Summer 2012 ~ My Parents visited Whitetail Ridge Campground

 Oh I have to say I was so excited about my folk's coming up here to Whitetail Ridge Campground to visit. Don was getting excited too. And Rusty sat in the window everytime I said "Is Grandma & Grandpa coming." LOL

We were counting down the days.
We had work to do before Mom & Dad got here...we had a good place to put our surprise that we had for them. My family knows about our really cool ways of surprising our parents, like that one Christmas 2007 jumping out of the box in AZ and they weren't expecting us at all. Those were great times! But this time we had something that we didn't want them to see right away. haha.

I stayed in touch with them on the phone and not to much later they drove up....There they were. We were both so EXCITED! We let them get into there site on #20. :) Got Rusty's gear on and Don, myself & Rusty went up to see them and help them get set up. It was so good to see my parents again. I was so happy that I wanted to cry, but I didn't but when my Mom & I hugged it was a nice long hug. I have missed my parents so much. We had so much to talk about and so much to do with them before they had to leave. After they got set up, they wanted to come and see our Class A Motorhome. So we walked down to our place...Brought them inside and they loved our new little home. Then Don went outside with my Dad and as they were walking around outside. My Mom and I were talking about this motor home and a few other things. I said look aren't we missing something outside? She said yes...where is your Dakota? Did you park it somewhere else? I said nope, it is out there can't you see it? She said no. I made a hand motion and said Walla it is right over there. Her eyes lit up and she said Omgosh...really? My Mom had tears in her eyes and she was so happy that we no longer had the Dakota, in fact we have something way better. She got all teared up and said Thank the Lord, my prayers have been answered. She was so happy! Sometime after Don & Dad came back in...Mom said something to Dad about looking for the Dakota, he said he never really paid attention but thought it was parked somewhere else. That is when I said hang on let me go get it. So I walked right across the street, but Dad never really payed any attention where I went. I got in my new truck and I drove it up in front of our RV. I seen Dad's head pop up in the window - twice. But when I got inside - I heard my Mom say see Ed I told you they have a new truck. He was amazed just like my Mom. They were so happy for us! No more Dakota problems...we put a over abundance of money into the Dakota and it still gave out on us and wouldn't start much. We had replaced the sensors at least 4 to 6 times and still nothing. So my son said over the phone - Ok Mom you really need to start looking and soon, get rid out it before it gives out on you and then you can't trade it in. So we did and here is what we got.

We now have a Dodge Ram 1998 (New to me) & it is a Diesel Truck. Not fond of White but at the time we couldn't really be picky, we needed something right now. So here it is! Also while my parents were here we bought ourselves a 12 foot long enclosed ultility trailer to hole all our belongings. Mike has known about this truck since March when we first got it and neither us or Mike has told them. Boy I tell you holding this secret was pretty hard this time. *laughing* I even had some photos of our motorhome that you could see the truck in them. but they figured it was someone else's truck. *laughing* 

I have to say this was the BEST time with my parents on vacation. I wanted to tell you everything that happened here, but it has been a few months since they were here and so I might have forgot a few things. So what I am going to do is show you all sorts of photos and tell you what they are underneath them. But I just want to show you our time with my parents was FANTASTIC! Don & I even took them out to eat for their late 50th Anniversary dinner. (Please read beneath all the photos - also click on them to make them bigger). 

We got to meet my parents new kitty. So cute!

Max is the most Amazing cat ever! He is the Chorus cat!

This furball of love is a Miracle! 

My parents even give him a IV and medicine to keep him going. Poor Max almost didn't make it last summer after his kidney's were trying to give out on him. But they saved him. I LOVE MAX!(Max is the bigger cat and he is a Maine Coon Cat) My parents have had Max a very long time. The most gentle cat in the world! 

Meet Sisi or is it spelled Cici lol (Sierra)

WOW this cat usually don't like me and this time she surprised me. 

Lovey dovey with me - which is totally odd for this cat!

In fact I cannot stand white cats - nope I dislike white cats and have ever since I was a young girl when our neighbors white cat bit me. Ever since then me and white cats don't mix. Bring on Black cats or any other cat but NOT white! LOL 

She hates Rusty, because he picks on here! Ha Ha

Petting my parents dog "KC" here - Rusty's buddy!

This is Bear Lake just right down the road from Whitetail Ridge Campground.

This is where we go fishing a lot for Bass. 

My Dad & his buddy Rusty - (my dog)

I was helping my Mom with the dishes. shhh she doesn't know I snapped this photo! *laugh* 

Now just to let you know - I don't remember what order anything went in and so I will share all the fun photos of our time with my parents. 

Mom & I 

We took Mom & Dad for a ride on our ATV's again this year. We had a great time! We went to Leesome Lake - yes they have trails to get there from Whitetail. :-) 

Don & Dad

Dad is all ready to beat the dusty trail!

Dad & Don

Smoking break

Ready to go down the trail to get to Leesome Lake.

I was very gentle driving because of Mom's back. She said I was very good. I told her that is only because you are on here. Otherwise she probably would freak if she seen what I can do on this thing and in the mud. LOL 

I love you Mom & Dad!

When we get down there you will need to go with us sometime again in the desert!

Mom - no need to do your hair for this ride!

Are we having fun yet?

OK Men lets get this show on the road! Oh my did I just say what my Mom always says? HA! I did!!! :-) 

You said what? 

Mother & Daughter fun!

Well I guess we better get ready to go so the ladies can have their free mud pacs. LOL

Say's it all! 

(My favorite hat of them all! I got from Branson MO)

Ok Guys - Are you ready yet??

Ok now we are at Leesome Lake visiting Patti & Johnny! 

Things are a little rough with John, but Patti still plugs away at taking care of him. Working with people with Altzheimers it is challenging! 

Not a fun Disease to have!

Johnny, Patti, Dad, & Mom

They stayed there for awhile because Don & I went back to get the truck because it was raining. On the way back to Whitetail, we ran into a black bear cub and Big Mama wasn't far behind her cub. So they got to visit with Patti & Johnny for a bit. Dad was sad because he wanted to go back with Don. But we made it up to Dad later that week, he got to drive my atv and have some fun out on the trails with Don.

Showing you how the lake is WAY down. The lily pad area where we caught Turtles is almost all dried up. Sad I know :( 

This is where the boats used to sit on the shoreline.

Beach

Looking at the old well house.

Dad walking

It is sad that Leesome Lake is so down this year. Hopefully someday this beautiful clear lake doesn't ever dry up. A lot of the lakes up here are dried up already. :( Lake Seymour is just as bad! 

Leesome 

Standing at the edge of the water where we swim - looking back at the sites.

Standing on the beach looking over towards the Lily pads area.

Standing on the beach looking over towards where the dock is.

Leesome Lake Campground

I remember when we were kids taking walks down the dirt roads. I wouldn't really do that anymore because of fear of the Timber Wolf packs in this area. Scary! They are all over the place and getting worse every year! Where we are right now at Whitetail, we hear them every night howling. We even had one run across from our site into the woods one night coming home from Shell Lake. Spooky!! (But that site was up in the woods - we are now down near the bar). 

Mom got to meet my Friend Kristine while they were here :-) 

Mom talking to Kris and Max sleeping

We took Mom & Dad fishing down at Bear Lake. Dad & Don did the majority of it. 

Kris is sitting over there with Mom. 

Bear Lake

Rusty sitting by the campfire

Its not called camping without a campfire. 

We went to Hayward Wi. - that is one thing that you need to do is go to Hayward Wi. The candy shop is here! YUM!

Mom & I at Coop's The Pizza Bar!

I love my Mama!

Don & Dad

Yes this fish is alive and swimming in a HUGE fish tank!

Yup still at the Pizza Bar!

I love these!

I love Sunflowers so I got my photo taken by them!

Mom & her friend

The Candy Shoppe 

Homemade Fudge, & Peanut Brittle and lots of other goodies too!

Dad & Don went on the atv's and according to Don, Dad was WILD on it. He was like a speed demon. Passing by people's homes going faster then 10 mph like the road sign said. lol I can't help but laugh and I would have loved to had been there, watching my Dad fly on my ATV. Like Father like daughter eh!

Ahh what a ride!!

Myself, Don & Dad taking the dogs out for a walk. This is my favorite past time - I walk when I am able to do so. :-) 

Lazy cats!

Go away Rusty! Leave me alone please!

Reow! Hiss! Spit! Growlll!

This is my parents Wedding photo!

They were married for 50 years in 2011

They got to use my Grandma & Grandpa Mc's 50th Anniversary woodcarving that my Dad made for them. We weren't at the party in AZ. :-( 

My parents at the 50th Anniversary Party in AZ.

But when they were up here we took them out for their Anniversary to celebrate it our way. So we took them out for dinner. Rice Lake Wi has a beautiful new Resturant near the old Kmart building. We all had a great time, smiled, laughed, and ate! :-) Our tummies were full when we left there! Good food!

We love you Dad & Mom!

We are so happy you had a wonderful time with us!

We were all four in the Backwoods Saloon Bar & Rec hall that is on the grounds at Whitetail Ridge Campground. This is where I spend some of my days talking to my close friend that is like a daughter to me. I sit and chit chat with her and drink a nice tall glass of ice water. 

Mom showing her watches and watch bands to Ashley's Grandma and also Ashley too.

Yep my hair was this dark.

Myself, Ashley & Mom/ Grandma

God sent an Angel to me and her name is Ashley!

Thank you Ashley for being a good true friend.

Love you lots!

The whole family (owners) of Whitetail Ridge Campground is what we call good friends.

Oh yeah! Mom & Dad loved out Class A Motor Home! 

:-) 

I Grabbed Cute Pair of Shoes & Headed Out To Change a Few Things

Before my parents came up here in June, I have to say I was anxiously waiting because the last time we seen them was Christmas of 2010. Life that year was full of negativities. I felt as if everything just fell apart that year. I have to say that I am sure today as I speak, I believe some people are getting nervous about us moving back down there come Sept. 2012. I have to admit that I am NOT nervous at all. In fact I feel very confident about myself and the journey I have taken to make changes in my life for me. I had to take care of "Me" and not worry about what others think of me. I am forever proud of myself for taking this step forward on my new journey. I am different, I am unique, I am creative, I am a Reiki healer, I am at peace within me, I love me. God made me special and I thank God everyday too. 

"To much negativity can kill you and your life experiences."

"...when we judge or criticize another person, it says nothing about that person; it merely says something about our own need to be critical..."

That was the year that I decided to take a look at how "MY LIFE" was going and where it was headed. I found out that I was headed in all the wrong directions. I put out some negativities too, but it wasn't completely my fault. So I will not take all the blame for the things that happened and the way they happened. Read on.......You need to understand what it "was" like to be in my shoes.......many people don't know and don't understand.....but when you have been hurt & traumatized so many times your in life it causes problems..............then can kill any relationships that you have with family, friends, spouses, and so on. So please read on and to view what it "was" like to be in my shoes for awhile:

The truth will set me free. There is a truth about who I am, where I  have been and the experiences that I have had.  But I had to hide from painful experiences of my past, because to face the reality would destroy the fragile myths that I had built to preserve my sanity and my spirit. 

The sadness is though, that the myths and fantasies that I used to hide from my pain, eventually became a prison that kept that pain inside me and prevented me from setting myself free. 

The truth of who I am and where I have been is my reality. Real recovery from emotional wounds of being traumatized in my past can only begin when I was ready to feel the emotions and listen to the story that my inner child wanted me to hear.

Whenever I had uncomfortable feelings I found it difficult to control, I know that my inner child was trying to tell me something. But in listening to my inner child and acknowledging the sadness and the wounds, I began the journey to put away the myth and replace it with the truth.  

 I was struggling with past flashbacks of being hurt due to childhood trauma and some adult life trauma, of people getting mad at me or some sorta negative reaction. My reaction was based on a defense mechanism based on repeated past events that psychologically wounded me.  These past events occurred in childhood and some in my adulthood, that is when in my mind I had to develop methods to protect myself from the actions of the adults in my life, in order to remain emotionally intact as possible. I stored my childhood coping mechanisms and I used them whenever a situation occurred that felt similar to the original wound. When the wounds are repeated often enough, my defenses became habitual and it continued in my life. 

"Do not feel Lonely.The entire universe is inside you."

 I decided it was time to get out of this rut I was in. I wanted to get rid of all the hurt from being traumatized throughout my life and to get rid of all this anger inside me. At times I felt like everyone was out to get me, I felt like I wasn't special to anyone or the things I did. People never understood my reactions to things that were said or done to me back in those days. The worst thing that happened was something that I love so dearly was taken away from me because of something that I did and many didn't understand. You'll never completely understand what it is like to have been in my shoes, unless you were in those shoes. During Christmas in  2010 a lot of things happened that really shouldn't have happened in the long run. Things could have been handled a different way. It has been said that people who love you and care for you have to often guide you and tell you when you go wrong...
They choose being thought of as your enemy even when thinking the best for you...
Because they know that in the end even if it makes them wrong, you will be the best in what you do.. Be wise enough to know that in who you think as your enemy actually lies your very best friend.... That year gave me a BIG wake up call! 


These negative reactions that "had" happened, made me take a step forward and get a good look at what was really going on in my life. I had so much hurt and negativity in my life. With all the health issues that I have, boy I didn't need those things either. In fact I believe that some of those traumatizing memories were some of my anger and they caused me to hurt emotionally and physically inside of me. I still have health problems but I manage them better now. I decided it was time to take my life for a good positive turn and start the healing process. 

The start of the healing process is simply to become aware. Aware that our relationship with ourselves and life isn't working; aware that our responses to life and other people are based on past events and not on what is happening now; aware that we can change how we feel, just by becoming aware. Awareness requires us to start observing our thoughts and feelings with detachment and asking ourselves where these came from, without implying that there is anything 'wrong' with the way we are thinking or feeling. Where we are right here and right now is exactly right for us today. By observing ourselves today and developing an awareness of our thoughts and feelings, we can start the journey towards a better relationship with both ourselves and others.

Real happiness is inherent... I am not dependent on anyone to make me happy...The real happiness is there inside me if I am content, I know that there is nothing that is impossible for me and whatever my conditions are I am capable to handle it on my own..That is when my happiness becomes part of my being...Be happy...That's what the whole point of living is all about. I have this whole life ahead of me and I decided I needed some help to heal. "Memories" are always there because they are programed in our minds, they cannot be erased. But you can take a step forward to change how you feel about it and learn ways how to handle it. Those memories will be just there and cannot harm you anymore. Your life goes on and you are the only one that can make it better for yourself by being happy and love yourself!

"Live for today, in the present. The past is the past, The future isn't here yet."


All about me presently: I AM "me",  kind and loving... I see beauty in myself and reflect that love back to everyone I meet today...

So I took it upon myself to find a good counselor and take a big step forward
My views on life now and see my changes: (Wait till you see me in person - my attitude on life is different!) 

Here are some things that I truly believe in! I am on a journey......


We are not the person we were yesterday, but it is the experience we gained through all our yesterday's, that has created the person we are today. Holding onto the hurts of the past, whether given to you or caused by you, prevents you from seeing those moments for what they truly were - your greatest opportunities for growth. No-one is bad, although they may do bad things. No-one does anything that they feel is wrong at the moment in time when it happens. Life is full of experiences, designed for our spiritual growth. It's the way we view those experiences that defines us, and not the experiences themselves. Don't allow your past to continue to define who you are, otherwise it will define your future too.

Everyone has wounds. You might be afraid to get close, afraid to be alone, afraid of being hurt, afraid of being controlled or afraid of being abandoned. These are your wounded places. Your strongest reactions come from your deepest wounds. Observe your reactions today and start to take power away from your negative self-talk.

Today, take back your power. Give it its rightful place inside you. There is nothing outside of you that can make you any less or any more. It doesn't matter how many times someone tells that you are wonderful, you'll only feel wonderful when it comes from inside you. We are all unique and wonderful and have our own gifts to share.

I have always been know to care about how others are feeling before me. I have this nature to be there for others before I took acre of myself. In this journey I learned that you need to love yourself before you can love another. I have to say this right now. "I LOVE ME!!" 

Today

Now

&

Forever!

THE REAL MEANING OF LOVE

In the days of ‘Love Story’, love may have meant never having to say you’re sorry, but today we might define love rather differently. 

If we were with someone who kept doing something damaging, but thought that they didn’t need to apologise for their behaviour, would we think of this as love or class it as abuse?

When we truly love ourselves, we will be ready to truly love another.

When we no longer look to another to give us self-worth, we will stop needing them and start loving them.

Love means to love yourself enough that it no longer matters what anyone else says or does. We can like it or dislike it, but we will no longer take it personally, because it no longer affects our self-worth.

At the end of the day, it all comes back to one thing – self-worth. When we have that, we start to see life and love in a completely different way.

LOVE is a gift and not a bargain.

LOVE cannot be bought; it can only be given and received.

LOVE brings with it, peace, joy and happiness.

LOVE is who you are, not something you own.

LOVE is a decision you make to value yourself.

When you truly LOVE yourself, you can truly LOVE another.

LOVE is the path to find ourselves and also the journey home.

If you want to change your life, then start moving in that direction. Have faith and start walking in the direction of your dreams ...

There is a certain comfort in just being able to be ourselves. As co-dependents, which most of us are to one degree or another, we spend a lot of time thinking about other people rather then ourselves. We worry about what they think of us. We worry about what they are going to do, because it may affect the way we feel about ourselves. we focus on their problems, because it is easier then focusing on our own. It is said, that when a co-dependent dies, someone else's life flashes before their eyes. Being comfortable in our own skin is something that only happens when we start the recovery process. Over time, we change the focus from other people to ourselves. We learn to look after our own needs and to set healthy boundaries for others people's behavior. When we accept ourselves for who we really are, we enable others to accept us for who we are. no-one minds where you have been or has any interest in who you think you are. all anyone really wants is to be able to be themselves and know that by doing so, they are also accepted by others who can then be themselves too.

Co- dependency happens when we allow our self-worth to be determined by outside events or other people. Some of us do this by becoming people-pleasers who needed to be liked and tend to put the needs of others before our own, Others learn to control and manipulate their environments to protect themselves from emotional pain. If our wounding was very severe, we may need to dissociate altogether from our surroundings and create a world in our mind where we can live free from pain of reality.

Whatever method we chose, we are all reacting to similar emotional childhood wounds. Our personality and individual experiences determined which particular survival mechanisms we adopted, but we all spend our lives in reaction until take control and begin our to live our lives out of choice.


Today, take back your power. Give it its rightful place inside you. There is nothing outside of you that can make you any less or any more. It doesn't matter how many times someone tells that you are wonderful, you'll only feel wonderful when it comes from inside you. We are all unique and wonderful and have our own gifts to share.

They say that people come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. But there are some people who arrive, that we instinctively know, will change our lives forever. If someone like this arrives in your life, you’ll know that you are being taken on a life-changing journey from which will never want to return. You’ll also know that you are absolutely ready for that journey.

In our Life we want good things for ourselves...

And while we can focus on our own sel in our entire Life's story there should be a few pages for others too where we wish and want good things for them....

These pages of our story can be one of the most fragrant and beautiful pages of our Life....

The grudge that you might be holding against someone makes you a prisoner of it's negativity.... 

You are stuck in a rut with only negative thoughts to give you company...

Free yourself of all that holds you captive or brings you down...

Look into your heart, it has enough love that you can spread around...

When I hear the word 'healing' being used, it suggests to me that we must be 'sick' in some way, otherwise why would we need to be healed? I firmly believe that we are not sick at all. In fact, I believe that some of us have had to become experts at surviving from one day to the next, and in doing so, we have had to develop our own coping mechanisms to exist in an often hostile world. So when people tell us that we are co-dependent and need healing, what they are really saying is that we are survival experts, but that the coping mechanisms we are using need an upgrade to some that will work better for us than the old ones we are currently using. So, look at your 'gut reaction' responses today and ask yourself if they might be ready for an update.

I have NO reason to be nervous going to live in AZ again. My family should have no reason to feel this way either. I am very confident about myself. 

I have been told take of you first.

I did! 

&

I applied it to my life!

In the end my parents while they were here seen MANY changes in me and they are so 

PROUD

of me and the changes I have made for "Me"!