Wednesdays at Gary's

This post is to show my brothers what we do (or try to do if health and weather are willing) on wednesdays.

Lunch with Gary at his business barbeque.

Good food. Gary's stories. Nice staff. Good times.

The boys like to look at the Macaw who dances and talks.

It was a rainy day so the boys got into some puddle jumping.

They giggled for around 40 minutes and were soaked by the time we left.

On sunny days this is where the barbeque is held. It's a gorgeous courtyard that makes you feel like your in AZ.

They were pretending to be birds in a bird cage. Most of the time spent in the cage was spent discussing exactly how birds look and act so they could do it right.

I hope it's a good monday!

Shout out to my Carli. Happy 7th grade graduation. You handled the year like a pro!

We are so proud of you!

Love mom and dad... and Asha Brenner.

fried computer

From slowing down to pretty much a dead halt.

There has been nothing to speak of because it's very quiet around here.

This stepping back or slowing down is harder than it at first seemed.

It's been rainy and cold to add to the slow molasses feel around here.

My computer hasn't been working for a while so I've had to use my husband's.

A couple days ago we had a little blackout that fried his computer so I no longer have much to work with. He can get the computer going for a bit, but it doesn't last long.

I don't know that for a time I will be able to do a lot of blogging.

I'm not quitting, just setting it aside till things get figured out.

I'm still working with a new blog that will be fun to share when it's ready.

I'll be back here and there.

Hopefully I will be back into it regularly again soon.

Till my next post...

Have a good one!

Slowing Down

Just when you get that "Full Steam Ahead" built up and ready to blow,

everything stops.

A brick wall leaves you standing there unable to move.

"What just happened?"

You were ready.

You had everything lined out and you knew what you needed to do...

when all of the sudden it was clear,

it wasn't going to work.

Up comes thoughts and feelings that you had no idea were in there.

"Oh."

It's time to face what you've been trying to avoid.

The truth.

Time to step back and quit pushing on life.

Time to breathe,

think,

feel.

Time to allow what's been stuck deep down to flow out, so you can allow what the world

has in store for you to flow in.

Then you can be.

Then your doing will be from your heart and spirit,

and not from outside pressure that life and others have put on you.

So take a step back, and breathe.

Feel.

Hope.

Connect.

Then...

Receive.

That lasting love

Went to the gym yesterday morning with Frank.

While we were there I had a heart melting moment.

An 80(ish) year old couple came walking in.

Holding hands, the wife was helping her husband to a weight machine.

He could barely walk.

They were dressed in clothes that could be worn to a country club for lunch.

She was in a bright flowered top with baby blue pants, pretty makeup and her hair fixed nice for the day.

He had a spotless white sweater on and a classy gray hat you'd never expect to see in a gym, sporty dark pants and brand new looking tennis shoes.

His wife helped him sit at a bicep curl machine, put it to the lowest weight and then went on to her own workout close by.

He lifted the little weight with his frail hands over and over. Every so often he would pause for a moment and just sit there looking at his wife, then he would continue lifting till she came back to help him off.

Before he got up, he flexed his biceps one at a time and told her to check them out.

She ooohed and awwed, sqeezing his arms and running her fingers down his back muscles telling him how strong he is. They both giggled for a moment and then just sighed...

a sigh of happiness. (From what it looked like.)

I couldn't help but get a little teary watching the two of them.

What a picture of how it should be that far into life.

Have a great weekend.

Shift

There has been a big shift in my heart and attitude here recently.

Balancing many plates full of good things, it felt time to re-evaluate my priorities.

There will be a change in the blog content and hopefully a brand new blog soon.

I'm excited to shift things over and at this point I feel as though I am emotionally bearing down and giving birth to these ideas.

My work as an instructor,

My work as a mother,

My future dreams and goals...

All shifting to a new level.

I love change. I love the possibilities.

Fulfilling my present goals and reaching out for what's next.

As slow as it feels to me, eventually and surprisingly, it comes together.

It was a Happy Birthday for Ashley

It's been a busy fun place around here, so the blogging was set aside...

till now.

Ashley's birthday was on saturday. She's caught up with her 30's so we made it a big one.

We started with a surprise breakfast with all sisters except one, and both moms.

We were so good at planning it, she was shocked... no idea it was coming.

(I think Lana was explaining that dad went to our nephew's game and couldn't be there.)

I'd show you all the pics from breakfast but my sisboys would probably beat me up.

We were eating.

After breakfast we got in the car and took Ashley for a drive in which she replayed the you tube video of "David after the Dentist" that was replayed by "Chad Vader".

So here is a picture of "Ashley Vader after the dentist".

Our drive landed us at the mall to get Ashley's ears pierced.

She had been wanting it done and thought it would be fun to do with a sister.

We thought, "How about 3 sisters and a mom?!"

And for the best part...

ROLLER SKATING!

We went retro and planned a bash at the skating rink that Ashley used to go to as a kid.

Here she is with Dad getting their skate on.

Blowing out the candles.

Hoot Hoot!

I'd say she loved it.

(Baby sis & hubby)

I think she is doing the robot.

The song "Simply Irresistible" was played for her.

After skating we headed back to my house for a big sandwich feast, music, dancing and laughing.

Me lovers you Asha-Brenner!

Happy 30th lil sis!!!

Bloomsday fun

I talked my husband into running Bloomsday race this year with me.

Yesterday we packed up and headed to Spokane, WA for some race fun.

A 7.46 mile run to help bring an awareness of fitness to the community.

40 to 50 thousand people packed the streets yesterday and the winner was a Kenyan who finished in just over 34 minutes.

Waiting for the race to start with a strong energy in the air.

In some ways, it's almost more like a celebration.

They've done such a good job at organizing everything which made for a smooth morning.

We made it to the start where a helicopter captures images for the news every year.

As the race gets started...

off go the sweatshirts for the volunteers to collect for charity.

We set our pace and have to work hard not to run over.. or get run over by anyone.

This is about 3 miles in where Franks says his calves are done and it's time to walk.

Red face, breathing hard and Frank goes to grab a stick of licorice people are handing out on the side of the road.

Walking across a bridge here you can barely see what they call "Doomsday hill".

It's packed with thousands of people making their way to the top.

When we get get to the top we turn around to see thousands more people crossing the bridge we were just on.

All the spectators were having fun with the live bands, signs and costumes.

There were some fun ones that I couldn't help but take a quick shot.

Lots of churches showing us the way.

And we cross the finish line just under two hours later.

Frank had been wishing all along the way that he trained harder, but no matter how fast or slow we did it, I loved every bit of it.

(Two teletubbies over my right shoulder, your left.)

Next year, we will try it with the whole family.

For Bloomsday information: click here.

Happy Monday!

courtney