365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day # 241

October 30th, 2012

My Pit-Stop Side-Kick

Motor Boat Lake. A beautiful lake my prison van can't resit any more than my Nikon and big kid heart. It's big ole wheels seem to swerve into the turning lane with the sign warning;

 Right Turn Only/ Boat Slip

without me even thinking about it. We live in the middle of nowhere so to go anywhere we pass this spot pretty much every time we leave the house. At least 3 or 4 times a week we find ourselves standing on our personal boat slip, inches away from the sparkly, cold water. Just me and the kids, making simple memories, my favorite kind. No one is ever there but us. I guess the other Minnie-sodians are skipping rocks, picking flowers and snapping picks of the pretty sky at one of the other 9,999 lakes. This particular day was too cold for the girls to get out of the warm security of the van. I don't blame them really, it couldn't have been more than 28. It felt just right where I was, looking from behind the huge wind shield. The toasty 75 degree air blowing at me through the broken, front air vent felt glorious. I contemplated watching my, growing faster than a weed 7 year old have a little boy fun all by himself.

Then I thought again....

Warm seat verses

blue freezing fingers.

Lazy soccer mom

verses special time with Drex.

Watching him explore verses

being a co-explorer.

Complaining about how these years fly by verses

using the minutes I still have.

I have to admit my mind wandered back to how much I freakishly despise being chilled from the inside out. Thank goodness those 8 seconds of complaining didn't freeze my good decision making. Cause 8 seconds later I was out in the -20 below wind chill temperature

(slight exaggeration) making the warmest of good times with my little man.

365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day #240

October 29th, 2012

Cover Me With A Blanket of LOVE

1 Peter 4:8

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Dear sweet, thoughtful, Harriett. My apologies for such a late official thank you. I'm a bit off my game these days. No excuse, certainly my mother taught me the old fashion way. Have the hand written thank you note singed, sealed and sent within three days of receiving the gift. Whoops, not hand written and well past five months by now. The quilt has me busted too, right there on the corner next to one of my favorite verses and special pictures of the kids.I'm pretty sure you haven't been loosing any sleep about a card in the mail, that's not your style. Just don't tell my mom, OK? Thanks.

Everyone in the family loves the quilt you made by hand with a ton of love. Occasionally a small but fixable argument may or may not break out regarding spending time with the quilt. To snuggle with, to play games with, to read with and to nap with. I love the way it looks all neat and pretty on my bed, somehow you managed to match the paint in that room perfectly.

 I was blown away when you told me it was in the works, asking me important questions about me, my family and the house. I was doubly blown away when you came to my door with the special delivery, packaged as beautifully as the gift quilt itself. I was triply blown away when the next time I saw you at the gym, I accidentally admitted we already got it dirty during an indoor pizza, party picnic. You didn't freak out, you simply reminded me the washing instructions were included in the bag.

I want you guys to use it Victoria.

OK, good....we ARE doing just that.

Thank you for such a special

blanket of LOVE!

(Please don't forget to ignore made up words, bad punctuation and grammar Ms. English Teach)

Can't wait to meet up when we get back in town! 

   



365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day #239

October 28th, 2012

Bits Of Wisdom Recently Learned

YOGA PANTS should never be worn by anyone for four consecutive months.... unless of course you actually participate in yoga, are pregnant or have another medical issues that prevents you from wearing pants with a zipper and a button.

SNAIL MAIL can brighten even the loneliest of days. No matter how big, small or seemingly insignificant it may be at the time. Everything opened here has been received with love and sometimes tears.

HOT DOGS  roasted and eaten next to a campfire taste more delicious than a 5 star menu at a fancy restaurant. Especially when ignited with flint and a 7 year old boy recently nicknamed Torch by the locals. 

RE-FALLING IN LOVE with your Baby Daddy in another part of the world is romantic and wonderfully powerful.

WHEN I GROW UP I would like to be a lumber Jack/ log roller champion. 

BEING AN ACCENT MINORITY  isn't as much fun as I originally thought it would be. I have felt a tiny bit like an un-paid circus freak every time I open my mouth in public. NO, I am not from Texas, Arkansas, California or Australia.

1,400 SQUARE FEET is more than enough room for 5 people to co-exist comfortably and lovingly....99% of the time. 

I WOULD BE LATE everywhere if I permanently lived in a cold part of the country. 30 minutes is our personal best getting dressed to play out in the snowy elements.

EATING CAKE in a dark bathroom behind a locked door will NOT help you face the day, your children's behavior or emotions you are trying bury in your face. 

ANNOYING MOMS with cameras can suck the fun out of any event or adventure.

(sit closer, turn a little toward the light, wait my camera didn't focus right, please look as if you wanna be here, no goofy faces etc)

THREATENING to send your home schooled children to REAL SCHOOL if they don't shape up is wrong, ugly and simply bad parenting.

NO REGULAR EXERCISE program is NOT a great plan.

5TH GRADE  is way more fun the second time around.

 Especially American History. I'm getting an A so far.

VI'S PIZZA in Biwabik, MN is the best pizza I have ever sunk my teeth into. 

BEARS are huge and so is their #2

and yes, they do poop in the woods

LOOSING SERVICE or forgetting your phone for an entire weekend is freeing. The world continues to turn, Face Book will still be going strong and late returned texts will be received just the same.

HIGH WAISTED mom snow pants can hide a multitude of sins.

MEETING PEOPLE takes effort and an open mind. 

 STARTING THE DAY  with a a little quiet time before the kids wake up is essential for a smooth day. GOD is always awake and ready to hear from me.

MOOSE AND ELK do NOT taste like chicken.

EMPTY NEST SYNDROME is very real and pretty tough on a momma bears heart. Intensified I'm sure by a many mile separation. Seeing the older kids more on Face Book posts

than in person is painful.

MY  BRAS have gone on strike. Other than holding my cell phone I have no functional use for them.

AN EXTROVERT plunked into an introverted environment can adjust, but will at some point, slightly crack.

   

I HAVE EATEN more s'mores during this vacation period than all the Girl Scout troops in Minnesota combined.

SLEDDING down a hill will take years off your age, making you feel 12 years old again. Adding happy laughter to your life and bumpy bruises to your butt simultaneously.

TOO MUCH CABLE T.V.  will encourage the children to use their free time playing games such as POND STARS and DUCK DYNASTY. Turtle Man and his bearded side kick will become influential people in their lives. LIVE ACTION!  

     

GOD MEETS YOU where ever you go.

 Especially when you are lonely, cold and in the middle of the woods.

DEUTERONOMY 31:6

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid or terrified, for the Lord your God goes with you;

He will never leave you or forsake you.