Blessed in so many ways

The past month has been a bit on the rough side for E and me and our friends who have stepped up in ways beyond our comprehension.  First, E's back surgery and his slow but sure recovery. And then this pesty thing with my arm (healing slowly but surely).  All this has taught me something about the two of us...we love to give to others...our time, our love, our support, our care BUT we have a hell of a time accepting help from others unless they are family.  And the hard lesson we have learned is that so many of our friends are family and giving is a reciprocal thing.

When E was in the hospital for his back surgery, the Women Who Do Lunch bunch, other local and not so local  friends  offered to help in any way they could during his recuperation and to aid me while he was in the hospital.  Did we accept a single offer...no.  And looking back, what an unkindness we rendered our friends.  (Apologies now)! 

And then (long story cut short) I injured my arm, party planned, food ordered, out of town company flying in and traveling across the state to help fete my beloved's 70th  b'day.  And sitting there while our friend, Steve, vacuumed and rearranged furniture and our friends Kim and Mitch dusted, swept and helped set up...drove us nuts! This was our job and it made us feel feeble and old and ...LOVED.
they did this out of love for us.  And that was the revelation...if asked, we would do the same and that our friends knew that.

We all need to allow others to contribute to our lives.  There are so many ways to prove we love our friends and the best gift we can give to another is when they offer help, aid, cheers etc is to say YES and THANKS.  We've learned a hard lesson.  Both of us are proud people.  And we have realized that it is ok to let others contribute to our lives; it is not a sign of weakness rather a measure of trust and appreciation and love.

So, to all our friends who said, "can I help? what can I do? call and I'll be there!  Bless you and thank you for your friendship and you can count on us to accept your loving offers should any more misfortune befall us (knocking wood).

This is me

I am a conservative liberal ( for those of you who have not figured this out) and my hubby is a liberal conservative.  We have amazing friends whom we love and respect who do not believe as we do.  And do you know why they have our respect?  They listen to us and they respect us and they expect the same in return...and YES! they get it.

I was raised by union parents who, back in the 50s voted Republican because they loved Ike.  I remember standing in line with them after they got off work to vote.  That was back when the parties were not so different and people voted for the good of the country.

What a conservative liberal believes is (could just be me)
1. we can can not expect the poverty level to raise to middle class unless we provide an umbrella while skills to excel are obtained.
2.  we need to provide training
3.  love is in too short demand...let it be where it is
4.  re invest in this country...no tax credits for out source
5.  work fare not welfare...see #1
6.  no elderly person should EVER have to choose between food and medicine
7.  no child should ever go without food or an excellent education.
and so much more but that is it for now...

Play Music

"Let There Be Peace On Earth"
(feat. Kim Burrell)

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step i take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
In peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.

Colvin's turn for a sleep over

Now that Papa is doing a tad bit better, we had Colvin over for his long overdue sleep over at Nana and Papa's house.  He had a few requests and we did our best to honor them.  He also informed us that 2 days also  meant 2 nights and we said...maybe later! lol

We picked up Colvin around ten am on Sat. and headed to the farmers' market in Dunedin, forgetting there isn't one during the summer months. So on to the Sponge Docks did we go.  There was a craft fair (Papa bought 3 books...one for each of the Grands) and we dined at Rusty Bellies.  Colvin loves fried clam strips...wait til his 'shrimp only' Mama finds out!  We watched Casper the Friendly Ghost movie, swam in the pool, had dinner and read read read before we finally went to sleep.

Sunday, Colvin helped Papa fix us breakfast and then he and I took off to the new playground next to the Splash Park here in Tarpon Springs.  He climbed, slide and went swinging til the deer flies drove us away.  I had his little bike in the trunk and he rode the course at the out door gym and then down the Pinellas Trail...his first.

and one of my future biking partners....

He had one request of Papa and that was to finally teach him to fish.  We bought the boys Shakespeare fishing rods and reels (Batman, of course) for Easter last year and Papa was reluctant to let them fly away with hooks etc.  But, today was the day (and Landon will get his turn at his sleep over).  Colvin caught onto the casting and got pretty good.  He is a lefty, which neither of us realized til he started his first fishing lesson.  Papa started with him in the front yard sans hook and continued the lesson in the pool. 

We went swimming, had lunch and watched most of Cars2 (longest kids movie EVER...just sayin') and then a nap on the big bed in the guest room...with a customized "by Nana" tent.  Ice cream and home.  Another wonderful Sleep Over!