A Whole Pile of Cute

I suppose I misspoke when I said my days are always the same. While it's true that we do some of the same things everyday; lunch, reading books, playing with cars, watching PBS Kids, watching videos of Michael on my phone...Our days are very different because he is different. Every day he changes. It is marvelous to watch. Some days he's adventurous. 

Some days he's content to sit on my lap.

We nap and eat and play. And every day is different in it's sameness. I like it that way.

His favorite person is probably Jo. They are so cute together. I love that they have had this time to connect. My sisters got that time with my kids and it made a lasting bond between them all.

Playing around and discovering new things is one of Michael's favorite things. He is fearless. I love seeing things through his eyes. Even the dryer looks exciting when seen for the first time.

Kevin and I have also been able to spend a bunch of time together. It has been nice to reconnect with him after him being on his own for the last 5 years (in case you need help with the math, he left for Texas in 2009) Man, saying that out loud felt really strange. 5 years on his own. I guess he really is a grown-up. 

So while the subject of my photos seems to imply that my days are mundane and the same, I guess they are as different as Michael is every morning. I am so thankful that I get to be part of his every day. I love that I get to notice the little changes in him every morning. I love it when he runs to me with his arms stretched in front of him wanting me to pick him up. He melts my heart and I love him.

Flora and Fawna

I don't think I told you about the busted bunnies yet. So one bright, beautiful Saturday morning I was sitting on the front porch watching Jim wash our fleet of cars (as per usual). The dogs were out there with us. Nellie was packing around her frisbees and Darla was sniffing around at all the new smells. I was looking at my phone when I heard some chirping. As I looked up (to my horror) the chirping wasn't coming from birds but from Nellie EATING BABY BUNNIES!! She had stumbled upon a nest a dumb Mama bunny had dug under the tree in our front yard. I watched as 3 or 4 little bunnies scampered off to the neighbors yards. I also saw 2 seek shelter in our grass away from the carnage. I yelled at Nellie to "leave it" and "get over here" which (to her credit) she promptly did. I scooped up the 2 in my yard and tried to put them back in the hole. They weren't having it and I can't really blame them. There were 2 injured and 2 dead bunnies already there. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to try to keep them. I think they are yucky. So I had Kevin call the Animal Control in our area. They came and took the 2 dead and 2 injured bunnies. The animal control officer said they were close to leaving the nest and the others would be fine. Good news?? For me, yes. Then I didn't have to worry about finding little dead bunnies littering my yard....again. Dang dog. 

These are my Mom's favorite flowers. They are growing in the yard of my dear friend Renae. She is a grower. She grows the most beautiful flowers. She comes from a long line of growers. Her yard is filled with flowers that have come from the yards of her Grandmothers and other growers like her. I love her yard. I love that she sends me flowers like this to brighten my day.

I got to sit and visit with my friends here on Renae's back porch. I was so at peace sitting there with Heather and Renae. I cannot put into words the healing power these women have on my soul. I am so blessed.

The leaves are starting to change here. I have never lived anywhere that has such a long Autumn. It is so beautiful. I am thankful for the lovely Springs and Falls here. Makes the hot, humid summer bearable. The leaves in my yard are about 3 weeks behind the trees on 90th St. I will get to enjoy many more weeks of beautiful colors before the snow flies. I love living in Omaha.

On our way home from picking up Theresia and her things (and moving her here with us) we passed this field of sunflowers. When we lived in MN and drove 45 minutes to church we would drive by fields of these beauties. I loved seeing all their bright faces turned to follow the sun. I think if I was a flower I'd be a sunflower...or a daisy. I love flowers.

An Ice Bucket

The trend on FaceBook and other social media right now is the ALS ice water challenge. The idea started when a man (a football player??) with ALS challenged his friends to donate $$ ($10 for ice bucket bravers and $100 for those who don't want to dump a bucket) to ALS research and to dump a bucket of ice water on their heads in support. It got me thinking about this woman I used to know. She was fierce!!! She loved with her whole heart. She protected those she loved with the bravery of a whole pack of lions. My husband called her grandma. I called her Blanche. She was the sassiest old gal I had ever met. She told my dad (on the day I married her favorite grandchild) that if I did anything to hurt her Jimmy she would kill me. My dad believed her. And so did I. It wasn't very long after I married Jim that Blanche got sick. The diagnosis was grim: ALS. We all watched as this fierce woman that we loved was attacked. Her body betrayed her. I would go over once a week so her husband, Howard, could get in on a game of golf with his buddies. It was so good for me...and for our relationship. I made lunch for us and made sure she took her meds (even when she didn't feel like it). One of her friends made a comment to me once that I'll never forget. She said that when she heard it was me who was taking care of Blanche while Howard was out, she was worried. Not for Blanche, but for me. She was sure Blanche would walk all over me. But she was impressed to see the way I was able to handle the old girl. She thanked me for not treating her like a old sick woman. For being just as sassy as Blanche. High praise. Over the next few months that I was able to do this small act of service, we became friends. Blanche eventually told me that she knew her Jimmy was in good hands. I miss her (though not as much as her daughter and her sweet grandson do). She taught me a lot about living. I am thankful for the memories I have of her. I am thankful to be in a position now to donate money (in her name) to fight the disease that took her from us too soon. If you get a chance look up your local ALS charity and donate to find a cure. 
                        (Here is where I donated http://www.alsintheheartland.org/ )

Most days I am thankful for social media. This is proof that it has it's place in our crazy world. Raising awareness for this disease is something I am grateful for. 

A Skinny Book

I have a tradition every year. On June first I print out a blog book of the previous year's posts. My very first blog book is about an inch thick, but I included the comments. Second blog book is a little thicker. The third is about the same, but without the comments. The fourth is at least an inch thick with the fifth coming in somewhat thinner. The sixth I am sad to say is puny. It is a sad representation of those who have gone before. Am I busier now? No, I don't think so. Has blogging run it's course for me?? Maybe. I still like it, mostly. I think it comes down to self doubt. Putting my inner-most thoughts on the internet for anyone to see was once easy. I didn't care what "they" thought. Why do I now? I still want to blog. I use it, more or less, as a journal. I like to be able to look back on the past and see what colors were on my walls and what my kids were doing. I like that. I think I'll try to be less all-or-nothing and be more just-do-something. 

Michael continues to grow and change right before our very eyes. He has 10 teeth right now (15 months old). He still loves his books but has now decided that watching videos of himself on our phones is the bees knees. It really is funny to watch him grin while he watches himself find his nose or play with Daddy. My heart melts every time. He is walking and climbing on everything now. We have to watch him closely. He loves Darla and she will actually play with him now, coaxing him to throw a ball or tug on a toy. Seriously cute! He will still eat most everything you put out for him. Even the crust on his PB&J. He likes peas and carrots but DOES NOT like green pepper. At.All. Funny stuff. He loves his shoes. I took him to the shoe store the other day and you'd have thought we were in Toys 'R Us. It was awesome. He is sweet and funny and has dance skills to rival my own. I am so blessed to be able to spend this time with him. I recognize how precious it is. I try not to forget that.

 Mostly our days have a comforting sameness to them. I love how easy-going he is. I love that he likes to hold my hand when we are sitting together. I love him more than I ever thought possible.

 The rest of the family are doing good things as well. Kevin has a 3.66 GPA for his 3 semesters at Metro Community College. I am very proud of him. He has struggled in the past with college. I love that he has found balance. Abby is working and doing so well finding balance as well. Being a working Mom is no fun. But she can see that this short term sacrifice will be worth it. Jo is working and preparing to go to school. It messes with her anxiety to come at it too fast so we are taking our time. She has also been battling a staph infection for the last 6 months. It has been very hard. We hope we are on the right path this time. I need her to feel well again. 

I have so many things to blog about. I will just have to focus on posting more regularly. Hopefully my next blog book will be thicker and full of the beautiful life I am living.