You Know You Do It Too

I have a menagerie of pictures I'm proud of on my cell phone. I don't think anything can beat the convenience of that tiny lens in a fleeting moment. So here, take a journey with me, lets stroll down a fresh avenue of memories.
The spells of serene,

"Comfy" Allison

The fun of festivities,

Sequim Lavender Festival

The accomplishments,

Island Park Retreat

Library Reading Rewards 

The dreaming,

Cal Ranch, Blackfoot

Lowe's with Friends, Pocatello 

and the innocent scheming.

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Not to mention the tickling sense of discovery,

Lophocampa maculata

The pose of potential,

Grandma's school room

and I know it is just a cell phone camera but I must try to capture it. I must.

Olympic Discovery Trail

I want to remember the voices, the silliness, the action, too! I've been taking a plethora of mini video clips. I'm not really picky when it comes to devices, but I've just decided with insistence I will always have a phone that can record. (It's for my job you see.)

Can I get an "Amen?"

"You Should Put My Face on There, Too."

Yes, Dear Husband. I do think after the last, you are due for a post.
Happy to Accommodate.
One problem though, where to begin? Jake has changed every decision I've made and every one in the future; that's the commitment of a relationship. Marriage: Look with your eyes wide open before, then keep them half closed. (In fact, when presented with the choice of life-long companionship, you feel you can see the rest of your life mapped out by the other's personality, ambition, experiences, even hobbies. ex.
"Is that buzzing electrical drill going to be buzzzzing every weekend for the rest of my life?"
- stuff like that.)
But every time I knelt to pray to God to see if he was the real thing and this is the right time of my life to be doing this, I literally found myself popped back up on my feet again, eyes open. Formally praying about Jake wasn't necessary. But only because every day I spent with him was a confirmation.
It isn't always sunshine and roses,
but we are in it together because we can sympathize with what we've brought to the table by way of past experiences, hurts needing resolve, and validity and acceptance. --Don't we all need that? That's why marriage is so important. Not so old fashioned, but a crown on one's life lived well. My opinion, anyway.
Literally and figuratively, he brought me out of the wilderness and into a new wilderness and I just plain needed that. Trying not to be vague or cliche: he likes to learn new things. He wants to understand. He likes things to be aesthetic in living and so do I. He likes to be helpful and involved is not put off by typical gender roles. He is rugged. He doesn't like watching sports. He is careful about his words. Sometimes he is shy. Committed to the priesthood. If there is a hard decision to be made, he doesn't feel sorry for himself. He chooses based on what is right.
I could go on. He blew the lid off my little world and I didn't even know it was that little and at the time he made me feel safe to explore what was out there. He is my escort. Jake encourages my exploration. He gives me wings. Okay, one cliche. He really is a teddy bear. Okay, one more. Oh, and he is nostalgic and we have only been married 5 years.
What really makes this work, is that our preference for chores is complimentary (he cooks, I clean up). Just kidding, but really? That is no little thing.
And once I saw this photo in the album, I wanted to spend everyday with this person on earth-- and for all the time after.

LOOK AT THOSE PAWS!
"Jake, sorry to call you at work, where is the 'Dutch Boy' Picture??"
-And he knew exactly which one I was talking about-
That's love.We also have the same sense of humor. And we've learned a day with out our humor is certainly a more difficult one.

My Two Faves

Of course, the girls are my faves. Absolutely and equally.
And these are my two favorite pictures of them
from this magical time we call summer.
Allie's is in the heat of the day after the fourth application of sunscreen or "scumscream" as it is called, playing in the pool at a good friend's house. Can you see why I like it?

This woman makes me laugh because she is so wonderful and cry because she is just so wonderful. Her eye is stretched out behind the goggles. She is not complicating an otherwise good time by dwelling on the unfavorables.
She is just living.
And living well don't you think?
I think the hair can attest to that.

De's picture was taken on a nice and quiet and cooling evening while we all watched our vegetable garden enliven with water from the sprinkler. This woman has got integrity. I love it because that face makes me want to be more pure, too. Just like she is.


Allison is agreeable, Danielle is congenial. And I am very very lucky.

A Great, Big, Wonderful WORLD Out There!

Hi, Danielle.
Would you like to be an Architect? Botanist? Cartoonist? Lawyer? Librarian? Lifeguard?
You could easily be any of those. You have something to offer the world.

Astronaut?
You'll need good education, you'll need to know about the world we live in and all good things offered.
I will help you.
Scientist?
I'm very excited.
___
Let's start in our own back yard.
It will be both enlightening and educational, my dear.
___
Let's explore:
First, Dad's putting up an old-yet-new Force Field to keep the Glowing, Orbiting purple house and Jettisoning cars off our planet.

See that? Ingenuity.

Second, it's a place where WILD creatures roam. You'll need to be on defense for the rest of your life.

Observe. Better yet, make peace and friends with these kind.

Think of the benefit. You probably have more in Common than you think. And you can still always be yourself.

Third, there are peculiar Craters where New Life springs and the Cycle Continues...

and where an old semi-buried fire pit nested scalded 90's Playboys. No Kidding. I digress. It's okay to hope for an even better tomorrow, child. Then go ahead and act on it.

Fourth, a glimpse of Intelligent Organization. I wonder who did that?

There's a lot we people assume. A lot no one really knows for sure. Not even the Experts. Have a plan. Have faith in the organization you've been taught. It will speak to you like Nothing Else Can.

Fifth, Where much is given, much is required. Be truthful; with Yourself, included. And try out being your own best friend, physician, laborer.

(Lets keep exploring)

You know,it is not weak to be humble; it shows gratitude and self-awareness. And Gratitude can improve Encounters of every kind.

Sixth, you will be wise to believe there's something to be Learned from everyone and consequential happening. Everything has Gravity. Listen. Reflect. Determine. Take Heart. Love. Do the Math. We all help each other.


Seventh, everything wants to grow. Anything can be a weed. It just depends on if you want it there. It's relative. Use your freely given agency.

Please, Go for what you really want and that have wholesome consequences in store.
And it's okay to have a few weeds. Sometimes we can understand why.

Eighth, there's a place for You in this World.
Don't Underestimate yourself. You're ever more than what others might think.

Danielle. It's like it's all laid out in front of you. We are all in this to become Limitless in our own Capabilities. Really. To be Infinitely wise. It's an exciting frontier. Keep exploring, learning and honoring what you learn by living like you learned.

And- of course- I'll be there for you every step of the way.

Over Due, But Oh-So-True

When Danielle was one day shy of being one week old, Jake and I happily celebrated our Five-year Anniversary. The yearly risk of having a day being celebratory is that a variety of things can happen on the same day. Sometimes sad, like last year- too much so to mention- or almost unnoticed, like during a busy whirlwind that time we moved to Washington.
Five years may not seem like a lot-- especially when I expect many, many years to come-- but it is nice to think we really have done so much, and come so far.
So here is an Ode to the King of My Heart: (and a wifely apology for not additionally marking the occasion with a blog post sooner)
He's Chivalrous, which means he leaves you the last bits of the thing you could have eaten all of...

Thoughtful, which means getting flowers for my sanity can often be on his to do list... (please note this is very important)

Involved, a real family kind of hero

Good Humored, which implies a great deal of perspective, as well

Provisory, making everything a safe place for learning and living well, for myself included

This year he asked me if I wanted to go to Michael's Divine Dining downtown. Our favorite and our town's best kept secret. Yes, lets.
- I was able to wear the black leather jacket he got me for Valentine's Day :)
And you've got it, I couldn't help but take a picture of some of our food. --does that make me a mom, through and through? Just wondering. But Jake said he'd go back for lots more mussels any time.
[For Appetizer: "Tarragon Mussels"]
[For Dessert: "Ice Cream Sandwich;" but remarkable, wouldn't you say!]

And a secret between you and me, I felt so special that night (Sharon babysat) that I darn near cried twice to the restaurant and back.
We held hands.
Hugabun. I would say Yes again in a heartbeat.
Because I want to hold hands with you forever.

The Story of How We Met

(humble cell picture of a glorious angel)

Well, let's begin. I'm back and better than ever.
Recovery near completion, I'm whole because Danielle is in my life with my beloveds- Jake and Allie. And it was love at first sight, of course.
I will give you the "abridged" version of what could better be described as a memoir, subtitled
I DID IT AGAIN AND I'M PROUD OF MYSELF:
So here are some thoughts I've been thinking ( and here goes, because the hormones are indeed fluxing away...I'm not fond of the reason, but it's true.)

• The midwife, between contractions, came right up to my face, in a stance to study me closely and asked, "You mentioned you wanted medication for pain. Do you want to do that now?" I said no. And something to the effect of 'thank you for asking.' She believed me. It was good.
  
• Next time I'm bringing my own music.
  
• No one ever tells you how it really all plays out (and I won't here either, to keep from scaring anyone- which is reality). Just have The One by your side.
  
• Which leads me to my next thought; I'm baffled to think HOW in the world an unwed young girl could go through it and all that follows... love u, Jake!! Serious.
  
• For the Record: I have a strong instinct I guess, to get those babies here fast. Initial contractions started at 3:30 am, called the midwife 4:30am (who then left a pretty groggy message on my voicemail) delivery at 7:34am. I really tried to pace myself this time.
  
• I knew the second I was handed her that this was a totally different little personality than the daughter-person handed to me two-point-two-five years ago. I hope to never forget that impression... as it will help me parent her the way she needs.
  
• People are miracles.
  
• Bodies are miracles. My recovery has been astoundingly fast and amazing this time,. .... now... if only I wasn't such ... . .a lightweight about sleeping................"z!" -- I mean, "Fin"