"amazing" regrets

It's a little after six am on a Saturday morning as I type. Today I was supposed to sleep late. To my husband, sleeping in until six is sleeping half the day away, but to me sleeping late means staying in bed after my work day usually starts around seven am.
My dogs pounced on me at 4:30 and bounced all around until I let them out for their morning business. This happens every day. Every friggin day. On week days, once they come back inside they go back to bed and hide under the covers until my alarm goes off. Then we wrestle on the bed, play hide and seek, and I rub their bellies for ten or fifteen minutes. Every day. At some point, Dixie or Oscar will sneak up beside me and kiss my cheek or curl up in my lap and I'll have to scratch behind their ears and tell them how amazing they are. I wish I had done this with my kids. Not scratching behind the ears or rubbing the belly, but telling them how amazing they are. I told my kids I love them and they know it, but I didn't always tell them how amazing they are and I certainly didn't tell them every day.
Imagine a world where children were told every day that they are amazing and that they are loved. That every day started out with cuddles and laughter.
I got lucky. Really lucky. My kids are grown and are amazing people. I hope that they know that-even if I didn't tell them.

Wilson Park

In my journeys through Pinterest, I found a place that I wanted to visit in Fayetteville, AR called "Wilson Park." As luck would have it, I had a doctor's appointment in Fayetteville on a beautiful sunny day so I headed over there. Keep in mind, some of the Pinterest journeys have been major disappointments.
This one did not disappoint. In fact, a lot of my pictures at the park were better than the one I saw on Pinterest. Hope I get time to load them.
Here take a gander:

Grief

I try to put this day out of my mind as long as possible. As much as I try, May just brings on the "Mom" stuff. It might be all the damn Mother's Day cards at Walmart or it might just be memories resurfacing. It could in the corners of my mind that I realize it's been three years since she's been gone and I'm afraid I'll forget something important so I'll try to remember every thing. I've reread all of her blogs and there was one about things she liked. She loved donuts for breakfast and a good cup of coffee. But all of this remembering comes at a price. My heart breaks and the tears flow.
Today is supposed to be a beautiful day. No clouds, no rain, and no tears.
I thought about going to Mom's grave (and I still might) but my best friend has off work today-for the first time in thirteen days so we're going to spend some time together in the sunshine. Making memories. Laughing. Probably taking pictures. We may even stop for coffee and doughnuts. All the things that Mom would have loved. I know she'll be with me.

Mother Nature

I'm just about through talking
I've said all I have to say
And if you think I'm bluffing
Go ahead and make my day

I'll be on you like a lightning
I've got thunder in my hand
I'll do whatever it takes
But I'm being the best I can

Don't mess with Mother Nature
You'll be sorry if you do
I'll rain on your parade
And I'll stomp all over you

Songwriters
Dino George Fekaris; Zesses Nickolas E

Sung by Koko Taylor

No surprise that Mother Nature is on my mind. Flood water and tornadoes have been bombarding our area. We're fine-still in the process of cleaning up. Being careful about where and when we travel. All of our news stations sign off with "Turn around don't drown" and yet there are crews out there looking for people that have been in vehicles washed away. I cross the Buffalo River every day and it's amazing how quickly the water level can go up. 

Families

I know not every family is perfect. I also know that most of them have a little weirdness to them-and some like ours have a lot of weirdness. Our pets are considered family. Those pets belonging to my adult offspring are considered my grand dogs. We have birthday parties for them. My sisters have traveled long distances with their animals. One nameless sister even smuggled hers into a motel. My brother is no better-he rescues squirrels giving them names or finding people that can nurse them into adult hood. My dad is at the legal limit for dogs-and has been for quite a while. So we love animals. We also love to have a good time. We joke around. My vegetarian daughter still eats at my house. Some of us are political opposites. We disagree on religion, child rearing, how to drive, whether to hunt, and the death penalty. But we love each other. Really love each other. I know if I ever need any thing I can call any one of my siblings and they will be there for me. Maybe distance will prevent them from actually physically being by my side, but they are not above finding someone else to peak in on me. I can't count the number of times I've called Robyn, Lee, or Patrick at some off the wall time to bend their ears about something. My dad and step parents too. My kids offer me emotional support too. All this and I have a kick-ass husband to boot.
I've been thinking about all this since I read a post from a very special person. Her dad has heart troubles, her hubby has just beat cancer, her daughter has some mysterious illness, her mom isn't as strong as she once was, and her one sibling isn't there for her. No one to call, No one to be at the hospital with her. No jokes or stories to cheer her up. No amazing nieces or nephews to brighten her day. My heart just breaks for her. She's one of the sweetest people to every walk the earth.
So I'll pray for her and call in a little bit and send all the best wishes I can.
Then, I'll thank God for sisters mean enough to take pictures of me hugging a toilet or going through labor. And a brother that'll call at four am to see if I'm ready to go hunting. People that laugh about Chicken Fest and snow on Easter picnics.

Six Finger Falls

If you venture in the Richland Creek Area you could find Six Finger Falls:

Be prepared-there are no markers off the gravel road. No road signs and very, very little cell phone service.

Floating from Steele to Kyle's Landing

Sometimes when you take a picture-nothing seems to do nature justice. These were taken on April 15th as we canoed from Steele Creek to Kyle's landing.

 If you look real close in the picture below you can see the remnants of an old house place and chimney.