A New Hope

Today was another warm, sunny day in beautiful Pontiac, IL. Whole family participated in the adventures today.

Started with a trip to the library. So happy Kate loves books. Love to hear her made up stories as she ‘reads’ them on the fly by looking at the pictures.

We continued the day to Humiston Riverside Park. We simply walked the paths, enjoyed the weather, and just relaxed outside. During the path that goes right next to the river Kate stopped because she saw two ducks, who when they saw her swam over quickly. She squatted down and took this pose naturally to just observe and enjoy. Not a care in the world. How wonderful! With a near government shut down, bombing in Libya, disaster in Japan, she is blissfully content with the simpleness that was the ducks in the river. Happy to just study the world around her peacefully.

This gives me hope. Maybe her generation will start the repairs. Live in peace, love one another. How do we go from chilling by the river to gihad and launching rockets? Where/how do we lose that innocence? Seeing this photo I am hopeful that the cycle can be broken.

The day continued back home to the back yard and then out to eat. A long held on to gift card needed to be used. When I coached in Odell I was rewarded with a gift card to Rentz’s. That coaching gig was a long time ago and we decided to cash in.

At the resturant Kate was perfect. On her best behaviour. She talked to the waitress (normally very shy and reserved), talked with us, and ate without a huge mess. She even recognized the Cubs were on the big screen. ”Daddy look! Its the Cubs! That’s the team you play on right?!” Couldn’t help but laugh. Playing church league softball doesn’t make me nearly good enough for the Cubs. ”No honey, daddy is not that good, I just watch. ” Once again peaceful and filling me with hope.

Along with that hope is responsibility. With kids its all eyes on you. I have to set the example for her to keep that hope, innocence, and peace.

Game on dad, they’re watching.

Sunday Funday (1st of many)

What a day! Little windy but warm and fairly sunny.

Decided to take Kate out and about to play today. Started with the park by the prison. Or as Kate likes to call it the park with the two yellow slides since that is indeed an accurate description.

The excitement for both of us came though when we went to play park by the river and to Pontiac’s famous swinging bridges. I’ve never walked across them and neither had Kate. A first for the both of us and a fun time.

On this windy day the bridges were in full swing. Brave little Kate was less scared than I was. Had to carry her over the first time. Second time was just holding her hand. By the third time she was running across by herself (I was obviously close behind). Saw a couple of ducks on the way which Kate could not coax to quack at us despite her insistent quaking at them. Their response was to ‘shake their booties’ as Kate would say. The day ended with swinging on actual swings and a billion trips down various slides.