And we're off...

Okay, this is it!  I can do it...  It's only three days and three nights...  I can do this!   The little pumpkins are soooooooo excited for their adventure without Mum and Dad and I think...  I think I might feel some sort of excitement too.  Hold thumbs and wish me luck...

My TA-PES-STORY

 

Well, with the adventure part of my year underway, I have begun the parallel journey of writing to people who have in some way touched my life.

 I have chosen 50 people.  Each one representing a group of people or an area of my life which has become a thread in my “ta-pes –story”.  (The tapestry which creates my story - Gotta love new words.)

 I received my first response along with what they plan to do for their “challenge”.

 A little background :  These lovely people are in their 80’s and represent some of the adults in my life as  a child, who impacted me and gave me the confidence to be who I am today.

The adventure will begin to take place shortly in the weeks to come.  THIS IS THE STORY OF SHIELA AND HAMISH GRANT'S UPCOMING ADVENTURE:

"Now, our crazyness involves a visit for a week with us from Morag (THEIR DAUGHTER),  a couple of months ago, and Hamish (THE STORY-TELLERS HUSBAND) happened to say "I wish I could go and see Scotland again before I die"  Well, with Morag - his wish is her command.    She is due for her  5th mission trip to Zimbabwe so she decided she would take an extra week off and "chaperone" us to Scotland and then go on to Zim.    So we then bit the bullet and agreed to that and then for another four weeks to go to South Africa, first to the George and Shirley Jenkinson in the Cape (and see many others!)  and then to Durban and Port Shepstone where most of my family are, and after that up to Johannesburg for a couple of days to see the Minnaar family and home.....   At each place we have had to get someone to organise a

"gathering" as we just cannot see everyone who want to see us!!!!!  So it has been a lot of criss cross emails and organisation.    Not quite complete yet and we leave in 6 weeks time......   So crazy though this seems at our age, we will , like you, have memories and fun!! :-) 

This year is a big year for us our 60th wedding anniversary in August, and seeing we "courted" (oh dear how that dates one)  for two years and two months, that is a big chunk out of anyones life to live as one eh?????  I met Hamish on my 17th birthday, on the train coming up from Durban to live in Umtali!!!!"

 

Awesome, Mr and Mrs G.  I am so thrill for you guys.  Thanks for sharing your big adventure with us!  Hope to grab a pic from you guys once you get home.

Too little - too much?

Well I finished writing my "good morning" and "good night" notes to each of the kids.  I've typed out and hidden notes around the house for a treasure hunt on Saturday (our return day!) and I've got a gift for them on each of the days that I am away, so that they can have some crafty things to do...  What do you think???  Too little - too much???? 

We continue moving forward....

Somehow I wish the world would stop and mourn with us even for just a short while – but children, animals, life continue to move forward without understanding of the sadness that broods in our hearts.
I continue to prepare for leaving this week in the midst of our turmoil...

Sorrow in the midst of Adventure

As one embarks on adventures, one focuses on the excitement of it all and the mysteries that will be unveiled as each adventure unfolds.  What catches us by surprise is regular life still moving alongside us, but smacking us from behind.

This morning we lost our beautiful Mum.  My husband's Mum was 82 and she died of pnuemonia.  We loved her.

TA DAAAAA...


Yay, got through the whole Valentine's Day thing.  My thighs hate me that little bit more, because I didn't control my intake of junk - yes, I confess, I did accept those chocolates and lollies offered to me.  However, though my thighs aren't impressed, my heart and stomach are still singing - yipeeee - so, I'm guessing I may have made the right choice after all!

The PLANNING of February's Adventure - Every plan needs a little preparation.

February here I come...

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.  My pet hate day for my husband to let me know he loves me...  Yes, I know, I'm a pain in the butt when it comes to getting all smooshie on one particular day of the year, for the sake of the economy.  My hubby knows better though - NO FLOWERS OR GIFTS, unless you want to push my butttons...  if I HAVE to... I take a card, but he's much more apt to receive a positive response, if he informs me of his feelings verbally or if necessary through a hand written note on some other day of the year!

So, with this being said - today I went out and yes... I did it - I BOUGHT chocolates for my husband of 18 years.   Tomorrow he's going to be in total shock and I can't wait to see his horrified face, when he realises I bought him a big box of chocs and he didn't get me anything!!!  Oh, LOL - this is going to be a good day.  The poor man - I can only imagine that he's going to think that mid-life means that we're actually going to engage permanently in this funny tradition.

In my defence though, I DID actually go out to buy a couple of heart shaped boxes for my children - sooooooooooooooo, it is only natural that the poor old fellow receives one as well.

Aah, I hear you asking WHY WOULD SHE BUY FOR THE CHILDREN AND NOT HER LONG TIME MATE?

The same reason any parent buys their precious children rubbish...

Guilt!    (Do you think the kids will forgive me, if I buy them chocolates? I'll see tomorrow :) )

You see, my adventure for February is a "Date with my Husband".  A date ALONE with my husband.  My husband and I have not been alone in twelve years.  It's going to be wierd. (hope I still like him when we finally get to catch up!)   And to be completely alone, we're going to leave the country - we're off to - dare I say it...?

Yip, Las Vegas!  The hotel - Ceasar's Palace - oh glory - HOPE it's a nice place to stay for a date!

Now you can understand my guilt as a mother - right?  I'm not JUST going away from them... I'm leaving the country, with their father AND the two of us are actually planning to have some fun without them!

However, I will let you into a small secret...  Pretty much the worst of this WHOLE adventure thing for February is that the kids don't believe I'm actually going to be able to do it.  They keep laughing at me and telling me within hours I'll be checking out planes to come back home...  don't laugh - they know me well.  We have had numerous vacations where I haven't been able to make it all the way to the end and had to come home early.  A contradition in terms, I know, yet here I am - the ultimate in an "adventurous homebody".  Love adventure, but can't be without my home and the things I love.

Will catch you up as we continue to plan...  Keep in touch.
PS - Happy Valentine's Day...  ?  ;)