You suc.... ceeded

Last Saturday we threw a surprise retirement party for my Dad. 30 years at the County and he could finally enjoy his BBQ chicken and baked potatoes at Vivian Park without worrying about a thing, except for maybe where the butter was. I am so happy for him. You did it Dad!

My summer days have been awesome. Quite lazy to be honest. Eating Popsicles, cherries, garden squash and birthday cake. Digging in the garden naked and jumping on the tramp with the sprinklers underneath (ohhh remember those days?) Enjoying the brief rain and new plants popping up; picking caps off mushrooms in the grass can entertain for hours.. who'da known? Baking in the sun at the pool....Getting Oaklee's first bee sting. Right on the lip. Pretty traumatic and very swollen. I love the warmth.
Bring it on.

Mom's Bed


Thunder out my window. Rain pelted the window in tiny streams. My heart frantically thudded against my chest. The nightmare still fresh in my mind, I bolted up the stairs as fast as my seven year old feet would carry me. Her door was open, the covers pushed back in the middle.
I had one of "those days". School was hard. Gas light came on while I was driving home. He never called me back. Lots of confusing homework, due tomorrow. I walked through the door and flung my bag on the couch. Down the hall my heavy sneakers walked. Her door was open. Her eyes met mine and she knew, without a word the covers were folded back.
Last night a cry from down the hall. a nudge in the side and Colton bolted out of bed and came back with a confused crying little Oaklee. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. I folded down the sheets and she reached for me. She snuggled up to me in the middle of our bed. Her tiny hand touched my arm and the other reached out touching Coltons face.The silhouettes of our eyes met in the dark and and I could see a smile playing on her lips. I was smiling too.

State College Continued

well here we are 2 weeks later..
Here are some pictures 2 weeks later..
There are plenty of excuses 2 weeks later..
None of them are any good

The above picture is in the Sacred Grove. It was so peaceful and serene. Truly "sacred".

The above picture is 80% the original "Frame House". Joseph Smith and his family moved here after older brother Alvin died.

On the Smith's farm, taking a breather. Love that face...

State College, PA
is quaint and quiet. From where I sit on the infamous purple couch in Palladino Hall you can hear the sound of occasional laughing from the park and a car whizzing by. You can look out the window to open crystal clear skies and look down the walk to see neighbors bundling up babies in strollers to take advantage of the warm sunshine. It really is so beautiful here. Take a short drive and you'll wind through green trees and beautiful fresh mountain landscapes, dotted with Amish farms and freshly plowed fields. So peaceful; I think I'll stay here a few more days...

en-light-ened

The sun came streaming through the central window in Grandma's house. a tear soaked tissue lay crumpled in my lap. Words to the hymn "abide with me, tis eventide" echoed in my mind. My heart is full. a dear friend of the family passed away this last Friday and his funeral was today. He will be greatly missed. I was enlightened about life today, and as I watched my sweet Oaklee play in the light of the beautiful day, I am grateful to have the knowledge that she can be mine forever.

I spoke too soon...
It looks like my days really are numbered here in the duplex, 30 days to be exact. I'm looking around this place drifting back to distant sweet memories. Scrumptious cookie dough in a silver mixer and two heaping spoon fulls for me and hodie. Opening the blinds to let a warm glow devour the living room while one baby learns to walk. Molding myself into the plush bean bag sipping a bubbling Pepsi after a stressful day of life. Watching him walk through the door, muddy boots and snow flakes on the rim of his hat, a cold nose and a warm smile. The sound of the heater kicking on.. Every wall has a memory, every piece of carpet has a foot print we've made. Every tile has an ant... (I had to put that in here, for memory sake)
You will be missed little duplex; the good and the bad. From the ants, and the crunchy leaves, to the laughter and the tears. The humbling experiences you've rendered and, especially not to be forgotten, to every beautiful memory you've helped create...

Cooped and Pooped

Oaklee and I have been feeling cooped in our little duplex lately. These crazy winter storms have had us (mostly Oaklee... ok maybe I tried it) standing on the back of the couch trying to lick the tiny snowflakes off the frosted glass dreaming of warmer weather. Today we had our chance to bust down the door and welcome the sunshine! We did have to deal with the wind, which Oaklee though was awesome, and I thought was freezing.. but it was a small price to pay to feel the therapeutic warmth of the sun on our faces. We attempted to give tug water and we're trampled by anxious puppy feet and one big bad smelling slobbery tongue..we tried again with a smarter approach of setting oaklee in a tree swing and letting the animal loose while I ran for cover by the shed... Tug was feeling cooped too. We played fetch and put rocks in our pockets and stamped through crunchy leaves and remembered Oaklee's new found love, Gracie's hand me down red boots. I think we may have eaten a twig too.. or was that a worm? Oops... protein right? And then at the end of our adventure, feeling pooped, we welcomed our soft beds, and dreamt of summer, and warmth..