Up And Running!

Hey everyone!

We finally got a new computer screen - so the extended silence will be broken soon.

It's amazing how cut-off from the world having no computer access can make you feel...

Anyway, I'd like to put up a synopsis of Hawaii - including our tsunami experience - so hopefully that will come within the next few days. With a few pictures, of course. :)

Thanks for checking on me, everyone!

For Real?

There is a LOT of our lawn showing. At this rate the snow is going to be gone within a week.
Wow.
I remember this happening when I was about 14...
But we'll see if March decides to reverse the whole "Lion-to-Lamb" thing...

Shock and Awe

I just posted it on facebook - but it's significance is worth repeating.

My usual threat for Peyton when she's cranky is "Is it time to go night-night?" To which is often responds, with a vigorous head-shake in the negative and tries to smarten up a little. Nap time has previously been a hard thing to deal with for a little girl who is afraid to miss one moment of the day. :)

Today - however - she turned into a teenager.

She was kinda whiny while I was trying to do some reading. So I leveled the ultimatum.

She started to shake her head and then paused as she considered it. She then looked at me, cocked her head to the side and said, "Night-night."

Whhaaaaa???

So I waited a minute to see if she would follow through - and sure-enough, she headed for her bedroom. She turned around halfway across the kitchen as if to say, "Why aren't you coming?" and again said - more forcefully this time - "Night-night." and pointed in the direction of her room.

Oooo-kay.

I thought she was bluffing. But I followed her into her room, where she pointed at her crib and said it again. I thought she'd cry or something when I lay her down - but nope - other than one little cough, I haven't heard a peep in 15 minutes.

So I quickly got my workout clothes on and am going to milk this free time for all it's worth!







Talk to you soon!

Home Again

And here I sit in front of the computer for a moment waiting for my coffee to brew so I can drink it out of my Starbucks Hawaii mug. I never actually got anything there in Hawaii - but it was the best mug I found. :)

Lest I miss the ocean too much, God arranged to have a beautiful and thick layer of frost coating the world I live in this morning. His handiwork is everywhere.

I think the thing I will miss most about vacation is the time I got to spend with Kurt and Peyton: nowhere to go, nothing to do - just hang out with my best friend and our daughter.

Hawaii is beautiful - I would go back there again in a heartbeat for future vacations. (After another couple of years of saving, of course... grin) Warm. Relaxed. And I - even I! the ever-pale gal of Scottish heritage - tanned.

After an all-night flight, a 3-hour layover in Denver and then an almost 3-hour flight followed by groceries at Superstore and an hour-drive home (gasp!): when we got home last night, Kurt had to head to the barn right away to sort animals. He didn't get home until 9pm and was out of the house this morning by 5:15. In some ways it's hard to not resent that... to think cynically, "Welcome home. Yeah right."

But right now I am choosing to think about a day on the beach. The sun, the wind, the surf crashing... I watched Peyton finally get brave enough to not only walk in the sand - but help Kurt build a sand fort to try and hold back the rolling waves. I laughed as she ran to him and clung on for dear life every time one breached their defenses. Standing in the surf - the refreshingly cool water almost knocking me off my feet at times - and being in awe of the God who made it all.

I closed my eyes on that last beach day and put it all to memory - for days like this. :) Days that aren't cold or stormy - but good 'ol "real-life".

I am viewing that time for what it was - a break. A moment - really - in the broad span of my life. It was refreshing and perfect and relaxing - but not something to be coveted after on a daily basis. So I am thankful to be home with those memories - and I hope to share them soon.

I'm off to drink coffee out of my big-'ol Hawaii mug and spend some time with God before Peyton wakes up... Thanks for reading, everyone!