Averi Sky

Did you know I have EIGHT beautiful nieces?  In order of appearance...Alexandra, Averi, Zaida, Samantha, Tehya, Eva, Dani and Capri.  This works out great for me since I have two sons and zero daughters.  Two of my beautiful nieces (did I mention they are all beautiful???) are actually double nieces since my brother is married to Jeremy's sister.  Here are some pictures I took of my double niece Averi who will be turning 11 is just a couple weeks.

Favorite pic

I am so blessed to have the opportunity to watch her and all my nieces grow up!  Oh and did I mention I'm going to have NINE nieces soon? ;)

Time

{So lemme get something off my chest real quick.  This is only semi-related to this post but I really need to unload a burden that's been eating away at me since 1995.  When I was a freshman in Mr. Sanderson's honor's English class we did what was called "timed writings".  Whatever book we were reading at the time was the topic and we'd have the hour of class to compose an essay about it.  Well, I was pretty good at these for some reason.  So good that on a few occasions I got an A+ regarding books that I never actually read.  I mean didn't even open.  I didn't even fully read the cliff notes, I'd just skim over the most important points at 7:15am before my first period class.  So there it is.  I have no idea what The Grapes of Wrath is about, nor do I care, but I just had to get that off my cheater-cheater-pumpkin-eater chest.  I feel better.}

Moving on.  I got to thinking the other day about time.  I'm lucky enough to stay at home with my kids.  We have our routine and sometimes it gets so monotonous I lose track of what day it is.  Because honestly, it doesn't even matter too much what day it is.  I have no boss or deadlines to meet. I do what needs to be done and if there is time left over, I do whatever the heck I want.  So I got to wondering what life would be like if we didn't keep track of time, days, years etc.  Then of course I decided to google "Is there a culture that doesn't keep track of time?" because I pretty much google EVERYTHING.

Turns out there is.  A tiny tribe of people in Brazil that live along the Maici River.  Basically this anthropologist spent years studying this culture's language and found that they don't have words for numbers, past or future tenses and no subordinate clauses (Ex. First I'm going to eat breakfast, then I will take a shower).  They are only concerned with the here and now.  The present is the only thing of any importance.  Am I the only one completely intrigued by this?  These people have brains just like us.  (Unlike animals, who don't have the mental capacity to understand the concept of time, don't have memories of what happened before and can't predict what will happen in the future.)  Yet, they live this way, only worried about what is happening at this exact moment.

How would our lives be different if we stopped keeping track of time?  Stopped looking back or forward and just lived?  It seems like it's human nature to want to reflect back, or to plan ahead for things...but apparently not for every human.  We all know we are going to die someday, but what if we didn't know exactly how old we were or what age certain things happen?  Would we live our life differently without that ticking clock?  Would we seize each day?

I know that this thinking is kind of unrealistic, but maybe just a little more enjoying the moment and less worrying about the next would do us all some good.  (Easy for me to say...Ms.Thursdays are Fridays and woo-hoo it's Saturday, nope it's actually Friday.)  And if it seems like I write about this kind of thing a lot, it's only because I really do need to remind myself.  Put the phone down, close the laptop, turn off the TV, stop thinking about all the events on the calender and be here, really be here.

You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. -Henry David Thoreau

I took a walk with the boys the other day, Braxton in the stroller and Kaden on bike.  There's a certain alley where I've taken pictures before and I wanted to take a few of Kaden.

  He wanted to go to the bookstore.  Not take pictures.  

The deal was pictures first, bookstore after.

Well, this is the face I got.

I was honestly just trying to practice and see how the lighting was at a certain time, so it didn't really matter if he smiled.

But the fact that I was asking him (nicely) to smile, and he would not, lead me to decide...

No bookstore for you, butt-head.

Nature...the ultimate teacher

How beautifully leaves grow old.  How full of light and color are their last days. -John Burroughs

Fall is (almost) here.  It may still be quite warm here in Southern California, but there is a crispness in the air, a slight chill at night, a feeling of change.  I love the quote above.  Even as the things of nature that grow from the earth are dwindling down and taking their last breath, there is no sadness or regret. Only beauty.  Nature is constantly showing us the way.  Fall is showing us that change, moving on and even death is a beautiful part of living.

Still quite green around these parts

 At least the pine cones got the memo about fall.

The cold and stillness of winter has a beauty of it's own.  The plants appear dead and lifeless, but in reality, life carries on.  While the earth is resting in peace it's preparing for new life.  Spring is rebirth, new possibilities, growing and starting fresh.  All things have potential, a greatness yet to be seen.  And summer...what is summer but a time to relish things at their greatest?  Nature is alive, thriving, doing what is does best.

Doing what kids do best.

If we are smart, we follow nature's lead in our own lives.  Not pushing against time or change, but going gracefully along with it.  And it's not as easy for us as it is for, say, trees or even animals.  There are things in life that are difficult and painful.  Often times it's those things that are the most important.  Bringing a life into the world, a broken heart, parenting, achieving a goal, the life lessons of adolescence, sickness, disease, losing our loved ones, and dying.  All crazy difficult, sometimes physically and emotionally painful, but all important.  If those things were easy would we truly appreciate their significance?

Little brother picks a fight

Big brother finishes it

I know it is different for everyone, but I see a higher power in nature.  It is sometimes the only time I see one.  The teachings of religion can get muddled by the teacher.  Sometimes churches have agendas that are different from our own.  Other people, even truly great people, are still just people.  They let us down.  The bible has revealed a lot to me, but is often confusing and contradictory.  There is no confusion in a sunset, the waves of the ocean,  the natural connection you feel with your offspring.  And while many will say that those thing are just nature and only nature, I think it's God too.  They way our very lives mirror the seasons of our planet, the way nature is constantly teaching us, inspiring us, even frightening us and reminding us how small we are...it's not a coincidence.

So while it's hot and slightly miserable outside, we're choosing to go with it.  Fall will show up when it's good and ready.

Have a beautiful day.

Moments

There have been lots of memorable moments recently.

Sports moments

(T-Ball photos by the talented Nick Oshiro) 

Daddy tells him to take a practice swing

Cleber Jiu Jitsu

Kaden remains a triple threat.  He played his first year of t-ball, he golfs and has been training in jiu jitsu twice a week consistently for the last 3 months (6 months total since he started).  He has yet to really delve into the competitive aspect of each sport, and I'm good with that.  His main focus is jiu jitsu at this point.  I'm completely amazed at the progress he's made already.   From one practice to the next I watch him improving, using a combination of learned technique and instinct.  He is far from the strongest or most aggressive boy out there, and a lot of times he struggles to get guys off him.  I keep quiet, but I'm screaming instructions in my head.  It's hard when a 6 year old is pinning down your 4 year old and all you can do is watch and try to will every ounce of strength in your body to his.  But, he takes his licks, learns and has fun regardless.  My proudest moments are when I see him practicing a move with a partner and I hear him helping the other kid remember the steps.  "Okay now take my arm with both hands, okay trap my foot...no, this foot.  Okay now throw me over that shoulder..."  Melts my heart.  Witnessing my son learning something new, showing respect, and gaining confidence is such a precious gift.  And to think, I have TWO boys to watch?  I get to experience all this awesomeness unfolding TWICE?  I must have hit the lottery.

Humbling Moments

Photos taken by the talented Cami Chadwick

October 2nd my family and I ran a 5K obstacle mud run.  You know, I've never been the best at any sport, don't think I've ever come in first in any race, but I've always been somewhat athletic.  I have some endurance, and can usually hold my own.  Let's just say, this race had me saying the Lord's prayer about 20 minutes in.  I wanted to quit.  And I often want to quit when I'm running, so that's nothing new, but I actually contemplated quitting this time.  These 5 people literally kept me going.  I owe ya one guys, for real.  And once again, Jeremy proved to be a source of strength during my weakness, shuffling by my side the entire time.  His love and encouragement propelled me forward.  People always say "I couldn't have done this without you", and most the time I think its more of a nice way to say "thanks for helping me".  But I've said those words to Jeremy before with utter sincerity, and this was another one of those times I couldn't have done it without him.  If the true measure of a person is how they lift you up when you think you can't go on, then my man sets the bar.  I told you I hit the lottery.

Lovely Moments 

Moments that let you know there is something bigger.  Moments that make you stop and sigh and remember we are tiny specks in the universe. And celebrating the miracle of life with your best friend moments...

I can't wait to see what memorable moments the next few months bring.