Permission to See

New Challenge

2009-08-07T16:41:00.000-07:00

Hey there cyberspace folks!

So, some of you know that I have a challenge of trying 40 things in a year. Yep, I turned 40. I decided that our lives are busy, but we all need to continue to evolve and try new stuff. One goals I have is skydiving. That's a lofty one, which I'll do...sometime...

I decided on a new goal today, thanks to my friend Stephanie's blog, where she had an online photography course of 12 weeks as a link. I'm going to stretch my shots based on the assignments she linked. I have recommitted to taking more photos (PLEASE check out my gallery at the bottom of this page), but I think the last time I really gained ground as a photographer was when I was enrolled in photography/darkroom classes a few years ago. I want to get better. It's something I always want to do, get better. We never stop growing, right?

This week is playing with aperature (which means the opening size of the lens you shoot with). So, hopefully next week I'll have some new interesting shots for the gallery. Until then, enjoy these shots of our trip to the lake in Eastern WA - where it was over 100 most of the time. Thank God for swimming in the lake!

Take care of each other,

Is the world really flat?

2009-07-16T18:07:00.000-07:00

Hi,

I realize there is scientific proof that the world is actually spherical, however for a moment it seemed flat. How else would I actually lose 6 months of time in updating this blog? I must have fallen off the planet, get it?

Anyway, a recap of the last 6 months (I can't believe I just typed that - it's like making the phone call to the folks when I haven't called in a few weeks. Guilt, pure guilt.

OK - Katie = physical therapy and a clean bill of health. Good to go gymnastics workouts. Will compete as a "level 7" again next year, although she is rocking level 8 skills- her words, not mine. Also, spring track was great. She took first place in long jump. She is currently at Karolyi Camp - gymnastics camp run by Bela Karolyi and Martha Karolyi. How cool is that? My ONLY sports hero growing up was Nadia, and now she works with her coaches.

Jeff = finished his Sophomore year. The kid has such musical drive. Now that it's summer he's more into relaxing, but his camp this year was jazz camp. Amazing talent that boy, I marvel at his courage performing.

Ron = relaxing after finishing another year being principal. Working on house jobs, and scheduling down time for us all. He is really looking forward to the annual camping and beach trips. (See beach house pic to right)

Me = thrilled to work, work, work! I know, it's sick, but I finished teaching this year at my "old school." It was so sad to leave such a wonderful staff. And see the girl promoted from 6th grade the same day. Lots of chapters finishing. But now a new, exciting one is beginning! And I can't quit reading, going to conferences, and planning out how next year will (hopefully) go. This has the hopes of my dream job. I wonder how I actually landed this gig! Anyway, I still am puttering in the garden, working on house stuff, and reading like I always do in summertime. But, back in my brain, rattles around this cool new job! Also, you may notice I'm not pictured. I have recommitted to shooting more pictures, that means behind the lens isn't in front of the lens.

Let's see other things in a nutshell:

Went on a wine walk - a whole town shut its streets, you drink wine, and shop. What genius!

Rerocked/mulched our garden - looking good!

Painted kids' bathroom

Restained hottub on my own - thank you very much!

Sold fireworks for the first time as a fundraiser

Attended 2 weeklong workshops so far, one more to go

Delivered 2 kids to 2 camps

Went to Forks with Katie to find "where Edward lived"

There have been many other "regular life" things. Hopefully with "being off" for summer, I'll be more present as far as updating. Take care and enjoy time with each other.

New Year Blessings

2009-01-19T09:17:00.000-08:00

Wow. Feel like the New Year has run us over. After settling back into school routines all routines were thrown out. Here's what's been happening at our household.

Plans were to take off for a meet in Salt Lake City on my birthday, Jan. 8. The Big 4-0. There has been so much flooding that freeways were beginning to close, so we hurriedly left a night early and stayed near the airport to we would get to Utah on time. Got there fine, Katie did great during her first Level 7 meet competing with teams she hadn't ever seen before. Had lots of wait time to reflect on how life is and what I should do with the upcoming year.

Got up to fly home and receive message my mom was in the hospital. Mild heart attack. Wanted to hurry but practiced waiting for flights. After docs decided to do an angioplasty they found she had 4 partial blockages. Discussed events, options, and plans with doctors. Scheduled subs and plans. Called on friends to help with our kids and work things. Mom had quadruple bypass.

Also, our brother in law went in for heart surgery in Tacoma, and we watched my neice and nephew inbetween buzzing back and forth to local hospital. Waiting for news on him was hard.

Mom moved in with Ron's folks for recovery while she figured out heart meds and insulin. (oh yes, found out she has diabetes while in hospital) Buzzing back and forth between two houses while balancing not having too many folks down there. Katie had another meet that weekend, did really well, even though she landed really hard on a tumbling pass and limped for two days.

Ron went on first ski trip of the season with the ski school. Icy conditions. Caught an edge on his skis, wrapped his arms in to not break wrists and ended up breaking 3 ribs. Went to ER, got drugs, came home to recuperate. Waited for him to get better. He ended up not being able to sleep or breathe, so went back in. His doctor admitted him to the hospital because he had fluid in his lungs. Got bigger drugs so he'd rest and breathe, fluid went away. Waited for discharge people all day, and he came home.

Brother in law was readmitted to hospital because he was having problems breathing. Fluid in HIS lungs. He was stabilized and sent back to Tacoma to be with his doctor. Waited for news again. After a chest tube and big drugs, he got well enough to come home.

Moved Mom back home. Got her settled, medications lined out, menus, and helped with other things to make sure she was safe. She is doing fine, learning new routines.

Katie continued to complain about her ankle. Took her to the pediatrician. She referred us to a specialist at Children's Hospital since every time she is injured it is the same ankle. Also scheduled some physical therapy. After she saw her new doctor, he XRayed her ankle and found what he called a "huge" fracture of her heel. He said he was surprised she even walked on it, much less continued tumbling. Katie now is in a "boot" to stabilize her foot while we wait for it to heal. Of course she is still practicing gymnastics, just not "punching" activities with her foot like vault and tumbling runs.

So, we have been practicing waiting. A lot. A lot of patience and waiting. For a while there when someone else was healing I would think "What else?" I now consider that a jinx, don't ever say "what else?"

So now we wait. And with all that wait time I realized a few things. I shared with my new staff for my new school how I really try to find light in dark times. What light was there in this? Now, finally, I have time to share what I realized.

1. Don't take health for granted. Although my sledding accident in December is minor compared to the situations of others, take care of yourself and keep on top of your health.

2. Be amazed at your family's love. If I wasn't around this amazing family of people who welcomed me initially as "one of theirs" and continue to support both the family living in my house and my mom, I think I honestly would have been checked into the hospital myself.

3. Take time to be with those you love. It's easy to get locked into needing to do for others instead of scheduling time for those you love.

4. Lean on friends who offer. My dear friends and colleagues at work carried me through January obligations and responsibilities at work, as well as lended moral support.

5. Sometimes it takes a trialing time to strengthen your bond. Ron could read me like a book and knew when I needed a 45 min. bath to chill out or a card to keep my chin up.

6. Life happens. Sometimes it's rough and the best laid plans can get rewritten.

We will be fine because not only does time (waiting) heal wounds, they also strengthen us. Don't feel sad, time is wasted with sad. Look for strength in things that matter. Move through the chaos and helpless feelings and keep looking for the things that are good. You can do it. We are.

Promise the next post will be more cheerful. I felt the lapse in post time needed to be explained.

Love to you all
~H

Winter Wonderland

2008-12-24T14:39:00.000-08:00

Hi and Happy New Year to you all,

I hope your Christmas was wonderful and restful. And safe. Driving was precarious round here, but all we know did OK. It was neat to see people getting out of cars to help those stuck, another reason I'm glad we returned home.

We had an entire week of snow. Deep snow that you play in and it's still there the next day. Snow where the snowman doesn't look like he's wearing a green fuzzy sweater. Snow where you sled all day long with all the cousins and you don't hit dirt. Real snow like on TV.

We traveled to get to the snow just the week before. Went to Leavenworth. If you've never been, you need to. We went for the town lighting, where the whole village is lit by lights. (In case you don't know, I'm crazy nuts about Christmas lights!) It has become a tradition in our family to go play in the snow there, watch the lighting, and sing Silent Night with strangers in the streets. We went with the Killoughs, friends who introduced us to their annual pilgrimage tradition. Our kids ask if we are going every fall now. "When are we going to Leavenworth this year?" Awesome time to connect with good old fashioned fun. Sledding, besides my one yucky crash on my only run, mulled wine, snowball fights. Even though it was chilly, we were warm together.

Here's to a Happy New Year to you all. Those with new babies, new homes, new hobbies, and new hopes. I hope you find peace with those you love.

PS Check out the link to the right for more snow shots. Slowly but surely, that portfolio is getting built!

Add Video?

2008-11-15T16:23:00.000-08:00

Hey there,

Playing around because, , I have a moment. I thought I'd post some video for people far from us to see. Seems like the only time we have video is of the kids' performances/competitions. Hope you enjoy!

Small(ish) town, small neighborhood, big smiles

2008-10-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

OK, for Western Washington this fall has been GORGEOUS so far. Yep, of course, there has been rain, but seriously it has also been crisp and wonderful.

If you have seen where we live, you would know that it looks pretty rural. (We own a barn for goodness sake!) However, we are literally less than 5 minutes from the busiest intersections in our small-ish town. Tucking into a pocket of quiet, except for neighborhood dogs chatting back and forth. Best of both worlds.

One of the coolest things that is near us is a little farm across the road. The guy who lives there has turned it slowly back into a working farm. This spring we saw calves in the pasture (the really wooly, Scottish ones). He cut down a cedar and planked it to repair his barn this spring. With the help of his friend he has also begun to grow different crops. Last summer he put out a little picnic table with a drop payment box and began selling some of what he grew.

People walking their dogs or riding their bikes will make a point to stop and see what's for sale, and perhaps bring home tomatoes, corn, lettuce, or now - gourds and pumpkins. Of course I had to buy some, hello! It's fall! I'd rather support my neighbor that folks I don't know.

Since it's right across from us, I check it out every day on my way past. Rain or shine, Toby's wares are out there. I just think it's a neat little quirky thing that makes us feel farther from the middle of town than we are. Sometimes that's a great thing. It's almost when I see the stand I take a deep cleansing breath. Like I said above, small neighborhood, big smiles.

Happy Fall to all,

He Remembered

2008-10-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

Hello again!

Ron is so observant. This summer we went hiking on Mt. Rainier with "the cousins" (and their parents). It was great fun to take preteen girls who squeal about spiderwebs through trees and watch the boys take off on their own talking and climbing, and throwing snowballs in the middle of July while wearing shorts. It was truly a day filled with laughter and smiles. During that trip we stopped into Paradise Lodge for a treat and a look. I mentioned in passing that I always wanted to stay in the lodge, since I was a little girl visiting with my parents, brother, and whoever came to visit. He remembered, and booked a night for us to celebrate our anniversary.

I was told to save the date, and told what types of clothes to pack. No idea where we were going. So exciting! We left straight from work, the kids were watched by Aunt Jen. All practices and commitments were covered.

This trip was cold, actually the last weekend the lodge would be open before closing for Winter. There was no snow on the ground, but beautiful colors of Fall were everywhere. The cliffs, meadows, and passes looked like they were on fire in some spots. We stopped every time I said I wanted a picture. (Yes! I got a night with my guy AND got to shoot pictures on the fly!) I have never seen "the mountain" with fall colors painted on it. The one season I'd missed.

It was a beautiful weekend. It was so quiet, the misty rain muted all noise. Crackling giant fires in the two fireplaces in the lobby. Sitting in overstuffed chairs and sofas while drinking a glass of wine. Eating in a restaurant where people from ages ago ate. Beautiful windows where the glass was setting to the bottom of each pane. I was in awe the entire time.

How did he remember? I think it was just a quick comment as kids ventured into a gift shop. He hears these things, and remembers. Ron works so hard on us, he pays attention, even while we are zooming around in the middle of daily life.

I loved this special time to go and live something I'd wanted for 20 years with him. What I had imagined about staying there was true. Rustic, part of history, calming. What I realized in the middle of it all is that my life is blessed, to be married to this man. I knew that, but I remembered all over again. He does these things, little and big, to help our marriage all of the time. How lucky am I?

Sorry if this is too gooey of a post for you. Just had to be expressed. Here are some shots of this trip to the mountain. Hopefully my emotions come through in the shots.

Take care of each other~

Oh my gosh! Who is picking up (insert child's name here) at (insert ever changing time here)?!?

2008-09-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, so far in life we have been truly blessed. Luckily one of the two of us has been able to take our kids with us to work, drop them off on the way to meetings, or have a family member fill in after returning home to our great state. (I always thought things would get easier as they got older. No more diapers, can feed themselves, getting involved with friends other than Mommy and Daddy, dress on their own, etc.) Jeff has his permit now, and wants time to practice of course, and Katie is doing gymnastics and chorus after school hours now. In addition, we have 3 start and finish times for school in our family.

We have come to realize now that we require a schematic to organize a transportation plan now. Our adult schedules are organized usually via email, and read something like this:

What time are you finished at work today? I think I can get out at _____.

What time will you be driving past Jeff/Katie's school? Can you pick them up and get them to destination A by time B?

Who do we know who could help with that one?

Great. Just checked my calendar and I have a meeting at X o'clock. Won't be home until Y now.

Do you have time to swing past the grocery store? The kids just told me we are out of dogfood. (Always, always out of dog food)

If you are giggling along with me that is both a comfort and a tiny bit sad. Been there? Living it! Oh well, we have our health and each other. It's all good stuff, just requires a bit more planning as well as flexibility.

Speaking of flexibility, Katie had her first meet this season and placed second overall (meaning, take the scores of all four events and add 'em up). The parents AND big brother were cheering her on. She couldn't have been more pleased. Jeff spent the "wait time" (lots of wait time at gymnatic meets) studying. He is so focused on grades! Currently he's practicing for Jazz Band tryouts.

Remember the post I had a while back lamenting the time spent in the car with the kids? Well, I know that I was crazy, however I couldn't help but smile as we drove home from Katie's meet, all four of us, in the car. Of course, the kids were either plugged into IPods or books, but we were together. I seriously did smile.

Here are a couple of shots of us. More to follow I'm sure.

Take care~

School's In!

2008-09-03T17:20:00.000-07:00

Do you remember it? The first day of school? Anxiety, excitement, and tempera paint all rolled into one big "new school year smell?" New wake up times, new shoes and new routines? I get the same feelings I had as a student every year, and now I'm the teacher.

What will the kids in my class be like? Will they like me? Which ones do I need to watch out for?

I used to watch out for the "naughty" kids. I was not one of them. Who knew what they'd do to you, maybe take your lunch money? Now I watch out for the ones who need an extra dose of confidence, who need a reassuring pat, or need some lunch money. I watch for which boy or girl hangs back and needs to be introduced to new friends, or the spunky ones who may need a calming friend themselves.

Call me sappy or idealistic. Go ahead. I hope I'm sappy and idealistic. We need more idealists. I pray to get them in my class so I can encourage them to dream. Besides, it's a new year. There are many possibilities.

I am lucky to have this job. Yes, it's exhausting. Yes, I know I get invested too easily with my new little friends. Sometimes their hurts become my hurts. Sometimes I'm so tired it's difficult to have energy for my own family. But I still remember my precious teachers, both from childhood and those I call "mentors" that I work with today. I hope I make a difference in"my kids' " lives. I know they make a difference in mine!

Here are some shots of my "personal, family kids" on their first day of school. I can't wait to ask them about their teachers at dinner and who they feel like they've connected with. It's a great day to begin another year of possibilities!

Jeff entering 10th grade (Am I honestly THAT old?)

Katie enters 6th grade. One more year, then off to middle school.

Yes, we are back to the busy time. But Ron and I paused long enough to appreciate this amongst the growing To-Do list tonight. The first night of the new school/activity/sports year. Life is good.

Take care

Family Time

2008-08-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

I mentioned my family on my last entry, so I wanted to share a little bit about our lives to give you some background.

Many of you know that our family is rather busy. No really, we are zooming around town quite regularly. You know what they say about idle hands...

My husband, Ron, is back to work. He is also in the education world, but his schedule is "full time August 1." We are high school sweethearts. I am so lucky to be married to my very best friend.

He makes me laugh daily, which sometimes is challenging I'm sure. :)

Our boy, the oldest, changes daily before my eyes. Jeff is a kind soul, patient, and smart. He still reads ferociously, although he is developing many interests in the world of high school. His latest is joining the marching band, and will travel for competitions this year.
Katie is a bundle of energy. Cracking jokes, writing stories and poetry, playing with our dogs, and of course gymnastics. Her hero is Sean Johnson, and we were glued to the Olympic Games. She loves all things young, from babies to animals. Her sense of humor is inherited from her father.

We are all excited to be going back to school soon, however as the time draws nearer I keep counting special minutes. I will miss spontaneously cooking with my daughter when she asks me to teach her. I will miss seeing my son reading outdoors. Running errands with one of them sitting beside me. (I know, some of you with younger kiddos may disagree, but I truly will miss their company and conversation in the car.)

I have to remember to take a moment each day to appreciate the small moments that can build a lasting memory. All of my happiest this summer were times we scheduled to "just" be together. I am glad we scheduled these times.

Warm wishes,

~H

And so it begins...

2008-08-25T12:01:00.000-07:00

**Mt. Rainier, July '08

Okay, okay. I have caught the bug.

First my friend Stephanie began a blog after she moved from Texas (miss her dearly), and then another dear friend Cathy. I have often thought of starting, but didn't know what content to include.

I teach as a profession, so found a little time to ponder life this summer. My interests? My family's activities, reading all sorts of things, gardening, and photography are a few. Photography as a creative activity has escaped me for a while, mostly snapping shots of family at gatherings or trips. ~Of course they are some of my favorite subjects, and I have begun recording the changes of my growing kids with ferocity.

Pat, my photography teacher a couple of years back, mentioned how photography gives you license to slow down and permission to see. It takes a moment to frame a shot, as many of you know, to consider the angles and notice the beauty. Blogging will require a moment of consideration in what's happening in our blurry lives. That's the reason for the title of this space.

I will later post some stories of family, but for now am including some of my favorite digital shots. (Yes, I still cling to the film of the dark ages, but I am branching out.) Forgive me for fighting it so long, I am growing and learning.

Leaving Mt. Rainier...

Tiny active creatures in our garden...

Traditional dancers dangling from pole in Puerto Vallarta

Take care my friends.