faith.

What is faith? That's one of the BIG questions that gets answered in small ways at least a couple of times a day. Especially when there are kids around.

The other day I introduced my children to the wonderful world of rock climbing.

Not in the climbing gym. They mastered that long ago. It's a disparate analogy. They will scamper all over a climbing wall without a care in the world. There's nothing to worry about in that controlled and regulated environment and I suppose some people are all about that, but I'm not one of them.

It's like saying that a child can swim because he has swimmies on. You've gotta pull those suckers off and throw that kid in the deep end. That's swimming (or drowning!) and that's what has to happen, in the end, so why sugar coat it?

So, the other day, I showed them the real thing. We went out Junction Creek to the rocks near Turtle Lake. There were some cars already parked there and we passed some 'dudes' as we headed into the rocks.

Lewis froze in amazement to watch the 'dudes'.

What is he doing, Mom?

He's hanging by his fingernails, upside down, from a small cliff, Love. He's practicing so he can do it on a huge cliff.

Can I try?

That's why we're here, Baby.

And they're off!

Before I knew it, he had found the perfect wall to begin on. He wedged himself past an overhang with the help of a tree trunk and sunk his skinny little fingers into the chalky crags that could hardly be called holds and muscled his way straight up.

Use your legs, I said.

He did, and was quickly, out of MY comfort zone.

Remember the mention of faith above?

Let me tell you what faith REALLY is. Faith is finally getting Lewis back down and turning around to the fat boulder behind you and looking STRAIGHT UP and ALL YOU SEE is the little damn mermaid on your barely four year olds panties as she trucks straight up that face.

Be careful, Della.

I mam. (that's how she says it)

We, all three, stood under her, with our arms extended. She was nowhere within our reach.

She went up and down that rock and her brown and pink sun dress seemed to be the perfect climbing outfit.

When she got back down to terra firma she said....

"That's my new favewit fing."

You gotta have faith.

note: that weekend we were at my sister-in-laws house, and she was getting rid of a (not so clean) queen size mattress. Matt thought that I should use it as a pad for climbing. How cool would I look, hauling around a soiled mattress on the roof of my car and hiking it into the rocks? the latest mom accessory. maybe i'll start a trend.

listen.

This a favorite song of mine. The theme is simple. It explains the meaning of life.
No big deal.

I like his voice and the piano, too.

The world we live in is a crazy place. I try to ignore most of it. To be simple. To spend most of my energy loving. Not getting wrapped up in things that aren't true and real. Kids keep you right there, in that spot. Other things do, too.

There's a reason for this world....you and I.

Sorry to get sappy on you.
Have a good one.

style.

Fashion Rule #1 According to Della

"If you see a red bug you should wear a red sweater."

Life is so neat and tidy when you're 4.

lewis.

Something is missing.
It doesn't feel 'right' around here.
It's quite quiet.

Tiggy is away at camp for the week.
We will all feel SO MUCH BETTER when he gets home on Friday.

The other day he said that if he had one wish, he would wish that it would rain Mercer Mayer books. That's sweet, isn't it?

We'll have enchiladas to celebrate his return.
And read some critter stories that night.

Love my Lewis.

why not?

Sometimes I wake up in a cold sweat....absolutely overwhelmed by the the wealth of knowledge that I must pass on to three eager and receptive little souls. If I stop and really think about it, it freaks me out.

There is always basic daily maintenance to attend to... the feeding, clothing, watering, and sheltering. Making sure they have all the proper gear is a full time job in and of itself. Then of course, there is their EDUCATION. That is a huge category and I'm always worrying that they aren't getting enough, except for the times when I have worried that maybe they are getting too much.

They need to know some language other than their own and whine-ese. Should it be french, spanish, german? What about latin? It forms the foundation of all the romance languages, they should probably know that, too.

They need to play an instrument. Which one? Or two? I want them to also know how to sing well, to harmonize, to know all the great broadway show tunes, to be able to dance to those show tunes. To know and appreciate classical music, opera, hymns and James Taylor.

And then there is literature and poetry and fine art. That's a lifetime of learning, alone!

Classic movies and plays.

What about sports? They need to know the basics of the biggies...soccer, basketball, football and baseball. Then there's lacrosse and tennis and golf and jai alai. Let's also throw in mountain biking, skiing...water and snow, track, skate boarding, ultimate frisbee, swimming, and juggling.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. And, of course, it comes together gradually over time with the help of many. But I still sometimes feel the responsibility of it all sitting on me like an elephant.

So right now, today, Max is working on a very important piece of his musical education and we are sharing it with you.

Because it's very important that we all know the classic hits of the eighties.

Rock On.

P.S. We are both having a hard time with Steve's pants? Were we all OK with that look, I can't remember?!

dream.

The fun thing about a blog is that YOU get to learn WHO I REALLY AM. Isn't that fun for you? It is all so personal. And as I write about things that are near and dear to me, I have come to find that, actually, there aren't that many people who know The True Inner Me. This is a little sad, but not really.

My husband knows every darn thing there is to know. My sister and I communicate on a deep level because of our mutual history, but we are very different people. My parents and I share DNA so they know where I'm coming from, but have probably always wondered where the hell I'm going. I have lovely friends whom I adore and we laugh and spend lots of time together, but we are so busy wrangling children and juggling life that a great deal goes unsaid.

What does all this have to do with all these photos of dinosaurs? You don't have a clue, do you?

These dinosaurs represent my greatest personal longing...kids aside.

If I could do and become anything in this world that I wanted to do or become (and I can), I would be a welder of magnificent yard art. I would be good. I would make enormous insects out of salvaged VW hoods, dinosaurs just like these, bigger than life flocks of emus.

All I need is a lofty workshop, a welder, someone to teach me how to use the thing, about 4 tons of funky scrap metal, an old pick-up truck with a trailer, some leisure time and a wealthy patron.

So now you know a little more about me.

How 'bout you?

Oh yes! I almost forgot! These fabulous fellows were created by a man named Bob Dorris, a retired Air Force engineer. You can find them deep in the countryside of Erie, Kansas.