We drove to the lake Friday. It was a glorious fall day! Crisp, cool air, cloudless blue sky. A day that can woo a non fall person to be a convert. I had hoped to leave in the morning, but we left around 11:00. Packing with children is such an undertaking. They undo half of what you do in the spirit of “helping”. Packing is not my strength to begin with. I try to minimize the amount of stuff - it’s only one night... but we still filled the car! Once we were finally ready, then I had to feed the little guy again. I let the boyz play outside in the driveway while we did our ‘gas and go’ pit stop.
The Boyz watching the kittens frolic and play
So tiny & so cute!
The demolition crew
On the way to the lake, we stopped in Bargersville at the fruit stand that TJ’s friend Steve runs. I’ve driven by my whole life and I’ve never stopped. So today, we stopped. After today, I don’t think I can ever go back! Steve has all these crazy signs and he really invests himself in the displays that he puts together. He had corn stalks aligned in groupings, pumpkins arranged by sizes, boxes of corn each labeled with silly little signs. It’s small, but I think this is his vocation and he’s an artist at heart. He had two baby kittens. They took my breath away how small they were. I haven’t seen a kitten since I was probably a girl at horse camp or playing at the barn when we used to ride. They were no bigger than the palm of your hand. But still quite playful playing with the cornstalks and wrestling each other.
Carter kept whispering that he wanted to take one home! Griffin quickly learned that they would jump and “meow” when he played with them and that’s who started the pumpkin launching. I was attempting to buy a few tiny pumpkins for a display and thought maybe we might have a photo opp on our hands but instead we had what Steve deemed the “Demolition crew”. Images of Kiefer unscrewing a corn cob from the display and Griffin launching pumpkins at kittens are fractured visions I have of the incident. I could tell we needed to exit quickly, but rounding them up is another challenge. I paid, apologized and backed out of there as quickly as I could. Explaining, “this is why I haven’t been here before.”
I’m not sure he’s used to children - especially mine. We totally upset the pumpkin cart. Oh well, we spent $5. (Had to buy a box of “Kieffer” pears!) (Actually, I didn’t think we could leave without buying a little more than a $1.25 sized pumpkin.) Later when Jim arrived at the lake he asked if I got a pumpkin, "Of course!" but after looking around - with all the confusion, I left it at the fruit stand! Oh well!
But they had so much fun today when we got to the lake! Sweeping all the leaves together on the deck into a huge leaf pile, collecting buckets full of acorns, driving their tractors on the hillside, sliding down the giant slide. Carter stepping up and being so helpful, loading the car, even packing and then lifting Griffin on the slide each time and sliding down behind him to keep him safe and help pushing “K-I-E-F-E-R” on the swings! He does rise to the occasion more often than I give him credit for and especially when needed. They all need space to run. We are so blessed to have all this space down here!
“They’re good boys as long as you keep ‘em outside” and “If you let them get bored you deserve what they’ll do to you” are quotes that were running through my mind from a little section I read in a “Bringing Up Boys” book this morning. Very true.
Uncle Creepy & Carter on the Skid Steer (That Griffin calls "Creepy!")
The Boyz & Uncle Creepy
Storm smiling for his picture! Happy to have his snack of apples & carrots
Storm checking out the boyz
Kiefer's one man band get up
Griffin checkin' out the view
"Raking" leaves
Daddy-o & his helpers
We rode the golf cart to see the neighbor’s horse and fed Storm. And we checked out what Uncle Creepy was up to. He’s always up to something. Today he was driving the Skid steer, which Griffin affectionately calls “Creepy!” anytime we’re out or even the play one we have at home. Carter got to go for a ride. Then we checked out the two story garage he’s building and the finishing touches he’s added to the little playhouse log cabin. They adore Creepy! Griffin kept lifting up his arms wanting a poor tired Creepy to carry him, which he did, of course. It’s Creepy!
Jiim joined us after he could escape from work and we all drove the golf cart all the way to Randy Lake and back.
The leaves are so beautiful!
Thank you, God for the change of seasons and the way we are to embrace the beauty each season holds.
This morning’s devotion read:
“NO MATTER WHAT your circumstances may be you can find joy in My Presence. On some days Joy is generously strewn along your life-path, glistening in the sunlight. On days like that, being content is as simple as breathing the next breath or taking the next step. Other days are overcast and gloomy; you feel the strain of the journey, which seems endless. Dull gray rocks greet your gaze and cause your feet to ache. Yet Joy is still attainable. Search for it as hidden treasure.”
That’s my objective. Jim read my blog from yesterday and seemed surprised how negative it was and didn’t know how “miserable” my day was yesterday. I don’t mean to sound miserable. I’m not at all! I feel privileged to stay home with our four boyz and so grateful that I get to be part of their lives nearly every minute. I’m attempting to document our days so that I remember the funny things they do. The stuff that in the moment makes you want to pull your hair out but the next minute you forget and have no material when they ask you to tell them a story. I want to remember the funny things like Kiefer getting in the car to go to the park without shoes on or him asking if I know Mickey Mouse’s phone number. I want to remember that Griffin has a fit nearly every time it’s time to eat and that he’d be starving by now if I didn’t keep putting food in front of him even though he throws it back at me at least the first three times. I want to remember that they totally upset the pumpkin cart and that I as a mother I have to constantly balance their joy over teaching them the right thing to do. I struggle, waiver, waffle, muddle in indecision and inconsistent parenting but I feel something I attempt to do (maybe not as much as I should) is enjoy the moment. Try to remember it. Seek the Joy in the moment because childhood is fleeting. Spirits are easily crushed. I need to channel their energy in positive ways, coach them. Encourage them.
Lord give me wisdom because I need a lot of it! Help me embrace the joy in the moment because the days are glistening in it! Thank you for this season in my life.
