A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND

When we let go of fear,

only then can we gracefully move

from what was into the miracle of what can be.

Of Long Summer Days and Good Summer Books!

Summer is officially here! And with summer comes the opportunity to relax in the warm sun and pull out a good book to read. Do you have any good books on your list that you're just dying to get into?

It seems everyone has a summer reading list, a beach reading selection. I love to read all year long, but confess that in the summer my tastes run much lighter. No Tolstoy or Hemmingway for me please. Give me the new Stephanie Plum book or some Kristin Hannah or Barbara Delinsky to while away the long hot days with. In other words, I don't want to think, I just want to be entertained. Romance novels call to me as do cozy mysteries.

Here's my first book of summer: A Turn in the Road by Debbie Macomber.  I'm picking it up at the library later today, and I'm sure I'll be well into it before bedtime. I like her books. She has a sensitivity I respond to, and her books are about real people in real situations that feel familiar.

AJ's trying to re-read The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which is difficult since he's in the middle of calculus and astronomy in summer school. But he's making headway and enjoying the ride.

A fellow writer and a friend of mine from here in Colorado Springs has a new book out I'm anxious to read. It's the first in her new series. I've read the books from Beth Groundwater's first series and they are excellent, so I feel confident recommending these to you if you're interested.

Whatever your tastes or interests are, stop by the library, or the bookstore or go online for an ebook. Read something. Read to your kids. Have fun with it. After all, it's summertime! Yay!

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND

Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.

Winnie the Pooh
(A.A. Milne)

Homesick

Today is one of those beautiful summer mornings that make you just want to spend time playing and being with your family. It's sunny, not too warm and it's a Saturday! I know it's also the day to get stuff done around the house, but it also is a day for some fun too.

When we lived in California we sometimes would bundle the kids into the car and drive to Santa Cruz, a small beach town about 30 minutes from our house. Stan has family that live there and there were many weekends in the summers that we would travel over there for family get-togethers. It was always fun to be with the "Santa Cruz Mullis' Group" and I miss those opportunities.

But there were other times we would drive over just to hang out at the wharf.  Santa Cruz is known for its Beach Boardwalk, which has amusement rides, and carnival attractions, and that's fun too. But the wharf is it's own little world.

A long walk on the wharf, checking out the seagulls and the sea lions was always fun. Maybe a walk on the beach as well, and checking out the shell shops and watching the fishermen. The Stagnaro family is a big part of Santa Cruz Wharf life offering fishing trips and chartering boats and an upscale restaurant on the wharf.

But my favorite place was owned by one of the daughters Gilda Stagnaro. A small, old-fashioned restaurant on the wharf, Gilda's Family Restaurant offered seafood in a homey atmosphere. My favorite thing to get there was clam chowder and sourdough bread. If you were lucky you got a window seat looking out at the ocean. A perfect afternoon! Gilda herself was a fixture at the restaurant, and was there every day. She died three years ago at age 83, at her restaurant.

I love living here in Colorado. The mountains are magnificent and inspiring. It's hard leaving the coast, and even after more than 11 years I still miss it. Especially on days like today.

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

Winston Churchill
1874-1965

Mullis BBQ

Summer weather is finally here! Yay! And that means barbecue season is upon us!

When I married Stan, I married into a family of barbecue fanatics. His family does something called "The Mullis BBQ" which is usually done when we're all together or have a crowd to feed. We've learned how to scale it down for us, but it's still a feast and a half! And Stan has asked for it for Father's Day.

Basically it's BBQ steak, chicken and sausage accompanied by baked beans, salsa, garlic bread and a relish tray. It's heavenly.

A couple of years ago I made a mixed berry Pavlova for dessert which was amazing and I think I might do it again.  It's a plate sized meringue topped with homemade whipped cream, and covered with mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries) in a raspberry sauce. I seriously think you could do the Pavlova as a meal in itself.

Since Stan works on Father's Day we'll be having our Mullis BBQ the Wednesday after, but it'll still be fun!  So glad the warm weather is here and we can fire up the grill. Love this time of year!

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND

Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us — even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will.

Joseph B. Wirthlin
1917-2008

Memorial Day

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

John McCrae (1872-1918)

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND

There can be no joy without gratitude.

from Miles to Go

Richard Paul Evans

Happy Anniversary

Stan and I were married 23 years ago today. It was a wonderful day. I was nervous, excited, happy, scared, and anxious all at once. The thing that helped me as I walked down the aisle was my sweet father. He was crying so hard I had to be strong for him so he'd be able to make it down to leave me with Stan and he could go be with my mother. I'm not sure exactly why he was crying. Probably glad to finally get me off his hands!

Here are some pictures of then, and now .....

 May 21, 1988

 Spring 2010

 With Our Family

May 21, 1988

 Christmas 2010

 March 2009

 March 2006

October 2007

We've gone through a lot of changes over the years. Three homes, two cities, and two boys taking us from just the two of us to a family of four. It's been an adventure! Looking forward to the next twenty-three years!