I think we all like to be around an encouraging person. They uplift us and motivate us. They help keep us focused on our goals or priorities in life. We need those types of people in our lives.

If you read my last post and notice the date, you’ll see that it’s been four months since then.  I truly meant to post and have an updated look.  A friend of mine, who is an encourager, noticed that I’m not posting anything on my blog and is motivating me to write.  He has mentioned it two or three times, and I know Ryan will continue to do so in a caring and uplifting way.

How does he encourage me?  How can we be encouragers?  These are some ways we can  uplift and be a blessing to others:

• Take the time to do it.  In this busy world, most people are in a time crunch. Just say something uplifting in conversation, in an email or text message, or add it to their “to do list” and surprise them.
• Show genuine care and concern.
• Do it more than once.  Follow up on your encouragement and see how things are going.

So what about my new theme?  It hasn’t happened yet.  Not yet anyway.  My daughter and son are going to help me whenever we can all find the time to get together and work on it.  But I’m not going to wait on the theme update anymore.  The content is what’s more important…and having an encouraging friend to keep me accountable on my goal to blog again.

We have some friends who moved to San Diego years ago.  They bought a house and settled there for several years.  I had thought of San Diego as being a smaller town but found out it is actually one of the fastest growing cities in the nation and is the second largest city in California.  That really surprised me!  It has everything you would expect a large city to have.  I’ve heard it’s a nice place to visit plus the cityscape is impressive.  Maybe someday we’ll visit there.  For now, I need to brush up on my geography lessons a little bit.  Well, actually a lot!

Last weekend, we celebrated Father’s Day with our whole family and had a wonderful time.  My husband received some nice, thoughtful cards and gifts.  I know many people were out shopping last week, trying to find gifts.  Some may have been looking at something sports related, and some may have been looking at books.

Whatever gift one gets for a loved one, it’s the thought and love behind the gift that really matters.  Family is so important, and it’s also important to share on a regular basis, not just on Father’s Day or other special days, just how much we love and care for each other!  Our family is not hesitant to say, “I love you!”

My bike sits in a corner of the garage and hasn’t been ridden in literally years.   I haven’t forgotten that I have it because I see it every day in the garage when I get in my car to go to work.  However, I have forgotten about riding it!  I really need to get it out after school is out and ride it (after airing up the tires, I’m sure…unless they’ve been flat for so long that I need to get new tires).

Our daughter and s-i-l and their boys all have bikes.  And so does our son.  I don’t know if they’ve thought of anything like kuat racks, but I do know they go riding in the park from time to time.  It’s great exercise and it’s fun!  So why am I not riding my bike?  Good question!

A friend of mine and her husband had their house built several years ago.  They wanted specific things in their house such as Pella brand windows from a place such as Pella Virginia, only I think they bought them locally.   Although it took a lot of time (understatement), they had their dream home like they wanted…at least they thought they did.  After living there for a little while, they realized there were several things they wished they had done differently.  But some things, like having Pella windows put in, they were so glad they had done.

Our son is graduating from college this week which brings back memories of his school years, especially being in band.  He was in band from sixth grade through his second year in college and then for two years in a percussion ensemble.  I remember all the football games with the band playing at half time and the color guard flags decorating the field.  Then there were all the many band competitions and a parade or two every year.  We have so many wonderful memories!

So much to do and so little time!  Have you ever felt that way?  I have several lists going right now.  One for school, one for errands, one for day-to-day stuff, one for our son’s graduation party, one for our son’s wedding, one for the rehearsal dinner, etc.   Another list is a shopping list for everything else (not literally everything – I don’t have ceramic rods on my list).   My husband would tell me that I’m not listless.  Haha!  Hope you got the humor!