Worth It

This sweet concoction accompanied me on the back deck in the warm sunshine this afternoon.

Barefooted.
Feet up.
Rays beaming on my face.

Yep, I used one of my fancy glasses.
No plastic. Nope. Not today.

Cause today, I was worth it.
Worth celebrating the sunshine.
The outside that we played in ALL day.
Shooting hoops.
Adventure hikes to the train tracks.
Lying in the grass...giggling.

And the boys liked it too.
How do I know?
Why these flowers, of course.
Hand picked {ever-so carefully and GENTLY} by the boys.
For me.
Cause today, they wanted me to know I was worth it to them.

It's the little things...


.mac :)

Perspective

Down goes our sun,
So early he rests these days.

His goodnight kisses to his autumn love leave her blushing...
Her twinkles of splendor are the flirtatious winks of her shadow play.

I try to turn my head and let them steal their last moments alone.
But my curiosity seems to be stuck as the kid brother hanging around the doorway at curfew time making this time not their own.

"What's that? Do you see it?"
I am mesmerized and drawn in.

From my first glance I had seen this.
Captivated, I must reign this beauty in.

Yes, the eye is the beholder,
Trained in sight and fine tuned by the mind.

Little pleasures, happy moments, unforseen adventures,
The eyes are equipped in what YOU choose to find.

Could you see this tiny gift of God's beauty from the beginning?
If not, perhaps your perspective needs to be re-defined.

Perspective.
That's a big word.

Eli is at the peak of curiosity with words and their meanings these days. At times it is so tiring to try to explain what they mean.

Mom, what's this mean? Literally the word, this.

Yesterday's list would also include: devastating, gondola, bitter, and delightful.

Casey is learning at least 3 new words or concepts everyday. Watching him marvel at the way three words go together to communicate a thought is unbelievable.

The other day it was: Mommy, my car brrrrooom broooom up go too?

He wanted to take the big wheel up to the top of the driveway and coast it down like Eli does.

He mastered the terminology and the correct application of the word too. And being the proud mommy that I am, I think he is well on his way to tackling action verbs as brroooom brrroom counts!

They both, in their own developmental stages, are on a word hunt. A quest for knowledge. A need to understand more. A longing for the bigger picture.

Stepping back or should I more appropriately say, when the kiddos are in bed and I have had time to get the 495th question wrestled off my back for a moment of peace and adult time, I have time to process their needs.

One word: AWESOME.

We all need to wonder more and not feel ashamed or embarassed about asking.

Perspective has been my word of wonder these days.

From the fall back with the time change, to the seasons changing clothes right in front of us, to the economy, gas prices, and even the election of a new president, perspective has had me wrapped up in his blanket watching it all unfold.

The 5:30 dusk, the leaves crunching under your feet, investments waving their hellos and swift goodbyes, $4.99 to $2.19 a gallon, and President Elect Obama.

{Perspective} We all have our different views on the above. Some find no joy in it being 9:00 EST time and just beginning to get dark. Some relish in the sounds of the leaves crunching on a brisk autumn stroll. Some are devastated by the loss of massive amounts of money. Some never had any to lose at all. I think we are all most likely on the same page when it comes to the pump. And lastly, our new president bring some people much hope while it leaves others feeling unsure and unsettled.

Perspective. How you look at things...the view you take...it's up to you.

Although we may not all agree, we do have a choice in the perspective we take.

We all need reminders every now and then to re-define our outlook and fine tune what our minds have trained our eyes to see.


Do you see just another picture of a cluster of the color changing trees?


Or do your eyes peer intently at the small and simple gift of beauty that God has given each of us to find?

...twinkles of splendor and shadow play are here for all of us if we just train our minds to seek. OH, what our eyes will find.


.mac :-)

Unpredictable

Unpredictable. I like this word. I like the song even better.

The boys and I were eating breakfast this morning and in the middle of talking about the trees changing colors as we gazed outside our kitchen window while gnawing on mom's best and ever frequent breakfasts: the Nutri-grain bar, it began a mini ice storm for exactly 20ish seconds. I mean the sky was clear but overcast, and then all of a sudden, mini ice crystals were all we could see. They looked like the 1/100th of the size of these guys.

I hurried to take a picture, but the above was all that was left.

That was unpredictable.

It's just there are times when this word isn't really the happiest of guests to see at your front door.

Hmmmmmm. Let's rattle off a list, shall we?

1. Your toddler telling you he's got GO potty...you know GO...at the back of Wal-mart when the only bathroom that isn't being cleaned at the moment is the one located at the front.
2. Zits that greet you from an overnight stay on your face.
3. Where your cat's hairball is located as you climb of bed in the morning.
4. The words you hear your 21 month old spout off to his big brother.
5. The check engine light in my car.
6. The length of time your children will nap
7. Our downstairs T.V. remote
8. The grocery bill
9. Gas prices
10. My children's behavior in the public library


Yes, predictability would be nice sometimes, wouldn't it? I think so. I mean there is safety when things are predictable. The course is charted. The pace is set. Things are in place so to speak.

But then again, unpredictability doesn't have to be all bad. I mean, don't get me wrong, my ten spots up there oftentimes ain't bringin' me no love, but unpredictability can bring some joy...

1. A sweet, unexpected soap opera kiss goodbye from your husband
2. Extra fries in the bottom of the McDonald's bag when you thought they were all gone
3. Cobble boys sleeping in until 8:30 AM.
4. A new hairdresser that truly understands the meaning of "no roots."
5. Surprise gifts in the mail
6. A new design that comes out perfectly the first try
7. Finding cash money in your pocket that you didn't know was there.
8. Seeing someone you never thought would reconcile with another finally take that step
9. Cheap wine that actually tastes good
10. Best friends showing up on your doorstep unplanned

Yep, I can handle those unknowns with ease. Bring'em on.

And in my little world, unpredictability is often with the crowd I run with.


Eli: I like trees. I like the ones that stay green all the time and look sticky.
Me: Those are called evergreen trees, E-man. They don't lose their leaves when the seasons change.
Eli: I love green, mom.
Me: I know you do, son.
Eli: What are those trees that are losing their leaves called?
Me: Broad leaf trees.
Eli: The are fluffy and floaty.
Me: Yeah, they kinda are, aren't they?
Eli: I like trees.
Casey: UNUHBOGEENO-UHNU...bootball game, daddy?
Me: No, daddy's football game is on Friday not today, Case.
Eli: I like those trees, mom. I do. I like green best.
Casey: Bite-bites, mommy. Bite-bites?
Me: We are almost home, bud. We will get bite-bites when we get home.

See what I mean. Unpredictable.



After lunch, Eli began working on this on his own. Now, don't get me wrong, I added the words and the trunks to the trees after he brought them to show me and we talked about what he drew, but the kiddo was processing the concept of Evergreen and Broad leaf...at 3 1/2!!!


Then, on our way home from afternoon activities, it was this:

Eli: Mom. There they are.
Me: Who?
Eli: My best friends.
Casey: Bootball game? Daddy?
Eli: See'em?
Me: What are you talking about, Eli?
Eli: Look in the field. They are best friends and they are my best friends too. They like each other and that is why they stay close.
This was the image he was talking about...



Eli: See mom? Evergreen and Broad leaf. They are not the same, but they are friends.
Me: Holy cow, Eli. You are awesome! (Snap, I take the pictures.)
Casey: YAY!! (Clapping loudly) He was probably thinking about daddy and the "bootball game."

Random learning...that's what unpredictability will get you.

So, I like it. This unpredictable-ness. Cause it's a constant in your life no matter what you do to try to stop it. So I say, might as well just roll with it and find joy in the unknown when you can.

Like the unpredictability Kenny finds in my attire when he comes home from work...

I'll hope for the unpredictability that he will give a fancy soap opera kiss to this face...


Flying by the seat of my pants in more ways than one...

:-) .mac

Finding ways not to go to sleep tonight, Eli informed me that he thought he was nocturnal. Yes, he thought he was "like the owls." Oh boy!

I rolled with it and sent that owl hooting off to bed!

Down Home...

"...where they know you by name and they treat you like family."
-Alabama

I completely realize the ignorance I have of my reader audience here. It could be very well that k.Mac has a beau coup of readers sprinkled all over this great nation. It is probably more likely that we have all 5, that's right, 1-2-3-4-5, of my good buddies checking what's going on in my neck of the woods. Thanks, guys! So, if the latter is the more appropriate answer, here is a reminder to all five of you of the blissful spots we live near. However, if the aforementioned statistic is somewhat of a reality, well then, let me provide you readers with a great camping location and a mini climate lesson about Eastern to Middle Tennessee.

I have been a Tennessean all my life. I was born in Colorado, but only lived there a year. So, I consider myself well versed in the climate of Good Ole Rocky Top.

Readers, it's warm here. I can actually remember of couple of Christmases were it would have been completely fine to have on your happiest pair of jungle bell shorts all matchy-matchy with your Christmas Splendor carrdigan. I, personally, would have thrown in my cutest of holiday knee socks for good measure, but that's where some of my friends feel like I should be pulled over by the fashion police.

Snow. Ummmm, what's that? In my hometown, to this day, the schools get out for the angel dusting of ice crystals...I kid you not!

Now, I will say the more east you go in Tennessee the more "treacherous" the snowy weather gets. Sarcasm is such a great writing tool, don't you think? When Kenny and I lived in Maryville, a little town close to Knoxville, snow actually would accumulate on the ground sometimes in inches. That's right, the plural of inch.

But, now we live in the tween of middle and east TN. And it's warm here. And it rains more than it did in east TN.

But these climate differences are blessings too. Cause with rain comes baking with my boys and with warm weather comes this in mid to late October:

A lake trip with the boys!

That's right, we loaded up last week and drove a whopping 10 minutes down the road to our tropical paradise.
This place is so beautiful and simple. A man made white sandy beach with an AWESOME playground all hugged up on the water. Not to mention, there are campgrounds and RV slots that do this same water flirting like the playground. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking at times. We played in the water. We played in the sand. We watched snails actually move to make their underwater sand trails. (I can't believe the boys stood still enough in the water to see this!). We even met a a nice family from this sunny state on vacation.






We had a blast in our warm Tennessee sunshine. I loved watching the sand crystals sparkle on the boys' bare backs in the light. Their little peach fuzz hairs glistening on those butter brown backs. Yeah, I'll take warm and sunny.

And I will be thankful that I was able to spend a fall day in my East Tennessee home watching my boys play with the above as their magnificent surroundings.


:-) .mac

Colors and Progress

What happens in one month?

Taken September 20th

Taken October 20th
What happens in one week?

Taken October 12th

Taken October 19th

Whether they fall fast or soak up the sun and send summer away slowly, color and progress are always present.


First greens...


Fleshy pinks...

Built in browns...


Warm cinnamons...


Tangy oranges...


Rockin',ripe reds...

Harvest yellows...


Supple salmons...

Like I said, colors and progress are always present. Thank you, fall.

What happens in 2 weeks?
The above. Colors and progress.


:-) .mac