Coming Together

Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden. Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing. 
– Jim Rohn

Peas 2 

Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter. 
– Brad Henry

 The Right Tools

The great gift of family life is to be intimately acquainted with people you might never even introduced yourself to, had life not done it for you. 
– Kendall Hailey

Gretchen and Kegan

Has it really been almost six years?  I remember how my nerves made my stomach dance as I met everyone for the first time, knowing that in a few short months this would be my family.  I remember being prepared in advance to be called the wrong name.  I was.  I remember that instead of feeling uncomfortable, I felt calm and relaxed because this was a family just like mine. 

Now, my own children are introduced to aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Pictures are taken to preserve memories, despite their limitations ~ how do you capture the smell of the breakfast prepared on the campfire, the spicy-ness of the gumbo that tickles your nose, or the sounds of squeals and giggling by the many great-grandchildren bustling about? 

Again, we come together across the miles by air and by car, we have come together for a brief moment before going again our separate ways.  Wanna glimpse of our family fun?  Go ahead, take a peek!

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.

Collage 1

July 2009 279

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July 2009 282

July 2009 289

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July 2009 304

Wordless Wednesday ~ Memories in the Making

The last shots of our trip to OKC!

Uncle Luke 1

If I can find it and scan it, this shot reminds me so much of a similar self-portrait we snapped as we began our drive to FL for our honeymoon nearly 6 years ago!  It’s amazing how quickly life changes!

Self-Portrait

 I love every sweaty curl on his precious head!

Lunch 4

There’s nothing like Daddy’s arms to comfort you when you’re a little unsure!

Daddy's Girl

Calder thought he should give Seneca a “bath.”  I snapped it thinking that no one has “cooler” kids than we do! 

Those of you who know me, have to love yet another of my clever ridiculous puns! 

Cooler

So I guess this was a little verbose for a Wordless Wednesday!  Oops!

Beauty ~ Best Shot Monday

The Wrong Side

I’m amazed when I think about the years of my life I spent unaware of the extraordinary beauty that surrounds us in the natural world.  Too many summer days of my youth found me swathed in an interior cocoon, entertained by music, movies, or video games.  Slowly, I’ve come to realize how much I enjoy seeing the realization of potential as fragile petals unfurl and bask in the glorious light. 

Until I can find a way to share the link of the “right side” of this lovely blossom, I’ll keep you in suspense with this as my Best Shot Monday