Reflecting on Saturday morning

I wake each morning with the thrill of expectation

and the joy of being alive. And I'm thankful for this day.

~Angela L. Wozniak

Up and moving on this early Saturday morning. Darkness still blankets the sky and so does a thin layer of clouds - and the full moon provides enough light to see the roses in the backyard. Fog and Full moon do not create a good situation for one who wanted to view a flyby of the space station or try to catch a glimpse of the meteor shower. Bummer, it is! However, since I am up I will get in my early morning spin on the stationary bike while catching up on my blog reading and posting. Why not, right?

Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now

without wishing it were different;

enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will);

being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won't).

- James Baraz

The last 9 days of summer break are here for the boys; August 22 they go back to school - Robert will be in 10th and Matthew in 7th. I look at them everyday (basically I look up to them as they both have surpassed me in height) and I am in awe of how they change daily. Physically they have gotten taller, have filled out, look more "manly" and less "boyish". Mentally they continue to mature, to ask about "grown up" things and have discussions that seem more "adult-like" versus "kiddish". Little by little, they take steps toward independence - not needing their mommy or daddy as much as they use to; yet upset if we aren't there to help out when they need it.

As mentioned in a previous post - this summer wasn't like other summer for there seem to be no "down" time. With both boys signed up for different activities, DH working in *The Stores* and I working my part-time job as well as playing taxi driver...gone are the days of the long family vacations, the days of little boys going fishing with their daddy & grandfather in Colorado; the day trips to the beach where little curious fingers try to pick up a little crab only to get pinched. While it is ok to look back, to open all those photo albums of summer vacations and times spent looking for dinosaurs...it is ok to know that those are memories to last a life time and those that we make now are just as important.

Yes, the summer break activities change - they change with the times, they change as the boys change and as DH and I change. It isn't a bad thing at all...it just is. And talking with the boys, while they miss a day trip to the pond for a little fishing or to the beach for a little exploring, they said that there wasn't anything that they would have changed this summer (except the fact that Robert had some summer homework, which he wishes he would have started earlier in the summer).

Robert enjoyed the hockey clinic that he participated in, which took up much of the summer vacation as it ended July 28th. He not only got to play with some of his hockey teammates, but enjoyed playing around with some of the older boys who have moved on to Junior leagues and were home for the summer. He also has enjoyed getting back into the school track program during the last few week (although his feet, I am not so sure they were happy about it, as blisters tell that story). Matthew enjoyed being a junior camp counselor, working with 3-5 year olds as well as elementary school age kids. He learned responsibility - calling the director if he was going to be late or asking for more volunteer hours when he wasn't scheduled. I am proud of my boys!

So as Summer Break 2011 comes to a close - this last week will be filled with school registration days, ortho & dentist appointments and evening hockey practices. I will be taking vacation days from my part-time job to get all the school preparation activities complete as well as work in some time to do some things that we haven't made time for yet - get in a little bowling, maybe work  in a trip up to the pool, sneak in a hike at a nature reserve or just have a quiet lunch together.

The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. 

When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.        

-Thich Nhat Hanh

Well, I will conclude this post. I am grateful that you stopped by for a visit. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa