Deception Pass

The water is clear and cold.
The freshness rolls at your face with each wave.
The drift wood is soft and worn begging for you to come and sit for a while.
The rocks are smooth - each one unique.

The weather has been amazing during our few days here.
No rain, little wind, and a lot of sunshine.

Headed home today.
Not really looking forward to the long drive, but ready to be home.

Right Now...

I’m sitting at my grandparent’s kitchen table… listening/watching the Mariner's warm up at Safeco field on the telivision, watching the sailboats come in for the evening after a day of racing out the front window, trying to think of how to write a post that does the past month justice, hoping that my new house has internet service (other than dial-up), laughing at my sweet son as he attempts to find Waldo in the “Where’s WALDO?” book, and smiling about the changes that have blessed our lives in the past two months.
I use the word “blessed” because that is exactly what our life has been full of – blessing after blessing after blessing!!
Mason and I had the opportunity to meet Ian’s good friends – John and Kris – who came to visit all the way from Oklahoma – with beautiful roses and peanut M&M’s in hand. Thank you for your faithfulness in reading about our life and for taking interest in what matters most! I'm so happy we were able to meet you!
My mother-in-law has climbed in several “cardboard” recycle containers searching for boxes worth packing our belongings in, driven down our dusty dirt road with those boxes, brought us fabulous dinners... and more boxes several times, and has agreed with her husband that the best way to move us is to pay for a moving company, rather than attempt to fill every horse trailer in the county and have JP move our unbelievablely heavy bed once again. Praise God… moving day is August 1st.
My parents have officially moved here for the summer.
Mom has packed hundreds of boxes (no joke), made beds, loved on Mack, fixed her famous potato salad too many times to count, taught Mason several songs, made Ian chocolate chip cookies, and provided me with an unbelievable amount of love just by being her. She’s the best friend I could have ever asked for and I’m so very thankful to have her by my side during this transition time.
Dad has become Mason’s best friend. They spend the majority of each day fishing, riding the 4 wheeler, doing chores, watching the swathers, the combines, the rake, the balers, the trucks, and anything else that makes its way to our farm, reading books, and playing until sundown. It doesn’t get much better than that in the eyes of a sweet 2 year old. The day is coming – much too soon – when they head home. What are we going to do without them? I pray that they know how much we’ve appreciated their presence in our lives this summer.
Ian had his last day with GVF on Monday. He’s excited about the new adventure that has begun, but leaving hasn’t been as easy as he thought it would be… “addicted to working” pretty much sums the guy up! Thank you Darrin for making this transition positive and for supporting Ian as he ventures out on his own. It’s been 5 years of growth, of hard work, and of unbelievable memories. The Windy M has been our home as a part of his job, and as we sat in the yard last week one evening, we both stared out over the fields, thanking God for the time we’ve had here and the memories that have been made. Change is good – but leaving this beautiful place is not going to be easy.
We’re currently in Oak Harbor with my grandparents. Watching sail boats, playing on the beach, and enjoying life with 4 generations. I’m spending quality time just “being.” Enjoying a somewhat slower pace of life, getting used to driving a much more “driver friendly” vehicle, counting down the times I have left making the trip to down on the dusty gravel road, trying to decide what colors to paint my new home, and racking my brain for a new name for this blog.
The “Windy M” has defined our home in the “blowing dust” area along I-84. It has been all about the view, the growth, the fields, the wide open spaces – our life. Our view is going to be changing in just a few short days. There will still be fields and open spaces, but it won’t be the Windy M. The wind isn’t going to blow nearly as hard, the porch will be a bit different, there won’t be nearly as many mice or barn swallows, and the place where we’ve built our life and family is going to be a memory. Is the Windy M “us” – or is it the “place" we've called home for the past five years?
Maybe I don’t need to change the name, but there is something that keeps tugging away at me saying – embrace the change… and change the name. But for now... we're still at the Windy M.

Here is my little firecracker... enjoying life at the beach!

Catching Up

Trying to catch up with life.
IMPOSSIBLE!
Trying to catch up with blogging.
MANAGABLE!
Trying to let you all know what's happening ...
check out the 3 posts below.

More to come...

MACK

When I found out that I was having another boy approximately 6 months ago I smiled... and then became a bit frightened... and then started praying. I always wanted boys. I've never been really girly and the picture I created in my head long ago centered around a suburban load of boys. The picture has become a reality, but rather than a suburban - I'm happy with my Tahoe... and I'm pretty sure that the "load" will be me - plus 2 and only 2!

I have had my hands full with Mason.
He's 5 in a 2 year old body and has never been "easy."
He's never wanted to hold my hand.
It's like pulling teeth to get him to cuddle with me.
He's a miniature version of his father.
I've caught myself saying several times: "well, he's cute... he's got that going for him!"... and lately have felt like screaming at the top of my lungs when he looks at me and says "Don't want to!"
I always pictured myself as a mother of boys, but after 2 1/2 years with high spirited, energetic, always on-the-go Mason, I wondered (and still do) if I was going to make it with two boys. I could barely handle one... how in the world was I going to manage with two.

Prayer changes things.
Prayers are answered and just when you think you're free-falling off the high dive... God shows up.
Mackinley Tellier has been an amazing baby his first 4 weeks of life.
His cries are heard, but aren't ear-piercing.
His personality seems to be pretty mellow so far.
He isn't phased by his brother running circles around him.
He falls asleep easily.
He eats well.
He's nothing like Mason was at this stage of life.

I realize that his little life has just begun, and it may be a little too soon to say that he's much "easier" than Mason... but...
I have to continue to believe that God knew what he was doing when he gave me another son.
I have to trust that I will make it - and be successful - as a mother of boys.
I have to know that my prayers were answered... as well as the many others who were praying along side me for something "calm" to enter our lives.

Mack is a treasure that we're so blessed to have.
He's beautiful.
He's peaceful.
He's growing - right before our very eyes!!

My buddy.

My buddy.
Wherever I go - He goes.
My buddy.

Mason has enjoyed every minute of summer.
What little boy wouldn't - especially when they can spend the majority of their time with their Papa doing anything and everything imaginable.

Like...

FISHING...

and PLAYING...

and GOLFING...

and MOWING the yard...

and 4-WHEELING...

and FEEDING THE BIRDS...

and SWIMMING.

When I asked my parents to come and stay this summer, I didn't realize how lucky my little boy would be too! His Papa Gary has become his best friend - teaching him things that every little boy dreams to know, like using a walkie-talkie, fixing flat tires, casting to the perfect place in the pond, singing Jesus Loves Me as he sits down to dinner, driving (pretend driving) the parked loader and CAT, hitting a golf ball, and much, much more.
My dad has had an amazing amount of patience and love for this high energy boy we're so lucky to call "ours."
He treats him like a partner, a friend, a son.

Thank you dad for everything.
For putting up with the hundreds of thousands of "watch this papa"... "come here papa"... "papa, papa, papa"...
For helping Mason see that he isn't the boss.
For taking time to do what 2 year olds want to do.
For showing Mason how to do things safely.
For allowing Mason to be Mason and loving him in the process.
For being Papa!

Whidbey Island Race Week

Beautiful.
Captivating.

Amazing to watch.

After a short bus ride from Oak Harbor to Coupeville, we spent a few hours watching the sailboat races. Mason's first experience with public transportation was a hit and he loved being on the docks - up close and personal with the boats. It was beautiful weather and the boats were out in full force. I don't know much about boats - let alone sail boats - but I must say that they are amazing. So, so, so thankful that we were here during race week.

And how about the choice of snacks?

Doesn't get much better than that!

These words...

sum up life right now!
(notice the new bump on Mason's head)

Headed home today...
Have had much needed R&R, great naps, great visits, and am feeling totally and completely loved!
Ian on the other hand thinks he resides in todays version of Auschwitz. Pathetic.
I'm sure he'll be more than happy to see us tonight!!

I'll do my best to post again this week, but I can't promise.

"lets live our lives so fully that each day explodes, not just ends." - Claude Farley

Tea Party... well... sort of.

Who would have thought that Mason would make such great friends with a "bird bath"...
He sat with her for a good 15 minutes and when I asked him what his friend's name was, he proudly shouted MASON.

"you can be a wonderful human being just by being human" - Claude Farley

Sweetness

The pictures say it all...
Loving this boy and doing my best to "capture" him!

Have Flat... Will Travel

As we drive through town and pass Les Schwab... I hear an "oh man"... "sat tire Mommy!" (having a little trouble with "f"... but we're working on it)
Most kids recognize McDonalds or Dairy Queen... but not mine.
Nope... I think that John H. better watch out because Mason just might possibly be the next Les Schwab employee of the month!

He's quick... he's intense... he looks good when he's dirty... he's a boy with a mission... and totally enthralled with "sat tires."