Gail Gone Wild Among the Sunflowers!

Gail gone wild?

I just have to laugh as I read that title!  

I just returned home from a weekend up in Wisconsin with four of my very best friends from college days.  We all attended Cornell College back in the 1970's and have kept in touch for all of these past 35 years!  

During our visit I was talking to one of my friends about my "blogging" on the internet and my posts on Facebook.  She was very worried about me that I might  somehow get into trouble by posting pictures and personal thoughts and such out there in cyberspace!  I, quite frankly,  had not given that much thought! I suppose it is possible for one of my Facebook friends to download a picture of me and then somehow transport it digitally to an inappropriate picture and post it somehow on a porn site or something!  I'm sure it's possible, but not likely! 

That 's when we started laughing about "Gail goes wild among the sunflowers!" The thought is quite amusing, I think.  A 56 year old grandmother.....? Seems strange!  It is really not likely, however, that even if I did end up in a racy picture somewhere, that I would ever even find out about it! I never "go there"! So, if you happen to come across something inappropriate about me anywhere out there in cyberspace, please make a comment and let me know!  I'd be interested to know and would probably quickly withdraw my pictures and comments! Even though, by then, it'd probably be too late!  Back in 1974, they never warned us about technology!

Back to my visit with my college friends!  We spent the weekend up in Wisconsin at my mother's home.  The weather was pretty cool and overcast the entire weekend and we didn't get to really enjoy the lake other than just looking at it through the beautiful window in my mom's kitchen.  But in spite of the weather, we enjoyed a lot of talking, walking, eating and laughing. (And dare I say drinking? In moderation, of course!)

I don't know what it is about this group of girls, but we always have so much to talk about and it's not just reminiscing about the past, we talk about issues that are important to us.  Out of the five of us, we have an attorney, a family physician, a bilingual teacher, a payroll business manager, and a school counselor. Needless to say, our conversations range from  personal health issues to our grown children, from care for our aging parents to legal issues relating to wills and estates!  It seems that we can never get enough talking in. We don't usually argue either, we just listen and respect each other even if we disagree.  One thing is for certain, we CARE about one another.  I just love to be a part of this group because I come home from our time together feeling valued as a friend and as a person.

I also come away from the weekend a few pounds heavier because we eat so well!  Each friend brings delicious food and we eat and eat and eat!  Then we walk around the block to try to burn it off!  But in spite of all that, it is one of my favorite times of the year.  Cornell College/Theta/Class of '74/Girl's Weekend!  I am so very lucky that God has placed me in the lives of these wonderful friends and I thank Him for this blessing!

And....that's about as wild as I got among the sunflowers this past weekend!  

Take Care of your Family!

I have recently been through a surgical procedure that has kept me somewhat slowed-down these past three weeks. I have needed someone to take care of me. 

Now that I am feeling better, I am realizing that I, too, need to take care of others.  I have been busy taking care of the house, trying to accomplish a few projects for the summer.  One of the projects is scrapbooks.  I love putting pictures in books and making memories come alive through color, organization, and journaling.  I find that the books are treasures for me and for others to look at and remember.  All those memories!  They flood my mind when I am working on the scrapbooks.  Some of the memories are hard....but most of them are happy and joyful! Most of the best memories are with family and friends spending time together and

enjoying life.  I thoroughly enjoy all of the memories!  

The other day I was working on a few pages for a scrapbook about Michelle's wedding two years ago.  (Yes, I am a little behind!)  I had a strong sense of a need to "Take care of my family".  I kept thinking those words.  I was looking at pictures of my grandson, Jack, pictures of Michelle and her wedding, Michael and Matthew when they were little, my husband, Doug, as a young attractive man...so many memories, so many wonderful special thoughts...."Take care of your family!"  The words kept ringing through my mind.

I have always felt that my first and foremost "mission" or "calling" was to bring the message of God's love to my family. To share my faith with my children as they grew up...and I did that to the best of my ability.  I was listening to Matt sing one of his songs,  "Hey, Mom, tell Jesus that I love him...."  

Their love comes through in so many different ways.  My boys' feelings come through their music, my daughter through her notes and her phone calls.  I love them all so much.  Each  is so different, each so special.  Sometimes I feel like perhaps my "calling" is over.  They are adults now, they need to find their own way somehow....yet they still turn to me for love and support and counsel.  "Take care of your family!"

Suddenly the phone rang and it was my mother.  The giver of my life.  She was experiencing some irregular heart beats and was in the hospital emergency room.  She lives two hours away from me, so of course I became very anxious. "Take care of your family!"  had new meaning to me at that moment.  I hurried to make arrangements so that I could be up there with her as soon as possible.  For the moment she is okay, but I am concerned.  How do I take care of her?  What do I need to do?  I pray that God shows me how and when.

I am still pondering the consistent and persistent thought. "Take care of your family."  I know that I will do what I need to do.  How do I continue to do it for Mike and my other adult children without stepping over the line that turns into enabling?  When do I step in and take care of my mom?  I pray for wisdom and strength to do whatever it is I need to do.  Patience, wisdom and courage are what I need to "Take care of my family!"  and to "Take care of me!"  for I am a part of my family!  I need care too!