I don't even know where to start with this! I loved the story of the fight and No date! Lol. And the actual date was great! My youngest son of four, told me he was going to buy the field beside us when we lived in the country, build a house there with a path to our house and ride his bike down the path for dinner every night. Then he up and moved to the other side of the country and married a girl from there!
The Highland theatre. I used to be so infatuated with the Academy Awards. When I was visiting my cousins in 2006, I spent a lot of time down there exploring and one of my favourite moments was walking into that theatre.
Haha...playlists. We've always...well, after my period of deconstruction in that cult church....went back to listening to classic rock. Honestly, except for maybe Pink Floyd and Zeppelin, I'm a bit tired of it all, so I've been exploring new music. Discovering grunge in the 2,000's was amazing! I have a playlist called Rehab and sent it to my son and he said, Mom! Every song is about using drugs! Lol. And I'm a fan of Trippy. So that's my second favourite playlist.
I love California and LA. I still have family in OC. Maybe I'll make it back there. I have a yearning to see East LA, Skid Row and Joshua Tree National Park.
ha ha! Rosemary! don’t you love the mind of a four year old? My youngest granddaughter is almost four and she is so adorable. The way their minds work is absolutely precious, leaving us with the best memories. To buy the field next to you! That’s priceless.
And there is something special about L.A., mostly because many of us knew it when it felt better. The same iconic landmarks, except now the tragic fires have deeply affected the people living near and around there even more - There are almost 60 blocks of “Skid Row” - one row. I’d walk them with you if you ever come out here. I used to shoot jobs down there in the Art District, but many homeless drug addicts moved into that area too and it became a little dangerous for me to walk alone loaded with equipment. L.A. brings back so many memories I’ve written about. The bones are good - it’s what’s happened to the people, the disparity between mass wealth and death on the streets is overwhelming to think about. I pray for change that I believe will have to be Biblical and we might be seeing the beginning of that.
OMG. I am glad that you found me that I found your substack and read this post! This is so heartwearming I could cry! It sounds real fun and fulfilling having raised Ian. I have the same feelings with my youjngest bost. He is kind-hearted and naturally generous and understanding. Sometimes, I think about how vulnerable t is to have someone walk into sometimes cruel world. I am still midway in raising him. I hope to reach a point similar to yours, where you know he is in a right place, amidst the difficulties and mistakes in the journey. Thank you for this story. I super love it!
Was it the cats? ha ha! It's amazing how we find each other in this community! I'm so happy to find you too and I can't wait to explore your stories! I agree with you that it is truly hard to have such a felt child and let them go out into the world. You described this perfectly. All of our children, of course, we hope and pray so hard that they will survive it! Sometimes these "beautiful minds" can be challenging and they struggle with us too, but our job, no matter how hard it is, is to equip them with the strength and confidence to live in this world, to be wise, while being loving/compassionate, and to dream and believe that "they can." That there is a purpose for them. Thank you so much for reading this and enjoying it! I am still smiling from Saturday. A treasure I will take with me to the end. ox
This story fills my heart with happiness. Ian has pulled off so many surprises of which I, too, have been a recipient. Ian is the gift that keeps on giving.
Love this… your sweet boy! What a loving story and the trials of parenthood as they grow up! It all reflects on you as a mom (dad too) being the best kind of parents… when our grown kids still like hanging out with us! Delightful reading as always! 🫶🥰
Thank you so much for reading Joan! This was a HUGE surprise! We never know what is ahead! Our kids are deeply independent and sometimes we feel very much in the dark, not knowing what's up or hearing back from them for a week (or more), but we know that they are busy living their lives. We remember being young adults trying hard to manage everything and pay the rent, bills, have a social life, etc. It can be so exhausting so this was extra special :) He is the one that is full of surprises and my mom has nearly had heart failure over a few of them! ha ha! He has driven to Oregon, given her a call, found out she was at he grocery store (back when she drove) and came up an aisle with flowers in front of his face, then said, "excuse me ma'am are these yours," lowering the flowers!!!! A few years ago, with my brother's help, he walked slowly up the stairs and walked into the office where she was on the computer! Yep! We are very blessed! When my dad was alive he borrowed our car, drove to Oregon, just to sit and ask them about their history. Pretty special.
ha ha!! Yesss! Thank you so much Mark! I put some other things he's done in my message back to Joan above! He's had to calm down the surprises with my mom, but now she's always on alert! lol :)
Thank you for reading it Charlotte and for sharing!! Means so much! I figured you probably drove a bug too! ha ha! So many of us did and we loved them! and a van! yay! Ours was a '79 orange and beige! I made curtains out of shower curtains and we camped in it with the last baby sleeping in a palm basket :) Mostly camping in San Clemente. I wrote some of the other funny things Ian did in my response to Joan above. He's a keeper - but none of us need heart failure!
Aww!!!! Deb! This is the cutest, sweetest story! I’m glad he didn’t stick to his resolution of no date! It looks like you had the most wonderful time. Thank you for sharing this really heartwarming story. ❤️
Thank you so much Jenn for reading this! and for sharing it! We never know what is going to happen as they grow older! The things they say when they are little could come true! I feel like you can completely relate :) I told Joan above, in a response, a few other surprises he's done! I was known to do those kind of surprises with my parents over the years after they moved away. It's so much fun! One time I jumped in front of their car (my dad knew) with my thumb sticking out, hitching a ride, as my dad and mom came to pick me up at a hotel where the bus I took to a town nearby their home stopped. Dad used to take mom for lunch near that hotel. ha ha! Her face was deer in headlights! It's amazing we haven't killed her yet! But I never expected to be extra surprised this past weekend!
Oh my goodness, your poor mom, haha. She really was tenacious B! One of mine used to tell me, straight faced if I was giving a stern reprimand “ you are breaking my heart right now.” Oh, kids are so great, and I’m impressed with how your son turned out. Nice job ☺️
I am thrilled for you. Pizza and a VW bug. Brings back many memories for me as well. Praying for you all and thanks for the lovely Christmas card. Our son hand delivered it when he came with his two college roommates for spring break. Our cup is full!!❤️🙏
Awwwe, thank you so much Ned! My great friend! It does bring back memories! I mean pizza and a bug? goes together completely in our day! Thank you for your continued prayers and I'm so glad you got the card, hand delivered, no less, by your beautiful boy! How incredibly thoughtful! This past Christmas I decided to look back at my dad and do the winter scene I photographed, that reminded me of the fresh new life, a year after he passed. I remember praying, taking a deep breath and thanking God for this newness I felt. The year anniversary, but the newness in the grief. The promise He makes not to harm us but His plans to give us hope and a future. My favorite verse. I bet your cup is so full now with all your family plus a few "new" members to share your love with! Wonderful! Sending you all much love. oxox
Dear Friend, I knew you would love this, as we cheer each other on with our adult children. They really don't know, at times, how much we adore them! Maybe they do, but often it feels like we have the time to lament while they go on with their busy lives. It's part of the letting go, receiving what God wants of our lives at present, to grow old well whether alone or with our mates, and to be surprised by these moments. It was truly a gift to experience something like this! God is so good when we let go! love you. oxox
I don't even know where to start with this! I loved the story of the fight and No date! Lol. And the actual date was great! My youngest son of four, told me he was going to buy the field beside us when we lived in the country, build a house there with a path to our house and ride his bike down the path for dinner every night. Then he up and moved to the other side of the country and married a girl from there!
The Highland theatre. I used to be so infatuated with the Academy Awards. When I was visiting my cousins in 2006, I spent a lot of time down there exploring and one of my favourite moments was walking into that theatre.
Haha...playlists. We've always...well, after my period of deconstruction in that cult church....went back to listening to classic rock. Honestly, except for maybe Pink Floyd and Zeppelin, I'm a bit tired of it all, so I've been exploring new music. Discovering grunge in the 2,000's was amazing! I have a playlist called Rehab and sent it to my son and he said, Mom! Every song is about using drugs! Lol. And I'm a fan of Trippy. So that's my second favourite playlist.
I love California and LA. I still have family in OC. Maybe I'll make it back there. I have a yearning to see East LA, Skid Row and Joshua Tree National Park.
ha ha! Rosemary! don’t you love the mind of a four year old? My youngest granddaughter is almost four and she is so adorable. The way their minds work is absolutely precious, leaving us with the best memories. To buy the field next to you! That’s priceless.
And there is something special about L.A., mostly because many of us knew it when it felt better. The same iconic landmarks, except now the tragic fires have deeply affected the people living near and around there even more - There are almost 60 blocks of “Skid Row” - one row. I’d walk them with you if you ever come out here. I used to shoot jobs down there in the Art District, but many homeless drug addicts moved into that area too and it became a little dangerous for me to walk alone loaded with equipment. L.A. brings back so many memories I’ve written about. The bones are good - it’s what’s happened to the people, the disparity between mass wealth and death on the streets is overwhelming to think about. I pray for change that I believe will have to be Biblical and we might be seeing the beginning of that.
That is the sweetest story!!! What a sweet man! Loved the Play list!
Dear Cindy! Thank you 🙏🏻😘 Fun playlist bringing us right back to the years right? Love and miss you! ox
P.S. Writing this on Easter! Happy, happy Easter! He is risen ✨
Amen! He is risen indeed! Miss you!
We need to make at least a lunch visit work! Heading to Mom's in mid July. We miss you two so much. ox
What a sweet story! I loved how Ian made that dream come true with the bug and the pizza. Really heartwarming.
Thank you for reading it friend! I'm still smiling! 😊 Parenting can have its rewards when you least expect it! Sending you much love. ox
OMG. I am glad that you found me that I found your substack and read this post! This is so heartwearming I could cry! It sounds real fun and fulfilling having raised Ian. I have the same feelings with my youjngest bost. He is kind-hearted and naturally generous and understanding. Sometimes, I think about how vulnerable t is to have someone walk into sometimes cruel world. I am still midway in raising him. I hope to reach a point similar to yours, where you know he is in a right place, amidst the difficulties and mistakes in the journey. Thank you for this story. I super love it!
Was it the cats? ha ha! It's amazing how we find each other in this community! I'm so happy to find you too and I can't wait to explore your stories! I agree with you that it is truly hard to have such a felt child and let them go out into the world. You described this perfectly. All of our children, of course, we hope and pray so hard that they will survive it! Sometimes these "beautiful minds" can be challenging and they struggle with us too, but our job, no matter how hard it is, is to equip them with the strength and confidence to live in this world, to be wise, while being loving/compassionate, and to dream and believe that "they can." That there is a purpose for them. Thank you so much for reading this and enjoying it! I am still smiling from Saturday. A treasure I will take with me to the end. ox
Yes I think it was the cats! 😅 Here's to our sons! 🥂Will be hanging out here in your space frequently.
This story fills my heart with happiness. Ian has pulled off so many surprises of which I, too, have been a recipient. Ian is the gift that keeps on giving.
Thank you @Karen Louise Hodgson for sharing this! oxox
Love this… your sweet boy! What a loving story and the trials of parenthood as they grow up! It all reflects on you as a mom (dad too) being the best kind of parents… when our grown kids still like hanging out with us! Delightful reading as always! 🫶🥰
Thank you so much for reading Joan! This was a HUGE surprise! We never know what is ahead! Our kids are deeply independent and sometimes we feel very much in the dark, not knowing what's up or hearing back from them for a week (or more), but we know that they are busy living their lives. We remember being young adults trying hard to manage everything and pay the rent, bills, have a social life, etc. It can be so exhausting so this was extra special :) He is the one that is full of surprises and my mom has nearly had heart failure over a few of them! ha ha! He has driven to Oregon, given her a call, found out she was at he grocery store (back when she drove) and came up an aisle with flowers in front of his face, then said, "excuse me ma'am are these yours," lowering the flowers!!!! A few years ago, with my brother's help, he walked slowly up the stairs and walked into the office where she was on the computer! Yep! We are very blessed! When my dad was alive he borrowed our car, drove to Oregon, just to sit and ask them about their history. Pretty special.
Pizza in a Bug is way better than a Bug in a pizza 😁. That was a wonderful story and a great ending. Loved the photos too.
ha ha!! Yesss! Thank you so much Mark! I put some other things he's done in my message back to Joan above! He's had to calm down the surprises with my mom, but now she's always on alert! lol :)
I just love this story Deborah! I had VWs back in the 70’s. We had our VW van until the 80’s. Bless Ian’s golden heart! 🧡💛🧡
Thank you for reading it Charlotte and for sharing!! Means so much! I figured you probably drove a bug too! ha ha! So many of us did and we loved them! and a van! yay! Ours was a '79 orange and beige! I made curtains out of shower curtains and we camped in it with the last baby sleeping in a palm basket :) Mostly camping in San Clemente. I wrote some of the other funny things Ian did in my response to Joan above. He's a keeper - but none of us need heart failure!
How to make a big heart happy...love that lad & you ❤
Oh he sure did! It was a day I'll never forget. Love you too brother. (and you are very aware of his surprises by now!! ha ha!) ox
Aww!!!! Deb! This is the cutest, sweetest story! I’m glad he didn’t stick to his resolution of no date! It looks like you had the most wonderful time. Thank you for sharing this really heartwarming story. ❤️
Thank you so much Jenn for reading this! and for sharing it! We never know what is going to happen as they grow older! The things they say when they are little could come true! I feel like you can completely relate :) I told Joan above, in a response, a few other surprises he's done! I was known to do those kind of surprises with my parents over the years after they moved away. It's so much fun! One time I jumped in front of their car (my dad knew) with my thumb sticking out, hitching a ride, as my dad and mom came to pick me up at a hotel where the bus I took to a town nearby their home stopped. Dad used to take mom for lunch near that hotel. ha ha! Her face was deer in headlights! It's amazing we haven't killed her yet! But I never expected to be extra surprised this past weekend!
Oh my goodness, your poor mom, haha. She really was tenacious B! One of mine used to tell me, straight faced if I was giving a stern reprimand “ you are breaking my heart right now.” Oh, kids are so great, and I’m impressed with how your son turned out. Nice job ☺️
I am thrilled for you. Pizza and a VW bug. Brings back many memories for me as well. Praying for you all and thanks for the lovely Christmas card. Our son hand delivered it when he came with his two college roommates for spring break. Our cup is full!!❤️🙏
Awwwe, thank you so much Ned! My great friend! It does bring back memories! I mean pizza and a bug? goes together completely in our day! Thank you for your continued prayers and I'm so glad you got the card, hand delivered, no less, by your beautiful boy! How incredibly thoughtful! This past Christmas I decided to look back at my dad and do the winter scene I photographed, that reminded me of the fresh new life, a year after he passed. I remember praying, taking a deep breath and thanking God for this newness I felt. The year anniversary, but the newness in the grief. The promise He makes not to harm us but His plans to give us hope and a future. My favorite verse. I bet your cup is so full now with all your family plus a few "new" members to share your love with! Wonderful! Sending you all much love. oxox
That made me so happy. God is so good. What a sweet son you have.
Dear Friend, I knew you would love this, as we cheer each other on with our adult children. They really don't know, at times, how much we adore them! Maybe they do, but often it feels like we have the time to lament while they go on with their busy lives. It's part of the letting go, receiving what God wants of our lives at present, to grow old well whether alone or with our mates, and to be surprised by these moments. It was truly a gift to experience something like this! God is so good when we let go! love you. oxox
Thank you so much Elizabeth! That means a lot :)