Inside the Chrysalis is Moving!

Inside the Chrysalis is moving. I'm consolidating two blogs into one! Visit me at http://speckleofdirt.blogspot.com/!

Intelligence: Overrated?

I'm currently reading a couple of books with chapters on Intelligence. The first book I picked up a couple of weeks ago and is titled What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell. After reading his popular book Tipping Point, I thought I'd go ahead and pick this one up. The second book is titled Nurtureshock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman.

Intelligence is one of those things that can be uncomfortable to talk about in a crowd. I'm sure we've all run into those people who love to boast about their intelligence, much like some people like to boast about money or beauty or possessions. Rarely do you hear someone exclaiming their "average-Joeness" around the dinner table. But it's something we all think about. We want to be intelligent in our jobs. We want our kids to be intelligent at school and love when the teacher says "your child is so smart." But what does it really mean? Here is what I think about it.

Remember Enron? Enron recruited the best of the best, 250 MBA's each year and boasted about how much talent these people had and how smart they were. The problem was the company allowed these young "talents" to run wild with their new ideas. We all know what happened in the end. There was no structure within the organization. It isn't the "talent" that makes the organization smart, it's the structure, processes and systems that allow the "talent" to become successful.

Of course I always translate what I'm reading into my own life. So this lesson of organization and structure spoke to me. If I can put successful strategies in place and create an environment where each member of my family is working toward the success of the family as a whole, we can achieve success within that system...whatever we deem success to be. That was lesson #1 for me.

IQ testing was another chapter I read. I think these tests are fun and funny. It's interesting that these tests are not made up of difficult math problems or structural essays, but instead of perception, patterns and the like. If you click on the title of this post you will be directed to MENSA, an organization created for the top 2% of highly intelligent people in the population. It is a fun test, and if you really want to get serious you can take the official membership test and be granted admission to this elite group.

But I ask myself, "why?" Why take an intelligence test? It doesn't determine success or wealth. Members of MENSA range from Millionaires to Welfares (yes, people on welfare). Early IQ tests administered to children do not indicate future success. So many factors go into becoming a well-rounded adult who goes through life with humility, kindness and servanthood. One of those things is Emotional Intelligence.

Do you remember the book written in 1995 by Daniel Goleman about Emotional Intelligence? I read it along with other co-workers back then. It was an interesting read and the concept was adopted by many companies as part of their hiring objectives.

So what to do with all this? Well, I learned a long time ago that you can compare yourself to someone you perceive to be better than you at some attribute (intelligence in this case.) And the opposite is true as well. We can compare ourselves downward and gain an awareness that we are better at some attribute than someone else. Either way it is a negative state of mind that leads to insecurity when I compare myself up, and pride when I compare myself down. Enough with that, I say! Don't compare!

And so often, God puts things in perfect perspective when I seem to hone in on things I shouldn't. With all this IQ stuff rolling around in my mind these past couple of weeks, I was reminded that Jesus called average Joe's to His team! Tax collectors and fisherman. He can even use a stay-at-home-mom in her average-Joeness to focus on what is most important! And it's not IQ, athleticism, finances, beauty or anything else. It's loving Him and loving others. What a relief!

Inspiration in a Pile o' Dirt

I was at Ravenna Gardens the other day marveling at the garden decor and beautiful green foliage. I almost hesitated to walk in knowing how inspired and excited I can get about spring, yet it's so far away and I don't want to miss the pleasures of winter...hot soup, flickering candles, fuzzy socks...but, alas, I walked inside.

Walking past this display of seed packets I couldn't help but take a snapshot of the seeds organized in their little rows. My imagination conjures up bright sun, blue sky and all that these tiny seeds will become...parsley, lavendar, rosemary, thyme, lettuce...oh the joys of gardening!

There is a very large dirt pile in my backyard and I can't wait to hear the sound of a garden shovel as it pummels into the side of it. I can smell the earthy odor and see the moist, crumbling soil trickling down upon my shovel. I can feel the grit underneath my fingernails and see my soil stained fingers. I can feel the sun beating down on my shoulders and the slightly damp grass soaking through to my knees as I bend down to plant a tiny seed.

For now though, it's soup and candles and I will have to cling to that for another few months...but the dirt is calling...I may have to bring some inside?? Indoor tulips, hyacinth and daffodils...yes!

Guilty Pleasures

Just when New Year's Resolutions are in full swing, I decided to give in to a guilty pleasure...food. As I sat waiting for my Beet salad (roasted beets, orange segments, frisee and citrus vinaigrette) and Sweet Potatoe Fries at Trellis Restaurant in Kirkland, I couldn't help feeling guilty even though I don't make New Year's Resolutions.

I thought of how my having lunch at Trellis included a few popular resolutions all in one act: saving money, eating only homemade and using time wisely. Warning!! Justification to follow.

We all know the state of the economy and we do need to be wise consumers, but I felt good about paying $9 for the Beet salad. And, oh how delicious it was! Nine dollars isn't that much to fill your tummy and make a new food combination discovery, is it?

With regard to eating only food made from scratch in your own kitchen, well, this isn't always feasible when you're out and about. Besides, the chef at Trellis has a five acre garden where he grows much of the fruit and veg served at his restaurant. So it felt good to support a local farmer promoting the farm to table movement.

This next one may be a bit hard to justify. Lunch alone when you could be tackling a task doesn't seem like a good use of time, but I'll try. I sat waiting for lunch alternately looking outside the window at life passing by and reading about scientific studies on children. While eating, I overheard an elderly couple telling the waitress about their upcoming trip to Hawaii and I thought about family and resolutions and zest for life. And do you know what? The combination of all this: the food, life out the window, the act of reading and the sound of excitement in others, illicited a calming feeling in me.

I left geared up to finish my to-do list, greet my kids coming home from school and snuggling up with my family for the night. Not too bad for a $9 salad and 40 minutes out of my day.

So, here's to giving in to guilty pleasures here and there. Giving in a little might save you from giving up and giving in completely.

PERIPETY

In honor of Christmas and the New Year, I'm re-posting this one on PERIPETY...enjoy!!

Have you ever experienced a sudden change in events? A reversal in the normal course of action, or something that caused a shift in your direction? Maybe you learned something new that catapulted you on a fresh, inspired trajectory. This is called a Peripety.

Pronounced \pə-ˈri-pə-tē\ and defined by Websters as: a sudden or unexpected reversal of circumstances or situation, it comes from the Greek word Peripeteia and is where I find myself this Easter morning.

I am humble and thankful because I'm not who I was! Just as a fully mature tulip was once an ugly, course, dark and unexceptional bulb, I was once a different person than I am now. When I look back feelings of guilt don't corrupt me, I can look my "ugly" in the face and be thankful for my peripety.

When Jesus' loved ones went to the tomb to annoint His body with spices and oil, the grief they felt is unimaginable to us living on this side of the risen Lord. The empty tomb was the ultimate peripety, the reversal from death to life, unforgiveness to full forgiveness.

What an amazing truth of love and hope. When I accepted Jesus as the One who saved me from sin and death, my story suddenly changed. So, this Easter morning I'm swimming in the sweet fragrance of peripety, what about you?

Ephemeral

Ephemeral...you either know the meaning of it-or not. I confess until I looked it up the other day, I had a different notion of its meaning. It's one of those words people are afraid to use in a sentence, because it is harder to say than most everyday words. Also, it's meaning is so simple that the complexity of the word lends itself to a "hoity-toity-ness" people might raise an eyebrow at.

It simply means: lasting a short time; usually only a day. I always seem to think of food in some way when I write about ideas or memories. Like the time in Chicago I had a bowl of split pea soup from Smith and Wolinsky in 1998. I have not had a bowl of soup that delicious since then. That split pea soup to me was...ephemeral: lasting only 8 minutes.

In nature: ice sculptures, falling leaves or snow, icicles and puffy white clouds are ephemeral.

In media: brands, reputation, ideas

In art: still life portraits. These are one of my favorite forms of art. Famous artist from the past spent painstaking hours capturing a moment in time for us to enjoy. The still life to your left is obviously a contemporary work of art, but it immediately transports my emotions to comfort, laughter, even work.

Happiness is ephemeral too. It isn't a constant so it needs to be replenished. It is a "sensation which is felt by a person for a certain period of time before needing replenishment."

This is the perfect time of year to be mindful of ephemeral things. To capture them in our hearts and try to replenish them as soon as possible. I'd like to think we can be in a perpetual state of ephemeral-ness...replenishing that which only lasts for a short time, each day.

That might be hard to grasp, but if I can devour that cinnamon roll and steaming cup of coffee today and replenish it tomorrow...I just may achieve ephemeral-ness! So go out and capture the ephemeral things in your life today...a newborn's smile, a falling snowflake, a romantic moment, a memorable cup of soup...you never know when it will come around again.

Wabi

WABI means “an understated form of beauty, a quality of refinement masked by rustic simplicity" as defined in a book I just finished entitled, The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.

This definition immediately provoked thoughts of food cooked simply. Food left exposed in its essential nature, only dressed to enhance inherent qualities-not to overwhelm or cheapen them.

Coarse-chopped carrots, halved small red potatoes, a triangle of uneven parmesan cheese and salmon barbequed with the skin on until crispy...this is rustic simplicity for the stomach!

My thoughts also lead me to interior design accents, understated and rustic. My new favorite candle is McCall's Country Canning - Hot Buttered Rum emanating warmth from a mason jar replete with metal handle. Wood furniture with divets and a banged-up charm allow me to feel as if I don't have to be too careful. I can just enjoy watching the elements of our busy life make it glow with rustic simplicity.

I'm sure that I've taken liberties with the original intent of Wabi's meaning...food and interior design are just material focal points that inspire me, but may not be what Japanese history scholars would assign to the definition. But my next point of reference may be something more internationally cultural, something a little bit more difficult to actually embody is...Character. If I may take further liberties:

What if we took the essence of Wabi and tried to make it a character quality?

"An understated form of beauty." Now for those of you that know me, I have a penchant for lipgloss, highlights, acrylic nails, handbags, jackets, shoes (and we'll stop there). Sometimes my mask is on so thick, I forget who I am until I wash it all off with Arbonne Creme Gelee. But even so we're still talking about things outside of character. Loud, brash, sarcastic...these things would not be wabi.

"A quality of refinement masked by rustic simplicity." When I relate this to quality of character, I think of an autodidact (self-taught person) who doesn't try to hammer people down with knowlege - they just love the art of learning...refined with rustic (natural) simplicity. Or a person with financial means that may rival any in zip code 98210, but who quietly observes the opportunity to offer philanthropic support and even down-home local service.

Well, I'm excited that the concept of Wabi has reintroduced me to character qualities I would like to work on. I'll make it a point to TRY and be understated and more simple, but for now I'd like to get in the kitchen for some rustic simplicity...prosciutto and coarse-chopped roasted carrots...yummy...

Reflections

I'm currently reading a book that reveals the internal thoughts of a young twelve year old girl and a snobby female concierge as they live life in a prestigious condo building in Paris, France. This book is beautifully written and contains ideas that provoke thought.

Just the other day a paragraph jumped out at me that I want to share it with you:

We never look beyond our assumptions and, what's worse, we have given up trying to meet others; we just meet ourselves. We don't recognize each other because other people have become our permanent mirrors. If we actually realized this, if we were to become aware of the fact that we are only ever looking at ourselves in the other person, that we are alone in the wilderness, we would go crazy.

I thought this was a profound statement. Could it be true? Am I looking at you to see myself? Am I missing the Peace in your gaze; the Hope in your story; the Joy in your laugh? Am I only taking a piece of you, the one piece that matches closest to what I perceive about myself and stacking it on top of all the other collected pieces from my interactions? Am I trying to reinvent myself each day from these reflections?

What if I don't like what's reflected? If I'm only looking at you to see myself, how will I feel when I see something I don't like. What if you don't laugh at my joke and fail to reflect my humor; and what if you forget to say "thank you" and miss my kindness...will I say it's your problem or will I think that maybe I wasn't as funny or as kind as I perceived myself to be?

What if I love what is reflected? I may think I'm the funniest person in the world or the kindest or the most beautiful. This can't be good either..."pride comes before the fall."

So what to do?

One remedy is to go back to where we started and remember to meet people for who they are, and take ourselves out of the reflection. Who are you? What are your hopes and dreams under the surface of our encounter? What are you about?

Well, I think that's enough for today...my brain hurts from all this thinking. Tonight I will work on seeing my family and friends for who they are and grow to love them all the more...what about you?

Lifestyles of The Chick and Same-Us: The Beginning

This year we were inspired by friends to raise our own chicken. This sounds funny to those of us who are used to buying chicken at the local grocer, without a care to where it was raised. But after reading books like Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma, and Barbara Kingsolver's book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, my interests in this "grow your own" movement were piqued.

So, this summer the kids and I piled into the car and headed to our local farm and feed store where we selected the cutest yellow chicks. All 18 chicks fit inside a large cardboard box and I tried to act brave as we added them to the backseat along with my human chicky-doos. I wasn't sure I could actually do this thing called raising chickens, and had thoughts of just letting them grow old with us and becoming a vegetarian family. My husband solidified my fears when he said, "I sure hope they get ugly," Oh, dear. What have we gotten ourselves in to?

The first two weeks were spent caring for the little chicks. They lived in a special metal container with wood chips to sleep on; a heat lamp so they wouldn't get cold; a self-drip water container; organic chicken feed and lotsa love from the little veterinarians who live with me. The toughest part was protecting them from the hunting dog and the retriever who shared living space with them in the garage these first two weeks. I've never seen our Vizsla on point so much in her whole life, and the Lab would try to snap at them whenever they flapped their wings...she's used to sleeping all day so this was exciting for her.

After two weeks it was time to put them out to pasture in their chicken tractor...

Beauty

It's always startling to realize that you are in a funk. Inward searching, outward procrastination, longing, helplessness and a hardy lack of motivation.

I just visited that place for the last couple of months. Times of transition usually impart such dubious adjectives that we live out in verb. But, this week I felt like I walked through another door, turned a new chapter and turned toward a new perspective.

It happened when I found myself smiling at a sparkly, colorful, unique and glamorous work of art by Dale Chihuly. He is a world famous creator of glass-blown art featuring creatures from the sea. When I look at Chihuly's work, I'm blown away (no pun intended) at how inspired he is. And when I look at a real sea creature, like the jellyfish in this picture, I still think of Chihuly. He has been able to fuse his work so tightly together with reality, that his fans can't help but think of his work when we see the real thing.

This kind of beauty is a surprising remedy to what ails many of us going through transitions, getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas and just generally hunckered down in the funk. Noticing the unexpected in life means getting out there, like I did when I found myself in front of that piece of art. Life is beauty...in a falling leaf, a glimmering bauble, the smell of apple cider, a transformed life...

So if the rigors of life have been pushing you down, rise up and turn your head, notice something else, something beautiful.

Lifestyles of the Chick and Same-us:Introduction

I haven't written about my life raising chickens (Cornish Cross variety) over these past eight weeks. Thoughts and ideas are more manageable when an experience comes to an end...and today my life with live chickens has reached fruition, come full circle, ended.

All 17 (we lost one in the field a few days ago) are now tightly sealed in clear bags and organized like a grocery store display in my garage refrigerator. My family and I raised these chickens in our backyard, feeding them daily and watching, curiously, at their lives.

So this is an introduction to the totality of our experience which will be written in parts for you. You shouldn't anticipate anything untoward or icky, some thoughts will be nuanced...you'll still be able to drink coffee and eat your favorite snack while reading. This is just one of the things we learned Inside the Chrysalis this summer, and we want to share it with you.

Look for "Lifestyles of the Chick and Same-us" Part 1: Beginning with the End in a few days!

Peeling Back Stereotypes

I just read an interesting article about a homeless woman, Brianna Karp. She found herself jobless and homeless, living in a Walmart parking lot and blogging about her experience. Her story landed her as a guest writer on Elle.com.

Her story got me thinking about Stereotypes. Brianna's story is about the new face of homelessness. It really shifted my thinking about what a homeless person is supposed to look like. Why can't they have cell phones, laptops and Starbucks lattes? The economy changed, but my stereotype for homeless people didn't. It's funny how I know nothing about homelessness, but I have a complete picture of it in my mind, replete with black-marked cardboard signs.

I'm sure I do this with many other things in life. I'm hoping to grow a little bit today, and not only peel back the layers of the stereotypes I hold, but completely smash them like a clove of garlic with the back of my knife, only adding bits and pieces to flavor my relationships, one conversation at a time.

BTW, if you would like to read her first blog as a guest writer on Elle.com, click on the title of this blog to be redirected...just come back and visit!

Authenticity in a Tomato

Yesterday I had the priviledge of visiting with one of my neighbors from our previous residence. If you've read the blog recently, you know that we moved out into the boonies and visitors are a welcome addition to our days of raising kids and chickens, cooking, landscaping 8 acres and trying to get inspired to write in the process.

So, when my neighbor revealed a sparkly bag with housewarming gifts, it wasn't the nice bottle of wine that will go great with Lemon Chicken and Dill Cream Sauce or Herbed Salmon, nor was it the beautiful squash and zucchini she grew in her garden that made my heart skip...it was the beautiful bag of tomatoes.

I grew up in Southern California and my grandfather grew tomatoes on his back porch. I remember eating so many tomatoes that my mouth developed acid sores that stung for a good 24 hours after plunging myself into the pleasure of this delicacy. I'm so glad God puts these little "you've had too many" cautionary reminders into life's experiences.

Now, if you are a gardener in the Northwest, you know that tomatoes are very difficult to grow here. There just isn't enough intense heat to generate a juicy, red, sweet tomato...the way an authentic tomato is supposed to taste. These were not the tomatoes from the grocery store. I'm not sure what those ones are that they try to sell us, the sign says "Tomato" but they taste like plastic, and ruin Caprese salad. And so, this is why I was so excited for this rare delicacy: a beautiful handful of real, authentic tomatoes in the Pacific Northwest.

They inspired me to think about "Authenticity." Our culture is so filled with temptations which appear to be the real thing, but upon indulging, end up being a phony replica of our intended desire. I can't remember the last time, before the tomatoes, I looked at something or someone and thought about the word "Authentic." I'm including the mirror in that last statement too. I want to be more "Authentic" but how?

If you have any ideas let me know...for now I will indulge in those juicy, sweet and real tomatoes...oops, they're are a figment of my imagination now since I ate them all without abandon...no sores this time, though!

Rain

Living in the Northwest offers many, many, many days of unending rain. Most of the time I just accept it during the Fall and Winter months as part of living here, the reason why our state is so green, making Spring and Summer amazing.

But during August, I actually find myself a little grumpy about it because my expectation is that it should be blazing hot.

Today is an August rainy day. And I'm not the least bit grumpy about it. Why?

It's all about expectations and perspective. Today I woke without any expectation of how the day should be. When I heard the rain out my window as I woke from slumber, my perspective shifted to baking cookies, candles, reading and snuggling with my family.

If only I could shed expectations from all my days and shift my perspective to embrace the moment. If only...all my days.

So, maybe I will find inspiration in the rain today. Maybe I will fully embrace this amazing miracle that falls from Heaven. As long as it doesn't fall next week when relatives will be visiting, or for the first day of school, or for my Birthday...I've got a lot of work to do!

Inspiration Part Two- The List

My quiet morning just ended as the landscapers have arrived and sent the retreiver and the hunting dog into a fit. Good morning everyone. I'm in much need of a second cup of coffee, but am still in jammies and don't want anyone to see me through the windows. So, here I blog.

I'm still looking for inspiration to write again...I figure I'll just sit down and free form for a while until something logical takes shape. I hope you don't mind.

Today is a task-oriented day. I have to 1) go to the feed store to get chicken feed 2) PO Box 3) grocery store 4) laundry 5) packing for overnight 6) cleaning 7) organizing and breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner. But I do get to go have dinner with another friend tonight, so it will be a nice end to the day.

All I want to do is read to the kids, surf the internet, get some sunshine and a pedicure. Oh, well. There is time for everything under the sun.

I do find it helpful to make myself a list. It is inspiring to get it all down on paper somehow. It is also very satisfying to cross things off. Much like weed-whacking is a stress-reliever for me. There is nothing more satisfying (well, this is overstated a bit) than being able to whack down the tall grass and weeds in one arc of your arm, and an overcharged whacking machine. You might not understand my parallel...sorry about that.

Anyway, so today, in this blog I've made my list of things to do, capping the night with dinner. So, I will work backwards from there and make this a great day.

The barking continues...poor landscapers.

Looking for Inspiration

I'm sitting at the kitchen island finishing a cup of tea (Earl Gray from the Empress in Canada) looking for inspiration to unleash some writer's block.

There is a lot to be excited about with these halcyon days of summer, kids starting school (all of them; full time...I won't put an exclamation point on that so I don't seem too excited lest you think me a bad mom), all 18 chickens are still alive and doing well (except one teeny runt) and we have all the boxes unpacked and are just left with the fun things to do after moving.

So why can't I find inspiration in all of it? It seems that I have too much rolling around in my brain and don't know where to begin. I hope this doesn't mean that I'm not growing...the reason I started blogging in the first place. Am I at a crossroads or a standstill? Do I need adventure or rest?

Well, I will just focus on the things I'm super excited about for today:

My large cast iron pot on the stove, empty now but waiting for me to cook Beuf Bourguignon (sp? and too lazy to remove myself from the chair). It was a gift from my sweet mother-in-law and I'm very excited and inspired to cook.

The flowers on the deck outside. Sunflowers and Dahlias;Petunias, Impatiens and spikey purple flowers that are not Lavendar or Salvia. When the sun filters through them on its descent, they glow and it makes me stop in my tracks.

So many things...visiting family, kids that love each other, friends who are driving all the way to the boonies to have dinner with me...and... if I had a dollar for all the blessings I can count.

Well, I feel better. Maybe popping the cork on a few inspiring things, will allow other concrete thoughts to take shape and percolate to the top of my tired brain.

What about you? What do you do to get inspired to: cook, clean, organize, write, read, teach, nurture, rest, play...?

I love your comments... BTW the photo is just one I really love, but it has nothing to do with anyone's birthday that I know of. If it's yours though, Happy Birthday!

Joy Comes in the Morning

Pheww!

If you read my previous post, you know that I was trying to muster something in myself to offer the world. The Lord set me straight and things definitely look better this morning.

I just finished a study on the life of David. The first line in my study for today says, "Was that it for David? Would he never do anything great for God?" It was basically the question I had for myself lastnight. Isn't that amazing? God does hear the prayers of His people and He cares.

David commited a doozy of a sin, but was truly repentant and sorrowful before God. David's son Solomon went on to build the temple, and eventually our beloved Jesus came from this family line. There is hope.

My question lastnight of "What can I bring?" was not the proper question to ask. Revealed again to me during this morning's study (I say again because I already know this, but forget easily) is that it isn't what "I" can bring. A more inspiring questions is "What would God have me bring?"

Duh, me. Everything I have is a gift from Him. All that I can do and will do is because He makes me capable of doing it. Ahhhhh, how refreshing that I will never be able to muster up anything more than what He wants me to do. What a relief. The pressure is off!

So, I'm set straight now...for today. Now to work off that creamy quiche from late lastnight!

What Can I Bring?

No. This post is not about requesting your advice on what to bring to a baby shower, potluck or picnic. I'm feeling a little short, a little lost, a little...melancholy. I find myself asking, "What can I bring to God, Family, Community?"

Have you ever been overwhelmed by a questioning in your heart, that seemed to come out of nowhere? I have that feeling tonight...how long has it been stirring around in there?

All was well in my universe today...and then I went to see the movie "Julie and Julia." On my way home tonight I was bombarded with feelings of inadequacy, lack of courage and wonder about what I'm doing with my life. How does a sweet movie unleash this kind of backlash, you ask? I assure you, it is me, not the movie.

"Julie and Julia" is a delightful movie if you are an amateur foodie and are familiar with Julia Child and blogging in America. I just loved it and will own it when it comes out on DVD. I was impressed with the theme of "following-through" and courage in the face of rejection or set-back.

So why am I feeling blue? I'm not sure, exactly.

I feel like I do a lot, but I don't do anything especially well. There. That's it. My follow-through is terrible on many things and I lack courage in the face of rejection.

Now what's the remedy?

I really don't know, but I do know my tummy is full from the creamy bacon quiche I made from Julia's cookbook this morning (I've had my own copy of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking for four years now), and I'm a little tired. Maybe things will look better in the morning (perspective, not thighs)?

Rough Road

We recently went hiking with three little ones and two teens...what a blast! I'm usually bringing up the rear - no not because my Crossfit coach hasn't been doing his job, but because it's my joy to bring up the stragglers and make sure all are accounted for.

A sign was posted that I hadn't noticed before on previous adventures to this particular lake. It read, "Rough Road." Just as we drove past the sign, my ever-fun husband decides to thromp on the gas pedal and veritably fly over potholes and slippery gravel. My arm rises in reflex as my hand grasps the handle above my passenger window. The kids know the routine and break into long drones of pothole-measured crescendo. This rough road became a place of fun and excitement.

It got me thinking about reality. How often do we thromp on the gas pedal of life and look forward to bouncing and sliding around on the rough road? What if instead of hiding behind closed doors and turning to who-knows-what, we met our rough road full speed ahead, anxious for what it would teach us?

Please, I'm not there yet...I'm the shut-out-civilization-for-a-time type! But I'd like to be more accepting of rough patches. It dawns on me that we knew the rough road was only going to last for a short time before we got to stretch our legs on the open trail. And, as I look back over my life, it has been that way too. Each phase only lasts for a time. How can I remember that when I find myself in a rough patch? Or even better, look it in the face and say, "I know you are only going to last for a short time. Whatta you got?"

If only I was that brave or mature! For now, one step at a time is all I've been given. May they land on solid ground.

Technology: Beast of Burden?

We recently moved to a location that has limited cell phone capability, no cable and no internet. While this information was known before we moved, we thought we could figure something out: surely somehow we could have these luxuries only 30 minutes from our previous address? But after three weeks of having to stand outside to make phone calls and having "hit or miss" internet, we've come to the realization that we live in the "boonies."

But I've learned a few things.What I've learned from not having hi-speed internet is that I'm very focused while I'm online. No more aimless clicking around - get in and get out.

What I've learned from not having a cell phone for a week (had to sell mine on ebay): it was kinda nice having an excuse to be unavailable. Please don't get me wrong...do call (I live out in the boonies remember? I need to connect with the outside!) but when I couldn't make that call...oh, well. It gave me an excuse to say "no" because I had to.

My point is, being disconnected wasn't so bad. The pressure to make the call, send that email and so on, was gone. My focus was re-directed to what I "could" do. Play with kids, cook that Rhubarb pie, plant that flower, organize that room. It was a return to a simpler time...ok, it wasn't Little House on the Prairie...but it was kinda nice.

So, if you are reading this now and have other things you should be doing, I give you permission to turn off your computer, "x" out of your cell browser and experience what is around you with your five senses - five senses for five minutes. Then, send me a text with your cell number because I couldn't save my old contacts!