5/10 The adventure of being alive!

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.
(The Invitation, Oriah Mountain dreamer)

Often times in life we find ourselves taking the "high road". We do the right thing not because it is what our heart desires, but because it's what is right for those we love the most in our lives.

Being selfless is supposed to be honorable. It's supposed to feel good. What are you supposed to do when the right things feels anything but right?

I suppose we have to make sacrifices in our lives for spiritual growth. And for this sacrifice we will find some sort of karmic blessing for this. In the end it's supposed to be worth it. Right?

I heard a friend say that the right decision is usually the hardest one to make. I'm sure she couldn't be more right. If doing right things were easy, we'd all be on the right path!

I want to show my children that sitting with their pain, and suffering through doing the right thing is worth it. That doing good is rewarding, even when you have to sacrifice big things to do so.

I don't know...maybe I am over thinking life, as usual, but I'm pretty sure I'm not.

Here's to doing the right things in life, and being patient enough to see it come into fruition! I don't know if I am ready to risk looking like a fool for the adventure just yet, but I do hope to get to that place someday. I hear it's complete bliss!

This is my Aiden, climbing a tree (age 2). The one with an adventurous spirit!

5/7-5/8 2009 Southern Indiana trip

Nadine and I went on the Southern Indiana trip with the 4th grade class this year. We had a good time, and got to see a lot of really neat places!

5am. 2 kids. Check! 2 donuts. Check! 2 cups of Coffee. Check! Time to get on the road!

Nadine and Mommy on the bus, and ready to go!

Avery and Nadine at Zimmermans glass factory

Mrs. Wards class at Merengo Caves

Friends at Angel mounds

Nadine & Mackenzie at Angel mounds!

Nadine & Mackenzie at Groussland

Mackenzie and Nadine at Vincennes University!

Kids on the bus working on their study packets

5/7/09 Track meet SMS vs Belzer

Andrew got PR today at his home meet. He ran the 1600 (1 mi.) in 5:53, and the 2400 in 9:01!!!

5/9 Sweet spirit

Today I looked at you and I felt something I have not felt since you were a teeny tiny little baby, completely dependent on me. I was rushed with emotions that I did not know how to convey to you. As I looked at you playing with your friends, so full of joy and peace, I had one of those moments of grace. I kept wanting to touch you to be sure that it was real, and not a dream.

I am so proud of the person you have become. My beautiful little peace maker, you could not be more perfect in my eyes. As I looked at you I was taken aback by how much of me I saw within you. The spirit, the passion, the smile, and the strength is within you. You are me, my child.

When you fell asleep I wanted to scoop you up and hold you forever. I wanted to give you a thousand kisses, and squeeze you tightly. I cannot imagine my life without you or any of your siblings in it! I know you are growing up, and I know that is the inevitable end to my parenting, but I know no matter how hard it will be to let you go, that in you I will see my greatest accomplishment.

As I played with your hair I imagined that one day I will be helping you fix your hair for your wedding day. As I helped you get ready for the days adventures I imagined the day I send you off to college.

When I look at you, I see all of my successes. I see a bright future, and I know that I am doing right by you. I know that all of my teachings, good or bad, have help to sculpt and mold the person you are, and will be.

You are an amazing free spirit, and I am blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for helping to sculpt and mold the Mother I have become. I will love you forever and always!

5/5/09 Creston Track meet

Tonights meet was at Creston Middle. Andrew got PR and Sr tonight! He ran the 1600 in 6:00 and the 2400 in 9:04. It was a great meet! All teams did well today. The kids have fun playing on the lawn instead of being stuck in the bleachers this time.

SOUTHPORT

FISH

is a

BEAST!

5/1/09 Reunited...

Tonight I met up with Laura, Jason and Chris at Brandons pub. We had so much fun talking abuot old times and what rotten kids we once were.

I still have a bit of that rotten kid left in me, and I hope to always hold onto that =)

The longing...

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. (The Invitation, by Oriah Mountain Dreamer)

The longing. Oh, how I long for the longing. The longing lets me know i'm still alive. Full of life. Few things beat that feeling in the pit of your stomach. That aching excitment you feel when you just cannot wait to say something, do something, whatever.

My fear with the modern day that our children live in is that they are missing out on one of the biggest life lessons. The longing. No longer do they have to wait until tomorrow to tell SuzyQ that JonDoe is a hottie. Gone are the days that JaneDoe has to wait all weekend to tell her latest heart throb that she thinks he is great.

Everything is at their fingertips. They can just send an e-mail, or text their friends and tell them right away. The last thing kids need today is even more instant gratification. In an instant gratification filled gotta-have-it-right-now world, I think it's very important to embrace those little things, like the longing.

The longing is what gives me patience. I love that feeling where you sit and let things simmer for a while. Not everything has to be gained today, right here or right now. There are very few times when I have felt it wasn't worth the wait.

I encourage you to recognize the longing. Find it. Live with it. The feeling when the longing runs it's course and you get your hearts longing, it will tell you everything you need to know about the worthiness of it all.