Wednesday, June 25, 2008

What a difference a snail makes.


One time a snail changed my life.

I was born in California and lived there for 10 years. As a senior in high school I visited colleges that I was interested in or had applied to, and one of those was Pomona College in Claremont, California. My mom attended college there and we visited as a family when I was a pre-teen or some other obnoxious age. At that time I decided I didn't want to go there because it was too small. (Not that I had any pressure to go there.)

Years later I ended up applying and being accepted so I went to visit again. I immediately felt comfortable on campus and was so excited about the possibility of returning to California to live. There is something about the smell of it (eucalyptus) and the dry air that are very nostalgic for me. After visiting some rogue building and hearing a spiel about Pomona College we went outside to walk to the dining hall for lunch. There meandered a wee snail across the sidewalk.

I hadn't seen a snail in years - I guess there aren't snails in Iowa, which can't be true, but that's how I remember feeling. I pretty much decided right then that I would attend Pomona College in Claremont California for my undergraduate degree. Weird, huh?

A snail. What a seemingly insignificant creature with a big influence!

Chirp! (The sound snails make in Southern California.)

Friday, June 20, 2008

Heavy.

My heart is just heavy these past few days for so many people I know and care for who are going through various trials right now, including long-term primary infertility and other related and non-related health issues. It's not pity I'm feeling, because nobody likes that, but I guess an empathy and understanding that in the midst of my child-centered life I had forgotten that I possessed.

Here is a very touching video attempting to (and doing a good job of) show how infertility feels. I have to admit that yes, I had forgotten what it felt like. You'll have to highlight it and paste because as of this moment I don't know how to link it. I'll check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRYJdAEkBC8

It's not that I feel impelled to spend the rest of my waking days trying to remember in my heart how infertility felt. I know that we all have seasons in our lives during which we struggle with various things more so than others and we do move on in one way or the other in acceptance or resignation and hopefully peace. Although my struggle with infertility seems to be over it is a significant part of who I am. I will refer back to this periodically.

God uses all things for His good (Romans 8:28), but sometimes it doesn't feel like it when you're in the midst of something like infertility and loss. I think the depth of those feelings take you by surprise whether it's your experience or somebody elses.

The next time you meet someone new, say "Tell me something about yourself?" rather than "Do you have kids?" or "Where do you work?" or "Are you married?" You never know if that person is experiencing infertility, out of work, or single and wanting to be married. Just a thought.

If you are experiencing infertility, you are not alone! Look at www.resolve.org or Hannah's Prayer Ministries (www.hannah.org). There is hope.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Finally Father's Day

"The boys" and I went to get portraits taken on Wednesday in honor of Father's Day. I had to keep it a secret all week and I was so excited about the pictures I could barely stand it! Here are some of the very good ones. They were all really good.

OK, leaving you hanging. Why is blogger so slow at uploading pictures sometimes?!

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Friday, June 13, 2008

Let 'em be kids.


There are times when safety is paramount. Then there are times when we don't want our kids doing something because it is inconvenient for us. Then there are the times when we make them stop doing it because "children should mind their parents." But, you've got to pick your battles.

Tonight we went out for ice cream with the kids to the Arboretum. There was an inviting puddle of water there that BB started to stand in. I didn't want him to be tempted to splash so I said, "No water" and steered him around it. It worked. A few minutes later he went to stand in it again and I thought, "Well, what's the harm." Then he put his hands in and I said, "no hands in the water."

Then I began to wonder what to do next, because he just wasn't listening. I had to ask myself why I didn't want him to put his hands in the water. Was it dangerous? No, the puddle was shallow and small. But then I felt like since I had said "no water" I had to stand by it - "children should mind their parents." I really didn't want him playing in it because it would have been inconvenient for us to have a wet, muddy kid in the car.

I decided that sometimes kids have to get wet and muddy. If I were a kid I'd want to, and there really isn't harm in it unless he'd been dressed nicely to go to dinner. (Who takes their 1 year old to a nice dinner? Not me!) It began to look like darned fun to play in a mud puddle, so I gave up. He got on his knees in the mud puddle, he then sat in the mud puddle, and then tried to drink from the mud puddle. (OK, we did stop it there.) Then we laughed as he walked away on his tip toes with his legs as wide apart as he could maneuver them, his soaking wet, mud-puddly bum prancing off. We just took off his jumper and let him walk around in his diaper and ride home that way, mud and all, with Nemo swimming around on the DVD player.

Pick your battles, folks, and maybe we grown-ups should find more puddles to play around in. (Don't drink the water.)

Friday, June 06, 2008

"Fabulous Reality"

I had an English teacher in high school (Ames High School, Iowa, class of 1988) who had us share a "fabulous reality" every day. Fabulous reality is an every day thing that happens that we usually don't notice is really, really cool. I found one this morning.

I like coffee. I can survive a morning without it, but there is something about a steaming cup of coffee to remind me of all things good! I take mine with Splenda and half/half. As I poured in the creamer and before stirring, the creamer swirled through the coffee and made a creamer cloud on top. It's gorgeous! That's my fabulous reality today.

Find yours!

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Philosophy

My conversation with the pizza place today:

Her: "What would you like?"
Me: "What do you think for three adults?"
Her: "It depends on how much they eat."

Oh, thanks. That's very profound.

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Life in pictures.

Here is a picture-heavy post for today. Aren't my kids about the cutest ones ever? (No need to respond, I already know the answer!)

First popsicle:
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That was good!
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Time for a shower.
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Old-fashion looking picture for possible future wedding collage:
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Ahhh...
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No popsicle for this guy, only footsicle.
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