The view from my road

Today was our bi weekly jaunt about 40 minutes north of our city.  Some of the kids are participating in a science class.

 I was a little hesitant to sign them up at first.  I mean 40 minutes, getting 4-6 kids out the door by 8 am, trudging through possible traffic definite snow delays was enough to send me in a panic with just the thought.  However, in my desire to "get it together" this year, I thought about the kids education first.  So all signed up and we are all enjoying it.

I actually enjoy the drive, at least this time of year.  The contrast between city and country is thrilling.  While the children are in class for about 3 hours, I usually get some household shopping.  The facility is not too far from the typical large box stores and they have them all right in a row.  I can hit Target, Aldi, Michael's, Home Depot, Barnes & Noble and even Costco in one errand and on the way back to the kids there is Walmart, and our two large grocery stores.

The kids are beyond thrilled with the classes which has to be the best part of all.

I need to work on a better routine of getting us out the door. I have to create a bedtime routine, where I lay out the kids clothes and have bags packed the night before.  I also have to better include a set time to do hair, oh boy, the hair probably is a whole blog in itself.

 Today I was happy by saving money and bringing snacks from home.  I directed the two older boys, who stayed home, to have lunch hot and ready for us by the time we got home.

I am attempting to do the impossible with my food budget.  With this in mind I want to get out of the habit of purchasing ready made snacks, with the exceptions of maybe pretzels and the snacks my husband enjoys in his lunch.  So instead of granola bars and fruit leathers.  I popped popcorn and made pumpkin bread, each kid had an orange.  Of course we had our handy day water to drink.  The kids enjoyed these snacks and one the way home I ignored my too fat belly attempt to get me to impulse buy McDonald's french fries, boy could I smell them.

I decided to write this post because of this scence:

This is the road to and from the nature center.  I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratefulness.  Grateful to our God that gave us such beauty, grateful to my husband who through hard to give us the vehicle, the gas and the opportunity to take such a wonderful class.

My life is full of contradictions.  My view into my neighborhood and block is a stark contract.  But today I know I would have not held the above captioned view in such high regard today with out it the view from my home.  So today my contrast that I choose to embrace is the wind strewn trash view from my alley and the wind blown leaves view of our class.  Today I needed both to help me appreciate this life.