Am I an Exclusivist?

(Olivia wanted to take a picture of me, so my hands are trying to help her...notice the PRETTY tree in the background?)

Am I an exclusivist? Do I fail to invite, encourage, and befriend? I do not consider myself an introvert in any sense of the word. I completely enjoy adult company and conversation. I quickly open up to new people and in new settings. I rarely, if ever, feel uncomfortable in my environment, whether it be a new setting or one in which I am totally familiar. Having said all of that, I still wonder if I exclude people from my “circle”. Perhaps more accurately I exclude myself from certain circles, groups, gatherings, etc.

As a wife and mother of four little ones, I value my time with my family immensely and I never feel like we get enough time together. I feel that way now and as I have been told by our friends with children older than ours, it will only get more difficult to have family time as they age. The flip side is that being a SAHM (stay at home mom), wife and a mother of four, I need a break occasionally. At these times of needing adult companionship, “sister-hood”, if you will, I want to have close friends that require little of me. By that I mean that I can just be. I can just be my quirky, opinionated self without worrying that I’m offending, irritating, or boring them to death. And even if I am, they like me anyway!

I have met many wonderful people in the recent months since life’s journey brought us to Madison. I am so thankful for the plethora of decent, kind individuals in our life. But of those many only two or three, at most, will ever really become close, deep friends in my life. That may make me sound harsh and narrow-minded…but it isn’t intended that way. I just don’t have the physical, emotional, or spiritual time to devote to true friendship with the many wonderful people I have met.

There are those who are so good at meeting new people. They thrive on the many relationships they have. They are able to give something of themselves to each of the women they meet. I admire that. I have friends who are like that. I don’t know how they do it. They obviously possess super-human DNA and are able to multi-task at a whole different level than I am. While they are rushing out to a play date, or ladies luncheon, or volunteer work…expanding their circles, I am at home with the people who can’t seem to function when I am gone, keeping my circle closed tightly around them. Years from now will I regret my choice to not open up my arms in friendship to more people? Will I look back, when my children are gone, and wonder why I didn’t make more time for me? I doubt it. I'll probably be longing for one more moment with them.


I guess I am just one of those people who has my handful of close friends that know I can count on to cheer me up, help me out, hold me accountable, and make me a better person. And I would offer them no less in return.

Tale of two trees

Last year I purchased another Christmas tree in the after season clearances. I was anxious to get it up this year as it was much more practical for our small living room than my former enormous, yet very beautiful, traditional tree.

I spent quite a bit of time one evening getting it in it's proper place and because the kids were semi-interested in a movie they were willing to watch me instead of be too hands on involved. After I finally had it fully assembled and lit Olivia gave me this response:

OLIVIA: "Mom, where's the Christmas tree?"

MOM: "Do you mean this one right here in the corner?"
(I figured she'd became so enthralled in her Disney movie that she somehow sat oblivious to the who production)

OLIVIA: "No, I mean the pretty Christmas tree."

Well, there you have it. Some things are better off left alone I guess! We did put the "pretty" one up in the basement. By pretty, she simply means normal. It's green, this one is white, it's full, this one is skinny, it has multi-colored lights, this one has white only. The one hit feature of this tree though is the fake snow. The kids immediately ran over to it and tried to pull off the snow so that they could eat it.

I don't know, I think it's rather pretty myself.

Family Album-part two

Even the Latunski-Loud mouth gatherings can't compete with the hustle and chatter present when the Comes clan gets together. While Latunski's, by nature, are louder the Comes' reproduce at a higher rate! Our celebrations are always filled with the screams of little girls, the odor of stinky pants, at least three coughing kids, and parents yelling "SLOW DOWN". But they are also filled with the best childish giggles (not always from the kids), funny stories of last year's mishaps, hours of conversation, and so much love that it fills every crevice of the room. Here's my ode to the Comes Thanksgiving!



The manly-men started the day out with a hunting expedition near Waverly. Even Grandpa Jim got out his gun, although he had to wipe the layers of dust off of it from years of neglect. From left to right: Jim, Mark, Nicholas, John, Ethan, Shadow, Larry, Chad, & Austin. For Darrin's city boys this was a first!


I promised Mark and John that they would have a picture on the Internet...so here it is! Two pretty handsome young men and their sister, Diana, is pretty impressive as well.


This picture represents Andrew's feelings about large family get togethers. He spent most of his time on my pant legs with that expression of plea on his face.


Look at those kids! Going around the table clockwise: Madison, Jordan, Chad, Diana, Kylie, Kate, Olivia, Erin, & Ethan's face is poked in there as well. What a beautiful site!

This was where Joyce spent much of her day. By the sink. I think we ran the dishwasher 3 times! What did we do before dishwashers? She managed to keep her smile but maybe not her sanity.


My father-in-law is mixing up a secret concoction that is said to make your worries disappear. If you think we can get this many opinionated adults and screaming kids together and not medicate ourselves with chocolate and liquor you're crazy! He calls them "Pink Squirrels", I don't care what he calls them...they have ice cream in them and that's worth a try!

Nicholas and his cousin Austin had a good time playing with Nic's new Star Wars Lego battleship, that he got for his birthday. I'm sure that Nic would be horrified that I called it a battleship when it has a much more impressive name. They entertained themselves for hours with it. Thanks Grandma Joyce and Papa Jim.

I had to grab Kate quickly before she snuck off again to get in a hug and picture. Katharine is not very loyal. She will go to the first set of open arms offered her. So mom becomes quite unappealing when there are so many relatives waiting to snuggle her. I am so happy that she is comfortable with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, & cousins though. Living away from them she has spent 24/7 with her mom, it's nice to see that I have not made her a social retard.

Finally, we ended our night with games. We played two or three rounds of the same dice game, some of the boys played Poker, and Kate found a comfy spot to play Dominos with Auntie Laurie.

It was a great time. It takes planning, sacrifice of schedules, cleaning, tolerating...but what is more important than gathering with the people who know you best and love you anyway- because they are just as strange as you are!

Family Album-part one

I want to apologize up front to those of you who read my daily blog for the nuggets of wisdom I so often dish out. I spent the last four days with family and have many pictures to tell of our time together. For some of them this is a once in a lifetime opportunity...to see themselves on the Internet! So bear with me as I share my family album of the first of our double Thanksgiving celebrations.



Kate, Nic, & Olivia were the only 'big' cousins at the Latunski-Loud mouth gathering. So they found a creative, constructive way to spend their time thanks to Auntie Barb! Isn't that a nice thing to see...three kids sitting together, no one hitting, crying, or damaging property?


Nicholas was extra blessed on Thanksgiving day because we were celebrating his 6th birthday. This is one of the many WONDERFUL gifts he received. Grandpa Clark got him a Harley coat. Grandma Joyce asked if he'd be getting a Harley for Christmas! Nic was thrilled with each and every gift. He said, "Mom, do you know that I LOVE every gift I got this year?"



We were so blessed to have Chad's parents join in on the "Latunski" Thanksgiving. Because of the size of the get together we had our dinner at the town hall! Santa decided to join us as well.

Mike and Tina Reeves (Tina is my first cousin) just moved to Clark from Oklahoma. Dan and Barb helped make the day even more special. I have never in my life had extended family within driving distance...now Clark is officially considering a name change to Polish-ville.

Mara and her family were the only other siblings to make it this year. Nick, Angel, and Dad look on as they enjoy their feast. Little Thomas slept soundly for most of the day.

Andrew had to be caged half way through the day due to his constant whining. I had more important things to attend to, like a hot game of 10K. (A dice game)

When all was said and done we put the little guy to work cleaning up for us. We finished up our game while Andrew got the place looking nice and clean.

We had a great day with our family and even though there was much prepartion, much cleaning up and much over-eating we had a blessed day remembering why we are so thankful!

Tomorrow will be a view at the slightly more "wild" side of the family!

Happy 6th Birthday Nicholas

Happy 6th Birthday Nicholas!

Six years ago, Thanksgiving Day, I awoke to heavy cramps at five in the morning. Being our first baby we assumed we’d be parents before noon. Ha Ha Hee Hee! Instead we checked into the hospital at 6:30 am only to be told that my doctor, who had promised me that he would be there to deliver my first baby, was indeed out of town. We’d be settling for the doc on call. I was instantly traumatized as I felt an unnatural, but nonetheless real, bond with my gynecologist who had now betrayed me for a hot meal and relatives. My fears changed their course as the contractions became more uncomfortable. I quickly decided that anyone with a medical degree and gloves could be on the receiving end when I pushed this baby out!
Dr. Benson was amazing. He came dressed in a red flannel shirt and blue jeans. He was on his way out to hunt and wanted to check my progress before he settled into his tree stand. I had progressed minimally even with my bag of waters being ruptured. He promised to be back in a couple of hours and in close contact with the nurses.

By late that afternoon we were still progressing at a snails pace and he decided to help increase the contractions with medicine. I opted for an epidural, which couldn’t arrive fast enough. I remember being anxious but completely naïve as to what was happening around and to me. I believed that it may be a while yet but the baby surely couldn’t stay in there forever! At 5:00 pm Dr. Benson came into the room looking very serious. He wasn’t happy with the lack of progression and after my reaction to the epidural mixed with previous medications he felt that a Cesarean was the safest route. I looked from him to Chad wondering if I’d really heard him right. A Cesarean? Was he serious!! I had not planned for that in any possible way! I didn’t want a C-Section…dang it! If my dumb doctor had been here instead of stuffing himself with turkey I’d be able to deliver this baby. Again, naïve.

Obviously we trusted the advice of this man pretending to be a doctor all dressed in hunting clothes and we went ahead with a C-Section. God’s hand was present in it all, as Nicholas had needed to get out due to a bowel movement and cord wrapped around his neck. Dr. Benson had indeed been guided by the Holy Spirit whether he gave him credit or not.

At 6:02 pm we were greeted with wails and screams from our firstborn. He was the most beautiful thing that we had ever laid eyes on…cone head and all. Nicholas made us parents that day six years ago, a job we’ve never regretted since!

Six years have come and gone in the blinking of an eye. Nightly feedings and rocking to sleep seemed endless at the time and now are just a memory. As a baby, Nic was strong-willed and determined. As a boy he is exactly the same. He loves deeply and feels strongly about that which he believes. He challenges us daily. He pushes me to be more patient, more compassionate, more alert, more loving. He helps me see the face of Jesus in new ways as I discover God’s love through the eyes of a six year old. I love you Nicholas David. You are a treasure of immeasurable worth!

Thanksgiving Tips

Here are a few tips for making this Thanksgiving Day even more memorable:

T-Tell someone "thank-you" for all of the unnoticed acts of kindness
H-Hug all of your guests as you greet them
A-Ask specific questions of people and then LISTEN to their responses
N-Notice and acknowledge the extra effort that someone went through
K-Kiss your spouse when they least expect and for no reason at all
S-Say "I'm sorry" to someone or for something that you have not yet apologized
G-Give time to someone that you would usually ignore or pay little attention to
I-Invite someone to join in your family celebration that might be alone
V-Voice your thankfulness to others
I-Include everyone in a fun game
N-No complaining
G-Go further in showing your appreciation

Royal lunch guests

I don't know who ever said that stay-at-home motherhood wasn't glamorous and sophisticated. I had lunch with the Queen and Court Jester.

Who are you eating with?

Cleaning up house

My closet it more than just a place to hang my clothes. It is a homeless shelter for the many things that have not yet found a proper home. Collections of shopping bags, old hangers, shoes that I can't bear to part with because I know that in some shopping mall is the perfect outfit, belts that can't find a better place to hang, bargain toys that I've stashed away for special occasions, sweaters that I threw off in a rush as I ran out the door late for church.

Cleaning my closet is an eviction notice to much of who I am. Granted, it's not the loveliest side of Heidi, but it is me nonetheless. My closet becomes very representative of where I am emotionally. Even if every other aspect of my life can be organized and straightened, my closets remains a true reflection of flaws, the areas that I know need work. I dread the idea of purging my closet. I dread the time that it will require, the decisions that must be made, the giving up of my hiding place.

Isn't that how it is in our relationship with God as well? Don't we all have places that we know He is aware of but convince ourselves that if we just keep most of our lives in order He might forget about the one ugly place? The ugly place is where He sits and waits for us. Each time that I open my closet, He's sitting right there waiting for me to make a decision. Today will I let Him clean it out or will I shut the door and only share the good parts of who I am?

What part of your physical and spiritual house need cleaning? Is it a drawer, a desk-top, a cupboard, the refrigerator, the garage...? Where are you afraid to let others in because they might see your flaws and weaknesses? You could just clean them out physically and feel proud that it is now a clean space, or you could identify the physical place with a spiritual space within and let God do His house work while you are doing yours.

10 Things that my Father taught me

Happy Birthday Dad!
I am so blessed and inspired by you. I wanted to find some way to pay tribute to the great man I call dad so I decided to compile a list of ten things that you have taught me. These are certainly not the ONLY things you taught me but certainly some important ones. People often say that I am alot like you, I don't think that they always mean it in all the "good" ways but I hope that one day my children will say that they learned these things from me...and it will really be because I learned them from you. I love you.

10 THINGS THAT MY FATHER TAUGHT ME:
1. Jesus loves and wants to know me.
2. Who you are in public is only fractionally as important as who you are in private.
3. No occasion is necessary to give flowers to someone that you love.
4. Strength has nothing to do with power and everything to do with gentleness.
5. Everyone is huggable, even if they do not know it.
6. Forgiveness is free, it's our pride that is so costly.
7. Family vacations are not about what you see or spend but who you are with.
8. Sing...to any tune with any words.
9. Work is only a way of supporting a lifestyle, not a way to make a LIVING.
10. You're never to old to find your passion...even if it lands you on a Harley.

Bad dog...no biscuit

This is Shadow. He did a bad thing.

I have tried desperately to make a heart connection with our new 'family' dog, Shadow. Ever since the loss of my one true canine love, Harley, I have been unable to give my heart in the same way to any other quadraped. Our relationship is like any other...we have our ups and downs, highs and lows, our bad days and our really bad days.

Shadow has special needs. Everything from Olivia's favorite flip-flops to Nicholas' souvenir cap gun has suffered the wrath of Shadow's psychological chewing problem. Yesterday he went too far.

I usually take time to pay bills weekly and it seems to work best if done over the noon hour, before the postman arrives and while Chad is home to supply some distraction to the kids. I quickly finished my bookwork, popped the bills into the mail-box (the city type with the flappy lid), and sat down at the lunch table to eat my now cold meal with my family.

That's when I saw it. A letter-like substance gently blowing across the sidewalk. I jumped up afraid that I had not secured the bills in properly and this is what I found.



Shadow had fallen victim to another episode, brought on by the psychological trauma due to a lack of fatherly love. Shadow has not found an appropriate coping mechanism for his anger against Chad's lack of attention. He feels neglected and emotionally abused by this man who brazenly sits at the dinner table with his "other" children and wife while Shadow is forced to eat his lunch alone...in the heated "chicken-coop" in the garage, like some sort of ANIMAL.

A boy and his Dad

Phone rings Monday night about the time we're expecting a call from dad.
Nic jumps up to answer as he is missing daddy very much.

Nic: "Hello? Daddy-daddy, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you!
Where are you daddy? Why aren't you ever home?
(Pause...first breath he's taken since answering the phone)

HANDS THE PHONE TO MOM

Mom: (to Nic) "What he wants to talk to me now?
Hello? Oh, hi Dr. Schuurmans..." (family dentist)

Mars & Venus on a weekend- Part Two

I have written a story based on fact but the characters names have been removed to protect their identity. This is part two.

Husband speaks. Yes he said she could go shopping, but she’s not leaving until noon so he is going to help Friend 2 do some work on his house and borrow a lawn tool. Why is wife’s face changing? Why is steam coming out of wife’s ears? Wife didn’t think that her day off began now did she? He’ll be back at 11:30, that leaves plenty of time for getting ready. Forget the shower, wife will just pat down the curls. Forget the make-up, there isn’t a concealer on the market to cover these bags. Wife is not happy any more.

Wife leaves home at 12:30 pm and returns just 3 ½ hours later (an hour and half of travel time), in time to fix supper for her family. Husband and son decide that there is just enough daylight left to go out road hunting for a bit. Wife will have supper on the table when they return.

Saturday morning. Husband and son leave to meet friend at 9:00 am. Wife reminds husband that he will be gone ALL day Sunday with his church activity (10AM-8PM) and hopes that they make it a short day. “Of course wife. We would never waste the whole day hunting.” Hugs and kisses.

Eight hours later. The cold symptoms that wife had when she woke up have progressively led to a severe headache, the chills, and a queasy stomach. A day of caring for kids through the sickness has left her tired and frustrated beyond measure. Wife doesn’t need to say anything to husband. Husband knows he let her down. It’s a quiet evening for husband and wife. Wife falls into bed at 7:30 pm to try and get a jump-start on the sleep before the baby starts the nightly feeding routine. Husband puts three kids to bed.

Sunday morning. Wife needs to go to church and missed her opportunity to go on Saturday night because of husband’s late arrival. So her only option is to roll out of bed and ready herself for the 8 AM service. Husband offers, “I’m sorry for hunting all day yesterday. Are you going to hold a grudge forever now?” Wife doesn’t have the energy to argue or explain her position.

Will it really matter any way? Would husband see the lack of consideration on his part? Would he understand her complete exhaustion with the rigors of being left home alone with the kids every day? Would he see her attempt at thoughtfulness in returning home after only three hours of freedom to ensure her family didn’t pay the price for her outing? She would probably lose him somewhere at the end of the first sentence.

These things wife knows. Hunting makes husband happy. Husband couldn’t control wife’s sickness. Husband does not act out of malice or spite, but perhaps ignorance; ignorance of wife’s sacrifices, ignorance of wife’s guilt when she is not caring for her family. Husband is not a bad person with a secret agenda. Husband does not think things out to the degree that wife does.

Is it possible that wife expects too much? Is it possible that other men are encouraged to enjoy these freedoms while wife unlovingly holds husband back? Is wife a demanding, nagging annoyance to husband? How does wife accept the apology that has been given, show Godly forgiveness and compassion when she is still frustrated? How does wife drop it without husband ever understanding how frustrated she is? If wife drops it without “talking/nagging” it out, does husband assume it didn’t bother wife very much?

These are the questions that only years of marriage and training can answer. Wife will leave those questions out there for the experts in marriage to offer advice. In the mean time wife will order a few more outfits online and spend a little bit more of husband's money, it won't fix the problem...but at least the story will end with wife being happy again.

Mars & Venus on a weekend- Part One

I have written a story that is based on fact but the characters names have been removed to protect their identity. This is part one.


It is Thursday night. Wife knew that husband would want to go hunting on one of his days off. She also knew that she needed a break from the house to maintain her sanity. Wife talked with husband to see if she could possibly arrange a shopping trip to a nearby town on Friday (due to a holiday husband had the day off), and she had been invited to join someone else in this excursion. That would free him to go hunting on Saturday. Husband did not respond to wife at the time of conversation. A tactic he’s used before, a stalling tactic that allows his semi-slower functioning brain to come up with a plan that best suits his desires. Wife is aware of this technique and tries to patiently let the rusty wheels turn before demanding a response.

Several minutes later husband called an old friend to see if he wanted to go hunting with him. Husband on phone: “Friend, I was wondering if you wanted to go hunting with me? (Pause) Well, either tomorrow or Saturday.” Wife’s eyes roll as she mutters angrily under her breath. Tomorrow?? Did he not hear me say that I would like to go shopping tomorrow? Husband still on phone: “Well, why don’t you just get back to me about when you want to go.” Get back to him? How does wife go ahead with making plans while waiting for friend to call back? Wife fights the urge to scream at husband for what seems to be a lack of consideration to her plans and bites her lip in an attempt to remain calm.

It is Friday morning. Friend returned the phone call late last night. He can go Saturday. It seems all is working out. However, wife expresses a concern over husband going with friend because past experiences have led her to believe that husband is unable to tell time when he is with friend and because Son is going along it is important that husband make it a reasonably short day of hunting. Husband assures wife that he is in control and just because in the past he has failed to return home after an agreed time does not mean he will again do the same. “I will leave whenever son and I need to, I'll just say, 'friend, we need to get back'” said husband. Wife assumes that husband has matured greatly since the last hunting trip with friend and he will certainly be responsible with son along.

Wife is happy. She hums merrily as she imagines her long-over-due day off. Excited by the idea of a hot shower without a little one screaming and tugging on the curtain. Energized by the thought of an application of make-up that isn’t interrupted by a two year old needing to poop. Yes, happy is wife because husband has given her a much needed break.

Husband speaks.

Dancing with the Stars- Junior Edition

Here at our house there is little to NO television that captivates us enough to make a point of watching it weekly. In fact, Chad gets a rather disgusted look on his face when he sees the joy of anticipation in my eyes when "Dancing with the Stars" is going to be on! It only furthers his annoyance when his five, four, and two year old ask nightly if this is the night for "Dancing with the Stars". I think we've begun to win him over though, how can you resist a NFL legend shakin' what his mama gave him? That is MUST SEE TV right there!

The routine goes something like this, we all gather around quietly watching the television and at each commercial break the kids jump up and do their interpretations of what they just saw. I am their "music". I must hum or sing some sort of dance-like music for them to shake their rumps to.


In the above photo Nic is demonstrating his dip move on Katharine.

This is just a variation on the same move, new view for the audience.

The girls do not wait for a male partner, they have GIRL POWER. Together they free-style and twirl around until the last note fades.

Despite their usual aversion to one-another, Nic and Liv put differences aside for the beauty of dancing. To get them to hold hands during a prayer is pretty much futile, but there's no hesitation when a good dance move is the goal.

"You sexy lady, I like your style...you sexy lady, you make me smile, bump-bada-bump-bump".

God knew we needed a little joy in the Comes household after the heartbreaking events of Tuesday's election, so he smiled down on our Emmitt and we are all thrilled to see that he will be in the finals next week against the devilishly good looking Mario. Don't bother trying to reach us next Tuesday we'll be forwarding all calls to voice mail!

Deep thoughts??

I had planned to post some pictures of my very own home addition of "Dancing with the Stars" but because I am untrained in the art of downloading them off of my camera I will have to wait for the techno-geek to come home and do that for me. So here's my post...it will require some deep thinking and participation. You ready?

QUESTION:

Knowing all that you do now about life, what one piece of advice would you tell the "you" in these past situations?

1-Junior High
2-High school graduation
3-College life
4-Meeting Mr/Mrs Right
5-Career choice
6-Day of your wedding
7-Before the birth of your first child

If anyone participates I will post my own answers. Remember it's ONE piece of advice, what is MOST important? What do you wish you would have known or truly understood at those times? Don't let me down!

Shame on us.

I was on my knees with my four and five year old sitting on the couch in front of me. I thought carefully of what to say to explain to them that the war against the evils of abortion was not yet over. I used the one phrase they understood. "Guys, mommy needs to tell you something sad. Not enough people in South Dakota voted YES for LIFE. It didn't win." I tried desperately to control my own sadness and anger as I gently told them that the abortion ban had been defeated and we would now continue our prayer battle in hopes that one day we will see a victory.

Nicholas sat quietly and one lone tear ran down his cheek. He looked into my eyes and asked, "Why Mommy? Why don't people want to protect the babies?" I gave him the simple answer, "Because Nic, they've been lied to."

Shame on us. Shame on a state that had the opportunity to defend the defenseless and turned their backs. Shame on a culture that has decided what value your life is worth based on the manner in which you were conceived. Shame on us women, who in the name of equality and rights have stripped those same rights from our future daughters and sons. Shame on us Christians for believing the lies of the devil and his warriors instead of seeking and finding the truth. Shame on the taxpayers who vote their pocketbooks but fail to see the tax dollars they give to fund abortion on demand at Planned Parenthood. Shame on us South Dakota.

Maybe it's because I am a full-time mom who has spent every moment of her time with her children and I haven't been out in society enough to understand how repressed I actually am. Maybe it's because I am a mindless Catholic who follows orders from the Vatican and can't think for myself. Maybe I'm the fool. Maybe I was crazy to think that if the good people in our state had the opportunity to vote strictly for life without having the words "democrat" or "republican" next to it they wouldn't have any more excuses. Yes, I'm sad. Yes, I'm angry. But that will not end the prayer that will go up from my lips daily for those who can not yet speak.

"Choose life, that you and your descendants might live." Deuteronomy, The Holy Bible.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABE!

Happy Birthday to my partner, friend, lover, provider, security, inspiration, antagonizer, irritator, headache...oh wait, those last three were supposed to stay in my head!

In truth, Chad is a great man. He loves deeply, he feels deeply. He gives his full support to that what he believes. He tries daily to walk his faith and also knows the importance of sharing that faith. His love for Jesus and His church is to BIG in his life to keep quiet. Even if people sometimes wish that he would.

I admire his dedication to me and his family. He knows that we are his priority above work and himself. He does an amazing job at balancing his role as provider with his role as father and husband. We love you sweetheart...

__________________________________________

List of thing to do today:

1. Get out of bed. Shouldn't be too difficult as I rarely sleep while in my bed anyway.
2. Kiss my husband and wish him a happy 29th birthday. Yeah that's right, we've both agreed to stop there.
3. Pray. For South Dakotan's to express through their votes what our legislators already did in Pierre. To vote YES FOR LIFE.
4. Send the boys out the door. (mini celebration)
5. Continue with clean-up of the aftermath of Hurricane Relative that hit this past Sunday.
6. Take rolls up to my husband and co-workers for his birthday.
7. Pray. For South Dakotan's to defend and protect the MIRACLE of life in it's most vulnerable moments within the womb.
8. Make time to vote.
9. Make Chad and Olivia's favorite meal for supper, spaghetti and meatballs. (That will mean PB&J for Nic)
10. Wait anxiously for "Dancing with the Stars" to begin!
11. Vote. No, not voter fraud. I mean for my main man Emmitt Smith and his beautiful dancing style!
12. Pray. That all of our work and prayers be offered up as a sacrifice to God and that His will would be done for the future citizens of our state.

60 Sandwiches and 47 cupcakes later....

Here's Big Daddy really getting into the business of opening gifts! As most one-year-olds he enjoyed watching his cousins and siblings squeal over the gifts more than he did opening them!

Yes, that is a picture of me in a swimsuit. I paid the photographer nicely to keep it a waist-up shot and notice the strategically placed towel and chubby one-year old?? I can now tell people that I have a picture floating around the Internet of me in a swimsuit!!!

Here is a portion of the "Latunski Loud-Mouth" tribe who joined with the Comes Colony to celebrate Andrew's birthday! The Comes' snuck out before the camera came out. Hey, anybody seen Barb??

Baby Thomas, Big Daddy Andrew, and Katy-Bug the Lady Bug line up like wounded soldiers after an exhausting day of celebration!! Sixty turkey/ham sandwiches and 47 cupcakes later...this is what remains of the party!

We had a great time with our family and friends celebrating the life of an extraordinary boy. Everyone either enjoyed the pool or enjoyed watching those in the pool. We thank you all for coming and today my mission is CLEAN-UP and organizing Andrew's booty from the party! I am out to buy a tub to store his own toys in to put under his crib at the end of the day!

Happy Birthday Andrew!

“As with every birthing experience it is a miraculous event that brings tears to my eyes immediately. Something was extraordinary this time too…maybe thinking that it could really be my last one, maybe knowing that it was a blessing that you came out quickly. I don’t know, but as always I was speechless as they set you on my chest and it was like looking at my own heart beating outside of my body. You were here…all those long days of waiting and wondering were over and now you are here to share with the world. Now I have to find ways to protect you outside of the womb. Will I be up to the job? Will I fulfill my responsibilities to you? God only knows and only He can help me now.”
(Final paragraph of a memo I wrote immediately following Andrew’s birth)


Well, a few tumbles off the bed, a few trips down the stairs pushing a walker, a dozen or so bruises on the forehead, and one fabulous year later….we’re doing our best to protect, love, and cherish the miracle that came into our lives on that day.

I wrote a full account of the time up to and after my delivery of Andrew. I re-read it last night and I cried like a girl. I cannot believe that time sneaks in and turns the calendar over to another year without my even realizing it. Here he is one-year post birth. Some days I try to imagine life pre-Andrew. I can’t. He has permeated himself into every aspect of our family life. He’s also found his “comfy spot” in his mom and dad’s bed and is determined to secure it as his forever! I remember being anxious when Olivia was due about the love that I would be able to offer her. My heart was so full of love for our firstborn, Nicholas that I couldn’t imagine being able to divide my heart up to make room for another. Then she came…and I realized the miracle of parenthood. Love doesn’t divide it multiplies. The love with each child grew exponentially.
Andrew is a joy among joy. His smile and coy expressions are enough to soften the hardest of hearts. He manages to smile while crying just because the concept of sadness is so foreign to him. He adores the attention showered on him by his siblings and daddy, but he is very devoted to his mama. Many days I question my role as a mom but all that it takes is a look into those blue eyes, (or brown), and I am reassured of the value in being here.

Portrait Studio

I took Big Daddy to get his one year pictures done yesterday. And either it's getting easier or I'm getting better at this photo studio thing. It went well, but it reminded me of the following story I wrote about two years ago when taking the other three for a picture setting. ENJOY!

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Instead of “Portrait Studio” I think that it should be called “Chamber of Torture”. At least we’d know what we were getting into. I am talking about these picture places that claim to capture the innocent charm of our toddlers in a priceless still life image. All at the reasonable price of just $19.95! I guess that it’s the optimist in me that somehow believes that a total stranger is going to get my four, three, and 9 month old to sit still and smile like it’s their birthday.

On my last visit to the portrait studio, which I swore would indeed be my last; I thought that I had a plan. Groomed, non-sticky, and dressed comfortably I took my kids in early in the morning, assuming that they’d be at their most alert and cooperative best. But there is something about the flash of a camera that sends shock waves through their systems and they turn into wild, screaming, nose-picking aliens! As the photographer, a twenty year old with no children, frantically looks to me for help I shrug my shoulders and sigh. I calmly pull the three year old off of her brother’s back and lick my hand and pat the baby’s hair back in place. Flash after flash we shake Clifford the big red dog, honk bicycle horns, tickle with a feather duster, and baby talk like bumbling idiots, all in attempt to get the perfect shot. By the time I finally say “ENOUGH”, the kids look like a shell of what I brought in at 8:00 in the morning. The two oldest are starving and the baby smells like last night’s dinner has made its way through her system.

The young photographer assures us that one of the 212 poses will turn out wonderfully as she pushes us out the door. On our way to the minivan, I swear once more that I would rather paint a portrait of my family than sit through that one more time. But then, two weeks later I go and pick up the pictures only to find that in some miraculous moment the young woman was right. There in the picture are three angelic, non-sticky, well groomed children, smiling up at me like it was the most natural behavior in the world and my heartstrings are tugged in an emotional parenting moment. As I leave with my package of pictures I schedule another appointment for 3 months later and smile to myself knowing that some things are worth the struggle!

Anyone out there?

I will admit that I post on my blog mainly for therapeutic reasons. Writing helps me use some of the creativity that is starting to diminish along with my sanity. However, I have had many comments in person about my blog but with the exception of a few I have not heard from anyone ON my blog. I know it takes time and not everyone has the kind of time in their day that I do....but if you find the time log in and leave me a note so that I know if I'm writing only for therapeutic reasons or if I might have a small viewing audience captivated as well!!

God Bless you!

"Bousiful Child of God"

Chad is out of town for the next two days so that means a little added chaos left for mom in the morning. He usually takes the kids to school each day to lighten my car-pooling load to two outings a day.

Katy usually sleeps until about 8, so on these mornings we have to roust her up earlier. Usually I don't mess with dressing her and fixing her up because we just stay in the car. But she was up especially early (time change) so I got her dressed and we were in the bathroom combing her hair. I pulled her cute curls up into a fast pony and when I was done she looked into the mirror and said, "oh, I look so bousiful!" Even with a knot on her forehead the size of a golf ball and her breakfast still lining her lips.

Of course, I didn't argue with her. She is beyond "bousiful", she is a gem of immeasurable worth. But what a blessing to be an innocent child and see yourself the way that God does. I pray for my girls every day that they will indeed see themselves through the eyes of their heavenly Father. That their worth and beauty would not come from the world's opinion but from God. I was humbled in her little sentence. I need to see the beauty that my creator gave to me as well. I need to look in the mirror and say, "I am beautiful." Don't we all?