Laughing Water is almost as tall as me now!

 This blog has been silent for about a year-and-a-half.  I've missed it.  I've missed chronicling our lives and musing outloud my crazy notions of life.  But, I guess I needed a break.  Life had me by the tail and I didn't even have time to talk about it.  I was struggling to keep peace and beauty in our lives and documenting it wasn't in the cards.  Life still has me by the tail, but I'm learning to flex with it.  And I want to notice again.  I want to notice the joys and count the good things and dream my crazy dreams and voice my idealistic thoughts and mourn out loud when life doesn't achieve them.  The crazy journey of life deserves to be noticed.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes, growing up too fast!

A lot has happened in the last 1 1/2 years.  Laughing Water is  now a Freshman.  We still home school.  I'm surprised, myself, that we are still home schooling, but it just evolved that way and we are still loving it.  She keeps busy - probably too busy.  But she likes it that way.  What a delight to be her mom and watch her blossom into a lady!

Mr. Blueberry Eyes is a fifth grader now.  He is active and talented and keeps us all young.  He dropped violin lessons and took up the ukulele.  This suits him well, and he is embracing it with enthusiasm.  I'm so blessed to be given the opportunity to parent him.  It is a wild ride and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The Wood Artist is still sojourning in the land of oil.  Its been 2 1/2 years + now.  It is so not what we like.  But, I can tell you, he is a man's man.  This guy puts in long, long work weeks so that his wife and children have what they need.  He holds our family together through prayer and long phone conversations.  He  is intentional about spending individual time with each of us on his times home and lives out his faith in the servant-leadership of his family.  We are most blessed.

Rudolph gets his Christmas nose

Our animal family has changed a bit.  Old Faithful passed away last summer.  We miss his sweet, old, collie wisdom. Lucky Tiger, the kitty we've had since our Hong Kong days is aging quickly and suffering kidney failure.  The Mighty Hunting Hound is still our funny side-kick, keeping us warm on these below zero days.  Duma Kitty joined us almost two years ago and I'm still not sure if we should keep her.  She can be so sweet.  But she has a mental illness that causes her to turn to Diablo Kitty without notice.  Mr. Blueberry Eyes' is sporting a zebra face right now to prove that.  Last year, Rebel, a 20 year old horse joined our family through the hard work of Mr. Blueberry Eyes.  He has proven to be a good thing in the life of a horse-crazy boy!

Laughing Water's Baby Spoon Ornament

Mr. Blueberry Eyes' Ornament

 So I guess that leaves me.  There isn't much to tell.  I'm 1 1/2 years older.  I hurt in places I didn't. I have more gray hair that I studiously keep hidden under dye.  I'm just trying to take it all with arms open wide to the blessings of Our Heavenly Father.  And I'm glad to be back in the blogosphere! - Nanette