June 22nd...A Big Day

What a lucky Aunt I am! Two adorable kids entered my life on the same day...granted Kate came first by one year...still June 22nd now has a lock on my heart thanks to these beautiful babies. I think this special day has a lock on all our hearts now.

I decided to look up other important events that happened on June 22nd...

June 22, 1377 Richard II succeeds Edward III as king of England

June 22, 1633 Galileo Galilei forced to recant Earth orbits Sun by Pope (but on Oct 31, 1992, Vatican admits it was wrong)

June 22, 1775 1st Continental currency issued ($3,000,000)

June 22, 1847 Doughnut created

June 22, 1870 Congress creates Department of Justice

June 22, 1870 1st Boardwalk in America invented

June 22, 1910 1st Zeppelin with passengers sets afloat

June 22, 1930 Lou Gehrig hits 3 home runs in a game, Ruth hits 3 in doubleheader

June 22, 1939 Future Queen Elizabeth of England meets future husband Philip

June 22, 1944 Franklin D. Roosevelt signs "GI Bill of Rights",

June 22, 1958 Game in Kansas City between A's and Red Sox delayed 29 minutes due to tornado

June 22, 1961 Beatles record Aint She Sweet, Cry for a Shadow, When the Saints Go Marching In, Why, Nobody's Child and My Bonnie, in Hamburg

June 22, 1962 1st test flight of Hoovercraft

June 22, 1970 President Nixon signs 26th amendment, voting age lowered to 18

June 22, 1976 San Diego Padre pitcher Randy Jones ties record of 68 innings without a walk

June 22, 1982 Prince Chuck and Lady Di take Prince William home from hospital

June 22, 1983 NHL institutes a 5 minute sudden death overtime period

There's more on the list of course, but that last one is vitally important. (heehee)

Anyway...lots of important things have happened on June 22nd, but none as important as the birth of two shiney happy babies. Happy Birthday Kate and William...you are so very loved.

Mini Adventure Into The Past

A few weeks ago, on the way home from a bike race (in the middle of nowhere) Mark and I stopped off in Jamesport MO. Jamesport is a quaint little town trapped in time. When you visit Jamesport, you can't help but feel like you're an intruder from the future. Women in long skirts & bonnets, hats on bearded men and horse-drawn carriages are the norm here...if you see anyone at all. I think you could have heard a pin drop in this quintessential western ghost town scene.

We found an antique shop open, welcoming us with a friendly "Yes we're open", so we explored for awhile. Coffee grinders and locks that looked like they came from the turn of the century. Baby booties from the 20's. An impressive collection of Coke bottles that could have been in the Coke museum. Silverware and photos that held secrets of their past. Lunch boxes and McDonald's Happy Meal glasses that Mark and I remembered growing up which somehow connected us to this store and town of the past.

I guess we all have a past... it's important to remember that while our pasts are unique, we share it with people, places and things. So next time you come across a small town that has as an old store with a "Yes, we're open" sign...take a step in. You may be pleasantly whisked away to the past in a mini adventure of your own.

Take Time to STOP and Do What You Love

I feel somewhat enlightened this morning. It's a beautiful morning here this morning...crisp, Spring morning where the air and sunlight is just perfect.

Normally mornings are rushed and slightly crazed as you run through your mental checklist of chores and to-dos for the day while you gulp down coffee. This morning was different...thanks to Lou.

We let Lou outside to 'do her thing'...usually she relieves herself and comes back in to join the frantic morning fray as we bob and weave around her in the kitchen, but this morning was different. This morning she strolled out onto the lawn and walked over to the daffodils and had a sniff around. Then she spotted a squirrel in the tree (her favorite pastime in the world is squirrel hunting). She sat her chunky little rump down and quietly watched the squirrel in the tree...not to hunt it, but to just sit and 'be with the squirrel'. I can only assume this was a very calm zen moment for her.

Normally we'd yell at her to get back into the house because we had 'things to do and places to be', but it was too perfect of a moment. Instead we stopped and watched her, watching the squirrel. It was nice to just 'stop'.

In that very calm perfect moment, with the crisp air and perfect sunlight...Lou reminded us to take time to STOP and do what you love. Leave it to a dog to remind me of the important things in life. Thank you Lou...