Calendars & Schedules

Some days I hate the constraints of calendars and schedules!  The truth is I am a planner, organizer and like to be on time.  Of course I married the procrastinator, fly by the seat of his pants and Mr. always late.  This has been a challenge to say the least in our marriage.  Medic hubby has two speeds either full-speed ahead or turtle speed.  Full-speed ahead is reserved for driving, skiing, biking and anything an adrenaline junkie would do.  The rest of life pretty much happens at turtle speed.  This is a frustration to someone like me who likes to be efficient about life!  I am always the one waiting on him when we are ready to leave.

I think that having children has finally started to bring us to a happy medium.  I have relaxed a lot when it comes to planning, organizing and being efficient.  Because, let's be honest you just can't do those things on most days with two toddlers.  Most days I look around and Tupperware and dish towels are strewn across my kitchen floor, cheerios and crumbs cover the living room floor and not a single toy is actually in the toy box or basket where it belongs.  An efficient, organized day now looks like getting three meals in my kids, the dishes washed, diapers changed and a little play time with them.

On the flip side, medic hubby has learned that a little planning and organization is necessary with two toddlers.  You can't just leave the house on a whim without diapers, wipes, snacks and proper timing.  He has learned that the interruption of regular meal time and naps can lead to tired cranky kids and parents! 

All this to say I do sometimes hate the restraints of looming calendars.  The fact that I have a packed full week or month can lead to some stress and anxiety.  And the idea of having to rush kids, ugh is painful.  You cannot do it, the more you try to hurry them the slower they move.  The concept of time is far removed from toddlers.  For toddlers it is more about experiences.  Time tables are a bit skewed and the most important thing is what they are doing at the moment and that is not to be rushed.

I think this is something I probably should emulate more often.  Focus more on the moment and not rush through something just to get to the next thing.  I need to learn to not let the clock dictate everything in my life.  I still think planning is important but I need to learn to focus on people and relationships and not the task as much.

Little laugh:  I switched my oldest son to fluoride toothpaste.  When he first used it he said "it's too spicy"! 

Positive proverb:  "A cheerful heart is good medicine" Proverbs 17:22a

The great search for Gordon's missing coal car

After several deep conversations today, I am in the mood for something lighter.  So I'm going to tell you about our search for Gordon's missing coal car.

If you have or have had little boys you have probably watched episodes of Thomas the tank engine.  And if your son took to Thomas you probably have watched about 3,000 episodes, know the theme song by memory and have many Thomas toy trains cluttering your house.  This is the case for my two sons (although I'm pretty sure my younger son had no choice in liking Thomas).

The love of Thomas started pretty early for our 2 1/2 year old son.  And he now has a train table and quite the collection of trains.  We took both our boys to see Thomas at a local train station that Thomas visits several times a year. You can actually ride in a car that Thomas pulls.  I have never been to a place with so many excited little boys.  Boys talking about buffing and biffing and shunting and coupling!

My oldest son's current favorite is Gordon and his coal car.  Gordon is the strongest and fastest engine on the island of Sodor.  (By the way medic hubby & I want to move to Sodor.  Other than the constant crashing of trains, it looks blissful.)   One morning we realized Gordon's coal car was missing, this is a big problem.  How can an engine go anywhere without his coal car.  The even bigger problem was I remembered seeing my one year-old son playing with it.  This means it could be anywhere imaginable.  I mean I have found a shoe in with my dish towels, his lovey hidden in the coat closet, toys in kitchen drawers and pacifiers in millions of random places.  I think he must have a secret hiding spot for his pacifiers because one day he kept coming out with new ones after I had searched the house over trying to track them down.  In fact we often joke about having a black hole in our house, because things seem to disappear and never resurface.

So I got out the flashlight and we started our search under the sofa and then under the sofa cushions.  Well, we found two different colored socks, a magazine, one of medic hubby's work t-shirts, dozens of random toys and enough cheerios and crumbs for an afternoon snack.  Hmmm, this lead to my vacuuming under all the cushions a week later.  But, still no coal car.  We searched the playroom for the second time and then went on to the kitchen.  Sure enough all the way in the bottom of my Tupperware drawer was Gordon's missing coal car. The lost was returned to a happy little boy.  Now his strongest, fastest engine could do what ever his little heart could imagine. 

Oh yuck, when I finally did vacuum underneath those cushions.  I know it's no big deal, I mean who looks under your sofa cushions.  But I knew what was there and I needed to do something about it.  This makes me think, are there areas of my life like this?  Areas that get ignored or only dealt with when necessary.  Are there things or people in my life that I need to treat like my kitchen table that gets wiped and cleaned everyday instead of like the deep dark crevices of my sofa that never see the light of day?  Just something to ponder.  

Little laugh:  My son loves looking at the moon.  And as we were looking at the small crescent of the moon tonight.  I told him it looked like the clipping of a toe nail.  To which he responded with hysterical laughter.  It is great when your kids make you feel like the best comedian in the world!

Positive proverb:  "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

Sanctity of Life

Today is "Sanctity of Life" Sunday.  I strongly believe in the sanctity of all human life.  This has compelled me to share a bit about our adoption journey and the adoption of our precious oldest son.  I believe that adoption is at the heart of sanctity of life.  If we are telling others to value life and give life then we need to offer loving homes to those who are not in circumstances to provide them.  I do not judge anyone for the decisions they have made, for I do not know what I would do in a similar situation if I had no hope.

As I shared in an earlier post, medic hubby and I struggled with infertility for years.  In fact we were passing year 3 when a friend told me she had an acquaintance who had adopted and would love to share her story with me.  I met with her several months later.  She dissolved me to tears in minutes as she shared the miracle of adoption that their family went through.  They had one biological daughter and then an adopted son.  What struck me the most and went straight to my heart was this statement, she said "I know without any doubt that God created our adopted son specifically for us, just as he created our biological daughter specifically for us."  She went on to describe their adoption process and gave me the information to the orphanage in Taiwan that they adopted from.

We waited several more months as we prayed and thought about this.  Finally in February, we decided we were ready to move forward and contacted the orphanage.  After that things moved forward at lightning speed.  From the day we first called the orphanage to the day we brought our son home was exactly 7 months!  If I tried to tell the entire story it would take page after page.  It was one small miracle after another in processing the paperwork, traveling to Taiwan, finishing the adoption and then bringing him home.

We are eternally grateful and thankful to our son's biological mother for choosing life.  I do not hold any harsh feelings toward her.  For she showed him great love by releasing him when she knew she could not properly provide for him. 

Even though, he was not the labor of my body, he was the labor of my heart.  And any adoptive parent can understand the fact that there is no difference between a biological and an adopted child, any child that you raise and love is your child.  The color of skin, texture of hair, slant of the eyes does not matter.  It matters not one iota to me that my son does not look like me or carry any of my genes.  What does matter is that he loves me and I love him unconditionally!

We talk often to him about being adopted and that he was born in Taiwan.  A few weeks ago he melted my heart by looking at me and saying "you are my mommy!"  I AM his mommy in every sense of the word.  I am the one who gives hugs and kisses, who wipes away the tears, who plays and tickles, who puts him to bed and gets him up everyday. 

Little laugh: My son started to randomly say "whoa, that was close" while I am driving!  Come on, I'm not that bad of a driver.  My mom later informed me this is what the toy steering wheel at her house says, that made me feel a little better. 

Positive proverb:  "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." Jeremiah 1:5a

Washing Dishes

As I mentioned in an earlier post we moved this summer from a 6 year-old townhouse in a nice development to a 150 year-old stone house surrounded by farm land.  There have been many adjustments moving from a new home to an old one.  While there are many advantages like the big yard, the nice view, the 3 car detached garage and the deep windowsills, there are also many disadvantages.  Well, maybe not so much disadvantages as inconveniences.  For starters no central air, no dishwasher, wallpaper (yuck), one teeny tiny bathroom (that has no outlets), very few electric outlets, green blinds (yuck, again), squeaky stairs and the list goes on.  

The thing I was absolutely dreading the most was not having a dishwasher.  HONESTLY, washing dishes is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.  I can not believe I am saying this!  I think it is almost therapeutic for me.  We keep dirty dishes to a minimum and I wash after every meal.  I actually have a nice deep ceramic sink and I even have a window to look out while I wash.  I didn't have a window above my sink in the townhouse.  It's quite amazing how sometimes things we are dreading the most can be full of surprises.  I think I knew it was just something I have to do and did it without complaining, and now it is simply habit.

Even though there are a lot of things about our home I would like to upgrade and improve, all I have to do is look around and see how much I already have.  A roof, a warm bed, plenty of food, a bathroom, running water, heat, electricity and the list goes on and on.  There are so many people who are in want of those very things in the world, in our own country, in our own town.  

Medic hubby and I have done quite a bit of traveling.  We have seen first-hand the poverty that grips people in it's clutches.  We have seen dirty, poor children so happy to receive a piece of fruit and a drink.  We have seen people live in shacks with no running water.  It is difficult eye-opening things to see and to absorb.  The memories of these things make me happy and thankful for the things I do have.  It is only by the grace of God that I am in my 150 year-old warm house and not hungry and cold somewhere else.

I challenge you give thanks for the things you have and remember the ones in need.  Give freely and give greatly, not just of your money but of your time, talents and love.

Little laugh:  I got my hair cut and styled today & I love it.  It is shorter & the hair stylist curled it for me.  I come home and get my oldest son up from his nap.  He looks at me and says "mommy, what did you do to your hair!" he touches it and says "take it off" and then he starts giggling.  In fact, I could hardly get him to use the potty as he kept touching my hair and giggling.  I was starting to get concerned, but my husband assured me it was very nice it just looked different.

Positive proverb:  "One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty."  Proverbs 11:24

The ugly "F" word

There is a boldness that comes with motherhood that I did not have before.  I believe it is the innate "mother bear" response that we sometimes respond with.  Several months ago we were at a kid friendly place where my boys were happily playing.  I heard some punk teenager say the "F" word.  I was immediately angered that he said this word in front of my children and about to give him a piece of my mind.  I did respond with an indignant "excuse me!" to which he did not hear in the noise of everything around.  I held my tongue in check as this was not directed or even heard by my child or any other.  But, I do hate that vulgar "F" word!

To be fertile or to not be, that is the question.  This is the "F" word to me or I guess I should say the "i" word, infertility.  The majority of people take no second thought to infertility, because it does not affect their lives.  Myself included, medic hubby and I went happily through the first 5 years of our marriage until we decided we wanted to start a family.  We were so naive; we were young and healthy so we never dreamed we would have difficulties conceiving.  I honestly thought it would happen within the first few months.  As friend after friend became pregnant and gave birth.  I started to worry something was wrong.  We passed the one year mark and I was becoming impatient.  This was starting to take an emotional and physical toll on both of us.  We visited the doctor he referred us to another doctor and we eventually ended up at a fertility doctor.  

We went through all kinds of imaginable tests and were diagnosed with unknown infertility.  Is there anything worse then the unknown.  A diagnosis I could have dealt with, but no explanation.  So we started on a low dosage fertility drug and they monitored my cycle very closely.  I thought it was stressful before, well this required about 5 doctor visits in a 2 week period.  Every month they said things look great, you are going to get pregnant!  Well, we did this for four months and then they started pushing for further more involved treatments.  We were at the 2 year mark at this point and I was physically and emotionally done.  So we decided to take a break from all treatments and from "trying".  This proved to be the best thing we could have done.  I had a lot of things I needed to work out spiritually and emotionally at this point.  We poured ourselves into other areas of our lives and had some awesome opportunities to travel and help others.

In the midst of those difficult days, I made some dear friends who will be friends for life.  One particular friend was in the throws of infertility, same as I.  We talked often and openly as there were some things you just couldn't share with others.  Even now, I feel like I have a special connection to women who have gone through seasons of infertility.  There are some things that only women who have been in that desert can understand.   

As year 3 was rolling past we were starting to talk and pray about the possibility of adoption.  This story I will share in another post, because it will be a long one!  We were almost at the 4 year point when we adopted our beautiful Taiwanese son.  And then just after 5 years, I gave birth to our second beautiful son (also a story for another day!).  Both of our sons are true miracles!

Now that I am on the other side of this desert, I sometimes forget how thirsty I was.  I try to be sensitive to others in difficult situations.  I know my experiences have made me more compassionate and kind to others.  It is good to sometimes think back and reflect on those bone dry days, where my heart and soul physically ached.  

I am young, I know this will probably not be the worst desert of my life.  I know that there are many others who have experienced and are experiencing things much more painful than what I went through.  I write this to encourage you in the desert times and to ask you to look back and reflect on those deserts in your life.  Reach out to someone who is struggling whatever the "F" word in your or their life is.  

I am thankful for the struggles I have went through because it has made me into the person I am today.  My faith is now rock solid, I know who I am and what I believe.  And I am eternally grateful for the two small gifts I have been given to cherish and treasure for the rest of my life! 

Little laugh:  My son playing and pretending to be in time out....hmmm, how affective  is this method of discipline.

Positive proverb:  "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret."  Proverbs 11:13

Lessons from a 1 year-old

It seems like just yesterday we were bringing this squirmy red-faced baby home from the hospital.  It is truly an amazing experience to see a baby grow and develop the first year of their life.  To go from basically just, sleeping, eating, crying and pooping to running, climbing, playing and starting to say words...is incredible!

I must admit much of the first few months I spent sleep-deprived and a lot of days felt like I was in survival mode.  A newborn is challenging and then a 20-month old toddler too....this isn't what I signed up for.  It was also the middle of the snowiest winter we had had in a long time and medic hubby was gone 12-hour days, 5 days a week.  But we survived and in retro-spec I really can't remember it being that bad.  Less than a month ago we celebrated that newborn baby boy's 1st birthday. 

A few days ago I watched this now one year old playing in the bathtub.  He was splashing with reckless abandonment.  He was having the time of his life squealing with delight.  That was until it splashed right in his face, he paused to swipe his hand across his face and then went right back to splashing with everything he had.  I watched this happen not once but numerous times.  He did not let the water in the face ruin his fun of splashing, he kept on.

I couldn't help but think a little deeper on this.  How often have I dove in to something whole-hearted but as soon as a small obstacle arose or someone gave a discouraging word, I gave up.  Life is full of obstacles and pessimistic people.  I need to press on and fight a good fight.  I need not let a little water in the face ruin my dreams and my goals.  The revelations that come from such wee ones can be quite astounding. 

These wee ones are pure and unhindered in their thoughts and actions.  And the influence medic hubby and I have on their little lives is to be honest...scary.  The responsibility to love and teach them is one we do not take lightly.  But we take it one humble day at a time, for this is all we can do.

On a lighter note, a few nights ago I woke up at midnight to a crying 1 year old.  He has been working on his molars, so I went to him thinking I needed to just give him some tylenol and settle him down.  I discovered a sheet soaked with pee, which was very unusual.  I started to take him out of his drenched sleep sack and pajamas.  I couldn't feel a diaper on him in the dark...what, there is no way I forgot to put a diaper on him, I'm not that crazy.  His diaper (which was completely dry) was stuffed down into the one leg of his pajamas.  How in the world did that happen!?!

Little laugh:  When my sons were recently petting several very friendly sheep, one of the sheep put it's nose through the fence.  I look over to see my 1 year-old take a hold of the sheep by its nostrils.  Poor sheep...watch out for those toddlers!

Positive proverb:  "He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor."  Proverbs 21:21

Boys, Bathrooms & Birthdays

As many of you know I live with 3 boys; my husband and my two young sons.  This is quite a new experience for me.  I grew up in a house with 4 girls; where my dad was the outnumbered one.  Now that I find myself in the minority, it is a whole new world; especially in the bathroom.  Yuck!

My oldest son is fairly successfully potty-trained, accidents are now very few.  This in itself was quite the feat for me.  I mean potty-training one while the other toddles in behind you with his little hands touching everything.  Not to mention our bathroom is about 4 feet by 2 feet in size.  Now that he sits on the "big potty" to go, it is a little easier.  Anyone who has potty-trained a little boy understands the statement "make sure it is pointing down"!  You have to position little boys just right to make sure it actually makes it in to the toilet.  Just a few days ago, I sat him on and turned around to do something look back over and pee is shooting straight forward never even hitting the toilet!  Ugh, all this makes for a yucky bathroom.  I fear this is just the beginning with still having to teach standing and aiming and another to potty-train!

This is why I am so thankful for my husband!  I am going to refer to him in my blog as medic hubby.  I am reading a book where the author refers to her husband as "farmer husband" because they live on a farm.  I like it, so I have decided to call my husband medic hubby.  Although his profession does not solely define him; he has many talents, gifts and hobbies.  I could describe him as guitar playing, music singing, mountain biking, down-hill skiing, travel loving, Subaru driving, adrenaline seeking hubby (but that gets kind of long). 

So medic hubby kindly cleaned the bathroom for me this week.  I love him for this simple act of kindness.  Cleaning the bathroom is my most dreaded and put off task of the house.  Wow, those small things can be such a big blessing! 

Change of topics, yesterday was my birthday.  I had a wonderful birthday....I think the best in years.  We had no special plans for the day,  I wasn't sure if I would even have a cake.  But I was fine with that, I would have been fine with just happy birthday wishes from loved ones.  However, it turned out to be a birthday full of many small blessings and surprises!

It started off with sleeping in till 7:45, that never happens!  My husband arrived home having just worked 24 hours with a birthday cake & card in hand.  The cake even had my name on it and the card was beautiful with beautiful words and covered in glitter.  For you who know medic hubby this was a pure act of love to purchase a card with glitter on it.  Medic hubby hates glitter and usually won't touch it with a ten-foot pole.  I mean to read a glitter covered card in the store, purchase it  and write in it...this did not go unnoticed by me!  I then received a text from a friend offering to watch the boys so we could go out for lunch.  What a generous and kind birthday gift.  I showered and dressed wearing the special necklace another dear friend had given me the day before.  And then I had a peaceful lunch with medic hubby!  Later, we had a simple dinner of soup and then I got serenaded by medic hubby and two-year old, while one-year old eagerly reached squealing for the cake.  Then to top off my day I received a phone call from a dear friend in Peru, wishing me a happy birthday!

My birthday was not glamorous in any way, just simple and filled with small acts of kindness by friends and family.  The small blessings are what made it so wonderful!  I think I am finally learning to open my eyes and notice all the small details and blessings that life has to offer us.  I mean even the fact that I handed one-year old to medic hubby with a poopy diaper and he changed it without any complaints, made me happy.  Ahhh, the small blessings!

Little laugh:  I ran down in to the basement to put a load of laundry from the washing machine to the dryer.  I was gone 60 seconds max.  I come back up to find oldest son with the entire roll of toilet paper unwound streaming behind him and youngest son sitting on the bathroom floor pulling the tissues out of the box like he was a contestant on minute to win it! 

Positive proverb:  "A kindhearted woman gains respect" Proverbs 11:16a

Times of Transition

This past summer we moved from our 6 year old townhouse to a 150 year old stone home.  The process of putting our townhouse up for sale, showing it, negotiating, packing, finding a new home and moving is a lot for anyone.  Well then throw in a 3 month old baby, a two year old, a community yard sale, a vacation as it was going on the market and a vacation right before we moved.  That's how things tend to happen for our family full speed ahead with no looking back.

It all started with us deciding to sell our home and my brainy idea of having it ready to show and go on the market as we were headed on vacation for a week.  In theory this made sense, the house would not be lived in for a week and the realtor could schedule as many showings as possible.  Well in reality anyone who has gotten a baby and a toddler ready for an 18-hour road trip and a week long vacation, knows this was pure insanity. We survived and our house did have several showings that first week along with quite a few the following weeks. 

The other challenge was trying to keep a house ready to show at a moment's notice.  One particular instance that sticks out is the day I was getting things ready for our community yard sale.  I was feeling motivated and decided to bake a double batch of whoopie pies to also sell at the yard sale.  Halfway through the baking my oldest son came down with a fever and as I was rocking him he got sick and vomited.  I remember I was in the midst of cleaning up throw up, both boys were crying, the kitchen was a disaster and the phone rang and someone wanted to schedule a showing for later that day.  What else could I do but say yes. 

Then came the offer, the negotiations and settlement in 45 days. This was not much time to find a house.  We had talked this scenario over and decided if someone wanted a quick settlement we would rent for awhile.  Settlement date set, a rental property found we decided to go with the rest of my husband's family across the country to visit family.  This time we decided to fly, now I was trying to finish up house packing and packing suitcases for flying with a 6 month old and a 2 1/2 year old. We got back from vacation around 1a.m. on a Friday and starting moving later that day.

It's funny how life can take us through roller coaster rides of crazy times and then things can settle down into a relative new normal.  My favorite thing about our new home (though temporary it may be) is our giant back yard and beautiful view of farm fields.  I had never lived in a flat farm area before but I have learned to enjoy the mornings that I am up early and can sip a cup of coffee and watch the sun rise from my kitchen window.  I also love the fact that my boys now have a yard to run and play in.  We play outside as much as the weather allows and they love watching the tractors, farmers, cows, sheep and chickens that surround us.  It's the small things in life that can bring us much contentment and joy.

The fact that we are in transition has not been a hindrance to us.  Some people go crazy with worry of the unknown.  But not us, my husband and I both feel a sense of peace and that this is where we are meant to be whether it is a year or many years.  Time goes on and we enjoy each day we are given in our "new" house.

Little laugh:  We were recently waiting at the grocery store pharmacy as my son belted out the theme song for veggie tales in the confidence and self-assurance only a toddler can have.  I was slightly embarrassed until I noticed all of the smiles he was getting, even the pharmacist looked up from putting pills in bottles and gave a smile!

Positive proverb:  "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

The everydays

After a busy couple of weeks, I finally got to spend several mornings at home with my boys.  It's the everydays of life that sometimes bring us the greatest frustrations and stresses, but I believe these same everydays can bring us the greatest joy.

If you are a mother of young children you understand the luxury of an unhurried, uninterrupted shower.  Most mornings I rush through showering and dressing like I am part of a racing pit crew.  It is not unusual for one of my sons to be yelling and banging on the bathroom door.  I have learned to lock the door otherwise one of them will undoubtedly come in and rip the shower curtain wide open and stand there and stare at me. 

I also, often feel like a referee.  The days I'm home I usually spend the mornings intermittently playing with them, preparing food and doing household chores.  Somedays it seems like every 5 seconds one of them is screaming or crying.  We have been teaching my oldest son to share, no hitting, no pushing and etc.  He is beginning to grasp this (I think) but now comes the harder part of enforcing these same principles to his 12 month old brother.  And the playing field is beginning to level, our 12 month old weighs in at 22lb. while his 2 1/2 year old brother only weighs in at 27lb.

The other thing that tends to drive me crazy is the constant sticky, dirty floor under their chairs at the table.  I mop my kitchen floor once a week (before kids maybe 4 times a year) and it never fails as soon as it is mopped one of them will spill a cup of sticky apple juice everywhere.

But before this starts to sound like I am complaining and griping, let me assure you I am not.  I remember my years of aching to hold a child in my arms.  I constantly remind myself that there is no greater joy than rushing through a shower, refereeing little ones and mopping my kitchen floor.  No greater joy because the reason I have to do these things are the treasures of my heart.  They come from the little hands that reach up to me wanting to be held and snuggled, they come from the shrieks of laughter as I tickle them in their tickle spots, they come from the sweet "I love yous" and kisses I give and receive, they come from the tears I kiss away as only a mother can.  I assure you there is no greater joy in my life than these precious children of mine and I refuse to allow the doldrums of everyday to let me forget this!

Little laugh: I was playing with my son and he was giving me a pretend piece of pie, when I asked him what kind of pie it was, he replied "cutie pie"!

Postitve proverb:  "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."  Proverbs 4:23

Life is precious, life is sweet

"Life is precious, life is sweet, like the earth beneath my feet".  I heard this song by Wes King on the radio a few days ago and it popped into my head last night and keeps running through.

After an unexpected trip to the ER & hospital stay for my baby sister, this song seems appropriate.  I got to the ER about 2 hours after my younger sister had taken her.  Our parents away on vacation, the responsibility of our sweet sister fell on our shoulders, specifically mine I realized as the oldest child.  Both my sisters were being very strong and then the doctor came and not unkindly but not with the best timing or most compassion told her she had a blood clot in her arm. This being said promptly said another doctor would be in to see her and walked out of the room, all this while they were taking four viles of her blood.  Then the tears came, no one spoke it but we all knew what a blood clot could have lead to.  I mean at 20 years old you are not supposed to get blood clots, it is one of those rare side effects that is on the warning label of so many prescriptions.  I knew it was time for me to step up as the eldest, fill the motherly position in the absence of our mother.  

As we communicated back and forth with our parents as they were headed home, we assured them we would not leave her alone and take care of all the details.  This meant a long day of waiting to see the specialist to release her to go home.  She was very strong and brave throughout the whole thing, I am very proud of her.  Anyone who has been in the hospital themselves or with a family member understands that it feels like breaking out of jail when you finally get out of there.  We were told to wait for a volunteer to escort us out.  I'm not usually a rebel, I usually follow instructions obediently.  But after 5 minutes of waiting with no one in sight, we headed out.  I think we accidentally took an employee elevator because we ended up in the laundry room, but some kindhearted man walked us through a hallway and back to the main entrance.  Whoops, guess that's why you wait for an escort.

We are so thankful she is back home and on her way to recovery.  What a scare, that one hit too close to home.  It makes me think about how precious, sweet and fragile life really is.  Here are the rest of the lyrics from the chorus of that song:  

Life is precious, life is sweet
Like the earth beneath my feet
Though I know I'm passing through
I know I belong to You
Life is precious, life is sweet 
And this truth makes it complete
Knowing Jesus died for me
Life is precious
Life is precious, life is sweet

Now my own tears come as I write this and reflect on the last few days.  I am so grateful for the hope and joy that I have.

Little laugh:  My oldest son says of his younger brother "He is eating my teddy grahams"  No big deal, until I realize he is talking about his pretend teddy grahams made of green play-doh. 

Positive proverb:  "Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul & healthy for the body."  Proverbs 16:24