Precious Moments

We are blessed to have to children that most of the time enjoy playing and being silly together.  Sometimes their arguing and fighting out shadows this fact.  This morning I wished I had a camera to capture something rare for them. 

Shelby had crawled into bed with me after daddy went to work.  A short while later in came Josh.  Trying to keep quiet he was getting settled but managed still to wake Shelby.  As she was scooting over to make room for him, she tried to reach for him.  He thought she wanted his stuffed bear and so a  minor scuffle ensued.  However quickly it stopped as he realized it was his hand she wanted.  She wanted to hold his hand and cuddle.  So as they settled down for some quiet time with mom, holding hands, Josh whispers to Shelby, "I love you." Then she responds, "I love you too."  And I enjoyed this picture and a few more moments of quiet before we a ll got up to start our day.  We are blessed.

Topsy-Turvy

Although it need not be said...we often take the little things for granted until it is too late.  I was reminded of this fact this morning when dropping our son off to school.  Our son despite his many challenges, trys to be independent.  Most of the time he does very well.  This morning he proved that it only takes a misguided footing or minor change in things to turn everything literally upside down. 

When we pulled up to drop him off for school, he proceeded to open the door as usual.  However, today I am not sure exactly what happened..one second I am saying "have a great day" and the next I am watching helplessly as he is falling head first out the door.  I flung out my door to see how he was --praying the whole way around the truck.  Thankfully he is fine, but I kept him home just in case, so I could watch him as he landed on his head.

As I was driving home after this incident, I was reminded how it does not take much to get it us off balance in our day to day walk.  We must keep our eyes and hearts focused  on our heavenly Father so as not to be lead astray.
 Proverbs 3
              ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
              ⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.^{[a]
              7} Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
              ⁸ This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Life is crazy enough without being turned upside down by the unknown that catches us off guard.  I prefer the Topsy-turvys of life being confined to roller coaster rides only--when at all possible.  :)

Happy Happy Joy Joy

The bright-eyed girl the photo next to me is as precocious as she looks.  She will be 4 soon and most of the time she is head strong and demands what she wants ---not that it gets her what she wants.  However it does not stop her from trying.  I often see a very clear "type A" personality.  None-the-less when she becomes sick it is with great dread of going to the Dr. that she will not come forth and proclaim her ailment.  Thankfully as "mom" I am usually fully equipped to see beyond her fear and can most of the time pin point what is wrong. 

Friday she woke with the 24hr stomach flu.  So fun to start you morning with stomach contents...  So in atypical fashion she laid on the couch all day watching movies and sleeping.  The stomach eruptions finally subsided when we got some Lemon-lime soda and she was able to keep it down.  Thankfully for all she did not have to go see the Dr. or be rushed to the hospital.

So it was with joy this morning when she woke and found when was feeling better that she came rushing into our room and after getting my attention, held my face in her hands, looked me in the eye's and said, "Mama, I feel better.  My tummy does not have to throw up anymore.  I don't have to go to the Dr. I'm much better." 

And I know she was better because she had no more problems and was back bothering her brother and being precocious.  Sometimes it is like being on a roller coaster with her and her different moods.  I pray she out grows her swings and sticks to the swings at the park instead.

Treasure amongst the weeds

So the weeds have been growing crazy due to an abundance of rain.  Rain good; weeds bad.  So today after dropping my son to school my daughter and I proceeded to tackle the weeds in hopes of preparing soil for planting veggies.  The outrageous prices for veggies has once again triggered my thoughts to try planting again. 

I have found it rather difficult in this desert "oasis".  (Mind you and oasis is only pleasant to those in need of such a place.  I do not find this desert much of an oasis.  Just a very hot place to live.)  :)  I have tried in the past to plant strawberries and squash and other edible yummies but have not had success.  5 Yrs ago in early spring I tried Tomatoes and they died (or so I thought) in the desert heat.  I was pleasantly surprised to find in the fall that they came back only the birds, and squirrels beat me to the treasures.  Last fall I tried Edamame beans and Spaghetti Squash.  After many weeks of watering and nurturing I got nothing.

So I was pleasantly surprised as I was toiling in the weeds; being the BMW my husband so fondly calls me.  (BMW = Burly Mountain Woman  Yeah a mountain woman in the desert...)  Anyway, as I was weeding, I come across this yellow object that at first I thought was a ball.  Low and behold it was a tiny Spaghetti Squash.  It was no longer attached to the stem, but looks in good condition.  We shall see when I open it up.  It was the only one...  Then as I got to the area where I planted the beans and seeing many daisies and weeds I find there are actually some strong bean stems.  So I am hopeful again that maybe something will grow.  It seems when I am tending my crops they don't do well.  When I ignore them they grow....

There seems to be some biblical connections here.  still pondering.  However, I do see that even in all the craziness of life therecan be good that comes out of it.  You just have to dig in and pull the weeds to find the treasures.