A Slower Pace

The Curly-headed girl and I decided to take a stroll around the neighborhood in search of interesting photo opportunities. We wanted to enter the library's photo contest and needed some inspiration. These are the new things we found on our usual route to elsewhere.

Sadly enough, the usual route to elsewhere involves a certain amount of hurry; some days more than others. Last year we were studying Lewis and Clark. We wanted to understand their journey a bit better, so we decided to take a new route to McDonald's...on foot. As we walked we were amazed at the number of items we discovered on a part of the route we drove daily. A slower pace lets us see more, and take the time to soak it all in. The trip to McDonald's with full backpacks was enlightening, by the way. They decided to cross 19th Century Exploration off of the "Possible Career Choice" list.

Since that day, we have attempted to get out and walk around more often. It's fun to do it with a camera in tow. Once we did an ABC walk, looking for letters of the alphabet. I would like to do color walks as well. Today spring was the theme (and yes, I know summer is merely days away). It still amazes me that we have lilacs blooming in June. It seems that all of our flowers bloom at once up here. Winter is long and spring is sometimes late in arriving, but when it does arrive it's glorious! Our yard is awash in color. 

The best way to end our journey: home sweet home.

Every Choice for One Thing is a Choice Against Something Else

There are lots of things to ponder when raising a child. Here is some more food for thought. The first one didn't eat McDonald's until the second one came along. She didn't watch a lot of telly either. I wish I'd done a few things differently when the Curly-headed girl was a wee sma' bairn.Thankfully, it's ne'er too late to start. I think I've been reading way to much Burns lately.

"Consider what a child misses during the 15, 000 hours (from birth to age seventeen) he spends in front of the TV screen. He is not working in the garage with his father, or in the garden with his mother. He is not doing homework, or reading, or collecting stamps. He is not cleaning his room, washing the supper dishes, or cutting the lawn. He is not listening to a discussion about community politics among his parents and their friends. He is not playing baseball or going fishing, or painting pictures. Exactly what does television offer that is so valuable it can replace these activities that transform an impulsive, self-absorbed child into a critically thinking adult?"
~ Paul Copperman

Sketchbook Delight

I signed up to take Alisa Burke's Sketchbook Delight online class, and I have to say it's helped me accomplish something I have been longing to do for over the past, um, 23 years.

Oh dear. That's a long, long time. So, I finally decided enough is enough. Time to put my money where my mouth is. Time to let myself be a little closer to what I was intended to be. Time to stop waiting for the perfect time.

aspiration

I found this in my grandmother’s notes for her family history. It was copied from the Morgan Family Bible.

Rebecca Wilson her Book

Giving [sic] to her By her Father

Edward Morgan August 17 18__

Zachariah 8 Chap 5 verse

I commenced to read this Bible through

the third time May the 24^th 1891.

I finished reading it November 14^th _____.

On the same day I commenced to read

this Bible through the fourth time.

Finished reading the                    

fourth time October 23 189_.

Susannah

(The edges of the page were very hard to read.)

This Day

"...this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'" ~Lamentations 3:21-24

Watch Out! I've Been Thinking Again

This time it's about my resources: money, time and energy. How I choose to use them affects more than just the here and now. If I'm too tired to spend time with the daddy or the kids, our relationships are affected. If I spend my money on x, I don't have money for y or z.

This seems fairly obvious, but in the rush of everyday life, how many times do I stop to think before purchasing the small things I "need" in order to analyze my spending habits. And, how do my purchases fit in with my "purpose" in life? How many times do I stop to figure out what I am saying no to when I agree to do something good or worthwhile with my time? That worthwhile project may not seem so great if it comes at the cost of something better.

Paul Tripp said, "You see, the character of a life is not set in two or three dramatic moments, but in 10,000 little moments. The character that was formed in those little moments is what shapes how you respond to the big moments of life."

I have a finite number of moments. I need to practice spending my resources wisely.

Idea Glut

Open letter to those with Perfect Blogs promoting Perfect Lives:

Dear Crafty Queen/Domestic Diva/Kitchen Guru,

It's great fun to troll the internet looking for your creative ideas and saving them for a rainy day. I like seeing what you are teaching your kids, and what you're cooking for dinner. But the danger is this: sometimes I get sucked into believing that your lives are more valid than mine.  Or more perfect. Or more meaningful... because you are posting the details (in super glossy edited photos) on the internet.

The problem with too much of that is: all that creativity sucks the creativity right out of me. Bah!

Then I have all of your ideas floating around in my head and I cause myself unneeded anxiety because I never get any of those super glossy edited photos incorporated into my life. It also keeps me from coming up with my own ideas; and I swear, it promotes brain rot. I have wasted enough brain cells in high school. No need to continue that trend!

What works for you might not work so well in my life. (Note to self: print in really large letters and slap note on bathroom mirror!)

I'm tired of trying to make my internet-trolling self happy. My kids are growing up way too fast, and I only get one go around with that. I'm finding more gray hairs each day; and if I want to fight excess baggage in the claims department, I've got to get on the treadmill.

So, please don't be offended if I unfollow you. It's nothing personal. I'll just catch up with you later.

Or not.

Back to the Northshore

Gooseberry Falls

We decided that it would be lots of fun to run around barefoot in the river for hours. After all, we didn't have anything better to do...

So that's exactly what we did.

We climbed some rocks.

And picked up others.

Well, perhaps we staged this shot...

It was a good day!

Playing Catch

My sister and I have been playing the same game of catch for twelve years.

It all started when Mom and my youngest sister and I were on vacation in southern Ohio. We (the sisters) were tired of libraries and courthouses. So, we set off to find something else to do while Mom was digging away in Warren County Courthouse. We were wandering in and out of touristy-type shops in Lebanon when a silver ball caught my eye.


The tassel is long gone and I'm on a quest to replace it with just the right thing, but we've been filling it for each other ever since: a tiny glass dolphin, Pippi Longstocking knee socks, yummy soap, beaded bracelets, gum, and the ever popular Lindor's chocolate truffles. I love to trade fun things with her. Sometimes, the object doesn't fit inside the ball, so we just mail it in a bigger box. Who doesn't like getting fun packages in the mail?

When we started this game, we lived across the road from each other. Little did we know that someday I would be 800 miles away from home. It's been a great way to say, "I'm thinking about you, even if I can't run over to your house right now."

What We Do For Fun Around Here

First, it was the straight-haired girl who was having involuntary facial twitching.

Then the curly-haired girl's arms would not hold still properly.

Finally, the mom and the aunt could not manage to make a symmetrical face to save their lives. Obviously, we don't need the face melting application.

On this occasion we were not only amusing ourselves, we got some snickers from the people who were eating their chicken and noodles by the Bridgeton Mill during the Covered Bridge Festival. I think they were taking bets on which child would fall into the river first.

All in all, it was a very good day. No one was seriously hurt, and there was candy involved. What more could a kid ask for?

Epiphany

There is just not enough time in this life to learn to do everything I want to and to learn to do it well.

Drat.

Indie Art Fix

Today, I went to the Uptown Art Festival in Minneapolis with some friends. Block after block after block of art booths. After that, we went to the Loring Park Art Festival (my personal favorite) and the Powderhorn Park Art Festival. We wandered around for hours looking at the art people create. Sunday we went to the Minneapolis Farmers’ Market. It was just as soul-stirring in a different way to see all of the artistry there.

My mind is saturated with color and shape and line and texture. I love to be around so much energy and life.

I also love to come home.

Ditto

Let the Photos Do the Talking!

Did Wendy Moira Angela Dawn's Mom Ever Feel Like This?

This isn’t going to last much longer…I have to appreciate it while I can.

Wide-Eyed Wonder

The straight-haired girl and I went out to the park today with her nature pack in tow. She has carted that thing everywhere since she got it for her birthday. I love, love, love the curiosity it has incited in her!

What a great present. I have to rave for a minute… She and the curly-headed girl both have one. They came with colored pencils, art gum erasers, kneadable erasers, drawing pencils, sharpeners, binoculars and a sketch pad. (Thanks, friend.) The girls have inserted nature guides, animal track identification sheets, and a whole bunch of other stuff that is totally unrelated in anyone’s mind except their own.

Anyway, there we were; trekking through the forest. She was chattering away a mile a minute. We startled a snake, and it startled us. As we settled into the hike she had to stop at every marker to identify our location and plot the rest of the trip. As she grew quieter, it was possible to hear more animals and spot them. We had to stop to press leaves and sit on every bench along the way. I was thinking, "Oh, to have that much wide-eyed wonder over the world in which we live. Why did I let myself lose that?"

And then it happened. I was walking, and she was dancing back to the beginning of the trail. (We were in a bit of a hurry to find the washroom.) As we were moving along quickly, we heard something scurrying in the brush. Then we saw it scamper away down the hill. I couldn’t immediately identify it, but it was large and moved like a weasel. After consulting the experts, we determined it to be a fisher. I was informed that fishers are rare in this area.

The first winter we lived here, I saw a Great Gray Owl. I’ve seen a bear sunning itself on a friend’s deck, loons galore, bald eagles, deer walking down the city streets, a gray wolf crossing the highway and now a fisher: In short, everything but a moose. And with each new animal I see, I realize perhaps I have not lost that sense of wonder after all.

A Matter of Perspective

Happy Trails, Grandpa Rocky and Grandma Dmom! Here's a photo from last spring. As I was taking this photo, I was captivated by all the pelicans sunning themselves on the boat, waiting for the motivation to go fishing. I was totally focused on what was right in front of my face. The sun, the wind, the birds and my distressed child with her very precarious ice cream cone.
After we got home, I saw the dolphin. I'd been looking for one all day and had yet to see one. One year later, there he was. Sometimes my life is like that. I live each day with "stuff" right in front of my face, not even thinking there could be more to the picture than what I'm seeing at the moment.
I guess that's where faith comes in. I have to believe that even though I can't always make sense of the mess, God knows. Do I really believe He's big enough to take care of what I can't? If I can't trust Him (and I'm not saying it's easy) then what am I saying about who He really is?

Random Acts of Kindness

This afternoon I was scattered. You know when your mind is moving in a billion different directions at once, and you feel completely like you need to go hide in a very dark and quiet cave? Yeah.

One of the billion things floating around in my head was my need to get rid of some library stuff in order to avoid hefty fines - yet again. I didn't want to go out, but I eventually managed to talk myself into doing what I knew I should. I also went to the grocery store so my children wouldn't starve. (Bonus for me, I found some cheap chocolate while I was looking for supper. That was cause for rejoicing!)

When I finished my errands I went roaring home, and as I wearily stumbled out of the van I heard, "Mom! Mom! Come in here! You have to see what we did!!!!!!! But you can't walk through the dining room with your eyes open. We have to guide you." I can't even begin to describe the chaos the last time I heard that little mantra.
I could tell this was very important to them, so I summoned up some enthusiasm from somewhere and followed them into the house. The curly haired girl was clutching my hand and saying, "Don't peek. Don't peek."

When I heard, "Ta-da!" I opened my eyes to complete chaos, and suddenly realized that sometimes encouragement comes through totally unexpected circumstances. The picnic cloth totally covered the dining room floor. It was set with paper plates and cups and place cards with our names lovingly printed in fancy letters, draped with ribbons. The girls were standing there with expectant smiles on their faces.

"Look Mom, it's an indoor picnic!"

"It was all my idea," proudly announced the curly haired girl.

My exhaustion melted away. The mess didn't faze me. We ate cardboard pizza and played Uno for an hour. Then I started thinking about opportunities I have to encourage other people. I often have elaborate plans for deeds I'm going to accomplish. Mostly, those plans never get carried out. I keep forgetting that it's the small things that really matter. Small things like fancy letters and ribbons, and cardboard pizza on paper plates.



Helen Keller said, "I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."

Life's not about what noble task I'm going to accomplish some day. Some day will come in spite of my planning (or lack thereof). What really matters is who I am right now. At this minute. Am I loving the people around me? Am I kind? Am I treating them like I want to be treated in this minute? Or am I wrapped up in thinking of what is to come. If I'm not accomplishing these small tasks one at a time, I probably will not recognize the great and noble task when it arrives.

In and About...

There is more to life up here than griping about snow (all 123 inches of it) and winter. Here is a short list of the things I'm thankful for:

1.) Tea parties with super-fancy dresses. Although it was a struggle for the girl in the fancy blue dress to enjoy it. She was sure that if any boy ever saw her in that dress, she would die of mortification. She did like the treats, and the tea was o.k. However, she was beyond happy when she was allowed to put her "comfty" clothes back on. By contrast, the girl in the fancy pink dress was completely in her element. (Note the accessorizing...it was all her idea to add that little rose choker.) With all of the friends, it was almost like the Sesame Street song. "Three of these things belong together. Three of these things are kind of the same. Can you guess which one of these doesn't belong here? Now it's time to play our game (time to play our game)."

2.) Lessons at VNP. During the winter, our local National Park has Sunday lessons for the kids. They involve a bit of lecturing, many object lessons and games and crafts. We drive out and enjoy the afternoon in the Visitors' Center, complete with hot chocolate! Here the girls are making bats (a leftover craft from Halloween, I'm sure...reduce, reuse, recycle!) for their mammal lesson.

3.) Kids looking for buried toboggans in the snow. I wish I had space to post the full series of photos I got out of this one! After the 19 inch dump they wanted to slide down the resulting mountains of snow. Unfortunately, they had failed to put the toboggan away after its last use. They shuffled around for about 15 minutes before the girl in the pink coat "remembered" where she saw it last: right by the street, of course. They scampered out to the front yard and started digging. One of them almost ended up head first in the snow bank before it was all over. Great fun!

4.) When all else fails...memories of last summer.
Spring is around the corner. I can feel it. It's all sunny and the snowmen are melting. Easter is just over a week away. I'm actually starting to think about garden-y things. Wahoo! Now, I just have to find my flip-flops...who am I kidding? I know exactly where they are! I'm just waiting for some dry ground to appear.

Last Year At This Time...

We were on our way to Florida. What a week of fun in the sun with Grandpa and Grandma! I suppose it is slightly ironic that I start this blog of savoring every moment with a nostalgic look at the past, but there you have it. How could you not savor the memories of this?

In the mean time we slog on through all the leftover snow, anticipating spring...