Looking in my window like a creeper...

Today is Pioneer Day, and it's the first one I can remember that actually feels like a holiday. Now that Nils works at the Church, he gets to observe this holiday! Hoorah! Last night we spent the evening out shopping. We got the kids new shoes for school, and got some camping supplies, since we're going on a little campout this weekend and have nothing but a tent.

When we got home, we spent a couple minutes outside observing our baby grass, as we do about 14 times a day. I stayed outside after everyone had gone in. I went in the backyard, because the grass back there has grown in amazingly well, and it was freshly mowed yesterday. It looks like a real yard back there!

I lay down on our crappy trampoline ($40 temporary replacement for the one that blew away) and looked at the stars. I looked at the back of our house, where all the windows to the living areas are. The blinds were open at 10:30 at night, and all the lights were on, so I could see inside and watch the kids go back and forth doing their thing. Sometimes I feel sad that our house is a bit removed from the rest of the street, but last night it was amazing. I don't worry if our blinds are open at night, because no one lives close enough to look in (unless they're being a creeper like I was).

This house has been, and will continue to be, one huge, ridiculous project after another. I've worried about my kids lately, more than ever. This old world is a scary place, and I fret about it. I want them to be happy, I want them to make good choices, I hope they know I love them...and if they make one more mess I'mmabout to lose mah mind.

Anyway, I had a real moment on that trampoline last night. I lay there and was so full of gratitude for all I have been blessed with. All is well. We love each other. Our yard will look nice one day. Our house is exactly what we needed in a house space-wise and location-wise; and as an unexpected "bonus", we got this crazy yard that keeps us up at night, but has tons of potential.

We're having a Pioneer Day block party tonight with the people on our street. We're going camping this weekend with friends from the old 'hood.

Nils came looking for me, and I told him to come join me- "I'm having a moment!" The kids eventually came outside in search of their parents. We all sunk togther to the middle of the trampoline and were squished like sardines. We stayed like that for a good hour, looking at constellations and the milky way. We found the Little Dipper and the North Star, and we all really had a moment! It was peaceful and intimate and love-filled.

I'm so thankful for those moments that put everything in perspective, and help us feel the love of God and each other. May we have many more.