It's The End of The World As We Know It & I Feel FINE!

So Saturday was the only day this whole past week that was even remotely spring-like (and it was soooo perfect), and to welcome us back to the work week, look what we get:

Snow on May 29th from MelinFamily on Vimeo

May 29th, back on the chain gang IN THE SNOW...

To Sarah From Sullivan: A Civil War Soldier's Letter Home

July 14, 1861

Camp Clark, Washington

My very dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days - perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.

Our movements may be of a few days duration and full of pleasure - and it may be one of some conflict and death to me. "Not my will, but thine, O God be done." If it is necessary that I should fall on the battle field for my Country, I am ready.

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans on the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am willing - perfectly willing - to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt.

But my dear wife, when I know that with my own joys, I lay down nearly all of yours, and replace them in this life with cares and sorrows, when after having eaten for long years the bitter fruits of orphanage myself, I must offer it as the only sustenance to my dear little children, is it weak or dishonorable, that while the banner of my forefathers floats calmly and fondly in the breeze, underneath my unbounded love for you, my darling wife and children should struggle in fierce, though useless contests with my love of Country.

I cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm Summer Sabbath night, when two-thousand men are sleeping around me, many of them enjoying perhaps the last sleep before that of death, while I am suspicious that death is creeping around me with his fatal dart, as I sit communing with God, my Country and thee. I have sought most closely and diligently and often in my heart for a wrong motive in thus hazarding the happiness of those I love, and I could find none. A pure love of my Country and of the principles I have so often advocated before the people - another name of Honor that I love more than I fear death, has called upon me and I have obeyed.

Sarah my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and burns me unresistably on with all these chains to the battle field.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grown up to honorable manhood, around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me - perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed.

If I do not my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name. Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often times been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortunes of this world to shield you, and your children from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you from the Spirit-land and hover near you, while you buffet the storm, with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience, till we meet to part no more.

But, O Sarah! if the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the gladest days and in the darkest nights, advised to your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours, always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by... Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again. Sarah I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care and your development of their characters, and feel that God will bless you in your holy work...

O! Sarah I wait for you there; come to me and lead thither my children.

Sullivan

Melting...

...into a puddle of tears as I mop the floor tonight. I am listening to THIS broadcast on NPR, and it's hands-down the best Memorial Day special program I have ever experienced (which makes me even more annoyed at my fellow conservatives who refuse to listen to NPR--you are really missing out--the program that preceeded this one, All Things Considered, was especially awesome today, too. I learn more from All Things Considered & internet headlines than several hours of cable news).

I think the tears are of gratitude. When they played the Marine Corps Band's "Taps" followed by a bagpipe playing "Amazing Grace" my heart swelled up and I said a prayer something like this: "Heavenly Father, Thank you for saving my brother--his body AND his soul AND his family...Thank you..." And then I wrung out the mop and sat down here at the compter. Happy Memorial Day to everyone, especially our military family & loved ones!

P.S:

It's Matt's 26th Birthday and he's HOME from Iraq, safe & sound!

(Matt, we missed you at your Chico Birhtday Party--heh, heh!)

Also, you can click the vimeo "Melin Family" link in the post below and go watch other video clips of our family.

So BUSY...

...having fun like this:







Addie at Chico from MelinFamily on Vimeo

Best part of the Idol finale? My favorite Mormon, Sister Gladys, y'all.

I got goosebumps during "Midnight Train to Georgia" ...I think it may be one of my favorite songs EVER.

My Husband Just Sent Me This Email:

"Happy IKEA-Draper Day!" (click for fun)

Oh, yeah! What fun! If anybody goes, tell us about it and eat some meatballs with lingonberries for us. We'll be down soon for more of our favorite textiles and kid stuff!

PS: I'm gonna go ahead and go out on a limb and congratulate my SIL Kristen...her favorite American Idol (and neighbor) Jordin Sparks is going to win tonight. Jordin and Gina were my favorite girls, so yay that. I'll be back to apologize if I'm wrong!

Rainy Tuesday

Heidi and I both REALLY needed to get out of the house yesterday, so even though it was rainign we took a walk. I prepared five little ziploc bags for her, with red, orange, yellow, green and purple paper swatches. I told her it was a treasure hunt and she had to find something to put in each bag that matched the paper. We had SO MUCH fun, especially puddle jumping and eating chicken noodle soup when we got home to warm up (it was 40-degrees! and James came with us in his stroller). Hooray for Spring flowers!
looking down the valley
Heidi the Color Hunter
Puddle Jumper!

The Booty (we lost the purple bag on our walk, but it had a lilac in it!)

Good times!

Now we're going on a treasure hunt at the grocery store! Have a good day at your house!

Oh, What Do You Do In The Summertime?...

...that song used to chap my hide when I was growing up in Arizona because the only thing it was even SAFE to do in the summertime was swim, at least until the afternoon, then you could play it the rain and dodge the lightning). I was jealous of al the little Utah kids singing with glee on my Primay cassettes about the joys of summer. ECK! But now, it' all been made up to me by Montana summers, and here is one of a hundred reasons

SUMMER ROCKS:
On the 'Bean Hammock in our backyard last Friday...
yeah, that's my boy (and all 4 of us) in HOG HEAVEN!

Let Them Eat Dirt!

When I got adusted last week with my chiro/nutritionist, Dr. Doblebower, we talked about how I had been sick and that somehow my kids had not getten sick at all. I said, "The funny thing is that my healthiest kid is the one who eats dirt all the time." His eyes lit up and he told me he had just come from a nutrition conference and in one of the first presentations about asthma and childhood illnesses, they had an opening powerpoint slide that said something like,

"So what's missing from our children's diets?"

follwed by a picture of a kid eating a mud pie. Not unlike this, I suppose: Yep, there's my girl with super-immunity, who only gets SICK once a year!

(photo courtesy of Michaela Claar)

You can read some points about the rest of our nutrition/immunity conversation in this article, and this one, and this one.

So, to sum it up:

• 
  Early exposure to nature (dirt, animals, etc.) helps the body build up immunity and reduces allergies and asthma
  
• Early exposure to common viruses and bacteria does the same thing to help children resist or recover quickly from common childhood illnesses
  Use fewer chemicals in the home for cleaning (plain soaps, hot water, and vinegar usually disinfect just fine)
  
• To boost the immune system, include the following in your diet: Vitamin C and other antioxidants in fruits, veggies, especially berries, calcium in milk and in supplements, and iron in meats and beans. Zicam, Airbourne, or high-quality supplements containing Echinacea and golden seal (these are expensive but effective, and my nutrituionist recommends products form Australia where they are regulated) can help when you feel a cold or flu coming on.
• Let Them Eat Dirt!
  

(Scroll Down for lots of new stuff)

Hooray! Life In A Northern Town turns 4 TODAY!...

how will we celebrate?

I think everyone should get presents, so here's my proposal:

• (1) Since I collect postcards, I'd LOOOOVE to see some in my mailbox over the next week! I know that postage has just gone up and it's asking a lot, but all I want for my blog-a-versary is POSTCARDS FROM EVERYWHERE! (and it doesn't have to be a "place" postcard--I love art ones, cartoons, and handmade postcards, too). I'll post the pretty pictures here and I can promise you a fabulous Montana postcard in return if you care to share your address or PO Box with me! Here's my office address:

Jamie c/o Melin Agency/ 1016 W. Park St./ Livingston, MT 59047

• (2) Leave a comment telling me about your favorite post(s) from the past 4 years (I realize that I need to take advantage of Blogger's new labeling system and categorize my archives, but I got these kids to raise and I'm adjusting to my new Primary calling...it's on my to-do list). My favorite commenter(s) (is there more than one?) will receive a FABULOUS white elephant gift with something thoughtful pertaining to your comment via USPS shipped on June 1st.

Stay tuned for more birthday celebration with posts like, "Where Are They Now?: People Mentioned in My Very First Post" and "On This Date in History: What I Was Doing on Other May 19th's"--sure to be entertaining.