Today, the sound of a ringing phone woke me up out of a deep sleep.
It was our local school, calling with a two-hour delay due to road closures.
The road closures were related to a fatal car-chase which ended with the death of a sheriff's deputy. The suspect was still at large, just miles away from our home.
By the time the kids caught their buses, the suspect was apprehended, and the deputy killed was identified.
He was a 36 year old husband and father of three children, ages 4, 7 and 10. What started as a routine traffic stop turned into tragedy within minutes.
During a press conference, the sheriff and other deputies could barely hold back their tears. It was heart wrenching to watch.
This afternoon, another call from the schools came through, saying our kids were being held due to a second suspect at large, believed to be in the vicinity of our high school and junior high. Elijah texted me in fear, wondering why all the police, why the delay (no information was given to the kids).
He just got home, safe but scared. The second suspect is still loose, and I have been hearing sirens outside for the past two hours.
You read about this on the news often, but today the reality has come to my hometown, and I hate it. Fear, despair, tragedy...all the result of a stupid decision and most likely related to drugs/alcohol.
Today, my heart aches for the wife and children and co-workers of this deputy who gave his life for the protection of his community.
Today, I will hold my own husband and kids tightly, and thank God for another day of being together.
Today, I will remember to be thankful for those who don't think twice about protecting families like mine from criminals who would harm us.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Early Mom's Day
I wanted to be a mom ever since I was eleven years old.
Thankfully, I waited until I was twenty-four.
I've been a mom for nearly thirteen years now. And as much as I've taught my kids in that time, they have taught me even more. I have learned the importance of patience and a sense of humor, along with learning that things like sleep and keeping a spotless house are overrated.
For this Mother's day post, I vacillated between sappy:
And funny:
Thankfully, I waited until I was twenty-four.
I've been a mom for nearly thirteen years now. And as much as I've taught my kids in that time, they have taught me even more. I have learned the importance of patience and a sense of humor, along with learning that things like sleep and keeping a spotless house are overrated.
For this Mother's day post, I vacillated between sappy:
"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new."
~Rajneesh
And funny:
"Most children threaten at times to run away from home. This is the only thing that keeps some parents going."
~ Phyllis Diller
And even political:
Whether you're a novice mom of a newborn, or an experienced mom with grown kids out of the house (what is that like?), or a mom like me, right in the middle...
Happy Mother's Day to you!
(And remember, that sense of humor will help when the only gift you get is a burnt waffle in bed and a hastily-made card scribbled lovingly by your offspring.)
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Test blues
This week is standardized testing week for Elijah and Isabel.
They came home with notes reminding parents to feed their kids breakfast.
Really?
Being good test takers, they are not nervous at all (thank goodness). I hate the pressure put on these kids at such a young age about these tests. It's not the ACT or SAT, for heaven's sake.
I do have some sympathy for the kids, though, seeing as how today is my midterm for Nursing Theory and Research. This class is taught by a professor who has her PhD in Research, and thinks we should, too.
Um, no thanks.
I have been on the Dean's list with a 4.0 so far. This quarter will be the end of that. And to be honest, I'm not stressing too much about it. If I get a B in this class, it will be okay. Not great, but okay.
I am still dreading this exam today. I'd much rather build forts and spaceships out of the empty boxes downstairs with Gabe. Instead, I'll be studying (insert big pouty face here).
Sigh.
June 7 can't come soon enough (that's the end of this horrible quarter).
Do your kids stress out over testing? What was your least favorite class in school?
They came home with notes reminding parents to feed their kids breakfast.
Really?
Being good test takers, they are not nervous at all (thank goodness). I hate the pressure put on these kids at such a young age about these tests. It's not the ACT or SAT, for heaven's sake.
I do have some sympathy for the kids, though, seeing as how today is my midterm for Nursing Theory and Research. This class is taught by a professor who has her PhD in Research, and thinks we should, too.
Um, no thanks.
I have been on the Dean's list with a 4.0 so far. This quarter will be the end of that. And to be honest, I'm not stressing too much about it. If I get a B in this class, it will be okay. Not great, but okay.
I am still dreading this exam today. I'd much rather build forts and spaceships out of the empty boxes downstairs with Gabe. Instead, I'll be studying (insert big pouty face here).
Sigh.
June 7 can't come soon enough (that's the end of this horrible quarter).
Do your kids stress out over testing? What was your least favorite class in school?
Sunday, April 24, 2011
A few favorite fotos...
Despite the rainy days of April, this spring has been full of joy.
My sweet niece, Mayla, is visiting for three weeks from California. She is 3 1/2 months old and such a darling girl. We are in love!
The sun came out for a short while on Easter Sunday, giving us the chance to pose for a family photo with the girls.
 |
| Kay, Isabel, me, mom, Jill and Reiko (my sister-in-laws) |
Joe and Isabel moved our strawberries up to the garden near the deck, to avoid a total washout like we suffered last year. And I finally bought a lilac bush after nine years of wanting one...
I don't know about you, but when I was eleven years old, I didn't know the first thing about fashion. Somehow, Isabel has turned into this gorgeous fashionista that I sit in awe of. Just look at this girl:
Seriously, she was just 3 1/2 months old yesterday! These kids have got to slow down on this growing up business!
What are your favorite moments from April? Did you catch them on film (or SD card, as the case may be)?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Perspective
Lately, I have been bogged down by never-ending to-do lists, a tough quarter at school, working too many night shifts, not getting enough sleep...all of which has given me a bad case of Eeyore-style gloom.
I've had a horrible headache on and off for the past two days (stress and barometric changes, go away!).
I woke up at 2:30am to a clap of lightning that shook the whole house and reverberated through my tender skull, ensuring that sleep would be elusive for the rest of the night.
I had to drive Isabel to band practice at 7:30am, in the storm, with my head throbbing to the beat of the windshield wipers.
Can you hear the gloominess?
However, on the way home from her school, I took the scenic route through the historic part of town. Not much traffic, lots of old houses with gorgeous spring gardens, the rain slowing to a drizzle that brought out the green lawns and the bright colors of the tulips, daffodils and weeping cherry trees lining the street. I thought about blessed we are to live in such a great town, with good schools and awesome people and hundreds of opportunities for our family.
At that moment, God opened my eyes to a new perspective.
The rain will nourish my flowers, making for a beautiful garden.
Having ten minutes alone with Isabel in the morning is a gift, even if we're just singing along to Sugarland's "Stuck like Glue" (we love that catchy song!).
When ten kids who aren't even mine are shouting and jumping and running through our yard, I know that I am blessed that my own kids make friends so easily.
When I complain about the amount of homework this professor is assigning, I know that I am blessed to be going to college on my employer's dime.
When I am exhausted from working nights, I know that this sacrifice enables me to spend more time with my kids. They will not be little for much longer, and I will have time to catch up on all that sleep I am missing.
When I worry about Joe quitting his stable job, I know that I am blessed to have a husband who has a dream and is willing to work hard to chase it.
When I miss my dad, and wish that he were still here to watch Elijah's ballgames and fuss over their excellent report cards, I know that having my mom close by is a blessing.
I am shaking off the gloom of the past month and embracing this new perspective. How about you?
I've had a horrible headache on and off for the past two days (stress and barometric changes, go away!).
I woke up at 2:30am to a clap of lightning that shook the whole house and reverberated through my tender skull, ensuring that sleep would be elusive for the rest of the night.
I had to drive Isabel to band practice at 7:30am, in the storm, with my head throbbing to the beat of the windshield wipers.
Can you hear the gloominess?
However, on the way home from her school, I took the scenic route through the historic part of town. Not much traffic, lots of old houses with gorgeous spring gardens, the rain slowing to a drizzle that brought out the green lawns and the bright colors of the tulips, daffodils and weeping cherry trees lining the street. I thought about blessed we are to live in such a great town, with good schools and awesome people and hundreds of opportunities for our family.
At that moment, God opened my eyes to a new perspective.
The rain will nourish my flowers, making for a beautiful garden.
Having ten minutes alone with Isabel in the morning is a gift, even if we're just singing along to Sugarland's "Stuck like Glue" (we love that catchy song!).
When ten kids who aren't even mine are shouting and jumping and running through our yard, I know that I am blessed that my own kids make friends so easily.
When I complain about the amount of homework this professor is assigning, I know that I am blessed to be going to college on my employer's dime.
When I am exhausted from working nights, I know that this sacrifice enables me to spend more time with my kids. They will not be little for much longer, and I will have time to catch up on all that sleep I am missing.
When I worry about Joe quitting his stable job, I know that I am blessed to have a husband who has a dream and is willing to work hard to chase it.
When I miss my dad, and wish that he were still here to watch Elijah's ballgames and fuss over their excellent report cards, I know that having my mom close by is a blessing.
I am shaking off the gloom of the past month and embracing this new perspective. How about you?
Monday, April 11, 2011
The power of praise.
A
4.0
"Excellent work.
Pleasure to have in class.
Doing a great job reading...you should be very proud."
The kids brought home their report cards today.
Through my exhaustion, I beamed with pride as I read their teachers' comments.
They work hard in school, and always strive to do their best. Their teachers love them and appreciate their consistent good effort in class.
Elijah, Isabel and Gabe: your dad and I are proud of your achievements, your hard work, and your grades!
We're also very glad that we never instituted the "dollar for each A" incentive; otherwise, we'd be broke by now.
We love you!
4.0
"Excellent work.
Pleasure to have in class.
Doing a great job reading...you should be very proud."
The kids brought home their report cards today.
Through my exhaustion, I beamed with pride as I read their teachers' comments.
They work hard in school, and always strive to do their best. Their teachers love them and appreciate their consistent good effort in class.
Elijah, Isabel and Gabe: your dad and I are proud of your achievements, your hard work, and your grades!
We're also very glad that we never instituted the "dollar for each A" incentive; otherwise, we'd be broke by now.
We love you!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
What's for dinner?
Finding healthy dinners that everyone likes is next to impossible in this house (please tell me you have the same problem...).
Homemade chicken rice soup is always a hit, but now that warmer weather is (almost) here, I need some new ideas.
A new favorite lately is brown rice, steamed broccoli and broiled salmon. Isabel is the only one who isn't crazy about the fish, so she substitutes cottage cheese for her protein.
I have about ten pounds that I am dying to lose, so I need some new recipes to help me accomplish that goal.
That's where you all come in. Do you have any favorite recipes, that your whole family eats, and that can be modified to be low-calorie? Tall order, I know, but a girl can try, right? Help!
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