Party Time

O.k., I don't know about you, but this winter is lasting wayyyyy too long and I'm ready for a change of the jukebox. Lately, when i look outside at 4 pm and it's pitch black, it's as though the theme song from those "Hinterland Who's Who" starts up and strips my soul of all gladness. Whoever wrote that theme must have been the most depressing person that ever lived. Here is a link to a YouTube clip of one of these depressingly Canadian nature films we all grew up with (as if any of us will ever forget the torture!) The first note makes my skin crawl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwWHk8azaAc

I'm ready for some Beach Boys...Well, something cooler than Beach Boys but with just as much "Summer-Thought-inducing power". As always, when I get discouraged, or happy, angry, thoughtful, or confused, or filled with epiphanies...well as always...I've been thinking about food. I'm going Mexican this week in the form of Nachos I've decided. I may branch out as the week progresses but I'm starting with my favourite... If you'd like to come with me, then here are two of my favourite Nacho dips. Grab your sombreros, ponchos, pinatas and mariachi bands, chihuahuas, Mexican jumping beans, siestas and most of all visions of burning hot sunshine and get crackin' Ole!

Step 1: Go shopping for various kinds of nachos.
Step 2: Let the party begin
....oh yeah!
step 3: Forgive Jessica for including a depressing clip of loons in the beginning of this entry

Crab Artichoke Dip

8oz cream cheese
1/2 cup mayo
salt and pepper to taste
7 oz can crab meat well drained
6 oz jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/4 cup sliced green onion
1/2 cup diced red pepper
1/2 cup diced celery
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp Tabasco

Beat first two ingredients. Mix the rest in. You can eat it fresh, but I bake this in a glass baking dish at 350 for 20 mins or till it's bubbly and tanned all over and it's killer with nachos.

Fresh Guacamole

Mash- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice with 2 ripe avocados
Mix in:
1-2 cloves of pressed garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp chili powder
dash black pepper
bit of green or red pepper minced
bit of cucumber minced
bit of tomato minced

cover to chill, (leave avocado pits in)...also killer with nachos.

Radium or Bust

We decided last week to set out for Radium Hot Springs and have a family getaway. When we were finally all loaded up, i looked in the console and Curt had rented a handful of movies for the kids to watch. I had brought books so while the kids watched "The Yearling", "The Black Stallion" and "Spirit", I read aloud to Curt. I was feeling snorkelly and for some reason my back has been aching since Wes' November birth so wasn't surprised that as we pulled out of the driveway I could feel myself descending into full head-cold mode and achiness. So typical to get sick the minute you find time for it! I generously gave my illness to Curt and he is still suffering. ooops! :) We stopped in Calgary at my sister's place, put the kids to bed and nursed babies on her bed while the men talked downstairs. In the morning I went to get a shower and heard a frantic non-stop knocking on the bathroom door. I thought it was one of the kids as i said "I hear you!... I'm coming!" The knocking never let up in it's intensity. I thought, "This must be a HUGE emergency!!" I opened the door to find my sister Paige standing there smiling! After pushing her over, sitting on her and spanking her for her bad behaviour, she informed me that their water heater was broken so I couldn't take a shower. I took a cold one anyways. Seeing Paige was the highlight of my month. It seems like it's been forever since we've been together. After packing up our junk, we set out for Radium. The drive was beautiful. Our time away was maybe not as relaxing as we had hoped as the temperature dipped and it became too cold to take Wesley in the water. The icy wind whistled in his ears. Curt and I alternated days of taking the kids in the pools while the other one sat out with baby Wes. The rest of our time was spent eating, reading and teaching/playing card games with the kids....Oh yeah, and my personal favourite, the food network. We also were smart enough to invite ourselves over to Curt's aunt's house in Kimberly for a day of visiting. :) We decided to cut the getaway a day short and go visit Paige for dinner on the way home. When we got back to Calgary, Paige had a killer lasagna supper for us and my mom was there visiting. The cousins went sledding, played cards together and hid in bedrooms together telling stories while us mama's got caught up. Finding time to pull away as a family is becoming more and more precious even as it's becoming harder sometimes...it's good and needed. So fine to be back home in our own nest though!

"Nothing in my Hands I Bring..."

http://sojourner-ephraim.blogspot.com/2009/02/everything.html

Ah! The above is a link to my sister Paige's blog. As I read her blog this morning her account of her dream seemed a direct response to my posting last night about my Mother-to-God "show and tell". If you're reading this Paige, this is *so* good. I know that I wrote in your comments sections, but i want a record of this in my blog... to be a reminder to me of this morning and the love of God for me alone. I find that as a mother, I often bring all the things I'm "working on" to Him to show... my children. And yet, He wants everything stripped away, just to come alone. Frightening sometimes to come "empty-handed"... This hymn continues to haunt me the past month: Rock of Ages... "Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling, Naked come to Thee for dress, Humbly come to thee for grace..." Beautiful reminder that I am interesting to Him and *loved and accepted* too, even without anything in my hands as an offering. He wants to speak to me alone sometimes without distractions, without anything to depend on as a "conversation piece" beauty.--j


Here is my sister's dream... it's such a beautiful image to me.

"i had a funny dream last night - as i went to bed with this song in my head...i was singing to Him... this song...& i wanted to lift my hands - with my palms raised - to show him that all i had - was for him - & all He wanted to give me - my hands were open to receive. i went to take my hands out of my pockets & lift them in the air & all manner of little toys & nick nacks fell from my pockets & slipped between my fingers as i started to raise my hands... little balls, thimbles, pennies, paper clips...& i realized that i had to put it all aside in order to give my full attention to the task at hand. Funny little picture of what the inside of my head likely looks like to Him when i come before Him."

Show and Tell...and JOY!!

Curt came home early today and the kids were still on a high from some of the projects they have been working on. The older 3 had 10 minutes to write a fictional news report from a "news station" on the moon. The date would be July 20th 1969, the day that Neil Armstrong landed there with Apollo 11. They had to include as much information about the moon that they could remember from the past week. Robin (grade 2 was only expected to give a few facts and draw a picture of the landing.) When the 10 minutes were up I told them to gather in the living room for presentation. Ellie went first as she had a bible verse she has been trying to memorize. Everyone was very patient as she held the paper in front of her 5 year old face and slowly read through the verse line by line. Sadie of course is not slow to figure out when there is an opportunity to shine. When Ellie finished, she yelled out "MY TURN!!" She stood up on the fireplace ledge and smiled smugly at us all until we started clapping. Then, satisfied with her applause, came to "snuggle" again. Next was Robin. She held up her picture. It was then i realized that she had basically drawn a whole lot of aliens with an "eyeball shop" and one of the items in the store was what my children refer to as a "hind" (end). How lovely! I insisted that she give me some of the scientific facts pertaining to the moon. Darren blurted out..."Hint! There are NO aliens!" And he giggled behind his paper. Robin laughed and rattled off "...no oxygen, no atmosphere, rocks fall on the moon and make craters...". Hmmm, next time she will write a paper too. :) Darren and Carrie got up and gave cute little presentations "reporting live from (insert their nicknames here) station" There was even an interview with Neil Armstrong. As soon as the older two were done, Sadie insisted that we perform the "puppy song" for Curt. Now, ever since Darren was a baby I used to play music on the piano and tell stories. When it would thunder, i would pound on the lower keys making minor chords and then high splashes of upper keys. Rain would be descending high notes. Sunshine would be suspended chords, and puppies, well they would be fast, clownish chording. She went wild barking and acting out the story for Curt. Robin played the music for "the puppy begging" with sliding notes on her fiddle.
Some days feel like I've worked till I'm bone weary and there is nothing to show for it. Other days, God just pours joy on every little effort and I see again that He's building something with these days I'm laying into His hands! This family, these children are my offering back to Him. I'm going to not hold tightly to frustration and weariness, but hold my hands *open* to Him with my own mother-to-God "Show and Tell". Hands open for him to pour His JOY over and through it all.

Psalm 92:4
For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the work of your hands.

*pause*

Lately... well, for months now, we seem to be going at full throttle....but not really in any specific direction....just fast! We were reading the poetry of the Japanese Haiku master Issa this afternoon and one struck me as being such a pause in time. After translation it reads:

A distant mountain
shimmers in the
dragonfly's eye.

These fast and furious tiny moments of our everyday are adding up to create our family history. How am I responding in each tiny moment? It's important...the way I learn to respond in the *tiny moment* becomes habit. These habits will add up to become the temple of my life. Lord, slow me down, pause my heart, mind, soul... and turn me to you. Focus my eye on you so that my moments reflect your character. When someone looks deep into my eye... into my focus... let them see you, my mountain, my rock, my mighty fortress.

Romans 12:6-8 paraphrase

My husband will tease me for using the message paraphrase as i get annoyed when it's treated as a translation... but i don't care. This interpretation of Romans 12:6-8 struck home with me today. I think it's beautiful in it's practicality and simple language. I printed it off for my fridge door. Here it is:

6-8If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."
20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

Mission Impossible

After reading my sisters' blog about some of the events of her morning i thought i would record the events of my day... um... about 15 minutes into it i realized this was going to be an impossible task... actually, when Wes got up all through the night I knew today was going to be a day that may not be worth recording! At 7:30 am when my 9 year old came in the bedroom to inform me that the rest of the family was up... "...all except you mom...even DARREN is up!" I quick jumped out of bed with regret that I hadn't started off with a morning worth talking about. I started with a frenzy, giving out orders for everyone to get eating and cleaning up... made coffee but started teaching math instead of pausing to drink it. Sent Carrie off with her math lesson to complete the assignment, Ellie and Robin doing drills, Sadie on Starfall. I took Wes from Darren and got his math "investigation" started while nursing the babe and reading little golden books to the little ones who were ready for some attention. After that I'm not sure what happened...I had a 3 minute shower in there somewhere and listened to reading while i blow-dried my hair? Did numerous loads of laundry... I think I folded 4 of them and just put in a diaper load. Two or three loads of dishes. One batch of bread was made, two pans of buns, lunch, puzzles, baths, writing assignments, phonics, L.A. school, plugged toilets, diaper changes, lots of clean-up... blah blah... Then Wes decided that he didn't like the taco flavoured breast milk and thought a little screaming was in order. I shooed the other kids outside and tried to help Wes find his "happy place"...he didn't find it for about an hour. It was at the piano where he could see himself reflecting as he listened to me play. As soon as I quit, the writhing and air passing commenced. I put Sadie to naps when she came in rosy cheeked then called my sister Paige for verbal support and love. We were on the phone maybe 2 minutes before her youngest, a new walker, stood up under her piano and bonked his head hard enough to make the blood and tears flow. We listened to the crying on each others' ends of the line and laughed. *One* day it will be silence on both ends. When i remember that, I don't mind the sound of tears from my little ones so much. Both of us nursing sad boys, we talked a few minutes more and then hung up. Life is short...and fast...Curt just got home and I remembered that it's family day... I'm going to go enjoy it with grunting sad Wes.

Poetry Sunday

Whenever I don't have time to blog, I've decided to post one of my favourite poems. In university, I shared a tiny room with my French Canadian roomate. We had tiny wooden beds that pulled out from the wall and cupboards that hung out over the pushed in bed. My side of the room was plastered with printed poetry and scribbled poetry from my pen... Needless to say, i didn't get my damage deposit back at the end of the year even though they tore down those rooms the next year. haa! Here is one of my favourites...

W. H. Auden


Stop all the clocks,
cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.
He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.
The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Needs and Wants and God's love

need: requirement, demand, requisite, obligation, duty, necessity, essential

want: desire, wish, long for, yearn for, be attracted to, set one's heart on, crave

Curt took 4 of the kids to work this morning while i was armed with determination (to get the house clean) and also thankfulness that Curt had left me my happy helpful little Carrie along with the sad Wes. I made up some fried potatos and eggs and coffee while Carrie organized my cutlery drawers for me. (She is a born organizer.) Then we ate off the same plate and sorted out little chocolates for each kid into dishes for when they got home. My mom always seemed to remember to leave a Valentine treat for us growing up and this holiday reminds me of her more than any other. Anyways, As i got the counters cleaned up, and laundry folded Carrie rocked little Wes to sleep in the rocker and one of the things we started talking about was Need and Want. I asked her. Would you rather be needed or wanted Carrie? She said "That's the same thing....isn't it?" Is it? If I just *needed* Curt, but didn't really *want* him would that be enough for him? no. If my kids just *needed* me (to feed them, clean them, teach them) but never *wanted* me would that be enough? no. And yet, sometimes we act as if *neeeeeeding* someone is so much more important. Need usually has to do with the physical it seems: I need to eat or i'll eventually die. I need to sleep or i will get sick and...ultimately die. We need to go to the bathroom every now and then or there could be huge problems...whatever... Really, our needs are basic and few. Our wants are many....Want is not physical but emotional. It fits under the banner of *love*. How many love songs try to make need sound more important. Artists write songs with lyrics that complain that they "can't LIVE" without a person..."I NNNNNEEEEEED you!" But really, is that what we want to hear. I would rather hear, "I could live without you but i don't want to"..."I waaaaaaannnnt you!" The best relationships, the closest relationships are a balance of these two things. I do "need" my husband... but i also "want" him. Wes "needs" me right now...and the flashing moments when i see him "wanting" me make my heart leap. Need brings with it a burden of responsibility on one party in the relationship. One person is dependant on the other. I've seen relationships built on "want" (or love) turn to deep need when sickness, age, sadness fall. If there is a desire, a want, a love for the other person, filling those needs is not as difficult as if there is simply a burden of need and responsibility.
I've been thinking about this lately in relation to God and His relationship to us. Sometimes He calls us to obey and serve. Not because he *needs* us to. He could do it all by Himself. He doesn't *need* us, but he does *want* us. When we become involved in witnessing the work of God, we begin to see His character, His deep, intense love for others that can bring us to absolute speechlessness. When we are called to the forefront of agony to serve, it's not always because we have something to offer... sometimes it's simply because God is inviting us to witness His love... to think again of His deep love...to renew our faith in His love...His love... His *want* for us.

When I Hear the Praises Start...

My son, My son, why are you striving
You can't add one thing to what's been done for you
I did it all while I was dying
Rest in your faith, my peace will come to you
For when I hear the praises start
I want to rain upon you
Blessings that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are my child and you know me
To Me you're only holy
Nothing that you've done remains
Only what you do for Me
My child, My child, why are you weeping
You will not have to wait forever
That day and that hour is in My keeping
The day I'll bring you into Heaven
For when I hear the praises start
My child, I want to rain upon you
Blessing that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are My child and you know me
To me you're only holy
Nothing that you've done remains
Only what you do in Me
My precious bride, the day is nearing
When I'll take you in My arms and hold you
I know there are so many things that you've been hearing
But you just hold on to what I have told you
For when I hear the praises start
My bride, I want to rain upon you
Blessings that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are My child, and you know Me
To me you're only holy
Nothing that you've done will remain
Only what you do for me

--Keith Green--- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1GjhqalbYQ

Psalm 139:1-18

"O LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know my down sitting and my uprising, you understand my thought afar off. You compass my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue but, lo, O LORD, you know it altogether. You have beset me behind and before, and laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from your spirit? or whither shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall your hand lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yes, the darkness hides not from you; but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to you. For you have possessed my reins; you have covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works; and that my soul knows right well. My substance was not hid from you, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are your thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with you."

If we could be young again...

We were driving to a neighbors' house last night, Ellie, my 5 year old sitting between Curt and I in the front seat. All of a sudden she said "Mom? I'm going to talk in a different voice....(insert nasal kermit the frog voice here) "HELLLLOOOO! What are you doing mooooom??" I quickly switched to my own nasal voice and replied just as crazily. She laughed and kept up the conversation for the rest of the ride. How come kids can just do that? If I were in a deep conversation over coffee with a friend and suddenly announced that I had decided to spice things up with a little voice work... maybe a little miss piggy, a splash of elmo, a smattering of George W Bush, it probably wouldn't go over as smoothly....but it would be fun.

grace

Thinking about grace again today...

...it's beautiful when it's extended to us and unbelievable, shocking, undeserved. A heavy debt we know we can never re-pay...paid.

and yet

...it's overpoweringly painful to be the one extending grace to someone. I think i've come to the conclusion that grace is really something we borrow directly from the hand of God. It's not humanly natural or comfortable. It weighs heavily as we struggle to let the words fall from the lips. "i forgive" It is God in us speaking those words...it has to be. ...Is that why it's so striking when we see grace in all it's forms being extended? We are seeing the character of God reflecting through the lives of mere clay? Shocking that he would live in us, move us, change us, give us something so precious... as grace.

Natural Eye

My daughter Robin has always had a little eye for art so a year ago when we were throwing a baby shower for a cousin in the extended family, I asked her to help me make the banner. She did a huge beautiful picture of chicks flying and a farm yard with fences and women working at the laundry line, kids on the swings, animals in the trees. I was so impressed with her shading and ended up only doing the lettering for the banner and some of the background coloring so we could have it done on time. She was in grade 1 at the time. We gave the drawing to the new mother. Robbie is the kind of girl to leave little pictures and papers all over the house with I love you's on them and small precious crafts that she has made. I've been trying to get her to work at bigger projects to cut down on the sheer number of smaller projects she creates!
This year, I asked her to draw me a picture for my wall. She started at it and right away I noticed that she had been influenced by some of the art she has been looking at. She drew the wind as 3 great swirls in the sky and the bushes were made up of curling branches. Immediately I recognized it as something I had seen in two different pictures that she really likes. In my music room is a portion of Klimt's work. The tree in the background is made up of huge swirling branches. One of her favourite art books sits on the mantle with VanGogh's The Starry Night on the front page. His chilly wind depicted in swirling icy blues. I'm thrilled that she is picking up little elements of art that catch her eye. So much fun to see each child find passion in something they love and grow in their passion whether or not I am a great teacher in that area or not. Today, she started an ocean scene for Grannie influenced by the illustrations in a book we read about St. Columba. This afternoon we hung her sweet new picture in the livingroom as praise and encouragement for a whole weeks worth of work. May God multiply her little loaves and fishes in the area of creativity to bring herself joy and Him honor.

What just happened?

Have you ever had one of those days when it's over before you feel like you really punched your card into the time-slot machine? Well, today was one of those days for me! Curt had 4 goats to sell. He had loaded them up yesterday and took them to the auction house for today's sale. He told me we were going to go around 10 so to be ready with the kids and he would come and pick us up. We got breakfast on, everyone got math done then rotated with their L.A. while I worked one on one with the music lessons. Wes was a good baby and slept during the whole morning. The kids all set out books to bring for the drive. During the course of the morning though, Curt called to say that there were only about 8 goats going to be at the sale and 4 of them were ours! We were not going to go after all. I went back to the interrupted music lessons and broke the news. About 1/2 hour later though he called again to say that a few more had been brought so that we would go after all just for fun....even if it was only to buy chips at the concession and pick up the cheque. We were going to be late. He'd be home in 10 minutes. I was to drop everything and be ready. (So much of my life is spent dropping everything because of a change of plans. Boy am I going to be ready for the rapture!) Anyways, we drove to the auction in a vehicle blaring a CD about "Brother Andrew" for me and Curt while the older two read their "Trailblazer" series and the younger two read Little Bear and The Fire Cat. Sadie promptly fell asleep. Wes only howled for 1/2 of the trip *whimper*. We pulled up, loaded everyone out of the vehicle, filed into the near-empty auction house and filled the front row! Usually we can't find a seat and I have to load 2-3 kids on my lap. The auctioneer hopscotched all his tricky words through the dusty mic as about 5 groups of goats made their way in front of us....then it was over!! It had taken longer to drive there! haa haa
Back to the car,
to the bank,
to the library picking up ordered books,
to the gas station to see my sister in law home from vacation.
HOME
I hit the tub with Wes who had screamed all the way home this time. He was thrilled with the tub. When we got out the screaming commenced. Curt asked if i wanted to go on a date. I should have said no (considering Wes) but I really wanted to go out with just him. He picked up his babysitting niece who is amazing in every way, I pulled the crazy braids out of my hair, put on some lipstick and the three of us drove out the driveway together. Just Curt, Wes and I. Wes was finally sleeping so I thought that maybe we would have a peaceful dinner together. I was wrong. We got to the restaurant and who should come to serve us but Amelia Bedelia... well if it wasn't her it may as well have been. It was her 2nd day she told us with a giggle...I'm not sure if she meant "at the job" or "on earth". It was hilarious and piteous at the same time. I asked for a hot water with lemons. She brought me a foot-high metal cylinder filled with boiling water and wrapped in a dish-rag with the warning: "HERE IT IS!!! AND LIKE ALL HOT WATER... IT'S HOOOOOOT!" I was struck dumb. She just walked away and Curt gave me the look that said "Don't look at me, I don't know how you're supposed to drink out of that." But he said. You'd better hold onto that, it's not flat and it'll fall over." When she bounced by my table i politely asked her if I may have a mug or teacup to pour the water into. "ABSOLUTELY!!" She also brought us a large bowl of lemons. Then Wes began to cry... now I'm not going to go into every strange interchange between Amelia and us but let me assure you that it did continue! I got up to take Wes and his healthy lungs for a walk and Curt ate his meal as fast as he could. Then I gave Wes to Curt and picked up my fork. Amelia appeared, tilted her head to the side and asked me "Can I take your plate?" I said "Pardon me?" "Can I take your plate? Are you finished?" I looked at Curt with a smile. "No, I've only just begun but thanks.".... I don't know why i said "Thanks". Curt leaned over. "How come no one is looking after her? She's just on the loose!" I think she spied on us for the rest of the meal because as soon as the last morsel of food was in my mouth she was back to take my plate. Maybe we were her only table.
We stopped by Baby'sRUs to get a gift for a friend who just had a baby and drove home. Here I am now... the day gone, the kids tucked in but not asleep, Curt on his way home from driving the babysitter home...What just happened? It feels like the whole day passed in a finger snap. I am one day older, 12 hours of memories richer, and feeling a little lost...maybe a little like Amelia Bedelia...I may make myself a tall metal cylinder of boiling liquid wrapped in a tea towel... that should clear my mind.

wes' vanity playdate

My two oldest girls were invited to go over to their friends' house today after church. They were planning on tobogganing at "Hamburger Hill". Carrie and Robin were so thrilled to be going and that they got to go together. At lunch they were talking about what it was going to be like and Ellie, my next oldest girl was concerned. "Is it like a birthday party???! How come I don't get to go?" Curt told her that he would take her to Tofield to deliver goats for the auction we're going to tomorrow and she was instantly cured of any jealousy. Here is the dialogue that followed:

Darren: Sometimes you get to go and sometimes you don't, that's just the way it is Ellie... I'M not invited either.

Carrie: I don't think my friend likes you Darren. That's why you weren't invited. (giggles)

Darren: (smiling) Oh YEAH?? Maybe she reaaaaly does like me and that's why I'm not invited! (Huge laughing around the table)

Since when did Darren gain such bravado and confidence? I loved it. It reminded me of my husband Curt. When he was single, he asked a girl out and she said no... so he kept going through the days of the week. "How about Mon... Tues? Wed? this was getting obvious now but at this point he just wanted to make her say no for the whole week.. Thurs? Fri? Sat? Sun? (All "No") When he told me the story I asked him why she wouldn't go out with him. (Of course it seemed crazy to me because he's so obviously incredible.) Anyways, he looked at me and with a straight face stated: "Something was wrong with her." And then he bust out laughing. Ah! Like father like son. Darren is so much like me, it was funny to see a streak of Curt today. Anyways, Curt piled the two girls in the vehicle to take tobogganing and the other 3 decided to go drop off goats. I stayed home in case Curt would be too late to pick up the girls. Just me and baby Wes. It was quiet and strangely, still busy. I think i get more done when there are 6 kids in the house though. Wes and I layed on the bed and stared at each other. He was full of smiles and cooings and friendly faces. When he got sad at one point i found the Bumbo my sister loaned us and plomped him into it, his tiny bottom sinking into it's deep grooves. I set him in front of the mirror and his tears vanished. I could see excitement flash across his face as he saw a new little playmate in the mirror. A really cute playmate... one with an excited smile and sweet sounds. I could tell right away that he loved that little guy in the mirror and so did I. If everyone else got to have a playdate today so should he....even if it was with himself. :) He had a great little conversation with that honey in the mirror. It's evening now and everyone is back in the "nest". I like this time of day when everything has wound down, everyone has come home, the dishwasher and laundry going, and as a plus, I happened to have a "playdate" of my own. I had a playdate with the clutter in my room and got it purged and polished today during Wes' napping. Gotta love a day like that!--j

My Post-Company "Zen"

Well, I guess i've figured out that blogging is really hard when there are 13 kids and 4 adults trying to squeeze every ounce of fun out of 4 incomplete days together. :) My sister, her husband and 7 kids came up for the teachers convention on Wed. The kids went tobogganing a lot. They vowed to stay outside all day yesterday so that they wouldn't have to do math. (It didn't work. haa haa) They played fiddles together, made beaded hair sticks. (practicing the craft for medieval camp this summer) Ate pots of spaghetti, piles of bread, batches of cookies and gallons of milk. Steph taught me how to knit baby slippers in the wee hours of the evening while i complained of it's arthritic effect on my tense fingers. My brother in law suggested that i was a whiner and perhaps i should do some stretches before i attempted something so strenuous and stressful as knitting. (haa haa) This morning after a tough night, i got up to find my rippling muscled brother in law at the lap top. He had a microwaved coffee filling a random "Pirates of the Caribbean" mug, two babies tucked onto his lap, children like popcorn all around him. When he got up to help someone gain some freshness in the pantal area i sat down at his computer and saw what he was reading: "Finding Zen Moments as a Family" Something to that effect anyways. It was someone's blog with lists of peaceful family ideas. *SMILE* I started delegating morning jobs to the kids and got the strong fresh coffee on. I'm feeling a little "zen" now myself. You know what makes me feel that way? The sound of my husband taking the helm of the vacuum cleaner and directing it's massive sucking power to each nook and cranny of the basement. The sound of children cleaning their rooms. The sound of the dishwasher sloshing and the sight of laundry room puffing out warm fragrant clouds to the outside. The sound of my littlest son, breathing like a feather into his sheepskin. I'm going to go get my most comfortable socks on and get cracking as well. AHHH! Funny that on the list of Zen ideas was tobogganing, making REAL hot chocolate, baking bread... we did all of those things this week, but this is my kind of "zen" for today: Cleaning the house together. :)

The Joyful Cow

The first time i saw a baby lamb jumping (straight up in the air and taking off from all 4 feet) and kicking it's hind legs in a wide circle, almost out of control as it ran, i had to laugh. What in the world could make that baby lamb so thrilled. Well, Sunday I was driving home from church. As as i passed Curt's uncles' farm, a cow caught my attention. There was a huge snowy field filled with your run of the mill red heifers. They were all typically munching and standing there in the cold almost motionless. No surprises there. All of a sudden, one cow started running. I thought she was going to charge another cow but no other cows seemed to take notice. She wasn't just "running". She was head-down competing to win the prize!! Out of the blue, she kicked her hind legs just like a baby lamb, out of control and un-balanced as she ran full out. It was such a picture of "JOY" that it caught me by surprise. When we see eagles we may think of power and calm, when we see kangaroos and koalas we may think of motherly protection, when we see owls we may think of wisdom, but I've never thought of a cow as a symbol of "JOY" and yet... she kept putting on her splendorous performance of pure joy as my vehicle slowly passed the field towards home. I realized something as i drove on with a smile on my face. Joy is contagious!...and i caught mine from a red cow on my way home from town. :)