Happy Father's Day to Both of My Dad's

I was lucky enough to grow up having two dad's...my dad and my step-dad.

Although the years were not long enough with my step-dad, I'm grateful for his unconditional love. When he married my mom he became an instant father of 3. He was patient, kind, supportive, caring and strict (as most policeman are with their daughters.) I was taught the valuable lesson of chores, being independent, and consequences for my actions. (I was difficult...very mouthy and stubborn.) One of the most special days of my life came a few years before his passing. He told me how proud he was of me for the mother I was and the person I'd become. To hear those words from a man I admired and respected meant the world to me! 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD! I LOVE AND MISS YOU!

My dad lives in Reno, NV. and every summer we'd fly out to visit him for a month. My dad's an outdoorsman through and through. So needless to say, I learned to love the outdoors...hiking, camping, sleeping on a cot under the stars, baiting my own fishing line and cleaning fish. I even learned how to dig my own holes when I had to go to the bathroom, (Oh Joy!) LOL! Yes I can rough it with the best of them. As I look back over the years...I realize that it was important bonding time. The nights sitting around the fire pit with my dad, listening to spooky stories over the radio, telling jokes, playing dice games, scaring whoever's turn it was to walk down the hill & turn off the generator and walk back up in the pitch dark. Then as summer would end, my dad, (the tell it like it is, rough exterior of a man) had to say goodbye. As he hugged us, a crack in his armor would start to roll down his cheek. Tears of love. Tears of a dad who had a difficult time sending his kids away until next year. 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD! I LOVE YOU!

I'm so blessed to have been instilled with the traits of both of these amazing men. 

Happy Father's Day Dad! I love you!

How To Have The Best Summer Vacation!

I recently wrote about summer vacation on a budget...it was a joke, so I thought I should post a REAL article...for those of you who get stressed out trying to plan a perfect trip....

Summertime, signals a sense of freedom, a time to get outdoors, and away from the stress of work and household responsibilities. The problem then becomes, so much to do, so little time, pool parties, barbecues, camping, beach trips...oh how we all look forward to summer.

I used to think that planning a summer vacation was the way to make sure we had the most exciting summer. However, after a few stressful summers of making all the arrangements, only to have it not turn out the way I planned. I learned that we always had the best summer memories when we did spur of the moment trips. There were never any pre-conceived expectations.

I stopped trying to plan the fun we would have and I just let it happen. We would go on last minute camping trips to Mexico (I don't mean RV camping, I mean tent camping!) We would spend quality family time, visiting, playing sports together, card games, roasting marshmallows and lighting fireworks off of the cliffs over the ocean at night. This was a great experience, how often do you get to spend time just visiting with your kids, especially teenagers?

We would take bike rides and stop and have a picnic. When we got home we would invite our friends over and have a barbecue and pool party. We took drives down the coast and would find cozy little restaurants to eat at. The less we planned the more we seemed to do. Planning seemed to put time restrictions on our summer, which defeats the whole carefree, have fun, play and let go of your worries, feeling that summertime invokes.

This year try something new, just pick up and go. Leave the organizing behind and embrace the spontaneity of the warm, sunny days of summer. You will have more than just a summer vacation, you will have the vacation of your dreams!

NATURE

FAMILY


FUN


STIR THINGS UP

RELAX


REST

STOP PLANNING AND YOU'LL ENJOY EVERYDAY OF YOUR VACATION!