adventures with Toad

I broke my two weeks of not throwing up record this morning around 4 am. I tried to go back to sleep, but the windows were open and it was so nice and breezy outside that I decided to take the dog out for a long morning walk. The sunrise was so beautiful over the desert. I wish I had brought my camera.

I came home around 6, fed the dog and got ready for scripture study with the kids. While pulling the curtains open in our room, I looked over at my husband who was sleeping peacefully and thought to myself, "How did I get such a nice guy?" His alarm went off next to his bed, so I rushed over to turn it off before he woke up. But his eyes opened and he seemed startled because I was standing only a few inches away from his face. Then he said in his scratchy morning voice, "Are you mad at me?" That question will have me laughing all day. My poor, sweet husband..

After we read scriptures with the kids, the breeze was still blowing through our bedroom, and the baby was still asleep in the other room, so I opened The Wind and the Willows and read a chapter out loud. Aaron was up doing his sit-ups/push ups routine, but he was listening to the story too. This chapter was about the crazy Mr. Toad who tries to convince his friends Mole and Rat to leave the boring river and join him on the road in a horse-drawn wagon where they could eat and sleep on the road-- and travel the world. I could hear Aaron snickering as I read because I am constantly talking about how boring life is, just doing the day to day routine... "Why can't we leave it all behind and go on an ADVENTURE?!" After one exciting day on the road, a fast motorcar almost crashes into them, leaving the wagon broken on the side of the road. They are stranded and hopeless, having to walk 7 miles to catch a train home. It's a terrible situation for everyone involved, but Toad is excited and talking about the next adventure. On their walk back, Mole asks Rat what they are going to do with Toad... Rat responds, "Nothing! I've seen him like this every time he starts a new craze. He will be in a happy dream for a few days and useless for anything else." By the time they arrive home and get settled, the whole town is talking about Toad and the new shiny motorcar he just purchased... on to something new and more exciting!

Aaron listened to the whole chapter and just smiled at me when I closed the book. I half wanted to throw it at him, but I restrained myself because I know without him saying anything that I am a crazy person to live with and everyone else isn't quite sure what to do with me. But from my perspective Rat and Mole are totally boring characters and need a little more adventure in their life. What would the story be without impulsive, exhilarating Mr. Toad???