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If you ever see me eating M&Ms you can be certain that they melt in my mouth AND in my hands.  -That's because I've microwaved them for as long as I can remember.  Before you start thinking that I'm crazy, know that I'm not the only one who does this. My siblings do it too.  And our children microwave their M&Ms.  My mom even has a stack of small microwavable bowls and a large container stocked with M&Ms at all times.

The origin of intentionally melting our M&Ms is quite simple. For years, my Dad drove eighty or more miles everyday from our small town to his workplace in Arlington.  He worked long hours and then had a long drive home.  I remember being excited along with my brother and sisters when we would hear his truck driving down the dirt road returning home.  We were doubly excited when, many times Dad would get out of his truck and then pat his shirt pockets.  That signal let us know that he had stopped on the way home to get M&Ms for each of us.  Having stayed in his pocket for the trip, the M&Ms were always melted to perfection.

My Dad

Having tasted my M&Ms that way, I have abandoned eating them any other way.  I mean, I may have tossed a few of the unmelted candies in my mouth if they were offered to me or if I see a bowl of them at a party.  But I hold no affection for them.

The candies I love are reminiscent of my father's love. They represent a father who, though busy and tired, took the time to make his children feel special and loved. They bring back time spent with my father. I am thankful my children and my nieces and nephews have experienced the thrill of seeing Papa pat his pocket.

We live over three- hundred miles away from my Dad now. My Dad is still the hardest working man I know.  We look forward to finding time between demanding schedules and distance to spend time together. Even over geographical distance, M&Ms are still eaten melted at the Burden house. I don't remember who started microwaving the M&Ms. Like many other things, my siblings and I would probably each assume lone credit.  But I think we would agree on one thing. The melted M&Ms serve as a reminder that our lives have been blessed having been warmed by our father's heart.

You must know Dad.

Through your provision,

through your sacrifice,

through your love,

and simply through your presence,

you have colored my world and warmed my heart.

 

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I couldn't sleep last night so I did what I tell my children to do when they can't sleep.  I tell them to talk to God.  So that's what I did.  This is what I said.

Slept in until 7:30 this morning.

Had nowhere to rush to.

Thankful for the little things.

It was Jason's day off today.

We ate at Willy Burger and went to the movies.

Thankful for the little things.

The kids gathered around me in the kitchen.

We made chocolate-covered banana pops.

Thankful for the little things.

Rylie lost-  and I do mean "lost" her tooth.

This resulted in a fun letter to the toothfairy.

Thankful for the little things.

We had fried bologna sandwiches and baked kale for supper.

A quite mismatched meal, but no one complained.

Thankful for the little things.

I talked with two of my old students through facebook

-One I taught in first and second grade, the other I taught in Sunday School.

Thankful for the little things.

I am sitting in the hallway writing late this night as to not disturb.

My family is safe and healthy  around me.

Thankful for the little things.

There really are no little things when it comes to you God

Only

small vision,

small recognition, and

small understanding

Rather than seeing bits and pieces of who you are and what you do,

Grant me single focus, opening my eyes to your splendor. 

Thankful.

 

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We are about to depart on a journey of a thousand miles. It is literally 1,062 miles from our driveway to our destination in Colorado. I'm bracing myself for this trip. Being in the car with the family for as many hours as it takes to make this trek can turn into a toxic situation. The kids get bored and whiney, I get tired and cranky, and Kristi gets caught in the crossfire. Over the years we have learned a few relationship preserving techniques for arriving at our destination with our sanity intact.

Reading a Book Together

Vacation travel has much improved with iPods and installed DVD players. Many miles are spent in peace and semi-silence while the kids are engrossed in a movie they have already seen or by listening to music.  Sometimes this is a welcome break if there has been bickering.  But we have found that a reading a book aloud captures our children's attention just as well.  I usually read to the family while Jason is driving, and everybody else listens.  The kids take a couple of turns reading, too.  I feel they learn and are even stretched as they get involved in a plot they might not have chosen had they only been reading for their own pleasure. I have been shocked at how well they listen; from Hayden who is fifteen to Rylie who is six.  The teacher in me also stops ever so often to check for understanding, to make predictions or just to discuss what we think about what just happened in the story.

Some of our reads have included The Bridge to Terabithia, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and The Great Gilly Hopkins. 

Travel Dehydration

I'm goal oriented when it comes to traveling. For some odd reason I find great satisfaction in getting to the end of a trip as quickly as possible. This is more true for the return trip than it is for our departure.  A few years ago I started a practice while on the road that has served to feed my sick desire to arrive ahead of schedule. I call it travel dehydration. Stopping to use the bathroom adds unwanted hours to an already long trip. I've found that when the sodas and juices and water are limited, the only time we have to stop is for gas and food.  The fewer times we have to stop, the faster we get to our goal.

Good Snacks

Jason is the only fan of travel dehydration. The trip coming home is shorter in hours, but the dehydration suffered causes irritability, then finally resignation resulting in sleep. Thankfully he doesn't enforce this cruel practice while traveling to our Colorado destination.  I'm also thankful that he gladly drives both ways. I like to have an ice-chest full of drinks and little snacks.  Whoever gets the back seat to themself, also has the duty of serving as snack attendant. I for one tend to get cranky on an empty stomach.  The snacks nourish and help the time to pass too.   I keep a small trash bag so that we can clean as we go.  Sometimes that works. 

Breaking Up the Trip

One thing that Kristi and I look forward to on these long trips is the great food we will find along the way.  Since we have made this trip to Colorado together over 17 times, we have become familiar with the best eating spots.  But even when we are going places we have never been before, I find it worthwhile to research and plan out our culinary experiences ahead of time. Anticipating great food helps us to break our trip into manageable sized pieces.

Knowing that a 24 oz. ribeye awaits me at the Big Texan in Amarillo helps me stay focused on my westward destination. I'm already anticipating a cup of perfectly made espresso in Rotan, NM at Enchanted Grounds. We have even timed our arrival in Colorado to coincide with the all you can eat stark night at our resort. These stops along the way make the entire vacation seem a little more spectacular.

 

What travel techniques help you survive in the car on vacation?

What are your best memories of being on the road?

How do you pass the time with the kids?

 

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Hayden and Hallie are getting along.  It's horrible.  Usually they antagonize each other then go back to their separate lives, watching TV or talking to friends.  When they're not getting along and need intervention I come on the scene , in control, and appropriately put them in their place.

Jason bought tools this weekend so that Hayden could do much-needed yard work.  Hayden is weeding the flower beds and getting rid of old mulch.  He talked to Hallie about being his assistant.  She gladly agreed.  They started working together yesterday.

This morning as they came in for a quick water break I made a contentious comment to Hayden.  I wasn't surprised when Hayden disagreed, but the look I got from Hallie......  She looked at me in disapproval, silently saying "Don't look at me, I'm with him".  This is the first time this has ever happened.  I am still in disbelief.  When Hayden left the room, Hallie plead his cause. They're ganging up on me.

In the midst of this turmoil, my sister texted me and asked how things were going.  I told her how terrible my morning had been and that I thought might rather have Hayden and Hallie fighting.  When they stand in unison I don't hold the same sway as when it's me and one of them. Today I felt defeated and without influence.

I wonder what influence we as Christians have in the world when we're divided. I have observed certain groups lately in our nation who have rallied together under common purpose.  Even when the purpose is wrong, they have influence. Those around them stop and take notice.  As Christians we hold a common purpose for good.  We have a mission to share the love of Jesus even to those who hold nothing but contempt for us. They might rather us fight.  We are misguided to think they will listen when they don't  see us loving each other. It just might make a difference if we come together; in work and in love. Today I encountered something new and quite astounding-

I found what can be accomplished when brother and sister work together.

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It just so happens that I had seventeen beautiful sunflowers waiting for me when I got home this morning. 


 It wasn't the first time my guy has given me sunflowers and I hope it won't be the last.  We are celebrating our seventeenth anniversary, but he's been giving them to me for longer. I once got sunflowers from him while he was away in Africa. I remember summers in High School and when we were first married.  He would pull off the highway, jump out of the truck and grab a handful of giant sunflowers from the side of the highway (or someone's pasture). 


They always brightened my day, even if the ants had decided to come along too.


 


I have always found it delightful that sunflowers, as well as other flower types follow the sun.  This is called heliotropism in case anybody wants to know.  Some heliotropic flowers are known to be fourteen degrees warmer than the air around them.  This warmth of course attracts insects which generate no heat on their own. -Never thought about it before, but I read that if you see a bee in the morning it will appear to be slothful as it has a dependence on heat from another source. Naturally bees and other insects find their way to an inviting stay in the warmth of the sunflower.


My point?   What smart flowers.  They spend their days bowing then reaching to the heavens taking in the sun.  Their warmth is attractive to those with none. The sun is so central to who they are, they even look and move like the sun.




Bring me the plant that points to those bright Lucidites swirling up from the earth.  And life itself exhaling that central breath!


Bring me the sunflower crazed with the love of light!


-Eugenio Montale


Crazed with the love of light.....If I could be any flower I think I'd want to be a sunflower.


 

					

		
		
	


	

				

						

				
				
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I started out trying to locate all of our pictures from the past seventeen years. That's how long we've been married as of tomorrow. Wow.  So many pictures to go through.  Our first pictures together predate the digital days. After going through our computer and saving many pictures from the past seven or so years, the computer misbehaved and those pictures scattered back into the electronic black hole. So instead I picked up my phone and found pictures just from the past twelve months.


Just want the world to know-


It's been a good year.


There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.


Many of those times were shared together this year-


A time to plant


 In June we said goodbye to friends in Trinity and were welcomed to Nederland.


A time to love




This is a picture of a great weekend at Marti's wedding and Great Wolf Lodge with the kids.


A time to embrace


I cherish the time we are able to spend together on my birthday.  This December we watched a play in Ft Worth.


A time to search


There were extra busy months.  Here we were able to steal away on Parent's Night Out if just for an hour or two.


A time to be silent


Quick date for dessert at Spoon It- No time for talk


A time to keep


Pictured is a more recent tresured day at Shangri La.


Naturally, not all pictures were captured. Beautiful, happy days with our children were spent.  This year, like every year, held times of busy schedules, growing pains, viruses, days with unmade beds and no milk in the fridge.  But today and every day


I'm thankful for all of our times.


June 3, 2012


Happy 17th Anniversary.


-Had to throw this one in



					

		
		
	


	

				

						

				
				
					
							

						
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Jason’s dad turned sixty this month.  Neatie, my mother-n-law is now retired.  Rylie graduates from Kindergarten this week.  Hayden likes three days finishing a successful first year of High School.  Hallie received an award for her DARE (drug awareness) essay this past week. We will very soon celebrate our first anniversary of being here in Nederland. We have many reasons to celebrate.  So today, as we were able to spend some time together outdoors, we gave the kids a puzzle to put together that had a message on it with some exciting news.


Jason and I have been talking with his parents, secretly planning a fun summer vacation that would enable us to appropriately celebrate these great occasions.  As Neatie and I have talked on the phone about our trip which will take place in July; my mind began to buzz.  A bit of my mom in me sprang into action.  I began to plan.  I would buy a book to get as much information as possible about our destination.  I have texted and talked with friends who have been there before.  I want to know exactly what to expect.


I want to be prepared.


In addition to getting prepared for our destination, I’ll just tell you.  I’m plain ol’ excited!  I do like surprises, but there’s something to knowing what awaits you beforehand.


 -It’s the anticipation!


I long to go this place I’ve never been. - The place I’ve read about and imagined in my mind. - The place where dreams come true.  It’s the place where, in my mind, my family walks hand in hand with nothing to do but enjoy each other and our surroundings.


It kind of reminds me of our future destination-heaven.  Hopefully all those we love have made preparations to be there.  Since I know little about our vacation spot outside of what I’ve been told, I’m going to make sure I know about where I’m going. I have the airline tickets online; got to make sure we have those for each one of us.  And I’ll tell you something else.  I’m going to spend the time between now and our vacation, the waiting time, being expectant of the good times to come.  I will anticipate the experience that will be with us for a lifetime.


It took us a while to put the pieces together, but we stuck with it.  The message became clear quickly for Hayden as he saw a small section of the puzzle completed with the letters “sney”.  Hallie thought she knew, but was unsure.  And finally as Rylie slowly sounded out the word we all joined in merrymaking….


 


 




 


We’re going to Disney World!

					

		
		
	


	

				

						

				
				
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Our first twirling recital was a success.  And by success, I mean I didn't forget anything, the sequins stayed on, and the girls had a great time!  I think I could do this again-a year from now of course.  The pictures at the recital were a bit blurry and washed out-good thing I got some beforehand.


Those lips don't ever stay still.


 We loved the costumes.


Rylie's routine was performed to the song "Be Our Guest"


and "That's What Girls Do"


Hallie amazed us.  She doesn't usually like the spotlight.


She even posed and smiled without bribing.


 Hallie performed to the songs "Radio" and "Jitterbug".


These are the infamous shirts mentioned in the"What's Your Sequin Count" post.




Fun Day!!


At times I've had trouble with the thought that God delights in me, especially when I fail to get things right.  But in the moments I was watching my children tonight, I had a thought.  It wasn't about them catching the baton or getting their turns and steps perfect.  They're mine, and simply watching them was a delight.  But- even better; when I watched and SAW THEM take joy in life,


that's when I saw beauty in the dance!

					

		
		
	


	

				

						

				
				
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Hallie recently approached me and asked if she could post some time to give fashion tips.  Sounded fun. So last week when Hayden was forced to take a little hiatus from all forms of technology I got an idea from Hallie's offering. Desperate to return to his love, Hayden and I struck up a deal.  He agreed to be my first guest blogger posting anything on his mind to the blogging community.  I agreed to allow him to return to his world of technology.  I've sort of missed the the upstairs floor shaking when he was having a really good game.  I also realize there were adversaries that needed to be slain in the gaming world.


 


Ok ladies.  My fellow friend and blogger Kristi has asked me to guest blog on her page , and of course I happily  accepted .


 So I’m gonna make it short and sweet and today I’m going to talk about an addiction to technology . I’ve realized how much my life revolves around technology , and for a while I thought that I was doing wrong by spending every second of my day on the tv or phone .  But then I realized something as I typed the second line of this post…  I realized that technology isn’t  bad at all . Sure it can be used in a bad way , but ultimately it brings us together and can change us in wonderful ways . At first I was going to blog about how we live off of facebook and twitter and how not much good comes from the internet .


 But isn’t this page’s purpose to bring people closer to God . I'm sure Kristi isn't the only Christian blogger out there. You can minister to people through many different ways on the internet ,


-such as liking someones status who doesn’t get a lot of likes


-or not posting a downgrading comment on somones page .


They say God works in mysterious ways and the internet  ‘’can’’ be one of them.  It can also be a tool of satan , but ultimately it is what you make it .


One does not...ignore the great voices of the past.  One does not awaken each morning with the compulsion to reinvent the wheel.  But if one is servant... one is always searching, listening,expecting that a better wheel for these times is in the making.   -Robert Greenleaf


We are in the age of the internet.  If we have the ability to connect and reach people through online doors, it's what we must do.


 


Pictured:  Top-One of my favorite pictures of Hayden and I


Middle-A picture of Hayden introducing his "Violence in the Media" presentation.


(He takes after me, I think he was preaching to himself.)


Bottom-A recent picture of Hayden