WHY PRAIRIE SINGS?
I tend to focus on my task list and struggle with a desire for “completed work,” blind to the precious moments of getting “there.”
Since mother-work is not to be completed in a day, but rather the process of years, I needed to change my perspective, to see mother-work also as mother-play and mother-rest. I practice by taking pictures and jotting down thoughts, the words of a child or my husband.
At the end of a whirlwind day, I can take these scraps of pictures and words and reflect on them, shaping a marker that my family can return to again and again. To help us remember, to build us up, to make us smile, to give us hope.
“Be still and know that I am God” — sorting pictures and putting words to our lives helps me to do that. It helps me stop meal-making, directing, instruction, cleaning . . .to just stop.
And dwell in the life He has given us.
Prairie also reminds me to stop and dwell. She spends the bulk of her day read- singing. Many of her books are meant to be sung —The Wheels on the Bus, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Baa Baa Black Sheep. She is so content to sit and sing, looking at these same books day after day. When we put her in bed at night, she still sings, sometimes for hours, amazing Sid that she doesn’t go hoarse.
In capturing photos and writing for Prairie Sings, I remember to breathe. To dwell.
And then to sing where I dwell.
Even in a laundry basket.
Or on a potty.
In the middle of an unfinished building project and mess.
At bedtime.
With each other.
Prairie Sings 
who says i don’t get paid. i get a pay back: by being there to listen to my wonderful sister whom i love dearly. by hearing the entertaining stories. seeing the pictures that tell a story. by allowing me to share in the lives of the people i love so much, is enough pay. and when i hear my sister say,…”i learn so much from you, my very smart thoughtful and intellient sister.” oh wait! no, that’s not exactly what you say. you say,….i learn so much from your mistakes. uh…wait a minute, i think you meant to say that i am smart thoughtful and intellient, right?
well anyway…i still love you.
your wise and older sister,
bree
Hi Tina,
I love your blob! I read all entries at one sitting. Then, came back for a second sitting to read the last several ones you had written.
Neat seeing Prairie sitting in a laundry basket right beside Prairie Gold Wheat Berries. I always wondered if her name was inspired by the wheat you love.
Laurie
oops, I mean ‘blog’ not ‘blob’. It’s 12:30 and I’m tired if I may be allowed to use that excuse 🙂 Laura
You guys are so funny! Great name! It’s a perfect reason for a blog. Best reason to stop in the middle of my hectic work day for a smile. I can’t help but smile & let go of the pressures of deadlines when I see Prairie’s little face. It’s also a great way to look busy & focused during a meeting. Especially when I have no idea what the “White Collars” are saying. It’s hard not to laugh @ Sidney’s thinking face. I caught myself unknowingly trying to make the same face during what the “White Collars” call a serious meeting. The facilitator’s right eyebrow raised & I gave him a cute Rachael smile. Then he continued his foreign might-as-well-be Japanese language. Later the White Collar asked “What kind of face were you making?” I just simply said, “My Thinking Face”. Don’t you have a thinking face?
What is it you call my Mother, smart thoughtful and intelligent? I believe it; everyone says I’m just like her!
I love you guys!!!!!!!!
Mossy, I think you are funny.
You all are so sweet. I felt kind of goofy writing this blog entry, and I almost went back and deleted it. What I wrote is true, but I often feel like I’m struggling with my words, that what I’m writing doesn’t make sense or worse, that it is boring or sappy even. So I appreciate the encouragement.
AW! I loved this! (((((HUGS))))) sandi