~spring feelin'~

So this week has been a bit sad and full of worry and work. Also, it's brought Brock a year older and Gary as well. (My pictures do not load again, so getting them on here is now another challenge for the technically disadvantaged: me :)

Words escape me, but this is truth: where there is life, there will be also death.

There have been a plethora of things circulating in this mind of mine...life is so busy as of late.....

Here are a few things I know today: My husband, Gary, was born to coach. This I know. I've seen it over twenty years as he worked passionately in the field he loved. I know he misses it. It is a part of who he is and the talent is natural with how it flows on the field and out of the players......I miss that for him. Believe me, it made our life busy...but I know it is what he was born to do. Another thing, my kids are growing up amid this busy life...I must carve some downtime to slow and just be with them. I miss Vermont in the spring.....about a year ago today I was skiing for the last time with the boys on Okemo and Hilly, Ava, and I took a snowy spring hike on Mt. Tom. I remember the smell of March and its feel after the snow melted. April brought the promise of summer........today's weather reminds me of an April. I can tell 40 feels a little older, and although the changes are subtle, there is change in everything here and the people. Change is constant. Feel up for Mary Oliver? I do believe I do. 

“to live in this world

you must be able
to do three things
to love what is mortal;
to hold it

against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go” 
― Mary Oliver,

Such a hard thing to do.......

One more thing: I would like to clone myself much like the movie Multiplicity..........yes, that is all. 

~Cooper~

~ A birthday ~

Listening: Kodaline "All I Want"

https://youtu.be/cqJoVlnmdFQ


Celebrated Hillary's 8th birthday...time is sure flying. She requested ice skating and to begin the day, we had a basketball game. We won. Then, we were off to skating. It was a chilly, sunny day. All the girls (for the most part) met us at the house to travel to Nashville. It was a large time! To beat all, Hillary was also the grand prize winner for the Super Bowl winnings! Everyone got squares and I even won one! And yes, we don't even know what we are signing up for!!LOL

Hillary had several girls over to spend the night and they all passed out watching....."Coat of Many Colors, Dolly Parton" Too funny. I'm sure parties will advance over the years...but this one was too cute. They played school, dressed up, played Shopkins, and makeup , of course. I love you, Hillary!
Pictures to follow:

This weekend I also picked out a 1 and a 5 and it happened. It finally sunk in all this time......time between years.....it stood still for a moment. I have a soon to be 15 year old son. The one who rode a green gator that probably had 100,000 miles on it up and down Luther Lane road, the one that made me a mother, the one I wore non-smear lipstick for as I would go to work.....I had to kiss him about a million times and hated to mark him up good before I had to take him to daycare  lol. We were in love....The first one gets to try out about everything.....he's taken gymnastics, camps, wilderness camps, ....such a large variety. But the variety, keeps him diverse I suppose.



It's spitting snow, colder, and I'm a little down. Circumstances that just are. Just is. Let us remember those who have put up great fights and failed. We do. This. Is. Life. We are constantly in circles. My goal: to learn from everyone who crosses my path. To learn. Not that everyone that crosses it, it is meant to be....but what can I learn? Sometimes, frankly, it is nothing. But some, oh, they are so rich in this department.

~bare~

Bare. Trees. Bare, the field. Blades stand slanted, bent by wind. Maybe confused. Maybe seeking refuge behind their buds. February warmth by sun only to be forsaken with chill. Oh, the daffodil with their braveness to peek through this cold ground.....and greet us with smile and sun. 

It's happening. Daffodils are about 5 inches out of ground now. Oh, and the groundhog did see its shadow....so, perhaps an early spring.....yes, just maybe. I predict 2 more snippets of snow: next week and toward the end of February. 

This weekend we will celebrate Hillary's 8 year old birthday at the ice-skating rink with friends. Happy Birthday, sweet ~ Hillary. 

"The lonely stand in the dark corners of their hearts.

I have seen them in cities, and in my own neighborhood,

nor could I touch them with the magic that they crave

to be unbroken. Then, I myself, lonely,

said hello to good fortune.  Someone

came along and lingered and little by little

became everything that makes the difference.

Oh, I wish such good luck

to everyone. How beautiful it is to be unbroken."  ~ Mary Oliver

What does this communicate to you?

I read this today and loved what it evoked -meaning-connectedness......do share what you think. Coffee, tea, anyone?  :)

Below.....more pics of the adventures this past weekend. 

Brock and Coop enjoying their food after the mountain.....skiing in short sleeves.....today.

Old Mill selfie of Hilly

Swimming!

Little Bluegrass.....