Deck the Halls

Today is day six of my Musical Count-Down to Christmas and I have another old favorite to share with you.  Bing is back to sing "Deck the Halls", complete with a silly little wintery video:



Lyrics | - Deck the Halls lyrics

Inevitably, when I hear this song, I envision the final scene of "A Christmas Story".  The family has found their way to a Chinese restaurant for Christmas dinner following the tragic destruction of their turkey dinner by the Bumpus hounds.  In a generous effort to cheer the family, the wait staff are attempting to sing Christmas songs.  The Parker family is in absolute stitches over the singers "fa-ra-ra-ra-ra-ing".  So I guess they were successful!

As I listened to this song today, I was caught up again in all the "la, la's".  And there are a lot of them.  Ninety-six, to be exact.

By the third verse, I'm a bit wore out from "la-ing".  We "la" and "la" and "la" some more.  Over and over and over again.

As a mom, I find myself in much the same way repeating tasks and feeling a tad bit worn out by them.

I wash dishes and then turn around to find the sink full again.
I go to the grocery store only to find the fridge empty.  And bright.
I fold the last of the laundry and find the hamper has begun to fill again.
I vacuum the floor and discover that nature has found its way back in.
I prepare a meal and within four hours those kids are hungry again!
I suds up little Lydia in the bath and find her toes are stinky once more.
I cut Aaron's hair and within a few weeks it's curling over his ears again.
I snuggle Ashley as she grieves some new injustice and then find Norah in need of a hug.
I make my bed and then climb in again at night.
I go to sleep only to wake up in the morning to face another day.

La, la, la, la, la ... indeed!

It is tempting at times to look around the house and think that my efforts are in vain.  Does it really matter if I tackle these tasks day after day?!?  In spite of the apparent redundancy of my energies, it does matter.  A lot.

My day may be full of ordinary and oft-repeated tasks, but they are the backbone for our home.  These chores help to make this house a haven for my family.  And anyone else who happens to find themselves under our roof.  That might include you. :)

These endless jobs are actually sacred in God's eyes.  His approval and validation of my attempts to create a home out of this house have the power to change my perspective regarding these mundane tasks.

Suddenly ...
Cleaning up today's umpteenth spill is a spiritual act of worship.
Comforting my little drama queen is a ministry to her heart.
And serving my family is an opportunity to love them with Jesus's love.

The days of a mom may feel a bit like an unending list of "la, la, la's".  But in truth, each day we have an opportunity to live a life that sings back to God of His goodness and faithfulness.  And seeing as God's love and compassion are endless, we have a lot of singing to do!

Fa-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la!

Random Acts of Thankfulness

You know how it is ... you try to teach your kids something and then you discover that it's YOU who needs the lesson!  After working on yesterday's post, I had a grumpy day ... a "what about me" sort of day. :(  That's just the way God works sometimes ...

At first I felt grumbly ... then I felt a bit convicted ... and then I got busy!  While the baby girls were in the tub this morning, I sat down with my journal and started jotting down all the parts of my life that I'm thankful for.  As is usually the case, it was a little tough getting started, but then I got my gratitude-juice flowing and I ended up with a long, lovely list of gratefulness!

And now in no particular order ... my random thoughts of thankfulness:

Hot running water ~ I'm so glad that I don't have to head down to the creek with my bucket to fill and then heat on the stove before getting anything clean.

Listening to my kids giggle ~ It's one of the most contagious "germs" around.  And the only one I like to "catch".

Sunny spot on the couch ~ For about 5 months out of the year, the sun hits the end of the couch everyday at about 2 pm ... just in time for a nap or a football game ... or both! :)

Microwave ~ Also an instant heat-up ... of food, that is.

Kids' forgiveness when I mess up ~ I'm so grateful that they don't hold a grudge when I'm demanding or unreasonable.  When I ask for forgiveness, the give me a clean-slate.  Whew!

Christmas music in November ~ We have decided to study a Christmas song for our next KEBL night... which gave me free license to listen to a couple holiday albums last night.  :)  Love it!

Brett's servant's heart ~ You can't out-serve this guy ... it's impossible.  He's a professional.

Cordless phones ~ I can get to where my kids are when they need me ... or get away from them when they need me.  It's a win-win situation!

Washer & Dryer ~ I love the thump-thump-thump of the machines working hard, while I'm doing something else.  Also see the "hot running water" entry above ... and add "beating clothes against the rocks".  Ugh.

Relaxing enough to be silly with my kids ~ When I make my kids giggle because of something I said or did, their laughter is that much sweeter.

After-Kids-Go-To-Bed bliss ~ The quietness of those first few minutes after they are in bed is delightful ... until the first, "Mom, I need..."

Aaron getting goofy with his sissies ~ Even if it's not cool, it's fun and funny.

Warm scarves ~ 'Tis the season of knitted scarves knotted at my neck ... and the warm toastyness that comes along with it.

Sweet words from one kid to another ~ Simple sweetness to my ears!

Baskets & bins ~ They give the illusion of a tidy house ... at least everything has a place.  Somewhere.

Spontaneous "I Love You's" ~ Especially when I don't quite feel like I deserve it (see intro above).

Things my kids can do on their own ~ When their independence frees me up to take care of something else, it truly is a gift!  Currently its the fact that my older kids can wash up in the shower on their own - yipee!

Lydia reading her own books ~ And giving herself hugs while reading "Hug" by Jez Alborough.

Window-shopping through the holiday catalogues at my kitchen table ~ No hustle, no bustle, or bundling up to go out ... and it's cheap, too!  Add a hot mug of tea and it's an absolute treat!

When my neighbors are also our bus drivers ~ When I don't do school drop-off or pick-up, I gain a whole hour of my day!

Hugs in the kitchen ~ 100% un-expected and 100% enjoyed.

Tantalizing smell of dinner in the afternoon ~ Let that crock-pot do it's job!

Ashley singing along at bedtime ~ Even if she makes up half the words ... her heart's in the right place.

Our Veterans ~ So thankful for the freedoms we enjoy because of their sacrifice ... and the sacrifices of their families, too.

Kids who are proud of themselves ~ Whether it's a spelling test, coloring in the lines, finding their shoes or a back kick-over ... they know they rock and their smiles prove it!

Reminiscing ~ Time with family and friends and the many memories that are revisited ... and the laughter that inevitably ensues.  Throw an album in there and it gets hysterical.

Double Stroller ~ The only way I have been able to get out of the house with multiple little people for the past 8 years.  I love that thing!

Soft-hearts ~ And the unexpected tears when our hearts are touched.  (Click here for the perfect example of surprising tears.  Be sure to watch until the end ... that's when it got me.)  I'm also known for crying during commercials and when people are eliminated from the Amazing Race.  I feel.  A lot.  And it's a good thing.

That I'm not a Casteller ~ And neither are my children.  See above.

A hubby who likes to hold hands ~ And snuggle!

Music that sings what's in my heart ~ Thank you, Sara, Jack, Bebo and many others!

Freckles on my kids' noses ~ I want to kiss each and every one of them.

When my kids eat their veggies ~ Nope ... vegetables aren't evil!  They can be pretty tasty, actually.

My Pampered Chef Scraper ~ It stands up to the most stuck-on, stickiest messes ... and comes out the winner!

Our doctors ~ High-quality health-care at our fingertips.  And the kids get stickers at check-out ... boo-yeah!

Brett's faithfulness at work ~ Even if it's not his "dream job" he works hard to provide for us.

Slippers and throw blankets ~ Snuggled up in my cocoon ... mmmmm ....

Disposable diapers ~ No words necessary. :)

Norah's servant's heart ~ She loves to be a super helper - and that's super!

Kids' goofy smiles and funny faces ~ Unless I'm trying to get a nice family picture.

Kids' curiosity ~  Their pure amazement when they learn something new is terrific and I get to see the world brand-new again through their young eyes.

Inside jokes between Brett and I ~ Yarp!

Being in the kids' classes ~ Volunteering in their school lets me see my kids in action ... and watch them shine!

Unintentional clothing matching ~ When the girls all match, it's so cute.  When Brett and I do, it's scary.

Cameras & Computers ~ Capturing the many snapshots of life and the memories I want to keep.  And revisit.

I'm sure my list will be going on ... and on ... and on ...

Stop the Ride ... I'd Like to Get Off!

I'd like to take a little poll here.  By a show of hands,  :)  who would agree with the following statements:

• Every time I cross something off my "To Do" list, another two tasks take it's place.
• There are items of my "To Do" list that have been there for the past 6 months.  (What is the statute of limitations on Spring Cleaning?  Does it technically have to be "Spring"?)
• I am feeling a bit outnumber by the people who need me.  1 to about 132 ...
• When I look at my day with the hopes of cutting something out ... it all appears to fall under the category of "Essential".
• I periodically start my day with, "Whew!  I'm already pooped!"
• All the stuff on my list today is "good stuff" ... I don't want to drop any of it.
• I need about 3 extra hours to my day to feel like I could get it all done.
• I really just want to play.

So ... anybody feeling the same way?  I know it's not just me.  :)  Actually, it seems whenever I talk to any of my other friends (Mommy or otherwise) this seems to be the overwhelming response.  We are fried, frazzled and full to the brim with responsibilities.  Even if it is an overwhelmingly common way to feel ... it still doesn't feel good.  

We can feel like life is flying past and we are just (barely) taking care of the basics.  We can feel like we are not in control of our days, that we are at the mercy of whatever needs to get done.  We can feel like our days are on fast-forward and there's no way to press stop or rewind.  We can feel like we are missing out on the good stuff because of the urgent stuff.  We can feel like we are losing our significance in the itty-bitty details of life.  We can feel like we would like to stop this crazy ride and get off for a bit.

Jack Johnson has a great song that sort of puts to words this feeling of wanting to have life be different.  Wanting life to halt, slow down, pause.  Wanting to not feel like we are busy for no reason.  Here are the lyrics to "Breakdown".  I strongly urge you to listen to it, but reading the lines are powerful, too.  Play close attention to the last lines in verse two  ... it strikes me as so very true.

"Breakdown"

I hope this old train breaks down

Then I could take a walk around

And, see what there is to see

And time is just a melody

All the people in the street

Walk as fast as their feet can take them

I just roll through town

And though my windows got a view

The frame I'm looking through

Seems to have no concern for now

So for now

I need this

Old train to breakdown

Oh please just

Let me please breakdown

This engine screams out loud

Centipede gonna crawl westbound

So I don't even make a sound

Cause it's gonna sting me when I leave this town

All the people in the street

That I'll never get to meet

If these tracks don't bend somehow

And I got no time

That I got to get to

Where I don't need to be

So I

I need this

Old train to breakdown

Oh please just

Let me please breakdown

I need this

Old train to breakdown

Oh please just

Let me please breakdown

I wanna break on down

But I cant stop now

Let me break on down

But you cant stop nothing

If you got no control

Of the thoughts in your mind

That you kept in, you know

You don't know nothing

But you don't need to know

The wisdoms in the trees

Not the glass windows

You cant stop wishing

If you don't let go

But things that you find

And you lose, and you know

You keep on rolling

Put the moment on hold

The frames too bright

So put the blinds down low

Isn't that so great?  "I got no time that I got to get to where I don't need to be."  That about sums up some of my days!  But what to do with it ...


I don't really know, because while the above poll was kinda funny, it's also painfully true in my life.  I think the only real response I can have to this full, fast-paced life is to try to do the following:

• Take a serious look at my "To Do's" and perform a little surgery.  It's essential to eliminate the extra stuff that isn't essential.  That might be a tough process, but it is necessary.  (Kinda like taking off a band-aid ... right off!  Thanks Seinfeld!)  I might even have to get some outside perspective from Brett ... find out from him what he thinks is important for our family and marriage and me.
• Take time to talk to God ... it's entirely possible that I have said, "Yes," to more than I should.  I know that He'll confirm in my heart the things that can stay in my schedule and the things that have to go!
• Take charge of what I can have some control over and let go of all the rest.  When I don't try to have control over everything, my stress level drops significantly.
• Take a break.  One item that needs to be near the top of my list is down time.  It is very easy for me to run straight to empty.  There will always be something to do, so it's important for me to daily take a rest.  I try to make a commitment to have play time with the kids every day and one-on-one time with my hubby ... they truly are my priority.
• Take time to enjoy the ride.  Life is full.  Life is crazy.  Life is a dizzying ride of highs & lows.  But life is intended to be fun.  Even if your head is spinning and you kinda want it to slow down ... we don't necessarily want it to stop.

I want to leave you with a little photograph ... but first the context.  This past summer, our family went to Santa's Village in Colorado Springs.  This was our kids' first taste of an amusement park and while the rides were pretty much geared to little people ... it was just our size.  We rode the ferris wheel (and was reminded again of my fear of heights!), the lady-bugs (Lydia's favorite), the boats (Aaron's "excitement" was obvious), the little horse & carriage (a big hit with Ashley) and the we have a picture of Norah doing a handstand at the North Pole.  But the highlight for me was riding the Tilt-a-Whirl with Aaron & Norah.

There wasn't much of a line for this ride so before we knew it we were headed toward our car, without a chance to give it a second thought.  We sat back and pulled the bar toward our bellies.  The operator came around and made sure we were secure and told us, "If you want the ride to stop, just put up a thumbs-down."  Thumbs-down ... check.  The rest of the cars filled up and the operator made his way to the controls.  Norah was a little excited-nervous and I tried to settle her by assuring her that it would be fun ... having no basis for that claim, whatsoever!  With a mechanical groan the ride started moving and our car swung back and forth kind of lazily.  "See," I said, "That's no so bad."  

Famous last words.  Within just a few moments, we began to pick up momentum and the car started Tilting and Whirling ... we all started screaming!  But it was that hysterical, "I'm laughing-screaming" kind of screaming.  The "I'm not sure if it's fun, but I think so" crazy screaming.  I remember being pinned to the back of the seat, hearing my kids insane laughter and the wild looks on their faces (as I tried to turn my head from side to side ... not an easy task considering the g-forces!).  The ride seemed to go for-ev-er and I don't think we stopped screaming (even to breath) the whole time!  I couldn't have raised my hand to give a thumbs-down if I'd wanted to!  Finally there was a subtle slowing of the ride and eventually we came to a gasping, throat-worn-out, dizzying stop.  The operator actually said, "If you want to go again, just stay where you are."  With a desperate, "NO!" we made our clumsy, bumbly, klutzy exit ... giggling all the way down the stairs.  When I asked if it was fun, they both replied enthusiastically, "Yes!"  Did they want to go again?  NO WAY!

Waiting ...

Tilting and ...

Whirling!

It's the same with some parts of life.  It can seem like a crazy ride that we want to give a thumbs-down to and get off ... but if we really are honest with ourselves, we wouldn't trade it for anything!  Even if it makes us a little sick sometimes. :)  So hang-in there ... and hang-on!  Life is a wild ride!

Nervous Nelly Belly

My big, little girl (i.e. Norah) is famous for having a nervous nelly belly ... this would be one of the many ways that we are alike.  She, like her mommy, gets that floppy, butterfly feeling whenever she is up against something new, challenging, different, scary, difficult, unfamiliar or anything she has to do on her own.  Anytime that she is facing an experience that she knows is going to ask a bit more of her or that she knows will require her to dig a little deeper into herself or that in which she knows she will have to stand on her own two feet ... she gets that flippy, floppy feeling deep inside.  A nervous nelly belly.  Knowing her like I do, and knowing how hard it is to pull herself together and take on the task at hand, I am so very proud of her when she does.

Each day before school, I feel her little grasp get a bit tighter as the time approaches for her to head off into class.  In spite of her being excited about school and excelling, it is still hard for her to step off alone.  But she does it.

Each day of gymnastics, she starts dragging her heals and making little "stay with me" faces as class time approaches.  She absolutely loves gymnastics, but it is hard for her to head through that door on her own.  But she does it.

This summer at swim lessons, she clung to my hand as I signed her in each morning ... she has quite a grip!  She then would proceed to jump into the pool with a splash and enjoy her 30 minutes, but she was definitely reluctant to go off without me.  But she did it.





Can you tell that I'm just a tad bit proud? :)  Because of these good healthy challenges and these wonderful character building experiences, we have seen our sweet girl grown into a confident, mature and independent young lady.  And she's only 6 and 11/12 years old! :)

Seeing as little Norah is able to master her nervous nelly belly and take on the challenges ahead of her ... she has been an inspiration for me to step up and step out, too.  Did I say that we are alike? :)

When I was little, I vividly remember standing in the wings during a talent show at Ouray School and feeling sick to my wee little stomach.  I was dressed as a little angel and was all ready to perform a little song about "Five Little Angels" ... I don't think I made it on stage.  I also remember attending one day of ballet ... giant butterflies in my belly and a huge desire to disappear into the wood-work.

Even as an adult I have struggled with feeling anxious and uneasy in the face of new experiences or challenging situations.  I remember that sick feeling in my stomach before getting up in front of MOPS  to speak ... even though I knew everyone in the audience.  That unsettling feeling of being "out of my league" is still very vivid from when I have had to introduce myself to a group of strangers at a meeting or school function.   Even making telephone calls to people I don't know can give me a nervous nelly belly!  Then there are the worries about how people really feel about me ... am I like-able?  Feelings of insecurity and anxiety are a regular part of my day.

But, taking a cue from my fearless Norah, I decided one month ago to step out of my comfort zone and try a little something new ... a little something I wanted to do, but wasn't too sure about; something I felt God guiding me towards, while not being 100% convinced that I could:  I posted my first Snapshots message.  Boy, did I have a terrifyingly, enormous case of nervous nelly belly!

I was a bit scared ~ what if no one reads it?

I was a bit unnerved ~ what if no one cares about what I wrote?

I was a bit frightened ~ what if I run out of things to write about?

One month later, I can say, "Wow! Thanks, God!  What an amazing experience!"  He has been so very faithful to reassure me in the midst this adventure in a variety of ways.  Now I am ...

Humbled ~ Who new I'd have people across the continent and 

even the Atlantic reading what I wrote?!

Thrilled ~ I've been the recipient of many 

encouraging notes and fun comments!

Inspired ~ Everyday God gives me another

 little snapshot about which to write!

So ...
Thank you, faithful readers, for taking time during your busy days to visit!
Thank you for sharing with me your own thoughts and feelings!
Thank you for passing this site along to others who might enjoy it!

Having this "job" of writing has helped to give added purpose to my daily routine and a deeper satisfaction with this season of my life.  God has opened my eyes to the many mini-episodes of my day-to-day life ... and a little extra insight into how I can use the ordinary parts of my day to be an encouragement to others.  I'm excited to continue to grow in confidence and in purpose in my writing.  It's certainly a journey and I'm delighted to travel it with you!

In closing, let me ask you a question:  What gives you a nervous nelly belly?  Is it something new you need to try?  Is it a fresh challenge God wants to use to grow you up a bit?  Is it an idea that God has been percolating in your mind and heart?  Jump in and "just do it" ... God just might have a surprise for you, too!

___________________

I'm off on a field trip with my boy today ... so no new devotion today.  Catch you tomorrow! :)

1, 2, 3 ... Let Go!

There are a number of elements of being a mom that are just like I expected them to be (snuggling sleepy newborns, the delightful smell of babies fresh from the tub, cuddling while reading a bed-time book) ... right alongside plenty of other aspects of mothering that I was completely unprepared for!  I had no idea that when I said, "I want to have a natural labor" that I was going to be begging for an epidural.  I had no idea that breast-feeding was actually an art form and that everyone (including the baby) had to learn how to do it.  I had no idea that I could make one shower stretch so long into the week.  I had no idea that I could be surrounded by little people 24/7 and still feel very lonely.  I had no idea that I would lose part of my brain with each child and find myself calling my husband to unlock my van, only for him to find the passenger-side window half-way down.  I had no idea that I would be the one to sleep through night-time issues ... and that Daddy would be the one to respond first.  I had no idea that I would hang onto frozen breast milk waaaay past weaning ... just because it was the end of an era.  I had no idea that one home could house an entire toy-store with gadgets for kids of all ages.  But I also had no idea that I would get so attached to the baby toys, blankets, outfits and books and have so much trouble letting go!

We are currently in that strange limbo-land of moving away from baby paraphernalia and moving toward a life of more big-kid stuff.  It's an inevitable transition, but that doesn't make it any easier for me.  Brett has been very patient and allowed me to continue to store much of our baby gear (thank goodness for our attic!) but it is becoming more and more obvious to me that I can't hold on to this stuff forever!  When we had baby Lydia, I went through all the boy clothes and with a good amount of tears managed to whittle the 9 boxes down to just a few sentimental outfits to hang on to.  The true blessing came over the next few weeks as friends came by to "shop" our boy boutique ... it was wonderful to pass on our abundance of clothing, knowing that they were all going to be enjoyed by some other little rumble, tumble tyke.

We have done the same with the baby girl clothes Lydia has grown out of ... but lately it has become more pressing to pass on more of the big "stuff" and that strikes me right in my mommy-heart.  There are a few items that I will probably never be able to let go of:  the crib (all my babies slept there), the jungle-gym mat (way too many memories) and a few of the kids' favorite baby toys (my grandbabies will need toys when they visit, right?).  But that leaves a lot of items that need new homes.

Over the past several weeks, I have been able to see a few needs and feel in my heart that I can part with some of this "stuff" knowing it is helping someone else out.  We purged the baby rattles and toys a few weeks ago and while it was weird bagging up those memories, it was liberating to clear out some baskets and boxes ... again, knowing some little sweetie would be enjoying these goodies.  A few weeks ago we pulled the changing table out of the bathroom and cleaned out the drawers of all the baby supplies and moved the desk to the basement.  Now we have just a small changing station in the baby girls' room and we can see the end to this age of diapers.  (Now that does get me excited ... but it's still a little bitter-sweet.)  We recently gave our stroller and car-seat to a baby boy and his teen-mom.  That felt good knowing this little guy was going to be safe and comfy.  And in spite of giving away a lot of stuff ... there is still more to let go of.

Some of you may not have felt this need to hold on to the baby years ... maybe you are just thrilled you survived :) and you are more than ready to move on!  But for those of you who are like me, sobbing through the end of Toy Story 3 (darn you Pixar! for preying on every one of my mommy-insecurities!) and clinging to these baby "things" ... let me share a few things that have helped me.

• I have found that if I keep a few items from each kid - something that will capture their growing personality or freeze-frame a particular moment time - I don't feel as bad.  I have a bin in the attic with these mementos and I am happy to know that a few little items are safe and sound.
• I take lots of pictures and that is a great way for me to see our kids enjoying or even wearing those items I have to let go of.
• Instead of just sending items to Goodwill (which is a great place to donate), I try to find out specific needs in my circle of friends - it's nice knowing who gets the double blessing of our clothes and gear ... and sometimes I get the joy of seeing some outfits being worn again!
• I am not rushing to toss out the baby stuff ... I think that it is important to let myself grieve the end of my child-bearing season, knowing that my child-rearing season is still in full swing.  By allowing this process of letting go set it's own course, I feel that I can fully embrace and be enthusiastic about this season of training up big kids!  It's a new season with it's own mementos I'm sure I will want to keep forever! :)

Tonight as we put the kids to bed, I watched them each snuggle in with their own favorite "lovies".  Aaron had his beloved purple and turquoise pterodactyl and his tie-dye t-shirt pillow in bed with him.  Norah had her favorite, floppy, flowered pillow that she likes to wrap her fingers up in.  Ashley had her favorite purple quilt made by my sweet friend, Kim.  She loves to run her fingers across the satin edge as she falls asleep. Lydia was snuggled up on her zebra pillowcase from Auntie Allie and was clutching her little blue pillow with the white sheep (made by Cousin Rebekah), her Eeyore blanket from her friend Taylor and her "boppie" which was a baby blanket we wrapped her in when she was a wee-one.  Ooooh, boy!  (sniff, sniff...) I think it will be a loooong while before I'm able to part with any of those :).

Of course, Brett tells me I'll always have a little kid in him to take care of :) ... and he has lots of toys!

"Labor Day" True to Its Name

On Sunday, I told Brett that I wanted to do something fun on Monday, seeing as it was Labor Day and we could do something together as a family.  We made plans with friends to go on a hike and later have a picnic lunch together ... and so begins yet another Kellum Adventure!

Before I start, let me share with you two dreams that Brett and I had the night before ... if I believed in premonitions, I would have listened better! :)  My dream was about going on this hike only to have the plans changed at the last minute to a river float trip.  I was left scrambling as I tried to round up life-preservers for the kids.  This dream might be an indicator of my level of preparedness for this trip!  Brett's dream focused around lower back pain ... his is the only dream that came true!

And one more thing before I start ... if our friends are reading this:  We had a great time the entire day!  It was just more than we bargained for ... in a lot of ways! :)

Okay ... so here it goes!  We planned to meet up with our group in Palisade at 9 am.  After stopping off to get muffins and a few supplies, we pulled into the gravel parking lot and waited.  Right at nine, the rest of our party arrived and we agreed to follow each other over to the trailhead.  Our hiking group consisted of our family of six, another family of four, three neighborhood kids and another couple (who probably had no idea what they were in for!).  We made sure we were all fully sunscreened and that everyone had water, extra snacks and hats.  We took a group picture, "Cheese!", and headed off to ... Mt. Garfield!  If you are familiar with the Grand Valley, Mt. Garfield is that really high mountain just north of I-70.  It towers out over the valley.  It's really high and steep. There was a sign at the trail head that said, "Mt. Garfield - 2 miles - 2,000 feet".  You get the picture.

Now for a little background, I like to hike, but I'm not necessarily into mountain climbing.  Brett also enjoys hiking, but again, for the past several years (in direct reference to the size and age of our family) our hiking trips have been mainly walks with some ups and downs.  Just so you know what kind of background and experience we are bringing with us into this trip.

Climbing the "wall".

Each of us had a kid-pack on our backs - not that I ever ended up carrying anyone.  Lydia certainly had the easiest trip as she was strapped to Daddy's back.  I had the pack on just in case Ashley's little 18-inch legs gave out.  We headed out ... and up.  Imagine your living-room wall.  Now imagine it at a slight slant and covered in loose dirt and small rocks.  Now imagine climbing it.  That about sums it up!  There was no gradual climb or warming up.  It was straight up the dunes and then on up until your lungs exploded.  We did take a few breaks here and there.  But it was onward and upward.  About 30 minutes in, poor little Ashley started saying she couldn't walk anymore.  Unfortunately for her, neither could Mommy.  This is where my pride started to get in the way.  It was becoming quickly and obviously clear that I was waaaaaay out of my league with this mountain and yet ... onward and upward!

A few more minutes of encouraging little Le-Le along and one of the other adults offered to wear the pack and load up Ashley.  Whew ... now if there was only a pack for me.  Brett was huffing along (remember he had Lydia on his back ... and every extra pound counts) and taking regular breaks.  Meanwhile, the rest of the party was motoring on and the kids are literally scrambling over boulders.  I was looking up (and up and up and up) and I was not feeling the charge of tackling this mountain ... I was feeling shaky and just a little nauseous.  I consider myself to be in relatively good shape, but this hike was more than I could do.  Finally, I swallowed my pride (gosh darn it ... I wanted to do this!) and signaled that I was done.  All I could think was, "The farther I go up, the farther I have to go back down.  I need my legs to work the whole hike."  Brett, being the sweetie, agreed to go back down with me.  I'm quite certain that he would have just kept goin' and goin' and goin', but he opted to head down with me and the two little ones.

The view from my "top".

I had to sit for a bit to get my feet back under me (and, no, I didn't throw up ... but I was close.)  While I sat there, I had a little battle going on in my head and heart.  It was a terribly hard choice.  I struggled with what others thought of me, I struggled with disappointment with myself and I struggled with being up against something that my kids were going to do without me.  But the reality was that I would be foolish if I continued on.  I had to have a little perspective change up there on the side of that mountain.  From my perch on that rock, I could see the span of the valley and I decided that I would have to enjoy just what I was able to do and not kick myself for my limitations.  When my head felt re-attached to my body again, we headed back down the slope while the rest of the party marched on.  It was a little weird to let Aaron & Norah continue, but I was sure they were in good hands and their enthusiasm had not waned a bit ... a good indicator for me that they could go the distance.

Now, as you know, the path up the mountain is hard work, but the path back down is hard on your body ... specifically your knees and ankles.  I am so glad that I didn't over-tax my body on the way up, because the trip down was all I could really do.  Brett had Lydia still on his back, so he went on ahead and paused periodically for us to catch up.  Meanwhile, Ashley and I "baby-stepped" down the hill.  Little baby-steps down the slope, little baby steps over the boulder, little baby steps over the ravine ... I think I we would have made Dr. Leo Marvin from "What About Bob?" proud!  I was blessed with a few little precious snapshots with Ashley that I would have missed if I was over-taxed (or being flown out in a helicopter! ha, ha!)  Here are a few of her sweet words, "I can see the whole planet from up here!", "You're a good hiker, Mommy, just like me." and "Daddy's the best hiker 'cause he has long legs."  I am grateful for all the time I got to hold little Ashley's hand and hear her child-like commentary on the hike down, "I think God painted these rocks pink ... I like pink."

When we finally landed on the flat ground again (at 11:11 am), we set Lydia loose to run a bit and explore with Ashley.  Just about then, my cell phone rang and it was one of our party letting us know that they had reached the top and were headed to the summit.  Aaron and Norah were doing great and plugging along with the pack.  We decided to head into town to go potty and get gas and then we would meet the group back at the trail head for lunch.  I started to feel a little regret ... nobody likes to be a party-pooper ... but there was nothing to do now but wait.  At about 12:30 we saw our party, little ants in a line, moving slowly back down the trail.  It was a slow trek back down the mountain, but they were making steady progress.  Brett headed back up the hill to meet up with them and make sure our kids were still doing well (see ... I knew he could have done the whole hike!) while we girls moseyed to the bottom of the slope to "Hail the Conquering Heroes"!

There is something powerful and amazing to watch your kids accomplish something big, something you aren't able to do.  It was hard no to be a bit teary eyed watching them come galloping down the hill (their knees were giving out, too) and to see their huge, proud smiles on their faces!  They had done it and they had done it well. The adults looked bushed, but they were still smiling and had great things to say about the kids persevering and pushing themselves.  I loved hearing the banter back and forth from them all as then recounted exciting parts of the trip:  the rattlesnake, the path blocked by the boulder they had to climb and the fantastic view from the summit.

We all made it back to the vehicles, but the adventure wasn't over yet.  If it had just been us Kellums hiking, it would have been a PB&J lunch in the car and then head home.  But, that wasn't our friends' plans.  We headed over to a vineyard in Palisade that had a big grassy area and picnic tables.  Our friends had packed an amazing spread including home-grown tomatoes and fresh, sliced mozzerella; hummus and veggies and fresh sandwich makings.  We topped it off with some celebratory wine and a sweet time of adult conversation ... while the kids ran around playing tag.  Where do that get that energy?!?!

So as I said before, we got more than we bargained for ... but in a good way!  I got to come up against my limitations and come to terms with the fact that there are some things I cannot do.  I got to swallow my pride and make a tough choice.  I still got a great view of the Grand Valley (Ashley's whole planet!). I enjoyed some quality time with my girls and I came face to face with Brett's love (again) as he chose to serve me.  I also got to see my kids step up and step out in the face of a big challenge ... and come back down the mountain a few inches taller.  I had the joy of a yummy lunch and fun conversation.  I had the wonderful experience of a hard day's work and the feeling of "ahhh" at the end.

Mt. Garfield

And I have the gift of reliving all this again every time we drive I-70 and look up at Mt. Garfield looming over the highway ... reliving the time my kids climbed to the top ... and I didn't, but I didn't throw up, either! :)

Wacky Wednesday!

To sort of quote Jerry Garcia from the Grateful Dead, "What a long strange morning it's been!"  And the day promises to continue on in that wacky, wild way that we do things here.  For one thing, it's an early release day which means the older kids (plus a neighbor friend) get out of school at 1:50 ... right during nap time.  Not terribly convenient for this family with babies who nap, but we will tweak today (as we moms are famous for doing) and hopefully no one will fall asleep in the stroller on the way back down the hill toward home.  Once we get home, hopefully with my fingers crossed, we will end up with an okay quiet time in which Liddy & Ashley will sleep and the bigger kids won't spend the entire afternoon telling me they are bored. :)

But as I said above, the morning was interesting, too.  We had some real excitement here on Greenbriar Court ... as you will see.  First, we vacuumed.  And when I say "we" I mean all three of us; me on the real vacuum, Ashley on the dust-buster and Lydia with her purple vacuum that also talks and tells you how dirty your floors are.  There was quite a bit of vacuum waltzing going on (and if you say it in your German accent you sound cooler, "vacuum valtzing").  Fortunately we only got tangled up in the cord that one time.

Next, we loaded the dishwasher ... did I say it was enthralling around here or what?!?  This was exciting because I had to work with great speed to out-sort Lydia as she tried to unload the dishwasher faster than I could load.  I'm proud to say that I won.

The true excitement came when a large delivery truck pulled up across the cul-de-sac to unload a new refrigerator.  This event caused us to drop everything and park ourselves on the front step so we wouldn't miss anything.  We watched as the delivery men removed the front door from the hinges, loaded the old fridge on the appliance mover and replaced it with a shiny new silver refrigerator.  Wow!

Just before lunch, we played a few riveting games at the table, which as you know is a bit of a challenge with a non-game-player involved.  In this case, we had two jobs:  play the games and protect all the game parts from Lydia's grabbing, crazy hands.  One moment it's your turn and then the next all your cards are missing and your marker has drool on it.  That definitely kept us busy and was by far the most exhausting part of the morning.

Now to the untrained, non-Mommy eye, this might all appear quite boring; but I think that we learned quite a bit and even enjoyed ourselves a little.

A few snapshots of the morning that have some sort of significance:

• As long as the kids are busy (even if it's with a pretend vacuum) they are happy,
• Someday my kids will vacuum for me and they will know how to do it well because they were watching well ... as they clung to my right leg,
• Dishwashers are wonderful machines:  even though it took a little longer to load than if I was doing it alone it is still faster than doing them by hand with little hands helping,
• While watching the refrigerator delivery we learned how to remove a door from its hinges, that fridges are heavy and require large "strollers" to move them, that spiders make spiderwebs and that we are glad God made us people and not spiders who eat bugs ... and that Mommy needs to sweep the front steps :),
• Lydia is really good at some parts of games, like dropping balls through holes and gathering cards; and not so good at other parts, like waiting her turn, not screaming when it's not her turn and not stealing all Mommy's cards when she goes potty, and
• Ashley is a patient and sweet big-sister who puts up with a lot (i.e. hair pulling, toy grabbing and a task-oriented Mommy) and is a wonderful role-model to her baby sis about how to clean-up, play well and be a helper.

So as you can see, even on a Wacky Wednesday, we can learn a lot and we even found a few sweet snapshots of life here with little people ... some which are really quite precious. :)   And I'm so glad I'm home to see them!

What's this all about?

Well, it's probably about time that I jumped on the blogger-bandwagon!  


This is my high-tech attempt at combining my love of writing with my desire to chronicle life here in the Kellum house and making it accessible to anyone who might be interested.  I'm not entirely sure what this will develop into, but I know for one thing ... it ought to be entertaining!    When you put together four kids, a dog, school, gymnastics, baseball, church, marriage, parenting and day-to-day life you're guaranteed quite a cocktail of craziness!  And yet ... somewhere in the midst of all this busy-ness is the sacredness of life.  There is meaning in diaper-changing and vacuuming.  There is significance in grocery-shopping and schlepping kids from here to there.  There is purpose in dinner around the kitchen table and hammering out home-work.  How?  Because God is in the midst of this ... even this hum-drum-ness of life.  


So ... that's the plan :)  Find something special in the repetition.  Find meaning in the blah.  Find and celebrate the sacredness of life's moments ... and share those Snapshots with you.


Check back here for the usual updates on the Kellum Kids including pictures capturing their silliness and their successes.  It's inevitable that those four monkeys will work their way into this chronicle.  But wait!  There's more ... When you visit again, you might find some helpful hints, some entertaining vignettes of life apart from the kids, the inside scoop on any number of adventures and hopefully a few reminders that life is full of lots of little, BIG moments!


I'll leave you with some insight into my inspiration.  If you know me, you know that I love music ... especially when I'm in the kitchen.  The Chieftains make me want to learn to clog.  Jack Johnson helps me relax.  And Sara Groves sings what's in my heart and mind.  So ... here's a snippet of one of her songs that has opened my eyes.  It's from "Just Showed Up For My Own Life".  For more of Sarah, please check out www.saragroves.com.  You won't be disappointed.



And I just showed up for my own life
And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright


I'm going to live my life inspired
Look for the holy in the common place
Open the windows and feel all that's honest and real until I'm truly amazed
I'm going to feel all my emotions
I'm going to look you in the eyes
I'm going to listen and hear until it's finally clear and it changes our lives

Join me as I "look for the holy in the common place" ... you really can't miss it!