Morning in Virginia

After a very late night, Austin and I are up early (of course!). He is playing airport on the coffee table while Robbo and Dad continue to sleep. We'll head into D.C. in a little while, with no serious plan, except to hit the highlights.

Oh, I do have a walking boot/aircast on my foot, so it's a bit easier to get around now painfree...

I'll post some pictures from the day later on.

Lows and Highs

I have our Christmas card name and addresses in an Excel document. Each year I try to update addresses through the year, but usually end up scurrying around to update the list at the end of November and throughout December. There are always names to add to the circle of family and friends and those who have died or I've just lost touch with.

This morning, I finally and painfully deleted a friend's name. After 22 years of friendship. I probably should have let go a few years earlier: but as many of us tend to do, I kept holding out hope that fences would be mended. It's finally time to let go and move on.

Reconciliation takes two. That stinks sometimes.

On a brighter note, the three men in my life and I are headed down to D.C. this afternoon for a little fun before the big race. Keep ya posted!

One Sentence Paragraphs

I updated both Robbo's and Austin's blogs recently.

It snowed for the first time this season yesterday.

The basketball team I coach won all three games we played this weekend!

I broke my big toe yesterday.

It hurts.

We leave for Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.

Robbo runs cross country at Nationals on Saturday.

Christmas is coming way too fast!

Just Around the Corner

It's only taken me a few years in New England to figure it out. When the "sticks" (as Austin calls them) go up on the fire hydrants, winter is just around the corner.

The sticks are up.

Life Is... A Series of Detours

Austin was playing independently for a few minutes this morning (I know, a minor miracle in and of itself!) with his construction toys. As I was eating my breakfast, he popped up on the bannister between the kitchen and the family room and held up a miniature road sign. "Mom. What does this say?" "It says, 'Men at Work'."

A couple of moments later, the same thing... "It says 'Detour'."

"What's that?"

"It's when you have to go a different way that you had planned to go. You know, like when they are working on a road, and you have to take a different road?"

"Oh. Yeah." And he hopped back down to play some more.

When you go a different way than you planned to go. As soon as the words left my mouth, it occurred to me that it was also a good description of life. Sometimes, things happen like we plan. But most of the time? Detours.

Thank God that life doesn't always happen the way we plan it... and that detours aren't always a inconvenience. Sometimes the most incredible blessings happen on detours.

Craziness

The last couple of weeks have accelerated into the world of non-stop craziness. Without going into much detail, since the last post:

• I have become the head coach of the 7th grade boys travel basketball team (after a messy political drama from which I tried to hide, but kept surfacing as mediator and friend to both sides).
• All, yes ALL, of the invitees to Austin's Halloween party have responded that they will attend. Yep, that's 20 - count 'em - 20 preschoolers in the house on Saturday.
• We had a wonderful long-weekend visit with Melanie and Richard (my sister and brother-in-law who live in St. Louis); and even got an extra night to be with them when their flight back to Missouri was cancelled!
• Robbo has run in five cross-country races. And he has two big races coming up this week - the Carlisle Invitational on Thursday, and the Mayor's Cup (a big race in Boston) is this Sunday.
• Rob spent last week in Florida on a business trip, and is headed to Connecticut tomorrow.

All that to say, each time I have sat down at my computer to think about posting, something else pops into my mind that needs to be done. So my writing has dwindled.

But. Life is good and I am thankful.

The Little Pictures

Robbo scored the winning touchdown in the first of his three flag football games today. He ran wildly out of the endzone back to his team with his arms outstretched and the biggest grin on his face.

It's so easy to forget how it feels to be a kid. In the big scheme of things, it's just a football game and doesn't make much difference in the world. Which is how grownups (like me) tend to think of it most times. But to him and the rest of his team, it was pretty monumental and exciting!

I don't want to get so caught up in the big picture that I forget the importance of the "little pictures"...

When Kids Think You Aren't Listening...

Robbo and Austin are in the TV room playing XBox360 even as I type. They are playing the demo version of "The Bee Movie" game. Here's the conversation I just overheard:

Robbo: "Oh, so you've played this with Dad?"

Austin: "Yeah." (laughter)

Robbo: "What's wrong?"

Austin: "He always gets mashed in this part!"

Robbo: "So he's not very good?"

Austin: (more laughter) "Nope. He's terrible at this game!"

Good thing I haven't tried to play it... He'd laugh me off the couch!

Dora at Church?

I took Austin to the movies this morning. The local theater shows a Nick Jr. (Dora, Diego, Backyardigans, and the Wonder Pets) movie at 10am on Saturdays. So this morning, Austin and I went to see Dora. There were about 75 other preschoolers and parents there, too.

If you are not familiar with Dora and Diego episodes, they usually have some sort of mission/goal they are trying to accomplish. And along the way, they ask for your help... such as counting, finding objects, saying commands in Spanish, etc. After each request, there is a pause long enough to allow for a response.

Each time Dora would ask a question, several preschoolers would respond audibly. As the show went on, more and more joined in the chorus, until almost everyone was participating.

I couldn't help but wonder what church might be like if the congregation responded audibly to questions from the pastor or priest. Rather than just assuming the questions are rhetorical, individuals simply answered aloud. Something tells me it might be quite beneficial for all.

And definitely more interesting! ;-)

Sing with me now! "Doot doo doot, doot da Dora..."

After-Dark Conversation

After lights went out last night, Austin was lying in bed and I was lying on the floor in his room. Following a few moments of tossing and turning, Austin piped up:

"Mom, when is it going to be morning?"

"After our body has had a chance to get all the sleep it needs."

"Why did God make our bodies to sleep for so long?"

"I guess he knew that we needed lots of rest, so that we can have enough energy to play and have fun the next day."

"And run fast?"

"Yep. And to run fast."

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Then why are you so slow?"

The Chess Game of Politics

I came home after taking Austin to school today and crawled under the covers. Literally. Most of the time I sleep because I am exhausted from playing/chasing/correcting/teaching/holding/ feeding/entertaining Austin. Today I was hiding. I was excaping for just a little while.

It seems I am being played (albeit minor in the big scheme of things) as a pawn in the chess game known as youth sports politics. I won't go into details because in a while from now it won't matter much anyway. But the thought that hit me on the way home today was "Wow. I've been out of the politics game for a long time. I didn't realize how freeing that feels, how a definite lack of stress accompanies that privilege." I don't like being back.

Being in ministry for a lot of years, I've dealt with plenty of political situations. It's sad, but the church has more than it's share. Almost anyone who works outside the home, faces those situations in the workplace. What leads us to be less-than-honest with those whom we work, play, coach, live, and interact?

Sometimes, we tell ourselves it is in order to protect someone's feelings. But most of the time, politics enters the scene when there is something we want... power, position, prestige, etc. And the path of least resistence all-to-often leaves collateral damage in its wake.

I don't like being a pawn.

A Thankful Moments Weekend

It was a really fun weekend (even though my teams didn't win!). On Friday night, Robbo and I drove down to Hartford, CT, for the Baylor/UConn football game. We attended the Baylor pre-game buffet and rally, where I got to see several people I hadn't seen in probably 20 years! It was fun to reconnect.

At the game, we were among about 350 Baylor fans in the middle of a very large and very loud UConn crowd. It was a great game and lots of fun, even though the Bears came up short. Here's picture of Robbo with "Bruiser" - the Baylor mascot - during the game.

On Saturday, while the big boys were at flag football games, Austin and I went apple-picking up at Parlee Farms. We picked Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Gala... they are awesome! Austin loves the hayride that takes us out to the orchard.

Then on Sunday, everyone went to the Patriots game. We tailgated in the parking lot beforehand, then walked through Patriot Place on the way to the stadium. The best moment of the day was when Austin commented, "Man guys, this is so much fun!!" I'll post a family pic when I get it downloaded.

As you can imagine, the weekend was full of thankful moments for me...

That's the Deal

Austin and I were sitting on the couch one day last week. A thunderstorm - or "thunder-boomer," as Austin likes to call them - was beginning to roll through. We were playing a who-can-hear-the-thunder-first game. He was grinning and laughing, so I asked him, "You really like the thunder, don't you?"

"Yepper-doodle!" he exclaimed with excitement. The he became very serious. Lifting Blankie (his beloved blue flannel square) up, he announced, "Blankie likes only the lightning. He doesn't like the thunder. He gets really scared of the thunder."

We kept playing our game for a while, and before we new it, the storm had passed. But the Blankie comment reminded me of something. Some things just can't exist without the other. Thunder and lightning. Joy and pain. Mountaintops and valleys. Happiness and heartache.

I guess what I'm trying to say, is that I'm a lot like Blankie. I like being on the mountaintop. I like being happy. I don't like the valleys and the heartaches.

But life is like that, I guess.

The movie “Shadowlands” is about the life of C.S. Lewis. In the movie, Lewis falls in love with the American poet, Joy Gresham. Later they learn she has terminal cancer. There is scene where she and Lewis are talking her imminent death. C.S. Lewis says he can’t imagine life without her; he can’t imagine the pain of going on without her. She tells him, “The pain then (after she dies) is part of the happiness now... that's the deal.”

Later in the movie after her death, he is grieving. A friend asks him why take one should take the risk love if it hurts so much. Lewis responds:

“Why love if losing hurts so much? I have no answers any more. Only the life I've lived. Twice in that life I have been given the choice - as a boy and as a man. The boy chose safety the man chooses suffering. The pain now is part of the happiness then.... that’s the deal."

Thunder and lightning. Joy and pain. That's the deal.

Put Your Feet Up

You kick and kick and kick.
Yourself, of course.
How could you make
such a decision?
Why didn't you choose
to go back and give it another shot,
to carry your riding-on-fumes existence
back into the danger zone?
Why couldn't you have played it safe?
Or maybe just safer.
But give yourself some credit.
You did as you were told.
You didn't hang around
to tempt the beast.
That should count for something
a lot, actually...
You are alive.

But now you are living in a far away land
in the neighborhood of self-kicking,
waiting for some kind of word.
Any kind of word.
For that would be far better
than the darkness of the unknown.
All the while, the surge of regret pounds away
at your worn out heart.

Take your boots off and rest.
You can only make choices
with the information you have at the time.
Do you think you can predict
which way the wind will blow?
Can you forecast the path of a storm?

Come on over.
Put your feet up on the coffee table
(where they really belong)
and hear these words:

It is not your fault.
It is not your fault.
It is not your fault.

The Day I Chose to Stay

I still can't wrap my mind around it. Seven years later, and it's still unthinkable to me.

It's something that ties us all together. No matter to what degree we were affected by it, I doubt there is one person over the age of 18 who can't tell you where they were that morning when they heard the news. It's indelibly marked for all of us.

I was teaching at Germaine Lawrence at the time. I vividly remember walking the girls to gym class and hearing that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. Thinking it was probably a single engine plane that lost control, I used the few minutes of free time that I had to call Jeanna and Paulette back at Riverbend to see what, if anything, they knew of this event. Details were still sketchy at the time, although minute-by-minute a clearer picture was developing. By the time we got back to the dorm, the enormity of it all begin to come into focus. We spent the remainder of the school day trying to focus on classroom tasks, but the girls knew something horrible had happened and needed to begin processing it all. So we gathered them in the TV room and sat down to watch some of the coverage. I spent so much energy trying to help them process something that I had yet to grasp.

As I walked to the bus stop, the world was unusually quiet. No airplanes were in the skies, except for the occasional flyover by the fighter jets that had been scrambled to patrol. My fellow commuters waited quietly on the platforms and then sat in stunned silence on the subway trains. The bus to my neighborhood was detoured around the Westin hotel, because a majority of the bomb units in Boston were parked outside, checking the building since that is where it was discovered that two of the terrorists had stayed the previous night.

By the time I walked into my apartment, I was numb. I grabbed a Coke, turned on the television, and sat on the corner of my bed. The sadness had yet to hit; mostly it was still anxiousness and fear. But I vividly remember the bottomless sense of loneliness that crashed into my chest while I was sitting there. I was six weeks and 2100 miles away from my closest friends.... the people who I would have found comfort with, who would have tried together with me to make sense of it all, who would have reminded me that in the middle of it all, God's love was still there. They were in Austin. And I was sitting alone in a shoebox apartment, less than three miles from the runways where Flight 11 and 175 took off, a block down the street from where one of the terrorists worked for a cab company, and that very moment the world had shut down. I was lonely and I was scared. And I wanted to go home.

I am one of the fortunate ones who was not directly impacted by the death of a loved one that day. But that day still left its mark on me. For in the moments of loneliness and fear on Queensberry Street, I chose to stay. Somehow, God's peace broke through enough each of the following days to remind me that I was here for a reason. And seven years and a wonderful husband and two incredible boys later, I am more thankful than ever... that I stayed.

The Optimist

So Patriot fans everywhere are in mourning today, since it appears that Tom Brady is now out for the season...

Rob is "depressed."

Robbo thinks "they're finished."

But Austin? Well, chalk it up to youth, or naivety, or whatever. But our conversation this morning was priceless.

"Austin, remember how Tom Brady got hurt playing in the game
yesterday?"

"Yeah."

"Well, he's not going to be able to play anymore this year. Do you
think the Patriots can still win?"

"Yeah. There ARE other people on the team, Mom."

Ok. There you have it!

Red Leaf Ramblings

Yesterday, while we were riding bikes, Austin brought me a red leaf he found on the bush next to our driveway. Ah... Fall will soon be upon us!

I never know quite how to feel about Fall. I mean, it's a great season; but it's also a reminder of what's ahead (which in New England means cold, cold, and more cold, and snow, snow, and more snow!). And that can be a lot of fun, too - sledding, skiing, etc. But Fall has always seemed to be a "dying" kind of season. People I dearly love and miss, died in October - Mother and Yac included. So it's tied to some painful anniversaries. I don't know... there's both a heaviness and a majestic sense at the same time.

But let's be thankful today! Fall in New England means...

football

insanely brilliant colors of leaves

apple-picking (complete with hayrides, cider, and friends)

school routines

cool nights and gorgeous days

cross country meets

playground playdates

geese flying South

open windows

scurrying chipmunks in the driveway

school buses

pumpkin-picking and decorating

creative costumes

parties

pennant races

bike rides and hikes through the woods

Okay, I'm off to enjoy the moments!

Doctors-and-School Days

Tuesday was Doctor Day for the boys. Austin had his four-year well-check (complete with two immunizations - better known as SHOTS!) and Robbo had an ingrown toenail "fixed" (which kind of freaked him out, since I don't think he thought the doctor would do anything THAT day. But it is all well and good now.).

Austin was rattled with the news that he had to get shots, but was very brave and calm. Later, as he and I were watching the doctor numb up Rob's toe, he whispered to me. "Mom, you know how you get scared when you have to get a shot? Well, when somebody else has to get a shot, I kind of get scared for them, too." I melted. He is such a sensitive and compassionate kid.

And then there are times, like now, that I want to ring his neck! :-)

Robbo started school yesterday. Seventh grade. Wow. I worked with pre-teens and teenagers for 15 years, but the thought of parenting one scares the crap out of me!! How do you make sure that you do it right?

Austin had his preschool orientation yesterday, as well. He met his new teacher, Ann; and saw quite a few of his friends from last year. I'm glad he has those relationships already established as it should make it easier on both of us as school gets underway next week.

Baylor plays Wake Forest on national TV tonight. Yea! I get to spend the evening - post-Austin-bedtime - watching the Bears. Sic 'em!

Weekend on the Sand

We've been down at the Cape this weekend. The weather has been fantastic! It's always refreshing to experience a change of pace and scenery. Here are a couple of videos of the boys at play yesterday afternoon...

On the drive down, with Robbo and Austin in the back seats and Bueller (our sweet little old lady cat) in the front, I was playing radio DJ. I switched back and forth from Sirius hits to 70's to 80's to 90's to contemporary Christian to kids stuff. However, when Prince's "1999" began playing, I landed on the 80's station. Robbo piped up after a few minutes, with a lot of sarcasm and a little bit of disgust... "the music you listen to!"

It's funny how music defines things. Decades, events, memories, ourselves, moods, movies. By simply hearing a few notes from a song, we are immediately transferred to another place and time, almost as if we are re-living the experience. "1999" put me back in the Fall of my senior year in high school, driving my two-toned Cutlass through the streets (and McDonald's drive-thru) of Minden, Louisiana. The years 1999 and 2000 seemed an eternity away back then... kind of like 2014 (when Robbo will graduate) seems now.

I have learned that life passes all too quickly. And the moments like the ones on the beach this weekend are priceless and to be treasured. I am thankful for those moments.

Austin Funnies

Twice today, Austin made me laugh out loud. Well, actually probably more times than that; but two of them stayed with me.

#1 - We had the Olympics on television, field hockey was being played. Dad says, "Look Austin - hockey!" Austin glanced at the TV, then replied with a puzzled look on his face, "Where's the ice?"

#2 - At dinner tonight, Austin was pressuring Robbo to be finished eating so they could go outside and play. He quickly counted the remaining items on Robbo's plate... "steak, one; cornbread, two; KOO-ZINI (zucchini), three."

I like Koo-zini... Don't you?!?

Dog Days of Summer

"Birthday week" - as Austin called it - left me completely worn out! His birthday day was lots of fun. We opened presents early, then went to play putt-putt and eat at Pizza Hut. We spent the rest of the day playing with new toys and reading new books! His "friends" party was on Saturday at Jump On In. It is a great place for parties, allowing the parents to play and enjoy the kids. Again, lots of fun. And I'm pooped...

I am frustrated with my lack of time and energy to jump on the devotional collection book. And I guess I owe some of that to my love of the Olympics... I have had fun watching them when I should have been writing and/or sleeping. School starts in a week for Robbo, two weeks for Austin. I am looking forward to the routine of it all.

He Sleeps

Today is Austin's birthday. And he's sleeping in.

He never sleeps in. He hardly ever sleeps! Since the day he came into the world, he has consistently required less sleep than I do. And so today, on his fourth birthday, he is sleeping in. Hmmm... what to make of it?

This birthday is rattling me a bit. His first birthday was a little bit emotional - but probably more because I thought it was supposed to be, turning one and all. Birthdays Two and Three were fun. But Four. I'm not sure why, but this one is getting to me!

He's growing up. He's more independent. He's able to outsmart me more consistently now. ;-)

Why Four is so hard, I'm not sure. I just know that it is.

(By the way, those of you who know me well, look at the time of this post. Yes, he still sleeps...)

"A Lot of Old"

Wow. It's been almost a week since I posted anything! In that time, Rob and I have gone to the Patriots first pre-season game, and all of us went to the Cape for the weekend (and had some friends down on Saturday!). Now we're headed into Austin's birthday week... full steam ahead!!

I finished reading Water for Elephants last night. I have to admit that a couple of times earlier in the book I almost put it down... it was very well written, but didn't "demand" my attention or my desire to read. But for some reason (probably because I had it posted here as a book I was reading and felt somewhat obligated to finish), I stayed with it. I am so glad I did! The last one-third of the story pulled me along and had me reading at every chance I found... on the beach, watching Austin ride his bike, inbetween rounds of Wii Olympics, etc.

Anyway, it is a great story of redemption and grace, in the midst of depression-era circus life. I found myself reflecting on several different aspects and elements of the story, which maybe I'll get around to posting. Definitely worth the read.

Last night, Austin and I were talking about him being three, almost four, when he asked how old I was. I replied that I was 42. "No, mom. I mean how old are you... like I am three?" I told him 42, and he still seemed puzzled.

"Do you want me to count to 42 so you can see how old I am?"

"Sure!"

So I counted. When I got to 42, he looks at me and exclaimed, "Wow! That's a lot of old!"

Ok, so I am a lot of old... :-)

Random Thoughts

Today feels like a Fall day to me... I'm not sure why, other than it's cloudy and cool. Oh, and maybe because I'm sans kids for a couple of hours. Robbo is at a basketball camp each day this week, and Austin is at his "old school" to play for the morning. So maybe after a whirlwind of July days, it just feels more like school days. Who knows?

Austin informed me this morning that he wants to be a Christmas tree for Halloween. Sounds like a good idea to me! I just have to find some green sweats and some Christmas lights that will run off of batteries. I love his creativity!!

I am also starting to work on a book (probably self-published thru LULU - which I found out about through my friend Milton) consisting of collections of mostly previously written devotionals, with some new ones thrown in as well. I just got the files back from my nephew Colin, who I had hired to help me with some preliminary computer work. So now it's my turn to get after it! I hope to have something available by October 31 (maybe that's where Halloween came into the discussion!). There's another idea/project/book on the table, but I'll save that one for later discussion.

Gotta go start playing Mommy's Taxi service... it's that time!

Migraine-ville

So I've been fighting a migraine since yesterday afternoon. These things really stink! I've taken all the meds I can... guess it just has to run its course.

In spite of all of that, it was fun getting to see both boys participate in the track meet this morning. Robbo finished second in the 1500M and Austin ran in the 50 meter dash and the 50 meter hurdles. He is so proud to be able to "compete" like his big brother!

I don't have a whole lot to write today. Most of the writing I have done has been with the intent to be read. This blog is different. I am writing for me... for the discipline of it, for the fun of it. And if someone happens to get something out of it along the way, then that's awesome.

I'm looking forward to watching (at least the first part of) the Sox play tonight. It's the Manny-free era. Bay surely looked good last night... Go Sox!!

The Flip-Side of Anger

It's my birthday today. And I woke up feeling angry.

Not because I'm "turning" 42. And not because Austin was up at 4:15 this morning, asking for a Pop-Tart. And not because I can't get the network to connect right now so that I can post this.

I'm angry because life really sucks right now for a couple of people that I care about, and it's just not fair.

For some reason yesterday, when reading my friend Milton's blog, I decided to click on the link and check out what John Brashier (one of the youth ministers who we once did a youth camp together with) has been up to. Upon reading his blog, I learned that Grant, his 17-year-old son has just been diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma. I caught up on their journey here.

So I emailed our mutual friend David Gentiles to make sure that he knew about it. I quickly got a response back saying thanks, and that Sarah Bickle (another mutual friend) had just called a little earlier to tell him that Thomas, her three-year-old who has been fighting a brain tumor, had just died.

Damn.

So I guess after writing that, I'm feeling less angry and just really
sad. I can only imagine what it feels like to be John and Lianne, or
Scott and Sarah. I hurt for them and with them. And I pray that they
will be able to sense God's comfort and presence in this day and the days
to come.

Maybe the flip-side of anger is gratitude, I don't know. But I do know that life is precious. That is what I am remembering on this birthday. And I am treasuring each and every moment with my two amazing sons and wonderful husband... both the fun ones and the frustrating ones. I am thankful for the friends and family who God has allowed me to share my journey with, and I am amazed at the love God has for me and for all of us, regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in.

A Maybe More Consistent Blog

We'll see...