A MagiQal Life

 Ya remember those commercials about zFamily game night? Remember how cheeeeeesy they were? I know I do, but last night my family actually had one. We played Cranium which was a first for everyone in my side of the family. We all showed up at my Mom’s and ate Sloppy Joes and chips around fivish, then once our bellies were full we grouped up into two teams. Shannon, Angela, and myself were on one team, Cyndi, Mom, and Amanda were on the other. Lakota played both sides, and Perrin did his best to disturb everyone.

 Shannon was our group speller when we got Yellow cards because I can’t spell at all, and Angela I think was just out of her element. I was the actor because at heart I am a Drama Queen. Amanda spelled for the other team, and Cyndi was their actor (because she is my Drama King). It was hours of excitement that ended in my team winning because of my acting skills and Shannon’s wonderful spelling.

 All in all I think it was a success and I really look forward to having another game night. Familys are fun, and I wish I’d have known that years ago, my family up in Michigan may have been much closer then it is now…but that’s really OK, now I get to be a part of a family down here, and I look forward to us all getting to know each other.

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I’ve been very busy these last few weeks getting my mothers house prepped for her to move in, getting her moved in, and then setting up her stuff. I’ve also been very busy this week getting my sister-in-law moved in as well. Most of it is all set up now however and I am starting to see the fruits of my labor in the form of a wonderful gift from dear old mom… a red wagon.

Of course it was something that I wanted, and it was a toss up between this or a dolly. I often have a need to haul things that are too heavy for my little self so I wanted something. While I’d likely be able to do some extra things with the dolly, I figured having something to pull around the grand kids in would far outweight not being able to move the dryer in my shed or wanting to dolly in the ten boxes of water once a month.

I got the thing yesterday, but did not get it home till today. When my mother dropped it off it was on the way back from getting a 50 pound bag of chicken feed, and as I had perrin he (and the feed) were the first to ride in the thing. He was thrilled with it, and enjoyed the return trip just as much. Later Lakota and Shannon stopped by, and I got to pull her around the yard. She even got a chance to pull me around, which was fun for me and amazing to her. She had no idea should could pull a “grown up” with her 8 year old self.

Today was a good day!

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I got a box of rocks
Simple stones to the many
I got a box of rocks
And each means the world to me
I don’t know their stories
I do not know their tales
But I know they came from you
So any other story pales

I took one out to held it in my hand
I remember you used to keep it
By the fireplace on a stand
I then recalled the good times
All the times we used to share
I recollect the memories
Of when it rested there

Now that rock is at my house
And upon my desk it sits
So now I get to reminisce
When ever I look at it
And here that simple stone will stay
In a place where I can take a hold
A thousand single memories
Each more precious then gold

My grandparents used to go on road trips yearly with the kids (You know, the type that the family on Dirty Dancing did, but without the sex) and from the various places that they would go too my Grandfather would often pick up a nifty stone or two. They had dozens of these rocks, many of which they had up on knick-knack shelves, around the fireplace, and some in the garden. Growing up I always thought the rocks were cool, but never really put much thought into them till recently.

My grandmother moved from Battle Creek to Holland and most the rocks made their way there as well, though they were no longer displayed out in the open. Most were tucked into corners of the basement never to be seen or thought of again. When my Mother started to collect things to move down here to Tennessee she asked me what I’d like from my Grandmothers (as they were starting to clear the clutter) and I remembered all the rocks she had. It was those that I wanted.

The rest of the family thought I was strange, but I really do not mind. Each of these stones has a story, and now those stories belong to me. Each of those rocks has a memory attached to it from some fun filled adventure or vacation…and while I may not know all of those stories, I now have the cause for the fond memory Yeah, greedy on my part, but I find more pleasure in the simple things like these rocks, then something that has no sentimental value or something that only has a monetary value.

Of the things that are my grandmothers, its actually these silly rocks and a few pictures that I actually love, as I have a personal memory attached to many of them.

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