Adventures in Bennionland

I love Easter, I love the rites of spring, the renewal of life, the warming of the weather. Here in sunny Southern California you might think that it is always summer here (I know because I did) but this week we took a big turn. It warmed up considerably and it really brings to mind the concept of renewal and rebirth. I found this weekend that I had more vim and vigor the various activities of the summer. We experienced one as we went to the beach for a barbecue this weekend. Our little family absolutely had a ball.

I am digressing though today we had all the various activities that one associates with Easter. The Easter Sunday Service, Easter Egg Hunts, Fancy Family Dinner, and even a little candy. The boys really got into the Easter egg hunts (see the picture above), and the Candy (Their mom has a great picture of that). After all is said and done it was a great way to end the week. I don’t have any new answers to the problems in my life because of this weekend, but I take away from this weekend a renewal of the spirit knowing that they answers are out there if I am willing to search and work for them… which I am. and whilst I am searching for those I know that I need to remember that I need to remain in every moment because they don’t come again. So tonight while talking at a party my kids came up to me and asked me if I would go out and swing in the hammock with them, and so I did because of all the things I could have done in that moment swinging in a hammock in Someone Else’s yard with my two boys looking at the stars was the best way to spend my time.

Happy Easter!

Mornings are an absolutely magical time. At this moment, aside from the typing of my fingers, I can hear the soft noises of awakening coming from the boys room, the gleeful chirps of birds outside, and a train horn in the distance. Each of these makes me grateful that I rolled out of bed early to herald in the day my own way. A chat with a friend, passing words with my Mom, a chapter read in my book, and time to type out some thoughts.

I have missed blogging as much as you have missed reading our blog. Or maybe it’s a little more for me.

I am glad though for the perspective I have been given by not being on the computer each morning. Last week, for example, I sat on the couch deeply consumed by a book. At one point I looked up and found myself staring at Will, who had crawled out of bed to find me reading. I asked if he wanted to snuggle with me and he did. First though he ran and grabbed his own book. We sat on the couch, the two of us immersed in our reading, until his belly reminded him of other things.

That same week I found myself at the table, sipping my chocolate Instant Breakfast, and flipping through a catalog for classes at the church Eric and I have been going through. With typical Walker pizazz, the bedroom door slammed open and he appeared. Still groggy, with tousled blond hair he waddled into the hall. And then, a miracle. Saying nothing to me, in fact barely acknowledging my presence, he shuffled down the hall and into the bathroom. He closed the door and proceeded to do his thing. All by himself. No urging or direction from me. As he walked down the hall back towards me, ready for his morning cuddles, I could not have been more proud. It also made me keenly aware that his is growing up. So while I held him, nestled up close to me as if he were two weeks old, my heart rejoiced that I still have moments like this. It will not be long before cuddling with me will be old news.

So my blogger friends, it is with this post that I say we are back! Our weeks, like yours, have been full and exciting. I cannot wait to post pictures of our Balboa trip, bike rides, the Zoo trip, Spring celebrations, gluten-free healthy Easter food, and all of the other random pictures I took knowing that I wanted to blog about them. Those will have to wait just a little bit longer…I can hear the boys out of their beds and the best part of my morning is about to begin.

Today I received my smarts in the mail. When ever I disagreed with my mom when I was younger my mom would point to her diploma and tell me to listen to her because she was smart and he diploma was the proof of that. So I have always been excited to have my own and carry on that tradition with my kids.

I have been on almost a two year quest to get my diploma. It took me two and a half years at Weber State University to “finish” my bachelor’s degree. I transfered to WSU with an AS in general studies and was rip roarin’ ready to go. I had a great time studying History and Asian Studies at WSU. Among the highlights were two seminars taught by Omar Kader, a very enlightening class on the art and architecture of India, and learning Tai Chi.

After graduation it was a comedy of errors, to be fair there were a few mistakes that I made that caused my problems and some organizational errors on the part of the university that popped up at the most inconvenient times. So after 2 1/2 years in the mail today was:

See that diploma… I am smart!