Spring Ride

This year's Spring ride was supposed to be into Marsing's Ranch, but we chickened out because of the cold, so instead we rode around the plateau's of Green River, Utah. It was a perfect day for a ride. And because we decided not to go into Marsing's Ranch, Daisy got to come along, which was perfect.

This is a shot of me riding Dolly. Her and I get along well because we both have to live with the challenge of always wanting to be in charge. We understand one another.

We rode part of the morning and all afternoon. There were eight horses in our little group.

The kids finished off the day with a round at the Green River park. There were smiles all around.

It makes me excited for the rides we'll go on as a family this season. While Isaac is not old enough to go yet, he is old enough that I can leave him for more than an hour and go along with the rest of my family. Unless Jeff has it his way...Isaac will be riding in the saddle bags with our lunch.

What's In A Name?

Forgive the grainy nature of this photo. We came upon this sign while driving at night and I just had to take a picture. Despite the lack of photographic quality, the laugh is genuine. Go ahead and give him a call.

Spring? Is That You?

We, like you, have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Spring. There are a few things around here that give us the impression that it's getting close.

The first is the arrival of our baby chicks! We have had chickens for years. The kids gather the eggs for a nickel each. Last year my sister raised some baby chicks and then gave them to us when they got too big. They all turned out to be roosters! This year, the kids talked Jeff into getting them each a baby chicken.
They each got a different color, and we were told they are all hens. The kids run out to check on the chicks several times a day.

Proudly displaying the box of baby chicks.

...and the happy chicks huddling together in their new home. Baby chicks definitely mean spring.

Our next clue that Spring is here is Jeff's birthday! He had to be to class early that day, so the kids got up early too. We made him an 'egg sandwich' for breakfast (using farm fresh eggs, of course) and sang "Happy Birthday" in our just-woke-up voices.

Later, his mom made his favorite dinner and we celebrated with the fam.

Clue #3 that Spring has arrived: going to the park. (Bonus! Aunt Jamie came too!) Playing at the park is a favorite spring time activity. The swings and slides get too hot to use in the summer! As you can see, Isaac was thrilled to be playing outside. He puts on this gummy grin whenever he sees the camera. How would it be to know you are adorable?

Daisy and Jamie had a 'pumping' contest on the swings, and Levi asked me to push him "high to the moon!"

After he tired of swinging, Levi decided it was time to climb the tree. Since he thinks he is Spiderman, climbing a measly tree should be no sweat.

...but it turned out he needed a little help from mom in the end.

Aahh. The sweet smile of success.

Looking on to higher goals.

Spending an afternoon at the park with my kids is somewhat therapeutic. It reminds me of the things that are really important. As I watched and played with them running from one thing to the next, I thought about priorities in childhood. I thought about blistered palms from monkey bars and the metallic smell of swing chains. When you're a kid on a swing, you're not thinking about the laundry you've got to fold, the dinner you've got the make, and the phone calls you need to return. You're thinking about swinging. You're thinking about how it feels to breeze through the air and feel that nanosecond of weightlessness. You're imagining what it would be like to soar up to the moon. Since this afternoon in the park, I've been trying to take this lesson from my kids. When I am reading to them, I am enjoying the story instead of wishing they would have picked a shorter one. When I am driving her home from school, I am really listening to Daisy telling me about her day instead of the news on the radio. When I am building blocks with Levi I am trying to use my imagination (what a concept!) instead of trying to sneak off and finish the laundry. When I am nursing Isaac I am enjoying nurturing my baby instead of counting down the days until I'll be back in a normal bra. I am not saying "Wait," "hold on," "one minute," or "maybe later," as much as I'm saying, "I'd love to," "thanks for inviting me," and "I love you." And I'm listening.

As Spring breathes new life into the earth, I hope to have new resolve to be a little better and enjoy each of the blessings in my life a little more. And tomorrow's forecast? Snow.

Kelle Hampton

Thank you, Kaydee, for leading me to this profound discovery. www.kellehampton.com This blog is inspiring, uplifting, breathtaking, brilliant, and contemplative. The talented author is a mom and photographer and blogs nearly every day about the little things in life. Check her out. It is worth your time, but I must warn you that you too will become addicted. You will love it. You too will want to share it with everyone you know.

Conversations

Daisy and I have been looking at photos and watching news reports online about the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. I know she has been thinking a lot about them because earthquakes have become part of her prayers. Sometimes she prays for the victims of the earthquakes. Most often she prays that the earthquakes will stop or that they won't come here.

The other day on the way to school she asked me what would happen if there were an earthquake. I thought for just a moment before responding. Should I remind her of the Family Emergency plan we just revised, a copy of which she carries in her backpack? Should I remind her of the case lot sale and the canned food in our storage room? Whether it was the best answer or not, I gave her the answer that made me feel the most comfortable. I told her that we don't need to worry about it because there would probably never be an earthquake here. Then I told her that if there were an earthquake, Heavenly Father would protect us and everything would be ok. She was silent as she contemplated what I said. Then, I was surprised and taken aback when she quietly asked, "Mom, who makes the earthquakes?"

I tried to give her a kindergarten version of plate tectonics, but I knew that this was not what she was asking. I don't know all the reasons why God allows disasters to happen, but I know that everything happens for a reason. I don't know why the science of prediction is not more accurate, but I know that if we are prepared there is no need to fear. I don't know why some people live and others die, but I know that when we put our trust in Christ we will have peace. I don't know exactly what would happen to Daisy if an earthquake occurred here. More than anything else, I want her to know Who she can turn to. More than emergency plans and earthquake drills and preparedness, I want her to know that in any situation at any point in her life, she is entitled to the comfort and direction that comes from Jesus Christ through the Holy Ghost.

Like I wrote in her journal last night, I look forward to many more of these questions that I'm not sure how to answer. In the meantime, I'll keep praying that I will find the right thing to say.