Tonight we visited a local park, which at this time of year is decked out with thousands of lights and displays. We wandered through the bright and dark night, chilly and charmed. Then we were passed up by two teenage guys. One of whom said,
"Dude, there are too many freakin' light things here!"
On their way back past us:
"I wish I was Jesus in here."
"Dude, why Jesus?"
"Because then I could make it WARM!"
Dude, you are SO going on my blog.
-- SJ
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
The Proper Education and Correction of Husbands
My sharp-eyed mother-in-law caught this authentic moment that shows the real story of my and Darren's marriage. Note Darren hanging his head sheepishly as Sara confesses his sins to him.
Actually, we were discussing plans and Darren was listening to my suggestions. But that's not as funny.
Actually, we were discussing plans and Darren was listening to my suggestions. But that's not as funny.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas Eve Sermon
Merry Christmas, everyone!
This is the sermon I preached last night at our church's Christmas Eve service. I was happy with how it turned out.
The readings were Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98, Hebrews 1:1-12, and John 1:1-14.
Today, God has done a new thing.
In the past, He revealed Himself to a select group of chosen people. He revealed Himself through prophets, who brought His word to unlistening and hostile men. To a lucky few, He sent his messengers, flames of fire, the burning seraphim and quick-winged archangels. He accepted the mediation of priests, all descendants of one weak and wavering man. He set up a line of kings to reveal His glorious majesty, and with few exceptions, those kings revealed instead the frailty of unredeemed mankind.
Because we live in a fallen world. A world that is wracked by war. An earth that is deeply entrenched in sin. A culture that despises life, while at the same time clutches desperately to faded youth.
And this world cries out for good news. We long to hear the shout of the watchman, the messengers who tell of hope and the coming restoration of all things.
Today, God has done a new thing.
God lies in a manger, in a dirty cave used as a stable, in an obscure little town in a hicktown province of the Roman Empire.
This little baby, only minutes old, set all Time into place. No longer is the revelation of God confined to one lone race. All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
This infant is The Prophet. Not only does He bring the word of God to man, but He is the Word. The eternal Word. The Divine Word. The Word spoken at the beginning of creation, through which all things were made, now cries with tiny lungs.
Today, God has done a new thing.
This baby is The Priest. Before, the priests of the line of Aaron were men – fallible and frail, yet mediators between God and man, standing as a thin and imperfect bulwark between sinners and the loving might of a holy God. Now, God Himself is the mediator. Perfect man, immortal God, offering Himself as the one sacrifice sufficient to purge us from our sins – and not ours only, but the sins of the whole world.
This baby is The King. Born of David’s line, He who is David’s Lord now rules the universe from his straw-lined bed. The representation of the majesty of God no longer is limited to human potentates, because He who contains the brightness of the glory of God and is the express image of God, Who upholds all things by the word of His power, is now among us.
Today, God has done a new thing.
The Virgin has been with child and has been delivered of a boy. Our elder brothers, the angels, now bow to worship Him who first set them alight with the fire of His presence. The creatures committed to our care, who have served so long with so little thanks, are among the first to lay eyes upon the Creator, as ox, ass, and sheep surround His cradle.
Today, God has done a new thing.
The judge of the world has now become its advocate. He who by right could cast the first stone, instead reaches out to us with hands of forgiveness and grace. He who is the sinned-against of every one of our petty meannesses, rather than responding in kind, has become our redeemer.
Because the wood of the manger trough that holds a baby is the wood that will hold a dying man 33 years later. The hands that now clench into tiny fists will one day clench around cruel iron spikes. The infant Yeshua bar-Joseph will be rejected in favor of a murderer Joseph Barabbas. And all for love of a world that refuses to receive Him.
Today, God is doing a new thing.
He has made a way for us to become as little children, to become sons and daughters of the heavenly King. We can be born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
This is the message of Christmas. Because of the baby in a manger, we can be washed as clean as a newborn baby, to be accepted as an innocent and holy child of God. On this Christmas, as we kneel at the altar to receive in our mouths the Incarnate Word, let us remember that we have come together in the presence of Almighty God our heavenly Father, to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear His holy Word, and to ask, for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things that are necessary for our life and our salvation. And so that we may prepare ourselves in heart and mind to worship him, let us kneel in silence, and with penitent and obedient hearts confess our sins, that we may obtain forgiveness by his infinite goodness and mercy.
Today, God can do a new thing in your life, if you but ask.
He will forgive you, He will pardon you, and He will give you the power to become a child of God, living a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of His holy Name.
And so, on the Eve of this great Feast of the Incarnation, the night we celebrate new birth, let this Holy Communion be for you a new start. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Merry Christmas!
This is the sermon I preached last night at our church's Christmas Eve service. I was happy with how it turned out.
The readings were Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98, Hebrews 1:1-12, and John 1:1-14.
Today, God has done a new thing.
In the past, He revealed Himself to a select group of chosen people. He revealed Himself through prophets, who brought His word to unlistening and hostile men. To a lucky few, He sent his messengers, flames of fire, the burning seraphim and quick-winged archangels. He accepted the mediation of priests, all descendants of one weak and wavering man. He set up a line of kings to reveal His glorious majesty, and with few exceptions, those kings revealed instead the frailty of unredeemed mankind.
Because we live in a fallen world. A world that is wracked by war. An earth that is deeply entrenched in sin. A culture that despises life, while at the same time clutches desperately to faded youth.
And this world cries out for good news. We long to hear the shout of the watchman, the messengers who tell of hope and the coming restoration of all things.
Today, God has done a new thing.
God lies in a manger, in a dirty cave used as a stable, in an obscure little town in a hicktown province of the Roman Empire.
This little baby, only minutes old, set all Time into place. No longer is the revelation of God confined to one lone race. All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
This infant is The Prophet. Not only does He bring the word of God to man, but He is the Word. The eternal Word. The Divine Word. The Word spoken at the beginning of creation, through which all things were made, now cries with tiny lungs.
Today, God has done a new thing.
This baby is The Priest. Before, the priests of the line of Aaron were men – fallible and frail, yet mediators between God and man, standing as a thin and imperfect bulwark between sinners and the loving might of a holy God. Now, God Himself is the mediator. Perfect man, immortal God, offering Himself as the one sacrifice sufficient to purge us from our sins – and not ours only, but the sins of the whole world.
This baby is The King. Born of David’s line, He who is David’s Lord now rules the universe from his straw-lined bed. The representation of the majesty of God no longer is limited to human potentates, because He who contains the brightness of the glory of God and is the express image of God, Who upholds all things by the word of His power, is now among us.
Today, God has done a new thing.
The Virgin has been with child and has been delivered of a boy. Our elder brothers, the angels, now bow to worship Him who first set them alight with the fire of His presence. The creatures committed to our care, who have served so long with so little thanks, are among the first to lay eyes upon the Creator, as ox, ass, and sheep surround His cradle.
Today, God has done a new thing.
The judge of the world has now become its advocate. He who by right could cast the first stone, instead reaches out to us with hands of forgiveness and grace. He who is the sinned-against of every one of our petty meannesses, rather than responding in kind, has become our redeemer.
Because the wood of the manger trough that holds a baby is the wood that will hold a dying man 33 years later. The hands that now clench into tiny fists will one day clench around cruel iron spikes. The infant Yeshua bar-Joseph will be rejected in favor of a murderer Joseph Barabbas. And all for love of a world that refuses to receive Him.
Today, God is doing a new thing.
He has made a way for us to become as little children, to become sons and daughters of the heavenly King. We can be born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
This is the message of Christmas. Because of the baby in a manger, we can be washed as clean as a newborn baby, to be accepted as an innocent and holy child of God. On this Christmas, as we kneel at the altar to receive in our mouths the Incarnate Word, let us remember that we have come together in the presence of Almighty God our heavenly Father, to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear His holy Word, and to ask, for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things that are necessary for our life and our salvation. And so that we may prepare ourselves in heart and mind to worship him, let us kneel in silence, and with penitent and obedient hearts confess our sins, that we may obtain forgiveness by his infinite goodness and mercy.
Today, God can do a new thing in your life, if you but ask.
He will forgive you, He will pardon you, and He will give you the power to become a child of God, living a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of His holy Name.
And so, on the Eve of this great Feast of the Incarnation, the night we celebrate new birth, let this Holy Communion be for you a new start. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Love, Sara
Dear anonymous blogger,
I completely stole your idea for this post.
Love, Sara.
***
Dear Dreams,
If you're going to give a motorcycle at night, can you provide one that goes faster than 15 mph? Also, can you find one that doesn't require me to pedal to get it started?
Love, Sara.
***
Dear House Fairies,
You're doing a fantastic job with the house this week. The school desk, the hutch, and the playroom are amazing. Why do you keep my house clean only when my mother or mother-in-law is visiting, but never when it's just me? I don't understand.
Love, Sara.
***
Dear Christmas Card Senders,
We've run out of room to put up Christmas cards. We got seven yesterday and I don't have anywhere to hang them. That makes me very happy. Thank you.
Love, Sara.
***
Dear Dreams,
If you're going to create a scenerio in which one of my best friends makes a dish called "Deja Vu Stew," which features snake meat, could you at least make her NOT LIKE the snake meat?
Love, Sara.
***
Dear Puddles,
When you jump into my bed in the morning and settle down on my tummy and purr, it makes me want to feed you extra food. Good kitty.
Love, Sara.
***
Dear Addie,
Good job, introducing your grandma to the handyman! Note: it is not necessary to add details such as, "She doesn't have a man with her because she's a widow."
Love, Mama.
***
Dear Shadowy Personally-Unknown Homeschool-Hating Public School Officials:
My six-year-old admitted to breaking something of mine by saying, "Mea culpa," translating it for me as "my fault," which he got from a book. Which I think is not so bad for a six-year-old even if he does take only an hour to do his entire school every day, which we're not even doing this week. So there.
Sincerely, Sara.
***
Dear Stuart,
When you step on my display of honeymoon souvenirs and almost break it, the best thing to do is look very penitent and say something like, "Mea culpa," because then it's hard for me to be mad.
Love, Mama.
***
Dear y'all,
Christmas is coming! Yay!
-- SJ
I completely stole your idea for this post.
Love, Sara.
***
Dear Dreams,
If you're going to give a motorcycle at night, can you provide one that goes faster than 15 mph? Also, can you find one that doesn't require me to pedal to get it started?
Love, Sara.
***
Dear House Fairies,
You're doing a fantastic job with the house this week. The school desk, the hutch, and the playroom are amazing. Why do you keep my house clean only when my mother or mother-in-law is visiting, but never when it's just me? I don't understand.
Love, Sara.
***
Dear Christmas Card Senders,
We've run out of room to put up Christmas cards. We got seven yesterday and I don't have anywhere to hang them. That makes me very happy. Thank you.
Love, Sara.
***
Dear Dreams,
If you're going to create a scenerio in which one of my best friends makes a dish called "Deja Vu Stew," which features snake meat, could you at least make her NOT LIKE the snake meat?
Love, Sara.
***
Dear Puddles,
When you jump into my bed in the morning and settle down on my tummy and purr, it makes me want to feed you extra food. Good kitty.
Love, Sara.
***
Dear Addie,
Good job, introducing your grandma to the handyman! Note: it is not necessary to add details such as, "She doesn't have a man with her because she's a widow."
Love, Mama.
***
Dear Shadowy Personally-Unknown Homeschool-Hating Public School Officials:
My six-year-old admitted to breaking something of mine by saying, "Mea culpa," translating it for me as "my fault," which he got from a book. Which I think is not so bad for a six-year-old even if he does take only an hour to do his entire school every day, which we're not even doing this week. So there.
Sincerely, Sara.
***
Dear Stuart,
When you step on my display of honeymoon souvenirs and almost break it, the best thing to do is look very penitent and say something like, "Mea culpa," because then it's hard for me to be mad.
Love, Mama.
***
Dear y'all,
Christmas is coming! Yay!
-- SJ
Friday, December 19, 2008
Excerpts
So what is a "Tale from the Creekbank," anyway? I started writing them so I could catch Darren as my husband. It worked brilliantly!!
Okay. How about we start over here? While I was away putting the children to bed with sweet bedtime stories of my childhood, Darren co-opted my blog post.
What I was GOING to say was that I started writing them so I could record family stories. The thing is, with families, the stories don't stop happening. The Creekbanks turned into a mixture of memoir and current events of family adventures, life in a small town, and crowd-pleasing discussions of why the South is such a great place to live. All of the stories are true and most of them are decidedly wacky.
(I was already writing them by the time I started sending them to Darren, but it's true that the stories certainly didn't hurt my chances with him.)
Following are two excerpts: the first is one of Darren's favorite stories, the second one of my favorites.
The Brief Career of
Dressy Bessie
My sister Rosemary is forever bringing home new – or nearly new – bargains that we don’t realize we need until she brings them home. One of her most entertaining purchases was something she and Mom came across in a Goodwill store: an adjustable dress-form to use for sizing and sewing.
They hauled it home. Rosemary immediately picked up work on the dress she’d begun five months before. She set the dress-form up on a chair and slipped the dress over it. The dress-form looked so eerily lifelike – in a legless, armless sort of way – that we decided to name it. It was christened Dressy Bessie.
Dressy Bessie worked hard as a model. Her only problem was that her center supporting rod tended to give way now and then, dropping her height several inches without warning. Generally, though, she served her purpose well.
Then she became discontented with her domestic life. She decided to embark on a stage career.
Her first appearance was simple, but effective. I walked into the family room one day to find a headless, armless figure sitting at the computer. I jumped visibly. The debut was a success.
It is against human nature, especially if the human is a Roberts, to allow anyone to be more clever than you. One morning a few days later, Rosemary stepped out of her room and shrieked. Somehow Bessie had found her way upstairs and was waiting just outside Rosemary’s door. I said that Bessie was just being sociable. She’d even put on a long-sleeved shirt to give the appearance of arms.
After that, Bessie’s career skyrocketed. She was booked for appearances in every room in the house. ...
***
From Sadie Rides Again! (Sort Of)
[My yellow Mercedes, Sadie] was in good spirits as I drove her around town the next week. The speedometer still didn’t work, but I did replace the fuse for the fuel gauge. It was satisfying to watch the needle rise slowly and stop at the Full mark (“4/4” on my gauge). I’d made sure I’d filled her tank as soon as I went over town the first morning after her recover. I learned my lesson last time: I wasn’t going to be caught helpless and stranded once again.
I would like to take this opportunity to say that just because I was sitting on the curb at the library two days later, waiting for someone to change the flat tire on my yellow car, I was not helpless and stranded. I was perfectly capable of walking over to the nearby service station for help. And as for being stranded, I could have called home for a ride, or even flagged down Tammy McLendon twice if I’d wanted to.
The flat tire was first introduced to me by my friend Jairus, whom I encountered in the library. He informed me pleasantly that the right front tire on my car was flat. I went out and examined it, and then I called home.
"Mom, Sadie’s tire is pretty flat. Do you think I ought to drive over to the station?"
Mom asked, "How flat is 'pretty flat'?"
"Well, it’s not as flat as it could be, I suppose, but it’s certainly flat."
That was the sort of answer that would have put my stepfather in a bad mood. Mom wasn’t very impressed either. "I don’t think you should drive on it. You’ll ruin the wheel. Just walk over to the station and ask them if they can change it."
So I did. I didn’t seem to make much headway at first.
"You’re asking the wrong person," said the helpful mechanic. "You need to ask some good-looking, single guy to change your tire."
I pointed out the flaw in his otherwise sound scheme, namely that good-looking, single guys were scarce in the library parking lot that day. After several more suggestions along the same lines, Mr. Will finally agreed to change the tire.
Now, changing a tire is a simple enough operation. I could do it myself, if I had the equipment and absolutely no way to get someone else to do it for me. But experience has taught me that nothing involving Sadie is as simple as it ought to be.
"Do you have a spare tire?" he asked.
"No, sir, I don’t think so."
"Do you have a jack and a lugwrench?"
"Well. . .I don’t think so. I mean, there might be one in the trunk, but I don’t know for sure."
"Why didn’t you look in the trunk?"
"The trunk won’t open. It’s jammed."
I climbed into the truck while he loaded the lugwrench and the jack, and we drove over to the library, where Sadie waited patiently as she leaned rather heavily on her right front tire.
Then began the process of changing the tire, an episode fraught with uncertainty.
The lugwrench didn’t fit the lugnuts on Sadie’s tire. We thought that maybe the right-sized wrench would be in Sadie’s trunk. And, indeed, one may be. There may be a body in that trunk for all I know. We certainly couldn’t get it open to see. ...
***
The rest of the story... and more! now printed, bound, and ready to be sent out! Email me.
-- SJ
Okay. How about we start over here? While I was away putting the children to bed with sweet bedtime stories of my childhood, Darren co-opted my blog post.
What I was GOING to say was that I started writing them so I could record family stories. The thing is, with families, the stories don't stop happening. The Creekbanks turned into a mixture of memoir and current events of family adventures, life in a small town, and crowd-pleasing discussions of why the South is such a great place to live. All of the stories are true and most of them are decidedly wacky.
(I was already writing them by the time I started sending them to Darren, but it's true that the stories certainly didn't hurt my chances with him.)
Following are two excerpts: the first is one of Darren's favorite stories, the second one of my favorites.
The Brief Career of
Dressy Bessie
My sister Rosemary is forever bringing home new – or nearly new – bargains that we don’t realize we need until she brings them home. One of her most entertaining purchases was something she and Mom came across in a Goodwill store: an adjustable dress-form to use for sizing and sewing.
They hauled it home. Rosemary immediately picked up work on the dress she’d begun five months before. She set the dress-form up on a chair and slipped the dress over it. The dress-form looked so eerily lifelike – in a legless, armless sort of way – that we decided to name it. It was christened Dressy Bessie.
Dressy Bessie worked hard as a model. Her only problem was that her center supporting rod tended to give way now and then, dropping her height several inches without warning. Generally, though, she served her purpose well.
Then she became discontented with her domestic life. She decided to embark on a stage career.
Her first appearance was simple, but effective. I walked into the family room one day to find a headless, armless figure sitting at the computer. I jumped visibly. The debut was a success.
It is against human nature, especially if the human is a Roberts, to allow anyone to be more clever than you. One morning a few days later, Rosemary stepped out of her room and shrieked. Somehow Bessie had found her way upstairs and was waiting just outside Rosemary’s door. I said that Bessie was just being sociable. She’d even put on a long-sleeved shirt to give the appearance of arms.
After that, Bessie’s career skyrocketed. She was booked for appearances in every room in the house. ...
***
From Sadie Rides Again! (Sort Of)
[My yellow Mercedes, Sadie] was in good spirits as I drove her around town the next week. The speedometer still didn’t work, but I did replace the fuse for the fuel gauge. It was satisfying to watch the needle rise slowly and stop at the Full mark (“4/4” on my gauge). I’d made sure I’d filled her tank as soon as I went over town the first morning after her recover. I learned my lesson last time: I wasn’t going to be caught helpless and stranded once again.
I would like to take this opportunity to say that just because I was sitting on the curb at the library two days later, waiting for someone to change the flat tire on my yellow car, I was not helpless and stranded. I was perfectly capable of walking over to the nearby service station for help. And as for being stranded, I could have called home for a ride, or even flagged down Tammy McLendon twice if I’d wanted to.
The flat tire was first introduced to me by my friend Jairus, whom I encountered in the library. He informed me pleasantly that the right front tire on my car was flat. I went out and examined it, and then I called home.
"Mom, Sadie’s tire is pretty flat. Do you think I ought to drive over to the station?"
Mom asked, "How flat is 'pretty flat'?"
"Well, it’s not as flat as it could be, I suppose, but it’s certainly flat."
That was the sort of answer that would have put my stepfather in a bad mood. Mom wasn’t very impressed either. "I don’t think you should drive on it. You’ll ruin the wheel. Just walk over to the station and ask them if they can change it."
So I did. I didn’t seem to make much headway at first.
"You’re asking the wrong person," said the helpful mechanic. "You need to ask some good-looking, single guy to change your tire."
I pointed out the flaw in his otherwise sound scheme, namely that good-looking, single guys were scarce in the library parking lot that day. After several more suggestions along the same lines, Mr. Will finally agreed to change the tire.
Now, changing a tire is a simple enough operation. I could do it myself, if I had the equipment and absolutely no way to get someone else to do it for me. But experience has taught me that nothing involving Sadie is as simple as it ought to be.
"Do you have a spare tire?" he asked.
"No, sir, I don’t think so."
"Do you have a jack and a lugwrench?"
"Well. . .I don’t think so. I mean, there might be one in the trunk, but I don’t know for sure."
"Why didn’t you look in the trunk?"
"The trunk won’t open. It’s jammed."
I climbed into the truck while he loaded the lugwrench and the jack, and we drove over to the library, where Sadie waited patiently as she leaned rather heavily on her right front tire.
Then began the process of changing the tire, an episode fraught with uncertainty.
The lugwrench didn’t fit the lugnuts on Sadie’s tire. We thought that maybe the right-sized wrench would be in Sadie’s trunk. And, indeed, one may be. There may be a body in that trunk for all I know. We certainly couldn’t get it open to see. ...
***
The rest of the story... and more! now printed, bound, and ready to be sent out! Email me.
-- SJ
7 Quick Takes
1. Last night I had at least three ideas to include in a Quick Takes post, which is why I decided to do it this morning. This morning I've forgotten everything I was going to include last night. Just know that the items were interesting, thought-provoking, and amusing.
2. Stuart, looking over the Christmas presents underneath the tree: "If one of the presents isn't on the rug under the tree, then we can open those, right?"
3. We went "Christmas Riding" last night, driving around looking at lights. There seem to be more decorations this year than in past years. Our neighborhood alone looks very festive. Our own personal yard looks... well, we got SOMETHING up, anyway.
4. We love getting Christmas cards. We hang them up around the doorway between the living room and dining room. Checking the mail is the best thing during Christmas.
5. I was reading an article recently that encouraged neat households (this was in Keepers At Home). I agreed with the gist of the article: keeping the house neat is important to household harmony. What I did not agree with was how the author, in her zeal to find Biblical support for her idea (because all good ideas have specific Biblical support, you know), used verses like, "Let all things be done decently and in order." That verse refers to church services, not housework. And then there was "Her husband may safely trust in her," from Proverbs 31, which the author applied to mean that he can find what he needs because he knows she'll put it back where it goes. That one made me shriek out loud. I grew up with lots of Biblical "interpretation" like this, and I hate it. Darren hates it when I read articles like this.
6. My mom arrives tomorrow for a two-week visit. We are excited.
7. I got a book-on-CD from the library for the kids. It's a two-disk collection of an Encyclopedia Brown book. Addie listened to it about six times yesterday, and I hung around every now and then to catch the stories. I never get tired of them. You did grow up reading Encyclopedia Brown, right? If not, then it's pretty much your duty as a parent to introduce them to your children. Encyclopedia solves crimes by listening and questioning, something all children need to know because as the Bible says, "The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him."
More at Conversion Diary.
-- SJ
2. Stuart, looking over the Christmas presents underneath the tree: "If one of the presents isn't on the rug under the tree, then we can open those, right?"
3. We went "Christmas Riding" last night, driving around looking at lights. There seem to be more decorations this year than in past years. Our neighborhood alone looks very festive. Our own personal yard looks... well, we got SOMETHING up, anyway.
4. We love getting Christmas cards. We hang them up around the doorway between the living room and dining room. Checking the mail is the best thing during Christmas.
5. I was reading an article recently that encouraged neat households (this was in Keepers At Home). I agreed with the gist of the article: keeping the house neat is important to household harmony. What I did not agree with was how the author, in her zeal to find Biblical support for her idea (because all good ideas have specific Biblical support, you know), used verses like, "Let all things be done decently and in order." That verse refers to church services, not housework. And then there was "Her husband may safely trust in her," from Proverbs 31, which the author applied to mean that he can find what he needs because he knows she'll put it back where it goes. That one made me shriek out loud. I grew up with lots of Biblical "interpretation" like this, and I hate it. Darren hates it when I read articles like this.
6. My mom arrives tomorrow for a two-week visit. We are excited.
7. I got a book-on-CD from the library for the kids. It's a two-disk collection of an Encyclopedia Brown book. Addie listened to it about six times yesterday, and I hung around every now and then to catch the stories. I never get tired of them. You did grow up reading Encyclopedia Brown, right? If not, then it's pretty much your duty as a parent to introduce them to your children. Encyclopedia solves crimes by listening and questioning, something all children need to know because as the Bible says, "The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him."
More at Conversion Diary.
-- SJ
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
A Little Story
This excerpt is from my and Darren's early-email files. For background, there are annual homeschool conferences in most states during the spring, and HSLDA always sends people to run a table in the curriculum hall. After he met me, Darren always volunteered for the Mississippi conference -- there was, after all, a good chance that I'd be there. Did I make this connection? No. Did my mother? Yes.
In 1999, about six months before Darren wrote to ask to court me, I was at the Mississippi conference helping with the children's program. It was run that year by the Dentons, an a capella quartet and comedy act who were then at the peak of their ATI superstardom.
Darren was less than entranced:
***
I will close with a little story [he wrote].
When I went down to Mississippi for the last conference, I really didn't care how many books I sold or what kind of advice I gave to people. In my mind, there was only one reason for going down, and that was To See Sara. I got there the day before the conference and set up (the job of only a few minutes, as I was rather in a hurry). I then asked directions to the children's part of the conference, intimating that I would mosey over there to see if any of my friends were there. I was kindly directed to the correct building. When I entered (nervously, lest I should actually bump into you), I came in and was greeted by the sight of the backs of heads, all facing toward a Denton, who was giving instructions.
Not having much experience with Dentons in full cry, I took a seat in back and determined to wait until he was finished. Searching the assembled heads to find the one I was looking for was not difficult, and I kept on hoping you would turn around (which never happened). I waited for the Denton to finish, thinking I could wander innocently up to the second row and say hello. By the time 15 minutes had gone by, I was waiting for him to merely pause. When a half hour had passed, I was hoping for him to take a breath. After 45 minutes, I had abandoned all hope of getting to visit with you that day and scuttled off back to my sales table.
All of which is why, when you and Rosemary came by later during the conference, I was Very Glad to see you.
***
-- DJ (and SJ)
In 1999, about six months before Darren wrote to ask to court me, I was at the Mississippi conference helping with the children's program. It was run that year by the Dentons, an a capella quartet and comedy act who were then at the peak of their ATI superstardom.
Darren was less than entranced:
***
I will close with a little story [he wrote].
When I went down to Mississippi for the last conference, I really didn't care how many books I sold or what kind of advice I gave to people. In my mind, there was only one reason for going down, and that was To See Sara. I got there the day before the conference and set up (the job of only a few minutes, as I was rather in a hurry). I then asked directions to the children's part of the conference, intimating that I would mosey over there to see if any of my friends were there. I was kindly directed to the correct building. When I entered (nervously, lest I should actually bump into you), I came in and was greeted by the sight of the backs of heads, all facing toward a Denton, who was giving instructions.
Not having much experience with Dentons in full cry, I took a seat in back and determined to wait until he was finished. Searching the assembled heads to find the one I was looking for was not difficult, and I kept on hoping you would turn around (which never happened). I waited for the Denton to finish, thinking I could wander innocently up to the second row and say hello. By the time 15 minutes had gone by, I was waiting for him to merely pause. When a half hour had passed, I was hoping for him to take a breath. After 45 minutes, I had abandoned all hope of getting to visit with you that day and scuttled off back to my sales table.
All of which is why, when you and Rosemary came by later during the conference, I was Very Glad to see you.
***
-- DJ (and SJ)
What We Think -- "Thirteen Orphans"
Darren brought home Thirteen Orphans by Jane Lindskold, saying that it looked interesting. Now, you have to understand that what Darren brings home as "looking interesting" includes books like this and this. So I don't exactly tackle him at the door to see his latest choice.
But this one really did look interesting. The premise is that there are twelve people in our world who have inherited special abilities from their ancestors in a separate world. The abilities correspond to the twelve Chinese zodiacal symbols. The thirteenth "orphan" is the descendant of the emperor whom they were charged to protect. By this time many of the orphans don't even realize who they are, and it wouldn't really matter... except that someone, somehow, is going to each one and stealing his or her memories and abilities.
The story isn't predictable, but it doesn't try too hard to twist itself into something exciting. The magic and Chinese folklore are interesting enough: the author wisely avoids any comic-book banter and action. What I mostly enjoyed about the book is the author's treatment of her characters: they're so REASONABLE. If they're thrown into the middle of a puzzling and alarming situation, and have hundreds of questions that can't be answered immediately, they -- get this -- wait patiently until there's time to talk. If one is assigned to lead a spell and the other support, the supporter might feel envious for a moment, but then realize that she can live with the arrangement. They don't snipe and sulk and fight, instead focusing on the danger and how to deal with it. You find yourself enjoying their company, instead of wishing that you and the author could go take a walk and leave the characters to themselves for while.
The only drawback to this otherwise excellent read is that it's -- darn it! -- the first of a series. Furthermore, the second book isn't published yet. Seeing how I hate getting caught up in a series, I can hope that the next book Darren comes home with will be something like this.
-- SJ
But this one really did look interesting. The premise is that there are twelve people in our world who have inherited special abilities from their ancestors in a separate world. The abilities correspond to the twelve Chinese zodiacal symbols. The thirteenth "orphan" is the descendant of the emperor whom they were charged to protect. By this time many of the orphans don't even realize who they are, and it wouldn't really matter... except that someone, somehow, is going to each one and stealing his or her memories and abilities.
The story isn't predictable, but it doesn't try too hard to twist itself into something exciting. The magic and Chinese folklore are interesting enough: the author wisely avoids any comic-book banter and action. What I mostly enjoyed about the book is the author's treatment of her characters: they're so REASONABLE. If they're thrown into the middle of a puzzling and alarming situation, and have hundreds of questions that can't be answered immediately, they -- get this -- wait patiently until there's time to talk. If one is assigned to lead a spell and the other support, the supporter might feel envious for a moment, but then realize that she can live with the arrangement. They don't snipe and sulk and fight, instead focusing on the danger and how to deal with it. You find yourself enjoying their company, instead of wishing that you and the author could go take a walk and leave the characters to themselves for while.
The only drawback to this otherwise excellent read is that it's -- darn it! -- the first of a series. Furthermore, the second book isn't published yet. Seeing how I hate getting caught up in a series, I can hope that the next book Darren comes home with will be something like this.
-- SJ
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Creekbank Stories - NOW AVAILABLE
I've just come home with a box full of Tales from the Creekbank, Vol. II. (Vol. I will be printed and bound next week.) Most of the copies are going South... not figuratively, we hope... to be sold in my family's restaurant. But if you want a booklet, either leave a comment or email me and I'll put back a copy for you.
For those who didn't follow my Creekbanks back when, these are stories I wrote for my local newspaper several years ago. They're mostly about my family, my car, and my hometown. The collection includes our courtship story (part one, part two, and part three) and my pea-picking story.
The booklets are $7.00 each or $12.00 for both. Quantities are, of course, limited!
-- SJ
Friday, December 12, 2008
7 Quick Takes Friday
1. Daphne: "It's cold out there!"
Me: "Yes, it is."
Daphne: "I was talking to Puddles!"
Me: "Oh."
Daphne: "You said, 'Oh.' You said, 'Oh,' Mama? You said 'Oh.'"
Me: "YES!"
Daphne: "Please stop it saying YES!"
Conversations with Daphne are articulate but monotonous.
2. Tonight is the HSLDA Christmas party, and I get to attend for the first time in three or four years. I bought my dress two and a half months ago, before the advent of Baby. It's a cute black-and-white polka dotted knee-length high-waisted thing (the dress, not Baby). For the past three weeks I've been trying it on periodically to make sure I still fit in it. I do, but I sure do fill it out.
3. Stuart doesn't like doing school. It's boring and he hates it, he says. So when I announce, "School in ten minutes!" Stuart puts on his Defiance Hat. He marches to the school desk, grabs his math book, and does three pages before it's even time to start. So there.
4. We're putting up our Christmas tree tomorrow. Well, Darren and the kids will put it up and decorate it: I'll make cheese straws. My grandma made them every year. She died seven years ago, so now it's special to take out the recipe in her handwriting and make her cheese straws.
5. Last night, Darren and I read through our early-courtship emails together. It's the only time I've ever gotten multiple-page emails from him. At the time we were writing the emails, Darren and I weren't telling many people about our situation. We didn't want the word getting out that Sara and Darren Are Courting! only to have to go back and say that Actually We Decided Not To. Hence the following conversation with my sisters:
Rosemary: "You need to tell Jenna that Darren is coming to visit." [My friend Jenna worked with Darren, and Rosemary was buying a violin from her.]
Sara: "I don't want to tell Jenna yet." [Partly on principle, and partly because I knew Jenna was going to say, 'I TOLD you he was interested in you!']
Rosemary: "I really think you need to tell her. Because then she can give her violin to Darren, and he can bring it down with him. It would save on shipping and besides, it's great timing. Darren's first visit, he wants to make a good impression -- it would look really good if he brought the violin for me."
Lauren: "I think Darren should bring gifts for the whole family."
Sara: "I don't want to tell many people. I don't want the word to get out yet."
Lauren: "Just tell Jenna that if you can trace the news back to her, Rose won't send money for the violin."
I think, in the end, I did tell Jenna and Darren did bring the violin down, and Jenna did say "I TOLD you so!" She also kept the secret.
6. Do you know what's worse than hearing the same kids' Christmas album over and over? Hearing it over and over in two places at once: on the computer in the living room, and the actual CD in Addie's room. PLUS, Addie's CD was one stanza behind the computer.
7. I'm not very good at "quick" takes.
More at Conversion Diary.
-- SJ
Me: "Yes, it is."
Daphne: "I was talking to Puddles!"
Me: "Oh."
Daphne: "You said, 'Oh.' You said, 'Oh,' Mama? You said 'Oh.'"
Me: "YES!"
Daphne: "Please stop it saying YES!"
Conversations with Daphne are articulate but monotonous.
2. Tonight is the HSLDA Christmas party, and I get to attend for the first time in three or four years. I bought my dress two and a half months ago, before the advent of Baby. It's a cute black-and-white polka dotted knee-length high-waisted thing (the dress, not Baby). For the past three weeks I've been trying it on periodically to make sure I still fit in it. I do, but I sure do fill it out.
3. Stuart doesn't like doing school. It's boring and he hates it, he says. So when I announce, "School in ten minutes!" Stuart puts on his Defiance Hat. He marches to the school desk, grabs his math book, and does three pages before it's even time to start. So there.
4. We're putting up our Christmas tree tomorrow. Well, Darren and the kids will put it up and decorate it: I'll make cheese straws. My grandma made them every year. She died seven years ago, so now it's special to take out the recipe in her handwriting and make her cheese straws.
5. Last night, Darren and I read through our early-courtship emails together. It's the only time I've ever gotten multiple-page emails from him. At the time we were writing the emails, Darren and I weren't telling many people about our situation. We didn't want the word getting out that Sara and Darren Are Courting! only to have to go back and say that Actually We Decided Not To. Hence the following conversation with my sisters:
Rosemary: "You need to tell Jenna that Darren is coming to visit." [My friend Jenna worked with Darren, and Rosemary was buying a violin from her.]
Sara: "I don't want to tell Jenna yet." [Partly on principle, and partly because I knew Jenna was going to say, 'I TOLD you he was interested in you!']
Rosemary: "I really think you need to tell her. Because then she can give her violin to Darren, and he can bring it down with him. It would save on shipping and besides, it's great timing. Darren's first visit, he wants to make a good impression -- it would look really good if he brought the violin for me."
Lauren: "I think Darren should bring gifts for the whole family."
Sara: "I don't want to tell many people. I don't want the word to get out yet."
Lauren: "Just tell Jenna that if you can trace the news back to her, Rose won't send money for the violin."
I think, in the end, I did tell Jenna and Darren did bring the violin down, and Jenna did say "I TOLD you so!" She also kept the secret.
6. Do you know what's worse than hearing the same kids' Christmas album over and over? Hearing it over and over in two places at once: on the computer in the living room, and the actual CD in Addie's room. PLUS, Addie's CD was one stanza behind the computer.
7. I'm not very good at "quick" takes.
More at Conversion Diary.
-- SJ
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Science in Small Doses
(And then there was the grey, rainy day when the only thing interesting to do was write new blog posts.)
I pulled this book off the library shelf a few weeks ago. (It's overdue now, of course.) I left it for Addie to read, and only just now picked it up myself. It's turned out to be an amusing way to pass a rainy afternoon, in between blog posting.
Marvels of Science: 50 Fascinating 5-Minute Reads by Kendall Haven is a collection of stories explaining how many inventions and discoveries came about. The author takes poetic license with the characters, attributing dialogue, personality, and even the occasional "sparkling blue eyes" to spice up the stories. But he does a good job of explaining why the discoveries were important. The book includes many of the classic inventions and discoveries: radium, X-rays, telegraph, Vulcanized rubber, Silly Putty, and Post-It Notes.
It's a fun read, and also confirms what I found out when I read Physics of Superheroes: I don't think like a scientist. In the Marvels book, a "point to ponder" is, "Why does milk go sour if you leave it out?" The answer has something to do with microbes. My automatic answer was, "Because that's what it does." I'm not a scientist, but I like reading about them.
-- SJ
I pulled this book off the library shelf a few weeks ago. (It's overdue now, of course.) I left it for Addie to read, and only just now picked it up myself. It's turned out to be an amusing way to pass a rainy afternoon, in between blog posting.
Marvels of Science: 50 Fascinating 5-Minute Reads by Kendall Haven is a collection of stories explaining how many inventions and discoveries came about. The author takes poetic license with the characters, attributing dialogue, personality, and even the occasional "sparkling blue eyes" to spice up the stories. But he does a good job of explaining why the discoveries were important. The book includes many of the classic inventions and discoveries: radium, X-rays, telegraph, Vulcanized rubber, Silly Putty, and Post-It Notes.
It's a fun read, and also confirms what I found out when I read Physics of Superheroes: I don't think like a scientist. In the Marvels book, a "point to ponder" is, "Why does milk go sour if you leave it out?" The answer has something to do with microbes. My automatic answer was, "Because that's what it does." I'm not a scientist, but I like reading about them.
-- SJ
Jello
Why soft-set strawberry jello is better than hard-set strawberry jello
inspired by Addie and Stuart
1. Because you don't have to wait as long to eat it.
2. Um, you need another reason?
-- SJ
inspired by Addie and Stuart
1. Because you don't have to wait as long to eat it.
2. Um, you need another reason?
-- SJ
Don't Play It Again, Sam. It's Nauseous.
I'm not badly plagued by morning sickness. I spend a few weeks feeling carsicky -- all the time, all day and night -- but it's rarely worse than that. But it's enough for my body to form permanent aversions toward innocent offenders.
Food isn't much of a problem: I can eat everything I normally like, and lots of it, too. My aversions instead take the form of what I hear.
When I was newly pregnant with Addie, I watched "My Best Friend's Wedding." I hated it, of course, but that had more to do with Julia Roberts than morning sickness. I did like the opening song, "Wishin' and Hopin'." Liked it so much that Darren got me the soundtrack. I listened to it maybe four times. Ugh. Ugh. The thought of that song, and the pink background on the movie itself, still makes me ill. I lent the CD to Lindsay, who let someone else borrow it, and I hope whoever that was mailed it to Australia. I was glad to get the CD as far away from me as possible.
When I was pregnant with Stuart, Addie (barely a year old) watched a lot of Baby Einstein videos. Six years later I can hardly be in the same room with Baby Doolittle. The rest are okay, but the music for Doolittle nauseates me.
I seem to have passed through Daphne's pregnancy unscarred, but this one is making up for it. So far I'm unable to listen to the kids' CD "Songs of America," and the very sight of the BigFish.com game "Monster Mash" -- even without hearing the music -- makes me feel icky. Oh, and also I can't play the game "Pirate Poppers" (some $9.99 game we picked up at Target) because I played it in the early days of pregnancy so, well, you know how it goes.
Do you have any odd aversions thanks to sickness (pregnancy or otherwise related?)
-- SJ
P.S. Handy-dandy way to remember if you should use the word "nauseate" or "nauseous.":
1. Nauseated means you feel sick. It's something you ATE - nauseATE.
2. Nauseous means it makes you sick. It makes US sick - nauseoUS.
Try not to tell people that you're nauseous. They might agree with you.
Food isn't much of a problem: I can eat everything I normally like, and lots of it, too. My aversions instead take the form of what I hear.
When I was newly pregnant with Addie, I watched "My Best Friend's Wedding." I hated it, of course, but that had more to do with Julia Roberts than morning sickness. I did like the opening song, "Wishin' and Hopin'." Liked it so much that Darren got me the soundtrack. I listened to it maybe four times. Ugh. Ugh. The thought of that song, and the pink background on the movie itself, still makes me ill. I lent the CD to Lindsay, who let someone else borrow it, and I hope whoever that was mailed it to Australia. I was glad to get the CD as far away from me as possible.
When I was pregnant with Stuart, Addie (barely a year old) watched a lot of Baby Einstein videos. Six years later I can hardly be in the same room with Baby Doolittle. The rest are okay, but the music for Doolittle nauseates me.
I seem to have passed through Daphne's pregnancy unscarred, but this one is making up for it. So far I'm unable to listen to the kids' CD "Songs of America," and the very sight of the BigFish.com game "Monster Mash" -- even without hearing the music -- makes me feel icky. Oh, and also I can't play the game "Pirate Poppers" (some $9.99 game we picked up at Target) because I played it in the early days of pregnancy so, well, you know how it goes.
Do you have any odd aversions thanks to sickness (pregnancy or otherwise related?)
-- SJ
P.S. Handy-dandy way to remember if you should use the word "nauseate" or "nauseous.":
1. Nauseated means you feel sick. It's something you ATE - nauseATE.
2. Nauseous means it makes you sick. It makes US sick - nauseoUS.
Try not to tell people that you're nauseous. They might agree with you.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Recurring Wishes
Some thing are natural to childhood. Addie and Stuart have both sighed over unattainable desires that I remember wanting myself.
Stuart wants pets. Cute, cuddly pets from his computer games that he can keep in his room and play with when he's lonely. Oh, son, I know how you feel! I had a whole set of Cute Imaginary Pets that I used to draw (usually when I was supposed to be listening in school). They all lived on a rainbow.
Addie, rolled up in a blanket on the floor, just said wistfully, "I want to fly with wings." My daughter, I feel that longing. I used to pretend I had wings, using a crochet shawl. I trained myself to fly in my dreams.
It's always funny to me when they confide the secret desires of their hearts, not knowing that the rest of the human population is in on the secret.
-- SJ
Stuart wants pets. Cute, cuddly pets from his computer games that he can keep in his room and play with when he's lonely. Oh, son, I know how you feel! I had a whole set of Cute Imaginary Pets that I used to draw (usually when I was supposed to be listening in school). They all lived on a rainbow.
Addie, rolled up in a blanket on the floor, just said wistfully, "I want to fly with wings." My daughter, I feel that longing. I used to pretend I had wings, using a crochet shawl. I trained myself to fly in my dreams.
It's always funny to me when they confide the secret desires of their hearts, not knowing that the rest of the human population is in on the secret.
-- SJ
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Christmas in the Pantry
Darren went grocery shopping yesterday, using the list I'd made up. We're proud of our grocery list: we typed out everything we usually buy, organized it by aisle, and when we need to make a list we print out the master list and mark the items we need. Something that organized HAS to save money. You can just hear the pennies tinkling as you print out the list.
I did check the pantry to see what we needed. But I'm short and the pantry was a little messy, so I just guessed at some things. Turns out, I do that a lot.
Because Darren got home (I was napping, my top pregnancy hobby) and got industrious. He cleaned out the pantry. When I say it was "a little messy," I'm actually lying. The pantry was a wreck. It hasn't been organized for, oh, how long have we lived in this house? Five years? He cleared out and organized most of two shelves of cans and boxes. When I got up, I finished putting things away. That's when we discovered exactly how much "guessing" I've been doing.
We have:
* Six boxes of spaghetti (counting the two Darren bought)
* Five bags of goldfish
* Four boxes of brown sugar
* Three boxes of cornstarch
* And the partridge could have been buried underneath four opened bags of dried beans.
-- SJ
I did check the pantry to see what we needed. But I'm short and the pantry was a little messy, so I just guessed at some things. Turns out, I do that a lot.
Because Darren got home (I was napping, my top pregnancy hobby) and got industrious. He cleaned out the pantry. When I say it was "a little messy," I'm actually lying. The pantry was a wreck. It hasn't been organized for, oh, how long have we lived in this house? Five years? He cleared out and organized most of two shelves of cans and boxes. When I got up, I finished putting things away. That's when we discovered exactly how much "guessing" I've been doing.
We have:
* Six boxes of spaghetti (counting the two Darren bought)
* Five bags of goldfish
* Four boxes of brown sugar
* Three boxes of cornstarch
* And the partridge could have been buried underneath four opened bags of dried beans.
-- SJ
Friday, December 05, 2008
7 Quick Takes
Sara being uninspired, it falls to Darren (who has not blogged in far too long) to do the 7 Quick Takes today.
1. One of my favorite takes on evangelism is found in cartoon form here. I think perhaps Professor Greg Smith could give Theo a run for his money :)
2. When I was out in Arizona doing depositions in early September, it was blazing hot. Our client told me, “Everyone endures summer in Arizona because of the other 8 months.” Having just gotten back from another trip out there, where I walked around in short sleeves outside on December 3, I am seriously contemplating the benefits of moving to Phoenix. (Just kidding, Sara!)
3. “It is never wise to make assumptions. Assumptions cause cracks in the fragile stucco of reality, and then goblins get in.” Robin McKinley, author of one of my “comfort books,” The Blue Sword.
4. If someone ever asks you to be treasurer of a political action committee (PAC), refuse unless you can extort a substantial amount of money. It’s more stress than it’s worth. Stupid campaign finance laws…
5. I read “A Princess of Mars” by Edgar Rice Burroughs on my recent trip and enjoyed it very much. In fact, the last line made me cry. It’s not nearly so badly over-written as his Tarzan books, and his hero John Carter is a pretty cool guy, handy with both a sword and a hovercar.
6. I’m currently listening to “Passion: Hymns Ancient and Modern” on my computer. I like it, but “How Great You Are” just can’t match up to “How Great Thou Art.” (Especially when pronounced “How grate chew are.”
7. Don’t forget to have your kids leave their shoes outside their door tomorrow night. It’s St. Nicholas Day!
--DJ
1. One of my favorite takes on evangelism is found in cartoon form here. I think perhaps Professor Greg Smith could give Theo a run for his money :)
2. When I was out in Arizona doing depositions in early September, it was blazing hot. Our client told me, “Everyone endures summer in Arizona because of the other 8 months.” Having just gotten back from another trip out there, where I walked around in short sleeves outside on December 3, I am seriously contemplating the benefits of moving to Phoenix. (Just kidding, Sara!)
3. “It is never wise to make assumptions. Assumptions cause cracks in the fragile stucco of reality, and then goblins get in.” Robin McKinley, author of one of my “comfort books,” The Blue Sword.
4. If someone ever asks you to be treasurer of a political action committee (PAC), refuse unless you can extort a substantial amount of money. It’s more stress than it’s worth. Stupid campaign finance laws…
5. I read “A Princess of Mars” by Edgar Rice Burroughs on my recent trip and enjoyed it very much. In fact, the last line made me cry. It’s not nearly so badly over-written as his Tarzan books, and his hero John Carter is a pretty cool guy, handy with both a sword and a hovercar.
6. I’m currently listening to “Passion: Hymns Ancient and Modern” on my computer. I like it, but “How Great You Are” just can’t match up to “How Great Thou Art.” (Especially when pronounced “How grate chew are.”
7. Don’t forget to have your kids leave their shoes outside their door tomorrow night. It’s St. Nicholas Day!
--DJ
Thursday, December 04, 2008
More Information
(mostly because I can FINALLY talk about The Baby)
1. The OB and I disagree on how far along I am. This has happened before. This time she thinks I'm about 14 weeks, when I thought I was only about 10. I wouldn't mind being done with my first trimester already. But I'm stubborn when it comes to my gestational calculations. We'll say I'm 12 weeks.
2. Due in early June. (Or late June, depending one which of us is right.) This baby will be a scheduled c-section. As disappointing as it is to have no other option... well, there are perks. I'll know exactly when the baby will come, and the recovery should be easy.
3. Darren had to leave town the morning we went for my first OB visit (this week). I was frantic that we fit it in anyway, because we planned to tell the kids. We cut it close, but Darren brought the kids to my exam room and we were both there to watch the realization dawn in their faces when I said they were hearing "a little heartbeat inside me."
4. The fact that neither Addie nor Stuart picked up on this fact weeks earlier, by listening in to my conversations on the phone, is tribute to their utter obliviousness.
5. Stuart's initial name suggestions: Joseph, Israel, and Sunflower.
6. Names we've considered in the past, and still like, but aren't going to use for various reasons: Avery, Emeth, Meredith, Annaliese, Patience.
7. Ha, ha. Not Patience. I've lobbied for it for three children now, but it never breaches Darren's That Sounds Weird barrier.
8. Serves me right, though. I relegate all his favorite boy names to middle names.
9. This name will be a decider: will we find a middle name that starts with M, to go along with all three other (accidental) M's? Or will we break free of the shackles and choose a name because we like it?
10. Out of the above nine items, five deal with naming. Of course y'all all know that a major reason why I like having babies is because I get to name them.
-- SJ
1. The OB and I disagree on how far along I am. This has happened before. This time she thinks I'm about 14 weeks, when I thought I was only about 10. I wouldn't mind being done with my first trimester already. But I'm stubborn when it comes to my gestational calculations. We'll say I'm 12 weeks.
2. Due in early June. (Or late June, depending one which of us is right.) This baby will be a scheduled c-section. As disappointing as it is to have no other option... well, there are perks. I'll know exactly when the baby will come, and the recovery should be easy.
3. Darren had to leave town the morning we went for my first OB visit (this week). I was frantic that we fit it in anyway, because we planned to tell the kids. We cut it close, but Darren brought the kids to my exam room and we were both there to watch the realization dawn in their faces when I said they were hearing "a little heartbeat inside me."
4. The fact that neither Addie nor Stuart picked up on this fact weeks earlier, by listening in to my conversations on the phone, is tribute to their utter obliviousness.
5. Stuart's initial name suggestions: Joseph, Israel, and Sunflower.
6. Names we've considered in the past, and still like, but aren't going to use for various reasons: Avery, Emeth, Meredith, Annaliese, Patience.
7. Ha, ha. Not Patience. I've lobbied for it for three children now, but it never breaches Darren's That Sounds Weird barrier.
8. Serves me right, though. I relegate all his favorite boy names to middle names.
9. This name will be a decider: will we find a middle name that starts with M, to go along with all three other (accidental) M's? Or will we break free of the shackles and choose a name because we like it?
10. Out of the above nine items, five deal with naming. Of course y'all all know that a major reason why I like having babies is because I get to name them.
-- SJ
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
The Jones Saga
In the spirit of the fantasy and sci-fi genres, the Roberts & Jones Syndicate has announced its plans to expand its current popular trilogy into a saga. The fourth edition is due for release sometime in the summer of 2009.
Says a spokesperson for the Syndicate, "The exisiting trilogy -- Adelaide (2001), Stuart (2002), and Daphne (2006) -- has been received with such enormous welcome that we are confident that the new arrival will be a success."
More bulletins as events warrant.
-- SJ and DJ,
AMJ and SMJ (wildly thrilled),
DMJ (clueless)
Says a spokesperson for the Syndicate, "The exisiting trilogy -- Adelaide (2001), Stuart (2002), and Daphne (2006) -- has been received with such enormous welcome that we are confident that the new arrival will be a success."
More bulletins as events warrant.
-- SJ and DJ,
AMJ and SMJ (wildly thrilled),
DMJ (clueless)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
