The Winter Light festival! We were back at it again for part 2.

This night we didn’t go quite a long, because we were having some listening problems with the kids. Arguing was ensuing and so we ended up going with only about 90 min left in the night before things started shutting down.

Pictured above: The Cloud forms a 10 for the tenth anniversary of the event. Ezra would not look at the camera, so I had to hold his face. lol

Fast forward a couple of days, and Elijah was yelling and screaming in the hallway, fighting with Arabella.

He then decided to start kicking and kicked through the wall.

My reaction was pretty good, all in all. I didn’t yell, I didn’t get too upset at all. I simply took a photo with him so I could remember the event, and then told him and Sky, and me would be thinking about what would happen due to his behavior.

I then took a cardboard piece, pink duct tape and covered it up.

No, I’m not kidding.

I feel pretty exhausted with everything as of late. It doesn’t seem like we can keep the house clean. It doesn’t seem like the kids care about not living like slobs. They can’t be bothered to pick up food off of the floor. I just don’t know what to do.

We can ground them, but really that just means Ara, because the others don’t really go out and play with other kids too often. Elijah maybe, but typically if he gets a friend in the neighborhood – Ara will swoop in and snatch them away.

So what do you do? I told Ara that we are taking a break from friends until we can start to take care of our house. I was told just how unfair that I am. I’m pretty sure I’d agree with her if I were her age, but who knows.

We typically also won’t ground them from Church events – the hope is that they will continue to learn better behavior on those days/events.

What else?

Back to the weather.

I woke up on the 13th to snow outside. Not a little, but a good amount.

The snow lasted a couple of days, through Valentines day. On Valentines day the kids went out back and made snowmen – even Ezra got into the action (putting his hands and feet in the snow). For the most part, he enjoyed it.

I think a quick break from the chaos of life, being interrupted by a snow storm, was needed. Now we will need to get back to earth a bit more as the snow melts away (it’ll be in the 50s by the 15th).

end quote:[{“We live in a rainbow of chaos” – Paul Cezanne]}

[bonus] end quote: {[“I accept chaos, I’m not sure whether it accepts me.” – Bob Dylan]}

just Pray

Hey again!

Spent the first weekend of the month visiting with people.

First, went to Applebee’s with Louis. He wanted to sit and talk and hash everything out, so I let him know where I stand with everything that has gone on between our families and where things stand now. He let me know of various things that he has been dealing with as well. I left things with no expectations (which I was very clear about) but still overall feeling a lot better for getting everything out in the open. Things were left unsaid and not dealt with for close to 10 years, so now, if anything comes of it, it will be healthier. If nothing comes of it, it’s still healthier than it was before.

We finally were able to convince JJ to come over to the house again. It was nice to catch up with him and give him a little break from his normal schedule. The kids enjoy having him around, so that’s another plus.

What is this? Snow?! Yep, we got a light dusting of snow on my mom’s birthday. She wasn’t in town to see it. It’s always fun to see snowfall – they originally said we could get inches, but it ended up being too warm for that to fall and then stick. It has been cool in the atmosphere and then warm at the ground level. So we had mornings and evenings with snow showers, but not cold enough to do anything. Then, during the day, it would switch to rain.

Next week is a better chance at some snow before another warmup.

That is also good news, because it’s time for the Portland Winter Light Festival!

As you can see, we stopped at the main sights on the first night.

We plan to go back again tomorrow, but we will see how everything goes. The kids got tired a lot quicker than I feel they should have. Maybe because they have been going to bed earlier as of late? I don’t know. For now, let’s get some rest.

just Pray.

Hey again

It’s that time again. MLK Jr. day.

We took our kids to the Church MLK Jr. visited when he came to Portland. Portland may not have a bunch of history when it comes to things like this, but whatever it does have lets celebrate.

A few years ago, we made this trip, but it was over COVID, and the wife was with our newborn in the car. I walked up to the outside (see below where the kids are standing) and someone asked me, “Can I help you?”

“Uh, yeah – maybe,” and then I explained that I was hoping to see the room where MLK Jr. took the photo. I showed them my phone, and then they said, “Yeah sure! It’s right in here.”

And then I looked at the photo and tried to line up my shot to how the photographer would have seen.

History comes to life.

(Above: the photo of MLK Jr. and the church elders, and then the same photo of the room, but in 2021.)

We let the kids see the outside (because nobody was at the church this time. We then took them over to the MLK Jr. tribute /statue they have in Portland which is located a short distance from the church.

We were even lucky enough to see a peaceful protest that day. People walked the streets, right by his state and shouted about civil rights. All these things have taken center stage with the new president (nobody should be surprised by this).

Coming closer to the end of the month, we were able to go see the Chinese New Year lions and dragon dance (hosted by the kids’ school). It was fun.

Arabella took Korina along as well (that’s the person in the photo holding Ezra)

And that was mainly it.

Oh! I almost forgot.

We kidnapped my father-in-law and took him to dinner. Wanted to get some more photos and let the kids have as many memories as they can with him.

Get to know him – spend time with him. That kind of thing.

And you’ll notice I also posted a screenshot of the Gulf of Mexico. Why? Well, Google announced they are going to rename it to the “Gulf of America” as Trump as said it will now be known as that.

Yikes.

He is also renaming Mt. Denali in Alaska to Mt. McKinley and the maps will eventually update for that as well.

What can you do?

Isn’t it crazy to think that I have a brother who just turned 48? Where has the time gone?

{[end quote]} “Returning hate for hate only multiplies hate, adding a deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

just Pray