Every Minute

Wow, the blog thing has been exciting. I'm definitely recommending it (as some of you can attest I've been talking about it a bit much). Initially I just enjoyed reading, but taking the plunge into joining the community has been really neat. I think if it's interesting enough to you to read, it would be even more interesting if you join the exchange. So, that's my plug for the day...

Thanks to all of you who have commented...it's been so fun to reconnect and you've all said way too many "ingratiatingly" sweet things. But each and every comment has made my day and as I've been home alone this week it was a special reward to find your kind words.

Friendships and relationships are such a joy to me in life. They are so fragile in the sense we never know when life will change and move (or take ) someone dear away from us. The combination of reconnecting a bit with old friends via this blog and preparing to move away close friends here has left me wanting to say thank you to my friends and family--you weave the fabric of our family's lives into a very rich pattern. I'm not a poet but I'm going to quote the lyrics of one of my favorite singers (2nd plug of the day) Sara Groves.

I am long on staying
I am slow to leave
Especially when it comes to you my friend
You have taught me to slow down
And to prop up my feet
It's the fine art of being who I am

And I can't figure out
Why you want me around
I'm not the smartest person I have ever met
But somehow that doesn't matter
No it never really mattered to you at all

And at the risk of wearing out my welcome
At the risk of self-discovery
I'll take every moment
And every minute that you'll give me

And I can think of time when families all lived together
Four generations in one house
And the table was full of good food
And friends and neighbors

And I wish all the people I love the most
Could gather in one place
And know each other and love each other well
And I wish we could all go camping
And lay beneath the stars
And have nothing to do and stories to tell

We'd sit around the campfire
And we'd make each other laugh remembering when
You're the first one I'm inviting
Always know that you're invited my friend

What I Want To Be When I Grow Up

We just got back from a morning awards assembly in which Cole earned the Good Student Award for being an exemplary student in his class (he was one of two chosen from his class). But that's not the part I am most proud of. After the assembly, many parents were reviewing the childrens writing journals that were on display. Cole's journal was a large book filled with open ended statements like "My favorite subject is...(reading)". "My favorite thing to eat is...(spaghetti)", "My favorite hobby is...(maps)" and so on. Well on the page titled "What I want to be when I grow up," Cole's answer was a missionary. I realize he is young and we will surely teach him that God can use him as a missionary in many fields, careers and places. But for now, it is so exciting for us to see that desire in his heart and to watch him grow as he shares his faith at school.

And on a totally lighter side, last week I had to pick up Cole early from school and I was running a few minutes behind. When I picked him up he questioned, "I thought you were coming around 2:15." (It was a few minutes past but school was in session so he was still in his class) Jokingly, I responded "Someday, kiddo, you're going to be carting around toddlers and realize it's a lot harder to be on time than it looks." His immediate response was "But Mom, I'll be the Dad, I'll be at work!" Hmmm......

Shock and Awe

These days the pictures do not make it to the mailbox. So I decided to share with a broad audience and the least amount of effort. Now, don't you feel special?

P.S. the "shock and awe" title is for you, kimber--i hope i don't put you into cardiac failure, you really don't need that