Memories, Old and New

All is quiet....the babes are down for the night, the dog is snoring with her master, the windows are open, the cool breeze is blowing the curtain, the crickets are singing their familiar song, and that smell....that wonderful unforgetable smell of my childhood in the country on my grandparents' farm is all too familiar. When I see the lightening in the distance and hear the thunder moving closer, I smile. Sometimes insomnia is a blessing. Granted, I usually think of it as a curse and sometimes I am painfully tired, but on nights like this....I see it as a gift. I am awake, not wanting to close my eyes because I will miss something. I would miss the sound of a silent house....not the kind where everyone is gone, but the kind where everyone is off in another world, refreshing their spirits to tackle it all over again tomorrow. I have gone into their room and stared at the girls, watching the curtain blow gently, creating a soft and cool breeze that dances over their little bodies. I smile, not wanting this moment to end. Oh, if I could start all over again from day one with them as newborns I would in a second. This amazing gift of motherhood is BEYOND my wildest!
As the storm closes in, the wind picks up again and blows in the scent of fresh air, clean and crisp like the new day that it will bring shortly. Soon the raindrops begin to pelt against the glass, lightly at first and then more steady. When I think of the new day ahead, I pray for a day much like the series of days that I had growing up. Playing outside, climbing haybales in the barn, having the kittens around, going fishing, shooting crickets with the bb gun, getting dirty, and finally, washing off in the bath with that same country breeze blowing into the opened window. The scent of Brut, my grandfather's favorite "after a long day's work in the field treat" and my grandmother wearing "white linen" which she powdered on after her bath at night. The house had all of these amazing scents going on at once, but the one I remember most was that country air. As I inhale that familiar air tonight, I am grateful that I can still find it and even more grateful it is right here at the place I call home, with my own family. I hope to recreate those times for my girls so that they can have the same kind of memories themselves one day. For now, I am just grateful for the insomnia.

Cool Docs

Bedside manner of a physician is KEY! We have such a good specialist working on Olivia's arm. He takes his time, he does weekly xrays to ensure her bone growth is correct, he is well respected AND he is good with the rest of us! I love that! Olivia's first cast came off this week for a new and improved shorter one. Bummer that we have to keep it on for 4 more weeks. She is fine with it, except for the soccer thing. Avery said to Olivia, " I am so sorry you have to wear it for 4 more weeks, Olivia. " The doctor thought it would be cool to saw it off in a nice clean way so that he could reattach it to AVERY!! She was so pumped to have a "gimp arm" like her sister and so she could empathize all the more. I got all kinds of looks when I went into Barnes and Noble with 2 kids with each a "broken" arm. "Where you in a car accident?" or my favorite " Does your family drink enough milk?" Good stuff! I wish I would have had a cast on too! Avery's was obviously removeable and it stayed on most of the day and then she decided to have a fun bath instead of wrapping it up like her sister has to! I am sure we will be keeping the new cast once it comes off too so that we can all just shock people any ol time we feel like it! Anyway, cool docs are not easy to find but total keepers when ya do! Especially with kiddos! Hmmm...I haven't received the bill yet though! Yikes!

Being Shaped

Lastnight, Olivia asked me what we were doing for Thanksgiving. I admitted I really wasn't sure what we were doing , but would check with the grandmas to see what the family plans might be. She looked up at me and said, "Well, I have been thinking. I think that we are fed so well every day and that there are so many others who are not. I would like to go to an orphanage or something and help feed the children who don't get to eat like I do each day." CLUNK! My heart fell the floor. My eyes filled up with tears and I told her she was exactly right. We need to pick a cause to give of ourselves. She definitely has a servant's heart. When we did "Step Out" with the city last month, Olivia was hauling wheelbarrows around like the hardest working men! I saw in her a unique gift of service to others. It comes natural to her. I believe her sister has "different gifts" because the "helper" in her is a bit well.....lazy. That's ok, I know where she gets it! Nonetheless, we are ALL going to be actively serving in the very near future. We haven't decided, but I am leaning toward the shelter for women and children here in Omaha. Should we go out of town, Olivia reminded me that "those places have people who need to be helped too." I am so glad she is getting the big picture. It warms my heart to see her responding to a need.
The other night, we were at our favorite hangout with the Murray's. They have a campsite that we visit alot. We met a new little friend who didn't have a mommy in the local area and she was being cared for by her dad, which lacked quite a bit. I found out her size and when we got home. Olivia and Avery ran up to their room and stayed up past midnight going through all their belongings in order to give to the little girl. We were up at the crack of dawn, getting it all ready to deliver. It was such a pleasure to see the girls choose things for the girl that were not just things they didn't use or wear anymore, but a few favorites as well. I heard them in their room "Oh, yes," Avery would say, "that is such a cute one. Even though you still wear it, I think you should give it to her. Give her a turn to love it."
No every day isn't a fairy tale, and many times there are "cringe" moments when I think, "What on earth was she thinking?" or "Did my sweet little child just say that? Yikes!" But when they get it right, boy, they get it right. Seeing God shaping their hearts makes it all worth while!!!

That Time Again

It's that time again....time to answer the question that comes up every fall now...."Are you doing "that" again?" The "that" being referenced to is homeschooling. The answer is "without a doubt!" Looking back at these pictures from the past year, (these are all fieldtrip pics, and merely a few of the many we took!), I can't imagine missing out on all of this. I have relished in every moment of this experience. It really cracks me up how strange of a concept it is to others. My favorite is "Oh, I could never do that.." Really? The way I see it, most mommies are their child's first teacher. Didn't you praise them as they took their first steps, didn't you cheer with delight when they came down the slide by themselves, didn't you show them how to color inside the lines and tell them it was beautiful when they scribbled? Didn't you teach them their colors and expose them to the alphabet? Didn't you answer "What's that?" over a million times? The way I see it, as parents, we are constantly teaching our children. As a homeschooler, I incorporate academics, science labs, fieldtrips, and opportunities to teach about the world. Real hands on stuff that is practical. "For math today, we went to the grocery store and learned about money, pricing, paying, and comparing." I know many parents who have kids in school that do those activities as well...so please don't say you "could never do it. " In many ways, you already are. You have always been your child's first teacher. The elements of our day have been changed a bit, admittedly, we do spelling, math, reading, science, history, art, music, PE etc. And YES, we get plenty of opportunity to "socialize" which is the other concern many have. I find myself having to say "no" to all the opportunites there are available. I am amazed at the growth of the homeschool communitity. It is crazy!!! There is a reason for this trend, and even though I am supportive of my friends who choose not to homeschool and send their kiddos to public school, I am grateful for the ones who "get" why I do what I do. And finally, to the ones who send their kids to public school and don't understand the reason for homeschooling, but love and support me anyway....you are the best!!! Unconditional love is the strongest kind!

Another Day in Paradise

I have to admit, I love it out here! You never know what you will wake up to find in your yard while out in the country (ish). One day a horse is walking in your yard and you can go up and pet and ride it. Another day, you can have a mother cat waiting at your door to bring her babies in, and still another you find a sand crane, hundreds of miles away from its natural environment in your creek. AAHHH.....an education all in itself.

And just as the crane is out of its natural environment, I look out and see a man who is so in his element that he is a part of the landscape. He works outside all day, wearing the tan of a slave to the sun. He is relentless in whatever his task is and is at his happiest. I smile, knowing the sacrifices that each of us has made has led to this most happy of times together. He is different now, peaceful and content. There were days when the roads were rocky, but I am so glad to have stayed on the path to see this outcome. I told him so, the other night as we sat by the campfire. He took my hand and knew what I meant. The change in both of us is apparent and the life we share is a blessing. I can't wait to wake up tomorrow and start all over again.

A Hidden Treasure

I just got back from visiting my dad in Kansas and I have to say, I just love it there! It is one of those places that no one seems to know about. I can't believe the untouched land, the gorgeous landscapes, the countryside, the dirt roads, the untapped resources of this place. The drive from here is totally breathtaking. The sunflowers in the pictures you are seeing are the size of dinnerplates! Unreal! Field after field of just gorgeous flowers....looks like a painting! I can't believe how beautiful it is and how much I am in awe EVERY time I go.

I had a great time with family. My visit was brief, but met all of my expectations and then some. I loved seeing everyone and meeting new people. I am excited to go back again...it felt so good to be back and I honestly could live there forever. Kansas is totally misunderstood, been the butt of jokes etc and I have to say I am glad...because if everyone knew how pretty it really was, it would be ruined by population and stripmalls. I guess I am a nature girl....uh oh, the hippie in me is coming out! Anyway, to everyone I saw on the trip, everyone at the wedding, to dad and Laura, to J.C. and Julie, to grandma and all of my aunts, uncles and cousins....I love you all and am so glad to have come home. It really felt amazing to be with you all again.

A Great Read

I am reading a book that is really amazing. It is called The Shack, and I highly recommend people read it. I had mixed emotions along the way (I am almost done), but after pressing through, I am convinced it is absolutely amazing. It is really well done. It is a fictional story about a man whose daughter is murdered in a shack. The father is completely distraught and after 3 years, decides to return to the shack and spend the weekend with God, whom he completely is wrestling with. It will transform you when you read it! My friend went to the library to check it out and the waiting list was 7 in front of her! It is really good, so go pick it up at the bookstore! It is a keeper anyway. Let me know what you think after you read it!!!!