost her first match and than won her second, but lost out on the third round. It was amazing how hard those kids played. They gave it their all. I am so proud of her for even making it to state.

Today we were working on some senior pictures today. Here is one of my favorites from today.

Happy Thursday

I just stopped in at work to catch up on a few things before heading off to see my daughter at the State Tennis meet. Jerad is sporting a new (holy cow 268.00) piece of plastic on his arm. I had to laugh because the cast sounds so funny "functioning humerous". I had to laugh at him yesterday when the doctor was talking to him and he pipes up and tells the doctor he doesn't know why anyone would name the bone the humerous because there is nothing funny about it. That is so my wise son, who questions everything.

I am so glad that he got the new cast and things are good. I am a little leary about changing the cast because it has a cloth compression sleeve that goes under the plastic that has to be changed every couple of days. So basically hubby and I have to take the cast off change the sleeve while holding his arm where it broke with out moving it. I am such a worrier that the thought of being the one responsible for moving his arm scares me to death. I told him I hope it doesn't start stinking for about a week, so I have some time to get my nerve up to change it.

Off to watch tennis today!! Hope everyone is having a great day.

State Qualifiers in Tennis

Well here they are, our small town State Tennis Qualifiers. Left to Right
Justin Duke and Addie Lordemann, Assistant coaches, Rich Lindgren, DCHS tennis coach
Bethany Orcutt and Ashlea Duke (2nd place doubles), Mariah Linn (2nd place singles), Alex Tsomaya (3rd place singles), Blake Anderson (4th place singles), and Megan Geiger (4th place singles).

I have never been so proud of my daughter to watch her struggle in 90 plus degree weather with exhaustion because her match was already going on 3 1/2 hours to take state qualifing position. There were 16 people in her group and to come out in one of the top 4 spots is truly amazing, especially for a Junior in high school.

Random Thoughts

I am really starting to get nervous about tomorrow. My worry is that Jerad will have to have surgery to place the rods and pins in his upper arm where he broke it. I worry the bone hasn't moved into position on it's own over the last week and half and that he will need the surgery. I worry that they will try to set it tomorrow and he will be in pain. I just worry what tomorrow will bring for him.

Last night I started working on some "layouts" to hang on the window of the tennis bus taking the state qualifiers to their tennis meet. I just took a 12x12 sheet of paper that has a ball going over the tennis net. I put everyone's name at the top in large letters and than on the white top of the net, I am putting the words Red Devil Tennis. I am hoping to have a picture of each of the state qualifiers to add to the layout when I tape them up on the bus windows. Than when they take them home they can hang them up there.

Blue

Took this from my friend Becca's blog post. It was amazing how accurate this is to how I truly am.

BLUE

You give your love and friendship unconditionally. You enjoy long, thoughtful conversations rich in philosophy and spirituality. You are very loyal and intuitive.

Find out your color at QuizMeme.com!

Happy Monday all, I am feeling very grateful today. It is a cloudy rainy day here but that is a great thing. We need the rain and I am loving being inside. It will make me appreciate the sun later this week when I can be outside enjoying it. I just am so thankful today for all the things I have in my life and how greatful I am to be able to enjoy them. Guess in a strange way I am just really appreciating everything that is right in my life today!! Hope you all have a great Monday!