Every once in awhile I get to step back a bit and look at my world in a different way. I think that comes when you learn how to look through someone Else's eyes, and this past week I have been allowed to do that. My Cousin Jim and wife Lauri from Nebish are here for a few days. They are staying in Freeland but they are stopping down here a bit too. They are a wonderful couple and he has always been one of my favorites from the beginning. Life always put us together as a team, and I feel much more rich because of that. And his finding Laurie was a true gift, she is remarkable and seems to bring so much pleasure to those around here.

Last night I invited my brother's family down for dinner at the beach. I try to do that several times a year. It isn't much, but it is trying. We all had a good time, or so it seemed. It has never been an easy task to keep them all together with no effort on their side. In the 30 plus years I have been back on Island I have been invited to their place exactly once! When I think about that my 3 or 4 times a year seems like a lot, and it certainly does not hurt me in the least.

Now I will say that Nephew Robert and his family is a totally different deal. We get together frequently and I find them such a fun family. They work when the work is do be done (and sometimes in place of family time, sad to say) and they play equally as hard. Their boys are easy to deal with a I love conversations with them. It is just a wonderful thing to have them close by.

Family takes time and investment, but the pay off is massive. I really enjoy my family, those close genetically and those a little further away too. Heck, I even enjoy those that don't enjoy me all that much!

Carson has arrived.....

Linda certainly hangs on to her pregnancies as long as is prudent, and then a little longer. But when she decides she is done, well....believe, she is done! She had a terribly elongated labor, maybe 45 minutes and then we had a handsome young Carson Lawrence Kincaid. He was just shy of 8 pounds and almost 22 inches in length. He is not a tiny boy, more favoring Logan than James I would say. He came out hungry and got right to task, took a nap and went right back to the eating routine. If his beginning is any precursor to his personality he will be a very easy to please and happy kind of kid. Needless to say, Linda is doing great, she will get more rest in the hospital than she has in months I suspect. They are talking about keeping Carson 48 hours and will keep Linda there too (and hopefully not in a chair like they did to Nancy).

Emily took Linda up this morning at 7:00 a.m. for check-in and stayed to assist and entertain. It is a pretty powerful experience to do that, I know, I have had several opportunities to do same. Both Mother and Aunt fared well this day, but I think both are kind of tired. Emily presently has Logan and James for dinner. Larry was watching James but he was at her house so James is blended in with her kids. Logan has been my side kick most of the day but ended up in Emily's care too. Larry will bring the boys to the cabin after dinner for some play, and then they head off to their own beds where he has offered to spend the night with them. Tomorrow the boys will be mine for the most part, and James will be able to meet his new little brother. Logan had that opportunity today and was almost pleasant. Children do not comprehend hospitals and are pretty Leary of interaction.

Here's Hank....

Meet the newest Campbell...this is Hank, one bonenified Russian Terrier puppy. He isn't new to the family but a new Campbell. Curtis purchased hank when he was a couple of months old, but his life style didn't work out for the long run and he gave Hank to Emily and James. I think he is something like 7 months old and definitely still growing. He has beautiful black curls but has been clipped short as his hair was totally matted. He is handsome young lad but all puppy, all very big puppy. Daisy says we should send him back to where ever he came from, but she tolerates him kind of. He can not make sense of the snipped little white dust-mop on the floor but is so curious that he puts his gentle nose down and Daisy snaps at him. He bows to her geriatric demands and all is well for a time, and then he forgets and tries again!

And while meeting the newest Campbell we are also hoping to meet the newest Kincaid. Little Carson is way past due and Linda has an appointment today to see what is next, we are thinking induction is next and, believe me, Linda is more than on board with that thought!

So life is complicated but it sure is good too. And we might even have a sunny day to thaw out my cold little Daisy. I don't think building a fire is called for when you know the cabin will heat up with solar energy eventually....and it isn't all that cold really. I think the cabin is 62 degrees at present, the day is in the low 50 range, but it is still early and the sun is already out there doing what it does.

What a cute set of cousins we do have in our family. How similar and how different. Amy has those amazing turquoise eyes and Logan has green. Both very unique in coloring and neither showing well in the picture but I know they are amazing even if the picture does not confirm the fact! Amy loves to look out after Logan and he is not so sure he wants to deal with his older cousin as a care-giver. They are just so cute when they interact.

The rewards....

My friend Gloria came over for a short lesson this afternoon. You know, there is a reason that I do what I do. It is hearing someone like Gloria play that makes all of it worthwhile. You spend so many hours with children that do not have adequate support to succeed, adequate interest to suceed and many others area that fall short. But in life there are those that come along with all their ducks in a row and they are the reason we teachers do what we do. Gloria sat down and played the 1st Excursion for Piano by Samuel Barber. What an experience to listen to her play that. I have played it and it was a pivotal piece in my life, it taught me there was music that didn't follow the rules established by Bach but that was still wonderful music. What a joy to hear her play and to know that I had a real part in this journey. I listen to her today for free but there is a day coming all too soon when I will not be able to afford the tickets to hear this young lady. She plays my recital on the 4Th of June and Benaroya on the 5Th for big money. Yah, this one is going places and I will enjoy every step of the way knowing that she will succeed because she has family support and willingness to invest her considerable talent.

And the other side of the recital, we have lots and lots of beginners playing this year. It is always good to have beginners and most are from Emily. She does a great job with introducing students to the piano and I think the recital will show that. And the other positive side.....having the recital done means I have yet one more chunk of time open up for summer kind of things. Yah, it is a good thing.

Not the way it was planned

I invested my afternoon into food preparations, and some mighty fine soccer play by Peter. Let's see, I started out with making a chocolate pudding to use up some milk that was getting kind of close to the pull date. Then I cooked some potatoes to make twice bakes for dinner tomorrow night. I had J-bers for a couple of hours so he helped me empty out the skins so that I could refill them. He was great about putting the mashed potatoes back into the skins and I think he will take great pride in serving them tomorrow evening. Then I cooked up 3 whole chickens so that I could pressure cook them and get them into jars to cook tomorrow evening. And fixed dinner of spiced mashed potatoes, Meat Loaf and Carrots with the pudding for dessert. And how have my efforts been received....not at all. My one and only is certainly not one that you can depend on and I know that, but I thought he might at least make an appearance, I was wrong.

And why do I do what I do? Heck if I know, I guess it is just a habit that is hard to break. But I did have some wonderful mashed spuds and meat loaf for my dinner alone. And I am well on top of the family dinner for tomorrow.

Joyce made comments about eating alone and how sometimes she goes to D.Q. just so there will be people around when she eats and conversations in the area. I get it, fact is I really get it. Unlike Joyce I have been doing this alone stuff for many, many years so it is not as devastating for me as it seems to be for her. In my pretend world I would fix healthy nutritious meals and my family would enjoy them with me, then sit down afterwards (and during sometimes) for good conversation about all sorts of topics. Boy did I miss the boat on that one! It worked while I had kids at home but the minute Nancy left for school it all crashed. But as I said, I enjoy my own company so it is not all that bad and most of the time I really don't care all that much.

So tomorrow we will have a family dinner, wilted lettuce salad, twice bakes, barbecued chicken and conversation....sounds perfect to me! Might even make cup cakes! I love having the next two generations well represented and close, I miss those not close but I celebrate those that are close.

The purpose of TV

I have come to the realization that there actually is a purpose for television. Allow me to explain. I got up and cleaned the bathroom, did four loads of laundry (I know, everyone else did more but there are only two of us!), folded, swept and all those things a woman does on the average Monday morning. Then I picked up my stuff and headed off to teach lessons in Oak Harbor.

I worked with 8 young people, some perfectly fine individuals but not stimulating students, and a couple that are just fun to work with (that would be Cara and Taylor). Did the wal-mart run to purchase some window cleaner on a stick, so to speak, for the front windows, which, after a winter of salt water spray are looking pretty opaque!

Drove home, took care of the things I purchased, picked up the dirty dishes that seem to appear while I am out of the house and looked around for something to fill the last hour of the day before I try to get a good nights sleep....rare recently. I could sew but I hate starting a project with no potential of finishing it. I could read a good book but I don't have one on hand right now. I could read the scriptures and will after this but I want entertainment, brain dead stuff and the scriptures are not that! Hence TV...it is what one does when one arrives at the end of the day with nothing left to shuffle into thought or productivity and still some time to fill.

Ah the challenges I do face....OK, not much, but they are mine and real to me. Guess life is pretty good.