68 days of bliss...

It's summer vacation. The kids are home and yes, I am one of those annoying moms who loves having her kids home for the summer. No, they are not perfect angels that play delightfully at all times. Yes, they do fight with each other; with me; with the dog; with the fly that dares to land too close to their cereal.

However, I look past all that and I am happy. Grateful to have them home. I relish those times when they are lost in playing with each other, laughing and creating memories that I know they will hold onto into their adult years. Those delicious mornings of rolling to a slow start, everyone in their PJ's late into the morning, deciding at the last minute to hit the beach, the river, or hide in the house and pretend we are camping in the backyard.

These are the days of no school lunches, no wrangling for a spot in the school parking lot. This is a time free from IEP meetings, homework and all the hubbub of the school year. This is a time of quiet, and family, when we close up shop a little and just soak it all in.

Today started with the knowledge of many changes for the coming school year. Next year there would be kindergarten for a little girl, new staff, a little boy entering intermediate classes. It seems that most people don't like change, even fear change. For me though, I think I've learned that I refuse to classify change as good or bad. Change just is.

There are 68 days between now and the next school year. You can do a lot of living and loving in 68 days, and I refuse to let any anxiety about change, rob me of one second of my 68 days of bliss. Arriving in the back field to get Graysen, everyone was looking up at the sun in awe. I looked up to see what they were checking out, and there was a rainbow circling the sun. Someone joked that it was a sign of the coming apocalypse. Meanwhile, to me, I saw an omen of good to come. Some people see scary, and some people see magic and some people I suppose, just see a rainbow formed by ice crystals way high up in the atmosphere. It's all about your perspective, or more so, the perspective you choose.

So, tonight, sitting on our back deck, I felt totally relaxed, and our kids seemed totally relaxed. Usually, it takes us all a couple of weeks to fall into a routine, to really chill and yet we were all just in it. I wondered what changed.

Maybe the kids picked up on our mood, and it set the tone for the whole family. Who knows? I heard a saying once, "Never worry for more than five minutes about things you can not change." I looked everywhere to try to find out again where it was from to attribute it to someone, but the message is one to hold onto. Sure, it's not an easy feat to master, but it seems to be, that not worrying about that which you can not change, gets easier with practice.

Moving forward

Over the years, I have found happiness in learning that, the past should always be a warm and fond memory, but we should never choose to live there. All the great adventures in my life involve moving forward, embracing the unknown. Over the years, it has been the times that the road has taken an unexpected turn, that have yielded opportunity for the greatest growth, and the most beauty.

Six months ago, a dear friend who is, actually more like my fourth sister, told me that they needed an adventure that they were moving. I naturally freaked out (quietly) for a couple of days, and then I embraced it with everything I have. I embraced it, because, always, always, always, the most amazing things in our life, have started with the feeling of, "wait, this isn't supposed to happen like this."

The more I thought about it, the more I realized, why wouldn't they do this? The world is big, life is short and there are adventures to be had.

Our first kids (both boys) were born nine days apart, and along with another dear friend, we have raised our children together, as siblings in an extended family.

There is a lot of amazing in watching little humans grow, when you strip away all the things that everyone tells you to worry about. That is the gift that came with these women. The ability to enjoy all the little seconds of our children growing up, because together, we could always remind each other that the big picture was so much more than, bottle vs breast and all the other polarizations of motherhood. This ability to maintain perspective, and focus on the bigger picture, was an anchor in the early days of parenting. More recently though, as life has thrown us all one curveball after another, that perspective has become a lifeline; a direct route to joy, through all the chaos.

When I think about it, that is really the simplicity of a lasting relationship; growing together, in differences, in challenges, in laughter and tears. Growing together, through everything.

When you find people that hold your children in their heart, safe; when they would go to the wall for them as they would their own little humans; when they see you children as they truly are; you keep those people close to you. Together you start your village and that village can take on most anything that life's roller coaster throws at you.

Years ago, the roller coaster got a little rough for my friend, and together, we discovered the beauty of taking breakables to the dump and throwing them in the bin. If I think about it on a deep level, it was probably healing to be in control of something shattering, instead of having to try to hold everything together as it all falls apart around you. However, at the time, deep was not our friend, so we went more with the whole, "Oooooooo! Things go crash! Make big noise! Funny! Take that world." Cue, hysterical laughter.

There was something cleansing about it all and that became our secret code. We knew when one of us said they needed a trip to the dump to smash some things that it was time for a little laughter.

Naturally, a highlight of the whole move was the promise of Auntie wanting to smash her dishes.
So, on moving day we did and we let Lorelei play too. It was a wonderful release of all the stress of trying to sell their house, and as an added bonus, it meant that she HAD to get new dishes for their next place. It also kicked off the laughter and the celebration and set the tone for the day. We were gonna smash those dishes and laugh. We were going to make this fun! We were going to celebrate and again, show our kids how to do hard, how to look forward. How to choose joy, and happiness and excitement over sadness, fear and holding back.

Disclaimer **While it looks dangerous, no little humans or fur babies were harmed in the making of this photo, and yes, clean up was a breeze.

Meanwhile, Lorelei would like us to move because "Mom, when it's time for us to move, can we smash our plates too?" 


When the big kids got home, they were sad that they missed out on the plate smashing. While it was weird that the house was empty, it was nothing a little sliding down the stairs on a mattress couldn't cure.

In that last day, we filled that house with laughter and silliness. Soon enough, that feeling carried forward and there was this communal feeling of being done with those walls, of wanting to pull away from this place, together.  We were looking forward, excited about being a part of  new adventure with our friends.

Only the address has changed. Four walls and a postal code do not dictate family, relationships or love.

In our need to move forward, the next day we planned to visit our friends at their temporary home. There was dinner, laughter, adventure and memories.

There was swimming in an awesome pool, warming up in a hot tub.

There was playtime, and there was a magical gazebo with neighbours and a roaring fire and s'mores.

Blood lines were blurred as kids crawled on Aunts and Uncles laps, and snuggled surrogate grandparents. People who had just met that day, sat around and shared a laugh.

Walking ten feet outside the gazebo and the singing of the frogs start to drown out the laughter. Standing outside, conversations disappear until it's all just a blur of happy chatter, backed up by the crackle of the fire.

Kids are fading fast after the days excitement and swallows looked down from the rafters, hoping for treats and trasures left behind.

Somone ran a line and a TV from their place so we could all watch a man walk across Niagra falls on a tightrope, but really that was a far second to the glow of just being together. Moving forward, one foot in front of the other, making memories, soaking in laughter and teaching the kids that physical distance was the only thing that changed.

****How do you move forward through the roller coaster of life? What village have you built in your life with family you chose?

Just be......

A quick post tonight. My wish list for the people that I love....

Go with love more, stop worrying about all the little things that you think are so big.

You have today, stop wasting your life in judgement, in the past, in worrying about the future.

You have today, live it.

When a child comes to you to play and you say yes, you are living today.

Laugh more.

Talk more about beauty and less about politics.

Stop judging what you think is wrong with the world, with today’s society and start learning to find the beauty in it, because you are not going to change people and you live your life in today so ride the wave.

For the love of all things holy, just be, for God’s sake.

If there is one thing I have been blessed to learn in my short life to date, it is that there is little that we can control and the more you try to steer life and hold on with a death grip, the more real living slips away.

Don’t spend time worrying on that which you can not change, it ages you and makes you ugly.

Spend time loving the people you love, knowing them, connecting with them.

Don’t waste time talking about the trivial things, about the negative. Spend time sharing what you find beautiful in this world, what you remember fondly.

This is my wish- do it now.

Live, let live and love.

Going Ostrich....

Like most parents, we have created our own little village to raise our babies. They have become the family we chose and like any family, we have our own little saying and jokes that we use along the way.

At some point, "going ostrich" became part of our language and it's a favorite of this momma's. I use it a lot. No, I mean, like, a lot! Sometimes I forget and use it around people that have no idea what I'm talking about, and then I have to explain.

Like ostriches, this momma hides her head in the sand when there is something that she isn't ready for, or doesn't want to face. That way, momma can enjoy the moment, until it's time to deal.

I talk about going ostrich all the time. Case in point, Lorelei starting Kindergarten in September. Momma is ALL ostrich baby. Sure I poke my head out from time to time, like when I need to fill out paperwork, or bring her to an orientation. I embrace that moment, feel what comes with it, acknowledge that it's happening, all that jazz. However, once the required steps are over, back into the sand goes the head, enjoying the moment, not dwelling on what is to come, but rather soaking in what is right there and now. 

Going ostrich is not denial. I know that there is a world outside my sand pile, with things to be done, sitting on the horizon. However, there is a lot of good going on in my sand pile. There is laughter, and kids, and memories to be made. Many many memories to be made in the sand pile, long before anything outside of it needs my attention. 

Sometimes, this momma goes ostrich for silly things, like not wanting to face the end of summer, or deal with the laundry. However, there have been times when momma has gone ostrich over bigger things.

Things like, having a Dr confirm a diagnosis for Tourettes, and several learning disabilities, for your oldest, while your youngest week old baby is discovered to have been born thyroid free. Working through the blood tests on a new infant, while your son is working through his school days looking like he's having seizures, is a bit of a hill.
Then take that new baby to her paediatrician appointment with your four year old son and have the ped stop the exam, look over at your son and say, "Does he often line things up like that?" True story!

BABY THAT RIGHT THERE IS OSTRICH TIME!!!

Not forever, just a few minutes of sitting in the sand re-grouping, catching your breath and then back at the amazing wonderful that is this roller coaster. This ostrich time, it's a good thing. Just make sure you've always got a good friend in the sidelines willing to pull your head out of the sand if you try to stay too long.

Somedays ostrich time is just pure magic. A few weeks ago, after Lorelei's practice Kindergarten day, we went out for an early birthday dinner. On the way home, the sun was shining, the night was young and the laundry was waiting at home to suck me back in. I was thinking about our youngest starting school and I looked over at my hubby and said, "Beach?"

One word and he knew it was time to break out the emergency beach kit from the back of the car. We needed a sunny sunset, sand, and bubbles more than we needed folded socks.

Emergency beach kit- every car needs one. Kites, shovels, pails, bubbles, and a frisbee or ball or two. You never know when you are going to have a beach emergency.

Bubbles are magic. They make the world a happier place. Try it. Next time you are out somewhere, start blowing bubbles and look around. It's not just the kids that break into a giant grin at the sight of them. Bubbles in my car, always mean I have a fast track to a little ostrich time when it all gets too much.

There's magic in realizing that a setting sun makes for the best warrior/combat poses. The giggles that come from this game makes momma's heart float. See, there's good in the sand.

Sometimes, in the middle of the ostrich time, I poke my head out for a minute to recognize that Caylen's feet are no longer tiny. Grateful that he is growing strong I push away that wistful feeling of "he was just a tiny baby yesterday" and instead grab a firm hold on, "I'm so glad I get to watch him grow."

There is magic in the mixing of water and sand. Really, how can laundry compete with this?

Tomorrow, there will be time to think about what is to come, but for today, watching them play tickle tackle frisbee is all that matters.

How do you go ostrich?

Sunshine is where you make it....

Thirty six years hurling around the sun on this beautiful blue marble. It's been a fantastic ride to date. Daily I am hit with those moments of silent gratitude, moments I sit back and think, "Life is so good." This is about the time and my brain counters with a concern that at some point there has to be a wrench thrown in. There has to be ups and downs on this sweet roller coaster ride we call life.

A little reflection reminds me, that, actually, there have been lots of "character building" moments. It's just that I ride the roller coaster with both arms in the air, screaming with laughter.

For thirty four years, my birthday claim to fame was that it was always sunny on my birthday. Some years I would feel the sunshine before I even opened my eyes. Other years, it might start overcast, but at some point, the clouds would part, and the bright orange ball would shine bright. Still relying on the outside to fuel my inside, I would tell myself, "It's always sunny on your birthday, because you are a sunshiny girl."

Recently, we have had some tricky years. Years when the definition of normal became a moving target; until we realized that normal was a four letter word, and extraordinary was the new black. Through all that, I still held onto the fact that life was good and it was all how you chose to ride the ride.

This year, my hubby offered to chase the sunshine. He found a beach less than two hours drive, with a sunny forecast. While that would make for a great story about finding your own sunshine, I realized that I needed to let the chips fall where they may. I needed to find sunshine within the stormy skies.

In life, I have learned that there is pure joy dancing in the rain and sunshine always lives in your heart, if you choose it. Today that lesson finally came full circle, and I arrived at a place of comfort and rest within it's truth.

My sunshine today was my own. It came from within and it was within the people that I love. It was in our oldest making me breakfast in bed (for an army) and then having all three kids share it with me.

Yes, the date on that yogurt is May 13th. For all I love the boy, I couldn't eat it, and had to tell him.

It was in hubby suggesting a drive in a rainstorm to pick up a new gadget for the camera.

It was in the moment when Graysen hugged me and said, "Happy Birthday" and Lorelei wrapped my hand cream up in a cloth and gave it to me as a gift. It was the journal that Caylen put together by hand and the card that Lorelei drew while I was in the bathroom.

It was comfortable coffee with a dear friend and love from friends that were far away but close in my heart.

It was not buoyed by the weather, but rather, it shone independent, because it was.
Life is sunshine, you just have to let it in, and remember, it's always right there, just behind the clouds.

So today, the rain was comforting and welcome. After 34 years of just sunshine, I've learned it's the rain with that sunshine, that really makes things bloom.

****************

As soon as I finished writing this post, at about 8:30 I felt light through the window behind me. It was heading to bed for the night.

Calling a friend I pulled the, "I don't care that you are in your jammies, it's my birthday, the clouds are parting, and I'm losing the light. Be ready in two."

She thought I was insane, but all the best people are.
Reward.......Waaaaa-pam! The clouds parted and there was awesomeness. Beautiful, pink, bright fleeting awesomeness. Not sunshine, but I knew it was there, just behind the clouds. It feels like the secret to true happiness is knowing that there is always sunshine, sometimes you just have to find it, yourself.

Finally, tonight, I dragged my hubby out to a cemetery by our house to try out my new cable release for the camera. I took my first night time long exposure. While it exposed, we danced to Ingrid Michaelson, and laughed. When it developed, we looked in excitement and I laughed remembering that I'd forgotten to set the focus to infinity. I've got no where to go but up from this image, and it inspires me to learn.

It's going to be a great year. Night night.

Milestones....

This morning, I was reminded, those that crow loudest sometimes need a little boost too.  Our little girl was going to Kindergarten practice today, and she was not her confident self. Today's one hour mini session was a teaser for all the kids starting school next year, and more importantly, a reality check for all the parents. Having been down this road a couple of times now, I tried to tell myself that this was just another step. It doesn't matter what you tell yourself though, because your heart always knows the truth.

I sat down next to my girl and asked, "What are you worried about?"

"Momma, I WON'T KNOW ALL THE NUMBERS." She cried, emphatically.

Often I wonder at this strong little girl. So sure of herself, so knowing. Often we forget her age and joke that we think she is an 80 year old woman, who came back for one more wild ride in this life. Lorelei is here for the party. She is here to embrace every delicious second of this life.  Rarely does she give herself permission and time to recognize her fears. She replaces that nervousness with bravado and a fierce determination that she can talk away her butterflies. Seeing her take a quiet moment to offer vulnerability and voice her worries is a relief. These moments, a reminder to support her strength, but also help her recognize and accept that her vulnerability is just as valid.

"Oh baby, it's okay to be nervous but I promise you, you don't need to know your numbers. You are going to learn all that. Mommy has been to school and she is still learning, every single day. That is the best part of life, always learning, always discovering."

Her eyes got wide as she whispered, "Really?"

"Really!" I nodded. With that, her whole body relaxed in the new knowledge that not knowing is just another exciting adventure.

My own nervousness arrived us at school earlier than usual. I told myself quietly that this was a good thing. This meant more time for Lorelei to adjust to the kids, but in truth, it was momma who needed time to adjust.

Graysen and Lorelei climbed out of the car and trying to slow my breathing, I reminded myself that though the urge to hold onto my girl tight was so strong, she was my girl that needed to fly. She needed this adventure. I am forever a "never say never" mom. Choosing to keep our options open, homeschooling has always been one of those options, just not yet exercised. When Caylen went to Kindergarten, we told ourselves, that if it wasn't a good fit, we could always homeschool. That permission to change our minds, our exit strategy, has always been a comfortable safety net for an "incase" moment.

Why then today was I ready to throw the brakes on the whole shebang?
Watching the two of them walk to the crosswalk I wanted to shout, "Stop, rewind. Let's go home. School is cancelled. Forever!"
Parenting is all about adjusting and readjusting.  Remembering our "exit strategy", one foot in front of the other, we made it across the crosswalk.

Feelings from eight years ago, came flooding back. Caylen going to school for the first time, I remember feeling this sense of panic with every step towards the first big day. This worry that there were all these hours in the day that would be trusted to someone else. Giving up that control, releasing it, came in part with developing a fantastic communication with the school and his teachers.

It came from seeing him blossom and grow in his new adventure. As he is a child that craves human interaction, I learned quickly to adapt and realize that him being at school did not mean giving up control. Instead, it meant opening our parenting world up to include some fantastic, gifted team mates. A realization came quickly, that the saying, "It takes a village" meant not only the family and friends you chose, but also the educators that cared deeply for your children. Those gifted guides that work in tandem with willing families, opening their village up to another level of amazing. This was a lesson we learned even more so with Graysen. Knowing instinctively of his needs, there was this fear he wasn't ready, but we charged ahead, knowing that the exit strategy was always there, waiting in the sidelines. The gift of our teammates for him was ten fold. His teachers, through the years, all beautiful humans that genuinely liked him and saw Graysen, not a label. This has given him a secure place to learn and grow and it has given us the gift of healing, realizing that there are those that see our child and not a problem.

All these memories and lessons ran through me as Lorelei stood close to me. It felt like she was testing to make sure that this was still the same safe little cocoon she knew from all her times volunteering in her brother's classes. She took in the kids playing, giving me a front row seat to the moment when her curiosity and playful spirit, eventually tipped the scales on her uncertainty. Like watching a bucket spill over, she slowly leaned forward and then ran for the roundabout, climbing all the way to the top. A look of relaxed bliss spread across her features as she took in the playground from her new vantage point. When did her legs get long enough to climb to the top?

My sister and I had a talk one day about having kids and we came to the realization that the image we held in our mind of ourselves as mother's, was an image of us with young children. We never fast forwarded to what it might look like parenting growing children. Instead we were stunted, resting in the eternally Peter Pan outlook of a motherhood defined only by babies and toddlers.

There is so much amazing past all the angst of diapers, and feedings. Past first steps and teething, there was this whole world of wonder when you realize it feels good, watching them grow. Something about having newborns, allows you to hold onto your own youth. Part of me mourns the end of that, but more so I am surprised to find myself excited to watch them carry on, to adventure and discover in this world.

The bell startled me. Snapping me out of the conversations with other moms. The, "me too's" and the "can't believe your little one is old enough already" faded quickly, as kids scattered into their classrooms.

Our girl ran to the kindergarten room, and stopped short outside the door. She wore her nervous excitement in every fiber of her being. In her hand she held a picture, that this morning, she had insisted she needed to draw for her teacher. Once inside, shyly handing it over, all her uncertainty melting the second she started explaining her artwork.

Teacher formalities out of the way, she made fast friends with a few little girls and took over the puzzle table. This was about the time that I was released dismissively with a quick kiss and a, "You can go have your coffee now mom. I love you."

Walking slowly to the door, it hit me, this feeling like I was getting away with something. Like it was all too easy. Part of me wanted her to need me, to ask me to stay, but this ain't momma's first Rodeo. Knowing she would be fine, that she would miss me, but she would be okay, I kept going, inertia pushing me out the door. Muttering something to the teacher about being given permission to leave, knowing that if I stopped, I wouldn't start again.  Leaping clear of the door, a tad giddy, I may have made eye contact with some mom's and let out a tiny, "Woohoo!" letting inertia continue to push me to the car.

Inside the quiet warmth of the car, that giddy feeling was instantly overcome by a wave of sadness. For the last 13 years, I have had a little adventurer home with me, to take on the day. This September would be something else entirely.

When Caylen went to school, I tried to shush all those voices of worry, or sadness. I tried to fall in line with the response I thought I was supposed to have. 13 years into this parenting thing though, I've learned that it's all okay. The sadness, the nostalgia, the worry, the feeling of losing control, the excitement and the giddy. It's all valid, and it's all going to be okay. It's just another amazing adventure we are standing overlooking.

She is our third baby, so the all these feelings are less, but also more; different, but the same. She is our bonus human, and so like everything with her, I try to take it in and soak it up as much as I can, because this is the last time I am stepping through these milestones, and bittersweet seems to be the word of the year.

The Bravery of Prince Graysen.....

Once upon a time there was a young Prince named Graysen. He lived in a lush green kingdom, with his royal family. Young Prince Graysen was born into this world with the ability to see things in a way that others miss. He was always wrapped up in details that others didn’t notice, and rarely paid attention to that which was important to the other subjects of the kingdom. Some people in the kingdom saw his view of the world as a defect, but really it was just a difference and they were missing the magic of the world through his eyes.

Prince Graysen was born into the world with a destiny to tame the many worry dragons that swarmed around him. To most of the subjects in the kingdom, these dragons were invisible, and so they did not understand his quests. However, to those that did see his battles, they knew he was a great, and brave warrior.

On this particular day, the worry dragon “Rides-a-bike” had been circling with more intensity than in all the past years combined. It was a dragon that his parents, the King and Queen (yes Queen, momma wears a tiara driving the royal minivan on the royal carpool), had pushed to the side, choosing instead to focus their young son on other more pressing battles. At long last though, the time had come for the young prince to face down this dragon and conquer it, once and for all.

Prince Graysen was afraid and cried as he jumped on his wheeled steed. His mother, hating that she had to send her son into this battle, wanted nothing more to run into the castle with her boy and lock the dragons out forever. She knew though, a dragon ignored, breeds more dragons, and no locks could keep them out. Her job was to support him through these battles in childhood, so that he held the tools in his adult years to walk this world along side his dragons as old friends.

Prince Graysen also knew that it was time, but with fear holding tight, the dragon had the upper hand and the young Prince found himself forgetting where his weapons for battle were.

His parents, the King and Queen, realized that he needed to be reminded of the rewards that come to those brave warriors that tame their worry dragons. They told him of the great trophy, Minecraft for Xbox 360. If you don’t know about Minecraft, the royal princes have declared it akin to kittens, sliding down a rainbow at Christmastime. Anywho, the trophy Minecraft for Xbox 360, would be his if he made this dragon his pet.

This was a truly great trophy. Prince Graysen had known it was being made available to the royal trophy cabinet on May 9th, as he had been tracking it’s release for about a year. He had also been talking at his mother, the Queen about it, most every waking second, for that same amount of time. The Queen explained that while it was available, the only thing that would unlock the royal credit card was Prince Graysen taming this dragon and adding it to his collection of dragon pets.

Prince Graysen was unhappy with the rules of the kingdom and stomped around decreeing that someone should lose their head. He fell into an invisible hole on the sidewalk, melting down into a puddle of frustration and futility. Thankfully Prince Graysen was not yet leader of his land, because it appeared that it would have been the Queen's head on the chopping block.

In time Prince Graysen understood that the terms of the quest would not change and he helped the Queen create a plan to tame this dragon and win the trophy. The queen suggested 18 battle days for this victory, knowing secretly, that the young prince would not need nearly that many.

On the first day of battle the young Prince went out with the wise Lady Tracey of the tribe ‘life coach’.
Lady Tracey was a great trainer of young Princes and Princesses, who held the same world views as Prince Graysen. She understood the quests that the young prince was required to challenge in his life, and she was another voice of support and training for the Prince. She joined him on the battlefield, the young prince took deep breaths and he was very brave. He wielded his great power and managed to make six definite blows against Dragon “Rides-a-bike”. Three times lady Tracey coached these blows and three times, Prince Graysen told her, “I’ve doth got this.” While the blows were short, they were strong and steady.

Prince Graysen came inside the royal castle victorious and encouraged that this dragon would soon be among his beautiful menagerie of dragon pets. Inside, he told his mother the Queen of his great battle, unaware that the queen had proudly looked out the castle window and watched him face that dragon head on. She had watched, her heart bursting with joy in seeing that the young prince was discovering what she had known all along, that he had the power to do great things in his life.

The young prince and the queen sat around the royal dining room while the cooks worked on dinner in the kitchen. (Okay, so there aren’t any royal cooks and the queen was actually the one doing the cooking, but a girl can dream, can’t she?) They stood over the battle plan, writing down the details of the day's successes, and planning for tomorrows epic clash.

That night the young prince slept uneasily, concerned for the next day. Upon waking, he spent most of the morning bargaining with the Queen, attempting to circumvent the terms of this battle. The queen held fast, knowing that the dragon “Rides-a-bike” was only a small part of a larger life quest. That quest being the young prince learning to trust in himself, in his brave heart and to take chances.

That morning, Prince Graysen went to the royal school to learn from the royal awesome teachers who understood his view of the world and his quests. When he shared with them, the battle that was required later that afternoon, they affirmed that the power was within him, and that they believed in him, and that he should to.

Try as he might to stall the march of time, the young prince soon found himself back at the royal castle. It was a warm, beautiful day in the kingdom. The young prince’s older brother and younger sister eagerly grabbed their horseless, wheeled, contraptions and spilled out into the street.

The young prince went to his mother, making a feeble protest or two. He looked his mom clearly in the eyes (or close enough) clarifying, “How do I know that the rules won’t change if I am victorious over the worry dragon “Rides-a-bike”?”

His mother smiled and confirmed, “When you ride your horseless, wheeled contraption around the street, just like your older brother Prince Caylen, the trophy will be yours.”

The young Prince watched his big brother effortlessly glide and swoop up and down the road. He stood still for a moment. The queen watched him processing the task at hand, wondering what he must be thinking, wondering if the battle it was too soon for this quest.

Slowly, the Queen saw a change come over the young prince. For the first time she saw determination, growing in his eyes. She saw his body grow still, and he seemed to dig down deep within him, reaching for weapons he had stored away for just such an occasion. The Queen followed the young Prince onto the battlefield. She held the back of the horseless, wheeled contraption, but almost instantly upon entering the great arena, the young prince cried, “Let go!”

He peddled, wobbled, wavered, and stopped. He scrambled to gain his footing as the dragon circled around for another pass. Again, the queen started with him, and again, he pedaled, wobbled, wavered and stopped, this time finding his footing a little faster. The dragon, circled again, blowing fire, and roaring at the young prince, yet the great winged creature could not touch him. The young prince’s determination had created a shield that the dragon could only slam up against. Desperate to avoid the leash the young prince was carrying, the great dragon continued to hammer away at the shield, trying to build on the boy's shakiness.

The battle waged on and on. The queen watched as her son fought with all his might, stopping, starting, over and over, each time finding his footing faster than the last. No longer was he allowing her to help him back onto the field when he stumbled. He pressed into the battle, alone, and with each new attempt the Prince fought back faster than the last.

The queen, watching him charge head on, steadfast, knew, today was the day that this great dragon would fall.

The dragon, raged and slammed against the shield, one last time with all his might. The young warrior fell hard to the ground. The shield closing in close against the young prince, so that even the queen could feel the vibrations from the wings of the great beast, and the heat from it's firey breath. The queen felt the waiver in her son's resolve. Getting back up, he turned to her and whispered, “I really, really want that trophy mommy.”

The queen wanted to hug him, to tell him that from this day forward, she would slay all his dragons. She was conflicted; wanting to use her veto power to negate the rules of the land, but her heart told her with one last push this battle was all but won.

She whispered back, “Are you going to let your worry dragon get in the way of your Minecraft trophy?”

“No.” He replied.

“Then tell your worry dragon, ‘Go away. I want the Minecraft Trophy.’ ”

“Go away worry dragon, I want the Minecraft Trophy. I want to ride my horseless, wheeled contraption!” The young prince’s voice slightly shaky, but there was a steadiness bubbling from deep inside.

With that, he put his feet on the pedals, once, twice, three, four times; the dragon roared, each time, with less ire, less strength. Slowly, the gap between the young prince and the dragon closed, as the great beast circled, closer, and closer, calmer, and calmer. With one final push of resolve, Prince Graysen was suddenly riding his horseless, wheeled contraption, and the dragon was trotting along side him, feisty, but leashed.

“That’s how it’s done.” The queen softly cheered as she watched her young boy circle, victory lap after victory lap. He fell in line with his older brother, exploring the road in front of the castle. The dragon, while still spirited, seemed so much smaller now, as it padded alongside the young prince. The queen was hit with a ‘heartbust’ of joy as she watched her young boy settle into his new skill.

After, all the victory laps, after the royal family and assorted villagers passing by cheered, the young prince turned to his mother and father and asked if the trophy was now his. With a smile, his parents took him into the castle, retrieved the royal credit card and unlocked the Minecraft for Xbox 360 trophy.

As the royal Internet was downloading the trophy into the royal Xbox case, the queen took her son upstairs to record his victory on his battle plan. The prince drew confetti on day two of the plan, and his mother spoke to him softly, “Do you see now, that you had the power to do this all along? The only thing that stood in your way was you believing in yourself. You can do anything in this world Prince Graysen, if you just trust and believe in yourself.”

He hugged her and disappeared into the royal gaming room to discover his trophy with his older brother.

 The queen let the events of today's battle wash over her. She found herself grateful that having a young Prince born to these quests, meant that she had the perspective to celebrate these battles in a way that she might have missed without this destiny. She reminded herself that in time, all battles will be won. In his own time, her young prince will rule his world with courage and strength. While his reign might look different from that of his royal siblings, it would be right and beautiful all the same.