My glasses were covered with white speckles which was messing with my vision almost as much as the fact that there was no light except what came through the shaded windows on the other side of the room. After finishing the priming of the sheet rock I was doing the ceiling. There was no electricity in the room yet so no light, no air conditioning. My arms ached, my neck hurt and the sweat was dripping down me from my forehead to my feet... I was having a great time. Really!

My brother has been remodeling their first home, which they'd been renting out. They plan to sell their newer house and move back in to house #1. He is doing almost all of the work himself and with the help of friends and family. Angus and a couple of the boys had helped a couple of times over the summer but this was my first effort.

We'd been driving home from church and Angus announced that he thought we should all go in to help Gino today. I am the only one who heard this announcement since one boy was home in bed still, one was at his home with the family, and the two others were off after church to grab donuts with friends. Good luck with that, I thought.

But little do I understand the power of a father who sees that his sons have nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon but loaf it away. That and the prospect of a little man-bonding time. All four sons showed up!

Gino was in heaven with the thought of an actual crew to help. Jenn and I painted... and painted and painted. Zeke and Kev and Bo installed lights and ceiling fans after some instruction from their grandpa. Angus and Zeke finished hanging the dry wall down the hall and the entire bathroom. Gino and CJ got to work on the new hard wood floors in the new garage-turned-bedroom. He had helped his friend lay them a week earlier and stopped by Judd's house to borrow some equipment that would make the job so much easier. Kev took over when CJ had to leave.

The day ended with pizza about 7 pm. We were worn out but had accomplished much. The boys had all learned some new skills and some life lessons about work and family and giving.

It was such a good day.

A big truck rumbles around the corner, a dog barks in the distance as I pick tomatoes in the garden. A hummingbird buzzes by on his way to the feeder, the chimes tinkle gently in the breeze. I notice none of this, I'm thinking about what to make for dinner.

There's a golf ball in the grass and a piece of fur caught in a crack of the deck. A tiny puddle on the deck grows beneath a leak in the gutters above. I am lost in thought about the meeting tonight as I pull weeds among the flowers.

Sometimes I don't even notice when someone walks into the room! My grandson, Blue, notices all of the above. He catches everything. He is enamored by it all.

The very first time we blew up the kiddie pool and filled it, he was curious. What was this giant puddle? He stuck his hand in to test the water then lifted it and watched the water drip down his hand off the tip of his fingers and into the grass. He watched every detail of the traveling drop until it finally disappeared then dipped his hand again. He did it over and over again.

He is especially fascinated by the wind. He can be deep in play when the wind blows the leaves in the trees high above. They rustle; he stops and looks up to see. Blue can be riding his spring horse on the back deck when the breeze blows and he stops and points to his pinwheel laying on the table. I pick it up, turn it to find the wind 'til it is spinning furiously. He watches until it slows to a stop then continues his ride until the next gust of wind catches his attention.

Because Blue loves them so, I have hung wind chimes all around. He never fails to hear the chimes and points to make sure I am paying attention as well.

Having Blue around this summer has brought a new perspective to my life. I am beginning to pay attention. I am starting to notice the little things in life that add sugar and spice to the normal. I am observing the little details that bring a sense of wonder and give me balance. It slows me down and somehow makes me feel lighter and more grateful. Life is good. God is good.

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~Walt Streightiff