Winter Wonderland

Dear Friends,

"I think too much," I thought to myself, "I wonder why... It must be The Winter Thing effecting my brain waves. This cold and the dark grates on me and I find myself doing less and just thinking about doing. I wonder what exactly causes this kind of thing..."

The kids are home from school.

Their noise interrupts my pondering.

"I wonder why they are so loud..."

His smile unhinges my brain and engages my heart.

"I wonder how I got so lucky..."

His antics take off again and he's mock-fighting his little brother.

"I wonder about little boys... How is it they are born with this aggression?"

"This constant penchant for playing dead? I wonder if I could muster the strength to fight my seasonal melancholy with as much ferocity... Could I cheat Winter? I wonder..."

The squeal of the littlest draws my attention. The fighting has moved beyond the realms of pretend and I step in to break it up. Pip is sobbing even as he tried to get in one more healthy *WHACK* on his big brother's torso.

"I wonder -not for the first time- why the little guy tries so hard to follow in T-boy's footsteps. Why does he throw himself into the thick of things? Why, like his brother, does he walk on the edge of reason so often? It's a wonder scampering feet don't get him into more trouble than they do..."

"But look at those pigs!"

My own giggle startles me out of my mental meandering.

Then there is another giggle behind me.

"Uh-oh! I wonder who's idea this was!"

"How did he end up such a sweet and funny combination of his two older siblings? How is he a whole bundle of his own original self as well?"

A sudden realization catches me off guard.

"Hey, buster you and your brother are supposed to be in time-out for hitting! Not playing dress-up! Get back in your chair!"

My gaze leaves my two fidgeting boys in their time-out spots and bounces to the unshaded windows.

"I wonder why anyone would leave their shades down..."

 Why create any barrier to stall the sun's rays, especially as meager as they are on days like today? Why block out the scarce appearance of Nature's artistry at this time of year?"

"The snow has been short-lived. It's been so unseasonably warm here on the prairie."

"Even The Sibs on their visits seem to take every opportunity to tromp about in the glistening landscape. I wonder if the snow's beauty is The Creator's way of compensating for the icy blanket's chilling touch..."

The time-out beeper is sounding the end of the relative quiet and the start of another round of Harrison life at it's best and worst.

"I wonder if I'm ready."

"I wish Lan were still here. Then I could send T-boy and him out to play."

"That always helps when there is too much energy hopping around here.....  I wonder... Maybe I should take them out to blow off some steam... Maybe a romp outside with my children would make me feel better too..."

The truth is, there's no time for just wondering about such things.

Mothering requires action.

Only the dog can afford to watch life from a safe distance.

The rest of us must endeavor to dive in and feel it all for 'reals'.

A Winter wonder-land awaits.

And this time it's not all in my head.

Love,

Wonderful Days in NE