Basking in Sunshine

Another family Sunday dinner tonight and my stomach hurts from all the laughter. All my kids, plus daughters-in-law, and a friend of my youngest were here. It was a simple meal of ground beef tacos and berry cobbler — simple, but yummy!

Then I pulled out these question cards and we went through a few rounds which made us all laugh, while some also reminded us all of how much we appreciate family.

Questions like “who in the family would you ask to help you bury a body” to “who inspired you when you were younger” to “what country would you move your whole family to?”

Seven

Hosted our annual (I think maybe 8 years running?) Fourth of July potluck / pool party. I think it was the coolest (temp wise) as it only hit 103 F yesterday. We had maybe 40-50 visit — lots of good food shared and plenty of laughter.

I went to bed long before the last few left — but I was tired. At least one person slept here - I’d always prefer giving someone a place to sleep rather than risking a drive. Husband handled all that.

I don’t think I posted but we also hosted Father’s Day a few weeks ago. To make things easier, I invited all the dads here and they all came. It was such a great evening full of love! My future DIL’s uncle also came and I guess he rarely goes anywhere. But as he was leaving, I thanked him for coming and he said “I’m a homebody, but you made me feel so welcome. It’s just like home. You make a lovely home.” I told him that he couldn’t have given me a nicer compliment and he’s welcome any time.

There’s a lot of shake up yet again at work and I know that change is the name of the game of life but it’s a lot to navigate. Doing my best to be proactive where I can and work with what IS and not try to anticipate— because things are changing every other day. Also trying to stay positive, all the while documenting just in case.

Daughter is home from Copenhagen and Prague. She had a fantastic time. So proud of her when her flight home was delayed 6 hours, she successfully changed her flights to get home right around the original scheduled time. I love that she doesn’t get flustered when things go wacky, but instead looks for solutions.

The pool was 84 F this morning. I like it better when it’s in the 90’s, which is when the rest of my family says it’s too warm. 🤷🏻‍♀️

My eldest was offered a high school teaching position! Yay! He’s very relieved and excited about making the move from middle school to high school. Also relieved to have found a job. He’ll be teaching World History.

Did you know a group of javelinas is called a squadron?

Her first flight left at 6am, and I was receiving frantic texts about missing her flight … up to the moment she boarded the plane.

Grateful for the efficiency of Sky Harbor. They whisked her through all the lines - even without pre check.

She’s an excellent traveler, but she cut it very close this morning on getting to the airport early enough.

Cataract surgery went well and I have good far and intermediate vision, but limited near vision. I got a couple readers to help, and it’s different but I’m sure I’ll get used to it.

My husband asked multiple times if I was really going to take 3 days off … and I was a bit annoyed because I rarely take time off for being sick. But we talked about it and he was worried that it was more serious than I had told him because it is so unusual for me to take sick days. I just didn’t want to strain my eyes if I had the paid time to give my eyes time to heal.

Friday we went to see Ringo Starr and his all star band and it was a great concert!

Saturday morning I had a great therapy appointment.

Then Saturday afternoon we went to see Ponyo on the big screen and that is just such a comfort movie for me that it was lovely.

Tonight I went to dinner with my eldest and my DIL and we had such a wonderful evening together. I don’t often get time 1:1 with them without the rest of the family so I really soaked in the energy with them. (Husband is at the cabin, daughter was at rehearsal and other child & fiancée were in San Diego)

I did all the things so I’d feel set up — groceries, laundry, clean sheets, clean comfort blanket, set my bedside table with things I might need, set out my clothes for the morning so I don’t need to even think about it, put my water cup away from me so I dont accidentally drink from it in the middle of the night.

I’m nervous, because …. Surgery … but I’ll be happy to have it done. I like the fact I’m only under anesthesia a very short time, as that’s my biggest fear surrounding surgery. When you almost don’t wake up just one time it leaves you with a bit of anxiety.

I took 3 days off work, which I may not need this time. Last time I was glad to have that third day — so I guess we’ll see this time.

There are many things I like about where I live, but lack of public transportation is not one of those things.

It’s been a month plus of car problems and I really wish I could just buy everyone a bus pass.

My middle child totaled his truck and we’re still dealing with insurance. The truck he was replacing still needs a head gasket and requires a gallon of coolant a day (may be a bit exaggerated, but the idea remains) I guess I’m grateful we still had that old truck.

My youngest needed about $2K worth of work on her car (AC, tires, some other stuff I just don’t even know)

My husbands car (that had a new engine installed a month or so ago?) Broke down about 90 minutes from home yesterday. And needed to be towed back to our town.

And then my Jeep? Husband was on his way to pick up pizza last night and drove over something on the road that has been under construction for months and completely flattened a tire so today I’m replacing tires.

This does nothing for my car/driving/passenger anxiety. Well, it does do something — it makes it even worse.