Stories From the Good Land

This week has been one of those weeks that has left us spun - 

at least for those of us that get spun in the first place.

Tyler and Mylie seem to always watch from the sidelines going, "Why are you guys spinning?"

Lord help us. 

Ty and I just get all caught up and end up spinning from one side of the spectrum to the other. 

But in the end, like always, we end up fine.

My calm, cool, collected husband tending to the strawberries that continue to go crazy with berries.

Ty had his first camp this week at the YMCA in Santa Barbara, aka "the zoo for kids". 

It was a bit overwhelming and since it was basketball camp and his love for the game ended with the Lakers' bad ending this past season, he came home the first day and said it was the worst day EVER!

Knowing our boy as well as we do, and yet not wanting to let him quit so quickly, we gave him the option to take a half day the next day. 

He felt good with this option and went to bed less spun from the day.

The next day he woke up and decided he could give the camp another full day. 

He came home that day with his best buddy Joaquin and said it was the BEST day EVER!

ok....

My week started out with a trip to the Podiatrist with Mylie. I wanted to make sure she didn't need insoles for her shoes. She didn't. It was a great appointment ... other than the fact that we had a poop explosion all over the doctor's antique chair and carpet. 

It was the consequence of feeding her gluten the night before by mistake. 

There was so much poop and it was so smelly and it was everywhere 

and the whole thing was just so awful! 

And I was so embarrassed and confused at where to begin cleaning...  my child or the chair and carpet.

Luckily, the staff was so nice and helpful. They reassured me it was ok and that the doctor would just have to take his lunch break to steam clean the chair and carpet. No big deal...

UGH....

I left feeling overwhelmed.... and there were more reasons than just the obvious. 

I came home to jump in the shower with Mylie and the water was turned off all day. ugh...

It was a bad day.

My children... sharing strawberries.

As long as I can remember I've always wanted children. 

I would nurse my dolls at age 4. 

I always dreamt about what my kids would look like, what it would be like to be their mom.

At age 17, in great anticipation of motherhood, I started collecting children's books for my future kids. 

Those same books are sitting in my kids' rooms now.

Ty finding the perfect strawberry for Mylie and taking the stems off for her so she can just plop it in her mouth.

The perfect homegrown, organic, sweet delicious strawberry...

Mylie climbing the apple tree.

So, my epiphany the day after went something like this:

Ty, Mylie and I are watching Signing Times together. 

(BTW, Mylie's new favorite sign - LOVE.

 She loves everything now: cats, mom, dad, food, grammy, grandma...)

Anyway... we're watching the show and Ty wonders

"Why can't those kids just say the words? Why do they have to sign?"

me: "Well... some kids are deaf and can't hear if you talk to them or mute and can't talk. 

They need to be able to communicate. Sign language helps them communicate, just like Mylie is now."

"But Mylie is going to talk." he says

"Well, yes, but this is going to help her talk. Some kids won't ever talk, some kids won't ever run or do other things that other kids can do. It's our job as parents to make sure our kids have what they need 

so they can have ...   a     b e a u t i f u l    l i f e.

A beautiful life.

That's it. Nothing less, nothing more.

It's nothing I didn't know before. Of course that's our job. 

But, it hit me in that moment in a whole new way...

that no matter what I ever envisioned, or what I ever think I am capable of or not...

it's not about me, never has been, never will be.

God gave me these two angels to care for. It's about them and their beautiful life.

It's not as complicated as it may seem at times. It's actually quite simple.

It's the end of the week. Yayyy!! After all that I am utterly exhausted. So is Ty.

And Tyler and Mylie are as carefree as ever.

Glad at least our household is balanced.

Wishing you all a lovely beautiful week ahead.

Miss you Uncle Karlos...