Smiles, Skiing & Snow

Saturday was a momentous event for our family. I finally got Terry talked into skiing WOWSER!! If you don't know Terry you may not understand how incredible this really is. He grew up in a very mild climate and the snow has not been his favorite thing. (Especially since he has had to work in it.) But, amazingly enough he consented to go skiing on Saturday. We piled on the winter wear and headed off to Kelley Canyon about 11:30am. After we rented our gear we started for the bunny hill. This is more like a very slight incline then a bunny hill :) but, I was trying to teach two. I knew I would have been insane to start on anything bigger until I knew they could stop on their own. I did not want a disaster on my hands :).

The excitement picked up in both boys but as soon as Aust fell down his legs were all tangled in the skis and he was very unhappy that he couldn't get up very easily. I have to smile to myself. Aust loves life. He is one to attack any challenge and he isn't scarred about much but the problem is that he expects to do a good job -right off the bat. He doesn't give himself much of a learning curve. So, when he fell and couldn't get right back up it took some of the wind out of his sails for a bit. I helped him untangle and explained that anything worth doing is going to take some patients. And that eventually his patients would pay off. (Secretly I worried that I had bit off more then I could chew. I was trying to teach my two sweet boys how to ski and I had not even been skiing in 22 years! ) So, I stuck to the bunny hill for 2 hours and it seemed that they were getting the hang of things but they were definately getting tired of the bunny hill!

By now both were defiantly wanting a bigger challenge. I wasn't sure I was up to it but I took them over to Skiers Lane which is a very simple run for those who know how to ski but for those who are learning it looks scary and ominous. Much to my surprise they wanted to go on it. I smiled a big smile and said "OK here we go!" Trying to look as positive as I could but inside I worried about how I was going to manage the two on a much longer and steeper run. We made it on and off the chair lift without any mishaps and I said a silent prayer of thanks. As we set up to head down the hill I took their pictures. I have to laugh because Terry, although he was nervous, was forcing a smile and Aust didn't even try to force it he just let his worry show. :)

We headed slowly down and Aust had a time of it when he fell, he just could not get back up. I didn't know what to do for him but I had been seeing all these young kids going down the mountain without poles. I had a feeling I should ask if he wanted me to carry his poles and try skiing with out them for a while. He looked relieved and gladly gave them to me. Then he became a brand new boy... he skied so much better and any time he fell he popped up just as fast as he had fallen. Both Terry and I were stunned at the difference. I guess the poles make it to complicated.

Terry progressed too but not without his own issues. He took a side trip into a bunch of trees thinking he would be safer there, he didn't see a large jump :) and biffed it in a bunch of thick powder. To those on the chair lift, he looked as if he had hit the tree and been knocked out so someone yelled to him to see if he was still alive ;) We had a good laugh about that one. It took some doing but he got out of the trees and we made it to the bottom with everyone still intact and even smiles on our faces. It had taken us about 45min. to get to the bottom that first time but every other time we got faster and faster. Mainly because Aust sailed down the mountain in an amazing, no-fear blizzard-like fashion and we had to keep up with him.

When it was time to go both Ter and Aust wished we had more time. (In a way I was glad it was time to go because my muscles were screaming for a bubble bath!) So, now they both insist we go again. :) I hope my body can work out the many kinks in these muscles first!!! :) We had an amazing time. I love skiing with my family it's a wonderful winter sport that I never ever seem to tire of. It can be expensive but it is well worth the memories. The best part of the whole day was when Terry leaned over to me and quietly whispered, "I guess I'd better stop praying for the snow to melt...I'm having a great time in it!" Now that is priceless!!! Not in a million years did I ever think I'd hear him say that. Ahhh...beautiful, happy days!! :)

Christmas Spirit

We had a wonderful Christmas. We were not able to go down to Grandma's Christmas eve but we filled it full of good times anyways. I happen to have the two funnest boys ever so fun is never hard to find when they are around:) We have a great tradition that we each make a gift for the other. It makes for a lot of secret activity behind closed doors in December. Areas of the house are suddenly deemed 'Off limits' and all go about their activities with great determination. Terry's garage is a flurry of sawdust, hammering and wood. Austin's room is full of odds and ends- the likes of which I can't even describe :) and I usually take one of the other rooms downstairs where no one is allowed in (although they both get a kick out of teasing me by banging loudly on the door several times a day as if they are coming in...I think they just like to hear me gasp :)). My gifts took me until midnight on Christmas Eve to finish as I had been sick the first half of Dec. But I was happy to finally have finished them. Christmas morning Austin got us up about 7:30am and waited patiently for us to get ready to go downstairs. It was fun to see what Santa had brought but then finally came the time when we could open our gifts from each other. Oh what fun!!! That is Christmas to me. Seeing what everyone had worked so hard on. It shows such love and sacrifice. We have been so blessed.

I wanted to have a slow Christmas holiday and I sure got one. Christmas day at about 1:30pm I went to bed and did not get out again for two weeks. Pneumonia had crept up on me and attacked with a vengeance. It would normally be a sad end to a wonderful holiday but I had such loving company I can not complain. Terry cooked and cleaned and promptly fixed me up a concoction of herbs for which I was instructed to take every two hours. Austin lovingly rubbed my aching neck and back and ran around the house getting anything I needed. They both stayed near so that I would not feel alone during the many days in bed. I was blessed to feel such love and service. Isn't that the Christmas spirit? Christ's selfless service shown bright this Christmas season through two sweet boys whom I love so much!

This was so funny I just had to post it. Aust was building up a storm of wonderful contraptions in his room and was using Terry's electric drill gun but he has very sensitive ears. He did not like the noise it put out so he solved it by stuffing his ears with toilet paper. :)