Christmas Alone

Earlier this month I got to go back to Arizona and see the kids and grandkids for a day and the trip was quite the experience. To say that nothing seemed to go right is an understatement. Once there I did get to love on those grandbabies, go shooting, spent some quality time with the kids, shot some pool and rode my sons motorcycle. Although it was way to short we did have a blast and I got some good pictures! Then the return flight was delayed about (3) hours and the return flight was turning into its own bad experience.
This year was the first year that my lovely wife and I have had alone at Christmas time since our first year of marriage. It was a very hard time as the empty nest felt like an enemy and we were lost not making sure everything went just right for everyone....it was just us. We had some fun going to opening day of Sherlock Holmes and then feasting on home made egg rolls. (Which has always been one of my favorites) We sat and thought of our kids and grandkids in silence thinking of Christmas past and just feeling sorry for ourselves. It just wasnt the same..
but we made it through and vowed that next year we would be with family one way or the other.
With this time off I have had time to sit and think, read some, watch some movies and spend time with Dev. During that time I thought about our happiness as a couple, as individuals and what our future holds. It has taken me many years to learn that happiness is not a place, not a thing nor a person.... it is inside each one of us. A decision to be made....yes I am and will be happy or no I'm not. Shrinks of today try to victimize us, give us reasons for the way we are but it all comes back around to the decision. Been thinking some about this lately.
I hope that all of you have had a joyous Christmas season and will have a happy and safe New Year.

Big Changes

Today I take my daughter and grandson back to Arizona where they will live with family there. I will miss them very much but it is a very new concept for my wife and I to finally get back to house where it was when we first got married. Just the two of us.... I know it wont take long to get used to having the house clean and stay that way, not having to shut doors in the house to keep little feet away. It should be a good time and time where we can finally just concentrate on each other and not all the distractions that come along. I know that over the years people have a tendency to allow the distractions to be a priority in their lives and lose sight of the most important person. My Dad had said for many many years as us kids grew up that Mom was the most important person in his life because after the kids leave she will still be there. Today that becomes a reality in our lives and my hope is that we can go back to the way we were 26 years ago. (Okay not in every aspect...LOL) Just in the excitement of a new life for just the two of us. I am excited about this!! We can have a lot of fun! Going to start getting things ready and packed to make the trip. My camera is loaded and charged....should be a fun weekend!

Getting Set Up

Each time I come back to my blog I see new things that I want to add to it and change the original setup. Since I am new to blogging or looking at anyone elses blogs I have been spending qutie a bit of time checking out other peoples and learnning alot. I had no idea there was so much information out there on my interests since I have never searched them very often. Once I find someone I want to follow I then go check out who they are following and forget to list their blogs. Just like a mine once you start digging you end up finding more and more. Quite interesting really. This week saw my son and his high school buddy taking back off for their home in Arizona. Had a good week visiting and seeing some of the sights and learning about new places right here around us. Florida does have a lot to do within a days drive of Jacksonville. They both had a lot of fun and we sure enjoyed having them here. It really helped having some men around to talk to. Well next time I will start writing about my photography....although I am a beginner at it other than taking the normal family shots at get togethers I think there are good things to share that the most experienced photographers have run into before. Take care

First Ever Post

Today I wanted to try something that would be fun and a learning experience so I took the example from my wife and started my own blog. I am hoping to find blogs on photography and woodworking and learn as much as possible. I have never delved into blogs except looking at my wifes and she does such an awesome job with hers I wanted to give it a shot.