Ah! finally a day of nice weather during our spring break! Most of the break has been cold and wet. Snow vied with slush and rain for precipitation of choice in the first week of April. Up in Little Cottonwood Canyon (Alta and Snobird ski resorts) the snow was so extreme they closed the canyon and issued an Interlodge order. That is apparently an order to remain indoors where ever you are until further notice. There was 47" of snowfall in that one storm for them; and it caused extreme avalance danger.
Down here it was just wet and miserable. Oh, and I had a head cold. I spent two days in bed, just watching movies. Five movies in 2 days. Oi.
But now I feel better, and so does the weather!
I spent the early afternoon washing all the windows on the house, inside and out. That may not sound like much fun, but I enjoyed it! Fresh air and sunshine? I even got a little bit of color on my face! Oh, and I had bought a telescoping pole w/a window washing attachment the other day. It was so much EASIER! I used to climb up on the ladder for each window. What a pain! Now, with the basement window wells, the ladder is no longer an option.
There is something about spring sunshine streaming in sparkling clean windows that really lifts your spirits!
As I was walking out of the grocery store this afternoon, I stopped to admire the snow covered mountains and clean, soft air; as the bells of the local Lutheran church chimed out the hour. The sound of the bells is a nostalgic trigger for me. The sound reminds me of all the bike rides to the library with the kids, the summer city festivals, the fireman's breakfast, the marching band breakfast... really, anything warm weather and family related that would put me outside to hear the chiming of the hours.
Other nostalgic triggers: train whistles; on a warm summer night while the crickets sing! Ahhhhh! Dragonflies; sitting in the back yard watching them dart over our 'pond' while Will and Helena paddle around in it on the lid from the turtle sand box.
We have had so many really good years in this town! Ten years in the same house! That is most of the kids' childhoods. In fact, Will only has vague memories of anything else. I hope to stay here for many, many more years. In fact, I want my grandkids to grow up knowing this as "Grandma's house".
I love where I live! My house is little, but not too little. I won't feel like I have to 'downscale' when the kids move out. My yard is beautiful (or will be when we are finished with it). My street is quiet and filled with good friends and neighbors. The town is big enough to have EVERYTHING I could possibly need within 5 minutes of my house, but small enough to still feel personal and homey. The manager at the local Walkers gas station knows me on sight. In fact, he just smiles and pulls out a drink holder for me because he knows I'm there to buy 3 Icees (I can never buy one for myself without buying them for the kids).
Anyways, as I was enjoying the sound of the church bells, I realized that this is what life is supposed to be all about. I need to focus on all the good times, instead of getting frustrated in the moment.
My kids are not good at pulling in high grades. I get so mad sometimes because deadlines are missed, work goes undone. In fact, sometimes the work IS done, but doesn't get turned in. Aurgh!
The fact is, the kids are not perfect. My husband is not perfect. And it is a good thing, too, because I am no where close to being perfect, either. I don't know anyone who is perfect, in fact. To all those mother's out there who brag up their perfect children, you know you're lying, and I know you're lying.
Actually, things are pretty wonderful around here. My kids love me and tell me so all the time. They come to me with their worries, and stories, even for advice! Still. At 16 and nearly 14. We have a whole family. No divorce. No one is on drugs, pregnant, or in juvie. I can live with the lack of honor roll. Life is bigger than that.
And so, today; I am happy!
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