Preggy Pix

Available from the bowling alley at Susie's blog.

More to come! Really!

Tales of the Babysitter

I took an interest in helping to "care for" my younger siblings at a very early age, which often resulted in their getting upset and my getting in trouble. I cut Kendall's hair when she was two, raced to pick up David from the Church nursery after Sunday School, and carried Becca around on my nine-year-old right hip from her birth on. Most of the time I got it wrong with them, but my instincts were a shadow of something good: I wanted to be a mother. I got to practice the most with Becca since I was 9 years older than her and mastered the skills of diaper changing, highchair cleaning, rocking chair reading, and doing awful things to her hair in the name of cuteness. Like I said, most of the time I got it wrong.

By the time I was 10 I had joined a 4H group. You got to pick various projects and then present them at the county fair each summer. Most of my church friends did projects with their cows and sheep since they lived on farms. Childcare was my immediate first choice. I did all kinds of little projects with a three year old from our church to practice my childcare skills. I rememember making shadow boxes with him, sock puppets, taking him on nature walks, and observing his progress like a child-psychologist, making notes for my little 4H project.

When I was 12 I started getting babysitting offers from family friends and neighbors, but my smart mother insisted that before I could start babysitting I had to be certified in first aid and CPR and also complete a day-clinic in childcare. I spent a long Saturday with two other adolescent girls and their grinning brother whose shirt read: "Kiss me, I might be a Prince." You just remember some things.

So when I completed all of mom's pre-requisites I was hired for my first babysitting job for a local family with two girls age 6 and 4. I had a "Kid Kit" for those of you who know the Babysitter's Club and since I was really still an older "kid" it was easy to play with my charges. They were a "type A" family so the job was simple: the house was always clean, everyone had a schedule, and the girls went to bed by 7:30 p.m. I do remember though, the girls being scared one night and my reassuring them with the 23rd Psalm. They had never heard of Jesus, so I took the opportunity and shared the Gospel with them. The next time I babysat them, their mother explained that they were Jewish and I was not to confuse the girls anymore with my religion. Apparently they had been peppering her with questions about Jesus. I honored their mother's wishes, but sometimes wonder how God used those seeds.

By this time I was had many regular clients, mostly up and down our little street in Illinois. When we moved to Virginia and I started high school I very occasionally babysat for one or two families from school, but when we moved to Michigan babysitting became much more lucrative--and fun.

My favorite client was a family of 4 boys, the oldest age 5. They were somewhat on a schedule in terms of naps and bedtime, but other than that, life was total, dangerous, hilarious chaos. By the time I got there around 5 p.m. the boys had been watching Power Rangers for at least 3 hours and the 3 and 5 year olds were trying out all their moves while the 2 year old was usually behind the couch or under the coffee table asking for juice and the 2 month-old needed a diaper change and a fresh bottle. I loved this job because it was never boring: the time flew by. It was the perfect fit for my ADD mind--I had to multi-task just to save us from a trip to the ER. I was pretty good at it, and the two babies had pretty easy-going personalities. That's what I like about boys--as long as you can keep up with them and protect them physically from themselves, you're largely good to go. Girls get more complex more quickly so things aren't quite so cut-and-dry. Usually with the boys we would come up with an imaginary game (not Power Rangers) that involved a fort and lots of hide-and-seek so that they were easily kept in one place (the fort) and focused enough to where they weren't off trying to kill each other.

The one job that I struggled with involved a six year old girl who wanted me to read Barbie to her. If there's one thing I insist on it's high-quality children's literature, not books about Matel toys or TV characters. I was compliant, but somehow couldn't manage to read the book without using a false fru-fru voice for Barbie. This did not go over well and I wasn't asked back in the future, but that was okay by me. Looking back I'm sure I could've handled it better, but if faced with the same situation today, I honestly doubt that I would.

I had lots and lots more anecdotes, but Providentially erased them. Sometime I'll talk about the crazy camp adventures involving 30 junior high kids, 16 canoes, and a cascade of teflon plates floating down the Wisconsin Flambeau. Another time I'll tell you about the school bus I drove bearing singing 3rd graders in uniform all over Nassau. Or my precious students in Grand Rapids, MI who sang hymns every morning and taught me more than all of the above combined.

I've just been thinking back on these many child-caring encounters as I prepare for rearing one of my own. I'm sure each adventure will contribute to my daily attempts, and I'm sure one day soon I'll have a thousand more to tell.

Bedtime Stories

In the last month or two we have started doing two things that I hope will become a lifelong family tradition.

First, we have made a point of going to bed earlier. This was impossible last year when I was still commuting from Santa Fe and didn't get home two nights a week until after 11 p.m. It has been wonderful to hit the sack at 10 or earlier and especially with pregnant-fatigue it's made a huge difference. I have no doubt that Heidi's arrival will upheave our bedtime for awhile, so I'm enjoying this while we have it!

Second, we have been spending at least 20 minutes each night reading aloud before turning out the lights. We just finished Till We Have Faces and have just begun Adam Bede. Husband usually reads and I have come to look forward to this time all day. It has an added benefit too, of giving Heidi lots of "Daddy voice" time since I read that she is learning our voices in utero.

Other than family worship I can't imagine a better and more pleasant way for a family to spend those last minutes before saying good night. I think it was the cure for my insomnia too, which has since disappeared. Thanks to those of you who prayed.

Guppy Baby

She feels like a little fish when she moves. And she's starting to move a lot. I'll post some preggy pix soon...

Pregnant Girl's Latest Craving Interpreted:

Preferably whole grain, at least 7 grains, toasted, with butter thickly melted on top. I think the craving started last week when I was sick and could just faintly sense food rather than taste it. And it's partly emotional. If you lived with me you would know what I mean, heh heh.

Anyway, whole grain toast is definitely one of my top fave snacks right now. It reminds me of high school: cold Michigan mornings when our poor dad would wake us up at least 3 times. We would race in and out of the showers, under the blow-dryers, into our corduroy overalls and red rubber boots and Gap perfume spritz and already be ten minutes late for school.

When we came downstairs our little White Oldsmobile Cutlass Sierra would be already started and warmed up for us (thanks, Dad), and if we had another two minutes we could sit down and eat (you guessed it): hot whole grain toast, maybe with an egg (thanks, Mom), always with homemade berry preserves from Grandma or Aunt Mary. If we didn't have two minutes Mom would thrust pieces of hot toast into our hands with a paper towel and we would juggle it with our coffee or tea and the steering wheel tapping the break so we wouldn't slide on the ice. We wouldn't scrape the windshield, we'd just let the friction of the wipers do the work, knocking off snow or rubbing frost away. And then we were off, sometimes giving other kids a ride, sometimes just us, listening to the Colors of the Wind or the Phantom of the Opera in between bites of hot toast.

I think my craving is metaphysical. It has to do with those small things, those little details that meant we were loved in spite of the fact that we were always running late and got C's in chemistry, in spite of the rate at which our windshield wipers declined, the times we stormed out the door, the times we didn't say thank you to our parents for making our mornings easier. I want my daughter to have the car heated up for her, to have a hot breakfast no matter what--I want to give her what was given me. And in a way I already am, with each bite of hot toast.

Ultrasounds

Baby Heidi

Praise the Lord for His kindness to us--so far things look good. She is fearfully and wonderfully made: four limbs, four heart chambers, two ears, and a tendency to play with her umbilical chord. I think she swings on it. She also was twisting and squirming and pretty much annoyed the ultra-sound tech the entire time with her distinctive, yet totally cute lack of cooperation. Definitely our baby.

Pictures will follow soon--we weren't able to get any good uploadable shots from the ultrasound yet, but are planning to scan some in soon. Please rejoice with us!

Happy Birthday, Dad!!!

Top Ten Memories of Dad on his Birthday 2007 (not necesarily from the year 2007):

10. The Shopsmith Phase: when Kendall and I were little, Dad bought a shopsmith and built us a swingset, a sandbox, and the most spectacular bunkbed/playhouse system I've ever seen--all from scratch.

9. Sunday afternoons at the Sheraton pool complete with trips to 7/11 for slurpees.

8. Walking through the woods as an 8 year old with Dad at Grandpa's farm looking for arrowheads and catching crawdads.

7. When we lived in Chesapeake during my high school years, Dad bought us a little Sunfish and taught us how to sail--he also taught me how to right the boat after it would keel all the way over by tipping it on purpose.

6. The time he drove across the country with a trailer full of my stuff for my move to New Mexico w/ Boo.

5. All the times he visited Grand Rapids while I was teaching, coming to our plays, video-taping Christimas Programs, and taking us out for good meals.

4. Walking me down the aisle in addition to everything else he did for our wedding.

3. The prayerful letters he sent to me through high school absences and college. I still have each one.

2. The many hours he spent with his children in the evenings after long days at work reading to us from the "God book," singing with us, and teaching us to love the Lord.

1. The night he explained to me the path of salvation and how it is achieved through Christ, and led me through the sinner's prayer.

Thanks, Dad for these and many more! Happy Birthday to you!!

Sick and Mortified

Every dog has its bad habits. One of Una's is tearing. Above she is tearing up a toy. Another thing she Loves to tear is kleenex. Sometimes she sits there and pulls them out of the box, one after the next.

Today I came home sick from work (AGAIN). I don't know if I'm suffering from another cold or allergies, or Valley Fever (the latest safety warning issued at work for the benefit of employee paranoia), but anyway. I spent the afternoon on the couch in a half-sleep state praying that at least one nostril might clear and dreaming about snorkels.

Una (bless her heart) got busy with the kleenex. To my chagrin the doorbell rang--Terminix Man come to spray the house. Yours truly did not have time to clean up Una's 5 foot radius mess of shredded Puffs. I had to laugh at our great impression: psycho girl throwing a confetti party for herself? Tylenol parade? I think Mr. Terminix figured it out, but it took me awhile in my sinus-blur to put that together. My head is getting fuzzy...

Persecution of Homeschooling Families in Germany

My brother sent me a link to an article that described how families in Germany who choose alternative means of education to the state schooling program are being persecuted.

Germany is close to me for obvious reasons, and my brother more-so. He's keeping abreast on issues in the land of our heritage because he feels he is being called to missions work in Western Europe. He'll spend two months in Geissen at the German Theological Seminary, participating in workshops and also giving his wife, Sharon-Ruth, a taste of living in Germany for an extended period of time. Incidentally, I spent 12 weeks in Giessen in high school, as a cultural exchange student at a private Christian school (the August Hermann Franke Schule).

Lately, I've been thinking more about familial issues and our roles as parents (which we'll soon be!) Family Worship has been on my mind...


... as well as the teaching and training of our children.

Basically, if German education authorities realize parents are keeping their children out of school, all children would be separated from their parents and their care would fall under the state. Part of the care usually involves psychiatric evalulations and limited contact with the parents. The parents can even be charged with negligence and abuse. For more informaiton, go here.

We can pray for those parents who feel convicted to shelter their children from the outspoken atheistic culture by opting to home school. We can thank our Lord for the faithful witness of such families in their communities, but must also pray for a boldness to share their Christian convictions. It's sad to reflect on the current state of a country that has played such a vital role in the history of the Reformed Church.

Wetzlar - the town in which I lived while in the Giessen area - and its 10th Century Gothic Cathedral

21st Century Sport Report: Table Tennis

I've become a big fan of table tennis over the past year. It has always been a something I enjoyed playing, but in my formative years, games consisted of my father besting me with a serious backhand smash.

A little over a year ago, some of us at work pooled some money to buy a ping pong table for our use during our lunch breaks. In the high-bay of our building (the place where deliveries come in) we have lots of room to set up and play each and every day.

At first a few of us were there daily, but now the number has grown to about 8 regulars. We play doubles games to 11, where the winning team stays on the table, until they have played all combinations of opponents. Some days we wish we had a second table, because its hard to wait your turn.

Over a couple thousand games (we play about 10-20 a day), our skills have definitely improved. Maybe we're somewhere between here:



and here:



Today, we were hoping to play after work at the Manzano Mesa Community Center,
where the competition is quite stiff. To our dismay, it was closed for spring cleaning this week. Oh well, maybe next time.

Table Tennis (or "ping pong" - which is the sound the ball makes as you play) is a great way to sharpen you hand-eye coordination, as well as work up a little sweat during your lunch break. Here is a video that describes some of the basics I have kept in mind during my training for the coveted "complete circuit" - where you hold the table through all possible combinations of opponents:



... that was probably one video too many, but I like posting vids!

Special Blessings

Every day brings its general blessings: sunrises, food, smiles, peace, mountains, green grass--the list goes on forever--but sometimes God chooses to touch us in ways that are so unique and personal it can be overwhelming.

Back in Michigan at all the various Reformed Churches they play a little game called "Dutch Bingo." If you're Dutch and grew up in the church and you're visiting another church, people will start asking you what your family name is, where you're from, and then they'll start asking you who you know from where and when until you've established at least a few mutual contacts. This still happens to me out here in the desert whenever I meet church brethren from Michigan. I realize that this is not the same thing as deep fellowship--which can happen no matter when you were saved, how, or where, but it does remind me of the strong tendons and ligaments of the Body and how far they can reach.

Here is one example which has recently touched husband and me. My Dad's parents are from Lexington, Kentucky, and they have lived in the same wonderful house on Lanette Lane for many years. As kids my siblings and I spent weeks there during the summer with our cousin Eric, where we got go know my grandparents' neighbors from across the street, Dusty and Misty. We played with those kids growing up and when Dusty entered the U.S. Naval Academy in Baltimore, my family happened to be living in Chesapeake, VA. So Dusty would come out for weekends, sometimes meeting up with his family at our home, and we all enjoyed continued fellowship. When Dusty met Beth and got married, my family attended the wedding, and when they had their first baby, we stopped by to visit her.

Apparently while Dusty was in school, he became good friends with Bob and Judi, a couple from his church. Bob was interested in Classical education, and since I was a classical teacher at the time, Dusty gave Bob my number and we had a few telephone conversations about it.

This all happened several years ago, but about a month ago, a young couple showed up at our church and introduced themselves as Dusty's friends Bob and Judi--who now have a daughter, Abigail. Even though I barely knew them, it was like a small reunion. When we showed them our wedding pictures they remembered many of the names of people based on conversations with Dusty.

I share this because I know many of my family members read my blog and thought you would all enjoy hearing about our new "old" friends.

Good Grief

Today I got an email from the Cutest Pet Contest. I couldn't help it--I sent the above photo into the cutest pet contest last spring. I should have known better. Una and I have now been invited to this crazy Cutest Pet Convention in Kansas City hosted by Jerry Mathers (a.k.a. Beaver of Leave it to Beaver) and featuring Mario Manzini, the Guinness World Record Escapologist. The cost is a mere $595 (not including travel & lodging) and if we go Una and I will get to march in the Cutest Pet Parade and then receive our Cutest Pet Trophy presented by "The Beave." Oh, I will also get my own "Cutest Pet Photographer" ribbon to wear for the entire convention.

Plus there will be a drawing for $5,000. I have to admit, I am a little tempted to march Una in a parade. She is so Crazy Cute!! Maybe husband will consider this for our next family vacation...

If he says no, I'll use this quote from the web page to persuade him:

Won't everyone be jealous when you show them the photos of you and Jerry laughing it up in Kansas City!

Heidi Max

A week from today we will (hopefully!) discover our baby's gender. I'm looking forward to naming our little one and never referring to the baby as "it" again. For all of the interventions technology has brought to childrearing, I have to say I'm glad we will be able to start bonding more specifically with our baby soon. So stay tuned next Thursday p.m. to find out if we're having Heidi or Max. I can't wait!!