Like a Horse In A Straw Hat..........

It's going to be scorching days here in paradise for the next several days.......

We are used to the heat here in So Cal but this kind of heat will be beyond the average......

My daughter and I are fighting a Summer cold (welcome Summer).  Between our sore throats and this heat, the recipe for riding her pony is going to make the next several days challenging.  I can't even imagine how hot our dear pony is...........

Despite the heat and throat we are so glad it's Summer.  If we feel better, we may go see Monsters Inc. on Friday.........

Hope you are enjoying your first several days without school and spending some free time enjoying family and friends.....

Whatever you do.....Don't forget your hats!

My Husband is Short.............

                        Sometimes, especially when the outside stressors of life get the best of us, our patience starts to wear............

                        Sometimes our reactions don't have the nine second delay button.........

                        Sometimes, even without the realization that we are doing it, we are too quick to react, to respond and to recognize it..................

                        We are all guilty of our human condition, of the responsibilities that bind us, of facing the objections of what may lie ahead..........

                         I don't pretend to know the solution to this equation, but I do know that to allow these character traits to make themselves at home in our relationships, makes our days physically harder......not to mention how toxic they are............

                         It sometimes takes that extra effort......the one we've already spent on other daily tasks, to dig down deep and find that last bit of self-control to draw from...........

                         I know that sometimes it's just so easy to let our words fly freely and our knee-jerk reactions get the best of us........

                         Lately I have been sharing with my husband that he is being "short" with me.......

                         His response is this:

                         "Five nine and a half is not that short"..................

                          I am here to tell you that it is................

                          

The Art of Reading Aloud..............

A few years ago.....five or so......my son and I spent the summer reading "The Hobbit"...........

We read the entire book aloud......he read two pages, then I read another two..........

We not only LOVED the book but also cherished the time spent together (ok, I enjoyed it.....he thought it was "fine")

This summer, I thought my daughter and I would do the same only with the book "Women of the Frontier"..........I thought this may help prepare her for history next year, especially since I may be teaching it.......

She wasn't too thrilled to read aloud together.  I think it made her feel like I wanted to monitor her reading........

Today is our third day and I really think she is surprisingly enjoying it..........Whew!

I do think there is value in reading aloud together, not only in the obvious but also in the time spent together.  Today we chose to read together in my bed, yesterday it was in our club chairs, tomorrow......who knows?

This is part of what I love about it.  The casual, informality inviting us to relax together and enjoy.  I am seriously considering spending some of our reading time next year just like this......

I think it has removed some of the pressure and anxiety of doing homework.......

The jury is out on that but I will let you know......

I also started the book today called "The Art of Hearing Heartbeats".......This one is for me, alone......silent reading.........

Hope you have a good book in your beach bag or on your night stand to kick off some summer reading.........

Remember........"Readers are Leaders"............

Who said that?

Nous Avons Terminé.............

Well, just as we have hoped for, the Summer is finally here!

Academia, for the most part, is finally commenced for another year!

YES!

The morning madness and harrowing homework have finally retreated into their summer hibernation......

It has only been approximately 36 hours so far and my shoulders already feel lighter, my internal optimism slowly awakening.........

It's summer after all, there are so many other, more pleasant agenda items to consider:

Should we eat dinner on the patio?

How much sweet tea shall I make?

Is it too hot to swim at 2:00 tomorrow?

What time is the BBQ?

What should I put in the pasta salad?

What movie should we see?

Do I need to go to the store today or tomorrow?

What time do I NEED to get up in the morning?

Should my daughter bother to change out of her pajamas today?

Do we have enough ice cream?

Do we have enough fire logs?

Time to sit here:

The anticipation is finally over!!

We made it!!!

Welcome, Summer!!!

Please take your time leaving, but hurry on back, would ya??

Photo Gallery on a Budget........."Pinnerdise"...........

I do not claim to be a "crafter" of an sort however I am, like most gals, completely addicted to Pinterest.....

Here is my latest product of "Pinning"..........

I started with the much repeated pin regarding engineer prints from Staples.  I did this all online and then just picked it up from my local Staples, no waiting, no line, 4$............

After I decided on the size I purchased a poster frame from Michaels for 6$:

I also purchased Washi Tape for 3$ a roll:

It was super easy to tape the 4 plastic poster frame sides, tuck i the edges and WALA!!!

This is the product for my daughters room.........

Super quick, super easy and spent a total of 13$..............

Just another day in "Pinnerdise"............

The Mortar of Pain We Build Around Us........

I met someone yesterday who is enduring great pain.........

She graciously opened up her shredded heart and laid it before me, bravely and with little reservation...

I am so thankful for her courage to replay the past few months of unimaginable suffering.......

I pray that I was a deserved listener.....a healing ear........an open window.........a shepard......

I hope, more than anything else, she knows how thankful I am to hear her words.......

As the tears uncontrollably welled up my vision, I tried to focus on her eyes.......and as I listened completely attune to her narration, I was compelled by the blueness of them........the flatness in her voice.......the position of her body.........

although we were close enough to embrace, I knew there was a wall built up around her that protected her now.........one she would have to work hard to break down, one others would have have to work even harder to break through.....

As she was speaking, as I learned how angry she was at God, I silently echoed what I hoped bellowed in the crevaces of the heavens above, "God find her....Please find her.......Don't let her go".........

I asked myself as my tears fell quietly, now away from her, "Why would God allow this?  Why this? Why her?".......

Sometimes, many times I don't understand you, my Dear Father........Why you allow the unthinkable.......Why, when it is Your power alone that can change all things, you choose not to.........

Sometimes I just don't know.....I just don't understand.......

And in those spaces lie the darkness.......the fear of the unknown......sometimes even the fear of what we do know but cannot bare........

Some build walls, fortresses even, made out of hurt and anger and the pain is like the mortar that keeps those walls standing fiercely around us..........the walls are meant to keep the darkness out and even more to keep us safely inside that deep, helpless and lost place.........

Help us to understand You........

Help us find comfort in the valleys of darkness, especially the ones we choose to walk alone...........without You........

Send us shepards and angels to guide us in the night........

Light our path........

Shine Your light.......

Send forth your spirit-guides to lead us home.......

To You.............

When Life Gives You Lemons..........

Today we have an interview with a new school for my final child........

We started interviewing schools for high school for my final child because she is in the 7th grade this year.  Our local public high school is not an option for her.

However, because of some recent events that have transpired at her current middle school, we have decided that maybe it's a good time to consider next year for the transition.......

It's been a tough year for my final child, academically and socially.  My boys sailed through middle school unscathed........my final child, perhaps because she is a girl?, ........well, lets just say that there hasn't been much wind so far.......in fact, the seas have been pretty flat........however, it's not because of lack of effort.......My baby girl has worked incredibly hard and made the absolute best of it......We are so proud of her!

So, through many prayerful days, some sleepless nights and school interviews, we think its time to move on.......We are not sure where or in what capacity but we are sure it's the right thing......

My daughter will go with us today for her first interview with a prospective school.........

She came home in a great mood and said, "I can't wait for my interview today!  I can't wait to meet them!"..............

Why is this so surprising, you say?

If you knew my precious baby girl, you would know how much she suffers from anxiety......especially when it involves a new environment and people she has never met before........Sometimes the unknown can overwhelm her to the point of a huge meltdown.......

This is one of the many "God shots" or affirmations that tell my heart we are on the right path and that God is with us............

Lemon Sorbet, anyone?

The Way He Loves Us..........

Watch this..........

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=FVI4fyXo9cY&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFVI4fyXo9cY

This is an incredible must see video for all equestrians.....It brought me to tears......

It captures in 2 minutes what is impossible to explain............

The relationship between a horse and their rider is inequivocally profound.........

I am an animal person and I have had relationships with many furry family members over my almost 50 years of life.........

Yet this one is different........one I had not understood at this level until the past year..........

I have loved all my animals, dearly.......I have held them in my arms as they have taken their very first breath of life.....I have fed them, bathed them, stayed up nights while they recovered from illness....

I have carried them when they couldn't walk, I have made them birthday cakes and dressed them in Halloween costumes........

I have fed them with feeding tubes and removed their stitches.......I have given mouth to mouth resesitation on an occasion I would rather forget........I have held them as they have filled their lungs with their very last breath..........

Yet the relationship with this animal, this pony, is more faceted.......... it lives in a deeper place than even I have ever known or experienced.........it's presence in our lives occupies more space in the crevices of our hearts......

Perhaps it is because I get to experience this relationship with my daughter.....

I am so grateful.........

For all that our pony has taught us.........for the ways in which he calms us, trusts us, loves us and heals us..........for the way he feeds the wellness that makes us feel whole......

I'm so thankful for how graciously he takes care of us........for how patiently he cares for us .......for his strength and his protection......

For his tireless efforts to teach us.....for the way he breathes life into us the way only he can do.........

He has changed our lives in ways I could never explain in words......you would have to see him, together with my baby girl............

Then you would understand............

We are so grateful for him and for his life with us........

 

A Bite Out of the Ole Stomping Grounds.........

My husband and middle child are touring the Big Apple this week........They are touring some colleges, seeing a broadway show and have tickets to Jimmy Fallon.......I'm so envious......

My husband lived in the big city before we were married.......He loved it there but once we were married he knew he did not want to raise a family there.......He wanted to be near family and that is one of the reasons I love him so much.......

I asked him if he misses it and he says the jury is still out on that.....

It is so hard to believe that my middle child is already college touring......Seems like yesterday when my firstborn was on this journey........Where does the time go........I see Father Time in the wrinkles on my face but somehow, even as my boys have far surpassed my height, they still seem like they should fit right underneath the crook of my armpit.........right next to my heart.........

They are still next to my heart even though they definitely don't fit in the crook of my armpit anymore and my final child is fast approaching her exit from that space........ I am so grateful to be on this adventure with them.........I have enjoyed every milestone with my firstborn as he went through this process........I love watching them process all the options regarding their choices for colleges and study majors........I love hearing them think-out-loud as they weigh the pros and cons of this next chapter in their lives........

Hoping you are "taking a bite" out of wherever you find yourself this week.......enjoying the journey!

"Too Legit......Too Legit To Quit".........

Without going into a lengthy, boring post about my goings-on lately with my final child's local public school, I want to say these following words of encouragement......

Don't give up!......don't EVER give up your quest with the public school system or anyone else for that matter when it comes to your baby's right of education.........

You will hear, hopefully not often, about "rules and regulations" that may just be untrue.......

State employees may, allegedly, state incorrect facts about what your child's rights are regarding their education..........

My daughter has a warrior of a father who has gone to the ends of the earth to educate himself on just this issue.  We have spent countless hours of research, meetings, and many conversations to find out EXACTLY what the State Laws are for public education.  Especially as is related to special education.

We just want the truth......We can collaborate creatively to find the best, legitimate education for our final child......We just want the facts..........

We have them, AT LAST and feel enlightened, empowered and so hopeful for her future..........

"Anything is possible", our Heavenly Father reminds us.........

And we are definitely...."Too legit to quit"..........

Don't give up!.........

Don't ever give up!..............