BesoMami

Blog on hold...

2009-03-23T20:39:00.001-05:00

... 'til I find more time to write. Come and see me on Facebook!

field trip

2009-01-02T17:13:00.010-06:00

We took a little trip to the Jefferson Expansion National Park, which includes the Gateway Arch, as well as the Dred Scott courthouse. It was one of those afternoons where all three kids were extremely well-behaved, even during the long wait to get through the security entrance. We ended the day at one of our favorite downtown restaurants and made a side trip to the downtown Macy's to see the amazing Christmas train displays. A very nice family field trip!

Happy Tooth Year!

2009-01-01T10:16:00.004-06:00

Thomas lost his first tooth last night! What a great way for this not-quite-six-year-old to start the new year.

A little history of the tooth fairy, courtesy of wikipedia:

Rosemary Wells, a former professor at the Northwestern University Dental School, found evidence that supports the origin of different tooth fairies in the United States around 1900. Folklorist Tad Tuleja suggests postwar affluence, a child-directed family culture, and media turned the myth into a custom. The Tooth Fairy, a three-act playlet for children by Esther Watkins Arnold, was published in 1927. On May 28, 1938, MGM released The Little Rascals short entitled, The Awful Tooth, in which the gang agreed to pull their teeth out to make money from the tooth fairy.^[4] A reference in American literature appears in the 1949 book, "The Tooth Fairy" by Lee Rothgow. Dr. Wells created a Tooth Fairy Museum in 1993 in her Deerfield, Illinois museum. In a March 1961 Peanuts strip, new character Frieda asks if the prices are set by the American Dental Society. The Tooth Fairy has appeared in several children's books, an adult book, and films, and the eponymous radio series.

¡Prospero Año Nuevo!

2008-12-31T17:52:00.004-06:00

New Year's Eve Meme

2008-12-31T17:38:00.005-06:00

As tagged by a number of different folks -- here the story of my year, using the first sentence of the first post of each month.

January
Brett and Thomas took off with a friend for some "manly" activities at a Store for Tough Guys called Rural King.

February
Your Language Arts Grade: 100%

March
The fact that you are reading this letter means that you are considering an adoption plan for your child.

April
This picture is from Sunday night. ----------------------------->

May
Guess who figured out how to roll over yesterday?

June
Ever have one of those weeks where you have so many things to blog about that you don't even know where to start?

July
Poor Thomas.

August
First of all, THANK YOU for all the prayers you've lifted up for Brett over the past six weeks.

September
One of my favorite Austin restaurants is now closed.

October
We visited my grandparents yesterday.

November
The kids and I lived through Halloween together.

December
We have been parents for five years now.

5 years today

2008-12-20T08:07:00.003-06:00

Today is our fifth family day.

Here is a link to a sermon I preached where I talked about our trip to Guatemala to adopt Thomas.

I love our little boy and can't believe that he has been with us for five whole years.

The best Christmas gift I ever received -- becoming a mother!

12 months old

2008-12-17T18:30:00.003-06:00

Baby D
12 month pediatrician appointment
31 inches tall
23.75 lbs
Gorgeous, smart, tall, happy!

Keep Christmas and other stuff

2008-12-17T08:44:00.004-06:00

The Christmas Season has the capability to stir up all sorts of memories and feelings -- some pleasant and some not-so-pleasant. In speaking with various clergy colleagues over the past couple of weeks, it seems that the combination of this terrible economy, the stress of the holidays, and plain old grief has coalesced into a big mess in many families and congregations. I've seen a couple of examples at Big Church. I know GGF has seen her share. My oldest son is really anxious and whiny about Christmas this year -- the anticipation is almost beyond the point where he can enjoy it.

Our Director of Christian Education began our staff meeting yesterday by reading us a portion of that lovely Peter Marshall sermon titled "Let's Keep Christmas". The sermon concludes with these words:

"So we will not 'spend' Christmas . . .
nor 'observe' Christmas.
We will 'keep' Christmas -- keep it as it is . . .
in all loveliness of its ancient traditions.
May we keep it in our hearts,
that we may be kept in its hope."

I went home from work at lunchtime yesterday and have spent the last twenty-four hours battling a terrible stomach bug. Right now, my main prayer is that no one in my family at home or at church ends up with this same illness. Yuck. But I do know that my stress level has been pretty high over the past week, which often weakens my immune system.

I hope that the next week is particularly kind to all my friends who are working to make the church a safe and welcoming space during this holiday. I hope that those traveling to be with friends and family are not automatically placed in whatever role their presence assigns them within their family system.

Brett is at the pediatrician with Baby D for his 12-month checkup. I will report later on the massive baby growth. Right now I am happy to be in my warm house, feeling slightly less puny than I did yesterday. I am going to try and blog more often in the new year. Adding a third child to my household has made things a wee more complicated!

Thanks to those who continue to blog my regularly. I do read and keep up with all of your activities.

Birthday Boy

2008-12-12T17:46:00.003-06:00

Worth a minute

2008-12-09T13:56:00.002-06:00

Forwarded to me by one of my Deacons... very cute.

Struggling

2008-12-07T18:58:00.005-06:00

We have been parents for five years now. For all of those five years we have parented children who are not of the same race as we are. This year has added a new twist to this situation -- we've become the parents to a black child. And sometimes it is hard for me to remember that people who say disparaging things about black people -- like our president-elect, like black people they do not know -- don't realize that they are also saying things about my child.

I feel tired tonight. This must be what it feels like for people of color all the time. I am becoming more aware of the implicit racism that exists just below the surface in ways that I could forget about in the past. I feel embarrassed to even consider the times when I did not speak up but should have.

But it is not about me -- it is about my children. So I am trying to learn how to do things right. The Mama Bear side of me just wants to be angry and lash out, but then certain things happen that help. I feel like God intercedes with a bit of grace.

A woman at Big Church is an 80-something African American woman. She is amazing in a number of different ways. Today she told me how much she loved me, loved my family... and we also had a great experience yesterday (see our new family blog: The Hendricksonians).

But I am having a hard time letting go of my anger right now. Please pray that some hearts are softened and my kids can live in a place that is more like that new heaven and new earth we pray for each Sunday. Please pray that we can be good parents for our beautiful, beautiful babies. I love them so much.

Yes, I am married to Martha Stewart...

2008-11-27T09:39:00.004-06:00

Doesn't this all sound delicious?

Our 8th anniversary dining table set for the feast.

Thanksgiving Princess

Reasons One, Two and Three

2008-11-27T08:34:00.002-06:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Prayers for Peace

2008-11-16T13:02:00.002-06:00

This article is the most read piece on Yahoo! news this morning.

Last night I heard someone tell the most ugly, racist joke that I've heard in a long while.

And then I read this in the paper this morning:

Today, I am ending one journey to begin another. After serving the people of Illinois in the United States Senate — one of the highest honors and privileges of my life — I am stepping down as senator to prepare for the responsibilities I will assume as our nation’s next president. But I will never forget, and will forever be grateful, to the men and women of this great state who made my life in public service possible.
More than two decades ago, I arrived in Illinois as a young man eager to do my part in building a better America. On the South Side of Chicago, I worked with families who had lost jobs and lost hope when the local steel plant closed. It wasn’t easy, but we slowly rebuilt those neighborhoods one block at a time, and in the process I received the best education I ever had. It’s an education that led me to organize a voter registration project in Chicago, stand up for the rights of Illinois families as an attorney and eventually run for the Illinois state Senate.

It was in Springfield, in the heartland of America, where I saw all that is America converge — farmers and teachers, businessmen and laborers, all of them with a story to tell, all of them seeking a seat at the table, all of them clamoring to be heard. It was there that I learned to disagree without being disagreeable; to seek compromise while holding fast to those principles that can never be compromised, and to always assume the best in people instead of the worst. Later, when I made the decision to run for the United States Senate, the core decency and generosity of the American people is exactly what I saw as I traveled across our great state — from Chicago to Cairo; from Decatur to Quincy.

I still remember the young woman in East St. Louis who had the grades, the drive and the will but not the money to go to college. I remember the young men and women I met at VFW halls across the state who serve our nation bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan. And I will never forget the workers in Galesburg who faced the closing of a plant they had given their lives to, who wondered how they would provide health care to their sick children with no job and little savings.

Stories like these are why I came to Illinois all those years ago, and they will stay with me when I go to the White House in January. The challenges we face as a nation are now more numerous and difficult than when I first arrived in Chicago, but I have no doubt that we can meet them. For throughout my years in Illinois, I have heard hope as often as I have heard heartache. Where I have seen struggle, I have seen great strength. And in a state as broad and diverse in background and belief as any in our nation, I have found a spirit of unity and purpose that can steer us through the most troubled waters.

It was long ago that another son of Illinois left for Washington. A greater man who spoke to a nation far more divided, Abraham Lincoln, said of his home, “To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything.” Today, I feel the same, and like Lincoln, I ask for your support, your prayers, and for us to “confidently hope that all will yet be well.”
With your help, along with the service and sacrifice of Americans across the nation who are hungry for change and ready to bring it about, I have faith that all will in fact be well. And it is with that faith, and the high hopes I have for the enduring power of the American idea, that I offer the people of my beloved home a very affectionate thanks.

Please pray for the safety and security of our President-elect and his family.

Busy

2008-11-14T12:28:00.007-06:00

Sorry I've been lax in updating my blog over the last couple of weeks. Between our middle child's 4th birthday, Nana Lizzie visiting for almost a week, parent/teacher conferences, Veteran's Day, Session meetings, I've been running, running, running.

Baby D turned 11 months old this week. He is *about* to start walking. Another sign that he is my 3rd child? I'm okay with him waiting a few more weeks to take those first steps. The kid is so darn tall and I'm not ready for him to have access to that much more of the house.

Lily turned 4 last weekend. She says she is not "widdle" any longer -- she is a "biggie biggie". I say anyone who still says widdle is still pretty widdle. She disagrees. Touché.

Thomas went to the pediatric dentist this week. He has "shark" teeth growing behind his first row of baby teeth. This means that three of his adult teeth have grown in without the baby teeth falling out. If they don't fall out within the next two months, the dentist will extract them. Poor guy.

Brett is right in the busiest point in his semester -- grading papers, exams and quizzes. He is also speaking at yet another conference next week. He will not be teaching so many classes in the spring, which might allow him to actually get some writing done on his dissertation.

I'm in the thick of preparation for advent, the launch of our new parish nursing program, and trying to do family things like ordering Christmas cards and purchasing gifts. Thank goodness for the internet.

I'm taking Thanksgiving week off -- which means I will not be at Big Church for the first Sunday of Advent. I did this last year and it was good to have a break before the Christmastime madness begins. A dear friend is coming for Thanksgiving again this year, which I am also looking forward to.

Well, we are expecting our first snow of the year tomorrow and we are heading to a Presbytery meeting. The fun never stops! I hope everyone is doing well. Happy 40th birthday to Mike!

I've got the joy, joy, joy, JOY...!

2008-11-04T07:32:00.004-06:00

BABY D IS TOO LITTLE TO VOTE! MAKE SURE YOU RAISE YOUR VOICE FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN! CHANGE WE DO BELIEVE IN!

Sunday, etc.

2008-11-02T15:51:00.003-06:00

The kids and I lived through Halloween together. Brett is off gallivanting around Chicago (okay, he's presenting a paper at the AAR). Thankfully, GGF was here and helped corral my kiddos.
One of the true saints of God died this morning. A life-long member of Big Church and former moderator of the presbytery, we will be preparing for a BIG service on Wednesday.
I am nervous for Election Day. Brett and I already voted, as he will be flying home from the AAR on Tuesday. I pray that gracious, good behavior occurs on all sides. 'Nuf said.
Baby D is about to walk. He can stand on his own, but then freaks out when he realizes what he is doing and plonks down on his diapered bottom. He is adorable.
Lily's 4th b-day is coming up on Saturday. Nana Lizzie is flying in for the occasion. Much excitement and anticipation -- the thing she seems most jazzed about? Well, the kiddie vitamins we use allow two vitamin gummy bears per day at age 4.
I love that it is 75 degrees on November 2 here in the Midwest. How nice!
Happy 2 year anniversary to GGF! She has been installed as the pastor at Little Church in the Shadows of the Desert for two full years. Wish her the best by purchasing her new book -- City of Prayer...
That's all I've got for now. Yay for Daylight Savings Time -- now I am only one hour ahead of AZ!

talent show

2008-10-26T19:53:00.004-05:00

Sometimes I find myself complaining about the church. Sometimes I find myself profoundly grateful for our church family. Tonight was a night for gratitude.

We just got home from Big Church's Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Talent Show. The acts were all very good -- mostly teen and preteen rock stars, along with my favorite 80ish woman who played some old ragtime piano music and the Budweiser Beer song. She must have been a fun gal when she was younger. Heck, she's a fun gal right now.

One little girl got up to sing, but quickly became too nervous. Her dad was emceeing the show, so she hid behind his back and cried. She left the stage. Her father announced that she would try again later in the show. After the other acts had gone, she tried again. Half laughing, half crying, no sound came out as she tried to sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Slowly, the two hundred voices gathered around banquet tables in the church gym began to sing. We all sang. Slowly, our little singer found her voice and two hundred and one voices finished, "If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh why can't I?" I couldn't help but cry with joy. I wasn't the only one.

We had fun tonight. Thomas ate about two pounds of spaghetti. Lily danced around the edges of the church gym. David received kisses and hugs from his many aunties. I am so grateful that my kids are growing up in this congregation.

Fancy

2008-10-25T11:55:00.005-05:00

The Fancy Witch costume made its debut at Lily's baa-way class this morning. This was a big deal because this is the first Halloween costume that she chose for herself and her dance studio is usually quite strict in requiring pink leotards and pink tights only for class. They danced for an hour and then had a little party. I think she looks spectacular in this outfit.

On another topic, Baby D says: "Get out and vote! You know who I'd vote for if I were seventeen years and two months older."

Double duh

2008-10-24T11:58:00.004-05:00

Today was scheduled to be a family field trip for Lily's school -- picking pumpkins at the pumpkin patch. They canceled it due to the rain. But it is not raining.

They've rescheduled it for next Wednesday, which does not work well for our schedule. Since it is a family field trip, the school is closed. So my choices are these: 1) go on a field trip, which I don't have time for on Wednesdays, OR 2) have Lily with me all day on Wednesday, because the school is closed.

Did I mention that this is the public school? Grrrr. My tax dollars at work.

GGF -- wanna go to the pumpkin patch next Wednesday? Brett -- wanna have your daughter 'help' you teach your two classes at the seminary on Wednesday?

our Saturday

2008-10-19T14:27:00.001-05:00

who knows what this means?

2008-10-16T19:08:00.002-05:00

So I dreamed last night that we had another baby. In my dream, I received a call from the director of the international adoption agency that we used for our first two adoptions. She said, "Your pink slip arrived. You need to be in Guatemala by Monday to bring home your new daughter. Her name is Honey." A pink slip is the document issued by the U.S. Embassy which officially summons you to a non-negotiable appointment to have your child's Visa issued, so they can emigrate from their birth country. I didn't know what to think, because I was unaware that we were in the adoption process for another baby. But the agency director assured me that the birth certificate had been issued with our names on it and the little girl was legally our daughter. Oh, and the baby was just three days younger than David.

I've been ruminating on this dream all day. I think I need a good night's sleep.

10 months old

2008-10-13T08:34:00.005-05:00

Our little bundle of love turned 10 months old yesterday...

visit and train ride

2008-10-05T15:46:00.005-05:00

We visited my grandparents yesterday. Brett and the two older kids went with Grandpa to ride on the train.

David and I stayed back at the house with Grandma.

My grandparents live at a Presbyterian Home, currently in the independent living section. Next month they are moving into the assisted living apartments. Grandma, David and I took a tour of their new apartment. I am skeptical that Grandma will be able to squish a large, three bedroom home into a small, two bedroom apartment. Change is hard. It is one thing to do this kind of work with church members; it is much harder when it is your own family.

Tuesday night movie

2008-09-30T17:52:00.004-05:00

Why David weighs 22 lbs and is 29 inches long at 9 months...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

2008-09-29T07:38:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday to my sweet Mommy! (The part of the sign that David is kicking says "We love you!")

Sixty years ago a little sister was born in Baraboo, Wisconsin. She grew up to be the most wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, teacher and friend. She's a little on the short side, but makes up for it in spunk and verve. She's a little on the messy side, but nowhere as messy as she used to be. She loves to read and to teach others about the love of reading. She loves cats, chocolate and shoes. (Remember the yellow Minnie Mouse pumps from the Imelda Marcos era?)

She has an uncanny ability to match colors. She can braid little girls' hair lickity-split. She made many prom dresses and Easter dresses that were much better than the store-bought ones. She bakes a killer loaf of banana bread. She can sing the harmony to any popular song from the last one hundred years. She has the most distinctive, beautiful handwriting. She is a good sport (usually), even though we tease her mercilessly.

She is tender-hearted, faithful and someone I love with all my heart. Happy Birthday, Mom!

still here

2008-09-27T15:13:00.001-05:00

No, I haven't given up on my blog... I just haven't had anything I've wanted to blog about in a while. Plus, we are in the full busy, busy, busy mode of the school year, the church year and all of our other activities.

I'll be back -- I promise!

Facebook, baby update and other random Friday stuff

2008-09-12T12:41:00.009-05:00

Daddy and David work at the computer ----->

I like it when situations come full circle. A couple of years ago, Little Church on the Desert had a search committee for a new youth director. One young man came from out-of-state to interview. I really, really liked him during the interview process, but he did not end up as the youth director. Today I find out (via Facebook) that he is attending the same seminary I did and is working at a church as a youth director. It is nice to hear what happens to people like this!

David is 9 months old today. He has two and a half teeth now (one just broke through the gums) and two more are poised to make their appearance. He can wave 'Hi!' and is going to be an early walker.

I am struggling with a situation that I'd rather not blog about -- but please pray that I can forgive and forget...

Tonight is the first meeting for this program year of the 'younger' Presbyterian Women group at Big Church, which I attend as a member, not as a pastor. I love these women and am looking forward to catching up with everyone.

Tomorrow we are going to a friend's 40th birthday party. I am so blessed and happy that we've become friends with so many of the younger couples at Big Church. They've all been friends for years, but they've welcomed our clan with open arms and included us in all their social activities.

School continues to chug forward for Thomas, Lily and Brett. We're in a pretty good routine with our schedules and that is nice. Lily and David are napping now and I'm glad to have a few minutes to myself.

I hope everyone has a restful and enjoyable weekend!

Dave catches a wave

2008-09-11T16:58:00.004-05:00

My grandma, my daughter and Sarah Palin

2008-09-11T14:05:00.003-05:00

Ever since John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate, I’ve been imagining the conversation I would have with my paternal grandmother about McCain’s choice. Since she died of Alzheimer’s back in 2006, this is a very hypothetical conversation. But my grandmother was a Republican – a die-hard, elephant-tchochke-collecting Republican – so I know she would have been interested in this development.

As a young mother, Grandma was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives and served on the committee that rewrote the North Dakota state constitution. She served as a lobbyist in Washington D.C. and as a parliamentarian for many civic organizations throughout her life. In many ways, Sarah Palin is reaping the rewards of the work done by Republican women like my grandmother. Fifty years ago, my grandmother was asked questions by the local media about her husband “allowing” her to run for office. She sent her own children to campaign for her door-to-door. I’ve seen hilarious campaign propaganda with my dad and his siblings in mid-1960s clothing and hairstyles, sitting around the dining room table with my grandparents, looking like the ultimate ‘Goldwater Family’.

And so my grandma would support Sarah Palin, right? I think she would. I think she would be proud to see a woman running for this important office. I think she would support her working while raising young children. I think grandma would resonate with that western, frontier mentality that she knew from growing up in Colorado and from living in California, North Dakota and Arizona. They shared taste in hairdos – thick, dark hair piled into precarious-looking beehives.

My grandmother only met my daughter once; and by then her Alzheimer’s was quite advanced. But grandma sat with me every day for a week, as I spooned baby food into Lily’s infant mouth. Grandma mentioned over and over that Lily was such a pretty baby. They shared their dark hair, their chocolaty-brown eyes, and their pretty olive skin. I am sad that grandma is not here to teach Lily to play cutthroat gin rummy or to make pancakes just the right size for dolls.

However, I am happy to not have the Sarah Palin discussion with grandma. The media is reporting that white women are rapidly switching their allegiance from Obama/Biden to McCain/Palin because, as a Caucasian mothers, they feel that Palin ‘gets’ them. Yet, as a Caucasian mother with non-Caucasian children, I find myself puzzled by the appeal of Palin. But I am glad that my daughter is heir to a wonderful tradition of intelligent, courageous women who work hard for their causes and their beliefs.

wordle

2008-09-06T17:02:00.002-05:00

Click to make this larger. These are fun to play with...

first ballet class

2008-09-06T12:17:00.000-05:00

Photo Collage by Dundoo - MySpace Editor

future blackmail material

2008-09-05T16:32:00.002-05:00

I'm sure Baby D will be horrified by this photo when he gets to be about 12. But I can't help myself; he is my sweet little ducky!

sad

2008-09-04T18:40:00.003-05:00

Las Manitas Closed Forever.

One of my favorite Austin restaurants is now closed. We went there back in February, when we were in Austin for Stan's funeral. We saw the singer Patty Griffin eating huevos rancheros at the counter.

Brett and I bought our 'promise rings' (we couldn't afford engagement rings at that point) from the little gift shop next door. Some of the fondest memories of our dating and seminary experiences took place on this short block.

One of the quirks about this restaurant was that the restrooms did not have their own sinks. You had to come out into a public hallway to wash your hands in front of God and everyone. It was probably not designed for this purpose, but it publicly shamed non-hand washers. Which I am all for.

We loved living in Austin. The town's unofficial motto is 'Keep Austin Weird'. Great place.

wow

2008-08-31T16:44:00.003-05:00

I guess I should have seen this one coming.

You know why some conservative Christians are not supporting McCain's choice of Palin as VP? Because she is supposed to be home with her kids (even though her husband is a stay-at-home dad).

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/31/1469/85335/817/580901

Gah.

I am frustrated with how some on both sides are acting. If you don't like her, don't vote for her. But don't tell her she is a 'bad' Christian.

not ready for this yet

2008-08-30T15:49:00.002-05:00

Yes, he did this by himself.

Tom & the work of God

2008-08-30T08:40:00.003-05:00

Many times over the last five years, especially with the arrival of each of my three children, I am amazed at how God, in her infinite wisdom, placed the right children in our family. My sweet Thomas, the most loving boy in the world, is also a little worrier, just as I am. I've spent hours and hours of my life worrying myself into frantic episodes of insomnia. As a child, I would become so upset when I couldn't sleep that my mom employed all sorts of devices to soothe me and calm me down. I am sorry to say that Thomas has experienced a few of these episodes lately. Thankfully, with my lifetime of knowledge on this subject, we've been able to work through things pretty well. My poor boy -- I know how awful he feels at these 2 o'clock in the morning moments when the night seems endless and threatening.

One thing that I've discovered, through the blessing of our particular brand of faith, is that Thomas adores the constancy and predictability of the liturgy. Saying the same prayers and singing the same songs help him in ways that I also remember from my childhood. (My mom singing Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" is an early memory and one that can still lower my blood pressure. Odd, I know. But it is my mom's voice, not Debby's, that helped).

A few months ago, standing in the Eden Seminary bookstore, I made an impulse purchase -- a gorgeous kid's book titled Sleep in Peace, written by Ingrid Hess. The book is published by the wonderful Mennonite Publisher, Herald Press.

An example of the text:
When the songs you've sung
fill the evening sky
with the melody
of a lullaby

and when bedtime stories
have all been read,
when memories swirl inside your head

God loves you, sweet child. Sleep in peace.

The proper execution of the liturgy goes like this:
1) I read the verse
2) Thomas chants the refrain

1) I read the verse
2) Thomas chants the refrain

The upshot of this... when Thomas becomes anxious about something, I can say, "God loves you, sweet child" and he replies, "Sleep in peace" with the seriousness of a little cantor with a slightly lisping, lilting voice. The purpose of liturgy, some say, is to both glorify God and to equip Christians for carrying out Christ's mission in the world. Essentially, liturgy should transform us through the knowledge of God's presence with us.

As I see my child, God's precious child, enter into peaceful, restful sleep precisely because he knows that God is with him, I am filled with wonder and thanksgiving. Sleep in peace.

not a day off

2008-08-26T19:25:00.004-05:00

There is a guy in our old presbytery who has a vanity license plate on his truck that says 'NO CIRC'. Besides being a very active Presbyterian elder and the religion reporter for my hometown newspaper, this guy would be very incensed about the out-patient surgery our youngest child had performed this morning. The surgical resident commented again on the appropriateness of this procedure for our baby, but I know there are people out there who are adamantly opposed. Nevertheless, David is sleeping now and seems pretty comfortable.

Thomas decided that today was the day to stuff his entire pb&j sandwich into his mouth at one time during lunch. Evidently recess occurs immediately after eating lunch, so the sooner you eat, the sooner you can go out to the playground. This "eat-a-sandwich-in-one-bite" plan was an awesome one on Tom's part, until the large sandwich caused him to gag and then barf all over himself. So, we were in the recovery room at the children's hospital with #2 son when the school nurse called to ask us to pick up vomit-covered #1 son. Due to the fact that we were "across the river" with David, Thomas had to sit in the school office for an hour until we could come to pick him up.

Thankfully, our daughter spent the day with a dear friend and there was no vomit or other grossness (that I know of).

My kids make my heart hurt. They are all tucked into bed now and I am exhausted. I love them so much and they infuriate me and exhilarate me, all at the same time. I am glad that I am going to work tomorrow.

so far, so good

2008-08-22T15:17:00.004-05:00

Thomas loves Kindergarten! I am not surprised, as he loved preschool. But the first three days have passed and he seems very pleased. No unwelcome notes from the teacher, no tears from Tom.

Lily starts preschool next week. That will be the bigger challenge. Let's hope she can keep her teeth to herself. I did buy her this book a few weeks ago (Susan found it at the Hogwarts Bookstore)...

I'm only crying a little bit...

2008-08-20T07:50:00.007-05:00

First day of kindergarten!

Very brave and excited! We'll let you know how his day turns out.

pure joy

2008-08-18T16:29:00.002-05:00

updates

2008-08-17T20:01:00.003-05:00

Sorry that I haven't been blogging much.

Thomas begins kindergarten on Wednesday.

I have Presbytery on Thursday.

Brett begins teaching next week.

Lily begins preschool a week from tomorrow.

David has an outpatient surgical procedure a week from Tuesday.

I am trying to get back in the swing of things at church, after being out for three weeks (two weeks of vacation and one of study leave).

Things are going well here -- I am just trying to keep my head above water!

We should all be into our fall routine after Labor Day. The church is gearing up for Big Church Big Programming. I need to write some Sunday school lessons and get ready for Deacons kick-off for the year.

Sorry for the boring nature of this post. Sometimes boring is good...

"How Beautiful Are the Feet of Those Who Bring Good News"

2008-08-13T07:08:00.008-05:00

Liturgical Fashion Photo Shoot at
the National Cathedral

Board members of the Young Clergywomen Project

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”", Isaiah 52:7

My sisters in Christ -- beautiful, creative, kind, funny, brilliant and well-dressed.
How wonderful to be included in such company.
Our God reigns!

Eight! Eight! Eight months old today!

2008-08-12T16:27:00.002-05:00

"What can I say? I'm a cool kid. I've got a new tooth and another on the way. I can sit up and crawl. I've got everyone I know wrapped around my finger."

D.C. -- day one

2008-08-05T06:08:00.003-05:00

I am here at the National Cathedral in D.C. for the Young Clergywomen Project board meeting. We are having such a good time and making quite a bit of progress on the future of our project. I am thrilled to be part of this group of amazing women. Very late last night our dear Sarah asked, "How did we all get to be so awesome?" Good question! I think it is because so many of us were born in the blessed year of our Lord, 1977. ;)

We finish up our board meeting today and then the preaching conference with Dr. Ruthanna Hooke begins late this afternoon. I am looking forward to more young clergywomen joining us for the conference, especially two priests from Sweden!

It is hot here because D.C. is always hot in the summer. But it is nothing like the record-breaking heat wave that we experienced while here last August. And the Cathedral has updated their A/C system since then, so we are positively comfortable inside the building.

Getting here yesterday was a bit of a disaster. I left my cell phone in my car at the airport and I managed to spill a Starbucks on my skirt before I even got on the plane. After those mini-disasters, my flight was good and there were no travel issues.

I hope my boys and girl are having a fun time at Camp Daddy!

health update

2008-08-02T17:51:00.003-05:00

First of all, THANK YOU for all the prayers you've lifted up for Brett over the past six weeks.

He went to his follow-up appointment with the infectious disease specialist on Thursday. Over the past month, he has been tested for meningitis, hepatitis, leukemia, lymphoma, mononucleosis, West Nile, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, CMV, and just about any illness of that type. Their conclusion? They don't have one. Brett is getting better and they've decided that they cannot know what specific virus or illness caused his symptoms.

So -- we have quite a few bills to pay (Board of Pensions pays for these things at 80%) and we also have our son's adoption fees to finish paying in the next six weeks. But we are so thankful that Brett is healthy and does not seem to have any long term issues.

The Worm

2008-07-27T16:06:00.003-05:00

Remember this cool breakdancing move?

A new, fresh variation:

vacation narration (with pictures)

2008-07-27T12:57:00.018-05:00

We're home from a wonderful retreat in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Brett and the older two climb the stairs around the Victorian landscaping in downtown Eureka.

My husband (scholar of religious healing) liked the inscription on this building.

Our little cabin in the woods.

Brett and the kids, hiking while on the lookout for deer and "moosks".

Tom and Lily in the whirlpool tub. I soaked myself into a giant prune each night we were there. Do you think Brett would mind if I took out the kitchen and put in one of these tubs?

Lily didn't want her picture taken... Little Miss Sourpuss.

Baby Sugarface

Art Photography by Thomas

Lily ready to ham it up for the camera this time (being held by Daddy helps).

A nickel squished by the diesel engine. She tossed this souvenir out the window of the moving train within minutes of this photo. I pray no one was hurt.

Christ of the Ozarks and four of his followers. Brett thinks Jesus is oddly proportioned. He does seem a bit Oompa-Loopma-like... are his arms too long? Is he too short? Maybe his head is too big...?

Singing along

More trains -- this one on the University of Arkansas campus. Good news for those following Brett's health issues -- we were able to dine AND imbibe at the Hawg Haus Brewing Company.

Tired but happy. They had so much fun!

a few good things

2008-07-21T12:05:00.002-05:00

I am on day 1 of 14 days of vacation! We are going out-of-town for about 5 days -- which means 9 days of stay-cation.
The whole family slept in this morning. We didn't hear any peeps from the little peeps until nearly 7:30AM. Yay!
99% of the laundry is done, the house is clean, the neighbor kids are taking care of the menagerie while we are gone.
We are going to spend time with extended family (yay!) AND spend time in a little cabin with just our family of five (double YAY!!)
Vacation Bible School was excellent and VBS Sunday went very smoothly. Thomas's behavior during the songs improved tremendously over the past year. He is really growing up.
Brett is feeling much better and appreciates all the prayers. He has an appointment on the 31st to find out the results of all the tests and blood work. Prayers still needed!
We will be celebrating the 60th wedding anniversary of Brett's grandparents this weekend. Very cool!
That's about all... I'll post some pics when we get back.

showing up

2008-07-19T14:42:00.003-05:00

The phone rang around 7:00 this morning. A church member calling to give some terrible news about another church member. By 8:00, I'd driven to a large, downtown hospital. By 10:00, I was home, having prayed with and for a family during the death of a family member.

It is an odd thing, to begin the day this way. To be a part of such a sacred, tragic, beautiful moment, when the baptism of this blessed saint of God became complete in her death. By 10:15, I was out running mundane errands with my daughter, but not long before, I talked with family about organ donation and funerals and other rituals of such great importance.

The Presbyterian blogosphere has been full of 'political' talk since the General Assembly finished their work last month. Some are angry with the results; some are elated. But families who call their pastor early on Saturday morning, needing someone to remind them of God's presence even in the face of death and tragedy, these families are not worried about the Book of Order or the theological conservatism or liberalism of their pastor's seminary or the Essential Tenets of the Reformed Faith.

I am reminded that being a pastor is nothing special, really. I have no medical expertise, nor do I bring any practical aide in the midst of a gaping emptiness. But I know enough from these past ten years that showing up is 99% of what the church is about. Show up, try not to say anything too stupid or thoughtless. Show up with Bible or Prayer Book in hand, touch the still-warm hand of the one who has gone to be with her Savior. No great sermon or ministry program or Bible study matters in the ICU of a downtown, high rise medical facility.

I love the UCC's slogan: "God is still speaking." I think that "God is still showing up" doesn't have the same style... but it is true, and something that the Church needs to see from her clergy -- God is still showing up.

breaking news

2008-07-18T11:13:00.003-05:00

I got my hair cut. That's all.

one day a month

2008-07-17T15:00:00.002-05:00

I am on hold with the darn Board of Pensions. AGAIN. I could easily spend one full day a month on the phone with the health insurance, dental insurance, etc. Here is a post I wrote about them last June. I've been back and forth with our pediatrician's office and Blue Cross/Blue Shield for the past hour. I shouldn't have to be the one to explain to my insurance company or my doctor's office what is covered by my policy!

cute

2008-07-13T18:55:00.006-05:00

My dad is an attorney. Over the course of a few decades in practice, my dad and his (now retired) partner had many, many secretaries. The main reason they had so many secretaries is that the main qualification they looked for seemed to be good looks. They had incompetent secretary after incompetent secretary. On the other hand, the tough-looking paralegal who has worked for my dad has stuck around year after year.

The cutest of the cute secretary parade was a woman named Chris. I remember her from my childhood. To say she was a dim bulb is an understatement. It was essentially like Jessica Simpson hung out in their office, talking on the phone and such. My dad told her that she'd "better not run out of cute".

A few weeks ago, my dad gleefully told the story of running into Chris at the county courthouse a few months ago. In a conversational turn that only my dad can manage, he mentioned to Chris that she didn't look so good (my dad, at 60, is often mistaken for my brother; I guess this gives him the right to comment on such things). Chris (apocryphally, in my opinion), responded by saying, "Yeah, I guess I finally ran out of cute."

*************************************

While in full tantrum mode during their recent visit, my dad admonished my daughter not to run out of cute. I had two separate individuals use the word 'exquisite' to describe Lily at church this morning. I do think my daughter is gorgeous. But I don't want her to spend her life worrying about 'cute'. Luckily she has a tough-as-nails personality to go with all that cute.

Assistance Needed -- Birthday Blog

2008-07-13T14:13:00.003-05:00

Please help me to wish my friend Tin Man a happy 40th birthday tomorrow!

Tin Man is a seminary student and the brother of one of my closest friends. The past year has been full of challenges for T.M. - he deserves to start 40 out in style. Please head over to his blog at: http://emptykettle.blogspot.com/ and wish him a great day.

Thanks!

2 pics = 2 thousand words

2008-07-11T16:26:00.002-05:00

http://sendbarackyourbaby.com/photos.html

I wish I'd taken this photo

2008-07-08T17:19:00.001-05:00

But Judy knows how to avoid our kids so this kind of thing doesn't happen to her.

more cat pictures

Happy Birthday to Me!

2008-07-06T14:12:00.003-05:00

My friend reverendmother says that just posting photos is the lazy bloggers way of posting. Oh well -- it's my birthday, so I'll post photos if I want to! :)

Here I am with my two beautiful sons!

saturday adventures

2008-07-05T19:10:00.007-05:00

We went to a local state park for lunch and a walk this afternoon. The route was rather circuitous, due to recent flooding of the Mississippi, but we got there eventually. The weather was gorgeous and we enjoyed our time out and about.

Thanks to those who've asked after Brett's health. He is feeling better, but is still not at 100%. Maybe 80%, or even 85%. He goes back to the doctor on Monday, probably for more blood work.

Say a little prayer for Big Church. One new staff member arrived yesterday (hallelujah!) and one may be leaving (sigh). Change, change and more change. It is hard on the staff.

I hope everyone had a good 4th!

The Big Read

2008-07-03T21:16:00.003-05:00

My friend Pastor Peters posted about something called 'The Big Read', from the NEA, designed to encourage community reading initiatives. They came up with a list of their top 100 books and they estimate that the average adult has only read 6 of these books. I will highlight the ones I've read. Cut and paste into your blog and let us know which you've read.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

I've read 55 of these -- more than half. I am embarrassed by some that I have not read and I am confused why some are even included. I guess this just leads to the usual conclusion -- some Americans hate books...

accomplishment

2008-07-02T17:11:00.003-05:00

Thomas and his t-ball trophy!

to balance

2008-07-01T19:04:00.008-05:00

In order to balance out my previous crabby post,
here are some cute, clean, sleepy kid pics:

tired and grouchy

2008-07-01T18:16:00.004-05:00

Brett left on a trip with a friend of his on June 16.

My parents arrived on June 18.

Brett got home on June 20. He arrived home sick.

Baby D was baptized on June 22.

My parents flew home on June 23.

Brett went to the doctor in the morning, on June 23.

I took Brett to the Emergency Room on the evening of June 23.

Brett had a spinal tap in the ER. No meningitis. They sent us home with some prescriptions.

Brett started taking his prescriptions on June 24.

Brett had a serious allergic reaction to one of his prescriptions on June 24.

Brett went back to the doctor on June 25. Blood work showed he did not have West Nile.

I had a conference at church on June 27 and 28. Babysitting was arranged in a very piecemeal fashion so Brett could stay at home and rest.

Lily felt sick at church on June 29.

I took Lily to the outpatient clinic on June 29. She got an antibiotic prescription.

Brett still feels sick.

Brett went back to the doctor this afternoon, July 1. He got an antibiotic prescription.

Our new music director moves to town on July 4. I am coordinating volunteers to help her move in.

VBS begins in less than 2 weeks. The VBS director is not super cheerful. I am avoiding her.

I am tired. I am praying no one else gets sick. I need a day off. My vacation begins in 20 days. I hope I can make it. Wah.

learning curve

2008-07-01T07:48:00.002-05:00

Poor Thomas. As my first child, he must endure all of my "first time" experiences as a mother. For example, it seems that the deadline to sign him up for the U-6 soccer season was *June 1st*, not July 1st. Thankfully, another mother mentioned this to me on Saturday and I frantically called around yesterday and weaseled our way onto the team. Paying a late fee for the registration, all the while.

Luckily for me, Thomas is very forgiving. As we walked into the grocery store yesterday afternoon, Tom held my hand and said, "I will play soccer because it will make you happy to watch me play, Mommy." I just hope all the running will wear him out a little bit.

a challenge concerning gratitude

2008-06-25T20:56:00.003-05:00

My friend Maria from Sweden tagged me for this meme. I needed this today!

Ten things I am grateful for:

1) My spouse
2) My three children
3) Our health
4) Our menagerie (two cats, two dogs)
5) Our church & our faith
6) Our cozy house
7) Chocolate, red wine and brie
8) Books
9) The bathtub
10) Friends & family

I tag Mags, PPB and APBS...

Post #500! 2008 Reading Challenge

2008-06-23T14:02:00.002-05:00

I know this is post #500 because blogger keeps track for me.

I think this is book # 25 (ish) in my reading challenge. I know I've read more than 25 books so far this year, but I have too much mommy brain going on, so I haven't been keeping track very well. So I'm calling this book 25.

***************************
Our dearest Little Mary sent this book as a gift to Brett. He's been out-of-town and is now sick in bed. So LM gave me permission to read this book first. (Happy Birthday to LM! btw).

Father & Son: Finding Freedom, by Walter and Matthew Wangerin. The Wangerins' website describes the book by saying: "Walter Wangerin, Jr and his adopted son, Matthew share their deeply personal story. Each in his own words, father and son narrate the history of their relationship and how they found new meaning --- and new identities --- through times of brokenness, hope and rediscovery. Father and Son is a profound meditation on fatherly love and a son's independence --- and one family's search for reconciliation."

To put it simply, this book is breathtakingly beautiful. I cried numerous times while reading it. Walter Wangerin describes his feelings about his children and adoption (which differ slightly from my own), with such honesty and grace. This is a great book for parents and children who have had any sort of rocky times in their relationships. Precious and perfect. I shared one of the stories in this book with my Sunday school class yesterday. One woman already emailed me this morning to say she went out after church to buy the book and read about 1/3 of it last night! Highly recommended.

that girl

2008-06-22T21:15:00.003-05:00

Lily wearing a childhood coat of mine. Very 1970s chic.

newest Christian

2008-06-22T19:17:00.005-05:00

David is forever bound in his baptism to the household of faith and the body of Christ. As the prayers were read and the congregation affirmed their willingness to raise him in the knowledge and love of Christ, our youngest child laughed and shouted with joy. When the water splashed across his brow, his eyes widened in surprise, but, just as quickly, his smile returned. God's grace washed over the whole worshipping community.

As each of my children received this sacrament, the words of the apostle Paul have seemed so apt: "just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." (Ephesians 1:4-6).

What joy we have when we witness the truth that God claims us even before we can respond in faith! Our God is so good. May we each remember our baptisms with joy and thanksgiving. Thanks be to God.

A Sister for Becky

2008-06-21T16:07:00.008-05:00

Because we didn't have enough living creatures in our house...

LUCY!

She and Becky seem to get along well already. We are hoping that Becky will be less lonely during the day with a friend to play with. They look shockingly alike.

good (but long) day

2008-06-18T07:07:00.002-05:00

Yesterday went well. It was a very long day, but that was really the worst of it.

We were almost late to David's first day at the babysitter's house. Lily had been playing with his bucket car seat and had tightened all the straps. I managed to loosen them a little bit, but it was a tight squeeze to get Big Baby into the seat. So the babysitter's first impression of me was not great -- I had to ask her to help me figure out how to fix the seat so the air was not been pushed out of baby's lungs. But he LOVED the babysitter. Tom and Lily loved her too, especially the awesome toys she had. Lily will be going to her some in the fall and Tom declared that he didn't want to go to kindergarten, but to the babysitter's house instead. Too bad, Thomas.

Church went well. When our previous music directors left last fall, a few events they had planned did not get assigned to anyone. One of those events was finding housing for 25+ children and adults from a touring children's choir. I was terrified that some of my volunteer families would not show up and I would have a number of children on the floor in my den, sleeping in sleeping bags. But my volunteers arrived! Thomas and Lily were very wound up when we finally arrived home past 9:00 last night. Thomas is still sleeping, actually. I'm going to need TNT to get him out of bed in a few minutes.

I am off to see my spiritual corrector later this morning. She's been out of town for a month, so I am looking forward to seeing her. My mom and dad fly in later today, so I somehow need to clean the house and go to the grocery store. Oh, and get to church extra early to receive the choir members back from their host families.

This is probably the most boring blog post ever. Sorry. Oh, in case anyone wants to know, Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Guggenheim in NYC. Why do I mention that? No reason... Have a great Wednesday!

Coincidence? I think not.

2008-06-16T17:30:00.004-05:00

Brett hates stuffed animals. For the past five years he has begged my parents not to give the kids too many stuffed animals.

Brett went out of town this morning. This afternoon, the mailman delivered a giant package to Lily...

my new favorite website

2008-06-16T15:40:00.002-05:00

http://www.bureauofcommunication.com/

One of my favorite forms:

Six month appointment

2008-06-16T13:40:00.006-05:00

Baby D went to the doctor today.

28 inches long -- 90% percentile
18 lb., 15 oz. -- 75% percentile
18 inches head circ. -- 90% percentile

GIANT BABY!

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T14:21:00.002-05:00

Fa·ther's Day (fä'thərz dey)
noun.
1. The third Sunday in June, observed in the United States in honor of fathers.
2. A day of "Father's-giving", observed in our house by "eating ice cream" (according to Thomas).

FactCheck.org - a snopes.com for politics

2008-06-12T17:11:00.001-05:00

A very cool site!

http://www.factcheck.org/
Our Mission

We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit, "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.

The Annenberg Political Fact Check is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The APPC was established by publisher and philanthropist Walter Annenberg in 1994 to create a community of scholars within the University of Pennsylvania that would address public policy issues at the local, state, and federal levels.

The APPC accepts NO funding from business corporations, labor unions, political parties, lobbying organizations or individuals. It is funded primarily by the Annenberg Foundation.

seis meses

2008-06-12T08:12:00.003-05:00

Baby D is six months old today. He is a huge baby -- we need to start shopping at 'Baby Big & Tall'. His appointment with the pediatrician is next Monday, but I think he is at least 20 pounds. The shirt he is wearing is an old one that Tom wore between about 12-18 months. He is still as sweet as ever!

center of the universe

2008-06-07T10:37:00.003-05:00

***Not a post for those who are easily grossed out***

Scene:
Last night. Brett and I are eating supper. Thomas and Empress Lily are watching a video in the den. Sudden sounds of Lily scurrying to the bathroom.

Empress Lily: Mommy! C'mere! Mommy!

(I leave my delicious supper on the table to attend to the Empress).

E.L.: Mommy! Wipe my bottom!

Me: (wipe, wipe)

E.L.: Mommy, doesn't my poo-poo make you happy?

***********************

You know what? Her little Empress poo-poo does make me happy. Especially now that she is using the little Empress throne.

2008 Books

2008-06-06T08:16:00.002-05:00

The level of crazy around here is about 142%. I've lost track of what I've read. Here are a few recent ones I can remember:

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

Evening is the Whole Day by Preeta Samarasan

A Church of Her Own by Sarah Sentilles

you've gotta admit...

2008-06-05T18:27:00.004-05:00

No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, you've gotta admit that Michelle Obama is gorgeous and classy. Just look at this photo -- she looks great and her house looks great. And look at all the books to the left of the fireplace. This is what I want -- a presidential family that READS (and not just the kind of books you can buy at the airport gift shop). Change you can believe in.

potpourri post

2008-06-01T18:45:00.003-05:00

Ever have one of those weeks where you have so many things to blog about that you don't even know where to start? This has been one of those weeks. A few examples.

Head of Staff is out on emergency family leave. So instead of working my 1/2 time 'maternity' leave schedule, it looks like I will spend the next few weeks working 1 1/2x to 2x my regular schedule. At least that's what it has been like for the past couple of weeks, due to staff vacations and other issues. I am tired. But things are pretty good at church.
I inadvertently, unofficially officiated at a memorial service with a Catholic priest who retired early for alleged misdeeds with minors. I know. It is in BOTH the 99th percentile for creepy and the 99th percentile for icky.
David has started the baby inchworm scooting technique. It won't be long until he is crawling.
We took Thomas, Lily and Tom's best friend, Lucas, to the circus yesterday. Even though PETA and my friend Cyndi don't approve of the circus, the kids had fun.
We finally got our air conditioning working. It seems that Becky the Basset Hound chewed through an essential wire of some kind.
Our confirmands led the worship services this morning. They did a great job.

That is about all I can think of for now. I've been trying to read a book all week -- a few pages here and there -- and I hope to finish it before bed tonight. It is called Evening is the Whole Day and was written by a high school classmate of Brett's. Ciao!

summer school

2008-05-27T18:34:00.004-05:00

The two crazies are in the same class for summer school. Today was the first day of the summer session, so Thomas spent the drive to school telling Lily what she could and could not do. It seems they did alright, other than Tom tattling on his sister after she pushed his best friend's sister on the playground.

another kind of memorial

2008-05-27T08:21:00.001-05:00

Take a minute to watch this slide show. Click here.

national holidays & church

2008-05-26T16:11:00.003-05:00

How do you handle national holidays at church? Memorial Day was yesterday and it was mentioned in the service (but not enough for some, evidently). 4th of July is coming up soon. What do you do when planning worship on these secular holidays?

Family dictionary: "bicho baby"

2008-05-26T12:41:00.003-05:00

This is what we call it when our babies sleep with their knees tucked under them and their bottoms sticking up in the air. "Bicho baby" is a little bug, round like a roly-poly. He is snuggling a butterfly toy in this photo, which makes it all the more appropriate.

ready for the beach

2008-05-24T10:03:00.002-05:00

Lily is proud of her new bathing suit.

Alexandra and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

2008-05-21T18:21:00.002-05:00

I thought I was early to church this morning. Instead I forgot that it was Pajama Day at Tom's preschool. I had to call my husband and have him race over with some Lightening McQueen jammies. Tom cried at my forgetfulness.

I didn't go to get the pajamas myself because I expected one of my deacons at 9:00. We had planned to visit someone in the hospital about 45 minutes away.

Instead of arriving at 9:00, my deacon showed up a little before 11:00.

We took a wrong turn on our way to the hospital and didn't get there until 11:45.

In the hospital parking lot, I returned a call to the church. It seems I was to participate in a Bible study with one of the women's circles at noon. My secretary asked, "Will you be back in time?" Ah, no.

I talked with the circle leader to offer my apologies. She was pretty nice about it. Secretary -- not so nice. When I said, "Oh no, I really messed up!", she responded, "Yeah, you did." Thanks.

When I got back to the church, I saw I had clearly written the Bible study on my calendar. For next Wednesday. So close, yet...

I feel a little achy and dizzy. The cheapo, Target brand diapers I bought for David leak.

It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Some days are like that.

morning baby

2008-05-21T07:23:00.004-05:00

Monday thoughts

2008-05-19T19:25:00.002-05:00

I am pretty tired today. But here are a few updates:

Baby D is sleeping through the night. He still stirs around 3 or 3:30, but is willing to go back to sleep with a pacifier and a pat. This is MUCH better than getting up for 30 minutes to feed him.
Head of Staff is on vacation for about ten days. I'm back to my days of solo pastoring. I don't mind, as long as no big crisis occurs.
The weather has been perfect here. I hope we have a good Memorial Day so our BBQ/cookout plans can move forward. I need to finish up the den project and clean up some so we can have friends over to play this weekend.
We have a "drive-by" pray-er at church. A man in his 70s drive up in his late-model VW, parks and walks through the church and into the sanctuary. He sits is there for no more than three minutes and then leaves. He smiles pleasantly if you encounter him in the halls, but gives no clue as to his motivation. I've never seen him at worship. Maybe I'll find out his story someday.
Little Miss Empress is really into singing these days. She seems to know every annoying kids' song that has ever existed. "Ten Little Monkeys", "Little Bunny Foo-Foo", "Old MacDonald". She is adorable.
Thomas's church grandma came to his t-ball game yesterday. He left the field during the game to come over to our lawn chairs and ask if we would buy him some potato chips. For him to eat during the game. I guess the outfield is boring and makes you hungry.
I heard the BEST examination of an ordination candidate at last week's presbytery meeting. I love when strong, talented women speak their minds against little, Napoleonic bullies. Go, Rev. Ms. Thing, go!
Thomas and Lily begin summer school next week. Together, in the same class. It's the "Bickersons go to preschool". I hope there is no blood.

Have a great week!

Daddy and Baby watch the Daily Show

2008-05-16T21:37:00.002-05:00

safe place

2008-05-13T17:17:00.004-05:00

Sometimes I wonder if my job accomplishes anything at all. Sometimes God allows my office or my email or my phone number to be a place of safety. I don't know if that does much in the long run, but it is assuring to know that I put out those kind of vibes.

You know you are getting old when...

2008-05-10T18:11:00.002-05:00

... the only chance you have to go to a rock concert is with your kids. And you like it. And you kind of think the lead singer is cute, in a Disney-meets-hipster sorta way.

In other not surprising news -- Lily has a future as a rock star/artist/general cool kid. She tried to climb on the stage. Luckily the kiddie bouncers didn't have to wrestle her to the ground. She was disappointed that there was no mosh pit.

Bonus points to the poster who can identify the band this guy sang with before he became a kiddie rock star (no Googling allowed).

another boring post about my home repair projects

2008-05-10T08:13:00.003-05:00

peel off vinyl wallpaper -- DONE
scrape off wallpaper glue with solution of hot water & palmolive -- DONE
patch wall with spackle -- DONE
sand rough spots -- DONE
paint with oil-based primer -- DONE
paint with color called "feldspar" (a light green with yellow undertones)

Now I need to touch up the paint, paint the back door with white enamel paint (former homeowners had painted the door pink, to match the awful wallpaper. Thanks...) and do some other little tasks. But overall our den looks much less like the inside of a Polly Pockets house.

besomami vs. wallpaper, part II

2008-05-06T16:05:00.004-05:00

The people we bought this house from LOVED wallpaper. Last summer I removed some horrible vinyl wallpaper from the kids' bathroom and three layers of wallpaper from the kitchen. The next project is the truly awful pink wallpaper. This is the largest portion of paper in the house -- a 23 x 11 foot den and a 18 x 8 foot hallway. Formerly papered in a faux grass paper print of vivid pink. Yes, folks, that is over 650 sq. feet of wall space covered in a paper that pantone calls "misty rose". misty rose ---->

But no longer. I've got all the paper down now. My next project will be to remove all the ancient, dried wallpaper glue from the walls. Thankfully they are solid plaster, so getting the glue off shouldn't be too hard. We are hoping to paint the walls a light, bright color. Definitely not misty rose.

Later this summer I will tackle the not-too-bad striped paper in the front entrance way and the cabbage rose border paper in our bedroom. This concludes today's episode from the slightly shabby, HGTV blogosphere.

one year

2008-05-01T08:18:00.002-05:00

Tom, Lily and I arrived here one year ago today. (Daddy arrived a few days later). Overall, it has been an excellent year. And our family has grown by one goofy basset hound and one precious baby boy. We are blessed.

Guess who

2008-05-01T08:09:00.001-05:00

figured out how to roll over yesterday?

First Game of the Season

2008-04-27T16:34:00.006-05:00

great day

2008-04-25T19:54:00.002-05:00

Another favorite Auntie came to visit this weekend. We played with the kids last night. She and I got mani/pedi/brow waxing done this morning. We had a successful shopping trip at the mall with our littlest helper. We're looking forward to a fun party tomorrow night. And in all this fun, I finished my sermon! Yay!

There is nothing like some quality time spent with a good friend to recharge your batteries. And I bought a lavender brassiere on sale at Macy's! What more can a girl ask for?

correction

2008-04-23T15:52:00.003-05:00

Have I mentioned that I am seeing a new spiritual director? I really, really like her. She is a campus ministry director at the nearby university. Her office is in a Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome, which was, coincidentally, the location of my grandmother's marriage to her 3rd husband about twenty years back. I didn't realize that connection the first time I met with my spiritual director, but felt odd being in the globe/building. But then I remembered how impressed I was by the female Presbyterian minister who officiated at Grandma & Grandpa's service; she may even have been the first woman MOWS (minister of word and sacrament) that I'd ever seen "in action". But I digress...

I met with my spiritual director today. (Another aside -- sorry!-- GGF calls spiritual direction "spiritual correction" -- so my director is really my corrector).

And she told me that my call was not to "be a problem-solver". I know this is an obvious theological point, but I've never heard it phrased in exactly that manner. That is such good news -- to not think about ministry as a series of problems to be solved.

Worm Man

2008-04-22T15:53:00.007-05:00

After an especially rainy and soggy spring, Thomas has discovered his purpose in life -- to rescue worms that end up on the sidewalk after the rain. He told his preschool teacher that he is Worm Man and his job is to keep the worms safe.

Worm Man -- I salute you.

a few ministry things

2008-04-21T18:29:00.002-05:00

I am sad to hear that a respected colleague at a church where I used to serve is leaving because the atmosphere has become too stifling for effective ministry. That stinks.
I am frustrated by a situation where I don't feel I have any power to improve things. And I don't think those who have the power to improve things care enough about me to help. Sigh.
I am thrilled by the young women at Big Church. With very few exceptions, they are bright, articulate, career women who also love their kids, their spouses and enjoy laughing and a margarita or two. I never imagined this call would come with so many peers and friends.
I am excited to teach elementary-aged Sunday school this coming week. I love the kids at Big Church.
I am proud that both my big kids sang with the Children's Choir during worship yesterday. *Sang* is a bit of an overstatement -- well, they both danced and swayed to "Wade in the Water".
I am looking forward to spending time this weekend with a special sister in Christ. Thank God for wonderful colleagues and friends.

4 month check-up

2008-04-21T18:10:00.005-05:00

16 lbs, 7 oz. 26 inches tall. This kid is HUGE.

The pediatrician gave the okay for David to begin cereal and stage 1 baby food. Tonight he tried pureed carrots.