You Know When You're in Texas When...

Dear Daughter,

Papa will soon be back in Belgium again and see you soon. I can't wait to hear about your travels to Italy and France with your Belgian friends and family.

Papa was driving the other day again across Texas and had to stop at a roadside rest stop.

Here is a picture of the playground. Make sure you read the sign!!

I did not see any children playing on there this time, I wonder why?

I Love You,

Papa

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 ;-)

Viewing Time and Space Through the Looking Glass

Dear Daughter,

Papa came back from his short trip to London and brought you some booty from across the Channel. We checked them out last evening and already put them to use.

I had forgotten that I did not have stuff for your lunch for school, so we had to walk over to the store to get things, so, we got to use your new Compass to help figure out which direction we were going.

And, you were able to use your new Magnifying Glass to read the letters indicating that we were going SE or SouthEast.

And, then, after making a card for your friend and looking at the other things Papa brought back from London, I told you that it was Time to go to bed, and showed you on your Pocket Watch, (since you can never keep your hands of Papa's fancy pocket watch) so you can now begin to tell Time as well, which you also looked at with your Magnifying Glass.

I hope you enjoy learning all about Time and Space with these things and as you already do, to look closer at the world around you.

I Love You,
Papa

Like a Pale Balloon

Dear Daughter,

While Papa was in London, Summer officially began with the longest day of the year. Maybe you noticed that it is much lighter later, especially in Belgium where it is very far North. Papa bought you a compass while here, so we can always tell which way is North when we are traveling.

Last night, when Papa was walking, he saw this beautiful moon over the streets of London. Remember how you always used to get excited about the "day-time moon which hangs like a pale balloon"? This moon reminded me of you always saying that when we would be riding on the bicycle to school.

Papa will be back in Antwerp tonight and then you and I will be going to Texas soon, where the nights will be very hot, and the moon very big. Remember last year when we saw the giant Blue Moon?

I hope you enjoy this picture. It looks like the poster of a Magritte painting that Papa has in his bedroom, don't you think?

I Love You,
Papa