Gardening in July

Mr. M & I's fourteenth wedding anniversary was earlier this month.  I remembered two days after.  
So there was nothing "special" about it, other than what is special every day with my husband.
Part of what's so special, is that our relationship has roots that keep growing deeper.  We're not afraid to turn a little soil to make more room.   It may mean reading a book outside our usual genre so we talk about it.  It may mean getting used to foods we don't "like."  It may mean taking on a community service project together.
Sometimes the soil gets turned for us.   Friends get divorced.  Moving for a job.  Kids in the hospital.
The real question is, once the soil is turned, what are we going to do there?
Are we going to plant discontent about "going out of our way" or it "not being fair"?
Are we going to divide the soil into different pots?  "Saying well it's okay that's HIS thing, I'll just keep my dirt over here."  Not that container gardens can't be beautiful, but they have limited depth.  They need more frequent feeding to thrive, since they can't get natural restoration from the seasons of life.  It's hard to grow a life-long relationship that way.
Or, once the soil has already been turned, we can try to tamp it back down....but that often leaves the ground hard and unable to grow anything at all.  Trying to force things back to the way they were "before" can do this, whether it's before marriage, before kids, before the fight, before the move.
There are other, more positive ways to continue on.  I believe part of why our marriage has not just survived, but thrived through difficulties is Mr. M's permanent contentedness.
The soil is turned.  Can't go back.  Might as well use it for something.
So from the seed of content he always plants, grows a plant of peace.
That peace starts one end of the garden.
Whereas on the other end of the garden, I plant hope.   I cling to the idea that "all things work for the good."   E1's food issues led to us eating healthier.  Losing our house we built led to the one we have now which fulfilled our hearts desires in a home.  All things in this world are temporary.
My mother in law says I see a silver lining around every cloud.  Gardens need the clouds.  Rain and sun are both needed to grow.  Fertilizer stinks, but is necessary as well...and best applied in the preparation of the soil, because it can burn the plants if it comes in direct contact.
We then meet up in the middle of the garden, in full sunlight.  There we plant a tree of thanksgiving.
Being content, hopeful, and grateful, we watch our garden grow.  May it continue to grow for years to come.

taking a day to let it be

Every now and then a Saturday comes along that screams "You're family needs you more than housework does."  Today is one of those Saturdays.
This morning started with a nice late breakfast.  Mr. M made pancakes and I put together a fruit compote for the topping of frozen strawberries & blueberries with some fresh cherries, simmered in orange juice w/ a bit of honey, cardamon, and cinnamon.  Then we had our itty bit of laundry/pick up/dishes, (Is there really ever such a thing as a chore free day?) and we were off.
Off to crown center for the noon FREE puppet show.  A very amusing production involving marionettes, frogs singing "at the hop", and more.  Then we went to the interactive rain forest.  There was something for all the kids, from simple puzzles and coloring pages to hands on activities with matching and a microscope to interactive video displays.
After all this, we brought the littles home w/ slushees from QT for some chill time.
While they were hanging out at home it was time for me to go pick up our oldest, who was returning from 3MT, a localish missions trip.
"Mom, you probably want the money I have left."
"Would be nice."
"Here you go. It isn't much."
"That's okay.  I gave it to you to spend."
"There was this mennonite store.  They had this candy that's like, the best candy ever."
O-kaay.  The kid spent $20 on candy....wait for it.
"Oh, does the cd player in Dad's car work.  I got this really great music from the guy who led music at camp."
He spent his own money on a worship cd.  All acoustic guitar. 
"And I bought a hat and a t-shirt."
Well, he needs clothes for school. 
"I brought home these extra hats for the sibs.  I saved them this piece of candy too."
This is totally in character for this kid...yet I still find my heart about to burst in love and pride.
"So what did you DO, besides eat and shop?
He shrugs.  "Painted and sprayed wasp nests."
"And there was the music too.  I really liked it, hence the CD."
"Anything else."
"The devotional was kind of weird mom, but I liked the music and prayed a lot."
This is his first reference to personal prayer at all.  I've always known he does it, but this is the first time he's been comfortable talking about it.
"So you liked it?"
"It was fun."
Good enough for me.  That describes our day today pretty well.  It was fun.

Take me out to the ball game...

This has been the request from our eleven year old for the last three summers.  So last night we finally did it. 
Part of it was timing.  Four of our kids are away between a church missions trip and camp grandma.
Part of it was super cheap tickets.  When going to a ball game is similar in cost to going to a matinee movie, the chances of it becoming a reality are much higher.
Part of it was who KC was playing against.  I enjoy Chicago based sports teams, so with me and the child ganged up on him, my husband didn't stand much of a chance.   Mr. M is not a baseball fan, but he is a fan of a happy wife.  So we went.
Once we were at the game, Si guy was the entertainment.
"Fireworks!"
"Fountains!"
"Look Si, see how they stand and hold the bat?"Our seats were on the first base foul line on the lowest level, so we really could see.
"Uh-huh."  He takes an imaginary practice swing.
I spent a good deal of the 8th inning walking with Si, including a close up look at the fountains, and almost catching up to Slugger.  Oh well, next time Si.
"Okay."
And the eleven year old?
"Can we come again, soon?!"
I think he had a good time too.

Have an attitude of .....

I feel like life has just snapped together this summer.  The kids are all old enough to dress themselves.  We've moved out of slumlords r us into our dream house.  We're making forward progress financially instead of just barely treading water.  Mr. M & I are both healthier than we've been in years.  The kids have activities they enjoy.  We're between the craziness of June and the back to school blowouts.  It's peaceful.
We've even had a "guest teen" to help watch the preschoolers a few days a week so I have time for unpacking and housework.  My inner skeptic keeps saying "this is too good to be true."
Overall though, I'm just appreciative to have an earthly example of God's grace.  I certainly don't deserve a breathtakingly beautiful home and free part-time child care, but I am grateful for it.  Here's hoping I can be a good steward of these great gifts God (and my friends and in-laws) have given me.
Leading me to one of our family mottos.
"What kind of attitude are we supposed to have kids?"
*mumble, grumble.*"What was that?  Are we supposed to have an attitude of brattitude?"
"Nooo.!  Mo-om."
"What kind of attitude are we supposed to have then?"
"Gratitude!" shout the tiny tots.
"Grat-i-tude."  mumble the preadolescents..
"And how do we express gratitude?"
"By not complaining."  (younger kid)
"By being con-tent."  (medium sized kid)
"By taking care of our stuff." (older kid rolling eyes with heavy sigh.)
"How does taking care of your stuff show gratitude?"
"It shows consideration for who bought it for us, and keeps us from having to be embarrassed by ratty things or dragged out again."  Ooookay.
"What else can help you show your gratitude is real?"
"Staying positive, (sigh) and not complaining about the work to maintain things."
All right kid.  You get a gold star.  Time for mom to start on HER example for you.

Miss D's birthday blog (at least it's in the same month!)

Princess D turned seven on July 3rd.  Really?  Really.
That's how this summer has flown.
From ponies to horses, from princess dolls to collectible dolls....this could be an expensive year.  
Right now she's in a "dress up" phase as I like to call them.  No, she's not any more of a clothes horse than she already was.  She's trying on different personalities, trying to define her self.   
 She's tried being a diva.  That's part of who she really is, but found she doesn't quite have the "power" for the full effect of the act.
She's tried being the "baby", but really her personality is a bit strong for that act, and she gets that "max" look in her eyes that makes it hard for her to pass off as innocent.
She's tried being the "yes man," but her independence burned that up in flames.
She's tried to be "max" too...but finds I watch her more closely than "Ruby."
I just hope she figures out soon it's more about being herself,  for when she IS herself, she's irresistible.   Yet I know it may be a while, for the process of "becoming" is really just beginning.  
"I get to help bake the cake!  Is it chocolate?  Really!  Oh mom, you're the best mom ever.  Mom, can I lick the spatula pleeeaaase?"
Maybe, she'll still be more child than changeling for a while yet.  I hope so.

girl scout camp, and moving, and a birthday, and the 4th of July, oh my!

Internet, finally available in our home sweet home.  A few weeks without it, and the most eventful few weeks this year thus far. 
Girl Scout camp was a blast, especially for me since I had the TAGS, (the tiny tot sibs of the girl scouts whose moms volunteered.)  We did a simplified version of most of the big kid activities.  From cooking to knives (with play-doh!) we walked in the big girls footsteps.  Miss D, had a great time too, once she realized that being the baby didn't mean being boss.  By mid-day of day 2 she was in the swing of things!  Her favorite activities were on days 3 &4, the HORSES, and the zip line.  She can't wait until she's 13 and can have a whole week of horse camp...although she's not convinced yet that she will have to muck the stalls.
Turn around and say, we're moving three times..and over the next 3 weekends we did!  Finally!  Our new to us home is paradise.  It couldn't be more perfect.  I stepped outside once last week and thought "ick!  It's so hot!"  Then I stepped inside, so grateful that I didn't have a clue how hot it was outside until then.  What a dramatic change from the other house!  This home is such a blessing to us, such things as a working full sized oven and main floor laundry are gifts I will never cease to appreciate.
Just like our lovely Miss D appreciated her birthday bonanza.  She helped make her cake, received a "baby" unicorn pillowpet to go with her big one, and a baby doll that looks a lot like her. Grilled chicken and grandparents and games.  A perfect day for the princess.
The next day was pretty perfect too.  Camp grandma claimed their campers, and those of us left behind went to watch the Olathe fireworks show.  It wasn't super crowded and we had a perfect view.  It was Si guy's first one.  He seemed to really like the shapes and colors.
A few days to recover, and continue to unpack.  Today, our internet was finally hooked up.  Its nice to be connected again.