What Sports Do You Do???

Good Rainy Monday Morning ... Usually I am not a big fan of rainy days - That being said I am hoping this will be the answer to curing my ever present NC spring headache... Now on to sports ---

The Final Four is set & I guess I could pretend to be sorry that one of my home state teams is not going to be present...But the AB's and their mom are happy to be cheering WildCat Blue!!!  If you know our family you know we are great sports spectators ... We know the basketball brackets, we seldom miss a football game at the Rock in Boone, we know our way around a racetrack ... All that being said, we probably don't have a linebacker in our ranks, a pitcher that will make the draft or a soon to be center on the court ... We have though reach a milestone ... When asked, "What sports do you do," my boys now do not hesitate to answer, "We board, ski, rock climb, run, hike & fish ... how about you?"

I loved that on Friday afternoon I sat by a campfire thinking of friends ... Some are across the country setting up house, some were skiing in the Rockies, one was packing up for a year long German adventure ... These thoughts made me smile - but none were happier than this girly girl who watched her boys set up a fort at "Camp Abb", laughed at the bongos that were considered essential supplies, and read by flashlight to boys who couldn't wait to hear the end.

It seems in this day of "organized" sports and professional athlete obsession many have forgotten that the Coach of all Coaches, the Team Manager of all Managers and the GroundsKeeper of all GroundsKeepers has given us the the greatest of games to play.  Now rest assured on any given afternoon a pick-up game can be found in our drive, we have been known to require grown-ups to play flag football before dinner & just last week you could find Poppy in a coat and tie rounding the bases ...

I am not asking you to give up your sports but I am suggesting you give your own backyard, your city, and your state a second glance.  Strap on a pack, pedal the trail, skip a rock, build a fort, hike to the summit ... These sports will give your game of life a new appreciation ...

Here's to the UnderDog ... Here's to the One no one Expected ... Here's to Our Own BackYards...

Happy Playing... Love, me

Welcome Back...

I didn't realize how much I would miss keeping in touch...CaringBridge provided me with an unexpected gift during Dad's journey.  It has been 5 weeeks & 1 day since Ben Brown took his last earthly breathe - and I am missing him more than I could have ever imagined.  I didn't feel it was right to continue my journey on CaringBridge since that was his site --- I even consider maybe I shouldn't write again...That hasn't set well with my soul...So I am changing venues...

I have said many times that this journey we have been on has taught me a great deal.  What I have learned in the last 5 weeks & 1 day is that my journey continues but it has taken a different turn.  Losing a parent changes you.  The heart that is in part my father's doing has been broken.  Because I am his daughter I am working very hard to put in back together.  And that is why I am here...Words on paper or screen seem to be my best way of praying and praying is the only way I know how to get my heart back together.

I plan on visiting often & we will see where this leads --- Who knows...But today we are off to surprise the boys...A campout is in their future and they have NO idea!!!  You see I am still me ... Joy is found in simple --- a tent on a cold spring night, hothdogs on a open flame, reading by flashlight & lots of laughter ...

Glad to be back!  Love, me