Whale Watching and Other Maine Musings

Posted on July 27, 2016 by wisdomfromafather

Once again, I survived a week with my grandkids!

familyThat’s not really surprising. After all, we’ve been doing this bonding thing for seven years now. It’s not just a fun time with the younger set, but really a time for the cousins to interact as well.

This time around, for the second year in a row, we went camping. Instead of hot and humid Green Bay, WI, for the Brett Favre Packers Hall of Fame installation, we settled on hot and humid mid-Maine. In all, there were 14 of us huddled in two cabins and a tent in a clean and comfortable campground in Abbott, a hop, skip and jump away from my new digs in Dover-Foxcroft. There was myself, my son Jonathan, my daughter Deanna and her friend Nikki and 10 grandchildren ranging in age from seven to 20. I obviously got here first with one of my grandsons. Dee, Nikki and their kids followed in the wee hours Sunday morning. My other son Scott dropped off his Massachusetts boys Sunday afternoon. Jay and the rest of the troops arrived Wednesday.

campHow would I describe the week?

Fun! Fun! Fun!

It got off to a little soggy start with thunderstorms Monday, but we undauntedly shifted our swimming from the camp pool to the local YMCA. Dee and Nikki asked the lifeguard what they could do with the kids {mid-Maine is typically an hour or two away from anything} and lo and behold, he was an MMA fighter and instructor who happened to have a class that afternoon in nearby Dexter … and the first “training session” was free. A serendipity moment to be sure. With the skies opening up, our troupe was busy training, learning MMA poses, laughing and weathering the storm.mma

Tuesday was a trip to Arcadia National Park where they hiked close to seven miles, played in the ocean, walked to a sand bar island during low tide. Shucky darn, I still had a newspaper to deal with so I missed the fun.

Wednesday was a rest day around the campgrounds, walking the trails {not me, I supervised the playground}, playing in the playground and swimming as we waited the arrival of the rest of the crew for the highlight of the trip … whale watching.

whale watchActually, the whale watch was scheduled for Friday, but the forecast was for late day storms so we were able to swap the tickets for a calmer Thursday venture. We ended about 15 miles out of Boothbay Harbor, but caught a number of whales spouting and frolicking in the open water. A few times, the breaches were mere feet from the side of the ship and the kids ping ponged from side to side to catch a glimpse of the magnificent mammals, some sea seals, birds and other aquatic novelties. Each of the kids came up to me with high fives, “That was awesome!” or some other exuberant, smiling comment and they thanked the captain for taking them out to sea.

dinnerBut I think the highlight of the day — no, the week — came at dinner that night. It made my heart proud. We had nine of the 10 younger ones at one table where they laughed, they talked with each other, they sampled each other’s plate and finished ALL their food. The buttons on my shirt — okay I didn’t have any buttons on my shirt so it’s metaphorically — popped with pride as the hostess told me those were the best behaved children she had ever seen in the restaurant. What more could a grandpa ask for!

swim 2Friday, after some swimming and lunch, we headed to Playland Adventures in Brewer for what we expected to be a couple of hours jumping and playing on the inflatables. We closed the place down … and the kids could have jumped around some more! Even the older kids — including Dee and Nikki — got involved in the fun. The younger and more reticent kids were also totally immersed in the fun, jumping off the cliff, navigating the obstacle course, perfecting the American Ninja styled challenge and volunteering for a turn with the wrecking ball. I needed a nap just watching them bounce from one inflatable challenge to the next inflatable challenge. wrecking ball

Alas and alack, all good things must come to an end. Saturday, we broke camp and headed back to reality … but not before a picnic at Scott and Mandi’s house in Massachusetts. By the wee hours of Sunday morning, all were safe in Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio.

swim 1This all came about after Karen died. I didn’t know anything about Christmas shopping, so I got this crazy idea about gathering the grandkids together for some special trip. Over the years, we’ve seen the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show in Cleveland, New York and Boston, went on an Easter cruise, a whirlwind trip to the Jersey shore/Carlo’s Bakery/ferry ride/Empire State Building and last year’s camping trip.

Over the years, we’ve been through blizzards, microbursts, 100 degree heat in Green Bay {who would have thought that was even possible?} and sore legs from walking. I’m proud to say we never lost a kid {that’s not to say we might have WANTED to} and it’s been fun watching them grow and interact with their cousins. Over the years there have been a couple of frowns over the long weekends, but each time we {my chaperones and I} quickly turned them into smiles … and there were a ton of them! This year, I can honestly say there were no frowns — although my chaperones might have felt a little frazzled along the way.

hikeThere are those who say I am crazy {if they know me, they do have a point}. Others think it’s the sweetest gesture ever {I wouldn’t go that far}. But it is a fun time as I corral the grandkids for — hopefully — another memory making experience. Already I’ve been asked what next year’s adventure will be.

On my way back to Maine Saturday, I ran into a short thunderstorm in New Hampshire. On the other side of the bridge there was this vibrant rainbow arcing the sky. I’ve always felt Karen’s presence and smile of approval during these junkets. That was my affirmation.sunset

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: What if we started fixing the person in the mirror instead of those on the other side of it.

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Five Minute Friday — Help

Posted on July 24, 2016 by wisdomfromafather

I just finished a week of fun and frolic with the grandkids, so this week’s Five Minute Friday prompt is right on.

Five Minute Friday, of course, is where most writers in the group write for five minutes on a specific prompt, then congregate and share at Kate’s place (http://katemotaung.com/2016/07/21/five-minute-friday-help/). It’s been awhile since I made Friday. Usually it’s Saturday … and sometimes, like today, it’s Sunday before I sit down and let the mind wander for five minutes.

At any rate, the prompt this week is HELP. The time is set, so it’s time to GO …

I think I’m pretty good at coming up with ideas, even executing them. But I definitely am not a planner. I can appreciate the beauty of the seat-of-your-pants, enjoy-the-moment approach to vacations. Pick a destination and let the rest just fall into place.

Planning. That’s not really a word in my vocabulary.

I’ll give you an example. I actually researched and planned dinner for after our whale watching experience. I checked out menus, made sure all the kids’ favorites were covered, even the gluten free. Didn’t check the hours. We went for dinner, the place was closed. Without a Plan B, we criss crossed the road — several times — in search of another eatery that could accommodate 14 of us, nine 16 or younger. It all turned out well with just as many choices.

My daughter, channeling her mother, however, and her friend were the ones who put the meat on the bones of this trip. They planned the campsite breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks, the downtime activities, the responsibilities {mostly theirs} and kept count of the 14 heads entrusted in our care. They were the HELP I needed — desperately. Had it not been for them {and my son} we may have … STOP

… spiraled into total chaos, starved, gone bankrupt {do you know how much kids eat? Especially teenagers?}, lost a few along the way or had more frowns than smiles … possible all of the above!

Thank you my sweets, for all you did to make my cockamamie idea a reality — not just this year but every year. My chaperones are the backbone that convert the idea into reality.

But then, we all need help and we all should be helping. That’s one of God’s commands as well. We should be in the business of helping, encouraging, supporting, reaching out, lifting up, getting involved. It’s the Christian thing to do. It’s the human thing to do. That doesn’t mean we have to do it all. We’re allowed to ask for help, too.

And it’s not just in this realm. I ask for help from above all the time. God always sends me angels to complement my — okay — deficiencies like planning. This week, Dee, Nikki and Jonathan were my earthly angels. And Mom was there smiling from the other side of the river.

Thank you all for your help.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: What if we gave until it hurt instead of just enough to look good.

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Five Minute Friday — Create

Posted on July 16, 2016 by wisdomfromafather

Happy Saturday! Time for Five Minute Friday! We’ve been through this before. Just accept my Friday posts on Saturday.

Five Minute Friday is an opportunity to focus on a prompt word for five minutes (more or less), write a pithy post and share it with others at Kate’s place (http://katemotaung.com/2016/07/14/five-minute-friday-create/). It’s an exercise that keeps your mind sharp … and introduces you to a world of thought on the prompt from the other talented participants. It’s free. It’s easy (okay, not always). It’s addictive (in a good way). You should visit and check it out or — better yet — join in the fun of expressing yourself!

This week’s prompt is CREATE. It really follows last week’s theme of BUILD. And since I am a bit on the lazy side today after a long day of travel and amid plans for next week’s adventure with the grandkids, I’m going to essentially re-run last week’s post with some additions and updates. No A on this assignment. And I’m not going to set the timer. My apologies to those who read this before … but I hope it might get some additional traction this time around.

I was not blessed as a builder. My school projects, even as a kid, tended to be destined to become an ashtray. Somewhere behind the wallboard in a house in Illinois is a hammer and a closet in the attic has a see-through panel to the rafters. In New Jersey, there is a patio where you can have marble races (unless they’ve fixed it). One of my current outbuildings has a lot of lumber in it after I tried building a gazebo and couldn’t get past the first corner.

But I always had an imagination and consciously decided way back when to approach each new day with a new set of plans. Okay, not plans, but a blank sheet to be filled with memories. Most were nondescript, some were bad, but the vast majority were good. Over the years I have been able to create memories. That’s been my forte.

I have vivid and mostly good memories of my youth and wouldn’t trade in my growing up in the 60s days for anything. And there are so many memories of 40 years of marriage — shared memories of family, excursions, adventures. Most are good memories, save the last six months, which have carried me through.

Now it’s time to create more memories. Next week, I’ll be camping with my grandkids in Abbott, ME. We plan on going to Adventureland and whale watching and nature walks and swimming and … most important, being together — young and old. It’s the seventh junket in the eight years since Karen died, sort of her legacy. We’ve been to the Radio City Christmas Show — the traveling show in Cleveland and Boston and the real deal in New York City. Three years ago I booked an Easter cruise for them out of Boston. Then it was a whirlwind trip to the Jersey shore/Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken/taking the ferry to New York City/Empire State Building observation tower. Last year, I decided to blend history — okay, football history — with fun and frolic by taking the kids camping in Wisconsin. The feature was Brett Favre’s induction ceremony into the Packer Hall of Fame at Lambeau Field.

marshall point lighthouseAnd it’s time to create some personal memories as well. Since migrating to Maine — at least on a part time basis — I’ve explored Vacationland through four seasons. I’ve been to Auburn/Lewiston for the day; Aroostook County in winter; downtown Portland; on the Tumbledown Mountain trails; the Reversing Falls in Pembroke; downtown Augusta; and Marshall Point Lighthouse on the coast in in Port Clyde. Each adventure etched another memory.

Each day awakes anew with hope and potential memories to create.

What memories are you creating?

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: What if we put the needs of others in front of our own.

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Yee Haw

Posted on July 10, 2016 by wisdomfromafather

stampIt wasn’t on my bucket list and I certainly would have never expected to find it in Maine, but I went to a rodeo last night. Barrel racing, pole bending, cash cow and, yes, even bull riding.

I stumbled on the event in Charleston, ME, on my way back from my St. George experience Friday. And, since my new mantra is to seize every new opportunity possible, I decided to go.

It was … different. There were plenty of boots and cowboy hats {in Maine? go figure} and, of course, horses. Most of the events centered on barrel racing with a full field in three divisions — adult, junior and pee wee. The skill levels were evident, with most riders finishing the course in the 20 second range. The adult winner posted an 18.15 time and the junior winner finished the course in 17.98. Don’t ask me for their names or their horses’ names. The winners culminated the night with a barrel shootout. I was there, but in line for fried dough, so I don’t know who won.

bull ridingThe highlight — and what I thought was the main attraction of a rodeo — was bull riding. There were six competitors … none of whom stayed on their respective bulls for the eight second ride. One young man appeared seasoned with chaps, boots, riding spurs and even a feather in his cowboy hat. He lasted one buck. The others appeared to be locals and rookies who signed up to show off for their significant other. One lasted about four seconds and, obviously, no one made it to the eight second horn. But the rears, kicks, spins and twists brought the crowd of 200 or so to life.

paradeI ate at a corral wagon {food truck} with a “waffle cone” — which I thought was a corn dog but turned out to be a thick sausage link dipped in a pancake-type batter, wrapped in bacon, deep fried {I hope my doctors aren’t reading} and served with Maine maple syrup  — and onion rings. I can’t figure out how it got its name, but I was pleasantly surprised with the sausage.

All in all, it was an enjoyable diversion — for $5, one of the perks of silver hair. I was able to not only put “rodeo” on my bucket list and cross it off, but I have now earned the right to truthfully tell people, “What do you think this is, my first rodeo?”

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: What if we stopped blaming inanimate objects for the violence we see in this world and started taking our responsibility as parents seriously.

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Five Minute Friday — Build

Posted on July 9, 2016 by wisdomfromafather

Happy Saturday! Time for Five Minute Friday! We’ve been through this before. Just accept my Friday posts on Saturday.

Five Minute Friday is an opportunity to focus on a prompt word for five minutes (more or less), write a pithy post and share it with others at Kate’s place (http://katemotaung.com/2016/07/07/five-minute-friday-build/). It’s an exercise that keeps your mind sharp … and introduces you to a world of thought on the prompt from the other talented participants. It’s free. It’s easy (okay, not always). It’s addictive (in a good way). You should visit and check it out or — better yet — join in the fun of expressing yourself!

This week’s prompt is BUILD. The timer is set, so let’s GO …

I was not blessed as a builder. My school project accomplishments, even as a kid, tended to be destined to become an ashtray. Somewhere behind the wallboard in a house in Illinois is a hammer and a closet in the attic has a see-through panel to the rafters. In New Jersey, there is a patio where you can have marble races (unless they’ve fixed it). One of my outbuildings has a lot of lumber in it after I tried building a gazebo and couldn’t get past the first corner.

But I always had an imagination and consciously decided way back when to approach each new day with a new set of plans. Okay, not plans, but a blank sheet to be filled with memories. Most were non-descript, some were bad, but the vast majority were good. Over the years I have been able to build memories. That’s been my forte.

I have vivid and mostly good … STOP

… memories of my youth and wouldn’t trade in my growing up in the 60s days for anything. And there are so many memories of 40 years of marriage — shared memories of family, excursions, adventures. Most are good memories, save the last six months, which have carried me through.

Now it’s time to build more memories. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be camping with my grandkids in Abbott, ME. We plan on going to Adventureland and whale watching and nature walks and swimming and … but more important, being together — young and old. It’s the seventh junket in the eight years since Karen died, sort of her legacy. We’ve been to the Radio City Christmas Show — the traveling show in Cleveland and Boston and the real deal in New York City. Three years ago I booked an Easter cruise for them out of Boston. Then it was a whirlwind trip to the Jersey shore/Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken/taking the ferry to New York City/Empire State Building observation tower. Last year, I decided to blend history — okay, football history — with fun and frolic by taking the kids camping in Wisconsin. The feature was Brett Favre’s induction ceremony into the Packer Hall of Fame at Lambeau Field.

marshall point lighthouseAnd it’s time to build some personal memories as well. Since migrating to Maine — at least on a part time basis — I’ve explored Vacationland through four seasons. I’ve been to Auburn/Lewiston for the day; Aroostock County in winter; downtown Portland; on the Tumbledown Mountain trails; the Reversing Falls in Pembroke; downtown Augusta; and Friday (hence the late post) to Marshall Point Lighthouse on the coast in in Port Clyde. Each adventure etched another memory.

Each day awakes anew with hope and potential memories to build.

What memories are you building?

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: What if we stopped complaining about our Starbucks order being incorrect and bought a meal for the homeless guy standing on the corner with no shoes and a cardboard sign.

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The BFG

Posted on July 3, 2016 by wisdomfromafather

Does anyone know what BFG means?

I didn’t. But it is the name of a movie released Friday. I did a little bit of research and decided to check it out at the local theater Saturday night.

BFG stands for “Big Friendly Giant.” It’s the story of, well, a big friendly giant who abducts a 10 year old insomniac orphan girl when she spots him outside the orphanage in London and whisks her off to Giant Country.

Mix in the 1982 story by Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and James and the Magic Peach among others), stir in a screenplay by the late Melissa Mathison (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Indian in the Cupboard and others), add the directing talents of Steven Spielberg (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn and many, many more) and mold together under Walt Disney Pictures and you would think all the right fantasy ingredients were in place.

The jury is still out.

THE-BFG-Poster-692x1024It took awhile for the plot to develop as well as the relationship between BFG (Mark Rylance) and Sophie (Ruby Barnhill). The 24 foot BFG is a dream-catcher by trade and Sophie was more annoying than lovable. But it did develop as BFG tried to protect her from the other much larger giants in Giant Country, who had this penchant for eating little children.

There were some early scenes that clicked and others that just didn’t make sense. But that’s okay … it is a fantasy. I wasn’t particularly impressed, but decided to take my cues from the younger audience in attendance. When BFG is first shown with his huge ears, beady eyes and a wrinkled face, the little girl in front of me turned away and tucked her head into her dad’s shoulder.

Even the adventure to the root of dreams fell short as the two tried to capture the rogue, scurrying balls of light reminiscent of Tinkerbell. It didn’t seem to have a point.

But the predictable walk to the spot amid the sleeping 50 foot giants did. The scene where BFG was put atop a garbage truck while Sophie — hidden in a car — was part of roller skates as a giant raced down opposite hills. That captured the attention of the young ones and quieted their restlessness.

BFG’s command of the language was also a half-pint favorite. BFG playfully has a uniquely “squiggly” vocabulary, as he puts it, in which strawberries become “strawbuncles,” and a television is a “telly-telly bunkum box.”

The plot continued with Sophie conjuring a plan to have BFG create a dream — actually a nightmare — for the queen (Penelope Wilton) so she could “see” giants kidnapping innocent children.

The kids liked the breakfast scene with the queen, her top military advisors and, yes, her three dogs, where BFG shared some of his fizzy frobscottle, a drink where the bubbles go down instead of up and result in a particular passing of gas known as a whizzpopper. Watching the dogs fly across the room with a green flatuence trail while those in the room also share some green air somehow was funny to the younguns. Okay, some of us olduns too.

The queen’s response was to order the removal of the giants from Giant Country by military force and relocate them to a remote island where they could do no more harm.

In the end, we think, Sophie is adopted by the queen’s assistant with her adventure remembered as a dream. She goes to the window and says, “Good morning, BFG.” And in Giant Country, BFG’s Dumbo-sized ears perk up.

I’ll be honest, it’s not a film I would particularly want to see again, but neither was Matilda. My grandkids, though, can’t get enough of her … so who am I to judge what a youngster would like.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: What if we stepped out of bed every morning with purpose and a desire to make a difference in someone’s life besides our own.

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Five Minute Friday — Protect

Posted on July 2, 2016 by wisdomfromafather

Okay, I am resigning to the fact my Fridays are on Saturday. Although I had the time to post in Five Minute Friday yesterday, I just didn’t. I was distracted at every turn. So, here’s to Five Minute Saturday — a Wisdom from a Father feature.

The rules remain the same. Ponder the weekly prompt. Nothing too pithy, just honest as the words flow from the brain through the fingers. Keep it limited to five minutes {or so} with limited editing. Link at Kate’s place (http://katemotaung.com/2016/06/30/five-minute-friday-protect/) and sit back and enjoy other posts from other writers. I also encourage you to visit Kate and her wonderful corps of writers … and maybe be inspired to join in!

This week’s prompt is PROTECT. The timer is set, so let’s GO …

When I was growing up, I felt my parents were soooo overprotective. They wouldn’t let me do some of the foolish things I thought of. They had a curfew {at least until I was around 18}. They had to know where I was going {which was difficult because I often didn’t know where I was going} and who I was going with {no problem, there were four of us who hung out together} and what we would be doing {see note above}. And yet, I survived their “overprotection” without too many ill effects. I lived life, savored the adventures and grew.

Of course, then I got married and had children of my own. The roles shifted. It was now my time to protect my children with the same nagging questions I had faced. But I learned a little about protection as they were growing up.

First and foremost I realized I could guide and help steer them away from dangers, but if truth be known, they were going to make their own decisions. My “protector” role was to hopefully get them to think twice before they acted and be there when bad decisions were made. Unconditionally. Maybe with some … STOP

… disappointment, but always unconditional. And the disappointment wasn’t directed at them. It was aimed squarely at me who obviously didn’t communicate the message correctly.

As I’ve gotten older, I can see the transference of this trait with my children and their children.

And I also think about how God must feel. He is, after all, our ultimate Protector. Sometimes we feel He’s overprotective {what’s with those commandments anyway?}. We don’t listen to His guidance. We don’t follow His rules. We screw up.

I wonder if God gets disappointed when we do that. And I wonder if He gets disappointed with us or with Himself.

Regardless, I do know He still loves us unconditionally. He comforts us when we come to Him. He wraps His loving arms around us and tells us we’ll get through this. He reaches out to us even when we’re not reaching back.

Why?

Because He loves us and He wants to protect us … just like we want to protect those near and dear.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Some people are like blisters. They don’t show up until the work is done.

Posted in children, encouragement, family, Five Minute Friday, God, growing up, love, relationships | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Whale Watch

Posted on June 30, 2016 by wisdomfromafather

For six out of the last seven years, I’ve taken my grandchildren on an “adventure.” This year — number seven — it will be whale watching.

First, a little history. One of the things I never thought about was gifts for the grandkids. That was Karen’s job. I just had to pay for them. One day shortly after she died I came to the panicked conclusion I had to do something. Now, I can’t tell you what size clothes they wear … or what is “in” along the toy line .. or what their special interest of the day is. I will even admit, with 18 grandchildren, I have to group them by my children to even name or count them.

So, I’m sitting commiserating my plight with Karen over a morning coffee. She didn’t answer, but later that night, by happenstance {is anything ever happenstance?} I saw an ad for the Radio City Music Christmas Show {I generally watch the New York City TV feeds}. Hmmm. Light bulb. A way to bring the family together for joy.

The next morning, with the sun gleaming off her urn, I started researching the Christmas Show and, lo and behold, they have a traveling show as well. And that year, they had a show booked in Cleveland, which was even more enticing since a passel of the urchins were from Ohio and Illinois. And so it began …

We’ve been to the Radio City Christmas Show — the traveling show in Cleveland and Boston and the real deal in New York City. Three years ago {wow, has it been that long?} I booked an Easter cruise for them out of Boston. Then it was a whirlwind trip to the Jersey shore/Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken/taking the ferry to New York City/Empire State Building observation tower. Last year, I decided to blend history — okay, football history — with fun and frolic by taking the kids camping in Wisconsin. The feature was Brett Favre’s induction ceremony into the Packer Hall of Fame at Lambeau Field.

This year, we’re heading to Boothbay Harbor. ME, for a whale watching adventure in just a couple of weeks. I think everyone is getting excited. There will be 14 of us camping at Balsam Woods in nearby Abbot, ME.

But the real point of this post is the planning that goes into such an adventure. For me, it’s an idea and let things fall into place. For my daughter, all the details are spelled out. I’ll let her tell you …

“So — a few things from your planning freak of a sister:

* We have 2 cabins and a campsite. Bring sleeping bags and pillows for sure! I will grab some sheets from the camper to lay over the beds but we will rely on sleeping bags for comfort. 🙂  Does anyone have an air mattress? I am thinking we will need a couple of those as well but I only have one.

* Don’t forget shower shoes … camping bathrooms are kind of gross. Put your shower stuff in a ziplock bag if you can, or a portable shower bag that can get wet. That will help us keep track of everyone’s things and make it easier to carry to and from the shower house. Don’t forget a shower towel too.

* Don’t forget swimsuits and towels. There is a pool at the campground but we aren’t far from the beach too!

* Can everyone bring a can or two of bug spray and sunscreen? If we all bring one or two, we can share and it will be cheaper than us all buying multiple cans. Make sure the bug spray repels ticks as they are bad this year.

* Does anyone have camping chairs they can bring? I have 3 or 4 but clearly that won’t be enough for all of us.

* Can everyone bring a game or two for downtime entertainment? Board games. Card games. Yard games. Sports stuff. Whatever. The more options we have, the better. 🙂

* Here is what I was thinking for food. Let me know if you have other ideas. If you want to chip in or bring anything, let me know.

* Breakfast and lunch we will keep simple with cereal, pop tarts, oatmeal, PB&J, deli meat, chips, fruit (probably apples and bananas). I can bring my griddle and do pancakes one day if you want and we could venture into the world of eggs if we wanted to too.  Dinner we can make use of Jay’s fire making skills and have hot dogs, campfire pasta, walking tacos, sausage/tater foil packs, hamburgers, pizza (totally ordering that …). I will also bring a portable grill.

* Snacks — can we all commit to bringing a big quantity of something to share? I’m thinking things like granola bars, nutrigrain bars, trail mix, cheese sticks, goldfish, etc. … whatever your kids like to eat. Then we can get things for campfire snacks — smores, popcorn, campfire pies, etc.

* Drinks — I will keep a couple coolers with water in them. I will pick up some koolaid flavor sticks too.

* I’ll bring pie tins and a popcorn maker for the fire. I think I have some sticks too for dogs and marshmallows. I can see if my neighbor has some we can borrow as well.

* I’ll grab plates, napkins, forks and foil for the week and some bags for leftovers just in case.

Am I missing anything? I’m sure I am … I’m just super excited for the week and can’t contain all the stuff swirling in my brain right now!

Love you -) ”

All I can say is she is her mother’s daughter!

Over the years, we’ve been through blizzards, microbursts, 100 degree heat in Green Bay {who would have thought that was even possible?} and sore legs from walking. I’m proud to say we never lost a kid {that’s not to say we might have WANTED to} and it’s been fun watching them grow and interact with their cousins. Over the years there have been a couple of frowns over the long weekends, but each time we {my chaperones and I} quickly turned them into smiles … and there were a ton of them!

There are those who say I am crazy {if they know me, they do have a point}. Others think it’s the sweetest gesture ever {I wouldn’t go that far}. But it is a fun time as I corral the grandkids for — hopefully — another memory making experience.

And I’ve felt Karen’s presence and smile of approval during the junkets.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: The probability of meeting someone you know increases greatly when you are out with someone you do not want to be seen with.

Posted in celebration, encouragement, family, grandchildren, joy, Karen, love, Maine, Memories, relationships, travel, vacation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Five Minute Friday — Lose/Rest

Posted on June 26, 2016 by wisdomfromafather

I blinked my eyes and skipped past not one, but two Five Minute Friday assignments. It may be tricky, but I am going to attempt to incorporate the two prompt words — the very non-similar LOSE and REST — in one post. So, pardon in advance if this sort of rambles.

Of course, the Five Minute Friday assignment is to write for five minutes on a prompt word, post it and share with fellow Five Minute friends at Kate’s place (http://katemotaung.com/2016/06/23/five-minute-friday-rest/). Around 100 of us gather round to encourage and support our fellow Christian writers, writing in a variety of styles and genres. It’s always very interesting to see how a simple word take shape into posts. Sometimes it’s obvious, sometimes not as much and always entertaining. Be sure to stop in and read the diversity of thought at Kate’s place. And don’t be afraid to join in!

The timer is set, so let’s GO …

I didn’t forget about last week’s assignment. In fact I thought about it a lot. I just didn’t have the time to sit down and commit the thoughts to words.

What kept popping into my pea brain was the song, See You In September, particularly the phrase “Will I see you in September Or lose you to a summer love.”

I can’t tell you why that was the seed. It wasn’t particularly a favorite growing up. It’s not a popular remake. But there it was.

Actually, the silly song is about love — even schoolboy/girl romances. Nobody like separation — even for just a summer. I can hear Our Lord saying to us as we enter the busy summer season. “Will I see you in September Or lose you to a summer love.” And He might add, “Counting the days ’til your back with Me. Counting the hours and the minutes, too.” Or simply, “Don’t forget Me because I’ll never forget you.”

Which brings us to rest. Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Those are my savior’s words.

We all have burdens and challenges and, well, life stuff that weigh us down. It’s in those times I/we can run to the arms of Christ and say nothing, do nothing, just rest and rejuvenate through His special touch. It can be a special place {like the ocean}, but it can also be right where you are. All it takes is a surrender of the burdens. Jesus willingly lifts them off our shoulders.

Sure, the problems may still be … STOP

… there. The uncertainties may still be there. The challenges may still be there. But you and I can face them with a refreshed perspective.

For the record, one of the reasons I lost last week was a fun thing … the celebration of the marriage of my grandson. Congratulations to Zack and Kristine! It was worth the trip from New York to Ohio to witness the union of two souls.

I returned to a couple of doctor’s appointments and the annual graduation issue of my newspaper … placing 310 individual photos in a special section. Congratulations to all graduates. Get ready for your next chapter. May God bless you …

Well, that’s it folks.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Never get overly excited about a man/woman by just the way they look from behind.

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Five Minute Friday — Want

Posted on June 11, 2016 by wisdomfromafather

I’m back for another Five Minute Friday rambling on, as has become my custom, Saturday. Five Minute Friday is a discipline where independent writers join together at Kate Motaung’s site — Heading Home — to transform thoughts on a specific prompt word from their minds through their fingers onto the screen for five minutes. Then we get together and share our pearls of wisdom {okay, some times they’re swine, but the intention is always good} at Kate’s place (http://katemotaung.com/2016/06/09/five-minute-friday-want/). And, you’re always welcome to join us … either as a visitor or participant.

The word this week is WANT and it reminded me of a sermon I preached many years ago (https://wisdomfromafather.com/2013/01/27/gimme-this/). Let’s see where it leads us today. The timer is set, so we’re ready to GO…

There’s fine line between want and need. I have a lot of wants — a new car, money to travel, someone to share my life with, a comfortable life, retirement. I really have just one need — God.

We’re all guilty of using the power of prayer to ask God for “things” or “blessings”. You know, “Lord I really want this job” …. “Lord, please bless my family while they travel” … “Lord, did I tell you my car’s kinda acting up, I could really use a new one” … You get the picture.

That’s our prayer life. Surprise, it’s not what God intended. Yes, He said come to Him with all petitions and pleas. Yes, He wants us to talk to Him. But He doesn’t want to be told what to do. In fact, often, when the “we” or “I” take over in the conversation, things get worse. Remember George Bailey? He prayed and got popped in the nose.

Prayer is not a wish list or a want list. It’s a connection with God, a conversation that acknowledges Him as the One in charge. Sometimes, I think we are lot … STOP

… like Frankenstein in our prayer life, you know, the creation thinking it’s more important than the Creator.

Prayer is a connection, a conduit if you will, from this realm — a mere speck in the timeline of eternity — to the next. Prayer, I’m convinced, is not for God’s benefit. It’s for ours. It is our way of seeking something we don’t understand. And therein lies its power. It isn’t our words. God knew them before we even thought them. It isn’t our actions. God knows them before we do. Yet, we continue to pray.

I don’t think we should ever be presumptuous enough to tell God what to do. We do it, though, don’t we.

The biggest power of prayer — real prayer directed at acknowledging the Giver — is the unexpected rewards. Mary told Jesus about the plight of the wedding party and Jesus responded by changing water into fine wine. Martha and Mary asked Jesus to come heal their brother Lazarus; Jesus delayed; Lazarus died but when Jesus came, He not only healed Lazarus but raised him from the dead. Paul asked for a thorn in the flesh be removed; the answer was a promise of grace to endure it.

Sometimes, when I talk to my Best Friend, I ramble and, yes, use “I” a lot. But I’ve come to learn the joy in my conversations is sitting back and watching the Master in action. It might not be today … or tomorrow … or next week … or next month … or even next year. But I know it’s coming and I just have to be ready to recognize and enjoy the blessing.

Francis of Assisi figured it out. “Lord, make me a channel of Thy peace. That where there is hatred, I may bring love; that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness; that where there is discord, I may bring harmony; that where there is error, I may bring truth; that where there is doubt, I may bring faith; that where there is despair, I may bring hope; that where there are shadows, I may bring light; that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted; to understand than to be understood; to love than to be loved. For it is by giving that one receives, it is by self-forgetting that one finds, it is by forgiving that one is forgiven and it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.”

Friends, don’t tell God what to do. Forget the “gimmes.”

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: The gifts you buy your spouse are never as good and apropos as the gifts your neighbor buys their spouse.

Posted in blessings, encouragement, family, Five Minute Friday, God, grace, love, prayer, relationships, songs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments