What a difference a day MAKES...

What a difference a day makes...

Yesterday        Today    

Early Morning...IN STYLE

So last night was girls night at the salon....and this morning we see the results.  With one exception - why do I have grey roots.  Oh that is right I actually pay to go to a REAL salon to get my hair colored!  Don't worry the grey will be gone tomorrow.  I might just go RED... to match my SASSY personality.

And this is what the little guy thought of his Nana, Mom and Auntie Laura

What the heck, the ladies in my life are CRAZY!!

Late Night..IN STYLE

When the girls and I get together it never fails that hair coloring is always involved in a late night caper.  The master bathroom is turned into a salon and the later it gets the funnier we get...

 

No matter how the color turns out - the laughter turns out great!

I love these girls!

MOSS

Memories Of Sweet Solitude

While on a recent family camping trip I was able to be completely surround by M.O.S.S. The varied hues of green among the forest floor and canopy breathed live into my starving spirit.   It has been awhile since I have been able to get out the fast pace world and into the slow steady living world.  It does so much for ones body, mind and soul to take a few moments and find a place of solitude.  To reflect on life, love and the blessing of 'just being' one with nature.  I was reminded of an old Louie Armstrong song and can't you just hear him sing...

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And i think to myself:
"What a wonderful world!"

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to my self:
"What a wonderful world!"

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying "How do you do."
They really say: "I love you!"

I hear babies crying I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself:
"What a wonderful world!"
Yes, I think to myself: "What a wonderful world!"

I love MOSS...Memories Of Sweet Solitude.  I can find solitude in a forest or in a canyon.  It is with me as I travel from Washington to Utah or from China to Thailand.  Solitude is a frame of mind.  Solitude is the color green for me.  Solitude is when I can whisper a prayer and know that He is listening.  I can use a little more MOSS in my life.

Tents, Tarps and Too Much Food

We have had been holding our annual Spader family camp out for the past eight years.  Tents, Tarps, TOO much Food were a plenty this year as well as the addition of  TWO one year old boys!!  

 I think that the pictures say it all.

It's a BOY

Sixteen years ago today I was honored to be called a mother for the four and final time.  John Blain was born July 12th 1995 at 2:10 pm weighing in at 9lbs 14 ounces...in reality that is a whopping

TEN pounds of ALL BOY!!

  

July 12, 1995

July 12, 2011

John is a blessing to our family.

He is a perfect combination of both Ron and I, sprinkled with a little Audrey and Laura and quite of bit of David too.

John is the last of the flock and I am NOT counting the days when this one will spread his wings and fly from the nest.

 Happy Birthday John, I love you a...

"Million Swedish FISH!" 

Bitter Sweet

Coming back to the states for 8 weeks in the summer is bitter sweet and not like the chocolate.  The month of May rolls around and I start to get all queasy inside with the anticipation of returning to the "HOMELAND".  The day finally arrives and I am on the long flight back to family and friends, who I am sure are eagerly awaiting my arrival.  That is the sweet part!  The bitter part comes in tiny segments though out the eight weeks.  You make plans to meet with friends, just to realize that the timing is all wrong.  Last minute things are always popping up when you least expect them too and have a way of encroaching upon the precious time you  have left.  That is the bitter - but you have to have the bitter to appreciate the sweet.


I was able to spend almost three weeks in Utah and Idaho this summer.  Some might think that three hours in those two states combined is too long, but I find the time that I spent in Utah and Idaho, Bitter Sweet!


Bitter -  It wasn't as hot as I would have liked.
Sweet - I was able to see the sun shine a few times, even in my dreams.
Bitter -  The snow was still on the tops of the mountains, so no hiking Timp this year.
Sweet - I did some pretty nice runs through Logan, Ogden, Salt Lake and Provo
Bitter -  Spent some money on food and snacks - too much
Sweet - Ate at the Texas Road house in Idaho Falls, Draper and Provo, love that place!
Bitter -  Saying good by to Family and Friends
Sweet-  Knowing that they love me no matter where I am

Texas Road House - always a good time!

"ELD"

I was going through the pictures that I have used for my blog profile picture since I started blogging in June of 2009 - and I have discovered that I don't even look like the same person in any of the shots.  What is up with that.  I was reminded of the movie called..The Three Faces of Eve starring Joanne Woodward, a happily married woman that has multiple personality disorder.


In some of the photos I look like I have a disorder -I think it is called  ELD or  EXPAT Life Disorder

Here are just some of my blog profile photos over the past 2 years:

 Whidbey Island, Washington

 Hong Kong

 Rexburg, Idaho

 Salt Lake City, Utah

 Ko Samet, Thailand

 Nichada Thani, Thailand

 Bali

 Beijing, China

Taj Mahul, Delhi, India

Ko Phi Phi, Thailand

Seattle, Washington

And my current Blog profile PHOTO...

Maybe I should make a movie or better yet star in my own reality TV show...Called ELD

EXPAT LIFE DISORDER

Stadium of Fire

While in Provo Utah for the 4th of July weekend, I was able to attend the Stadium of Fire, it is a patriotic production that is held every year at the BYU stadium. This year the entertainment performers were David Archuletta and Brad Paisley. The music was good but I really loved how fireworks lit up the night sky.


FYI - The knee photo was to prove that I was really there. 

I went with a wonderful friend and her kids.  They were on one side and on the other side of me sat the Loudest David Archuletta fan club - I didn't know that teenage girls could scream so loud!  It was a great way to celebrate.  I hope my ears recover.

Food, Friends, and Fireworks!! 

Let Freedom Ring

And I’m proud to be and American

where at least I know I’m free.

And I won’t forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up next to you and; defend her still today.

Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land

God bless the USA.

My parents taught me many important things while growing up.  One of the best things that taught me was to love America.  I have been deeply patriotic all my life. Yet, over the past two years of living in Asia I have felt a deeper sense of love and respect for the United States of America.  Despite all of the politically, social and economical problems that appears to be plaguing our country,it is still "the land of the free and the home of the brave."

One of my favorite cherished moments took place in June of 2002.  Audrey and I were on her graduation trip back to the East Coast and we went to the many of the Smithsonian museums.  Since it had only been 9 months since 9/11 - many of national monuments were closed to the public, I wanted desperately to visit the American History building - I walked in and the first thing that I saw was the Flag that flew over Ft. McHenry in 1814.  The curators were repairing "Old Glory" to her original state and views could watch the process.  While I walked by I music was playing softly in the back ground and I could here...

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.

Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: “In God is our trust;”

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I was moved beyond words and tears streamed down my cheeks while I watched "Old Glory" begin her journey back to life.  The American spirit is in that flag.  I felt a surge of national pride and my heart filled with gratitude for those who have fought to defend and make our country free.  

I was reminded of this again as I sat in the stands of a packed stadium while the "Star Spangled Banner" was song as the flag was raised and then followed by a fly over by air-force jets.  I again had to wipe a few tears away.

God Bless American and Let Freedom Ring

Rock N Roll 2011

One of the things that I have missed most about not living in Hong Kong any longer is hiking the trails.  When I moved to Thailand I had to pick up the running habit-it is so flat where we live, but the temperature and humidity make up for the lack of elevation.  When Audrey moved into our house in Auburn Washington, she decided that she too wanted to get into the running habit - she needs motivation to get her going, I just need the SUN.  Her motivation was to sign us both up for the Rock N Roll half marathon.  Like a good mother, I said sure - not really thinking that is 13.1 miles.  Training in Thailand proved to be a bit harder then I thought.  Running in 95 degree weather with 95 percent humidity was a challenge.  I ran 5 days a week averaging about 12-14 miles a week , and I am supposed to do my weeks worth of running in a single DAY.  What the heck had I signed up for.  I then realized that my goal was just to finish the race running the whole route.  I was not concerned with my time - just finish standing up was a good enough goal for me!  Here are the Official Results:

23945

Heidi Gailey

Auburn, WA

Age: 50 | Gender: F

Overall: 12026 out of 17083 · Division: 369 out of 728 · Gender: 7382 out of 11458

Pace	5 Km	10 Km	9 Mile	ChipTime	ClockTime
12:10	36:42	1:19:13	1:52:51	02:39:28	03:31:57

Now I must remind everyone reading this blog that before this race my longest distance run was 7 miles. Audrey and I ran the course together, she had stomach problems so we kept the pace at around 12 minutes - our goal was 11 min miles - but about 2 miles into the race she knew that she could keep that pace and keep her stomach from clenching.  With those two factors I think I did pretty good for a first timer - and I am gearing up for next year.  So bring on the ROCK N ROLL 2012 I will be ready...