The trick or treat that wasn't....

I have no pictures of costumes.

or carved pumpkins..

or our traditional Cincinnati-style chili dinner, although we did have Cincinnati-style chili and later pumpkin pie.

Halloween was all higglty-pigglty and we were too excited to notice....

The most important news,

Coach was out of the hospital and is on the mend. He was at the game. Yea!

and...

the boy...

with the twisted ankle...

played the Championship game....

under the lights.

I know that on the adult-scale, perhaps not the most important thing ever.

But on the twelve-year old scale... HUGE

The part that makes me most proud, while trying not to be prideful, is not the score, or the win, or even that they made it through the tournament.

The part that makes me most proud is how hard they have worked, how much each player matters, how much they focus, how positive they are when faced with adversity, and how much it matters to them.

He played under the lights, in the high school stadium.... and at twelve, when you LOVE football, well, it was the biggest night of his life.

oh yea, the score...

Letter to the world..

A favorite poem in this crisping time of year...


This is my letter to the world,
That never wrote to me,
The simple news that Nature told,
With tender majesty.
Her message is committed
To hands I cannot see;
For love of her, sweet countrymen,
Judge tenderly of me!
~Emily Dickinson

Some favorite images from this day in history.. six years ago.

and a favorite photo of a favorite moment, six years and a few weeks ago..

So much of the view of my window has changed and so much has not.

Enjoy the view from your window, but don't forget to throw it open and let the air in sometimes.

Keeping the home fires burning...

I could go into a long list of all the reasons I haven't blogged since, gasp, August.. but mostly it comes down to first things first. The home fires must be kept going.

I could share pictures from the last month, but most will mean nothing as the mass of same color shoes, socks and football pants make it impossible for all but devoted fans and parents to tell one from another.

I could tell you about all the Scouting that went on, or got delegated, or got accomplished via email, but suffice to say that Scouts rock!

I could share our medical updates, but the following seems sufficient; we are getting better and are thankful it wasn't worse.

When you are tired, stressed, or sick there are comforts you crave. Home and family. Whenever we have a big bug going around I always think of my Grandma and the stories she told us of living through the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918. I am grateful for many things, but in particular the modern comforts that make such a possibility not quite as scary, at least to me.

In no particular order, things that bring me comfort when I or my family are ill;

• Modern antibiotics. Steroids. Breathing treatments. Tylenol and Motrin. The list could go on.
• Puffs plus and disposable paper towels.
• disposable sanitizing wipes. I am as green as you come, but sometimes these are very, very helpful. In particular if the laundress is ill.
• Flannel sheets and down comforters.
• Cable tv movies, on at all hours of the day and night.
• Drive through windows; food, pharmacy, grocery, library. Make it sooo much easier.
• Phones. I can talk to any of our doctors within minutes if the situation warrants. I can summon help (a meal, an errand, a calm voice). I don't have to run down the street or get on a horse to get help.
• Washer, dryer, dishwasher. Imagine being ill with the flu and having to do wash by hand. bah.
• Internet... helps stay connected, communicate messages to family all at once.
• Games... in particular games that allow the player to sit in a recliner, virtually comatose, and forget how miserable they are for 60 seconds. Diversion is key.
• Good friends, helpful family. ahhhh.
• saltines, canned soup, Sprite, Popsicles, bananas available year round, orange juice.
• A big fridge or freezer so that some one can be stocked up and ready to go.
• stoves, microwaves, I do seem to focus on modern appliances, don't I?
• answering machines to catch those messages when you are finally able to sleep.
• Did I say modern medicines? decongestants, cough medicines, fever reducers, the whole bunch should be mentioned twice.
• A great doctor can not be underestimated, especially one with great bedside manner, a kind heart, and a great support staff. We have great pediatricians and adult doctors, very fortunate.

Don't blink

or it will all be over.
Whoosh, the sound of the door closing, and he's gone. Long days at school seem to be daunting right now. But so much will be packed into the next 4 years. Soak it all in. Enjoy it.
Some things might break your heart, it will heal.
Some things will try your patience, count to 100.
Some things might fill your cup to overflowing, let it flow.
Some things won't make any sense, let them go.
Some things will not be fair, join the club.
Some things will be exhausting, take a nap.
Some things will be very hard, dig deep, you can do more than you know.
I'll stop talking now and listen more.
I'll lecture less and observe more
I'll rush less and pause more.
I'll argue less and smile more.
I'll never love you less, I'll love you more.



Enjoy high school sweet boy.
Love,
Mom

Together... more than ever.

As I look over the pictures of the two of you on your High Adventure... I marvel not only at the beautiful world you saw, but at the beautiful relationship you have.

You saw joy, what others may call blueberries, every where and helped yourself whenever you could. Then you transformed dessert for everyone, sharing the joy. Blueberry cheesecake makes so many things better, doesn't it?

You saw green trees, rocks untouched since the glaciers, clear water,

storms roll in, day after day.

Yet, you kept your sense of humor.

Your hard work rehabilitating your rotator cuff after surgery paid off. All those days of pain and all that frustration from not being able to do what you wanted... all disappeared. Did you wonder, a little bit, if you had been better off without a 80 lb. pack or 60 pound canoe?

While you had some private moments, moments to collect your thoughts and pause and enjoy. The hard work was always right around the corner.
Did obstacles such as this give you pause? Or did you know you could do it, together, as a crew, helping each other, not alone?

Did you ever feel not up to the challenge?

The peace and serenity and joy you both brought back from moments like this...

helped you come back at peace with each other. Full of the knowledge that no matter the storms, the love is deep, rich, and true.

The skills you learned, the leadership, the self-sufficiency,

will help you fly. Sure, that sounds corny, but I still get teary eyed when I think of how you looked when you got off the plane.

No, not from the fumes of all that wet equipment,

but from the knowledge of the obstacles you climbed, with burdens on your back (literally),

you kept your vision clear,

and your eyes on your goal.

Yes, you finished the 80 miles and 29 portages, but you also formed a memory of time spent together, father and son, conquering an obstacle together. That memory, this trip, will always be with you in your heart.

some favorite moments....

Yes, he made it through weight lifting, two a days,... tomorrow a scrimmage. I'm so proud, not because it is football or a sport.. but because he jumped in, feet first, tried something he had never done before that didn't come easy and he stuck with it. So, if you see me beaming in the stands, it isn't the uniform, the play, or the cheers... I'm smiling at his courage.

A private moment, a story I'll remember.... an illustration of one of the many reasons I love Scouting.

Day Camp and a popsicle... what could be better?

I don't think he has swung a bat since, well it has been a long time. Time heals all wounds.

And when, exactly, did he become the tall drink of water?

Explaining how he earned his Forestry merit badge and what that has to do with reading "The Lorax," it was my favorite part of the Court of Honor. All by himself, explaining why our world's forests are important to all of us. So sweet.

A weekend with new friends learning all kinds of wonderful things, but also taking time to have fun. Built and launched a two-liter bottle rocket. A reminder to play, even as an adult.

More softball at the picnic, we all played.

Sadly, no picture of my at bat. And yes, boys, I did hit the ball.

Restless and scared...

Eagerly anticipating the mail, I was thrilled to receive my copy of Sarah Hart's new CD before I left for a weekend workshop. I was ready to become a better leader and, since I would have some quiet time, enjoy some private reflections with Sarah's music in the background. Sarah's new CD "Saint Song" was originally inspired by the text of the Anima Christi. Then, Sarah searched for more inspiration from the Saints and created song after song inspired by the wisdom of the ages.

I will admit to being more than a little bit scared to listen to this CD.
I love Sarah.
Love her music.
I turn to her when nothing else will heal my soul.
So, why was I scared?

Scared of God.
Scared of what the music might call me to.
Scared of the challenge.
Yet, restless with the yearning for more meaning, more insight, more love,
I listened.

I should not have been scared.
While Sarah provides text to go along with the music; read, reflect, response, and rest, the music speaks for itself.
While we can be called to greater challenges by God and to deepen our relationship with God, we are also called to be in the moment with God.
Just be with God.
Sarah makes it so easy to just sit, listen, and enjoy, knowing that God is with you, with us, with me.
I don't know why I was scared.
I know.
I believe.
I love.
I am human.
Let Sarah's music envelop you, embrace you, and encourage you to a deeper journey with God.

If that sounds like too much; too scary, too intimidating, too new, then just listen.
Sarah's music will carry you.

I love the CD.
I hope you do too, for more information visit Spirit and Song or Sarah Hart .