9 years ago

9 years ago, just about now, I was holding this newborn baby girl in my arms. She was born at 10:45 p.m., just a little over an hour after we arrived at the hospital! I wasn't sure I was really in labor as I had never gone into labor naturally before. Hard to believe 9 years have gone by. We had a lovely day. Mostly we hung around home and took it easy. Late afternoon we went out to the country and picked apples. The day ended with me telling her the story of the day she was born as I tucked her in. She was such a sweet surprise for my 40th birthday. She was born almost exactly one month before I turned 40. Guess I'm giving my age away aren't I?

Just what I needed

Today, like every other day,

we may wake up empty or frightened.

Don't open the door to the study and begin reading.

Take down a musical instrument.

Let the beauty we love be what we do.

There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

~Jalal ad-Din Rumi

Maybe I should just leave it at that. Toilet overflowed twice last night (leaked down into the basement). But, I hated (such a strong word) the bathroom carpet and now it's gone!!! I overslept this morning, my computer blue screened on start up, and my head and neck hurt. Then, let's see, it was Bible school day so that was chaotic, plus on Tuesdays I sub during the lunch hour, so things at work were pretty crazy. But, here's what I found. People ask when you get to work "how are you" and I found myself saying either "fine" or even "good". Well, I thought to myself, I guess I'm pretty good. I could be better, but then again, it could be worse. That helped me keep a more positive outlook. But my head and neck still hurt, and I was tired (whine, whine). Then I got this quote in an e-mail. I get daily inspirations from inspiration peak. It was just what I needed today. I hope I wake up tomorrow and do just that, at least in my head and heart. Finding new ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

Can't we all just get along?

Oh, the joy of my Saturday, grocery shopping. I do a lot of my grocery shopping at Walmart. I know, most people think it's a really evil place (but still shop there*). I agree it may be evil, although I've not done any research into their evil practices, and I'm not convinced that Kroeger (who own Dillons) have any better practices or ethics. Anyway, the shopping experience at Walmart, especially on the weekend, is less than appealing. I would LOVE to do more of my shopping at other stores, and I've been shopping more at Prairie Harvest since summer, but my budget just won't allow me to do all of my grocery shopping there. And the PH shopping experience . . . wonderful, soothing even. Anyway, in my shopping I observed soooo many grouchy, unhappy people. I generally smile and try to make eye contact with those I meet in the aisles. Today, people, for the most part, were having nothing of it (although I did see a few friendly faces and appreciated them immensely :). People were downright crabby and even mean. One guy pushed his cart right up to mine while I was stopped to get an item off the shelf and just stood there glaring . . .like, get out of my way. I saw the same guy later muttering loudly about people stopping and talking in the aisles. I guess I kind of look at it like driving, just because one person might be rushed or in a hurry, that doesn't mean everyone has to be, right??? And it made me think. Peace is HARD. It's hard to be peaceful in our own homes sometimes, at least it is in mine. And it's hard where we work. And it's hard at the grocery store. But I have to hope that little things make a difference. I know it made a difference to me today when someone smiled. It would have been easy to join into the crabby, grouchy, unhappiness around me and maybe that's what happens when things fall apart and violence erupts. It's contagious. Today I chose to let the smile be contageous.

* I really admire people who believe something strongly, like Walmart is an evil place, and then show their belief by not supporting something, like Walmart. I have trouble sometimes when people go on and on about how evil a place is, but still shop there :) Hmmm, maybe this is grist for another post!

Ummmm yeah

We do have an electric guitar in our house now (but no amp yet hehehe). And a "girl band" in the making. Aunt Debbie took them birthday/school shopping but Ellie had no need for clothes or shoes. All she wanted was an electric guitar.

We spent the weekend in Lawrence. What a fun town. Next time I want to stay at the Eldridge downtown.
You don't need to get anyone else to agree with your truth. You just need to live it.
Alan Cohen

And to follow up on my previous post about kindness. I have been doing acts of kindness but not always feeling all that kind about it. It's a struggle. I appreciate the thoughts shared in comments and would like to continue thinking and talking with folks about it. I find that I usually end up feeling more kind as I carry out the act, but the working up to it is what I find most challenging. You might have guessed I have a certain situation in my life right now drawing on my "kindness" tap. It helps to hear other perspectives so again, thanks!

Question of the day

(I received one of these bracelets Sunday. Click on the picture to read more about the MLC world bracelet program.)

If you do a kind act, but your heart is not feeling kindness, does it negate the kind act?? I'd really like to hear your thoughts on this.

The wonder of the things we take for granted . . .

I've been thinking lately of the things I take for granted and don't take time to be thankful for. I came upon this as I was drinking my coffee this morning and it hit home. But there's more. As I said before, being at the heart clinic last week hit me hard as I thought about the daily things I take for granted: my health, my kids health, my ability to breath without even thinking, my heart beating an even, steady rhythm just like it's supposed to without any help, the water coming in through the pipes in my house, lights coming on when I flick a switch. It could go on and on.

A few years ago, before we made our inter-generational home, we had a water leak at our house. Our water had to be shut off for 3 days to avoid more waste and also more huge water bills. It made me realize how for granted I take clean, at-the-ready water in my life. We had somewhere to stay where we could have running water, but it made me think about those who don't have that option. Those locally who have their water shut off and have no where to go stay. Those around the world who have no clean water, let alone running water.

I also have a friend who lost a baby at the end of pregnancy. I know she continues to have days that are hard, and although I know I can't really understand what she's feeling, I suffered early pregnancy loss so feel I can relate somehow. And I remember the realization that pregnancy was one thing I would never again take for granted, although early in my first pregnancy I did.

I guess suffering, hurting, feeling loss or potential loss helps me not take things so for granted. So, I hope today, and every day, I can remember to think about things that I take for granted, to take time to be thankful for those things, and to, hopefully, reach out to someone for whom those things I take for granted might be a struggle.

Good News!

Emma's cardiology appointment was today and after and ekg and an echo, plus checking over by a nurse practitioner and the pediatric cardiologist, they cleared her for all physical activity. The doc said if you pulled ten 14 year olds off the street, 4-5 of them would have a heart murmur and that in itself isn't cause for concern. He said our doctor should listen to it when she goes in for checkups but that's it. Whew. What a relief. I almost cried when he told us. It was very humbling too, because while there we saw a variety of people checking in for appointments; older folks, pregnant women, young children and even babies. It reminded me how blessed we are when our children, and we, are physically (and mentally) healthy and that we should never take it for granted. Good reminders. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers sent our way!