Growing up in the country, I should have realized there is a gate that has to be opened before I can move on down the road. Sometimes the best roads are behind a gate. Just a minor setback, I'll be back in the saddle shortly.

Low Tide

I once told a friend, as he was enjoying our backyard view for the very first time, in a most apologetic way, that it was low tide and there wasn't a bit of water in the creek, just miles of mud. Sorry, I said, it's not very pretty this way like when the tide is high. His reply has stuck with me now for almost 3 years. "Maybe so, but I bet low tide is much more interesting."
Yes, yes it is.
At low tide there is no water. But you get to see what's underneath, all the way to the ugly bottom. Sometimes that is good.
Life works that way too, I suppose. Right now I feel like I'm at a low tide, but here are some observations.
Now that things are a low, I can see all the way to the ugly bottom. It's ugly, but it's not gonna kill me, so I need to face it and work past it.
It is interesting. Interesting to see where my support comes from when I'm standing in front of the crowd and each one holds a stone. Some support is expected, like family and some comes from surprising places, people that I didn't even expect to notice my duress. Just like low tide in the creek revealing things I can't see when it's full of water, I have the opportunity to see right down to the bottom of some people and know just where they stand.
And just like that; one day the tide will rise again, the water all flows back in, and it's all pretty and scenic once more. I hope I am better for having gone through this. I hope I can enjoy the view again, without worrying over the next low tide. One will surely come, but it won't catch me by surprise.
Very interesting indeed.

River Day

Oh River, How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

Happy Vacation

Find the adults only deck on the ship.

Visit the most beautiful beach you can find.

Take a stroll through the gardens.

Have some local fare with a handsome man.

go to yet another beautiful beach!

Happy vacation.

Random Fact: The harmonica is the world’s best-selling music instrument.

:)

crazy tourists!

I'm packing my bermuda shorts, and Gerald, his Hawaiin shirt. We're loading our Carribean sounds CD onto our itunes account and we're headed to the Bahamas! It's our anniversary, and too many times we have let it pass without celebration. Not enough money, too heavy a workload, too many kids needing too many things....
This time the stars aligned just right and we are sailing off into the wild blue yonder.
AHOY!

Out of the Woods

...and home before DARK! The songs are still jangling around in my head! But the run is over, and things can get back to normal. (yea right).  Here is Jessica in her tree, as Cinderella's mother.

Just a baby herself, and already leading other children into the wonderful world of theater, with the help of Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella's prince.

 Backstage in the green room, grubbing and making friends. Don't get too cozy with that prince!

In the recieving line, floating on air!  

They brought home the nearsighted giant's glasses. Now what are we supposed to do with THOSE? 

Now, both of my kids are out of the Woods, but they'll never be the same. They learned that good is different than nice, that opportunity is not a lengthy visitor, and slotted spoons don't hold much soup.

Hopefully they learned some other important life lessons in there, too!