The Amish are content. I think it is a requirement along with the no electricity, long beards, top hats, and wagons. Contentment is something that people in the hustle and bustle say that they want but never are able to achieve because it is boring. Being content sounds like you are giving up on a dream and settling for something. My dream is contentment and I am in the world of contentment RIGHT NOW! I am not wanting for anything, there are desires and hopes, even dreams but I am content knowing that I will have all of the things that I want and need and my dreams will come to reality soon enough.
I am excited about this contentment and I hope to stay here for a while.
Cole: His new favorite word is "unnecessary" and you can imagine how humorous and cute it is to hear him use it correctly. He also has started asking difficult questions. Not so many about mortality but those do come. Today he asked, "What is a sentence?" and "What does it mean when something makes sense?"
Rhys: He is starting to use words more and more every day and frequently asks to go to the beach. He also says "Popsicle" very clearly. We work with him daily on his pronunciation and vocabulary. This is the most exciting part of language development, in my opinion.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Dreaming of Vacation
I woke up yesterday morning wanting, craving, and truly needing to see the ocean. I presented the "beach" option as if it was an option but Chris must have known that his only option was to stay or go because I was going. So, we ate breakfast right away and got the car packed for a day at the beach. We were out the door by 8:45am. I decided to skip church because the one I am visiting has a contemporary service on the 3rd Sunday and I am just not into contemporary church services.
Anyway, I offered to drive both ways to encourage Chris to come and it was a really nice drive (both ways) only 2 hours each leg. We got to Rehoboth DE and parked close to the boardwalk, unloaded the car, and let the boys play in the sand, search for shells, blow bubbles in the wind (holding the bubble wand up for God to do the rest) and fly a kite for about an hour before we were all getting hungry.
After reloading the car, we headed to Go Fish for Fish and Chips and Sticky Toffee Pudding (delicious, by the way). After lunch, we took the boys to the candy store and bought over-priced confections for them to eat on a bench while we people-watched and read t-shirt slogans in a store window (e.g. "I am not perfect but I am so close it scares me"). After the candy, we took them to a great playground at the visitor's center to play just a little more before we headed home.
Last night, I found a place for us to stay for a week this summer that also allows pets. Hopefully, we will book it sometime later this week and have a family vacation on the calendar! That is a very exciting prospect.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Church
"I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together." I haven't been a church for a while now and last week I was being dragged to church. The Spirit was calling me and I finally listened and took the boys. Chris hasn't been into it and that is okay with me. The boys enjoyed it and I enjoyed the service and peace of not having laundry, dirty dishes, meals to cook, or children to watch for 1 single hour of the week. We all enjoyed it so much that when I felt the tug again this morning, we went again. This time, I took the boys into the sanctuary with me until the Children's Moments - when they went down to the front of the church for a lesson and then went back to Sunday School. The children's choir sang which was also a treat for Cole and Rhys.
While Cole was fidgeting on the pew, I couldn't help but remember the red velvet pew covers in the sanctuary that my family worshipped in when I was a little girl. It is now the chapel building because a giant sanctuary was built when I was in high school. The tiny chapel was truly a sanctuary for me. I would sit, be reminded not to put my feet on the back of the pew in front of me by my ever vigilant mother, stand when the hymns were sung, learned The Lord's Prayer and the Apostle's Creed, and brushed my hand against the grain of that red velvet over and over - dark red, light red, dark red, light red, thin lines of each with the tips of my fingers and then a brush of the side of my hand. As I grew more independent, I also served as acolyte and sang in the choir, attended Sunday School, and went to sleep-away camp.
Church was something that my mother got us ready for and dragged us to every Sunday. I really didn't like going but I liked it when I had gone. I hope my children like going. At least for now, I ask if Cole wants to go and he says, "yes". For now, I am saying "yes" too and believe that, once again, I can be a church together with my family.
Today's service was particularly uplifting when the Pastor led us all in a choral "Amen" at the closing of a hymn. I miss that and wish the Methodist Hymnal had never removed them. We also sang my very favorite hymn, "Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling". It all reminded me of when I was a girl and allowed me to refocus on what is truly important.
While Cole was fidgeting on the pew, I couldn't help but remember the red velvet pew covers in the sanctuary that my family worshipped in when I was a little girl. It is now the chapel building because a giant sanctuary was built when I was in high school. The tiny chapel was truly a sanctuary for me. I would sit, be reminded not to put my feet on the back of the pew in front of me by my ever vigilant mother, stand when the hymns were sung, learned The Lord's Prayer and the Apostle's Creed, and brushed my hand against the grain of that red velvet over and over - dark red, light red, dark red, light red, thin lines of each with the tips of my fingers and then a brush of the side of my hand. As I grew more independent, I also served as acolyte and sang in the choir, attended Sunday School, and went to sleep-away camp.
Church was something that my mother got us ready for and dragged us to every Sunday. I really didn't like going but I liked it when I had gone. I hope my children like going. At least for now, I ask if Cole wants to go and he says, "yes". For now, I am saying "yes" too and believe that, once again, I can be a church together with my family.
Today's service was particularly uplifting when the Pastor led us all in a choral "Amen" at the closing of a hymn. I miss that and wish the Methodist Hymnal had never removed them. We also sang my very favorite hymn, "Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling". It all reminded me of when I was a girl and allowed me to refocus on what is truly important.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
No clear thought -props all around
Props for me: I made a flawless flaky pie crust from scratch for an almost perfect Quiche Lorraine for dinner - check it out in the other blog
Props for Chris: He spent Sunday cleaning out and organizing the tool space in our laundry room and he also fixed the water line that runs to the refrigerator in the kitchen.
Props for Cole: He is putting on his clothes almost completely by himself - shoes and all. Tonight, he went upstairs, took off his clothes, picked out pajamas and put them on all by himeslf.
Props for Rhys: He is starting to say more and is getting more confident because of it. He clearly says "yes" among other things that he tries to mimic. He is really coming along.
Funny thing Cole has said lately: Mama, I see the moon! I guess it came out to see us this morning."
Props for Chris: He spent Sunday cleaning out and organizing the tool space in our laundry room and he also fixed the water line that runs to the refrigerator in the kitchen.
Props for Cole: He is putting on his clothes almost completely by himself - shoes and all. Tonight, he went upstairs, took off his clothes, picked out pajamas and put them on all by himeslf.
Props for Rhys: He is starting to say more and is getting more confident because of it. He clearly says "yes" among other things that he tries to mimic. He is really coming along.
Funny thing Cole has said lately: Mama, I see the moon! I guess it came out to see us this morning."
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Shameless Self-Promotion
I have started another blog. Many of you know this but some may not. I am shopping only once every pay period and using what I have on hand to provide our meals. I include my menus, recipes, and shopping tips that I am learning from those who know how to navigate the world of coupons. Have a look at what I have been up to here.
Wet and Wild
Sometimes you really do lose sight of the big picture when things start to fall apart around your house. When I think of everything separately, each one is manageable but when I consider them all at the same time, I start feeling like our house is falling apart.
Example #1 During the snow storm, we had a leak in the ceiling downstairs that we determined was the line from the refrigerator ice maker. No biggie...we will just find the shut-off valve and turn it off and then put in a new line. The shut off valve had covered with a ceiling and couldn't be reached from the laundry room so Chris put a hole in the ceiling in the basement. As a result of some careful calculations on the part of our friend Scott (aka Doodle) and Chris, the hole is very small. The new line is yet to go in but will soon.
Example #2 Just before Christmas, I noticed that when my washing machine was overloaded, a very small puddle of water would pool just under the front of the machine. It would happen during the rinse cycle. I figured it was just water splashing up when it was spinning and spraying water. No biggie...I will just make sure that I don't overload it. For a while, that worked and only occasionally would I see water. Last week, it started pooling every time with every load and more water. I called and scheduled someone to come and have a look this Friday.
Example #3 On Sunday, Chris went up to the attic to take Rhys' crib up and noticed mold. Green mold all over the ceiling of the attic. Just before Christmas when we had a lot of snow, we noticed condensation on the ceiling in the attic but it dried up and went away when the snow melted. This last round of snow stayed far too long and we have now developed mold. We are in good company around here since so many people had the same conditions, it is only mild consolation, though. We have hired a Mold Remediation company and they will be here on Thursday and Friday to remove all of our belongings, clean them and the attic and encapsulate the ceiling and joists so it doesn't happen again.
So, in summary:
Water, water everywhere and now I need a drink.
Example #1 During the snow storm, we had a leak in the ceiling downstairs that we determined was the line from the refrigerator ice maker. No biggie...we will just find the shut-off valve and turn it off and then put in a new line. The shut off valve had covered with a ceiling and couldn't be reached from the laundry room so Chris put a hole in the ceiling in the basement. As a result of some careful calculations on the part of our friend Scott (aka Doodle) and Chris, the hole is very small. The new line is yet to go in but will soon.
Example #2 Just before Christmas, I noticed that when my washing machine was overloaded, a very small puddle of water would pool just under the front of the machine. It would happen during the rinse cycle. I figured it was just water splashing up when it was spinning and spraying water. No biggie...I will just make sure that I don't overload it. For a while, that worked and only occasionally would I see water. Last week, it started pooling every time with every load and more water. I called and scheduled someone to come and have a look this Friday.
Example #3 On Sunday, Chris went up to the attic to take Rhys' crib up and noticed mold. Green mold all over the ceiling of the attic. Just before Christmas when we had a lot of snow, we noticed condensation on the ceiling in the attic but it dried up and went away when the snow melted. This last round of snow stayed far too long and we have now developed mold. We are in good company around here since so many people had the same conditions, it is only mild consolation, though. We have hired a Mold Remediation company and they will be here on Thursday and Friday to remove all of our belongings, clean them and the attic and encapsulate the ceiling and joists so it doesn't happen again.
So, in summary:
Water, water everywhere and now I need a drink.
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