seventy dollars well spent

I choked a little... when we found out that the trading pins for Odyssey of the Mind were going to be $70. I felt a little better when they arrived... and saw how far the $70 had gone. So many of the pins were really cool... and when she pinned them all to her towel, I realized how heavy they were. Really heavy. At least I was not toting them to Michigan in my purse. And still... $70?


And then... we came upon a crowd of kids sitting in the grass under the trees. The breeze was blowing and the air was just about perfect. But these kids were not just enjoying the day... they were pin trading. Their towels were spread before them displaying their own treasure trove of pins... and before I knew it I was mesmerized by the process and totally in love with it. I was also kinda wishing we had bought a few more pins...






The pin trading continued all day... every day... into the evenings... and probably into the dark of night! But these kids weren't just trading pins... there were Hellos and Where are froms and Have you performed yets and Good lucks... and not necessarily in English, or even in words. What a way to meet people!
Laura came home with pins from Japan, Korea, Singapore, Poland, Mexico, Hong Kong... and a whole bunch of US states. But more than that... she came home knowing that she had made the most of her opportunity and met people from all over the world.

this girl & her mom

It has been years since I have had my Mom all to myself. Perhaps 35 years? But this past weekend... we headed off to celebrate Laura (and her team!) with the World. I brought a book along for the down time... two 3 hour flights and any free time we had at the hotel... and only read 15 pages. Who needs a story when you can make your own? My Mom & I... we talked and talked and walked... and laughed and played and visited. We dined on veggie subs at Subway... and hiked across campus for ice cream from MSU's Dairy Store. I annoyed the rented GPS so often that we were waiting for her to retaliate. She jumped on the bed when the alarm on her phone rang out two months 'til Africa. I was by her side when we met up with David at the Zoo... and she was by mine when we pulled up to the sweetest house on the cul de sac to meet my bloggy friend. And perhaps both visits gave her the extra bit of courage to share her potato chips with a sweet girl from Hong Kong.


I loved sharing this weekend with my Mom... and being Laura's cheering section. Gratitude buzzes in my heart for all she is and all she gives.

my mind is moving in a million directions

This has been an amazing experience... already. A day and a half into this Michigan trip and I can barely think straight... my mind is so full of wonderful things. Like meeting my Mom's friend (from Africa!) at the Detroit Zoo. And meeting a bloggy friend & going to Hobby Lobby for the first time ever. Oh... and watching my daughter continue to blossom and let her heart shine though at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals. Soon... I will make sense of these wonderful pieces... but for now my mind is all a-jumble with so much joy!

lego love

The other day I walked in and saw... the biggest Lego mess I had seen in quite a while. My eyes widened and I might have made a comment... but I looked up and saw him at work. Building. And it was... homework. The History of Legos research paper needed a visual...

Sunday I peeked around a door way and saw... a Lego masterpiece in progress. Two of my most favorite boys were up to their eyeballs assembling the Lego City Police Station. Steven's birthday gift. The teamwork between them made me smile... especially when they leaned their head together and Steven shouted Teamwork! Oh those smiles... they melt my heart everytime.

Legos make a mess... and it hurts like heck to find one with your bare foot. But this Mama will never complain. Nope. The light in his eyes when he is stretching his imagination beyond what is is just another gift I count myself lucky enough to receive.

Linking up to Tuesdays Unwrapped at Chatting at the Sky...