MaeLyn's Musings

About a week ago, our family sat around the table for a family meal, and in the course of the conversation, I suggested that we plan a family activity for the following Saturday. The plan was met with enthusiasm by the children, and no objections from my sweet husband, so we proceeded to decide what we would do. Hannah suggested a scavenger hunt, and it wasn't long before we decided other details: the place would be an open space area near our home, we would bring cameras, we would divide into two groups, we had a list of about 25 things to look for and take pictures of. On Saturday morning, the kids did their chores with varying amounts of enthusiasm, and shortly after lunch we were ready to go. We collected the cameras, the lists, jackets, and a water bottle and set off on our family adventure. Steven, Hannah and Joshua took the old camera (the one where the view screen doesn't work) and one of the lists and set off. John, Peter and I lingered for a little while by the...

I took a walk with a cat today- with no collar, no leash, no plans. It just happened that way. I had hardly left my house before I heard a meow, loud and strong. "Where are you going? Can I come too?" She seemed to say. "Well, come along," I told her, and so she followed me. We came to a driveway. "Is this where you're going?" She sauntered up the walk, then looked at me. I didn't stop. "Come along," I said. We passed a porch where a puppy lurked. "Be careful!" she meowed. "He won't hurt you. Come along." I said. Sometimes behind, sometimes ahead, she came with me. Like a child she stopped to look, to smell, to explore. "Come along." I would tell her. When we came to the stop sign, I crossed the street. "That's dangerous!" she meowed. "It's safe now. Come along." I replied, and she followed me. A few minutes later, she crossed back over. "It's ...

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday! The day after Christmas we traveled to Utah where we spent the week with my parents. I was able to see almost all of my siblings (Kristy wasn't there, but we saw her just before Thanksgiving, and Jarom wasn't there but we got to visit with him via Skype. We visited Heather on Christmas Eve... but Lindy, Lia, Amber, April, Heidi and Daniel all either were staying with my parents or came to visit while we were there.) While we were there, my sister Amber agreed to take our family pictures for us. She is such a great photographer, I with my kids had cooperated a little more. Anyway, here are our favorites. It was a wonderful vacation. We relaxed, we played games, we played with cousins and siblings, we watched movies, we had fun. On Saturday (New Years Eve) we returned home, refreshed and ready to return to regular life again.