For the last eight years I have to admit I have been this wound up little stress ball that would never let her hair down long enough to have fun. (Check out the picture to the left from our little “spot” on the lake). Fun was just a waste of time. There were other more important things to do like dishes or laundry. My childhood was taken away from me at the relatively young age of eleven and I never really looked back. Because my dad became ill, I felt the need to become a responsible woman at that time to help take care of my dad and support my mom the best that I could. At the time, that really was what needed to happen.

Unfortunately for me, once my dad was healthy again, I never really let myself slip back into that young teenage role. I was already well into womanhood mentally and now it was my driving force to get my high school and college degrees, my license (to practice as a Certified Public Accountant) and start my own family. It just kept carrying through until now at the age of 34, my health is suffering and my inner child is screaming at me to come out and play.

Well, I definitely took care of a lot of that this past week. I have had an absolute blast jet skiing and boating with my boys. Horseshoes by the lake, solitaire at a picnic table, dice before bed, does it get any better? Not to mention, for a woman that does not like to get wet with water less than 90 degrees, I actually got my butt in the lake and went tubing off the back of Grandpa Mike’s boat with my oldest son, Derek. Since I had never done it before, I didn’t know to pull up on the tube when Grandpa took off, so I took a lovely swan dive head first into the water. I came up sputtering and really cold. But, I climbed right back on that tube and went for a cruise around the lake. More on that story in another newsletter.

I have had so much fun this week. We have had ten people (5 adults and 5 children) crammed into this little three room cottage (that is literal, three room, not three bedroom) for seven days. There has not been even the slightest hint of fighting or snarkiness. There is a lot to be said for leaving all the stresses of work and family life at home and just taking off for the lake. Not a care in the world out here in Mother Nature’s arms. You can bet I will not be waiting another eight years to do this again!

See you at the lake!!