A Wall of Opportunity

I'm not sure if Hannah and Eli have yet figured out what danger and risk are all about - even the feelings associated with those concepts do not seem to be something that they have yet absorbed.  Maybe blissful ignorance is still shadowing their little minds from reality.  Or perhaps even in their own way, they too grasp at the chance to push the limits and experience that thrilling surge of adrenaline.  Could it be that they too have the same need for heart-filling adventure that is so deeply entrenched into our hearts?   A 40-foot-high wall studded from base to roof with hand holds begs to be climbed and that is what we did.  Jon can be such a child at times - and I say that without an ounce of negativity.  He simply portrays the same intrigue and peaked interest that I so often see on the faces of my kids when I offer an experience to them that they cannot wait to have.   Nearly two weeks ago, our family packed up and headed to western NC for a 10-year Outdoor Education reunion for our alma mater, Montreat College.  The college has a beautiful and relatively new high ropes course that came long after the days of my trudging through the woods and sitting in 'class' - class being the rocky surface of Hawks Bill high in Linville Gorge, a canopy of blazing stars, or a narrow trail skirted by tall grace - class, yes those were the days!  I had no idea how good life was in those days!  Okay, sorry for the rabbit trail - I can get in real trouble with reminiscing.   Back to our day at the reunion.  

Jon giving Eli the run-down on climbing gear

Naturally Eli expressed a desire to climb the wall, and in an equally natural fashion Jon decided to take it a step further and introduce Eli to rappelling.   Much to my surprise, the reply from the high ropes coordinator to Jon's request to take Eli climbing and then rappelling was simply, "Well, how do you want to do this?"  Secretly, I was fretting that someone was going to expose our bad parenting philosophy and frown upon our decision to allow our three-year-old to share this high element experience.  No one balked - really, should this surprise me? It is after all the Outdoor Ed department.  

 Suited Up and Ready to Climb

Eli giving a 'Thumbs Up'

The Reliable Prusik knot.  And don't worry,

 that rope (as I was taught) can hold the weight of a several tons - 34lbs was no match.

Working their way up.  Jon mostly held Eli and carried him up.

Almost There!

Starting the Rappel.  Jon on rappel and Eli being lowered.

The Boys in Action

Hannah had her share of thrill.   Much like Eli, she expressed a desire to try just about every element that they could see and understand.  Her first element was the rope tunnel.  She launched right up, climbing ragged hand hold after ragged hand hold - fearless.  Somewhere along the journey upwards, the distance between her and the top was minimal BUT the distance between her and the ground was occupying her mind, and seeing Mommy cheering her on from a distance instead of right by her side unnerved her and she opted to call it quits.  She did a great job!  

Hannah latched onto Sarah for the day wanting to be by her side helping or playing.

Shortly after her climb through the rope tunnel, Hannah wanted to rocket up the 40' tower with me and rappel down the opposing wall.  We had a great time.  About 30' into the climb she panicked not wanting to go further.  I gave her two options; either she could go back down or we could climb all the way to the top and see the mountains from there.  Once she learned of the reward at the top, she was ready and determined to see it through.   She took her experience atop the tower in stride, happily waiting and diligently listening to everything.  Standing on a platform and waiting to be lowered can be intimidating for anyone, but she loved every moment and was ready to 'fly to the bottom like a bird.'  She was so brave and such a little hero!  

Hannah and Me

Eli and Daddy in the top of the rope tunnel

Hannah doing the big swing.  She was too small to reach the release cord, 

but the OE students made the experience just as fun!

Hannah Helping Clean Up

'Uncle' Nick

After the reunion, we retraced some favorite spots in Black Mountain.  I caught myself on several occasions having to force my mind to digest the reality that this used to be our home.  There were moments when I had that feeling that perhaps if I looked hard enough I could find our foot prints still there embedded in the sand from a walk round the lake earlier that day... the memories have not faded and it still feels familiar enough to be home.

I'm pretty sure it goes without saying (or writing in this case) that we had a great, great time.  Jon and I enjoyed reconnecting with people from both our school experiences.  We were also thankful for the opportunity to say goodbye to a favorite professor of ours who has taken a position with Wheaton College.   Those places of our past still wear in my heart like my favorite tee-shirt.  I'll wear those memories until they fall apart and ceases to exist.

Making New Memories

We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.
T. S. Eliot

This well-read quote seems especially appropriate for this season that our lives seem to be falling into at the moment.  We have returned to east Tennessee for this time, however long it may last - short or long, that is to be determined.  But of what I am sure, I am going to cherish and allow every moment of our time here to be taken captive to the whole of my being.  I want to be alive here and now, relishing each opportunity to do something and imprint a new experience onto my heart that will differ from past ones here in this place so familiar.  I want to rewrite history and give this place a new name, one that capitulates to the pulse of a life well-lived, and not a mind heavy burdened and lost.  I want to drop all my tendencies towards reticence and fear, and give into the same desire to explore and experience that my children live out each and every day.  Oh, to be promised all the joy that they carry daily, and the driven mindset that they have just to move about and not quit until energy finally gives way and the bed offers the hope of dreams sweet.  Hmmmm, that would be nice. They are reminding me daily of what life is - life: living, breathing, active, whole.

So in light of a desire to live and be, our family has taken to doing something that we all love most - hiking.  I think I can honestly say that my children (at least at this point) absolutely adore hiking.  The seemingly never ending path to all sorts of discoveries and treasures has them enamored with being outside.  They are in love.   This past weekend we had the delight to have our friends from North Carolina join us over night.  It was incredibly soul enriching to spend time with them and their new addition!  

Getting 'trail legs' early

Eli has recently formed an attachment to the movie, Bambi.  

He is re-inacting/make-believing the antlers of deer getting tangled during a dominance fight.  

Trying out Birch branches for the winter green flavor that is naturally produced

Hannah's Birch Branch Experience

Hannah discovered these two roots in the ground and put the stick between the two

 in order to form the letter, H.  As she is learning her name, 

she is very aware of the various letter H's we come across these days

Eli gets a hold of REAL antlers at Poppie's house - LOVE.

First S'more

I think he liked it

Yep, pretty sure he liked it.

I know she liked it!

Frozen Meal Follow-up: BBQ CHICKEN

Saturday we took off for a family hike and had a BLAST enjoying some time in the woods.  The kiddos especially enjoyed all the wonders of the woods and the freedom of exploring big territories.  

Before embarking on our day trip, I decided I had better put something in the crock pot so that we would have a filling and delicious meal waiting on us when we returned.  I grabbed the pre-assembled frozen pineapple bbq chicken and it was oh so good!

The recipe is as follows:

1 jar of your favorite bbq sauce (I used Williams Bros BBQ b/c it is preservative free)

4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts

3/4 of a large can of pineapple chunks plus some of the juice (use as many or as few pineapples as you like)

1 Onion julienned 

4-6 pieces of already cooked bacon (I had some on hand) cut into pieces

A sprinkle of brown sugar (optional)

I served it over rice and it was just perfect.

Mouse Cleaning

"Our house is clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy"

During a recent trip to the library we stumbled upon this book and it has been a real hit in our home.  Hannah has especially taken a liking to it because the story line of the book is built upon cleaning.  I highly recommend this book if you have a clean-loving toddler or pre-schooler.  This is a fun read.

Hannah is our token neat freak/cleaning machine.  One of her favorite activities is to fill her spray bottle, grab a rag, and go to work wiping just about anything in sight much to the dismay of some things (including Pilgrim our dog).  In her mind she is contributing, and although each window is now streaked with watery drips and every swept pile of dust is scattered once again in her attempts to sweep it up, she is still such a help and brings me so much joy as I watch this aspect of her personality develop more and more.  

Looking for the mouse that inspires the cleaning 

(you'll have to read the book)

She comes by this trait honestly.  She has various aunts and a grandmother whose passion in life is organization and cleanliness.  So, here's to all you neat freaks out there!  I am raising another to join the ranks!  I personally tend to embrace the quote that I put at the beginning of this post!

And she does it with such Style!

Corn and Black Bean Salsa - A Favorite!

One of my favorite cookbooks is Earthbound Organic's Food to Live By.  There is a wealth of great recipes, tips, ideas, and organic know-how.  I was first introduced to this book with this particular recipe,  Corn and Black Bean Salsa.  This is a favorite for me.  It is easy, quick, and so incredibly refreshing.  Perhaps you'll enjoy it too.

Love this recipe book.  It's a great resource.

The recipe is mostly black beans and corn, but there is lots more that join in on this party to make it oh, so yummy!   Fresh tomato, red bell pepper (my addition), purple onion, parsley, garlic, olive oil, vinegar and seasons.  Need I write more?  Soooo delicious!

Here's the recipe - I'm just too lazy to write it out myself.  

1. Mix all the fresh ingredients (beans, corn, tomato, onion, and parsley)

2. Mix the liquids with the garlic and seasons (garlic, vinegar, olive oil, chili powder, cumin, sugar, salt, pepper.  I added some lime juice too) 

3. Pour dressing over fresh ingredients and enjoy!