We are all hung over here from lack of sleep last night. With Calvin's big celebration, having five friends over and going through a 24 pack of Mountain Dew and six Pepsi Throwbacks, two Papa Murphy's pizzas including one Chicago stuffed, and one cheesecake, and hearing Calvin in the kitchen at 3 AM ("Where's the Kool Aid? We ran out of Mountain Dew!), and hearing everyone outside at 5 AM, even those of us who slept were a bit groggy this morning.
But, it was a huge success. I mean, what twelve year old boy would not want to stay up all night and run around at midnight with walkie talkies playing hide and seek in the woods? Sure, they had video games available, and they might have played them between 1 and 5 AM. But they also spent lots of time at the pond, running around in the woods from one tree fort to the next, and digging out a little ditch pond by the old railroad grade. That is to say, just being kids.
I am so happy we live here. It was a strange, convoluted road that led us to eventually end up here, but now the path makes sense. I would not want to be anywhere else, even though sometimes I wonder if this house will ever get done. Tonight it is raining and thundering, and this metal roof sounds nice over our heads. My tomatoes and peppers and eggplant have yet to be planted, but I may have lost them had I planted them two weeks ago. To everything there is a time and a purpose.
3 comments:
I can't help but think the same thing about where we were blessed to raise our kids. I'm in Philadelphia this week for work and see these parents wheeling their kids through the city streets in strollers as they head to day care in the bottom of their office building. The preschoolers run and play tag around the base of Revolutionary War heros in the city parks. I know that they will grow up with good memories of life in the city, but I am so grateful my boys got to grow up in the country and do the things your kids get to do. Cherish the time, it will go so fast.
Deb, you are so blessed to KNOW these things. To know what your kids need, to know that being outside is good for them, to know to let them run and explore is a good thing, to know that living where you are is the best thing for your family. Read Julie Zickefoose's post for today. Great minds and all that.
I have been having similar thoughts during this past week about where I live and how I live my life. I live in Pennsylvania and as I type this there are two baby deer and their mom in my back yard. I live near a National Forest and a lot of state game lands. Driving along roads, the side of the road is a jungle of tangled vines, bushes and trees. I LOVE it and spend a lot of time hiking with my kids. I always find it unusual that I see so few people doing the same, but I guess that's what I should expect since most people who live here are city transplants. It takes them many years to become country folks and some never do. Sorry such a long comment but my appreciation has been on my mind a lot lately.
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