Happy Birthday, Zachary

Zachary was born on June 26th, 2008. I first wrote about him on his second birthday here. I realize that this is June 24th and you might be wondering what my rush is in posting this two days early. Actually the reasons are two-fold. First of all June 26th is a trifecta in our family. That's right. We actually have three birthdays on this date. And second, Zachary's dad is home on leave right now and will be returning to Afghanistan very shortly so I wanted the family to enjoy the post while he is home. That will also help explain why there might be a preponderance of pictures of Zachary with his dad.

Back to Zachary. What a cutie he was and is. That's why this is going to be a picture post.

He was born in Kansas City just before his family moved to the DC area.

When he was less than a year old, we visited him and his family during their huge remodeling project. Suddenly Zachary found himself in the care of two people he didn't know at all but he soon warmed up to us. I know his mom wishes we would have combed his hair but he was as cute as he could be and absolutely perfect in our eyes.

Before we left, I grabbed Zachary and his siblings and lined them up for a little photo shoot.
They all adore him almost as much as he adores them.

And when I mention adoring fans, I can't leave out his mom and dad.

He and his dad have always enjoyed sharing a few laughs.

Last weekend, Zachary's grandpa and I dashed out there to see the family and the completed remodeling job. So we'll fast forward to Zachary as an almost 3-year-old. My how he's changed. He's still engaging and adorable and precious but he's much more outgoing as you'll see by these pictures.

He was eager to show us his pumpkins.

And his prowess with the basketball. (We were amazed at his dribbling skills.)

And his confidence.

His strength.

And everything else about him.

Zachary is truly a joy to everyone who knows him.

So Happy Third Birthday, Zachary. You are truly a blessing and a joy!

True Confessions Tuesday

I'm lost. I've joined the Burst Into Summer challenge but not because I'm motivated. I joined because I've got to find a way to become motivated.

What I never thought would happen has happened. After wonderful, happy successes I regressed. I went back to where I never thought I would be again. After appreciating the benefits of diet and exercise and feeling at least ten years younger, I let an illness and maybe some winter blues and a shoulder surgery sabotage everything that had previously made me happy.

I wish I could really discover what it was that led to my falling off the wagon because I believe that only then will I be able to keep it from happening again. I know the answer is in me somewhere but I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's a multitude of things. Laziness, boredom, and self indulgence are some of the first things that come to mind. But there's probably even more to it than that.

All I know is that I'm going to try again to find that magic formula that will keep me looking and feeling good for the rest of my life and if I do, I'll strive to make it my mantra.

In the meantime, I intend to pour everything I've got into the Burst Into Summer challenge. That's the first step.

The second step is that in future True Confession Tuesday posts, I'll be confessing for the week not a lifetime.

And maybe there I'll find success - one step at a time.

It's A Start

Well, it was just once and it was just one mile but hopefully it'll be a tiny, little baby step in the right direction.

It was very hard to head out to Striebel Pond yesterday. The more I don't exercise and the more weight I gain, the worse my muscles ache - top to bottom - all day everyday. But I reminded myself that the longest journey begins with the first step and also that I had no idea what my favorite swan couple was doing this year.

When I was halfway through my mile walk, I spotted them and I could see that they had babies again. As I got closer I could see that I wasn't the only one who was lazy this Spring. Mr. and Mrs. Swan only had three babies.

Even though there were only three, it was a beautiful family and hopefully I'll be out there to keep close track of progress.

Also, I spotted these wildflowers that made me wish I'd walked prior to Beth's last You Capture. I definitely would have added them to my post.

So now I know I'm ready to do something about my failure to maintain the last few months. I just don't feel like it. The Sisterhood is starting a challenge tomorrow. It's a team thing and it involves a Boot Camp. Wow, not only am I failing in the motivation department but right now my body aches just from living. I'm pretty sure a boot camp would be beyond me BUT something reminds me that I won't know until I try.

And I do owe that to myself, don't I?

The Lovely, Lowly Mourning Dove

When I was a young girl, one of the highlights of my life was visiting my grandparent's farm. It was located AT LEAST a quarter of a mile from the nearest road. It had a very respectable creek running through it in which we often swam in the summer. And it had quiet and peace and contentment.

I remember the wind in the pines windbreak on the west side of the homestead area. And I remember the birds. To me, the call of the mourning dove was haunting and mystical and, as a child, I didn't know what bird made that lovely call.

Finally when I lived in a house of our own and had birds in a much more chaotic environment, I recognized the sound and saw the bird that made it. It was the mourning dove and I loved it just as much as an adult as I had as a child.

Even with this history I've always thought of the dove as a mousey little bird - quiet, serene, and unassuming. Now I know better.

First of all this unassuming little bird is EVERYWHERE. When we visited Colorado Springs a couple of weeks ago, I was pleased to see that a pair dwelled near my son's home apparently enjoying the view of Pikes Peak as much as he does. Then there was the story my other son told me about returning to his quarters in the wee hours of the morning in Afghanistan. He said there was a pigeon sitting above his door and it didn't move as he approached. Dave even took a picture of him which caused the bird to stare at him balefully but not budge an inch. I always wondered if it might be a dove and even if it wasn't, I think the pigeon must be a very close relative.

So this winter a lovely pair of doves was among our first visitors to our newly installed bird feeder and I found out that they're not nearly has mousey as I'd first thought. Just look:

They're so much more colorful than I'd ever realized. And they another attribute that I find most endearing - a loving devotion to one another. The never seem to be far apart.

Another quality trait is that they get along with everybody. They're completely unflappable when it comes to sharing their repast with friendly visitors.

During the unseasonably hot weather we experienced a few days ago, I thought to move the birdbath closer to the house where I could do a better job of keeping it filled with cool water. Guess who the first couple to appreciate it was. Yep, the sweet, gentle appreciative doves.

They enjoyed the coolness and each others company for awhile and then he thinks to give her some privacy - that special alone time that we all need once in a while.

She appreciates it and takes just another second or two before she joins him on the ground.

But not before she gives her feathers one more rumple - just to show how very good she's feeling.

And that's all I have to say about the doves. I hope they know how much we love having them around and that we know that, they're not only not mousey, but a sweet example of a devoted, loving couple.

You Capture - Flowers

Beth's You Capture subject this week is flowers. I'm so glad to be back participating and it's a perfect week for me to return because when I started my flower beds years ago, I had one goal. Something must be blooming at all times so all my flower shots come from my own flower beds. And, just to prove that nothing's changed, I couldn't pick out just one or two and it wasn't because the pictures are so great - it was because the flowers are:

There they are. Peonies, hardy geraniums, and weigela - probably my all-time favorites.

For more Flowers (and who can get enough flowers), visit Beth at Ishouldbefoldinglaundry and for more fun, link up!

Home

Well, vacation's over. We couldn't have had a better time. We started and ended our trip visiting Lori in Nebraska

and the whole middle was filled with fun and family in Colorado Springs.

I'm finding out that no matter how great the trip, getting home feels good too. (It makes me wonder. If we move south someday after Mr. Right retires, will it feel as much like home as where we've lived for the last 38 years? Mr. Right says, yes. Home is where you hang your hat.)

Anyway, I do enjoy getting home except I didn't know we had monsoon-type rains while we were gone and that our usual fast-growing lawn had turned into a jungle. And how did those weeds spring up everywhere? Did I really leave all those rocks around the pond and the backyard in such disarray? And can the mail and newspapers possibly make that huge of a pile? What about the laundry? Where did all that come from?

Then there's the dreaded unpacking. It seemed like we unpacked for hours the first night we were home and we didn't even finish! Why is it so much more fun to pack than to unpack?

We got home on Friday and on Saturday we had company from Michigan. We also had to spend some time with our Valpo family so I didn't really catch up on much (or anything) over the weekend but that's okay. Many years ago when all six kids were little, I struggled to keep up and worried then about what wasn't done. My sister, Laurel, embroidered a verse for me that I've never forgotten.

Cleaning and sweeping can wait til tomorrow
'cause babies grow up I've learned to my sorrow
So settle down cobwebs and dust go to sleep
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

I've carried that philosophy with me into grandparenthood. I was so happy to see my kids and grandkids and great grandkids this weekend that I wouldn't have considered wasting one moment while they were here mowing the lawn or sorting mail. I love every moment that I can spend with all of them.

So it was a great ending to a great vacation. Now if I could just figure out a way to see my Kentucky and Virginia kids and grandkids, life would be complete. I'll figure out a way but first I've got a lawn to mow and rake and a lot of weeds to deal with.

(By the way, which would annoy the neighbors the most - the wild, unkempt grounds or weed whacking at 7 am?) I sure hope it's the former.