Living and Loving... especially the weather!

Life for most, I think goes in waves... Good days, bad days. Good Months, bad months. Good years, bad years...

Well, lets just say that for the most part I am on the top of the wave right now and it is feeling pretty good! This probably has to do a lot with the weather... and a lot with whats been going on in my life lately!

We'll start with my arizona trip with friends...

A girls mix CD,

Dancing in the streets in small town southern Alberta during a red light

Hot weather and cool water

Laughing till it hurts

Good food

Better shopping

morphing our faces on photobooth

Too much candy

and a dye job that made a me a red head, made me say a few "choice" words and caused a lot of laughing (on my part)!

Such a fun weekend... Unfortanulety these are the only pictures I have, because my camera broke on the first day!

Then to continue on with the adventures that were our month of May... we headed back to Montana. We've got a few things in the works down there and will be spending much more time there in the near future! With these views... who wouldn't?

The kids have free reign to run, play, explore, bike ride, laugh and just be the kids we all want them to be! And the adults get to pull up the lawns chairs, sip lemonade,watch the sunset and enjoy!!

Now for a week or so of down time and than we are off again!!

I want to send a HUGE congrats to the Cox's!! The judge has granted their adoption and Kareen is their little girl!

Big news!!

My friend Kecia is in U right now and yesterday got to meet Kareen! So exciting for them and for all who helped raise money! Go here to view blog.

The hardest job in the world!

I thought as my month goes on, I would share a little of what I learn from all this ME time!

So here is the BEST thing I got out of last weekends retreat.

How many of you would die for your kids???

........

Okay, but how many of you are willing to LIVE for your kids?

Being a mother IS the hardest job on earth. If it is not hard for you right now... just wait, your challenges will come! It is also the most enjoyable, and rewarding!

There is no greater thing you can do than to raise your kids well!

Can you imagine what the world would be like if every child had a loving mother and father who provided for them, gave them opportunities and helped them become their best!

So what am I getting at??

Well, We can't give our best selves to our kids, unless we take care of ourselves.

If you're finding it hard to find joy in parenting, you're probably not taking time to do things for your self.

So many moms think that if they admit it is hard to be a mom, or if they admit that their kids are not always the best or easiest that they are denying their love for them. That is just crazy! If you are a GOOD mom, than parenting should be hard... because your standards are so high. And I don't know a single kid in the would who is perfect 100% of the time!

So what I learned is...

Take time for me, so that I can live for my kids. So that I can be there (present in the moment) to give them meaningful experiences. So I can teach them and enjoy them.

From the scenario of the love tanks in "The five love languages." When your love tank for yourself is full... you can handle more and give more!!

Time for ME!

My lack of posting is sitting somewhere between guilt and who cares! :)

I am feeling so busy lately... but wanted to pipe in and say this. I am looking forward to a month for ME!

**Last weekend I went to a mothers day retreat for the parents of kids at PREP (Macy's School) - always good times with the moms who know exactly how it is to raise a child with DS!

**This coming weekend I spend Fri and Sat at "Time Out for Women" - it is an event related to my church that reminds us women that we are important and special. It gives us a chance to laugh, cry and be inspired! Then Mothers day and the annual Brunch at our Golf Course.

**The following weekend I am lucky enough to go on a girls weekend to Pheonix. A whole weekend of lounging by the pool and eating out!! Oh, and a massage!

**I am hoping to spend the 3rd weekend in May with friends in Montana!! Anyone interested???

**The 4th weekend will be spent at a ladies retreat with the ladies I attend church with and I am already excited about what they have planned!!! Oh, and a trip to the Temple!!!

So cheers to a month for me!!