True to form, once we were done with dinner, done singing, done eating cake...BB looked around and said, "Ya know we really didn't have a theme."
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Friday Confessions-Take 2
What started in a flurry of ripped paper and shouts of joy, ended in disgrace and embarrassment. The story begins on Christmas eve, my friends. BB and EG ripped and torn and smiled and shouted out in joy over the many gifts they received from great-grandma, granparents, aunts, uncles, each other, mom and dad and yes, even Santa. I lost track.
I lost track of who gave what to whom. Then we got home and we had a week of vacation left. Routine didn't return to our house for 10 days. I kept putting it off. Then, I didn't want to make a mistake and leave something off or thank the wrong person for the wrong gift. Then a month passed, then two...and it was just too embarrassing to acknowledge my lapse in etiquette.
The task's size and scope just kept growing and growing in my mind. It grew and grew until I just gave up. Oh, I included some messages in the Valentine's Day cards and I am sure in an email or two I included words of thanks...but people, my confession today is this: I haven't finished my thank you notes from Christmas time.
Not that I think a blog is a very classy thank you note, but for those two or so readers who are among those I am hiding my face in shame from...Thank you. We so enjoyed the gifts. T-shirts and sweaters and cork trivets and mixers and books and pajamas...I could go on, but mostly I am thankful for people who will graciously chuckle at my sin and this confession, hoping I do better next time. People who in love allow me room to fail at my own standards, all the while encouraging me to be better. Whether it be thank you notes or life in general--I am blessed and thankful.
So, thanks....for everything.
I lost track of who gave what to whom. Then we got home and we had a week of vacation left. Routine didn't return to our house for 10 days. I kept putting it off. Then, I didn't want to make a mistake and leave something off or thank the wrong person for the wrong gift. Then a month passed, then two...and it was just too embarrassing to acknowledge my lapse in etiquette.
The task's size and scope just kept growing and growing in my mind. It grew and grew until I just gave up. Oh, I included some messages in the Valentine's Day cards and I am sure in an email or two I included words of thanks...but people, my confession today is this: I haven't finished my thank you notes from Christmas time.
Not that I think a blog is a very classy thank you note, but for those two or so readers who are among those I am hiding my face in shame from...Thank you. We so enjoyed the gifts. T-shirts and sweaters and cork trivets and mixers and books and pajamas...I could go on, but mostly I am thankful for people who will graciously chuckle at my sin and this confession, hoping I do better next time. People who in love allow me room to fail at my own standards, all the while encouraging me to be better. Whether it be thank you notes or life in general--I am blessed and thankful.
So, thanks....for everything.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Happy Birthday to My Love!
Someone in our house is 37 today. Ok, now there are two of us.
Apparently, I started a tradition back with BB's birthday cookies. I asked if BB wanted to help me make oatmeal cookies for his dad today and he informed me that we needed to make Number Cookies. The Birthday Boy choose to celebrate his big day on Saturday instead of a "school night," so I hadn't really planned much for today. But BB had other plans. Always game for a tradition, EG and I went to the store and bought pre-made cookie dough (yuck-ola) while BB was in school. I will be making number 2's next week and didn't feel like making the delicious cookie dough two weeks in a row. Of course, had I been thinking a head I could have made two batches and froze cookies for next week...anyway, I improvised.Happy Birthday, my Love! Celebrate well and enjoy all that the year to come brings you! We love you so much. (I'll get you some oatmeal cookies soon...I promise.)
These certainly didn't turn out very pretty but it satisfied BB's new found tradition and we had fun.
(blue is my husband's favorite color and green is BB's.)
The Olympics with BB and EG
BB wakes up one morning, and on his way to the bathroom, calls out to me (in the kitchen), "Hey Mom, is it too early for Lindsey Vonn to be skiing?"
BB creates a gold medal for his sister. She won it for snow boarding. She breaks it (it was made of legos) and he takes it from her, reporting back that he'll have it done for her before they play "her song." "It'll take 10 or 40 mins."
EG is trying to spin. She wears socks and then walks in a small circle, all the while shaking her head back and forth. She is trying to imitate the spinning hair/head of an ice skater.
BB and EG lined up the kitchen chairs and went bobsledding at lunch on Saturday.
Stay tuned for more fun and festivities...
BB creates a gold medal for his sister. She won it for snow boarding. She breaks it (it was made of legos) and he takes it from her, reporting back that he'll have it done for her before they play "her song." "It'll take 10 or 40 mins."
EG is trying to spin. She wears socks and then walks in a small circle, all the while shaking her head back and forth. She is trying to imitate the spinning hair/head of an ice skater.
BB and EG lined up the kitchen chairs and went bobsledding at lunch on Saturday.
Stay tuned for more fun and festivities...
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Marlo Thomas, May I Have a Word, Please?
The soundtrack of my childhood was Marlo Thomas' Free to Be You and Me. Here are a few links...
Free to Be Foundation
Free to Be Wiki Entry
I own the cd and play it every once in awhile for myself and my kids.
I appreciate the message. I know it was needed, and what seems dorky and dated to our eyes and ears was revolutionary in its day. But some days I would like to turn it off. I wish I hadn't enjoyed it quite so much.
Songs deriding housework, assuming that I'll be happy (every flippin day) and that I don't need to change; really get in the way some days.
The realty for the kids to whom Marlo sang to isn't as clear cut as she may have thought it would be. Freeing us to be the best we can be, is all well and good, but there are still jobs to do and roles to take on. There's a realty to how much any one person can do at any one time in their life. Degree programs and biological clocks and Churchwide leave policies and unexpected events and human frailty all tend to make the soundtrack skip a beat from time to time.
Some of what we heard as young girls was freeing. It was needed. I thank God for the women who stood up against the system and prevailing attitudes. I cry at the battles they fought, and won, so that I could whine and be snarky about my plethora of options.
But I also need to say this:
Ms. Thomas, some of what we were taught just piled on more #@*& to our already long list of how to be in this world. And, I'm still trying to figure out what songs to cut off the album.
Free to Be Foundation
Free to Be Wiki Entry
I own the cd and play it every once in awhile for myself and my kids.
I appreciate the message. I know it was needed, and what seems dorky and dated to our eyes and ears was revolutionary in its day. But some days I would like to turn it off. I wish I hadn't enjoyed it quite so much.
Songs deriding housework, assuming that I'll be happy (every flippin day) and that I don't need to change; really get in the way some days.
The realty for the kids to whom Marlo sang to isn't as clear cut as she may have thought it would be. Freeing us to be the best we can be, is all well and good, but there are still jobs to do and roles to take on. There's a realty to how much any one person can do at any one time in their life. Degree programs and biological clocks and Churchwide leave policies and unexpected events and human frailty all tend to make the soundtrack skip a beat from time to time.
Some of what we heard as young girls was freeing. It was needed. I thank God for the women who stood up against the system and prevailing attitudes. I cry at the battles they fought, and won, so that I could whine and be snarky about my plethora of options.
But I also need to say this:
Ms. Thomas, some of what we were taught just piled on more #@*& to our already long list of how to be in this world. And, I'm still trying to figure out what songs to cut off the album.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Friday Confessions
During Lent I thought it might be fun to bring you a confession each Friday. I anticipate a range of areas and depth. None too painfully personal or serious...this I promise.
Friday Confession: Take 1
Remember the event on Valentine's day? Well, each table was covered with a white plastic table cloth. This particular church reuses the table coverings each and every time. They have them stored in various bins in a closet. I set up the room, and so had to rummage through the various bins to find coverings for each table. Two of the longest tables did not have a covering long enough. So, after many, many attempts to find the correct one, I used two and made it work.
Let's cut to the end of the day. Adrenaline was wearing off. Youth were in high drama. Most, to all, of the tables coverings were clear of food, confetti, table decorations, etc. My feet hurt like that of a middle aged woman with too much weight on her body, wearing shoes that don't fit since her feet widened during pregnancy...which fits my description to a tee. I was tired.
It was at this point I turned around only to see we had forgotten--The Longest Table. The one with two coverings, the one that had held the chocolate fountain and all the dessert options. It was smearing with chocolate. It had wrappings and left over candy on it. It was the table where we put the most heart glitter. It was a big mess that I just didn't want to deal with.
One look around the gym confirmed that I was alone. Everyone else was in the kitchen. So, instead of cleaning off the covering and saving the glitter (as we had been doing), I grabbed the whole covering, wrapped it up on itself until it was the size of a volleyball and thought of a place to put it. I didn't want my 'crime' to be found out. I was too tired to ask for grace or plead my case to the women in the kitchen. I didn't want anyone clucking after I was gone when they saw it in the garbage can. So...
I held it close to my body, and walked as fast as I could to my office. I closed the door and shoved the ball into my bottom desk drawer.
It is still there.
Friday Confession: Take 1
Remember the event on Valentine's day? Well, each table was covered with a white plastic table cloth. This particular church reuses the table coverings each and every time. They have them stored in various bins in a closet. I set up the room, and so had to rummage through the various bins to find coverings for each table. Two of the longest tables did not have a covering long enough. So, after many, many attempts to find the correct one, I used two and made it work.
Let's cut to the end of the day. Adrenaline was wearing off. Youth were in high drama. Most, to all, of the tables coverings were clear of food, confetti, table decorations, etc. My feet hurt like that of a middle aged woman with too much weight on her body, wearing shoes that don't fit since her feet widened during pregnancy...which fits my description to a tee. I was tired.
It was at this point I turned around only to see we had forgotten--The Longest Table. The one with two coverings, the one that had held the chocolate fountain and all the dessert options. It was smearing with chocolate. It had wrappings and left over candy on it. It was the table where we put the most heart glitter. It was a big mess that I just didn't want to deal with.
One look around the gym confirmed that I was alone. Everyone else was in the kitchen. So, instead of cleaning off the covering and saving the glitter (as we had been doing), I grabbed the whole covering, wrapped it up on itself until it was the size of a volleyball and thought of a place to put it. I didn't want my 'crime' to be found out. I was too tired to ask for grace or plead my case to the women in the kitchen. I didn't want anyone clucking after I was gone when they saw it in the garbage can. So...
I held it close to my body, and walked as fast as I could to my office. I closed the door and shoved the ball into my bottom desk drawer.
It is still there.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
When Service Has to Stop
I love restaurants. Almost, in any form. I prefer to have a server who takes our order and delivers the food back to us. I also enjoy the drive up kind, where everyone is secure and unable to roam about while eating.
In its highest form, I love to dress up. I love a fully set table...I even know how to set the "proper" table and which 'what' to use, when. I love the atmosphere and hushed quiet of a fine restaurant. And then the food...ohhhh.
In its highest form, I love to dress up. I love a fully set table...I even know how to set the "proper" table and which 'what' to use, when. I love the atmosphere and hushed quiet of a fine restaurant. And then the food...ohhhh.
Panera is my most frequented spot these days.
I go to enjoy the people. The community. The overheard story and the ones I create about people as they type away on laptops or sip their coffee.
The other joy I have about restaurants is that my kids love them, too. They have been learning how to eat out all of their lives. BB first joined us at Panera after two or three days home from the hospital. They are pretty good at it, and actually, behave better in public than at home. All three of us are very observant people. Especially BB, he and I can sit and just watch the other people for a good two-three cups of coffee.
But, in recent weeks we have been eating lunch out every week day--plus our Saturday breakfast treat while their dad is exercising. The special-ness of the occasion has worn off. BB is almost bored by our usual choices. And, then I did the math. The kids eat more now and it is beginning to add up well beyond a sippy cup from home and a muffin. Ouch.
So, for Lent, I am giving up lunches out. Today was already an adjustment for us all. More free time to trash the house and fight with each other. It required me to parent a bit more and engage in new ways. I have not given up morning coffees or the Saturday breakfast--although, we might this week just to reinforce my point.
I'll report back.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Muscle Memory
Today is a sad day. I have no cognitive reason why. I just woke up, sad.
~I had a wonderful coffee meet up with friends. But towards the end my dear friend and I both nearly teared up over the emotions our kids bring out in us. Feeling so much of what they are going through...probably more so, because they are so much like us. Amazing how someone, (me), who can't remember facts and stories from childhood can remember the feeling of not being understood as a kid or that isolated 'lonely' that comes from trying to make friends when young (or middle aged, as the case may be.)
~20 years ago I was receiving medals and accolades for my hard work as an athlete. Just read my hometown paper...under What Was Happening...20, 30, 40, 50 Years Ago--I am now old enough to make the history page. As the USA Nordic Combined team won silver at the Olympics there as has been a lot of reminiscing going on amongst my HS/College teammates, my family and within my own head. It makes me cry to see people ski. There has to be something behind that grief.
~Yesterday was my Grandpa's 88 birthday. Or it would have been. Our son is named after him. He is one of those people whose spirit is woven in to my daily activities. Mostly under the category of "Grandpa would have been kinder, more loving, more patient, more generous...than I was just then." He is missed. Deeply. Still.
~And, today is Ash Wednesday. Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.
I think my heart remembers all of this, and just woke up sad.
~I had a wonderful coffee meet up with friends. But towards the end my dear friend and I both nearly teared up over the emotions our kids bring out in us. Feeling so much of what they are going through...probably more so, because they are so much like us. Amazing how someone, (me), who can't remember facts and stories from childhood can remember the feeling of not being understood as a kid or that isolated 'lonely' that comes from trying to make friends when young (or middle aged, as the case may be.)
~20 years ago I was receiving medals and accolades for my hard work as an athlete. Just read my hometown paper...under What Was Happening...20, 30, 40, 50 Years Ago--I am now old enough to make the history page. As the USA Nordic Combined team won silver at the Olympics there as has been a lot of reminiscing going on amongst my HS/College teammates, my family and within my own head. It makes me cry to see people ski. There has to be something behind that grief.
~Yesterday was my Grandpa's 88 birthday. Or it would have been. Our son is named after him. He is one of those people whose spirit is woven in to my daily activities. Mostly under the category of "Grandpa would have been kinder, more loving, more patient, more generous...than I was just then." He is missed. Deeply. Still.
~And, today is Ash Wednesday. Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.
I think my heart remembers all of this, and just woke up sad.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Then Jesus Walked In
Yesterday, was a luncheon at my church. The Youth Director and I, the Family Life Minister, had been working on this cross generational celebration of love for a few months. We intentionally wanted to celebrate love in all the various relationships God has given us--as well as highlight God's love for us. A wonderful woman took care of all the food and even found her own kitchen helpers. The youth helped serve and we seated at least one of them at each table to mix up the tables. I was in charge of--guess, what?--decoration and the "program." We went with a mixture of church-gym-cheesy-valentine-fun and classy luncheon. I think we pulled it off.
But my favorite moment came at the beginning. The sixty or so guests were just getting seated and the youth were in the kitchen getting orders on how to serve their tables. The kitchen cookers and serves were on high alert, getting everything out of the ovens, salads out, bread warmed. Imagine the chaos. I was running through what I needed to do, say and was experiencing a bit of hostess anxiety as I thought through how I wanted to "run" the day.
Into this chaotic party, walks Jesus.
A woman in her mid thirties came quietly into the gym, pushing her two year old daughter in a stroller. I noticed her and welcomed her to the meal but she said she only came looking for extra large diapers. I ran off to the nursery to see what diapers we had to offer. As I headed down the hallway to the nursery, I was honestly viewing her as a task to get out of the way before I had to start presenting at the luncheon. Once in the nursery, I paused long enough to ponder what it must feel like to walk into a strange place and ask/beg for anything--let alone diapers for my child.
We, of course, had nothing large enough. When I returned to offer her the largest ones we had, she began to tell me about her family and wondered if we could help in any other ways. I found the Sr. Pastor, figuring he had an account for assistance and knew what services our congregation usually offered. He got up from his meal and dashed off to his office, coming back with some cash. Meanwhile, I was painfully aware of our sit down, plated meal going on in the back ground. I began to look for to-go boxes to send a meal with the woman. As I searched, the Sr. Pastor grabbed some cereal and other easily carried food items from the pantry. The to-go boxes ended up being found in the basement storage closet and the youth director ran to get them...and finding it locked she had to run up and down the stairs a few times to fetch keys.
All in all, you should have the image of three staff people running around, a lovely plated meal being served behind them and glorious aroma of meatloaf and cheese potatoes hanging in the air. In the middle of it stands this woman who is humbly confessing her needs and putting herself out there with a vulnerability that I have never experienced.
When she left, the youth director and I paused for a moment to regroup and I smiled and said, "I love it when Jesus shows up like that..." and without missing a beat she said, "Yeah, me too....and then we all run around like we don't have a clue about what to do."
It was a good day.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Have You Seen?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Love
Monday, February 08, 2010
Healthy Guilt
My family and I have shared along with the Livesay family for years now. We have other connections to Haiti as well, hso learning about the Livesay's life gave some further insight into the work of our friends and family there. Our "connection" to all of them took a more heartfelt turn with the earthquake in Haiti. I check the blog everyday and today is a particularly touching entry.
They are back home, and feeling guilty about it. On a very small level I understand this. Years ago, I went to work with Habitat for Humanity International in SW Georgia. I spent a few months in West Virginia as well.
Shortly after arriving back from West Virginia I joined my family on a vacation at a resort in the one of the Carolinas. (I don't remember exactly where--Hilton Head?) The juxtaposition was too much for me. I felt guilty and overwhelmed by my life in comparison to the lives others live...in many cases by the sheer randomness of who they were born to. In typical 20-something behavior I took out this guilt on my family with rage and snarky pouting. They didn't, and probably still don't, understand and the trip goes into the story book of "remember when H did."
I have no idea what the Livesays must feel like today. But part of me thinks we should all feel like that a bit as we go about our daily lives. The three part mixture of thankfulness and awareness of how good we have it and a longing to make the life of another better seems to be a worthwhile way to live.
Guilt isn't the most helpful of emotions or reactions...it tends to be debilitating. But we should feel something beyond ambivalence.
They are back home, and feeling guilty about it. On a very small level I understand this. Years ago, I went to work with Habitat for Humanity International in SW Georgia. I spent a few months in West Virginia as well.
Shortly after arriving back from West Virginia I joined my family on a vacation at a resort in the one of the Carolinas. (I don't remember exactly where--Hilton Head?) The juxtaposition was too much for me. I felt guilty and overwhelmed by my life in comparison to the lives others live...in many cases by the sheer randomness of who they were born to. In typical 20-something behavior I took out this guilt on my family with rage and snarky pouting. They didn't, and probably still don't, understand and the trip goes into the story book of "remember when H did."
I have no idea what the Livesays must feel like today. But part of me thinks we should all feel like that a bit as we go about our daily lives. The three part mixture of thankfulness and awareness of how good we have it and a longing to make the life of another better seems to be a worthwhile way to live.
Guilt isn't the most helpful of emotions or reactions...it tends to be debilitating. But we should feel something beyond ambivalence.
Snow...again. Did I just say that?
I love snow. Love, love, love it. Didn't I wax on about how it is grace falling...or some such phrase? Well, here it comes again.
5 to 8 inches are expected over the next few days. My love for snow developed in regions of the country that are use to snow. Can handle it. Enjoy it. 5 to 8 inches is a typical event...not a "stock up, shut down school, cancel meetings, panic" type of event. Here, roads aren't cleared and people can't drive. Schools are canceled and the kids are home. (my biggest concern, frankly.)
Yesterday, a young woman canceled a meeting with me in anticipation of the possibility of snow. Ok, points for honesty...but it was hard not to (pastorally, of course) laugh at her.
I love to see falling snow. I don't love it where I am. We do Spring really well here...let's get on with that.
5 to 8 inches are expected over the next few days. My love for snow developed in regions of the country that are use to snow. Can handle it. Enjoy it. 5 to 8 inches is a typical event...not a "stock up, shut down school, cancel meetings, panic" type of event. Here, roads aren't cleared and people can't drive. Schools are canceled and the kids are home. (my biggest concern, frankly.)
Yesterday, a young woman canceled a meeting with me in anticipation of the possibility of snow. Ok, points for honesty...but it was hard not to (pastorally, of course) laugh at her.
I love to see falling snow. I don't love it where I am. We do Spring really well here...let's get on with that.
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