Tut-Tut, Looks Like Rain (it's time to go camping)

After last year, some have said with a knowing smile and a chuckle,  it's a wonder they'd make plans to go again.

But they did.

It's been in the air all week. The preparations and weather-watching. Some definite "upgrades" the Hubby made this year was to move up from a one-man tent to a two-man tent. Guess it's hard for a man to get a good night's sleep in the wild when sleeping diagonally across the tent floor still does not allow for your legs to be fully extended. And better rain gear. Looks like he'll be needing that!

Since last year's tent was staying home, the boys thought it would be a great idea to do a little camping of their own. They decided to set up just off the patio in the back yard. Their idea of "camping" was not quite what one might imagine.



While Hubby was double checking his pack and his list, the boys were preparing for a more modern version of the camping experience.

Oh, why not. And we even made it a family event. I popped up the popcorn and I don't know how we managed to fold and bend around each other in that tiny dome but we did. We snuggled in and ate popcorn and watched Fly Away Home together. It rained. The wind blew. And when the movie was done I thought the boys would probably follow us into the house to sleep in their own beds. But they didn't. They tucked in under blankets and we left the outside light on. Just in case.

At 1:30 we woke to a crack of thunder and some lightning and Hubby bolted out of bed to go get them. They were already on their way in.

When we woke early this morning, the rain was still pelting against the windows and the forecast called for more of the same.

 A little bit of rain was not enough to keep Hubby and E from their second annual BWCA camping excursion. It didn't take long to get things loaded and they were off!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

When You Find the Right Place (Again)

Sometimes, what may be a big opportunity presents itself in a very small window. And you just don't know. It seems it may be just the thing. Like it could very well be an answer to some long prayed prayers. And there's this nervous excitement at the possibilities. And you wonder.  So you pray but you don't know for certain because you'd be leaving so much behind and the only way to know is just to move ahead with the things you know would have to happen and ask God to close the doors if it's not from Him. So that's what we did.
It happened like this: I had been lamenting the losses and the changes in the homeschool community we've always been a part of. Couple that with the wishing I've been doing whenever I read the goings-on of the homeschool community in Windom. (Green is my favorite color, but envy doesn't wear well.) One day about two weeks ago, Hubby texted me what I thought to be an odd message about a tidbit of info he'd gotten about a co-worker retiring soon. So??... Well, the area soon to be open was none other than the very place I'd been spending some spare time daydreaming about. OHHHHH!!! Really?!
So began some urgent prayers. And a lot of questions. I began scouring the internet. I was looking at churches and tae kwon do schools and houses. So many things to consider. And really, when it came right down to it, if everything lined up right, was this for sure what we wanted? I was a wishy-washy mess on a rollercoaster ride. I would have myself convinced one way and go downstairs to talk with my Hubby about how absolutely sure I was about it. And then a few hours later, after all the possibilities of different scenarios played out in my imagination, I would go back down to his office and tell him again how absolutely sure I was about something different. The list of pros and cons teeter-tottered back and forth.

We made some calls. The realtor came out. She talked with us about the different ways of doing things and sounded very hopeful about a  fairly quick sale. Hubby and I discussed everything some more. We hadn't really expected to get news of that kind in this economy. But there was more than the selling of a house to consider.  Our family. Our grandchildren. Our church family. The stress of starting over in a very short amount of time.

We called the girls. They each said that the thought of us moving away was kind of a shock, but that they were good and gave us their blessing and best wishes. Erin even reminded us that she's always up for a good road trip!
So we made a road trip.
We loaded up the boys and a suitcase just in case and drove south early on a windy Saturday to Windom. The boys drew pictures and looked at books in the back seat while we listened to the new Phillips Craig and Dean cd. We saw acre upon acre of rolling farm land. And wind turbines. It is prettier there in May than it is in the wintertime! We met with a realtor and looked at houses. We drove around to get a feel for the things Hubby would be seeing in his work should we move there. We ate a nice meal in Jackson and were on our way home. Sooner than I thought we would be.
We knew.
We went through Browerville on the way home and stopped at the church building and mowed and cleaned. It felt good. Good to get out and stretch our legs and exert some energy. Good to know we would be here the next day. And the next Sunday after that.  And many more Sundays after that.
Once we got home, Hubby tuned in the radio and turned on the computer for the end of the NASCAR race.
We are in the right place.

May Mornings

 Beautiful mornings in May. The air is sweet and crisp. The birds are singing praises outside the windows.

heavy morning dew

 The school days are winding down.

Joshua  laughs hysterically at a story he is reading for his standardized testing. Seriously busting a gut.  He says, "Oh man! Mom, I have to read some of this to you when I'm done!"
Who knew testing could be so fun???



We've been on several bird rescue missions this spring already. The poor things fly smack into the windows. We gather up those that survive and pray for God to restore their wits and their strength. One morning, this handsome feathered friend survived.

answered prayers

This morning the weather was so beautiful that Joshua and I played frisbee for a while before we settled into the last of some of our schoolwork. Samuel got the sidewalk chalk and his cars and raced around in the sun.

Joshua set out the lawn  chairs and I gathered our school books. The final days of the journey of Lewis and Clark are more vivid when a breeze is blowing across the page, and Mom's umbrella shields your eyes from the sun. Yes, even math, when wearing proper eye protection, can be done in the sun.

Even the Hubby could not stay in his office this morning.

Oh, for mornings in May!!

This Mother's Day

The morning was beautiful and Hubby and I enjoyed it early with a cup of coffee in hand as we slid on our flip-flops and quietly slipped outside. ( I love being out here--we can go out with bed-head in our sleepwear!!)  Birds flitted as we walked about, observing how some of our young trees and plants had managed through the winter months. Some did not do well. Only half of the lilac bushes sticks we put in look as though they've made it. And that birch, I just don't know. But even so, the green and the breeze in the morning sun is worthy of the soaking in on a Sunday morning. So we did.  And so began the day.

After church, we stopped at the Farmhouse Cafe in Clarissa and picked up the bucket of chicken we had ordered this morning and drove over to Staples to meet up with some of our family for a Mother's Day picnic at the park.  It was a warm and breezy afternoon and we had the whole park all to ourselves. It was as close to perfect as it  could be.

We parted ways when it was time for naps and work and we drove the long way home and picked up ice cream. We admired the gifts and planted in the ground. 

We took a snooze. Rode the four-wheeler. Ate ice cream. Enjoyed the day fully.

And the day ended with green and warm sunshine and breezes.

Happy Mother's Day!