Gabe's New Friend...

I grew up with three older sisters and a mom who was deathly afraid of ALL bugs. I did not have any brothers, and though I'm not terrified of bugs, I'm not their biggest fan, either. How, then, did I get a baby like Gabe? The boy is not afraid of ANY bug, not even the ugliest cicada around. We have hundreds of cicada holes in our backyard where they have burrowed out of the dirt and into the world. The other day, Gabe could see one still in his hole, not having joined its fellow LOUD buddies out yet. He insisted I dig the bug out and "save him". After I (carefully) used my gardening spade to do so, Gabe got a hold of his new friend and shouted "You did it! Now he's SO happy!" How can you not love this adorable boy? He is just too funny :) After he cuddled and cooed over his "cada", he wanted me to get the camera and "take a pitcher". So of course, I did. Truly the kid of a scrapbooker, huh?


Pretending to be grossed out, when really he is loving it!

Giving his new friend a "tiss".

The cicada still in its shell, before molting and becoming the loud, annoying, flying, kamikaze insect that it really is. Can you tell that I don't really care for them?

He is so in his element during the summertime. Nothing makes Gabe happier than being in the backyard with a shovel and a bug house (or a cup or a bucket, whatever), capturing worms, cicadas, pillbugs, ants, spiders, and the occasional grub. And he has totally turned this previously squeamish girl into a bug-lovin' momma, eager to help her baby boy find more "new friends".

Summertime Fun!

Yesterday was hot and sunny, perfect for going to the Y pool. Clearly, all of Lebanon thought the same thing, because when we got there, we had to search high and low for a seat, finally finding one lone beachchair in the kiddie-pool area. Luckily, I brought our huge "picnic" towel and really, we didn't plan on sitting down all that much. Elijah thought the water was too cold, until a group of his guy friends showed up and they all started playing ball in the pool. I love that Elijah and Isabel can always find at least one friend when we go...makes it so much more fun for them, and easier on me :) Joe came along, too...the advantage of having a teacher for a husband, having summer vacations off!



It's been a whole year since we have been at the pool...I had to explain some rules to Gabe before he got the "whistle" from a lifeguard...no running, no spitting water at other kids, no running, no peeing in the water, did I mention no running? Look at him, I think he was actually listening to me!

The best thing about the Y pool, next to swimming? Bringing your own money and going to the concession stand all by yourself, ordering hot pretzels, pizza, ice cream, and candy (not all at once!). Gabe looks like he's on a mission...He brought eight pennies of his own to spend (due to inflation, 8 cents buys jack-squat, but I didn't have the heart to tell him). Daddy went along to subsidize his funds :)

Elijah, still waiting for a friend to show up...

Gabe has no fear of the water, which is a little scary. I can't take my eyes off of him for a second. I love how much he loves the water, though. When Elijah was three, he couldn't stand for the water to even splash his face, much less go under! The difference between the first kid and the third is amazing in so many ways!

Isabel brought her friend, Felicity, with her, and they met up with some other girls, too. I saw several people from our church there, as well. Looks like it's going to be a busy summer for the YMCA!

Just a note

Just a quick note to let you all know we survived the storms these past two days with minimal damage...a few tree limbs down, a drowned strawberry patch, and some water in the basement. Elijah still has his bag full of "special stuff" in my office in the basement, just in case. Today calls for 90 degrees and sun, so we are heading to the pool for some much needed outdoor fun. Pictures to come later.

Memories

Yesterday was the eighteen-year anniversay of the day my house was destroyed by an F-4 tornado that ripped through my hometown of Harrison, OH. June 2, 1990...a day that will be remembered forever by my family. I was 16 years old at the time, babysitting at a friend's home in Indiana. The tornado came at 11 pm, with no warning sirens and very little time to dive into the hallway (no basement in that little ranch). I had no idea our house was hit until I came home after midnight, driving past downed power lines and sheared-off trees, filled with dread as I rounded the bend to find what was left of the only home I had ever known. The roof was gone, the only thing left standing was my room and the bathroom and the mailbox, and I had no idea where my parents were. Talk about being terrified. After several scary hours of driving through the devastation (with my boyfriend at the time), my parents were still nowhere to be found; phone lines were down (no cell phones in 1990) and none of the shelters had heard anything about Bill and Carolyn Klenk. Eventually I returned to my friend's home where I had been, since that was the last place I had talked to my mom on the phone. It wasn't until after 8am the next day that I heard from my sister, saying she had found mom and dad and everyone was okay. I wasn't a believer at the time, but I know God had His arms wrapped around every member of my family that night. The only injury was to my dad's back; a sprain to an area of previous injury, and he was back on his feet within a week. Our house was a total loss...we rebuilt and moved back into a brand new, air-conditioned one four months later. At the time, we were shell-shocked, devastated, and a nervous wreck everytime even a hint of a storm was on the news. The rough weather of today brought back all these memories...although now I live in a house with a basement and a basket filled with emergency supplies, just in case. My mom has a photo album dedicated to our "tornado pictures", but I don't have any. I looked up these on the web, the best I could find. My heart goes out to all the people who are suffering through their losses after these last few tornadoes.

Pictures don't even do justice to the absolute devastation that followed this twister. And now I have to go, the sirens are going off again...man, I hate tornado season!

Play Ball (finally!)

After a month of rain-outs and wet field conditions even on the sunny days, Elijah finally got to play ball on Sunday. What a way to bring in June! Beautiful, bright, warm day, perfect for baseball. Elijah did a great job playing first base and pitcher, much to his delight and my worry. No right field for this guy...he is such a great player, and that's not just momma's pride talking. Scored two times, struck out once (with a few tears afterward, but not for long). I have to let go of that fear that I have. When I was in fifth grade, my teacher's son (who was Elijah's age) was killed instantly by a baseball hit to the chest. Sometimes blunt trauma to the heart can cause an instant cardiac arrest, which is what happened to Mark. I keep these thoughts to myself, because I know it does no good to worry over what could happen, but sometimes I think, really, do you have to be the pitcher?! But he loves it, and he is good at it, so I cheer and watch and pray, and thank God at the end of the game that He kept him safe. I never thought I would love watching Little League baseball so much, but I guess when it's your kid, and he plays well, it's a different story. They won the game 12-11, and we play another four games this week, trying to make up for all the rainouts. I promise not to bore you with the details and photos of every game :) Enjoy the pics, and the great summer weather this week!




God love my husband's heart for coaching this rambunctious group of boys...that's him, all the way to the left. He has a real talent for teaching, and making sure everyone gets a fair chance to try different positions. This is the first year of kid-pitch for these guys, so it's a bit of a challenge. Thanks, Joe!

Sizing up the batter...

Pitching for all he's worth...even struck the player out!

Man, I love summer!

Happy Birthday, Katlyn!

Where were you five years ago today? My memories of that day are vivid. After going to church, I took Elijah and Isabel (then 5 and 3 1/2) over to my big sis, Rhonda's, house for a fun afternoon of hiking and backyard baseball. She was 9 months pregnant with her first baby, and her due date was June 1st. After being with her all afternoon, Rhonda started having contractions, so we put her in the hands of her husband and went home, with the promise of frequent updates throughout the evening. Being a previous Labor and Delivery nurse, I told Rhonda to stay home as long as she could stand it, or until her doctor told her to come (you know how long first babies can take). She ended up going to the hospital in the early evening, being about 2 cm dilated. I was chomping at the bit to be there, but she really only wanted Paul and their moms to be in the room, so I had to settle for second-hand information. I took the kids for a walk to the park with Kay, and while I was walking back home, I was filled with worry. Just a sick, sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Rhonda and I have always had a strange bond, knowing what the other was thinking, even picking up the phone to call each other, and the other person was already on the other end of the phone...weird. Anyway, I hurried the kids home, determined to be a pest and call Paul to see what was happening. When I walked in the door, there was a message on the machine...Paul calling to say that Rhonda had to have an emergency C-section, but everyone was okay. His voice was trembling, so I knew something was up. After some scrambling around and making frantic phone calls to all my family, I raced to the hospital to make sure my sister and new niece were okay. Rhonda was still in recovery, so I was able to get the story from her nurse. Upon arrival, Rhonda was in early labor. Her doctor gave her the option to go home and come back, thinking that she would be more comfortable there; the other option was to go ahead and break her water and get things moving. After some discussion, they opted to stay and move things along. When the doctor broke her water, the baby's heartrate plummeted to the 40's and stayed there, requiring the medical team to rush Rhonda to the OR, put her completely under anesthesia, and get that baby out in a hurry. She hardly had any amniotic fluid, and what fluid she did have was full of thick meconium. Once they got the baby out, she was fine. Praise to God, Rhonda's water didn't break at home, or the baby would've died. I was sick at the thought that I had told her to stay home as long as possible, and so grateful that she stayed at the hospital instead of going back home to labor. When I saw Katlyn for the first time, she was green from all the meconium...I teased the kids that they had a Ninja Turtle for a cousin, when I was able to get my sense of humor back. Rhonda and Paul had tried for years to have a baby, suffering several miscarriages and almost losing hope that they would ever be parents. Katlyn was a miracle from the beginning, and God's hand was on her the day of her birth, I am certain. So this party doesn't seem to be just another birthday celebration...it is a celebration of faith and prayers answered and miracles seen. Happy Birthday, Katlyn; we love you so much!




My newest great-niece, Claire.

Gabe could hardly stand seeing Katlyn opening all those gifts...so hard to be three at someone else's birthday party.

The kids insisted on me taking a "dorky" photo of them. So silly!

Katlyn's favorite cousin is Isabel. When Katlyn was seven weeks old, and Rhonda had to return to work, I was the primary babysitter, four days a week. Isabel and I loved it! Katlyn was the best baby, content and quiet, a good sleeper, and happy almost all the time. No one could make her laugh like Isabel, and they share a special bond, just like me and Rhonda. I love seeing the two of them together, and I love that our kids are so close.

Hope you can look around today and see the miracles that God has blessed your lives with. Despite the troubles, the worries, the day-to-day struggles, His presence can be felt if you take the time to listen to His still, small voice.

School's out!

From this...



to this...

Thank goodness, school is finally out for the summer! I am just as relieved as my kids...no more rushing to get ready, packing lunches, homework, dance practice, school events...just a well-needed break. Come September, I will be more than ready to get back into the swing of things, but for the next three months, I plan on enjoying the leisurely mornings, afternoons at the pool, and evenings on the deck or at ballgames.

Given the state of the economy and the price of gas alone, we don't plan on leaving our hometown much. I am so glad we live where we do, though...there is so much to do in our little town. The historic library with their fantastic summer reading program; the awesome YMCA just five minutes away; hiking and biking trails just across the street; and lots of town events like the Blues Fest, the pig roast at the Y, parades, Farmer's markets, produce stands...We will not be bored!

Looking forward to making this a summer of great memories, times spent together as a family, putting the brakes on the hectic life we live and cherishing all of our many blessings.