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I Feel Like Indiana Jones, You're the Treasure I've Been Seeking...(corny pick up line)

 I was watching Indian Jones, who if you didn't know, is deathly afraid of snakes. In The Last Crusade, a young "Indy" is running from the bad guys on a circus train. For some reason...which is still unknown to this day of why they would have a good section of a box car filled with snakes, Indy falls into them. The fear is real.

"Imagine you are bitten by a snake and instead of saving yourself by having the poison removed you chase after the snake to find out why they bit you and to reason with it that you didn't deserve to be bit." 

It's a lethal combination to have a hard hitting quote, analogy, Indiana Jones playing in the background, and be past midnight for Mark's blog. 

I thought about this quite a bit. I have spent a lot of time working on myself. I have found joy and peace in small hobbies like crafting. I have throughly enjoyed making cards on a Cricut, vinyl stickers, t-shirts, diamond art, sketching, and writing. Some of these hobbies I had forgotten how much I enjoy them, especially writing. I find great peace in expression of my silly blog posts. There is happiness to be found in all things, especially confronting my own fears. Am I fan of snakes? Nope. 

The kids and I were at "Gem Lake" several weeks back. Granted, Gem Lake is far from a lake but rather floating docks have been tied together to make a swimming hole off the Snake River. The water is a lovely murky brown with random warm spots...gross. The best part of it is, the kids love it! We were there with some friends that we have become quite close with this summer and some how, some way, the kids found a little garter snake in the water. They were so proud of it. A couple had set up on the sand bar with their little one already in the water. The woman asked if the snake had come from the river. "Yes...it's called the Snake River for a reason." I've never seen people pack up and leave so quickly. And all this time, I thought it was the Snake River because it wound around like how a snake would move. 

This summer has been a memorable one. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get to Oregon this year, but we are sure hoping next year! It was full of swimming...constantly swimming. I only have a 6'x10'x2' pool at the house. The kids were so excited the first day I blew it up and filled it with the hose. Although, like every year, the kids forget that hose water = freezing cold. The pool lasted all of about 4 minutes before I'm searching for towels for "freezing" kids. We spent time in different parks, playing Pokemon Go, taking the dogs to the river, swimming, watching movies, Nerf wars, building a plane cockpit out of cardboard, camping in the backyard, s'mores in the fire pit, jumping on the trampoline, and just spending quality time together. I had the kids with me the entire month of July which was amazing while off for the summer. Sadly, I have returned to work but the days are long and there's still plenty of time in the afternoon to do things. 

I have made my share of mistakes in life, in marriage, and in parenting. But as I have learned through counseling, life coach, family, friends, and just experience...I try to be better. Do I fall? Flat on my face...but hey, it's still movement. Change is never and easy thing. It's painful, uncomfortable, heartbreaking, stressful, sad, happy, exciting, and every other emotion in between. Thank you to all of you that read the blog or have reached out. 

I posted recently on Facebook that I needed help getting my house ready to sell. I was and continue to be overwhelmed by the outpouring of help. It's amazing the friends that have volunteered to give up a few hours on a weekend to help me clean, paint, organize, etc. I have a wonderful tribe. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As I continue on this new journey of the unknown, I am proud and happy to have family and friends beside me along the way. Sometimes I'm definitely being carried by them while other times I am walking on my own. I am working on enjoying the view and the journey rather than focusing on the destination.




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