Did I tell ya?

Did I tell ya I ran a 5K?  Okay, so I didn't "run" the whole time but the largest majority of that time. The cause was one close to my own heart. Someone had lost a daughter.  As hard as it is, an event brings about memory and hugs the heart.  So I participated.  Did I train?  Ha.  I'm pretty sure I'd never be ready.  So I just did.  My "fine figure of a man" walked the journey and was very gracious when he let the 87 year old man finish in front of him.

All in all it was pretty much the second slayed giant in a couple of days and those met goals have healed a part of my heart. Never to forget, just to keep moving ahead.

Wood You?

By the time Friday night came around, I was ready.  Ready for the weekend slowdown.  Slowdown? Not sure that happened.  Saturday morning.  The phone rings.  When our home phone rings, we look at each other and smile.  You see, it doesn't happen very often.  So we are always amazed by the sound.  It was my dad, Papa.  As chipper as always, Papa requested our presence in a little wood getting operation.  A couple hours.  Could we come over? 

My cousin had given dad a tree that was still standing but had died a couple of years ago.  A friend of his had fallen it that morning and another friend was there cutting it up as we arrived. The trusty wood splitter was sure to get a work out because this tree was quite large.

As we worked in the field adjacent to my dad and mom's home, the memories of past days flooded my mind.  It was in this same field that me and my sisters would celebrate Thanksgiving.  On Thanksgiving Day we would go into the field and start tree stumps on fire. By nightfall, after dinner had been consumed, our cousins would join us in the dark wooded area where the stumps burned like torches. We spent many Thanksgivings in the smoke filled night air.

I worked beside my dad. We stooped, picked up, loaded, hauled and stacked this tree so he can do what he does best....heat their home. We joked about how mom says he loves to burn wood.  We joked about the "she can" wood (she can stack it, she can haul it, she can burn it). We loaded many "pinochle sticks" because dad loves to "slump the sheetrock".

Six hours later I reminded Papa that he said this would take two hours.  He looked at me with a smirk on his face.  "I said that?" he laughed.  Yep.  We both smiled.  By the time this day was done we were all pretty well exhausted. Time to seek the house, "hold down my chair" by the warm fire and rejuvenate.

 
Today was another day.  My "fine figure of a man" and I went high on the hill as we often times do.   We wanted to see how far up the snow line is.  We saw one small patch before turning around. But the view of Mt. Shasta was incredible.

Love is in the Air

The day of love.  There was so much love floating in the air.  You know the kind.  Filled with laughter, happy people, sugar laced jovialness.  When the flower delivery guy arrived for the second time on that day and handed me a single red rose in a pink vase, I knew that lovin' feeling was coming my way.  My "fine figure of a man".  AAAhhhhh.  So thoughtful~

It was a Friday night.  Friday nights of late have been pretty quiet.  But that evening there was a plan.  I didn't really know the details of the plan but I trusted that I didn't need to.  After a quick Valentine's steak dinner that was planned out by my "fine figure of a man", we headed to Etna.  By that time I knew the plan was to meet Sherri in the high school parking lot.  As we turned in to the parking lot behind the gym, the anticipation and anxiety of what we were about to do was mounting.  I can't say that I had ever entered the hometown gymnasium from the far doors.  There had never been a need.  But that night, we walked into a very familiar setting as if the paparazzi were on our tails.  We might as well have been wearing dark glasses and large brimmed hats.  We really didn't want to be noticed because entering this crowded place gave a feeling of breathlessness.

It had been just about two years since we were in this gym.  Almost two years since they retired his jersey.  A jersey only he has ever worn.  The senior class homecoming sign sweetly let us know that he is missed and never forgotten.  Sherri had warned us.  She knew.  Not an easy task...facing giants. 

Thankfully we were in the perfect spot.  Surrounded by local people who care for us and miss our boy too.  Thankful.  We were very thankful~ 

Princess Kelsey soon became Queen Kelsey.  Her dapper prince, King Trevor.  Very fitting for an unfitting situation. 

The varsity boys basketball team was on the court.  I really didn't think we'd make it that long but we were doing okay.  A few parents had filtered over to our corner to say hi and give hugs.  I looked up and realized that the players had spotted us.  Hugs and more hugs.  They were genuinely happy to see us and wanted us to know.  After collecting ourselves and drying the corners of our eyes, we settled in to watch them play.  It was a must do evening and we are very thankful that we summoned the courage to battle this giant. 

Unexpected

She sat on the edge of a tree root.  Painting her nails a sparkly purple.  Her dark hair hung over her face as she intently polished.  Glancing up at my approach, she knew she was out of place and possibly causing some concern.  "Do they think I'm a creeper?"  she asked.  "well, sorta" I said as I approached her outside the gate.  Her name was familiar to me.  I was pretty sure she was a friend of a dearly departed friend.  "Are you Rose?"  I asked.  "Yes."  "You from Etna?"  At that question she looked up at me for the first time.  "Yes."  I was right.  She was who I thought she was.  My intention for going out to talk with her was two fold.  One to see if she was the Rose my son rode the bus with to and from school.  And one to, well, no...that was pretty much it. 

I told her I was the mother of her friend.  She smiled oddly.  I say oddly because it wasn't really what I expected.  I guess I expected pain and discomfort.  What she gave was warmth and a low laugh.  She said Sawyer was one of her best friends.  She quickly remembered an "inside joke" they shared.  She said she used to joke about his "six pack".  It was perfect, even if it did look air brushed.  She talked about sending balloons from his resting spot with messages for him to see when they reached heaven.  "I'm gonna do it again on the 17th this year too."  It was an unexpected gem for the day.  One that overtakes this momma's heart with memories of warmth and smiles.

Unexpectedness can be such a treat. 

So I left her sitting on the root of a very large maple tree just outside the gate.  As I entered the building with a little extra lift to my step, I hope she smiled too.

Leaving Love

It was a full Saturday with little time to spare.  Jen from Rockside Ranch had called.  Her unusual invitation to assist with the "pig castration" was answered and coffee in hand, we even arrived a few minutes early.  I'm pretty sure my "fine figure of a man" knew not what he was getting his self into by not wearing the tallest muck boots he could find.  The rain was at a steady down pour but Jen, wise beyond her years, requisitioned an awning more suited for sunshine blocking.  It was pretty handy until the wind blew the accumulated water from the roof and sent it running down your back.  But I'd say the rain was the least of our worries.  Grant and Wes wrangled these fairly large piglets to the "table" and Jen did the honors of removal.  Me?  I was the scalpel holder and used a large dosage of iodine to make things all better.  About half way through this operation, Ben showed up on a white horse.  Well actually he arrived in his white pickup but it seemed like his presence gave this organization a boost.  The guys were certainly glad to have him there. 

 

I can't say as I've ever been in on such an activity but it was an adventure and one for the books.  Thanks Jen for an interesting outing. 

 

After a quick shower and a small bit of lunch, my "fine figure of a man" and I headed back to Etna to attend a funeral for a mom of a couple of girls of which we are quite fond.  The support of a community is a so needed when loss occurs.  Sara and her dad greeted us at the door.  Hugs.  Thank you~  Shelby was so courageous as she picked up the microphone and sang from her heart.  A song of missing her mom.  So proud of her.

 

Back to QV in the pouring rain.  We watched the last half of a slide show Morgan and Danielle are preparing to share their adventures of their recent trip to Kenya. 

 

Our final activity for the day was a family we so dearly love.  Phillip and Corrie brought their four adorable children to our home for dinner.  It was evident from the get go that I need to invest in a box of toys, puzzles and crayons for the little people who we are blessed to entertain.  Dinner was active.  You forget all too quickly that little people move a lot, eat very little and require a lot of energy.  Corrie, about 36 weeks pregnant, looks so amazing in her "I have about 3-5 weeks left" state. 

 

Susannah, a very loving 4 year old, had on a pair of  red sparkly shoes.  She wanted me to see her favorite pair of shoes and know the red sparkly things come off and that she leaves them everywhere.  As if warning me for this possibility, she made this all very clear.  There are many things from the evening that I could share but let's just say that our home was blessed and our hearts were warmed.

 

At church this morning, I saw Susannah.  I told her that last night after she left I saw a red sparkly piece of her shoe on my couch.  She told me it was to remind me that she loved me.  Four years old.  So loving.  Filled my vessel. 

 

It's amazing how big a heart really is.  Enough room to love so many.  God certainly knew what he was doing.  <3

Fun....5X

"I don't know how we got ourselves into this" is what I told my dear friend.  She chuckled.  She had heard this before.  Take a couple of hearts with a need to pour out and that's what you get.  Five boys.  A basketball team.  A front line.  A small group.

My "fine figure of a man" picked up two of those short, adoring young boys.  From right off the playground.  We loaded in their family van and headed north.  The adventure began.  They were pretty quiet.  Speaking when spoken to.  Answering in short sentences as if the comfort level was low.  Uncle Grant was coffee.  Somehow he now shares my desire for Starbucks.  Ashland, straight ahead.  "Anyone want a Starbucks?"  So the family van took it's first detour and we had our first treat of the weekend.

My sister was scurrying around in a rapid pace to make sure we had dinner.  Packed?  No, not yet.  "Well, go do it" was my advise.  I was wondering how we were going to get them out of our hair quickly so our weekend adventure X5 could begin.  They weren't eating with us but she had made a favorite:  tacos.  In and out, back and forth.  Dithering we call that in our family.  "You leaving yet?"  "In a minute".  The newly formed family of 7 was sitting at the dinner table with plenty of food to keep us busy and satisfied.  "Okay guys!  When they go out the door, we'll all holler YEAH!"  So we watched and waited.  As soon as Von rounded the corner we all let out a joyous yell and then laughed like crazy when she reappeared in total disbelief that we would do that.  Ha Ha.  That was fun.

It was a weekend of playfulness, donuts on Saturday morning, laughter, pizza, cops and robbers after dark, and the Superbowl.  We went for a hike to the "lookout".  I kept looking for a Forest Service lookout building.  Turns out it was a bench.  But the view was amazing and after a few minutes we left to go down the mountain.  Braden delighted in showing us the steep trails he had ridden his bike down.  To be the oldest of 5 and have experiences beyond what the other boys had made him smile as he shared his adventures.

You really can't experience Grants Pass, Oregon, without going to the Grants Pass Drug Store for a phosphate.  The boys sat up to an old fashioned soda fountain while enjoying these tasty little, inexpensive treats. 

There's nothing like driving around with a van full of boys.  The chattiness and subjects discussed  are priceless and worthy of a chuckle as you listen.  So we decided that "what happens in Grants Pass, stays in Grants Pass".  Pretty much our motto for the weekend.  And everyone agreed!

For Grant and I, just being around 5 young boys with all their talking, laughter, and special qualities was a healing time.  They were so good.  Congenial and loving. 

One of the funnier things was realizing that telling young boys to shower is not just enough.  You have to tell them to wash, with soap!  I had forgotten that.  Funny. 

We ended the Superbowl weekend by picking up Morgan and Danielle from the airport at 10:30 at night.  Sunday night.  Leaving for home at 11:00 p.m. makes for an interesting, already exhausted couple of people.  So the week was a little long but in light of the wonderful weekend, well worth it~

So thankful for brothers and sisters who trust us with their precious children~  We love you!