OUR ESCAPE!!!

On a Thursday a few weeks back..my hubby called and asked if I was ready for an ESCAPE to the sunny SAN FRANCISCO. For real, NOW?? Of Course, with our 20th anniversary coming up November 4th, what better time than now to go! I knew we had a window of opportunity that probably wouldn’t come again for quite sometime. And I was ready for a get away with just him and I!

We were headed to California to see San Francisco and I could NOT have been more excited! My excitement was short lived however. After telling the kids and seeing the look on my son Peyton's face, the excitement vanished as fast as it had came! The closer the date came to us leaving, the more I tried backing out! I mean really, HOW WAS MY HOUSE GOING TO RUN WITHOUT ME??!!! Well, my husband would NOT hear of me changing my mind...and I will forever be grateful!!!! My wonderful daughter and terrific Mother were more than happy to take over my duties and send me off on my trip knowing everything back home was taken care of!

The trip was MORE than I ever thought it would be! The Golden Gate Bridge was amazing, riding the cable cars up and down the hills of San Fran was just so awesome. The town of Sausalitos on the other side of the Golden Gate was beautiful!! We traveled up mountains and saw great views of San Francisco, walked hand in hand on Stinson beach, and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Enjoyed seeing a 130 year old farm, and tasting the wine from the GORGEOUS vineyards in Nappa Valley!!! We had breakfast in bed overlooking breathtaking views of mountains, leisurely walks, tasty food from real restaurants (no Burger Kings), coffee breaks in charming bistros and time to breathe in the fresh sea air. The sun was shining most of the time. We took a couple of naps. We had time to talk about anything and nothing all. I had no where I had to be. No laundry to wash, beds to make, no cleaning or cooking, no bathing the dog, or homework to check, and my life for a few days only revolved around MY OWN SCHEDULE!!! Of course NONE of this could have been done without the WONDERFUL help of Mom and Skylar. Nightly calls home always delivered good news...Peyton was LOVING his play time with his Poppy and Uncle Bruz, Trevor was more than pleased with his Nano's great cooking and Skylar was happy to spend some alone time with her grandparents! Each day after school they would go to my parents to do homework, play, and eat dinner..then Sky would bring them home to shower and get into bed, and would take them to school each morning for me! All in all this past week was just a super terrific one for me. My home on Friday was however a welcome sight...even though I had a terrific time, I did miss my kids immensely! My life feels full right now and I just feel so super BLESSED!

When you have LOVE in your heart!

It just goes to show that when you have love in your heart, you can find it anywhere. The other night, my family went for a evening walk. While walking the path that I take daily...my ten year old son yelled out, "Mom, come look!" Upon returning back to where he stood he pointed out this rock that was embedded in the asphalt. He said, "It's a heart, MOM. Can we dig it up so you can have it forever?" THIS MELTED MY HEART!!!!!! I grabbed my phone and snapped the above picture, and told him although we couldn't dig it up, I would indeed have that rock forever! It reminded me that I need to slow down, and look around more. I walk that same path everyday and never noticed that rock before. Life is a moment, actually just a flicker in time. We should all love like that of child. Thank you God for the blessings you have given me with my family!

"Stuffy" our scarecrow!!!

Move over Miss Wooden Scarecrow, your harvest time companion has arrived to join you center stage as a country Halloween decoration. For centuries, scarecrows have been thought to scare off unwanted garden intruders, this one is thought to scare off intruders period (lol). Our scarecrow is pretty pathetic looking, and the finished product has yet to be delivered. He is missing his red hankie around his neck, his rope belt, boots, and gloves. But I WAS SO EXCITED about our fun evening that I couldn't wait to post! Peyton named him "Stuffy" and you will see in the pics that even our cows were trying to figure out what we were doing! We had the best time tonight grilling chili cheese dogs and stuffing "Stuffy" the Scarecrow. I LOVE our family projects...it allows my family some down time from the daily chores and homework!! Hope you enjoy the pictures and puts you in the HALLOWEEN SPIRIT! lol

P.S. These pictures are NOT in order. I will change that when I post the final product. LOL

Our Yard and Home Is Our Symbol Of Faith, Hope and Love!

What a terrific weekend....It's so wonderful what Rain from the heavens can do for a yard and Flowers....after over fertilizing and killing (you will notice the plant on the one side of my walkway) some of my huge flowers, I am grateful for any and all rain. So that inspired my blog...lol Below you will find pictures of my yard, my FURRY FAMILY and home!


My yard is a place of peace, thoughts and dreams. A place where my husband and I have watched 3 sets of small feet learn to walk, run, catch grasshoppers, and of course a few stickers. It is a place where my boys learned to play football, my daughter did cartwheels, and they all learned to swing themselves. A place that holds the swingset and monkeybars my husband made for them over 18 years ago. And, a place where we garden, grill, swim, and watch outside movies. It is a quaint, SIMPLE, and quiet place...where we have watched memories grow. The place where him and I would lay under the night moon and watch for falling stars in our teens, dreaming of what our life held. A place where our cats can hunt, and our dogs can roll! Twenty years ago it was just a field, but over the years it has become so much more. It is a place where we wanted to show our children that faith goes beyond the parish doors. The place we planted trees that were no taller or bigger around than a fire poker, and watched them grow along with our children. Our trees and children have a few things in common, nourished with love they have flourished and grown faster than we could ever have imagined. It is a place I can sit in solitude and enjoy the the beauty that God gives me. So many different birds have made homes within our trees, and I enjoy each one of them. So I guess you might say that I have kind of turned my yard into my shrine. With natures reminders of what is most important in my life..FAITH,FAMILY, HOPE, and LOVE!

An Angel received his wings!

Luke Aaron Pollok

A young man that captured so many hearts, including that of my family has found the freedom he was missing. He endured so much these last ten months that I am THANKFUL the sweet Lord took him and gave him his wings to fly. I know that he flew straight into the arms of his sister Kyley who loved him so much! My heart is heavy for his family that is left with a void in their hearts. Though the pain of this moment might diminish the void will forever be there until they are reunited with Luke in Heaven. I feel Luke fulfilled his "earthly" duty...and that was to change lives, and lead souls to our Lord.

I find comfort in knowing that death is NOT the end, but is just the beginning. Our lives , here on earth is merely just a second. My Grandmother Rutkowski didn't believe in being sad for the loved one who had passed, she KNEW that their real life was just beginning. She wanted us to rejoice and find happiness. So, I know that Luke has entered a new and much better phase of his life. A place where he has no more pain, hunger, sadness, and his soul is allowed once again to play and have fun! It is comforting to know that he is running with his sister Kyley and that his love of Christmas will only be MAGNIFIED!! I know that he will now live forever in Paradise with God. And when it is his families turn to leave this "earthly" world, they too will join him once again.

"They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:16-17,


"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4



http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lukepollok