Impromptu Slumber Party

Our family got some tough news, so tonight we are having an impromptu slumber party at Granna's and PawPaw's house. Tough news goes down easier when you are with the people you love. Well, it has turned in to a lovely day. It has been so lovely, that depsite the tough news, finding blessings is easy. The kids are thrilled to see their Daddy (he wasn't with us on vacation), their Grand Parents, and one of their Great Grandmothers. We've been swimming, eaten great meals together, played Wii, and Phase 10. With hugs and laughter flowing freely, everyone's outlook is positive.

Blessing #95, July 31, 2010

Today I am thankful for the love that my family shares. It doesn't make the approaching storm less severe, but it does provide the shelter in which we can wait it out.

Home Again, Home Again

It has been a long, hot drive home. But, we are here, and we are safe. We had 5 wonderful days in Brunswick with Nana, and this morning I didn't really care to leave. But coming home is wonderful. There is nothing like that home smell when you open the door, the feel of your own bed, and the familiar sound of the creeks in the floor.

Blessing #94, July 30, 2010

Tonight I am thankful for safe travels and the blessing that is being able to bring my children to this wonderful home.

Summer Waves

We started the day with phone calls to Aunt Cary and Aunt Courtni-both have birthdays today. Then, Nana went with the kids and me to Summer Waves on Jekyll Island. It was so much fun, and made so special because she was there to share it with them. The kids had so much fun running through the Splash Zone and riding the slides. After lunch we visited our friends and neighbors, Donny and Jackie, and the kids got to listen to Donny talk about WWII. He flew B-17s, and is full of memories as well as commentary on today's political scene. I don't believe my kids will get many chances to meet-much less talk to a pilot from WWII, so that was extraordinary.

As if that wasn't a red-letter day, we topped it off with pizza and a trip to see Toy Story 3. It was fabulous! What a great way to wrap up our vacation...now we have to get some sleep and get ready to head home tomorrow.

Blessing #93, July 29, 2010

I am thankful for Cary and Courtni! It is a blessing that my Mom was willing to help me take the kids to Summer Waves-we created memories and laughter that we will never forget. I am glad my children got to visit with a WW2 vet, and so glad that Woody, Buzz, and all the gang found a loving home!

Wait up, Son!

I watched in amazement today as Chip LED me on a 10 mile bike ride around Jekyll. He even stopped along the way to read the historic markers about The Horton House and the ecology of the marsh and the dunes. Then he taught me all about those things. How and when did he become so fit, strong, and smart?

My Dad has said, "a great truth is that parents get slower as their children get faster." When he first said that to me, Chip was a toddler who had just discovered running-and for years it was the only speed he knew. I chased him everywhere. I remember thinking Daddy's words were pretty sad, but today I didn't feel sad at all. I felt proud that things were unfolding as they should be-even if it is a little bittersweet.

Blessing #92, July 28, 2010

I am thankful that Chip is strong, healthy, and happy. His self confidence is blossoming along with his desire for independence. Sure, it makes me nostalgic for those baby days, but I have a wonderful peace that things are unfolding as they should.

Phase 10

What a day! There have been no TV, movies, or video games. The only cell phone calls were to tell Daddy goodnight. We walked around the place, shopped for groceries, napped, and met our good friend Lonnie for dinner. Later, the kids and I sat around the dining table with Mom (aka Nana) and played Phase 10. This is a card game that my family has fallen in love with. We discovered it as we prepped for the Haiti trip in March. We played in the airports and then with the Haitians. The game is fabulous because there are no boards, dice, or game pieces to complicate things. Just cards; and it is inexpensive. It is great for even Katie (4 years), as she practices numbers, counting, and sorting.

There is so much noise in our society--cell phones, TVs, DVD players even in the car, that sometimes we forget how much fun we an have when we get "unplugged".

Blessing #91, July 27, 2010

I am thankful for precious, real connections with my family and friends. When I am unplugged my relationships with my family and friends feel more authentic and robust. It is these connections that I believe we were designed for-because it is through them that we experience love-and that is to experience the Divine.

Safe Travels

We have arrived in Brunswick. It is hot here, just like Athens, but there is a wonderful, salty breeze which makes it bearable. We took our time coming down-stopping for happy meals, tacos, and bathroom breaks. We went back roads from Washington, GA and we saw a lot of small town Ameria. Chip and Katie were the best travelers-better than their Mom and Nana for sure. In any case, I am pooped--so here we go!

Blessing #90, July 26, 2010

Thank you, God, for safe travels and this wonderful refuge our family enjoys. I am grateful for time to relax and a breeze off the salt marsh.

You can Sneak into my Room!

The kids and I are packing up to head to Brunswick for a week with my Mom. She grew up there, and I have spent a ton of time vacationing in Glynn County. It has always been the place my family goes to rest and recover from our busy lives. We get to eat when we're hungry, sleep when we're tired, and enjoy each other's company. The salt air is like medicine for whatever ails us--and usually that is stress!

We stay in the house my Grandfather Watson built for my Grandmother many years ago, and we drive over to Jekyll to bike, swim, visit the Sea Turtle Center, and the water park, Summer Waves. We love these trips, and try to make it down there atleast twice a year.

This year, Trey can't go. After Jamaica, he's grounded for a while with work and he's pretty down about it. Tonight, he said to all of us, "I'm going to miss you all so much!" And Katie piped up with, "You know Daddy, you can sneak into my room at night and get one of my gavies and take it back to your bed and snuggle with it. That will make you feel better!"

July 25, 2010 Blessing #89

Gavi is Katie's made up word to describe her silky blanket. She has several of these in assorted sizes, and the size she needs to comfort herself depends on the trauma she's just endured. At night she must sleep with a big gavi, but for a car ride to the pediatrician a little gavi will suffice. Chip wasn't big on security items, but for Katie that gavi is a passport to another dimension in which she is calm, relaxed, and content. I think it is wonderful that her first act when she senses turmoil in another is to offer what she equates with ultimate comfort and security. If Chip gets hurt, she brings one to him. If Jake, our dog seems sad, she wraps him in one, and if say I've had a hard day she comes running with a gavi. It says alot about the love and generosity in her that she is so willing to share an object that is so valuable to her--I am blessed that I continue to like the people my children are becoming. I marvel that they teach me so much.

Graduate school

We just got in from the graduation party for my brother in law. He finished up his Masters' in special education-a remarkable feat as he has done this with a house full of children and full time job. It was a great party! Having spent time in grad school myself, I have a healthy understanding of the committment required to persevere.

Blessing #88, July 24 2010

I am thankful for the access my family and extended family have had to education. College and graduate school were challenging to be sure, but so worth it. Upon completion of each chapter, I felt there were new ways I could use my gifts and new ways of thinking about old problems.

Snug in their Beds

Fisher and Kaselynn, our nephew and niece, are here visiting. In age they are close to Chip and Katie respectively. All week the kids have been so excited--and now they are worn slap out, snuggled in their beds with their various security items (for the girls it's blankets-a gavi and a woo) and for the boys it is books (Chip is reading to Fisher now). It is just the cutest thing ever. I mean on the one hand you look and see young, vulnerable children-and on the other you see the future of this family. What a bright future it is.

Blessing #87, July 23, 2010

Cliche, but children are precious and they are our future. What is even greater is that all 4 of these children are turning into fabulous people-they just get more wonderful and interesting. What gifts from God.

Way Past Bedtime

I almost forgot! I climbed in to bed with heavy-lidded eyes and realized I hadn't done my entry. We just got home from my friend Julie's house. We had so much fun and stayed way past bed time. It's a great thing about summer that we can relax a little on the routine. It is also great news that I can't go to sleep until I've completed this exercise.
That's a habit with staying power.

Anyway, counting blessings is easy tonight.

Blessing #86, July 22, 2010

I am thankful for friends and for being able to spend time with them. Tonight we all had play dates. Julie's kids match up perfectly in age with mine, so they paired off and played great together. Julie and I got to visit and really catch up on our busy summers. It was a great ending to a great day. Now, my eyes are closing so I have got to turn in!

Red-letter Day!

Katie began the summer needing her floaties just to get in the shallow end at our neighborhood pool. 5 weeks ago she started swim lessons, and today she swam; strokes, breath, and everthing from one side of the pool to the other. The best part was the look on her face. She was genuinely amazed at her accomplishment and when emerged victorius at the other end, she was beaming with pride.

Blessing #85, July 21, 2010

My parents always told me, "Anna, you can do anything you put your mind too." I think it is beyond important for parents to expect good things from a child, and convey those expectations. Still, no matter how many people tell you of your potential, nothing affirms it more than accomplishing a goal that at one time seemed out of reach. Today I saw that look on Katie's face-she discovered she had what it took to accomplish something that seemed impossible and even scary just a few weeks ago. I tell her all the time that she is smart, strong, and special. Today, I saw that she believed me, a little bit more than she did yesterday. What a blessing to see my child succeed and grow in self confidence.

Raindrops on Roses, Whiskers on Kittens

I am torn tonight about which blessing to count. I am really enjoying the Borg novel, Putting Away Childish Things. It is a teaching novel, and I, in the tradition of great teaching, feel it was written just for me. I see myself in the professor who is considered by the senior faculty too "Christian" to be an academic, and in the student who realizes that her friends in the ultra conservative Christian group are close-minded and insecure. It is a great read--and I recommend it (Dad and Cary, especially to you!).

My children played outside today for hours with their cousin, Payton. They were imagining kings, queens, dragons, spaceships, and swordfights. All of this enchantment required only a few nerf guns and the tiny spoon and fork from Katie's tea set. It was rich, fabulous, child's play at its best.

We watched Chip's new favorite show, Unnatural History, and it is awesome. It's all about a kid who is intellectually independent and is more comfortable thinking outside the box than in it. It is sort of National Treasure meets one of the Hardy Boys. Heroes were so important to me (ok, still are) as a kid, and this Henry fellow is a hero to Chip. I think he's a fabulous hero to look up to. And Chip is adorable when he is watching it, because he is so into it, he wants us to stop it (Oh, shallow maybe, but I am thankful for DVR) periodically so he can tell us who he thinks "dunnit!".

Blessing #84, July 20, 2010

I have become so accustomed to looking for blessings I have days now where I can't pick just one. I am thankful that I am trainable-this has become a habit and unlike Diet Dr. Pepper or hasbrowns, this is one that makes me better.

Blissful, Happy Sleep

I am worn out! I walked for an hour this morning pushing Katie in the stroller while Chip rode his bike. Then tonight I walked another 45 minutes with my sister, Jean, and her family. I have that wonderful tired, almost achy feeling. In between I was busy doing laundry, cleaning the house, and unpacking from our trip to Greenville.

There are times I fall into bed mentally or emotionally exhausted and sleep feels like a necessary, not happy, escape. Nights like this, though, I fall into bed with the physical exhaustion that comes with more than typical exercise, and drifting off to sleep feels happy and blissful.

Blessing #83, July 19, 2010

I am blessed that I am fit enough to exercise. Exercise makes everything in my mind and body better and stronger. I have had knee surgeries, barely escaped back surgery, and I still take my able body for granted. Well, today I am acknowledging this gift.

A Must Read Author

In college in one of my religion classes (I tried to squeeze in several which was pretty tough as a science major) I was introduced to the work of Marcus Borg. My first read was Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time. I've read a few of his books, but this one I read twice. I don't do that very often.

Anyway, the other day while Katie was at a Tea Party, Chip and I went to the library to kill some time and save some money. He checked out a book, I picked a few out for Katie, and then stumbled upon a new one by Borg. A novel! So far, I am hooked.

July 18, 2010 Blessing #82

I am thankful for books that make me think and challenge my faith and assumptions. I am also so thankful for summer-because it is my time for reading!

Down the Rabbit Hole

Still writing from Greenville-and it's been a late night. I think it is the first time I haven't made the midnight deadline, but then again, we did sort of fall into a time warp.

After we watched the free performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor in the park, the kids wanted to explore. They put their feet in the Reedy River, walked through downtown and then we all 3 made a wish in a downtown fountain. Almost immediately after the trolley pulled up, and we hopped on board (also free, this city is fabulous!). We were greeted with a round of applause, which should have served as the signal that we were in for a treat.

The temperature was perfect, the breeze felt great, my kids were in awe of riding a real trolley, and the other passengers were in some kind of happy trance. At first I thought they must be a large group because they were cheering and waving at folks in unison, but as we continued on our loop it became clear that they were just turning the trolley ride into a party. Everyone was laughing and singing to the music, waving at all the folks on the street, and radiating a zest for life.

When the ride was over, we all said a version of, "That was the neatest thing ever," and I added, "I wonder if it is always like that?" Cary said, "It felt like that was all for us. It makes you wonder what the kids wished for in the fountain...maybe it was the trolley of youth!"

Blessing 81, July 17, 2010

Today I am thankful for seeing the wonder in my kids eyes when they rode the trolley. It was a blessing being in a vehicle full of happy people-living in the moment and sharing that happiness. Maybe it was just for us....

Pride and Prejudice

The kids and I are in Greenville, SC visiting my sister, Cary. We have the best time together, and it's hard for folks to tell where my laughter stops and hers begins. I have 4 sisters, and I wish we could all be together--but seeing each even one at a time is a blessing.

Anyway, tonight we went to Blockbuster to rent Pride and Prejudice, and we got an impromptu lecture from the man working the counter about picking up the "Pride, Prejudice and Zombies" book as a great vacation read. Cary and I were stifling laughs the whole time. He explained that the book was nearly 90% accurate to the original except that Jane and Lizzie were trained as super ninja zombie assassins, and every now and then in the story zombies appear that need to be "Handled." We will laugh about this forever! (Jane Austen probably won't however!)

Blessing #80, July 16, 2010

I am thankful for the jokes and memories that I share with my loved ones. It is wonderful that I have time to steal away and hang with my sister for a weekend.

8th grade dance dress shopping to Pool Snack Packing

A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world. ~Lois Wyse


What a day! My best friend of 20 years, Heather, came today and brought her 2 precious children. We swam and then let the kids play at the house. There was a moment when I looked at her, and thought "how did we go from picking out 8th grade dance dresses with our Moms to packing cheese sticks and juice boxes for the pool?" Seems like yesterday we were school girls giggling over boys and here we are grown up ladies with careers and families.

But what is amazing is that through all the chapters of life we've experienced so far, we have remained best friends. We played different sports, attended different colleges, married at different times and live 1 hour apart. Still, there is a level of comfort and familiarity that comes from our shared history and memories, and it is priceless.

Blessing #79, July 15, 2010

I am thankful for my friendship with Heather. It is wonderful to have a friend who knows me so well and has known me for so long that our conversations are nearly effortless. She is always honest with me and willing to listen. I can remember a song from Girls Scouts: "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other is Gold." I get it now.

Children Counting Blessings

As I was tucking them in, I asked my children, "What do you think Mommy should write about tonight as a blessing?" Chip said, "Legs for walking and all the rest of your body." Katie said, "you and our family and Jakey and Jilly (dog and mouse respectively)." Chip piped up again with "a roof over your head." We finished up talking about our exciting plans for tomorrow--my best friend from high school is coming with her 2 kids-one of them is a new baby--and my kids can't wait. As I turned to head downstairs, thinking the conversation over, Chip added, "Babies, because, Mom ,everytime a baby is born then it can make the world better, just like you say Katie and I do."

So, the blessing tonight is obvious, right?

Blessing #78, July 14, 2010

I am thankful that this exercise has started daily conversations about the blessings in our lives. Counting blessings has become part of the culture in the Scott family. I have always told my children that they are gifts from God-not just to Mommy and Daddy, but the world-and I am glad they hear me and believe me, and I'm glad that they understand that all children are gifts, not just the ones in our family.

Once at a A Hardees in Oakwood Georgia

You know with a title like that, this is going to be good.

My major professor, Steve Oliver, told me and a classroom full of student teachers a fabulous story one Friday 5 years ago. I was pregnant with my youngest, working as his TA, and that day I was ready to go home. I can remember looking at my swollen ankles thinking, "he's going to tell a story now?"

But it was great. He was the 3rd person in line to order at Hardees. The cashier finished up with her customer, turned, and knocked all the cups out of the dispenser. They scattered all over the floor. She picked them up, restacked them, and put them back into the dispenser. She looked up at the new customer (so the guy in front of Steve), and says, "May I take your order?" The customer says, "I would like to know if I'm going to get a clean cup."

The beauty of the story comes in Steve's interpretation. That interpretation changed forever the way I think about my work on a daily basis. Steve said, "That girl forgot that her job was to provide food to a customer in a safe and clean way. She was operating as if her job was to move through the line." He went on to describe how teachers get lost in a similar place-working to get the kids from 1st grade to 2nd grade or 3rd period to 4th period instead of working to empower them to grow, think independently, and solve problems.

I would be lying if I said that didn't happen to me sometimes-albeit not nearly as much now as when I was a novice. I go in with huge aspirations for what my kids will learn or discover, and then that grand vision gets lost in the minutia of the day. I'd wager most if not all teachers find themselves losing focus sometimes. Maybe it is taking attendance, running copies, grading homework, or washing the glassware that seems to be the most important task when in fact it should be assessing and planning the students' learning.

When I get focused on all the wrong things, I think about this story and I get my eye back on the ball.

July 13, 2010 Blessing # 77

Today I am thankful for Steve and the wisdom he brings into my life. That story was a transformative blessing in my life. It really resonated with me, and his interpretation has a wisdom that works beyond teaching. I think of that story in my work and my parenting, and everytime it prompts to me to re-energize and reprioritize.

Checking Things Off

Summer is wonderful for relaxation, but I find that when I do have things to do I'm not nearly as efficient as I am during the school year. Something about plenty of time leads me to think I can "do it all later." That's all well and good for a bit, but eventually my OCD kicks in and I've got to check things off my to do list.

So today that is what I did! I caught up on email, updated my calendar, scheduled appointments, and folded clothes. I planned a weekend visit to my sisters, a trip to Brunswick and Jekyll with my Mom, and a long overdue visit with a girl friend. Don't get me wrong, the list isn't clear yet, but I did make a lot of headway. Hopefully tomorrow I will have finally tackled the two parties I need to schedule and that pile of scrapbooking!

July 12, 2010 Blessing #76

Today I am thankful for the feeling that comes after getting out from under things to do, deadlines, etc. It is a feeling of relief and progress. Weirdly I think one reason it feels so good is because of the OCD that drives to me to finish in the first place, so today I am even thankful for my neurosis!

Sun and Rain

I enjoy summer-the long, hot days, the trips to the pool, and the inevitable tans of my children. Still, as much as I love the heat and the sunshine, I do need a break from it. It's thundering outside now, and I am hearing the rain just begin to fall. I know the air will feel clean after the rain, and I will love how green and robust everything will look in the morning.

Blessing #75, July 10, 2010

The rain is a blessing. It brings relief from the heat, life to the vegetation, and freshness to the air. There is a wonderful balance in nature-and I must remember to never take it for granted.

Famous Blood

Chip has been telling everyone that he and his Dad are related to Francis Scott Key. He is 100% convinced of this, and has even been caught explaining to those who are Scotts by marraige that they don't enjoy this famous blood. Well, we have no evidence that this is true, but I just love that Chip is so sure of himself. Rather than derail his fantasty Star-Spangled connection, I have just smiled and assured him that we are all held in the branches of one tree of life--and isn't it exciting that we have definietly breathed the Oxygen molecules breathed by famous Presidents, athletes, and even the dinosaurs.

You know, it could be worse. I convinced my class in elementary school that a monkey lived in our pasture, there was a whale in my bathtub, and I could speak to Unicorns.

Blessing #74, July 9, 2010

I am thankful that children refuse to limit themselves. Chip's imagination is so rich and so active-and it is a delight to watch it work.

Southern Summer

Our kids are spending the night with their cousins in Conyers. After I dropped them off, I headed back to Athens to meet Trey at the dollar movie for a matinee. When the heat index is over 100 degrees, there is nothing better than a "cold enough to hang meat" theater. We saw Robinhood with Russell Crowe. It was fair-a different take on a legend that has been told countless times.

The best part of the movie was when it was over. We came outside and it was overcast and had cooled drastically. I drove home with the windows down, and then walked for over an hour with my sister and her family. It was still humid, but it was cool enough to be outside and be active. That's what summer nights are supposed to feel like!

Blessing #73 July 9, 2010

I am thankful for cold movie theaters. I am thankful my sister lives around the corner. I am thankful for a summer evening without such oppressive heat and that I am able-bodied and can exercise.

Socks in the Spin Cycle

Tonight I went for a walk around the neighborhood. I really didn't want to go, especially by myself, so I tried to get Trey and the kids to go with me. I texted my sister and asked her to go, and then asked a few neighbors. There were no takers, but I knew I had to get moving.

Usually I love to walk solo, but this evening I had a lot on my mind and I just didn't want to deal with any of it. The worries ranged from soccer and ballet registration for my children to hungry children in Haiti and my ugly kitchen. You know I am out of balance when all of those seem of equal severity.

Anyway, I was looking for a distraction to keep from turning inward and grappling with anxieties, doubts, and fears. I did talk via phone to another sister during the first part of my walk, but there was no escaping some time for introspection.

My mind was whirling-I felt like ideas, worries, and to do list items were being tossed around like my children's socks in the spin cycle. They were whizzing by so fast that it became impossible to see where one sock stopped and the next began. In my washer, the tiniest socks are the biggest problems-sometimes they find their way out of the tub and into a pipe and then a perfectly good sock-and maybe a perfectly good washer are lost forever. (I realize this is a weird image, but I did have a long conversation this evening with a washer repairman, so I've just got laundry on the brain--work with me....) My thoughts are like that too--they whirl by so fast and if I can't clear my head to focus on them they disappear or morph into something unrecognizeable.

When my mind whirls, when I'm not sure which thought or worry to tackle, I pray. When I am anxious like this, I'm usually not sure what to pray, but I find that if I focus on a recitation-like the Lord's Prayer or the 23rd Psalm, everything in me resets. The frenzied activity stops, my breathing slows, and my anxiety lessens. It's like I go from being in the passenger seat of my mind to the driver's seat. It was like magic tonight. I left anxious and by the end of my walk and several Lord's Prayers, I was able to quiet my mind and listen to the crickets, watch the lightening bugs emerge and come to terms with the fact that though I may be in the driver's seat of my mind, I will never be in charge of everything else. Thank God for that.

Blessing #72, July 8, 2010

Tonight I remembered that even though I an over the top type A, OCD person I am just a person. I am thankful for my faith and I am blessed that it can quiet my mind and awaken me to the presence of the Divine. Then I can focus on Love-which I believe is the only thing that matters. I have so much Love in my life and everything else is just stuff.

Million Dollar Smile

My Dad frequently refers to my "million dollar smile." I realize to many this would seem an endearment, but Dad means it almost literally. (there is a similar expression about my leg, but I'll save it for later) I just have bad teeth. I've had root canals, extractions, and braces TWICE. I floss religiously, brush with $30 prescription toothpaste, and get check ups every 6 months. I guess I'm trying to make it clear that a lack of hygiene isn't the issue.

Chip, at 7, has already had 3 cavities. Katie hasn't had any, yet, but I am waiting to see history repeat itself in her little mouth. So, today, when they each got their teeth cleaned I was overjoyed they both got good reports. I also figured that the Dr. would tell me I needed to get Chip to an orthodontist, but he said so far so good in that arena.

So, no more dentist visits are necessary this summer, we aren't about to drop a ton of cash on fillings and braces, and my kids got super cute toys out of the treasure chest. It is so great to get good news when you are expecting bad.....I left the dentist office today flashing that "Million Dollar Smile"

Blessing #71 July 7, 2010

I am thankful for good news and dental care. We are so lucky that we can get our teeth cleaned, filled, and straightened and that we have access to products that improve and maintain our health. I am not kidding about the $30 toothpaste the kids and I use. We are so fortunate.

Check this out!

http://blessings365.blogspot.com/

I just stumbled upon another blogger with the same idea I had. Except, she's already finished. Same title and everything! I thought I was being so creative. No matter, I find it pretty inspiring that she blogged about 365 blessings. If she can do it, I can do it!

Trey was back to work today, so the kids and I settled back into our routine. We had a great breakfast together, and then headed out for a play date. My friend Mattie and her family are in our supper club, and 2 of her 3 kids match up with mine in age. It was great to catch up with her, and my kids had a blast. I think I am very fortunate that I have a few, good friends who challenge me to be my best. Mattee is a great listener, and she always encourages me to think in a new way. I'm not even sure she knows she is doing it, but she's a friend that has made me better.

We came home, rested a bit, and then conquered the very difficult Melissa and Doug Under the Sea Puzzle.
I know it's hard to imagine a giant kid-friendly floor puzzle is hard, but this one gets me everytime. The pieces are all a different shade of blue,and it is really hard to tell which is end is up. Today I was convinced I had the left border nearly complete, and then realized it was actually the right border upside down. I found myself and the kids were quite frustrated. I stood up and looked at the puzzle from a different direction, and then I saw it. All I needed was a little change of perspective. Then the kids and I had a great discussion about the value of looking at old problems in new ways.

Blessing #70, June 6, 2010

Today I am thankful for the surprise teaching moments. Sometimes it's in conversation with a friend and sometimes it's quality time with my kids. Today it came as we put together a floor puzzle-and I'm so glad we weren't watching TV or playing video games.

What took you so long?

Where to start? Trey and I have just come home from a 7 day trip to the Sandals at Montego Bay, Jamaica. I don't remember a time I felt this rested and content. I could write about blessings for the next several hours! We have never left both kids for a vacation of this magnitude, so I feel like we've reached a milestone. That said, when we arrived, our driver who met us at the airport (He called himself All the way Ray) asked, "Is this your first time in Jamaica, mon?" We answered in the affirmative and he countered with "What took you so long?". Post trip, I'm asking myself the same question. I realize that this extravagance seems odd given that we're trying to eradicate debt and build a nest egg. Indeed, it wasn't part of our budget we've worked out with our financial advisor (aka my Dad), but we had already booked and paid for the trip before we met with him. I am so glad, because now I see that it was a tremendous investment in our health and our marriage.

More in keeping with our new financial saavy, is the fact that I didn't pay the $15/half hour for internet access (this shows up in a blessing too). I had to jot notes the old fashioned way for my blog, so in this entry, I will be posting blessings 62-69 to catch up. Here we go:

Blessing #62, June 28 2010
I am thankful that we have arrived safely in this tropical paradise. My children are having the time of their life on my parents' farm, and my husband and I setting out to make "just us" memories. We will make jokes about "All the Way Ray" for years to come! It is a blessing that we are able to have this time, and that my family is caring for my children.

Blessing #63, June 29, 2010

Today a disappointment became a blessing. I learned that it was going to cost $15 for 30 minutes of internet time, so that means I can't do my blog entries. When I found this out this morning, I was bummed, but now it is night, and I see that it was a gift in disguise. With internet comes email, news, and countless other distractions. Plus, I can only imagine trying to write everyday in 30 minutes or less-geez, the pressure. I have spent one full day completely out of touch, and I feel tension dissapating from my tight shoulders, neck, and back. I will take a few minutes at night to jot down my blessings, and I can type them when I get home. I am thankful that for the rest of the week I will be detached from my hectic reality and firmly planted in this one where relaxation, not frenzied activity, is the norm.

Blessing #64, June 30, 2010

Food, glorious food! So far, everyday I have a had an omelette with bell pepper, cheese, and tomato for breakfast. Have I mentioned how much I love omelettes? Trey cooks a great one, so I am not knocking him at all, but it is rare that I get a deluxe breakfast and don't have to clean up after it, then hurry on to the next task. I mean this isn't just about eggs. I am eating pineapple, mango, papaya, plantains, bacon, and oatmeal with all the fixings. And I haven't washed the first dish. When the meal is over we just keep sitting there luxuriating in the experience. I guess we don't do that at home, because the meal is just something else on our to do list, and we have to get to the next thing. When I get home, I am going to make a concerted effort to savor each bite and moment at the table with the people I love.

Blessing #65, July 1, 2010

This place is gorgeous. I have felt routinely that I must have skidooed (this is a test to see if you watch Blues Clues) into a postcard. This morning we went snorkeling,and I was dumbfounded by what I saw. I've been snorkeling before as a kid, but this time I was astounded at the variety and beauty of life in the ocean. Schools of fish swam around me, I watched the bioluminescence of the jelly fish, and I felt tremendously blessed that this beauty existed and that I was privileged enough to see it. As a child I loved the experience, but I think I lacked perspective. In fact, probably, I believed that all the fish and coral and color was there just so I could see it. Now I understand that it is a luxury many never experience, and I am more awed because I understand that life in the ocean is necessary for human life to exist. I guess I am growing up.

Blessing 66, July 2, 2010

Lately, I've been having headaches in the afternoon. I wondered if they were from a lingering sinus infection. Well, I haven't had a one in Jamaica. That tells me a lot about my stress level at home. I am going to do better! I am going to decide to relax even in the States.

Speaking of health, I am blessed that I've been able to exercise with my husband here. Have I ever mentioned that he is a Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer? I've had a my very own personal trainer on this trip. He's helped me with exercises for my back, core, and extremeties. He is so smart! He kept me out of the OR when I herniated discs in my lumbar spine, and now he is keeping me strong and healthy. He has a blog too www.fitnessasiseeit.com where he chronicles his workout routines and offers advice. It's pretty funny that I've been keeping up with him through his blog. We just don't talk as much as we should at home-so it has been wonderful to rediscover how gifted he is at his work, and how passionate he is about it. What a blessing that his work is a ministry, and that everyday my husband makes the world a better place for his patients.

Blessing #67, July 3, 2010

We've been snorkeling 3 times now. This all inclusive vacation thing is fabulous. The food, the scenery, the activities-all we have to do is show up. Today we checked out a kayak and rowed the length of the beach. It took us a long time on the way out, because we were rowing against the current. We were sweating and laughing the whole time. It was a lot of work, but we had so much fun. The memories that we are making together are precious. I am so blessed that this time with my husband as reminded me of just why I fell in love with him in the first place. There is no one I would rather be with.

Blessing #68, July 4, 2010

We're heading home today. I am ready to see our kids! I am thankful that we have had an amazing, safe trip thus far. We are blessed that the country we are going home to is a free country. It is wonderful that we left the States because we wanted to, and not because we had to to escape persecution or hopelessness. I am glad to be an American. Happy Independence Day!

Blessing #69, July 5, 2010

Oh, I missed the kids! Now that we are home and have spent the day with them, I am tickled to death at what wonderful little people they are. While we were gone they spent two nights with my sister, Jean. She told me that they slept in the same bed, because Katie said she would be "scared without Brother." Chip climbed into bed, read her a story, and snuggled with her till they both fell asleep. Today, they played for hours with the Jamaican stuffed monkeys (they have dread locks), regaled us with the adventures of their week, and hugged us several times spontaneously. It was a blessing to have a week with just Trey in a tropical paradise, but the blessings here with my family are so abundant. I think it is easier to see them after an absence. Just that heightened awareness of how good we have it here makes the trip worthwhile.