Hikes & Hearts ❤️

Happy Tuesday! Welcome to Hikes and Hearts ❤️ 

Hikes and Hearts is a way for me to share with you the most beautiful parts of the country through pictures and hearts.  I have always loved taking pictures and sharing them.  I am far from a professional photographer or even amateur at that.  But I do my best and I get these memories to keep. 

Eric and I recently (in the past 4 empty nesting years) have taken to hiking, camping, and mountain biking. Taking pictures and making notes along the way has given me the chance to share what we have found and the scenery that we have fallen in love with.  My memory tends to fail me more often than not, so I rely on Eric to guide me through places that we have previously visited.  I have decided that documenting might not only help myself, but anyone who also has interest in seeing parts of the country  through my lens, and for some, experience all of the sights personally.  I plan to write about where the hikes are and the best way to get the most out of them. 

That is where the hikes come from…now for the hearts.  I have always loved hearts and always connected them with my mom.  She passed away when I was 32 years old.

  The day she passed I bought this frame (pictured here) and

 I immediately put her picture in it.  This has been beside my bed for almost 24 years. I also started collecting hearts in different ways, but recently they have been popping up when I least expect it…they pop up in landscape, stones, rocks, clouds…And you can think I am crazy, but a lot of times it is when I am talking to her.  I feel very connected to her when I am hiking and biking.  

My husband and my friends have come to looking for heart rocks and stones when we are hiking together, they know how much it means to me.  Many times, I will bring the stone home unless it is just not possible, in which case a photo will have to do.  When we are traveling I tend to keep the rocks in our room until it is time to leave.  Thats is when I have to decide…take it or photograph it…

Usually the photo wins…

With that, welcome to Hikes and Hearts where I can share my love of 

Photos.

Hikes.

Hearts.

Please follow me on my new instagram page Hikes.and.Hearts. I will post pictures and stories about the places we go…Enjoy ❤️

 

You❤️

I choose you…I chose you 33 years ago and I’d choose you again and again .  I didn’t know 33 years ago the things you would teach me and the life you would give me….I feel incredibly grateful that you chose me too.  When we met, all I knew was that you made me laugh, you took care of me during the most difficult time in my life, you stuck with me and again, you made me laugh.  You made me feel capable, when I felt like I was hitting a wall and could go no further…you made me feel capable.  I felt strong, I felt happy, and I felt like nothing could stop us. Our life together started when we were 18, and at 22 we knew it would be forever.  

Sometimes the unplanned and unexpected are often the best things in life.

                                                                     

Our life moved forward not as just a couple, but as a family.  2 quickly became 3, 4, then 5. (and 6,7,8,9,10)

  33 years later our love has proven that we can withstand separation…growth…change and life.  The best thing you do for me is believe in me with every adventure we take.  I have become so fearless because you push me to my limits.  When my fearful stress causes me to stop I keep going because of you.  

Thank you for who you are and everything you stand for.  Thank you for loving me…choosing me…33 years later I still and will always choose you…I love you

 

The Day of Days~”D” Day

                              

  Veterans Day 2022 has a very different meaning for me this year.  I always celebrate my husband, my son, their friends and all of the service men and women that serve our country.  The things that are given up, put on hold and the time taken away is something that is not easy.  Veterans and their families learn to roll with the punches and live life day to day not knowing what the next day might bring. And for this they are all celebrated and thanked.

In honor of Veterans Day I’d like to share what I wrote following a nine hour tour of Normandy while we were in France last month.                                                                           

     I never understood the real term of heroism until I stood on Omaha Beach in Normandy.  

You learn about “D” day in high school, you read about it in books, but until you are standing in the trenches, behind the hedge rows, and standing in the waters that these young men jumped into, you won’t understand the fright and the unknown thoughts that must have been going through their heads.   I learned more yesterday in 9 hours than I could have learned in a year long world history class.  Our tour guide had personally interviewed, sat, and listened to soldiers, first hand what had happened to them at the young age of 19 years old. 

Imagine…19

     You haven’t even experienced 1/4 of your life yet, you maybe haven’t even fallen in love, had your first drink or cigarette, (although by now you have), and you still want your mom when you are cold, frightened, or even just tired.  All of a sudden you have gun strapped on to you as you are awaiting for the green light… the green light to parachute in or to run out of the landing craft that you have been sitting or laying on for hours off the shore of the beach.  You know in the back of your mind that there is a good chance that you will not see the end of the day.  But you think about the reason you are here.  To save innocent lives in villages of families…kids, moms, dads, grandparents.  These families that have had their lives turned upside down for reasons they can’t even begin to understand.  All they knew was that their towns were being taken over, and they needed help, from our kids.  Kids saving kids.  The strength of our servicemen during this time period was tremendous.  Unlike anything you can imagine until you see what they had to endure and actually walk where they walked.  It is surreal and as much as I’d like to describe it as disheartening, it actually raises the spirit to see what these boys were willing to do.  Some there by choice, some not.  They were all in it together, it was a brotherhood that would never be broken.

AND FOR THAT WE THANK YOU AND ALL OF OUR MILITARY FOR YOUR SERVICE

 

   

     

40 years=480 months~2080 weeks~14,600 days~350,400~21,024,000 minutes of Love ❤️

 

I haven’t written for a long time, in fact I haven’t had the mindset to write for a long time.  It takes something inspiring to get my head around a post.  This morning I woke up thinking about my brother Jon and Cara, my sister-“in law” (And I put the in law part in quotes because Cara has been in my life since I was 12 and she’s really just a true sister). Today they celebrate 40 years of marriage.  A marriage that 40 years ago defied all odds.  They were young, they were not the same religion, and they had they most precious thing that life can offer,,,a baby.  I was 14 when they got married and I looked up to them not really knowing exactly what I was looking up to, I just knew that there was something special there.  In time I realized that what I was seeing was a deep love, commitment, strength, and optimism.  These 4 qualities are not found in every marriage, let alone a young marriage.  As the years went on they had a set of beautiful twins, dogs, bought themselves a house, then another and another…built this amazing life that originally, if you recall… defied the odds.

   Looking back at the last 40 years I have come to realize what an amazing support system they are to their kids, their families, and everyone surrounding them.  They are always looking out for and offering anything they can, together.  Always with a positive spin and a smile.  Through life’s losses and gains, they make life look easy and happy.  This relationship is one that Eric and I aspired to be when our own relationship was so new.  Honest, loving, and strong.  Together with our kids and my sister and her kids we have built this close knit family of cousins, aunts, and uncles, that started with the two of them.  We are not your typical family, and we know it. 

  Thanks to the 2 who are today celebrating 40 years. 🥂

So, thank you both for showing the world what true love looks like…Happy 40 years Jon and Cara!

We love you with all of our hearts ♥️ 

  

Project Life

Friends and family think we are nuts, my husband and I.  Maybe we are, but we don’t think as much.  We just don’t have the word “no” in our vocabulary.  Sometimes it may feel detrimental, but not very often.  We just keep moving forward.  We get ideas in our heads and we just go with it. It’s a way of life that we built on our own.  I was talking with a good friend this summer when we were talking about life and how we got to where we all are.  With moves, kids, weddings, grandkids…we both had experienced all of the above and came to the realization that life is a project.  It starts as a project when you start making your own decisions and building your family and life.  You go about your days, months and years adding new things every day.  You wake up every morning not having any idea where the day might go.  Your plan can take a right turn, left turn or sometimes a U turn.  And sometimes it’s just best to go back and rethink things and take a different path.  That’s the beauty of it all, it’s your project, no one else’s.  

I feel like our project started the day we found out we were having a baby.  That absolutely was not in the immediate plan, we were planning to get married after Eric finished pilot training.  So, instead of moving forward and being separated for a year, we took a turn, got married, had Dani and off to Mississippi we went. 

But let me add this, we were 23 year old recent college graduates, and had a year to wait to go to pilot training.  My dad suggested we get into rental real estate while we waited.  “Buy a house Dad? Really…?”  We again didn’t say no, so we bought a rental property, followed by more.  This part of our life added an entire new level to our project.  Since then rental real estate has become just part of life.  

Next comes the family level.  How many kids do you want?  Just when you think you’ve made your decision…another turn, another baby.  Change in project life is the best.  Now add a pet, {dogs in our case}. 

This just keeps getting better…

Until it doesn't, unfortunately in every life you are going to have to experience fight and/or loss.  This project life might take a wrong turn (but in time will go back in the right direction). If someone you love gets sick all you can do is watch and support.  You know you will do whatever it takes to get them through to wherever their project goes or ends.  Unfortunately every project comes to an end.  When someone you love is taken from you, you need to learn to live without them.  It feels so helpless, but you can do it.  It’s just another level.  

Another tier to this project life is growing kids.  You take them to a certain point in life until they are ready to fly.  You never truly stop taking care of them but at a certain point you take a step back and are just there. {Always}.  They know that you are not going anywhere. (Physically you may have gone a little further than normal, like Vegas maybe…😉 but emotionally you are always there and only a flight away) This is when they get to start their project…it’s cyclical.  They might  graduate, get jobs, marry, have kids, and their choices in life start to build.

This is where we are.  Watching our kids build their project as we add onto our own.  We are now in the mode of adding travel, rekindling old friendships and making new friendships, retirement planning and enjoying every minute with all of our kids.  Project life is a constant.  It doesn’t matter where you are in life, just keep building on it.  

Promise yourself this…

Always Live life to the fullest.

Always Love Hard

Always possess positivity

Yes, I am an optimist…and I get it from my husband ❤️ Welcome to Project Life

Time Is A Thief

Preface: I logged into my blog today to write a blog called "Project Life".  I came across this entry that I never published. {dated June 9th, 2021} This entry gave me so much insight to my new idea of Project Life.  I decided to finish it, and publish it.  Knowing and remembering that I was going through a rough and emotional time in life, it just proved to me that life will change for the better. (Keep in mind that I had just lost my dog, put my house of 20 years up for sale and was supporting my sister through the loss of her husband to cancer) 

*Just give yourself space to achieve joyfulness again.

6/9/21

I was texting with a mom that I used to nanny for today when she replied to me with "Time Is A Thief"

Time IS a thief...it takes things and people and pets and homes...and so much more that we really don't realize.  You can look at time as being anywhere from a second to a lifetime.  You don't realize that time is taking things that you will not get back, The more I thought about it,  time is also growth...it brings things to you as well.  You put in time to earn the things that you deserve. (ie. my hard working husband).  As much as it can work both ways, I see more of time being a thief right now.  I saw time with Lucy being taken from me this past weekend.  Lucy and I spend a lot of time together when I am in Minnesota.  I barely saw her the entire weekend because she was with her friends. This is her time of growth.

  Time can also hurt...Loved ones taken too soon...sick pets...unexpected changes...

But time will also heal.

I've been struggling a little bit recently because of life's changes. Some sudden and some that we have been leading up to.  You can prepare for change to only a certain extent.  Either way you look at it there is going to be a way to get through all of it.  You need to make a conscious effort to decide to move forward being motivated through positivity ...Looking back at this entry 4 months later, I see that strength comes from within, but also from others surrounding you...let the surrounding strength get you through "Time Being A Thief"

"Project Life" Coming Soon 

Sunny Days~Sweeping The Clouds Away

On my way to where the air is sweet...A week ago I saw a commercial for 50 years of Sunny Days. A special on ABC celebrating Sesame Street.   I couldn't believe how excited I got, so excited that I put it on my reminders, followed by recording it just in case I wasn't home.  I am pretty sure that not many my age would get so excited about something as such.  If you ask my family what they remember most about things I loved as a little girl it would be Sesame Street.  I would watch it with my own kids when they were little, and now with my granddaughters.  I sing along, laugh, and know every name of every muppet.  

When I was little I had no idea the messages that they were trying to get across and the lessons that were being taught.  All I knew was that Bert and Ernie were funny, that they were roommates, best friends.  Ernie drove Bert crazy with his antics and his laughing, singing and his need for Bert's help all of the time.  But it didn't matter to Bert because they were best friends and that what friends do. 

 

I didn't realize that Snuffleupagus came from a family of divorce.  His dad told he and his sister Alice that he wasn't going to live with them but explained how he would still be in their lives. 

 Sesame had to unfortunately touch the subject of death when Mr Hooper passed away in 1983.  Instead of recasting, or writing him off the show by telling Big Bird, that Mr.Looper, (Hooper...Hooper) retired or moved,  Maria, Luis, Gordon, and Bob tenderly and emotionally explained to Big Bird that he had died..  This brought tears and raw feelings to the set of Seeame that day. 

 These are all subjects that were a part of everyday living.  Not only were we learning our ABC's, numbers.(1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12 ladybugs came to the ladybug picnic) and colors, but ultimately we were learning about life, emotions, and feelings we hadn't otherwise figured out yet. 

In 2005 Sesame Street brought in Griotte, who was a little girl in a wheelchair and in 2017 Julia joined.  Julia has autism.  These little girls showed our kids that having a disability is something that is nothing to fear, and everyone can be friends regardless of any differences.

Most recently, Covid, social distancing, home schooling, and masks have been introduced.  Sesame has creatively engaged the muppets in zoom song sessions, and mask rules. Realizing that pre~schooler"s have been extremely affected by the past year has given them the opportunity to help.  Let these kids know that they are not the only ones not being able to see their friends, teachers and family, the muppet friends also cannot.  

One last very sensitive subject that has been on the front page is racism. Sesame Street and CNN partnered for a town hall meeting lead by who else...Big Bird.  Discussed during this town hall meeting racism, protesting, empathy, and diversity.  After this meeting Wes and Elijah were introduced.  An African American father and son, whose mom and grandma will soon be introduced.  

The amount of awareness that has been brought before us, without even realizing it is brilliant.  Brilliant beyond what I ever imagined Sesame street to be.  All I knew when I was 4 was that I was learning , laughing and singing.  Empathy, emotion, and understanding was something that was taught without us even knowing.  All we were thinking about were the Sunny Days ahead.  

Come and Play, everything's A-OK

Friendly Neighbors there

That's where you meet

Can you tell me how to get 

how to get to Sesame Street

From James Taylor to Little Richard...Jelly Man Kelly to Ittsy Bitssy Spider...(And all of the other musicians that sang to us)   Sesame Street will forever be a part of us 

A House Is A Building...A Home Is A Feeling

Well, it’s happening...The utmost favorite house of my last 30 years is going into the hands of our realtor.  We asked her to walk through and let us know what we needed to do to sell it quickly. I can’t let this drag out, if I do I have a feeling I won’t do it. She walked through and and made some suggestions. It didn’t bother me that the carpets need to be replaced, the floors need to be pulled up, the fixtures need updating, scratches in the doors need to be stained, the basement needs painting, the window coverings need to be removed, or even that the swing set could stay or go...and I had to ask myself the question “Why am I ok?”  I thought that changing everything about my favorite house would tear me apart.  Here’s the thing, the reason that this all needs to be done is because we lived hard...with all our heart and soul in that house.  The day we moved in my kids were 1, 8, and 11. They are now 20, 28, and 30.  In the past 20 years we went from a family of 5 at our dinner table to a family of 9.

I am a little relieved that we need to make these changes to the house because maybe it won’t feel like mine anymore.  I won’t walk by every scratch, carpet stain, homemade shade, out of date curtain, gold faucet, array of floor coverings, and think that someone is going to erase all of those memories that we made.  I know how every scratch, stain, and tear was made  and why the floor was so worn out.  They happened from dogs and kids running, playing, spilling, throwing...living. The amount of memories that I see every time I turn a corner is insurmountable.  I look out my front door and I see my kids getting on the bus every morning as Cody sits on the front step, I look at the screen door and I see Gracie pushing it open with her nose, I look out my backyard and I see the kids swinging, Eric and Jake playing baseball, Dani and her friends hanging out around the firepit, and best of all I see a hockey rink full of skaters.  I look at the fireplace and I see many nights of Eric and I listening to music contemplating life's ups and downs.  

The bar in the basement...Completely unexpected feelings set in.  This was meticulously planned and built by Eric during a very rough time. The year following 9/11. I see 20 years full of ticket stubs, college visits, license plates, vacation memorabilia, Air Force remembrances, hats, flags, towels...every few years we would decide to start a different collection!  I am pretty sure that all 3 of my kids sat behind that bar, probably had their first or second drinks as well!  I know that a lot happened down there from Bar and Bat Mitzvah weekends, wedding weekends, birthday parties, parent hockey parties...and so many movie nights and sleepovers.  Each of us will have our own memories to take with us.  Some things will physically join us while many will emotionally be with us. Regardless, we will embrace this change together.  And together we will realize that "A House is a building and a home is a feeling"

 You can leave the house behind but bring your home to wherever you are.

Change Is Good...Or Is It?

I’m not exactly sure who came up with the phrase “change is good”, but whoever it was had not experienced 9/11 or COVID 19.  As I was waking up the other morning I started thinking about all the traveling I’d done lately going back and forth from MN to Las Vegas.  My mind started to wander and it went back to when I was about 5 years old, when my mom and dad would travel.  We would not only pick them up from the airport but we would go in and wait for them at the end of the jetway. (pictured above) We would run into their arms like they'd been gone for months.  We would talk to them all the way home,their vacation came to an abrupt end. Now everyone gets to wait while their Uber or someone gets them home and they walk in the house...the extent of the excitement is so different from walking off a plane into your loved ones arms versus walking in the house and have excited dogs run to you However either way, eventually the hugs and kisses are there ❤️

     Then I started to think about the technology of travel.  The days when you would have to actually make use of a travel agent to book your travel and then go pick up your booklet of tickets.  And god forbid you lost your paper tickets you were pretty much screwed!  I can’t remember exactly when the paper tickets went away... (you’d think I would remember that because I was always the “keeper of the tickets”).
Eventually they were replaced with boarding passes that you could get online, then print out...Now...just grab your phone.  BUT...always be sure that you have service going into the airport.  That’s where the internet has changed our lives. We depend on this wireless capability to run our lives. The last time I was with Lucy and Ellie, I couldn’t get their show going. I so badly wanted to just throw a VHS into a VCR.

But Lucy told me... “Nana, just wait a few minutes and it will play”. I guess this is where they learn patience.   

I am sure that in some point in their lives they will see big changes, but right now, going to the airport, being dropped off, going through security, shoes off, jackets off, IPads in the bin, etc...is all just a way of life.  Unless you have TSA pre Check! That's always just a bonus.

COVID also has brought another new way of thinking since 9/11, that again, at their age, is just the norm.  Not being able to go to school, play with friends, see grandparents, travel, play sports…all things that we always took for granted.  It was about one year ago right now that the world began to change, “Because coronavirus”. (From the mouth of babes) Here are a few things that if you told me 365 days ago would be “a thing” I would have strongly disagreed.  Things that come out of our mouths amaze me…

1. Do you have a mask?

2. Oh, that’s a cute mask

3. Zoom Happy Hour?

4. Zoom Meeting?

5. Social distance

6. Stay Safe vs Have a great day

7. Fist pump vs handshake or hug

8. Waiting in line to go into stores

9. Not being able to go into stores!

10. Open middle seat

11. Elevator Etiquette
    

12. Parks full of yoga and cardio (which I take as a positive)

13. Toilet Paper and Paper Towel shortages & limits

14. Text from cars to check into appointments

15. Partial capacity seating in restaurants 

16. Have you been tested?

17. There’s a vaccine 💉 

18. Tier 1,2,and 3…all I know is that I am last!

So Change Is Good, Right?❤

Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone

If you would have told me when I was younger that I would have the courage to do the things I am doing today I would have completely laughed in disagreement.  I was not a very athletic girl growing up.  As a matter of fact I was pretty uncoordinated, struggled through gym class, and was not a dancer (as much as I wanted to be), a runner, or did anything out of my comfort zone.  I was happy just being the spectator.  Then, at 18 years old,  I met my husband...an athlete, an "I can do better",  competitive kind of soul.  It took him many years to slowly get me to agree to get out of my zone.  I started to run after I had kids, I never biked until a few years ago, and hiking... Who knew that would become my favorite pastime.

Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone also comes with overcoming fears from accidents, pushing through high heart rates without stopping , and knowing you can do things beyond your limits.  This coming from me really is surprising even to myself.  I have suffered from a concussion that took me 3 months to feel even remotely "normal", a wrist injury, and just pure stress of being scared while trying new things.  My balance is ridiculously off which does not make for fun hiking on rocks or biking on rocky, narrow, single track trails...but I do it...why you might ask?  Because my husband makes me.  He enjoys all of these things and I started doing it for him. ( Now I do it for US) Every time I injured myself, he rushed me to the hospital, and always ended the day with "next time".  I got to the point where I never doubted there would be a next time.  My family laughs at me, worries about me, and we always come back with some story!  

Not Pretty...Or something I ever thought I would share..
But I recovered and got back on my bike

In these days of quarantine, now is the time to get out and conquer some fears.  No better time than now when there are not a lot of other things to do.  Don't find yourself sitting inside thinking about what you could be doing, think about what there is to do that takes you out of your comfort zone.  It doesn't have to be a physical challenge either.  Just try something new. 

 Push yourself to try.do.conquer.

The feeling of reaching a goal is exhilarating

The feeling of reaching a goal is addicting

The feeling of reaching a goal makes you want to revisit and push the goal out further

Not to quote NIKE...but I will...

Just 

Do 

It

P.S.  Next week we are going skiing in Colorado!  I haven't skied in 30 years!  Guess who's idea this was!  Hopefully we wont end the day with "Next Time!" 

 Stay Tuned