Soul Food Time- The Little Outdoorsman Blog

Busted!

6/26/2017

I heard Reed moving around his room this morning and opened his door, expecting to see him sitting in his recliner, reading a book- the usual. Nope. He hovered anxiously near the door, eyes sleepy, covered in baby powder, and greeted me with, "I'm not playing in the baby powder." Note the firefly jar beside him. There was a firefly in there last night. Not anymore. Trust me, I looked really hard. I don't even want to know.

I struggled to keep a straight face and failed, therefore losing the opportunity to try to talk to Reed about the dangers of being dishonest. Oh, well. I cleaned him up, ate breakfast, and drove to my teaching writing class. I didn't have any trouble finding inspiration today! I decided to write a poetic-ish sequel to my post about muddy shoes I wrote a couple of months ago:

“Stay out of the mud!” Mothers shout in unity from porch swings and doorways. Stay out of the puddle, the garden, the weeds- the list goes on. “If you get your new shoes dirty, you’ll be in big trouble, mister!”

I believe a pair of tiny, muddy shoes is one of the most beautiful sights in the world. They speak of creativity, innocence, and adventure. They speak of plain, old fun. They are rule-breakers, out-of-the-box thinkers, innovators. They abhor scheduled screen time, starchy classrooms, and the popular crowd. They sneak a firefly into the house so it can fly around the bedroom at night. They gaze at it in wonder.

I have a new mantra for mothers:
“Roll in the mud. Bathe in puddles. Exfoliate your belly in the sand. But don’t bring it in the house, or muddy shoes start singing a different tune- one of responsibility and the value of hard work.” :)

Cute. Now let's see how that works out in real life...

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Little Farmer

6/24/2017

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In a few hours of free time this afternoon, Reed and I decided to drive to a local farm and get some stakes for Reed's tomato plants. We planted them about a month ago and they are super out of control because I keep forgetting to cage or stake them. I am totally not a gardener, by the way. I've tried over the past few years with gardens, I'm just not consistent. My goal this year is small: Reed's three tomato plants in a small plant box. I can do that, right? Apparently not- I should've staked them weeks ago!

They are coming along really well, surprisingly, and I keep having to convince Reed to wait to pick them until then turn red. I think he will be really excited once they turn red and he can eat them straight from the vine. Like a rabbit. Meanwhile, Oliver dug a hole (as usual), but I have to admit that this hole is exceptional.

Isn't that so impressive? On another note, look at these stakes they sold us! I was like, holy moley- I think those are big enough! Maybe a little too big for my little plant boxes, perhaps? Just call me Farmer Becky.

At the farm, Reed also asked me to buy him a peach from the trays of colorful, beautiful fruit tables. We bought one and I rinsed it off with water in my water bottle in the car (good enough for me) and asked him to eat it outside.

I thought the fuzzy skin would bother him.

I was wrong! I love it when that happens.
Boy, do I love summer!

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"Snores"

6/20/2017

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I started my Master’s work at Miami University yesterday! I’ve been looking into getting my degree for a while, but, you know, life. The first day of class was PHENOMENAL but exhausting. After class I stumbled into the kitchen, Reed gave me a big hug, and Jacob greeted me with a homemade bacon, egg, and cheese bagel and a request to hear all about my day. Man, do I love that guy!

Clouds rolled in later in the evening, and fortified by coffee and the bagel, I had enough energy to take Reed outside to play. In the backyard I found a gigantic, pioneer-style canvas tent. I didn’t really blink an eye, since I have come home to pretty random stuff in the backyard at times. But I thought you might, so here ya go...

Now doesn’t that just look lovely? Remember how Jacob’s a big hunter? Yeah, I’ll let your imagination run away with ideas of possible things I have come home to in my backyard. So sometimes, finding a huge canvas tent is not too bad. It’s all about perspective. Turns out, Jacob and Reed set up the tent during the day in preparation for our 10-day camping trip we are taking out west in August. Jacob needs to look over the tent to see if we need any patches. Now just between us, I’m trying to stay pretty calm about this whole camping trip. I am super excited, but I’ve become a little “yuppy-ish” in recent years, as Jacob likes to say. You know, used to things like indoor plumbing, bathing regularly, clean clothes, and bagels handed to me when I walk in the door. Some people might call that spoiled. Again, all about perspective, I guess.

My biggest worry about the camping trip at the moment is SNAKES. I asked Jacob if there were poisonous snakes in Wyoming and he said there were. I asked him what he was going to do about that, and he said he won’t play in the firewood pile in the middle of the night. I asked him if he could get an anti-venom, and he laughed and said he will pick it up at Walmart tomorrow. I’m pretty sure he was joking, so my snake worry continues. Man, does that guy drive me crazy!

We (meaning Jacob) built a little campfire and watched the clouds roll in. The wind began to blow in gusts and I watched the tent flap in the wind, feeling a little like I was out on the prairie already. I started getting sleepy again, and when I get sleepy I have this awkward problem where I start mixing up my words, This can be particularly entertaining for my high school students. When I was tired and pregnant with Reed, I couldn’t remember the word “sting” and instead warned my students that the bee that flew through the window might “bite” them. I heard about that one for a few weeks. So anyway, I misspoke and asked Reed if he would like any “snores” instead of “s’mores”. Cue teasing… and now there is a new word in our home. Lucky me.

We sat out by the campfire for about an hour, watching Oli dig a hole, roasting marshmallows, making snores, and observing The Little Outdoorsman take about 30 minutes to eat his.

As I have mentioned before, Reed lives fully in every moment, absorbs all of the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings of everything he experiences. Christmas morning it took him like 10 minutes to open each present. Visions of tearing off paper and screams of delight? Didn’t happen. He tore the paper off piece by piece, relishing each sound, obsessing in the moment. Meanwhile, parents and grandparents wriggled and struggled in frustrated anticipation, eventually remarking, “COME ON”! It makes him an easy target for pictures, though.

I bet we will be making a lot of "snores" this summer! Especially when we are out in the wild west! But if these two boys keep up the antics, I am going to need some serious prayer.

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That's a Lotta Sand Out There, Mommy

6/11/2017

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I am in Myrtle Beach this week taking a much-needed vacation. We've been planning this trip for months! I haven't been to the beach in four years and Reed has never been. So we planned and plotted and saved, and now the week is here!

A few well-meaning mommas I spoke to around town back home suggested I think twice about taking Reed to the beach. The ladies fearfully proposed, "He might hate the salt water," or "he could be afraid of the texture of sand," or even, "the sound of the ocean might scare him." Now like I said, I understand where these mommas come from. In fact, every time I heard another piece of "advice" I would nod my head, listen attentively, and swallow my anxiety. I thought, What if he is scared of the beach? What if I've saved all this money to have a toddler who can't leave the hotel? What if he screams every time he hears a wave? What if... What if... What if...

I tried taking my worries and cares to my husband, who shook his head and laughed. "Rebekah. Reed digs holes in the mud, finds worms, eats grass, hunts turkeys, and swims like a fish. He's going to love the beach. You can't worry about everything people say." I knew he was right, but STILL! I want to worry! What about all the what ifs?!

Nevertheless, we endured 625 miles, 10 hours, 6 stops, 2 traffic jams, 2 bags of animal crackers, and countless Veggie Tales episodes and made it to North Myrtle beach. When Reed looked out of the window of the car and saw the beach, he said in soft, perplexed amazement, "That's a lotta sand out there, Mommy". Later, as we walked out for the first time, I held my breath as he stepped onto the beach, picked up two handfuls of sand, rubbed it all over his chest and belly, and smiled.

People need to chill out.

Later that night, I took him down to the beach again, this time in actual swim trunks. He spent 45 minutes running in and out of the waves laughing and yelling, "Mommy! Mommy!" He felt the sand in his hands. He rolled in the waves. He licked the salt water. He dug a hole and watched it fill back up. He brought me 13 shells. And I watched in wonder and complete joy. I don't think I have ever in my life seen someone experience a moment so fully.

The ocean has always been a spiritual experience for me. I'm usually reminded reminded of verses like:

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12

or

Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea-- the LORD on high is mighty.
Psalm 93:4

I wasn't sure how having a child would change that. After all, my husband is back in Ohio, and even though I am here with my parents and sister's family, I am really busy making memories with TLO. But watching him experience the ocean for the first time kind of made me feel... convicted. I mean, this two year old showed more love for life, God's creation, and simple pleasures in that one moment than I had during the entire trip! Reed radiated with love and joy as he took in everything about the ocean. As I watched him play, I thought about recent events where I chose not to enjoy my life but instead worry, complain, or gossip.

I thought about worrying about saving money the months before the trip. And shark attacks.

I thought about all of the times I complained when the family plans didn't go exactly, perfectly right or MY way.

I thought about gossiping about the people I saw on the beach. (Oh, you know you've done that one, too!)

And then, I thought about Matthew 18:3, when Jesus says,
Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Yikes. Ok, Lord. I think I've had a revelation on this verse. I hear You say that You want me to enjoy this life, trust my Father, and love and appreciate every simple moment. I understand that You want me to take it slow. I will run my fingers through the sand. I will roll in the waves of this life and taste and see that You are good (Psalm 34:8). Yeah, sometimes I might get salt water on my face, but I'll laugh (Proverbs 31:25), get up, and enjoy this life anyway. My time here was not meant to be spent worrying about the sounds of the unknown, complaining about the rough texture of unpleasant situations, or focusing on the bitter, salty taste of trials. This wonderful life that our loving Father has created is meant to be reveled in, enjoyed completely, and filled with expressions of gratitude, joy, love, and amazement.

So that's my reaction to Reed's first beach experience! It is definitely not what I expected, and certainly much more meaningful. I am so excited for what the rest of the week will bring. Fingers crossed for no sunburns! Uh oh, I'm worrying again! I'll keep ya updated!

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Busted!

Little Farmer

"Snores"

That's a Lotta Sand Out There, Mommy

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