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We awake to rain on Thursday morning. Not the best day to walk the golf course. Oh well, I guess I have to check out the thrift stores. The hotel has a special brochure just on the thrift stores in the area! We go to the course to drop off the bags and the lunches (I brought the Whole-Grain, No-Bake Granola Bars and everyone LOVED them-see earlier post!), I wish the girls good luck, remind them of their deep-breathing (which they said DID help) and head out to the first thrift store on the map. Ahh, this is THE life!!! I'm tellling you, it doesn't take much to make me happy! I spy The Salvation Army, which wasn't even on the map! My absolute favorite store! I find some fun linens for sewing, 2 cute containers for my little girls 'school box', a book and cassette course on real estate with no money down ($4-I contemplated this one for a few minutes and I decided it was worth it. I had read recently that the author was an expert in the field and the way the economy is, I realize a person cannot rely on one job as a career anymore (Lenny has been laid off for 6 weeks now) and I am interested in finding other ways to become financially free. If nothing else, I can educate myself and my family on the subject if we want to. What else did I find? Oh yes, the books! I LOVE books! Mostly non-fiction and classics. I was hoping to find Jane Eyre, the classic by Charlotte Bronte, but no luck! I did find a finance book that has been on my list for awhile! I am so excited! I always find what I need at Salvation Army! I'm happy and I know the money goes to a good cause. Win-win!
I stop at 2 other thrift stores and find some great educational games for $1-$2 a piece, a few more linens, a cheap purse with a cool handle and 2 woven belts that my oldest daughter can use for her own purse creations. I am happy!
Lenny texts me and says the girls are golfing great so I eat my lunch that I packed and head over to the golf course. It is still raining but I love to walk the course and watch our girls golf! With a big family, I realize how special it is to be able to spend this time with our teenage girls. They are growing up way too fast! It is one thing I pray for, to be able to spend individual time with each child! God provides! The girls finish up and we head home. As we are driving home, I say to Lenny, "I was thinking of you today." His eyes light up. I tell him it is not in a sexy way, but in a romantic way. He says, "Oh, you mean in a Pride and Prejudice way?" And I say, "Yes, in a Pride and Prejudice way." He smiles, I smile. We had a wonderful time in Traverse City.
Lenny and I were lucky enough to go with our 2 older daughters to their annual varsity high school golf tournament in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan. We arrived on Tuesday evening and I talked the team into doing yoga with me on the beach. We focused on breathing, relaxing, strengthening the spine and stretching. They had a big 2-day tournament starting the next morning and I wanted to help them relax. So, this is the scene: 8:25 pm-the sun is setting over Big Traverse Bay (gorgeous, of course). Seven teenage girls and I waltz over to the nearest beach access and politely get "kicked off" by the private condo-owners. We had to walk a block down to the boat rental area and found a tiny bit of sand to have our 'class'. The sand was cool and we enjoyed a short yoga class making use of our 'sunset salutation' while the real sun was sinking into the water. Ahh, the simple pleasures of life. We are so blessed!
Golfing on Wednesday: Girls at the course at 7 am. Gorgeous morning. Lenny and the coach are at the Coach's meeting and the girls are at the driving range feeling pretty nervous. I remind them to practice their deep breathing. It is amazing how well these girls can hit the ball. I am impressed! I don't say much else as I am not an expert. There are over 30 teams at this tournament and the place is full of color coordinating teams of very serious golfers. It's a wonderful experience for both the girls and the spectators (we get to walk the course with them). Eight hours later, it's over for the day. Ups and downs, smiles and tears-it's very emotional. Tomorrow is another day. Time for a quick nap back at the hotel, dinner with the team, the girls go to the range again and then play putt-putt. They are golfers, what can I say? I am back in the hotel room and I find Pride and Prejudice on the television! I am so excited! It is so Romantic! Absolutely, one of the BEST books I have ever read! Lenny comes in after bringing the girls to the range and I say, "Quiet! It's Pride and Prejudice!" He says, "Oh great! I suppose you want me to start dressing like those guys now!" I say, "It would be nice and you can start talking like them, too." He rolls his eyes and acts like he's not interested. Karissa and Brooke come into our room after putt-putt and I give them both a short session of reflexology. Their feet are sore from golfing all day and from all the emotions of a tough, mental game. I feel very lucky to be able to have this time with them. They watch a little of Pride and Prejudice with me. Lenny is making fun and trying to act like he knows what is going on. I say, "Shhhh, this is the part where Mr. Darcy comes out of the mist to find Elizabeth!" It is SO ROMANTIC! The girls go to bed and Pride and Prejudice ends, very romantically I might add! Ahhh, life is good! Tomorrow is another day!This post will continue tomorrow! Until then.....
