I LOVE THIS WEATHER

We went up to Manito Park today, with g-ma Carol, G-pa Bob, and my husband's sister, and the cousins. Kind of a spur of the moment thing. The sun was shining and Spencer had a Complete BALL, with all those ducks, man, it felt so good to get out of my house and see family. I loved seeing Spencer play with his cousin Jade. I love having family so close. If I had emptied my memory card on my camera you would be able to see a picture, but since I didn't, just imagine.

Not a Kid Anymore

So, we go to a pumpkin farm to pick pumpkins, to watch a pumpkin launcher, and play in a straw maze. And at the straw maze, there was a straw pile to jump in. It was so great. My oldest and my middle kids jumped and it looked like so much fun! So, the kid inside me, decides I can jump off the straw jump too. So I climb to the top of the pile, while I'm up there, looking down. MAN, it was very high. I think inside my head, oh, come on, your 7 yr old and 5 yr old, had no worries.

So, I just go for it. I feel all these things, first holy moly! I scream! And then, turns out straw piles are really not that soft of a landing! And my knees buckle, well, it's an interesting word buckle. More like implode. So, I roll over so I can straighten my useless legs.

Man, I really wish I had legs like my kids. I definately don't. Just one more testament that I am NOT a kid anymore!

Just a tip. Don't try this at home.

However, the farm trip all in all. I did feel like a kid, picking out a pumpkin and all. So much fun.

could a vacuum make so much difference?

Ok, so we got a new vacuum a week ago. Brought it home, of course, I have to vacuum, so, (we have a bagless now.) man. I got more dirt and hair and grime than is humanly normal. So, I have vacuumed every day. Man, it makes my house so, so much cleaner. I still get a ton of dirt every time I vacuum. WHY! We do not create that much dirt in one day. And I think I have gotten past the whole hump of the previous dirt.

My husband calls me during the day. Everytime he asks "what ya doin'" my response has been vacuuming. Man, I could live with this vacuum for a long time. I don't care if the dishes are done, as long as I have vacuum lines in my carpet!

Good Timber

Good Timber
by Douglas Malloch


The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.

Good timber does not grow with ease:
The stronger wind, the stronger trees;
The further sky, the greater length;
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,

In trees and men good timbers grow.
Where thickest lies the forest growth,
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.

I have a hard time believing that this is the way that I could raise and give my childeren the strength they need. Oyie, that's a lot of responsibility. But, love does seem to override that. So, I will continue to love and believe that we are all working toward the common goal. . .
Good Timber

Treasure

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

What does your treasure consist of?
Here's one of my very most favorite treasures

Yip, that's my family.

Recently, I was introduced to the idea that memories can serve as treasures.

"A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."

I hope that the good treasures override my heart. It seems I would like to make sure my treasures are good treasures, I do know that this specific one is good. In spite of me sometimes. It doesn't hurt that they are also the most beautiful people also.

The Human Body

It is just plain amazing to me how the human body works. I cannot believe it just knows how to digest food. You don't have to learn that. Or for those who are fortunate to have sight, to just see.

Today, I was rocking my 1 yr old to sleep, and just taking some time to snuggle and love on him some. And noticed that he had a new tooth, fully grown in. How amazing that tooth just new it was time to come in, and popped right in without any coaxing, or worry from me. It got me thinking how many things just happen, and in the end we are so much more grateful that they happened without the worry or coaxing on our behalf. How simple and amazing. How many parts of our body do we know work for us?

One only knows until that body part decides to no longer work. Like "my pancreas, it's not working as well as it could for me today. I need to give some real thought in keeping that in working order. . . . " or that old adage: Every part strengthens a part, so I guess I would need to eat a pancreas to compensate for my lazy one.

I am so, so inexplicably grateful that my children have functioning healthy bodies, so they can have full advantage that this world has to offer.

The Human Body, a marvelous invention.

Strength

It seems a little different to have October be a month that I remember my mom, these past 2 years. Because she is strength, and this month my gratitude grows for all that she as done for me and my family. I am grateful she has taught me that there is somewhere deep inside of her a power that I have rarely truly seen. There are times when a person has to pull that out and use it. She has used it and I've been able to observe her doing that. What a great example. She is a survivor.

Are you an explorer?

I wonder if Meriwether Lewis and William Clark the great explorers were the first born child in their respective families? It seems to me that it would benefit their explorations, because in a family environment many of the trials and trail clearing is done by the oldest child. My oldest child is magnificient in shrugging off the mistakes made by her inexperienced mother. Being able to move forward through the broken down logs, drought, hunger, and all the other stumbling blocks that would easily beset a child who didn't have the inbred exploring in them.

My oldest not only gets through the pathway, but makes the way for others that follow so much easier and more comfortable for the parents. She is constantly training us to accept her as an explorer show us that she's got the drive and magnificent ability to maintain this pace in spite of the hampering by her not firstborn mother. Who incidentely is not an explorer.

Resilience

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."
Abraham Lincoln

Isn't this the intention and dream of all true mother's to give to their children all they need to be as successful as they want, even if it's as big as the President of the United States?
Do you think this is attainable?

Some day's maybe, but not all days, and not all the time.
Thank goodness children are so resilient!

Simpleness in Life

I really have found just how much I love being a mother, I love sharing my love and life with my kids. They are fun, and happy all the time. Their questions are wonderful and fun. I am so greatful for their simpleness in showing what they need and asking me for what they need. How simple are their needs.

a hug
a snack
my shoes

I am very greatful I am the one who gets to fulfill that need as simple as it is, it fills a need in me that is very real and divine.