days of joy

i heart faces... let's hear it for the boys!

2011-06-21T10:30:00.011-04:00

What a hard choice... with my own two boys constantly on the other side of my camera, I have an overabundance of boy pictures. But, I kept coming back to this client image. I love the innocence of the image, but you can still see some mischief in little brother's eyes and grin. When the boys saw the dandelions, they immediately grabbed them, started chanting "She loves me, loves me not... loves me, loves me not" in between each big puff.

Be sure to stop by i heart faces and check out some of the incredible entries this week!

in good company

2011-04-15T16:55:00.003-04:00

I am so excited to be in such good company as a favorite!

i heart faces ~

2011-04-10T23:15:00.004-04:00

The theme this week is SHADOWS. How fun!

cows and pigs and chickens... oh my!

2011-04-09T22:43:00.002-04:00

Several months ago in a search to find local grass fed beef, I came across Nature's Harmony Farm. It's not as local as I'd like, but I kept up with them via Facebook because I found their methods of farming so interesting (and good). We grabbed a spot on one of the farm tours and took the boys today. Long drive, hot day. But we had a wonderful time! Ossabaw Island hogs, sheep, Jersey cows, Heritage turkeys, chickens, rabbits, ducks... all set up to rotate a certain way across the land. We came home with some cheese made on the farm (Georgia Gold cheddar and Grueyere), 2 dozen eggs and some sausage. Guess what's for breakfast tomorrow?

for everything else, there's mastercard

2011-04-09T00:04:00.002-04:00

You know, for things like this:

that can capture some pretty neat details like this:

a little visit to the blog

2011-04-06T21:48:00.005-04:00

I'm taking some time tonight to play around a bit, explore some new settings and templates, and figure out how to display larger photos. LOVE seeing them BIG!

**okay, so they may be too big. But still, LOVE!

2010

2010-12-10T12:04:00.001-05:00

Swirling Ornaments Christmas Card

Create modern Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

FINALLY... time for Christmas cards!

2010-11-20T08:55:00.002-05:00

Those of you who know me know that I start thinking about next year's Christmas cards as soon as the current cards are being mailed out. Christmas cards bring me so much joy, for so many reasons. I love thinking about the picture they'll include, I love looking at the different styles, colors, and ideas, and I love having an opportunity to share what Christmas is all about through the message I choose to include. Ever year, after my card is created, I have it transferred onto a tile. These tiles of cards past are my favorite items to pull out of my Christmas decoration bins!

So, you can imagine how excited I was when I pulled a shutterfly catalog out of our mailbox a few weeks ago. I've lost count of how many times I've flipped through this thing! Although I do use shutterfly for all of my photo sharing/storage, it's been a few years since I've used them for Christmas cards. There are so many options now! Pictures on the front, pictures on the inside, trendy or classic colors, room to write the year's highlights (eliminating the need for a lengthy letter, if you do that sort of thing)... just tons of new products. I usually keep our card simple and classic. This one really caught my eye:

as did this Merry Moments card and this Joyous and Blessed card.

The new calendars also caught my eye this year. We did this one year for grandparent gifts, and I have to say that every time I looked at their calendar, I wish I had ordered one for myself!

There are just so many beautiful and fun options. Even though I'm having trouble choosing a very favorite, I sure am enjoying the process of searching for the perfect one. And I know that I'll enjoy it for years to come, each time I pull out my tiles.

it's been a long time

2010-11-18T16:16:00.002-05:00

But I hope to be back soon. I'll take the entry back into blogging slow and easy with a link to a great giveaway for any of you locals.

Visit my friend Heather at the Gift Closet to enter to win a photography session with Odalys Mendez. Heather has pictures on her blog of her latest session, and they are beautiful!

Just click HERE to enter.

keep out

2009-08-14T15:33:00.003-04:00

I'm glad I didn't step into this web when I walked out the front door this morning. I'm afraid of spiders. Not afraid that they'll bite and kill me, but afraid of discovering one might land on me and I won't know. The thought makes my stomach turn inside out. In spite of that, I can still see the beauty, the handiwork involved in the creation of a masterpiece.

I never thought I could identify with this

2009-07-26T01:25:00.004-04:00

but as the mama of two boys, I do. I definitely do.

Check out this post on Testosterhome...

me and you

2009-06-19T14:53:00.004-04:00

10 years.

I'm not sure how this ever offically became "our song," but I do know that you are the YOU that's just right for ME.

Happy 10th anniversary, Keith. I love you!

to catch a bird

2009-06-12T15:51:00.002-04:00

When I was a little girl, my Sweet Pea used to tell me that all I had to do to catch a bird was sprinkle salt on its tail. I thought that maybe the salt on the tail would keep it from flying. I spent hours in her yard with her saltshaker, running after birds. I don't know when I realized that technically, if you could get close enough to sprinkle salt, you would be close enough to catch it. Or when I realized that it was a fabulous way to keep a child busy.

I thought of her today when I was close enough to sprinkle salt on this little bird's tail.

Mama and Daddy cardinal were trying hard to encourage their baby to fly. As much as I wanted to scoop this fuzzy baby up and help out, I left it alone like I knew I should. Even so, it was fun to get close enough.

No salt needed, Sweet Pea!

beautiful day

2009-05-30T22:19:00.002-04:00

The first day of summer vacation, and...

* {K} and I worked in the yard

* the boys played for HOURS in the sprinkler

* our neighbor brought us some homemade pasta

* we ate sandwiches and popsicles on the porch

* I napped with {s} while {K} and {p} played Lego something-or-other on the Wii

* we took the boys fishing, and they were biting!

* everyone had a bit of late night ice cream

* one boy is now asleep, and the other is on the way

* it's been a WONDERFUL day!

bittersweet

2009-05-28T22:43:00.002-04:00

We have been blessed with another wonderful year of school for both of the boys.

{s} loved Miss Roslyn and Miss LaDonna to pieces, and looked forward to school almost every day. I don't know if that happens too often with 2-3 year olds. We're going to miss them!

{p} simply had an amazing year. He really opened up to Mrs. Donaldson. She discovered his interests quickly, and encouraged his passions for science and reading... often letting him bring home "extras" like special books, a microscope, etc. He blossomed this year, and it has been so fun to watch. Tomorrow is not only his last day of first grade, but the last day at his school. Next year he'll be somewhere new. Always one to be sentimental, tonight he told me that he was a little happy but also a little sad about the last day. Then he asked me if I could pray for summer to go by really fast, and tomorrow to last a long time. Definitely a bittersweet moment in time for him.

so, so tired

2009-05-01T22:27:00.002-04:00

I am tired of seeing that e-mealz blinkie... just had to post something that I don't have to look at it anymore.

We went to {p}'s school spring fling tonight, and for the first time EVER, my baby - the oldest baby - got his hair spray painted. He ran around with his buddies and had a blast without us tagging along the whole time. It's really neat to see him becoming more comfortable, loosening up a little, and enjoying himself so much.

But, the times when he grabbed my hand as we walked around were nice, too.

come back

2009-04-06T11:21:00.004-04:00

Slept until 10:30 this morning -

the boys are at Mammy and Pat's house.

The rain has stopped (for now), and the sky was filled with sun

until it went behind the clouds.

I love the quiet,

but I miss the noise that having two boys

brings to our house.

No matter what it looks like outside,

they are my sunshines!

hey there, Martha

2009-04-02T20:01:00.005-04:00

I've been hot glueing plastic eggs to a wreath for too long now. I thought it would go much faster, but once I started I felt like I needed to finish. Seeing as how I started a peep wreath about a month ago (warning... DO NOT TRY THAT, BAD IDEA) and gave up, I thought it might be best to actually complete something that I started this time.

But, my front door is now decked out for Easter. Crossing that off my list...

eggs...

more eggs...

and even more eggs!

edited to add... I was really bothered by how I spelled "glueing." It just didn't look right to me. But, neither did "gluing." I finally looked it up, and guess what??? You can spell it either way!

a little bit of catching up

2009-03-28T15:23:00.006-04:00

It seems like I'm always having to catch up here. Part of the problem is that I wait forever to upload pictures.

Let's see...

February brought an evening working on Valentines. {s} gave his friends cute little containers of play-doh. {p} is of the age where it's most important just to pick out a little cardboard pack of something at Target. This was the year of Spiderman for him.

Next was cousin Zachary's birthday. Our wonderful, fabulous cake girl was out of town, so Mama ordered a football cake from Publix. It was totally worthy of Cakewrecks. Maybe I should submit it. {s}, as usual, ate it regardless of what it looked like.

Then there was the fun night - right before bedtime (of course), when the boys decided to decorate {s}'s bed. Hmm... no room to sleep in there!

And, I can't forget {p}'s robot. He had an assignment to create a robot, and he had to be able to tell the class three things that it could do. I ran into the dollar store to grab a couple of things he wanted while he waited with {K} in the car. I had a phone call from the car to HURRY, and fortunately we were home before {p} started throwing up. Kit Kat. On the carpet. It was a weird bug that lasted on and off for a couple of days, but as soon as he felt like it he started work on the robot. He named him Workbot, and he's a handyman. He had a pincher hand to use various tools, and a shovel hand to dig holes. He had a little cup he could use for picking up sticks and rocks in the yard (cleaning up), a pencil for writing down measurements, and tape measure for measuring. Oh, and blades on his feet to cut grass. I think my favorite part was the fishing bobber eyes.

That brings us to a trip to Fernbank with grandparents. We were a little disappointed that all of the dinosaur fossils weren't real. Most were casts. Still, it was pretty impressive. I avoided the "beginning of the Earth" sections. It seems that the science people at Fernbank think that the Earth was created without God. We know better!

By now this update is into March, when we experienced the first and only snow of the season. So glad that we had a nice snowfall before springtime. The boys loved the homemade snow cream!

Soccer. Poor {s} -- he had been looking forward to soccer SO MUCH. He kept putting on his uniform and cleats for days before the first game, talking about scoring goals and running really fast. Umm, no. All he would do was hold our hand and look at the ground. He really is really excited about playing, but just gets overcome with shyness. He did have a great time playing with {p} and some friends, in between games, though! {p}, however, really enjoyed himself this time. He did a better job of keeping up with the ball and being involved in the game.

Grandaddy Pat gave the boys little "starter" gardens to plant some snapdragon seeds. They have sprouted now, and they are anxious to be able to plant them outside.

Nearing the end now, with Grandaddy Pat's birthday. I wasn't all too happy that he didn't want me to cook, and bought supper from Five Guys instead. I hope that doesn't say something about my cooking!

Finally, {s} has been going to the second (numbers) session of Puddle Jumpers. The other day he wrote his name on his paper (3 years, 4 months). Backwards, but it's getting there!

Today we're staying in because of the dreary, rainy day, and celebrating both of {K}'s parents' birthdays with potato soup, yeast rolls, and some brownies. Tomorrow is children's church - we're teaching a lesson on baptism - and a birthday party for one of {p}'s friends. Unfortunately, we missed two soccer games and a big Easter egg hunt today. Looking on the bright side, it has given me the perfect opportunity to catch up on the blog.

writing

2009-03-16T17:20:00.004-04:00

I wish I could put my finger on what keeps me from writing here. It's not the lack of time. I'm a big believer in that you can always make time for what you believe is important. I can find the time to write. It's not lack of material. So many times a day something pops into my head, and I think about writing. I even write it in my head. I drive down the road, writing in my head. Sometimes I drift off to sleep, still writing in my head. Contrary to the evidence found on the blog, I love to write. I love to be given a topic, or a quote, or a piece of Scripture and instructed to write. I can write well when I take the time to organize my thoughts, yet I rarely do.

So, the mystery remains as to why I don't just sit down and do it. So many authors say that they make themselves write a little bit each day. I could do that. So why don't I? Maybe it's a lack of audience. People read my blog. I see them on my sitemeter. Most of the same people come back. Yet, it can be hard to write when you don't know who your audience is. Is this blog for myself? Is it solely a place to keep track of a few memories? Is it for other people? Am I writing to entertain, to motivate, to educate? I don't know. I guess that's why I struggle with what to do here.

I need to keep thinking about this... figure out what, exactly, I'm even doing with a blog. In the meantime, I have soup to finish cooking, a headache that needs some Dr. Pepper, and two boys that need a bit more attention and loving from me today.

really, really hoping..

2009-03-01T09:48:00.002-05:00

to be able to post some

****snow****

pictures on here tonight!

i {heart} faces

2009-02-03T16:22:00.005-05:00

I was browsing along on some of my new favorite blogs and saw this:

and since I do heart faces, I clicked and decided to play along. Click here to check it out. This week's theme is "The Eyes Have It." Looking back through my pictures, I realized that I take a lot of close-up shots. That means I have way too many to choose from. And, the one I'm choosing doesn't really show eyes... just eyelashes, but I think even that can show a lot of emotion. This is one of my all time favorite pictures of {s}. Why do boys get those lashes?

random picture challenge 4.0

2009-02-01T19:33:00.004-05:00

4 little men and girly twins is having a fun picture challenge. I love looking back through old pictures!

This is the 44th picture in my November 2007 file... we were geocaching.

Visit 4 little men to play along!

boarding school?

2009-01-29T08:50:00.003-05:00

Today is the day {s} has been looking forward to for about a month. Pajama day at preschool. His mouth has been watering over the promise of pancakes for snack, and the "which pajamas to wear?" decision has weighed heavily on his mind. He made up his mind last night, put on some pajamas, but changed his mind again this morning. He ended up wearing what he calls "my-pajamas-with-the-monkey-and-the-monkey-has-socks-and-he-take-them-off-to-play-socky-schroeder." Also known as sock monkey pajamas from Target. (Socky Schroeder is a game the boys invented that involves throwing socks at each other, while yelling "socky schroeder." They are boys, and that is the only explanation I can give.)

So anyway, I finally rounded him up to head out the door, and he runs into the kitchen with his little backpack. Not his school bag, but his backpack. The backpack that he takes when we spend the night with Mammy and Pat. I unzipped it and found a stuffed animal and a shirt. He realized that I put his blankie, pillow, and Monk-monk (stuffed monkey) in his preschool bag (all pajama day accessories, by the way), and he was not happy. He wanted them in the backpack "for to spend the night."

On the way to school, I broke the news that he wasn't spending the night at school. He didn't believe me. I told him that I would pick him up just like I do every day before lunch bunch. He told me no. Compare this to {p}, who was the only child in his Kindergarten class who would NOT wear pajamas on pajama day and who routinely tells me that the best part of school is when I pick him up (not that he doesn't like school, because he does... he just likes home more).

I dropped him off, told his teacher that he thought he was spending the night, and he walked in holding his preschool bag AND his backpack. I rolled down my window and tried to find a teacher who wanted to stay all night with him. That didn't work. Apparently the idea of spending the night at school wasn't as appealing to his teachers! Wonder why...

mistaken identity

2009-01-18T20:37:00.004-05:00

Me: {p}, do you know why you don't have school on Monday?

{p}: Yes, it's Presidents' Day.

Me: No..

{p}: Is it Obama Day?

Me: Um... no. I guess you could say that's Tuesday. Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Do you know who that is?

{p} Yeah, he was the one who had the first Christmas tree? And he put candles on it?

Me: Uh, no. That was Martin Luther. Just Martin Luther.

{p} Oh.

soul music

2009-01-13T11:53:00.002-05:00

caught this here... and it's too good not to share:

the more loving one

2009-01-13T09:47:00.003-05:00

Recently I was reading a book that referenced a poem by W.H. Auden.

If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.

Let the more loving one be me... that part of the verse has remained in my head for days now. Isn't it beautiful? Doesn't it make your heart ache to be the more loving one in all of your relationships? Think about how your life, how your relationships with your spouse, your children, your friends.. even strangers... might change if you always chose to be the more loving one.

Yes, let the more loving one be me.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

how it should be

2008-12-23T12:00:00.004-05:00

For once, my plans worked out better than expected. Today was to be a baking day... a day for the boys to help make Christmas treats. Chocolate covered marshmallows on sticks as requested by {s}, Hershey Kiss/m&m/pretzel things as requested by {p}, and cut out cookies. I cheated a bit on the cut out cookies and bought the cookie shapes from Publix. That's okay though, because I know what they were looking forward to was the decorating part.

First the cookies went into the oven, and while they waited on those they unwrapped about 50 kisses and placed them on top of pretzels. While those melted, they decorated cookies. After the kisses were warm enough, they squashed m&ms into the top. Now those are in the fridge, and they're skewering marshmallows, dipping them in chocolate, and smothering them in sprinkles and m&ms. I've done nothing except to turn on the oven, and open the oven and microwave doors.

I see smears of chocolate all over the sprinkles container. I see pieces of foil from the kisses all over the floor. I see chocolate on faces and fingers. And I've said yes to each and every request of, "Can I eat this?"

And it feels good.

It's wonderful not to say NO over and over. It's wonderful to see them working together, sharing, saying please and thank you, and taking turns without a single reminder from me. It's wonderful that I'm not doing anything other than sitting back, and letting go. I'm listening to lots of, "Thank you for letting us do all of this by ourselves!" and "This is the best day I've ever had at home, but I wish Daddy was here too!" and "This one is the best one for Santa!" and "Mmmm, dis is GOOD!" and "Dis is for Pixie. Pixie likes sprinkles on him cookies!"

I don't have my camera, which at once makes me both disappointed and glad. I remember things through taking pictures. Framing a picture through the lens also frames a memory in my mind.

But, today, I have no distractions. I don't need the camera. I have everything I need, coated in chocolate and sprinkled with smiles.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-21T13:06:00.003-05:00

May you have

the Gift of Faith,

the Blessing of Hope,

and the Peace of His Love

at Christmas and always

From our home to yours...

sweet baby!

2008-12-17T16:21:00.006-05:00

Okay, so I'm putting this picture on here without permission. I took some pictures of a friend's new baby, and she's gorgeous, just like her older brother and sister. So, no names here, but if you know her you'll definitely recognize this sweet baby.

my motto for the day

2008-12-15T17:02:00.003-05:00

or week, or month... or year.

* check out this etsy seller! *

ahh, peaceful moment

2008-12-10T12:58:00.002-05:00

boys + leaves =

2008-11-27T17:17:00.006-05:00

lots of Thanksgiving fun! Poor {s} -- he fell asleep and missed the antics.

convicted

2008-11-26T18:49:00.006-05:00

Late one night, headed home from the concert, {k} and I ran through a drive thru... one that was advertising a one dollar burger on the sign out front. As we headed out of the parking lot, a black man smiled and raised his index finger in the air. I waved and smiled, thinking he just wanted to be friendly, until Keith commented that he was holding up one finger to show that he wanted one dollar to buy something. We waited before pulling onto the road. Do we give him a dollar? Do we go back through the drive thru and buy him something? The boys weren't with us, and concern for their safety is usually the reason we will never let the window down. Feeling a bit guilty, we pulled on out and drove home, hoping that someone else would come along and do what we didn't.

Two night passed, and then we found ourselves in church on Sunday morning, listening to a sermon entitled, "Where is Jesus?" We seek Jesus in so many places... some seek Him in the sanctuary, some claim to find Him in their Bible. Some find Him in a manger, and others find Him on the cross. Can we find Jesus in those places? Yes, I believe we can, but Jesus also gives us an extremely clear example of where we can find Him in Matthew 25:33-46.

33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then will the King say to those on his right hand, 'Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in.
36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and gave you drink?
38 When did we see you as a stranger and take you in? Or naked and clothed you?
39 Or when did we see you sick or in prison, and come to you?'
40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you that as you have done so to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done so to me.'
41 Then he will say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was an hungry and you gave me no food. I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink.
43 I was a stranger and you did not take me in. I was naked and you did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.'
44 Then they will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?'
45 Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly I say to you that by your not ministering to one of the least of these, you did not minister to me.'
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.'"2

So, where is Jesus? Is He the needy? Is He the hungry, poor, and downtrodden? By serving those, are we serving HIM? We like to think that by helping others, we are being Jesus to them. And although we are in fact demonstrating Christ's love by giving of our money, time, or talents, we must never forget that above all else, we are SERVING Him through those actions.

On this eve of Thanksgiving, I'm reminded of how very much we have. And I'm reminded of how much more we could give. Not just money... but time, love, patience, understanding, compassion. The list goes on.

What will you give this holiday season?

And to Whom will it be given?

playing catch-up

2008-11-22T17:06:00.004-05:00

I'd feel a lot better if I could just get some pictures on here and move on. I'm behind from Halloween, and every time I think of something that I'd like to write about I feel bad for skipping over everything else. So, a slideshow from October and November...

* Mammy's birthday
* Family Fun Night at {p}'s school
* carving pumpkins
* preschool party for {s}
* crafty breadstick bones (watch out, Martha!)
* trick or treating around the square
* Halloween
* a friend's new baby
* playing around outside
* visit to The Rock Ranch with Mammy and Pat
* {s}'s almost THREE pics
* {s}'s 3rd birthday with a "Martha Speaks" cake

I feel better now! Maybe I'll do better for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

what I'm hearing

2008-11-22T14:16:00.003-05:00

I got a call one afternoon from {K}. telling me that he was going to buy tickets for us to hear John Berry's Christmas concert in a nearby town. I've always loved hearing him sing, and his version of O Holy Night is the most beautiful I think I've ever heard.

What a wonderful evening. Thank you, {K}!

you are so loved...

2008-11-12T00:00:00.003-05:00

From the moment I found out about you, to the moment I first saw you, every moment in between and every moment since.

I loved you yesterday
and all the days before...
and when tomorrow comes,

I'll love you even more.

Happy 3rd Birthday, {s}! You are our blue-eyed surprise and you fill our days with joy.

one day old

one year old

two years old

almost three years old

"O" no...

2008-11-06T13:19:00.003-05:00

is about all I can think to say about the results of the election.

for undecided voters...

2008-10-28T15:20:00.003-04:00

A friend of mine was asked by another friend to explain why she's voting for McCain. She wanted to see support for a candidate without bashing the other candidate. I thought it was worth sharing here, especially if you are an undecided voter. I rarely talk politics, but this is an important election and if anyone needs help making a decision, maybe this will help. With her permission, I'm posting this here.

Why I am voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin.

It was requested that we talk more about why we're voting FOR someone and not AGAINST someone.

To me, there are fundamentals that I have to consider when deciding who I want to be the leader of the free world. Those fundamentals are integrity, strength, honesty and a willingness to do what is right more than what is expected.

John McCain has always been a fighter. He's fought for his country, he's fought for his life and hs spent the last 30 years fighting for what he knows is right. He will fight for the freedom and security of this country because this country and the idea of freedom mean so much to him.

John McCain is not a "party guy" like his opponent and critics would like you to believe. They say he's more of President Bush. However, prior to being the Republican candidate for President, McCain was one of the favorite Senators of those in his opposing party. They've praised his willingness to buck his partywhen he disagrees with their position. (I have this on video). To be honest, I didn't trust John McCain's commitment to his party in the beginning of the primary process. I had a fear that he would get the nomination and then do something that would make the conservative voice in this country go mute (or have no ears to listen). But now I see that John McCain is someone who is convited, principled and authors and votes on legislation that fits those convictions. I may disagree with him on issues like immigration and how to handle the environment but I agree with how he will lead this nation.

If I had to choose my favorite John McCain moment (of course, pre-VP pick) of the year, it would be when he voted for the troop surge in Iraq. John McCain has fought in a war. He's been in command of troops. His father and grandfather were in command of fleets with tens of thousands of troops represented in those fleets. He knows the rules of war because he's been there. McCain knew the way that we could achieve victory in Iraq and also knew that his opinion and vote could ultimately cost him the chance to be President as the Independent voters might shy away from him. McCain's reponse, "I'd rather win a war and lose an election than lose a war." Defeat is no option for the United States and Iraq and John McCain was, once again, willing to sacrifice his personal battle for the sake of the right thing. His opponent, on the other hand, has yet to utter the word, "VICTORY" when referring to the war.

I applaud John McCain's position on life. Life is a gift. It is precious and he and Cindy McCain demonstrated that with the care and later adoption of their daughter. I believe that when you get to the core of a person's belief and watch how they live their life, you can track that core belief to so many other areas of their life. I do have to contrast McCain with his opponent on this one. And I cannot possibly leave out McCain's running mate when you talk about living your beliefs. Sarah Palin has demonstrated her commitment to life in two strong images. One is her son and the other is her daughter and her daughter's choice to not abort her child. What Sarah Palin has said regarding her son is that he is perfect in God's eyes and that he was a special gift sent by God to bless their lives. It wasn't how she planned things but she has publically thanked God for this unexpected gift. And her daughter's situation and decision demonstrates that the Palin family has a core belief that life is something given to us by our Creator. Contrary to that was Obama's statement to Planned Parenthood (which I will foward in a video if anyone wants). He said that he wouldn''t want his daughters to be "punished with a baby" if they made a poor choice leading to an unplanned pregnancy. He didn't say that he wanted his daughters to have a choice. He pointed to the idea that they would be punished if they ever choose to give birth or keep a child. Obama's own mother was an unwed teen mother. I guess he feels that he was a punishment to his mother...? I don't get it. The anti-life, anti-choice NARAL crowd is blasting Palin for "forcing her daughter to have this baby" because they have no regard for life. There is no choice to those in that camp. I place McCain's opponent squarely in that camp. He talks their talk when he's in their presence.

Now, I was a Rudy Giuliani supporter in the beginning. Rudy is pro-choice however he has made it clear where he stands, personally. His political opinion is based on access and law. When speaking he would use the term, "unexpected occurrence" or "unintended outcome" for an unplanned pregnancy. He never once referred to a baby as punishment. Rudy was so strong on all other issues that I worked this one personally.

The economy, taxes, healthcare, the environment, and all other issues find me pretty much in harmony with the McCain-Palin ticket. I will be attending a few events and if I have the chance to ask John McCain or Sarah Palin a question it will be about what they plan to do to combat the fraud in the Medicaid system. It is estimated that thirty-one percent (31%) of Medicaid costs are fraudulent in nature. THIRTY ONE PERCENT of one of the most expensive government programs is fraud!! The federal government has no place being in the healthcare industry and this is evidence to support that claim. If I could design a healthcare plan for families whose employer did not provide health insurance I would hand the responsibility to the states. Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus are options that work. Two of my family members have had experience with both (one still does) and finds it to be a well-managed and patient-centered program. CHP, however, is not Medicaid. CHP treats claims, requests for treatment and such the same way private health insurance does. They scrutinize, verify and then approve. Medicaid just approves. I remember that when I was being released from the hospital with (daughter). This hospital has a lot of Medicaid patients. If I disagreed with being released, I had to go and then attend a hearing to decide for readmission. Medicaid patients were instructed to "sign here if you believe that it is in your best interest to remain hospitalized. A hearing will take place within 12 hours but you are not required to leave the hospital." HUH? I was paying $1100 per month for insurance and I had to leave but the freebies could stay? Federal Health Insurance does not work. McCain has talked about putting the states in charge of healthcare for the uninsured. He hasn't gone as far as to say what I'd like to hear, "Eliminate Medicaid and instead use the federal dollars to fund the state's coverage." He has talked about tax credits (dollar for dollar credit) for paying for health insurance. That is actually free health insurance. You just have to be able to pay up-front and then get reimbursed at tax time.

As part of a family that pays both, I agree with McCain's position on personal and corporate taxes. More taxes to the government to "redistribute wealth" hurts economic growth. The government take in plenty of revenue from taxes. You don't need more. Do you realize that the top 1% pays 40% of all income taxes while the bottom 50% pays 2% of the total income tax dollars received?? Nobody talks about those numbers (well. they do but it is buried by the press). My sisteris a low-income individual. She makes $24,000 per year and is a single mother. She gets more money back each year than she pays. My other sister and her husband make a combined $48,000 per year. They have one son. (well, he's my sister's son). I inquired and they ended up netting at total of $120 paid to the federal government for taxes last year. Both of them own their own homes, neither drives expensive cars, one has cable while the other doesn't. And John McCain doesn't consider people who make up to $5M per year the middle class. If you watched that interview (I did) it was said in jest after McCain was attempting to calculate in his head how much Rick Warren made from his book sales. That claim is just plain stupid.

I agree more with Palin on the energy issue than McCain but McCain is coming around. He's understanding the wealth of our nation's natural resources muchmore fully because of his running mate. Sarah Palin knows what Alaska has to offer. She understands how we can generate a TON of energy supply by tappinginto Alaska's natural gas supply. She gets it and he's seeing the issue more clearly because of it.

I'm not going to go into each issue because, quite frankly, I have to get back to work. I'll just close with the fact that by adding Sarah Palin to the ticket, my vote is even more secure. She brings an element of change. She's not afraid to stand up to her opponents when doing the right thing is what matters. Her experience,in my opinion is the best experience of the four. When Lou Gertsner left American Express to head up RJR Nabisco and then IBM people kept asking what a travelguy knew about tobacco and cookies and then what he knew about computers and networks. You don't have to know the industry to be effective. You take the experience of leading teams, of tackling problems, of protecting your people and resources (in charge of Alaska National Guard and pipeline security both), and you kick it up a level. McCain, Obama and Biden have zero experience with managing people, departments, budgets, priorities from an executive position. SarahPalin has that experience and she has the demonstrated conviction to do what is right for the people she serves.
In the McCain/Palin ticket I see Do-ers. I see people standing up to the opposition or even their own party to accomplish what few others have accomplished. Isee results-oriented people who aren't poll-watchers. I see two people who are completely fit to lead this nation.
My neighbor, a newly retired union trucker (Teamster) has echoed a claim I've heard before. "The Democrats used to represent the working guy. All they seem to care about these days is the non-working guy." JFK is turning in his grave because the statement now of the party seems to be, "Ask not what you can do for your country but rather what your country can and should do for you." I cannot support a continuation of the entitlement mentality.

There you have it. Yes, I had to take time to make contrasts where appropriate. (Heck, ask Obama or Biden to make a speech and not use the word, "BUSH." They can't and no one has told them that Bush isn't running...).

I hope this doesn't show up with funny symbols. I typed it in Notepad because MSN's windows wouldn't have survived the 6 hours I've been working on this thing.

Thanks for reading!

remembering...

2008-10-14T22:30:00.003-04:00

my baby

2008-10-07T16:49:00.003-04:00

Last night during our prayers he told God he was sorry for playing boxing with hangers, and that he was thankful for going to church and sleeping. I never know what he might say (and he says some doozies!) but it usually brings a smile to my face.

(*thanks to Shapiro Photography for this preschool photo!)

what's wrong with this picture?

2008-10-02T16:13:00.003-04:00

I saw this picture in the latest Pottery Barn Kids catalog. PB doesn't just sell stuff. They sell a lifestyle, a story, a dream that maybe this time, it will be perfect. Trust me, if I bought that child sized table, the turkey runner, the placemats, the stuffed turkey, my Thanksgiving still wouldn't look like THAT. Or, it might look like that for about five seconds, but only until someone spilled the drink, broke a glass, strangled their cousin (or brother) with the ribbon that was pulled off of the chair, played football with the turkey centerpiece, and drew on the chalkboard with markers. If you look closely at the picture, you will see that no one is crying and no one has stained their white sweaters... yet.

It's nice, Pottery Barn. I like to look at your idea of Thanksgiving, and even dream of it for a few minutes (or hours), but mine is better. Mine is real.

little things that make me happy

2008-10-01T11:16:00.002-04:00

Matching pajamas and happy boys!

the first sign of fall

2008-09-28T12:57:00.006-04:00

It's not the weather, or the few leaves that are starting to dry and yellow. It's chocolate chip pumpkin muffins... the recipe given to me a few years ago by a friend of mine. Baking them has become a tradition, enticing people who would normally never eat pumpkin to... well, eat pumpkin. We're now having to double the recipe to make enough for both of the boys to take to school, making sure not to forget last year's teachers, as {p} reminded me. Except I just realized the double recipe won't be enough and tomorrow I'll probably make another double batch.

Ingredients
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp of baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. of cinnamon
2 eggs beaten
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup cooking oil
1/3 cup of miniature chocolate chips

Procedure
1. In one bowl combine ... eggs, pumpkin, and oil.
2. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients, then fold in the chips (you know you really need to add more than the recipe calls for, right?)
3. Spoon batter in to muffin cups (2/3 full) and bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees
and enjoy:

bigger

2008-09-26T18:21:00.002-04:00

Walking into school today, {p} reached to hold my hand,
and suddenly
I realized that it took up more space in mine.
When did that happen?

first day of school: round 2

2008-09-02T10:15:00.002-04:00

The only pictures I have to remember {s}'s first day of school today are those of him flat on the floor, head covered by his arms because

"Me no want pictures!"

I think if {p} had done that at 2, I would've picked him up and made him stand at the door just so I could get that shot of the first day outfit and the cute little school bag. And I probably could've done that with {s} -- maybe not... he's pretty stubborn -- but the floor thing reflected his personality so I decided to take the picture just as he was.

I had to fill out a sheet to send to school with him today. One of the questions asked for three words to describe our child. I'm so used to thinking of adjectives for {p}. He's smart, he's caring, he's compassionate, he's sensitive, he's mature. I almost caught myself writing the same sort of thing for {s}, until it hit me that although he can be those things, they aren't him.

He's silly, he's funny, he's a mess, he's curious, he's inquisitive, he's bright, he's stubborn. Sometimes he smothers me with kisses, and sometimes he swipes his face until it is red to wipe kisses off. Sometimes he'll put his hands on my cheeks and say, "I love you," and sometimes he'll glare at me and say, "Me no like you." Sometimes he'll pose for the camera with a huge grin, and sometimes he'll flop on the floor, hands covering his head. But that's okay. It's who he is.

ramblings

2008-08-25T15:52:00.006-04:00

It's a dreary day. Rain is pouring down, tears are falling down {s}'s face because he can't have the Spiderman thermos, and {p} is complaining about homework. Haven't blogged lately, but it's not for lack of subject matter. One night I discovered that {s} thought Jesus was the black lady who keeps the nursery at church. Our conversation was blogworthy, but I just haven't had the time (or else, I haven't used it wisely) to organize my thoughts. I thought this might be a good opportunity to write, but a certain little person (who is still complaining) is tapping his pencil against my William and Mary fruit bowl and the constant ping-pinging is distracting me.

So, now the purpose of a random post in the middle of the day -- a little award from my friend E. Thank you, my sweet friend with 5 Minnies!!

And now the rules are that I need to select 7 other blogs to recieve this award. Not hard at all...

1. Dr. W - this woman encouraged my photography, takes great pictures herself and has great taste in books.

2. Where the Wild Things Are - three boys (one more than I), and I enjoy reading about their adventures and seeing their adorable pictures.

3. Simple Thoughts - you can't look at the colors and layout of this blog and not feel peaceful. Her pictures and children are gorgeous!

4. Julie - who is not almost 35 anymore. It's been fun reading the blog of a friend I know IRL, and besides... she deserves the award because she finds time to blog with 3 children and a husband who works out of town.

5. Testosterhome - I've only read this blog a few times, because I don't have it bookmarked and thus I forget about it. But I think I need to add it to my sidebar. 5 boys. If they can survive, so can I!

6. Okay, this is getting harder and my children are requiring a bit of supervision. To be continued...

fast learner

2008-08-11T11:39:00.004-04:00

I just sat down with {s} last Thursday to play a Teletubbies game online. Usually he tells me what to click and I do all of that. I decided to show him how to use the touchpad on the laptop, he spent some time playing with {p} this weekend, and today (just Monday) he is navigating PBSkids like a pro. He goes from one show to another, from one game to another, and even printed a page (but unfortunately, the printer is downstairs and isn't turned on so it didn't actually print). I peeked at something he was doing and told him what to click, and he informed me, "No click. Have to drag it!"

How did he learn this so fast??? He will be 2 years and 9 months old tomorrow. I didn't touch a computer until I was in junior high. It is just remarkable what this generation of children is able to do!

And it means there is now one more person I'll have to fight for the computer.

first day report

2008-08-06T17:36:00.004-04:00

And the news is good. He had a great first day. For some reason, he thinks that he'll get to play more in 1st grade and work less. Hmm... not so sure about that one! I think that the teachers at his school are so fun and creative that he doesn't realize that most of the stuff he does is actually "work." That's exactly how it should be!

the big 1

2008-08-05T15:00:00.002-04:00

1st grade, that is. It's going to be a little easier for me this year. I'm more filled with anticipation than anxiety. {p} knows the routine of school, I know the routine of school and the chaos that seems to happen as soon as we walk in the door in the afternoon. Good chaos, when {s} gets to see his big brother after missing him for several hours, when {p} digs around for a snack and I dig around through the backpack and folder and we all hunt for a pencil that has both a point and an eraser.

We'll miss friends from last year (hang in there, {p} and Abby!), but look forward to making some new ones. We will miss the teachers from last year (I almost cried when we stopped by to visit them today), but I'm excited to get to know and work with his new teacher. We have a lot to miss from the wonderful year of Kindergarten, but I think we're going to have a lot to look forward to as well.

For today, we'll get the lunchbox packed, get the backpack ready, and fill the water bottle that {p} will get to keep on his desk. We'll fill the "get to know me" bag with pictures and some favorite things.

As for tonight, we'll pray for a great first day, a great year, a great teacher, and great friends.

And a little "please don't let him (or me) cry" thrown in for good measure.

they may kick me out!

2008-07-23T08:51:00.004-04:00

I promise I'm a southern girl. I play putt putt (not mini golf) and I drink Coke even when it is a Dr. Pepper. I've lived in the same state my whole entire life. So what's up with this?

You Are 50% Yankee, 50% Dixie

You're a pretty even split of Yankee and Dixie. You've probably traveled around a lot in your life.

Are You a Yankee or Dixie?

Thanks, E!

Jimmy Buffett

2008-07-22T22:45:00.004-04:00

Margaritaville. He blew out a flip flop.
Stone Mountain. So did I.
Definitely not the best part of the night!

The boys enjoyed the Laser Show, although I have no pictures to prove that. We were so crowded in that I couldn't get a picture. I had visions of really cute pictures of them sprawled out on a blanket on the lawn, waiting for fireworks. No room, no blanket, no lawn. Just squished on a walkway behind some people and in front of some people. Even so, it was their first experience at the "big rock." There will have to be more, and we'll have to get there earlier and I will NOT wear flip flops!

happy 4th!

2008-07-05T11:56:00.010-04:00

We spent the 4th with good friends, having good times.

A hometown parade...

with lots of candy...

lots of cute boys posing for pictures...

and fireworks to finish off the day...

he's six!

2008-07-02T11:19:00.003-04:00

{p}'s sixth birthday was on Sunday. It is so hard for me to believe that six years have passed since I became a mother. {p} joined the world to choruses of the OR staff yelling out estimates of his size... 10 lbs. 2 oz. He's always said, thought and done things that surprise us - things way beyond his years. Sometimes I can't believe that he's six already, and other times it seems like he is a whole lot older.

He had a great campout party with some wonderful, special friends. Happy Birthday, my little sweet {p}!

now my husband can't complain

2008-06-20T23:33:00.001-04:00

that I'm not using my M.Ed.

Thanks for the link, {E}!

happy anniversary!

2008-06-19T09:37:00.002-04:00

Nine years ago today, at 12 noon, I was standing at the altar to say "I do." I had a wonderful, beautiful wedding, and I have a wonderful, beautiful marriage. I thank God that I not only have the best husband, but he's the best Daddy to our boys. Thank you, {K}, for being exactly what I need. I love you. Happy Anniversary!

almost famous

2008-06-11T13:43:00.002-04:00

Garnish, my newest favorite shopping (and idea) website, mentioned me in their idea blog. I tagged them in my post below, but I have more to say about them. Their customer service couldn't be better. I emailed a question about a party favor idea I had, and Suzanne not only wrote back the nicest letter full of ideas, but attached a picture of my idea. She went to the trouble to make one to show me! How many companies do that for their customers?

Garnish is all about presentation. I love a good presentation. I like shopping at the stores in my little hometown because they wrap things up nice and pretty, with tissue paper and lots of ribbon. I can buy a 50 cent shell at The Vintage Flea for {p} and they still take the time to make the bag look pretty. My friend Betsy (hello, Betsy! Time to get a blog.. or a website!) at Paper Appointments does the same thing... cute little bags tied up with cute little ribbon. It feels good knowing that someone takes the time to make something look nice, just for you. And that is what Garnish is all about. Taking something, and giving it a little piece of you before you give it to someone else.

This comes from straight from their website, and sums it up perfectly:
"Garnish is much more than a product, it is the emotion that surrounds what you create with our products. It is running through the grass barefoot or using your good china every day "just because."

Go ahead and check out their site. They aren't paying me or giving me a discount to write any of this. I'm writing it because I believe in sharing when a company goes above and beyond for customer service. And, because I like sharing good ideas and they have a million (well, almost!)of them to share with you.

about boys...

2008-06-06T13:17:00.003-04:00

I caught this on a blog from garnish (which has in turn made me think of a million things I could do with the neat, simple packaging). Anyway, it doesn't get much more accurate than these quotations about boys. True, every single one!

A boy is truth with dirt on its face, beauty with a cut on its finger, wisdom with bubble gum in its hair and the hope of the future with a frog in its pocket. - Allen Beck

A perfect summer day to a little boy means, a scrape on the knee, mud on his face and collecting bugs in the garden. - Author Unknown

You don't raise heroes; you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes. - Walter Schirra Sr.

Boys are God's way of telling you your house is too neat. - Author Unknown

Boy: a noise with dirt on it. - Author Unknown

{p} with the first frog that he ever caught. there have been many more since then!

not for the squeamish

2008-05-26T15:36:00.003-04:00

This is one of those things that I sort of wish I hadn't seen, but then again, I'm sort of glad that I did see it and I'm really glad that I had my camera.

Trust me... seeing a water moccasin catch a frog just a few feet (literally, a few feet... the only lens I had was my 50 mm - no zoom!!!) in front of you is a completely different experience than watching a pet store python eat a mouse that has been dropped into its cage.

new favorites

2008-05-23T22:29:00.003-04:00

a letter to the teachers...

2008-05-22T21:53:00.004-04:00

It seems like only yesterday that I wrote this.

Now I'm at the other side, facing {p}'s last day of Kindergarten tomorrow. I don't know how it passed by so quickly... all of those paper projects and milestones that mark the first year of school are now safely tucked away in a plastic box and my heart. I'm so thankful to be able to look back on this year and know that it was right. It was right and good and everything we could hope for. I prayed so specifically for the right teacher, for the right classroom, for the right classmates. And I can look back now and know without a doubt that God placed {p} in the place where he belonged. A place where he would be comfortable, yet challenged. A place where he could both be encouraged and be an encourager to others. A place where I was welcomed as a worrying, overprotective mother. And, more than anything, a place where he was loved.

Thank you, Miss Pence and Mrs. Sharon, for giving our child a foundation that will carry him far. Thank you for the fun, creative activities. Thank you for the structure and organization. Thank you for the all of the time that you spent thinking about and planning for school. Thank you for the small things, like the Christmas picture of Pixie.... and for the big things, like the hugs that helped get him through the first two weeks of school. Thank you for accepting the caterpillars, the moths, and the lizard with excitement. Thank you for making Kindergarten a magical place. Thank you for being calm, kind, and loving. Thank you for knowing how special {p} is to us, and for seeing that in him as well. Thank you for all that you have given to us this year... especially the peace that comes from knowing that {p} was exactly where he needed to be, with teachers who were clearly an answer to our prayers.

did I really say NEVER?

2008-05-06T15:45:00.002-04:00

I guess it happens to all mothers. Doing the things that you said you'd never do, or letting your child do the things that you swore to yourself that you'd never let them do. Today will go down in history as one of those times.

I just stuck a Spiderman wall cling to {p}'s bedroom wall.

Me. Spiderman. I neverevereverever thought I would even purchase something like it. But I did. I saw it on clearance in Target and knew that it would make {p} such a happy thing. Plus, he knows I don't like Spiderman, which makes him all the more likeable to {p}. I knew that a million years, he wouldn't have expected for me to cave in and put something like that up in his room. So, I bought it.

I was going to give it to him as part of his birthday present (still two months away), but he saw it in the back of the car one day. I bargained with him... 14 nights in his bed without sneaking into ours. In a row. If he snuck into our bed one night, I would start counting all over. Honestly, I thought it would take him forever. Well, it didn't. It took him only 14 nights.

I don't like Spiderman in there. {p}'s room has taken on a slight aura of tackiness, but apparently that doesn't matter to five year olds. And it shouldn't matter to me. I'm working on that.

speaking of bluebirds...

2008-05-02T23:13:00.005-04:00

We have babies! Mama and Daddy bluebird have been very busy flying in and out of the house that {K} and {p} made. I was brave enough to sneak up, tap on it, and take off the lid. We all peered inside and saw a few little scrawny babies in there.

It's strange, though. The parents were all around while we were outside playing frisbee and chasing the dog. But as soon as I set up the tripod and {K} took the boys around back, they both disappeared. I sat on the concrete driveway for a long time before they finally came back. Maybe they like our noise!

**And a photo related question here. WHY is this picture so grainy? I took it with a 55-200 zoom lens, more than likely it was on 200. I cropped it a bit (less than half of the original) and ran a quick fix, but that's all. Is something wrong with the way I'm focusing? It looks pretty sharp until I view it larger, then it just has a grainy quality. Any suggestions?

bluebirds are my favorite

2008-04-24T12:59:00.005-04:00

My favorite birds have always been bluebirds. Maybe that affection was passed down to me from my mother and my grandmother. I remember having bluebird houses in our yard, and being picked up by Daddy to peek in and see the wide mouths of the hungry babies. Following that tradition, we have a bluebird house as well. This means that my boys are learning to favor bluebirds, too. I struggled to find a nursery idea for baby {s}, but when I saw a bluebird crib bedding set by Susan Turner Baby, I knew it was perfect. It still makes me smile, and so does this picture that was painted by my friend for the nursery.

Yesterday {K}'s mom found a bluebird egg in their yard. It seems that another type of bird tossed the eggs out and claimed the nest as its own. {p} didn't understand why we couldn't hatch it anyway. He wanted to keep holding it in his hand in case a baby hatched out. He took the egg to school today... one more thing to share in a long line of "things to share" that he has already taken to school this year.

And if you need some happiness today, this is for you:

lucky weekend!

2008-04-20T16:40:00.005-04:00

First the hummingbird nest, and then the discovery that {K}'s dad's old 35mm lenses fit my SLR. The difficulty is that everything has to be done manually. No autofocus, no automatic settings... nothing. Just me and the little dials on the lens. It's frustrating, but at the same time, exciting. It's neat to look at some of these images and know that I controlled everything - the lighting, the focus, the depth of field. Needless to say, I have a lot of underexposed, overexposed, and unfocused shots. But every so often I'd get the hang of it and get something I was happy with.

I like that {p} is out of focus here. I did get some good shots where both he and the bubbles were in focus, but I like the look of the bubbles being the main focus of this one. And, if you click on the picture, you can see the reflection of our house in the bubbles... mainly the biggest bubble near the left.

hummingbird nest

2008-04-19T22:50:00.004-04:00

If I ever needed a zoom lens, it was today! My mother-in-law discovered a hummingbird nest in the fork of a dogwood branch. The nest is about 15 feet off of the ground, and extremely hard to spot. It appears that the nest is still under construction... lots of zooming back and forth with bits and pieces in the beak. I can't wait to keep watching, and see how this progresses.

I read up a little just to know what all was involved in this tiny nest. Smaller than a golfball, the nest is made using spider web silk! Imagine that! And, the outside is covered with small pieces of lichen. If what I read is correct, mama hummingbird will lay two tiny white eggs.

My grandmother, Sweet Pea, would've loved this. I can't help but think that she was there today, peeking over my shoulder as I climbed to the tip top of the ladder and took these pictures.

playing around with the camera

2008-04-18T23:30:00.004-04:00

Nice weather lately. Well, not in the mornings. The mornings have been cold, but the afternoons have been really nice. Lots of time outside for the boys and their faithful dog!

{s} wasn't supposed to have this Coke, but he snuck it out of the fridge in the garage. Cute photo opportunity, so I let him keep drinking.

And this is Dasher, probably trying to lick the Coke off of {s}'s face. He didn't want any part of her slobber. Can't say that I blame him.

questions...

2008-04-09T22:22:00.002-04:00

I swiped this from Where the Wild Things Are. I discovered her blog via a comment on PW's photography blog. She's a mama to boys, too, so I can definitely understand how she came up with her blog title. Anyway, for lack of anything better to blog about at the moment (actually, I could blog about a few things, but this seems to be the one that requires the least amount of thought!), I thought I'd just steal someone else's.

1) Do you like blue cheese? I wouldn't just eat a hunk of it plain, but I do enjoy it in foods.
2) Have you ever smoked heroin? Um, NO. I've never smoked anything, not even once.
3) Do you own a gun? I personally do not own one... but if someone came into our house I guarantee you they would be shot.
4) Your favorite song? I always have a hard time with this question. I like "More" by Matthew West, "Held" by Natalie Grant... for something sentimental I like "Me and You" by Kenny Chesney. I really like that song that's in the new Macbook Air commercial, whatever it is. I listen to a few different types of music, but I have to credit my friend over at A Wink and A Smile with having the best taste in music ever. I don't know where she comes up with all of her music, but I'd like a copy of everything on her Ipod.
5) Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No, I don't get nervous. If someone is watching my children I see it as a chance to relax and read a book!
6) What do you think about hot dogs? They're best when cooked on a grill, and a little crispy on the outside.
7) Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night, sung by John Berry... Emmanuel sung by Jennifer Nettles... and I also like O Come All Ye Faithful sung by Sara Evans. I mean, there are my favorites no matter who sings them, but I happen to really, really like the versions mentioned above.
8) Can you do push ups? The girly kind.
9) What's your favorite piece of jewelry? Other than my wedding ring, the diamond necklace that was my Sweet Pea's.
10) Favorite hobby? taking pictures
11) Do you have A.D.D.? nope
12) What's one trait that you hate about yourself? I'm not a happy person when I don't get what I want.
13) Middle name? I like my middle name, but in an effort to retain a little anonymity, I'm not sharing.
14) Name three thoughts at this exact moment? This is taking longer than I thought, I think AI need to wash some clothes, and I don't know why Geico chose to use a lizard in their commercials.
15)Name three things you bought yesterday? I only bought one thing yesterday, and it was an online course in Photoshop Elements.
16) Name three drinks you regularly drink. Dr. Pepper, Dr. Pepper, and water.
17) Current worry right now? Worry is my middle name. The current thought going through my head is what can I do about the mosquitoes that are going to be very bad this summer.
18) Current hate right now? Nothing.
1 9) Where would you like to go? I don't know... to bed? To Disney World? Sandestin? Calypso's at Orange Beach for some grouper fingers? I don't enjoy travelling far away from home, so I don't have any dream trips. Except maybe I would like to go back to Greece and England. As long as I could get there without flying or getting on a boat.
20) Name three people who will complete this? not tagging anyone!
21) Do you own slippers? Yes, but I do not wear them regularly.
22) What shirt are you wearing? a brown t-shirt
23) Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? never have
24) Can you whistle? Yes, but my husband cannot
25) Favorite color?(s) green, yellow, brown,
26) What songs do you sing in the shower? None,
27) Would you be a pirate? I don't think I would.
28) Favorite girl's name(s)? Seeing as how I've never had the opportunity to use a girly name... I'm not sure. We picked Lauren Faith if {s} had been a girl, but I don't know if I would chose that name again for a girl if given the opportunity. I like Olivia. And I really like my name, so I might use it as a middle name.
29) Favorite boy's name(s)? Other than the 2 I have already used for my boys, I like Wynn.
30) What's in your pocket right now? nothing
31) Last thing that made you laugh? Robin Williams on Americal Idol tonight.
32) Worst injury you've ever had? I have never really had any bad injuries, but one time {K} hit me in the ankle with a horsehoe, and it hurt for a very, very, very long time.
33) Do you love where you live? Absolutely!
34)How many TVs do you have in your house? 3
35) Who is your loudest friend? My friend Jennifer. I think she would say the same thing about herself, so I shouldn't get in any trouble for that one!
36) How many dogs do you have? one - Dasher, an adorable collie
37) Does someone have a crush on you? I do hope that my husband still falls into this category.
38) What is your favorite book? Oh... books. I read a lot of them and I don't know if I could pick a favorite. As for classics, I've always liked Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. As for fluffy chic lit, I like the Shopoholic books, and I also like anything by Mary Kay Andrews.
39) What is your favorite Candy? chocolate, anything with chocolate!
40) Favorite Sports Team? out of loyalty, I guess I should say The Braves.
41) What song do you want played at your funeral? I don't really want to think about this.
42) What were you doing 12 AM last night? reading
43) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I was at my parents' house with the boys, and I thought - "It is SO nice to sleep late!!!!!!!"
44) Not sure where this question went ????
45) What's your favorite cereal? Smart Start
46) What did you dream about last night? I dreamed that a friend of mine was telling me that she was happy again, and it was a wonderful dream. I want her to have JOY in her life again.
47) Do you snore? if I choose to believe what others tell me, the answer is yes
48) Can you drink from the other side of the glass? You're supposed to do this when you have the hiccups, but it is very confusing.
49) Favorite movie? Not a big movie buff. I can't really think of one.
50) Have you ever been in trouble with the law? No. The only interaction I've had with "the law" was when I got a speeding ticket several months ago. It was the first time I'd ever been pulled over.

Whew. That was very time consuming. In retrospect, it would have been much easier to come up with an original blog idea!

playing in the dirt

2008-03-31T15:31:00.006-04:00

In an attempt to grow some of our own vegetables instead of swiping from our parents' gardens, {K} and I decided make a couple of raised beds. The main motivation is for the boys to have an opportunity to take care of their own garden, and to hopefully eat the things that they grow. We spent a weekend choosing a spot, building (this part didn't quite involve ME), and digging and raking dirt. Boys, rakes, shovels, dirt... well, the combination requires no further explanation. A trip to Home Depot resulted in some bags of compost and Moo-nure, or as {s} likes to say, over and over, "bag of ca-yuw poop!" When you ask him what we put in the garden, that's what he'll say, and then he'll finish the statement with, "WHOLE BAG!" He's obviously excited about this aspect of gardening. The boys picked some vegetables to plant... peppers, onions, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, and eggplant. Eggplant? Oh, and strawberries, too. The planting went well. We even covered the ground around the bed with mulch that was shredded from trees that {K} cut down out of our front yard a few weeks ago. And another note - the wood from the beds was made from hickory that we had cut from our land and milled before building our house. So anyway, all was well and the garden looked pretty nice. And then a rabbit ate everything except for the onions and strawberries. Now we have to start about halfway over, but somehow, I don't think the boys will mind.

our helper... she was a little too eager and she had to go back in the fence

circus girl

2008-03-11T21:12:00.004-04:00

Some friends invited us to join them at the circus a few weeks ago... not just any seats, but a suite. The circus has a ringside "pre-show" which was the best part about it all. You could go right up to the performers. This was my favorite picture (after using PW's hard light photoshop suggestion).

so very true!

2008-03-02T13:38:00.002-05:00

"...one thing about having a baby is that each step of the way, you simply cannot imagine loving him even more than you already do, because you are bursting with love, loving as much as you are humanly capable of, and then you do:
you love him even more."

--Anne Lamott

self-inking

2008-01-31T21:53:00.000-05:00

but not self-cleaning. Unfortunately.

because these things aren't written down anywhere else

2008-01-25T23:36:00.000-05:00

I need to write them somewhere, because I'd hate to forget this sort of stuff.

In the carpool line for drop-off, as {p} was getting all tangled up while trying to put on his coat.

Me: What is going on with your coat? Hurry! You need to hurry and get it on!
{p}: Well, I wanted to wear the other side of it. You know, it's inversible!

snow!!!!!

2008-01-16T15:31:00.000-05:00

Right now the boys are on the couch with hot chocolate (heated chocolate soy milk for {s}). The house is warm and cozy, and out the windows we can see SNOW. It doesn't happen often here, so it is a cause for celebration when it does. Excitment, wonder, and chocolate-milk moustaches on the boys' faces. {p} is wondering if his Daddy will cook hotdogs outside on the snowy grill, and wanting to know if we'll have a fire in the fireplace.

SNOW is like a HOLIDAY here. A reason to celebrate!

And now... hoping that it will stick to the ground, and hoping for a snow day tomorrow!

and they call it...

2008-01-09T21:11:00.000-05:00

puppy love!

the end :-)

wish I'd found this earlier!

2008-01-04T23:50:00.001-05:00

I found this while looking for some curriculum about the seasons of the Church for children's church. I really wish I'd seen it earlier in the season, but that's okay - there is a devotion for every day. I will bookmark that site. Go ahead and visit. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

2008-01-04T22:15:00.000-05:00

I swiped this from a couple of friends (you can see their blogs here and here). My initial reaction didn't really equate this with privilege until I looked up the actual definition of the word. It means a special advantage or benefit not enjoyed by all (according to Google definitions). I think many people assume that if you are "privileged" then you have a big head start, an advantage over others. While this is true is some cases, I think it matters more that you come from a family where you are loved and valued, and taught treat others that way as well. I think I am fortunate to have a combination of both!

(From What Privileges Do You Have?, based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright.)
Bold the true statements.

1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home. (I cannot verify that they were all there at the same time, but over the course of childhood, YES)
9. Were read children's books by a parent
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18 (piano, karate, tennis, art, guitar)
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18 (see above)
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp (does Girl Scout camp count?)
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them (it wasn't really MINE, and it was used.)
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
25. You had your own room as a child
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
31. Went on a cruise with your family
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family

catching up

2007-12-27T23:17:00.000-05:00

Finally, I'm catching up with some of my favorite pictures from the past few weeks.
A Christmas recap -

visits with friends
church, and {p}'s choir performance
waiting for Santa
opening presents
celebrating with family
a PUPPY surprise!

how hard can it be?

2007-12-05T23:39:00.001-05:00

SERIOUSLY.

How hard can it be to get one good Christmas card picture of two children? I have friends who have lots more children than I. They manage to do it. I have a feeling if these children weren't my own, I'd have better luck.

Starting to see a pattern here?

I guess he can only take so many kisses in one photo shoot.

getting ready for Christmas

2007-12-05T22:59:00.000-05:00

Over 2000 years ago, some people were getting ready for what would be the first Christmas. Mary was riding on a donkey, Joseph was looking for a place to stay. Could they have known what our preparations would involve this many years later? Shopping, decorating, cooking, planning, going, doing.

There are some who would argue that we forget what Christmas means, that we get so caught up in the doing of Christmas that we forget the meaning of Christmas. They have a valid point, and I am sure there are millions of people out there for whom this is an accurate assessment. We are some of those people who shop, decorate, cook, plan, go and do. But we make sure that we remember why.

Emmanuel means God with us. Isn't that what that first Christmas was all about? Emmanuel.... through the birth of Jesus, God is with us. In all that we do, wherever we are, God is with us. Emmanuel. In all of the hustle and bustle and chaos of the Christmas season, He is with us. It's important for us to make sure that our boys understand this. To know that all of the decorating and celebrating and present giving and getting, we are doing it because of Jesus.

blog surfing tonight

2007-11-30T22:43:00.000-05:00

and I found a pretty neat giveaway. Go ahead and visit!

thoughts

2007-11-29T22:46:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that almost a month has passed since I blogged. There are so many pictures on my camera waiting to be uploaded. There are stories to go with them, and I don't want to share the stories without the pictures.

I was thinking about what I could write without having to deal with the pictures tonight, but I couldn't think of anything. My thoughts are with some friends who are going through rough times... my friend (A) who lost a friend to breast cancer today, my friend (W) whose grandmother turned 87 today and is in the hospital suffering terribly with MRSA, along with other complications. Friends of friends whose Carepages I read, who have children battling neuroblastoma. Friends who are still trying to figure out how to live after losing their baby. It just seems hard sometimes to see our blessings when we are surrounded by those who are suffering, grieving. On the other hand, it is easy to take for granted those things that we do have to be grateful for.

I guess if I could include any sort of message in this blog it would be to read this blog from my friend (C). She shares a beautiful message, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

fall

2007-11-02T23:03:00.000-04:00

My favorite season. I love the weather, the colors, the smells, the thought of the upcoming holidays... just everything about it!

I also love experiencing fall through the lens of my camera. Through my camera, I see things differently. I see shapes, I see light. I can see the whole, and then I can see bits and pieces. Suddenly, something that might go unnoticed becomes the only thing that I can see.

And, for a long time afterwards, that feeling stays with me. The ordinary is beautiful. I have taken the time to stop, to think, to be completely absorbed in what I see.

good to the last drop

2007-10-30T15:39:00.000-04:00

an early Christmas

2007-10-29T09:53:00.000-04:00

I'm the proud owner of a new camera. A Nikon D40. {K} surprised me with it on Friday. Never in a million years did I expect it. It's going to take me a while to figure it all out, but in the meantime, I'm having a lot of fun playing with it.

THANK YOU, {K}!
I LOVE YOU!

not quite Wordless Wednesday

2007-10-24T22:20:00.001-04:00

I was going to make this a Wordless Wednesday post, but I thought I'd sneak a few words in. The blog has been quiet lately because I just needed some time to think... time to sort out a lot of thoughts and feelings about our friends who are missing their baby. Someday, I will write more. I need to write more, but I want to be able to treasure my thoughts privately for a little while longer. I've had a lot of visits to the blog lately, and I thank all of you who have been praying.

In the meantime, here's a picture of the boys. Make that one cowboy and one horse. Yee-haw!

held

2007-10-06T00:03:00.000-04:00

The first time I ever heard this song - held - by Natalie Grant, it touched something inside of me. Knowing that God doesn't promise that unthinkable things won't happen, but He will hold us when they do. My cousin Bruce posted this video on his blog awhile back, and I commented to him that it was one of my favorites. I had no idea then how much this song would come to mean to me. God has a way of preparing our hearts long before we are aware. He knows what we need before we do, without our asking. He guides our paths in what might seem to be everyday occurances, but if we look back, we can see His hand. A week ago, we went to the hospital when baby Burris was born. It isn't my habit to be at the hospital when a friend has a baby. I'm more inclined to give privacy. But, we were needed to take luggage to our friends. In that one simple act, God gave me the opportunity to be touched by a very special baby. He gave me the opportunity to meet this baby and have him become very real to me so that I can be a better comforter to my friend. Instead of the grandparents leaving the hospital to get the luggage, by using us for the errand He gave them the gift of valuable time with their new grandson. God used us to be a blessing, and that is a very humbling, awesome thought. Awesome isn't a normal word in my vobulary, but when you see something in your life that was completely directed by God, then awesome is the only word that might even begin to describe it. It helps to know that even in a tragedy, God's hand is there offering blessings. Blessing us, and holding us.

Two months is too little.

They let him go.

They had no sudden healing.

To think that providence would

Take a child from his mother while she prays

Is appalling.

Who told us we'd be rescued?

What has changed and why should we be saved

from nightmares?

We're asking why this happens

To us who have died to live? It's unfair.

This is what it means to be held.

How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life

And you survive.

This is what it is to be loved.

And to know that the promise was

When everything fell we'd be held.

This hand is bitterness.

We want to taste it, let the hatred know our sorrow.

The wise hands opens slowly to lilies of the valley

and tomorrow.

This is what it means to be held.

How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life

And you survive.

This is what it is to be loved.

And to know that the promise was

When everything fell we'd be held.

If hope is born of suffering.

If this is only the beginning.

Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?

This is what it means to be held.

How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life

And you survive.

This is what it is to be loved.

And to know that the promise was

When everything fell we'd be held.

prayers, please

2007-10-04T23:11:00.000-04:00

Some good friends of ours lost their infant son today. He was barely over one week old. He was the newest baby, other than my own two, that I have ever held. I don't know why I keep thinking about that right now, but I do. I held that tiny, new, perfect baby when he was only a couple hours old. And now he's gone. May God give them strength and comfort.

"nuthin" starts with N

2007-10-02T17:01:00.001-04:00

Yes, I am aware that {p} didn't quite follow the directions. Yes, {p}'s teacher has a sense of humor, and yes, she will likely enjoy this response to the homework. Thank goodness for teachers who can appreciate creativity!

so THIS is who I really am...

2007-09-23T19:54:00.000-04:00

Some of the descriptions:

"ENFJs are people-focused individuals. They live in the world of people possibilities. More so than any other type, they have excellent people skills. They understand and care about people, and have a special talent for bringing out the best in others. ENFJ's main interest in life is giving love, support, and a good time to other people. They are focused on understanding, supporting, and encouraging others. They make things happen for people, and get their best personal satisfaction from this."

"Rated by psychologists among 2 types least likely to have trouble in school. "
This must be true... the only time I got in trouble in school was in Kindergarten, when my best friend and I put our rest mats on top of our heads so the teachers couldn't see us talking. It didn't work.

"Success for an ENFJ comes through involvement in the process of making things happen for people; through the accomplishments and satisfactions of those they have helped to enrich the human world with greater value, and through finding that their efforts on behalf of others have fulfilled their own life as well."

THANKS, {E}! That was fun!

luna moth caterpillar

2007-09-21T22:34:00.002-04:00

I've written a couple of times about {p}'s interest in bugs... most living things, actually. Right now in school, they are learning all about animals, their habits and habitats, and life cycles.

It couldn't have been better timing for his Grandaddy Pat to find this.

This is a photo of our newest pet - a luna moth caterpillar. Right now, he is safely tucked away in the bug habitat. He has been gorging himself on leaves, and has evidence from his little digestive system to prove just how much he is eating. This is a HUGE caterpillar... the biggest I've ever seen. I went to {p}'s class and all of his friends got to take an up-close look. The new home for the caterpillar will be in the classroom. We're crossing our fingers that we see a cocoon, and one day, a LUNA MOTH!

adventures from the weekend

2007-09-16T22:44:00.001-04:00

We took the boys to an old mill... a popular place for local photographers to go when they do a location shoot. I wasn't overly excited about any pictures in particular that I took, but it was a fun day anyway. {p} got to fish, which always makes him happy. And {s} got to throw rocks and dirt, which always makes him happy as well.

(just for you, Dr. W!)

the sitting rock, part 2

2007-09-16T21:54:00.000-04:00

Back with the black and whites. I wasn't happy with many of them, but there were some that I liked. I can't remember the last time I used a film camera. And, I think it was the first time I've ever used a 35 mm, as opposed to a point and shoot film camera. The focus took a little getting used to, and a handful of the pics were a little blurry. The last one here was my very favorite. We heard an owl hooting in the distance, and {p} quickly turned and made "hand binoculars" to look for it. If I had more time to compose that shot, I would've gotten his feet in there. Oh well.. I like it anyway!

the sitting rock

2007-09-16T17:00:00.000-04:00

There's a rock in the woods in our backyard. We call it the sitting rock. It's a favorite place for {K} to take the boys to sit and eat popsicles in the summer. As I found out today, it's a pretty good spot for pictures, too.

I took these of {s} with my camera. Right as I was about to start on some of {p}, the batteries went dead. I ended up taking some of {p} with an old Minolta 35mm, on an old roll of black and white film. We'll get them developed shortly. Hope they turn out!

Here are some of {s}. I love them!

anything for a laugh

2007-09-02T22:09:00.000-04:00

{s} is such a character. He will do anything if he thinks you're going to laugh at him. And if you laughed at him once, weeks later you'll catch him doing the same thing hoping for another laugh.

It's interesting to see how each child shapes you into the parent that you are. {p} can be very funny and silly too, but he's also a very serious, deep thinker.

{s} is all about having fun, like trying to slide down a Little People ramp because the slide at the park was too wet. Turns out, it wasn't as fun once he got stuck.

He's not even 2, and he has already figured out how to make toot noises and fake burps.

Where did this child come from??? I think God gave us {s} to teach us to relax a little... to lighten up.

Because it is hard to be serious when your child's fingers are knuckle deep in his nostrils.

perspective and prayers

2007-08-22T22:38:00.000-04:00

It's all about perspective.

I had a rough day with the boys. Lots of screaming, yelling, crying, fussing and fighting. They are sleeping now, and the house is finally quiet. I checked my email and had an update on a little boy named Patrick Chance. I personally do not know this Patrick. I have never had the opportunity to meet him, nor his family. He is the child of a friend of a friend. For over a year now, he has been fighting a type of cancer called neuroblastoma. I've been following along with updates on his CarePage... reading about ups and downs of his treatment and recovery. Life is no longer normal for the Chance family. Frequent trips to New York for treatment, days filled with medicine and needles. Day filled, I'm sure, with a mixture of fear and faith. Today's update from Patrick's dad reads:

Yesterday was shorter and better than Monday. Today was much worse. He received a third rescue of Dilaudid that caused predictable irritability, itching, and inability to sleep. He is finally asleep after hours of playing through the wean from narcotics with the attendant misplaced anger - with me as the target. I finally got a break of sorts when he agreed to go to the pub for steak. So we sat in a booth while I rubbed his feet (neuropathic pain from antibody) and fed us both. I managed an occasional pull from my pint. It wasn't the most sterile meal we have ever had, but it was OK. Tomorrow I won't have Alev's help during the morning and his treatment. Given the rough day and belated crash, I plan to let Patrick sleep in until time to return to Sloan. I hopefully can do some laundry and maybe return a few business calls in the morning. The city is cool and refreshing in ways but a stark reminder of cancer in others. Crabbing at the beach seems remote and idyllic. I will think of those days often during days like today. They will come back. SRC

No matter how bad I think my day was, it doesn't compare to the kind of days that the Chance family has to live through. My day - a day filled with healthy, grumpy children - would be an answered prayer for them. A good day.

Despite all this family has been through, they continue to praise God. I admire their strength. And I pray for their son.

I've been trying to find a way to end this blog... a way to tie this all up in a neat package. But I can't. All I can think about is how thankful I am that my children are healthy. I can only pray that one day the Chances are going to be able to say the same thing.

saving for a rainy day

2007-08-19T22:27:00.000-04:00

Or, saving for a hungry day. Apparently {s} is concerned that there might be a pb & j shortage, or worried that I might forget to feed him sometime in the near future.

I found his little hiding place in the space between his booster seat and the chair. Seems that he hasn't been eating all of his lunch, after all. Little squirrel!

a popsicle sort of day

2007-08-17T11:43:00.001-04:00

God hears

2007-08-16T12:55:00.000-04:00

In about three months, we'll be celebrating the second birthday of {s}.

First, shock over a barely visible pink line.

Six more tests later, beginning to believe it.

An ultrasound that was so early, the tech could only point out the thickened lining of my uterus.

Another ultrasound that showed a yolk sac.

And finally an ultrasound that showed the tiniest, tiniest speck of a baby.

The medicine (Prometrium) that was mistakenly called in for me when I didn't need it.

A scary reaction, trip to the ER, and a CT scan on my head.

Bleeding.

Prayers that God would let me keep this little baby that was so unexpected, but so, so wanted.

A new obstetrician.

A c-section.

An epidural that left a "hot spot" so that I could feel part of the surgery.

One and a half gallons of amniotic fluid.

Nine pounds, 0.1 ounces of baby,

and a doctor saying, "It's a boy!"

My baby {s}. Even his name reminds me...

God hears.

faith

2007-08-15T11:31:00.000-04:00

Although {p} had a great first day of school, the rest of the week was more than a little rough. He cried at night before going to bed, and he cried in the mornings before going into the classroom. Kindergarten is a big adjustment. Getting dressed when it is still dark outside, being away from home for six hours, coming home, eating supper, getting a bath, and going to bed just to wake up and do it all again. I could tell that he had fun at school. It was just the anticipation of the long day, and the fear of the unknown that caused him to cry. That, coupled with the stress of change, made for one tired, overwhelmed little boy.
The hardest part for me was that {p} would say,
over and over, "I can't. I just can't."
It was hard for two reasons...

He had never expressed such a defeated statement before.

and

I knew he could.

So, I did what many other parents have done before me, and will continue to do after me. I pushed. I pushed him away from me, away from his safe home, and toward the unknown of school. Figuratively and literally. I pushed him down the hall. I pushed him into the classroom. I pried his arms away from my neck, turned him around, and pushed him away.

All because I knew he could.
And today he did.

No tears, no shaky voice. Confidence. He might not have been too sure of himself, but he was sure of my faith in him.
Months ago I tore an article by Katrina Kenison out of a Family Circle magazine. She was writing about teaching her son to drive. I knew that at some point her words would ring true with me. Sooner, as it turned out, rather than later.

"...I'm finally learning to accept that fear doesn't keep a child safe, any more than faith assures immunity from harm. It's no longer my job to protect my son from the world but rather to let him know that I believe he can handle it - and that I trust him enough to let him try."

Well said, and so very true. And that is why I pushed.