June 2007

Just an update for those of you who do read the blog. I haven't been very good about updating very frequently but intend to do so more often.
We passed the one year mark after Jason's surgery. Everything is going great and he is back to river rafting this summer. Cole just finished preschool and will go 3 days a week next year. He could go everyday, but I guess that will have to wait until he is in grade school. I hope that I can keep him challenged enough until then. I may have to go back to school and get a philosophy and religion PhD just to be able to have some intelligent answers to all of his questions.
Spencer just decided he would start to talk more the other day. I can't imagine what it will be like when I have two inquistive boys asking me all the questions in life quickly followed by "How do you know that?" Is the best response, "because I know or I just do, now be quiet and don't ask me any more questions I don't have the answers to." I know it's not very nice, but man I tell you, my brain is starting to hurt. They didn't tell you about these things before you have kids.
Well as for me, I am working hard at trying to get all of the dandelions out of the yard before they go to seed and the kids blow all of the fluffy white seeds around to make "wishes" and more dandelions. I am off for the summer and after two weeks, wondering what actuallymight get accomplished other than slivers taken out of the feet and trying to keep shoes and clothes on Spencer.
Oh well, they are only young once and it truly does go by fast. I recently was reminded of the saying about "When you are older and your kids are gone... and your life is nearing it's end...it won't matter that your house was clean, the bank account full, everything on the outside looking grand and perfect. What matters is the amount that we deposit into the lives of our children. They are our legacies and they will be the generations to come that will run this country, care for us as health care providers, and steward the world's resources. We won't have forever to read the same bedtime story that we have read for the past 6 weeks straight, or have a little guy tell you he loves you for no good reason and not just because he wants something, or helping them to put their shoes on or pour their juice and milk.
We were talking about growing up and what happens after we are adults and move on to college and live in our own houses. Cole's eyes starting welling up with tears and then he just started sobbing. When we finally got him calmed down, it was one of those moments when you all feel the same thing. When they are grown it is bittersweet, you may not see them everyday and they won't live in your house forever, but for right now, we all want to believe that we will feel the close feeling of family, the love, laughter, safety, and trust that has been created so far. We all sat there, not quite sure the words to say to make it seem better and ok. I guess it's those times in life, where it's ok to feel the raw emotion of the challenges we face in life without having to explain it away into something it really isn't.
Until next time,