WHEN WERE you YOU?

When were you YOU?

When a time of "self" was true?

I think I know when I was me...

Not until later years did I see!

If you know you are YOU

Your place in the world opens wide,

Opportunities for love abide

Creativity and freedom side by side!

When I discovered I was me

I was nearly fifty-three.

Believe it or not, I was in my Jeep

When I made a discovery that made me complete.

I was trying to squeeze myself in a mold

Of being a small-town girl growing old.

It was OK to love the lure of the city!

Culture, learning, buzzing activity!

 Of course one can imagine anywhere, any time...

But breaking that mold was the bottom line

Of gaining my freedom to be who I am.

So be who you are and I'll be who I am!!



IDENTITY THEFT!! GRANDMAS BEWARE!!

Am I significant because I planned and survived Camp Grandma 2?

Is my worth based on the amount of time I spend with my grandchildren?

Would I be a better person if I bought each of my grandkids more material things?

I think you get the point.  I have to stop my busyness, my planning, my routine to ask myself these kinds of questions.  Especially after the four days I spent with Lauren and Carter.  Wow, it was a great success!!  I know the kids will hold many memories of Camp Grandma!

But is who I am based on the kind of grandma I am?  I get so wrapped up in my kids and grandkids that I DO begin to lose my identity.  I have to remember that I am a significant person just for being who I was created to be.

My identity is not dependent on what my grandkids think of me.  Or how much they want to be with me or how cool they think I am. 

I have to remember that life in my 60's has to have a "look of its own."  If I allow my identity to be stolen by others, I have missed the joy of LIVING MY OWN LIFE!

Just a thought....

NO, SHE IS NOT DEAD.....JUST IN A COMATOSE STATE

GIVE THE POOR GRANDMA A BREAK, FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD.  THE GIRL JUST HIKED 2 MILES IN A CANYON INFESTED WITH BUTTERFLIES NEWLY HATCHED FROM A BILLION COCOONS!

THE HIKE STARTED THIS AFTERNOON AND GRANDPA BILL ACCOMPANIED THE HIKERS ( A very good thing as this was a treacherous hike on extremely steep canyon walls.)

The area was flooded so we had to park away from the river and walk into the state park.  That in itself was a hike.  However, to enter the canyon area was a tough climb, both up and down.  The drop-offs along the trail frightened me as I held on to the hands of my precious cargo.

Carter and Lauren were up for the challenge.  This pic was taken before all their energy was zapped!!

When we reached the bottom of the canyon, little capillaries of the river were pleasurable wading pools by the canyon walls.  The walls were made from sandstone, and the lichen growing on the rock and trees was central to my campers' study for the weekend.

 On the way to the canyon hundreds of butterflies greeted us!  They looked somewhat like monarchs, but I realize that is impossible this early in the summer.  At any rate, I did not appreciate their invading my space!!!

The campers shared with me that Day #2 was their favorite hiking extravaganza!  We really did have a super time.  Talk about memories!!!

Camp Grandma 2 is now an established success.  Hey, if you don't succeed, try, try again!!!

CAMP GRANDMA DAY 1

GRANDMA'S PREPARATIONS

CAMP REGISTRATION YESTERDAY

SCORES OF STARS AND PLANETS AWAIT THE CAMPERS

THIS TOOK ME ALL AFTERNOON TO HANG THESE FROM

CEILING!  BUT LET ME TELL YOU, WHAT A BRILLIANT

DISPLAY OF THE HEAVENLIES AFTER THE LIGHTS

WERE TURNED OFF!  THE CEILING GLOWED WITH ALL

THESE "SHINE IN THE DARK" STARS AND PLANETS!

CAMPERS ARRIVE!!

GRANDPA BILL TEACH CAMPERS HOW TO SALUTE!

THE ADVENTURE STARTS ON FRIDAY!!

WE ARE INSIDE THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN!  90 + SPECIES OF

BUTTERFLIES ARE FREELY FLYING AROUND US!!  HOW BEAUTIFUL!

LAUREN DESPERATELY WANTS BUTTERFLIES

TO LAND ON HER HAT!

EXPLORING THE BEAUTIFUL GARDENS!  WON'T BE

LONG UNTIL THIS ONE IS POSING FOR "IN STYLE!"

AWWWW.....THE REALITY OF A WORLD OF CONTRASTS!

HARD ROCKS IN A SHOE VERSES THE BEAUTY OF THE GARDENS!

So far, Grandma Camp 2 is already more successful than Grandma Camp 1 was.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.

For now, happy camping!!!

PRAISE THE LORD!! WILD 'N CRAZY GRANDMA HAS A GOOD HEART!

This post has a purpose:  to praise my LORD that HE has intervened and given me a healthy heart!

For the past 2 weeks, the doctors have feared that the wild 'n crazy grandma might be dealing with Congestive Heart  Failure.

This morning I was told that my heart is healthier than it was shortly after my heart attack.

Just wanted to share this with my readers.  More importantly, I wanted to give the praise to my Lord!

God bless. 
(P.S.  My life song on my play list is "Stay'n Alive" by the Bee Gees.....you may want to play it as you read this post:) 

CAMP GRANDMA 2: DETAILED PLANS AND GOALS!!!

Countdown until CAMP GRANDMA 2:  THREE DAYS AND FRENETIC PLANNING ON SCHEDULE!!!

I figured other grandmas might enjoy my sharing the plans for Camp Grandma 2.  This camp will differ from Camp Grandma 1 simply because Lauren and Carter are two plus years older.  Lauren is 9 and Carter is 7, so I've customized our camping plans to suit their ages and personalities.

The camp will run all day Friday and all day Saturday.  Just so you are not assuming this will be a boring, lichen-filled two- day lecture, I will intertwine the typically inane, silly interactions with the now infamous wild 'n crazy grandma!   (Sunday is reserved for the collapse of the wild 'n crazy grandma.)   

Following are the preparations I've made in the last week or so. 

1.  Friday we will be visiting Spring Brook State Park.  Goals
     for the day:  picnic lunch, leisure hiking, and awareness
     of birds, insects, trees.  I've tried to study what animals
     we might see, in addition to the types of trees we will view
     in the park.  Saturday we will leave for the Ledges State
     Park.  This will center on the study of "lichen" of which
     this park is famous.  So I've printed off the maps of the
     parks so I don't waste time trying to locate different areas.

2.  Camp Grandma campers obviously have to don the
     regalia.  The shirts have arrived!!!  In addition, the campers
     MUST be protected from the sun!  The camouflaged hats
     will do that, in addition to the sun screen!!

3.  To make learning more fun, I've purchased cool
      magnifying glasses for each of them.  I thought Carter
      would like the snake, and Lauren would prefer the big girl
      one!  When we hike at the Ledges, they will be able to
      really check out the lichen!!!  The binoculars will
      be useful for bird watching!

4.  The butterfly catchers were "the purchase of the day!"  I
     found them at Ben Franklin's in the dollar aisle!  The wild
     'n crazy grandma always likes a bargain!  I know,
     butterflies aren't out until at least mid-summer.  Hey, there
     are flying bugs right now!  And they can use these as
     walking sticks when not swooshing for insects!

I think I'm fairly well prepared.  Now I just have to save up the energy to keep up with my precious campers.  I also plan on a trip to the library to check out "camp" CDs.  Haley Mills "Parent Trap" video or DVD might need to be checked out as well!  (I prefer that one over Lindsay Lohan's.)

Hey, did you know that Ledges State Park is home to the rare bird, the "pileated woodpecker"?  Maybe Lauren, Carter, and the wild 'n crazy grandma will see one of these Saturday!

God bless ya all till we post again!!!

DOG TRAINING TIPS FROM WILD 'N CRAZY GRANDMA

TIP #1:  PUPPY IS NOT AS SWEET AS YOU BELIEVE

Just look at that face!!  Beware!!!  This sweet face can test your very life!!  From chasing down the halls of the Racine Wisconsin Marriott to picking up little "love gifts" on the floor, your patience, endurance, and character is on the line!


TIP #2:  THE "STAY" COMMAND DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK!

Ladies, these are the knees of the wild 'n crazy grandma.  I simply was going out the front door to retrieve the mail when, ONCE AGAIN, my command to "STAY" was ignored and even scorned by this evil "cute" canine.  I knew she would fall victim to a passing car if I did not take quick, prompt action.

I literally SWAN DIVED into the cement sidewalk in front of our house and grabbed the culprit by her hind legs.  I was lying in the prone position, determined not to allow her to escape! 

Shucks, ladies, I done saved her life!!!  I AM quite a woman!  Talk about sacrifice!!!

In reality, I guess I am more a better woman than I am an accomplished dog trainer!!  (I'll let you know how my back is tomorrow.....at least, I did not break any ankles!!!)

CAMP GRANDMA PART 2!!!

Matt and Carey are heading for Chicago in a couple of weeks.  Could we babysit??  OF COURSE!!

I about dropped dead when Lauren pleaded, "Grandma, can we pppppplease do Camp Grandma again?" 

Now, just to refresh your memory, go back in my blog and read the entry for September 21, 2010:  "My Big Bomb....Camp Grandma!!!!"  Do you understand now that my heart nearly stopped pumping the ole blood with that question?

Go figure!!  Kids are fickle!!!  I should've said, "Hey, Kid, I tried that one in 2008 and you and your bro hated every minute of it! Go out in the forest and climb a tree!!  I ain't having no part of another Camp Grandma!!!"

But did the wild 'n crazy grandma respond like that?  No, no, no, no!!!  I gave my Lauren sweetie a tight hug and whispered in her ear, "Darling, if you and Carter want another Camp Grandma, figure it DELIVERED!!!"

So I have two weeks to pull this off for my kids.  I do not want them disappointed.  I found a website that sells Camp Grandma t-shirts.  Two ordered, both size 8-10, $41.00 poorer.

If any of you grandmas are interested in these t-shirts, check out www://cafepress.com.  They even have a "design your own" section.

I checked out a state park and available cabins.  They are mice infested, but, hey, it IS camping.  But it IS also ME that will be staying with them.  The Wild 'n Crazy Grandma will not sleep a wink if I hear mice pitter-pattering around the cabin all night and finding little black birthday presents all over the clothes in my suitcase.  OK, check that off the list!  But we can still make a day trip out of it.  I'm considering renting canoes if my hubbie will come along!

We also have a park called The Ledges.  Great hiking and cool rock cliffs and little mountain-like stream do-ditties. A wonderful place to walk and talk about life.  Wow, now I am getting excited. 

Whether or not this Camp Grandma Part 2 will have a different ending, only the good Lord knows.  And I'll be sure to let you all in on the ending to this story.

Have a great weekend!!!

  



ARE WE "FIX-IT" GRANDMAS?

do you ever try to fix grandchildren, children, husbands friends????

i come from a long history of being a fixer

i wanted to make my friends happy, so i would tell them what to do to fix their broken lives and they would go away encouraged and happy only to realize down the road they were in the same mess

i had all the answers for everything and for all times

if you would just do this you will be a happy productive person

as a mom i really had all the answers

my kids would grow up to be the perfect christian adults with no hang-ups

i thought if people would just make right decisions everything would automatically be just perfect!

                                       NOT!!!!

                                                                                                                                              

                                                      SCULPTURE:  BROKEN PEOPLE

Grandmas, take off the pressure to fix everything and everyone!  We live in a fallen world.  Our job is not to fix, but to "come along side" our grandkids or children or friends.  Listen, love, and support.  That's what they want.   Life is a journey, a marathon not a sprint!

I would much rather be an encourager and cheerleader than to glue together broken parts of people's messy stuff. 

In the final analysis, each of us is responsible for changing our own behavior, habits and problems. 

Sooooo, grandmas, live today in freedom realizing "I am not here to fix everything or everybody."  I am responsible to God and God alone!!!

Have a good one!