It's the Little things

As in every family...there seems to be a member who is the smile~giver.

The one who...even when he doesn't mean to, or even realize that he does it,

brings a feeling of joy.

 Joy you didn't know was there because you  felt you were in a valley moment, and were oblivious to it.

It was in one of these moments when that little smile~giver pulled something out of his pocket.

He loudly proclaimed to the ones sitting in their own little worlds...

"Let Me WARM Your Spirit!"

And with that...gave this a loud and happy blow:

 He carried on as though nothing had happened....but little did he realize- 

warming my spirit was just what he had done. 

His childish and innocent proclamation was simply perfect.

~It's the little things.~

Reason to Climb

A few weeks ago I took a quick hike up into one of my favorite mountain spots.
When you reach the end of the hike, it opens up into a view of 2 beautiful lakes surrounded by walls of mountain rock....a favorite place for the avid mountain climber.
(The REAL mountain climbers.)

As I watched this guy make his way up the face of this particular side, it struck me as to how we all seem to be climbing.
Somewhere.
Climbing up, climbing over, climbing across, climbing in....but we all seem to be on an adventure of a climb.

I guess it doesn't matter where you climb- so long as when you get to the end of the climb, you can be proud of what you accomplished.
And even more importantly...proud of the way that you handled the climb to wherever it is you wanted to be...

I hope to look back and see that I climbed with grace.
At the moment grace is lacking.
Think I need to step back and reassess the climb I am on.

For if we don't climb with honor, sincerity, a purpose...what good is the climb?
 It is merely a climb..... to no where.

Happy Climbing

superheroes~

This year is completely different from all the other years I have taught my kids.

Instead of 4....I now teach only the 2 youngest...as the older are off on their other learning adventures.

It seems so strange, and yet...I've embraced it as another season of my life. And theirs.

Thankfully, these 2 get along amazingly.

For sure, there are still brawls on  the front lawn - and arguments over  whose turn it is for chores-

but the friendship between these 2 is golden.

I'm trying to capture every moment with the two of them....as sooner than later,

I won't have them at home either.

*sniff*

Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero.
-- Marc Brown

~~~~~

every moment is golden

It seems my need for sleep is being overridden by the need to see 

every moment of the day.

I keep thinking that one day I'll catch up on my sleep, but Darn It! ...

there's too much to see and do  in a day that only lasts for 24 hours.

One night last week I stayed up till all hours of the night~ just because the moon was so bright, the night was incredibly warm for our area and time of year,

(and the wine in my hand too good to put down.)

Then  just the other morning my internal alarm clock went off  as usual...far too early.

The sky looked just about ready to put on a display of a sunrise,

so I thought maybe a kayak would be the perfect venue for viewing.

The following captures don't need my words.

{So I'll be quiet for a change.}

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Moments of a day can be so golden.

And so worth giving up a few blinks of sleep for.

Change

Strolling back in my mind about 13 years ago.....took me to the 1st day of school in our home.
I have home schooled all 4 of my kids their entire lives.
(Minus the year I put my oldest son in an Outdoor School for Grade 8.
WHO could pass that one up.....I wanted to go!!)
This year marks changes left and right for all of us.

My oldest is working 4 days a week, and enrolled at a College for his 1st term in Millwright.
My second just hopped on a school bus for the first time in her life.....to attend a school in town. She's off to collect credits as she wants to end up in the Large Animal Science at a University.
My third and fourth? They still get to stay with me....(and I have to say I'm somewhat relieved. I'm not ready to let them all go just yet.) They're just finding it strange to have half of us missing....

Last night was one of the most difficult.
I had a "Send-Off Supper" for my daughter to mark her "going to school" event.
We made cards, flew balloons, had cake.....all in celebration of her life with us and who she was.
And to let her know that no matter what we are here for her and to see her through her Journey.
And to let her go.

At the end of the meal, my son hopped up and presented me a gift from himself and his sister.....
This is what it was:

(For those of you know me and have followed this blog for awhile....I have lamented the fact I don't have a "real camera" for quite some time. 

Say goodbye to cell phone camera captures!:)

They handed it to me and said it was a

"Thank You For Teaching Us"

gift.

(This was their idea and plan. No one told them to do it.

Priceless. I'm a spoiled mom.)

My heart melted. And twisted a bit.

Through the ABC's and numbers, multiplication, reading, science, and geography....

through all the basic teachings of life and all it takes to make it.....

We have come quite a way.

It's been quite a journey. And not always good.

But we got to this point together.

Now....as they branch out~ I can only hope they know I'm still there for them when they need me.

And hope that I don't try to pull them back when all they really need to do is fly.

(Goodness! Imagine what I'll be like when they MOVE?!?!)

Ahhhh Change.
It happens whether we want to or not.
It's hard.
It's sad.
It's exciting.

I just got a text from my daughter....who is probably still bopping along on the bus.
"This is weird!:)".......is what it read.

I know.
Very weird.
My life feels a bit strange today.

Weighed Down

Life can be Full of Beautiful things...

(~Flora's Chair~)

Sometimes life can be so full....

and even though it's full of everything beautiful, 

it can tend to weigh one down.

(Hoping to get around to all of you soon....once I can "upright" myself;)

Getting There

~A 4am start~

~ A 9 hour drive through scenes like these. ~

~All to get to a destination like this.~

~Worth every minute.~

Hatched

Remember the Duck nest

on the edge of my yard?

(past post)

It's now full of eggshells.

Have a wonderful weekend.

~

Sure the Ducks will enjoy theirs....while making good use of the rain (lakes) puddles which are continuing to form in my yard.

Finish Line

So I opened my mailbox late last week to find a Government of Alberta marked envelope.

Remember the test he was going to take- the Entrance Exam into college?

He passed.

Really passed.

A 90% pass.

When I opened that envelope and read his mark...(the teacher and principal of the 

school is allowed access to his mark 1st- right?)....

I burst into tears.

{And I never cry.}

In that moment, 12 years of teaching passed in front of my eyes.

His learning to read, teaching him his numbers and how to add and subtract, story after story, writing his curriculum for each month and lesson plans for the year....

It flew through my mind in a second, 

and that 90% was the Finish Line.

In that moment, the sense of completion I got was the same I feel at the end of a race.

It's over.

And we crossed that line!

Through all the aches, pains, breathlessness, hills and trail....

we ran and kept on running.

And actually made the Finish!

And I am so proud of you Bud!

~~~

Now....a  new race begins.

[And maybe part of the tears were because this next race - you do on your own.]

But I promise...I will be on the sidelines.....

your biggest cheerleader!

Race on my dear son. 

Race on!