As we reach for our sweaters today I remember a sunny afternoon in Washington this summer.  We were invited to visit a friends' homestead full of different varieties of goats and fowl and flowers.  You should never turn down an offer like that.  Though life has taken us on and off the farm over the years my heart remains on a homestead.  I wish I could show you all the creative touches around every corner. 

No surprise here – I was hanging out with the goats.  Meantime the girls were so very excited to see horses again. 

"Farmgirl is a state of the heart." – Mary Jane Butters

"Learn to love the world and to no longer compare it with some kind of desired imaginary world, some imaginary vision of perfection, but to leave it as it is, to love it and to belong to it."

Henry Miller

Oh how I love their expressions as they watched to see if she was successful. 

 "I can’t be the only one. I can’t be the only one who has these moments when I consider how I spend my days, reflecting on the poetry, art, literature, and music that I immerse myself in and ask, what is the point of all this anyway? 

Don’t get me wrong! I love what I do…….  But there are moments that come at unexpected times. Moments when I think, sure I love this stuff. But is my love of it enough to give it value? Is my love of it enough to justify crafting an entire education and a life around that love? I mean, I’m not curing cancer here." 

So begins Angela Stanford's reflection on why we do what we do: cultivating an artful life, spreading beauty, sharing inspiring words.  Is there a point?   In a dark and increasingly deadly world does any of this really make a difference or is this just 'fluff' as one woman said to me some years ago. 

Stanford goes on to share how a friend helped to answer that question for her here.

This isn't fluff, this is the stuff that makes life worth living.

Not me (yet) but my partner in crime officially went up and over the hill right on Father's Day.  We had almost a complete set of our children here to celebrate.

A gift like nothing else. 

That $4 worth of tiny squirt guns? 

Priceless.

Working on the new teen car with his favorite brother-in-law to be who can fix just about anything.

There was a lot of food, a lot of noise, a lot of doubled over and tears rolling down your face laughing. There were more serious talks about life, love, money, faith, fears, and careers. We don't have all the answers but we can listen and can share an awful lot of ways we personally know how to screw up. We can put our heads together to tackle big challenges. We can pray over the things we can't seem to figure out. So we did.  We do. We consider ourselves so lucky to hear what is on their hearts.

As our friends' children are entering teen and young adulthood they have questions. How did you….?  What do you do if…..? How?  

The short answer is only by the grace of God. One thing that rings truer as time goes by is that we have very little by way of formula or guarantees but we have them.  We have us.  Love does cover a multitude of sins – theirs, ours, and those whose stories overlap with ours.  For that we are grateful every day. 

So this is what Father's Day at 50 looks like here with the people he has spent 30 of those 50 years with, people we love fervently. 

"And above all things have fervent love for one another…."    Peter 4:8

"Do you want to ride along to the meeting? I don't think there's anything to do."   That's how the conversation about this road trip began.  It ended the way it usually does.  Of course we wanted to go and of course there is something to do.  There is ALWAYS something cool to do on the road and Cedar City was no exception. 

A few days ago we had friends from England visit. They were asking if those white patches on the mountains could still be snow.  Yes, is the answer and we drove right up to the top to see it.  It's a little chilly at 10,000ft but the views were incredible.  We were surprised by a little marmot before we left. Per Wild About Utah that is indeed the treat we thought it was.  (virtual field trip to hear the marmot story here and the whistle here) 

Southern Utah, where you can watch a fiery sunset and have a snowball fight in the same spot in June. So much fun. 

* disclaimer: despite the illusion due to the angle of the camera, the railings are quite far from the actual edge of the canyon wall.  There is a wide margin of level ground all around the overlook railing. In the marmot image the railing is still further to the right.  Bottom line, I'm the biggest worry wort mom ever.  Zero danger there.  : ) 

Summer kicked off for us with a hike high above Causey Reservoir. This was a new-to-us trail.  It's rated moderate and is an undulating (read: uphill both ways) path with a good balance of shade and views.  Incredible views. The upper fields were in bloom with some flowers we haven't seen on other trails. 

There were a lot of us but not too terribly much other foot traffic, even on a holiday weekend.  As you can see, despite being religious about my daily workout I am still lagging behind even the 7yo.  Yes.  It does at least afford me some wide angle shots of this incredible place and my people in it. 

We have another runner in the family.  It's still not me. This time it's not long distance either, but track. It's been a lot of fun to watch his events.  It's like a three ring circus in a good way.  Something is happening both on the track and inside the field at any given time.

I wasn't a big sports fan or participant in school but I have come to really value what it offers our kids.  More than competition and teamwork, which are also great, it is fresh air, lots of tiring exercise, time away from screens.  It fits in well with our "just go outside" outlook. Stressed?  Go outside awhile.  Run it off.  Get a change of scenery.  Most things look better afterwards. 

Some afternoon fun with their friends. Maybe it works, maybe not. So far they have loved watching the seeds sprout at least.  I will be watching a patch in the yard since the dog walked through and upended one tray.  We may or may not see some runaway zinnias this summer. : ) 

"Give the children an opportunity to make a garden.  Let them grow what they will.  It matters less that they grow good plants than that they try for themselves."

– Liberty Hyde Bailey

"Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in the spirit of penance in expiation of my many sins; to work conscientiously by placing love of duty above my inclinations; to gratefully and joyously deem it an honor to employ and to develop by labor the gifts I have received from God, to work methodically, peacefully, and in moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from it through weariness or difficulty to work; above all, with purity of intention and unselfishness, having unceasingly before my eyes death and the account I have to render of time lost, talents unused, good not done, and vain complacency in success, so baneful to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all to imitate thee, O patriarch St. Joseph! This shall be my motto for life and eternity."

– St Joseph the Worker Prayer

When I read this prayer for the feast day today it painted such a convicting picture of how to apply ourselves to our daily work, whether at home or away. It is arguably even more essential to approach work done at home and for our family with those virtues as our guide. 

Here's to a peaceful, productive week!