Magical Moments at Disneyland

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

We were taken to Disneyland early... as soon as it opened.  We got inside and waited for Brittany and Noah.  Disneyland is special to those of us who grew up near by.  It opened about a month before I was born.  In those days there were orange groves around it.  I can remember being there at all ages of my life.  Now we share 60 years together.

Kari, Brittany, and Noah

In my minds eye I remember being the sixth grader being let off at the front gate with my girlfriend.  That would have been 1966-67.  Our parents could do that then... let us run around Disneyland all day and not worry.

I could remember being the teenager, the young mom, and now... the grandmother.  A place like that is magical.  It holds memories.

It was great being there with my family and sharing it with them.  I was so glad we went.  One of my more memorable moments was the firework display.  Riley and I were watching it together.  It was a spectacular show with music we were singing to.  I will always remember it.


Thank you Eva for such a wonderful gift.

California Trip

The next few days the boys and Kari left to visit her dad and his family.  I felt they were going to be a long couple of days.  At these times I realized how important it is to keep your own identity away from your kids and family.  It's a tough balance.  The trick is knowing and following your heart.  Being true to yourself.

You see, kids grow up... life has changes... the boys won't always need us.  That's pretty natural.  So if I am Riley or Brady's grandmother only, I lose the part of me that will be there when they grow up doing life.  The trick is keeping up with yourself when their not around all the time.

I went shopping for some clothes, I went to the movies with Eva, and thought about changes I would like to make or work on when I got home.  I realize that I am still a work in progress and always will be.  Better get use to it.

The boys at the beach in 2011

The boys this year at the Lavender Festival.

They are growing up fast.

Finding Myself

I thought this week I would share and document our trip to California last August.  I was apprehensive about the trip.  It hadn't been back to California in four years.  I had just gone through a divorce.  It was like getting hit in the gut really hard.  I can't tell you much about the trip in 2011.  I remember seeing the beach where I was baptized.  I remember Disneyland, sort of.  I remember seeing Derek (a friend I relate too).  All healing things to do at the time.

Pirate's Cove where I was baptized.

This trip was more about finding myself at the time I am start a new decade at 60.  Nothing like going back to your roots to find yourself.  And the first thing we did the day we arrived is go to a reunion with my cousins.

Margie, Larry, Brian, and Sara (cousins)

Eva (stepmom) and Kari

Brady

We saw Melea who had a stroke in April, we also saw Lavonna and Cathie.  I missed them so much.  I was good to be with them again.

Little Man - Noah

                      Little Noah 1 year old

This is my little nephew Noah.  Brittany, my niece, is my sister Krista's daughter.  Krista died from a car accident when she was 18 months old. 

Brittany came to visit us when she was pregnant with Noah but we weren't there when she had him.  We met him for the first time this Summer when we visited family in Southern California.  

Here is a photo of Kari, Brittany, and Noah.