Love & Faith

Theatre Dude is a teenager.... a seventeen year old, 6'1", 240 lb, semi-beard sportin' teenager.

He defies culture by not buying clothes at the younger generation's hot spots like Hollister, American Eagle or the Gap; but instead looks towards wearing items that send a different kind of message.  He spends hours scouring different resources online and then spends days anticipating the new item's arrival.

His latest endeavor finally arrived despite several weeks of back-order.  With much delight, he ripped into the package, donned his choice and said, "Well...what do ya think?"

Instantly, I was transported back to the 80's with Wham singing, "Wake Me Up Before You Go", and watching the video of George Michael dance around in a white t-shirt with big block letters that spelled "Choose Life".  

"I love it", I exclaimed!

It's what I want most for him to have in his heart and display in his life. 

Love & Faith.   ;)

When Miracles Happen

I wiggled and pushed and "ouched" my way up as he strategically placed a multitude of pillows around me so that I could sit upright in bed semi-comfortably.  He opened the shutters on our bedroom windows allowing the warm sun rays of light to enter the space and dance around the room before me.  

Then, he moved effortlessly towards my favorite candle, the one that makes its home on the dresser across the room from my bed, and lit the wick poking out of the glass-encased, white wax. Almost immediately, I began to enjoy the light tinges of lavender that spiked the air as it mixed with the undertones of clary sage and together they beckoned me into taking deep, relaxing breaths.

With natural light brightening the room and spa scents floating in the air, he turned around and, with my Mac in hand, asked with a huge grin on his face, "Are you ready for this now?"

Oh, my goodness, was I ever!  "Yes!", I almost shouted at him.

He brought the breakfast tray over, gently rested my computer on it and with his charming way said, "Take it easy.  Don't go overboard."

"Ok", I said, scurrying to open my precious silver laptop and enter the world of my cyber fun!

So, here I am ... a miracle, really!

Four days post the most intense and invasive surgery to date, having had 8 previous back surgeries, and I am awake and alert and doing well.

A miracle, really!  ;)

You are the God who performs miracles;

you display your power among the peoples.

Psalm 77:14

Join me, please, in thanking God for this miracle! 

Growing Up Fast

** Babies Grow Up  **

I realized just how fast babies become young men as I snapped a photo of Theatre Dude.  He was watching a movie at our place with Chickie-Girl as they celebrated their "5-month anniversary".  

**  Puppies Grow Up  **

I realized that puppies grow up, too.  Copernicus, the best gift ever from my hubby, is now a few weeks shy of turning 1.  And, then Newton, an unbelievable, over-the-top, hugely generous gift from my hubby, is now turning five months old.  

Puppies and babies sure grow up fast!

That's really crazy cuz I don't feel like I'm growing up fast at all.  ;)

The Trek: Day Two

Being around Mr. Smart Guy's family lets me take a sneak peek into the past and hear great tales of his childhood ways and dreams.  It's a treat for me to sleep in his old bedroom, now turned guest room, and hear him recount the many nights he spent as a young boy staring at the ceiling pondering his future, considering the next days fun or just plain staring into the darkness of the night.  

A young boy then, a man now, who resembles his father in so many ways: humor, gentleness, a strong work ethic, kindness and a guiding desire to do the right thing.    

But, the highlight of the visit proved to be audio cassettes that were recorded in 1974 and unearthed for our listening pleasure.  Mr. Smart Guy's mom had recorded family activities and then sent them to his dad who was away on duty in the United States Navy.  Parents, siblings, nieces and nephews gathered around the cassette player and chuckled at the crazy antics, the chaos of dinner conversations and the funny banter as the four kids were getting ready for school.  I hear the voice of my husband at age 11 and can hear the man he was becoming.  What a sweet gift that we hope to digitize and pass on to our boys some day.

Our visit sped by much too fast with lots of hugs, coffee and conversations around the kitchen table.  The packed bags are waiting by the doorway. The next stop on our trek...the gulf coast of Mississippi.  

The Trek: Day One

Day One began in our driveway with both of us near exhaustion.  The past few weeks have really taken a toll on us physically and emotionally.  Lots of packing, shifting, moving, hugging and goodbye'ing. (I know, go with it...it's my own word! lol)

We loaded our destination into the gps and climbed into the Prius and began the first leg of our journey cross-country. We laughed at how loaded our car was, how tired we were and how the coastal craziness is giving us such a burst of excitement.

Rock Hill, SC....here we come!

Decisions

Toss.  Turn.  Toss again. 

Sigh.

Toss.  Turn.  Toss again.

***   ***   ***   *** 

Most decisions aren't this hard.

Chocolate anyone?

The Letter

The letter, unassuming yet somehow alarming, came in the mail yesterday. I stared at the return address that was clearly imprinted on the upper right hand corner of the envelope but I didn't want to open it.

Delayed by the uncertainty of the contents, minutes passed before I had built up the courage to unveil its contents.  I convinced myself that it was probably nothing.  A new fundraising effort or an anticipated change to one of the events.

I calmed down.  Of course, that was all that was in there!

...rip... tear... unfold...

"The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the requirements for graduation and to review with you the following information regarding your student's current status."

Ahem, what??

"Our records indicate that your student is planning to graduate in 2010 with an Advanced Studies Diploma."

Now, wait just a minute.  He doesn't graduate until....

"Oh, my gosh," I screamed out loud and it echoed and reverberated in my empty house.  Heat quickly rose to my cheeks while my heart started thumping somewhere in the vicinity of my ears.

In shock, I slid down to the floor.  

Is it really true that my baby has started the exit process out of high school? 

Oh.

Intelligent Design

Every now and again Mr. Smart Guy reels me in to an adventure of learning that I didn't anticipate but that allows me to expand my intellectual horizon beyond what I would normally choose.  Last week was definitely one of those times.  He came home from the local bookstore with a new find that had him beaming from ear to ear.  

"I bought a really great movie for us to watch after dinner.  I think you'll like it because I've heard really good things about it."

(please stop to note: Mr. Smart Guy enjoys movies.  Any genre, any movie, even poorly done movies that most people deem ridiculous.  He loves movies.)

I glanced at my friend, who was over for dinner, trying to apologize with my eyes via the kind of look that conveys, "Oh, no!  This might get super ugly.  Feel free to run out the door if you want to, but wait, on second thought, run now!"

We made our way through dinner but it was obvious Mr. Smart Guy was tearing through his food and sprinting to finish his plate off so we could get to the movie.  The doorbell rang and it was another one of our friends.  Mr. Smart Guy invited him over to watch it, too.

(please stop to note:  this duo is known for their conspiracy theory extravaganzas that last until the wee hours of the morning.)

Now, my senses picked up on something.  I ventured to find out more.

"Are you sure this is a movie, movie? One with a story and everything?" I asked hesitantly.

Mr. Smart Guy was at the dvd player inserting the golden cd as he shook his head up and down vigorously affirming that it truly was a movie.  Everyone claimed their spot in the living room to get comfy in, the house lights went down and the opening credits rolled.  

It caught me off guard.  

I wasn't aware that the scientific community no longer embraced or allowed discussions of Intelligent Design as a possible option to explain our earthly existence. I was shocked that pro Intelligent Design scientists have suffered and are suffering devastating career repercussions for their choice.  Their choice to believe that the earth and everything in it was created by an Intelligent Designer.

Appalled.

I Sighed

I stepped into his closet.

Each piece of clothing draped on hangers spaced evenly apart.

I could almost see him standing here, choosing what to wear.

And, I sighed.

I grabbed his shirt.

A sweatshirt made of soft fabric,  just like his touch, in his favorite color grey.

I hid my face in the folds of it and could almost smell his cologne.

And, I sighed.

I put his shirt on.

I could almost sense him smiling at my good choice.

I made my way out of the closet and towards our bed.

And, I sighed.

I climbed under the covers.

I laid on his side so that I could put my head where his had been.

I could almost feel him wrapping his arms around me.

And, I sighed.

I closed my eyes.

I wanted to lay there until he came home again.

I could almost feel the time passing by more quickly.

And, I sighed.

The Couple

A man and his wife casually walked up to the voting line at their precinct this morning.  He was strikingly handsome and slightly subdued as he drank from his Starbucks cup.  His wife, on the other hand, excitedly pulled on the cuff of his sleeve as she tugged him towards the end of the line.  

"We're here!  We're here,"  she exclaimed

He grinned at her with that kind of grin that flows out of enormous love and he softly said, "I know, honey.  We're here."

She anxiously fidgeted, almost jumping up and down in the spot where she stood.  Her eyes shone brightly  with anticipation as her speech got faster and faster.  Finally, as though not being able to withstand the emotional swell any longer,  she leaned into her husband's chest and burst forth into a quiet, almost hushed song.  It was a Lee Greenwood song.

"I'm proud to be an American.

Where at least I know I know I 'm free.

And I won't forget the men who died

And gave the right to me."

He grabbed her by the shoulders and said, "I love you, you nut."  She just grinned and whispered back, "I love you too" and then turned her attention back to the head of the line.  They were inching their way up to the front.  They talked about their date that morning as they passed the time together.  Their date to go vote in an election.  They recounted their years together by each of their trips to the voting booths.   

And, then it was the man's turn.  The electoral officer asked for his name and identification and his physical address.  As he provided the requested items, his wife became even more visibly excited. The officer handed the man a blank ballot and pointed him towards the voting booth.   He paused briefly, glanced back at his wife and winked at her, then made his way to the designated spot.  

The woman stepped up to the table and joyfully thanked the electoral officers for their service and volunteer time.  She then proceeded to give them her name, identification and physical address.  And, as she did so, tears began to well up in her eyes.

She knows the personal cost exchanged for the freedom of democracy. 

She served in the United States Navy for 13 years. 

She took the ballot handed to her and gripped it with all her might.  That paper was her vote, her voice.  She stepped into the voting booth.

The man voted and then stood past the line of booths as he waited for her to finish.  She stepped out of the booth and  saw him out of the corner of her eye as she fed her ballot into the counter.  

She took a few steps toward him with a really wide smile proclaiming, " I am number 989."

He shook his head, took her by the hand and led her to the volunteer standing by the door.  The volunteer handed her a sticker first, then her husband.

The sticker read,  I Voted.

The man took his wife's hand and said appreciatively, "We voted."

The couple started to make their way to the parking lot.  The woman leaned into the man once again.  This time, a small tear trailed out of the corner of her eye.

In a quiet tone meant only for her and her husband, the rest of the song began.

"And, I'll proudly stand up

Next to them and defend her still today.

Cuz there ain't no doubt I love this land.

God bless the USA."

So, if you were standing in line to vote and perhaps got distracted by this woman, I will tell you a secret.

It was me.  

But...I'm a Bookworm!

Books are my thing.

I say this as I shrug my shoulders, tilt my head to one side and brandish a half-smile, half-smirk. Books invite and envelope me. They nourish me, encourage me, challenge me to think critically and fuel me to generate my own creativity.

But, I am a hopeless bookworm.

I find myself apologizing for my bookworming because there are those unfortunate times when I ward off person-to-person contact so that I can ingest a new read. Or, re-read an old read. ;)

Yesterday, I devoured Nora Ephron's funny take on aging in I Feel Bad About My Neck and Other Thoughts on Being a Woman. I felt like I was sitting in my living room with her and having a wildly amusing exchange about my own aging process. I needed to laugh. I needed to feel connected. Nora brought that to my day yesterday.

But, as I realized this morning, it was at the expense of a real relationship. Ugh, let me explain.

He initiated. He asked me to go.

There's been sporadic pain for a few weeks and then a lump appeared and seemed to make it's home in the center of his wrist. So, we're at the doctor's office getting it checked out. In between the signing in, taking a seat, going here for x-rays and the doctor popping in and out - there was a moment.

He was chatty. Revealing himself in a conversational, vulnerable way. He outright told me that he wanted to talk.

And, I missed it!

I totally chose my book over him in that instance. I was page turning. My nose full in the book and my brain so far away from where I was physically sitting. Next to him.

I should have been enjoying the alone time with him. I should have seized the opportunity to be allowed into his world and absorb all of the details he wanted to provide.

I missed it. And, I'm really sad about that.

But, today, I'm on high alert. Waiting for another chance. Knowing those moments don't come very often anymore.

Not when he's almost 17.

My Parents' Daughter

Even though I don't spend much time around my family members who live in California, I became keenly aware on this trip of how much we are alike. It caught my attention as I recognized familial similarities in speech, vocal inflection, even stature and posture at times. I am perplexed by this because of the minimal exposure to each other as adults and at the same time thrilled that there are such lineage traits.

I watched my sisters playfully interact with each other and saw a semi-replica of myself and how I interact in my friendships.

Not fully alike. Not completely the same.

But, the same.

So I kept watching.

I looked to my parents. Where are we alike? And, I took note.

My Mom

Coffee lover. Tree hugger. Music lover. Humorous. Humanitarian.
Loves my Dad.

My Dad

Animal lover. Political observer. Technology appreciator. Sentimental. Fixer.
Loves my mom.

And, I've come to the conclusion ...

I am happily and proudly my parents' daughter!

Leavin'...on a Jet Plane

Join me and Copernicus on our way to California...

It begins in the Dulles airport as we make our way to check in.

Daddy....wait up for me.

Readying myself to put Copernicus in his crate.

Daddy says goodbye to puppy.

Puppy as baggage headed for the cargo spot on the plane

Ahhh...California!

My cross-crountry travellin' puppy waits well as friend navigates LA traffic to the airport. Hurry up, girl!

We're here!! We're here!!

Let the fun begin!!

....and not only am I in friend heaven but schnauzer brother heaven too!

In my attempt to prepare for our upcoming trip to California, I asked Angi and Dell, aka the big brother, to help coach us through understanding all things crate-airline related.

With dimensions in hand, I took off to the pet store to get the brand-spanking new crate that's appropriate for air travel. I set it up in the kitchen and snoopy baby mini runs over ...

...sniff, sniff...

and proceeds to back up quickly with deft, dance-style moves.

uh-uh. nope. no way.

i don't care what you're thinking about...I'm NOT in!

...wait...

I hear Daddy coming home from work.

SAVE ME, DADDY, PLEAASSSEE!!

Mr. Smart Guy gives Cappie lots of lovin' and then begins to negotiate terms of getting near the new crate.

Ok, Daddy....maybe.

Hold the treat there and I might stand close to the crate.

But, that's it!!

No way! I am not going in!

Then Mr. Smart Guy says, "Let's take the top off and see if he'll just check it out. Maybe he doesn't like how closed in it is."

MMpphh...why are you guys so intent on wanting me to see this thing?

Pretty interesting....but I'm not getting in it. No way! uh-uh.

We quickly come to the decision that our approach is not working. We take the crate upstairs and set it side-by-side his normal crate. And, amidst Copernicus' verbal disapproval....put him in the crate.

I'm not happy!!

I don't care about the treat that's right next to me.

WHAT is happening??

...and, now you wanna take pictures of this injustice??

I hurried. I tried to make it painless as possible for him. But, he's spoiled and pouted for the rest of the evening.

After the initial shock of the smaller, more enclosed atmosphere, Cappie did spend more time in the airline crate without further incident.

He's ready to fly.

Am I?

All in the Family

DeSoto Dell Dimension

It started with Dell, my bff's Miniature Schnauzer, as we traveled the roads together to Mississippi. I fell in love with him immediately and, upon my return home, had to have one of my own.

Convinced that I, too, needed to be a Schnauzer owner, my hubby lovingly and sacrifically acquiesced and we contacted the same breeder that Dell birthed from.

To keep it all in the family, we brought home Copernicus (who is Dell's half brother - Baylee is their dad). He is super snuggly, easy to train and an absolute joy to have in our family!

Copernicus Magellan 

Even daddy was caught lovin' up on him this morning....

Well, Copernicus is 6 months old now and we've decided it's a great time to get him a playmate ... a brother. The tricky part for us was how to keep it all in the family. We discussed, prayed, looked, eye'd every detail and....now, we're busting at the seams with joy!!

Please welcome our newest addition born on 9/4/08 and photo'd at just a few hours old .....

Newton da Vinci 

Newt is Cappie's cousin (his mom is Trudi, Baylee's full sister).

It really is all in the family! ;)

Anniversary

Anniversary: April 2

Roses made her squeel with delight.

A book made him bust into wild expressions of appreciation.

Dinner at home of grilled steak, baked potato, sauteed mushrooms, steamed broccoli.

Conversation that traversed dating, wedding and a love that keeps getting stronger.

Yeah, I really do love him that much!