SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!

Some experiences in life just can't be adequately captured by a camera; they are better left etched in the mind. Tonight, I had one of those experiences. Here is a photo of me outside New York's historic Amsterdam Theater where I attended the new Broadway musical Mary Poppins. And all I can say is.......wow. When I was selecting a show to attend, there were so many good ones to choose from.....Hairspray, Phantom, Les Miserables, The Color Purple, Chicago....and so many more. For just a moment, I was tempted to go with the "more sophisticated choice"--it is New York, after all--but then I decided to be me and go with my heart and Mary Poppins. My heart led me the right way once again! This was truly, truly a professional show in all regards. Superb set and constumes, right down to every last detail. Pure talent in the voices. Outstanding light effects. Impeccable timing for every line. Exemplary orchestra. Amazing choreography. A fascinatingly gorgeous historical theatre setting in which I had an awesome front-center aisle seat. A creative mix of fun and whimsy and raw theatrical talent.....I am honestly awed by what a phenomenal performance this was. Sure, I assumed that the story would be heartwarming and nostalgic, but I did not anticipate the quality and awe that would be encompassed in this performance. I was in the theatre for 3 hours, and I could have easily sat through 3 more hours of that type of talent. This was a truly magical experience and by far the most enchanting and inspiring performance I have ever witnessed. Sure, I thought it would be cool to attend a Broadway musical, but never did I realize that it would be such an inspiring experience.....I will not soon forget it. Some of the highlights for me:

• Mary Poppins "flying" into the rafters of the theatre....how did they do that?
• The tap-dancing to the song "Step in Time"--so energetic and perfectly choreographed
• Singing of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"--did I spell that right?
• Watching how the set changed between each scene....seamless and so interesting to watch
• Meeting a couple from London who sat next to me.....while they were quite "tipsy" by the end of the show (they serve alcohol for those who want it), they were very friendly and cordial
• The finale song entitled "Anything can happen"--this included the cast on a huge Mary Poppins umbrella....I just can't describe how cool these props were!

Things I realy didn't appreciate as much.......having to pay $10.00 for a small box of Jr. Mints and a small Diet Coke......makes movie theatre prices look like a huge bargain! The woman beside me getting increasingly "shnookered" as the night went on, so I had to deal with the strong smell of booze in the second half of the show. Incidentally, her husband had to nearly carry her out......but they were very friendly people! At first, I was kind of perturbed about not being able to take photos but.....truly, this one is better tucked away and relived in the recesses of my mind....it was THAT GOOD.

Well, this is my last night in New York City. Being here has truly opened up my mind to how diverse and intriguing this city is.....but I am ready to go home to my quieter town and my green grass and my husband and kiddos. I will appreciate not having constant honking of horns and bright lights flashing......traveling is amazing but it always makes you appreciate home.

Tomorrow, I plan to hit Chelsea Market in the morning to hopefully find a small piece of pottery.....I collect pottery from everywhere I travel, and I have yet to find a piece made by a local New York artist that I like. As Mary Poppins said in the musical the first time she left--knowing that she would soon return to Jane and Michael Banks--"Au Revoire!".

Headed to Broadway.....

I just returned to my hotel from another busy day in New York, my last full day here. I'm seeing that I could probably be here for years and still not see all that is here to be seen. Today included...........

• Shopping in SOHO


• Finding a paper/scrapbook store--Kate's Paperie--pretty sad as far as selection goes, but some gorgeous handmade papers


• Shopping and finding some great bargains in China Town--ended up with a silk-tied purse and scarf for me, a wursted wool purse and change pouch for Kennedy, silk Chinese fans for the kids, t-shirts for the kids, a Yankees hat for Matt, two huge bottles of my favorite perfume, and some other odds and ends--all for right around $60.00 total.


• Battery Park and views of the Statue of Liberty
• Eating a true New York hotdog from a cart vendor while sitting on a park bench and feeding pieces of the bun to the pigeons.

I am getting ready to head out to Broadway to attend a Broadway production of the musical Mary Poppins. I have heard nothing but RAVE reviews of it so can't wait. Here is link, if you want to take a peek: http://disney.go.com/theatre/marypoppins. I'm stopping for some tappas on the way over......more later tonight.

I Remember.

Just as if it was yesterday. I was at home with my first baby--Kennedy was just over a month old and was up for an early-morning nursing session. I was pretty drowsy as I carried her to the couch and flipped on the Today show. I believe it was a Tuesday and it was early, before 8:00 am. And then Matt Lauer announced it--the World Trade Towers had been hit. All of the details were not yet established at that time, and there was a great sense of confusion and urgency, and I will never forget the immediate sense of horror and disbelief. As the morning went on and the words "terrorist attack" entered the picture, I remember just calling my husband and my parents and just wanting to be together with my family.

I also remember that I held Kennedy for that entire morning. Just holding her. And praying. Pleading with God to give us the wisdom and strength to bring up this precious child in such a lost and dark world. Wondering what kind of world we were bringing this precious little life into. Mourning the security and safety that seemed so irreparably damaged. And I remember just feeling this sense of pride in our country, too. That morning, I laid an American flag on our bed, laid my sleeping one-month-old daughter on that flag, and took some photos. Later in the day, I wrote a letter to Kennedy. In that letter, I promised to do whatever was in my power to make her world as safe and secure as I could. I tucked that letter and those photos away, intending to make a scrapbook page later when the time felt right. And I knew that I would always remember.

When I learned that my professional conference would be in New York City this year, I immediately knew that even if I only had the time to see one site, it would be Ground Zero. It is kind of like a journey of the soul for me. A time to really connect with the reality of September 11. Yet, I really didn't know what to expect, nor could I predict the range and rush of emotion that I experienced as I walked up to the site. I remember that some people were laughing and I just wanted them to stop and to be silent and to just listen and see and....remember.

To me, Ground Zero is where the deepest of despair meets and intersects with the most sacred hope. To the naked eye, the site is just a large construction hole where crews continue to remove rubble. But, if you look really closely, you can almost see the mourning and the death and the loss that occurred. The families that were ripped apart. The despair and confusion and deep, deep grief. It is a very sacred place. And, as I stood and beheld the moments, I prayed that God would continue to use this tragedy for His ultimate glory. Because, I believe that it is in the face of the greatest tragedy that hope can be seen the most clearly. And so, for me, this was simultaneously an experience of great despair but also of great hope.

And then, I saw the artwork. Children's artwork. Those of you who know me know that I believe wholeheartedly in the healing power of art and play, so to see these children's paintings spoke very deeply to me. For to me, these paintings were children sharing a little bit of their healing process with the world. So powerful. So therapeutic. Like this one by little Anna, who lost her Daddy:










And this painting of the Twin Towers with an arrow showing the place where this child's "Poppy" was killed on September 11:










And this precious child's depiction of butterflies, which are often a sign of change and transformation and freedom:










I cried and cried as I looked over more than one hundred children's paintings, all of whom were personally touched with a loss that will never fully heal. But just as much as tears of sorrow, these were tears of hope. These children depicted not only their loss but a great sense of hope and forgiveness. Such a lesson for us grown-ups who can get so caught up in our own ideas of what is just and fair and right. Children have such a way about them, a pure sense of forgiving and moving on and remembering yet healing. Such resilience. I am so, so thankful that these children were given the medium of art to express and document and explore and grieve and begin to heal.

Construction is in the beginning stages for a new building on the previous World Trade Center site. It is a large, gorgeous monument entitled the "Freedom Tower" which, when completed, will be the tallest structure in New York (even taller than the Empire State Building). I am so very proud of my country that is taking the most tragic loss of our time and making it into a symbol of hope and healing. God Bless this amazing nation of ours. I am forever changed and forever sensitized following my time at this very sacred place. And when I get home--nearly 6 years later--I think that the time will be right to put that scrapbook page together.

Sight Seeing.

Well, I did the "totally tourist" thing today and bought a 2-day pass for a tour bus that takes you all around the different areas of New York. Wow, was there a lot to take in. Let's see....highlights of the tour included Times Square (the photo above shows the tower from which the ball is dropped each year on New Year's Eve), China Town (I'll head back there for cheap shopping tomorrow), Rockefeller Center and Plaza, all the big stores like the original Macy's and Sak's, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Glimpses of the Empire State Building, the United Nations building, Wall Street, and the Statue of Liberty. So much history on this city. So, so, soooooo many stores and restaurants and quaint little boutiques. The culture is truly amazing.......so much racial and ethnic diversity that is reflected in skin color, food, dress, commerce......I have so enjoyed this rich diversity and can see why people enjoy living here for that reason. However, I must say......we did get a taste of the "rude New Yorker" sterotype.....as our tour bus went by an outdoor cafe, a table of friendly-looking people offered a seemingly friendly wave; however, when several of us waved back, they proceeded to flip us off while smiling the whole time. Odd. But, I guess it's just another memorable facet of this interesting New York culture. I also bought a ticket for a Broadway show for tomorrow night; this is something that was on my "list of things to do before you die" list, so I have been able to check off two items this week.

Later tonight, I plan to do a longer post expresssing my thoughts about the highlight of the day and truly one of the most emotional experiences I have ever had: My time spent today at Ground Zero and the former sight of the World Trade Center. Praying at Ground Zero was another "to do" on my life list, and I have spent a lot of time today reflecting on this time. More on this later, after a little nap, dinner, and the nighttime tour.

Good Morning from the Big Apple.

Wow, has the last 24 hours been interesting and exciting and exhausting! This place is SO stimulating.....wherever you look there are people and cars and bright signs......just like you see on TV. So far, in just one day, I have seen Central Park (and smelled it...there is a zoo there), paid $30.00 for what turned out to be the biggest sandwich I have seen in my life (a true New York deli sandwich), walked on Broadway, seen where they shoot Saturday Night Live, seen more homeless people than I have ever seen in any other city that I have visited, and many, many other experiences. Today, I am planning to branch out a little more after my convention to see the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the Rockefeller Center, Ground Zero, and wherever else my little adventures take me.

I am definitely a Michigan country girl at heart, but I love to visit the big city and see a little bit more of the world. More later as I continue this three-day NYC excursion....Happy Wednesday.

Start Spreadin' the News......

.....I'm leavin' today........New York, New York. I am writing from the Gerald R. Ford Intern'l Airport at around 7:00 am as I await my flight to New York City. I have never been to New York before so am very much anticipating my NYC adventure.....at the least, I want to get one of those cool and oh-so-recognizable "I {heart} NYC" t-shirts. Other things that I would really like to see are Ground Zero, the Statue of Liberty, and Chelsea Market (where the Food Network kitchens are.....maybe I'll get a standby voucher and get on the Rachael Ray show????!!!! I am only there for a couple of days--until Thursday--and I am going for a psychologists' conference so I'm not sure how much down-time I will actually have, but I'm planning to at least try to get some of the "must-have" New York experiences and scope out whether we want to come back as a family. I will write more later once I am in New York City and settled into my hotel room.

What a Day for a Picnic

Subway sandwiches + icy Diet Coke + 71 degrees + cheesy chips + blanket + soggy grass (and wet butts) + the bright sun + one Mommy + 2 kiddos + six bare feet loving the feel of the grass=a great picnic lunch!

First Park Outing of 07.

Gorgeous Day. 75 degrees. Ducks and fish. Bread crusts. A nice walk through the woods. Watching the courtship of the ducks. Playing on the playscape. Throwing sticks in the creek and watching them travel with the water. Catching a glimpse of a little garder snake (eew.). I love spring Sunday afternoons with my family.

Everyone (Even Parents) Loves a Carnival.

The sophomore carnival. That was "THE NIGHT to look forward to" in my little hometown for kids of all ages. The night when the gym was transformed into a wonderland myriad of games, haunted houses, marriage booths, cakewalks, and other festive activities. Ah, the memories. And, it was the traditional time when blossoming young couples (middle-schoolers, that is) would send those notes with the age-old question "Will you go with me?" followed by a checkbox response where the receiver needed to check YES, NO, or MAYBE. The newly established relationships would then be sealed with a trip to the "marriage booth" where faux vows were exchanged and gaudy plastic diamond rings were attained. And for some, the "union" would be followed by a little peck, a kiss. Oh, my. I distinctly remember some of the young boys with whom I made a trip to the marriage booth in my junior high days....let's see, there was Chris, and Russ, and Corey. I am chuckling just recalling these fun memories of what this carnival meant to me as a child and early teen. My favorite booths were always the free-throw shoot (I had a mean free-throw and rarely missed!), the cakewalk, the haunted house (actually a haunted locker room!), and, of course, the make-up booth. And then, when we were sophomores and running the show, my best friend and em-ceed the event, and it was such a riot. So much fun. We would anticipate the sophomore carnival for months, circling that night on our calendars and wistfully awaiting that day.

Last night, my daughter' elementary school had their first carnival. My son and daughter were so excited that they could hardly stay settled down. It's funny.....the carnival really brought out both the best and the worst of my children (and my husband and I, for that matter). The kids really liked the games like Plinko, the bumper car, the ball maze and the duck pond; however, it is truly amazing how grumpy kids can get over a bunch of cheap plastic prizes. I mean......how much crying is a little piece of plastic that will likely be broken before we even get home really worth? I really try to place myself back looking through the eyes of a child and how special those plastic whistles, paper Chinese fans, little plastic men, bouncy balls, and other little plastic trinkets were to me. However, this morning, I am literally stepping all over these little trinkets which seemed so important last night but are now discarded and scattered throughout every room in our house. So, the carnival is over for another year, and we will see what treasures next year's carnival brings. Hopefully, we will be past the "meltdown" age and be able to enjoy the carnival without the bad case of the "gimmes" that my kids seemed to develop this year. Can anyone else out there relate?

My husband and I participated in a "Murder Mystery" event tonight. I must say, we weren't sure how much we would get into it, but our friend did a really nice job of planning it and it ended up being quite fun. We played the rich couple who lived in a huge mansion on the hill with 6 kids and lots of influence; while neither of us ended up being the murderer, my character ended up paying off an arsonist to burn down the shopping center, which was another crime central to the plot. Matt ended up figuring out the correct murdered and was awarded the "Super Sleuth of the Night" award so, being the totally competitive soul that he is, he was happy. So, goodnight from "Susan" and "Steven".......keep your friends close and your enemies closer, or so they say in the murder mystery industry!

I Love a Rainy Night.

I'll admit it. I love rainy days; quite possibly more than I like hot sunny days (though I always enjoy a good sunny day at the beach). There is just something nostalgic and sweetly melancholic about the rain. And even more than rainy days, I just love rainy nights. I love sleeping with my window open so I can hear the rain drops hit the roof and the window; it just speaks to my soul. And it seems that I am passing this love of rainy nights on to my daughter. Tonight, after we had read and cuddled and prayed together, she asked me to open her window so she could "hear the rain while she slept." How sweet. The rain just gives us the permission to stay at home and relax and cuddle and watch movies and JUST BE. That is one of the many reasons why I love a rainy night.

And what more fitting weather to usher in the first day of spring 2007 than a rainy day. We had rain for most of the day, followed by a full-blown thunder-and-lightening storm tonight. Heavenly. I have always loved rain storms.....save for a very scary lightening storm that my dad, sister and I drove through one time when I was moving from the University of Michigan back home for the summer....now THAT was scary! But, usually, I love watching lightening and listening to thunder and having my kids cuddle up to me for just that added little bit of assurance in the face of such power and majesty. To me, the storm is probably as close to seeing the pure power and majesty of God that we will see this side of heaven.....apart from,of course, His power in changing a human soul and knitting together a newborn baby.

So today, the rain boots, rain coats and umbrellas came out of the closet and we ushered in spring the right way.....playing in the mud puddles! Hayden even managed to find the first worm of the season, which made my daughter quite jealous given that worm-finding is a very favorite activity in our household. So, happy spring to you all....may your spring be filled with rainy days (sunny ones, too!), colorful bursts of flowers, lots of mud puddles to splash in, and of course, your fill of worms for catching! I'm off to drift to sleep to the lovely symphony of rain drops....

Experiencing Prayer.

I was walking along the storefronts of Traverse City yesterday, when this colorful canvas in the window of an art shop caught my eye. I paused, walked right up to the window, and was instantly mesmerized by this piece of creative work. This photo shows the bottom part of the piece, which was painted in hues of yellow, orange and red, and included the following quote. Read it slowly, and really savor each word:

Prayer is like that, she whispered.
Sometimes, it can take days...........
................months...........years.

And then, sometimes.....she paused.
When I get really quiet,
I ask...........and then I listen.
And I can see............
...............hear..............
............................feel....................
the answer all at the same time.

Isn't that how the nature of prayer is, when we get right down to it? Sometimes, we pray and pray from the depths of our hearts, and it seems that the answer never comes. At least not in the time that we expect and sometimes demand. Other times, it seems that we know the answer even before we utter the words in prayer. To be really honest here, I go in spurts when it comes to my prayer life. Sometimes, I pray only for the urgent need. Other times, I am better and more disciplined in "praying without ceasing" throughout my day, in maintaining an ongoing, constant dialogue with my Savior and Creator. It's funny.......we talk all the time about how important clear and honest communication is for a relationships; yet, we don't always apply that wisdom in our relationship with God, at least I don't. Sometimes, I find myself thinking "Well, why do I need to pray, when God already knows what I need and what I am thinking?" I believe that the very act of praying is a constant picture of our complete dependence on Him; does God need us to prayer to know our heart? NO. Does God need us to pray to know the needs of others for whom we pray? NO. But, God yearns for the time with us. He is a jealous God who wants us for Himself.....our time, our thoughts, our heart. And praying is a picture of us yielding, depending, throwing ourselves at the feed of Jesus because we can't do it on our own. And the Bible tells us the sweet truth......God wants to give us the desires of our hearts. He wants to. He doesn't want to deprive us of His richest blessings. On the contrary, He wants to pour them over us to overflowing.

The price of this piece of art pictured here? A mere $1200.00, and the canvas is yours. So while I won't be owning a piece of art like this anytime soon---and probably never in this lifetime, for that matter--I know that prayer, the act of communing and yielding to the Holy Spirit--is much more priceless. And that is a daily and minute-by-minute investment that will last an eternity.

March Sun Setting.

What a refreshing five days away this has been for us. The sun is setting on our getaway, however, and tomorrow it is back to our everyday lives. We are REALLY READY to see our kiddos--it's funny how you can enjoy time away but still miss them so, so, soooooo much--and to sleep in our own bed with our own pillows (these hotel pillows just don't compare to our fluffy down pillows that are perfectly molded to our little heads!).

We had many more pleasurable experiences on our last day here in Traverse City. We slept in until 8:30 or so and then leisurely got ready for the day. We shared lunch at the Grand Traverse Resort with my college roommate and her family. We see them usually one time per year, so it is always nice to catch up. After that, while my husband took a little nap in the room, I took a drive to a place called Logan's Landing. I have so many fond childhood memories, as this was a place that our family would picnic and feed the wildlife. The photo of the two white geese just struck me as so cool with its white on white.....they were looking for food, but I unfortunately didn't have any breadcrusts in my car.




When I returned to the hotel, my husband and I enjoyed a swim and hot-tub soak before heading downtown for dinner. We ate at one of our favorites--Mackinac Brewing Co.--and enjoyed a yummy dessert and coffee at a quaint little place called Poppycocks--a little treat to end our time here. We also browsed through some of the art shop windows in town, seeing some very inspiring pieces of art along the way.

We then drove up the peninsula to Old Mission Point, enjoying the gorgeous homes, cherry orchards, and winerys on the drive. All we can say is.....the cherry business must be very good up here, for some of the homes are just spectacular. We then got to see the sunset over the bay before returning back to our hotel. God has filled this weekend full of rich, rich blessings for us, and we are very grateful for the time of reconnection and relaxation. It makes us remember how important it is for married couples to schedule little getaways where the focus is on being a couple..........it is one of the best gifts you can give yourselves and your children. So, though the sun has set on our trip to gorgeous northern Michigan, we are already making plans for next year's excursion back here.....we saw a neat bed-and-breakfast up on the peninsula that we may look into........trying to always fill our marriage with new adventures and deliberate times to just focus on the awesome journey to which God has called us. See you back in West Michigan tomorrow!

More Simple Joys.

So often, we overlook the simple joys; this weekend has been a return to many of the simple joys for us. Things like.......

Sleeping in for the second day in a row.................
Enjoying a leisurely brunch over a great cup of coffee (decaf with Splenda and cream, of course).............................
Scrapbooking photos of my family...............
Running into old friends and catching up a bit.............
Holding hands with my husband........................
Talking with my old college roommate....................
Browsing the aisles of JoAnn's and Michael's......................
A delicious steak house dinner...........................
Sharing many laughs and memories..............................
Cuddling together as we watch a movie (and not having to always watch Disney!)................
Enjoying my husband opening doors for me (what a gentleman!)......................
Talking with my awesome kids on the phone, hearing them describe all the fun things they are doing with grandpa and grandma (like going to the farm and seeing baby animals and collecting their very own eggs from the henhouse).....................
Breathing in the fresh almost-spring air coming in from the bay.......................

Another day of simple pleasures that I don't get to indulge in everyday. So good for the soul. Now, off to cozy into a bed that has fresh sheets that I didn't have to wash...........the blessings never cease! Sweet dreams.

This Might Have you Seeing Green.

For all you parents of young children who savor some time away with your spouse to just be a couple, this posting might having you seeing a bit of green. Today was just a really nice day where I could just focus on doing some of the things that I love to do but rarely get to because of the day-to-day demands of being a Mommy of young kids. Don't misunderstand me here......I believe that my calling as Mommy is the most important, most holy, and most fulfilling calling in the universe, and I would not give it up for anything. But, just as firmly, I believe that parents need time away from their children--who are left in the very loving and capable care of grandparents--to focus for a time on just being people, partners, best friends, and lovers. So, that's what this weekend is all about for us. And so far, one day into the five-day time away, it has been salve for the soul. Here are some highlights of the day:

• Sleeping in until 9:00 am; awaking to the sounds of seagulls outside our room.
• Lazing in bed for an additional hour flipping through some TV channels.
• A hot bath in the huge jet tub overlooking the Grand Traverse Bay.
• A leisurely and fresh lunch with my husband.....no hands to wipe, or spills to clean up, or potty-trips in the middle of my meal.
• Five hours of scrapbooking time at "Forget Me Not Scrapbooking" while my husband attended his conference.
• A crispy Caffeine Free Diet Coke on ice with lime slices.
• A new peasant blouse.....so cute and comfortable.....my husband even said that it was "sexy."
• A fresh seafood dinner (shrimp, cod and crab cakes) with my husband and a friend of ours (good reconnecting, Joel).
• A good bar of chocolate for dessert.
• Time to paint both my fingernails and toenails in a yummy shade of pink.
• Savoring the pages of a new scrapbook magazine before bed.

Tomorrow, I plan to connect with Susie, my college roommate from the University of Michigan, and her kids (her husband is also an athletic director), so it should make for a fune day. I am also planning more scrapbooking and hopefully an evening in downtown TC.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY! While I do not buy into the whole concept of "luck" , I wish you God's richest blessings on this festive day....for if we truly open our eyes and look around us, His rich blessings are everywhere!

Hello from Traverse City!

I am blogging tonight from our gorgeous resort room in beautiful Traverse City, up-north Michigan! My husband and I are here for a conference for his professional organization.....we have 4 nights away just the two of us!!! This is the view from our 5-th floor room; you can see just a hint of the pink sunset and lots of ice that is currently covering the bay. We have a gorgeous room with a fireplace, large comfy bed, and a huge jet pool/hot tub for 2! While I'm not sure what we are going to do with ourselves without the kids for this long.....I'm sure we'll think of something! I just took an awesome soak in the tub, followed by some yummy-smelling apricot lotion, and am enjoying this cozy, plush spa robe that comes with our room. A little bit of pampering is good for the soul, that is for certain!

Anyway, this is a much needed getaway for the two of us. It's funny how with parenting, both of us working, and all the other "stuff" of life, it is easy to get disconnected. So, this weekend is about reconnecting and just talking, laughing and being together as US. We had a nice dinner tonight at my favorite Mexican restaurant of all time--RED MESA--which has the most delectable salsa this side of Cabo San Lucas! We had such a nice time just talking, sharing entrees (an appetizer sampler along with some sizzling fajitas), and enjoying each other's company. Note to self: We need to do this type of getaway more often. Tomorrow, I am planning on hitting the local art galleries and scrapbook store while my husband goes to his sessions; then we will probably meet up for a nice evening walk in downtown TC to enjoy this quaint little town.

So, we will not be with the kids for St. Patrick's day, but I was sure to pack lots of fun GREEN STUFF! in their suitcases. Let's see.......new clover shirts, green clover sunglasses, floppy green and white striped hats, and some fun bead necklaces. For us, St. Patrick's day is just about fun......usually funky green hats and lots of green-themed food. So, this year, Grandma and Grandpa will have to man the St. Patty's day activities. Here is my son in a shamrock hat he made today at preschool............don't forget to wear your splash o' green tomorrow! Pleasant dreams.

Please Pray.

My heart is heavy tonight for several beloved families who are going through deep valleys right now. I know that many readers of this blog are Christians who believe deeply in the power of prayer and in the fact that God is in control of each and every situation. If you can, please keep the following families in your prayers over the next days.

Pray for Ron and Karen and their family........Ron is a fellow professor and is facing a difficult battle with pancreatic and stomach cancer. Ron starts chemotherapy tomorrow. Please pray for God's supernatural peace and strength for he and his family as they face this leg of their journey.


Pray for Jenny and her family.........Jenny's husband--a childhood friend of mine--just committed suicide late last week, leaving behind Jenny and their four young children, one middle school-age daughter, and lots of extended family. I can't imagine what this young woman, who is only in her mid-20's, must be experiencing at this moment. Thank God that He hears and owns the cries of her soul. And my heart just bleeds for these precious, beautiful children who are now faced with the reality of life without their Daddy. I'm not sure of the words, but just pray for this family like you have never prayed before. They need Jesus to hold them closely to Himself in the coming days, months and years. And, Praise God, I know that He will.

Pray for Brent and Tonya and their kids.......Brent just underwent back surgery and will be in recovery for the next 8-12 weeks. This leaves a lot of extra responsibility for Tonya and their four great kids as they run a dairy farm, a household, and all of the other things that come along with school activities and church. Pray for complete recovery for Brent (as well as patience and peace in the process), awesome and over-the-top providence for the financial demands of this time, and extra strength, patience and peace for Tonya as she assumes the bulk of the load during Brent's recovery. This family loves the Lord and is an awesome picture of faith to so many.

Pray for Val.......she is one of my friends from high school who has been battling leukemia. Such a young, vibrant person with a husband and two young kids. She is doing well right now and there is no sign of the cancer to date, Praise God!, but she still undergoes regular treatment and doctor monitoring. She is my age, and I can't imagine what it must be like to face this type of disease and to wonder about the future......but she has an awesome testimony, and is a great picture of what it means to trust with all your heart.

On behalf of these precious families, thanks for joining their team through prayer.

Chapter Books and Scrapbook Mags.

Children and their capacity to learn and absorb information just totally astound and intrigue me. So often, we as adults underestimate kids' abilities. I have seen it time and time again in my work as a child/school psychologist, and now even moreso in my own parenting, and it is one of the reasons that I have made kids my passion and my business and my life. Children have this insatiable desire to explore and grow and know about their world. Every child puts their unique spin on this process and approaches knowledge-gaining in a wonderfully unique way, but children love to learn. And one of the best ways to open up the world of learning for them is through age-appropriate books and literature. Through helping our kids to develop a library of their own, and to get to know the vast worlds encountered through literature.

Case in point: My daughter. She is just over half-way through kindergarten, and she is just a sponge for information. And what has really awed me is her self-motivation. Yes, we want her to do her best in school and to find her passions and develop her God-given talents, but it has been so amazing to see her self-initiative to learn and grow really blossom over this year. Last night, she began reading her first chapter book independently. I have read her chapter books like "Little House in the Big Woods", "Charlotte's Web" and "Jess" with her reading paragraphs, but this one is her project. Basically, during a conference with her teacher on Monday night, the teacher indicated that Kennedy has just "soared" and has exhausted the leveled-book system that the class has been using. We were thrilled and pround, and very concerned that she continue to be challenged. So, we decided to start her on chapter books--Junie B. Jones, which I'm starting to think is the "Ramona the Brave" of the current generation. Kennedy was so excited and read fluidly through Chapter 1 during our bedtime reading last night. Amazing to see her apply her reading skills to larger and more complex words and sentences. To hear her expanding understanding of punctuation and inflection and the subtle nuances of language. So, little Junie B. found out that she is going to have a new brother or sister in Chapter 1, and we will see what unfolds tonight for this little girl in Chapter 2.

It really made me think back to chapter books that really influenced me during elementary school. Now, I am fairly certain that I was NOT reading chapter books in kindergarten like Kennedy is (Was I, Mom?), but I do remember certain books that really grabbed me. Books like "Strawberry Girl" and "Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry." Books like "A Wrinkle in Time" or "Little Vic" or "Joni." I recall babysitters like Anna Sanderlin who would read us chapter books as we just laid and savored each word. And, of course, the Little House on the Prairie book series, which I must have read through dozens of times. The joy of books is deep and meaningful and life-enriching. And I love to see that Kennedy is developing a deep love for reading and literature and text and language. The other night, she looked at me after we were finished reading and said, "Mommy, no book can stop me now!!" Oh, if we could only bottle that energy and enthuasiasm and confidence. All I can say is.......You go, Girl!

Hayden loves books just as much as his big sister. He's not quite into chapter books yet--more like "Thomas the Train" and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" and "Curious George" and "The Napping House." He sits and listens so intently; usually, when one of us is finished reading to him, he follows up with "Now I will read the book to you!" And he proceeds to retell the story in his own precious little way. And, here is Hayden reading his newest interest: Mommy's magazines! He calls them "my magazinies", and here he is reading a special issue of Creating Keepsakes. Ah, a man after my own scrapbooker's heart!

Trying to Make Sense of it.

Well, I have been trying for two days to post photos of our little ranch getaway, but my this blog is not wanting to cooperate in allowing me to post the photo files. Hopefully, by the end of today, I am able to give you some more glimpses from the ranch.

I started out the day with some stark news from my hometown. My little town has been through its share of tragedy in the last few years, including the suicide of a top high-school athlete, the murder of a sweet hometown girl at the hands of her husband, another murder of a college-girl with roots in our town, and several other shocking deaths. In a small town like this, a tragedy really rocks the town. Everyone knows everyone, and these losses really have struck deeply to the core. This most recent tragedy was another death due to suicide--this young man, Jason, was a friend, a distant relation (second cousins, I think) and someone who I spent quite a bit of time with in my younger days. His parents and my parents were very good friends, and his mom babysat my sister and I for a while as we were growing up and my mom was working. We spent many summer days playing and just being kids. I haven't seen him for several years now, but he was 35 years old. He and his wife had 4 young children, and he also has an older daughter. Jason was someone who loved Christ and was very involved in his church. And he is dead. From suicide.

Suicide. I have studied the effects of suicide. I lecture about suicide to my students. I have done all the reading and the studying and the investigation of this topic academically speaking. But never has suicide been so close to home than in the last year. It is one of those things that you can never fully wrap your mind around. And when it strikes close to home, it is one of the most confusing things that can happen. What goes through the mind of someone contemplating suicide? What drives someone to this type of hopelessness? I have come to the conclusion that THERE IS NO GOOD EXPLANATION FOR SUICIDE. And that's what makes it so painful and confusing. In the world that we live in, the devil is active and, as the Bible says, we know that he desires very deeply to stalk and devour us. And suicide is so painful, for one reason, because not only is a precious life lost, but the loss seems so preventable and so meaningless. So many questions are left in the lives of those left behind by a person who takes their own life. So much blame. So much anger. So many "what if I had just seen it's" and "if only I had......" And the ripple effect is so powerful.....suicide really touches the core of every human because it shows what desperation and emptiness can cause. And people wrestle with the questions of the fine line between life and death. And I would posit that when someone we know commits suicide, somewhere in the deepest core of our being, we may even fear and ask whether we ourselves could ever be driven to such hopelessness and despair. At a deep level, suicide is humanity facing its own self-inflicted destruction. To me, it's really a picture of how we as humans, if left on our own without the hope of a Savior, will ultimately turn on ourselves and bring about our own demise.

There is no good answer to suicide. Except, that is, Jesus. Jesus is the only one who can take something like the tragedy of suicide and somehow take the fragments and brokenness and questions and pain and turn them into His glory. How He can do this is supernatural. Its counterintuitive. It is miraculous. I am praying for this beloved family. For these children who will have a long, confusing road ahead of them. For this Mommy who will need God's strength and peace and providence as she never has before. For these parents, who I care deeply about, as they bury their own son and try to go on with so many questions and regrets.

What can we do? Educate yourself about suicide. PRAY for people affected directly by suicide. And have your eyes open to those around you. If you know of someone who has been depressed, who has been going through a lot of stressors, or who just doesn't seem like themselves, take that step to bring it up with that person. Directly ask the hard questions. It can be a difficult step. But sometimes just acknowledging a person's struggle, praying with and for that person, and being aware can make a life-and-death difference. And realize, that if someone chooses to take his or her own life, noone is to blame. Likely, no one could have prevented it. Suicide is ultimately a personal decision, one that comes because of the effects of sin on this fallen world, because of the distortion of the enemy. Ultimately, the best way to battle suicide is to share and live out daily the hope of Christ and what a personal relationship with Jesus can do in each and every person's life. Yes, even Christians can be hit with suicidal thoughts, ideation, and even attempts. We need to be honest about this, be willing to talk about it, and use it as a stepping stone to recognize even more authentically that apart from Christ, we are utterly hopeless. He alone is our only HOPE in seemingly hopeless circumstances.

Back from the Ranch....

Howdy! What a time we had at the JJ Ranch....our two days was packed with family time, water-filled activity, horses, and a little return to yesteryear. More details later, for we are all tired and ready for a little down time right now. It's funny how we often need a vacation to recuperate from a vacation! For now, here is one photo of our little family in front of cabin #24, where was spent our time...though we were not in the cabin much. Enjoy......more details and photos to come. Until then......Happy Trails!

Nice Visit.

We had a nice visit with my brother and sister-in-law tonight, sharing a Mexican taco/nacho buffet together. Funny, we live only 10 or so miles apart, but we rarely take the time to get together. We sat around the dinner table for nearly 2 hours, enjoying our meal together followed by a yummy dessert, some fun Play-Dough play, and some nice conversation. We are very excited that Mitch and Meegan are expected their first baby in June, a little girl. Kennedy and Hayden are thrilled to have another cousin, their first on my side of the family, and Kennedy is especially excited that it is a little girl. They got a good glimpse of what family life with kids is all about tonight, and I'm not sure if their smiles indicated that they were looking forward to a little of this energy in their own home, or if they are petrified! Nevertheless, we are eagerly awaiting June and can't wait to meet this precious little baby girl.

We leave tomorrow for our Family Adventure. My husband guessed where we are going correctly: We are headed to the JJ Ranch to enjoy their indoor waterpark, horseback riding, and tubing hill for two days. We will be staying in our own family log cabin and just having some time of pure fun and relaxation. Many photos and reports of fun times to follow......

Play-Dough Joy.

This afternoon was all about play-dough in our house. Who doesn't love the play-dough experience? For me, everything from the tactile experience of the dough to the smell when the container is first opened to all the fun tools used to shape the dough into limitless scenes, objects and creatures is pure joy. It reminds me of my childhood, of simple joys, of a world that is only limited by the bounds of my imagination. My kids also love playing with play-dough. Hayden's favorite part of play-dough is rolling out the dough with a rolling pin and making "cookies" of all different shapes and sizes. He also likes me to make all different animals and creatures, which has truly tested my scultping abilities......he has asked me to make everything from an alligator to a tiger to a dinosaur to a beetle. And, belive me, if it doesn't look just like he thinks it should look, it is back to the play-dough drawing board for Mommy. It has also been a great way to reinforce his letters and to help him begin to learn to spell his name. I bought a cheap set of letter cookie cutters, and they have really been a wonderful learning investment. So far, he can write "H-A" so by the end of the summer when he is ready to enter his four-year-old preschool class, he should know to write and recognize his name. Kids love to learn when the learning is hands-on, fun, and full of active experience. Kennedy loves play-dough, too, and can often be found making play-dough meals or fantasy creatures or full families of puppies, ducks, or other animals. Adults and children, together, tend to love playdough because of its ambiguity, the control to make anything one wants, and the fact that "mistakes" can be easily re-created into something else. I often find myself joining in on the fun to roll snakes, cut out the letters to my name, create nameless creatures, or just enjoy the malliability of the dough in my hands.

And, for all you moms out there, don't deprive yourself of the joy of letting your kids play with play-dough. Yes, it can be messy. Yes, it can dry out quickly. Yes, if you were to come over to my house right now, there would be bits of play-dough in between the floor boards of my wood floor and probably in the cracks of my wood table, too. But.....it is one of those simple joys that does so much to support positive, healthy development and it is well worth the mess. And, one of my joys as a mom is seeing my kids so happy to open up a can of play-dough and seeing them enter this creative, colorful world. For $1.49 for three cans of fresh play-dough, I think it is a very worthwhile investment.....or you can always go the route of making your own, which is not my personal preference....some even make theirs out of peanut butter and proclaim that it is edible....For just a couple of dollars and that industrial dough smell, I will gladly bypass the homemade for that whiff of nostalgia. Regardless of your preferred type of dough, take it from your resident blogging psychologist.......let the joy of playdough into the lives of your kids......and yourself!

Spring Break.

Today is the official start to my university's spring break. Now, I wish that I could say that this photo is my handsome husband and I in a swanky resort in the Mexican Riveria enjoying sun, surf, snorkeling, shopping, and......well, lots of other "s" words that may not be totally appropriate topics for a family-oriented blog! :) But the reality is, this photo was actually take a couple of year's ago at my brother's wedding near Cancun. This year, spring break for us this year simply means a week at home without going to work.....and it really is OK with me. It is a change from routine, the freedom to play with play-dough a little more and spend more time during the day cuddling under a blanket with my kiddos and maybe spending a little more time just being quiet and creative...just being. Yes, the sun and water and culture would be great medicine for my soul right now in the middle of a busy semester.....but so is some extra time with my family.

I am, however, planning a little "Family Adventure" for later in the week....a two-day family getaway for some rest and fun. The really fun part about planning this trip has been...that I am the only one who knows where we are going and what we are doing. So far, I have been giving my daughter daily hints to see if she can figure it out, though this is a place that we have not been before. So far, I have given the following hints:

1) It involves animals.

2) It is NOT a zoo.

3) My daughter' kindergarten teacher has been there before.

4) It is in Michigan.

Saturday Slumber.

Well, my Saturday was all about rest and recuperation. I am still feeling quite dragged down by this bug, so I didn't go with my family to my in-laws but instead opted to stay home and try to sleep this thing off once and for all. So my Saturday included.......

Sleeping in until 9:00 AM.
Watching several episodes of "Clean Sweep" on TV--got me in the mood for a garage sale.
Running to the scrapbook store for some supplies--ran out of adhesive refills.
Enjoyed a cup of creamy chai tea from Beaners....so good on my raw throat.
Mounted my new Stampin' Up stamps....love them!
Lunch at my new favorite Mexican restaurant....chimichanga with fresh guacamole....yummy!
Another nap--fell asleep watching some freaky Lifetime move.
Paid a few bills. Talked to my sister on the phone. Finalized a few plans for my trip to NYC.
Shoveled a bit of the driveway. We got lots of snow yesterday. Decided that my husband can finish when he gets home tomorrow.
Ordered new bathing suits for our Family Adventure trip next week.
Straightened my craft room table. Thought about scrapping, but decided on another nap.
Sesame shrimp and rice for dinner.
Settling down to a movie. This is one entitled "Mozart and the Whale" which is about two people with Asperger's Syndrome falling in love....looking foward to finishing it.
Happy Winter's Saturday, my Friends.

Fancy Nancy and March's Lion.

There was some extra "gussying up" this morning in our household, as you can see from the photo. Today at my daughter's school was "Dress as your favorite character from a book" day, so with only a day's notice to make a costume, we went with this look. One of my daughter's favorite books is entitled "Fancy Nancy", whose main character is a little girl who likes all things fancy, like feather plumes and pink and sparkly crowns and jewels. This little girl encourages her family to see the "fancy" side of life....just a really fun book about letting the joy of fun, and dress-up, and fancy into your life. Kennedy loves this book, and we read it at bedtime several nights per week...she can pretty much read it all by herself now. So, today, Kennedy donned her pink dress-up skirt, pink feather boa, sparkly dress-up jewels, and her princess crown and went to kindergarten as Fancy Nancy. It always amazes me that while Kennedy is all about things like digging for worms in the dirt and diving for frogs into ponds, she also loves dress-up and princesses and tiaras and all things sparkly and flowery. This morning, as Fancy Nancy, she looked so precious and was so excited to share her look and her favorite book with her friends and teacher. I am so touched by her love of books and reading and imagination. Hopefully, we can all learn a lesson from Fancy Nancy and let a "little bit of fancy" into our lives.

Today in Michigan is right down nasty....in my 30-minute drive from home to the university, I encountered very icy roads, rain, sleet, snow, freezing rain and, to top it all off, thunder and lightening. It was very bizarre and made for a very wet and sloppy mess around here. After trekking between meetings and classes and getting my feet soaked numerous times, I was just ready to get home, get back into my cozy PJ pants and sweatshirt, and call it a day. March in Michigan has certainly bared its lions' teeth, so hopefully that means nicer weather in the coming weeks, or so the saying goes. As of today, I am officially on spring break, so I am definitely ready for a break and thinking toward warmer, sunnier days and the flowers, outdoor fun, and other joys that come along with spring.