Countdown to Eco-week

It is a tradition in our school district to attend eco-week as a 5th grader (well 6th grader until they did "the big middle school changeover") and we are on the countdown to it. We have been...

• informed (2 hour meeting with the teachers/chaperones)
• warned (kids and parents had to sign a behavior contract)
• fore-warned (prepare for snow, long walks and tired kids returning home )
• lectured (please follow the rules EXPLICITLY - meaning don't call because you miss your 5th grader - laid out in the 10 pages of handouts that you have to sign)
• charged ( $110.00 thank you very much - per child??? HUH????)

BUT... I don't know if I am PREPARED???? She is only 10 years old!!! It seems like a long ways from home ( approximately 2 1/2 hours) and with STRANGERS!! Well, teachers, and classmates, and friends. So maybe not so bad, but still... I am a little bit anxious and a ton excited for Marky to go to Pingree Park. Marky is a planner and so she really wants to start packing. She has been wearing her new hiking boots, breaking them in. She is SO excited. I asked her who her roommates were and she named her 5 bffs, who also are SO excited. What MORE could a 10 year old want, 2 nights and 3 days aways with these special girlfriends!!??? 9 days and counting...

Cirque du Soleil

Saturday, we went to "Cirque du Soleil". We saw the show "Kooza". It was incredible! We were all in awe of the talent and the beauty and the extravagance of it. We've had so much fun talking about our favorite thing. For some it was the juggling act, for others the tightrope walkers and contortionist. Most of the kids loved the funny clowns. For me it was a dancing/gymnastic combo that was absolutely breathtaking. It was a man/woman team and they were so strong and graceful and flexible and just spectacular. The music and costumes were both so beautiful; Meredith had to hold her hands over her ears for most of it because the music was to loud for her. Otherwise, we were all on the edge of our seats for the entire performance. Afterwards, we went to "The Old Spaghetti Factory" for some yummy pasta. What a night!!

River Baptism

Patrick was baptized in the Poudre River last Sunday. It was a beautiful, tender (COLD!) thing. God worked a miracle so that the kids could be with us. Until early Sunday afternoon, none of them were going to come; the little ones were going to be at home with a sitter and the older girls were at their dad's house. In an unexpected turn of events, the kids were all of the sudden all able to come with us. The baptism turned into a wonderful family time, and I am so grateful that we were all together to witness this sweet event. As Patrick gave testimony of his faith in God, I was overcome with thanksgiving to God for His blessings and with love for my husband.

Cabin Weekend

A couple of weekends ago we went on a little family trip up to the mountains. Last Christmas, my parents gave Patrick a weekend at a cabin as a gift. For him, it was the perfect present. Mountains, family, fishing, climbing, etc. Because we had a busy summer, September was the first occasion that we had to use it. The weekend weather was beautiful and we spent time doing all of our favorite things! We even brought home 2 fishies for supper! One of the kids' favorite thing to do in the mountains is have pinecone wars. The girls usually take on the boys in this fight for "pinecone royalty". There is much laughter, squealing and tickling during the war. I think that this will be something that they will always remember about our mountain trips. Patrick is such a wonderful Daddy, playing with the kids and passing on to them his own love for all things outdoorsy.

Friends

Right now, Marky and Maddie are at a birthday party celebrating with their friends. Michael is outside playing with a friend, and Meredith is playing with a friend in the living room. This morning a friend came over and I was able to sit a talk with her for a couple of hours. I am so thankful for friends. They come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes it is someone who listens to me whine and cry, other times it is someone to have a terrific laugh with. Sometimes it is someone whom I've never met who sends me an email of encouragement. Other times it is sisters who offer more than family obligation requires, or a mom who gives of her time to help a daughter in need. My friends have been my neighbors, my husband, my children, my family; I have been reached through all of these friends lately and I am so grateful. Friends make a life richer and fuller and more special, no matter what age you are. I can hear my children laughing with their friends right now. Such a wonderful sound!

Lately...

You would think that I would have lots of time to blog lately, but for some reason, I haven't had the desire or the energy to come up with the thoughts. One day has melted into another to the point that last night I couldn't remember how long I've been in this silly predicament. As long as I am trying to find the blessings surrounding me, and they are, my time spent on the couch has been bearable. It's when I start focusing on the things I can't do that I feel like I am a hostage of this circumstance. The kids and Patrick have adjusted to our slower days, and they have all become compassionate servers to this hobbling mama. Even Michael rubbed my sore foot last night. One day at a time, I am making it through. Lately, I've been blessed by the little things and I hope that I don't forget the lessons about "being still" that I am learning.

Smile from Maddie

I saw these shoes
the other day. I showed them to Maddie and told her how much I loved them and then told her how much they cost - over $800! She told me to just buy one since I can only wear one, then it wouldn't cost so much. It gave me a chuckle because she was totally serious. Such a funny girl. ***SMILE****

Song

It always seems like I have a current song that is my favorite. Right now, that song is "Unredeemed" by the group "Selah". The lyrics are beautiful and they have encouraged me many times over the past few days. The singer, Amy Perry, absolutely knocks it out of the park with this song. Man! To have a voice like hers! WOW. You must listen to it. It is a perfect song.

Unredeemed

The cruelest words, the coldest heart
The deepest wounds, the endless dark
The lonely ache, the burning tears
The bitter nights, the wasted years

Life breaks and falls apart
But we know these are

[Chorus]
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
They may be unfulfilled, they may be unrestored
But when anything that’s shattered is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see it will not be
Unredeemed

For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every life that gave up hope

We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all …

[Chorus]

Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
They may be unfulfilled, they may be unrestored
But you never know the miracles the Father has in store
Just watch and see it will not be
Just watch and see it will not be
(Tony Wood, Chad Cates, Brian David Petak) New Spring Publishing (ASCAP)/Row J Seat 9 Songs (ASCAP)/ Upper Cates Music (ASCAP). All rights for the world on behalf of Row J, Seat 9 Songs and Upper Cates Music administered by New Spring Publishing/ Growth Spurt Music (ASCAP) All rights reserved. Used by permission. International copyright secured.

Happy Time

Yesterday, Michael and I went on a picnic with my mom to beautiful flower garden in Ft. Collins. The weather was perfect, the company satisfying, the flowers beautiful, and the McDonalds fries were delectable. It was a very happy time indeed.

I would have missed out

There was a song that was popular when I was a teenager by the group "Chicago". The title was something like "If she would have been faithful". This group was the soundtrack to love and relationships during my teenage years and this particular song became the title track to a mixed tape that was given to me by some boyfriend. The lyrics made their way into my heart and head, and anyways, now, 20- some years later I woke up this morning singing them. Pushing aside the song's original meaning, I was thinking that I could re-write the song with the title "If the ladder would have been stable". Because IF it had been... then I wouldn't have fallen, and I wouldn't have broken anything, and YET... I wold have certainly missed out on so much. As the original ballad by "Chicago" goes on to say, and of course I am paraphrasing - if the bad hadn't happened, the good wouldn't have ever come. I am sure that there are other authors who have penned the same message, but none says it so eloquently or poignantly as the music of my youth. This message has been shouted, sung, cried, said, and demonstrated to me over the past 2 weeks in so many ways. I haven't ever felt more blessed, more cared for, more taken care of. Friends, neighbors, family, church family, have done so much. They have cooked for me, cleaned for me, done laundry for me, cared for my kids, painted my toenails, sent me beautiful cards, rubbed my sore hands, fattened me up with baked goods, taken me on a picnic, driven to my house just to sit and chat with me, swept my kitchen floor, shopped for me, loved me. They have been the hands, arms and feet of Jesus, giving comfort and help where I have needed it most. I would have missed out on all of this had it not been for my broken heel, and I dare say, it has been worth it. Even in my "casted" state, I feel blessed.

Days gone by

Labor Day always seems to signal the end of summer and Memerolia Day usually announces that the summer is ready to begin. This year, we went camping in the mountains on Memorial Day and one of the things that we did one afternoon as we were waiting for the rain to pass by was to make this poster. On it, each of us wrote down the things that we wanted to do as a family over the summer. The activities we all listed ranged from the mundane and common-place to the sublime and out -of-this-world. We have had it hanging in the kitchen and have checked it frequently, making sure that nothing (realistically!) is getting overloooked. We've even used it as an answer to summer boredom - "Hey we haven't done_____ yet! " . Now that Labor Day is passed and the swimming pool has finally closed, it really feels like it's time to take the poster down and look forward - Forward to the school year in full swing, birthdays, holidays, etc. I feel like we had a wonderful summer. We have on-line photo albums and hearts full of memories; empty sunscreen and mosquito spray cans that need to be disposed of; drawers that need cleaned out and stored in the hand-me-down bins. I've washed all of the pool towels for the last time, and the plants in my pots are just about out of life. Fall is around the corner and its another time of year that I just love. Summer is over but there is lots of fun coming up. The kids have been talking about their Halloween costumes for days now!! So far the ideas I've heard of seem cute and creative. Who knows what the next few months have in store for us!

My bud

Yesterday, after we dropped the girls off at school, Michael said to me, "Well, it's just you and me again, Mama." It was so cute, his saying that. I think it must be something that I have said many times over the past few weeks. Since the girls started school, he has been my little companion, and we go everywhere together. The park, the library, the store, church, the gym. These past 2 weeks have been especially challenging, and he has really been so easy to have around. He has gone to several doctor appointments with me, sat through 2 different x-rays, and even sat quietly next to me while the "cast girl" made the cast for my foot. He has been my bud and such a trooper. I'm so happy to have this time just the two of us.

Slowing wayyyyyy down

Life has slowed down a lot for me. I now have a cast on my foot. I have to have the cast and crutches for 4 weeks and then a walking cast for 3-6 after that. I fractured my heel bone all the way across my foot. The impact of my fall forced some other bones to move closer together, even though they didn't break, which is also cause for pain. Needless to say, I am not doing much. Fortunately, I can drive because I injured my left foot. I am also happy to say that I have lots of books to read, good pain meds and great friends that are helping me out. Its not all bad...

Fishing family

The past couple of weekends, we have gone fishing as a family. We packed up our favorite snacks, grabbed some juicy worms out of the garden and drove to some little lakes around town that Patrick has found. We aren't incredibly successful which makes the few that we do catch a tremendous joy. Watching Michael reel in a fish made me so excited!! His little tongue is sticking out and he's reeling and reeling with all his might - precious. Meredith isn't so much into the fishing, but she sure loves to sing and dance around while everyone else is. "Some" siblings get annoyed by this. I am so very thankful for Daddy for taking us on these special outings. These are memories that I will always treasure. Especially the times that Daddy is fishing with a "Lightning McQueen" or "Barbie" fishing pole. I bet he never thought he would ever see that day.