Saturday, June 28, 2008

Loose interpretation, serious application

A watched pot never boils.  Similarly, a watched zucchini doesn't grow.  I am so anxious to eat from the garden and it seems that the more I weed and tend and watch expectantly, the slower the growth rate.  

But alas, after my frustration in the garden tonight I spotted the much anticipated black raspberries that were ready for picking!  Off to get the long sleeves and shoes other than flip flops (I forgot I still had said shoes)...  While picking the raspberries tonight I was so blessed.  It was quiet.  Quiet.  I haven't experienced quiet in over 4 1/2 years.  Seriously.  I watched a bumble bee on a flower.  I had time to do this and to just marvel in the beauty of what God created and has allowed me to experience.  As I reached and strained for the all the berries around the old compost pile, I thought of a pathetic similarity between the way I think about fruit and how God thinks about us.  As much as I didn't want even one (berry) to perish, it was a stark realization of how much more our Creator doesn't want us to perish--not even one of us.  I am secure in my position in Christ.  What a gift.

This security is guaranteed.  Guaranteed.  This is so amazing.  

Perhaps someone should talk to the swimming commentator alongside Bob Costas (I'm drawing a blank, clearly) about what it means to be guaranteed.  He guarantees that Michael Phelps will make the Olympic team in all 5 events he's swimming, unless he gets third in any of the races.  Which he won't, according to Rowdy Gains.  That's his name.  What a digression...

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Let the (pre)Games begin...

Ahhh, it's almost time for the Olympics. I'm a self-described Olympic freak. I love it. One of my great childhood memories was when we subscribed to the "Red, White, and Blue Olympic Channels" the year we got cable TV. You couldn't pull me away. My mentality hasn't changed much has changed since Debbie Thomas took the ice in Calgary that year. The summer games blow the winter games out of the water, so this is going to be a fun summer.

I've done a good job at getting the kids hyped about it this year, too. Samuel saw the first dive of the trials today and say, "Whoa, dat's COOL!" Yes, sir, it is! And you should see him "do gymnastic", especially when he and McKenna do it simultaneously. Hey, maybe synchronized gymnastics could be a new event...

McKenna thought that Nastia Luikin (2nd place at gymnastics trials) looked a lot like Aunt Rebekah and that Rebekah could do all the same tricks.

Anna was impressed when they didn't fall, didn't step out of bounds, and did cartwheels and backflips.

I've always thought it would be fun to know someone who competed at the Olympics. (I told you I was a freak.) Since Emily Ayers didn't make it (elementary friend who was a tremendous swimmer) and Aaron Moody doesn't seem to be ready this year, my next best shot is through my dad who is currently doing work for some Olympic hopefuls. Track, even! I'm like a kid in a candy store...I just love the Olympics!

A couple of non-Olympic notes... Samuel gave me a good laugh at lunch today. He let out a rip-roaring belch and went about eating. I looked at him and said, "Samuel, what do you say?" Expecting a quick "excuse me", as he's been taught, I was caught off guard when he tried to reinact his belch. Apparently he thought I asked, "what did you say".

He's growing up all together too fast. He's had his monthly success on the toilet (he like to squirt the cheerios--there may be some truth to that potty-training theory) and this afternoon he dressed himself for the first time. He also slept on the bunk bed instead of his crib for the first time. It was his choice. Now I just have to suck it up and get his hair cut and ditch the pacifier. This is MUCH harder with the last than it was with the first.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Request

We spent the day getting furniture ready for generation #3. The bedroom set that my mom used as a teenager and I used as a child has a fresh coat of paint on the top surfaces and the trim detail. Pink. I love that my girls love pink. It's so cute and little girlish. I sound like McKenna. She makes new words every day, often by adding "-ish" to a real word.

In fact, McKenna asked today if she could be "bare toe-ed" in the grass. (Who could say no to that?) After getting Samuel down from his adventure in tree climbing (a first), a request like not wearing shoes in the yard seemd reasonable.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Home again

Time at OBX is good for a person.

Coming back to a "congratulations" letter from the IU school of nursing made it even better. Now, let the planning begin. My crazy 18 months start in mid-August.