The Despain Review

We've hesitated for years about buying a trampoline. The grass area in our backyard is not very big and we love to spend lots of time out there in the summer. But after years of hearing about buying one from the kids.....we buckled. So here it is....and it takes up most of the grass, but who cares right??? The kids are having so much fun. I got on thinking I could do all my old tricks.....a friendly reminder that I'm not that young anymore. :) This will be a great tool in the summer vacation coming up in 2 days!

I couldn't find a picture of my Mom by herself. She is always the one taking pictures of everyone else ALL the time. She rarely is seen in any of them.
The more I looked at this picture...the more fitting it became for this post.
We just celebrated Mother's Day yesterday and the older I get the more I appreciate this day. Not for my own attention that I receive from my kids, but the appreciation I feel more and more as the years roll on for my own Mom.
In this picture is also my Grandma Bufton who I love so very much and has taught me so many things that have made me the person I am today. She has also been a woman of strength that I have had to learn from and lean on. She is an amazing woman and raised a great daughter who would become my Mom.
I love my Mom so much. She is not just my Mother, she is one of my best friends. As I looked at this picture it summed it all up. This picture was taken at the finish of my 1st marathon. I was amazed at the support I received from my family. My parents drove up from Vegas to be there for me. They awoke at 4 a.m. to ride the trax train to my starting line. This is how my Mom is.....she's at all my finishes. She is there from the start. She is my strength when I'm weak and there to encourage my tired body along thru all steps of life. She makes me laugh, and smile even on days I'd rather not. She is inspired to call at just the right time, or send a letter when I am most in need. She has always been there to teach me right from wrong & make it all better when I take the long hard road around. She has always been there to welcome me back and embrace me with her loving arms.
She is and has always been such a great Mother to me and my brothers. She gives her all to us kids....and I wish she'd give some of that to herself, but that's not her. She is always looking out for others and worrying about how to makes other's life happier and easier!!!
What a blessing she is in my life. I don't know what I would do without her. Even when we're seperated by 400 miles....I know she's only a phone call away. She is My Mother & I couldn't ask for a better one.
Thanks Mom for all you do....I hope you know how much you're loved by all of us and how much we appreciate you!!!!

Dad & the boys headed north this weekend to go visit Uncle Trais, Aunt Betsy & cousins. They had a great time fishing and canoeing at Johnson's Res. Nathan couldn't stop talking about catching fish.....but having to leave them for Uncle Travi to eat. I'm HAPPY they left them for Travi to eat!!!!! They were gone 2 days, but got home just in time to celebrate Mother's Day!!!