Lilacs and Patience

When we first moved into this house I was sure that the three giant shrubs in the backyard were lilacs, just like the ones at Grandpa's farm that were so big we could play inside them like a playhouse.

But they never bloomed. And then one of them started turning gray or something. So we were going to tear them out to make room for our crazy garden we're planting this year.

Husband did take out the gray one--because we were afraid there was something growing on it that might spread to the other plants. He was amazingly fast, but it was no small feat. We even left the 2ft.x2ft. root ball out for a week just as a trophy.

And the other two bushes had their days numbered like the Green Mile. But then, a few weeks ago we started noticing a change--dark, berry like things appearing ALL OVER the bushes. I was afraid to hope. But, we both agree, nothing like this appeared at all last spring.

We climbed up (I'm so not going into how insane it is for me to be climbing up our walls at 8 months pregnant) and looked closer--it was still hard to tell, but it really looked like lilac buds! But I still didn't want to get my hopes up.

The other night we saw some lilacs for sale at Trader Joe's and decided that this had to be a match with ours. And today one of them started to Bloom! Our very own lilac bushes, very mature and seemingly recovered from what must have been a brutal pruning by the house-flippers.

All that to say, I'm awful glad we saw the buds and waited it out before we ripped out these bushes to plant sweet corn. There's a beautiful lesson in this about patience, about things not following our timetable, about beautiful, glorious surprises like lilacs growing into the sky. I'm thankful we serve a God whose patience is perfect, who doesn't replant when things don't bloom at the expected time, who prunes sometimes brutally, but always perfectly, and who knows exactly what we need to grow to our best and fullest.

Oops.

Just realized I put all my red envelopes in the mailbox with no stamps on them.

From Kendall's Blog:

Red Envelope Day

When:

March 31st, 2009

How:

Get a red envelope. You can buy them at Kinko's, or at party supply stores. On the front, address it to:

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington , D.C. 20500



On the back, write the following message:

This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion.

It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world.

Mail the envelopes March 31st, 2009.

Forward this event to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died [in the U.S.] before having a chance to live.

It may seem that those who believe abortion is wrong are in a minority. It may seem like we have no voice and it's shameful to even bring it up. Let us show our President and the world that the voices of those of us who do not believe abortion is acceptable are not silent and must be heard.

Together we can change the heart of The President and save the lives of millions of children.

Thank you.

Barack Obama spoke at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event, uttering the now infamous line, "Well, the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. [Applause.] That's the first thing that I'd do."

An empty red envelope will send a message to President Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue [The Freedom of Choice Act, which will essentially "undo" every law currently in place to limit abortion in the U.S. (i.e., parental consent laws, parental notification, waiting periods, prohibition of transporting a minor girl across state lines to obtain an abortion, etc.)]. It will be quiet, but clear.

Glory be to God our Father forever and forever. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Philippians 4:20, 23b

For Brother

We love you!

Zoo Day

Thanks, Abigail, for not letting her fall into the Fishpond!



Describing the gorgeous day to Daddy via cell.



Hello, Lama!!
Oh, and cookie baking--which is really hyper-intensive obedience training. But still fun.

Good Stuff

As long as I'm dealing in honesty, I may as well admit that I have been more influenced (as a person) by my childhood readings of Tolkien and Lewis than I have been by any philosophers I read in college and grad school. The events and characters in Narnia and Middle Earth shaped my ideals, my dreams, my goals. Kant just annoyed me.

This is a great short little post on why bedtime stories are of upmost importance.

36 Weeks

Haven't been able to run up the mountain with this one--we have a jogging stroller but the trails are too steep and rocky (I keep telling myself). However, I feel like I've been running up the mountain every day so am not too worried. Plus, my strategy with this pregnancy is to do nothing preparation-wise in hopes that somehow I can avoid a C-section.
Heidi has started to say "baby sister" in her nightly commune with my belly, which usually involves throwing herself against it to bestow a kiss and a nuzzle on the baby. Last night she actually said Ezza, and I'm trying to prepare her by reminding her that Ezza will be living with her in her room....you know, all the usual stuff.

Did anyone else buy the "sun protection kit from J&J last summer? How funny are the sunglasses that come with it? There's something very "A Christmas Story" about this photo--the expression or just the glasses? I don't know. I think she knows she looks crazy in them because we can hardly ever get her to wear them, which is too bad, because now that she understands "circle," we are trying to keep her from staring at the sun. I'm not kidding.


I laugh when I think about how little we have done so far in preparing for Elsa's arrival. I have gone through the baby clothes, figured out what we're going to do with our nursery, and have a rough idea of what will happen when labor starts (besides having a baby). I'm aiming for a dramatic water break during husband's defense in hopes that it will move things along and expedite the whole Q &A part.

But it feels like there are more important things than sorting and folding and painting. Like doing whatever I can to help husband get through these long grueling days of his own "labor." Like praying for our little family. Like just spending time with my baby while she's still the baby. Savoring each moment. Taking her to the park and the zoo and even Rainbow Fish and anywhere that might be fun. I am so thankful that I can be home with her and not miss a thing--that is a true gift from God and I never want to take it for granted.

Heidi Plays

They learn by imitation: so, so true. I was tempted to add a Bach prelude as the soundtrack to this post (you know, so it looked like she was a 1 year old prodigy), but...maybe for April Fool's day.

The best is watching her go and choose a piece of music, then climb up the bench while still hanging on to the music--it's a pretty tall bench too, which always makes me nervous with our hard floors...anyway.

I have so many thoughts when she plays: about the way small children learn, about how they are more free to be creative the more that they have a structured idea of something to imitate and repeat. About what a life of playing the piano has meant to me, and my relationships with the people and institutions I commune with. About how I'm going to raise children as a piano teacher--or teach piano as a mother: how the two will relate and especially what it will mean for my family.

Match Day!!!

To find out what happens, go here. Uncle Rico, we are so proud of you!!!

Boo

It's an incredibly moving experience to see the baby you got to help take care of (long ago) now taking care of your baby. It makes me so thankful for sisters and brothers and family and knowing that we're all part of something much bigger than each of us or all of us together.

Boo, your visit was Heaven-sent and much needed. I hope you could feel how much Heidi loves you. Come back soon!

What I'm Reading Part II

We're actually on the "S" section right now, but something is changing with Heidi's reading habits. I don't know if it's the lack of lap space or just that I have overwhelmed her, or that her tastes have already evolved to the point where no time must be wasted on sub-par materials. We still bring home a big bag of books, but now after about 5-6 pages of any given book, she will either settle in for the whole thing or say "No," and get up, find another one, and return.

Then she settles on 3-4 that are "worthy" and we read those every day, several times a day for the rest of the week. So I am becoming even more discretionary with my pickings--any one of them could be the one I end up memorizing for life.

I'm sad to say she utterly rejected Tasha Tudor, a Terhune family classic, although we possess a beautifully illustrated version of the 23rd Psalm from my own childhood that she still seems to enjoy.

The two books above though, continue to be favorites--it's all about the rhythm and song, people. Iza Trapani, I'm sure you will be glad to know, has several books, each with extended versions of classic children's tunes (How much is that Doggie, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Shoo Fly, Baabaa black sheep, etc.) Fortunately for me, our library seems to carry only two of them, and Heidi has been hauling them around the house all week.

And Karma Wilson's books have been a consistent pleaser since Heidi was little. She even has some tasteful Christian books that we have enjoyed (This is the Day).

Spring Break Extravaganza

So as I mentioned previously, Aunt Boo dropped in en route to a wild spring break extravaganza somewhere south of here. They brought with them rain and snow, for which we were grateful, but they were not thrilled.

These are just a few highlights of Heidi loving on her Aunt Boo and doting on the cool college kids. I never knew my little sister was such a Lizard Biscuit fan (or whoever they are).

Baby in Red

Auntie Kendall (ever the fashionista) noticed immediately that Heidi's color is red and sent us a truckload of red clothing. We were really not trying to stage a Red Riding Hood re-enactment, but that's kind of what happened--we have everything, including the wolf!









This weekend was about spring break--Boo came down with 7 friends and boy were they a wild group! Heidi was in heaven with all the attention as you can see: lots of people to play head and shoulders with. It was a huge blessing to be able to share our home and space with these delightful kids and I'm eager to hear how their New Mexico camping extravaganza goes....

Welcome Susanna Quinn!

A new baby cousin was born this week in Manistee, MI to Markus & Sharon! I have been waiting for pictures to announce her arrival! We're glad you're here, Susanna (and can I say how much I love the name?)

Waiting for Daddy

On piano days we go outside after lessons and enjoy the last hour of the sunlight--usually waiting for Daddy. I wasn't able to get any good photos of Una's chasing after two dogs far down the block and pregnant me chasing her with indignant Heidi on my hip: "Na! Na!" (she was helping me to call Una). And I wasn't able to get shots of Daddy driving up at just that moment to see his dog assaulting our neighbor and her two dogs while wife and baby tried to chase them down. And then I wasn't able to get a good picture of Heidi's face when she saw "Dada!!" driving up (so happy!) and then her heart breaking as he drove the rest of the 20 yards home with Una riding in the passenger seat. She thought he was leaving again, poor thing. And the worst part was that I couldn't get a picture of Heidi running up the sidewalk and Daddy coming out to meet her--it was like the ending of The Incredible Journey but with people not dogs (Una refused to get out of the car). Definitely our most eventful homecoming thus far.


I'm still trying to learn about our flash--but I thought these were cute: Heidi tucking in her "baby." We are talking a lot about "baby" these days. She understands that one lives under Mommy's shirt somewhere and will eagerly point that out to anyone around if the word "baby" comes up in conversation. But I'm glad to see that she understands a few fundamentals: babies need a good pillow and blanket, lots of kisses, and lots of love! I love how lately she must go get her own blanket to make sure baby is warm.