Thoughts

Sometimes I have those moments when my awareness seems heightened and my mind cleared of the myriad of to do's, worries, tireds, and general caous that seems to follow me, and allowed to focus for a moment on something of greater value. I had a few of these happy moments that I wanted to write down before they get lost in my worry about how to make tomorrows schedule work.

At dinner (which was leftovers for the second day in a row)Craig looked over at the kids mostly untouched plates and back at the full containers of lentil soup/garden skillet etc that were their choices and told them, "guys we are going to just keep plugging away at this food until it is gone, so you'd better start eating it." I loved that he was on board with me in our efforts to save money and mostly raise healthy children. This is a quest that should certainly be done with a partner.

My dear friend Nicki came up to visit and we took our girls to a beautiful park with lots of curvy paths past simple zoo animals, and all under the canopy of ancient trees. These girls are dear friends, and have anticipated with the energy only Capriel and Lauranna can exude, and I just adored watching their vivacious lively spirits running, climbing, and taking it all in in their wild manner. Rhyse and Sonya were equally happy, just in their quieter ways, their little short blond heads often together talking quietly about a duck or whatever they were absorbed in while eating their ever present popcorn. It was a good reminder day of the beauty of friendship and children.

I took Breck to an art class today and found an environment where she seemed to be understood, and where she seemed to fit in. You walked in to a low table filled (albeit in an organized manner-which might stray a little from our home) but none the less filled with every medium needed to paper art. Instead of controlling the content of the class, she was allowed to pick her medium, her subject, and then given individual direction on her chosen project. Seems kind of silly, but it really made me happy to find a place where she seemed happy. It reminds me of a song, I think it is "The Prayer" that talks about how each child needs to find a place.

I walked over to Anderson Feed and Seed which is a local seed store/nursery that seems to be almost famous from my father and grandfather's perspective. I spent 15 minutes talking to a man there about the intricacies of grapes and came back with 3 different varieties of grapes to plant in my backyard. Due to the lateness of the season, everything was 50% off so my total rang in just over $12. It brought a real sense of excitement to carry my little vines to the van anticpating my children watching them grow and picking them and enjoying their juice. I also, just love plants, talking about them, learning about them, and growing them.

We have been eating pears from our trees. They taste so different from the store. Granted most have some "parts" that need to be cut out since the trees weren't sprayed, but they are delicious.
I have started a compost bucket and take almost childlike pride in filling it and "fertilizing my garden." I did find one bucket that had been dumped in the flowerbed, which didn't look very nice, and I think I have a few more flies inside than normal, but we'll figure it out. It makes me feel like a real Provident liver- like my Mom and Grandma, to recycle me food waste. Now I just need some chickens!

The last couple of weeks have been gorgeous here. Chilly mornings but very warm pleasant afternoons. Today I felt a few times that simply opening my window as I drive, trying to breathe in the fields as I passed by and the quieter setting in which we now live has brought me a lot of solace amidst the stress of organizing, adjusting, and deciding that this move has brought.

Finally, (this was supposed to be very brief) we turned the lights on in the tennis court and played and worked outside for a little while after dinner. A little tennis with Landen, Rhyse calling to me as she sped around on her bike, the girls being silly on the Trampoline, and a few more chest high weeds pulled up in the flowerbeds=a great ending to the end of my day. I love that I can run from the house to the back of the yard and that it actually takes more than a second to cover the space.

Life is starting to fill up again, and feel complex, a little to much, and unsure, but hopefully I can keep finding opportunities to be still and notice the simple things that bring such joy and meaning to life.