Neither rain,nor sleet, nor snow or dark of night.......

My husband & I felt like the postal service as we drove through the mountains during a winter storm on our way to Laguna Beach, California to house sit for our younger son's girlfriend before Christmas and to drive them up to LAX to catch their flight to Hawaii. No sightings of our president elect for them. We experienced all of the above and celebrated the great traction of the truck's new tires. We were fortunate to arrive as the snowplows pushed away the 12 inches of snow on the mountain passes and we just tagged along. Soon the lights of San Diego were visible in the misty rain. We were taking an extended break which held delights and challenges. Her house is an old California bungalow where she grew up with no central heat or insulation. Needless to say we practiced our layering habits from our Wyoming days. I read, walked endlessly on the beach several times a day, watched the DVD of and Momma Mia-it didn't matter if Pierce Bronson could sing or not, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and sang right along with them. Hooked up with my brother and his family for dinner. We made a trip down to SD to visit our other son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter where we helped trim the tree, viewed holiday lights and enjoyed a day at the San Diego Wild Animal Park up in Escondido. Christmas Eve we attended a Christmas Vigil mass at St. Catherine of Sienna ( beautiful gardens) and after picking up the travelers the next day enjoyed a along scenic walk around Crescent Bay. All in all we created what mattered most to us-connection with family, quiet time, walks on the beach (rain or shine) and a general allowing with what came along. ( Limited internet connection kept us in the present.) We did receive a heads up from my brother-in-law that my mother-in-law was quite sick- more on that later. Here are some photos for you to enjoy.

Many Blessings,

Colleen

Colleen Crook is a Life & Spiritual Leadership coach and owner and founder of Conscious Living Connection providing coaching/mentoring for spiritually conscious professionals, consciouspreneurs(TM) ,excutives and groups who want to create what matters most with authenticity and integrity through the Consciously Living with Passion Purpose and Prosperity Success Program. Colleen is also known as the Passions to Action Mentor. Sign up for your Fr^ee Create What Matters Most gift bundle at http://www.consciouslivingconnection.com/

Memorial Joy & Remembrance

Our memorial weekend was was filled with delight and joy along with remembering those who gave their life in consciously serving their country. We have been blessed in my family to have those who served in the armed forces return from their duties safely and without injury. On the civilian side, the graves of family members who have passed were tidied up and new plantings added in their memory.

As mentioned above, my husband and I were ecstatic to have our granddaughter Ella and her parents visit from San Diego for the weekend. I cannot even express the JOY I felt in watching her walk, run, dance and totally charm her grandparents. She is such a happy child ( she has her moments and they are few in comparison). Acknowledgements go to her parents and my daughter-in-law's Aunt June who babysits for them during the day for the gentle and caring way they guide her and give her the freedom to explore in a safe environment.

Saturday night found us chillin' and enjoying the music of Chris Gregory , a local singer and songwriter, at Javalina's coffee house http://www.javalinas.com/. Ella was a captive audience for an hour and a quarter even with her bottle. Sunday brought my sister, Kate and husband, Dennis up for lunch and a round of golf.

On Monday,Memorial Day, we had an unexpected visitor to my backyard fountain- a bobcat! I had just lowered the sunshades on the porch so the photo is a little blurry. My small zen-like backyard attracts a multitude of birds including a nesting pair of quail with their eggs, hawks and various lizards. This is a first for the bobcat.

Bobcat drinking on left side of

fountain

My intention for the weekend was to create those one moment in time memories while enjoying, relaxing and connecting on a deeper heart level with family. By jove, it was created as I allowed the events to unfold!!

Great Joy & simplicity,

Colleen

http://www.consciouslivingconnection.com/
"to create what matters most"