[flickr id=”8285672590″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]We’ve had a rough year.
Ups and downs so often it felt like a roller coaster gone bad. But even in the rockiest times, when I feel at my lowest, I’ve got three stars shining bright to bring me back home. Three stars that overcome challenges big and small and shine in ways I never could have imagined.
Denver, the cross country star that laughs in the face of Cystic Fibrosis by his endurance and speed. That is aiming for the best grades he can (and almost always succeeding) so that he can become a doctor. Not just a doctor, but a pediatric pulmonologist so that he can help other kids like him and his sister.
Molly, the brilliant little mind trapped behind the limitations of her expressive communication. Every day she’s learning more how to step forward. She’s making real friends, and living the heck out of life in her own quirky way.
Kennedy, so many little things that could hold her back, but to her they don’t even exist. She’s my temperamental firecracker, but also the sweetest angel you ever could meet. Those big eyes and warm snuggles ease away every worry.
They bring hope and light back into my life every moment. I’m so proud of each of them. Every day.
*~*~*
Macy’s Heart of Haiti is a shining example of people filled with hope even in the greatest difficulties. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and even after the earthquake you won’t find a country more filled with hope and joy.
Macy’s believes in “Trade not Aid” as a means of helping the country of Haiti create sustainable work and provide much needed financial opportunities. By purchasing one of the more than 40 items available in Macy’s Heart of Haiti line you make a contribution to the Haitian Community.
With everything from quilts, to bowls, to picture frames – all made from recycled and sustainable items – you can find some amazingly beautiful items to give as gifts, or to decorate your home. With one click, you get to beautify your life, and strengthen a country stricken by poverty. It’s a win-win.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own. #CleverHaiti
Two years ago I took a leap of faith. Despite initially cringing at the cost of a membership to the Indianapolis Zoo – I splurged and bought it to cover our family. I knew that one of the leading factors behind us never going was the cost to get in. I thought, if it’s “free” after that onset – maybe we’ll use it.
And use it we have. I re-purchased it last year and go on a moderately regular basis, weather and time permitting. Sometimes just me, but most often with the kids.
One thing about going to a smaller zoo – you learn some of the quirks. Like the brown bear always hides, the wild dogs are always asleep, and the gibbons are always chirping like mad.
This past weekend we went with the girls on a gorgeous sunny day and the zoo had turned on its head. The Gibbons were silent, letting us hear the chirping of the otters they share a cage with. The wild dogs were awake and moving all over their enclosure. Best of all, the brown bear was up close and personal – with a big friendly grin on his face.
I’m so glad that this time I took my camera – because I get to throw some of my favorites at you. Of course I have SO many, I’m struggling to pick just a few so I will beg you to please head on over to my FLICKR account to see the rest. It’s worth it, I promise…everyone was posing for my camera.
I freely admit to being a computer/internet addict.
My husband is addicted to movies (in his defense, he is equally addicted to books).
Denver is now addicted to his iPod & Netflix (i.e. Star Trek).
In the past several months we’ve started to make the conscious decision to unplug at least twice a month and reconnect by using actual words – a long forgotten art in this house it feels like sometimes.
So we unburied some board games, bought some new ones – and some new puzzles. We’re slowly building our choices of games, including ones that the youngers can play (like [amazon_link id=”B004LZ2QZW” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Sorry[/amazon_link] and [amazon_link id=”B00000IWHG” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Perfection[/amazon_link]). We have probably 5 different versions of [amazon_link id=”B0017S1Y4A” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Trivial Pursuit[/amazon_link] – including two very old ones like the [amazon_link id=”B0009RGXPK” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Classic Genus[/amazon_link] and the (vintage?) Junior edition.
We’re building a list of games we want to add, trying to find classic games we remember playing “way back when” – you know, in ancient times when 3 channels on TV forced to to be creative and play these board games.
I am plotting and trying to get Erik to agree to learn how to play Rummy. The poor guy doesn’t know how to play – and I’ve always loved a good game of Rummy.
For now our go-to game that comes out just about every time we decide to play? [amazon_link id=”B00000IWDB” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]SCRABBLE[/amazon_link]. Between the three of us over the age of 10 – it’s always a toss-up who’s going to win.
The best thing about bringing these out is it gives us a chance to sit around and actually talk. Even though it’s often about the game or nothing – it’s reestablishing some levels of communication. Letting us relax and just have fun together so that not all of our conversations revolve around a child getting in trouble for something or a movie we just saw.
What family couldn’t stand to just have fun together without technology?
I now regularly stare at my wishlist for games, and scope out the board game section at Goodwill. For Christmas I hope to add a few more options for family togetherness to my list.
With Christmas coming up, don’t you want to add some fun under your tree? What’s your favorite board game?
You meet at the playground and an instant friendship forms. You sit next to someone at your desk in class and in no time you’re best buds asking to sleep-over.
When you’re an adult it’s harder.
You have a lifetime of experiences, traumas, joys, and broken hearts to muddle through. Walking up to a random stranger in a grocery store and creating a friendship seems – well weird to our grown up brains.
A few weeks ago my friend Heather was talking about a book she’d read – [amazon_link id=”0345524942″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]MWF seeking BFF[/amazon_link] – about a woman that set out to find a new BFF by going on one ‘friend date’ a week for a year. Something I would never have the courage to do.
After I stopped working to take care of my girls – my ‘friend’ world sort of disappeared. I’m terminally shy when I’m not in a theater situation. Even meeting my own neighbors gave me a case of the nerves. Erik is similar for different reasons and in different ways. For a long time I felt a isolated. I loved being home, but I missed having friends to chat with. While I’d gone to high school in Indiana – I didn’t know anyone in the town we live in now. I also didn’t like going out with two very young children, one of whom gets over-stimulated in crowd situations.
Through the past six years of blogging, and most especially the past three years of becoming more involved in the local blogging community, not to mention it being easier to get out with older children than with two babies – life has managed to help me find those elusive adult friends. Somehow life has even managed to do the same for my husband.
We’ve met intentionally, accidentally, incidentally, and yet somehow all of the friendships were destined-to-be. From neighbors that I finally got out to meet, to bloggers that totally used to intimidate me & now make me laugh harder than I’ve laughed in years, to people life threw into my (or Erik’s) path at just the right time.
When one kid is in the hospital you disappear into a bubble.
The world outside of that room fades away and you are nothing but medicines and doctors and nurses and monitors.
The last time we were in the hospital we didn’t know Denver had CF. We were there for just three days and everyone was always visiting Kennedy.
This time it was Denver in the hospital and Kennedy couldn’t visit (they don’t even like CF kids living together but…well, siblings and all that). We couldn’t all be up there, and we had to switch things around and find someone to watch the girls and – chaos reined until my in-laws were good enough to take them over the weekend.
We were able to focus on the one child. The sick one. The tests and orders and plans for what would happen with him.
In the bubble things are protected – but you don’t feel whole.
Coming home is chaos. Suddenly girls are screaming and running and Denver is teasing them and it’s loud and crazy and gives me such a headache.
The bubble bursts into wild days of life bursting at the seams and homework and chores and stories of all kinds.
The bubble is safe, protected, sheltered.
Life on the outside might be dangerous, but suddenly you have peace you didn’t before.
[flickr id=”5075549323″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Fall is my favorite season. I might be partial to summer because that’s when I was born – but it gets too hot (especially here in Indiana) and far too humid and I don’t have a pool anymore.
Besides – fall has all the gorgeous color, brief though it may be.
Fall is the season I start to bake. I start making Christmas cookies early & freeze them – but I also start baking bread. And pie. And anything else I can concoct. My family loves the influx of fresh food baked in warm oven. Only thing I wish for at this time of year is a lot more counter space.
Fall is also the season that the local farmers have the corn mazes, apple picking, pumpkin picking, and fall festivals. There is so much to do at this time of year – and my favorite is the apples. Apple pie and applesauce adorn our table regularly in the fall.
There really is no better season.
*~*~*
This post was written as part of Indiana Family of Farmers Table Talk series. As a Table Talk contributor I received various products to help along the table talk. All opinions and stories in the post are my own truth.
[flickr id=”8285672590″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]We’ve had a rough year.
