the neighbor's pool.

Dear Bob & Nancy,

This letter is a bit late, but one of the many sayings I catch myself saying is: 'better late than never.'  As I was saving images to my external hard drive last night, I came across these from an afternoon in your pool.  A pool that offered just the right amount of 'coolness' on those hottest days of August.  The days that seemed to go on, and on, and on.  Somehow, I missed posting these, but again, better late than never.
This summer brought opportunity to drive a different direction for me than usual because although our land neighbors yours, you & I really don't see each other that often.  Funny how hundreds of acres but only a few miles can keep people distant. I guess it is simply because you live one direction, and I'm usually headed in the other.  I truly enjoyed heading east, especially when the destination was your pool, and on this day in particular.

Life is busy.  There is always something to do, places to go, people to call, cookies to bake, and well, I was so very thankful to add 'a pool to jump into' to the list. We didn't find out until later that you don't like kids to 'jump' into your pool.  My apologies.  Next time I'll make sure you're there to referee or should I say 'lifeguard.'  My boys have never been good at NOT jumping.

All I can say is, this mama needed a place to cool off (literally) several days in a row, and your willingness to let us spend time adding a whole lot of 'noise' to your 'quiet' was a gift.

I don't know if we'll always be neighbors or if we'll always be leasing land from you, but I do hope that you know what a treasure the summer of 2012 was for my boys and I.  There were so many 'good' things, and your pool was definitely near the top of the list.

The downside is that a new season is upon us and we're once again faced with the phrase:  all good things must come to an end.

Mack's still crying about it.  And after scrolling back through these again, I think I might be wiping a tear or two away as well.

May the next three seasons bring opportunities for more fun, more smiles, and places to warm up rather than cool off.

With thanks for the goodness you've let us claim ~   Lindsay

a work horse named Mason.

Dear Mason,

You are a worker. I tried to come up with a better word, but I couldn't, so worker it is.

I'm not sure when exactly it started, but I really don't remember life as your mom without you wanting to work.  Crazy, but true.  From a very young age, all you wanted to do was work with your dad.  Things haven't changed.

You rarely put up a fight when you're asked to do something inside or out ... but outside is where you like to be most of all.

You mow yards, pick vegetables, wash trailers, pull weeds, fix things, water flowers, stack things, open gates, close gates, fix fence ... and a whole lot more.

Thank you for being anything but ordinary.

 Thank you for being diligent.

Thank you for seeing what needs to be done before you're even asked to do it.

I hope you want to work for the rest of your life - not just because you have to, but because you want to.

You're certainly off to a running start and definitely ahead of the pack.

Praying this work-ethic you've claimed as your own will carry you well & far ~

Mom

P.S.  I'm proud you're mine ... and blessed too!

what I know about rolling with it.

1. Rolling with it is about moving, always being on the go, and at the same time, trying your best to just 'go' with what has been handed  to you on any given day.  Easier said than done... especially the last part.

2.  It's always an adventure, and most of the time it's a 'chose your own adventure' kind of adventure. 

3.  It has a lot to do with dealing well with difficulties in your life, or even criticism that may come your way, and dealing with those things gracefully.

 4.  As much as you wish you could roll evenly and smoothly, life isn't about even or smooth.  It's about waves, and a current, and gravitational pull.  It's about finding a way to stand up, or sit down, or even crawl your way towards Jesus.  He'll put you back on solid ground.

5.  Rolling is about shifting your gaze continually ... and quickly.  It's about seeing the good, even when it looks bad, and it's about  knowing how and when to look up.

6.  It's about putting your best foot forward, knowing that you will probably lose your balance at some point -  and it may happen more than once during a 20 minute span.  Trust that the roller coaster you've found yourself on will eventually be kicked to the curb, just in time for a new one to start.

Life isn't about balance all the time.  

It's about knowing what to do when you find yourself on your back, or even on your face.

It's about having the tools and the people to pull you back up again.

It's about grace.

You're going to roll.

You're going to set expectations.

You're going to fall.

And you will get back up again.

So, as you find yourself rolling along, just try your best to roll well.

Not perfectly, just well.

Mack & Mary.

Dear Mack, 

You are 5.  You could have started kindergarten this fall, but your dad and I just didn't think you were ready.  You're still 'little' in our world, even though your personality really is quite 'huge.'  You still hold tightly to your blanket, rubbing the satin across your lips when you're tired, or nervous.  You still love to play with tractors and trucks and stuffed animals.  You still don't write your name quite right and would rather guess on letters and numbers than really 'know' them.  You still need some time to grow before we push you into the world of 'school.'

The transition from summer to preschool at Mary's has not been easy.  You're not with the same sweet friends you've been with for the past 2 years, enjoying cartoons, fruit snacks, and rides in Don's Kubota.  You're not at home with your dad.  You're not playing with your brother.  You're not at home baking cookies with me. You're growing up whether you want to or not.

The first week of getting back into the 'school' groove was torture.  You cried all 25+ minutes to town, every single day.  Actually, sobbed is a better choice of words.  It wasn't that you didn't want to be at Mary's, you just wanted to be 'home' more.  I can totally relate, because inside, I was sobbing too.

I wish I could explain to you in a way you would understand that I'd much rather be at home making cookies and pulling weeds in the garden at my leisure.  

I love sitting on the back deck in the mornings while you play.  

I love getting to be at home all day.  

I love the things that summer has to offer in terms of 'time' for us.  

But, the reality is - your mama is a teacher.  She has to drop you off for 9 hours a day.  She has to pack your lunch and hope you eat it.  She has to give her love and attention to 24+ other sweet boys and girls all day, and then find the energy to pour out even more love and attention over you and your brother at the end of those days.

You're in week number 3 and the sobbing has stopped.  You're still clutching that blanket & you're still fighting the early wake-up time, but you're growing.

I know we made the right choice by keeping you 'home' one more year.  Thank you for trusting me & all the praying I did.  When you read this at age 13, while laughing at your purple coloring of Eve, remember that the extra year with Mary gave you new friends, a chance to learn more about Jesus, and an opportunity to just be little one more year. Growing up comes soon enough.


With all my love and excitement for the year of {5} with you,

Mommy

P.S.  I think you and I both have this same look when we sob.  I'm just guessing, but it's probably not our best look.

words worth remembering.

God is not a God of confusion, but a God of peace. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:33

Be still and know that I am God. ~ Psalm 46:10

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village.  And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching.  But Martha was distracted with much serving.  And she went up to Him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Tell her then to help me."  But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her. ~ Luke 10:38-42

the start of something new.

Dear Mason,

The sun was big and orange this morning.

It greeted us far earlier than we had hoped for, but was a welcomed sight.

Summer vacation ... over.  Sad, but true.

You and I are both in {2nd} grade this year.

Honestly, it's really strange to think that I have a second grader.  In fact, it seems like just yesterday you were starting kindergarten.  People tell you that time just flies by & you sort of believe them, and then occasions like this happen and you realize it's true.  You're in 2nd grade, and I'm beginning my 15th year of teaching.  Unbelievable.

You're ready, and so am I.

We're at different schools, learning different things, spending time with different people ... and most importantly - growing at record speeds.  Both of us.

I don't know what this year is going to hold or what kind of adventures either of us will have, but I do know that the students and teachers we are going to be with each and every day are going to make us better people.  And I hope and pray that we'll add abundant blessings to their lives as well.

I'm praying us through, and cheering us on during this year ahead -- knowing that the greatness & even the struggles we're going to face are going give us character, and will shape and mold us into stronger, wiser individuals.

There is one key piece to this new adventure though, and it is a piece that should not be taken lightly.

Living your life while depending on Me is a great adventure.  Most people -- grown-ups and kids alike -- scurry around trying to do things their own way.  Some are huge successes;  others fail miserably.  But BOTH miss out on what life is supposed to be -- an adventure with Me. 

When you give control of your life to Me, I open your eyes so that you can see Me at work in the world.  Where others see "coincidences," you see My wonderful work -- even miracles at times.  And where others wee only an everyday happening, you see Me. 

Live each day just watching what I will do next.  You are in Me, and I am in you -- and through Me you learn to truly live. 

~ Jesus Calling for Kids, September 2

This adventure you and I are on as we start a new school year needs to be about Jesus.

About being brave, about being kind, about being ourselves, and about sharing our hearts with others well.

About loving other unconditionally, about putting our best foot forward, about saying no sometimes, and about having fun.

About not being afraid to fail, about thinking before we speak, and about grace.

........................

Thank you for standing tall in a crowd, & for trusting that what I say is true.

For trusting that what God says is true.


With expectancy of the greatness to come in the life of you (and me too),

Mom

P.S.  You'd better sit down, buckle in, and hang on - this is going to be a fun ride!

'twas the afternoon before school started.

My sweet, sweet boys ~ 

You are fun ... and you are funny.

You are handsome.

You are smart.

You are growing.

You are kind.

You are brave.

and...

You are loved.

Thank you for the best afternoon the end of summer ever could have had.

~ Mom