happy halloween

I have a guest blogger this evening.  I hope that you enjoy!

The Day My Jack 'O Lantern Came to Life
Story written by second grader, Peace

It was the day before Halloween.  I was carving a pumpkin.  I finished just in time to go to bed.  The next morning, it was the day of Halloween.  It was a relief.  And guess why!  We had no school.

When it was time to get ready for trick-or-treating, I heard a noise. It sounded like it said, "Thanks for carving me."  And as it started to talk the room got lighter.  I turned around and my pumpkin was talking!  I screamed really loud.  I got so scared I ran out of the house.  

I forgot it was time to go trick-or-treating after I saw everybody doing just that.  I ran back in the house and started to go trick-or-treating.  My pumpkin followed me.  I ran ahead more.  My pumpkin still followed me.  I stopped and said "Do you ever run out of energy?"  My pumpkin said, "No!  I'm a pumpkin!"  

And that was the story of when my pumpkin came to life.

Wishing you and yours a spooky and imaginative Halloween!

Costume made with love by Grandma

it's raining

What to do when the weather doesn't cooperate? For certain, the to-do list posted on the refrigerator will have to wait.  You know, the one that contains raking leaves to prep for garden mulching, taking down the trampoline for the winter, cleaning off the back porch for. the. winter.  Not gonna happen in this dreary, cloud covered, rainy, pre-hurricane set of days.

Funny how weather sometimes makes us do the very thing we fight so hard against: REST.

Instead of our hectic preparation and putting away, we did exactly that.

Here's a glimpse:

 :: snuck in a horse ride before the cold air arrived
:: baked biscotti with my dad for the very first time
:: watched a movie or two
:: built a fort
:: slept in said fort
:: moved to the bed when his adult back told him he must
:: stayed in our jammies all day
:: slept late
:: cleaned up said fort
:: had dinner with Grandma and Grandpa
:: watched football with neighbors
:: played board games with Grandma and Grandpa
:: enjoyed a bit of being forced inside, forced to sit with each other, forced to pass the time playing with those we love

Wishing you and all living beings a safe week filled with happiness and joy!  Special thoughts and prayers to all who are facing Hurricane Sandy this week.  May you be well!

this moment {autumn leaves}

Linking with SouleMamma and many others:

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

breathe

I lay here wanting to pause this moment for I know it is a fleeting one.  She's just finished reading herself a book. A wonderful variation on Cinderella, starring the grand duke, who is called the grand duke because he is grand and he dukes people. 

She's tired now and straightens her pillows and blanket falling into bed.  Feeling particularly snuggly, she asks me to scratch her back - inside Mommy.  Okay, I say.  For a little while.  

Soon, she pulls my arm away, gently, and puts her hand in mine.  With her other hand she searches for any spot of bare skin in all of my clothed layers.  Her fingers find their destination and set softly on my chest.  Skin-to-skin, hand-in-hand we lay and she breathes.  Her breath is a beautiful and natural one, her belly lifting as a child's is wont to do.  

It is this breath that makes children different from us, you know.  Adults tend to breathe from their chest bringing in tension and anxiety and blocking air from getting deep into our selves.  Children are magically better at remaining calm and I believe their breathing makes them this way.

I closed my eyes and listened to her breathe, stuffy nose, rattle, and the hum of air going in and out of her little body.  And I thought of all that the breath can do:

Breathing in, I give thanks for all that I have in life.
Breathing out, I let go of tension and frustration.

Breathing in, I allow in calm and rootedness.
Breathing out, I acknowledge the cycles of unrest and rest that fill my mind.

Breathing in, I honor those cycles and know they just are.
Breathing out, I let go of the desire to figure it all out.

Breathing in, I savor this space with my youngest child.
Breathing out, I imagine our lives and bodies connected as one.

Breathing in, I give thanks.
Breathing out, I wish joy and happiness and peace to all living beings.

Because that it all I know to do in this amazing moment.

needle in a cornstack

My mother has no sense of direction. Go ahead!  Ask her which way she thinks you should go.  I promise you'll get lost.  How do I know?  I've tried to follow her directions. Not pretty.

So when we found ourselves alone in a corn maze, I thought "Oh great. This ought to be fun."

We actually entered the corn maze with 4 children who sprinted off in a different direction and my husband who was smart enough to follow the kids.  Meanwhile, my mother and I were still trying to get our bearing.  

There we were, the two of us, still a little surprised at how quickly things did not go as planned.  We headed down a path we thought would eventually meet up with the children only to find rather quickly that it would never lead us back.  Hmph!

She had the map and made an attempt to read it.  Again, my internal thoughts were not optimistic.  We looked together, discovered that the large opening in which we found ourselves looked to be the cow shape opening on the map and decided to find the maze stations that were strategically and educationally placed throughout.  

We checked off the first station and filled in the clue on the crossword puzzle that accompanied the map.  

Then the next.  Each time, she examined the map and offered her analysis of where we were headed.  I led.  She followed.  This was getting exciting.

We continued through each station, gathering clues and my mother gaining confidence in her new found skill. 

Lest you should think she would now be safe to let loose with a car and map, at each station she looked up from the map with a puzzled expression which revealed she had no clue from which direction she had come.  Baby steps, people, baby steps.

Regardless, what she and I discovered in that maze that day - working together makes even the least likely of things doable, supporting one another makes giant leaps possible, and being lost in a corn maze is a great way to spend uninterrupted time together - was a lesson I will not soon forget. 

May you be gifted with new discovery shared with the ones you love!

autumn weekending

We've developed a wonderful autumn weekending tradition around here - visiting an apple orchard, corn maze, climbing haystacks, eating donuts and cider.  We've been so fortunate each year to find glorious weather aligning with the various fall festivals at farms in our area.  

I so love this tradition.  I love the warm sun and beautiful blue skies.  I love the chill and the crispness in the air.  I love the smell of hay and cornstalks.  I love the stickiness of apple-themed treats.  I love the celebration of another harvest.  I love the community brought together.  Oh, I love it all!

Here's a glimpse at our autumn weekending:

this moment {comfort from grandma}

Linking with SouleMamma and many others:

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.