Carrots and kids that get older

Hee, hee, hee.

I've snuck away for fourteen minutes at the computer. The girls are napping (or faking it sufficiently) and Caleb is peeling a bag of carrots in the kitchen, just thrilled with himself and the job.

I'm not sure what I'm delighted with more... the quiet house with shadows of leaves dancing on my wall, or the work that is play that is happening in the kitchen.

Okay. Fourteen minutes is nearly up.

Bee's

I read this yesterday in 'The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd. Marc brought it home for me from his trip to SC. I finished the novel this morning, and think I will read it again next weekend.

I hadn't been out to the hives before, so to start off she gave me a lesson
in what she called "bee yard etiquette." She reminded me that the world was
really one big bee yard, and the same rules worked fine in both places:
Don't be afraid, as no life-loving bee wants to sting you. Still, don't be
an idiot; wear long sleeves and long pants. Don't swat. Don't even think
about swatting. If you feel angry, whistle. Anger agitates, while whistling
melts a bee's temper. Act like you know what you're doing, even if you
don't. Above all, send the bees love. Every little thing wants to be loved.

N.T. Wright

Every once in awhile I check out Dan Wilt's blog (www.danwilt.com). Today I was treated to a lengthy quote from NT Wright.

Here is the teaser (and I encourage you to check out the longer quote and link to full text at the link above):

The vocation of the artist is to speak of the present as beautiful in
itself but as pointing beyond itself, to enable us to see both the glory
that already fills the earth and the glory that shall flood it to
overflowing; to speak, within that, of the shame without ignoring the
promise, and to speak of the promise without forgetting the shame.”
Apocalyptic and the Beauty of God by the Bishop of Durham, Dr. N.T. Wright

Smurf History

The "Today in History" link on my Google Homepage today led me to learn more about the Smurfs than I ever knew existed. I loved the cartoon in the mid-80's and even had a fair size collection of the little figures. Imagine my chagrin to find that they are accused by some of being satanic and communists! For more info follow this link: http://encyclopedia.tfd.com/the+Smurfs.

PS. Really... who has time to accuse cute little blue creatures of such malicious things!

Living in our WHOLE house

We are so blessed to have not only a roomy ranch for a home, but to have a finished basement under it. So even though we live in a one story house, we essentially have two full levels.

For a long time, the "office" space has been in the basement. The problem with that is that for someone who craves and needs sunlight, especially at this time of year, going into a Cave is not an inspiring work environment. And if that someone attempting to do creative work is wired especially, perhaps even especially called, to be creative, and can't be creative, someone is not so happy (nor are the people who live with her).

Another problem has been that we rarely hang out in our Living room. I have a theory that it has to do with the fact that it is on the North side of the house. We first noticed our lack of living in our living room over a year ago. So we bought a stereo just for that room. It didn't seem to work in drawing more life into the room.

Just off of the living room (to the west) is a little knook with windows on three sides. This has been the 'playroom', but really only used when the kids had friends over. Aside from being a nice place to contain the mess of too many toys, I have been wondering for a few months if it were necessary for that purpose.

So this week, mommy got a playroom. My computer, and another computer that I've set up for the kids, have now taken residence in what already feels like a sanctuary. In the process, all the toys were thrown into the Living Room (who cares, since we hardly ever live in there), and have now been sorted through.

The Living room has been re-arranged (again), toys are mostly put somewhere.

So, this will be the attempt of Fall 2006 to live in our whole house.

Yep yep - Sesame Street Martians

This was on my sister's blog! I remember this!!! She said she almost pee'd her pants laughing. I almost went and made a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich to go with the warm Sesame Street at 4 o'clock in the afternoon memories.

Follow the 18 month old...

The setting is this: three kids in pajamas in a dimly lit New England ranch. The oldest, a boy, has on superhero pajamas that intermittently expose his bellybutton. But he's a superhero, so he can get away with it. The middle, the oldest girl, is in a warm sleeper, purple with pink edging. Her hair is pulled up in what is left from the french braid after this morning's bath. The youngest, another girl, is also in a sleeper, aqua-blue with similar pink trimmings. Mom has just served no-bake cookies for dessert, and asked them to please settle down as bedtime is nearing.

Oldest and Middle are racing around the kitchen, we're following the leader they sing over and over (and over) again. They are, incidentally, doing a great job of trading who is the leader.

Enter the youngest, the 18 month old in aqua and pink. Someone (was it Mom?) says, now AquaPink is the leader. The two oldest jump at the idea (maybe sugar before bed isn't such a bad idea). They begin to carefully follow closely behind. AquaPink, trailed by PurplePink, followed by superhero. Around and around the kitchen. AquaPink glances behind every few seconds to see what her brother and sister are up to. Delighted at the funny house mirrors.

Then she catches on. She sees and tastes the power. All of a sudden she sits on the floor. They sit on the floor. She lies down. They lie down. Feet up in the air. More feet up in the air. Roll over. Roll over. Peek-a-boo. Peek-a-boo. She deliberately gets more silly and more creative. AquaBlue squeals. SuperHero and PurplePink squeal. AquaBlue pretends to hiccup (REALLY!), the others hiccup. It lasted like this for twenty minutes, with Mom sitting on the couch giggling with the rest of them.

AquaBlue was by far the most talented and interesting Follow the Leader leader that I have ever watched. And the insight that I gained into her personality.... priceless.

No longer in a full crib

Today, Sofia and I partially took her crib apart. She is now sleeping in a 'transitional' bed. Which is three sides crib, one side open with really small guardrails. I'm wondering if I will get any sleep tonight while I listen for a thunk of a 21 pound Little Miss in the next room.

from Sweden to Hong Kong

This past weekend we met Ka Ho (or Matthew). He is a first year student at Colby, from Hong Kong. We applied to host an international student at Colby, and he is our guy. He is a really nice person, and we are so excited to have him as part of our family.

From Sweden

Last week, we got to have lunch with a friend from Sweden, who Marc met in Jerusalem the year before he and I met. Christian comes from southern Sweden, is involved with Vineyard over there, and was visiting Vancouver to lecture at a college. He had driven from Vancouver to upstate NY to see and cousin, and came the rest of the way to see us!

Here is everyone minus me after lunch together!

Why we Homeschool....

To be honest, I have always felt a bit irritated with people, mainly Christians, who homeschool their children to 'protect' them. I just can't find the logic in 'sheltering' or 'hiding' our kids from the influence of 'the world' - usually meaning the curriculum and teachers of public schools.

My first and foremost reason for homeschooling is that I believe God has called me to it, and secondly I believe that my kids deserve a chance at a first rate education (which I don't think happens in a 'traditional' classroom setting). I also believe, that with care and guidance, my kids will grow to be better ambassadors of the King, if they have experience loving those not yet part of the Kingdom.

However, this past week after three random school shootings happening around the country, I have decided to throw in my lot with those who homeschool to protect their kids. How absolutely disturbing and sad.

To the families and friends of the victims, may God be near you, and may the lives and deaths of your young not be in vain.

I just read in The Message John 12 this week. Jesus says (this if from my memory) "Right now, I am storm tossed (this is just before His betrayal), but what will I say 'Father get me out of this?' No. This is why I came. So I will say, Father, Let your Glory Shine through this."