Looking Glass

Dear Daughter,

There is a saying in life about a glass of water and how people will view it differently. If the glass contains one half of its potential amount, it is said that there are two ways to look at it.

Some, those whom people call "pessimists" will say that the glass is half empty, because they focus on what they don't have, not what they do.

Others, those called "optimists" will say that the glass is half full, because they focus on the fact that although you may not have everything, you still have some left. Or, that something is better than nothing.

However, I like to look at it a third way, as Papa often does, and to look at the pretty glass and be grateful that I have one at all.

Remember, there are many ways to look at things in the world, we can choose how we will do so, and that can change everything.

I Love You,
Papa

We Are Still Not Alone

Dear Daughter,

Remember how last year you saw the three bear cubs with their mother at our cabin? This year we saw the little cubs, now yearlings, each one at at time since the mama bear had sent them all out into the wild. She was still around as well, but we did not see her, though Grandma and Dale did one morning.

Here is one of the little ones who managed to get into a bird feeder that had been there undisturbed by bears for ten years. His little brother, the runt of the three, later came and pulled it down for good, so the birdies are going to have to find another way to eat their seeds from now on!

We saw all kinds of animals again this year, and even a spotted Bambi!

I am glad that you got to see so much nature again this year.

I Love You,
Papa

When The Target is Not the Goal

Dear Daughter,

When we were up in the mountains at the cabin, we shot arrows with your new bow. Remember last year when we were here and you were too small to shoot arrows and you learned how to be a patient quiver instead?

This year you are big enough and strong enough to pull the bow by yourself.

You began to get frustrated though because the arrows were not going as far as Papa's. However, I told you that the goal was not to hit the target, but to keep practicing and learn how to shoot. One day you will be hitting the target if you practice patiently.

Each time, your arrow went a bit further and you began to be able to load the arrow and steady yourself on your own. That, indeed was the Goal.

I Love You,
Papa

When Plans Fail

Dear Daughter,

Yesterday we drove from Amarillo to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Papa had planned for us to go swimming first, so that perhaps you might sleep a bit in the car.

However, all three pools we went to did not open til later, so we decided to get on the road.

Papa had remembered that there was an outdoor "lake-pool" in Santa Rosa that we stopped at once when you were just a little baby.

After visiting the Dinosaur Museum in Tucumcari, we drove on to Santa Rosa and found the "lake-pool" open and got to swim for a couple of hours, ride a glittery paddle-boat, and see lots of beautiful lapis lazuli-colored damselflies.

What an unexpected surprise.

Always remember that when your original plans fail, that could be an opportunity for something even better.

I Love You,
Papa

PS you slept the last part of the trip, thankfully during the crazy Santa Fe afternoon traffic coming in and while Papa unloaded the car ;-)