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Our Family Grows Again
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…
I love this one…he’s looking back for Garth. I imagine he was thinking, “Hey, do you see this too?”
I can’t tell whose expression I love here more…
My best shot has to be the little pointy finger picture…it was then that he said, “It’s my fish?”
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
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.
Special Sunrise ~ Best Shot Monday
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.
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?
Falling in Love
This might not be what you’d expect, but I fell in love today at the Denver International Airport. There I was with too many bags and two good friends walking into a gift shop that contained too much glass for me to be entering. My eyes were immediately drawn to the canvases in the right corner where color, images and words collided into beauty. As if I were casting off burdens from years of self-doubt, pity or worry, my tangible bags sat heavily around my feet while my fingers floating over the cellophane-wrapped prints.
Who is she? What’s her story? She’s probably some local, I thought to myself.
I had so many questions and yet I wanted to savor the words and the depth of the work. I found her book and immediately started reading about the person behind this work. I smiled in disbelief when I read, “Kristen currently lives in Northern Michigan with her three children, Anya, Mia and Van.”
Who would’ve thought that across the country, in a store I’ve passed dozens of times, I would eventually discover the creativity of an artist living mere hours from me. I can’t help but think it’s serendipity.
Cornwell Crew 