The Texan (Rob’s prayer card)

Week #50 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Keep ‘Em Flying!”

Greetings Happyness Tribe — and welcome to week ELEVEN of our Summer Fun Challenge!

Growing up Church, the last weekend of August always meant the same thing: AIR SHOW WEEKEND!  Mom and Dad would pack us up in the car and cart us up to Sussex County Airport for a full day of aerobatics, wing-walkers, and fly-overs in the hot sun.

As we got older, three of us drifted away from the tarmac and on to other things  — but Rob did not.  The screaming kid who held his ears with each fly-by grew into an adult who not only continued to LOOK at planes — but took flying lessons, logged his hours, served on a crew team, and even flew in historic aircraft as often as he could!

In short — Rob kept his interests flying!

Many people will accurately tell you that the first year of grief is notably marked by “the firsts” — the first holidays, birthdays, seasons, etc.  But as we approach the one-year mark, we are also painfully reminded of “the lasts.”  The last time we saw him, the last thing we ate with him, the last phone call or text…you get the idea.

One of the many “last things” I remember was Rob’s frustration that he couldn’t attend last year’s “Wings of Freedom” fly-in at Monmouth Executive Airport — which brings three beautifully restored vintage aircraft to the Jersey Shore for display, tours, and flight experiences.  It was August, he already wasn’t feeling well, and it was HOT.  Rob didn’t often express regret — but he recounted to me that the year before he had passed up an opportunity to fly in a P-51 Mustang.  The “flight experience” was expensive — but something he had always wanted to do.  I remember the tension in his already breathless voice as he remembered the words, “maybe next year.”

“Keep ’em flying!” is the tagline for the Collings Foundation — the organization responsible for that P-51 (among other vintage aircraft) and the “Wings of Freedom” tour, which coincidentally arrives at Monmouth Executive Airport this weekend!  (If you or someone you know are really into aircraft — check it out!)

Do you have things your fun list this summer that you’re already thinking…maybe next year?

Your assignment for this week: “KEEP ‘EM FLYING!”  A balanced life takes planning and purpose, of course — but we also need to grab moments as they come.  This will mean different things to different people — but as the summer winds down, think about those things that you really wanted to do this year, THIS SUMMER, and then pick one thing and make it happen THIS weekend!  Maybe it’s a ride in a P-51 Mustang…who knows?!

Regret is a stingy thing.  But with each drone of those aircraft as they buzz up and down the beach this weekend — I will remember Rob, and remember to keep my own dreams flying!

Spread Happyness — and share your last-minute flight plans in the comments!

8/28/15 by Grace Church
© Grace Church

PS: ONE WEEK TO GO!  Our FUN LIST still has room to grow — keep ’em coming!!! 

– Have breakfast for dinner — or dinner for breakfast!  (Thanks, Jeannette!)
– Tubing down the Delaware!  (Thanks, Jenn!)
– “One Tank Trips”
– Surprise trip for spouse or loved one
– Kayaking
– Beach time
– BBQ’s
– Tourist for the day in nearby city
– Walking the boards
– Rock climbing
– Scuba diving
– Touring an estate
– Time with family
– Sitting on the porch
– Watching for rainbows
– Learning to surf
– Gardening
– Writing a book
– Working on a “summer” project
– Moving to a new town
– Planning a spa day (or half-day, or even lunch hour)
– Taking Fridays (or Mondays) off!
– Day at the ballpark (Minor League stadiums are great, too!)
– Outside concerts/music events
– Hot air balloon ride/festival
– Pool volleyball (a Church-family classic!)
– Take yourself or someone you love for ice cream!
– Weed your front yard garden (and talk with neighbors and folks walking by!)
– Lose yourself in wonderful music, either listening or singing
– Play in the grassy backyard
– Play with your dog (or maybe your neighbor’s dog!)
– Sing karaoke
– Explore your town, county, state…through food and drink!
– Visit a farm
– Make plans to see friends you don’t often get to see (or schedule a gathering!)
– Blind-folded Make-overs!  (Great for a rainy day!  Bonus points if you go out in public after!)

(What are we missing?  Send me your ideas and I’ll add them to the list!)

The Next Set (Photo credit: Grace Church)

Week #48 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Just Watch!”

Greetings Happyness Tribe — and welcome to week NINE of our Summer Fun Challenge! 

The summer is flying by!  We’re having fun…playing games…riding the waves…getting stuff done…walking the boards…taking some lessons…and even getting some quiet time.

Good work, everyone!

If activity comes in waves…then the rest between “sets” is important.  (A “set” is a group of waves within a swell.)  As a surfer, that’s when you stop to catch your breath, assess your position, maybe rest your arms, and look out at the horizon.  This is when you’ll see most surfers sitting up on their boards…waiting for the next set.

And while you’re doing that, you might just take a minute to look around for a second — and see something EXTRAORDINARY!

(Rob was known to paddle out…even on flat days…just to look around!)

This past week has been full of storms, rainbows, butterflies, sunflowers, and meteor showers…

…did you stop long enough to see any of it?!

Your assignment for this week: JUST WATCH!  The week ahead is bound to bring you some sort of lull — a delay, jam, detour, long line, stall, set-back, or some kind of hold-up.  Don’t just wait it out…WATCH!  Watch for rainbows…watch the wildlife…watch your dogs run in the yard or your cat dreaming a dream.  Watch the wind blow or the grass grow.  But most important, watch your children or loved ones at work or at play.  Whatever you do, open your eyes and be AWAKE to the world around you!

Don’t just wait…WATCH!  (And get ready for the next set!)

Spread Happyness — and share your thoughts in the comments!  What did you SEE this week?!

8/14/15 by Grace Church
© Grace Church

PS: THREE WEEKS TO GO!  Our FUN LIST is still growing — keep ’em coming!!! 

– Tubing down the Delaware!  (Thanks, Jenn!)
– “One Tank Trips”
– Surprise trip for spouse or loved one
– Kayaking
– Beach time
– BBQ’s
– Tourist for the day in nearby city
– Walking the boards
– Rock climbing
– Scuba diving
– Touring an estate
– Time with family
– Sitting on the porch
– Watching for rainbows
– Learning to surf
– Gardening
– Writing a book
– Working on a “summer” project
– Moving to a new town
– Planning a spa day (or half-day, or even lunch hour)
– Taking Fridays (or Mondays) off!
– Day at the ballpark (Minor League stadiums are great, too!)
– Outside concerts/music events
– Hot air balloon ride/festival
– Pool volleyball (a Church-family classic!)
– Take yourself or someone you love for ice cream!
– Weed your front yard garden (and talk with neighbors and folks walking by!)
– Lose yourself in wonderful music, either listening or singing
– Play in the grassy backyard
– Play with your dog (or maybe your neighbor’s dog!)
– Sing karaoke
– Explore your town, county, state…through food and drink!
– Visit a farm
– Make plans to see friends you don’t often get to see (or schedule a gathering!)
– Blind-folded Make-overs!  (Great for a rainy day!  Bonus points if you go out in public after!)

(What are we missing?  Send me your ideas and I’ll add them to the list!)  

Outside OG Surf & Skate (Ocean Grove, NJ)

Week #47 – Summer Fun Challenge: “Lessons Available!”  (Learn to ________________!)

Greetings Happyness Tribe — and welcome to week EIGHT of our Summer Fun Challenge! 

I couldn’t help but notice this sign outside of our local surf shop.  This was the shop that started it all for us!  About a decade ago — OG Surf & Skate used to be called OG Surf Shop.  That is where I took my first surf lesson, bought my first wetsuit, and my first and only surfboard!  It wasn’t too long after that Rob wanted to give it a try…and, like most things he attempted, he picked it up annoyingly quickly and easily!  Soon he had his own wetsuit, his own board, and his very own hobby that he loved so much!

Surfing is a tricky sport.  It takes place on an unpredictable, moody, and moving surface.  Much has been written about The Wave…but one thing is for sure: you cannot control it.  It doesn’t stop, or wait, or even play nice sometimes.  Without question — YOU must adapt to it.  And if you take the time to learn and cooperate just a bit — you just might get to experience the absolute thrill of standing up and riding a wave in for the first time!

I never would have gotten there on my own.  I needed someone to teach me.

And I’m so glad I did!

We think nothing of sending kids off for all kinds of lessons: swim, cooking, acting, dance, karate, band, and yes — even surf lessons!  Why do we do this?  To increase their learning curve?  To learn good habits?  And with surf or swim — to possibly save their lives?  Why then, as adults, do we try to do everything ourselves?  Why is it hard for us to humble ourselves to the expertise of another — all for the sake of learning, expediting, enjoying, and yes — possibly even saving our lives?

The best experiences I’ve had as an adult have been learning something new.  I took a ski lesson a DECADE after I first went skiing — to UN-learn bad habits and learn the “right” way!  I took a motorcycle class to learn how to properly (and hopefully safely) ride a motorcycle.  My sister and I treated my mom to a group golf lesson one year — and had a great time learning something new together (and playing a few rounds after that)!  And yes, I took surf lesson to not only learn how to surf — but how to fall, because wipeouts are inevitable!

I know a 20-something who takes piano, a 40-something who learned to swim, a 60+ year old who learned to play the trumpet, and an 80-something that will happily teach you how to knit!

I’ve used mentors, coaches, and webinars to learn — and try — something new.  I even used a tutorial to start this very blog!  You are never too old to learn something new — in fact, learning might be the very thing that keeps you young!

This week’s assignment: TAKE A LESSON!  Learn to surf, to cook, to play tennis, paddleboard, yoga, skeet shoot, whatever!  Whether it’s been something you’ve been doing for years — or something you want to try just now.  Give yourself the gift of experience and take a lesson!  Two things will happen — you’ll either realize the thing you’ve been wanting to do isn’t quite for you; or you’ll realize it is and have a whole new hobby to keep you busy!  Either way is just as important — to eliminate options opens you up for something else; to nurture and grow a budding interest opens you up to a something new!

Take a lesson!  (Or give one!)  You can’t stop the wave — but you can learn to surf!

Spread Happyness — and share your thoughts in the comments!  What would you like to learn (or teach)?!

8/7/15 by Grace Church
© Grace Church

PS: FOUR WEEKS TO GO!  Our FUN LIST is still growing — keep ’em coming!!! 

– “One Tank Trips”
– Surprise trip for spouse or loved one
– Kayaking
– Beach time
– BBQ’s
– Tourist for the day in nearby city
– Walking the boards
– Rock climbing
– Scuba diving
– Touring an estate
– Time with family
– Sitting on the porch
– Watching for rainbows
– Learning to surf
– Gardening
– Writing a book
– Working on a “summer” project
– Moving to a new town
– Planning a spa day (or half-day, or even lunch hour)
– Taking Fridays (or Mondays) off!
– Day at the ballpark (Minor League stadiums are great, too!)
– Outside concerts/music events
– Hot air balloon ride/festival
– Pool volleyball (a Church-family classic!)
– Take yourself or someone you love for ice cream!
– Weed your front yard garden (and talk with neighbors and folks walking by!)
– Lose yourself in wonderful music, either listening or singing
– Play in the grassy backyard
– Play with your dog (or maybe your neighbor’s dog!)
– Sing karaoke
– Explore your town, county, state…through food and drink!
– Visit a farm
– Make plans to see friends you don’t often get to see (or schedule a gathering!)
– Blind-folded Make-overs!  (Great for a rainy day!  Bonus points if you go out in public after!)

(What are we missing?  Send me your ideas and I’ll add them to the list!)