Oh, how I love my boy!

Eight years ago today Andy entered our lives. We were so proud of the ways we birthed him, we felt strong, and we celebrated!


He has always been a beautiful child, especially in the days with the long soft curls. I can still smell them.



He is strong, He is creative. He is sensitive. He is passionate. He loves the outdoors. He has my Mother's eyes.


And the reason he is "Andy" is because he shares this birthday with our dear "Big Andy," who we love very much, and has always been a mentor to our "little Andy."


I wish him the best in all of his life endeavors!

This morning, when I was holding him close in bed, I asked him, "Andy, will you ALWAYS be my dear sweet, strong, loving boy?" And he answered in true eight-year-old fashion with a loud "DUH!"

Plenty

It is hard these days to meet all the needs of a family of five, a dog, three (yes, I am embarrassed to say.....) cars, and a house with limited resources. This can drain on me mentally and emotionally. This morning I decided to try and find my "attitude of gratitude."

So I found, we have plenty of......

shampoo
black turtle beans
berries
toilet paper
warm coats
legos
instruments
socks
fresh chickens from Buhler
friends
lavender laundry detergent
books
paper

Now somehow I feel more blessed and less deprived than before......try it, this feels good!

Last night......

I was doing all of this AT THE SAME TIME

cooking dinner
calling out finger numbers for Andy to play Perpetual Motion on his mandolin
listening to his recorded lesson to find his next mandolin song, Soldier Boy
telling Abby how to spell "Ardy"
giving instructions to Lydia on how to grease up her recorder joints
making sure the dog had nothing in her mouth
setting the table

It must have sounded like this....

"AA112222-no, the cork grease in the black case-D is like a line down with the ends curved together-22AA111133112222I think this is the right song-remember, shake your hand like flicking water-JOSIE-NO, MINE!-yes, Lydia, A is two fingers-EE2233EE11223333-(soup is boiling now)-yes, a Y like your Y-like the beginning now, AA112222, 11223333- (are we already out of spoons?)-Oh, Abby, your Ukelele is on the wall-Dchord?1onE,2onG, all second fret-Andy, let's finish perpetual motion first, then Old McDonald-2233EE223311EEEE-nice work, everybody."

Normally, this would stress me out, but thanks to the miracle of fish oil, I am almost proud that I got through it alive! Man, I have mastered multitasking! Aaron came home shortly after that, and intervened, taking some of the pressure off!

Happy Valentine's Day

Click on the title to hear (I think)...then download the file....

A window into my caucus experience

Read this, if you want a sense of what it was like. We had a great time, and it was probably the most inspiring political event that I have ever participated in.

http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=5346

(written by my former student, Jonathan Nathan)

what I love about my job....

the view from my classroom window at the very tip-top of the ad building

church bells accompanying my walk to work

sharp pencils

the feel of a warm, crisp, freshly-copied syllabus

really good coffee, any time I want it

kindness, friendship, support, and determination from our administrative assistant

reading...so much...and trying to understand

helping college students find direction

knowing my ancestors walked the same paths to teach here

three ring binders

friendly colleagues

more church bells at noon

books, and books, and books, and books

sharing this space with Aaron

the "quiet library"

reading the Kansan for free

being home for the kids when they need me





what do you love about your job?

A Night Away

Escape




Perspective




Comfort




Creativity




Indulgence