Lucy

This is Lucy, the newest member of our family. We got her from my sister who lives on a farm 80 miles from here. While she acclimates to her new surroundings and the modge-podge of critters we have (who are a little leery of her energy and friendliness!), she oscillates between spending time in the house and being outdoors. She is a social little puppy who will chew on any and every thing in sight.

It's ironic that now that school is out, the kids would have had a legitimate claim when they said, "The dog ate my homework!"

Sky Watch Friday - A Different View

One evening a couple of weeks ago, my son and I were returning home when he noticed something a little off from the norm. "I think there's a cat up on that pole!" he exclaimed as we passed underneath it. We were on a gravel road and as there was no traffic, backed up to get another look. Sure enough, there was a gray cat lying - very high up - on a power line pole. I got out of the car to shoot this photograph and called to it. It simply stared at me as if this was the most natural place for it to be and as if I was a hindrance to its afternoon nap.

The next day, it was gone. I have no idea if it made it down on its own terms or if it met an untimely death by its famous curiosity. But every time I pass that pole now I automatically look up and think of the cat that dared to be different.

There She Goes......And Here She Comes...

Saturday I watched as the light of my life walked across the gymnasium floor, stepping over the threshold from being "my little girl" to a young woman beginning a magnificent and wonderful journey. I watched as she took the podium as Salutatorian, speaking to her classmates with the class and grace that she always shows.
All the years of watching her grow, holding her close, guiding her, supporting her, listening and learning, culminated on a sunny afternoon in a small school gym as she smiled for the camera, received her diploma and left the building as a high school graduate. It hasn't really hit me yet, though my eyes filled with tears more than once during the ceremony.

After greetings and hugs from teachers, family and friends, we returned home for a reception in her honor. Gifts overflowed on the living room floor and the house was filled to the brim with many who love her and wish her well. We shared laughs and memories and slices of white cake as we sat around our beautiful girl and celebrated her special day. It was a lot to take in and I know we will be feeling the after effects for several days in the near future.

The next day after church, we were driving to a local restaurant for dinner.

"I feel so spoiled," my daughter said. "I have the perfect life. The perfect family, the perfect house, perfect friends and boyfriend. Everything is so good...too good to be true."

I told her that she is hardly spoiled. She probably cares less about material things than anyone else I know. It felt good to know that she sees her life as so wonderful, when of course, it isn't really 'perfect'. I told her that she is a large part of why things are so good; that a good life is hardly an accident. She has made good choices in how she lives her life and how she has handled her circumstances and relationships. Living a life that feels like a perfect fit for us and having love from wonderful people is not a spoiled life, but a blessed one. Kindness and goodness draws kindness and goodness, and though bad times come to us all, how we choose to deal with those difficulties charts our course through the rough waters back onto the calmness of the shore.

My beautiful daughter....though my heart aches at the thought of you leaving us in the fall, I know that many wonderful things await you. With your loving and lovely heart, and your gentle - yet fun - spirit, you will soar with grace through the amazing adventure ahead. And though you are one of 17 in the class of 2008, as far as I'm concerned, you are in a class all of your own.

Sky Watch - Pondering Twilight

In the three years since I've been blogging, I've posted this photograph twice, so I apologize to all of my veteran readers for the repetition. But with the busy-ness of things I haven't had a lot of "sky" time as of late. Several of you have commented on this picture from my sidebar, so this week I present once again, Whiskers in all her glory.

Weepy

I'm on the edge these days. I walk a thin line, teetering on tender emotions that threaten to bring tears at any given moment.

It happened twice at church yesterday. The first time was when a new baby was baptized; her infant coos accompanying wide eyes against Daddy's strong shoulder as Mama held the hand of two-year old sister. October 1, 1989 - when my own baby girl was baptized - was just last week, wasn't it? Her white gown made by Nana flowed over her chubby little legs, and priceless memories of love and joy lay before her.

The second time was during the Lord's Prayer. We always hold hands with the person on each side, and once again tears clouded my vision as I held my daughter's small hand in mine. The prayer was stilled in my throat as I saw her other hand holding that of her brother...and suddenly they were four and two, running through the sprinkler, playing on the swings, Trick-or-Treating.......their childhood grins firmly planted on little faces and days stretching endlessly ahead.

And while watching the televised graduation of the Greensburg, Kansas seniors, the realization of another graduation really hit home...and I wondered how I'll get through it with the grace and composure that I owe my 'little girl'.

I'm on the edge, all right.

Having children is not for the weak at heart.
Neither is letting them go.

Sky Watch Friday - Spring Storm

I don't think that the camera ever does justice to the magnificence of clouds. I find them fascinating...intriguing...and difficult to capture exactly as they are.

My husband and I watched these on our walk tonight as they changed from moment to moment.

It's difficult to get any real exercise in when one stops every
minute to shoot the sky!