You say it's your birthday ...

and I know it's true!! :)

(and hopefully I live to celebrate mine after posting this)

Watching them play.

That's my plan for the next few days or so ...

Oh, who am I kidding?!  ...

that's my plan for the next 50 + years  ... and then some.

I choose ...

There are no words that can describe our view.

Or at least none that do it justice.

Our home is surrounded by acres and acres of beauty.

Beauty that I wish each of you could experience first hand with us.

Beauty that I sometimes have to pinch myself about.  {yes Lindsay, it's real}

And on those days when life seems to be flying by at an uncontrolable speed ... I choose to walk and ride and play.

Rather than trying to settle down and read a book or two.

Rather than watching TV.

Rather than filling our evenings with other kinds of fun.

On those nights when {home} is the best place to be ... I choose this.

what we want vs. what we get.

Sometimes ...

you just have to hold on for dear life and {ride}.

and then ... before you know it ... the fear you had of falling or failing is gone.

No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. ~Winston Churchill

I'm not sure which chapter I'm on.

I loved your post.

Which one?

Well, the one that you wrote last week.

Which one?

Well ... all of them. I love all of them.

Thank you ... really. {blushing and shaking my head} Thank you for reading.

Seriously Lindsay. I felt like I knew your aunt just reading about her ... and the pictures ... well, you captured the day. I felt like I was there with you.

Oh how I wish you could have known her ... and I wish you could have been a part of a true celebration of life. Her legacy lives on through each of her sons and their families. It truly does.

Well, I do know her now and I think I was there. Through you.

You know what ... God is using me in ways I can't even fathom and for that I'm blessed.

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

I will never question why I do this online journal.

Never.

It's for me ... but so much more.

More than therapy.

More than stress relief.

More than sharing and capturing and documenting.

It's me ... giving others the opportunity to learn and live with me if they choose.

So {Bales & Tales} ... you're going to be around for a long, long time.

And readers, I hope you are too.

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

I got your card in the mail Allison and I will treasure it forever. I'm blessed by you.

The Sundberg girls from Vashon ... you're loved.

Havila ... I wish we were neighbors. So, so much.

Mom ... I pray I can be you at age 59. I truly do.

Kirsten ... you're beautiful pregnant.

Pioneer Woman ... Your cinnamon rolls were inhaled. My family thanks you.

George ... we missed you yesterday.

Jaime ... thank you for {knowing} Uncle Tom.

Tom, Tim, Tony, Ted, Todd, and Troy ... Your mother is so proud of you ... is, not was.

Uncle Tom. We all love you so much. So, so much.

Grandma ... your beauty is remarkable ... inside and out.

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

And the chapters of blessings continue to pour out on our life here on earth.

270. dirty faces and sheepish smiles.

271.a seat that can be filled by no one else ...

and will always be a place of honor if you find yourself sitting there.

272. a picnic at the hay shed.  perfect in every single way.

273. old tractors that are the best {toys} anyone could ever have.

274. twine, strength, a rest at the {top} and the skill and determination to get down.

275. asparagus.  and a mom to {can/pickle} with me.

276. a birthday girl, beautiful glasses, an unseen world, and a {new} dog.

277. a spelling bee.

278. horseback rides.  over and over again.

279. siblings. laughter. unconditional love.

280. wild grass.  {glowing} at the end of a beautiful day.  a truly beautiful day.

281. my 6th mother's day.  another trip around the sun as a {mom} about to begin.

282.  a blog.  friends & family who read it.  chapter after chapter after chapter.

Celebrating {life well lived}.

We love you Hazel!