T-Rex & Tepees

We're suppose to get rain all week and I couldn't be happier. Rain energizes me. I do these crazy things, like cook and clean and stuff. I know! What's up with that. And the rain could not come at a better time. I have been rather down these past three weeks... emotionally and physically. I could use a pick-me-up. I came back from my Dad's funeral with a head cold that is just now getting better after 4 days on antibiotic. I am not sleeping but a few hours every night... so I'm pretty useless during the day. And my emotions are all over the place. I am easily burdened with the weight of the world. I ache for the people of Haiti. I ache for those with chronic pain and disease. And I ache for my kids. I know, I know, disappointments build character, but gosh darn, it's hard as a parent to watch your kids sad and discouraged when their dreams go unfulfilled. I just want it all better.

I am convinced that parenting adult children has been the hardest so far. Not that I'm actually parenting them... or at least I shouldn't be... but that's what's hard. Knowing when to enter in and when to let go. I am so proud of my kids and the choices they make. But when they are struggling and sad or disappointed... I want them to feel all better. So I pray a lot, to be wise, intuitive, discerning and sensitive. But quite often, I fall short of my intentions.

Anyway, I will leave you with one of my favorite pics from our drive home from WI. It's January 1st, we're cruising along at 75 mph, a mile from exiting off I-40 at Holbrook, AZ and we see this-


Quite frankly, I don't know what else to say. I mean, what in the heck is a T-Rex doing in a Native American tepee village?! Ha, you gotta love the Southwest.
Here's hoping it put a smile on your face this rainy... or snowy Monday morning.

*** The top picture was taken once we crossed the Mississippi River from LaCrosse, WI into Minnesota. Those HUGE frozen waterfalls are run-offs from the bluffs along the River.