Squeezing In A Blog

Both kids participated in the school Christmas program on Tuesday night. Sidney made her debut as a dove in the 3 year old live manger scene.  I was overjoyed to watch another of the moments I refer to as the “good stuff.”  It’s the stuff  that gives perspective to sitting in the waiting room during surgery or watching her struggle to understand her permanence in our family. Her performance was highlighted by getting clocked by the heavy stage curtain as it swept past her. Eli followed with the big kid program. It was enjoyable, because he didn’t baulk about it in the days leading up to the performance.  Of course, who could blame him after he was cast as a bell in our church Christmas program last year? An event which is sure to scar him for life. And as a side note, I would love to include some photos of Eli, but he is with his classmates, in the photos, so I can't post them.

In other family Christmas events, we celebrated with Tom’s parents and sister last weekend. We are a very blessed family. I might sound like a schmuck, but I truly enjoy giving more than receiving. Whenever I look around at the overabundance on Christmas, I can’t help but think about those who are truly without. Perhaps, this is because I read a very moving blog entry a couple of days ago. A missions group was in Africa. The person chronicling the journey discussed a trip to the local dump. People scavenged through refuse looking for bits of food. One of them had leprosy and was missing fingers. We are all born the same with the same heart, and we end up with such vastly different circumstances. The photos were like nothing I have ever seen. It puts so many of the issues we consider problems in our lives in to perspective. It makes completing my Christmas shopping a privilege and a joy.

Stepping off my soapbox, Tom’s schedule has slowed down considerably in the past couple of days. This allowed me to go caroling with Eli’s boy scout troop last night. It was rainy. In this part of the Midwest, we aren’t receiving any snow, and it’s warm and foggy. I’ll admit, I didn’t feel like going out again, wanting to stay where it was dry. Then, good Lutheran guilt kicked in. I started thinking about how much joy a couple of Christmas songs could give the residents. So, we went. Much to Eli’s chagrin, the parents also followed along and chimed in. Mr. Independent preferred mom didn’t come along. 

OK, I’m off to produce the family photo card. Yes, I’m a traditional girl. Cards and stamps please. There’s no other way.

Holiday Ramblings

I'm sneaking in a few minutes to update the blog. We are in a frenzy of holiday activities. Today, I finished up some holiday shopping and after the kids are in bed, this elf will be busy wrapping gifts for tomorrows Christmas with Tom's parents. But before I do, here's what we have been doing.

Tom so loves getting a real Christmas tree. I say that with every once of sarcasm I can muster. He loathes cutting down a real tree. Typically, we face subzero temperatures, however this year, it was warm and muddy. It automatically made the process shorter, because we couldn't access other parts of the tree farm on muddy roads. So, here is my loving husband in a torrid embrace with the Christmas tree. What a goof ball. 

While we visited, Sidney made a visit to the man in the red suit. She was unsure, but corageous. This is huge. Last year, she wasn't have anything to do with it, and we weren't about to coerce her into getting into a strangers lap. 

Then we came home, and Sidney "assisted" with putting up the Christmas tree stand. 

 

Once the stand was steady, we began decorating. But, not before the diva dove in front of the camera again.

Today, Eli and I busied ourselves making cake balls. Another pin completed off of p*nterest. This is the only photo I could capture. It's not that I don't try to put him into the blog. He evades the camera!

Ok, I Get It

Sidney colored this picture. She turns 4 in March. Imagine our worry before travel, not knowing how well her hands functioned. Before and after surgery, there was the same kind of anxiety. Did things work better before we interfered with a surgical procedure? I dropped Sidney in the extended school care for a couple of hours while I tried to reign in the extra stuff I need to get done. I walked back in to see Sidney holding this picture. There are times Tom and I talk about thinking “ok God, I get it, I get it.” Today was another one of those moments.

A moment to blog....

Mom is vertical again and back to her normal chaotic pace. My strep throat is gone, but allow me a moment to whine. I remember it being miserable as a child. It is equally if not more miserable as an adult. I know I’m sick when Tom actually offers to care for me. Before you think I’m married to an insensitive man, I will say again, Tom is a wonderful husband, but he has no tolerance for any sort of whining during illness. Maybe it was seeing me huddled under two blankets, teeth chattering, and knowing I was still freezing that really sent him over the edge. It wasn’t pretty.  

Sneaking in a photo of Eli. He fights me every time.

After pulling myself out of bed, and facing my growing to do list, Sidney and I picked up her new shoes. Again, her limb difference is caused by fibular hemimelia. She obviously wears her shoes to school, and out and about, but it’s almost impossible to get her to wear her shoes at home. We have talked at great length with our orthopedist about the impact on her spine. He said she compensates well with her other foot. In addition, she doesn’t stay standing long. Like a normal kid, she’s up and down all the time. 

Speaking of shoes, I am in the midst of trying to get 90+ pair of flip flops and kid’s shoes to Des Moines. All the flip flops and shoes will go to an orphanage in Haiti. I started thinking about how many people wear flip flops in third world country’s. Cheap and a barrier between you and the ground. They can’t prevent disease, but it’s better than nothing. We function on such a different level of necessity in the United States. Which pair provides the most support, which pair is most stylish, which pair looks better. I am certain none of these questions will be on the mind of the people on the receiving end.  

I can’t stop thinking about the stories of the people who will wear the shoes. How did the earthquake impact their lives? Are all their family members still living? What happened to their home? Are they living in a tent? There’s so much devastation and lack of infrastructure to take care of the remaining chaos. I will never forget seeing a photo of Haiti about a year ago. There, amongst toppled buildings on either side of the street, people walked about like everything around them was normal. Obviously, nothing had changed since the day of the disaster, but they had to forage ahead despite the devastation all around them. And by now are the same buildings repaired? It saddens and angers me, but I know God has some lesson in all of this.

Thanksgiving

I had a delightful post started on the many reasons I have to be thankful, but that was before mom was quarantined to her bedroom with strep throat. I am feeling good enough to be bored but bad enough that I can’t get up and do a bunch of stuff. I was completely dumbfounded when the nurse came into the exam room with a positive test. Really? I haven’t had strep throat in at least 29 years. Adults get strep? I am grateful I was able to enjoy Thanksgiving Day with my in laws before getting sick. However, I had to miss my moms Thanksgiving yesterday, and that was a major downer. Tom took the kids over, and they enjoyed the day while I went to the doctor and slept.

NutterB*tters, kisses, and chocolate chips, adhered with chocolate frosting. I thought my acorns were an adorable addition to Thanksgiving.

My inlaws house, concentrating on go fish.

I didn't go to the doctor until Saturday, so on Friday, I was attempting a more psychological approach to my healing, thinking "I am NOT getting sick." 

Tom planned on going car shopping. Something we both dread. I think I might rather have a crown put on at the dentist. No matter what, you feel like your getting ripped off. And it doesn't help that I am a former auto loan collector. I know about dealerships, and what I know isn't the positive side.

We test drove a few cars. Of course the dealer didn't know the price tag on the car we wanted was $2k less online. They had to honor it, but I still wasn't happy. After all, we are tightwads. And the dealer grew weary but put up a good fight. I wasn't able to get him below the clean trade in value. I said "you will learn, I am impossible" as he chimed in with a canned response saying "no, no, that's great! Your on your toes." I'm sure he was thinking something which included cursing.

And as for Eli? He's glad he can stop telling the Nissan it's going to the scrap yard. I typically pat the dash as the transmission lurches, saying "good girl" while Eli simultaneously tells the car "your going to the scrap yard!" And as for Sidney? She isn't happy with the color. She wanted it to be pink and purple two tone. She was careful to tell me "both colors mommy." 

Eli chilling out at Grandpa Steve & Grandma Sheryl's before the big Thanksgiving feast.

Tom and I could have bought a car a long time ago, but frankly, we didn't see the practical value. My car ran, and it wasn't until this fall it actually had huge issues. I don't like to waste resources. That, and neither of us could see anything we really liked. It's kind of an issue of principal. It's not hurting anything, we aren't wasting money, and we do not try to keep up with the Jones. I refuse to spend my life in pursuit of material possessions. Sorry, but a person will never find happiness. That being said, I was applauding as I drove it. Well, not while driving, but you get my point.

Wish I had something else more exciting to report, but this laptop and reruns on Netflix are really all I have seen the past couple of days. OK, I’m off to shop any remaining deals online for Christmas. I need to feel productive, even if it’s from the comforts of my bed with a sore throat.

Fill Their Stockings and Half the Sky

Take a look at the fund raiser of another favorite blog. She has beautiful photograhs and best of all her little one is also a Chenzhou girl. Makes my heart sing to see the work she is doing to benefit Half the Sky. Sidney was part of the Half the Sky program in China, and it made all the difference in her ability to bond . Half the Sky trains and staffs orphanages with additional people, giving kids additional one on one time. A $5 enters a chance to win.

The Good Stuff

Look what I made in preschool today! Thank goodness my "Aunt Jill Ridenour" is my teacher and comes up with all this adorable stuff I bring home! Behind the bag is a HUGE smile. I love it!