Home From The Holidays

We came home from visiting Brian’s folks. The house was still standing, which I noted with nostalgia (we always said that when my parents and my brother and I came home from a long trip).  Upon entering it, however, we kind of wished it weren’t.

The cat, may she rest in peace, for whatever reasons had neglected to use the litterbox for much of the week. Instead, she used the floors.  In order to put our kids to bed, we had to navigate a hallway and bathroom filled with randomly-placed landmines of poop and vomit. While holdig our dozes and talkig like dis. We skipped the tooth-brushing that night. The less time spent in the bathroom, the better.

Brian and I got rid of the biggest (*GAG*) piles before we went to bed.  Praise God that He had nudged me to close all the bedroom doors before we left.

So then, with the moral support of two friends-in-deed, I began the major cleanup the next day.  UGH. In addition to the cat’s mess, I also got to experience the remnants of one of Gannon’s sleepwalking episodes. One where he thought he’d gone into the bathroom and peed in the potty, when in reality he was still in his room and was standing in front of a toybox.

Oh yeah, I also took the cat to the vet and had it euthanised*. Then I took it home and the kids and I buried it deep under the flowerbed.  After we had a time of sitting on the couch with it, petting it and remembering what sort of a cat she was.  We also took the opportunity to examine the general anatomy of cats without being gouged.  That part was Gannon’s idea.  As we sat on the couch, leaning over the dead cat between us, I felt like perhaps a huge blinking sign was over our livingroom, reading “PSYCHO HOMESCHOOLERS”.  It was a unique experience.  I can only hope.

The next day, as I was grumbling about the mess I was still cleaning out of the upstairs carpets, Acadia brightly and optimistically offered, “At least the cat’s dead now, Mom!”  Ah, a girl after her Dad’s own heart.

So yeah, our Thanksgiving was nice.  Then December started.  I am expecting the stomach bug and/or plague of frogs to be arriving soon.  As psycho homeschooler, we will dissect the frogs.  Maybe find a recipe or two for a healthy meal of them.  And do a lapbook on the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt.

*I did not do this without much thought and agonizing emotion. And a check for $88 to the vet.

It Is Not Death to Die

Any Christian touched by sadness, grief, depression, fatigue, unbelief, illness, or any other type of suffering should listen to the CD by Sovereign Grace Music, Come Weary Saints.  With my walk with depression, the ideas in these songs have sustained me.  Having these songs together like this…wow.  And I love the way they have been arranged on the CD.  It’s very emotionally satisfying, if that makes sense.  As I listened to it for the first time, I felt myself moving through that familiar series of feelings, starting out being tired and worn out, too tired to think.  By the end, I could see the overlay of God’s plan over the outline of my life.

Here are the lyrics to one of the songs.  This was altered by Bob Kauflin and based on an 1832 hymn.

It is not Death to die, to leave this weary road,
and join the saints who dwell on high,
who’ve found their home with God.
It is not death to close the eyes long dimmed by tears,
and wake in joy before your throne,
delivered from our fears.

O Jesus, conquering the grave,
your precious blood has power to save.
Those who trust in you will in your mercy find
that it is not death to die.

It is not death to fling aside this earthly dust,
and rise with strong and noble wing
to live among the just.
It is not death to hear the key unlock the door
that sets us free from mortal years
to praise forever more.

O Jesus, conquering the grave,
your precious blood has power to save.
Those who trust in you will in your mercy find
that it is not death to die.

Please Pray

Friends of ours are going through a challenging situation right now. One of their kids was diagnosed with leukemia this week and has begun what might be a long treatment plan. I didn’t ask them for permission to share identifying information, but God knows who they are. So if you want to pray for them, God has it all under control.

Thanks.

Ouch, I Say.

This post is less than clever because it is pretty awkward to type right now. I’m wearing two wrist splints because I’ve got carpal tunnel syndrome. Too much blogging? I am not really sure what it is that I’ve been doing to cause this, but here it is nonetheless. Brian’s been opening jars, straining pasta, and bagging up the trash. Like he needs more work to do.

Ready for the worst?

It hurts to use my camera. *sob* That’s one job I don’t want to delegate.

This had better clear up by next week’s trip to Camp Spofford. I can’t let that go undocumented!

Nutritional Comparison: Chocolate Teddy Grahams and Wheat Thins Original

I am trying to keep easy, healthy snacks in the house. Isn’t that every mother’s goal, at least in theory? Anyway, I thought I’d try out Wheat Thins on them. They liked them well enough. I bought the Teddy Grahams for myself, because I was craving chocolate and they have less fat and fewer calories than a bag of Lindt Truffles. (Doesn’t everything?) But really, we all eat both kinds of crackers.

Just for kicks, I examined the Nutrition Facts of both Nabisco products. The crackers have these differences:

• Calories: 130
• Calories from fat: 40
• Total Fat: 4.5g
• Sodium: 160mg
• Potassium: 95mg
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugars: 8g
• Calcium: 10%

compared to the following:

• Calories: 150
• Calories from fat: 50
• Total fat: 6g
• Sodium: 260mg
• Potassium: 0g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugars: 4g
• Calcium: 2%

Other facts were identical.

Can you tell which was which? The sweeter, higher-sugar crackers were the Teddy Grahams, the first that I listed. The second list belongs to the Wheat Thins package. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather enjoy a handful of Chocolate Teddy Grahams than an equal amount of Wheat Thins. I like both, but come on. Chocolate. In competition with wheat.

I suppose one could argue that sugar is bad for you, and the wheat-flavored crackers may have other benefits not listed on the package. Or that the eater could become so excited about eating the cute chocolate bears that she could accidentally eat half the package.

But arguing is wrong, so I won’t do it here.

I’m going out to play now, after I brush off these crumbs.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

This made me cry. It’s a video highlighting a network of volunteers who offer to help families who have learned that their newborns will likely not survive birth. They’re photographers (including one of my favorite children’s photographers, Sugar Photography) who give their time and skills to give enduring tangibility to the memories these families are making with their beautiful children. The pictures provide evidence that these children existed and had lives that meant something. God, in His sovereign grace, makes no mistakes and is always good.

This also made me cry. The Born Alive Infants Protection Act. When President Bush signed it in August 2002, he said,

Today I sign the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. This important legislation ensures that every infant born alive — including an infant who survives an abortion procedure — is considered a person under federal law. This reform was passed with the overwhelming support of both political parties, and it is about to become the law of the land.

With this in effect, doctors are required to give medical care to a child who is “accidentally” born alive after a late-term abortion attempt. Why on earth does this even have to be discussed? In fact, although it was passed “with overwhelming support of both political parties,” Barack Obama did not support it. Logical, actually, if you set your philosophy on the flawed premise that we are all there is. So maybe I shouldn’t be surprised.

For another look at this issue, go here. This has Mr. Obama’s own words about why he did not support this legislation.

The value of life, no matter how short or how long, is a subject that is close to my heart. It’s one of the few things that can set me off (the others being depression and education). Can you tell?

The Question On Everyone’s Lips….

“How are you guys doing?”

The answer is…we’re still alive. In fact, yesterday we emerged from our self-imposed quarantine from society, blinking, into the open air and sunshine. Brian went to work. I took the kids to McDonald’s to climb in the PlayPlace and to Wal-Mart to spend some Valentine money from their grandparents. The kids were still coughing, hacking, and sniffling, and Gannon didn’t go down the slide more than twice, but at least we were out of the house.

This morning Gannon is pooped out again, but Acadia is raring to go. Her cough is occasional, but it still sounds yucky. I’ve heard that’s the way it is with RSV, and not to worry. So I won’t. <— lie

Do Not Approach The Dellingers.

Our household has fallen victim to an insidious illness that lasts for days. Long, long days. Nights, too. It might be the flu, says Brian’s doctor. We’ll see what the kids’ doctor says this morning when we take them in. I, so far, have remained healthy, despite the lack of sleep and the sympathy symptoms that don’t last.

I won’t disgust you with the respiratory yuckiness that pervades our home, except for this quote from the ever-effusive Acadia:

See? This is the stuff on my eye and when I woke up I couldn’t open them, so… (pause, shrug) I had to eat it! Wasn’t that silly?

Uh…that’s one word for it….

Following In Our Footsteps?

Brian was in second grade when he got glasses. I was in third grade. Now Gannon, in first grade, has his turn.

He likes them and, as he says, “They work!”

Babies Make Us Love Them (Part 2)

My friend Bonnie sends out this prayer request for her new little grandson:

Hey everyone, here is the news of the new grandbaby. His name is Brennon Timothy and he was born 10/13 at 1 am. He weighed 6.12 and is 19 3/4 inches tall. He was 24 days early. We want to thank God becaue he helped Brennon through some of the preemie issues he had such as low blood sugar and fluid on the lungs. However, Brennon is not yet out of the woods because he was also born with a form of spina bifida. He has a small dimple hole in his lower back and lots of bruising. His spine didn’t quite close all the way, he has a few half formed vertebrae, and is missing one rib. Monday morning Brennon will be ambulanced to [the] Hospital where they have an extensive and highly sophisticated Neonatal Center. He will undergo more tests and will get spine surgery next week. Please keep Brennon and our whole family in your prayers. We are believing for a miracle. I have to say that he is the best looking baby in the nursery. However, the poor little guy has an IV in his head and a feeding tube in his nose. I will try to update as soon as I am able.

Pray for Brennon’s health and for his family to cling to God now, as always.