A little of this, a lot of that

I am aware that it is the natural way of things. How young become old, how little becomes big. How the days turn slowly sometimes, but the big picture is one of perpetual forward motion....time ticking away. As I sat today at Raine's Grade 8 graduation I found myself with some time to myself with no craft project to finish, no phone calls to make, no plans to plan...and I realized that it probably isn't a good thing for me to have too much real quiet time. Why did I find myself close to tears when other peoples kids were accepting their diploma? I am not usually one for happy tears, especially not for children and people that I have never met. And then the truth dawned on me (probably again, but I never seem to remember it) that I am aging along with my girls. I am still figuring myself out. I am coming to terms with the idea that I am on the road to grandmotherhood (not yet mind you) and not new motherhood. How is it that I am the mother of a 14 year who isn't even my eldest child. How does someone who still doesn't know what they want to be when they grow up help their children figure out what they want to be. Is it enough to hope that they pick up on the love and not so much on the making ends meet? There was a whole lot of speaking about figuring out your goals and then striving to reach them...does it count if a mother just wants her children's goals to be happy..is that enough in the world today?
Sheesh, turns out that on this day of celebration, I have a wee bit of a heavy heart. And I feel somewhat overwhelmed. And I love my girls in ways that I am still trying to figure out.

Another summer

And so at the start of another summer, I find myself:
*eagerly awaiting the end of school routines
*enjoying the first batch of local strawberries
*finding time here and there to keep my garden from getting away on me
*sewing large quantities of sheep
*really believing that the path I am on is right where I should be.
And for someone who is a bona fide cold-weather lover, these are making me love this perfect summer of summers that has begun.

Move it on over

Keep on going....on over to Frontier Dreams...there is a giveaway happening....and it is not necessarily for the younger set....I can be found hoarding my favorites and setting them up in a way that makes me smile. It's true. Toys are not for just the kids anymore.
Happy weekend.
Karen

Note to self

Say no by saying yes - to the air, to the earth, to the trees. Yes to the grasses, to the rivers, to the birds and the animals and every living thing. Yes to the small houses, yes to the children. Yes.
* Wendell Berry*

And say yes to the wonderful movie you saw last week titled "Mother Nature's Child". It served as a great reminder of the importance of the great outdoors in whatever capacity in the everyday. It wasn't really a reminder that I was seeking, more like the knowledge that my ideas on the subject are valid ones.

Joy

I am feeling, on this day, joyful for many things. Maybe it is the return of the sun, maybe the end of the school year right around the corner, or possibly a combination of many little things that turn into one big happy result (see below).

I am due to become an aunt once again any day now. Purple seems to be the color of choice for this little one and my needles are a-clicking. Come along little one, we are excitedly awaiting your arrival!



The joy of witnessing eldest and littlest hard at work bending pipe cleaners into desired shapes.



The ever changing fairy house play that goes on in my house.




The return of afternoon coffee to my day.


All these and many others are combining to make me feel more like myself again.

Operation Family Hike

Okay. Over this winter I had the sudden realization that my biggest girl turns 17 this summer. I realized with such a sense of shock that there was a distinct possibility that she would be off to university in a little over a year. Despite my wishes that she stay in town for this next phase of her life, she has a strong desire to fly. (No, not fly the coop, just fly in the nice sense of the word). Suddenly I was filled with the idea that we really needed to make this next year count. So, when most kids are increasing their independance and time spent away from the mamas and papas, mine was reeled back in this morning at about 9:00 when I woke her up and made her get ready for a good old family hike.
It's not that we have never done things like that as a family, it's just that it has been awhile. Schedules, lives and appointments all seemed to have wormed their way to the front of the line as far as family time is concerned.
Not today. I was reminded that it is important to fit these things in. That our time is limited. And that our time together is very important.
And I think we all had a good time, despite the mosquitoes. The ice cream at the end helped too.

Note to self

Keep feet firmly planted in the Now. All will be okay.