Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day

I've been doing a little research this weekend on the origins of Memorial Day.  It seems that no one really celebrates the true meaning of the holiday anymore (we seem to do that a lot).  So, I thought I'd find out just how this holiday got started.

It seems that it all started after the Civil War.  Several different cities and states claim to have started the tradition, so no one really knows for sure.  But, people would honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War by decorating their graves with flags or flowers.  In May of 1868, General John A. Logan, declared Memorial Day an official holiday in which the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery would be decorated.  New York was the first state to officially recognize the holiday, and all the northern states followed.  The confederate states held out, each choosing their own days to honor their fallen soldiers.  Then, after World War I, the holiday was expanded to include fallen soldiers of all wars, not just the Civil War, and all the Southern states finally got on board.  As of 1971, it is now celebrated in all states on the last Monday of May.


In 1915, Moina Michael (my cousin...see mom, I listen, sometimes!) wrote a poem (in response to "In Flanders Fields") that linked the red poppy to the remembrance of those fallen in battle.  She then came up with the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day.  The idea spread all over the world.  The United States honored her with her own postage stamp for her role in helping people to remember our fallen soldiers.


Honoring the dead by placing flowers on their graves used to be common, and it was a pretty big deal.  Now, I don't know a single person that does this on Memorial Day.  Mostly, we have bar b ques, go to the lake, or have a swimming party.  Few, myself included, take the time to really consider what the holiday is about.  Did you know that to combat this, in 2000, Congress created the "National Moment of Remembrance?"  I guess they thought if we couldn't set aside a whole day, maybe we could at least take a moment.  The idea is that at 3:00 pm, everyone will take a moment to in some way acknowledge the sacrifices that have been made for us.

I think I'll observe at least that moment with my family today.  And, I'll take some time to talk to my kids about the true meaning of the holiday.  Maybe next year, I'll plan in advance and do something special to honor our fallen soldiers.  At the very least, while you're enjoying time with family and friends today, take the time to think about the families all over the country that are celebrating today without someone that they dearly love.  There are mothers getting their kids ready for a Memorial Day celebration all by themselves, because their husbands are gone.  There are other mothers, whose children will not come home today for the family cook out.  There are children celebrating without fathers and mothers.  May we all take a little time today to think about why we can celebrate without the fear of being attacked.  We live in relative peace and without fear because of the sacrifices of our military families.  Make sure you tell your kids!

Happy Memorial Day!  Thank you to all the service members that put their lives on the line for us...and to their sweet families that give up so much for their service.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Tornado Talk

Last night was a little stressful around here.  I had just gotten the kids in their pajamas and was making their bed time snack, when I noticed the cat's tail was 3 times its normal size and he was crying.  Next, I saw that all the hair was standing up on the dog's neck.  It was a little unnerving.  Then, the tornado sirens started going off.  Mark was not home.  So, I stuck the kids in the bathtub, pulled the mattress off of Ella's bed to cover them, then I wrestled the dog into his crate.  I grabbed the flashlight just in time for the electricity to go off.  Mark called.  He was still at school and they had everyone in the hallway.  The kids and I huddled in the bathroom with the flashlight.  Ella was completely unfazed by the whole thing.  Aidan informed her that she should be scared because we could die.  "Really?" she said.  And then, "Ladies and Jigglemen!  It's time for the dance party!"  Completely unfazed.

Aidan was terrified.  I could see it in his face, and I could feel his heart pounding through his chest with my hand.  It reminded me of a time when I was about his age.  There were tornados in the area, so my grandparents, my aunt Teetie, my brother and I ran to the storm cellar.  I remember wishing I had grabbed my Cabbage Patch Doll.  My aunt Teetie stood behind me with her arms around me and commented that she could feel my heart racing.

But, Aidan didn't cry, and he didn't panic.  He did what he always does when he's nervous.  He talked, non-stop.  First, he recited every scientific fact he knows about tornadoes.  Then, he asked me a thousand questions concerning what I know about tornadoes.  Then, he started praying.  He held my hand and prayed for Mark to get home safely.  He prayed for angels to surround our house and keep us safe.  He prayed for his Pawpaw and Nana.  And then more questions.  Here is a sampling of some snippets of conversation from last night:

Aidan:  "What will we do if our house is destroyed?"
Me: "Well, we'll get a new one."
Aidan:  "Where will we live until we get a new one?"
Me:  "Probably with Pawpaw and Nana or in a hotel."

Aidan:  "You better go get all your medicine, just in case.  I don't want you to have to feel bad if something happens."

Ella:  "Can I watch a cartoon now?"

Aidan:  "I guess it won't matter that much if our house is destroyed."
Me:  "No, our joy doesn't come from things."
Aidan:  "Yeah, and if we die, we'll all die together and go to heaven.  And that would be great."

Ella:  "I NEED A SNACK!!!!"

Aidan:  "If there's a tornado while I'm sleeping, you'll come get me, won't you?"
Me:  "Of course."
Aidan:  "I'm glad God put me in  your tummy.  You're the best mommy and you always keep me safe."

Aidan:  "I'm just going to stick close to you, okay?"

Aidan:  "Ella, we have to stay in the bathtub in case there's a tornado!"
Ella:  "What?!?  What the booty?!?"

Aidan:  "Well, most tornadoes do happen in Texas.  And we ARE in Texas."
Me:  "True, we live in Tornado Alley."
Aidan:  "I can't wait until we go to Colorado."

Aidan:  "Does God make tornadoes?"
Me:  "Sort of...the weather conditions make them.  But, God is in control of all that."
Aidan:  "So, technically, he makes them?
Me:  "He allows them.  But don't worry.  God won't let anything happen to us that he won't give us the strength and courage to handle."

Even though it was a stressful night, with tornado sirens going off and on for a couple of hours, reports of hail...some as large as grapefruit all around us, I did get to have some sweet talks with Aidan.  It was good to see how he's maturing and how his faith is growing.  We were very blessed last night.  There were tornado touch downs all around us...in Azle, Saginaw, the Keller area...and a lot of hail and wind damage.  I heard that one tornado touched down just a 1/2 mile from our house.  But, we had no damage...no hail, no tornadoes.  We didn't even get rain.  Just lots of wind, thunder and lightening...and some beautifully frightening cloud formations.  We are so thankful that all of our friends and family are safe, and we are praying for all those affected by the storms.  And, I am so thankful for my thoughtful, deep-thinking, worry-wart oldest child, and my silly, free-spirited, carefree youngest child.  :)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

This and That

Today I'm sharing just a few things that are bouncing around in my head.  I know you will leave here feeling enlightened.  :)

1.  Moon Dough is evil.  If someone gives your child moon dough, it probably means you did something awful to them in the past and they have not forgiven you yet.  Seek forgiveness.

2.  I am now 13 weeks pregnant...27 weeks to go.  We had a screening for Down's Syndrome last week, which included an ultra sound.  The technician said she is 60% sure the baby is a boy.  I was already feeling that the baby was a boy.  But, now I am having to seriously think about our living arrangements.  A girl could have shared a room with Ella for years...I guess a boy can too, but we'll have to redecorate Ella's seriously girly room.  I LOVE Ella's very girly room.  On the bright side, my first boy was a smashing success...full of sweetness and love and cuddles, so I think it will be great.  (Oh, and the Down's screening came back normal!  Yea!)

3. This morning, Ella told me that I am funny and pretty...just like her.  I love her.

4.  Is it wrong that when the vet offered me pain pills for the dog yesterday, I happily accepted...not because I was all that concerned about his pain level (he was neutered), but because she said they would make him drowsy for a few days??  And I would love it if that dog would be just a little drowsy sometimes.  (They're not working, by the way).

5.  Mark totally predicted Josh Hamilton's home run last night.  I know he would want me to tell you that.  He also almost always correctly predicts the scores that the judges will give on Dancing with the Stars.  I think he cheats.

6. We need someone to keep our sweet, newly neutered, slightly energetic dog for 2 weeks while we are in Colorado.  Preferably someone with lots of space for him to run around.  Shoot me an email if you're interested in dog sitting.  I hate to kennel him for that long.

7.  Aidan's end of the year party is on Friday.  I am looking forward to it.  We are doing a Survivor Island theme.  The kids will have to make grass skirts out of streamers, dig marbles out of a ice cold "lagoon" with their toes, limbo, and bowl with a coconut.  I think it will be a great time.  I can't believe 2nd grade is over!  Even Aidan said it went by fast.

8. Ella insists that the baby is a chimpanzee.

9.  I read the other day that the more indigestion you have while pregnant the more hair the baby will have when it is born.  Ella might be right about the whole chimpanzee thing.

10.  Mark just called and needs me to bring something to him at school.  That's not really worth a spot on the list, but I had to have a #10...can't have an odd numbered list!

Have a great Tuesday!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Naming The Baby

We've started talking a little about possible baby names.  I have to say, there aren't any names that I just LOVE the way I loved Aidan and Ella.  I'm kind of stuck.  The kids, on the other hand, have lots of ideas.

Here are some of the best:

Ella:  Bubba Jr., Ella 2, Kudro, and my favorite-Chimpanzee.

Aidan:  His favorite name so far is Joe.  His next favorite is Jack, or as he said last night, "The Jackster."  He really wants the baby to have his middle name. I tried to explain that kids in the same family don't usually have the same name.  (Unless you're in George Foreman or Michael Jackson's family.)  While I'm not crazy about the names Aidan has picked, he has made quite a bit of progress since I was pregnant with Ella.  His top choices for Ella were Lightning Boy and Gerald.

Last night we were talking about middle names, and I said to Mark, "we could always use Edward as his middle name."  Aidan said, "Edward?!?  If you went to school and told the kids your middle name was Edward, you would be laughed at.  You would be the nerd of the whole school."  Then I told him that Edward was his daddy's middle name.  His reaction was pretty funny.  He covered his face and laughed for a long time.  Then at bedtime, he told Mark, "sorry about the whole Edward thing."  I have to say, it was pretty funny.  It's a good thing Mark is such a good sport!

I told Mark we should name the baby something that means fire, or something fire related.  Aidan means "little fire," and Ella means "torch."  I thought we could keep that theme going.  Mark suggested we name the baby something that means, "extinguisher."  He might be on to something.

My mom always has lots of suggestions...like Remington, or Seeton.  I think she's hoping the baby is on a soap opera some day.  It's not that I don't like those names, they just don't seem to fit with our family.

So, does anyone have any good baby name suggestions for me??

(*Please note, this post is not meant to offend anyone named Edward, Remington, Seeton, The Jackster, or Chimpanzee.)

Monday, May 16, 2011

A Popsicle and A Hug

There is a little girl that lives in my neighborhood.  I don't know her name.  I don't know how old she is.  She is not very big...much smaller than Aidan.  But, she has a way about her that makes you think she's older.  I'm not even sure where she lives.  I just know that she walks down my street every afternoon after school.  I've been watching her and wondering about her for two years.  She always wears pants that are much too short.  Not just a little too short, but WAY too short.  Her shoes are always worn out and never the right size...usually a couple of sizes too big, so they flop around when she walks.  She always wears a jacket or a sweater, no matter how hot it is outside, like she's trying to cover up a secret hurt.  I don't know her story.  I know nothing about her home life.  But, my heart aches for her just the same.  She never says much.  Once, she told me that she really liked all of my pretty flowers.  Sometimes she smiles, but she always watches me carefully as she walks by my house.  I make sure to always smile at her.  Just in case no one else does.

I stand out in front of my house every afternoon so I can watch Aidan walk home.  I greet him each day with a hug.  Or I'll tousle his hair and ask him how his day was.  I'm glad I get to be here to greet him when he comes home.  It seems like a trivial thing.  But, sometimes the trivial things mean the most.  This little girl made me realize what a gift I've been given to be here with my kids during the day.  One day she was walking just a little in front of Aidan.  I smiled at her, as usual.  Then I hugged Aidan and said, "hey buddy.  How was your day?"  Before Aidan could answer, this quiet little girl said, "there's nothing better in the world than to have someone waiting for you at home to give you a hug and a popsicle."  I looked at her.  She just said it as she walked.  She didn't stop or slow down.  "Do you have anyone at home to give you a hug?" I asked.  "No, there's no one at home," she said, at almost a whisper as she kept walking.

My heart hurt for her.  Maybe her family is neglectful.  Or maybe they are just doing what they have to in order to get by.  I don't know.  I wish that I could invite her into my home.  Give her a hug...and a popsicle.  Ask her how her day was.  Look at the papers in her backpack and make a big deal over the good grades...and help her fix the bad ones.  I want to let her know that I see her, and that I care about her...and that God sees her, and He cares about her too.  I know it's not appropriate to do those things for a girl I don't even know.  But, I'll keep praying for her, and maybe God will open some doors for me to talk to her more.

In the meantime, I will remember what a blessing it is that I get to be here when my own child comes home.  Sometimes my job is so monotonous that I forget what a blessing and honor it is.  May I never take for granted the gift...no, the many gifts...I've been given:  my husband, who values my being at home with our kids, and supports me in that role, my beautiful healthy children, my comfortable home, financial provision that allows me to be here, and my sweet relationship with my Savior, everything good about me as a woman and a mother comes from Him.  I have to agree with that precious little girl.  There is NOTHING better than having someone waiting for you at home.  We all need a safe place to land at the end of the day.  I am so grateful that I can be that for my family.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

I Just Want to Tell You...

...that I love these 2 little munchkins:


And, I love that they love each other.
That's all.

Monday, May 9, 2011

I'm Still Alive

Two weeks!  Today it has been 2 weeks since my last post.  I really like to try to write something every day.  I've been lacking in inspiration.  And, when you never leave the house, because you feel sickly all the time, there's not much to write about.  No one appreciates stories about someone lying on the couch eating saltines all day.  But, lest this blog shrivel up and die, I thought I better update it today...inspiration or no inspiration.

So, here's a list:

1.  I am pregnant...11 weeks pregnant to be exact.  29 weeks to go.  sigh.

2.  The morning sickness is finally starting to subside, instead of endless days of queasiness, it is now limited to just a few hours out of each day.

3. For mother's day, Mark gave me his cold.  I thought that was pretty rude.

4.  The best thing I got for Mother's Day was a card from Aidan that said, "If God let me choose my mother, I would still choose you."

5.  I cry through every episode of Army Wives.  I really am a mess.

6.  Laundry is my nemesis.

7.  I really want to take a trip.  Somewhere fun...and relaxing.  I've had the travel bug pretty bad lately.

8.  Ella refuses to sleep in a pull up.  She takes them off sometime during the night.  I am tired of washing sheets and mattress covers.  See number 6.

9.  I love Ritz Crackerfuls.  They're expensive though...over $3 for 6 crackers.  I am way too cheap to buy those very often!  If someone from Nabisco is reading this...that's robbery, plain and simple.  It's a cracker with fake cheese.  Thank you.

10.  I think it's crazy that a 3 year old has to pay full price for a season pass to NRH2O.  Seriously?  I don't think Ella will be going down the Green Extreme or the Purple-Palooza this year, so can't she get a discount?

11. 17 school days until summer break.  Can I get a hallelujah?

12.  I am really sick of creditors calling my house looking for someone that does not live here.  At least 6 phone calls a day.  If I am going to be harassed like this, I should at least get to be delinquent on my bills.

13. The dog is getting neutered this week.  Aidan asked what "neutered" means.  We told him.  He fell on the floor and said, "why did you tell me that?!?!?"

14.  Aidan has been behaving especially well since we told him what "neutered" means.  Maybe he's worried that if he doesn't behave we'll have him neutered too??  Whatever works.  =D

15.  Aidan is going to cub scout day camp.  At first, he didn't want to go because he was nervous and worried he wouldn't know anyone.  I told him they were going to shoot bb guns and do archery...still nervous.  Then, I told him he got a free t-shirt and hat...he was all in.  Nerves or no nerves, the kid loves free hats and t-shirts.

I think that's enough for one day...I am so sorry to prattle on like this...but, like I said...no inspiration.  The baby is killing my brain cells.