Category Archives: Family

{Virtual} Coffee Date (vol. 5)

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{Virtual Coffee Date}

Once you’re done here, go visit Karianna and the other coffee drinkers.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that Thomas of Fuller Life finally revealed the gender of the twins. Note to self: get Thomas’ wife Alison a 12-pack of mani/pedi coupons and find someone nearby to take her for “girl time”. (Kidding, Thomas… when I do get mani/pedi’s, I’m usually reading something on my NOOK during the pedicure part and trying ignoring the outside world during the manicure part.)

If we were having coffee, I’d talk about how much I don’t want to go to the Social Security office tomorrow and how much I hate dealing with them. They screwed up Daniel’s SSI (AGAIN!!!!) and I have to go bring them copies of my 2011 and 2012 taxes… which they should already have. Seriously, I think they pulled numbers out of their butts for the latest determination. Oh well… I needed to clean my purse out anyway (they search it) and this will give me a chance to do some reading.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you about the serious cuteness of the red panda cub this weekend at the Sacramento Zoo. The tiger cub was also pretty stinking cute, especially as it pounced its mama wanting to play.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you how addicted I am to the CW summer show, Breaking Pointe. I was able to cheat a little bit and look up who is still with the company on the Ballet West website but the whole process of whether Ian or Zach got the contract with the company and the saga with Allison and her fiancé as well as with Christiana and her husband Chris.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you how irritated I am that Qubo stopped showing He-Man at night. Seriously, that was my fall-back when the 9:00 shows on the other networks were disappointing. It was also a tie to my childhood.

Thank you for having coffee (tea) with me this week. Same time next week!

52 Weeks of Blogging with a Purpose: What Being A Mom Looks Like

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The topic this week: what being a mom looks like. I’m going to borrow Becky’s way of laying things out.

Being a mom looks like an octopus. I have joked for four years about waiting for my third arm to grow in and I keep being really disappointed that it hasn’t yet. It would enable me to hold Daniel propped against my waist while signing some kind of medical document while the third arm goes through my wallet looking for insurance cards. Another great scenario: one arm can be under Daniel who has fallen asleep in my lap while the other two type things up.

Being a mom looks like a DVD player with a copy of “Winnie the Pooh” stuck in it. “Winnie the Pooh” allows me to get so incredibly much done in our house and I was never the mom who claimed that she would limit her kids’ screen time. (That would be seriously hypocritical of me.)

Being a mom looks like a bobblehead doll. I know that I do so much smiling and nodding at the crap people tell me about how to parent Daniel and the “advice” in parenting forums because it is either a.) absolute crap, b.) based on pseudoscience, c.) Sanctimommy sludge, or d.) all of the above. When Daniel was diagnosed with autism, I made the rule that I would only listen to advice from other autistic moms/grandmas because I would probably claw the other so-called “experts” to death. However, Jon really hates me shedding the blood of the stupid, so I do a lot of smiling and nodding.

Being a mom looks like a much-needed shower. I joke that if I can’t remember the last time I showered, it’s probably time. I can’t leave Daniel alone for 10 minutes in order to shower so any showers I get are while he’s sleeping, napping, at school, or being watched by someone else. I have a very simple hairstyle and I don’t wear make-up for this reason — I have no promise that I can do much past combing my hair and brushing my teeth when it comes to my morning beauty routine.

Being a mom looks like a candle lit in a church. Daniel figures into so many of my prayers and I have hopes and dreams for him. It’s not uncommon for me to duck into a church and light a candle for something when I’m out by myself.

Being a mom looks like a gymnastics coach after their athlete has nailed a perfect floor routine to win the Olympics. There has been pain, frustration, tears, and focus to reach a goal and when it finally happens, you want to pick up your child and spin them around.

Now go see Becky and what everyone else thinks of when imagining a mother.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 1, 2013

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY September 1, 2013

Outside my window… dark. It was a warm day though.

I am thinking… about all the stuff that has to be done around the house.

I am thankful… for the 5 minute downpour last night. I enjoyed the “after the rain” scent for the first time in probably 6 months. (It has been really dry here this year which has contributed to the massive Rim fire 100 miles away.)

In the kitchen… I need to figure out a meal plan.

I am wearing… blue shirt from Old Navy and blue plaid boxers.

I am creating… entry outlines for the week.

I am going… to my parents’ house this weekend.

I am wondering… when I’ll actually desire to eat normally again.

I am reading… Sundays in America by Suzanne Strempek Shea. I finished Jenny Lawson’s book, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, last night. It was absolutely lovely and irreverent and crossed so many lines but in completely charming ways.

I am hoping… my stomach settles down. I am no longer able to eat fast food.

I am looking forward to… Ladies’ Night Out.

I am learning life with having to test my sugars.

Around the house… *pulls the covers over my head*

I am pondering… too many things.

A favorite quote for today… ??In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets… Hence true Friendship is the least jealous of loves. Two friends delight to be joined by a third, and three by a fourth, if only the newcomer is qualified to become a real friend. They can then say, as the blessed souls say in Dante, “Here comes one who will augment our loves.” For in this love “to divide is not to take away.?? – C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… the smell of rain.

A few plans for the rest of the week: ABA therapy and Ladies’ Night Out on Wednesday, ABA therapy on Friday as well as heading to San Jose to see my parents.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

The Picture in My Header and What It Means To Me

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I’ve had a couple people comment on the picture in my header. It’s a cropped version of this picture:

Grandpa and I in 1984

The man on the left is my very beloved grandpa. I’m on the right and judging from the hair and that I’m wearing a dress, I think I’m 4 years old which would have made this Thanksgiving or Christmas of 1984. It’s been 7 1/2 years since he joined the Church Triumphant and I still really miss him. I was (and still am — death cannot cancel out love) a very beloved granddaughter and was the only granddaughter until my cousin Kristin was born a few days before I turned 12.

I think the hardest Christmas other than the one after he passed was in 2009 when I came to Washington for Christmas with Daniel. I really wish he could have known his great-grandfather who fought in World War II, didn’t finish college because of the war but still spent his life learning, had volumes of poetry memorized, learned how to use the Internet in his 80’s, would instant message me every afternoon until he ended up in the hospital to say “hi” and “ich liebe dich” (“I love you” in German), piloted planes for United Airlines for 30+ years, traveled the world in his retirement, raised 4 kids, provided funds for us for college, taught us all the necessary knots for tying up boats on the dock in Canada, announced the banns of my marriage in church in September 2000, was married to the love of his life for just short of 63 years (and gave me excellent role models in terms of enduring hardship as a couple), and took me to Midnight Mass almost every year from when I was 13 until I was married. He adopted all of the spouses of the kids and grandchildren as a member of the family, including those who later left the family through divorce.

When I needed a header and was going through the pictures on my laptop, this one jumped out at me because it makes me smile to think of this amazing man who would be turning 95 this year.

This poem was read at his interment in June 2006:

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, ?? and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of ?? wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew ??
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
?? “High Flight” by John Gillespie Magee, Jr

7 Quick Takes: Prayer Set to Pop Music, Back to School Night, and News on Kaia

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

More than one way to pray. Mayim Bialik (“Amy Farrah Fowler” on The Big Bang Theory) linked up this video of the Listen Up! Jewish Vocal Band singing the Adon Olam to the tune of the Cup Song from “Pitch Perfect”. (There’s also a video of how they made the video.)

I remember teaching various “graces” to tunes like “Zippety Doodah” and “The Addams Family” theme song so it’s not surprising that you can fit various prayers into songs. “Amazing Grace” is another one that works well. I also remember figuring out how to set the Lutheran table grace (the linked version is all fancy, done in canon and then in 4-part harmony) to the tune of “Two Princes” by the Spin Doctors when Jon and I were off doing errands in Watertown, back when he was pastoring in Minnesota.

— 2 —

Camp song fun. The actions for the Cup Song remind me of the camp song, “It’s Not Hard I Tell You So”:

(And yes, I was totally the CIT and counselor who led the really off-the-wall camp songs. Fortunately for me, no recorded proof of this exists because I’d be paying major dollars to keep those quiet.)

— 3 —

Jim Gaffigan’s video “Mr. Universe”. I’ve been listening/watching “Mr. Universe” while I go to sleep lately. It’s positively lovely and it’s clean comedy. (I have it on at 2 a.m. as I’m typing this.) My tabby has been getting grumpy about this because it means that I’m not positioned correctly for him to climb on my side and displace my hips. Currently, he’s talking about McDonalds and is making me crave a Quarter Pounder with Cheese, some fries. and a Coke. (Yes, I’ve seen Supersize Me. I don’t think I ate anything from there for 5 years after that.)

— 4 —

Orphans Do you see these two darling children?

L-R: Brett and Iris
BrettIris

Brett still needs a mama. Iris finally has a family committed to her and they are in the homestudy stage.

Click on their names to see their Reece’s Rainbow pages.

— 5 —

Miss Kaia. I haven’t forgotten about Kaia.

Kaia

Her mama (and, I think, also her papa) are in her country to spring her from her orphanage either today or tomorrow. Once they’re all back in the States, I’ll update people with details of her actual name and everything.

— 6 —

Back to School Night. Daniel’s preschool had Back to School Night tonight and I went on behalf of Jon. It was good to go because I got the hand-out that Daniel’s teacher has given out to other parents before and that was helpful because it talks a little more about autism and ways to work with the kids. The parents of one of the kids who went off to kindergarten were there (their younger son is also autistic and in the class) so it was good to see them again and talk to them. It was also nice to find out that Daniel’s teacher prays for her kids and their families.

One other cool thing: they have an English class for some of the moms at the preschool and are looking for volunteers to help. I am not fluent in Spanish (the other mom is — she’s Mexican and her husband is Anglo) but I have experience teaching ESL so I’m going to email the principal about helping.

— 7 —

New Music. I realized this week that I had never heard “Fat-Bottomed Girls” by Queen so I went on YouTube to find it. Can we just say that I think it is freaking awesome? (I predict Jon cringing when he reads that last sentence.) I also realized that I hadn’t heard “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele before (it turns out that I’ve heard part it) so it’s playing on YouTube.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

{Virtual} Coffee Date (vol. 4)

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{Virtual Coffee Date}

Once you’re done here, go visit Karianna and the other coffee drinkers.

If we were having coffee, I’d let you know that the professor behind Bible Students Say… is grading and you need to go check it out. It’s definitely face-palming to read but that’s what makes it so entertaining.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that my endocrinologist would be a great person with whom to share a cup of coffee but as a medical professional, she makes me roll my eyes. She keeps making helpful suggestions that would work… if they were actually practical for me with my food issues and my life. Example: suggesting eggs as a possible breakfast for someone who is allergic to eggs (which is on my chart) or making suggestions for stuff to cut up and take with me. I can do things like ziploc snack bags of nuts for a snack but some of the meal plan stuff she gave me just left me incredibly hungry. I get that a 1200 calorie diet would cause me to lose a boatload of weight quickly but that’s also not totally reasonable for me. (FitDay has me at around 1500.)

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I’m bummed that the evil twin and his wife are now Washington-bound and how I’m secretly jealous because I’d love to live in the Pacific Northwest. I hate heat so living in Sacramento is hideous from about late May to early October. I’m also bummed because I was enjoying being close to family for a change. Oh well… this is another excuse to get to Washington on vacation.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that Daniel was his normal self today and I could probably have sent him to preschool but I didn’t want him giving whatever he had to the other kids or getting something else while his immunity was down. I also wish his ER doc had given him something that didn’t require improvising a mortar and pestle before dissolving it in 1 ml of water, and syringing it to him. (I’m glad to have the mad chemistry skillz but still!)

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you to go read Hallie’s Tell Me All About YOU! entry. I’m a wannabe sociologist and people-watcher and this is one of the few ways to do it online.

Thanks for having coffee (or tea) with me. See you next week!