Happy Father’s Day

 

Father’s Day is a celebration honoring fathers; celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society.

 Father’s Day this year will be different.  For the last 26 years, we have spent Father’s Day with my dad.  It was one of dad’s holidays when Belinda was growing up.  This year, I’m at a loss.  A void in my life which I feel on so many days.  It is weird, dad and I could go for weeks without talking yet just knowing he was there was okay.  In an instant, he was gone.  Heaven gained an angel on April 15th and there is a hole in my heart I struggle to fill.

Life with my dad had its ups and downs. Growing up was filled with family vacations and holidays.  MS has taken many of those memories away but we have told the stories many times but truly remembering is tough.  There are flashes some days but they are few and far between.

Dad was a HAM radio operator and I always had the BEST reports in school because he would reach out to friends far and wide for their help.  He bought me my first car for $100 and spray painted it blue. It was a stick shift, so he had to teach me – a true experience. The Chevy Nova lasted a long time and held many memories.  My junior year, he and my mom, cooked breakfast for the ENTIRE Junior Class of Ocean Twp HS after the prom.

Dad’s battle with alcoholism and those demons brought some really rough times. When my parents divorced, I was angry and hurt.  I wanted nothing to do with my dad. On Pop-pop’s death bed, he told me “it is time to forgive your dad”.  I wasn’t ready but every once in awhile I would get a nudge from my Weston angels it was time.  I never listened and it will be one of the regrets of my life.

My drug addiction brought us together and it was a gift.  My dad came to visit which was the first time we had spoken in 16 YEARS! He found out where I was and he traveled to Pennsylvania to see me. It is when the healing began.  No judgement.  No questions.  Just ready to fill the gaps of the missing years.

What a blessing it was to have him walk me down the aisle the day I got married.  He was the proud father as he walked me down the aisle.  A rough day for him due to health issues but one he would not have missed to anything.

I love this picture (even though we are missing some of the family bush). We have always said, it isn’t a family tree – it’s a bush and it was a blessing to have 4 generations in the same picture which is not always an easy task.  

I miss you Dad!

So today, I will spend time with hubby and cherish the memories.  I know my angels – dad and pop-pop – are enjoying the day together.

Take a moment today and thank the “fathers” in your life.  Some may be your biological dads, your adopted dads, some may be your friends dad’s, some may be a man who helped to shape your life – whoever it is, THANK them.  They have given you many blessings.  Remember blessings are sometimes in the form trials and it is all of those things which make you the person you are today.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day.

Reward Yourself

It is FRIDAY!  You have worked hard whether you are a stay at home mom or you punch a time clock from 9AM – 5PM.  If you have taken any of my challenges this week, you have definitely worked hard.  Personal growth is tough.  Take it from one who knows!

Whenever you accomplish something, you should reward yourself.  I know you are thinking – no time, no money, right?  Maybe you are thinking “I didn’t do anything worth celebrating this week”.  The truth is that there is always something to CELEBRATE.  It can be getting to the gym for workout, getting caught up on the household chores or maybe you just feel good.

Rewarding yourself on a weekly basis can be beneficial for your mood, and your motivation. You deserve it, so here are 20 ways to do it…

1. Get a manicure. Homemade, in front of the television or at the salon, it will make you feel great instantly.  I make a mess with nail polish so I save time by using Jamberry.

2. Take a bubble bath. The ultimate relaxation, and take your time!

3. Put money aside for a trip. Saving a specific amount each week will help you achieve a bigger treat like a trip.

4. Go out for dinner. Whether it is to your favorite restaurant, to your mom’s house, or to eat fast food…

5. Indulge in a sweet treat. Or salty. And don’t feel guilty about it.

6. Watch a movie in bed. Slip in your comfiest pajamas and enjoy.

7. UNPLUG!!! Take time off the Internet. We all need a break from the outside world, and during that time, you’ll be able to do anything, and you won’t be disturbed.

8. Read a book. Or a magazine.

9. Pick up flowers at your local market. This little attention will bring joy into your home.

10. Listen to loud music. And don’t forget to dance!

11. Have a glass of wine. Invite your friends for dinner, and chat with them.

12. Wander around town. There are probably many areas that you’ve never seen. A little bit of surprise can’t hurt.

13. Look at old memories. This is a great way to make you smile.

14. Call a friend or a family member. Someone you haven’t talked to in a while, or someone you talk to every day.

15. Cook your favorite meal. And don’t forget to turn the music on while you cook!

16. Sleep 15 more minutes. Or go to sleep early.

17. Write in a diary. It is so liberating, and very amusing to read later in your life.

18. Organize a picnic. What better way to enjoy the weather?

19. Go to the cinema.

20. Go shopping. Window shop and try clothes on that are “not your usual style”.  Who knows you may find something you like.

Rewarding yourself doesn’t have to take a lot of money, it is a chance to pamper you.  The CELEBRATE your awesomeness.

What will you do to REWARD yourself this weekend?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!