"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
                                                                                                                   ~Shakespeare, Trollus and Cressida

What a better way to start off the season than to have our kids, Cody 4, and Gracie 6 years old, catch ten rainbows with their Daddy, Uncle Brandon, and friend Jason.  They were guests on Pattison Lake in Lacey, WA.  The fellas served as guides and deckhands to our little fisherkids.  The largest fish brought aboard was 18 1/2 inches long...it bypassed the scale before making it to the taxidermist.  Cody reeled that brute in on his Spiderman fishing pole all by himself!  I was working at the hospital, peaking at text messages of pictures of their good fortune while on break, and couldn't wait to get the play-by-play straight from the fish's mouth...so to speak.   From absorbing the joy that my children exuded, to the shoulder raising pride of their daddy, an outdoorgeous moment was had by all. 

Spring has arrived and it's prime time for planting those cold weather crops!  Today Bryan and I measured and marked where we would plant our broccoli starts.  As we were placing them into the rich, freshly tilled soil, Bryan reminded me to pack the soil around the roots and be sure the stalks were protected.  Then, he brushed a little extra soil gently just under the leaves of the little plant, ensuring the leaves were free of any weight.  In a moment my eyes were drawn to his hand, recognizing the strength and gentleness.  I felt that I could probably get the plants in the ground successfully alone, but I appreciated the guidance and reassurance that I had with Bryan there, not to mention, I enjoy his company.  This is like a metaphor to our lives as Christians.  How often do we walk in our daily lives without feeling that we need God?  But, when we are able to see His presence in our lives, our souls sing.  I am reminded of the strength in His hands and the gentle Spirit that comforts me so often.  The rich soil is as my Bible, the pages all too fresh, filled with nourishment, providing that strong foundation that I desperately want for my family.  God gave us the freedom from sin in Jesus.  So, we are freed from the dirt that might weigh us down.  I am looking forward to this season of growth in our garden and in our home.

A report of rain by early afternoon gave me a time line for a winter kayaking adventure.  The bright blue sky begged to differ.  It was not warm, but required just a couple layers to make us comfortable.  My companion was my four year old son, Cody.  He got a couple bites on his Spiderman fishing pole.  His pole bobbed. He tried to set the hook, but then... nothing.  So, he reeled in his bait to check for any evidence of a bite.  Out again, his line was trolling behind us. The excitement of the bites were enough to satisfy my little fisherman. 

In the distance, across the lake, I could see the dark clouds that had been in the weather guesser's report, as we affectionately call our local meteorologists.  Our calm water transformed into a more aggressive entity that seemed to be telling us that it was time to paddle  back to the cove for departure.    I dug my paddle into the water, propelling us in the direction of the cove.  Cody laughed and cheered as a rolling wave splashed onto the bow of the kayak.  He hollered for me to paddle faster, wanting a larger splash yet.  I wanted to reach the safety of the cove with its water smooth as glass.  With improved effort I did as he requested.  We seemed to stay that much more above the water the faster I paddled, and so his plead for speed continued.  As we coasted into the cove, Cody, exclaimed, "That was the best fun ever!" .  He had no fear in the rough water.  The adversity was taken on joyfully.  This is the life lesson I  will take from such a memorable outing, an outdoorgeous adventure.

Fishing in the Rain

They say you can tell a lot about a girl when it rains on her wedding day.  It seems to me that you can also tell a lot about a girl when it rains and she keeps on fishing.  Bringing the kids out fishing on a less than optimal day for weather and potential for actually doing any “catching”, I wondered how the outing would turn out.  Bryan and I got the kids’ poles ready.  Bryan and Cody fished together and Gracie and I walked down the dock a little way and threw our lines into the water.  The mist changed to rain.  Gracie smiled and swung her feet below her.  She talked about what the fish might be doing under water and how big they might be.  We discussed, with the whisper of rain falling around us,  how fun it was to go fishing as a family, the ducks swimming by out ahead of us, and how worms get their nutrients from the soil.  Gracie’s naturally curly hair spun into ringlets as it became saturated.  Joy came over me as I realized Gracie was truly having fun and taking in the adventure for all it was worth.  Contentment is something I have learned to value in my life and I want it desperately for my children.  Setting and reaching goals is imperative to a positive existence and yet without contentment we are never satisfied.  We don’t have everything that money can buy and still we are not without everything we need to be happy.  There is a balance worth finding and I am pleased to see that in my family.

When learning to shoot archery, it seemed advice came at me from every angle.  I would smile and nod with understanding, though it wouldn't be long before I knew if the advice given would work for me or not.  With previous sports and hobbies I took pride in being "coachable".  Archery is different.  Archery is a sport that you feel as much as you physically do.  Every archer must find what segments make their perfect shot and practice for consistency.  Of the advice given to me, I have spent the most time focusing on one aspect, which is breathing.   I can practice this through visualization or with an actual arrow knocked. From the time I first draw the arrow back until after its release, there is purpose and timing for each breath.  Though there are many vital aspects of my archery technique, and of my daily living, I must not take for granted the moments meant for a purposeful breath.