Go Outside

When I was a kid, I spent the vast majority of my free time outdoors. I did homework after school, and then I played outside. On the weekends, I was outside the entire day, until the sun went down. As I got older, I'd stretch that curfew to include some after dark time in the driveway or yard. My favorite thing to do was ride my bike. I would ride for hours. I also loved exploring undeveloped areas around my various neighborhoods (we moved often), especially it there was a water source. I was fascinated by the ecosystem, and loved observing the animals interact with their habitats.  Even though I'm much busier now than I was as a child, I try to incorporate the outdoors into my adult life as well.  I run outside, take my family to State parks and nature centers, and work in the yard. I prefer to be outside, which is why I don't understand why so many of my students don't like to go outside. I don't know if times have changed, or if many kids stayed inside when I was young but I was just unaware of it. Today, I asked every one of my Monday students if they enjoyed the spring weather last week, and very few said they had been outside. The majority said they spent spring break watching tv or playing video games. I did that when I was a kid too, but it wasn't often. If I had been watching tv, I guarantee it was because I couldn't go outside. When I asked my students why they didn't play outside, none had a very good answer. Most just said they didn't want to. I was shocked!  They don't know what they are missing! The freh air! The warm sun on your skin!  The sounds of birds singing! It's an endless list!  I urge you to go outside for a few hours. Take a walk. Ride your bike. Pull some weeds. Dig for worms. Watch the birds. You will love it, and the next day you'll want to do it again. What is your favorite thing to do outside?

Ready or Not

Ready or not, it's time to go back to school. Spring break is over, even if it feels like winter outside, and we must return to our normal routine. I had a long list of tasks I wanted to accomplish, and was able to finish a few big ones (fence=finished) as well as some small. I could really use another week, but that isn't an option. I'll just have to complete the rest of the list slowly over the next couple of months as time allows. Since soccer season has begun, we will have two fewer evenings to accomplish weekly tasks. This means we'll pick up the slack on our already busy weekends. That means it's going to take a long time to clear my entire list!  So, how will I do it all?  I'll take my spring break list and rework it into a spring list. I'll prioritize and make adjustments for time. If I factor in dance recital, Easter, Jason's travel, and my Jeff City work, I should be able to come up with a realistic time line for accomplishing my tasks.

I love a good list. If I don't make lists and prioritize, my mind races and I complete nothing. When I make a list, it forces me to plan out how I will meet my goals and what I need in order to make it happen. Some people can do this through thinking, but mine has to be concrete. I can use pen and paper, or I can make a digital copy. As long as there is some way for me to plan it out, I'm going to be successful.  How about you?  Can you trust yourself to get everything done without having it in writing, or are you like me and need a record of your plan to hold you accountable?

Basically Finished

After soccer practice and a quick trip to Lowes this morning, we worked on the fence until dark. We are basically finished. The perimeter of the fence is up. The only thing missing is a top pole for the last 10 feet. We had scrap pieces of top pole from the other sections, but even putting those together left us about 2 feet short. After we finished, we picked up the thousand toys Sophia pulled out to the yard over the last five days, along with the tools, scraps, and trash we had from our project. When everything was back to normal, we took a moment to admire our work. We shared a family hug, and congratulated each other on a job well done. I must admit I am proud of my husband and myself for tackling this task because neither of us had ever built a fence before. We didn't argue a single time, Sophia helped when asked, and the fence actually looks well-built.  We really wanted a wooden privacy fence, but our neighbors on both sides had existing chain-link fences so it just made sense (and saved money) for us to do the same. It is functional, and should last for years.  We have about 20 minutes of work to do in the morning, and then we'll be officially finished.  I'm already thinking of ways to mask the fence: ornamental grasses, vining plants, elephant ears, etc.  I'm also thinking about those shutters and window boxes that need to be built. Oh, and the west flower bed that needs new shrubs. I can't forget about the raised vegetable gardens we are going to put in, and Sophia's play set that needs sanded and stained. Wait, maybe I should just finish the fence first.

The Fence, Day 4

We continued working on the fence today, from sunrise until after dark. I must disclose that our "sunrise" didn't begin until 10:00 am because we slept in. We were exhausted from working past dark yesterday, so I think it can be forgiven. Hopefully we'll finish by tomorrow night. We have soccer practice in the morning and must run to Lowes for a missing pole, but the rest of the day will be devoted to the fence. There has been a lot of laughter, and even more patience. My husband and I have entirely different working styles, so there is some give and take. I see things as parts, or steps. He sees the project as a whole. He wants to dive right in, while I prefer to plan every detail before beginning. Normally we struggle to work together, but the fence has been different. We have both been more subtle with our leadership and willing to follow when it is best.  It has been nice to work well with someone I care so deeply for.  Often I want to scream and pull my hair out when we tackle a task together. I'm really hopeful that this mutual respect will continue into The Fence, Day 5 because I'd hate to end on a bad note. We have sunburns, scratches all over our arms, sore hands, smashed fingers, aching feet, and throbbing backs. However, as long as we have smiles, it will continue to be fun and will inspire us to take on another home improvement project as a team.

I'm Happy

Today is one of my favorite days of the year: the first day of spring!  Spring is my favorite season, so today is one of my favs by default. I discovered, thanks to the internet, that today is also the United Nations International Day of Happiness. How fitting!  I visited the site for this day dayofhappiness.net and saw this awesome text I want to share with you.

I think we would all make the same choice when answering the question. As much as I love stuff and wish I had more money to make life easier, I would never say anything is more important than happiness. I have always felt that happiness is a choice, and I choose happiness as often as I can. I make every effort to be positive and see the good in a situation. The older I grow the easier this becomes. Today we continued to work in the yard. We have a lot of little projects going, but the main task is installing a fence. This is quite a chore, but rather than focus on the expense and time and effort required, I'm seeing the positive outcome. We'll increase the value of our property, and have a safer backyard for Sophia and Teddy to play in. My marriage also grows stronger with every home improvement project. We get better at communicating with each other, and have tangible evidence to remind us that we are in this together and are on the same team.  I choose happiness. I choose to see the turquoise, even though the fence is only silver. 

Late

Okay, so I technically missed a post. I'm still awake on what feels like Wednesday night, but is in all actuality very early Thursday morning. I suspected this was going to happen because I've been getting closer and closer to midnight with each post.  I worked all day in the yard and was ready to call it a night at 9:45. That's when I popped in a movie, a very long movie, from Red Box. I'm just now slipping into bed. I was skimming the news, as I do each night before falling asleep, when I realized I hadn't posted today. My eyes shot up to look at the time display on the iPad. My heart sank when I realized it wasn't Wednesday anymore and I had missed my post.  What do you think?  Did I miss a post because the clock struck midnight, or does this count because I'm still awake for today?  My brain says I missed it, but my heart says I didn't. What is your opinion?  Am I still on track to complete the challenge, or did I fail?  Something I've struggled with for as long as I can remember is the perfectionist view that if I can't do something perfectly, there is no point in doing it at all.  Strangely, I don't feel that way about this challenge. For some reason, I think just giving it a shot is good enough. Am I losing my drive, or is it just late?

Little Library

Have you heard of the "Little Free Library"?  This service began in 2009 when Hudson, Wisconsin resident Todd Bol built a replica of a one-room school house that he stuffed with books and placed in his front yard, along with a sign declaring "free books".  Bol did this in honor of his mother who loved reading and was a teacher.

The first Little Free Library

Since then, Bol has worked with others to nurture the idea into what has now become the Little Free Library program. As of January 2014, it is estimated that there are between 10,000 and 12,000 Little Free Libraries around the world.  I'm quite sure his mother would be very honored to know her passion for literacy has affected so many other people. What a legacy!

I had heard of the Little Free Library, but hadn't considered if there was one nearby. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon one in my tiny town outside of the community center. The fam and I had ventured to City Hall in search of a fence-building permit. I sent my husband in and planned to wait in the car. My plan didn't last long because I saw this tiny treasure near the building entrance.

It's adorable!  Look at the turquoise paint inside.  It reminds me of a speckled Robin egg.  Beautiful!

Sophia and I perused through the inventory. I didn't find anything I wanted to read, but Sophia found two books: a Lewis Carroll biography and an expository text about Mardi Gras.  We were so excited to use the Little Free Library, and plan to donate a few books for others to read. I'd love to put one of these in my own neighborhood, but they are a little pricey, so I'll need to conduct a cost-benefit analysis.  According to the website, there are two in Joplin and one in Carl Junction, but none in Webb City. Perhaps I can find a community group to sponsor and maintain the project. Any ideas?