I love being around people that are enthusiastic and in love with their lives, don’t you? Like Kal.

Yesterday evening I took the teens to the concert in the park to see the Soulz of Rhythm. A gorgeous evening, so we decided to walk there.

Live music is always so much better than a recording. You can feel the energy. The band did a terrific job. A couple did some swing dancing to one of the songs - they were excellent and looked like they were having fun.

I ran into several people I knew there so we were able to connect.

My son might have preferred to play video games instead. And my daughter brought her book. But I could see her feet moving. My son was enjoying much of the music and was clapping along.

So much of our lives are virtual - TV, video games,  you can do almost anything online.  But, that is not the same thing as face to face living, getting out of the house living.

My laundry has piled up a bit  and I’m behind on filing, but that’s not going to stop me from experiencing life. There is no later, only now.

Do you know how to have fun? I notice some people seem to have forgotten.

Ottawa County Fair Derby

The County Fair is going on right now so I took my son to the demolition derby. The sun was low in the sky as we sat on bleachers cheering on the cars. Unique Sports, who hosted the derby, was trying to get the crowd involved. Some people hollered and cheered and had a grand old time. Others looked on with disdain at the revelry. They are too "mature", "bred", "cool" to participate.

But, if I had to guess, the people that hooted, hollered and got involved had a more enjoyable time then the people that stood back observing with judgment.

I had my cars I was rooting for. And clapped for the winners, the guy that was stuck up on the cement blocks and the guy who had to leave the race when his car caught on fire.

After the races the winners would come to the stage looking like they had the time of their lives and winning seemed secondary. And the drivers always said they appreciated the support of their families, friends and wives. I would hope that if my husband wanted to drive derby cars that I would say "go for it!" I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of something that would give him passion and exhilaration.

Are you involved in life? Or are you on the sidelines so you don’t look silly? Where do you want to be?

My Grandparents were never rich materially. My Grandma was a nurse then stayed home to raise her 10 children. My Grandfather was an auto body man who loved his work.

What they lacked in finance, they make up for in love, generousity and faith. They have always opened their home to missionaries, relatives, a wayward nephew, etc.  even though their resources were not overflowing. Their hearts do overflow.

You don’t need stuff and riches to live a wonderful life. My grandparents have touched so many people. From my Grandpa’s navy days where they called him the Chaplain for his great faith. To my Grandma’s nursing days during WW11.

To raising kids to work hard and be kind. To volunteering.  My Grandpa was never ordained, but gave guest sermons and even published articles. My Grandma visited "the old people" when she was in her late 70’s. She was always making food for someone or writing a letter or card.

Today I am going to visit my Grandma who is not expected to live much past this weekend.  This woman of quiet strength, great patience, and loving kindness will be surrounded by people who care.

What legacy do you want to leave?

"The pace of the modern world accentuates our sense of being fractured and fragmented. The complexity of rushing to achieve and accumulate more and more threatens frequently to overwhelm us."

Richard J. Foster, Freedom of Simplicity

Rush Hour by Ethan

Are you aware of how much you may be rushing? Do you get snappish with people who slow you down? Does traffic drive you nuts?

Today I want to spend more time connecting with people rather than feel fragmented by rushing. How about you?

See how other people are living their simpler lives at  The Simple Woman.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window…glorious sunshine and green and colors from recent rains.

I am thinking…of my daughter that just turned 14

I am thankful for…relationships with family and friends, writing, reading, going to the beach, being in nature, listening to new music

From the kitchen…blueberry pancakes with fresh blueberries

I am creating…a fresh, new office, a new flower garden

I am going…to play tennis with my son this afternoon

I am wearing…a turquoise tank, offwhite shorts and a bracelet I made of green and turquoise beads

I am reading…Coastliners by Joanne Harris

I am hoping…I can spend a lot of time outside today

I am hearing…the fan

Around the house…I need to water my houseplants - they are looking droopy, I cleaned off my desk and it is looking serene and clean

One of my favorite things…smiles and hugs

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…a concert in the park, going to the beach, and maybe renting a kayak

Here is a picture thought I am sharing for you…

The side garden

http://www.mysimplerlife.com/decluttercalendar.htm

I had ideas on what to do for my daughter’s 14th birthday. And as usual, she had ideas of her own. Raining limited some options, so I will be taking her and a friend to the beach another time this week.

She only had two things planned -both where she wanted to eat. She wanted to do what she wanted when she felt like doing them. So after iced coffee and a blueberry muffin at the Sweet Bean, she wanted to look at eccentric cars at the car show that was going on nearby.

She spent some time on the phone with a friend before she decided she wanted to go to the movies. The movie she wanted wasn’t playing, so we rented a couple DVD’s and stocked up on junk food for the afternoon.

We went to Johnny Carino’s for dinner. While I had a pecan crusted chicken salad, my daughter decided to try angel hair pasta with artichoke hearts, which she said was delicious. She’s always been an adventureous eater. I’ve always said that it’s nice to try new things because you never know when you will run across a favorite.

Crafts and reading filled out the night for her and she stayed up as long as she wanted.

We didn’t do anything extremely out of the ordinary, but it was a day we were able to slow down our pace and really connect.

Kids Play by Just Us 3

Kids know what summer is about - sprinklers, open ended days of adventure, climbing trees, riding bikes fast enough that your hair flies behind you, getting your hair wet at the beach.

Getting dirty, sandy and messy.

Can you bring out the kid in you for a bit today? Yesterday I did some hula hooping. Maybe you can uncover some bubbles.  Or get out the sidewalk chalk.

Maybe you can buy that sugared cereal your parents would never get for you when you were younger.

Or you could watch a cartoon this Saturday instead of going right into chores and errands. Or skip the errands and go to the park.

Just because you have duties and responsibilities doesn’t mean you can’t let go for a little bit. After all what would your 7 year old self think of you if you become a drag

If you have a journal, is it mostly about gripes, complaints and whining? This is perfectly fine. We need to get the junk out. But, we can also use journaling to make us feel happier and more joyful.

You can have a separate joy journal or just make sure you add some joy entries in your journal regularly.

What can you put in your joy entries/journal?

• Precious moments
• Gratitudes
• Things that made you laugh that day
• People that you love
• Your strengths
• Activities you loved to do as a kid
• What you appreciate about others
• Place that give you peace and joy
• Joyful experiences
• Things you love to do, smell, taste and see
• Your accomplishments
• Happy thoughts
• Celebrations
• Collect cartoons
• List 25 things, people or places that bring you pleasure

What have you been thinking about lately?

Real Joy by Todd Baker