Too many titles for this post it's killin' me

An afternoon flop on the big bed led to giggles, steamroller squishes, static-y hair, sweaty faces, and tumbles off the bed. (That would be my McBean sliding off the edge.)

I thought of so many cheesey titles to this post, all of which included some pun on the word sole/soul. 

I decided to leave it and just let you imagine the girlish giggles floating through the air as I tried to capture them with my camera. 

Swim Lesson

She taught her the strokes, and how to come up for air.

She even took her on an underwater lap around the pool,

then gave her a little break time to rest.

Such a good mommy.

Life on a Sunday...

Out on the trail, riding the quads, getting caked with sweat and dirt.

Gravitating towards the things with wheels, completely ignoring the shoe on the table.

Receiving smooches from your mom while everyone stands around and oogles over you,

trying to make you smile for the camera.

Preparing for a swim, working the suction on those goggles just right,

so you can join the other mermaids.

Waiting at pool side for someone to take you for a swim.

(More on her adventures tomorrow...)

Street Light

A random thought crossed my mind as I was attempting to situate the street light "just so" in my frame:

Huh. What a contrast between worlds--the heavenly clouds against the blue expanse of sky and the man made street light invented to illuminate our world. Man and Nature. And which is more magnificent or powerful? After remembering 911 yesterday, and re-watching old video of the Twin Towers crumbling, I painfully felt the weight of the power of man to change the course of history just by the choices he makes--to get into a plane and hijack it and steer it into a building all with the intent to take lives and make a statement. We are smart enough and powerful enough to make a change when we put our mind to it. Our choices, great or small, are powerfully important. They leave an eternal mark.

And then I remembered Hurricane Katrina and I remembered the powerful, indestructible force of nature that rendered man completely helpless for days, weeks, and still even years later. We fled in the face of her strength and knew our own strength could not match hers. I remembered the Tsunami several years ago that swept away thousands. We could not flee from it either--just left to painfully gather the pieces that remained.

Yes, we are like that seemingly tall street light: very small indeed against the force of something so grand and magnificent. Despite the power that I do possess, I am a fool to think otherwise.

 

Out on a limb

"Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. 

Pain nourishes your courage. 

You have to fail in order to practice being brave."

Mary Tyler Moore

In the field after dinner...

...looking for "fairy poofs"

Caught in some hazy sun flare--my golden girl. 

(I love shooting into the sun.) 

Conversation while on the look out for the ice cream man...

Gracie: I brought six dollars with me to buy something from the ice cream man.

Michaela: What kind of ice cream are you going to buy? The Bugs Bunny one like last time?

Gracie: No. (pause) My mom says it's rude to eat animals.

Me interjecting: Really Gracie. I can't imagine your mom saying something like that?

Gracie: No, just kidding. I just can't eat a Bugs Bunny anymore because I can't eat the gum ball eyeballs...you know, because of my new retainer. And what's the point of eating a Bugs Bunny popsicle if you can't eat the eyeballs?

Michaela: Good point.

(Love listening to 7 year old girls converse.)

Fearfully and wonderfully made...

There's a verse in the Bible that says that we "are fearfully and wonderfully made." I am often drawn to it many times because, to me,  it screams of beauty: that so much energy and love was focused on creating me into life.

I was editing pictures of this little guy today and once again was reminded of how true those words are. His flaming hair and golden eyelashes. His heart that still beats after surgery. His ears that struggle to hear with aids. His eyes that smile and tear when he lights up with laughter. His legs that just recently strengthened up underneath him so that he can now walk. His beautiful babble of words that carry on conversations in eagerness with anyone who will listen. His pure, innocent, uninhibited love for life...

We come in all different shapes, sizes, colors. We are born into different cultures, traditions, faiths.

Yet we hold one thing that marks us the same: we were fearfully and wonderfully made...uniquely created, woven together, in our mother's wombs. 

When I think of how precious my life is, I wonder how differently it would look if I lived in the light of this truth everyday? I wonder if even my relationships would be different if I worked on treating those around me with this same perspective? If we all would get along much better if we all lived up to the value that was placed on us when we were created into being?

Amazing how one little picture of my carrot-topped friend could get me thinking about life and love... 

Double Digits

He turned 10 today. T-E-N! My Zach.

After he blew out his birthday candles he said, "Wow, it's been a long time since I had a birthday." 

Yes Zach, 356 long days ago.  :) 

But those days flew by for me and he is growing too fast...too fast.

It was ten years ago (seems like yesterday) I went into labor on Labor Day--three and a half weeks before his due date. My doctor assured me over the phone that I was not going into labor (this being my first baby, I certainly didn't know what I was experiencing, he assumed).  So I sat at my brother's house with all of the Labor Day BBQ guests, trying to get comfortable, in disbelief that I would have to feel this way for the next month. 

After the third call to my doctor during the wee hours of the night, he finally authorized a trip to the hospital for some drugs to help me sleep. The nurse examined me in a side room and quickly confirmed that I was dilated to 4cm and I, indeed, would be having a baby soon. (Get this girl into a room, call the doctor, and call in the preemie team.) I had not yet quit work, taken a birthing class, or even set up a nursery. Totally unprepared, I was. 

He was born during a freak lightening storm, totally healthy, ready for life. (To this day he still wakes up from a sleep bright eyed and cheery.) And that night I lay in my hospital bed crying while I watched fork lightening break out side my window. My husband was fast asleep in a roll out bed on one side of me, my son in his rolling hospital bassinet on the other side. I was completely awash with emotion.

Ten years later I am awash with emotion still...at the amazing kid I have. His love for life, his curious, smart, clever, and creative brain, his sense of humor, his sensitive heart, his love for his family...

I asked him what he wanted for his birthday breakfast: Cocoa Pebbles (a birthday treat--to pick out a sugared cereal)

I asked him what he wanted for his birthday dinner: left over spaghetti (bc it's better on the second day) and salad with a lot of ranch dressing.

I asked him what he wanted for dessert: berry cobbler (bc it's waaaaaay better than cake)

Is not he just the coolest kid? I love him so much.

Happy Birthday Zach!

For documentation sakes:

His two favorite gifts:

A brand new bike from Omi (no more riding his sister's purple Hannah Montana bike because his own bike was stolen months ago).

From us...an iPod Shuffle and iTunes gift card. All day he has been down loading tunes from Boston, Journey, The Scorpions, Guns and Roses, AC/DC, The Police, Aerosmith. (Thanks to Rock Band and Guitar Hero and his 80's rocker Dad.) 

Sunday evening light

They were running around in the light of the setting sun.

My favorite kind of light.

I love love love this picture of Annamarie.

Here they are discussing how they are going to deal with big brother Zach,

who has thrown a wrench into their joy of running up and down the dirt ramp.

(He's brought over M's pink scooter and is attempting to ride their ramp.)

I love Annamarie's little look. After this she was ready to walk right over to 

Zach and give him a piece of her mind.

Michaela...she wears attitude with the sassy Tinkerbell shirt.

Love these kinds of moments, when the sun has dipped 

below the horizon and there's just that leftover light 

bouncing around and kinda making everything glow.

Gotta catch it when you can!