Living Like There’s No Tomorrow

I know that’s easy for me to say. I’ve long passed raising a family, working a full-time job and lots of other responsibilities. But having the grands with me has sure reminded me of what it takes to feed, nurture, wash their clothes, plan their days and activities, and keep them busy enough to not be glued to their phones social media and gaming. It’s a work-out and I feel you, moms and dads. I once was there right with you. Well, maybe not with the cell phone activities, but I did know it was a work out to keep them entertained. I don’t ever hear: “I’m so bored” these days, like I heard when raising my children. There are so many options when traveling or just waiting for us.

Still, as long as I have these grandchildren with me, I’m “living like there’s no tomorrow”! Making memories, being silly, playing games, eating at their favorite restaurants, cooking their favorite meals, etc. I’ll admit I’m running out of options so those phones come in handy when I’m writing my next day’s blog.

The boys wanted me to see the new Spiderman and so we went on Saturday. Confession: I’m a Spiderman fan. I like his youth and innocence, his courage and the fact that a youth is the superhero. Spoiler Alert – if you haven’t seen it yet (and, believe me, it’s worth seeing)! Spider Man and his high school buddies do some major globe-hopping. They make it to Venice and I recall the precious memory of my husband and I celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary there. Riding in a gondola (like Spiderman and his buddies), we called home to our children. Another scene was in Berlin and a flashback came of us with our backpacks traveling via ferry, taxi on the autobahn, and the train and into Berlin (one of our rare “flying by the seat of our pants” adventure). Another scene was in Holland and I recalled to the boys that I was there with my friends at the Tulip Festival.

I titled this blog “Living Like There is No Tomorrow” and I realize that I/we have done that – in the meager times when we’d go camping in tents, roasting marshmallows and fishing with our young children to make memories and moments count. The trip to Sweden, Denmark and Germany came as a result of my husband winning an 8-day all-expense-paid trip – a true blessing from God and my husband’s winning putt at an LPGA tournament contest. We lived like there was no tomorrow by being willing to back-pack to places we had never been before and my trip to Holland was an adventure with friends.

Having this precious time with my grandchildren is a change from my normal and comfortable routine, but living like there is no tomorrow means making every minute count in this day. I’m doing that today. We are heading back to Austin to spend several days celebrating my son’s birthday. We will laugh, eat, reminisce and celebrate his life. We’ll live and celebrate like there is no tomorrow. That's just the way our family rolls.

My encouragement to you is to join me in living like there is no tomorrow. Maybe, not so much with the need to travel to distant locations, but to live with no regrets. Live now like there is no tomorrow. Rick Warren’s book “The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?” explains that we have no guarantee of tomorrow because we don't know when it’s time for us to leave earth. We are famous for postponing things where we shouldn't. Our schedules may be busy, but making time for things and people that matter – in the light of eternity.

Today’s blog motive is an encouragement to us to live everyday like there's no tomorrow. Tomorrow just may not come – it didn’t for my sweet grandfather who went to bed beside his beloved wife and never woke up. It didn’t for those in the Twin Towers on 9/11 who went to their routine job and never saw another day. Don’t postpone anything, do it now. Don’t stress over little or big things – like my guest bathroom toilet overflowing yesterday. Breathe, get the plunger, clean up the mess... and let it go. Choose love over anger and hate. Spend time with God – getting right with Him – settling once and for all “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Since God is in control, and we’re not – we can make choices to be happy, to smile, laugh, use wisdom when we speak, and answer with love. Living this day and every day like there is no tomorrow.

GONE FISHING

We’re heading out this morning for our annual fishing trip to Marval FamilyTrout Camp in Oklahoma. The list of "must take" items that was made by Papa and I years ago, was updated, added to, and all items for the cabins, the food and, the most important, fishing gear are present and accounted for.

I don’t endorse too many places just because my experience may not be your experience, but for years we’ve gone to Marval. And, sincerely, it is a little piece of heaven on earth, but that depends on what your “heaven” might look like. Our oldest grandsons dubbed it the “Red Neck Yacht Club” the first time we went there, many years ago, when they saw folks fishing from their lawn chairs right smack dab in the middle of the Illinois River. LOL! When my sweetheart and I were looking for a place to take our oldest grandsons for a fun summer outing, we ran across this place. Needless to say, it was our little “home away from home” that was filled with so much fun, laughter, and lots of memories made. Today, we'll start making more.

The first time Ron and I went there, it was by ourselves, just to check it out. We had a conversion van back then so we pulled into a space right on the Illinois River. We heard the water lapping against the rocks, saw all the potential of family fun (swimming pool, basketball, tether ball, outdoor theater, miniature golf, craft shop – but best of all FISH, fishing and fishing some more). That night, it became our little oasis, and it is still “the birthday gift of choice for Payton” to get to go there. It appears that we’re all along for the ride, but NOT – we all love the adventure. I remember last year, after fishing almost all day and it was starting to get darker, Larry asked Staci “Wanna’ go fishing?” Her reply was “Morning, noon and night!” LOL!

We're in good company with Jesus and His disciples. After all, it was Peter and Andrew, brothers who were fishermen, that Jesus called to be His disciples. It was fish that Jesus multiplied to feed the 5,000+. It was fish that Jesus cooked for His disciples. It was in a fish’s mouth that Jesus sent the disciples to obtain the coin to pay their taxes. It was fish that Jesus likened to, when He said to His disciples “Be fishers of men”! There’s something about being a fisherman. Jesus set the example, and we’re simply doing what He did. There’s competition, calm relaxation and a potential meal (or meals), as the fruits of the rewards of fishing are bountiful. We’ll be having a huge fish fry while we’re there. Great expectations! Aw! I can taste it now.

We’ll sit by the campfire and laugh and talk about our adventures in each day. We’ll talk about the “big one” that might have gotten away or the fishing techniques that an old fisherman might have shared with us. We’ll make lots more memories that we’ll continue to share for years to come. No, this place may not fit into your idea of an oasis, but for us, it holds memories that continue to mount up – even to the point we know Payton and Alexia will want to bring their kids back here some day! Are you taking time out to make memories with your little ones -- so much so that they want to carry on the tradition when they have little ones?

Gone Fishing – Gone Home

I don’t endorse too many places just because my experience may not be your experience, but for years we’ve come to Marvel Family Trout Camp. And, sincerely, it is a little piece of heaven on earth, but that depends on what your “heaven” might look like. Like I said earlier, we call it the “Red Neck Yacht Club”. You’ll see every kind of RV, camper, tent, 5th Wheel and Motor Home imaginable. When my Honey and I were looking for a place to take our oldest grandsons for a fun summer outing, we ran across this place. Needless to say, it was our little “home away from home” that was filled with so much fun, laughter, with making lots of memories. So much so, that we continue to want to make more.

The first time we came here to check it out, we had a conversion van and my Honey and I pulled into a space right on the Illinois River. We heard the water lapping against the rocks, saw all the potential of family fun (swimming pool, basketball, tether ball, outdoor theater, miniature golf, craft shop – but best of all FISH, fishing and fishing some more. That night it became our little oasis. Now, for 10 years, this has been the place where we recall memories after memories.

Night before last, the kids were making s’mores, playing in the campfire, and laughing and having a grand old time. Larry, Staci and I went for a walk – passed by all those campsites and saw where other people made this their little oasis too. What I saw in Larry and Staci was they REALLY got away from it all. They had a therapeutic time of letting go of technology, business and all the routines they are so involved in on a daily basis. Here, it's early rising to wake up to a new day of fishing, meeting other fishermen who exchange stories and tips for catching the “big ones”. No make-up and dressed-to-the-nines needed here. It’s sheer simplicity, maybe even wearing the same jeans two days in a row. LOL! Doesn’t matter. No one judges us here.

I loved it last night, after we had enjoyed our beer-battered trout and striped bass fish fry, we sat around and talked – no rush – no need to. It was family time. Staci asked the question of the kids. Tell us what you’ll be looking for in a wife or husband someday. When she saw Payton looking at his cell phone, Staci said, “Payton why are you looking at your cell phone when we’re having family time?” He said, “I’m telling you what I’ll be looking for in a wife.” Then he read what he had pulled up…Proverbs 31 – the virtuous woman. Smart kid. Then it was Will’s turn, and he said, “I want a woman that really worships God with her hands lifted and not with T-Rex arms, and I want a woman who can clean fish.” We laughed because Staci helped Larry clean a huge mess of fish today. Fun times. Great memories. Now in the record book!

No, this place may not fit into your idea of an oasis, but for us, it holds memories that continue to mount up – even to the point we know Payton and Alexia will want to bring their kids back here some day! Are you taking time out to make memories with your little ones – so much so, they’ll want a “repeat” with their kids. I promise you. It is worth it!

Seizing the Moments -- Wahoo Style

Seizing the moments!  That's the way I live today....more than ever.  I know how valuable and precious those moments are as each day, month and year goes by so quickly.   So I define the moments.  I don't let them define me.

My sweet husband was a man of many skills and talents.  His artistry and craftsmanship is recognized in the many homes, churches, furniture he built and the attention to detail that he had.  He was a perfectionist.  He was never satisfied with "just getting by".  He was a Master Carpenter with a capital "C".  He was also a woodcarver and could make such beauty out of a simple piece of wood.

This summer, I saw a woodcarver making game boards and it reminded me of the Wahoo board game my husband carved for our family when our kids were young.

I don't remember what happened to that beautiful board, but I do remember the hours and hours of fun we had playing it and I know that I wanted my grown children and their families to experience that fun game he'd made again.  I had three Wahoo wood board games made and presented them as a special family Christmas gift for my three families:  The Wallace Family, The Wuerch Family and The Anderson Family.

This is the note I wrote and read to each of them when I gave them their game this Christmas:

"Once upon a time, a very fine man,
Lived here on earth and made lots of things with his hands.
He could build houses and draw planes and even more,
He could carve wood and even doors.
He once made a board game out of wood.
It was called Wahoo, and his family played as much as they could.
They had hours and hours of so much fun.
It was bedtime before they were done.
This wonderful man went to heaven one day.
And I know if he were here, he would say,
“Merry Christmas, I love you so!
From the top of your heads to your little toes!
When you play this game, think of me.
One day you’ll get to see.
The joys and peace and the happy place,
That heaven is.  It’s better than playing Mario’s Kart Race.
I’ll be having Christmas with Jesus – what a treat!
It’s so awesome to be here – I’ll save you a seat!
But until that day, when we meet face to face --
Have lots of fun and run your race!
The next time you play Wahoo,
Remember how much your Papa and Nana
….really, really LOVE YOU!”
MERRY CHRISTMAS -- 2015

Yes, seizing the moments represents more than memories.....it represents joys for today, AND tomorrow!  Over the Christmas holidays, each family has played hours and hours of Wahoo fun -- as seen in these photos
#Wahoo #FamilyTimeRocks #SeizingTheMoments