Swimming upstream....

I just realized that it has been more than a month since I posted and instantly thought, "Shame on me!" So typical of me to self-criticize without processing how much I have accomplished in the last 6 weeks. June began with the death of my nearly 16 year old niece, so tragic and sad yet brought the family together in a way we have not been in awhile, if ever. Chris in the hospital for chest pains, scared us but Dr's say he is ok! Father's Day came and went while we emptied out the last of the storage units = garage full of boxes! Fourth of July and a Dante' home to visit (yay!), then mom and dad Burt visited and comany in from out of town this last weekend. In between I am teaching classes, taking classes, keeping up the old house to sell, doing water aerobics and Zumba, with house and yardwork at new house...whew! That being said, I will try to work on time management and post again soon! Bye!

Nearly empty nest...

I realized yesterday afternoon that in almost exactly two years my youngest child will have graduated from high school and be headed for college. Don't get me wrong...I am extremely proud that all four of our kids will have graduated and started the next important phase of their lives BUT...since the very second I first held Dante' in my arms, I knew that my primary purpose in this life was to do my utmost to raise my children and be the very best mother I could be. I know I have fallen short of this goal on many occasions to one or all four of the kids but honestly, I am struggling to imagine my life not "mothering" on a daily basis. I have never been able to relate to those parents who say they can't wait for their kids to leave home. Please don't misunderstand, I know I will enjoy spending more leaisure time with my amazing husband and perhaps even having time to read more than one book per year. I have goals of course...working to be a better wife, sister, daughter, aunt and friend, the best instructor I can possibly be, travel a little, garden a little but what I am having difficulty with is redefining my ultimate purpose in life. I know this sounds a bit dramatic, but it is what it is and I continue to be....a work in progress!

Just Ducky!

The pond was one of the things we loved about the new house...the soothing sound of running water from the fountain, the flash of tiny fish and.....the ducks? Little did we know that the ducks love the watery dig behind the house as mych as we do. We recently put mesh over the pond to keep out debris, never dreaming that the neighborhood Mallard ducks would waddle out to the middle and, when one section of the mesh sank under their weight, swim under another section and get trapped. After rescuing the female for the second time in 2 days, I decided to remove the mesh for the time being...really hoping they don't have a taste for koi!