Monthly Archives: July 2009

It’s Not You, It’s Me

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Don’t worry, I’m not breaking up with you!  I figured I’d better clarify a little bit in case you’re wondering if your reader has gone haywire!  I finally sat down with the intentions of getting “caught up” with the posts that have been rolling around in my head, some started on paper and others in the form of titles scribbled in my planner. 

I know there are those out there completely appalled by such “backblogging” (by the way I think I invented this word.  I kinda hope I did, but probably not!) but when I really ask myself why I blog I arrive at a simple answer.  I want to remember the little things, the big things and all those in-between that shape the past, present and future of our lives.  OK, so it doesn’t seem simple when I re-read it.   But it is.

Maybe I am breaking rules.  If so, I guess I’m doing so intentionally.  There are very few places where we can control time.  If doing this on occasion means I get to enjoy a clean house, some fun with my kids, AND a creative entry that shares those adventures…that’s good enough for me!  Thanks for allowing me to flood you with feeds…and rest assured I’m pretty much back on track.  It feels good to write.  Here’s to making it happen more regularly!

Our Family Grows Again

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OK, so I know that at least a few folks who thought this was another odd “I’m pregnant” announcement.  While I can’t deny some intentionality in my misleading, I can say that we’re NOT, I repeat, we’re NOT having another baby. 

Instead, our family circle has expanded to include our lovable little Betta named Ernie.  Calder was quite entranced by Uncle Luke and Aunt Ann’s Betta (Bert) when we visited them this summer.

A routine shopping trip last week became and resulted in the impromptu adoption of our fishy friend.  Calder loves feeding him and he helped change his water today.  The series below is when he met Ernie last week.

Entering the kitchen after nap…
Fish 1

I love this one…he’s looking back for Garth. I imagine he was thinking, “Hey, do you see this too?”
Fish 2

I can’t tell whose expression I love here more…
Fish 3

My best shot has to be the little pointy finger picture…it was then that he said, “It’s my fish?”
Fish Collage

On a slight tangent, I’m in complete denial that it’s been 2 weeks since I’ve posted anything!  I have SO MANY pictures to share, and fun things we’ve done….chances are, I’ll “backblog” a few of our fun summertime memories sometime this week!  ‘Til then, we’ll try not to do anything fun and photoworthy so I can play catch up. 

{crickets chirping}

I’m guessing that won’t happen…considering we’re headed back to da U.P. on Wednesday!!  In any case, here’s to a fun-filled and not-enough-time-to-stay-caught-up-with-tech summer!

A Few Hours On a Thursday Morning

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Life has always surprised me, but I find that as a mother I’m surprised more often and my vision more acute to the subtle changes, the slight differences that amuse and delight me.  Like the day this spring when I was bustling around the kitchen trying to leave the house on time and Calder saw a packet of Equal in my hand.  “Momma, you makin’ coffee?” he asked.  A mundane task and one he watches and remembers.

Or last week when, after climbing into his booster seat indpendently and without being buckled (after all we’d just finished lunch) he sat there for a moment before announcing, “I be careful, else I crack my head!” 

And this morning, as Seneca and I greeted him by coming in to play and he bounded out of bed and asked, “You sleep good Momma?” just the way I ask him every day.  I suppose I’m painting a pretty rosy picture here, so to give myself some real credibility, the little ditty I made up that goes, “Calder Damien, Calder Damien, Calder Damien, Stop Picking Your Nose!” also gets recounted often complete with the nose-picking that originally altered the final lines of his little song in the first place!

In any case, it’s these moments, that make me realize just what an awesome privilege it is to raise these two little people.  And today, I’m sure that my own mom didn’t know that she’d provided an amazing title to a poem or short story or piece of episodic fiction that I have yet to write when, basking in the gorgeous sun of a perfect summer day she commented on the perfection of the park we visited.  “It feels like we’re up north camping,” she said, “and really it’s just been a few hours on a Thursday morning.”

I guess as children we’re always watching our parents.  I’m thankful for such amazing examples and pray that I too can provide a model I’d be proud to have emulated.

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Special Sunrise ~ Best Shot Monday

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On our first day in Tahoe I awoke several times throughout the night and finally decided to stay up around 4am – my typical wake-up time considering the 3-hour time difference.  After hearing that a few groups (also East Coasters who were wide awake in the morning, and completely dragging by early evening) had gone down to the lake to see the sunrise, I knew I had to do it too. 

Friday morning found us taking a stroll around the resort which ended with an “I’m-too-chicken-to-go-any-higher” hike up a nearby mountain.  Saturday, I felt peace and we climbed higher and hiked longer since we knew where we wanted to go and didn’t “happen upon” the trail. 

Following the celebration dinner where everyone came together to share in rich conversation and the accomplishments of our weekend’s work, we proceeded to hoot, howl laugh and cry through the Open Mic portion of the evening.  I’m not sure if the headiness I felt was due to the overwhelming sense of awe that I had spent three days with such talented and intelligent people or if it was an effect of the margaritas.  Perhaps one intensified the other!  Either way, it carried me back to the room where I sleepily crawled into bed for the final night.    

          “Are we going to the lake tomorrow?” Melissa asked.
          “If we make it, great!  If not, it’s no big deal,” I replied.  “I’m not going to set an alarm.  We’ll see what happens.”
          “Are you sure?  You’ve wanted to see it since we got here,” she continued. 
          “I know, but it’s a late night and a long day tomorrow.  We’ll see.  G’night!”
          “‘Night.”

I welcomed sleep and savored the restorative rest I knew I’d need for the day of travel ahead.  Knowing that we were slowly adjusting to the time change and suspecting our latest wake-up yet, I accepted that I’d see another sunrise, another day.

*                    *                    *

The darkness in our room was my first clue that I’d awoken in time, even without an alarm.  I checked the clock – 4:59.  Having researched it earlier I knew that dawn typically broke around 5:45 – just enough time to walk the mile or so into town to the lake.  I contemplated staying in the comfort of my warm bed for a couple hours longer knowing that I wouldn’t have the luxury of sleeping in once I returned home to the kids I desperately missed.

Then, in the quiet of that room, I knew I had to go.  I’d never felt more certain of anything in my life than I was at that moment.  I knew that God had prepared something special and that he was inviting me to share that beauty with him.

Pier 1

Sunrise 2

Sunrise 3

Sunrise 4

Sunrise 5

It’s impossible for me to choose a favorite among these, because they each capture a portion of my experience. If you can, leave a comment telling me which one you like best!

What’s shining in your world today?