You have the power to touch someone’s life. Do it.

A couple hours after watching this video I drove up to the post office annex and groaned. I had all four kids and the line was all the way to the door. I almost didn't go in (how on earth would I wait that long with an impatient two year old in my arms?), but I had to get my things mailed.

As I got in the back of the line, the gentleman who was second in line walked back to me. "Please take my place in line."

I was in tears as I thanked him.

I almost didn't accept the man's offer (why is it so hard for us to accept someone else's kindness?), but I hope the experience blessed him as much as it blessed us. And it was a great example of kindness to all the other people in line!

Seriously, people. Do you know the power that you have to touch someone's life with seemingly insignificant acts of kindness?

Just twenty minutes later, the boys and I were inspired to pass it on. Our neighbor’s garbage and recycling had blown over in the wind storm and were in the ditch full of water. My boys happened to have their big boots on and in the rain they fished around for all the trash and put the bins back up. I was so proud of the boys and thankful for what the experience could teach them.

Standing in long lines we cannot do. Wet and muddy—that we can.

Go. Do what you can do. Don’t underestimate the transformative power of little things.

The Simple Life

We are having typical Oregon spring weather. Sunny. Rainy. Cloudy. Sunny. Snow. Torrential down-pour. Sunny.

I still have endless pictures to post and no time to edit and post them. But I’ll get there.

Drowning in Real Life

…. Or at least the laundry. But these moments are the moments that all together make a good life. And a good life it is.

Maybe she can teach me how to text.

I have a bunch of pictures to post, including two family sessions, but my computer is hating me and all my photos right now. My hubby has to work some magic on the memory situation (if only he could do that with my actual memory…).

Bliss

A morning trip to the library and an afternoon of reading on the lawn.
In 75 degree weather. Lovely.

On The Greatness of Small Things

"Those who feel inspired, as I do, by the greatness of small things will pursue them to the very heart of the inessential where, cloaked in everyday attire, this greatness will emerge from within a certain ordering of ordinary things and from the certainty that all is as it should be, the conviction that it is fine this way."

~Muriel Barbery in The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Life is Good

When brothers agree, no fortress is so strong as their common life.

~Antisthenes

Claiming Stray Gifts

Pleasure is spread through the earth

In stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.

~William Wordsworth, 1806

Swing

Ride Upon the Breeze

I often sit and wish that I

Could be a kite up in the sky.

And ride upon the breeze and go

Which ever way I chance to blow!

~Anonymous

Flip Flops

We've missed you, old friends.

Nature Laughs in Green

The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.

~Henry Miller

I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.

~Walt Whitman

Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so called scientific knowledge.

~Thomas Edison

Haunting My Thoughts...

...in the best way. This video clip has launched my brain into overdrive. (Thanks for sharing it, Shannon.) I have things to say (as usual), but for now I'll just let you watch it.

My Idea of Heaven

Luke with Little Bear, on the couch, reading aloud in a sing-song voice.


Levi on my bed, snuggled up with his favorite of the Narnia series.


Leif in his crib, taking a rare nap.


What is a momma to do with herself?

It's a wonderful life, I tell ya, even if it isn't always this quiet.

Joy in the Unexpected

Levi and Luke were outside enjoying the cold, beautiful, sunny day.


Levi comes to the front door and yells for me. I rush to find out who is hurt. Levi looks up at me with pure delight on his face. He holds his hands up so that I can see his treasure.


A fistful of grubby carrots discovered in our little veggie garden, they survived the past months of cold and rain. Carrots in December. Levi says, 'They're stranglers." He so rarely misuses words. I have to laugh at his stragglers. Actually, they do look a little strangled.


Luke and Levi follow me into the house to watch me clean them up. Levi asks to pick one from 'the crop.' Both boys eat the fresh carrots for a pre-lunch snack with smiles on their faces.

Truly, it is the little things that bring joy to life,

especially the unexpected little things.

Kitchen Table Magic

Another Still:Body Installment

Even Spaceship Rollercoasters...

Still:Body2

(And a not-so-still:body sneak peek at Levi...)

Still:Body

Inspired by SouleMama and Martha.

Little Things #2,759...

Little Things #1 and 2

#1

#2

Summer quilts

and fresh white peaches sliced over natural vanilla ice cream.

This is the life.

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.

~Celia Thaxter

In Which Saturday Returns

Do you know that there are all sorts of fun things you can do on a Saturday morning without cartoons? Russ, Levi, Luke, and I piled in bed and stared at the ceiling. Our ceiling happens to have a very funny texture. Have you seen shapes in the clouds? Well, we see shapes on our ceiling. Found this morning: a pteradon, a platypus head, a scuba diver, and a giraffe.

A few minutes later, I heard Levi and Luke in the front room discussing recipes. 'I think these spinach pinwheels look yummy. They kinda look dessert-ish.' They were laying on the floor with 5 or more cookbooks open to various pages.
At almost 9 am, Levi suddenly remembered his dad had told him he might be able to watch a few cartoons this morning. Somehow, it had slipped his mind. Oh, what a week without television can do to a kid. Too late. The fresh air was calling. Levi headed straight to his dam. Luke and Leif piled on the lawnmower with dad, where they spent a blissful hour.

We spent the morning doing work around the yard. It felt so great to get things cleaned up a bit. If you notice the boy in swimming trunks, it will be obvious to you that our weather warmed up some.

After a trip to Costco, Russ headed out with Luke to visit a client for the afternoon. Leif had the decency to sleep for three hours, Levi played quietly, and I managed to accomplish a host of tasks. Oh, happy day.