*ornithology*

the kids are teaching me to appreciate life in a way only children can :) ...by sitting still and watching the world go by...

we've been at Nonna & Papa's house, and they have a hummingbird feeder. every afternoon, we hang out in the backyard and wait...and then he visits. barely able to contain their excitement, they point and smile and keep their gasps silent. he hovers, takes a long drink and then rests on the feeder. he's beautiful...brown, green, a little red and keahi has named him "snow white," of course...because he's beautiful. he comes back again and again, bringing a wave of joy with him each time.

i rarely take time to settle, to relax my mind. i am always running...in my head, on the road with errands, or in the house with the kids. mom told me to appreciate "the now," for it will soon be a memory. i try to absorb that thought. i don't want the kids to grow up and get too big for hugs and kisses. when i am frustrated, i can't seem to wait for them to be older, be able to do more, not take so long to get dressed or buckled into the car. i hurry them, push them forward, make them rush through their slow paces.

will mom whisper and tell me to settle into "the now?"

love it. embrace it. cherish it.

my "now" is pretty good.

settle in.

*insomnia*

aloha!

i'd really like to be sleeping beauty right now. instead, i'm jumping into cyberspace and posting my first blog. life is going well. we've planted new bushes and trees, and our backyard is looking much better these days. john wanted some color besides brown, and who can blame him? we are looking forward to warmer days, with the blizzards and snow behind us. soon, i'll be complaining that it's too hot and that i can't wait for winter.

three-quarters of the family is vacationing in sunny California for two weeks. the kiddos are getting spoiled by their grandparents and i cannot contain my excitement. it's really neat to see my dad teaching the kids and playing with them. they are having a ball! caden has his sights set on the 1970 red apple Chevy Camaro in the garage. papa says it's his when he turns 16, has earned his license and "can pay for the insurance."

smart man.