Harmonies of Life

I'm a harmony appreciating kind of girl. A musical scale is like a puzzle. There are 8 tones of a scale. In any given key, certain steps of that scale compliment each other if sung or played at the same time. Other tones sound absolutely awful if played together. I have always innately heard the tones that add to the melody, and even if they aren't there, I sing them. This is great fun, to sing the harmony part that could have been written. In songs where there is more than one harmony part (heaven), I have to skip from one harmony part to another, or maybe add another. The harmony absolutely makes a song in my view. Give me a song...here is the melody being sung. Nice. I like the lyrics. Oh, I am liking the groove. Nice strings or brass in the background. All of a sudden, here is the chorus and WOW! Two more voices singing with him. Oh! Listen how tight that harmony is. So sweet. Those notes are so close together and blend and add so much power. Aaaaahhhh. Let me listen to that again.

Here's my point. Just as the harmony adds so much to the feel, strength and appreciation of a song or a melody, I have always liked to appreciate or see the harmonies in life. These are the small moments or snapshots that add so much to my life. So, in the normal course of my day, small things have always made me happy. These things layer on top of each other to make a rich life, regardless of the melody or the big details of my life. I could live anywhere, Brett could have any job, I could live in any house, my kids could go to any school, I could do any number of things this weekend, but those small moments worth appreciating would still be there.

All of this leads me to yesterday. Here's an example.

Sydney asked me to take her to a friend's house about 4:30 p.m. The kids were all home from school. As I was driving home, I almost turned into my street and then just had a feeling/desire to keep driving and take a 10 minute detour. I knew Ali had Kate and that I would probably be in for a night of colic, so why not take a moment to enjoy my own self for a bit? I also had some things I was thinking about which is always so much easier to do by yourself. Finally, I was in Brett's zippy car, not my big suburban, and Crowded House was playing so what could I do? I couldn't cut Crowded House off mid song, could I? So, I rolled down all of the windows, opened the sun roof and this is what I saw 30 seconds away from my street.

This is what I saw 1 minute past my street.

This is what I saw as I looked up from inside the car and out the sun roof.

This is what I saw 2 minutes from my home when I stepped out of my car (after I waited for the song to stop of course).

I wish I could import the smell too. Just believe me, it smelled so good there. The sound. How can you match the sound of water moving in the mountains?

I couldn't believe I was there, in the mountains a mere 2 minutes from my house. Now THAT is a harmony of life. I wonder how many people don't ever get out of their car long enough to go for a walk up there and listen and smell and see.

Well, after 10 minutes, I felt totally rejuvenated and ready to go home.

When I got home, I found this...

This moment was another harmony of life. Ali said, "Mom, I have been singing softly to her and she was looking right into my eyes this close and smiling at me. Mom, it made me cry." As she was telling me this story, she teared up and I could tell how much this simple thing of her new little baby sister smiling at her for the first time as she sang to her had touched her. Maybe I was supposed to be gone for those ten minutes just so Ali could have this experience. I love this picture, because you can see the tears in Ali's eyes.

I am so grateful for being touched by simple things. I know it might sound childish, but it has really made me happy. This reminds me of the quote..."Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." The movie UP has the sweetest moment when the old man finds the adventure book which was supposed to contain the "big" things he was going to do in his life. (The masters degree I haven't earned yet, the countries I haven't visited yet, the music I haven't written yet, the house with the pool, treehouse and entertainment center I haven't bought yet). He thought the book would be empty, only to see that his wife had filled it with the adventures he did have. These were all of the harmonies, the small moments and things that had filled his life. These were the moments he had never appreciated or seen for what they were, because he was always looking at what he hadn't done yet, not at what he had. Well, I am rambling on. For a final harmony, the beauty of this picture below. Maddie and Kate. If I could only put that to music...

Two Songs For Today

I dedicate this post to all mothers who are seeing changes this first week of school. A special shout out to my sister-in-law Darcy who just sent her two sons off to two different colleges, one just home from a mission and beginning life as an independent adult. She also has a new high schooler today and the baby of the family beginning full-time school. Finally, she has a husband starting a brand new business this week. Eeek.
To all of you experiencing change, here are two fabulous songs for you to download and listen to.

1- John Mayer's "Stop This Train"

This song is a favorite of mine. It focuses on the desperate feeling you feel sometimes as you sense that life is moving so fast and you wish you could just stop time. You don't want things to change, kids to grow, parents to age, see your own possibilities become more and more limited as we run out of time..This could have been my theme song last year.

No, I'm not colorblind
I know the world is black and white
Try to keep an open mind
But I just can't sleep on this tonight

Stop this train
I wanna get off
And go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly, won't someone stop this train?

Don't know how else to say it
Don't want to see my parents go
One generation's length away
From fighting life out on my own

Stop this train
I wanna get off
And go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly, won't someone stop this train?

So scared of getting older
I'm only good at being young
So I play the numbers game
To find a way to say that life has just begun

Had a talk with my old man
Said "help me understand"
He said "turn sixty-eight
You renegotiate"

"Don't stop this train
Don't for a minute change the place you're in
And don't think I couldn't ever understand
I tried my hand
John, honestly we'll never stop this train"

Once in awhile, when it's good
It'll feel like it should
And they're all still around
And you're still safe and sound
And you don't miss a thing
Till you cry when you're driving away in the dark
Singing

Stop this train
I wanna get off
And go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can
Cause now I see I'll never stop this train

2-James Taylor's "The Secret of Life"

This song has a much more positive message. I love this one. It is worth an itunes download if you don't have it. You'll love it.

The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
Any fool can do it
There ain't nothing to it
Nobody knows how we got to
The top of the hill
But since we're on our way down
We might as well enjoy the ride

The secret of love is in opening up your heart
It's okay to feel afraid
But dont let that stand in your way
cause anyone knows that love is the only road
And since were only here for a while
Might as well show some style
Give us a smile

Isn't it a lovely ride?
Sliding down
Gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It's just a lovely ride

Now the thing about time is that time
Isn't really real
It's just your point of view
How does it feel for you?
Einstein said he could never understand it all
Planets spinning through space
The smile upon your face
Welcome to the human race

Some kind of lovely ride
I'll be sliding down
I'll be gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It's just a lovely ride

Isn't it a lovely ride?
Sliding down
Gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It's just a lovely ride

Now the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time

I think I'll stop this train and put Kate in her stroller and enjoy the passage of time by walking around the neighborhood and delivering thank you notes to my neighbors for all of the great gifts I got at my shower. Speaking of showers, I should probably get one in today. Later. e

Two Young Friends

I had a musing last night. I have two young friends. (Sorry old friends. If you are wondering which one you are, you are the old friend.) I love these girls.

Both of them just left the security of upper middle class, safe neighborhoods for Mexico and China. Both left to teach English. Both of them went without close friends going with them. Both of them earned money to go. One of them risks all that comes with living in a poor area--bad food and germs, a violent country. The other has to accept no Facebook or Youtube due to communist restrictions.

How impressive. Both of these friends have nice rooms at home. Both have a car to drive. Both have boys knocking at their doors and friends to play with every day. Both have families who love them and are good to be around. One has a mom who cooks great food and another has a dad who takes her boating weekly. Both have the gift of being able to go to college and have experienced living on their own.

What a great time of life. I want my kids to experience what they are experiencing. (Heck, I want to experience what they are experiencing, although I would choose Denmark and Italy over Mexico and China.) I want my kids to be as strong, fun, and happy as they both are. I am impressed that they are mixing hard work with service and adventure. Their parents are not handing them these experiences. One moved home and nannied full time so she could save all of her money to go to Mexico. The other has worked sometimes 90-hour weeks this summer away from home and school to earn the money to go to China. These friends will be young wives and then mothers before they know it. These experiences and learned work ethic will benefit their families and create memories they will always be grateful for.

This makes me muse about my life. I still want to attack life like they are. I still have dreams, some realized, some not. I want to look forward to those not realized yet. I want to have hope that I can still affect my future. I want to make plans. I want to do hard things like they did, but in my own sphere to create the greatest possible happiness. In my life, I know having a baby was one of those decisions. I get a peaceful assurance that the Lord just gave me a big huge gift that I don't even understand. She will be a great companion for Brett and for me as the other kids get older.

What a gift life is. We can do with it whatever we want. Really, we can. We can spend our time on any number of things that make us happy. How cool is that?

Oh, baby is waking up. Just in time to take Syd to elementary and take pictures of her with her cute braids she insisted on me doing this morning. She's getting so big. 3rd grade. She's grown and matured like crazy in, oh, the last 5 weeks. I wonder why?....

Random Musing Detour: Crepes are really good. Crepes are easy to make. Kids like crepes. I like crepes. I want some nutella spread for the next batch. When those two young friends come home, I want to have them come over so I can make them some. erin

Hello World, I'm Erin

Hi. Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Erin.
For the past 3 nights, Miss Kate has gone from 2 night feedings to 1. I fall asleep at 10:30 and don't have to wake up until 4:30 a.m. or so. (Cue Hallelujah Chorus turned all the way up).
If you haven't seen me around lately as you are running errands or perhaps eating lunch out, it is because I have been SLEEPING. Anyone who says 39 is the new 29 is WRONG. 39 feels pretty old without sleep. 39 year-olds need sleep, are used to full nights of it and look pretty haggard when they don't get it.
So, I have been waking up at 4:30 with joy, so grateful to Kate for sleeping that long that I just want to love the heck out of her. Then, to wake up and smell that little cheek or neck is further reward.
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OK. Erin Noelle just had the biggest stupid moment. I am laughing at my naivety and gullible nature and wish, wish I were smarter sometimes.

Spencer, coming in from cleaning out the boat: "Mom, we need another squirt bottle with that vinegar stuff to wipe the hard water spots. We only have one bottle for the 3 of us."

Erin: "Ok. Let me google this, because I can't remember if we use straight vinegar or what the vinegar/water mix percentage is."

Erin googling it: Hmm..This says 50/50.
On the same page, which describes "natural" ways to clean, Erin scans down the page and sees the words baking soda, lime juice, and yogurt.

Spencer as Erin is filling it with vinegar and water: "Hey mom, I also heard adding baking soda works really well."

Erin blankly: "Oh yeah. That is what I just read I think."

Erin goes to the cupboard and grabs baking soda and proceeds to pour in the bottle. She is surprised when it starts fizzing. "Whoa. This is good. This will work great."

Erin pours more water in the bottle and POW! VOLCANO FORCE ERUPTION SPEWING OUT OF SPRAY BOTTLE. SQUIRTING ALL OVER SINK, ERIN, WALLS, ETC.

Spencer laughing and laughing. "Mom, you are so dumb! I can't believe you just fell for that! Hello! Haven't you ever done the volcano thing with one of us for science?! Oh man, that was the best."

GRRRRRR.

STIR CRAZY

I love the baby. I really do. I could hold her all day, I say, and have been, but right now, I am currently going out of my mind stir crazy. Maybe that's a good sign. A sign that I am personally feeling better, more energy, etc. Whatever it is, everyone is gone today. Everyone but Baby Kate and me. If I stare at these walls one more second, I will go a tad batty.

So, here we go. I am going to go to the library to get a book. I will maybe get a soft swirl cone from Arctic Circle. I will go on another walk tonight. I could even go to a 6p.m. movie at our run down local theater. I actually want to do these things again for the first time. Sweet.

UP AT 6:45 WITH EYES OPEN WIDE

I'm awake at 6:45 and I'm not in a complete fog induced, headachy daze. Bed at 10:30, up from 2-3, and then not again until 6:45. I love these nights. Better than bed at 11:30, up at 2, up at 5.

I'm sitting cross legged and can sleep on my back or my stomach.

I went for a walk two nights in a row, although still slowly and not very far.

I can touch my toes.

I can eat normal food.

I can take a nap anytime I need to due to 4 kids jumping at the chance to hold her while I do.

I am enjoying great dinners with veggies and desserts included. I recommit to return the favor knowing how much it lightens the load.

Feeding issues starting to improve finally. Biggest hurdle is starting to get better. I can see some light up ahead if I just keep going.

3 weeks left of summer. How did it go so fast?