Meal times at our house can be a truly loud and disgusting experience. It is an E-ticket ride and definitely not for those with weak stomachs. I think they should send astronauts-in-training to our place to see if they can get through a spaghetti dinner without hurling. (This is not a self-deprecating commentary on my cooking which is quite excellent, even in the kids opinions.)
I'm amazed at the versatility of kids who can tell a joke (inevitably with a punchline including the words "poop" or "butt") out of a mouth a-chomp with squishy, half-chewed morsels while jiggling up and down, waving a food-splattering fork, and telling the others to shut-up.
Sparky and Drama Boy lived for a year at a boys' ranch where there must have been a lot of food-snatching going on. Sparky now grasps his fork in one hand (he's a lefty so he elbows me at the same time) and the other hand hovers on his plate fingering his food. While gross, this is probably a good strategy since Drama Boy sits to his right and they occasionally filch bits off of each other's plates.
The little boys sit on opposite ends of the table where they change into transformers and shoot each other throughout the meal. The Boss turns his fork into a rocket, spaceship, gun, car, or any other necessary equipment.
Drama Boy is an inattentive diner. Food is frequently slung onto his lap or the floor on it's journey to his mouth. When he serves himself, half the portion ends up strewn across the table or hanging precariously off the edge of his plate.
All are open-mouth chewers. Squeaker and Drama Boy vie for the top talking-with-food-in-your-mouth honors. Squeaker also talks the most so is usually the last one done eating.
The other night she announced, "This has been a really good dinner so far....as far as everyone being polite and having good manners."
In typical mom fashion I felt compelled to add..."She said with a mouth full of food."
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The Good, the Bad and the Funny
Sparky's behavior has finally stabilized after several weeks of destructive and abusive tantrums which resulted in 3 new holes in the walls, a cracked door, ripped up window screen and broken garden lights. During the last 2 weeks, there have been only 2 tantrums.
On Monday, it took him 2 hours to get out of the car and go to his after-school program since he felt he shouldn't have to go on his day off. I sat in the parking lot with him while he raged, cussed, threw things around the car, hit the windows with the seatbelt buckle, called me names and then blamed me for the fact that his head and eyes hurt since I "got him mad and made him cry."
On Wednesday he ditched the bus driver and walked home instead. When I told him he had to go back to the bus and attend the after-school program, he scratched the car with a rock and hit it with his bandsticks. I followed Sparky back to school where the bus driver was looking for him, trailing all the other little bus-riders after him.
Yes, this was bad behavior and we both got a lecture from the program's director about the importance of meeting the bus driver directly after school, but he did get a "Caught Being Good" award two weeks in a row by the game room supervisor so he earned the privilege of standing on his chair after dinner to celebrate.
He was also recognized at school with the "Teacher's Choice Award" for outstanding academic improvement and performed in his first school band concert.
That's what we call a good week around here.
__________
Tonight the kids watched part of the sci-fi adventure movie Armageddon. I turned off the movie right after the space shuttle crash landed on the meteor, woke Sparky up and told him to go up to bed. He got up and started walking around looking for something.
"Where is it?" he asked.
What?
"I don't know where it is! Wait...can I just wear this?"
Where?
"In space!"
Huh?
On Monday, it took him 2 hours to get out of the car and go to his after-school program since he felt he shouldn't have to go on his day off. I sat in the parking lot with him while he raged, cussed, threw things around the car, hit the windows with the seatbelt buckle, called me names and then blamed me for the fact that his head and eyes hurt since I "got him mad and made him cry."
On Wednesday he ditched the bus driver and walked home instead. When I told him he had to go back to the bus and attend the after-school program, he scratched the car with a rock and hit it with his bandsticks. I followed Sparky back to school where the bus driver was looking for him, trailing all the other little bus-riders after him.
Yes, this was bad behavior and we both got a lecture from the program's director about the importance of meeting the bus driver directly after school, but he did get a "Caught Being Good" award two weeks in a row by the game room supervisor so he earned the privilege of standing on his chair after dinner to celebrate.
He was also recognized at school with the "Teacher's Choice Award" for outstanding academic improvement and performed in his first school band concert.
That's what we call a good week around here.
__________
Tonight the kids watched part of the sci-fi adventure movie Armageddon. I turned off the movie right after the space shuttle crash landed on the meteor, woke Sparky up and told him to go up to bed. He got up and started walking around looking for something.
"Where is it?" he asked.
What?
"I don't know where it is! Wait...can I just wear this?"
Where?
"In space!"
Huh?
Grumble, Grumble, Grumble
Sometimes I have lots of words and nothing to say and so my fingers just babble across the keyboard amounting to nothing. Sometimes I put down whatever has been rolling around in my head just to get it out of there so I can start working on something else. Cheap therapy. And sometimes I have no idea what to think about or write about issues we're dealing with so I just do nothing until I get my head around it. I've emotionally flip-flopped so many times in the past week dealing with moderately impactful yet immensely annoying issues that I thought it best just to keep my fickle feelings to myself. But just so my pair of readers will know that I'm still bouncing around the planet, I thought it was about time to emerge and come up with some sort of spewage.
Sparky has some pretty serious behavior problems that Ana has been helping him work on. He and his brother have basically stalled emotionally in toddlerhood which is about the time they were removed from their mother's care. This means that they are concrete thinkers, they are very "me" centered, and they wail (Drama Boy) and tantrum (Sparky) when they don't get their way. Needless to say, it is substantially more difficult to deal with a screaming, tantruming nine year old than a two year old. For starters, you cannot physically relocate an older child to his bedroom yet they are not emotionally able to reason and think at age-level so calming them is difficult and a 9 year old's tantrum is far more destructive. With lots of structure and consistency he has shown some improvement. In the meantime, Ana also gets to deal with their birth mom who is blaming her for their misbehavior. What? Quite aggravating.
Meanwhile....our agency has decided to discontinue therapy and psychiatric services for Squeaker and gave us a few weeks notice to find someone in our area. We recently moved to a new county and the kid's MediCal is only accepted in the old county so we drive down there for health services. Because of her mood disorder, Squeaker is in special classes in public school and has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). She has also been approved for funding through the school system for out-patient therapy. Since I am not a big fan of either the public school system or state-run mental health services, I have opted not to utilize this funding so I have been waiting for the adoptions to be finalized so I can use her MediCal to find private counseling. We were not offered psychiatric services, but the agency insists that they are available, not understanding that we can't just demand whatever services we want from the state. The agency has totally put a wrench in the works by kicking us to the curb before we are ready. Again, aggravating....but par for the course I suppose.
In reading some of my favorite adoptive parent blogs, it seems that many parents who have adopted older children are going through situations where they must struggle with a pretty messed up system to get help for their kids. Even social workers that "get it" are often restricted by the policies of a system that can't seem to meet the needs of the kids it's supposed to serve so foster and adoptive parents have to fight and scramble and pester to get their kids the services they need. Pretty sad.
Sparky has some pretty serious behavior problems that Ana has been helping him work on. He and his brother have basically stalled emotionally in toddlerhood which is about the time they were removed from their mother's care. This means that they are concrete thinkers, they are very "me" centered, and they wail (Drama Boy) and tantrum (Sparky) when they don't get their way. Needless to say, it is substantially more difficult to deal with a screaming, tantruming nine year old than a two year old. For starters, you cannot physically relocate an older child to his bedroom yet they are not emotionally able to reason and think at age-level so calming them is difficult and a 9 year old's tantrum is far more destructive. With lots of structure and consistency he has shown some improvement. In the meantime, Ana also gets to deal with their birth mom who is blaming her for their misbehavior. What? Quite aggravating.
Meanwhile....our agency has decided to discontinue therapy and psychiatric services for Squeaker and gave us a few weeks notice to find someone in our area. We recently moved to a new county and the kid's MediCal is only accepted in the old county so we drive down there for health services. Because of her mood disorder, Squeaker is in special classes in public school and has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). She has also been approved for funding through the school system for out-patient therapy. Since I am not a big fan of either the public school system or state-run mental health services, I have opted not to utilize this funding so I have been waiting for the adoptions to be finalized so I can use her MediCal to find private counseling. We were not offered psychiatric services, but the agency insists that they are available, not understanding that we can't just demand whatever services we want from the state. The agency has totally put a wrench in the works by kicking us to the curb before we are ready. Again, aggravating....but par for the course I suppose.
In reading some of my favorite adoptive parent blogs, it seems that many parents who have adopted older children are going through situations where they must struggle with a pretty messed up system to get help for their kids. Even social workers that "get it" are often restricted by the policies of a system that can't seem to meet the needs of the kids it's supposed to serve so foster and adoptive parents have to fight and scramble and pester to get their kids the services they need. Pretty sad.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Laundry Fall-Out
Last night two thumbtacks and a hershey's kiss were left in the washing machine when I put the boys' clothes in the drier.
A few years ago, I started collecting the items that fell out of the kids pockets in the wash. I thought it would make a great entry into our local fair. I had an entire bucketful before I gave it up. The variety is always very impressive: gum (NOT good in the drier), candy, trash, loads of rocks, toys, pocketknives, shells, trading cards, homework assignments, nails and staples, lipgloss, nail files, marbles, sandwiches, coins, and my personal favorite...a dead lizard.
A few years ago, I started collecting the items that fell out of the kids pockets in the wash. I thought it would make a great entry into our local fair. I had an entire bucketful before I gave it up. The variety is always very impressive: gum (NOT good in the drier), candy, trash, loads of rocks, toys, pocketknives, shells, trading cards, homework assignments, nails and staples, lipgloss, nail files, marbles, sandwiches, coins, and my personal favorite...a dead lizard.
More Kid Comments
Last week our pastor taught from Revelation 19 about Christ's victorious return on a white horse followed by the armies of heaven. As an illustration he played a clip from Lord of the Rings where Gandalf arrives on a white stallion with the rising sun and the horsemen of Rohan behind him to conquer the evil armies at Helm's Deep.
Later while watching a scene in Return of the King in which Gandalf races through the embattled city of Minas Tirith on his white horse with white robes flowing, The Boss (who was not in that church service) said "Look there's Jesus!" Great minds?
At Drama Boy's birthday sleepover, a friend of his was playing a handheld video game and suddenly commented, "Dude, look how big my brain has gotten!". I'm pretty sure he wasn't talking about his real brain after all those hours of video games.
Later while watching a scene in Return of the King in which Gandalf races through the embattled city of Minas Tirith on his white horse with white robes flowing, The Boss (who was not in that church service) said "Look there's Jesus!" Great minds?
At Drama Boy's birthday sleepover, a friend of his was playing a handheld video game and suddenly commented, "Dude, look how big my brain has gotten!". I'm pretty sure he wasn't talking about his real brain after all those hours of video games.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Random Kid Comments
Last night we finished up a week-long viewing of The Lord of the Rings trilogy with the kids. They liked the main characters and the action scenes but had a hard time following Middle-Earth geography and the secondary characters. When we were explaining who Deagol and Smeagol were, Drama Boy pipes up, "There was a seagull flying around at school and one of the kids kept saying 'Look at that beagle!'" Good rhyme connection. I enjoyed it.
Squeaker thought it was "messed" when the oliphaunt got killed in battle. Too bad about those thousands of people, I guess. Reminded me of watching The Lost World: Jurassic Park when the audience laughed when the people got ripped to shreds but booed when the T-Rex ate the dog.
I've had two black eyes for a week and Drama Boy and Sparky didn't even notice. Think they might need to work on eye contact? Drama Boy did tell me on Saturday that I look weird without make-up.
At dinner Drama Boy announced, "Today is the first day all week I played guitar with an amp." Since we didn't hear him using the amp today, Ana asked "When was that?" Drama Boy replied, "At my friend's house." Ooooops! Busted! He did not have permission to be at this friend's only to play outside. He tried to salvage it but couldn't come up with a good story. He's a really bad liar. You'd think since he wants to be an actor he'd at least act convincing.
The littles argue so much they make me think of those two little girls in the Robin William's movie Jack. It would be adorable if it wasn't so annoying.
Squeaker thought it was "messed" when the oliphaunt got killed in battle. Too bad about those thousands of people, I guess. Reminded me of watching The Lost World: Jurassic Park when the audience laughed when the people got ripped to shreds but booed when the T-Rex ate the dog.
I've had two black eyes for a week and Drama Boy and Sparky didn't even notice. Think they might need to work on eye contact? Drama Boy did tell me on Saturday that I look weird without make-up.
At dinner Drama Boy announced, "Today is the first day all week I played guitar with an amp." Since we didn't hear him using the amp today, Ana asked "When was that?" Drama Boy replied, "At my friend's house." Ooooops! Busted! He did not have permission to be at this friend's only to play outside. He tried to salvage it but couldn't come up with a good story. He's a really bad liar. You'd think since he wants to be an actor he'd at least act convincing.
The littles argue so much they make me think of those two little girls in the Robin William's movie Jack. It would be adorable if it wasn't so annoying.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Cinderella
One of my favorite recording artists and adoptive dads Steven Curtis Chapman with a song inspired by two of his adopted daughters.
Nature Sounds
We have frogs. Technically we have frogs and toads (contrary to popular children's literature they are not friends). We have two White's Dumpy Tree Frogs named Swamper and Spiderfrog and two Fire Belly Toads named Big Mac and Toejam (leading to a funny exchange when The Boss asked Auntie L and the cousins "Do you want to see my toejam?"). Normally, the three other amphibians reside in Sparky and Drama Boy's room but, for the health and safety of all concerned, have been relocated to my bathroom counter. All these guys eat crickets. We've had some interesting times when the crickets have gotten loose and invaded all parts of the house. I hate to squish something's source of nutrition but when I see a noisy, annoying insect in the house it's going to meet the bottom of my shoe. Anyway, I now have swampy "ambience" in my room day and night. The frogs and toads don't say anything but the cricket-chirping is constant. The frogs must have one hiding under the soaking bowl because they are pretty good about gobbling down their dinner but I still hear a stray morsel in there somewhere. Mac is on a hunger strike or something. The crickets line up in a row on the rim of his ceramic pond and sing away. I now refer to the lot of them as "Big Mac and the Crickets" and tell them they should take their show on the road. I wish they would. They're keeping me up at night.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Dumb Idea?
I just read a few of my posts below and feel the need to ask who in the world of student transportation thought it would be a good idea to combine on a special ed bus "emotionally disturbed" kids with physically disabled kids and then put them in the charge of a nice old guy who doesn't pay attention?
I'm certainly not trying to excuse the behavior of my own emotionally disturbed kid but does that really seem like a good idea to somebody out there? I suggested to Squeaker's teacher that maybe they should have Federal Marshalls ride along like airlines do.
He laughed so I don't really think he took it seriously.
I'm certainly not trying to excuse the behavior of my own emotionally disturbed kid but does that really seem like a good idea to somebody out there? I suggested to Squeaker's teacher that maybe they should have Federal Marshalls ride along like airlines do.
He laughed so I don't really think he took it seriously.
What Else is There?
We made it through one whole, entire, complete, total, continuous day without a tantrum. I little snark here and there but no trantrum. Sparky brought out "the glare" in the morning and took an extra long time eating breakfast and putting on his shoes making him late for his dentist appointment....but no tantrum. He started an (expensive yet hopefully worth it) after school program that hopefully will keep him busy and structured and minimize the amount of broken stuff around the house and awol trips to friends houses. He groused about it some...but no tantrum. The place has the word FUN in the name of it. It had better be. During Sparky's weekend-long ragefest he screamed about never getting to have fun. I told him he had to follow the rules even if it wasn't fun and even though everything being fun is so important to him. He replied, "What else is there?". Well, there's LOTS else, Mr. Buy-into-the-whole-narcissistic-secular-what's-in-it-for-me-who-cares-about-anyone-else-as-long-as-I'm-having-fun-world-view. (That's too long of a nickname. We'll stick with Sparky for now.) Fortunately, he came home at 6:30pm, dubbed it satisfactorily fun and will go willingly tomorrow.
Squeaker went back to school for the first day since her suspension and self-reportedly had a great day and got a "satisfactory" bus report. School scuttlebutt has it that the special ed. bus driver is an older guy who doesn't "see" much of what goes on. This rumor is apparently true because Squeaker's teacher called today saying that a parent had witnessed her making fun of and kicking another student at one of the stops and had called school administration. So she's sacked off the bus for a week and mama gets to drive. Well I don't work for free so I get to pocket five bucks of her allowance to act as her personal chauffeur.
Hey, I didn't say I don't work for cheap.
Squeaker went back to school for the first day since her suspension and self-reportedly had a great day and got a "satisfactory" bus report. School scuttlebutt has it that the special ed. bus driver is an older guy who doesn't "see" much of what goes on. This rumor is apparently true because Squeaker's teacher called today saying that a parent had witnessed her making fun of and kicking another student at one of the stops and had called school administration. So she's sacked off the bus for a week and mama gets to drive. Well I don't work for free so I get to pocket five bucks of her allowance to act as her personal chauffeur.
Hey, I didn't say I don't work for cheap.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Step Right Up, Folks!
The three-ring circus that is our lives continues. Constant activity and noise, some of it amusing and a lot of it just sort of side-show freakish.
My facial trauma has settled into two black eyes and a painful knot between them. I feel a little out of balance though since the right eye is a little more bruised than the left. I think of Monk and wonder if I should darken the other eye a bit for symmetry.
It was a frustrating weekend, with Sparky raging Friday making Ana miss Pizza Night with family. He continued first thing upon waking on Saturday. He now has the dubious honor of being one of the most difficult children we have cared for. His rages are becoming increasingly abusive and destructive which would be absolutely infuriating if it wasn't so darned heart-breaking. He is one sad, scared little kid without the emotional stability to identify and express the source of his hurt. It comes out in verbal abuse, breaking glass, putting holes in walls, and throwing furniture and other items. On Saturday morning he gave the neighborhood quite a show when he crawled out of his bedroom onto the roof and ripped up the screen. He has taken to running out of the house and disappearing at his friends' houses. He will not be calmed or contained. He cannot be around the pets or the other children unsupervised. Without the support of the agency, Ana will need to find a way to have him evaluated so we can get him suitable help in controlling his rages. He went with his grandma on Saturday and spent the night so we could get a break from keeping him in sight and enduring his anger. His grandma, instead of helping, told him some things that actually make the situation worse. Very frustrating.
Squeaker complied with her consequences for her school suspension and run-away episode with little resistance. In addition to being grounded from activities and electronics through the weekend, she had to make amends to the other kids by doing their chores which she did on Thursday. On Friday, she had to write an essay on the dangers of running away and kidnapping. On Saturday she made a list of 10 ways to show respect and courtesy to her bus driver and 10 ways to show kindness and courtesy to fellow students. On Sunday, she wrote apology notes to the bus driver and the boy she assaulted. Tomorrow she is back on the bus and back in school.
The Boss learned how to put an orange wedge in his mouth and make a "peel smile". We stayed out late last night seeing August Rush at the discount theater. Pretty good flick. Even The Boss stayed awake for it.
We're the only ones on our street who still have Christmas lights up. Kind of embarrassing. Oh well, let 'em talk. We've got bigger fish to fry.
My facial trauma has settled into two black eyes and a painful knot between them. I feel a little out of balance though since the right eye is a little more bruised than the left. I think of Monk and wonder if I should darken the other eye a bit for symmetry.
It was a frustrating weekend, with Sparky raging Friday making Ana miss Pizza Night with family. He continued first thing upon waking on Saturday. He now has the dubious honor of being one of the most difficult children we have cared for. His rages are becoming increasingly abusive and destructive which would be absolutely infuriating if it wasn't so darned heart-breaking. He is one sad, scared little kid without the emotional stability to identify and express the source of his hurt. It comes out in verbal abuse, breaking glass, putting holes in walls, and throwing furniture and other items. On Saturday morning he gave the neighborhood quite a show when he crawled out of his bedroom onto the roof and ripped up the screen. He has taken to running out of the house and disappearing at his friends' houses. He will not be calmed or contained. He cannot be around the pets or the other children unsupervised. Without the support of the agency, Ana will need to find a way to have him evaluated so we can get him suitable help in controlling his rages. He went with his grandma on Saturday and spent the night so we could get a break from keeping him in sight and enduring his anger. His grandma, instead of helping, told him some things that actually make the situation worse. Very frustrating.
Squeaker complied with her consequences for her school suspension and run-away episode with little resistance. In addition to being grounded from activities and electronics through the weekend, she had to make amends to the other kids by doing their chores which she did on Thursday. On Friday, she had to write an essay on the dangers of running away and kidnapping. On Saturday she made a list of 10 ways to show respect and courtesy to her bus driver and 10 ways to show kindness and courtesy to fellow students. On Sunday, she wrote apology notes to the bus driver and the boy she assaulted. Tomorrow she is back on the bus and back in school.
The Boss learned how to put an orange wedge in his mouth and make a "peel smile". We stayed out late last night seeing August Rush at the discount theater. Pretty good flick. Even The Boss stayed awake for it.
We're the only ones on our street who still have Christmas lights up. Kind of embarrassing. Oh well, let 'em talk. We've got bigger fish to fry.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Twins? Identical? Really?
My turn. I just read Monica's blog below so I thought I'd play too.
1. WHO WERE YOU NAMED AFTER?
Nobody. My mom said they called me Anastasia because they like what it means ("of the resurrection").
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Fifteen minutes ago (I was writing an e-mail to my dear friend in South Carolina telling her how much I missed my baby).
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
No. I always print.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
I don't like sandwiches very much but I prefer veggie sandwiches over meat ones.
5. DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT?
Yes.
6. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes.
7. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No.
8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Cocoa Puffs.
9. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No.
10. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
No. Like Monica, just stubborn.
11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Rocky Road.
12. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Facial expression.
13. RED OR PINK?
Yes.
14. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU?
I use sarcasm a lot.
15. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My family members who live too far away, my baby, my dear friend in South Carolina.
16. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Blue jeans and greenish gray shoes (they're really not as ugly as that sounds).
17. WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Tomato, onion and jalapeno sandwich on Milton's bread with Vegenaise and Lawry's seasoning salt. Don't knock it 'til you try it!
18. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Spiderman 2 on the TV downstairs.
19. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Midnight Blue
20. FAVORITE SMELLS?
No.
21. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Sparky's grandma.
22. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
I copied it from Monica. But I do like her.
23. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
I don't like watching any sport on TV but going to baseball games is fun. Also soccer and lacrosse if my niece or nephew are playing.
24. HAIR COLOR?
Ummm...the color I was born with or the color I am now?
25. EYE COLOR?
Blue.
26. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No. That's a weird question. (As opposed to all the others, right?)
27. FAVORITE FOOD?
Mexican.
28. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings. Suspenseful movies are OK but scary/gross ones are out.
29. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Akeelah and the Bee on DVD. Martian Child in the theater.
30. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Black.
31. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer.
32. HUGS OR KISSES?
Yikes. Who wants to know?
33. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Ice cream.
34. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Happiness is a Serious Problem by Dennis Prager and Nurturing Adoptions by Deborah D. Gray.
35. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
No mouse pad. Just the same sticky goo on the laptop touchpad.
36. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Nothing.
37. FAVORITE SOUND?
Train whistles, thunder, my family laughing together.
38. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
No thanks.
39. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Jamaica.
40. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Yes.
41. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
San Diego.
1. WHO WERE YOU NAMED AFTER?
Nobody. My mom said they called me Anastasia because they like what it means ("of the resurrection").
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Fifteen minutes ago (I was writing an e-mail to my dear friend in South Carolina telling her how much I missed my baby).
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
No. I always print.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
I don't like sandwiches very much but I prefer veggie sandwiches over meat ones.
5. DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT?
Yes.
6. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes.
7. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No.
8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Cocoa Puffs.
9. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No.
10. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
No. Like Monica, just stubborn.
11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Rocky Road.
12. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Facial expression.
13. RED OR PINK?
Yes.
14. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU?
I use sarcasm a lot.
15. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My family members who live too far away, my baby, my dear friend in South Carolina.
16. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Blue jeans and greenish gray shoes (they're really not as ugly as that sounds).
17. WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Tomato, onion and jalapeno sandwich on Milton's bread with Vegenaise and Lawry's seasoning salt. Don't knock it 'til you try it!
18. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Spiderman 2 on the TV downstairs.
19. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Midnight Blue
20. FAVORITE SMELLS?
No.
21. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Sparky's grandma.
22. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
I copied it from Monica. But I do like her.
23. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
I don't like watching any sport on TV but going to baseball games is fun. Also soccer and lacrosse if my niece or nephew are playing.
24. HAIR COLOR?
Ummm...the color I was born with or the color I am now?
25. EYE COLOR?
Blue.
26. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No. That's a weird question. (As opposed to all the others, right?)
27. FAVORITE FOOD?
Mexican.
28. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings. Suspenseful movies are OK but scary/gross ones are out.
29. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Akeelah and the Bee on DVD. Martian Child in the theater.
30. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Black.
31. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer.
32. HUGS OR KISSES?
Yikes. Who wants to know?
33. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Ice cream.
34. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Happiness is a Serious Problem by Dennis Prager and Nurturing Adoptions by Deborah D. Gray.
35. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
No mouse pad. Just the same sticky goo on the laptop touchpad.
36. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Nothing.
37. FAVORITE SOUND?
Train whistles, thunder, my family laughing together.
38. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
No thanks.
39. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Jamaica.
40. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Yes.
41. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
San Diego.
Batten Down the Hatches
Sparky continues his raging spree occasionally forgetting to be mad at the world and then picking right back where he left off. Last night the middlers were goofing around and wild after dinner and Sparky decided to "hide" the dog. He put him in the laundry closet on top of the washing machine and then closed the doors trapping a shaking Shaggy Pooch in place. When his mistreatment of said dog was confronted, he decided that was excuse enough to throw the couch cushions around and put the coffee table on top of one of the denuded couches. Drama Boy, complicit in the dog-hiding incident, was reduced to wailing sobs again when his ever-changing story was not bought by the meany grown-ups.
Since one of Sparky's trantrum-induced pursuits is to open and slam any kind of door (including the refrigerator which on the last go lost a door-shelf along with it's contents and put a squishy hole in the ketchup bottle), Ana went to the home-fix-it store today to buy locks for the cabinets, fridge, and laundry doors. We're going to be like Maxwell Smart around here pretty soon going through all manner of security gates and doors to get anywhere.
Come to think of it, maybe there is a theme going here. Talking to these guys is sometimes as effective as trying to communicate in the Cone of Silence.....only not as funny.
Since one of Sparky's trantrum-induced pursuits is to open and slam any kind of door (including the refrigerator which on the last go lost a door-shelf along with it's contents and put a squishy hole in the ketchup bottle), Ana went to the home-fix-it store today to buy locks for the cabinets, fridge, and laundry doors. We're going to be like Maxwell Smart around here pretty soon going through all manner of security gates and doors to get anywhere.
Come to think of it, maybe there is a theme going here. Talking to these guys is sometimes as effective as trying to communicate in the Cone of Silence.....only not as funny.
Nothing to Do, Nothing to Do, Put Some Mustard In You Shoe
I swiped this from another blog that I frequent. Actually, I frequent a lot of blogs a little too frequently. Aren't you supposed to get paid for doing what you love? Maybe I could find someone who wants to sponsor my blog reading. Or a blog-a-thon week might work.
Anyway, here goes:
1. WHO WERE YOU NAMED AFTER?
Nobody. But I guess my mom did see a move once with Paul Newman where his wife's character had my name and she liked it (my mom, not the character). I think that's how the story goes but I may have forgotten.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I can't remember. I usually cuss instead (but not in public or around the kids....bad habit I know).
Amending slightly to add, the two waiting kids videos choke me up every time.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
My official handwriting is pretty nice, but my hurried "note-taking handwriting" is appalling although still quite legible.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Brown-sugar ham but I don't like sandwiches very much and I prefer veggie sandwiches to meat ones and then only on Milton's bread. Picky, picky, picky.
5. DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT?
Hmmmmm. Well, I don't think so but when Sparky gets mad at me he tells me "You're just trying to be funny." To which I reply "I'm not trying I'm just naturally funny."
6. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes, but my appendix is long gone.
7. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
If you say bungee jump, I say, how high? (Because if it's higher than off a dining room chair count me out).
8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Kashi Go Lean Crunch...followed closely by Apple Jacks (I mean that following as in next favorite not in the same meal).
9. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No way. I just use the toes of one foot on the heel of the shoe on the opposite foot. Then I put the tips of my toes back into the shoe to put it into the shoe cubby. That's why I chose the cubby hole near the floor. I'm efficient like that. Let the kids bend over to pick up their shoes and put them away.
10. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
No, just pretty doggone stubborn.
11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Rocky Road
12. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their facial expression.
13. RED OR PINK?
Mustang Red.
14.WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU?
MY least favorite? Because I'm sure other people have their own opinions about that.... I wish I was more disciplined.
15. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My buddies from my old work, some of my former foster kids, and my family members who live far away.
16. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Blue jeans and barefoot...the way I like it.
17. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Cheese, onion, and tomato quesadilla.
18.. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
A lawnmower outside.
19. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Amber. I have no idea why. What does that mean anyway?
20. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Cinnamon rolls baking and horses.
21. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Ana
22. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
I stole it. I don't know her but I like her blog and I love her last name.
23. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Nothing on tv but I like going to baseball games.
24. HAIR COLOR?
Blonde.
25. EYE COLOR?
Blue (one is also black right now).
26. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No.
27. FAVORITE FOOD?
Mexican or Chinese.
28. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Scary but not gross AND happy endings, of course (not necessarily in the same movie).
29. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Live Free or Die Hard on dvd. Last movie in the theater I think was Enchanted.
30. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Black.
31. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer.
32. HUGS OR KISSES?
It depends on who's offering.
33. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Ice Cream and Brownies but not together.
34. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
"House" by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker (not to be confused with the tv show of the same name).
35. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
I don't have one. There's some sort of sticky goo on my laptop's touchpad though.
36. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Nothing.
37. FAVORITE SOUND?
Birds singing at night.
38. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Some of both.
39. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
The Philippines.
40. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Probably.
41. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
San Diego.
Anyway, here goes:
1. WHO WERE YOU NAMED AFTER?
Nobody. But I guess my mom did see a move once with Paul Newman where his wife's character had my name and she liked it (my mom, not the character). I think that's how the story goes but I may have forgotten.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I can't remember. I usually cuss instead (but not in public or around the kids....bad habit I know).
Amending slightly to add, the two waiting kids videos choke me up every time.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
My official handwriting is pretty nice, but my hurried "note-taking handwriting" is appalling although still quite legible.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Brown-sugar ham but I don't like sandwiches very much and I prefer veggie sandwiches to meat ones and then only on Milton's bread. Picky, picky, picky.
5. DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT?
Hmmmmm. Well, I don't think so but when Sparky gets mad at me he tells me "You're just trying to be funny." To which I reply "I'm not trying I'm just naturally funny."
6. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes, but my appendix is long gone.
7. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
If you say bungee jump, I say, how high? (Because if it's higher than off a dining room chair count me out).
8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Kashi Go Lean Crunch...followed closely by Apple Jacks (I mean that following as in next favorite not in the same meal).
9. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No way. I just use the toes of one foot on the heel of the shoe on the opposite foot. Then I put the tips of my toes back into the shoe to put it into the shoe cubby. That's why I chose the cubby hole near the floor. I'm efficient like that. Let the kids bend over to pick up their shoes and put them away.
10. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
No, just pretty doggone stubborn.
11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Rocky Road
12. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their facial expression.
13. RED OR PINK?
Mustang Red.
14.WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU?
MY least favorite? Because I'm sure other people have their own opinions about that.... I wish I was more disciplined.
15. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My buddies from my old work, some of my former foster kids, and my family members who live far away.
16. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Blue jeans and barefoot...the way I like it.
17. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Cheese, onion, and tomato quesadilla.
18.. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
A lawnmower outside.
19. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Amber. I have no idea why. What does that mean anyway?
20. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Cinnamon rolls baking and horses.
21. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Ana
22. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
I stole it. I don't know her but I like her blog and I love her last name.
23. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Nothing on tv but I like going to baseball games.
24. HAIR COLOR?
Blonde.
25. EYE COLOR?
Blue (one is also black right now).
26. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No.
27. FAVORITE FOOD?
Mexican or Chinese.
28. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Scary but not gross AND happy endings, of course (not necessarily in the same movie).
29. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Live Free or Die Hard on dvd. Last movie in the theater I think was Enchanted.
30. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Black.
31. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer.
32. HUGS OR KISSES?
It depends on who's offering.
33. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Ice Cream and Brownies but not together.
34. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
"House" by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker (not to be confused with the tv show of the same name).
35. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
I don't have one. There's some sort of sticky goo on my laptop's touchpad though.
36. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Nothing.
37. FAVORITE SOUND?
Birds singing at night.
38. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Some of both.
39. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
The Philippines.
40. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Probably.
41. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
San Diego.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Full Moon?
Wow. That about sums it up. Maybe even Double-Wow. We have had some drama around here lately.
Squeaker was suspended for the third time this school year. Even in a specialized classroom she has difficulty maintaining emotional control. It has been building up all week and yesterday she lost it in an episode on the bus which involved much profanity and hitting a disabled student. Her teacher is such a great guy and so understanding. He is always quick to complement her behavior and accomplishments when she is doing well...which is a lot of the time. Her frustration with the day continued to mount throughout the afternoon and resulted in her losing all good sense and running away by evening. Once I discovered she was missing, I found her within 20 minutes, shoeless in the cold but on her way back home. Still she refused to get in the car running each time I stopped. I had to make about four U-turns and stops before I could get her to come with me. This blew the regularly scheduled plans for the evening making Peaches have to wait an extra half hour getting picked up from night school and Ana having to leave an event at the boys school early...
Leading to the other drama of the evening....the event was an informational meeting for parents and 4/5th students about the school's upcoming science fair. Upon being forced to leave early the boys decided they were going to FAIL the 4th and 5th grades reducing Drama Boy to sobbing wails and Sparky to sullen defiance and both to name-calling and insults. Although they returned to the meeting and got everything they needed, the behaviors would not abate. Sparky was still raging at dinnertime and refused to come to the table. The rocky emotionalism and irrational belief-system that runs these kids brains is stunning at times. No amount of reassurance and calm explanation will sway them from their doom-filled predictions of their fates. Much of Drama Boy's, well, drama and Sparky's angry oppositional behavior stems directly from their whacky view of themselves as victims of every situation. They will not be convinced otherwise and become infuriated at the mention of other possibilities. But we'll keep trying.
"In coming to understand anything we are rejecting the facts as they are for us in favour of the facts as they are."
C.S. Lewis, An Experiment in Criticism
Onward and upward!
Squeaker was suspended for the third time this school year. Even in a specialized classroom she has difficulty maintaining emotional control. It has been building up all week and yesterday she lost it in an episode on the bus which involved much profanity and hitting a disabled student. Her teacher is such a great guy and so understanding. He is always quick to complement her behavior and accomplishments when she is doing well...which is a lot of the time. Her frustration with the day continued to mount throughout the afternoon and resulted in her losing all good sense and running away by evening. Once I discovered she was missing, I found her within 20 minutes, shoeless in the cold but on her way back home. Still she refused to get in the car running each time I stopped. I had to make about four U-turns and stops before I could get her to come with me. This blew the regularly scheduled plans for the evening making Peaches have to wait an extra half hour getting picked up from night school and Ana having to leave an event at the boys school early...
Leading to the other drama of the evening....the event was an informational meeting for parents and 4/5th students about the school's upcoming science fair. Upon being forced to leave early the boys decided they were going to FAIL the 4th and 5th grades reducing Drama Boy to sobbing wails and Sparky to sullen defiance and both to name-calling and insults. Although they returned to the meeting and got everything they needed, the behaviors would not abate. Sparky was still raging at dinnertime and refused to come to the table. The rocky emotionalism and irrational belief-system that runs these kids brains is stunning at times. No amount of reassurance and calm explanation will sway them from their doom-filled predictions of their fates. Much of Drama Boy's, well, drama and Sparky's angry oppositional behavior stems directly from their whacky view of themselves as victims of every situation. They will not be convinced otherwise and become infuriated at the mention of other possibilities. But we'll keep trying.
"In coming to understand anything we are rejecting the facts as they are for us in favour of the facts as they are."
C.S. Lewis, An Experiment in Criticism
Onward and upward!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
More Pointless Fun
Try the The Impossible Quiz.
Just a tip....as in the game Apples to Apples, the funniest answer is often the most rewarding.
Just a tip....as in the game Apples to Apples, the funniest answer is often the most rewarding.
Yowzer
For the past few years I have been unsuccessfully trying to get The Boss to sleep in his own big boy bed. I don't bother any more so he sleeps in mine with the rule that NO toys come into mama's room. Also unsuccessful.
3:55am. I got up to use the bathroom and tripped over an aircraft carrier that I had shoved to the floor when I went to bed. I pitched forward in total darkness, falling spectacularly in face-first-look-ma-no-hands style. The bridge of my nose and my right eye slammed into the hard edge of The Boss' hamper. You really do see stars and little birdies just like in the cartoons.
I lay on the floor for a few minutes clutching my eye so it wouldn't pop out and roll across the carpet collecting dust bunnies. When I got up a little voice chimed from somewhere behind me, "Are you ok?". Always searching for those "teachable moments" I told him, "THAT'S why we don't bring toys into mama's room."
I flipped on lights as I went downstairs to get an icepack and a glass of water to suck down a bunch of aspirin. Usually I leave the lights off, feeling my way down the stairs and navigating the rest from memory, but I was taking no chances that a stray Thomas Train or Transformer would be my secondary downfall.
Assessing the damage in the bathroom mirror, I found a small cut and a large Cromagnum-like swelling between my eyes, the beginnings of a shiner, and a nasty red splotch on my right eyeball. Ewwwwwww.
When I finally returned to bed, a Hotwheels car had taken my spot.
3:55am. I got up to use the bathroom and tripped over an aircraft carrier that I had shoved to the floor when I went to bed. I pitched forward in total darkness, falling spectacularly in face-first-look-ma-no-hands style. The bridge of my nose and my right eye slammed into the hard edge of The Boss' hamper. You really do see stars and little birdies just like in the cartoons.
I lay on the floor for a few minutes clutching my eye so it wouldn't pop out and roll across the carpet collecting dust bunnies. When I got up a little voice chimed from somewhere behind me, "Are you ok?". Always searching for those "teachable moments" I told him, "THAT'S why we don't bring toys into mama's room."
I flipped on lights as I went downstairs to get an icepack and a glass of water to suck down a bunch of aspirin. Usually I leave the lights off, feeling my way down the stairs and navigating the rest from memory, but I was taking no chances that a stray Thomas Train or Transformer would be my secondary downfall.
Assessing the damage in the bathroom mirror, I found a small cut and a large Cromagnum-like swelling between my eyes, the beginnings of a shiner, and a nasty red splotch on my right eyeball. Ewwwwwww.
When I finally returned to bed, a Hotwheels car had taken my spot.
Monday, January 7, 2008
More Waiting
This video is a review of the past year by a local tv station that features children in the county awaiting adoption. Two of these kiddos were in Ana's home and one was with another family we know. Many of the children that have come through our homes while we did "crisis shelter care" are now available for adoption and we see them from time to time on these kinds of features or hear about them from adoption workers we've worked with. There are a couple little guys on this video I have inquired about but it looks like we'll have to wait on that while I finish with the girls' adoptions and start the homestudy process all over again. Unfortunately, that means they may end up having to wait longer too. One of them turns nine this month and has been waiting for his own family more than half of his life.
It's Not Over Yet
In the weeks since his birthday and Christmas have passed, The Boss continues to ask if we are going to get presents. I continue to tell him that Christmas is over. Yesterday at church we were able to pick up the XBox that someone bought for our family. They also gave us some bats, balls, and helmets which The Boss was eager to carry to the car. As he walked through the parking lot with his load he remarked, "See, Mommy, Christmas is NOT over."
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Overheard
Do all teenagers have an irresistable urge to talk smack about their parents? I probably did when I was a teen and now I'm sorry. Now that I have kids I understand my parents so much better and realize that their rules and requirements weren't as dumb as they seemed when filtered through a teenaged brain. Having been there and knowing how much I loved my parents then (and now), I guess I shouldn't let it hurt my feelings when my kids do it. But it does.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Homecoming
My little brother has been serving as a combat medic in Iraq for over a year. He's been in Kuwait for the past few days and leaves there today to return to the USA. We still won't get to see him for a while because we live in different states but we're so happy and relieved that he will be back safe and sound. Welcome home, laddie! We're so proud of you!
Friday, January 4, 2008
Waiting
I saw this video on another adoptive parent's blog. Every time I think I've done my part, I see all the kids who are growing up without a permanent family and I realize there's so much more work to do. Click here to see some of the 115,000 kids in America still waiting for their forever family. Print a picture and pray for that child to be home soon.
Life. Get One.
On Wednesday the middle boys spent the night at a friend's house giving everyone a much needed break from one another. Sans kids, Ana spent part of the day yesterday taking an online IQ test....repeatedly. Although she earned a respectable above average score it fell just short of the ranking needed for entry into the high IQ society sponsoring the test. She repeated it multiple times always scoring within a few points of the previous try (what's that definition of insanity again?). I helpfully suggested that maybe there was an IQ Test for Dummies out there which, when googled, produced unsatisfactory results.
As time-wasters go at least it stretched the brain a little bit. Before kids (and internet), because we frequently opt out of paying for cable tv, we were masters at silly, unproductive self-amusements. Sure, we had our enriching pursuits. We volunteered, spent time with friends, hunted for antique books for our growing collection, kept a little garden, read copiously, cooked just for fun, and threw holiday and themed parties for our buddies.
But on slow nights with no tv we really had to get creative. We had art contests. Not about who was the best but real challenges like who could draw the most pictures of James Cagney with the results papering our dining room for weeks. We wrote really, really small. We renamed all the crayons in a 64 box. We made tortillas from scratch. We combined two sets of Scrabble tiles and played by C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien's rules allowing any word that has ever been in print. We made hundreds of origami cranes. We took turns reading funny poems aloud. We assembled "fiendishly difficult" jigsaw puzzles.
I don't get it. With so much to do how come kids are always bored?
As time-wasters go at least it stretched the brain a little bit. Before kids (and internet), because we frequently opt out of paying for cable tv, we were masters at silly, unproductive self-amusements. Sure, we had our enriching pursuits. We volunteered, spent time with friends, hunted for antique books for our growing collection, kept a little garden, read copiously, cooked just for fun, and threw holiday and themed parties for our buddies.
But on slow nights with no tv we really had to get creative. We had art contests. Not about who was the best but real challenges like who could draw the most pictures of James Cagney with the results papering our dining room for weeks. We wrote really, really small. We renamed all the crayons in a 64 box. We made tortillas from scratch. We combined two sets of Scrabble tiles and played by C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien's rules allowing any word that has ever been in print. We made hundreds of origami cranes. We took turns reading funny poems aloud. We assembled "fiendishly difficult" jigsaw puzzles.
I don't get it. With so much to do how come kids are always bored?
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Cry Out to Jesus
When I first heard this song by Third Day I was struck by how it nailed so much of the anguish that we have seen since entering the whole world of foster care. Peaches came to live with me just four months after the death of her mom. During that time, Ana had a teenage foster son (who we still love dearly but who no longer lives with us) who struggled with drug addiction as did his parents before him. The brokenness and devastation to lives and families caused by addiction, poverty, abuse, and mental illness is immense and we've seen it multiplied by the hundreds. May all those who are hurting cry out to Jesus and may those who believe in Him have ears to hear and courage to become His hands, feet, and heart to those who suffer.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Just When We Need It
"And ain't nothin' like finding twenty dollars in the pocket of the britches that you wore last week."
With insincere apologies to country music haters....I couldn't help but think of these Brad Paisley lyrics today. This afternoon I "found" two store gift cards, one lint-covered on top of the dryer and another that has been languishing in a drawer in my bathroom. These cards must be years old and I have no idea where they first came from. They each had $25 on them. Fortunately, ours is a "super" Stuff Mart so I spent my newfound wealth on life's little luxuries like milk, mac & cheese, toilet paper, and dog food. It made my day.
With insincere apologies to country music haters....I couldn't help but think of these Brad Paisley lyrics today. This afternoon I "found" two store gift cards, one lint-covered on top of the dryer and another that has been languishing in a drawer in my bathroom. These cards must be years old and I have no idea where they first came from. They each had $25 on them. Fortunately, ours is a "super" Stuff Mart so I spent my newfound wealth on life's little luxuries like milk, mac & cheese, toilet paper, and dog food. It made my day.
At Least We're Consistent
Well, I blogged too soon. The older girls got themselves into a spot of trouble this afternoon which could have some long-term ramifications. It stinks for them but it is at least an opportunity to show them that we still love them and that their actions do not change that.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happier New Year
One more time around the sun which is about all the traveling we've done this year. Now to resolve or not to resolve, that is the question. We've always been goal-setters, something we learned from our parents since childhood. When I was younger my goals were more about things I wanted to do or have. Now I find myself looking at my goals for the year and they are much more about things I want to BE. We agree that this year we want to be happier. As Dennis Prager says happy people make the world better. This is something we hope the kids can learn this year too. This will require changing their current belief that it's "stuff" that makes you happy. All of our kids have become believers in Jesus in the past year but helping them change a screwy value system that has been scraped and scrabbled together from their pain-filled pasts is proving to be a challenging task. Helping others, doing what we can to make the world better, and pointing people toward Jesus are some things that would be healing for all of us.
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