I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung over at our Five Minute Friday website. This week’s word prompt is “back.” We would love to have you join us.

New notebooks, backpacks, glue, folders, Crayons everywhere. It must be the end of summer and back to school time. My sister: a teacher is back in the classroom already. Actually today they’ve already put in two weeks. Some schools I realize don’t start until after Labor Day but not here.

This time of year always make me nostalgic for all those awesome summer trips and summer adventures I took. Arizona, Colorado, Texas, ND State Fair and all those Thursday nights at Summer Nights on Main. I’m ready for Fall as I love all the seasons. But I must admit I wish the seasons didn’t go so fast. I want to go back and dwell in these adventures a little longer.

The air is cooler now which means cozy headed sweatshirts. Pumpkin spice is back at Starbucks. August only has a few days left. And then September (and my birthday) are back for yet another year. Where does the time go?

I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung over at our Five Minute Friday website. This week’s word prompt is “pace.” We would love to have you join us.

Summer is one of my favorite seasons because life at work slows down a little and I get to travel. Arizona for a special retreat, Colorado for my fave continuing Ed classes, ND state fair fun and concerts, Texas for our sisters trip, Minnesota for a work trip. Lots of traveling which means pacing oneself.

Rest stops along the way. Self care. Laughter and fun. Ice cream and coffee. Music that restores the soul. Then when I get home, it’s time to get back in the groove. A new pace must be set as Confirmation and Sunday School start back up.

In these days, I’m savoring the pace of these slow days. I love watching my kitties chase each other through the house. I love the pace they set when we all are curled up on the couch together. At the moment, Nevy is sitting on my lap as I type. Luna is laying on her fave quilt on the back of the couch. The pace is slow and restful!

I think I’ll sit her a little longer and savor this pace for a little while longer!

I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung over at our Five Minute Friday website. This week’s word prompt is “again.” We would love to have you join us.

Life is full of ups and downs. But it’s also full of life and death. From October 2017 to December 2018, nine deaths. Nine deaths of friends and family. Every time I heard the news I found myself saying, “Not again.”

Grief has a way of coming in so many different ways. It is like a roller coaster ride of emotions. Grief reminds us that we were loved and loved those we lost. I’m so thankful for the gift these individuals were to my life. I miss them everyday.

I don’t want another eighteen months like I’ve had. Too many deaths. Too many lost way too soon. Again I say, “Thank you. Thank you for giving them to me to know and to love.”

The grief is less heavy. But little things remind me of my friends and family. Like Canticle of the Turning reminds me of my friend Ben.

I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung over at our Five Minute Friday website. This week’s word prompt is “five.” We would love to have you join us.

Nashville Tennessee, Rapid City SD/Black Hills, Chicago, NYC and Dallas Texas!

Five sisters trips in the books!

This week we toured Dealy Plaza and the 6th floor museum. We went to the top of Reunion Tower. We toured AT and T Stadium where we did a VIP tour. I think my sister was in heaven. She’s been a Cowboys fan since Aikman and Emmitt. We went to the Dallas Aquarium. And saw so many fun animals. The otter tried to steal my phone!

That evening, my friend John from the Lutheran Academy of the Rockies took us to a Rangers game. We ate before the game at Texas Live and ate at Troy Aikmans bar. The Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 9-7.

*Thursday we slept in and then met up with some friends of mine. They took us out to dinner. We were going to go to Southfork where they filmed Dallas but it got too late. Instead we found the street where the Bushes live. It is heavily gated and you can’t even turn down the street. After that adventure, my friends dropped off us off at Klyde Warren park which is Dallas version of NYC’s Highline park.

Friday we ventured to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. I was really impressed as it’s very interactive and educational. We ate lunch at the museum cafe. Afterwards we went to the Dallas Zoo but only lasted about an hour and a half as it was way too hot. Then we hung out at our hotel pool. They had these really cool loungers that sat in the water. We spent a lot of time on those loungers during the week. I even finished a book.

These trips are always so much fun but go way too fast! Now we are waiting for our flight home, I’m ready to see Luna and Neville as I’ve missed them! But where will sisters trip #6 be?

*Where my five minutes ended. But I couldn’t leave you hanging. Had to finish telling you about this years trip!