A Day in Chicago

Play Day

The girls feed the farm animals.

Dancing Fool

It was a fun time!

Catch Up

You may be wondering why our family hasn't posted anything in quite some time. Allow me to explain. Where we live, people spend at least three months indoors. Then, in the late spring, we have a transition to the most beautiful weather anywhere. Seventy something every day, no bugs, relatively low humidity - perfect. We stay outside during this period and store it up.

Now here's what's been happening with us.

Madi finished pre-school. She is ready for and enrolled in Kindergarten starting in September. She is also signed up to continue swim lessons all summer but has dropped gymnastics. Just not her thing.

Hannah continues to swim competitively but has moved up to the 9-10 division. Considering she is at the young end of this division, she is doing really well. We are looking into piano teachers for the summer and she might do an art camp too. She will finish up school on June 6, then off to church camp that weekend.

Aaron is enjoying his once a month poker group. He's really good. He also installed a sprinkler system in our yard last weekend. He's been working hard as always. Starting next week, we are taking a yoga/pilates class together and I am busy planning a little party for his birthday.

As for me, I am now a proud member of the Romance Writers of America and have joined the Heart and Scroll chapter. I'm several chapters into a contemporary romance that falls into the "chick-lit" category. It's keeping me entertained while the kids are doing their thing. I still love being home with them.

That's all for now. Hope everyone is doing well.

Egg Drop

Egg Drop

Best looking

Hannah's Birthday Party at the Football Game

It's a big day when you get to have a mixed boy/girl party! It was quite the experience with a bunch of pre-teens at a football game. All was good...lot's of sugar and the home team won.

EASTER

Ah the joy of making eggs for Easter!
















Couple of action shots from the egg hunt. It wasn't much of a hunt and the girls got a bit tired from the collecting.




























Sugar High!

Trip to Gatlinburg, TN

It's beautiful country and the weather was perfect.

Om Namah Shivaya

Om Namah Shivaya is Sanskrit, the most ancient of languages. It is used as a chant in the practice of yoga meditation. There is no exact translation for these words but it is universally understood to mean something like “I honor the divinity within myself” or “I honor that which I am capable of becoming.”

As someone who was raised in a traditional Christian household, I admit that there was a time in my life when I would have felt this mantra was inconsistent with Christian teaching. After several years of intensive Bible study, however, I now understand that these words directly relate to the relationship of the believer to the Holy Spirit.

The Bible tells us that when a person accepts Christ, they are “Indwelt” by the Holy Spirit. The most famous and visible instance of this is illustrated in Acts 1-2 which describes the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost. This was the first time believers were “Baptized with Fire” and given accessibility to God through the Holy Spirit.

So, while many people confuse “Om Namah Shivaya” as a form of worshipping self, if you read the words again, it is really about accessing God from within the self, which is very different. 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us “Do you not know that that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”

As we approach Easter, I find myself dwelling on “Om Namah Shivaya”, this ancient message and reminder of God’s most intimate relationship with us. Understanding it changes my perception of the principle of “Fear of God”. In Old Testament times, people feared the retribution by God: fire and brimstone, Hell and damnation.

But now that we have Christ, everything changes. John 15:15 states “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

Once you experience God within you, and feel the peace, purpose and belonging of being connected to God through Christ, “Fear of God” becomes losing that connection. People who are “In Christ” change their behaviors not out of fear but out of a desire to be and remain close to God.

John 13:20 “I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

Om Namah Shivaya – I honor the divinity within myself.

Destination Imagination

Hannah competed in Destination Imagination last weekend. It is a state wide competition where grade school children (3rd grade and up) are given an ambiguous set of instructions and must produce a play that fits the criteria.

This year they did "Courage in the round". The girls had to write a script that had a hero who had to show courage when they were afraid. There had to be two side trips from the main story and a piece of the set that changed from one thing to another. They also had to perform it "in the round" - so the audience was all around them.

That's all the direction they are given and adults can NOT help at all. The girls write their own script, make their own props and work together to decide who does what. My neighbor is the "Coach" and can facilitate the girls but can not actually do anything for them or give them ideas. (hard job!!!)
So, the girls decided on a story called "Santa's vacation". Hannah played Mrs. Clause and the other girls were elves. Santa was on vacation and wanted them to join him but the sleigh was broken and the one reindeer that remained in the North Pole was missing. The little elf had to find the reindeer and save the day.

It was very cute and as you can see from the pictures, the girls did a great job on the set. One of the girls got inside this box and when the little elf went to the field to find the reindeer, they flipped a painted sheet over the sides to change the set. There were also birds that came out of it to deliver mail from Santa and a trap door that delivered the reindeer.

They did a terrific job and won 2nd place. Not bad considering they were competing against 5th graders.

Hannah's PE Program

Last week was Hannah's PE program. Her class did a dance with "Wands". Other classes did parachute, tumbling, basketball, jump rope and line dancing. The theme was "Covering all the bases" and each class touched on a different aspect of physical fitness and nutrition. It was really cute and Hannah did a great job. She even had a speaking part.

I was frustrated with my camera. The first and last picture are taken with the flash on "Auto" - so dark! The middle one is with the flash off - no wand. Anything in motion doesn't come out at all. I also tried to video her speach only to have the camera shut itself off in the middle of it because of a low battery (light wasn't on before I left home). Then, I turned it back on and continued to take about 20 pictures and video on said low battery.

So, I am thinking this means the camera is on its last lense. Either that or it is possessed by an evil spirit. I'll try an exorcism and some new batteries and see if it can't last a few more months.

WE ARE ALIVE!

Judging by the number of family members who have called this week (which was very nice by the way), I thought our lack of posting may have worried a few. We are doing great just not a whole lot going on in this very cold weather.

I joined a virtual writing community call Zeotrope which allows you to post short fiction. For every 1 you post, you review 5 submissions. I posted a story titled "The Stairs" and then worked my *ss off carefully reviewing other peoples work so that I could read my reviews. I've gotten some feedback but not as much yet as I was hoping for. If any of you are interesting in reading and providing honest feedback on my first attempt at short fiction, (app. 7,000 words)please let me know.

Haven't heard back yet on my poetry submissions but did learn my first article is being picked up by two more magazines in Southern Florida. I know I should get busy with more non-fiction queries but I've kind of been obsessed with the fiction work lately and I haven't had loads of time with sick kids, snow days and school holidays. Also, have another book fair coming up.

Someday, I might get to editing that book I've had on the back burner too. Hmmm.

Here's a recent picture of Madi painting.

The Hard Part

February is the hard part of the year in the midwest. Sure, it's cold in other places and at other times of the year but in the heart of the Heartland the wind blows right through you. The below zero temperatures are so cold that salt won't melt the ice on the road. The sky is pale grey and it's hard to tell where the snow ends.

There's something about this time of year that can really bring you down. Your joints ache. You feel sun "deficient". Unless you are tanning, your skin takes on a greenish hue and you feel like the Earth, in its death like slumber has chosen you as its energy source and with Matrix like translucency has drained you of all will to do anything but sleep.

Thankfully, this usually lasts only a few weeks.

Hannah completed her last short course swim meet this weekend. She did fantastic, finishing in the top 10 for her age group in each event. Swimmers must qualify for regionals with 10 and under times and Hannah is 8 so she was not ready this year. But we are very proud of her progress. They take a little break now (if you call practicing 5 days a week a break) from meets and then in April they will start long course meets.

Hannah is also gearing up for Destination Imagination which is a creativity competition in the area. Her team of six will do a "theatre in the round" production in March. I'll post pictures.

Madi is now in Gymnastics, Cheerleading, and swimming but is still bouncing off the walls to go outside. We started some seeds together recently and are enjoying watching them sprout: a preview of spring!

First Time in Print!

Had a Fun surprise today when I went to the mailbox- a check! An article that I had submited early in January was published. It's my first freelance article, a humorous piece titled "The Devil Wears Diapers: Living with the strong willed child". (I bet you can't guess who inspired it?) It appears in the February issue of Western New York Family Magazine https://www.wnyfamilymagazine.com/Articles/. My article is not available on-line but they sent me a copy of the issue with my check. I'm on Page 53- Woohoo!

Madi's Hard Head

Have you checked the weather in Bloomington lately? Its south of zero here which means we are spending the least amount of time as possible outdoors. But, Madi was playing at a neighbors today and Aaron walked down to pick her up. She was really tired, so he hoisted her into his arms to carry her home. On the way, he rolled his ankle and dad and daughter took a fall. Madi's head met concrete, and the concrete won.

Now, my mom always told me that if I did this or that I might fall and "crack my head open", but I had never known anyone who had ACTUALLY done it. But, once she was safely in the house screaming, the largest egg I had ever seen bloomed in the back of her head. We drove to the ER to make sure she hadn't "cracked her head open".

When the ER nurse checked us in, she said "Gosh, you win the prize, that is the biggest egg I have ever seen!" ...and she was an old nurse. She fast tracked us into the ER because she was afraid that Madi had "cracked her head open."

Then, we saw the doctor who said "Wow! That is the biggest egg I have ever seen!" He ordered a brain scan because he thought she might have fractured her skull which would mean she had "cracked her head open."

The CT Scan guy said "Wow, that's the biggest egg I have ever seen." and ran the test. The egg was now even bigger and a few shades of purple.

Well, after three hours and I don't want to know how many dollars, the scan came back and there is no damage. I am convinced that no one "cracks their head open" but beyond that it is proof enough that she inherited her father and grandpa's HARD HEAD.

I've never been more thankful for it.

The Write Stuff

If you have been thinking about picking up something to read, here's my top ten (in no particular order). Warning: these books will keep you up at night and apologize to your spouse in advance because you will not be able to shut up about what you have read when you are done.

1. The Cider House Rules, John Irving- True modern literature about a man raised in an orphanage and trained to be a doctor there, who leaves as an adult to see the world and learn "the rules" himself. Caution: fuel for the abortion debate fire!

2. The Giver, Lois Lowry- Tale of a self proclaimed utopian society and a boy citizen who wants more.

3. Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen - Man joins the circus during prohibition and falls in love. In the style of Nicholas Sparks "Notebook", an easy but fulfilling read

4. Silas Marner, George Elliot - I will never tire of this tale of what's really important in life.

5. The Devil Wears Prada - For anyone who has ever hated their boss-a must read.

6. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Mark Haddon - Feel what its like to be inside the mind of a boy with autism.

7. The Davinci Code, Dan Brown - What a ride! This is the literary equivalent of eating hard candy but its so entertaining.

8. Switch Bitch, Roald Dahl - Who knew the popular children's author was a master of short stories for adults? If you like reading books for young adults, also check out "the Witches" by the same author.

9. Life of PI, Yann Martel - Indian boy with three religions falls off a ship and drifts at sea. You won't put this one down until the last page is read and then you may flip back a few times.

10. Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden - If you haven't read this one you are really missing out on a beautiful birds eye view of pre-WWII Japan and traditional Geisha culture.

Honorable mentions:

The Memory Keepers Daughter, Kim Edwards - A doctor who delivers his own fraternal twins decides in a moment to give away the one with down syndrome and tell his sedated wife she died at birth.

Saving Fish from Drowning, Amy Tan -A group of American tourists on an art expedition see first hand the impact of capitalism on Burma. Interesting and thought provoking.

The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri - Fascinating novel about Indian immigrants and their children adapting to American culture.

Oh - and of course any Harry Potter. Book seven is coming!!!

The 411 on 911

Do you remember being 5? I try to when my kids do things that don't make sense to me. I try to think what it was like to be small: to look up constantly, to be over-powered often, to sit in too big furniture.

Last night, the phone rang and Aaron and I picked it up at the same time. I was upstairs, he was downstairs. A distant sounding voice urgently said "Someone dialed 911 from this number. Is there an emergency?"

Aaron and I both said "No" at the same time.

"We have a recording of a child's voice." the woman said. We explained there was nothing wrong but the dispatcher said they are required to send a police officer to the scene.

So, while we waited for the police officer to arrive we had a little talk with Madelin. Here's her side of the story. She was messing with the phone, she reached 911, and when they answered she told them "I don't need you." and hung up. We both came down on her pretty hard about NEVER dialing playing with the phone again etc.. Then, we made her apologize to the police officer for having to come to our house.

This is where it gets interesting. When the door opened to reveal the uniformed police officer, I thought Madi was going to wet her pants. She apologized and then bawled and bawled. Why do I have this strange feeling this is going to come up in some therapy session later in life?

Stuff I think about

You are desperate for money and you must take one of the three jobs below. Which do you take and why?

A. The sole caregiver for 6 two year olds
B. The sole caregiver for 6 special needs kids
C. The sole caregiver for 6 geriatric patients

If you could choose one of these three men to be your uncle, which would you choose?
A. Warren Buffet (Did you know he does not give money to child relatives beyond an education?)
B. Mr. Rogers
C. Martin Luther King

100_1795.mov

Do you think we could get some electricity from this gerbil?