30 Days to Live - Day 8

Really this is about day 7...after several hours of rain we went to a local river to splash in the puddles river. There is nothing like a outdoor experience to help you reflect on the wonders of life. The fog made the river beautiful and errie at the same time. The water was like ice and left us numb.

Greeted by the locals.

The boardwalk.

Trekking through the water.

Josie in the wild flowers.

Daddy in the flowers.

Josie determined to be friends with a goose.

The goose said not today little girl.

Sam looking down the mouth of the foggy river.

The view from the top...unbelievable. It looks like you could walk out on the clouds, but it is really about a 100 foot drop to the river from here.

Reflections

We had a quick photography session with a fake flower and real (but deceased) butterfly. Sam took these pictures. It had just finished raining so the lighting was a bit dark, we may try something similar when it is lighter out.

Josie with flower, I love this photo.

Butterfly on flower.

What do you think? Is the butterfly picture better than the spider? We will take some more pictures before I post the final options for the contest, but I do let Sam decide which one he wants to enter.

Living the 30 days...

Blogging about the 30 days is getting harder than living them.... I'm glad tomorrow is Sunday so I can get revived.

30 Days to live - Day 6

Sam will be entering the reflections art contest at his school again this year and this might be the photo. The theme is beautiful, which isn't the first word you think of when you look at this photo. However, if you look past a large spider eating it's prey you can find some beauty in the colors and patterns. I would say this spider is living life to its fullest. I think Sam and I will go out this weekend and try to take more pictures of beautiful things.

30 Days to Live - Day 5

Marriage

Eric and I are coming up on our 9 year wedding anniversary next month. The amount of growth as individuals and as a unit has been immense over this time. I must admit on the day this picture was taken I was not aware of the obstacles that we would face. Life seemed so simple, you fall in love decide to spend the rest of your life together and the rest just happens. I didn't realize then that love takes work.

This was read aloud at our wedding:

"Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each of you be alone, even as the strings of a lute are alone, though they quiver with the same music. And stand together, yet not too near together, for the pillars of the temple stand apart, and the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow."

by Kahlil Gibran from the Prophet

Sometimes I think Marriage should be called Partnership instead. Because that is what Eric and I are, Partners for life. The euphoric honeymoon type love we once felt is gone, but a deeper love remains. A love of trust, compassion, forgiveness and understanding now fills our hearts. Daily life requires a communication of do this, do that, don't forget, be here at this time, etc., but at night when I am exhausted from a full day I lay my head down on my pillow and feel at peace knowing I have a committed partner for life.

30 Days to live - Day 4

I thought this was a cool picture and since I am trying to love more passionately it fit.

I LOVE YOU

The lottery was up to 253 million yesterday and with only 26 days to live and a office pool, I went for it...and lost. Now that the lottery is up to 325 million I will get another chance on Friday. I do realize it isn't money that will bring me happiness or comfort, but it sure would make those last 20 days or so more fun.

30 Days to live - Day 3

No not day 3, only 27 days left!

If I really only have 27 days to go, then I need to find peace with this family announcement. Since the family member has not told me the news directly, I think they know what my reaction is going to be...so my reaction should be inspiring. Today I will work on inspiring and making good choices.

Mistakes are a part of life and God works his purpose in them too. - Quote from The Shack

Tooth Removal

WARNING: These pictures are not for the weak.

Sam's tooth has been really loose for 2 weeks. Concerned it may fall out at school we decided to remove it on our own.

Making it looser.

Josie giving it a little wiggle.

Ok, that hurt a little.

OOOOOOHHHHHHH

It is out!

Sam's tooth pillow.

30 Days to live - Day 2

If I really only had 30 days to live I don't think I would continue to keep going to work. So my focus during this challenge is more on my family life and my relationship with God. Regardless if you are a christian, someone who only reaches out to God when in need or a nonbeliever, I think most people would want to secure their relationship with God prior to their departure.

Today Sam and I made a memory or toothless proportions. He pulled out his 2nd tooth and it only took him about 30 minutes. I captured the whole thing on with still shots supporting him through every tug. I loved pulling my teeth out as a child so to experience this with him took me back. Seeing how today is day 2 God decided to have some fun with this challenge and make things interesting for me. I got some shocking news regarding a family member. What should be happy news in context and deserving a congratulations, I found disturbing. If I only have 30 days to live then I would rejoice in this news, right? Maybe if my family member only had 30 days to live I would understand that they want to live out these last days happy and full of life...I am trying to find the good in what seems like a life mistake. What does God want me say or not say?

Another new park

I love that we have so many parks within a 3 mile radius of our house and another new one opened this weekend. This one has a skate park, dog park and a nice playground so I have a feeling this one will be one of our favorites.

On our scooters at the skate park.

Spinning.

30 Days to Live- Day 1

In Church today we were challenge to live the next 30 days as they were our last. To spend those days living passionately, fully. How would you live if you only had 30 days? What would you do differently? What would you say to loved ones?

Today is day 1 and it was filled with family. We went to a park, made a big dinner and embraced the wonderful family life that we have. After the kids were asleep Eric and I stayed up and talked, really talked and it felt good. You would think we would get to talk often, but with our schedules our communication has become more of e-mails, honey-do list and quick phone calls. Today was great!

School Started

Can you believe we forgot to take a picture of Sam on his first day of 2nd grade? Sam had the best start to the school year yet. He was so excited and of course he is an old pro at riding the bus...I couldn't be more proud that my baby doesn't need his Mom or Dad to help him...excuse me while I wipe my tears.

Music for Haiti

The child sponsorship program at work.

Happy Haiti Children

Eric worked hard to pull together a music benefit for the child sponsorship program for the Good Shepard School in Haiti. This is a christian school in the city of Pele in Haiti, the poorest country in the world. The school offers a safe place where children can come and get an education while receiving 1 meal a day, for most that is the only meal they will get. The school does not turn any child away, however because of the increase in children attending over the past year they have needed to offer meals every other day. It only cost $25/ month to sponsor a child, you and I blow $25 a month on silly things each month. We only get one life to make a difference.

haitichildsponsorship.org

There were 6 groups over 8 hours and the weather was scorching. We appreciate everyone who came out to support the cause.

Brothers singing together again.

Eric, Sean and the rest of the group playing.

Sam jamming.

Aunt Heather and cousin Jack

Cousins

The end of Summer

I swear the last 2 weeks have flown by and now we are on the last week of summer. We have been squeezing in the last few play dates before we are back on a schedule life filled with school activities and fall soccer. Yesterday we went back to Rainbow Ranch fishing and Josie and Sam each brought a friend. Cousin Daisy and Uncle Sean joined in the fishing fun as well.

Uncle Sean showing Daisy how to shoot fish in a barrel..or fish in a stocked pond. Josie helps net a fish. (she is hidden behind her friend)

Uncle Sean gets tangled up.

Crazy kids. Funny how the girls thought crazy meant one thing and the boys thought something else.

A little less crazy.