Friday, July 30, 2010
Kids and Scissors Don't Mix
Well, it has happened! The kids' rite of passage - cutting their own hair. Our neighbor's kids were over here last night and the girls were playing in the family room, while the boys were coloring at the counter. Bella and her friend often come up and down the stairs and get toys, so I didn't think anything of it when she came upstairs and then went back down. A few minutes later, she came up and said, "Mya cut her hair." - and it was hacked all over! I wanted to crawl under a rock somewhere! I was humiliated that this could happen on my watch. We took her home and I explained it to her dad, who was gracious about it, thankfully. I made Bella go to her room and lay on her bed for a 1/2 hour while "The Electric Company", one of the kids favorite shows was on, because I couldn't think of a more creative punishment. She laid there and then we talked about why what she did was wrong and she should never get scissors without permission and that she should NEVER cut her own or someone else's hair. Then she apologized and I told her that I forgave her and that we didn't need to talk about it anymore. Then at dinner, I noticed that there was a section of her hair that looked choppy and, with further inspection, I realized that it had definitely been cut too. But at that point, there was nothing more to do about it and it was far less noticeable than her little friend's hair! Then this morning, I got an email from the mom of the victim that said the hairdresser that fixed Mya's hair said she couldn't have cut some of the pieces herself. So I asked Bella if she had cut some of it herself and she said, "You told me that we didn't have to talk about it anymore after I was punished yesterday." I have to admit, that even after Mya piped up and admitted that she had cut her hair herself, I wondered if Bella had cut it too, even though she said she didn't. I think I just maybe didn't want to believe that Bella would do that, especially after we have told them REPEATEDLY to never cut their hair or to never get scissors without permission. And since we have never had a hair cutting incident, I just hoped that they knew better. Now I am mortified. Not only has a child cut their hair "on my watch", but my daughter lied about her participation in it. Now I am not sure if I should punish her again or if she has been punished enough. I don't want to drag the situation out and brow-beat her, but I also don't want her to think that lying is okay. But it is my fault also for not pursuing the truth more or not admitting to myself my own suspicions. If I would have asked Bella more about it, she probably would have told me the complete truth. But I was preoccupied with my own thoughts and things I needed to do and the fact that her parents were going to be upset either way. I feel like a big failure as a mom right now because I know that I didn't handle the situation well. Why is there not a book that says, "When ___________ happens, do ____________". I am just thankful that they didn't stab each other or poke one of their eyes out with the scissors. So, I guess it could be worse, because hair grows back.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
What I should have blogged
We have still been busy and July, though slower than June, has been a full month and I constantly have a ticker tape of the things that I should be doing in my head all the time - no matter what I am doing. The kids and I have been spending so much quality and quantity time together that I can't say that I have spent my time unwisely. There are so many things that I think about making into blog posts, but they never end up getting made because I don't sit down and do it when I think about it. So here is a list of things I have recently wanted to blog about:
1. This summer the kids are learning about super heroes at church. They both have brought home so much knowledge and excitement about it. They often act like super heroes and the cutest part about it is that they both say that they are going to "cunfeat" their enemies, instead of defeat. We have tried to correct them a few times, but it never sticks and it is really cute when they say it, so "cunfeat" it is.
2. I came home from a womens' dinner at church one night right after Josh had put the kids to bed. When I went into Bella's room to say goodnight to her, she was crying. When I asked her what was wrong, she said that she couldn't keep her promise. When I asked her what promise she meant, she said that in devotions that evening before bed they learned that they needed to have Jesus in their heart to live with him in eternity and she couldn't keep her promise to God to have Him in her heart. So after we had a talk about how God helps us keep our promises every day, I lead Bella in a prayer to invite Jesus into her heart. I have to say, something about the way she talks about God has been different since that night. She even got up the next morning and told Elias that she had Jesus in her heart like he did. Josh said that it didn't even seem like she was listening that night and that the devotion didn't even say anything about asking Jesus into your heart. It is amazing how seeds get planted in Bella and she sort of chews on them for a while and they come out all of a sudden.
3. Elias has recently felt that he is getting too old for what he considers "kids shows" and "kids songs". It isn't like I love watching "Yo Gabba Gabba" so much that I can't part with them - in fact, I will probably dance for joy when I no longer have to watch that skinny little man in spandex and his cohorts. But I have been frustrated that there are just no good alternatives on television. It seems they go from preschool to high school, with little in between. All the shows talk about girl/boy relationships and have actors as characters who are always trying to "lose their Disney image". We haven't found a solution yet to the t.v. issue. I make them watch select shows and Elias complains. There are a few shows that we both agree upon, but it is still a daily battle. But in the car, we listen to music that he enjoys because it is "adult" music and also reinforces positive messages. This afternoon we were coming home and Elias was singing "Blessed be your name". I love knowing that he knows these songs by heart, because they are full of truth and goodness.
4. Elias and Bella both are really developing their own characters and personalities, and are no longer just parroting what they see and hear. They make Josh and I laugh and ache (because they are growing so fast) on a regular basis. Sometimes when they say something cute, Josh and I will shoot each other glances. The other night, Elias said something about a girl being cute and I looked at Josh and Elias said, "And don't you look at Daddy that way, because of what I said!"
5. Elias, Bella, and I have read over 50 books together for the summer reading program. It is a fun way to spend afternoons when it is too hot to go outside. I hope he wins a prize at the end for all this reading, but if he doesn't, I may treat him to something anyway. My personal reading, on the other hand, has went by the wayside and I have only completed 1 book since the beginning of summer and still have two that I am currently reading. I have one fiction book that I am holding out starting until I finish those two, but I have had little time for personal reading.
6. I will turn 34 in two weeks. I am now officially in my mid-30s. I feel like I am not old enough to be in my mid-30s. I sometimes have to think about the year I was born and count from there to remember how old I am - maybe when women say they are 30-something, it really is because they don't remember how old they are!
7. We took the kids to Toys R' Us to spend gift cards they received for being part of the wedding. Going up and down the aisles of toys, I felt that maybe we really were depriving our kids. There were so many toy possibilities and so little that our kids actually own. But then I realize that the toys they have are often ignored and that toys often seem more exciting then they really are. We never had a Toys R' Us around us when I was a kid, but we would see commercials for it on t.v.. I thought that the store was a child's wonderland and it was full of fun and excitement at every turn. When I finally went to a Toys R' Us when I was in college, I thought, "This is it? It is just a store with shelves of toys." Nothing really separated it from any other store in my adult eyes. I think I am glad that I didn't see the store as a child. It probably would have made me want what I could not have and not be thankful for what I did have.
There are so many other things that I could list...but the ticker tape is again running in my head, so I have to get up and get busy!
1. This summer the kids are learning about super heroes at church. They both have brought home so much knowledge and excitement about it. They often act like super heroes and the cutest part about it is that they both say that they are going to "cunfeat" their enemies, instead of defeat. We have tried to correct them a few times, but it never sticks and it is really cute when they say it, so "cunfeat" it is.
2. I came home from a womens' dinner at church one night right after Josh had put the kids to bed. When I went into Bella's room to say goodnight to her, she was crying. When I asked her what was wrong, she said that she couldn't keep her promise. When I asked her what promise she meant, she said that in devotions that evening before bed they learned that they needed to have Jesus in their heart to live with him in eternity and she couldn't keep her promise to God to have Him in her heart. So after we had a talk about how God helps us keep our promises every day, I lead Bella in a prayer to invite Jesus into her heart. I have to say, something about the way she talks about God has been different since that night. She even got up the next morning and told Elias that she had Jesus in her heart like he did. Josh said that it didn't even seem like she was listening that night and that the devotion didn't even say anything about asking Jesus into your heart. It is amazing how seeds get planted in Bella and she sort of chews on them for a while and they come out all of a sudden.
3. Elias has recently felt that he is getting too old for what he considers "kids shows" and "kids songs". It isn't like I love watching "Yo Gabba Gabba" so much that I can't part with them - in fact, I will probably dance for joy when I no longer have to watch that skinny little man in spandex and his cohorts. But I have been frustrated that there are just no good alternatives on television. It seems they go from preschool to high school, with little in between. All the shows talk about girl/boy relationships and have actors as characters who are always trying to "lose their Disney image". We haven't found a solution yet to the t.v. issue. I make them watch select shows and Elias complains. There are a few shows that we both agree upon, but it is still a daily battle. But in the car, we listen to music that he enjoys because it is "adult" music and also reinforces positive messages. This afternoon we were coming home and Elias was singing "Blessed be your name". I love knowing that he knows these songs by heart, because they are full of truth and goodness.
4. Elias and Bella both are really developing their own characters and personalities, and are no longer just parroting what they see and hear. They make Josh and I laugh and ache (because they are growing so fast) on a regular basis. Sometimes when they say something cute, Josh and I will shoot each other glances. The other night, Elias said something about a girl being cute and I looked at Josh and Elias said, "And don't you look at Daddy that way, because of what I said!"
5. Elias, Bella, and I have read over 50 books together for the summer reading program. It is a fun way to spend afternoons when it is too hot to go outside. I hope he wins a prize at the end for all this reading, but if he doesn't, I may treat him to something anyway. My personal reading, on the other hand, has went by the wayside and I have only completed 1 book since the beginning of summer and still have two that I am currently reading. I have one fiction book that I am holding out starting until I finish those two, but I have had little time for personal reading.
6. I will turn 34 in two weeks. I am now officially in my mid-30s. I feel like I am not old enough to be in my mid-30s. I sometimes have to think about the year I was born and count from there to remember how old I am - maybe when women say they are 30-something, it really is because they don't remember how old they are!
7. We took the kids to Toys R' Us to spend gift cards they received for being part of the wedding. Going up and down the aisles of toys, I felt that maybe we really were depriving our kids. There were so many toy possibilities and so little that our kids actually own. But then I realize that the toys they have are often ignored and that toys often seem more exciting then they really are. We never had a Toys R' Us around us when I was a kid, but we would see commercials for it on t.v.. I thought that the store was a child's wonderland and it was full of fun and excitement at every turn. When I finally went to a Toys R' Us when I was in college, I thought, "This is it? It is just a store with shelves of toys." Nothing really separated it from any other store in my adult eyes. I think I am glad that I didn't see the store as a child. It probably would have made me want what I could not have and not be thankful for what I did have.
There are so many other things that I could list...but the ticker tape is again running in my head, so I have to get up and get busy!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Setting up the Pins
Well, the wedding is now over and the bride and groom are officially hitched. Bella and Elias loved being part of the wedding and looked so cute. Isabella loved everything about being the flower girl - except the walking down the aisle and throwing petals part - so basically dressing up and being with the other "princesses", as she called the bridesmaids. Elias loved going down the aisle and participating in the wedding, but wasn't as excited about the dressing up part after we were outside. Though, I can't say I can blame him. He was in a full tux and the temperature was in the 90s. The ceremony was very beautiful and meaningful and, besides the fact that I had to walk Bella down the aisle, it went very smoothly. And the reception was air conditioned - we were all never so thankful for air conditioning. I forgot my camera, because I got the kids dressed there and was so afraid of forgetting part of their outfit, that the camera was not a priority - until about 5 minutes after I left the house . The bride let me use her camera, so I got lots of shots with her camera. As soon as she shares the photos with me, I will try to post them. The kids danced the night away and we stayed until around 10 pm. When we left, Elias and Bella went around and hugged all the people in the wedding party. Elias even hugged the bride's father, which I think took him by surprise.
The kids and I are going to have a mellow morning at home, while Josh is helping a friend move. Then we are going shopping when he gets home. To get Bella to walk back down the aisle at the end of the wedding, I bribed her. So I owe her some lip gloss. Also, Katie gave both kids a gift card to Toys R' Us for being in the wedding and it is burning a hole in Elias' pocket!
On another note, my kids have a new favorite song and they want to listen to it constantly in the car. I don't mind too much, because I love it too. It has a great beat and the words always seem pertinent to our face-paced life, as Sara Groves songs usually are for me. Even yesterday, I was thinking of it, because even in the big events it is all really just another day in our lives. It may be a big day for one person, but just an average day for someone else or even a day of sorrow for another. When I got on Facebook yesterday after the wedding, one of my FB friends just flew to spend her last days with her grandmother who is in her last days of a long battle with cancer, an acquaintance from the church we attended in college just found out that their 9 year old son's cancer is now terminal, and yet another friend has separated from their spouse - and it is someone that I can't even imagine ever getting to that place. Life is always full of ups and downs and all we can do is "sing for the beauty that's to be found; in setting up the pins for knocking em down" - so that is why my heart feels happy to be spending this average day with the ones I love and let my heart rejoice for the bride and groom who have began their life together yesterday. The bride and I have always shared our love of Sara Groves music, so it feels appropriate to include one of her songs on my post today.
Setting Up the Pins by Sara Groves
Man in a silk tie heads downtown
Setting up the pins for knocking em down
People in cars all rushing around
Setting up the pins
Let's get rich, find a way around
Setting up the pins for knocking em down
We'll get gadget with a whirring sound
for setting up the pins
Everyone everywhere, some way, some how
are setting up the pins for knocking em down
You can find joy in the fertile ground
Setting up the pins and knocking em down
You can try to fight it till you're anger drowned
Setting up the pins
Everyone everywhere, some way, some how
are setting up the pins for knocking em down
It can feel simple but it's really profound
Setting up the pins
Rent a tent, build a stage, throw a party, get a gown
buy a ticket, rent a car, pack a bag and leave town,
cook a dinner, clean the kitchen hit the light
brush your teeth, read a book, say a prayer good-night
Everyone everywhere, some way, some how
are setting up the pins for knocking em down
It can feel simple but it's really profound...
My grandmother had a working song
Hummed it low all day long
Sing for the beauty that's to be found
in setting up the pins for knocking em down
The kids and I are going to have a mellow morning at home, while Josh is helping a friend move. Then we are going shopping when he gets home. To get Bella to walk back down the aisle at the end of the wedding, I bribed her. So I owe her some lip gloss. Also, Katie gave both kids a gift card to Toys R' Us for being in the wedding and it is burning a hole in Elias' pocket!
On another note, my kids have a new favorite song and they want to listen to it constantly in the car. I don't mind too much, because I love it too. It has a great beat and the words always seem pertinent to our face-paced life, as Sara Groves songs usually are for me. Even yesterday, I was thinking of it, because even in the big events it is all really just another day in our lives. It may be a big day for one person, but just an average day for someone else or even a day of sorrow for another. When I got on Facebook yesterday after the wedding, one of my FB friends just flew to spend her last days with her grandmother who is in her last days of a long battle with cancer, an acquaintance from the church we attended in college just found out that their 9 year old son's cancer is now terminal, and yet another friend has separated from their spouse - and it is someone that I can't even imagine ever getting to that place. Life is always full of ups and downs and all we can do is "sing for the beauty that's to be found; in setting up the pins for knocking em down" - so that is why my heart feels happy to be spending this average day with the ones I love and let my heart rejoice for the bride and groom who have began their life together yesterday. The bride and I have always shared our love of Sara Groves music, so it feels appropriate to include one of her songs on my post today.
Setting Up the Pins by Sara Groves
Man in a silk tie heads downtown
Setting up the pins for knocking em down
People in cars all rushing around
Setting up the pins
Let's get rich, find a way around
Setting up the pins for knocking em down
We'll get gadget with a whirring sound
for setting up the pins
Everyone everywhere, some way, some how
are setting up the pins for knocking em down
You can find joy in the fertile ground
Setting up the pins and knocking em down
You can try to fight it till you're anger drowned
Setting up the pins
Everyone everywhere, some way, some how
are setting up the pins for knocking em down
It can feel simple but it's really profound
Setting up the pins
Rent a tent, build a stage, throw a party, get a gown
buy a ticket, rent a car, pack a bag and leave town,
cook a dinner, clean the kitchen hit the light
brush your teeth, read a book, say a prayer good-night
Everyone everywhere, some way, some how
are setting up the pins for knocking em down
It can feel simple but it's really profound...
My grandmother had a working song
Hummed it low all day long
Sing for the beauty that's to be found
in setting up the pins for knocking em down
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
One month and counting
One month from tonight I will be arriving in Peru. It will be a full & busy month. First, the kids will be flower girl & ring bearer in a wedding this weekend. Then we have a picnic for the youth. Next weekend we will be traveling to the middle of the state for a West Virginia Compassion meeting, which I am running. Both kids will also be in swimmig lessons every week day for the next two weeks. Then we will be having our will made. After that, we will be celebrating my 34th birthday. And at some point, I have to get the kids stuff for school ready and get all my bags packed and ready to leave and figure out child care for the kids while Josh is at work. I can't believe how fast this summer is going, but it has been so good. The kids and I have shared so many happy moments and we have had lots of family time in the evenings. Even though we had planned originally to put the kids in soccer camp & Bella in gymnastics, I am glad we weren't able to get in. They haven't really missed it and it has been good to have freedom from a constant schedule. As soon as I return home from Peru, we will be back into full swing with sports, small group, youth, and school.
I must get to bed. Tomorrow is going to be very busy. We will pick up Elias' tux & do a test run of Bella's hairdo & paint her little toes. Then we will be off to the rehearsal.
I must get to bed. Tomorrow is going to be very busy. We will pick up Elias' tux & do a test run of Bella's hairdo & paint her little toes. Then we will be off to the rehearsal.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
I was awaken at 5:47 by Isabella kneeing me in my nose while climbing up between Josh and I in bed. We have a policy that the kids don't sleep in our bed, unless they are sick. So I had to get up and and put her back to bed. Well, I let her sleep on the futon in the family room downstairs, because I wasn't sure if she was going to go right back to sleep and since her room is right next to Elias', I didn't want them both up at the crack of dawn. She went right back to sleep, but I did not. We got in really late from taking my niece, who came to stay for a few days, home to Maryland. We spent the day at my parents house and went to the playground that is in the development where Josh's mother lives. We helped my parents get some beds set up in their house that they had just bought. I am still constantly taken aback at how tired my dad gets and how much they really could use more help. It didn't seem that long ago that he was here helping us with remodeling our first house, and when I tried to help, I just felt that I mostly slowed down this capable man. He still works all day, everyday, but he has begun to admit his limitations. My kids adore my parents though and Bella kept giving them kiss after kiss before we left and Dad just grinned from ear to ear. My parents feel forced to sell their home and 9 acres of land because the cost and effort of upkeep is just too much. Josh and I would love to buy some of the land to possibly retire there, since it is so beautiful there and it was my home for the first 18 years of my life. But we aren't financially able to take it on and there are also sibling issues to consider, which might make things difficult when my parents do pass away. So, as much as we'd love to buy it, I think we'll just have to watch if go to another family, who hopefully care for it well. I drove past my and Josh's first house the other day & it doesn't appear that the owners are caring for it well. It makes me sad and, admittedly, a little angry. I feel like we put so much love and attention into restoring that house and to see it get back to a place of disarray again is frustrating. Josh reminds me that it isn't our house to worry about anymore, but it I just don't know why people choose not to take care of their possessions. I hope whoever buys my parents' home will be people who will love the place well. Sort of like when... Well, I can't say what I was going to say, because I was going to make a comparision to a kids movie that's in theaters now, but it would spoil the end for those who hadn't seen it. For those who have, you may know the comparison I was going to make and understand how it describes my feelings.
Friday, July 9, 2010
We've paved paradise to put up a parking lot
I have purposely chosen to not discuss topics that are politically volatile on my blog, but last night I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep after a dream that made me realize how concerned I am about a lot of things that are going on around me and how I feel so powerless to do anything about most of it.
The dream I had last night was about just one of the many trends I see occurring around me that has disturbed me. I think the dream was a result of several different things that culminated in me realizing that it is something that concerns me so much that I want to voice my concern, even if it just to the very few who read my blog.
A few days ago, I took the kids to the pool. On the way there, I saw yet another mountain that had been leveled and scarred. I don't know whether it had been mined or if it was simply to make yet another housing development, commerce center, or business park. But every time I see a wooded expanse of land be razed to nothing more than a heap of dirt, it makes me sad. Another thing that makes me sad is when I drive past buildings that have been virtually abandoned and have became neglected and dilapidated, because real estate became more desirable somewhere else. So the former occupants moved on to "bigger and better" things. Now I am not knocking the need to update, revise, move, etc., but it is sad that so many houses and buildings are left to scar the landscape and new land is filled with houses and buildings that will one day also become yesterday's news. I often wonder to myself as a new housing development or strip mall is erected, if we all wouldn't be better served to make better use of what is already available or if their shouldn't be some sort of law enacted that would require those who vacate a building and it becomes basically unusable to tear the building down and to reuse the land for some other purpose.
From being part of Compassion, I was well aware of that country's plight long before the earthquake struck that lead to the international spotlight being turned to this island that was already at the point of desperation, long before the earthquake destroyed their capital city. One of the reasons that Haiti has been in such dire straights for so long is because deforestation has reeked havoc on the land. Haiti was once a tropical island, but because of deforestation, most of the country is now just dry, hard, and dusty plains. When rains come, it just causes floods and mud slides and families work to just make enough food grow to feed their own families and they can't even do that adequately. It is crazy to think that the people of Haiti would not have seen the importance of trees and other foliage to their long-term survival, but sometimes the day-to-day need for income and survival outweigh long-term thinking. I read an article recently that said even after the Haitian people knew they needed the trees and foliage for their land to be healthy, they still cut trees down for firewood to cook food or to sell to buy their basic necessities because they didn't know how else to survive. Of course, many other factors have contributed to Haiti's situation - government corruption is another major factor - but deforestation has played a major role.
Then I read this article about mountain top mining. It is actually a blog about attacks made by the "Friends of Coal" on Ashley Judd for her outspoken opposition to mountain top mining. In the blog there is this statement: "A recent rash of critical newspaper commentaries and letters-to-the-editor in her home state (Kentucky) have blasted Ashley for criticizing this extreme strip mining -- by those who argue that mountaintop removal is beneficial to local economies for the jobs provided by the mining industry and the flat land it leaves for economic development". It has a sad echo to the thoughts that the Haitians probably had when they first started to allow their beautiful country to be dozed over for profit. Now I do not claim to have any expertise about mountain-top mining or even coal mining in general, and I definitely do not understand all the politics that surround decisions made by the coal mine industry or the states that allow mountain-top mining. But I feel like we as Americans have definitely gotten into the habit of looking at short-term gratification versus long-term benefits in almost everything we do - from sending almost all manufacturing to countries like China to even how we treat our relationships with each other and with God.
Okay, now that I got that off my chest, I will resume my usual politically correct blogging.
The dream I had last night was about just one of the many trends I see occurring around me that has disturbed me. I think the dream was a result of several different things that culminated in me realizing that it is something that concerns me so much that I want to voice my concern, even if it just to the very few who read my blog.
A few days ago, I took the kids to the pool. On the way there, I saw yet another mountain that had been leveled and scarred. I don't know whether it had been mined or if it was simply to make yet another housing development, commerce center, or business park. But every time I see a wooded expanse of land be razed to nothing more than a heap of dirt, it makes me sad. Another thing that makes me sad is when I drive past buildings that have been virtually abandoned and have became neglected and dilapidated, because real estate became more desirable somewhere else. So the former occupants moved on to "bigger and better" things. Now I am not knocking the need to update, revise, move, etc., but it is sad that so many houses and buildings are left to scar the landscape and new land is filled with houses and buildings that will one day also become yesterday's news. I often wonder to myself as a new housing development or strip mall is erected, if we all wouldn't be better served to make better use of what is already available or if their shouldn't be some sort of law enacted that would require those who vacate a building and it becomes basically unusable to tear the building down and to reuse the land for some other purpose.
From being part of Compassion, I was well aware of that country's plight long before the earthquake struck that lead to the international spotlight being turned to this island that was already at the point of desperation, long before the earthquake destroyed their capital city. One of the reasons that Haiti has been in such dire straights for so long is because deforestation has reeked havoc on the land. Haiti was once a tropical island, but because of deforestation, most of the country is now just dry, hard, and dusty plains. When rains come, it just causes floods and mud slides and families work to just make enough food grow to feed their own families and they can't even do that adequately. It is crazy to think that the people of Haiti would not have seen the importance of trees and other foliage to their long-term survival, but sometimes the day-to-day need for income and survival outweigh long-term thinking. I read an article recently that said even after the Haitian people knew they needed the trees and foliage for their land to be healthy, they still cut trees down for firewood to cook food or to sell to buy their basic necessities because they didn't know how else to survive. Of course, many other factors have contributed to Haiti's situation - government corruption is another major factor - but deforestation has played a major role.
Then I read this article about mountain top mining. It is actually a blog about attacks made by the "Friends of Coal" on Ashley Judd for her outspoken opposition to mountain top mining. In the blog there is this statement: "A recent rash of critical newspaper commentaries and letters-to-the-editor in her home state (Kentucky) have blasted Ashley for criticizing this extreme strip mining -- by those who argue that mountaintop removal is beneficial to local economies for the jobs provided by the mining industry and the flat land it leaves for economic development". It has a sad echo to the thoughts that the Haitians probably had when they first started to allow their beautiful country to be dozed over for profit. Now I do not claim to have any expertise about mountain-top mining or even coal mining in general, and I definitely do not understand all the politics that surround decisions made by the coal mine industry or the states that allow mountain-top mining. But I feel like we as Americans have definitely gotten into the habit of looking at short-term gratification versus long-term benefits in almost everything we do - from sending almost all manufacturing to countries like China to even how we treat our relationships with each other and with God.
Okay, now that I got that off my chest, I will resume my usual politically correct blogging.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Just an overview of recent events
We had a great visit with our friends who visited us last week. I discovered that the beauty of a blog is that when you get together with friends who have been away, but have a blog, you don't have to spend as much of your precious moments together catching up on the recent events of their lives. Of course, as soon as our guests left, I thought of a ton of questions that I wanted to ask them, but didn't think of in the midst of our fun and activities.
The weather here has been absolutely gorgeous for about two weeks and we have spent most of every day outside. I have also spent a good deal of time cleaning out all those areas of the house (like the basement and rarely used cabinets) that tend to get the least attention in my busyness and tend to collect all those things that we don't know what to do with at the moment. It feels so good to get a lot of projects done and see the difference it makes in how our house looks and functions.
Elias is really reading and writing a lot this summer. And I often find him making little signs and writing on paper by sounding out the words by himself. It is great to see him applying what he learned. During the school year, there was barely any time for him to just use what he learned on a casual everyday basis. It really emphasizes to me how having downtime from teaching really is helpful to the learning process.
July will be our slowest month this summer. I am trying really hard to keep it low key and to not schedule a lot of activities. On the flip side, because most of our relationships are connected to our activities (like small group, soccer, the gym, etc.), I have felt a little lonely at times, because I tend to forget that I actually have to make plans with people, since I won't automatically see them on a regular basis. Luckily, over the weekend, I had some impromptu gatherings with friends and it rose my spirits.
I am attempting to read a little more this summer and I have joined the adult reading program at the library when I signed Elias up for the kids' reading program, which he was in last year and loved. I used to read A LOT, but have not had the time to read recently and when I do read, I always feel guilty that I am not using my time more productively. I currently am reading a non-fiction and fiction book. The fiction book is called "Cassandra and Jane" and is a novel about the relationship between Cassandra and Jane Austen. I love Jane Austen novels and this book is sort of similar to the movie "Becoming Jane", but since I am not sure how accurately it was researched, I wonder how much of it is truth and how much is the author's speculation. The non-fiction book I am reading is called "Traveling Light" by Max Lucado. If you are familiar with and enjoy Max Lucado's work, then you would enjoy this book. It is about laying down all the things that weigh us down every day. I started reading it at the beginning of the summer, which was a time I felt like I needed to "unload" a lot of baggage. There are so many books I would love to read, but can't. But then I think about all the time that I will have when my kids are grown and would rather be out with their friends then playing in the yard with me and know that there will be a time when I will miss Isabella trying to tug on my arm and ask me to come out in the yard with her.
To give a quick update on things the kids have mastered recently: Bella has been able to pump herself on a swing by herself since the beginning of June and she spent the entire night in a tent with daddy in the backyard with daddy last night (Elias came in after about 20 minutes). Elias is able to tie his shoes without any assistance and is riding a two wheel bike with much more balance than he could before. They are both getting lean, strong, and tan (despite my constant sunscreen spraying that they hate!). There are a multitude of little things they are doing that shows me that they are growing and I just can't list them all!
The weather here has been absolutely gorgeous for about two weeks and we have spent most of every day outside. I have also spent a good deal of time cleaning out all those areas of the house (like the basement and rarely used cabinets) that tend to get the least attention in my busyness and tend to collect all those things that we don't know what to do with at the moment. It feels so good to get a lot of projects done and see the difference it makes in how our house looks and functions.
Elias is really reading and writing a lot this summer. And I often find him making little signs and writing on paper by sounding out the words by himself. It is great to see him applying what he learned. During the school year, there was barely any time for him to just use what he learned on a casual everyday basis. It really emphasizes to me how having downtime from teaching really is helpful to the learning process.
July will be our slowest month this summer. I am trying really hard to keep it low key and to not schedule a lot of activities. On the flip side, because most of our relationships are connected to our activities (like small group, soccer, the gym, etc.), I have felt a little lonely at times, because I tend to forget that I actually have to make plans with people, since I won't automatically see them on a regular basis. Luckily, over the weekend, I had some impromptu gatherings with friends and it rose my spirits.
I am attempting to read a little more this summer and I have joined the adult reading program at the library when I signed Elias up for the kids' reading program, which he was in last year and loved. I used to read A LOT, but have not had the time to read recently and when I do read, I always feel guilty that I am not using my time more productively. I currently am reading a non-fiction and fiction book. The fiction book is called "Cassandra and Jane" and is a novel about the relationship between Cassandra and Jane Austen. I love Jane Austen novels and this book is sort of similar to the movie "Becoming Jane", but since I am not sure how accurately it was researched, I wonder how much of it is truth and how much is the author's speculation. The non-fiction book I am reading is called "Traveling Light" by Max Lucado. If you are familiar with and enjoy Max Lucado's work, then you would enjoy this book. It is about laying down all the things that weigh us down every day. I started reading it at the beginning of the summer, which was a time I felt like I needed to "unload" a lot of baggage. There are so many books I would love to read, but can't. But then I think about all the time that I will have when my kids are grown and would rather be out with their friends then playing in the yard with me and know that there will be a time when I will miss Isabella trying to tug on my arm and ask me to come out in the yard with her.
To give a quick update on things the kids have mastered recently: Bella has been able to pump herself on a swing by herself since the beginning of June and she spent the entire night in a tent with daddy in the backyard with daddy last night (Elias came in after about 20 minutes). Elias is able to tie his shoes without any assistance and is riding a two wheel bike with much more balance than he could before. They are both getting lean, strong, and tan (despite my constant sunscreen spraying that they hate!). There are a multitude of little things they are doing that shows me that they are growing and I just can't list them all!
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