Another year older

Another year has passed and I celebrated my birthday yesterday . What a crazy year it has been with lots of stress , some fun and a whole lot of love . Hopefully this year will find a whole lot of changes and all for the better . I am still not considered a senior so don't get any great deals anywhere either ! LOL !

So , as I start a new year , I thought it would be fun to reflect on a few past memories of my life so far !

I am the second daughter in my family . I have one living sister that is older and a younger living brother . We lost a sister in 1966 and that lost molded all our lives in a different direction then if she would have lived . But that is past history and nothing can be done to change that history ... yes , it still hurts to remember her but something we have learned to live with .One can not live on the " what if's " or the " if it had never happened " ........

I was named after my Uncle Donald Evan my name is Donna Elaine .... I was born on my Uncle Francis' birthday whom promised me a pink convertible when I turned 21 ... I am STILL waiting ! Wonder if he remembers saying that ! LOL ! Uncle Donald used to pop in to visit when I was little and being he was in the Canadian Armed Forces that could have been any time of the day or night and any time of the year . He never lived in our town when we were growing up but I remember seeing him at least a couple times of year . Mainly I remember his dark curly hair and that he wasn't much taller then my Mother ! Don't get me wrong , he isn't the only Uncle I have ...... there is my Uncle Jack and Uncle Francis on my Dad's side while on my Mom's side I had Uncle Bob ( who loved nothing better then feeding my kids chocolate marshmellow cookies ) and Uncle Gordon ( whom I knew to hide the liquor from REALLY well !!! LOL ) . They were all a part of growing up as were my aunts Edith & Toots ( plus my Uncle's wives ) .... and the kazillion cousins I have ! A few relatives have past on but I remember them with fond memories .

I met and married my husband when I was 18 and have been married to him for 35 years . We have 3 wondeful kids and between then we have been given 5 grandchildren ... all with beautiful brown eyes .... that have enriched our lives . I love to spoil them all so much !

Dh & I have always had a love for camping . We started out with a tent , have done the old travel trailer , tent trailer , new trailer and are now on to the bigger toy in a 30' motorhome . It is our mansion on wheels .... great for a weekend or a few weeks away ! Would I ever consider living in it fulltime ........ not on your LIFE !!!!!!!!!!!!! It is nice but still I like the comfort of my home . Do I like to travel ? .... NO , not really but I go and enjoy myself . I love to see different things , just don't like the drive to get there ! The motorhome is actually very comfortable to travel in .... I LOVE that I can see over the top of cars and see what is coming at us !!!!!! LOL ! Actually it is nice to be able to see things we miss travelling in the truck ... like the ditches or over the banks ........................................ Let's hope the snow melts really fast and we get to play in a month from now !

The main thing I have learned over all these years is to grasp life with both hands and hang on tight . Life isn't always the smooth ride we hoped for but it is full of curves and bumps . It is about falling and picking yourself up and keep moving forward not living in the past . It is remembering the day you got married , holding your children in your arms the very first time , their first smile , their first step , them giving you grandchildren and remember holding those children for the first time ........................ it is about birthdays and smiles ........................................ it is about LIVING !

SMILE ! Today is the first day of the rest of your life ......................... enjoy the ride !!!!!!!!!!!!!