Good News and Coffee!

I have a daily morning routine in which I check my email. Usually it is just to determine scheduling stuff, and to keep up with the news and friends. Today, however I got two important messages regarding special people whom my heart has been breaking for. So, my friend's sister, who was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer and is 22 weeks pregnant got the news that the cancer is slow growing and treatable after her baby is born at full term!! Last week the news was looking so incredibly grim, as you can imagine how aweful the scenario could have been, and was feared to be by her doctors.

Our friend Wei-Hsien Wan who had to suddenly fly back to Malaysia to see his ailing mother, missed her by about 13 hours as she passed away before he arrived home. He was struggling with a bizarre immigration hiccup and when he left the country, he effectively terminated all chances for citizenship here in the US. An email from him this morning was a quick hello, but full of his usual charm and sense of humor - and that in itself helps me to know that he's going to be o.k. Praise God!

But I'm not tired!

So, we've been a little busy this weekend! So busy in fact, that dear hubby ended up in bed this afternoon - totally wiped out! Friday night his Catholic men's group had their last Familia meeting. They celebrated, as it was the last meeting after 4 years of study together and they've completed the program.

Saturday was filled with a non-traditional baby shower, which was called a Baby Bead Blessing. It was quite touching as we strung a bracelet for the mommy to be and wrote down prayers for the baby, prayers for the new one's impact on the world and prayers for the mother on her journey in motherhood. The experience properly reflected the beauty and dignity of motherhood. Then we had Uncle Bobby and Aunt Marcia over for dinner, took a nice leisurely walk and played a new game that Uncle Bobby had made. Fun!! Kids went to bed after 10.

Sunday morning consisted of church, then the Commerce City Car Show hosted by the Commerce City Rotary Club. We headed home after a trip to get Slurpies . . .and did yard/garage work. Our son earned $5 as he swept the entire garage, including cracks. I overheard him telling a friend that it was a "job so big that it was what 65 year-olds did!" I don't think he realizes that he's much better equipped for the task than a 65 year-old. . . I guess that age sounds very responsible to him! Sunday night we went to Dave and Busters with another couple and their children. We enjoyed getting to know them better. . . again, the kids were up past 10!

Monday morning Kevin ran the Bolder Boulder and he left the house before 6am, I didn't hear him leave. He ran and then had responsibilities with CU for the morning to show "Ralphie" the mascot - a true, living bison. The kids and I joined the Hermanson's and Kuetemeyer's at the Commerce City Memorial Day Parade and then BBQ'd at the Hermanson's afterward. I had the best potato salad EVER. Seriously. I don't even like potato salad. We headed to Boulder after that to another gathering for my friend Alana Wehinger and her son Dean who is about 5 mos. old. She and her husband have been living in Australia for nearly 4 years. Dean is a precious, precious baby! Alana was her warm, wonderful, adventurous self and it was as if no time had passed at all. I got to catch up with some other friends that were there as well. So, tonight we were bathing and prepping the kids for bed. . . and they're saying "but we're not tired!" Surprisingly, neither was I. I'm sure it will hit tomorrow!

Welcome to Candy Land!

Yesterday and today were filled with planting our annuals in pots and the front flower bed. Perrenials and bushes went in as well. I did the shopping at a local nursery - Picadilly Nursery in Brighton - where they actually helped me! I was greeted by about 4 employees, all eagerly tending to this or that and willing to assist me. Bliss. I did that shopping alone. Double Bliss. Last year, I attempted this feat with a 1 1/2 year old and 4 year old. Dear daughter sat in mud puddles, and tottered off down through the jungle aisles of plants. Dear son was as helpful as he could be, for a 4 year old. They had a great time - me, not so much!

So, the kids did go with me on Tuesday to shop at Home Depot. It was like Candy Land. We picked red, yellow, pink and orange - all hot and bright colors. Bremma demanded "PINK, PINK, PINK" and claimed her own set of petunias. . . they were pink. My visions of perfectly coordinated pots went out the window today in favor of a rainbow explosion of colors in each pot - truly Candy Land. My kids were really enthusiastic, and I had a great time with them. Our pots are beautiful, unique perhaps. . . but beautiful. My kids decided which flowers should go together, and I have the memories of their muddy feet and muddy hands helping me. Turin was the watering can man, and was reliable in getting all the "babies" wet. Bliss.

Turin's New Bible

I planned to post a picture with Turin "reading" his new bible, but I'm having some software issues with my camera/computer connection. In any case, Turin received a bible on Saturday as part of a moving on ceremony for our St. John Bosco Cooperative for Homeschooled Children. Next year he will participate in a bible study once a week with other kids his age.

I'm glad to see how attached he's become to his bible, which by the way seems to weigh 5 lbs! I would actually like to weigh it and see - it is large print, and therefore, very large in general! He's taken it everywhere since Saturday, and I've even had to ask him to leave it at home . . . I guess I don't want it to get too beat up!

This version of the bible has no pictures. His daddy saw him looking at in the car and asked if he was reading it. Turin replied, "Nope, it is a little too hard right now, but I just like to look at the pages. . . Jesus is in here."

I pray that he wants to continue looking for and finding Jesus.

Petit a' petit - Little by little . . .

Do you ever feel like you can't quite choose what the "best" use of your time and energy would be? I'm considering mowing the lawn, planning my garden, planning my son's schoolwork. . . while chasing down my 2 year old, who is out of her jammies, but running around in just underpants (too cute!). I'm needing to go to the grocery store, buy gifts at various other stores, and take dear son to soccer, then to a picnic/party. I guess the truth of the matter is, as the seasons change so do my projects and routines. I just haven't gotten in the groove yet, and with the little miracle growing inside of me - I'm just tired! So, here's to doing a little bit. . . baby step by baby step, or like they say it in french, "Petit a' petit, l'oiseau fait son nid." - translated to "Little by little, the bird builds his nest." This gives me hope!

Curses to Martha Stewart and Glitter!

So, I attempted the cute May Day craft last Thursday while I had my kids and 3 boys from another family over. All went well until my 2 year old commandeered the glitter. . . my floor will be magically sparkly until the 4th of July!

Birthday Blessings

My birthday was last Wednesday, and still the cards and presents are trickling in! I love this lingering part of any holiday or birthday celebration. . . It is like a bouquet of flowers that you know is going to fade out and pass its prime, but it persists as long as it can. I have such wonderful friends and family. It wasn't the quantity of cards or the presents that I received but it was the depth in which my friends and family know me, and they reflected that in what they said and offered. As I was writing thank you notes to my dear ones yesterday for their thoughtful actions and gifts, I became overcome with gratitude for the friends God has blessed me with! He has created a garden for me full of beauty and salve. My friends add beauty to the landscape. I have Poppy friends (truly her name is Popi!) and Roses. I have Lilacs who fill the world with dainty blossoms of kind deeds that come in such abundance! There are those that are like an evergreen, prevailing through all of life's storms and still green! Some friends are like medicinal herbs . . . there to comfort and soothe. Others have a more spicy flavor that adds an element of fun into the simplest of endeavors. The garden of friends that is being cultivated in my life is evidence of a good, wise, kind Father. Thank You, Lord!!

Twelve Hour Respite

My two darling children were put into bed, after a quick dunk in the tub at 6:15 pm last night. Sounds ridiculous, but my 2 year old was asleep within minutes and slept until about 30 minutes ago, 6:30 am. The 5 year old is still snoozing. Darling daughter is cheerful and singing this morning, the twelve hour respite seems to have turned her around! We'll see how my son does. Yesterday was a drama filled day with many "ouchies" and tears. This is what happens when he gets too tired, and he's to the age when naps don't work.

The early bed time gave me a chance to work on some homeschool planning for May and June. Today we are going to paint a May flower craft I found on Martha Stewart Living.com. We have a family of 3 boys coming over for the morning and also my 3 year old Godson. . . it will be a fun craft day. The weather is due to be cold and wet. . .