Karina Jones

We are in the middle of National Grasslands Week, which is near and dear to my heart. When I look out every window of my home, it is in fact grasslands in every direction to the reaches of every horizon.

Summer Spurges! I’m all about nurturing my kids imaginative spirits! So I bought them a tent and walkie talkies and we set up the trampoline that has been in storage for 10 years!

Nothing is better than Father’s Day Weekend rain showers to inspire our family to take a few hours off the ranch. I can’t remember the last time we went and saw the Sunday matinee at our local movie theater but we did just that yesterday.

Suddenly, our forecast is giving us hope. We are looking ahead to a cool down that is promising to bringing moisture for multiple days in a row.

When you are in these situations the stress, the scenarios, the questions, they never leave your mind. The mind can be a battlefield that is a dangerous place.

While I highly doubt that anyone has to “split the rhubarb and lilies equally” in their will, it is these living things that are so valuable to me that I hope my kids cherish more than diamonds and gold. 

We will pitch a tent in the yard, swim in the local river, grab yummy drinks at some of our favorite coffee shops along the trails we travel, lay underneath these Sandhills stars, and breathe in this life that we are blessed with. 

Having the confidence to keep my cool, and “Think, Don’t Sink,” was a difference maker in this situation. I’m not saying my front crawl technique was perfect, but I was able to make it to dry ground on my own accord because the family company I had that day was not really lifeguard material. 

As I left off yesterday, I can tell you from first hand experience how important swimming lessons are, even for ranch kids who may never hit the pool other than that week of summer lessons.   

I really encourage all parents to check into their local swimming pools to see what swimming lesson opportunities are offered. I know that summer tends to fly by, but I really feel that you will never regret empowering your kids to become more confident in the water.