Week of camp

I spent four days in the woods with my family, camping. I dedicate this week of posts to the sharing of that experience and to your enjoyment!

Let me begin my telling you that I have learned something about my husband this week, he is a camping dictator. The natural world has order and so naturally, my husband must too. When we fish, it is his way. Camp set up is his way and of course, camp take down is his way. I have to admit that he is an experienced outdoorsman. So, much to my consternation, he's usually right. But let it be known that by our final day in the great outdoors, the dictator faced a cou. Were it not for his acceptance of the terms laid down by his subjects, he would have been removed from power and banished from the country. What's the saying? "absolute power corrupts absolutely?"

Ah summer, we have had a great vacation and I am now counting the days until the kids are back in school. I have moved from active participation to active anticipation/procrastination. I am waiting. You see, it is not that the months off have been unkind it is simply that I am ready to move on. I have fallen prey to the lure of your lazy song and feel no inclination to act...on anything. And so, for the survival of my sanity I must insist that we make this transition as soon as is possible lest I begin to harden into the mold of inactivity and pursue the laziness of summer days full time.
By the way, let fall know I expect big things!

Prop

There is a beautiful Elm tree in our city that made the news yesterday. There is speculation that this tree, planted in the early 1900's, is the only one of it's kind in the country, perhaps the world. What makes this tree so special? It grows horizontally! Now, while you are wondering how that works let me explain why I find this tree an inspiration.
Because the branches of this Elm grow out, you can imagine the tree is very wide. It is accepted that if this tree were growing in the wild the weight of the extra long branches would have long ago shattered the trunk of the tree. As a response to the work of gravity, gardeners have propped each branch with a specially designed platform that allows the branch to rest it's weight, relieving the trunk of the tree. Some branches have several platforms due to their enormous length. What I love about this picture is simple. This beautiful tree is just another way of our world telling us- sometimes we all need a little support!


ksl.com - Utah County working to protect one-of-a-kind tree

Cleansing

Checkout lines are my nemesis! No, I'm not kidding. There is a law written in the cosmos that is enforced every time I get into the line at the grocery store. Some may say it is karma except that I have always had excellent check out manners. I am usually very patient regarding coupons, crying babies and food stamps. I do not know what has me on the cosmos crap list in this area but I must get myself off and so begins "operation checkout!" I am in the market (ha ha) for some sort of ritual that will set me right with the universe so I turn to you dear readers, I need suggestions for offerings to the grocery gods. I give my word that I WILL actually perform said offering (keep it simple folks, no bloodshed or illegal activity. This is supposed to be silly.) and will report the effectiveness of said rite. The ball is in your court, end my shopping nightmares!

I have taken a sabbatical lately, some of you may have noticed my absence. I've had several friends and family members mention that I haven't updated in a long time and so I thought I would do my duty and write.
I have missed the opportunity to express my thoughts and feelings into the void of the WWW, it is strangely comforting to say what you want and then walk away. Perhaps I have repressed frustration over expressing what I think effectively. Anyhow, I guess Its time to chat away and see what interesting comments my Asian readers come up with.

What is on my mind of late? Friends. In my life I have always been able to make friends fairly easily. I like people! I seek out relationships with others to feed the mind and soul with those things that make a person better. Isn't the point of life to gain as much knowledge and happiness as is humanly possible? However, at this time in my life I feel a need to ponder and implement those things I have witnessed and learned from others. So many have shown me by example, wonderful and amazing abilities of kindness, ingenuity, selflessness and spirituality that I have regretfully taken too little energy to examine. I am grateful for dear friends, both within and without my family, who are examples to me every day. I am better because of you.

Feel That

Miss me?

Well, we've been moving and shaking at our house and after yesterday I believe things will settle down a bit.

We said goodbye to Won and Quentin yesterday. Both of our exchange students left for their homes in South Korea and Belgium respectively. For any of you who know me, you have seen me struggle to manage two teenage boys who came to my home from diversely different backgrounds and experience. After some rough and awkward beginning weeks we found a happy equilibrium that saw us through to this weekend. I knew as the time drew closer that I would miss these young men terribly. I am grateful that after all was said and done I felt a deep sense of loss as I watched them walk down the airport concourse and through security. It was this sadness that confirmed to me how much a part of my life they had become. There were many times during the day that we found ourselves in tears, thinking about all we had experienced with our new family members.

The best thing of all is this feeling that I have expanded somehow. That there are parts of me that have gone out into the world and will be part of lives in other countries and cultures. It is deeply satisfying to know that who I am, who my family is and what we believe has moved outward to influence others and in return, those open spaces in my heart have been filled by their lives as well.

Dear Son,
Your father and I were talking tonight about the small fortune we have spent on you over the years. There has been much done to correct some educational lagging and also to give you great experiences. I was wondering if we should curtail some of our cash outflow with the concern that you might grow to think you have an entitlement to things considered by some to be "extras". After a lengthy and animated discussion I realized a few things; first, you have no idea how much we spend on various activities in which you take part and second, I would spend all I have to give you every opportunity in life.

I am growing up as a parent. (I'll bet you thought I was all grown-up.) I am comprehending now that you are really growing up too. I see you for the first time as the individual you truly are. Until this time, you were a child who needed to be parented. Now I am excited to see that you have interests. Mature interests. I feel excitement that you truly will choose a path of your very own. It is with this new found emotion that I conscientiously commit to encourage you in everything worthwhile that you wish to undertake.
I have been unsure as to how grand I should make my support. I realize now that because your father and I can give you great opportunity, you have an even greater chance to become great. I don't mean being the President of the United States or an studio executive. I mean a good, kind man who influences all he meets. I hope and pray that through your young life I will be able to offer you opportunity that will give you a unique and deep perspective on the world. I pray that you will learn empathy and hope, kindness and faith and also a powerful humility. I am grateful to know that God sent you here to do something in this world and I am equally grateful to know that I can help you discover your path to that end. It is my sincerest wish that you grow to achieve the greatness within you.

All my love,
Mom