Do you remember Joyce's question from Wednesday Hodgepodge: "Do you carefully plan your vacations, or do you prefer the days to be more spontaneous?", well here is what I have to say about that!
Back in August of last year my niece texted me with the date of my great nieces High School graduation this year. What I found a few weeks later is that my sweeps in Las Vegas for bowling were the same weekend as her graduation.
Well I haven't missed bowling in Vegas for over 20+ years with my bowling league however I felt it was important for me to be in Florida since two of my great nieces were graduating from H.S. So I told myself I would just have to miss it this year and made peace with it.
So I figured I would go to Florida at the end of May, be there for their graduations parties and then spend time with my dad. Keep in mind that when I was there in December neither of the girls wanted parties, they wanted to hang with their friends. They both go to different schools so their graduations are on different days.
So back in January I wrote to both of my nieces asking them if there were any plans being made. If the girls wanted to party with their friends I get that, I was young once, but let me know if there is going to be a family party. If the family party was going to be later then maybe I could go to Vegas then take off for Florida. Well I didn't hear anything back so I decided to just make my own plans.
However in the meantime something else came up. Mark was going to Orlando around the 16th of June and I could join him at the Gaylord Palms. So I decided to write to my nieces again and tell them that I was coming there at the end of May, not going to Vegas and if they have a party while I am there great, if not it didn't matter because I was coming to spend time with my dad. Then after that I would be going to Orlando with Mark and spending a week there before I came home.
I had to have my plans made, I couldn't be spontaneous about this and I couldn't keep waiting for an answer. So we were working on dates but hadn't made any reservations yet when Adam informed us that Tristen's graduation is on June 14th. (Son's best girl and our daughter in law in our hearts) She is receiving her doctorate and we are not missing that....this is a big deal! (and she has landed an amazing job already, more on that later) So on to another plan.....
So now I will be in town for Tristen's graduation on Saturday and leaving the next day for Florida, going to Orlando with Mark and then heading down to my dad's at the end of the week. So now I have to decide if I should go to Vegas and bowl since I will still be in town. I have one more thing to share and this is where God comes in. (sorry it's so long)
When my dad turned 89 and spent his birthday alone I made myself a promise that he would never be alone on his birthday, I would be there with him. Of course last year on his 90th we had his party so I was there.
Because of the girls graduations and then the Orlando trip I didn't see how it would be possible for me to be there. I would already be gone for three weeks. I would be there for Father's Day and I thought I would make a point of making sure he was taken care of by someone for his birthday.
But I was breaking my promise and that bothered me. I had just said to Mark that I had promised myself and I was already breaking it. One of the problems is that we go to Mammoth Lakes just 10 days past his birthday which is a bit of a rush for me.
Since Tristen's graduation has come up and with my change of plans I will now be there for his birthday. God always seems to have a way to work things out even when we weren't planning on it! My time with my dad will be shorter but that's okay, I will just have to visit again later in the year. Hopefully these plans will remain unchanged and Mark is booking our flights as you read this!
Posts
19 comments:
Whew! You are a busy lady! I'm glad things seem to have worked out the right way for you.
whew! i'm exhausted! :)
wow...family can get complicated...so happy everything is working in your direction...
Loved reading this Debby. Your loving heart shines so brightly in the ways that you want to be there for your nieces. your dad and for Tristen. Love that you are willing to sacrifice something you love so much for those you love so much.
Now as for me, with Ann's health issues, we have given up on planning and are learning (it is hard for a planner like me) to be spontaneous. Our Aspen vacation last year was arranged about 10 days before we left. It was a great time. LOL, maybe I need to learn from that?
I think it is neat, Debby, how you want to try to be part of your grand nieces graduations and made the effort to try to see what was going on plan wise. Does seem like you will be doing lots of traveling and celebrating during the month of June! I think I would still fit in the bowling if you could to keep with tradition (and then when you get back from all your travels, enjoy a nice long rest!)
betty
I, too like to have everything planned out in advance, Debby. However the last year and a half has forced me to be more flexible (hah! I at least like to think I am). You have a jammed packed schedule, but it sounds like everything is working out for the best. You will have a taste of everything and then have the month of July to recover!
Ann
All of that planning and re-planning would probably drive me nuts! Glad you get to be where you need to be. Looks like we will be passing thru the same airport on the same day just hours after each other.
I got tired just reading through all that! Glad it all worked out.
Well, I hope you can keep up with where you are suppose to be and when. Goodness, a lot of planning and replanning. But, hope it all works out just perfectly and you have lots of great memories. Happy week!
Whew...you had a lot to consider, but it sounds like, as you said, God worked it out!!:-)
So glad that everything is finally set in motion...God always has everything under control.
You are going to be a busy girl come this summer! I'm glad everything worked out...it's hard to plan that far in advance. Have a wonderful week!
Definitely a God thing. I love when He does stuff like that. :)
He sure does we always make plans but they don't always line up with his plan he already has set out for us.
I'm so glad you get to spend time on his bday with him.
HUGS for trying to do it all!!
God is the master designer of our lives and calendars! I'm glad all these events seem to be coming together in a way that works out for you. Congrats to your son's girl...that is great!
Oh my goodness - I'm exhausted just trying to keep up with your plans!!
Wishing you great fun and fellowship, and traveling mercies, as you embark on these trips!
And yes, I've had God chuckle at some of my plans. I think He's especially enjoyed my plans to run my own life!! HA!
GOD BLESS!
It's gonna be a BIG busy Summer for you, with lots of blogging material in the mix. Glad it's all working out well.
I 'm glad you are able to be there for your dad. I wasn't planning on visiting my family this weekend but I decided it was important to go and am making it happen.
How wonderful is it that you have so many people to love and celebrate with in your life?
Post a Comment