She Believes She Can Fly

There is no doubt about it, my girls....especially Lily....were made to swim.  They love the water and since we live on the surface of the sun, I think they chose to fall in love wisely!

Summer swim team, although far more involved than I had originally planned, was amazing and such a fantastic experience.  Even though there is great structure and coaching, it still is really just for fun.  I think both girls really liked the social aspect of the time more than anything, and let me tell you....watching 5 year olds attempt the butterfly is downright entertaining!

The girls had a few swim meets over the summer and enjoyed getting their place ribbon with each meet.  It wasn't until the end of the Summer that Lily started to get the itch to actually "win."  Swimming has been just fun for so long and she experienced this cool switch from "hey this is fun" to "hey, I want to be BETTER!"  When she placed 4th in a heat she was sure she was going to win, I saw that look.......that one that inwardly says, "Man, had I just practiced and paid attention a little better I could have taken home blue."

So she and I had a great discussion about keeping it fun, but working hard.  If you want to be the best, girl, you gotta work!  So when Fall swim team started I reminded her.  Focus, determination, work, practice........I promise.....it will pay off.

For 6 weeks the girls went to swim team 2 times a week.  Evie was still very much in the fun zone and working on not getting lost in the pool while doing backstroke.  She loves the pool, but having to focus instead of play mermaids is simply not on her to do list.  I get it....she's 5.  I am just proud of her for showing up!

The Fall swim team has one big meet and we were all excited to see how all this was going to play out.

Bob was unfortunately out of town, and Evie came down with an ear infection, but God works in very big ways, and our dear friend Cheryl came to the meet to support the girls......and lets face it.....be my mother's angel.

Poor Evie tried to do it, and made it through the first freestyle heat.  She was feeling miserable and after being the last one out of the water came over to me and told me she was done for the evening.  Poor baby.

Lily on the other hand. Boy, the girl had a night! Both of the girls were extra excited when they discovered our friends, The Allens, were competing too!  Best buds right here!

Living in community is so much fun and it is amazing to connect at places you weren't even expecting to!

Lily's first heat was for freestyle, and this girl has been working HARD to improve in this stroke.  At the beginning of the Summer she had no idea how to side breathe and by the time Fall came around she was beginning to get the coordination.  She has been working hard, and I have noticed how much stronger she has gotten.

She was determined to prove to herself how much better she had gotten, and at the buzzer she took off.

She dominated the field and got to the end a full body length in front of everyone.  I was so excited for her and her smile and excitement was tangible.  "First Place, Lane 7".......

"Mommy, THAT'S ME!" Oh yes dear girl.  "I worked so hard, and look what I did!" 

The girl was on fire and her energy level went from happy to SO ECSTATIC WE CANT STOP GIGGLING!  She came again to play in the backstroke and after another hard fought race took home second place.  

The sun set quickly and Lily came up for the Butterfly.  This event is challenging, and she really only learned to do Butterfly this summer.  It is such a coordinated power stroke and frankly I was just excited that she wanted to compete!

Lily flew down the lane and I watched her dolphin kick her self with pride. She has come so far, and darn it, the kid is an EXCELLENT swimmer!

She and Erienne flew down side by side and took home the top two spots!  Well done girls. WELL DONE.

At this time of the evening, my Evie Bee had spiked her fever and was all done with swim team.  She really wanted to go home and didn't want to get in the water anymore.  I am SO grateful for Cheryl because Lily desperately wanted to finish the meet with the breast stroke.  I was so proud of her because its her weakest skill and Cheryl (a swim Mom herself) graciously said she would stay and take Lily home afterwards.  My village is amazing!

Lily had a great evening and finished the evening with a fourth place ribbon.  She came home a little disappointed and  with a lot of "I hate breast stroke." I stopped her right there and told her, "Lily, you just have new goals babe, and the only way you achieve them is by PRACTICING! You don't get to hate breast stroke, you get to embrace breast stroke!"

Lily got her first taste of true earned achievement and I think she believes she can fly!

#stagingacomeback

Oh wow.....I was stalking my own blog and reminiscing about some of our memories over the past month and realized that I started this blog and never finished it!  This guy just celebrated his 74th birthday and here I am finally getting back to this blog.  For shame! Man......just goes to show you that my lists have lists and all of those lists have sublists, and my brain just can't do it all.

Oy, so here I am determined to get this blog up and in the record books because the guy in the walker here is now full fledged back to ranch hand mode sans walker, or cane, or any "I just had surgery" attitude.  Y'all.....if you ever want to know where I get my gumption...........

So back in July, my Daddy ended up having pretty emergent hip replacement surgery.  Ever since he took a tumble off of their Colorado barn, the guy has been battling lots of pain.  The screws they put in his hip started to cause a lot of trouble and a few months ago he ended up with major back surgery.  Unfortunately, that still didn't solve his pain problem and in July he was in such crippling pain that they did a full on hip replacement........que all over the hill jokes.  Two major surgeries inside of 4 months is rough.....really rough.

Since the surgery ended up being emergent, life got a little chaotic really quickly and my Momma had to go to Colorado for  a week to work so she called and asked if I wanted to come up to the mountains for 10 days to take care of Dad.  We organized our schedule and I jumped at the chance to have some Father Daughter time.

When Ellie and I arrived, Dad was still very dependent on the walker and was just starting to take actual "walks." Given that he was only a few days outside of surgery, any mobility outside of walking from his bed to his chair to the kitchen was good.

Ellie was very worried about Papa, especially when we started doing Physical Therapy.  Guys.....I don't handle seeing those I love in pain, I really don't, so when Mom told me that I would need to push the PT and encourage him to do more than he wanted to, I was a wee bit nervous. HA....I think I missed my calling.  As soon as I was up there and working with him even with the pain he was experiencing all I kept thinking was "coming back after 2 surgeries ain't gonna be easy, but sittin' still will be far worse." Dad wants to be out doing his ranch hand stuff, carrying buckets, moving hay, and working hard......so he was going to work hard in PT.  Apparently I am a decent drill sergeant.  Luckily my gumption isn't all I get from my parents, my coachability comes from them too.  Even though pain and discomfort, Dad did everything I told him to do.

And by day 2 he was up an out of his chair more than he had been.  We started a puzzle and worked hard on it between short walks around the barn, physical therapy, eating, and of course watching Movies! 

Of course Dad wasn't the only thing under my care up at the ranch.  I had 3 dogs, 2 cats, and 3 horses to worry about too.  And guys.......my Mother has a routine.......a straight up process......and while at first I was a little on overload, by the end of the first day I had the plan down and only forgot like 3 things (JK I have a photographic memory, Thank the Good Lord!)

YES...I actually took this picture.  City girl in a ranchy world.

Ellie and I would get up every day and go for a walk or a run.  Getting the energy out of her was really important and we love the forest up there.  She and I had a grand ole time runnin' our 3 miles.

I'd come back, check on all the animals, add water to the bin, muck the stalls, wash the buckets, make the grain, and keep the Flying E in check.

Then it was time for Dad's walk and PT.  For the first 3 days he could walk around the barn with his walker or cane, but by day 4 I was ready to push so he did his first walk to the mail box .25 miles away.  I was so proud of him.  The physical therapy was paying off and not only did he walk there and back, but he didn't even use the cane he had brought. #stagingacomeback!

I upped the anty on PT pretty quickly and we moved into doing 2 sessions a day by day 3.  It hurt, and I knew it took a monumental attitude focus for him to do it, but again, I think I found my calling.  Between my gumption and coaching, and his coachability and trust, we did it, and BY GOLLY the guy really improved.

Everyday we went for adventures and I did my best to keep him moving and active.  On the first day Dad was not able to stand with 2 feet together and sit into a chair.  There was no mobility in the hip and back for that.  He would have to stick his bum leg out, lean to the opposite side and lower himself down all catty whompus.  I remember inwardly setting goals that I was going to get him sitting in a chair without all that hubub by the end of the week.  I knew we could do it about half way through when he nearly did it during PT........just time, and practice, and strength Papa.  LETS DO THIS!

Around day 6 I was so bored (hahahaha) that I started looking for other creatures to care for and found myself this wretched lady.  

Yep....that there is a Black Widow complete with spawn of satan sack (babies).  She had set up her spawning center right by the garage and I had a "Hell, No!" attitude when I discovered her.  Catching her was one of those Wonder Woman moments for sure.  Guys.......I do not like spiders.  I have worked all of my adult life to not act like a squealing tire when I come across one.  It takes effort.......and now I had to figure out how to successfully catch the darn thing because my commpadre couldn't bend that far over.  WHEW......yes I can.

Why catch it you ask?  GREAT QUESTION.  You see, I am all about learning and making sure kids see and experience life in all of its creepy (Seriously God.....Black Widows?) glory.  Memaw has always talked to my girls about Black Widows.......and I was determined for them to meet one and learn all about it first hand.

Unfortunately, my girls weren't supposed to come up until the next day so the Widow had to live in a jar.  Oh man guys, we put the jar outside with a board over it for the night, and I had one of those moments where  I actually asked myself, "Can spiders grow superpowers? Can she rock the jar over? Cause man if she gets out she knows what I look like and can find where I sleep." Yes, I pulled a Maria Von Trapp and checked my bed for her family.  It was a fitful night.

But we made it till the girls could meet her and they did! Science 101.  Lily was ready to see it die (you and me both sister), and Evie cried over the fact that I was going to kill the babies.  YES plural.  Because we are curious and because......well Google......Dad and I googled what was in that sack. Hundreds of tiny babies........all black widows........my heebies still have jeebies.

We drowned her and her spawn sack in alcohol and then went about our day......

Having the family back with me after a 7 day hiatus was wonderful and fun....even it it was more work.  The girls and I enjoyed some horseback riding, while Bob built lego rockets, did puzzles, and worked on the computer with Dad.  He loved showing Dad all about the NASA JPL institute after an intense PT session.  Nothing like some good ole distraction.

All the while Dad continued to improve and make leaps and bounds towards finding his footing again.  It was so cool to be a part of and such a neat thing to watch.

I am so proud to say that by the time Mom came home (with another horse I might add :)) Dad could officially sit down in a chair with both his feet together.  He had made it so far and was able to venture out and start to do all the things that keep him occupied.  

Daddy is truly staging a comeback and how could he not with such a great team!

Desert Deliverance

Haha, I'm giggling as I write that title.  It sounds so dramatic and so over the top, but if Lily were writing this post it would make perfect sense.  Let's just say.....we had an adventure. 

This past month has been full of travel for Bob and we 3 girls have had a lot of time together. A week ago while Bob was in Florida, my girlfriend Dawn invited us to come out for an evening hike in the desert.  It is still SO HOT here so the only time to really enjoy hiking is before the sun comes up, or right before it goes down.

So we made it to the trail head around 630, connected with a bunch of other friends and headed out with 5 kids in tow around 645.  Summer days in AZ last FOREVER and you can still see sunshine close to 9 at night on most days......but.......y'all, its FALL, and the sun is going to sleep much faster these days.

So as the sun began to set and we continued out on the trail we all had that moment of going.....do we turn around now, or finish the loop we were on.  We, of course, all decided to continue on the loop and found ourselves a good mile and a half from the cars in the darkness.  Its cool, we all have phone flashlights (not any other flashlights because.....who needs one?)  but then all of the creatures that hide in the day time started to make their presence known.......awesome.

First it was a rattlesnake.  Lily, Evie, and I walked right past it, but the two behind us heard its rattle, and saw it move, effectively scaring the bejeeezus out of them and my girls.  Once all was well everyone pointed their flashlights at the thing in an attempt to take its picture.  Lily's imagination and fear started to run away with her and I saw the terror of all the "what ifs" start to sink in.

It got darker,  I have 2 unsettled kids and a dog tied to me.   It's cool, its character building, we can control our fears. Inhale, Exhale.  Just when I got the girls calmer and refocused, wouldn't you know it a big cholla bulb jumped onto Lily's foot.  OOOOO those things are nasty.  Oy, so here I am mothering my child through her screaming terror, talking her off the ledge, and navigating how we were going to remove the sucker (THANKS DEBEE for her mad cholla removing skills). We got it done and got back on the trail, but now it was dark, and the need to get to the car ever growing.  Poor Lily was battling true kid fear at this point and the reality that she HAD to walk out of here.  She had to continue.  She really wanted to just sit and cry, especially when she stepped and discovered that the Cholla had left a barb inside of her shoe.  She was overwhelmed, and I had to go into full fledged tough love Mom to help her figure out the situation.  

Once I got Lily in a forward moving, deep breathing place, my dog ended up with a Cholla.  Oy....this is getting better and better.  So we got that taken care of and then continued on.  We traversed the dark trail with our flashlights when all of a sudden a scorpion darted across the path into its hole. COME ON desert!  Just when I get Lily and Evie chilled out!  

I finally sent Evie up to walk with Dawn, and I took Lily for some good strength building time.  We had a phenomenal conversation about fear, about courage, about understanding your surroundings, and about realizing that you CAN'T JUST QUIT.  Figuring out how to be afraid, but moving forward was really a challenge and I love that we were able to tangibly walk through all of those emotions. 

Evie, of course, was up with Dawn quoting scripture and telling Dawn all about snakes in the Bible.  I couldn't help but smile when I heard that.  Out of the mouth of Babes.

After a rolled ankle, more cholla, and a climb up a hill we saw the lights of the parking lot. Lily: "I have never been more excited in my whole life to see a car!  Oh that was traumatic."

So......we are working on the whole get control of your fear and do not let it dictate your life thing.....its a work in progress....

So, we were delivered from the desert and left with a great tale to tell.

Goodbye Great Grandma Joyce

I have been a little silent....I know.  Life has been an odd mix of overwhelming, surprising, unplanned, and exciting.  Its life, and its our life, and its like "they" always say Life happens when you least expect it to.

August started so beautifully with new school adventures and a whole new chapter for Bob and I in this parenting journey.  Unfortunately it was also mixed with loss as we said goodbye to the last Great Grandparent my girls have known.  Grandma Joyce left this world for heaven a few weeks ago and I won't lie........its been the cause of my silence.

I knew I needed to write about her.  No, I knew I wanted to write about her, but much like my own dear Grandma's passing, its hard to put into words the legacy of a lifetime.  Frankly there are not enough ways to put together 26 letters to do so.  But you see, I just couldn't move on to tell you about other happenings until I figured out how to write this post, so here we are.  I have not forgotten to write, I just needed to process.

Not knowing where to even start I decided to go back through the years of knowing Grandma Joyce and find all of the pictures I could of her.  For some reason I just felt that finding those tickets back in time would help me navigate the flood of emotions that I was feeling.  

Oh, and how it did.

I remember the day I met Grandma Joyce.  Bob had taken me back to Iowa for Thanksgiving.  We had been dating exactly 1.5 months.  We pulled into the Farmhouse and I walked into that special, cozy kitchen.  The one without a dishwasher, full of story, and memory, and living.  I met Grandpa, and then I met Grandma.  I remember so clearly the affection and acceptance I immediately felt.  She and I were kindred souls.  You see, like me, Grandma Joyce was a homemaker, a wife, a mother, and a woman determined to surround herself with those she loved.  Her house was filled with story, nostalgia, and wonderful treasures.  I loved her stuff,  I loved the way she collected her stuff, and frankly, I loved that every wall of her home was covered in the things she loved.  A mother of 5, she amazed me.  She raised all of those kids in an old farmhouse with beds my husband was never able to fit in.  Every room had a story and every space had a memory.  I loved it, I loved her, and I loved her home.

If there is one thing that sticks out most clearly about Grandma is that she was a gift giver.  She loved to find what you liked and gift you with a treasure that fit your style.  I have many things on my walls of hers.  Things that she gave, cross stitches she had made, plates she had found.  She gave so willingly and so freely.  I have a star on my wall that I am currently looking at.  She gave it to me.

While we didn't see her often, when we did the time was always rich.  Whether it was in the kitchen, or watching HGTV, or sitting by the river, or talking about my girls, Grandma was always there with a smile and a listening ear.  Lily and Great Grandma always hit it off and I think its because she was always such a great book reader.

As I searched through all of my photos and memories I discovered so many incredible gems.  Like the time Bob and I ran the Dopey Challenge in Florida and Great Grandma came to the Animal Kingdom with us.  

I remember taking this picture below and thinking, "what a special moment........these people may never find themselves all in the same photo together again." .......and I was right. So I remember really cherishing the moment, cherishing the circle of events that lead us to that moment, at Disney World. I am so glad we captured it.

Its funny sometimes how the Lord works......Great Grandma lived out here in Arizona a year or so ago for a time.  We got to spend so much time with her and my girls remember her very clearly.  

They remember her house, her baskets, and mostly the pool in her complex.  I however remember Thanksgiving, and the family connections made.  I remember her sitting across my table enjoying her meal and smiling.  That wonderful, accepting, and happy smile.

Life moves on, seasons come, seasons go, but loss of a loved one is never easy.  Grandma Joyce's legacy will forever be etched on my memory and the memory of my girls.  She will be remembered in the dear "Rosie" who is Evie's best little friend.  

She will be remembered in her children and the incredible grandparents they have become.  She will be remembered, and she will be missed.

This woman lived an extraordinary life not because her life was opulent and grand, but because she knew what was important.  How grateful I am to have known her, loved her, and been loved by her. 

Goodbye Grandma Joyce....till we meet again.