Just go!

My mom turned 63 this Saturday. She's beautiful. (By the way, handsome little guy with her is my nephew, Jacob...love of my life!)

Anyway, typically on birthdays we cook dinner and get together. Sometimes extended family will come over for "a drink". Well, we don't drink. Not like they do. And in light of recent happenings with my oldest brother, my mom has been a touch sad lately and didn't feel like entertaining. And quite frankly, we don't drink. Not like they do.

So I talked her into going camping. We have a camper at a private campground near Pymatuning Lake. We L O V E going there in the summer. Winter...not so much because we "winterize" the house which = no running water which = going to the bathroom in the public restrooms. However, we all needed a break so we packed into the van and headed out to our summer casa.

We got there and immediately started the campfire. Crazy I know but we bundled up and my dad helped by serving us brave bearers of cold weather cinnamon apple tea. Oh yeah, we were roughing it!

The next day, mom's b-day, my sister-in-law and I ventured into town for sleds for Jacob and Jessica. We were successful at the second dollar store (Yep we're in Andover people...small town).

We pulled up to the hill and the kids went nuts down and up the hill they went! Although bundled up like Randy from "A Christmas Story" about 10 minutes into sledding boots were falling off, snow had gotten into mittens, cheeks were rosy and noses were...well you get the picture.

The best part of that whole afternoon...which absolutely trumped the campfire and tea was my mom taking one of the sleds and flying down the hill! I mean, legs in the air and howling down the hill! It was great to see her let loose and just go! It was her birthday but what a gift for me to finally see her have fun and shriek with laughter.

I've been so wound up over her because of what we have been going through with my other brother (I'll fill ya in later) it was a relief for me. And somewhat of a confirmation again that I cannot control her happiness. You have to let go and just go.