Farewell boat.

We used to have a boat.  And then we ran out of money to finish our basement.  So my husband sold her.  It felt like a break up.  It was sudden and I was totally out of the loop.  I didn't see it coming.  And she went fast.  So I didn't get to say goodbye.  Here are the last known photos of our sweet, smokey, Georgia, in the good times...  {Yup, our boat had a name}

In truth, Georgia served us well when the House of Thorns was just the two of us.  But now that we've grown {and so have our friends} we aren't getting the use of her that we used to.  

Even when she was protesting {like late at night on the Columbia River when she stopped running altogether}, she was always helping us make memories.  Our summer moored near Sauvies Island is still one of my favorites - and our last as just the two of us before P came along.  And that adventurous night when we hit a sand bar on the Willamette {Ooops.  That one was supposed to be a secret}.  Good times.  

Farewell sweet Georgia.  Cheers and ice creams to your new journey!

PS.  I hate to brag but, seriously, how selfless is my husband?  Georgia was his special gal.  Tons of hours and dollars and love were poured into her over the years and he parted with her on his own to give us a finished basement.  I was surprised but I shouldn't have been.  He's just too cool like that.

PPS.  I'm lying.  I don't mind bragging about my awesome husband one bit.

Dads are not moms.

Recently, I came across this image:

And it was cute.  A little alarming, but cute.  And so I read their story.  {Snynopsis: Bud and Temple's crazy ass dad let them travel alone via horse from Frederick, OK to NYC to greet Teddy Roosevelt upon his return from Africa.  Once there they were celebrated and allowed to ride behind Teddy in a ticker tape parade.  Wha???  To get home, they purchased a Brush motor car and the two of them drove it home and had their horse shipped.  Wha?? Wha??  They were 6 and 10.  And this is not their only adventure.  Seriously, google them.}

 And all I thought is:

Dads are not moms.

Bud and Temple's story is absolutely riveting to me.  Partly because it is so unknown {shouldn't this have been a movie by now??} and partly because it makes my mommy brain scream: DANGER! DANGER!

But you know what?  These boys had a happy ending.  Both survived their many cross country journeys and grew up to be professional men who lived long lives.  They were probably the most interesting people, three counties wide.

It made me wonder if, even if it were still 1910, would I have let my boys do this?  The answer is: hands down, don't even ask, NO.  Am I a bad mother because of this?  I don't think so.  But whoa did it make me think. And what I thought is this...

I am so thankful that the gentleman below is the father of my children.

Because he is not a mom.  I love his adventurous side.  Somewhere, long ago, I became fearful of mine and when he digs it up in me, it is one of my favorite things.  As a mom, I appreciate that he encourages us all to step out of our comfort zone. I love that when Paley knows he is there and encouraging her she will try anything.  And so will I.

In the House of Thorns, I will always be the voice of worried reason and what-ifs.  I don't always love that about myself but this life is too precious for me to risk.  Thank goodness for this handsome who man reminds me that living a life with no risks whatsoever is not so much a life well lived.

So I will keep being a mom.  Loving, nervous, and many times the naysayer.  And he can happily keep being the dad that he is. And we will dare life in our own little way and pray that the Lord helps us raise the most adventurous, curious, successful, and interesting kids, three counties wide.