Three Gates

This poem is in the A Beka 4th grade reading book. It is simple but profound. If I could only remember to put all my words through this little test before they come flying out of my mouth! Interestingly enough, our Sunday school teacher (Wrestling Mat) has previously mentioned the ideas put forth in the poem . Which is why I was so surprised to read it. The poem itself seems to be about gossip but I think it could be applied more broadly to every word we say.

Three Gates
If you are tempted to reveal
A tale to you someone has told
About another, make it pass,
Before you speak, three gates of gold.
These narrow gates: First, "Is it true?"
Then, "Is it needful?" In your mind
Give truthful answer. And the next
Is last and narrowest, "Is it kind?"
And if to reach your lips at last
It passes through these gateways three,
Then you may tell the tale, nor fear
What the result of speech may be.
-author unknown

That's MY man!

Today my husband was awarded the Company Grade Officer of the Year for the Center. You may not understand what that means...but that's okay, I'll translate. It means that he is really good at what he does. I'm so proud of him!
PS - Doesn't he look so cute in his mess dress! :)

I just love Tent Rocks!

Family outing #2 was Tent Rocks. The kids and I went with my friend Barb while Bob was gone and we decided that we just had to come back after he got home. We just never got around to it so finally on Saturday we made the trek.
Tent Rocks is a national monument in NM. They say the rock structures were formed from flowing lava. They are so cool. We took the 1.2 mile hike to the point. Josiah ended up getting tired and I ended up carrying him some. Let me just say that carrying 42 lbs of boy while hiking a mountain is no easy task. I definitely burned a few calories that day!
The view from the top was beautiful. We spent some time up there having a snack and just taking it all in.
Everything was going so well...then Abigail tripped and fell and cut her finger. We made it down with no further injury. Then we ate our lunch at a picnic table at the bottom. We were just finishing up and Josiah tripped on the cement slab that the picnic table was on and landed on his face. He cut his lip pretty bad, got a black and blue nose (I suppose it could be broken), and cut his eyebrow. And we were so close to getting out of there with only minor injuries. What can you do? We got some ice for Josiah's lip and we're hoping that his nose won't have a funny bump now. Oh well, it'll just add character (like he needs any help in that department).

Stay tuned for the next New Mexico adventure!

Mama's don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys!

As our time in New Mexico is quickly drawing to a close we decided we better start doing some of the things that we won't find in Boston.
Family outing #1 the New Mexico Stampede
I've never been to a rodeo and I was pleasantly surprised...it was great fun! Those cowboys are very patriotic and the night started with all kinds of tributes to the men and women who serve and have served in the military. It's nice to be appreciated. :) Then they went right in to the bull riding. OH MY! Not something this mama would ever want her boys doing. Their bodies get tossed around like rag dolls. I don't see how they can walk after 8 seconds on a bull. But what can I say, we paid to watch it...guess that's why they keep doing it.
We really liked all the roping activities too. And you can't leave out the ladies. Those barrel racers were pretty fast. It was definitely a night of good family fun. We weren't even out of the parking lot and the kids were asking when we could go again. I'm cool with it...but as soon as one of them says they want to be a bull rider, we're done!