Dear Reader:

Rutledge welcomed one and all to the Old Village Post House for Ben and Vikki’s birthday brunch…it would be filled with lots of ups and down and all arounds...as several attendees took Lachlan for awhile for Mollie/ mom to eat. This  involved walking around…so there was a lot of strolling and shaking up and down, playing with Ady and Rutledge and ‘downing‘ drinks.

When I first got to the restaurant with Kaitlyn…I asked for the Lee Barbour party…and we were taken to “the bar” for another party instead…my right ear is still stopped up from an earlier summer cold and I feel my voice echoing inside my head when I speak (drives me nuts)… somehow what I asked for was definitely misinterpreted by the waiter.

Then, however, we were taken “up“stairs to a lovely room and we did have a good time!!! Up and down and all around!

* Did anybody else pick up on the strange “breeze” blowing inside the eating room causing one curtain to sway…this way and that way…all around.…Rutledge is two now and he’s quite good at it.

The “ups and downs and all arounds” continued as I stopped by John and Mandy’s to welcome them back home and get some hugs from Eva Cate and Jakie….Jakie was in his bouncer going up and down and Eva Cate was all around… from modeling a new dress, to showing me her pink Mickey Mouse earrings (that she bought with some Boo Boo money) to drawing our pictures on her art board.

Tigger looks a little “down” with his “Minnie Mouse” ears on…but he was trying to act appreciative. He was just so happy to have his family back home with him.

As John was showing me some of the Disney family photos on the television screen…I noted how many roller coaster rides they went on…and even noticed W.T. with his arms raised during these particular rides.

A popular analogy to life is the idea of a roller coaster with all its ups and down until the ride finishes….but, now, the closer I looked at the roller coaster pictures yesterday… the more an idea took root…the people with their arms raised in the air only raised them during the downward steepest descents…(when momentarily the ride looked like it was ‘out of control’)….but yet, amidst the squeals and screams, some people embraced the moment and freed themselves of all their fears with arms raised high as if shouting “Allelujah“! “Hit me with your best shot!”.

( As seen in some of the John, Mandy, and family photos of Disney World)

https://goo.gl/photos/tczWywQM53Dm4SA4A

If you are like me…I try to avoid the downward trends, as much as humanly possible, and even pray for God to take away some of the low spots.

Later…(it would only be after the fact)…that I would realize I had been trying to avoid a life-altering opportunity that has shaped me into the woman I am today.

So until tomorrow…the next time life starts to resemble a roller coaster, climb into the front seat, throw your arms in the air, and enjoy the ride…it’s called life and well worth the trip!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

* Speaking of round…and square…let me share some of your thoughts on the premise that: “There are no squares in nature.”

Janet Bender says:

Thanks for helping shine light on why I’ve always wanted shrubs trimmed rounded, not flat topped and square. Without knowing it, I have been “at one” with nature all along!

Janet and I think along the same lines ….as you can see from my pictures of roundness I have placed around plants and trees and circular decorations too…..starting with round stepping stones leading to the magic moon gate garden.

Here is an excerpt from Johnny Johnson on his thoughts about nature and the circle of life…

You made me think today and remember thing I have learned and it all comes from our God Who put all these circles right under our noses to remind us that there is the all important circle of life.

Even the spirals you wrote about are kind of circles without an end, showing us the circle of life is everlasting and eternal! Thank you for bringing these thought to my mind that remind me there is life everlasting and eternal for those to choose to believe in our God, who is everlasting and eternal too!

* Walsh and Rutledge ended the day together yesterday on the paddle board….Rutledge’s first time…he did great sitting very still…a little dad and son bonding time.