I love quiet weeks around the house, the peacefulness that comes with summertime, and spending hours upon hours in the radiant summer sun. During our short summers here it would be easy to predict that we spend close to 80 of our time outside soaking up the rays, and the other 20% sleeping. Summers are a rarity around here so you gotta enjoy 'em while you can. We haven't had a chance to break out the pool or anything yet, but it's coming; I can feel it. I had a field trip for Biology today, for somewhere in the vicinity of 118 hours. Ok, it wasn't that long, but it sure felt like it. We left Chemeketa at 7:00 A.M. and didn't get back until after 6:00 P.M. I was hesitant to go, but I sure am glad I did. Even with all the mosquito bites and mud it was a humbling and beautiful experience.
An Alder Grove outside of House Rock National Forest off the McKenzie Pass
A flowering Bear Grass bush
It's easy to forget how small we really are in the broad scheme of life. We can think coherent thoughts, invent amazing machines, and construct towers that reach halfway to heaven. Yet despite all of our best laid plans we would be unable to do any of this without the amazing natural materials we all pay so dearly for. Standing in the middle of a forest that is a thousand years old makes me feel so insignificant and, at the same time, so needed. Standing among the Douglas Firs that brushed the clouds and the Hemlock that provide cures for cancer I was in awe. The kind of awe that makes you re-evaluate who you are and how you are living your life. The sad truth of such a beautiful portrait is that people are slowly loving these glorious forests to death when they should be fighting to preserve them. I want to teach my girls this. I want them to learn how to respect and love the world they have been given. I want them to like recycling, preservation, and hiking in the old growth forests that make them feel tiny. I want my girls to cherish the feel of the ocean on their toes and breathe in the sweet spring air that blows through the mountains.
I love these amazing little people that have grown from a tiny cell to a wonderful and frustrating little person. The little people that can make me scream in aggravation and two seconds later make my heart turn into an oozing puddle of something resembling the best hot fudge you've ever had make my whole world go 'round; and it's great. I can't think of 3 things I'd rather have in my life.
It's been a good few weeks. We celebrated the fourth in classic style; a small barbecue with family and friends. We did a few small fireworks at home before heading down to the carnival and enjoying the big show. Independence always has a spectacular show and it's well worth the three or four bucks it costs to get us all in. Kira and her new buddies snuggled together on the blanket at my feet and oohed and aahed the night away. After the show I got a very large helping of "20 people you don't know who were sitting around you and 10 people you do know singing you 'Happy Birthday' in the middle of a few hundred people". It was great, probably the best birthday I've had in a few years. Along with my fantastic celebration, Kira made some new friends that weekend and she's hoping to see them all again very soon.
So here's to many more birthdays, new friends, and a humbleness only greatness can inspire. Cheers!
Enjoy your weekend!
