Pressure

Interesting how pressure steams out the true emotions of the heart. It's so easy to hold things together when life is together. But today as Afton accidentally pooped in my hand (some might consider that in itself birth control) and after I threw the ca-ca in the toilet and toilet water splashed in my mouth, I was able to laugh.

But let's process a morning where I'm tired, coffee-less, QT less, there are internal and external pressures, and something hits the fan. I think that's a good measure of the real me. Some might excuse that and justify crappy reactions because of circumstances, but I have to wonder about that.

Justifying poo-poo personal behaviour just seems like whining if you hear someone else do it...

Manners

For so long I viewed having manners as needed nightmares that were performed for other people. Stiff and awkward people. Or Holiday people.

I don't mean basic courtesies like not grotesquely belching at the dinner table. I mean dinner napkins on the lap, husbands pulling out the chair for their wives, "please pass the...", setting the silverware properly, etc...

Manners are meant to be a form of love. Of hospitality. There is a basic framework set for everyone to find the rhythm within. There are so many aspects of thinking about someone other than yourself (oneself?)within manners.

I'm not truly a fan of formality, but I love making people feel at ease. I'm definitely not the queen of details, but sometimes love is in those details.

What do you think?

Pop-pop

Levi's dad, "Pop-pop" was here for a great visit - the kiddos had a blast with him. Missed their Gramma Sue though.

This is the code for the photo of Copper Canyon that I can't upload

Adventure

OK - Secret grade school dream was to be an archeologist. Now, in your most childish treehouse dreams - if you could travel to somewhere deliciously exotic to explore - where would you choose?

Iowa is not exotic.