Early morning reflection

Early morning fire, hot chocolate and some time in the book of the Philippians. Some quiet reflection is the perfect way to start this day...

Election Day 2012!

Today was a crazy mess at Aspen. It was election day and our school is a polling location. I'm so thankful for the long lines, messed up carpool lanes and disorder because that means people came to vote. No matter which side you fall on this is a pretty cool place to live. I'm proud to be an American and grateful to exercise my right to vote...my right to have a voice and be heard. 

I won't express my personal, political views here, but I will have to say it saddens me how divided this country became and how for some reason it became okay to be rude, offensive and discriminatory to other people based on their political and social beliefs. I'm all for opinions and friendly, respectful sharing of thoughts and debating. But, the amount of crap that circulated on both sides was really disappointing. And, what I actually found alarming was the disrespect and slander thrown towards each candidate as a person, as a human being. At the end of the day they are fathers, they are sons, they are brothers, they are cousins, they are husbands, they are just like the rest of us...human beings. I'm disappointed that because they chose to run for political office it somehow gives people permission to treat them as something other than fellow human beings. 

I pray that the political world looks a whole lot different when Abby and Avery have the privilege to vote. May it reflect more of their innocence, good will and optimism. May the political world be a place of honesty, respect and an example of how people with different views can work together together to accomplish things for the common good in a peaceful and harmonious way. 

Paper chains and sticker charts

Daddy left today for two weeks. He is training in Tennessee. We are very grateful for the opportunity he has with FedEx and all this job will provide for us. We are grateful for how this distance and absence makes us take a step back and notice and appreciate his daily presence in our lives. 

The girls miss him though and saying goodbye was pretty hard for Abby this morning. So, in an effort to help a little we made countdown charts. They put a sticker on each day so they can watch how close we are getting to him coming back home. Same with the paper chains. Each morning they rip a link off. It has helped them understand what two weeks means a little more. Makes it a little less overwhelming for Abby.

Disappointing dinner menu

Adam had been working all weekend at the new house installing floors so when he got home just in time for dinner he wanted to go out to eat. I had been prepared to make a chicken and mushroom dish. When we asked the girls if they wanted to go out to eat or stay home to eat Abby responded with a very fervent "Go out!". When we asked Avery she said stay home. Half under her breath Abby said, "Avery, if you knew what we were having for dinner you'd want to go out to eat." Adam and I died with laughter.

Abby won. Chili's it was and a nice dinner was finished off with a family favorite...molten cake!

Spa time!

A pink robe, flip flops, spa treatments and a retreat house combined with nine high school girlfriends made for a perfect Saturday. I think it is pretty neat that I can still count nearly a dozen girls I've known since high school as my close girlfriends. We get together every month for dinner and meet yearly for a weekend away at the spa. We also periodically take a girls trip together. I hope I can make the one we are planning for March. Florida, sun, beaches and wonderful friends sounds exactly like something I'd be interested in!

Pockets full of fun

I haven't seen much of my nephew Carter lately. With school schedules in full swing and us not living in our own house my time with him seems to have been a lot less lately. Noticing such and wanting to do something about it I had him over to play today. 

He always has a little something up his sleeve and a hint of mischief in his eye and he didn't disappoint today. After Stacey left he unpacked his bags of toys he brought and at the bottom they were loaded with Halloween candy that he took unbeknownst to his mom. Then through out the day he kept pulling candy out of his pockets. He had stuffed so much candy in them it was like those cars where the clowns pile out one after another. He was very proud of his candy, but very willing to share with myself and Avery. He cracks me up!

Thanks for coming over to play today, Carter. You make me laugh, you make me smile, you remind me to enjoy the moment. You are the perfect example of the playful child who God loves and wants us all to be more like. 

Shoe line up

I was watching Avery take her shoes off. After she got them off she very purposefully lined them up next to Daddy's. I thought her arrangement was cute and worthy of a quick photo.