Independence Day! Celebrating 4th of July!

4th of July with family and friends. A perfect way to celebrate Independence Day.

The morning of July 4th, 2012 began with parade preparations in Junction City OR. with my friends from the Damsels in Disguise, 40 Something Cowgirls. Seven cowgirls brought their horses to the staging location and two, including me, cowgirls were there to help the other cowgirls and their horses and children. Mary Trummer and I rode in the back of the pick-up truck with 5 girls, waving and throwing candy. This parade is very much about the candy that is thrown to the spectators. People came with bags and grocery sacks to collect the candy being thrown. They were barking at the truck as it went by, "Throw candy!" Mary and I kept warning the girls that the parade was long and not to throw too much of the candy at the beginning of the parade, but they had a hard time resisting the demands of the candy hungry crowd. We did run out of candy about a block before the end of the parade at which time we heard rude comments from the greedy spectators, "Cheap-scapes!" One of our girls decided to chant, "We ran out of candy, throw us your candy and we'll throw it back to you!". We were surprised when a few people actually did throw candy to the girls, who in turn threw it back to them, with a lot of laughing a giggling!

This photo is of Dianna Chappell, Teresa Nielson and me.

I loved spending the evening with my family in Salem Oregon. My little granddaughter Ruby had about as much tolerance for the loud, smokey fireworks as I did. After reaching our saturation point, an hour or so before anybody else did, we watched the colorful fireworks from inside the house by the window. One of the especially pretty fireworks had sparkles and firey fountains, I said, "Ohhh, that one's pretty!" Ruby replied, "Pretty like Nana Laura". Could anything melt my heart faster than that? How can a little two year girl know how precious that comment was?

I said, "And pretty like Ruby!"

4 Generations Photo

What a blessing to have 4 generations of family at my home yesterday (6-25,2012). My father, Doug Conklin came to my house to visit his posterity. Back row: My son John Nielsen, Me: Laura Conklin Nielsen Holbrook, My daughter-in-law Rachel Nielsen mother of Ruby and Adam, My father: Doug Conklin. Front Row: My grandson, my father's great-grandson Adam Nielsen, My granddaughter, my father's great-granddaughter Ruby Nielsen. Time seemed to stop and love abound at my home with the company of my family. My husband John Holbrook and my father's friend Sharon joined in conversations of family memories. Old hurts and misunderstanding vanished as we realized our family relations are more important than any THING. It was fun, we laughed, I recorded stories my father told on the video camera. Not shown in the photo is my son Abe, who is my father's first grandson. He arrived at our house 30 minutes after my father left on his journey home to Washington state.

Family Visiting, Eating and Sharing, Good News For Some

John, Johnny and I enjoyed being treated to lunch at Los Dos Amigos in Sweet Home by my step-sister Sue Skilling. Sue is one of those thoughtful courteous guests who always brings something we will enjoy, this visit she brought cashew nuts and a cute mug, both very thoughtful.

While in Sweet Home we went by 1230 47th Street and delivered paint for the painter to use. Our new tenant doesn't like the smoke smell in our non-smoking rental. The previous tenant did not honor the contract and smoked inside.

Johnny heard good the news he's been waiting and hoping for, a job offer in Mississippi for a company that will use his Navy training. He is very happy about the job offer, I am saddened by the thought of him moving to Mississippi. I've always promised myself that I will not be a mother that holds her children back, so I have to be supportive of his decision.

I've seen mothers who selfishly hold on to their children and prevent them from living their own life, I don't want to do that. I can understand why a mother would do that, it's hard to see a child leave and go on their own journey, especially when it is so far away that they will no longer be a regular part of the family gatherings and the younger generation will not be able to get to know them. Uncle Johnny, who Ruby loves, may fade from her memory as he moves 1,000's of miles away. Life is individually lived and collectively shared by many.

House For Rent 1230 47th Street Sweet Home OR

FINALLY! Found My Blog and Wallet!

IS A CLEAN DESK WORTH LOOSING YOUR WALLET FOR 15 DAY?

Finally I found my blog and have figured out how to post a new post! Not only had I lost my blog, I had lost my wallet. During this dismal time of looking for my blog and wallet, I became more organized. Prayers are answered in mysterious ways. How many times have I prayed for getting organized, let me count the ways!

In the last two weeks:

1. I've cleaned off my desk.

2. Cleaned out my car.

3. Done all my laundry and even turned the laundry basket upside down and given it a good shake.

4. Cleaned out my purse.

5. Recruited the help of my husband John and son Johnny in the search for my wallet.

My drivers liscense along with credit cards, temple recommend and other important documents were in my wallet.

Suddenly, without my drivers license, my driving skills improved tremendously. I stayed well within in the speed limit, was super curtious to everyone especially in the construction zone of I-5 going through Eugene Oregon. I stayed at the posted 50 MPH, dispite the pressure from those behind me (it was also a no passing or changing lanes section).

Those pushy, tailgating drivers owe me a big THANK YOU! I was leader of a pack of cars unknowingly heading into a speed trap. We entered the trap nice and slowly, and when those pushy drivers behind me saw the highway patrolman parked on the side of the freeway with his radar pointed right at "us" they suddenly allowed the legal space between their cars and mine.

I deserve a huge thank you, and maybe a bonus for saving them all speeding tickets, which are twice as expensive in a construction zone.

Pushy Drivers: You can send your thank you's to this blog.

After I looked everywhere I could imagine for my wallet and it's valuable contents, I mentally began reviewing who had been at my house and had access to my purse. We had a wedding at our house and I began wondering if my wallet was stolen. I had thoughts that I am not proud of, like, "We must have had a thief at our house," and reviewed each guest and came up with a few possible thieves. (Not mentioning names.)

This lead to calling my credit card company to find out the last transaction. Fortunatley, it was mine the week before at Market of Choice in Eugene. If my wallet was turned in at Market of Choice, surely they would contact me, with all my identification, they could find me. John sugggested I call them or go by but I thought it was unnecessary because they would have called me. I can't just drive to every place I've been in the last 15 days.

I had an acupuncture appointment in Eugene the next day. My meditation during my accupuncture appointment was invisioning my wallet coming home to me. I saw it as a black fish, swimming to me. I invited it home and welcomed it's arrival.

After my acupuncture appointment I thought, "Maybe I should go to Market of Choice and inquire about my wallet." I drove straight to Market of Choice. A friendly worker lead me to the office where I inquired about my lost wallet. With-in 5 minutes, my wallet was in my hands and I was rejoicing. Everything was there of great importance, there was no cash. Who cares? I welcomed my wallet home!

Like my mother used to say, "Be careful for what you pray for."

Should I ever pray for help in getting organized again?

WOULD YOU?

Wedding at our Ranch Home.

K.C. Curtis and Melissa Casey got married in our garden outside our home on May 26, 2012. Days before the wedding Melissa and her family and friends came to our home and clean the pool room and yard in preparation for the wedding. I enjoyed having the help to beautify my home and they were thankful to have the wedding here.

We've had other weddings at our home. David and Michelle Holbrook got married in the front yard here, Ron and Beverly Vick were married in our living-room, John and Jessica were married in our backyard. We've also had Tamara and Brendan Smith's and Joseph and Crystal Nielsen's reception in the pool room here too. It's wonderful to have weddings and receptions at our home, the joy and love that abound during a wedding is a welcome experience. I also think it's a compliment to be asked to have a wedding at our home because the couple has a special feeling about home to make it the sacred ground for their union to begin.

One of the more entertaining candid photos I took was of the groom taking off the garter, since I wasn't taking the professional, some of mine of just bloopers.

Mother's Day 2012, Mama Llama

It's nice to relax on the hillside and watch the llama mama and her baby. For Mother's Day, we had a mama llama and her baby surprise us. When we discovered the baby was a girl and saw the cute white patch of fur on her head that looked like a bonnet, Johnny, John, Rio, Hayden and I named her Bonnie. Visitors came to visit the new baby, Stephen and Rachel brought Ruby and Adam to visit Bonnie after she was a few days old. Mother's Day is a special day to honor mothers and in my opinion all those who mother others, including those who have not born children from their own bodies, but "mother" and love others.