kaylee grandparent's day kindergarten

 Regina coli?

Ken

Ken first Christmas 1953

Katrina trip to COSI

Brannon first year in 4-H

Alyssa Christmas Concert 7th grade

Alex stats

I was going through old papers and found these notes scribbled on a small scrap of raggedy edged, coffee covered paper.

Alex 3/26/09
45% weight
95 % height
19 # 9 ozs
29-3/4"

All other stats advanced.  Language on schedule.

Rain

Life giving rain.  Have you ever watched a tree right before a downpour?  It’s leaves uncurl, growing large to drink up every drop of the rain to come.  The tree releases an earthy, deep smell of need.  It needs the rain to flourish, to grow, to create life.  May you today seek the life giving rain, in order to flourish, ripen, and create life!

hmmm... Doing something aka learning to rest well

Why is it so hard to listen to my body and not feel guilty that I should be "doing something"?

I'm whipped today.  I came home after fighting the white out snow.  Not the brightest of ideas driving in those conditions.  A 15 minute trip took an hour.

I slept on and off in the comfortable lazyboy chair snuggled under a blanket with Tink on my lap channel surfing and feeding the wood burner in between.

I've gone to bed early with a soothing rice bag on my neck. Yet something nags and I can't go to sleep yet. Somehow I don't feel like I've justified my down time.  I didn't make use of my precious few hours and "do something constructive".

Why is taking care of myself and listening to my body when it says rest not enough? Why do I have to justify it?  Who am I seeking permission from?  Down time is important too. Maybe even first and foremost.  It just feels strange.

wisdom

I think part of becoming wise its to find our feminine voice again.  We had that voice, strong and wise, as children.  As we grew, we accepted the wisdom of others and in the processes allowed our own voice, our own individual wisdom to be silenced.

As I age, I am finding that voice - my voice- and my childhood wonder again.

kids say the cutest things

Phone going to voice mail. ..
Me: Do you want to leave a message?
Carter, at 4: No, I only talk to real people!