Tellin' it like it is

On a rare Saturday afternoon my house was blanketed in peace and quiet. Yes, Nicholas was gone. With nothing pressing upon me for time or attention, I seized the opportunity and slipped onto my sofa for a few minutes of rest. Katharine, who had been playing nearby on the floor, looked up and noticed the image as being one rarely seen.

"I get the nugger-hole!" She exclaimed. Nugger-hole being the family term for the nook right behind my legs when I am lying down. As she settled herself, with blankie in tow, into her self-claimed spot, she said, "You don't do this very much any more, mom." Then pausing briefly she added, "I don't think you've rested since Elli was born."

Amen sister. Amen.

A little thing called 'catching up'.

Rarely do I post simply a 'catch-up' type of post, but it seems as though that may be appropriate since it has been so long.

Noah was able to come home after being in the hospital for 40 days and 40 nights. He returned Wednesday, August 12th, I believe, and not only was it his first time home since the diagnosis, but his mom's as well. I know that the time home was much needed by all. He was to remain there until his blood counts came up to a safer level for the next round of chemotherapy treatments. Initially that was thought to be by the following week, but Noah's body is responding on it's own time table and he did not head back until just this week. Maybe he wanted to see his brother's and sister's off to their first day of school! Now we wait like everyone to hear the next bit of news. Dare I say it...shock those doctor's and be CANCER FREE??

Chad's grandmother and my children's great grandmother, Helen, celebrated 96 years of life on the 14th of this month. Say it with me...WOW. She is amazing. Andrew loves her to bits, but no less than she adores him, I know. We had a family celebration together and it was nice to see Noah there to join in the festivity.

Somewhere in there I also had a birthday. Yes, I keep having them each year even though I filed that request with the government to have my birthday's stop at 29. But you know the government...nothing is done quickly. So maybe by next year that file will be acted on. It was a very nice day. A very nice weekend celebration with my family as well. My oldest brother returned with his girls from the state of Washington, where they have been with their mom who was activated full time to serve in a hospital there for a year. She will be home sometime in October. So my girls were THRILLED to see their cousins again. And we all had a really nice visit together over my birthday.

Big Dave Lucky had a birthday the day after me. He is Andrew's god-father, and a dear family friend. And although miles separate us now, he will always be our neighbor.

Chad's mom celebrated a few years of life also on the 24th. A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Joyce as well. August, November, and May are HUGE birthday months in our family.

Now, school starts tomorrow. I doubt that I'll have a post up and ready. But first day of school pictures will be soon.

The prize in the cereal box

Why is it that a prize in a cereal box is such a treasure? Why does a cheap plastic figure of Gloria the Hippo bring shouts of glee and excitement to the four young people arguing over who should get to keep her? If they were to receive Gloria the Hippo, in say their Christmas stocking, would they be gleeful? Or is it because cereal boxes are such an unexpected place to receive a gift that the gift is much more pleasurable?

My children expect a gift in their stockings. They anticipate what grand treasures they may find there. They anticipate and expect great things not only from their stocking but from the day. So finding a plastic figurine that does nothing more than slide across the kitchen floor would be somewhat of a letdown. But on a random Tuesday morning when little more than chores, playing, and naps are on the schedule for the day, a plastic Hippo is a treat.

Isn't this the way of life? When I expect things I am often disappointed. When something other than cereal falls out of the cereal box it is cause for celebration. Unless of course it is a dead mouse.

Maybe I need to expect less and treasure more. Maybe instead of projecting what I want, need, and expect from others in my life I could just let them be and act as they are. Maybe I too, could be thrilled with the Hippos in my life.

Episode IV- Family Videos

Remember way back during Lent when I shared that we turn our television off for those forty days? Well, due to the timing of the digital transitions and summer fast approaching, we decided that cable was not necessary. At least not until football season rolled around again. So we pulled the plug. Hooked up our digital converter. Purchased an indoor digital antenna that looks like a piece of modern art and gave it a whirl. Two or three stations later, we decided that television really is over-rated.

So since that time, the kids and I enjoy an occasional movie picked out from the library. They are loving classics like Davey Crockett, My Fair Lady, and The Apple Dumpling Gang. And I am loving the lack of commercialization! Wow, that has been the best part.

In addition to a movie here and there, the most popular request from the kids is to watch old home DVD's. They could sit for hours watching memories from our wedding, Nic's energetic toddlerhood, Olivia's grumpy stages, Kate's comical antics, Andrew's birthday parties, or Elli's smiles.

Now they have started to refer to the DVD's as episodes. You know kind of like, "This is the Zach & Cody episode where they have the bowling tournament and Zach gets grounded." Only it does not sound as normal as that when you hear things like, "Olivia and me want to watch the episode where we are playing ring-around-the-rosy and I have a runny nose!"

Odder still is when you have your kids repeating things you said at a birthday party about six years ago, as they play house together and re-enact an episode from our own lives.

Vacation to the Hills

It is a bit over-due, but with the schedule I am running right now, better late than never has to be the motto. So here are a few pictures of our trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota. We had a very nice time with my parents and some friends of theirs who have known me since I was just a tiny tot.

Chad and me in the Badlands.

The "Deadlands" as Kate called it.

My mom and Denise outside the cabin.

The boys of the group. My nephew, Jacob, came along as well.

Notice their enthusiastic smiles?

Chad snapped a great shot of Lil' Andy with the big face behind him.

Listening to the 'story' of Mountain Rushmore (as Andy calls it).

The boys always found a trail off the beaten path.

I spy two boys.

Nic and Jacob with a couple of stone cold guys behind them.

A little game of catch in the yard.

Even Andrew brought his glove.

Like always, Kate and Andrew played together a lot.

The girls got their first ride in a convertible. Which according to them, is something only rich people have.

Of course, the freebie was the biggest hit. Storybook Land.

Andrew and Kate take a ride, while Olivia is somewhere over the rainbow.

Elli just chills with dad.

I knew I packed matching clothes for the girls, but didn't realize I had for Chad as well!

Never too big for some time with daddy.

Jake, Gramps, and Olivia...and a bear named Pooh.

Pooh's getting a little smooch from Andrew.

Baby smiles.

Raggedy Liv & Jakey

Notice Kate's face.

Ole' blue eyes.

And we did lots of this. Cuddling and relaxing...what every vacation needs.

A beautiful success

It was pretty amazing. No, it was REALLY amazing.

The outpouring of love and support that the family, friends, neighbors, community, and those who just felt moved to reach out, offered to my brother-in-law and his family.

Noah's benefit was this past weekend and I really can not put into words the enormity of the event. Donations piled high. Baskets filled with every sort of gadget, gizmo and gift certificate. People who wanted to somehow reach out and express their feelings in some way other than words, gathered up from their excess and offered it as an expression of love.

This is what humanity really is. This is the good that God sees in us even when upon looking with our human eyes we sometimes fail to. The reaching out to a family who is hurting by any means possible, doing some small act individually that when combined with the efforts of many, speaks volumes. We see it in large scale when tragedy hits our nation. The coming together. Putting aside of differences for a common cause. It was beautiful to see it in a personal way. Directed towards a family that we know and love very much.

I know that Brian and Lisa wish they could thank each individual who came together. But realize that they could never know just how many people that entails. The prayers, the financial support...it really is immeasurable. Thank you.