My Mom is My Inspiration

I mentioned before that my mom is fighting breast cancer.  Her rounds of chemo are completed and she worked through it like a champ.  She has a couple of weeks to rest and recuperate before her radiation begins, so my dad brought her down to the lake for a week to relax and regain her strength.

The plan was for them to lay around under the beach umbrellas, read, take lots of naps and go for leisurely pontoon rides.  But the very first morning mom was up and making her famous French toast for everyone.

We quickly found a routine that worked for my parents - after breakfast we would go out for a short excursion and do something, like find a geocache or go for a short walk in the woods....

Dad's geo-senses were right on and I think he found more caches than I did that week...

After lunch they would nap for awhile and then get up and sit outside in the shade and read until dinner.  One night we had our annual fish fry and mom even breaded the fish!

After dinner I'd take them fishing for awhile, where my dad kicked our asses and totally out-fished us this year.  I also have to say that they lost the least amount of bobbers and hooks this year.  Their fishing skills have definitely improved.

...and then for a boat ride until sunset...

The last night we always have our traditional campfire and roasting of the s'mores.  Mom and dad look relaxed, don't you think?

We also managed to squeeze in 2 small excursions but I'll tell you about those in some posts next week.  My mom's only complaint was that she got tired easily and it was frustrating to not be able to just get up and do the things she wanted to do.  But I think she did a great job and she continues to show me what real inner strength and determination is all about.  I'm so proud of you mom.  And I'm so grateful to my dad, who has worked so tirelessly and continually, caring for her and taking her back and forth to the hospital and to her many doctors appointments.  They are truly a shining example of love and partnership.

Happy Fathers Day 2014

Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there!

 

 

But especially to mine, who is the perfect mix of humor, athletic ability, intelligence and love.  He has been a shining example of integrity and grace.   We share a mutual fondness for Snoopy and the Peanuts gang.  I have looked up to him my entire life and he still manages to teach me a thing or two, even tho I always think I know everything.  I could not have gotten a better dad.  God has truly blessed me.

Happy Father's Dad with all my love.

Happy 80th Birthday Dad

Yesterday was my dad's 80th birthday.  We had a little family party for him and I had a cake made with a dinosaur on it because he's now "an old dinosaur."  

But I'm just kidding about the old dinosaur part. He's very active and likes to get out and about and see new things....

Make new milestones with my mom.....

And he still likes to steer his own course....

A nicer, sweeter man you will never meet.  Happy Birthday Dad.  I love you!!

Getting the Old Folks Out

One of the best things about geocaching is that we spend a lot of time with my parents.  It's a great way to get them out of the house and moving around.  Believe it or not, my Dad is going to be 80 years old next month and my mom is in her late 70's.  I have to say they are in pretty good shape.

Most of the time we'll try to pick one day a week, choose 10-20 geocaches in an area and head out.  Dad buys us breakfast and we supply the car and gasoline.  Sometimes we'll call them up after dinner when I know my dad is all settled in his easy chair, reading the paper and watching television.  He'll pick up the phone and yell "No speaky English!"  We just laugh  and say we're heading out to grab 5 caches and ask if they'd like to come along?  My mom will always toss her crocheting on the floor and grab her caching bag.  The other night I e-mailed her a list of 10 geocaches, said we'd be over in 20 minutes and if anyone wanted to go they should be standing out at the curb.  They were!

Mom and Dad's caching name is Papanonny and everyone in our area knows who they are.  I really think they are the oldest cachers in the Chicago area.  They're very active in general as it is, but geocaching really gets them out and about in nature, even more so than they usually are.   Let's take a look at some of their geocaching antics....

Here they are discussing which end of the bridge was north.   This helps with their directional observations.

Dad then gamely got down on his hands and knees and crawled around in the dirt.  Some guys never grow up.

Here dad is teaching us the proper way to count off paces in order to determine where the cache is hidden.  This shows his teaching and counting abilities.

 Here they are defying haunted locations in order to score a cache...

 

 

 

They still like to have sex in the woods.  Ok, I'm just kidding about that, but I couldn't resist. LOL!

 

 

They enjoy playing with children's toys...

 

And poking things with a stick....

 

 Geocaching encourages them to stretch and reach new heights....

 

It also makes them think outside the box and look at everyday objects in new ways....

 

They visit historic locations and learn new facts about our country's history....

 

 

They meet and make new friends....

Mom keeps up with her accounting skills...

 

Dad still likes to play with rocks....

 



 

...and pretend he's a river boat Captain!

 

 

Mom keeps her sleuthing skills sharp....

 

 

 

 

And dad still enjoys climbing trees. (that's where I got that habit from!)

 

 

They like playing in the sand....

 

 

 

And most of all they enjoy reaching new milestones!

 

 

We enjoy spending time with them and visiting new locations.  Geocaching is a great way to encourage your parents to get out and play!