Updates coming soon . . .

Can't seem to EVER keep up!  I'm hoping to add some new posts soon, check back!

The stuff of summer . . .

So, my youngest kids had some friends spend the night last night . . . and with the power of youth (and the flexibility of summer) on their side, they set out to "pull an all-nighter".  Around 5 am, since they were still awake, they set off on an adventure (at Anna's urging, because she wanted to see the sunrise).  They mostly roamed around the campground, visited the dog park, posed for silly pictures and laughed a lot. They apparently spent 45 minutes trying to take the first picture below (using a timer rather than asking the guest who was out walking her dogs to help them out).  That's a lot of commitment for one picture, but isn't it a COOL picture?!  They're going to be tired later (especially since they just scarfed down plenty of sugar as part of their ‘mini donut making extravaganza’) . . . but I can’t help but think they are going to remember this night for a very long time J   

THIS is the ‘stuff’ of childhood . . . the sweetness, the wonder, the silliness and (hopefully) the memories.

Now, before you walk away thinking that I'm one of those cool, idyllic parents who was out there making those fun memories with them - I definitely wasn't.  In fact, I was in bed (having a fitful night's sleep to start with - because of some chronic pain lately), worrying about whether they were being too rowdy and disturbing the campers, even texting them reminding them to try to be very, very quiet!  Then, when they burst back into the house, giggling and raided the kitchen for breakfast, I proceeded to bark at them about the huge mess they'd made during their 'night watch' (because, well . . . "small house + big mess = lots of stress").  I did however marvel at the fun pictures they got and told them what fun memories they had just made (while agonizing and aching over the child who was asleep on the couch and had missed out on the sunrise adventure and consequently wasn’t included in the fun “45 minutes in the making - picture”).  Then we made them clean up their mess!! 

I DID agree to being drug into the donut making fiasco - mostly so no one burned their appendages (or the house to the ground), but sadly I wasn’t a part of nearly as much of the fun as I would like to have been.  Nevertheless . . . memories and messes were made and summer is very much alive (even as the clock is ticking and ‘back to school’ looms on the horizon).  Life is good.    

And, yes, one obvious take away from this is “send your kids to my house . . . so I can allow them to follow up their utter lack of sleep with an exorbitant amount of sugar – and then send them back to you!”  Responsible parenting at it's finest!  (that donut picture below is only about half of all the donuts they made!)

neglected again!

Since this is the closest I get to scrapbooking anymore . . . I hate it when this blog is dreadfully out of date.  I'm going to attempt to fill in some of the gaps of the recent months . . . soon! Check back! 

I'm currently making very last minute plans for my sister and I to head 'back east' for a couple of days.  We lost our spunky, stubborn, no-nonsense, one of a kind, very special (90 year old) “Grammy” today. I will forever cherish fond memories of card games, vanilla ice cream (w/gobs of peanut butter mixed into it!), homemade relish, the creaking of her recliner, green olives, crossword puzzles, trips to the “jug milk store”, front yard porch swings, May’s hamburgers and the smell of trash burning (and BenGay ointment – but not together!) when I think of her.  I’m sad to have lived so far away from her for so many years, but thankful for the time I did have with her

Road trip musings . . .

(I wrote this while driving through Utah, almost a year ago, but never posted it . . . the photo/memory of starting out on that trip popped up on my FB page today and brought it  back to mind)

~~~~~~~~~~~

These moments bring great joy . . . and an acute awareness of how fast the clock ticks. 

Laughing, teasing, passing candy and colored pencils and essential oils,

Our kids together, a new arrangement (that they came up with themselves) to accommodate ipod chargers and shared interests and longer legs . . . they are laughing and teasing one another, actually conversing (about reading and carsickness), but enjoying being together . . . even coloring to pass the hours - with fancy colored pencils and ‘grown up’ coloring books – part of their little treat sacks that I snuck in the car last night.  Nothing big or fancy, just little surprises to help the hours pass more quickly. 

Relentless questions from a teen whose mind never stops pondering peculiar facets of the universe – another who sounds like she’s auditioning for ‘The Voice’, the back seat is quiet for a moment.  It is calm.  It is peaceful.  It is PURE bliss to be confined together, exploring new territory with familiar faces.  There is anticipation and excitement. 

Full van, full tank of gas, full bellies, full heart. 

No one expresses it, but I think perhaps they sense it too - the magic, the beauty, the brevity of these moments.  It lends itself to a harmony, a cooperation . . . and a peacefulness that I can't quite explain.  

My mind meanders back in time to trips that were even longer (with children who were much smaller!)  The planning was far more involved and overwhelming back then, but the joy equally profound.

 

 

 

 

My mind can’t help but wander forward to the days to come - when our trips will be much different. Close on its heels, comes the dreaded question “might THIS be our last family road trip”? . . . as we have known them - for this season?  Will future trips be minus a child (or parent) who can’t take time off or work or school? Will future trips involve a convoy of cars (with a boyfriend or girlfriend . . . or, gulp, spouse(!) . . . in tow? I don’t allow my mind to wander to more tragic (yet very possible) scenarios that would dramatically alter our road trips. 

For now, I drink in the treasure of this moment, the hum of the road passing quickly beneath us - and enjoy it while it lasts. It boggles my mind to think there are those who find road trips long, boring, mundane or miserable.  I just don’t see it. 

This is far from mundane.  This, my friend . . . THIS . . . is priceless.

Fun with a 17 1/2 year old . . . wow

By now you know about our half birthday tradition.  We celebrated Emily's half birthday recently and I suggested that perhaps an indoor target shooting range might be fun.  She was up for that and agreed that it sounded 'different and fun' . . . and since we followed it up with a trip to her favorite sushi buffet, the night was near perfect! 

THIS girl has great aim!  (all I can tell you is . . . if she ever ends up with a handgun, don't mess with her!)

 

 

 

 

Gains and Losses . . .

I have been pondering the idea of 'gains and losses' today.  Have you noticed that life is full of them? 

 

Both of them.

 

Whether it's money, freedom, hope, privileges, perspective, weight (let's not talk about this one, Dec was just ugly!), relationships, material possessions, responsibilities, respect, even our very loved ones sometimes. Life, from a human standpoint, is really full of gains and losses.

 

Sometimes we just don't have a clear understanding, in the moment, of whether what has been given or what has been taken away is a disguised blessing or a crushing blow.  We are wise to remember that there is something beneficial to be found in every gain and every loss - IF we look for it.  All the more so, in the ones that appear the most brutally painful, those that are in stark contrast to what we'd been hoping for.  

 

I imagine that from God's perspective, there is something redemptive and incredibly useful for our growth in EVERY single circumstance that we perceive as a gain or a loss.  All of it is held in His incredibly capable hands and every last bit of it can be used by Him (in our lives).  God's love for us is like that of a perfect father.  I am convinced that it delights Him to see us rest in His love (for us), knowing ~ really knowing ~ that He has our best in mind.  Whatever we gain and whatever we lose pales in comparison to trusting that He will use ALL of it to bring us closer to Him.

 

"And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?" (Mark 8:36). 

 

 

Who says school can't be fun? . . .



"Hey, you sunk my Rubidium, Strontium, Yttrium, Zirconium ship!" . . . after making them memorize the entire periodic table of elements (in order of atomic number), the least I could do is let them play a variation of Battleship!

 

Christie Lodge ~ Thanksgiving 2016

Some highlights from our Thanksgiving week in the mountains.  This has become our "accidental Thanksgiving tradition" for the past 7 years (meaning we never set out to make it a tradition, but it became one anyway!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow Bowl 2016

And, we finally have a Snow Bowl winner for 2016 (definitely much later than I thought it would be!)

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I . . .

I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference"

I've been thinking lately about the incredible impact our choices have - both for ourselves and for those around us.  Especially the choices we make early on (in marriage, in parenting, in our Christian walk or even in a given day) and how they set the tone for success or struggle, blessing or burden, health or disease, and a host of other things.

My train of thought actually began with the topic of food choices - and how the ones made first thing in the morning truly set the tone for the rest of the day.  In my world, I have learned that once I give in to sugar - the rest is downhill (and usually it's a downright ugly ride!).  I have not found this to be an area where I have ANY concept of moderation.  For me, this is, sadly, an all or nothing arena (think of an alcoholic trying to take just one sip). Once I've unleashed that monster, I often just have to hang on, get through the day and make a fresh start in the morning (thankful that, EVEN in this, His mercies are new).

It's been said that we make our choices and then our choices make us.  Don't hear me wrong, God can absolutely redeem our poor choices and make something beautiful out of them, but it's far less painful to not make poor choices in the first place.  Whether it's a (seemingly trivial) battle with sugar, an attempt to control your temper, a desire to change a relationship, the resolve to stand firm in your convictions or . . . (fill in the blank).  It is wise to consider where the path is going to lead before you take the first step down it. 

It just might 'make all the difference'.

 

Home. It's a messy, yet glorious; exhausting yet exhilarating prospect.  There's truly no place like it (Dorothy was right!).  Hot tea and rich biographies shared together; cozy blankets and snuggly puppies . . . worn out carpet, unending dishes and mounds of laundry, cabinets that need decluttered . . .and (too often) tattered nerves and bickering children. 

The good, the bad, the ugly ~ it's a package deal . . . and a living picture of God's goodness and grace, moment by moment, day in and day out.  It's often under-appreciated, but for better or worse, it's where  you belong, it's where you 'become' and it's where you return to.