Random Conscious Thoughts Thursday

This week I have been so busy enjoying my family, visiting with dear in-laws, kids' swimming lessons, witnessing the magical result of cousins enjoying each other's company, running, and so much more, that I haven't had time to get on my laptop, and I LOVE it. Living real life. Not an alternate online one. I've had no desire to even get on the Internet or on the computer, just relishing in the pure bliss of children completely spellbound by enchanted moments, spending time with and investing in people close by and within arm's reach. 

I'm so excited for my husband because this weekend he is heading to the great outdoors, his second love in life, for some good old camping, hiking and man time.  He and 4 friends are heading up to Hyndman's peak on Friday and will be gone until Saturday night.  I love seeing my Main Man get some refreshing down time, doing the things he loves. It makes my day, month, no, make that my year. My heart is mega full of joy when I see him doing the things he loves.

Oh my gracious, I'M SORE. Played softball on Sunday, and it was awesome, but just as I expected my years are beginning to show and I can't just go out and do some major physical activity, that I haven't done in years and not expect to pay big time for it the next few days. It was so very worth it, though.  Go Calvary Chapel Softball TEAM-Calling all women in the surrounding nearby area-if you've ever played softball, watched softball, even if you've only ever seen an actual softball once-come on out and join the team-we're short a couple of ladies!

My 5th blessing is completely adorable. But she is in this stage of yelling and grunting and screaming, throwing her arms up and whining and even rolling on the floor throwing fits when she wants something. I've had one other child, I believe, who went through this stage... though, for the life of me, I cannot remember who it was!  Hmmm, pretty sure it was one of my girls...darn, that only narrows it down by one... anyways, I'm working on words and sign language with her, but this transition period is draining and needless to say grating! It's neat to see the ways the Lord uses our children and the training of them to train us, their parents as well. Always growing, always learning, patience being stretched, never getting comfortable.  That's the place we are most moldable, useful and effective. God is good to always bring us back to that real place.

I watched a really good movie "Bright Star" (2009) last night with my husband. I would label it a 'tragic romantic drama' that takes place in London in the 1800's. It's based on the true story of renowned Poet John Keats who tragically died at the young age of 25. A true tear-jerker, pleasingly romantic and exceptionally clean!

I will leave you with one of his moving poems to mull over for the day.
To Autumn

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?

Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find

Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,

Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;

Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,

Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep

Steady thy laden head across a brook;

Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,

Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

Where are the songs of spring? Ay, where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, -

While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,

And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;

Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn

Among the river sallows, borne aloft

Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;

And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;

Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft

The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;

And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

~John Keats~ written while in Winchester, 1819, published 1820