Rattling thoughts

I’ve had something I recently read repeating over and over in my head and that is:

In family relationships LOVE is really spelled TIME. 

Reading books, playing Hot Wheels, listening to the latest discovery in Minecraft, talking about why the Office is so dang funny. It’s these times that my kids will remember. I know this because one of my most vivid memories with my mom is sitting in the chairs on the porch talking about anything ranging from friends to rainy days to what’s difficult in life and why people do or act the way they do. I get teary just thinking about the TIME I spent with my mom. Sure, she was busy sometimes and had lots of stuff to do, but she always made time (and I am a talker, so it was a lot of time, ha!). 

Sometimes I’m busy, tired, exhausted, or really not interested in what obsidian you may have mined in Minecraft today, but I have to push all those feelings aside and give the time, the effort, a listening ear. True, there have been times where I say “can we talk tomorrow?” or “okay, it’s time to go to bed!” but I feel the best when I’ve given the time. 

And while we’re at thoughts rattling on in my head, here’s another statement I read and enjoyed:

Until it’s my turn, I will keep clapping for others. 

What does this mean exactly? Can we cheer for others when they are trying something scary, hard, or even easy? Can we cheer when they are succeeding even if we are jealous or feeling inadequate in comparison? I sure hope I’m doing a good job at supporting people when I’m not in a big role. Still, that isn’t to say I haven’t felt good when the cheering is for me. I like that place. But cheering for others is a good place too. It’s a place where you have to get comfortable with not being the best. You have to let go of your insecurities and be patient. You have to not feel sorry for yourself. You have to really care about others.

I’m still thinking about how I can be better at both of these things: time and support. I’m thinking about how I can teach my kids to do these things too. I think I may need to spend some time in some chairs on the porch. 

When summer turns into fall

A beautiful sunny day today, but if you step outside you definitely need a jacket. This is truly when summer changes to fall and I start baking (which is loads of fun especially after I thoroughly cleaned the oven): wheat bread, pizza, chocolate chip cookies, cornbread, spaghetti squash bread, cinnamon pull aparts. What is it about turning on the oven, warming up the kitchen, and smelling the aroma? It’s just so cozy. 

Lately, we’ve been up to a few things, like eating green peppers like apples. 

And, learning to oil paint (hard but neat and inspiring!).

Which lead to seeing the everyday filled with beauty. These clouds!

We’ve been waiting to pick up Oliver and Ansel from piano, which means we have to entertain ourselves by opening the sun roof. 

Or listen to good music when we pick up Ian from preschool. 

We’ve been trying new things, including insisting on getting up high and swinging on the monkey bar swing. 

We’ve gone on walks. Ansel was kind enough to push Elsie up the hill after she’d truly enjoyed going down the slope around our block. 

And we’ve lifted heavy things, including two younger siblings at the same time!

We’ve used the treadmill on those rainy days. Ian asked to do a full .25 miles one morning. Good job!

And we’ve visited fun places like Park City. Elsie was the only one up for a walk (the boys were with cousins and couldn’t be bothered), but we had a great time looking at all of the old, renovated, and new homes in the neighborhood. 

Sometimes we buy stuff with our own money, ask everyday when the package will come, and then, once it gets here, build it with only very little of mom’s help. 

We go hiking in a make-shift Sunday outfit and see the beautiful leaves. 

And waterfall!

It’s pretty awesome to enjoy autumn and eat all of the juicy apples we can get our hands on.