Full Tummies, Thankful Hearts

My life is full of people, items, events, and memories to be thankful for.

*Healthy self, family, and friends
*A brilliant (shhh, don't tell him I said that), confident husband
*Curious, imaginative, loving, and mischievous boys
*Supportive, loving, selfless parents and in-laws who also make the best grandparents!
*Dental school being OVER!
*Old relationships that are new again
*A new nephew who is coming next month!
*A beautiful new house
*A year full of changes, opportunities, and adventures!
*Having more calmness in our lives
*Getting to have weekday lunches with Nick again
*Attending DAYTIME school events with my boys

A Mom Day with Michael

Short background: Nick was taking Nathan to the country with my dad, thus leaving Michael with me. I worried that Michael would feel left out, so pushed a bit for him to go with them. That would mean I could sneak to Houston (with the dog, my fearless protector and traveling buddy) to SEW baby bed stuff with my mom and Elizabeth. Oh, my machine was roaring-ready to go!

Michael chose NOT to go for 24 hours of the testosterone fest. Squish went the possibilities of sewing. I was a bit bummed, but delighted to spend the time with Michael. Maybe he was more wise than me: we needed some time "just us."

This morning, we scooted out to the World Hunger Relief Farm for their fall farm day. It was our first adventure out there, and definitely WON'T be the last. Super cool place. It makes me sad that I never made it out to Urban Harvest in Houston because it is probably very similar. I must take the boys sometime when we're in town. Farm Day was fantastic. It's a nice sampling of a farm environment.

We went on the hayride, pulled ever so modernly by a Dodge pick-up truck! Awesome! We saw goats, chickens, and turkeys ("happy turkeys" as the hayride dude called them with their days numbered--not so sure how happy they really are). We walked through rows and rows of crops in various stages of growth. We observed, we appreciated, we discovered, we talked. We held hands without protest.

And in the middle of this glorious time together, he randomly stopped, looked up at me, and said, "Mom, farm day is fun." Michael is a man of few words. He speaks when necessary, but it is often thoughtful and profound when he does. Farm Day WAS fun. It was more than just a trip to experience a farm. We needed some time together. And as much as I would've enjoyed some sewing and another dose of Houston, I realize now that what I really needed was a dose of Michael.

On the way home, we stopped for a date at Whataburger--HIS choice, not exactly mine. We came home, he beat me at Checkers, we made and ate brownies, and he's back to piddling around with toys. I'm glad he didn't go with the guys!

Fall is Here!

I've managed to fill up my "staying at home" schedule pretty well lately. That's a good thing, as I found that sitting idly can be pretty lonely. The weather seems to have taken the final turn from being sweltering hot--90 degrees yesterday--to pleasantly windy and nippy. It is a welcome change.
I spent the morning on a kindergarten field trip with Michael and his class. It was marvelous. I didn't have to take off from work and we had a great time picking out a collection of all the little pumpkins that Michael and my other little traveling friend could carry to the check out.
Lately, I've escaped to San Marcos, had a visit from my cousin, visited the Waco zoo, begun my volunteer job at the hospital, gone on the field trip today, done various chores for the practice (mostly decorating--fun!), and have been preparing to go to Houston this weekend. I think I'll always look forward to going back for a dose of Houston. We have several family events this weekend, and hopefully Nick and I can escape for a date...for real Indian food or something special. This weekend will mark 16 years that we've spent together, counting back to when we started dating.

Adjusting My Perspective in Fry's Parkinglot

We made a nice little trek down to Austin yesterday to go to the farmers market and celebrate the 3rd birthday of my cousin's twins. Great morning. I had a couple of days over the last few weeks where I was just in a funk. I missed the challenge of working (not the mess of working, just the fun, invigorating, challenging part), I felt pretty isolated and a bit lonely in our new surroundings, lacked a sense of purpose, and just needed to be more content.

I have a blessed life in so many ways, but I feel so grumbly when I get in a funk like that. I truly hate to feel that way. Yesterday, it took just a few seconds for me to refocus my thoughts and be more content. Just a few seconds for me to have more gratitude for the life I have.

We pulled into the Fry's Electronics parkinglot to kill some time before the party. Who can't leave Fry's without finding something? We got out of the car, and the sight before us stopped us in our tracks. It was a rundown, shabby, dented, worn little car. All windows were down and a chipper little dog smiled and greeted us from its perch inside. His sidekick, another tiny mutt of a dog, nuzzled his way up obviously straight from a nap. Cute little things, absolutely filthy car. With each twitch of my eye, the scene became more and more clear. On the dash: among so much other *stuff* was an open (for definitely a few days) can of dog food, partially eaten fast food, a broken hand mirror, rolled up socks, a dingy brush, and a stick of deoderant. The back held a mostly crushed box of cereal, some beat up boxes of what looked to be clothes, a dirty blanket balled up, and countless mounds of things that I couldn't really identify in such a short glance. On top of the mounds was an old, worn out doggy bed.

Someone lived in that little, super compact car.

So many things came to mind. How could I even think about feeling a little bit of discontent? Where is this person tonight? What choices did he make or what circumstances had to happen to ultimately get that person to live in his little car? Is there someone out there who cares about that person that doesn't even know about his homelessness? Why was he parked at Fry's?

Yes, Nick and I have worked hard for the life we have. But, we are so fortunate. So fortunate.

September 11, 2001: Something I Hadn't Really Thought About

When it was September 11, 2001, I was barely making sense of the world as an adult. In the years since then, there have been many events associated with the aftermath of 9/11. Sacrifice, adjustments, travel interruptions, close-calls with threats, and events that seemed to keep opening America’s wound again and again. I can only imagine the sacrifice of American families—from the heavy losses of that day to the sacrifices made by families of soldiers who have carried out the offensive and defensive missions ever since. Not to mention the loss, vulnerability, and lingering anger that we all probably feel.

I recently found out that one of my former students is a US Marine. I was proud of him before, and I’m incredibly proud of him now. He is now the age I was when he was in my class. I guess I knew this, but it hadn’t really occurred to me until now that many of the young soldiers defending our country NOW were just children when our country was attacked in 2001. Half or more of their lives have existed during these years of war. They WERE the children whose teachers, like me, had to tell them of the surprise attack that morning—and try to make sense of it so that they could grasp some sort of concept of what was happening. The young soldiers of today have gone from innocent children hearing that terrible news to courageous defenders of our country. During the years in between then and now, these children have grown up. They’ve studied, they’ve learned, they’ve trained, and they’ve become our bravest men and women.

When I told my school children about the attacks that day, I never really considered that at least one of those children would be a Marine that would continue that fight ten years later. I didn’t really know what to expect. There was so much uncertainty and fright, and I just had a sucker-punch feeling of our country being so violated. But, somewhere in that room, a young boy sat there whose destiny was directly linked with the military response to those attacks. I’m really humbled by that and humbled by his service to our country.

House Pictures

First Day of School 2011--10 days later...

Nathan had stomach butterflies, Michael had teary eyes. A few days into the start of school, Michael realized that this place WAS okay, the people were going to be sweet to him, and he was going to be cared for. The boys' teachers are just as sweet as they can be. I am so thankful to have found a school that values nurturing children. There are smiles and hugs, patience and encouraging attitudes.

Back to Blogging!!!

I've been stifled by a virtual blogging muzzle lately. The stupid thing would let me type a post and save it, but not post it. I got it working!

Night Before the First Day of School 2011

'Tis the night before school starts and I'm just as sad as I can be. Could it be true that my baby is going to kindergarten tomorrow? Tomorrow? Tomorrow, five years ago, I was going to the first two days of MY school so I could then go home and have a baby...that same baby that will now be going to kindergarten. We had just moved into the Houston house. Nick was just about to apply to dental school. Nathan was only three--not fixing to go into the THIRD grade.

Look at us now. Dental school is a collection of memories (some pleasant, some pleasantly tucked away in the past). We've moved again (house #6) and settled into a completely new place. I've served my time as a working, frazzled mom and am settling into the infancy of housewifedom. I'm still waiting for the big "Ha! Just kidding!" on that one. Somewhere during those years, my baby grew into a KINDERGARTENER! I just can't believe it.

Both boys have new sets of uniforms. Haircuts today--check! They're going to look so nice. I better go unearth the lunch kits so I'm not scrambling around like a banshee in the morning.

I'm amazed that I get to attend the mothers' breakfast tomorrow at the school. I don't have to rush off to work. I didn't have to ask for time off to take them to the first day of school. I don't have to get docked 15 minutes in pay either.

There is THAT little bit of sweetness about tomorrow, but it will be tough to watch those little boys walk into their new school tomorrow. Pictures--coming soon!

Heavy Heart

I blogged over a year ago about a former student who had passed away. I hoped that was the first and only time I'd have to get such news. It tore me up. Today, unfortunately, I heard again that one of my kiddos from last year had lost his battle with congenital heart disease. I feel so fortunate to have been a very small part of this child's life. I am glad that his suffering is over. I'm glad that his parents took him out of school to homeschool the last part of the year so they could spend more time together. This is a moment when I feel I should've done more. I get caught up in my own life and don't give enough. Time, energy, a hospital visit, something. Those parents had to live through the death of their child. They had to endure years of watching him go through treatments, illnesses, surgeries, and countless scary moments. They made his moments on Earth really count. I am inspired by their care and devotion to that child and I am just so sorry for their loss.

Practice Pictures

Crib