Thanksgiving

Though I'm a bit late, I didn't want to let the Thanksgiving weekend completely slip by without acknowledging how truly thankful I am for the many blessings in my life.  I am lucky, lucky, lucky, and I know it.  God has deeply blessed me and mine, and for that I am thankful every day. 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Mickey Live!

A few weekends back, the kids and I were able to attend a Disney event with my parents at the Ford Center in Evansville.  This was basically billed as a rock concert performed by Mickey and friends, and we were lucky enough to have floor seats right down near the stage.  It was awesome!  We were entertained by a whole slew of our favorite Disney characters.  They danced, they sang, and they rocked their way through a variety of songs.

My favorite: Eric from The Little Mermaid.  He was perfect. ;)

Ava's favorite: When the Toy Story crew bounced huge "meteor" balls into the crowd, and she and I got to bump one into the air!

Hudson's favorite: Mickey Mouse, of course!

Indeed, I never regret tickets to a Disney show.  They are worth every penny!

To Stand or To Jump

I am standing at the edge of a great precipice, poised between the familiar solid ground behind me and the unknown steep drop-off stretching before me.  There are mighty winds of change swirling around my uncertain figure, teasing rebellious tendrils of hair around my usually dutiful face.  For the moment, I am unsure of what to do. 

I have been content for quite a while to remain on that solid ground.  It is well-known to me, comfortable in its recognizable routines and faces.  As a woman ill-suited to change, it is the natural choice to remain cloaked within the safety of that realm.  It is what I know, what I do, what I understand.

Except, I don’t.  Not really.  Not anymore.

Foreign pebbles have recently gathered in my shoes, kicked around that ground by others who have invaded my comfortable space.  I can no longer tread as safely or as carefree as once I did.  As a woman who refuses to let others deem her worth, it might prove difficult to remain here, limping where once I danced.

Possibilities flicker brightly in my mind.  With a steady breath, I inch toward the edge of the cliff.  Beyond, I can see only blue skies dotted with clouds.  Below, who knows?  I wish I were brave enough to simply run, to plunge into the depths of that possibility.  Even if I missed my solid ground, there could be no turning back then.  I would simply have to face the new land before me.  Yet, as a woman given to contemplation, I cannot simply jump.

I am a wife, a mother, a protector.  I must choose wisely, for more than myself is at stake.

Precipitously, a bird rises from the edge of the cliff, its lilting song a siren call.  What do I trust?  My instincts?  My hopes?  My desperation?  I feel myself shuffle again toward the cliff.  A brisk breeze rises, tangling around my feet.  Is it urging me backward toward the established ground, or will it push me forward into a great unknown?

Closing my eyes, I stretch out my hands as if to grab hold of the answers.  They must be out there somewhere, invisible, capering with the wind, the birds, and the clouds.  I must only listen deeply to all that is around me.  Perhaps, within the whispers of my world, I will find what I need to know.

For today, I simply wait and listen.  Still standing.  Not yet ready to jump.  But heart-stoppingly closer to that precipice than ever before.  Very carefully, I open my eyes…

Happy Halloween!

 

Well, after strolling the haunted walking trail, visiting Snow White at the library, and trick-or-treating, we've got quite a haul! Thanks, everyone, for giving my kiddos a wonderful Halloween.


(aka Gypsy Mama)

Pumpkin Carving 2012

  This year Hudson wanted Dracula, while Ava chose a pattern featuring a cute kitten perched atop a whimsical pumpkin face.  Both kids happily dug into pumpkin guts and seeds, before sitting elbow-to-elbow with me for the ceremonial carving.  We played Halloween music and munched on candy.  Then we lit our masterpieces on the front porch and danced on the cool lawn for a few glorious moments.

Yes, we love pumpkin carving.  Hudson sang, "I love my Dracula!" and "I want to suck your blood!"  Ava was proud that she'd helped more this year than any other.  And I was simply pleased to have passed on one of my favorite fall traditions once again.

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Boo at the Zoo

Each October, it has become a Smith family tradition to visit Mesker Park's annual Boo at the Zoo.  Although I am a bit late sharing our experiences this year, it was no less fun than ever.  In fact, it seems as if this entire autumn has been a whirlwind of seasonal excitement for us.  Of course, we did learn some valuable lessons this year. 

(1)  Always arrive early.  Normally, we make sure to be one of the first vehicles in the parking lot and aren't afraid to wait in the van a bit in order to ensure an early entrance into the festivities.  Unfortunately, this year duty called me to a prior engagement at OCU that caused us to arrive at the zoo much later than normal.  We barely found a parking space in the third (yes, third!) parking lot available.  Then, we had to wait in a long, lazy line of merry-makers before even making it inside the zoo.  And that was the easy part!

(2) Do as much as possible before darkness descends.  Usually, we are nearly finished with Boo at the Zoo before dusk, but again, this year was problematic for us.  Once inside, it was already darkening.  We found ourselves cordoned off from most activities by more long, lazy lines of people shuffling along in the darkness.  It was difficult to see what was what, or where we were supposed to go.  Luckily, we managed to snag the very last wagon rental at the zoo, a fact that single-handedly saved us from the masses.  We would have likely lost a child or been carrying both of them by night's end.

(3) Bring a stroller, even if your children are older.  Besides the issues mentioned above, it also makes it easier to thread through a befuddled crowd and hit only the areas that you're most interested in seeing.  We tried to mainly hit the candy vendors, the easy-to-complete activities, and the animal encounters.  We avoided the activities that required lengthy information-giving, the skull-touching, or the elaborate craft projects. 

(4) Let your children dictate what you do.  After fighting the crowds (and nearly losing my bladder control due to impossible lines at the isolated restrooms), I was ready to head home and count our loot.  But on the way out, Hudson requested a soft pretzel to nibble while listening to the fun Halloween music playing on the loudspeaker.  And Ava wanted a photo-op with the impressively-costumed Darth Vader impersonator.  My initial response was forget it, but when I ultimately relented, those moments turned out to be my favorite of the night.  We sat on a cold bench, sharing a salty pretzel, listening to Thriller and Monster Mash, and soaking ourselves in Halloween memories.  I love that my kids know what they want, and that they can appreciate the simple joys of unexpected moments.