(I found this last picture on the camera...I wonder who took it???)Thursday, May 10, 2007
Monday, May 7, 2007
Rocks
I had a homeschooling mother friend of mine who reminded me about the story of the father who had a pile of rocks of all sizes: large rocks, all the way down to pebbles. He asked his son to put all the rocks into a five gallon container. The son tried and thought the feat was impossible. The father then showed the son that if you put the large rocks in first, followed by the medium, and lastly pour the pebbles in, they could all fit.
My day feels like a large pile of rocks of all sizes. There are so many things that I want to do with my day. Some things are extremely important to me. Some things I'd really like to get to and some are like small pebbles that I'd like to slip into the cracks. Then there are the extras that I'd like to throw in...
God gives us each the same amount of time. How can we optimize it to fully fill the container we are given each day?
My day feels like a large pile of rocks of all sizes. There are so many things that I want to do with my day. Some things are extremely important to me. Some things I'd really like to get to and some are like small pebbles that I'd like to slip into the cracks. Then there are the extras that I'd like to throw in...
God gives us each the same amount of time. How can we optimize it to fully fill the container we are given each day?
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Half-full + Half-empty = Overflowing
Last night I was in the kitchen and noticed something unusual. We have a guinea pig that lives right near our sliding glass door. Well, on the other side of the door was a large black cat, tail twitching back and forth. He was ready to pounce. Everything looked ideal for a nice, easy meal. A fat guinea pig. A hungry cat. A great recipe...only the cat didn't know how strong that clear barrier would be...
I have thought a lot about the half-full/half-empty analogy of yesterday. I have discovered that I am a half-empty personality. I will call myself a realist. I always have to think through all the details of life so I am ready for whatever comes my way. When we go on a walk in the morning I like everyone to wear a sweater when we start out, then we peel them off about half-way through. I like to always be prepared and ready.
My husband's cup is always half-full. He is always delighted with any event that comes his way. If the day looks inviting he wants to jump in and explore and enjoy. Who could possibly be uncomfortable in such an enchanting day?
This small realization has opened up a fun path of communication that we haven't been able to venture onto before. I have just never realized that he doesn't think about the details, until the very last minute...while I think them at the inception of the idea.
Okay, guinea pig and communication? How do they mix??? There seem to be a lot of things in life that we have a great idea for...only we can't quite make the circumstance actually materialize. There is a sliding glass door, so to speak, in our way. Well, when "Half-full" has a great idea, and "Half-empty" knows how to fill in the details...what do you get? An open door. (Only let's take guinea out of the equation now...)
I am so thankful that I get to walk alongside my husband. I learn so much from him and thank God for mercifully giving me someone who is complimentary to my weaknesses and vice versa.
I have thought a lot about the half-full/half-empty analogy of yesterday. I have discovered that I am a half-empty personality. I will call myself a realist. I always have to think through all the details of life so I am ready for whatever comes my way. When we go on a walk in the morning I like everyone to wear a sweater when we start out, then we peel them off about half-way through. I like to always be prepared and ready.
My husband's cup is always half-full. He is always delighted with any event that comes his way. If the day looks inviting he wants to jump in and explore and enjoy. Who could possibly be uncomfortable in such an enchanting day?
This small realization has opened up a fun path of communication that we haven't been able to venture onto before. I have just never realized that he doesn't think about the details, until the very last minute...while I think them at the inception of the idea.
Okay, guinea pig and communication? How do they mix??? There seem to be a lot of things in life that we have a great idea for...only we can't quite make the circumstance actually materialize. There is a sliding glass door, so to speak, in our way. Well, when "Half-full" has a great idea, and "Half-empty" knows how to fill in the details...what do you get? An open door. (Only let's take guinea out of the equation now...)
I am so thankful that I get to walk alongside my husband. I learn so much from him and thank God for mercifully giving me someone who is complimentary to my weaknesses and vice versa.
Joe and I "overflowing" with thankfulness.
December 30, 2006, Elizabeth Noelle's birth-day.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Half-full
We had a fun little experiment at breakfast today. Joe took a glass and filled it half full of water and asked everyone if the glass was half full or half empty. Thomas immediately shrugs his shoulders knowingly and says, "full-umpty." Abigail says, "half empty" Jonathan, "half full." Hmmm, an interesting case study into personality? Thomas is our (usually) calm, steady, consistent, and aware child. Abigail is not a pessimist, as the experiment may portray, but rather a girl that is always eager to fix a problem. I'm sure she was ready to jump out of her chair, get the pitcher and fill the glass to the proper level.
Jonathan is a boy that likes to bask in every last drop there is, or if he perceives that there is not a drop left he is in despair. Jonathan is so full of life, adventure, experiments, magic tricks, music, reading, climbing...He is the type of boy that would rather be high in a tree observing the city than sitting at a boring table eating. He is the boy that was playing his violin (with zest) during a rehearsal with around 40 kids. When he didn't know anymore songs did he sit down like the other kids? Oh no! He turns to (an unnamed uncle ;) and plays "rock, paper, scissors" front row, direct center.
I would have been a very rigid mother--if God hadn't given us Jonathan first. I have learned to loosen up so much because of him! I really needed his personality. I often feel that I reach for loose ends to try to tie up as I race behind Jonathan.
As a side note: we do work on sitting and standing still everyday. :)
Jonathan is a boy that likes to bask in every last drop there is, or if he perceives that there is not a drop left he is in despair. Jonathan is so full of life, adventure, experiments, magic tricks, music, reading, climbing...He is the type of boy that would rather be high in a tree observing the city than sitting at a boring table eating. He is the boy that was playing his violin (with zest) during a rehearsal with around 40 kids. When he didn't know anymore songs did he sit down like the other kids? Oh no! He turns to (an unnamed uncle ;) and plays "rock, paper, scissors" front row, direct center.
I would have been a very rigid mother--if God hadn't given us Jonathan first. I have learned to loosen up so much because of him! I really needed his personality. I often feel that I reach for loose ends to try to tie up as I race behind Jonathan.
As a side note: we do work on sitting and standing still everyday. :)
Jonathan lost his first tooth last Friday, April 27. What a happy boy!
Reading poems with Daddy by the fire last night, May 4.
Doing yard work today!
Tanking up for the next adventure! :)
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Abigail's Birthday Pictures...
Abbie and Tom the day after Abbie's birthday, Sunday, April 29, 2007.
Abbie's birthday cake...she had to pretend to blow out her candles because there was so much wind. :)
Afour year-old and her brothers and sister on her birthday!
Notice Thomas kissing Lizzie!!!
Two amazing bikers!
Doctor Appointments
Three of our children had doctor appointments today.
Elizabeth weighed in at 14lbs. 3 oz.--my is she growing quickly! The doctor said her lip has some paralysis and we need to keep an eye on it. He will refer us to a neurologist in a few months if it doesn't self-correct. Often children will have a similar type of paralysis from a birth trauma, but usually the entire side of the face is involved (eye, cheek and mouth). This is something that is very mild and we'll keep an eye on it and hope that it does correct itself.
Thomas was 27 1/2 lbs 35". He did have an abnormality on his little sternum. It is growing deeper in his body then it does in most people, one more thing that is not a problem at this point, but is something to keep an eye on.
Abigail was 31 lbs 39". The doctor said that Abbie has a definite allergy look about her: swollen eyes and redness in her ear. We are starting on some immune boosting vitamins and then we will see him again in one month. I'm so glad to get help in this area because she has been going at either 110% or 40% and has been crying at the drop of a hat. She is always very independent, but usually happy to comply, but lately... she has not known how (or perhaps had the internal resources) to interact well in controlled situations. Also, he is referring us to a speech pathologist. I'm thrilled! She has numerous sounds she can't pronounce ("l", "th", "r"...) and always refers to anyone in a feminine pronoun (her, she). I do wonder if her slowness in speech is a result of allergies? She is so on top of her organized little world that if we can correct her speech I think a lot of frustration will be eliminated from her life.
So, we were given things to keep our eyes on--but really we have some pretty healthy kids! ;)
Elizabeth weighed in at 14lbs. 3 oz.--my is she growing quickly! The doctor said her lip has some paralysis and we need to keep an eye on it. He will refer us to a neurologist in a few months if it doesn't self-correct. Often children will have a similar type of paralysis from a birth trauma, but usually the entire side of the face is involved (eye, cheek and mouth). This is something that is very mild and we'll keep an eye on it and hope that it does correct itself.
Thomas was 27 1/2 lbs 35". He did have an abnormality on his little sternum. It is growing deeper in his body then it does in most people, one more thing that is not a problem at this point, but is something to keep an eye on.
Abigail was 31 lbs 39". The doctor said that Abbie has a definite allergy look about her: swollen eyes and redness in her ear. We are starting on some immune boosting vitamins and then we will see him again in one month. I'm so glad to get help in this area because she has been going at either 110% or 40% and has been crying at the drop of a hat. She is always very independent, but usually happy to comply, but lately... she has not known how (or perhaps had the internal resources) to interact well in controlled situations. Also, he is referring us to a speech pathologist. I'm thrilled! She has numerous sounds she can't pronounce ("l", "th", "r"...) and always refers to anyone in a feminine pronoun (her, she). I do wonder if her slowness in speech is a result of allergies? She is so on top of her organized little world that if we can correct her speech I think a lot of frustration will be eliminated from her life.
So, we were given things to keep our eyes on--but really we have some pretty healthy kids! ;)
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