My Summer Learning Curve

Fortunately, we are still on summer break.  And I don't know what I would have done without these last 3 weeks.  We spent the summer doing and going and it was great!  But the last 3 weeks of just unwinding, hanging out at home, and catching up on pumpkin projects has been refreshing.

But we're now down to just a handful of days before we go back to school and I feel the sadness seeping in. As a mom, summer is a time I learn so much about my kids and myself.  Although I am a list maker, I've decided summer is not a time for lists.  I will no longer make a "bucket list" for the summer and I will no longer say, "That would be a good summer project."  When you put a list in front of me, I will not stop until it's complete.  No matter what.  The list sits there...taunting me...stealing my joy...creating expectations in my kids.  Down with the summer bucket list!

I also learned some pretty great things this summer.  Spring starts with Cooper's birthday and the summer ends with Layla's.  This means we now have a 9 year old and a 6 year old.  Like every mom out there, I'm not sure how that happened.  I have enjoyed every year of my kids' lives even more that the previous year.

Layla works in the gift of mercy.  It's amazing how God is using that in her life.  She feels things deeply and is very perceptive.  There isn't much that gets past her unnoticed.  I'm amazed at her observations of people and situations. I do not have her gifting of mercy.  I don't always understand the deep emotions and processing that go along with it.  At times, it frustrates me.  But when our lives aren't full of a hurry and the urgency of a schedule or list, I have time to understand her better.  As a result, her gifting has come to amaze me. She is mature beyond her years. She is extraordinary.

Cooper is such a...boy.  But having an older sister he adores grounds that crazy boyness in him...just a bit.  He is so rough and tough, but he has such a sweet, gentle heart.  There are times I just want to scream, "CAN YOU PLEASE SIT STILL FOR JUST ONE EVER-LOVING SECOND?!?!?!"  But I also take great joy in seeing the freedom in which he runs through this life.  It's in our down time that I get insight into his emotions.  It's when I'm in his world, riding 4 wheelers, cruising around on the golf cart, looking for night crawlers for fishing, that he'll share his deep thoughts.  There aren't many, they only come in a sentence here and a sentence there.  But they usually blow me away.  He goes through life with a happy-go-lucky attitude without paying much attention to what's happening around him.  It's in our quiet moments that I learn he feels things deeper than I think and observes more than I thought.

In a few days I will send them off to Kindergarten and 3rd grade.  After I drop them off on the first day I will go have a good cry.  Then day 2 will come and it will be a little easier.  We'll get in our routine and I will soon enjoy the freedom of moving around my day to day life by myself...no explaining every move, every conversation, every reason why or why not.

And the next time I reflect on a summer gone by I will have a 7 year old and 10 year old.

Locks of Love

Six months ago, Layla was talking to one of my friends about cutting her hair shorter.  My friend told Layla she should donate her hair to Locks of Love.  Layla was all in.  About 3 months later, she wasn't sure she could make it.  She had a lot of hair and it was hard for her to manage.  But, she had to grow it long enough that she could cut 10" off to donate and still have length left on her own head.  The waiting was miserable for her.

Then God gave her a little incentive...she saw a little girl at a basketball game who only had a few small tufts of hair left on her head.  I didn't see the little girl, but it changed Layla's perspective.

Layla later told me that whatever that little girl was going through was way harder than Layla having to wait to cut her hair. Then she asked me, "Mom, do you think I'll have enough hair to donate for the people to make the medicine that girl needs?"   Uhmmmmmmm......what?!?!?  Clearly I hadn't explained things very well.  Layla was under the impression that scientists took donated hair and made medicine that would cure people of cancer.  And, the only reason people are dying from cancer is because not enough of us were donating our hair. Oh, if only it were that easy!

Soooo, we got that all cleared up!  And today was hair cut day!  You've never seen a girl so excited to get a haircut.  The sacrifice for Layla was growing her hair for 6 months, not actually cutting it off.  She is ONE HAPPY GIRL!!!

Life Lessons

A friend recently describe my current season of parenting Layla as the character building season.  It's so true. The season where I'm working every day to fulfill her every physical need are over.  Now, it's about her deciding who she will be in this world.

Layla is dealing with a tough relationship in her life...an adult she loves very much, but doesn't understand. As we were talking through choices, we talked about how she can choose to forgive, like God forgives us. And how we can choose to love, because God loves us and instructs us to do the same.  Big stuff for an 8 year old.

Towards the end of our conversation she said, "Choosing to love might be the hardest thing I've ever done." I assured her, it's not a "skill" I've mastered!  It's a journey I'm still on and will be until the day I die.

Then she asked me, "Why can't everybody just be lovable so I can love everybody and just move on?!?"

Ha!  She's reflective, thoughtful..................and very no nonsense!

San Antonio

It's quite wonderful that the first round of the NCAA tournament is always the week of our kids' spring break.  And even more wonderful that ISU has made it to the big dance the last 3 years.  This year the Cyclones took us to San Antonio and we had a great time!  The kids aren't overly interested in going to ISU games with us during the season, but when tournament time rolls around, they catch the fever.

We had never been to San Antonio.  What a fun city.  We took in the River Walk, the Alamo, and the Tower of the America's.  The kids got to enjoy swimming outside and staying up way too late!  Cooper pointed out that it was his first time in a taxi and a water taxi, a big highlight for him!

The best part of the trip for all of us was the games.  The kids were so engaged.  As we waited for the refs review of the final seconds of the North Carolina game, Layla was a wreck!  She told me, "Mom, I just can't take it.  My stomach hurts."  OK, maybe a little too engaged.

The kids loved the pep rallies before each game and they got to high five all the players and coaches as they loaded the bus to make the trip from the hotel to the AT&T Center to play.  They thought that was so cool and now talk about the players as if they are close, personal friends.

Please note I am posting this blog update from home.  Where's Dave?  Oh yes, he's in New York City for the Sweet 16.  This mama couldn't miss her baby's birthday today or the party that's scheduled for Saturday. I will not, however, be missing the Final Four!!

My Boy

This little man decided that he would turn 6 today.  He is a joy.

Layla Lately

Second grade has been a GREAT experience for Layla.  Her teacher has brought out the best in her.  I cannot say enough about that woman!  The biggest change for Layla this year is that SHE HAS NOT SHED ONE TEAR ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL AND BEING AWAY FROM MOM!  This is the first year this has ever happened.

Layla loves her classmates and has such a great group of girlfriends.  Most of them have been together in school for 3 years and since class sizes are very small they have sweet bonds.  Layla continues to love horses, 4H, country living, basketball, church, and is excited about any new experience. She's incredibly insightful and has amazing intuition about people.  I adore this girl!

Winter Adventures

Once pumpkin season ends and the holidays have come and gone, this Handsaker family takes to the road...and skies.  The last 3 months have been full of adventures, including the kids' first snow skiing adventure in Breckenridge.  It was a huge hit and one of our favorite family trips.  It even beat out Disney World...for which I am secretly thankful!

When it got too cold here in Iowa, we escaped to Florida and spent time taking in the sights and catching up with great friends.  Cocoa Beach was a little chilly, but the kids didn't care.  They love the beach and the ocean!

The kids' choice park in FL is Sea World so we knew we had to make a return visit.  Cooper's favorite thing (besides his souvenir sword) was the lecture by the Sea Rescue doctors and trainers.  Yes, a lecture.  In defense of his 5 year old self, these doctors and trainers were from his favorite TV show. Halfway through the lecture he turned to me and said, "I can't believe we're seeing the real Sea Rescue people!"  It was his most memorable moment of the trip.

Disney Magic

Lego Happiness

Pumpkin Season

Even though there's now snow on the ground, I am still wrapping up pumpkin season.  Although our property is cleaned up within hours of closing day, with little to no signs left of The pumpkin Ranch, there is still a lot of administrative tasks to be completed...my least favorite part of running a business!  I will put these tasks off as long as I can.  It is the only part of my life where I fully embrace procrastination!

2013 was a great year at The Pumpkin Ranch.  One of the best parts of running a family business is just that...running a business and working hard as a family!  It stretches Dave and I as a couple and always brings us closer, with a deeper level of respect for the other's gifts and abilities.  As parents, we love to see our kids learn new skills and work hard.  They learned years ago that hard work = money and more opportunity.

This year Layla wanted to "have" a part of the business.  She wanted to add something that could be just hers.  She decided to sell prepackaged candy.  She learned what it was like to...

1.  Have a business plan...where can she buy the best, cheapest product and can she sell it for a profit?
2. Take a risk and invest her money
3. Borrow money
4. How to manage her books and inventory
5. Reinvest profit back into her business
6. In the end, pay back her loan and disperse funds into savings, giving, and spending

What a great process for a newly minted 8 year old!  The very best part for us, her parents, was seeing her really process what to do with her profits.  She knows she's required to save 50%, give at least 10%, and then she can decide what do with what is left (spend, save, or give).  We kept our mouths shut and let her work through those decisions on her own.  We were so proud of her choices.

Here are a few pictures of the kids' after hours fun at The Ranch.  They love the zip lines!

She's 8

Tomorrow Layla turns 8.  She's beautiful inside and out.  She's fiercely courageous and has an amazing gift of mercy.  Her feet are firmly planted.   She thinks ahead, she's organized...and quietly very competitive. Her favorite thing is when the 4 of us are together...doing anything  She loves to read and write stories.  She will try anything at least once and her number one dream is to be a mom.  She's a mixture of indoor and outdoor girl, of tomboy and girly girl.

What an amazing adventure it is to parent her.   She's extraordinary.

Layla on Grace this summer

Ice fishing on our pond this past winter

One of her first stories.  She wrote on her 7th birthday.

Layla on Buddy in December

First Day is in the books!

Yesterday was the first day of school for our kids. I am happy to report that we all did great!  Cooper came home wound for sound and Layla came home relaxed and happy....and that all lasted about 2 hours before they both started showing signs of a stomach bug.  A slightly rough night, but they seem to be on the mend today.  It's not so bad having day 2 of school off, sleeping in and watching movies all morning.  We'll just ease into this school thing!

When we got to school yesterday some older students, the principal, administrator, and mascot were greeting the kids.  What a joyful distraction for all of us!  The kids walked themselves in and Dave and I drove away with a few tears in our eyes.

When I have to deal with something hard, I push through it and deal with the emotions later.  Yesterday morning, I just put a smile on my face, a spring in my step, and pushed through the process of my baby starting full time school.  Dave, knowing that it was a hard morning for me, took me out for coffee after drop off.  I then went to the gym for a very long work out and spent the rest of the day catching up on a lot of admin for The Pumpkin Ranch.  It was a good day.  Thanks to all who prayed for us and checked in on me yesterday!

Little Answered Prayers...

About a year ago I started praying that God reveal to me our kids' gifts and interests so that I would be able to nurture those areas of their lives.  Since Layla was 3 she's loved horses, but what little country girl doesn't, right?  Since praying that prayer, God has brought us 2 more horses. Hmmmmm, maybe I should start paying attention to what God is revealing!

At the beginning of the summer we received a call from a neighbor who knew of an old 4H horse who needed a new home.  The kids and our horse expert friends rode her.  She was dead broke and it was a done deal.  No one knew her name.  Immediately, without thought, Layla picked Grace.  Well, in my mind, there were surely more unique, fun horse names than Grace, right?  No, Layla was stuck on Grace because of it's meaning in her life....God's unmerited favor.  Can't really argue with that!

In July we received another call....a horse was in need of a home.  I wasn't sure about Creek...the call came from a trainer...a race horse trainer.  He's a Thoroughbred...a race horse...retired due to injury.  Do you understand all of my concerns?  Well, we rode him, fell in love with him, and he came to live at our house.

And, of course, Buddy is still here ruling the roost!  And, ALWAYS getting into the burs!  He's in the same pasture as the other 2 horses, yet they stay clear of these nasty, pokey, hard to remove, little nuisances!. This is how Buddy looked when he greeted us last week.  Yes, he got a haircut.  There was no hope for removal!

The Bottle Calf Show

On Friday evening all bottle calves had to report to the fairgrounds in preparation for the Saturday afternoon show. Cooper was completely in his element.  As kids and bottle calves arrived he made his way through the barn talking to every kid and petting every calf.  What he talked about with all these kids, I have no idea.  But, watching him, there was no doubt whose son he was.  The apple does not fall far from the tree (and I'm not talking about this tree).

By Saturday morning, the kids were excited!  They went in early to get Cowgirl all cleaned up and to eat breakfast at one of the food stands.  They came home, rested, picked out their "calf showing clothes" and we headed back to the fair for the big event.  The kids were split into classes by age.  Each participant in the class had to walk their calf around the ring, answer interview questions from the judge, and keep their calf under control while the other participants were interviewed.  Both kids and, more importantly, Cowgirl, did great!  

There was no doubt that Cooper enjoyed every manure-filled, sweaty second of it.  He was grinning from ear to ear the whole time.  He was all about the show.  Layla was super composed and did awesome on her interview.  She went from just tolerating it all on Friday to really enjoying the process on Saturday.  

One of the things that made it so special for our kids was all of the friends and family who came to watch. Even the announcer commented on their cheering section when he announced their names when they entered the ring.  They are incredibly blessed kids to have so many people in their lives who care about what they do!  And, as we said prayers tonight, they both thanked God for Cowgirl and said they're ready to do it again next year.

Growing Up

It has been such a JOY to have Layla with me every day this summer.  First grade changed her...matured her.  She had to deal with a few tough personalities at school this year and there were times that it was hard for me not to call school and "straighten things out."  Instead, I felt that God gave us those opportunities to teach, learn and grow.

Layla had the chance to decide whether to just read the Word or read it AND put it into action in her life. She learned how to stay in peace and joy, even when her circumstances were hard and people around her were grumpy or unkind.  She decided to lean on the Lord when what she really wanted to do was cry and call mom.  She toughened up a bit, but she did not become hard...that's God's sweet handiwork.

I had to learn to trust what God was doing in my 7 year old and in her circumstances.  My black and white personality was stretched.  Instead of just telling Layla what to do, I had to guide her and help her listen to the Lord...and then let go just a little more.

We're approaching Layla's 8th birthday.  A friend of mine told me that 6 and 7 were emotion filled ages for her daughter, but that 8 is great.  I've seen that shift in Layla in the last 6 months.  It's been fun to see her mature.  To hear her very grown up thoughts.  To give her more freedom and to see how that freedom is bringing out God's plans for her.

Ei Ei Oh

At some point, I'm not sure when, I became Mrs. Old McDonald.  I know when the old part happened.  I'm just not sure how the farmer part happened.  Since April we've collected 2 new horses, a bottle calf and have had a litter of 8 lab puppies.  Needless to say, our evenings are busy around here.  Between riding, grooming, training, and cuddling....we've officially become a farm.

Yes, some mornings she just wants to get out there and doesn't care if she's in her PJ's...and neither do I.

 I think it was like 95 degrees the night I took this picture.  But he doesn't care.  Cowboys wear "long sleeve fancy shirts with jeans, a fancy belt, boots, and a hat."

Here are the pups at about 2 or 3 weeks.  I really need to take a new picture.  They are so cute right now. Their look is much more puppy and much less rat meets walrus.