Lessons from a Tree

Sometimes when I'm driving, I like to look for trees.   

Not just any tree, but trees that stand a lone.  

 You know, when you travel somewhere and for the most part, see nothing but wide open field;  but then all of the sudden- there's a strange, out of place, tree that changes up the landscape just a little bit?    

Those are the trees I love.    

   

For example, whenever I drive to Calgary, there are two trees in particular that always catch my attention.   (I pass by one just before I approach Ft.Mcleod, and one just after Claresholm.)    I love both of those trees because though they seem to have sprouted up out of no where, they've found a place for themselves and are absolutely unmovable.   I love the way these trees withstand the wind that beats relentlessly upon them day after day.   And I love the way that even though those trees stand alone - they stand so tall and majestic.         

I recently came across this poem and it makes me love trees even more!!

The Oak Tree

by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

A mighty wind blew night and day.

It stole the Oak Tree's leaves away.

Then snapped its boughs

and pulled its bark

until the Oak was tired and stark.

But still the Oak Tree held its ground

while other trees fell all around.

The weary wind gave up and spoke,

"How can you still be standing Oak?"

The Oak Tree said, I know that you

can break each branch of mine in two,

carry every leaf away,

shake my limbs and make me sway.

But I have roots stretched in the earth,

growing stronger since my birth.

You'll never touch them, for you see

they are the deepest part of me.

Until today, I wasn't sure

of just how much I could endure.

But now I've found with thanks to you,

I'm stronger than I ever knew.

Chocolate Factory

My sister Jewel married into the best family!   (actually, so did I for that matter;)    

I say this about Jewel though because she married into a family of Chocolate Makers!!!  

I am pretty much convinced that the perfect combination of relatives would consist of at least 1 doctor, 1 mechanic, 1 dentist and 1 expert chocolate maker.    As a result, I have made it clear to my children that they will have to either Become or Marry any one of the above. 

  (Naturally, they are free to chose for themselves, within the parameters of that stipulation;)

ANYWAYS- back to the chocolate.

Thanks to Jewel's Mother in law, who then taught Jewel, who then taught me - I now know (sorta, kinda, in a really amateur type way) how to make CHOCOLATES!!!    Eeeek!!!!

Beautiful, tasty, homemade chocolates.

All of my siblings got together this weekend so that we could learn and do this together, under Jewel's expert tutelage.     

It was awesome!

Us girls got to visit. 

My Brother helped when needed. (someone had to take the pictures right?)

The cousins all played.  (mostly with Crystal's dog Kit)

At the end of the day (literally as midnight approached) we all went home with our equal share of chocolate.   

(Though I'll admit, it was maybe not as equal as they all thought, because I pretty much ate my weight in sugar with all the "snitching" I did throughout the day:)   

We've heard stories growing up of how our Mom would make chocolates every year, and how good she was at it, so it felt extra special to be able to do this together.

I'll admit, I did reach a moment when I was so tired and sick of dipping that all I wanted to do was light Jewel's kitchen on fire, but looking back - I'd do it again in a heart beat!

(Make chocolates that is, not burn her kitchen down:)

Love doing things like this with mes soeurs!

 (That means "my sisters" I just thought it would be much cooler to say it in french:)

******

PS:  Jewel and I got together to package ours up all nice.   Here's a pic of the final product, ready to give away!! 

*******

PSS:   On another note, I recently won this awesome framed printable from AshleyBennett Photography!  

It came with 6 printables that I can change throughout the year, and I LOVE it.   

Never again can I say I "don't ever win anything";)

You should follow her Facebook page or Blog.    Her photos are stunning!

75 years

Last weekend we drove to Raymond to visit John's Grandma and Grandpa Hardy.   

They are turning 96 and 97 years old respectively, can you believe it?!

It was fun to chat with them for awhile.   

The kids LOVE getting Jelly Beans from Grandma's jelly bean machine.    

Grandpa Hardy is tired often, but always perks up whenever the kids ask for a hug. 

  He gives the best "Puppy Dog Hugs" EVER!

It's remarkable to think of their heritage, and all that they have accomplished in their 75 married years.   

Pretty amazing if you ask me!

John's many personalities

The other night John came home from work with a packet of his school photos in hand.   

In it was THIS 8x10 photo (which I think is soo handsome by the way) as well as several extra wallet size pictures.

I immediately pounced on the 8x10 picture, and carried it off for safe keeping, threatening to hang it on our wall above the piano next to the kids' school pictures:)    

The kids immediately pounced on ALL of the wallet size photos, each child pleading with John to let them have one of their very own.    I imagine John must have felt flattered, as he divided out those wallet size photos to all four kids, telling them that they could do whatever they wanted with them.  

 Perhaps they would lovingly hang one on their bedroom wall, or take one to school to show off to their friends?   

Nope.   

Apparently the kids had other plans in mind.

Like this:

Well done Nate!  His best scribbling to date:)

And this:

(courtesy of Jessica)

And This:
(love the african/tribal feel to Sam's artwork:)

And last but not least- This:                       

(I found Abby's photos of John the next day.  She'd taped these photos to a piece of cardboard, with a string tied at two ends and hung it up on her wall.)    What you don't see is that above each face was a caption/name. 

  (Killer, Lady, and Evil Santa respectively;)           

I'll admit, this all had me laughing so hard as I gathered more and more of these pictures from various hiding spots.   

But it's got me kinda nervous too.

I'm pretty sure there is not a picture in this house that is safe from them now!

Thanksgiving Poem

I found this poem at the bottom of Abby's backpack today.  
Her teacher apparently had the class right about their "senses" and all that they are thankful for.

I LOVE it, and even though Thanksgiving is over, I may still hang this on my favorite quote board.  Turkey and all!!!

Thank You For...

Thank you for all my tongue can taste.

Crispy rainbow trout cooked on the grill,

My Grandma's yummy pumpkin pie,

Hot chocolate on a cold, winter eve.

Thank you for all my eyes can see.

A horse galloping across the beach,

Two polar bears wrestling in the snow,

My Dad returning home from work.

Thank you for all my nose can smell.  

My Mom cooking chocolate chip cookies, 

Apple blossoms on the tree in my backyard, 

Marshmallows roasting over a fire.

Quotables

In my room, beside my bed, hangs a cute decorative wooden frame.
And IN that frame, hang many of my favorite quotes at any given time.   (I LOVE quotes:)
It's funny how some quotes mean something to me at one point in my life, and then are later replaced by something that has come to mean more.  

At any rate, I thought I'd share a few of the quotes that are hanging in my frame at this particular moment:


******

QUOTE 1:

This quote has been on my wall for awhile, and it always reminds me that whenever it feels like the world beneath me is "giving way" -  to calmly trust.    I love the image of a bird perched on the frailest of limbs.  
 
Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings.
-Victor Hugo

*******
Quote 2: 

I always look to this thought whenever I need to stop thinking of only myself.
(so basically, I pretty much look to this thought a LOT, and should probably think of it a little more still:)

"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be AWESOME instead.
True Story."

*******

Quote 3:

This following quote was shared by our ward Relief Society President in a recent sacrament meeting talk.   I literally got chills as she read it.   CHILLS!!!   Oh how this thought brings peace to my heart.

"He has an infinite attention to spare for each of us.  He does not have to deal with us in the mass.  You are as much alone with him as if you were the only being He had ever created.  When Christ died, He died for you individually just as much as if you had been the only man in the world."
 - C.S. Lewis

*********

Quote 4:

I recently came across this quote and loved it so much, I had to slap a picture on beside it.   Nature truly does put me at ease.    In a very literal way it "sets me aright."  Usually when life gets feeling to busy or crazy, I know it's time to go for a drive;)

********

QUOTE 5:

I'm pretty sure that there is nothing worse then Fear.   For that reason, I love this reminder that this quote gives, that great things come when we face our fears head on.  


"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot."
Eleanor Rooseveldt

Oops:)

Somehow in the midst of my busy afternoon, I forgot one of the cardinal rules in my home.    

It's a well known fact that our little Nate likes flour.      He likes to feel it, poke at it, play in it, roll around in it, throw it and if we'd let him - he'd probably bathe in it.  

   He's fascinated with the white powder.   

Why I ever turned my back on Nate, ...or our 2 gallon bucket of it is beyond me!

I've got no one to blame but myself:)

Post Dinner Game of Clue

We were THRILLED tonight when Grandpa stayed after dinner for a quick round of CLUE.  

The kids LOVE this game, and I'm surprised at how strategic Sam and Abby are when they play.   

John was as cocky as ever, and declared often that he was "about to wrap this game up" any minute. 

I was as impulsive as ever, and made my official accusation much MUCH too soon.   

Every single kid declared that they would NEVER be my partner ever again.

Luckily, Grandpa Max surprised us all and won the game before John had the chance to:)

For the record, it was Miss Scarlet, in the Hall, with the Candlestick.

(It's always Miss Scarlet:)

Snow Days:)

This weekend it snowed.

A lot!

On Friday, it even snowed enough for the School Division to cancel school!    (Sure, the kids were already home anyways because it was a PD day,  but it was an added bonus to get to have John home to:!!!)   

We spent much of the weekend lazing around, ...shoveling snow, ...catching up on some reading, ....shoveling snow, ....doing crafts, ...and... shoveling snow.     It's been pretty great.
(except for the part about shoveling snow:)

Due to the fact that it looks and feels like we live at the North Pole, the kids felt inspired to set up our Christmas Tree.  They begged and pleaded for the better part of a morning, and I finally caved and agreed to let them set up one of the trees.     Of course, it was the usual over - the - top cheesy kind of moment as the kids sang and danced and laughed while they worked.    Nate was adorable as he clearly doesn't remember much about last year, the whole "Christmas Tree" thing was new to him again:)    Jess and Sam actually got along and worked together (which happens only once a year;) and Abby hovered over it all, telling the others exactly what to do, only this time, in a nice kind of way;)    

It was really quite entertaining to watch.

It made me laugh as I was photographing the tree after they'd all finished decorating it.   My eyes instantly went to the strangest ornament ever, and I immediately burst out laughing.  

Do you see it?     

Jessica had removed the socks OFF of her feet, stuck hooks through them, and lovingly hung them on the tree, right next to her home made snowflake and popsicle stick reindeer!   

She was soo pleased with herself!!!

 

Sam, on the other hand, could not get over the fact that Jess had done that, and absolutely refused to come near the tree until Jessica removed her socks.    He was dead certain that those socks were going to ruin the tree by giving it "the smell of Jessica's Stinky Feet!"

Of course, Jessica had to fire back in defense, with an equally funny insult.

And just like that - the good feeling was gone;)

We had fun yesterday playing outside for a bit.    Sam wasn't particularly happy until he discovered he could kick a huge cloud of snow at me.   (funny how kids get a kick out of torturing their parents:)   We learned (a little too late) that Sam had forgotten his snow boots at school, and decided that his running shoes would be sufficient for some play in the snow.

I almost started to cry when we got home sledding and he asked me to take his SHOES off!
They were absolutely frozen SOLID!    He said it felt like he was walking home on rocks the whole time!  (gee  I wonder why?)
Seriously, we could have taken his shoes and played some curling with them, and I expect he'll have full blown pneumonia by tomorrow as a result:)    

Nate surprised us by LOVING the GT racer.    He wouldn't even let us ride with him, but insisted on going down the hill alone every time.    He also insisted on being pulled UP the hill every time too, which John must have loved:)

Well, that's about it for this week.    The snow has helped to slow us down a bit, and it gives us a good excuse to just hide out in our cozy home and be together.   

We're sure looking forward to a Holiday Monday!!!!