I Can Promise You Adventure

You won't always have dinner on the table or perfectly folded newly cleaned shorts lining your dresser or matching socks.

You won't always have the best cookies in class or the most creative Valentine's cards or perfectly parted hair or perfectly pressed pants.

You may not have the things the other kids have...the games or bracelets or phones whatever thing is popular that week.

But, sweetie, I can promise you adventures.

I can promise you the spontaneity of hopping on a bicycle just before the sunsets to feed the ducks (but not the geese because they are plotting to take over the world).

I can promise you tag in the backyard and hikes in the middle of the woods.

I can promise you conversations with the stars and the moon.

I can promise you trips we've never taken and places we've never seen and books we've never read and food we've never tasted (if you ever get up to trying new foods).

I can promise you swimming anytime a pool is near and painting anytime you want to create and listening to music all the time.

I can promise you I'll be there anytime you want to kick a ball around or throw a baseball or toss a fishing line in a pond or play an instrument.

I can promise you I'll be present for your first sporting event or band concert or play or chess tournament. I can promise to support who you are...whoever that is and to love you freely and openly and without apology (even when you're too cool).

I can't promise you the things the books tell me I should be doing, but I can promise you adventure.    

What a Difference a Year Makes-Another Cozy Fixer Upper Post

I recently watched an old video of Jack walking down our long beat up gravel driveway dragging his blanket. Wow. Our house was in rough shape, but I still loved it. That's when you know it's meant to be...Right? 

Here are some before and afters of our newest landscaping project. We put a full turnaround drive in, fixed the drainage issue, took out a tree (sigh) and added beds. 

And here is the harvest from today's garden. This brings me so much joy.

The Ducks and An Overcast Stroll in July

Of all the places. Of all the things. Of all the adventures, my favorite is right here with you feeding the ducks.

"Mama, there is a baby. He loves his mommy like I love you," you say smiling with your squinty eyes. "He's so cute."

How do you come up with this stuff? Your uncle Josh used to love to feed the ducks on the lake. Sometimes you remind me of him.

Of all the stuff, the cars and houses and pretty things, the thing that matters most to me is time with you. There is never quite enough.

I love this walk with you on an overcast day with a constant threat of a downpour. I love the way you throw your arms out like you're flying. It makes me smile with squinty eyes.

"A great blue herron!" you scream. "Hi, I'm Jack, nice to meet you."

I love how happy this makes you.

Many years ago your Great Grandpa dragged me outside and he made me walk. He made me walk slowly as he pointed high in the trees at birds. He made me really see the world with open eyes. He made me appreciate the natural beauty surrounding us: the way the river flowed through the woods, the way the street curved and the people who built it, the way the clouds looked just before the sun broke.

This is a gift passed down by him to me and now to you. Don't take it for granted, my dear son.

Don't take it for granted.