Welcome to our World

If you look closely you will find my mom helping assemble hygiene kits for Afghan refugees. These last fews weeks of watching the horrid attempt of our government to leave a country she loved living in as a child has been very difficult (to say the least).  I am grateful for her love and perspective and am deeply saddened that my nation didn’t do a better job reacting to 9/11 (which we just marked the 20th anniversary of this month).  Revenge is never worth it, even if you call it patriotism. And that hope we had of helping the Afghans against Taliban rule totally and completely backfired. We are mourning opportunities lost, lives lost, and lives permanently changed for the worse. On a more personal note for yours truly dealing with loss, I had the opportunity to attend the funeral of Rachel B. It was evident much time and thought went into the planning. Listening to a father eulogize and sing Mad World to his daughter will touch your heart.  How heartbreaking it is say ...

 This year’s family reunion took my family to Bear Lake, in Utah/Idaho. Since I have only been working a couple weeks I didn't feel like it was appropriate for me to take time off work so Hubby ended up taking our children out of school and driving his truck to meet up with family.  His family reunions are the best! From all accounts the lake was wonderful and our paddles boards, tubes, and volleyball net came in handy but that the best part was when they rented wave runners and a water trampoline.  I experienced some major FOMO as I talked to Hubby but was so happy they got to have a good time.  It was pretty boring without my favorite people around.  With days that I could technically do whatever I wanted, I ended up cleaning the house, doing laundry and yard work (including putting down new mulch that included three trips to Home Depot), taking long walks with the dog, completing some required online training for my job, spending hours on my neglected inbox, ...

  Well, that time of year came and went when I have to say I'm a year older once again.  I am so grateful to family who went out of their way to make my day special and friends who took the time to wish me a happy birthday.  Over Labor Day weekend my parents took me out to eat at Red Robin and my in-laws paid for my new pedicure.  I am truly fortunate that my entire life I have been surrounded by wonderful humans.  And Weezer and Fall Out Boy and Green Day helped me celebrate as well!  The tickets I purchased back in January of 2020 finally came in handy when the Hella Mega Tour arrived in Denver and I loved it.  My favorite part was singing Good Riddance with Billie Joe Armstrong.  I have had that song memorized for over half my life and felt like it was the best way to end a wonderful concert with my handsome Hubby.  After posting online we discovered that friends of ours were there too.  So fun!  I was a little worried about gett...