I keep feeling guilty that I'm not blogging more. Okay, guilty is the wrong word--I'm feeling SAD because I MISS blogging. So many unrecorded stories and thoughts! But I guess my blog will reflect that I was truly in a season when I had far less control over my schedule than I enjoyed for years previously.
I wish I could say that last week was an unusual week, but with the exception of Saturday, it was pretty typical.
Last Monday:
day--homeschooled, cooked and cleaned, two trips to school and one trip to the orthodontist (result: B11 can get started with braces any day--and B14 gets his off tomorrow!)
night--had a newer family from church over for dinner
Tuesday:
day--one trip to school, homeschooled, prepared for theater classes, caught up on emails
night--theater classes, stopped at Mr. and Mrs. A's (the couple who started our church) for a little "Fat Tuesday" celebration, stayed up late with B14 doing homework
Wednesday:
day--meetings at the home office of our theater group, over an hour from home (5 hrs total); two trips to school and one to tap, jazz and guitar lessons (all at same time, fortunately!)
night--quick dinner and on to the Ash Wednesday service
Thursday:
day--homeschool, laundry and too many necessary phone calls. Ran to Walmart during B11's cornet lesson; two trips to school, including stops at library, Target and Sally's Beauty Supply (black hairspray for Mulan).
night--stayed up late with B14 completing science project, research paper introduction, Bible project, and history project--most not due till later, but our only block of time to work on them!
Friday:
day--Papa Rooster drove kids to school and met me at B19's school for an IEP meeting with his team--we met for 2+ hours to talk about transitions ahead (great meeting). Back at home, on computer for an hour completing open enrollment registration process to keep virtual school options open for Chicklet7 and B11 for next year. Trip to Aldi during B11's piano lesson, pick up BC and B14 at school.
night--5 to 9--Mulan rehearsal for B14 and B11. I brought Chicklet along and experimented with makeup designs to show the directors (lookin' good!).
Saturday:
day: woke up with a headache that got worse as I drove boys to 9 a.m. Mulan rehearsal. Decided not to stay but to go to Panera and see if coffee would help, in case of a migraine. Stopped at Walmart on way to check my blood pressure, which had been high on Thursday, and it was higher. Coffee didn't help and headache got worse; I felt nauseous and unbalanced and couldn't keep eyes open. Didn't think I could drive myself home; called Papa Rooster to come and get me. We decided with my blood pressure up, we should go to Urgent Care instead. UC sent me to ER. CT scan of my head was normal, blood work was normal, blood pressure came down after they knocked out my headache with an IV cocktail, which put me to sleep for several hours. Need to follow up with doctor regarding my blood pressure (After extensive testing over the past six months for various other medical concerns, one more thing! At least I now know that all my major organs seem to be in good shape.)
night: through the narcotic haze, I somehow managed to help B14 write outline for his research paper we've been working on together for weeks, on the Harry Potter controversy. (Had to check it again on Sunday to make sure it made sense, but he's good to go.)
Sunday:
day--woke up feeling better, but still with a residual headache. Went early to church for rehearsal; sang with Blondechick on worship team. Lunch at friends' home, helped B14 finish one more homework project before driving him to an activity and running a couple of quickie errands. Home for a movie with friends--it was good to relax and watch a really redeeming, sacramental story: Henry Poole is Here. (Check it out if you haven't seen it!)
This week IS an unusual week:
--Mulan dress rehearsals Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
--Mulan school day shows: 2 Thursday morning, 2 Friday morning
--Mulan public performances: Friday night, Saturday night, Saturday afternoon, Sunday afternoon
I'll be there every time, doing makeup...and then, maybe I'll get a week off!
Pray for my health, if the Lord leads you. I am making changes--doing less with the theater group next session and probably next year as well. And in late April, Blondechick will hopefully get her license--Woo-hoo! That will return HOURS to my week.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Lent Begins
Though I had no time yesterday to post anything about it, yesterday was Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent!
We had a beautifully solemn service which was well-attended. We had visitors, which was always exciting--Abbi's parents and eight brothers and sisters all came, and brought two other families from their church. One family knows Amy and her family, and has been reading Amy's blog--which is the most fabulous place to go if you are looking for ways to integrate the church calendar and its symbols in a family setting--and they seemed to have really enjoyed the service.
For Lent, we always give up dessert as a family, and I'm not sure what else, if anything, I'm going to do. I always try to give up yelling at my kids (--grin--but I am also serious), and I try to read the Scriptures and pray more faithfully during Lent.
I would love to also blog about some of the Scriptures I read, but I don't know if I have the time or the space this year to do Lent any differently than the preceding weeks and months have been. The only thing I can see to change is to turn my circumstances--which seem so out of my control--into part of my Lent. Instead of being frustrated that I don't have time for things I want to do, I will try to embrace the limitations as a Lenten abstinence. Instead of complaining about the things I can't do, or the things I have to do (driving kids, email, helping with homework) that take time away from what I want to do (read, blog, Facebook), I will try to offer them up, in prayer, as a sacrifice.
I think the aroma will be more pleasing!
We had a beautifully solemn service which was well-attended. We had visitors, which was always exciting--Abbi's parents and eight brothers and sisters all came, and brought two other families from their church. One family knows Amy and her family, and has been reading Amy's blog--which is the most fabulous place to go if you are looking for ways to integrate the church calendar and its symbols in a family setting--and they seemed to have really enjoyed the service.
For Lent, we always give up dessert as a family, and I'm not sure what else, if anything, I'm going to do. I always try to give up yelling at my kids (--grin--but I am also serious), and I try to read the Scriptures and pray more faithfully during Lent.
I would love to also blog about some of the Scriptures I read, but I don't know if I have the time or the space this year to do Lent any differently than the preceding weeks and months have been. The only thing I can see to change is to turn my circumstances--which seem so out of my control--into part of my Lent. Instead of being frustrated that I don't have time for things I want to do, I will try to embrace the limitations as a Lenten abstinence. Instead of complaining about the things I can't do, or the things I have to do (driving kids, email, helping with homework) that take time away from what I want to do (read, blog, Facebook), I will try to offer them up, in prayer, as a sacrifice.
I think the aroma will be more pleasing!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
A Refreshing Marriage Moment
No, not mine...
It was on TV last week, during an episode ("Vital Signs") of White Collar. Peter is a happily married FBI agent whose partner Neal thrusts him into an encounter with a prospective informant, a beautiful woman, and hisses, "Flirt!" Clearly out of practice after many years of marriage, he manages to get her business card, plus her private number at the clinic under suspicion.
Later his wife Elizabeth finds the card and the scene is set for her to throw a jealous fit. She buries her head in his shirt and begins to shake with sobs. Wait-- No, it's laughter! "How did you get this?" she gasps. "You had to FLIRT?" "Oh, Peter, what did you SAY?" ["I said she looked thirsty."] More helpless laughter from the pretty wife.
I just loved this moment. How real, how trusting...how illustrative of a good marriage!
Teenagers are just primed for relationship drama, it seems. They think "cheating" is such a huge deal, even without a commitment like marriage. Perhaps what they are learning from the movies and teen lit is that marital stability, security and trust is only for the middle-aged and older. All you can expect from your peers is drama, it seems!
I pray for my children to some day find someone with whom they can enter into a Christian marriage, based on trust and an unshakeable covenant commitment. I feel so blessed that in my own marriage, faithfulness has never been an issue, even when Papa Rooster's job required lots of travel. He--like Peter in White Collar--is just not capable of infidelity! He is so honest, so confessional with me on all levels. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he even put a toenail over the line.
Another great moment was at the end of the show, when Peter planned a romantic dinner at home with his wife and tried his best to "flirt" with her, like they were strangers dating all over again. It reminded me of our Valentine's Day tradition...which I look forward to tonight!
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Go forth and flirt!
It was on TV last week, during an episode ("Vital Signs") of White Collar. Peter is a happily married FBI agent whose partner Neal thrusts him into an encounter with a prospective informant, a beautiful woman, and hisses, "Flirt!" Clearly out of practice after many years of marriage, he manages to get her business card, plus her private number at the clinic under suspicion.
Later his wife Elizabeth finds the card and the scene is set for her to throw a jealous fit. She buries her head in his shirt and begins to shake with sobs. Wait-- No, it's laughter! "How did you get this?" she gasps. "You had to FLIRT?" "Oh, Peter, what did you SAY?" ["I said she looked thirsty."] More helpless laughter from the pretty wife.
I just loved this moment. How real, how trusting...how illustrative of a good marriage!
Teenagers are just primed for relationship drama, it seems. They think "cheating" is such a huge deal, even without a commitment like marriage. Perhaps what they are learning from the movies and teen lit is that marital stability, security and trust is only for the middle-aged and older. All you can expect from your peers is drama, it seems!
I pray for my children to some day find someone with whom they can enter into a Christian marriage, based on trust and an unshakeable covenant commitment. I feel so blessed that in my own marriage, faithfulness has never been an issue, even when Papa Rooster's job required lots of travel. He--like Peter in White Collar--is just not capable of infidelity! He is so honest, so confessional with me on all levels. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he even put a toenail over the line.
Another great moment was at the end of the show, when Peter planned a romantic dinner at home with his wife and tried his best to "flirt" with her, like they were strangers dating all over again. It reminded me of our Valentine's Day tradition...which I look forward to tonight!
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Go forth and flirt!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Another Birthday!
Bantam10 becomes Bantam11... Where did the time go? Ten seemed so old! And eleven...eleven is waaaay too close to 12, and 13. At least for now we can enjoy our boy, who still likes Legos, GI Joes, Beanie Babies, puppets, Calvin & Hobbes, Garfield, The Far Side, and pretending with his younger siblings. He is a curious mix of dramatic flair, comedic ability, and unflappable good humor. Eighty percent of the time, nothing can faze him; the rest of the time, he's either normally reactive, or overly dramatic--which is exactly what he was like as a baby, interestingly enough!
We are so proud of you, son, and of the fine young man you are becoming! We love you!
"We always thank God for you and pray for you constantly."
1 Thessalonians 1:2
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Facebook Statuses I Never Posted
...is too busy to think of a Facebook status.
...is tired of being busy.
...is glad she owns a Prius, since she spends half her time driving.
...can't believe her carpool just fell apart and she now has to drive her kids to/from school 5 mornings and 5 afternoons a week!
...can't believe how many doctor/dental appointments family members have required in the past three months--we're averaging at least one a week--and still they continue!
...is afraid that all the have-to's are crowding out the important.
...misses Facebook.
...misses blogging.
...hasn't read anybody else's blog in months! And apologizes, and misses her blogging friends.
..misses her Bible, and her journal. And is grateful for a prayer closet on wheels (aka her Prius).
...is trying to figure out how to remedy the situation.
..can't wait for Blondechick to get her driver's license in April!
...can't listen to one more sentence beginning with, "Mom, could you...?" [take me...pick me up...buy me....]
...wishes B14 didn't have so much homework.
...wishes she could spend more time homeschooling and less time helping with homework.
...wishes she could do her mending.
...tells herself, "this is a season."
...knows that this, too, shall pass.
...keeps asking: What do I have to do next?
...is tired of being busy.
...is glad she owns a Prius, since she spends half her time driving.
...can't believe her carpool just fell apart and she now has to drive her kids to/from school 5 mornings and 5 afternoons a week!
...can't believe how many doctor/dental appointments family members have required in the past three months--we're averaging at least one a week--and still they continue!
...is afraid that all the have-to's are crowding out the important.
...misses Facebook.
...misses blogging.
...hasn't read anybody else's blog in months! And apologizes, and misses her blogging friends.
..misses her Bible, and her journal. And is grateful for a prayer closet on wheels (aka her Prius).
...is trying to figure out how to remedy the situation.
..can't wait for Blondechick to get her driver's license in April!
...can't listen to one more sentence beginning with, "Mom, could you...?" [take me...pick me up...buy me....]
...wishes B14 didn't have so much homework.
...wishes she could spend more time homeschooling and less time helping with homework.
...wishes she could do her mending.
...tells herself, "this is a season."
...knows that this, too, shall pass.
...keeps asking: What do I have to do next?
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
More Evidence of Blondeness
B14 is on record here and here as being our "blondest" child, and recently we recalled a few more of his blonder moments!
One happened years ago when I was pregnant with Bantam4. The doctor, pointing to the ultrasound screen, showed the kids: "See, there's one leg, there's the other leg...and there's his little third leg. Looks like you're getting a baby brother!"
Bantam-now-14, then-9, was concerned but played it casual a day or two later when he asked me: "So, Mom, the doctor said that the baby has three legs?"
At the beginning of this school year, Blondechick17 said to B14 after school one day: "Guess what? My Spanish name in Spanish class is Giselle!" (Giselle is Blondechick's best friend from her old school; she's Mexican.)
One happened years ago when I was pregnant with Bantam4. The doctor, pointing to the ultrasound screen, showed the kids: "See, there's one leg, there's the other leg...and there's his little third leg. Looks like you're getting a baby brother!"
Bantam-now-14, then-9, was concerned but played it casual a day or two later when he asked me: "So, Mom, the doctor said that the baby has three legs?"
***
At the beginning of this school year, Blondechick17 said to B14 after school one day: "Guess what? My Spanish name in Spanish class is Giselle!" (Giselle is Blondechick's best friend from her old school; she's Mexican.)
B14: "Cool! Wait--does that mean that Giselle's English name in English class is [Blondechick]?"
[Blondechick--"You did NOT just say that."]
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