Project Thankful Day 15

I am thankful for her. She is my baby girl. She starts 1st grade tomorrow.

How bittersweet.

She was a delightful toddler. She is wonderful, enthusiastic and sensitive. Time goes by so fast...

Project Thankful Day 14

Today, I am thankful for my garden.  So fun to see things start as seeds and mature into amazing flowers...

Project Thankful Day 13

Today I am thankful for Fridays...after work we sat down to enjoy a little preseason football...

Little Dude was all about watching the Packers. They could use him on the left side of the offensive line right now...

Sissy, on the other hand, was determined to conquer her back walkover tonight. She practiced and practiced and practiced...

Much to her delight, she got it!

Now on to the front walk over...

Project Thankful Day 12

Today I am thankful for our family.  We have been able to see several members of Runner Boy's side of the family this summer.  Our kids have loved the chance to see everyone and spend time together.

This is a handmade tea set that Kate received from Auntie R.  She is in love with it and has been playing with it and guarding it with her life.

Would you like a slice of lemon with your tea?

Uncle K made this for Sam. Sam is very proud to be one of the only 5 year olds in the country with a handmade airplane from his uncle. (I secretly think his uncle is nurturing a love of airplane in his young nephew.) Sam's new plane has been flying all over the house and even "landed" at the neighbor's for awhile.

Auntie R and Uncle K are 2 very gifted, talented, creative, encouraging people. I love having them visit because I am always encouraged and energized to work on our home and be creative after being around them.

Kate cried for along time when she realized their visit was coming to an end. She is now planning on using Skype, FB, texting, phone calls, e-mails and letters to keep in touch with her Aunt...

Project Thankful Day 11

Today I am thankful for beautiful, wide-open spaces.  I love these rustic, beautiful, old ranches.

Westcliffe, Colorado.

Project Thankful Day 10

Today I am thankful for my first white water rafting adventure...and that I survived it!

First, there was Julie, our guide. I like Julie. She's strong. She's got guts, too.

There were 7 of us to start with.

Please note...no husband or children were involved in this adventure. The husband does not find this type of thing thrilling. The children were not allowed.

Julie told us what to do. Her goal was to keep us in the raft. That was our goal, too.

These rapids were amazing and heart stopping...

I am not sure I have ever had so much fun...

This is our raft heading into the "Three Rocks" rapid...

About this time it became evident that we were not all going to stay in the raft. We failed to obtain our goal. If you look close, you will see random oars in the rapids. There were people attached to them~the people were no longer in the raft.

This is Julie and I clinging to the raft (she was my best friend at this point). Shortly after this picture was taken, Julie was also dislodged from the raft. What a lonely feeling to be the only soul clinging to a raft. This is when the prayers began going heaven-ward.

Alas, we were all reunited on the bank of the Arkansas River...2 swam to shore...5 were picked up by other rafts.

We retooled our team, I got a splash jacket to keep warmer...and we headed back out again for another 7 miles of fun.

Fun...

Fast...

Wet...

Great memories...new friends...Arkansas River Tours...

Project Thankful Day 9

today I am thankful for dreams.

when you're a kid, it's easy to dream.

my little dude wants to be like *Andy Schleck*. he was second in the tour de france last year. he is an amazing biking machine, especially in the mountains.

in little dude's mind, he really thinks his dreams can be attained.

i still have dreams, too. i find it easier to give up on mine, however. there are many reasons to give up on dreams, many of them are legitimate. unfortunately, i think i think i give up too easily.

little dude still believes he has options. to be a bike racer, football player, hockey goalie, race car driver or to be just like his daddy.

sometimes i forget there are options...different ways to fulfill dreams that seem elusive. while the realization of those dreams may not be exactly as I had pictured in my mind, they may be better, richer, or deeper.

options. creativity. resources.

my kids don't give up easily when they want something. they go at it from many angles, ask for help, persist, hammer away...

so that some day...

this...

may be one of these...