Journal from Lassen: Appreciating Moments

Written the morning of Thursday, July 3

I stepped outside with a journal and pen. I wanted to sit in the crisp morning air, and write. CD and Miss Hollywood slept as I dressed and opened the door. I set my writing things down and walked a few extra feet, turning to look east as the sun started to peak over the mountain. I soaked it in for a moment, then returned to the motel room, passing my journal and going straight to the kids. "They have to see this," I thought.

Let me take you for a moment back to last night. We struggled a bit through dinner. I had offered a reward -- an incentive -- for them to stay seated at the table with me. Even with the reward, they were just to excited about so many things around them. I grew frustrated with it all and finally just paid our bill and we left! They had eaten. I still had a portion of my dinner that remained on my plate. This is where I can manage things better. I need to monitor my reactions. They certainly lost their reward, of course, but I nearly reached a point of tears.



Earlier in the day, we hiked a three mile plus hike in Lassen Volcanic National Park. (We did almost six miles total that day.) I encouraged them to keep going. Near the end I knew Miss Hollywood was tired but she still made it! She was our hiking leader on the way in and she hiked her way out quite well. What I found I needed to do was be extra positive in my encouraging her on the way out. At one point, she asked why I was being mean to her and CD. I sought a second opinion. CD disagreed with her and acknowledged I was working to help them on the hike out. At that point though, we took more breaks and I worked to say the same things differently. CD was so awesome in how he encouraged Miss Hollywood and this time, he was the leader. We worked together, we took our time, and we made it! We even got down to the visitor's center in time for a refreshment and to pick up a couple of items from the non-profit store.

See, I know things work out. They work out best when we work as a team and encourage each other -- especially when my tone is clearly positive. They learn from me. I need to teach them well.

So, as the sun peaked at me through the tree, as it rose above the mountain, the choice was clear. It was time to share this moment with the kids. I got them in their flip-flops and sweatshirt jackets after saying, "hey guys! Do you want to see the sunrise?!" They did! They came, they saw, they admired, and then, they went right back to bed. CD fell back asleep and a few minutes later, miss Hollywood came out and sat on my lap as i wrote. I shattered the silence I told so precious and I am so thankful I did.

Here's one for you:
Two geologists, a doctor, and a Methodist minister walk into a bar---
--ok, so it was a restaurant
--and, the Methodist minister was a former teacher turned paleontologist turned Methodist minister
--and the punchline is that they helped me appreciate some truly crazy moments with these two amazing kids after we returned to the motel area. Five miles hiked, a ton of excitement, and they still needed some run-around time on the way to bed.

Added:
The Lassen trip was the start of our July adventures! Check back soon for more!