Springs and Rocks

Long time since my last post. So sorry.  Vacation happened.  

Let's backtrack.

We were down in the country the last week of June.  One of the side trips we took was to Blue Spring. The picture of the sign explains what it is.  It is also said that the spring is so deep that you can put the Statue of Liberty in the spring and the water will be over the top of the flame.  You could say that it is a very deep spring.  

A little friend we found.

 Ellis and GPop always on the way to exploration.

 The spring is so blue due to the limestone and dolomite deposits.

 Funny enough, this was one of the highlights of our visit.  A dung beetle on his merry way along the path as we were leaving.  Ha!  The things that entertain my crew.

Another outing took us to Rocky Falls for swimming and rock climbing.  

 How clear the water is.  Gotta love the Ozarks!

Now that I have posted these, I want to go back yesterday!

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge

Who knew that Missouri has a natural swamp area?  I didn't.  It is really cool.  The wildlife (lots of snakes this year) and the environment specific trees were really amazing.  Here are some pics.  Not much to say about this day.  We were all enthralled with the environment here.

Here we watched a water snake.  It was the first of MANY.  Big year for snakes.  Yuck.

 Banded water snake.

Do you see the face in the limestone bluff?

See this tree below?  It is a Balled Cyprus.  So cool!

 Yep, that's little E.  He cracks me up.

Off to Cancun tomorrow.  When we return, pictures of Big Spring and Rocky Falls down in the country.
Maybe some pictures from Mexico.
Happy 4th of July!

Oklahoma and the Current River

Here are the pictures I promised from our trip to Oklahoma and the Current River.

Here we are at the OKC zoo with my nephew and niece.  Isaak is too cool for family pictures now.  

Next we went to the Science Museum Oklahoma.  SO MUCH FUN!!!

Isaak laid on a bed of nails.

So did Ellis.

Current River

Of course we had to catch minnows and make them their own pool.  Yes, we let them go back to their school.

Another river favorite.  Riding the waves after a john boat goes by.

Isaak attempted to stand on one of the tubes and do a back flip.  He almost made it.

I don't have anything to say about this one.

Avery was more successful with standing and surfing on a tube.

Next post, Mingo National Wildlife Reserve.  

It Is Well...

My soul overflows. Cool, clear Current River runs. I find peace within. The kids and I are writing Haiku's this week. Above is my haiku about my relationship with the Current River. I have always been brought to this area of Missouri from infancy. It is the land of my family. Poor, country farmers living off the land. Taming a wild lush forest amongst hills as old as time. Watering crops and washing clothes with water from spring fed streams as clear as the air itself. Plants and animals that would fill one's belly or destroy one's hope. But, my lineage persevered. They had a will and determination that pushed them through just about any obstacle before them. And here I am now with my family. In the same waters of those before me. Hearing the stories of yesterday as if they had just happened. Time is truly precious. I so value our time here. Time does not exist here. Not for us. We run much like the river. Moving through our day from one idea or plan to the next. Taking unexpected detours as we go. Gathering experience and joy from each moment. Rather philosophical today. Sorry. It happens. I don't have pictures to post due to technological limitations. I'll have them on this weekend. Here is my quick summary of our recent events.... Oklahoma City: White Water! Fun in the sun! OKC Zoo! We fed a giraffe. They have LONG black tongues. Science Museum Oklahoma! Always awesome! Visiting with good friends. One of my favorites! Kids spend the night with my brother. Priceless! Kids are already requesting for another. Date night in Bricktown! FUN! Thanks Andy and Elizabeth. Van Buren, Missouri. Current River Float and swim in the river. Canoe and float the river. Mingo National Wildlife Refuge. Amazing! Float and play at the river. Blue Springs and Peck Ranch. Float and play at the river. Float and play at the river. Two more days here then back to Jefferson City. Can you guess what we are going to do for the next few days? I'll tell you this weekend. Till then, find a time where your heart is happy and just live in the moment.

Time for Rebuilding

Have I ever told you how awesome my siblings are?   They both possess incredible talents that I could never measure up to.  I love that.  My oldest son and I had the pleasure of being able to go on a mission trip with my brother's youth group to Joplin, Missouri.  We spent 4 days helping Americorp continue with cleanup and area rebuilding projects.  It was several days of debris removal with shoveling, raking and sorting.  We were covered in dirt from head to toe at the end of each day.  But the work was so satisfying.  Strangers that had no idea who we were or what group we were helping would stop to say thank you.  As we cleaned out a house that was being salvaged from one of the hardest hit areas, I came across a picture from the home owner.  Putting a face with the devastation mad the work so much more meaningful.  The final day was a personal favorite for me.  We spent the entire day hauling 5 gallon buckets of water and watering newly planted trees and flower beds in two area parks.  Having the cool water to keep my temperature down, the wonderful breeze that day and the joy of working directly with nature made that day so much more for me personally.  I was also able to see my oldest grow and learn in so many ways.  He was such a hard worker.  He never stopped.  His strength and endurance pushed me forward.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve with some of the most kind and giving people.

Here is the memorial park where we watered.  It is across from the hospital that was so badly destroyed.

A Turtle and the Queen's High Tea

Ha, ha!  After I wrote that title, I have decided that it sounds like a children's book.  Don't think that I haven't already started writing.  I have. 

Anyway,  we were a little afraid that we had missed the turtle migration since there was such a warm early Spring.  But, as I was gone one morning, low and behold a little box turtle came running through the front yard.  I heard that he was really running, as a turtle would run.  He had people to see and places to go.  Unfortunately, my children interrupted his plan for a little bit of time.  Avery provided these pictures of Mr. Turtle.

And now for the Queen's High Tea.  The tea room in Versailles is so quaint and sweet.  We have gone once before.  This year Baby O, my mom and my Granny and I went.  We had so much fun.  Baby O continued to remind us to keep our pinkies up.  She is so fancy.  We each wore a hat or a fascination (it is the proper head attire in England).  The Queen's High Tea includes your own pot of self-selected flavor of tea, a first course of tiny quiche, and a small, lighter than air chicken salad on a croissant.  Next comes a three tiered server of sweets and savories.  One of each item for each person.  Tiny finger sandwiches, tiny pastries, tiny   cookies.  Finally, a tiny fresh berry sorbet.  It is amazing how full you can get just eating a few tiny things.  We actually took home left overs.  

I think I will open a tea room.  I also think I will start preparing tiny meals all day.  I think that I could eat tiny sorbet each day, it would make my heart happy.

Next post, rebuilding.....

Back in the U.S of A

The internet hates me.  I have written this post three times now and have had it deleted each time.  So, I need to move on to our current happenings.  Here is a VERY quick recap of 2 weeks ago.
1.  Love being back in USA, love a fast interstate, love welcome centers
2.  We were all ready to be outside and spent most of our first days in Missouri outside working in the yard, catching butterflies and picking blackberries.
3.  Yard Olympics is tons of fun!  Pool noodles and beachballs make for perfect events. 

Good, caught up.  I'm going to copy this and hope it posts.

Cross your fingers.