Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Nesting


We have had the privilege the last few weeks to watch the amazing process of life right before our very eyes. A little robin couple chose our pergola to build their nest. We literally sat at breakfast, lunch, and dinner one day and watched as they assembled their nest with mud and sticks and leaves. Then came the little blue eggs and the mama sitting patiently- flying off only when we opened the door too fast and startled her.

A few days ago we noticed the birds bringing in worms and bugs and hanging them over the nest so we did a few pull-ups and held the kids up again to see the baby birds. Pretty ugly little things actually. But we sat again at our meals and watched the baby birds get fed. A couple of days ago I threw the sliding glass door open very quickly and the mama bird flew off- and accidentally dropped one of the birds onto the grass as she took off. I was horrified! The kids were still sleeping but I knew if they woke up to a dead baby bird- oh my...I called Ted totally panicked. "You have to come home and save the baby bird!" He laughed and said, "Whatever- you can do it:)" (Then he told Angie to have Curtis come up to help me- because he's not totally heartless.) So I put two plastic baggies on my hands and scooped it up and stood on our patio table to deposit the bird into the nest. I looked up and saw the Mama bird watching me intently. I was worried that she'd abandon the nest- but she ruffled her feathers right up and plopped back down on the baby birds.

We arrived home from a bike ride today- Emma was too tired to go and hung out with Aunt Lisa- They were blowing bubbles and Emma almost stepped on a dead baby bird. It had fallen out of the nest- or the Mama dropped it out- or something. Oh- there were some traumatic moments in our house. Why do they always happen when Ted's not home? I had to scoop up the dead baby bird with a shovel and put it in the trash. I was heart broken- needless to say so were the kids.

So after our little life lesson- and throughout the last few weeks- I have really been watching that Mama bird. She just sits there on her nest patiently day after day. She leaves for a few moments now and then to gather food for her baby (babies). But other then that she is just content to sit quietly on top of her nest. Ted and I have been in the marriage and family relations class for the last couple of months. Our instructors are amazing- so good at sticking to the scriptures and doctrine of families- no detering- just good hard facts as to why we are doing this. Well- one of the most profound things Sister A. has said was in deciphering Romans 1: 26-31. It speaks of people having unnatural affections, "without natural affection" it says. In the context it is easy to say that this refers to homosexuals. It is speaking of the latter days- and Sister A. said she interpereted it this way for years. Until recently...she said she now believes it is refering to the way that women feel towards their young. (This does all lead back to the bird...) Not simply Mothers who would rather go out and work- but that Mothers are not happy just sitting on the nest- just being Mothers with baby birds (that was my own analogy.) We have to be so much more then that and expect our kids to do the same so we run around like crazy people. My own Mom said to me the other day that she feels like- in a sense- parents have decided that the one who is home with the kids at the moment is the one being "punished." We race around chasing our distractions all the time and it is the kids who are put on the back burner- they're the second thought- "What do we do with the kids?" and therefore in a sense- the punishment. Dad comes home- Mom leaves- it's Dad's turn to do the "hard job." And it is a hard job- there's no denying that. But have we turned it into something harder then it has to be? I've asked myself that question a lot the last few months- and now in even simpler terms after watching this sweet mother bird I WONDER- Whatever happened to just sitting on the nest?

Sunday, July 20, 2008

2008 Excellent Adventures

Our kids have had some sweet experiences this summer---- Stuff I never dreamed up as a kid! I've already posted about a couple of them but I'm sticking old pictures in anyways....

Rock climbing with Uncle Brian!


Bishop Grover showed up in his helicopter and took the kids for a spin-- awesome!




Boating with the Evan's on Memorial Day and the Grover's on the 19th of July----








We are grateful for good friends and good times. I have felt myself relax a little bit more this summer about bedtime and "scheduled" time and have just had a really delightful time just being with my kids and getting to know them on a fun level. I find myself just lying on the floor with them in the messy playroom and chatting- or outside just playing catch with James in the morning talking about stuff. I'm really beginning to learn that the best way to capture these moments and cherish them is not to force them- but to be led by them. More and more I feel that I can sit and schedule the yin-yang out of my day- or I can just be more in tune with the spirit and be led by my day. Don't get me wrong- I still love a good schedule and a good organizing day. I'm just taking little baby steps to being a little less anal- and it feels EXCELLENT!

Friday, July 18, 2008

Boycott Walmart

As we were coming out of Walmart the other day Emma said, "Mommy! When I grow up I want to work at Walmart!" I was speechless for a moment then asked her why and she responded..."Everyone is so happy!" Oh my. We go to wal-mart too often---and Emma sees the world through rose colored glasses!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Oops!

Sorry about that double take-- and does anyone know how to get into your blog and edit or erase entries- because I cannot figure out how to erase one of my slide shows- or get in to edit any of my blog entires. Thanks!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Happy 4th!

Sorry...James wasn't home for these...<
a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyb-JbUGbW12ZFMbVVh7LhEc0qtr9Vr1w2YM949Jxz-vB_awE2MVquAbL9yAd-J0HPEvrGOoUKVbrPxMShvKm9dpuvPmW07BpGtnD5Cptmhfc-Y9_eE4zDNe3Z_iJoZSLMAPbFWON66Uw/s1600-h/IMG_0873.jpg">