My Road Through the Wood

Wrapping Up 2011 - November

2012-01-23T20:55:00.000-06:00

There was one major happening in November in our household.

The hints had been floating for a while . . . it was time to potty train Aaron.

Of course, you know how I am with those kinds of hints . . . Pretty much ignoring them until I feel the time is right for us. I used this strategy for choosing when I would wean Aaron, and it worked beautifully. Why would I stop trusting my gut now?

So, what did I do? I bought the giant bulk box of diapers. Then about a week later, I made the decision . . .

So, as I lay down on Friday night, November 4th, I thought, "I think we'll potty train tomorrow."

Thus began "Operation Underwear," and apparently my gut instinct was right. With a LOT of help from his wonderful preschool teachers, the whole process was quite painless, and in no time, rather than seeing a trash can full of diapers, I was seeing this,

and my niece was receiving a largely unused box of size 4 diapers!

At this point, outside of an occasional accident, my sweet Aaron is now potty trained day and night! I <3 him!

See another GREAT blackmail photo for when he's older! He'll NEVER bring a girl home to Mama! :-)

Wrapping up 2011 - October

2012-01-19T22:28:00.000-06:00

So . . . It's been two plus months . . .

I'm just thinking no one is surprised . . . So let's get on with it, shall we? Let's go ahead and wrap up 2011 month by month.

October 2011

In October, we went to a corn maze . . . twice.

First Aaron and I went alone. We really enjoyed this little adventure!

Aaron enjoying a giant culvert turned slide.

Nothing quite like a tire swing - I mean a horse. Howdy partner!

No way was he missing the chance for a pony ride.

Riding the cow train!

A corn field is the place to be.

If I was gonna get lost in a corn maze, at least I did it with my favorite man!

Two weeks later we returned! This time Nana (my mom), Linzey and McKayla (my nieces) came along. It was character day at the maze.

Tigger & Pooh, Linzey, McKayla, & Aaron

Daisy & Donald Duck, McKayla, Linzey, & Aaron

Mr. Corn, Linzey, Aaron, & McKayla

Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Aaron, McKayla, & Linzey

Linzey, McKayla, & Aaron riding the cow train.

McKayla on the bumpy "slide".

Aaron on the bumpy "slide".

Linzey sliding through the culvert.

Wait! We cannot leave without a picture with Cinderella . . .

and a random man in the background! LOL

Also in October? Costume day at Aaron's preschool. So we dressed up the little pumpkin . . .

Atten - tion!

Got our cookies . . .

And went . . .

Initiative #26: Definition of 'Person'

2011-11-08T12:00:00.000-06:00

Should the term "person" be defined to include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the equivalent thereof?

Today. November 8, 2011. This is the question before the people of the State of Mississippi.

Initiative #26 is drawing national attention, and is being hotly debated.

For me, it all boils down to one question. One.

When does human life begin?

The Miriam Webster definition of "Kill"? To deprive of life.

Here I have before me, on my desk, hand sanitizer on which is written, "Kills 99.99% of germs."

Kill - to deprive of life.

I find it sad that as a culture, we are willing to grant the status of life to germs, but not to a very unique bundle of DNA that will grow into what we recognize as a human being. That tiny bundle of gametes now joined together as one with a single purpose: human life.

Human life begins at fertilization.

And if human life, a "person".

And that leaves me with one choice. I must vote Yes.

Of course the opposition raises many arguments . . . Forgive me if I feel they come across very much like scare tactics!

Initiative 26 could ban birth control.

Really? All birth control? The most common form of the pill, the combination pill, prevents ovulation. No ovulation, no fertilization, no person. Logically, that will not be banned, since it will not end a life. Some other birth control methods could face some challenges, but I'm willing to risk that.

Initiative 26 bans abortions without exceptions for rape, incest, or life of the mother.

I think we've already established my belief that this is a human life. This is a person. It is fundamentally wrong to take a human life. Rape and incest? Despicable. If a woman is raped and a week later kills her rapist (while he is causing her no further threat), she will be arrested for murder, but she can currently kill another human being, an innocent human being, a child, her child, with no legal repercussions. Life of the mother? We are establishing that this new life is a "person". Every human being has the right to self defense. If another "person" is threatening the mother's life, she has the right to protect herself. This law does not infringe on that right.

Initiative 26 could ban in-vitro fertilization.

This will probably be the most legally challenging area of this legislation, and is the most personally challenging for me; however, this legislation will not automatically ban in-vitro fertilization. There will be further legislation. My conscience will not allow me to vote no based on this possibility alone.

I ask all citizens of Mississippi today. Vote. Vote what your conscience tells you is right, even if you oppose me. But in doing so, make an informed decision. Do not vote based on scare tactics.
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Fall Activities: 24th Annual Mississippi Pecan Festival

2011-10-19T13:37:00.001-05:00

It's been three months! Three months since I last regaled you with snippets from my life.

It's been three months, so here I go playing catch up. Again.

September 24, 2011

My family loves to do things together, which is how 11 of us ended up traveling together to the 24th Annual Mississippi Pecan Festival last month. Think tons of shopping, activities, and food in the middle of nowhere under a canopy of pecan trees. It was great!

There were vendors selling everything, including some Amish with beautiful wagons.

They also had some benches. Aaron chose to model on one for us.

Of course there was also farm equipment . . .

Then there were the authentic homesteads. Papa and his sidekicks, Linzey, McKayla, and Aaron on the front steps of an old farm house.

Inside was an old bed with a beautiful quilt, and three monkeys, McKayla, Aaron, and Linzey.

And then off to see the farm animals, where goat petting is apparently all the rage! The little ones, Cadence (partially hidden in her stroller), McKayla, Aaron, and Linzey, supervised by Heath, Nana, Papa, and Ellie.

What? Petting goats not enough? Well, lets see if we can find some horses! Linzey (held by her Big Daddy, Jason), McKayla (held by Papa), Aaron (held by his Uncle Heath), and Candace and Carter walking toward another horse, no doubt.

And, here's Papa with his two grandsons, Carter and Aaron.

Of course when petting horses doesn't get the job done, the next thing that one must do is ride a pony! Right? In this case there were two ponies and two horses. Aaron and McKayla got horses,

while Linzey and Carter rode together on a pony.

Then we stood back and enjoyed a little square dancing. I hope more young people take an interest in this dance form. It was beautiful to watch, but it was obvious that as a whole, unless more young people get involved, it is a dance form that will slowly fade away . . .

And we were off again . . . to see what a farmer can do with a border collie or three when he puts them to work!

Of course after the work is done little voices pipe in, "I want to pet the doggie?" So, Aaron and McKayla pet the "doggie."

The final event of the day for us? The mule pull. These were some bedecked and bedazzled creatures!

On the way out, we picked up our craft projects from earlier in the day.

Nothing left but the ride home . . . where one tuckered out little Aaron promptly fell asleep!

P.S. Stay tuned to hear about my and Aaron's adventures in the corn maze!

A Few Fireworks

2011-07-18T15:47:00.000-05:00

Independence Day Update - July 4, 2011

We began the day by waking to no air conditioning and rapidly rising temperatures. Thankfully our A/C man was able to come out immediately. The repair turned into a nearly all day affair, but at least we had air by bedtime, and in any case, that is not what I'm supposed to be writing about! :-)

We celebrated in usual style at my parents' camp on the creek. Hanging out with family, eating potluck lunch, with grilled burgers, steaks, etc. Usually we play volleyball after lunch, but this year my dad is nursing a broken leg, and without him, it seems we just couldn't get into the volleyball spirit. We did make our way to the water pretty quickly though. We've had quite the drought this year (which it seems we're now making up for all at once), so the creek was really low. This worked out quite well given the number of little ones in the water. Everyone had a great time!

Nothing like playing in the dirt.

Yvette & David Nelson

Angie & Joshua Bernaldo

Ron & Aaron Farr (eating boiled peanuts)

Nancy Warden with nephew Tanner Colson

Aaron Farr

Ellie Williams & Janice Colson

Carter Colson (after playing in the dirt)

Three Cousins Ready for a Swim

Aaron Farr, Linzey Colson, McKayla Williams

A Creek Full of People

We then topped off the evening with fireworks. Aaron saw fireworks on TV and LOVED them, so I showed him some I'd recorded, which he of course also loved. So, I told Ron we had to take him to see live fireworks. Fireworks were set to start at 9 pm, so I fed Aaron supper, bathed him, brushed his teeth, and dressed him in his bed clothes. We left home at 8 pm (Aaron's normal bedtime), and he was sleeping just moments after getting on the road. We arrived at the fireworks viewing site to find out shortly that fireworks had been postponed 'till 10 pm. Well, Aaron was still asleep, so we relaxed. This went well until someone set off fireworks nearby and woke Aaron. Aaron then snuggled with Ron while waiting the last 15 minutes before fireworks began.

Ron & Aaron resting before the fireworks

Spring Blitz - Part 2: A Visit from Pepaw

2011-06-23T15:15:00.003-05:00

I'm glad you don't hold your breath just waiting for me to update here, because if you did, I fear you'd all suffocate! LOL Afterall, it was two long weeks ago that I promised this update!

April 29 - May 3, 2011

My father-in-law lives in upstate New York, and had never visited the deep South until little more than a month ago. His plane arrived after 10 pm on April 29th. I thought about keeping Aaron up to watch the planes come in at the airport, but ultimately decided that we'd go ahead and get ourselves to bed and let Ron meet his dad alone. The goal being, of course, to avoid a cranky toddler . . .

Our accommodations for the weekend were wonderful. We stayed at my dad's camp on the creek. Have you ever tried to get a toddler down for the night in a strange place? Let's say the process goes less than smoothly. When Ron and his dad arrived from the airport just after mid-night, guess who was still energetically awake to greet them . . . Aaron . . . Guess we should have taken him to the airport to watch the planes! :-)

Back to our accommodations . . . If you want a weekend away, this is definitely the place. It comes with great views . . .

Camp

Front Porch View

Kitchen Window View - right through the screen

Our nearest neighbors were cows and a couple of alligators . . . which incidentally don't live in New York. This makes for a very relaxing quiet weekend (alligators are NOT crocodiles and are generally not aggressive unless threatened).

We spent some time relaxing in the creek . . .

Aaron on the sandbar

Playing in the creek

We invited McKayla (my niece) to play with us.

The three generations took a minute to pose for a picture.

Sunday morning we went to church. As we stopped at our place to grab a couple of things, Aaron and Pepaw hung out on the porch.

After church we drove out to Dauphin Island, AL where we visited a small park, then the estuarium.

On Monday Aaron and I returned to school and work. Monday evening, Aaron and Pepaw said their goodbyes before bed.

Ron and his dad left in the wee morning hours of Tuesday morning for the airport. The whole weekend was most enjoyable, and I hope Aaron was able to form memories, at even this young age, strong enough to last a lifetime!

Spring Blitz - Part 1: Easter

2011-06-07T16:27:00.002-05:00

YIKES! It's been right at two months since my last posting, so let's get right to it!

April 16, 2011

My cousins graciously host the family every year for a huge egg hunt at their house. First the adults hide the eggs, and please note, we use the term adult loosely in my family, as most of us have no plans to grow up! To support this statement, I enter into evidence this photo . . .

Here's my uncle eating the candy out of the eggs he's supposed to be hiding! I revoked his egg hiding privileges with haste!

As egg hiding was under way, we had all of our little egg hunters gathered in one room trying to tame their ever growing excitement long enough to get a good photo.

Aaron grasped the whole egg hunting thing much better this year, and he was so proud of his findings!

After the hunt, the kiddos had to gather and compare the spoils of their hunt!

Of course, egg hunting is exhausting business!

But there's nothing like a good popsicle perk everyone back up again . . .

And the fun continued into the afternoon . . .

And just in case anyone lost a baby . . . Well, just look for Memaw!

April 21, 2011

Then Aaron had his egg hunt at preschool. He arrived at school quite ready!

April 24, 2011

On Easter morning, Aaron found the following basket . . .

Of course Ron thought there was more Play-Doh in that basket that any one little boy could possibly need, but Aaron loved it!

Then off we went to Church, followed by lunch and another egg hunt at Memaw's house, where there was more egg hunting and posing for pictures . . .

And that wraps up Easter! Please stay tuned for "Spring Blitz - Part 2: A Visit from Pepaw"

A Day at the Park

2011-04-11T11:58:00.001-05:00

As I was snapping pictures of Aaron at the park on Saturday morning, I couldn't help but think that if a picture is worth a thousand words, then what is a memory worth? I wondered if there was a time before cameras when moms simply enjoyed a day at the park with their children . . . without strategizing how to get the perfect shot? But then I realized that moms of that era probably still didn't enjoy simple days at the park . . . they were probably too busy scrubbing their clothes by the stream or some other task that is now so conveniently simple for us!

So, I snapped pictures climbing . . . I snapped pictures sliding . . . I snapped pictures swinging . . . I snapped pictures spinning on the merry-go-round . . .

And I hope that someday as Aaron looks at these pictures he'll remember I'm in every one . . . behind the camera . . .

And I hope he'll remember I put the camera down and played . . .

Ron right there beside him . . . just in case!

Ron and Aaron spinning on the Merry-Go-Round

A Blue Angels Weekend

2011-04-01T16:39:00.001-05:00

OK, so I'm a little behind. Yes, it was almost two weeks ago, but better late than never . . . right?

So, March 19 and 20th the Blue Angels Air Show was at Keesler Air Force Base. We have never been before, and decided this year was the year. We spent the entire day there, and it was very enjoyable. I did not get any pictures like this:

But I did get these:

Hurricane Hunter

Ron & Aaron coming out of the Hurricane Hunter

Ron and Aaron in the Helicopter

Me and Aaron in the Helicopter

Aaron at the controls of the Helicopter

Budwiser Clydesdales

Parachuters

We saw several different planes on exhibit. And they showed many different planes in air. Some did dips and dives, twirls and spins, and smoke rings in the air. Others, like the F-16s, simply flew by with all of their power reverberating through the ground right up into your very being. These were Ron's favorites I think. Eventually Aaron became quite tired . . .

They saved the Blue Angels for last, and I must admit, they were QUITE impressive! I took a few pictures before my battery gave out . . . Then I just sat back and enjoyed the show!

I will definitely want to go again next year . . . with a hat! We were well prepared with sun block, and Ron and Aaron both had hats. Why did I forget about that part in my hair? I was remembering it well when my scalp blistered and began peeling later in the week!

As for Aaron, it definitely made an impression. He awoke the next morning with one question, "Airpanes today?"

You can see more pictures here!

Some Weekends are Just About Perfect

2011-03-01T13:27:00.000-06:00

This past weekend was just about perfect.

Aaron started my weekend off on the right note by allowing me to sleep until 8:30 on Saturday morning (Ron worked Saturday). I can't remember the last time that happened!

Shortly after we had breakfast, there was a knock at our front door. My oldest niece, Linzey, wanted to know if she could play with Aaron (we live directly across the driveway from my brother and sister-in-law). I love having Linzey over, and she spent most of the day with us.

Aaron and Linzey played all day. I think the highlight for them was getting wet while I was washing the car, followed by playing in a nice warm bath.

We topped the evening off by having dinner with my parents at their camp on the creek. We have a family dinner every Saturday evening, but there were a few more guests this time, because it was my 2nd niece's 4th birthday. I cuddled my newest niece and gave her a bottle, and just enjoyed the time spent with family.

Sunday morning we went to Church. On a sad note, Aaron had to be taken out of Church twice, but after the second time, he decided he could sit still. After Church we had Chinese for lunch. Then on the way home we stopped by our property and took a really long 4-wheeler ride.

When we arrived home, Linzey was outside practicing t-ball. She brought over her T, bat, and ball, and she helped Aaron hit a few balls - which he loved!

The evening was topped off when Ron grilled a couple of steaks. I say all the time that Ron may not do anything else right, but he can sure cook a steak! Dinner was steaks and baked sweet potatoes. Mmmmm!

It was one of those weekends where if someone asked what you did, you'd say, "Nothing." But, it was as close to perfect as you could get. And besides, Linzey taught Aaron some important life lessons - like how to climb a tree and pick flowers for Mommy!

Year 2010 Ringing Out!

2010-12-31T15:36:00.000-06:00

As we bid farewell to Year 2010, I wish everyone a prosperous and Happy New Year in 2011. And now to my photo highlights of 2010.

Yes, my life has become all about this amazing little boy - as it should be! Happy New Year to All!

2010 Christmas in Review . . .

2010-12-28T14:31:00.001-06:00

This is my third Christmas with Aaron, but in many ways, it feels like my first. After all, Aaron was only three days old his first Christmas, which means he slept through it. At only a year old for his second Christmas, he didn't really know what was going on. This year, however, he had a lot more understanding, and we all had a lot more fun!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Christmas with the Family:

On December 21st, we had Christmas with my parents and siblings. After dinner, Papa had to take a bathroom break, and wouldn't you know it! That's when Santa decided to come! He arrived at the front door driving Papa's side by side. Aaron was terrified of Santa. He wrapped his arms around my neck and just cried. We all rode on the side by side with Santa, and Aaron was OK for the ride - probably because Linzey (5 yrs) and McKayla (almost 4 yrs) were BOTH between him and Santa! LOL

While on the ride, Linzey and McKayla seemed to be in a constant state of contemplating whether we were really riding with Santa or Papa playing Santa. I told them, "It's Santa! He's very busy this time of year, but he took time out of his busy schedule just to see us!" Linzey: "Well, he didn't come last year." Me: "I know. He's really busy this time of year. Do you know how many cookies I had to send to bribe him into coming down here?" Linzey: "Millions!"

When we got back to the front porch, Nana had come out to see Santa. She got up on the side by side with him, and then she kissed him! And, my SIL got it on film (can we still say that now that cameras are digital?)! A couple minutes after we got back inside Papa got back from the bathroom. Both girls tackled him! "Papa was that you or Santa outside?" Papa: "What?!? Santa came while I was gone?" And then, Linzey showed him the picture! Papa couldn't believe it! How could we let Nana kiss Santa? To which Linzey proclaimed, "Don't look at me! I didn't take the picture!" LOL

We had a great time opening gifts. Aaron opened three gifts in a row, and when he saw Aunt Candace pull the next gift from under the tree, he threw out his hands and said, "Mine!" :-) Unfortunately, that one wasn't his! I was a bit crafty this Christmas. I decorated lamps for Linzey and McKayla, and I put together a really nice collage frame for my parents. I at least got a couple of pictures of the lamps:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Christmas - Just the Three of Us:

Ron had to work Christmas Day, so Christmas occurred a day early at our house! On our Christmas Eve (the 23rd just in case I've confused you), we let Aaron pull the top two items from his stocking - a new toothbrush and a new set of Thomas the Train pajamas! On Christmas morning as I cooked breakfast, Ron helped Aaron dig the last two items out of his stocking - two cars!

They must go with the huge unwrapped gift from Santa! Ron and Aaron played as I finished breakfast.

After breakfast, Aaron opened his last gift from Daddy and Mommy . . . a phone! He always wanted to play with Mommy's, so now he has his own! :-)

Hello everyone! And I hope your Christmas was as great as ours!

It's Down to the Christmas Frenzy

2010-12-17T16:36:00.000-06:00

The time is here . . . Christmas is upon us . . . And there's still SO much to do!

Of course the most important person on my Christmas list is Aaron, and thankfully I can say my shopping for him is complete.

On the other hand, I still have to buy a gift for my dad, complete the crafty project I have in mind for my nieces, and print the photos necessary to put together the collage frame for my parents . . . by Tuesday night . . . when we're all gathering to exchange gifts . . .

Also squeezed into my weekend is my oldest niece's birthday party . . . Happy 5th birthday, Linzey! . . . tomorrow afternoon, and our Company Christmas dinner tomorrow evening.

So, here's to a weekend of carefully balancing floor mopping and oil changes with birthday parties and celebrations of the season, with just a little craft time and prayers that said crafts come out "right" thrown in!

May your weekend be Merry and less frenzied than mine!

Comforting Promises of My God

2010-11-19T12:17:00.000-06:00

For a very long time now, I've comforted myself during difficult times by reminding myself that God will not put more on me than I can bear.

I have comforted others with these words . . .

And today I find that this promise does not exist in the Bible.

Look for it . . . It's NOT there!

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

In this, there is a measure of comfort . . .

But, what if it's not the temptations I'm worried about?

What if it's the tragedy . . . the personal kind, where recovery seems impossible?

What if it's the burdens . . . those that are so crushingly heavy? The sheer weight crumbling one from the inside out . . .

And still, MY God is an awesome God.

In life, there will be mind numbing tragedies. There will be soul crushing burdens.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Every tragedy I must endure . . . every burden I must bear . . . "All things work together for good . . ."

God never promised all things would BE good, just that they would all work together for good!

And still, I must endure the tragedies, bear the burdens . . . and sometimes all my strength is gone . . .

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

My God is there for me every step of the way . . . just waiting for me to quit relying on myself and depend on His strength . . .

For when life throws more on me than I can handle, I have a secret weapon!

I have a friend!

I have my God! His strength can bear any burden, and He will ALWAYS be by my side . . .

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Cancer: The Quiet Thief

2010-08-13T10:17:00.001-05:00

In tribute to Nancy Farr (03/21/1943 - 07/14/2010)

Cancer. The mere mention of the word strikes fear in the heart of all who hear it, for it doesn't fight fair. It doesn't work its dirty magic in the open, but rather attacks quietly. It begins by stealing our health, but so incrementally that it often goes unnoticed . . . for a while. Then, once discovered, it steals our innocence. Our life becomes about the fight . . . and the fear of losing the fight. And, as we fight, it steals even more of our health, for as we poison our enemy, we poison ourselves. It steals our vitality; it steals our strength. And still we fight! For to give in to such an insidious attacker is not an option!

A month ago tomorrow, my mother-in-law lost her war with this thief. Some might find it odd, I suppose, that the loss of a woman I spent less than a week of my life with would leave such a hole in my heart. She had been my MIL for nearly nine years before we even met. A bit odd, I admit, but living over 1,000 miles apart, perhaps less so . . .

She began her battle with breast cancer some time ago. The prognosis looked good for a while. Sometimes you win some battles. Then came the further diagnosis of bone cancer . . . This apparently is a fairly common occurrence after breast cancer, and is a prime example of the unfairness with which cancer strikes. If it can't win on one front, it will find another way to sneak past your fortress. Still, the fight continued.

Ron, Aaron and I went "home" for a visit at the end of May. I spent a great deal of time while we were there with my MIL. For me, she never made me feel like she was trying to get to know me, but rather, I felt like we'd known one another for years. We sat and talked and visited, as if we'd sat down together hundreds of times before. She slowly built a relationship with Aaron, accepting that you can't push a toddler too fast to love you, even if you are his grandmother! And, before long, he was interacting with his Gramma Farr like an old playmate. It was a beautiful visit, that I will always hold dear.

The last night we were there, I asked to take a picture of Ron and Aaron with my FIL and MIL. She touched the top of her head and asked, "Like this?" Yes . . .

In reflecting on our visit, I recall her showing me a picture of herself taken many years before that she had framed in her living room. I now realize it was the only picture of her I saw framed in her home. And now I think she needed to show me this picture of herself. She needed me to see who she was . . . before the cancer began its evil work. And on that last night in her home, when I asked to take a picture, she touched her thin graying hair, and asked, "Like this?", with just a hint of doubt in her voice. The cancer had not stopped with her health, but had also stolen away a bit of her self confidence. I now wish I had told her that while she might look back at pictures of the past only seeing the looks lost to her illness, I looked at her in the present and saw beauty.

Less than two months after meeting my MIL, cancer finally won the war, taking her from all of us. I may have only known her a short while, but the woman I met welcomed me into her life without reservation. Our relationship may have been short, but it was good, and I loved her. And when I looked at her, I didn't see a woman broken down by cancer, but rather a woman who stood up to it. And I will not remember her as she used to be, for I didn't know her then. I will always remember her as I met her - beautiful, strong, courageous . . . and that is one thing the cancer could not take away . . .

Aaron - Version 1.5

2010-07-08T12:16:00.000-05:00

It's difficult to believe that I've already been a mother for a little over 18 months. Where has the time gone? They say time flies when you're having fun . . . Maybe that's why the time seems to be slipping through my fingers like sand . . . If I've realized one thing during these 18 months, it is that there is truly no comprehension of the enormity of love until one is a mother. I sometimes think about how much I love my child, and am overcome by the realization that my parents loved me "this much". And, realizing that, I am awe struck. Oh, to be loved that much. And as I look at my child with that burst of love in my chest, threatening to choke me with it's intensity, I wonder, do my parents still feel that when they look at me . . . even now? And perhaps it'll take me this lifelong journey to realize the intensity of a parent's love never fades . . . And by then, perhaps my child(ren) will be contemplating these same feelings . . . May this love never fade, but only grow with each generation of loving!

Now, back to the source of my contemplations . . . I could go on and on about my amazing child, but most of you have followed me long enough that it probably isn't necessary. Instead I'll leave you with a then and now pic, and a now video . . . Enjoy!

Breastfeeding - The Fallout

2010-06-18T14:59:00.000-05:00

It seems my last post had quite an impact, and not in the way I intended. I have this blog setup so anyone can post a response, and yet only two responses were posted. How many phone calls did my siblings get concerning their lack of support for me? I don't know, but apparently enough. Let me take this opportunity to make a few things abundantly clear.

I love my family. This last post was in no way meant to criticize or hurt them. It was not meant to cast the blame on my decision to wean on them. I will wean when the time is right for my son and I, and not before. It was meant as a commentary on the society we live in, and the social norms that constrain us. My siblings are amazing people and amazing parents. All you have to do is be around my nieces to know what a phenomenal job they are doing. Apparently some of you want to know why they are against breastfeeding. I have no idea how that interpretation came out of my previous blog. They pull their children away because their children are confused, and thus have a multitude of questions concerning the differences in infant feeding choices. And, as is apt to happen in young children, answering the question one time isn't sufficient. They pull them away in an effort to reduce the questions, thus making life a little easier on themselves. Seriously, can you blame them? When was the last time you tried to reason with a young child? Are they any more confused by this, than any other lifestyle choice? I doubt it, but if you could remove the source of 20 questions, wouldn't you opt for a little peace?

It is societal pressures I am addressing. After all, if breastfeed were more socially prevalent, then I wouldn't be an oddity, and they'd probably have less questions, because it would seem more normal to them. If I were simply trying to question societal pressures, why did I involve those I love? It was quite innocent, I assure you. We write about those things we know, and those experiences we have, and those experiences include the people we love.

So, please, do not take this as a criticism of my siblings parenting styles/choices, but more as a commentary on the society we live in, and the constraints and pressures it places on everyone. And if you have thoughts, please respond to me before jumping to conclusions.

I have to be honest, I was unaware my blog was so widely read. After this, I don't know if I should be flattered or afraid!

To my siblings, and family. I love you, and I apologize for any negative fallout this has caused you. I would never want to cause you any undue hardship or stress.

Breastfeeding - The Social Stigma

2010-06-17T10:18:00.002-05:00

Before my son was born, I had already decided that if at all possible, I would breastfeed him. I must admit that initially a large part of this decision was based on the cost savings, $1,160 to $3,915 per year, depending on the brand of formula purchased. As I learned more about the benefits, however, I realized that even outside of the cost savings, I was completely sold on this feeding choice for my child. Along with providing numerous health benefits for both mother and child, breastfeeding also saves on health care costs, contributes to a more productive workforce, and is better for the environment. Plus, plus, and plus . . . right? So what's the downside to breastfeeding? Social stigma.

Why is society so set against a mother feeding and nurturing her child in the way God designed her? Am I for a woman exposing herself to the public in the name of breastfeeding? No. But, if a woman chooses to breastfeed her child in a discreet manner, why is this taboo? Every mother should feed her child in a manner that is positive and right for her family and lifestyle, and if that's a bottle and formula for you that's OK, but for me, the only right choice was breastfeeding.

I'm currently being strongly encouraged by my own family to wean Aaron. It doesn't matter that the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least 2 years, or that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least 1 year, "and as long thereafter as mutually desired . . ." Aaron is just under 18 months, and the pressure is on to wean. Honestly, though Aaron isn't keen on the idea, mommy is ready to have her body back, so weaning is on the horizon, but I don't like being pressured for all the wrong reasons to wean my child. And why is the pressure on? At least in part due to my nieces.

I have two bright, intelligent nieces, who have witnessed my breastfeeding Aaron. Never has my chest been bared in doing this. Never have I been lewd in my manner of feeding him, and yet, their parents now request they leave the room when I'm breastfeeding. Why? Because they began imitating life. They began "nursing" their "babies." They have been discouraged from this. Why? Why are we teaching our little girls that this is unacceptable play? Why is it not OK for our little girls to imitate nursing, but it is completely acceptable for them to "bottle feed" their "babies"? It's no wonder so many young mothers simply don't feel comfortable breastfeeding . . . We're starting them off quite young with the understanding that it simply isn't acceptable. And honestly, I find this unacceptable.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/benefits/
http://www.kellymom.com/

May 2010 Vacation

2010-06-08T11:04:00.000-05:00

It's been a week since our return, so finally I update you on our vacation . . .

We traveled approximately 1,400 miles to our destination - Lyonsdale, NY, where Ron grew up. I had the pleasure of navigating this journey, and was rewarded with the experience of witnessing Ron continually being frustrated by the idiocy of his fellow drivers. I have to admit that it was a bit annoying at times, as what appears to be most Americans apparently think the left hand lane is the travel lane. Of course the driver that I remember best is the man who was driving while shaving . . . yes, shaving!

The first stop of our road trip was in Gadsden, AL at Noccalula Falls. We didn't actually enter the park, but we did picnic under the pavilions and take a peek at the falls. The real highlight of this stop came above the falls where the ducks were in the shallow waters. We fed the ducks with Aaron. I had never fed ducks either, but watching Aaron watching them; this was pure joy!

We then continued driving, and outside of stopping to eat or stretch, we did not stop until we reached Natural Bridge, VA. It had been my intention to arrive much earlier in the day and tour the Natural Bridge, the Caverns, and the Native American Village, but we did not arrive until around 7:30 or 8 pm . . . well after the attractions were closed for the day. We spent the night at the Natural Bridge Hotel in one of their cottage rooms. The next morning, we chose to forgo the attractions in favor of an early start, and we left around 6:30 am.

Day two of our drive was pretty non-eventful. We enjoyed the views as we traveled up I-81, and we made a few stops to stretch our legs and eat, but nothing special. Then we reached the state of New York, where I came to a new navigational realization. Now if you take road trips often, you probably already know the tidbit of info I'm about to share . . . When traveling on the interstate, the exit number correspond with the mile markers. This makes traveling really easy. You can look at your directions off Google Map, and if you're at mile marker 3, you know you have about 3 miles to reach exit 6. It's a really great system! Unfortunately, it appears New York missed out on the memo outlining this system, which is why I missed Exit 6 in Binghamton, NY somewhere past mile marker 8! Thankfully, I'm pretty decent with a map, so out came the road atlas, which I used to take a cross road at the next exit and get us back on route. There was one other navigational snafu where Ron took us on an unintended detour, but nothing serious. Then, just North of Utica, NY, we were pulled over . . . 77 in a 55 . . . hey, it was 4 lane and down hill! Thankfully, the officer was really nice, and Ron has a clean driving record. The officer told us to be careful and slow down and sent us on our way.

We finally arrived at our hotel around 5:30 pm, and Aaron and I waited in the car while Ron ran in to secure a room. We then drove on up to his parents' house, where Aaron and I met Ron's parents for the first time.

My FIL/MIL live in a small house tucked way back in the woods. They are quite self sufficient, even generating their own power. That's right, they don't have a power bill! A small stream runs in front of their home. It has been dammed off to form a pond, and the overflow has been directed into a water wheel, which generates power. Seriously, how cool is that? They also have deer come right up into their backyard to feed.

We spent a total of four days with his family, and I greatly enjoyed meeting all of them. Ron and I have been married nearly 9 years, and this is the first time I've ever met my in-laws, but honestly, it felt as though I'd always known them. Everyone was so welcoming to me, and it truly felt like going home.

Here's Ron and Aaron with Ron's parents, Ronnie & Nancy:

Here are some other shots of family:

We also saw Lyons Falls . . . I love waterfalls!

On our way home we stopped in Pine Grove, PA and visited Sweet Arrow Lake, where we saw another waterfall and got pictures in front of the lake:

On the way home we spent a day in Washington, DC. If traveling to DC, I suggest staying at a hotel near the Metro. Then, you don't have to drive at all. The way to travel in DC, is definitely the Metro, and I was actually pretty good at navigating it before the day was over. I also suggest you allot more than one day to this city if you actually want to see very much. We flew through two museums (barely skimming the surface) and then we took Aaron to the zoo. He loved seeing all the different animals. Here are just a couple of favorites.

Please see my album on Facebook for more vacation pics!

The Blackmail File

2010-05-03T11:26:00.000-05:00

Oh, our poor children. They have no idea how the things bringing them such innocent entertainment could pop back up in about 15 or so years and be used to blackmail them!

We may never know what is so fascinating to him now about a bra, but we shall keep these in the blackmail file for future use! :-)

. . . and My Son Shall Say, "Meow!"

2010-04-30T16:30:00.000-05:00

We have a lovely cat . . . Oreo. Aaron loves her dearly. Since he's become mobile, she has gotten more exercise than in all her 10 years. Aaron follows her everywhere, and when she gets still for very long, he inevitably lays on top of her. I think it's his little boy effort to hug her, but at this age, he hasn't quite figured out how to do so without laying his full weight on her. I'm so happy that she's been amazingly tolerant of Aaron's attentions.

What Aaron also has a love for is cat food. I've tried everything! I've redirected his attention. I've spatted hands. I've sternly said no. Short of placing the cat food out of his reach, I cannot keep him out of it! Sure, I know logically that it's not going to hurt him, but still . . . yuck! This cannot possibly taste good! Not to mention a little boy with cat food breath is also not the best smell in the world! Sigh! I suppose I should look at it positively. It is indoor formula cat food, so at least Aaron shouldn't develop any hairballs any time soon! LOL

Of course, I've been comforting myself with the fact that Aaron had not yet discovered the litter pan. This discovery has been delayed by closing the bathroom door. I know you can guess where this is going . . . Ron left the bathroom door open. I'm trying to finish supper, and we noticed Aaron was very quiet. Now all parents can tell you, contrary to what one might think, this is not a good thing! Ron went to check on him, and the next thing I hear is, "Darlin'? Can you please come? I need your help!" And what should I find in the bathroom? A helpless husband, and a little boy that's a bit perplexed. He can't possibly understand what is so distressing at this moment, as he stands there . . . with cat litter in his hair, all over his clothes, on top of the closed toilet lid, in the bathtub, and all over the floor. His main concern at that moment is that Daddy was holding him, and he couldn't continue with his fun! I am so thankful that I'd just cleaned that litter pan, meaning it'd been sifted, not that this was new clean litter! First step, clean all the litter out of the tub. And that doesn't mean washing it down the drain. It is after all clumping litter. Once the tub was clear of litter, Aaron was stripped and plopped in bathwater to play with his duckies while Mommy cleaned up the remainder of the mess!

And while Ron has been most attentive to closing the bathroom door since this event, the solution to ending the consumption of cat food has yet to be found. If this continues, I fully expect to hear Aaron say, "Meow!"

Aaron & Oreo both giving me a little while of peace!

Easter 2010

2010-04-08T14:15:00.000-05:00

Aaron experienced his second egg hunt of the season on Easter Sunday at my Memaw's. It was a most enjoyable small family gathering. The egg hunting enthusiasts, including myself, didn't seem quite so enthusiastic this year. The eggs were only hidden and hunted once. Honestly, I pretty much stink at hunting eggs. Put me into egg hunting battle with the average kid, and I will lose - every time. So, with me as his only help, Aaron is pretty much doomed. Fortunately, he had plenty of help Sunday and ended up with 14 eggs in his basket . . . which I figure is quite a haul for a 15 month old! Here are a couple of pictures . . . one with Mommy, and one with Daddy.

Spring Break 2010

2010-04-01T16:10:00.000-05:00

So, it's been two and a half weeks since my last update, but in my defense, I've been quite busy!

For the week following my last update I was swamped at work. Afterall, I was taking some vacation time last week, and had to get my desk clear before being off. Then of course, I took that time off, and really, you can't expect me to keep you all updated via dial-up . . . can you?

So, I quite enjoyed my Spring Break. Really, it was Ron's Spring Break from school. I just chose to take my vacation time so I could be off with him. We worked on a few projects on our property, where we plan to build our dream home. One of those projects was painting the shed. We've yet to complete that project, but it's about 3/4 of the way done and looking quite nice . . . out with the gray and in with the green.

We also ran a little plumbing. When our well was put down, a faucet was attached to the tank, but when we built the pump house around it, that left the faucet inside the pump house. So, we removed the original faucet, added some plumbing, drilled a hole, and we now have a faucet outside the pump house. It's the small things. Aaron was doing helpful things like playing with cans of cleaning compound and plumbing cement (I promise those cans were closed very tightly!).

Of course we spent some time with family. At our Friday night dinner with my parents, Aaron got to swing with his cousins, Linzey and McKayla. He then played piano with Linzey and I (McKayla got in on this after we'd put the camera away).

And then on Saturday, we attended our first egg hunt of the season. Aaron discovered a love of the trampoline and found his first egg.

Oh, and the fun continued later that evening as he discovered he could walk . . . Really! Which you can view here, since I can't figure out how to upload video into this thing!

What a Busy Weekend!

2010-03-15T10:38:00.001-05:00

This weekend went by in a whirlwind of busyness for me . . .

I woke at 7 a.m. Saturday morning, and by 8:30 I had a load of laundry washed and ready to go on the line, and I had my car washed! Ron came home from work and waxed my car for me. Before the day was over, I'd washed a total of 3 loads of laundry, hung them out to dry, and gotten two loads in. Ron got the last load for me. I mopped the floors. I cleaned the bathroom. I washed the dishes. We briefly attended a birthday party next door. Aaron and I attended the baby shower I was helping host at my mom's house.

In spite of what I felt was a lot of last minute planning, the shower turned out quite well. Naomi made a cute horse cake, and the punch was both tasty and a pretty cloudy blue.

Sunday we went to church and then we stopped by our property afterward. We began painting our pump house quite a while back, and we decided to try and finish it. We first applied primer on the last of the bare spots, and then we broke out the paint. We used a whole gallon of paint, and the pump house is now a nice country shade of green. It looks quite nice. We do still need to put a second coat on a small section, but since we'd finished off a gallon of paint and it was time to head home, we decided that last little bit of second coating will wait until we paint our shed (soon) the same lovely color of green. And, while we were beautifying the outbuildings of our future home, Aaron was entertaining himself by using the stepladder as an assisted walking apparatus. Hey . . . whatever makes him (safely) happy!

I Used to be So Organized

2010-03-12T16:41:00.002-06:00

There was a time I was the master of organization. I reconciled my bank accounts and credit cards weekly, if not more often. I never ran out of anything. I had my menus planned. My house was clean and organized. You get the picture. I was a bit OCD.

S o o o o o, what happened? Well my downhill slide began after Hurricane Katrina. Nothing like losing your home to a hurricane and moving into a much smaller place (not to mention a touch of depression, I think) to knock you on your butt. But, I gradually began regaining my sanity and organization.

Then . . . I found out I was pregnant. I still managed to hold it together until rather close to the end. And then, my organization went down the tubes again. I spent the first year of Aaron's life feeling rather overwhelmed by all that was required of me. Aaron is 14+ months old now, and I finally feel like I'm starting to get it under control again.

My main area of weakness now is in planning events (which I love to do). Remember how OCD I am? I like the events I plan to go perfectly and smoothly. I, along with my sister and two cousins, am planning a baby shower. This event is happening tomorrow. I feel like I'm skating in just under the wire. I just purchased the game gifts, the punch supplies, the chip and dip, and a gift for the baby. So, I've got it all together . . . right? Nope, I just realized, upon a phone call from my sister, that I forgot to send invitations to two people who should have gotten invited! YIKES! I feel awful.

I'm really going to get this thing called life back in order. I am. And the next time I plan an event, I'm going to do much better . . .

On the other hand, here's the punch recipe I'm using for tomorrow. It sounds good and looks cute (though ours will be without the rubber duckies).

Ouch Report #1

2010-03-03T10:01:00.001-06:00

Aaron received his first Ouch Report yesterday, less than an hour after I dropped him off. He is trying to get the hang of walking, and yesterday he fell, striking his head on the edge of the little tykes picnic table in the one year old room. This apparently left a red mark next to his right eye. It was treated with "ice, hugs, and kisses", and there was no evident sign of injury by the time I picked him up last night. I have the distinct feeling this is only the beginning . . .

Aaron's nemesis of the day . . .

. . . and the Parent's of the Year are . . .

2010-03-03T09:43:00.001-06:00

not us! We aren't bad parents . . . really, we aren't, but this past Friday and Saturday definitely did not highlight our strong points!

Friday, I put Aaron into a pair of pants that were already inhabited by a giant bumble bee! Of course, I didn't know there was a bee in there. Who would think? This pair of pants had been sitting in my clean laundry basket for a week. How did a bee go unnoticed with a cat in the house??? And all of Aaron's reactions to a bee in his pants were so easily explained due to his normal reactions to getting dressed or having gas, etc. When I finally realized something was going on and stripped off his pants, I was stunned to see a bumble bee tumble onto the floor. He'd been stung twice on his leg, but he was happy as a lark once the bee was gone. I, on the other hand, took the opportunity to beat myself up (even though I realize now I really couldn't have known) and cry . . .

Saturday, Ron put Aaron into his car seat while I was putting some things in the trunk of the car. Ron never buckles Aaron (unless I'm not there), and didn't this time. When I stepped around from the trunk of the car to buckle him in, the car seat was empty. My heart dropped. I leaned over his seat, and there in the floorboard lay a little boy with a "How do I get out of this?" look on his face! Of course it's quite funny now, but we're going to have to be more vigilant in the future. If he'd climbed out the other side of his seat, he would have fallen out of the car (as the door was also left open), and the outcome would have been significantly less comical!

This thing looks so much more harmless here than it did in Aaron's pants!

Good-Bye for a Little While

2010-03-01T12:17:00.002-06:00

We said our last earthly good-byes Saturday to my dear friend, Mrs. Betty. The moment you entered the chapel, where there was only standing room, it became apparent just how many lives she has touched. Her eulogy was touchingly beautiful . . . not because it was eloquently spoken, but because every word of it was true. As her husband spoke of "my sweet Betty" the tears couldn't be stayed. And, as we all gathered at her earthly home after the service, it was obvious what a fine collection of family and friends she had gathered. There is no doubt that the world just feels emptier without Mrs. Betty, but she is now in a more wonderful place, and I look forward to the day I shall see her again.

The following obituary is copied from www.sunherald.com

Betty Alice Brooks
Betty Alice Brooks, 64, of Vancleave went to sleep in Christ Tuesday, February 16, 2010, in Ocean Springs. Born to the late Robert and Birdie Stewart of Hancock County, Mrs. Brooks was in banking for 46 years, and spent the last 22 years with Merchants and Marine Bank in Pascagoula, where she was Assistant Vice President in Loan Production. She was a member of the Berean Bible Study Group in Mobile, Alabama. She is survived by her soul mate and best friend of 37 years, Albert Brooks of Vancleave; her sister Linda Craft; her brother Doug Stewart of Hancock County; and a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends In addition to her parents, Mrs. Brooks was preceded in death by her sister Peggy Odom, also of Hancock County. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation, 980 Sandhill Road, Suite 200, Reno, NV 89521 (nvchildrenscancer.org). Visitation will be held Saturday, February 27, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home, 911 Porter, Ocean Springs. The service will be followed by a Celebration lunch at the home of Al Brooks. The family would be honored if those who knew her would join in celebrating our time with her together. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com.

Steer Clear of the Doppelganger!

2010-02-25T16:32:00.002-06:00

It's been a week and a day since my last post. This is the problem I seem to have when I blog. I tend to let it slide. But, I'd determined I'm actually going to keep this up this time. Not much today, just my morning encounter with a doppelganger . . .

So, I got behind a man this morning on my way to work. I'm telling you, someday this man is going to blow and kill a few people. As I approached him from the rear (I was driving faster than he was), I noticed he was driving quite erratically. He jerked the vehicle twice to the left pretty hard. I'm thinking he was digging around in his floorboard or something and veering out of his lane and jerking back in . . . I really wanted to pass, but was afraid he'd run me off the road. I was at least 2 to 3 car lengths behind him, but apparently this wasn't far enough to suit him. Next thing I know, he's slowing down, pulling to the right, making erratic hand gestures for me to pass. As I pass, I can see him (probably) cursing me, and he then takes the opportunity to lay down on the horn. What is his problem??? The most disturbing part is that he looks remarkably similar to Terry O'Quinn (who plays John Lock on Lost) which prompted me to remember that quite some time ago, he and I had the same identical encounter on the road! Seriously people, I never get hand gestures or horn blowing. This man is going to make the evening news someday, and not in a good way!

So, this is your warning, if you see Terry O'Quinn's doppelganger driving a small dark truck on the roads, steer clear! Seriously, would you want to encounter this man if he were irritated with you???

Do Your Friends Know You Love Them?

2010-02-17T10:00:00.000-06:00

I received a phone call yesterday from our pastor . . . A lady from Church went Home yesterday. I knew she was having some problems, but had no idea just how serious they were. She had open heart surgery Monday. They were unable to restart her heart. Her left ventricle just wouldn't pump. She was put on a heart/lung bypass, which was removed yesterday, and shortly thereafter, she left us.

There are no words that can truly convey the essence of this wonderful woman. She was always so vibrant and full of life. Always with a laugh and smile. Always with a hug or caring word. I loved her so dearly, and I never told her. I'm not even sure I realized the extent of my love for her until yesterday afternoon when I received that phone call.

This is a case where our loss is her gain. She has something so much more wonderful now, but the world is left a little worse off without her in it. I just wish I'd told her how much she means to me while I could. I hope somehow she knew . . .

Valentine's Day 2010

2010-02-15T10:21:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to give huge praise to my husband, who remembered Valentine's Day for the first time in years! A traditional card just wouldn't cut it (he couldn't find one he liked) . . . no, he did so much better. A bottle of body wash with a bath poof, candles, chocolates, and a box of caramel popcorn. Plus, he bought a HUGE pizza and some soda for dinner, and rented three movies so we could relax a little! He gets huge props this year! :-)

Snow Day 2010

2010-02-15T10:13:00.000-06:00

Snow is quite a rarity around here. The last time we had snow was 14 years ago, so when they announced on the news Thursday that we could expect snow the next day, I was understandably skeptical. It did, however, snow. We had a beautiful steady snow for about 3 or 4 hours on Friday. Of course it had rained all night, so any snow that landed in water or very wet ground immediately melted. And what did stick, didn't stick long. But, it snowed, and around here we'll take what we can get!

I threw on my robe over my sleep clothes and tucked Aaron inside with me. We stuck a hat on his head and out we went to let him experience the falling snow. Of course he had no idea what this white stuff was falling from the sky! But then, he let out squeals of delight and started just bouncing in my arms with excitement! Ron took a couple of pictures of us to document the experience. So, until it snows again . . . many years from now . . .

Rose Colored Memories

2010-02-10T16:43:00.000-06:00

We all get curious about those people in our past with whom we've lost touch. That's the beautiful thing about social networking sites, we can find them. We can feed our curiosity by seeing what the people of our past are doing now . . . who they are now . . . I'll admit it - no one is exempt from this curiosity.

So, I facebook stalked my ex-boyfriend the other day - my first ex-boyfriend. He didn't make his page nearly as private as I did mine, so I could see that he is married with children and gainfully employed. Good for him. What struck me, however, is how much different he seemed from the person I remember. I remember tall, dark, and handsome. I remember him being funny, but also having a certain sadness. And now . . . he's quite pudgy and not nearly so handsome as I remember, but based on his wall posts, I must say he seems as good natured as always. And, perhaps that is the rose coloring of my memories. Maybe he was never as good looking as I remember. Maybe I just saw him as so, because I was so in love . . . And, maybe he looks so ordinary today, because he truly is just another person in the world that I happen to remember, and my love is placed elsewhere . . .

Maybe some memories just need to be left in the past . . . in their rose colored glow, for to dust them off today and look at them again . . . they just seem so small . . .

The Road Not Taken

2010-02-09T17:07:00.001-06:00

Everything in life is about the roads we choose to take. My old blog, I decided, was far too negative . . . OK, so I rarely ever posted to it, but its very address and title? Negative . . . So, I've decided to take my blog on a new path. I changed the web address and title, and hope I'm creating a more positive energy. And, now to share a poem that makes you think about the roads you take . . .

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost