Happy Birthday, Wendy

Oh, how I love my big sister.

Today she is 38 years old.

When I was younger, she always did my hair. Sometimes because I wanted it done a certain way and sometimes just to keep her occupied in the car. When I was even younger (3? 4?) she took my friends and me on fairy hunts in magical places all over town. She wrote musicals for us and hosted doll fairs.

For many years, she sang me to sleep at night with her guitar. This happened so frequently that when she moved away to college I could not sleep, so she made me a tape to play of her singing to me.

When we woke up in the night and were scared, we all went to Wendy's bed, which was the warmest bed in the house.

She has taught me how to be a feminist, how to parent, how to sing, how to be real.

Thank you, sweet sister for all these lovely memories. I continue to be blessed by your presence in my life!

Happy Halloween (2007)

Loving those pumpkins!

We had a lovely day together, including our first bike ride with everyone riding their OWN bike.

Lydia (October, 2007)

Lydia is growing up so fast. She is doing wonderful work in school, and trying very hard to manage all the emotions that come with being nine. She is also working to self-regulate a bit, when it comes to exercise, diet, sleep, and self-care. In so many ways I admire her.

Lydia has started flute lessons, and when she practices, she enjoys it....



She is also busy writing stories and making up inventions. Her ability to create ideas and images astounds me. She has created a whole town of characters. This is her wipe-board work on "invenchuns" that I wanted to preserve before she erased. Hope you can see it.

Steering the ship into port.....

I have been working in mediation again. This time it is with folks who are getting a divorce, and it is my job to help them create a "Parenting Plan" in order for them to somehow share time with their children. I find when I get into these cases there are layers and layers of issues.....for some the divorce is fresh and there is tension and grief related to the lost marriage. For others, there is resentment about how time was spent with the kids pre-divorce. Then there are issues of money, communication, insurance, pets, chores, discipline issues, new significant-others, hard-to-wrangle teenagers who would just rather be immancipated, time with Grandparents, holidays, relocation, funds, and so much more.

I thought I would enjoy doing this again, and it became evident to me this week. I have been working with a particularly challenging case, which I doubted could ever be solved through mediation. I tried everything. I concentrated on staying solution-focused and positive. I consulted with others. I thought about it at night. Still, it did not seem like they would ever be able to find a common solution.

To my surprise.....

today they signed a very thorough and detailed agreement on how they will both continue to be loving and present parents in their childrens' lives. I was so moved.

My colleague congratulated me for "steering this difficult ship into port." It felt just like that. Relief. Calm after the storm. Satisfaction.

Andy (October, 2007)

Andy is thriving in so many ways. This is a picture of him with his buddy Angus practicing violin together....check out that bow arm!

All God's Critters....

I love my choir.
I have little Clara, who conducts (mirroring me) while she sings.
I have sweet Kaden, who sings loudly and proudly despite a significant speech impediment.
I have silly Lydia, whose sweet voice supports the others.
I have Andy, whose body struggles to maintain choir-appropriate behavior, but whose voice is tender and sensitive.
I have Jen, who is enthusiastic.
I have Lu, who sings with her eyes and her face.
I have Daniel and Noah, who are fine as long as there is no attention drawen towards them.
And so many others.....

Tonight we chanted "Did you feed my cow?" "YES MA'AM!"

And then they tackled their hymn with unbelievable speed and accuracy. I am so proud!

This is what they sang....

"My soul is filled with joy, as I sing to God my savior
You have looked upon your servant, you have visited your people
And holy is your name, through all generations
Everlasting is your mercy to the people you have chosen
And holy is thy name."

Next up...All God's Critters, and then some Christmas Music.

What a blessing they all are to me. Soon I will post a picture!

Celebrating Fall...

Every year I enjoy the smell of Fall.....smoldering pumpkins, crunchy leaves, cool, crisp mornings, and freshly made soup and bread. We usually try to go to Walter's Pumpkin patch with friends. This year we enjoyed the play structures, the corn maze (which was enthusiastically conquered by Aaron the Adventure Racer), the swings, the pick-your-own fields of pumpkins, and the train.

Grading is like housework....

Ever do something called a forced analogy? It is a strategy used to help students study, and I am doing it myself today, thinking about how grading is like housework...

...it is easier done with friends
...music and special snacks/treats increase efficiency
...sometimes you just have to sit down, avoid blogging, and get through it piece by piece!

Off to meet my stack of reflection papers, exams, and homework assignments...

From my friend Lu Ann

THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

— Wendell Berry

Remember how small Josie was?

Josephina Luna Chappell Deckert, daughter of Bert and Darma, grandaughter of Cosmo, affectionately known as "Josie."

Adoption day: March 23, 2007

Flickr Slideshow

I hope I never forget....

My daughter, who cares enough about beauty to decorate my canned goods......

Jen CD

Winfield, 2007

Flickr Slideshow

Andy plays soccer (September, 2007)

School starts (August, 2007)

Abby has smoothly transitioned to her child care/preschool arrangements. She is having the most fun with Kristin on Mondays and Wednesdays....her is a picture of her at work with her friend Daisy Epp Buller.



Lydia off to 4th grade....a new adventure!



Andy going to 2nd grade.....



Abby riding along on the tag-along....



This is the whole crew who bike together. I hope I always live in a community where the kids can bike to school.....it is so important!

From my Mom

O Living God,
when I am tired and cross and despairing,
distracted by many thoughts,
eaten up by multiple demands,
and hungry for your peace;
help me to offer again
the five loaves and fishes
that you have given to me,
and so discover again
the miracle of strength
that comes in sharing everything
when we have nothing.