I'm Thankful

This time of year I am reminded of so many things for which I am thankful. My ultimate question is why do we only dedicate one day a year to giving thanks? I feel like it should be done all year long...maybe something would be lost, but I think there is more gains to be had if we did.

We made the trip down to Indiana for Thanksgiving. It took us three hours just to get outside of the city...it should take one. Driving rains, wicked winds, slow traffic...it made us think that maybe we should have just stayed home. But it was worth it.

It was so wonderful to see my family - most of them anyway. Grandparents, aunts, cousins, and of course my parents. Time with them always feels far too short and I'm left longing for more time and more opportunities to be with them.

Reality is that some of them won't be with us for too many more years. My grandparents are showing their ages and states of health. It's a heart-wrenching thought to realize that each time I see them could be the last...but I cherish what time I am able to spend with them.

I wish I could have taken some of our friends with us to Indiana just to share a holiday with them. I love our Chicago family. They fill the void of not having any blood relatives in the remote area. They love and dote on our girls, they offer comfort and advice, they provide hours of laughter, they share meals, and they yell at the football games on the television alongside us. We are truly blessed by having all of them in our lives.

I am thankful...

I am thankful to be able to stay at home and raise my daughters and not work outside the home.

I am thankful for a loving, god-fearing husband who loves me more than I could ever know.

I am thankful for my two, beautiful daughters who teach me (and challenge me) every day regarding the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Not a day goes by where they don't make me laugh and smile.

I am thankful for a warm, inviting home.

I am thankful for my god-given cooking abilities that allow me to feed and love on others...if only I could have some god-given Cleaning abilities...

I am thankful for truth speaking pastors and leaders in our church. New Life, you have blessed me beyond words.

I am thankful for loving parents & family.

I am thankful that I am in Chicago...as much as I long for a slower pace of life, I am thankful for this too. Only in Chicago would I have met many of the people I call dear friends and only in Chicago would I have been forced to grow beyond myself.

My friends and family, I love you. And I am thankful that God has made a way for us to have such a love through His Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:7
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Creative Nostalgia

I know, I know. It's been nearly 2 months since I last updated this thing...life is BUSY, people. :oP

Seems like the only "me" time I have right now is when everyone else is asleep. My brain fails to let me rest, even when I know I need to rest.

I don't know if it's because my 10 year high school reunion is coming up, or the fact that we're going to the Ball State vs. Purdue football game this weekend, or what, but for one reason or another I've been reminiscing about the days of yore...and all the creative things I did or was involved in.

I was actually thinking about some of my pottery pieces I created during my stint in ceramics sometime during high school. I wonder what happened to the large vase I spent hours carving.

I've been thinking about the Latin songs I sang during the time I was a nun...in the Sound of Music production my Junior year of high school. I know it was high school, but I can help but think about how I got goosebumps whenever we hit the chords just right on Gaudeamus. (Mr. Hayden was a great conductor/director/teacher. I miss being challenged by the songs we sang.)

I keep wistfully remembering all the literally countless hours I spent swing dancing in college...and the ballroom class and country western class with Ya'akov.

I keep dreaming about a day that I could be on Dancing With The Stars - or some version where it's just regular people that no one really knows.

Yes, I know, I could go on a dance date with the hubby....but Brian's not much of a dancer... I love my hubby to pieces, but there are times I want to just dance and not have to re-train him. (Not to mention the fact that we have two kids, so we have to find a sitter anytime we want to get out on our own.)

*sigh*

I've come to realize that I don't have much of a physical or tangible creative outlet.

Years upon years of always having something - choir, art, dance, etc. - and now I have nothing really. No church choir, no worship team, no art classes, no dance classes or outings...

Kinda bums me out...and makes me get all itchy thinking about what all I used to do.

I want to sing - and not just with my daughters.
I want to dance in public.
I want to create in a way that is fulfilling to me.

I just need a means to an end...and I'm not sure where to find it.

Life As A Family Of Four

If you've talked to us lately, you know that Kyleigh's arrival hasn't slowed us down a bit. In some ways, it seems like we're doing more...maybe it's just the season.

We regularly try to do activities that Mackenzie enjoys or make sure that she gets some one-on-one time (i.e. park, movie, Target, grocery).

We've also done a whole mess of other stuff that isn't on our regular activities list: blueberry picking, swimming out @ a pool in the 'burbs, hiking @ Indiana Dunes...

So, if you're one of my faithful followers/friends/readers that has an infant who isn't as flexible as Kyleigh...don't worry. I've discovered that Brian and I, and our children, are not the typical standard of normal that most people envision when they think of life adjustments with a newborn child. We are what most people consider "ideal" or "weird" or "atypical"....or some people have even called us "crazy".

Let me take a moment to knock on wood, or pray that when and if we have another child that they are similar to my first two, because I'm not sure I could handle having a "high maintenance" child. I would deal, but I'd probably go crazy.

Something Needs to Happen...

Ah...silence. Kyleigh (my snoozer) is taking a nap between feedings, and Mackenzie finally crashed out after nearly 4 days of not napping. Life is currently "okay".

Adjustment to life with two children hasn't been bad at all. I can't really complain. I have an angel for a newborn who sleeps like crazy and only makes noise when she's hungry. Mackenzie has done quite well considering that she was an only child for almost four years.

However, there are moments when I feel like I'm going a bit crazy trying to keep up with regular, household tasks.

I have been thoroughly blessed to essentially not have to cook dinner for the past 3 weeks (and I still have another 2 weeks of meals being brought, plus a week in Indiana where I won't really have to cook there either). Yet the dishes still pile up.

We pick up the apartment every evening (toys, clothes, trash, etc.) And yet I feel like everytime I look around there is something else to be cleaned or sorted.

The computer desk is a wreck with random papers everywhere.

Our "storage area" needs overhauled - as does my pantry and our bedroom closet.

I've given up on Mackenzie's room for the time being...it's been a disaster zone since Brian's birthday party when there were 10 children playing in it...and it drives me nuts.

All these things, and more, were on my list of "things to accomplish before Kyleigh arrived". Didn't happen.

Brian and I are both beginning to feel the effects of broken sleep - I am not as overtly affected as Brian, then again I was already not sleeping well when I was prego. We're lethargic and just want to crash the moment both children are down for the evening...that simply means that things get put on the backburner.

I guess I write all this to say that the times during the day that I should be resting alongside my beautiful children are the times when I'm either on here (the computer) trying to sort out my life via e-mail, or cleaning like crazy because the dishes, or the dirty floors, or something else won't let me/my mind rest until it's accomplished.

I need a live-in maid...or just some better organization/motivation. What methods I utilize right now, just don't seem to be cutting it.

Kyleigh's Arrival

To my blog (and it's readers),
I am sorry I haven't updated you since April and it is now July. In my defense, however, the past 3 months have been kinda crazy. I'm sure you understand. I'll TRY to do a better job at keeping you semi-updated...we'll see. I do have another midget to deal with now. :o)
~Erin

Alright...now it's time for the actual post. This is a moderate TMI (too much information) warning for those of you who don't want to know exactly how my labor and delivery went.

We were induced on June 28th - 4 days post my slated due date by the OBG's calculations (right on time by my calculations). The date was picked primarily because of the July 4th holiday and her delivery schedule. I didn't mind because I wanted to be done with the pregnancy.

We got to the hospital just before 6am. First thing was the IV placement - not fun. The nurse couldn't find a large enough or straight enough vein to suit her...this is not normal. I have great veins and phlebotomists love me. She poked around on my left wrist trying to get one..that hurt. Then she went for one on the back of my right hand. Also painful, but she successfuly found one. And thusly her shift was over. She was a sweetie, but I'll never let her poke me again if I can help it.

We had a "newbie" and one of the head nurses for most of the day 7am-3pm and they were great. (Shout out to Joy and Kara...like they'll ever read this.) We also had 2 medical students/residents check in on us. I don't mind being a guinea pig to help people learn. They were nice.

I feel like most of the day was just a waiting game. We were ready to go with the Pitocin drip by 7:30am, but didn't get that started until 8:30am becuase we were waiting for an MD to give the "okay" to start the drip. They were all busy. :oP

Pitocin drip kept progressing and I was at 4cm when they checked at noon. Dr. Wos said that at this stage they would break my bag of waters, but asked if I wanted the epidural first. I did want the epidural first...I still can remember waiting nearly an hour for the anesthesiologist when we had Mackenzie.

The anesthesiologist was busy in a C-section...so we waited an hour and a half for him. Epidural wasn't bad. Most people don't like to feel the "pain" or "pressure" that accompanies the spinal tap. I didn't mind. I knew it was worth the end results - less pain.

Once we were hooked up to the epidural, we had to wait another 45min to an hour for my OB to come break my water. She was in another delivery.

So by now it's 3pm...we've been in the room for 9 hours, on the Pitocin for over 6 hours, and I am tired. I watched Jeopardy and after it was over I took a 45 minute nap. :o)

It's impossible to get 100% comfortable when you're #1 pregnant, #2 in labor, and #3 hooked up to 5 different tubes/wires (fetal heartrate monitor, IV, contractions monitor, epidural, and blood pressure cuff). I found that lying down was what worked best, but I also realized that it wasn't helping anything progess. Once I sat more upright, I went from 5cm to 10cm in a little over an hour.

The epidural was nice...but it wasn't as effective as the one I had with Mackenzie. I could still feel a large portion of the contactions in my lower abdomen. I could 100% tell when I was in transitional labor because they "hurt" and I wanted to give up or demand to be checked for progress.

They checked me about 6:45pm and then everyone started to prep for delivery. I have no clue about time frame/reference after this point.

Four contractions with pushes and Kyleigh was here - 7:39pm.



We called her big sister shortly thereafter. Mackenzie came to meet Kyleigh around 9pm. She was super excited. Didn't know what to think about Mommy being attached to all the tubes/machines (a bit overwhelming for a 3 1/2 year old). She asked to see my stomach to make sure it wasn't broken. She was glad to see it was okay. :o)



We transferred to our post-partum room about 10pm. Kyleigh slept for a 4 hour stretch at one point that night. I made Brian wake up just one time. I was released to go home by 10am. Kyleigh took a bit longer to get released. They have a mandatory 24-hour bilirubin check and then we had to wait an hour and a half for the lab to come do the final blood draw on Kyleigh. We left Swedish at 9:30pm and got home at 10pm.

Not sure where to put this small detail, so I'll tack it on here at the end. They wouldn't let me eat :oP I was hungry and food commercials on the TV were not my friend...nor was the husband sitting next to me reading and eating peanut butter M&M's...I was able to eat once we got into our room and I was thankful.

I keep getting told that I am not "normal" with my labor/delivery/post-partum. I guess I'm just made to have babies. I love the fact that I feel I can easily walk around and be functional less than 2 hours post-partum. I also loved the strange looks I got from the hospital staff when they checked on me :o)

It's been a week since Kyleigh Faith arrived. We are overjoyed. She is an awesome sleeper, barely cries, and she eats well (I'm glad to be done with a clogged duct - I pray I don't get more in the near future).

We are blessed and we know it's only by God's grace that this is possible.

Disney World - part 1 of my vacation recap

Alright, vacation was over and done a week ago. Last week we had no computer. Let's see how well I can remember and recount our vacation.

I will start by saying that Mackenzie travelled really, REALLY well in the car. Being stuck in a car for 12-13 hours one day made me worry, but we had plenty of activites and snacks with stops about every 3-4 hours. (Total time in the car for the entire trip, driving or just sitting was a total of over 45 hours - including short trips.)

I hate admitting this, but probably the best day of the trip was the day we went to Disney World. It was absolutely amazing to see the awe and wonder on Mackenzie's face...all day long. I missed the moment, but evidently her jaw just flat-out dropped when she saw "the castle" just across the lake when you enter the park before you board the monorail.


Right after we entered the Magic Kingdom, there was a stage show in front of the castle - we had a really good vantage point. Mackenzie immediately got to see Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Cindrella, Sleeping Beauty, and Belle (and Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and the witch from Sleeping Beauty - but she doesn't know any of these characters). She was mezmerized.


Mackenzie rode on the Tomorrowland Speedway with both of her grandmas, the Mad Tea Party (a.k.a. spinning tea cups) with Brian and his parents, I rode the Dumbo ride with her and Cinderella's Golden Carousel. She had a blast playing at a big playground that was modeled after Winnie the Pooh's Hundred Acre Woods.


I think one of the biggest thrills for Mackenzie was meeting and getting her picture taken with Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Belle, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald. The professional picture of her with Goofy is hilarious because she's short and he's incredibly tall (I wonder how tall you have to be to wear the "Goofy costume").


We were smart and upgraded Mackenzie's ticket to a Park Hopper (Brian & I were fortunate enough to have tickets from when my family went 9 years ago). We were heading to the Animal Kingdom and saw the midday parade as we left. That was pretty cool. Then we saw the Animal Kindom's parade as we arrived there.

We didn't do too much at Animal Kingdom. Our main focus was the Safari where Mackenzie finally got to see a live elephant (they don't have one at the LP Zoo anymore). We also went and saw the "Festival of the Lion King" - a miniature version of the Broadway production. She loved it. That's all we did here.

We went to Hollywood Studios after Animal Kingdom and had dinner, walked through the "Journey into Narnia" (not that impressive), and then we girls went to the "Voyage of the Little Mermaid" while the guys rode the Rock'n'Rollercoaster. Mackenzie cried...she was tired and Ursula scared her. (Seriously, Disney, can you make a children's movie WITHOUT a super creepy evil villain?) We did some minor shopping and then it was time to go back to our condo.

Note: we did not go to Epcot...I didn't think a 3 1/2 year old would enjoy much it has to offer. But we did go to Downtown Disney's Boardwalk the night before we hit Disney World (It's FREE...parking is free, entry is free, and there's all sorts of shops, eateries, and street performers!) Mackenzie got to see the "golf ball" from a distance.


All in all, Disney World was a fun day. Mackenzie fell asleep clutching her Minnie Mouse toy within minutes of getting to the van. It was precious. I will enjoy these memories and I love to hear Mackenzie tell people about how she met Mickey & Minnie.
It's strange how a small child's joy can bring tears to your eyes.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!
Love,
Miss Mackenzie

I admit it...

...I stink at keeping this blog updated.

Life has been nothing short of chaos over the past two weeks, and I'm beginning to wonder something. Did I make Mackenzie a Vacation Countdown Calendar...or did I really make it for myself? Since she barely pays attention to it, I will assume that I made it for myself and Brian (as he's counting the days until vacation as well).

I need a break..and not from a KitKat bar. (However, that sounds really good about now.)

I'm super excited to go on vacation for several reasons:
1. It's VACATION!
2. I need to get out of the city
3. both sets of parents are going on this trip. Kaching! Built-in childcare.
4. I need sunshine and warmth (you've been doing a better job, Chicago, but it's still not good enough).

There are a few things I dread about the trip...not the least of which is the long hours in the car or the fact that we are indeed visiting the "house of mouse" to appease and entertain the small child. (I think she's more excited about riding rides than seeing Mickey & Minnie and the princesses.)

Nevertheless, I will suffer the car ride and the "house of mouse" for my sanity's sake. I have never felt quite so worn down and burnt-out in quite a while. I think this second pregnancy has severely taken it's toll..and I still have 3 1/2 months to go.

Vacation...get here, and get here soon before I have a complete mental breakdown

Domestic Days

Have you ever had one of those days where all you want to do is find some good recipes and cook...and cook...and cook?

That's been me for the past couple of days...weeks really.

Usually I get into the "domestic mode" when we are expecting company for the weekend or just friends over for dinner. Well, we've had company every weekend for the past 3 weeks and I'm working on a "gift" for a friend (pre-made frozen meals that are in gladware containers).

In the past 24 hours I have made homemade mac'n'cheese, chicken taco filling, cooked carrots, cooked apples, a chocolate cream pie, an apple pie, and I'm not done yet. (I'll admit that I took a short cut and bought pre-made pie crust.)

I'm still planning on making chili, sloppy joe filling, beef stew, possibly some cookies...and that's on top of regular meals this weekend which are as follows: sausage gravy, monkey bread, steaks on the grill, tacos, plus sides.

I really have to share that I enjoy making the pies the best. There's just something about the time challenging, and multitasking skills needed when making a real chocolate cream pie with a meringue top. I took pictures. I'll post one later, if I can remember. I love my standing mixer...it makes a near-perfect meringue with little to no effort on my end (other than watching it and making sure it doesn't get over beat.)

Sometimes I feel inspired by my friends. I have several good friends who share my love for cooking and I stalk their blogs looking for new ideas or quick, easy recipes.

I'm planning on challenging my dessert making skills in a week or two. I have a Donald Duck shaped cake pan and I'm going to attempt to make a chocolate mold out of it and fill it with cheesecake (honestly, it probably won't be a homemade cheesecake just with the chocolate mold factor). If anyone has any tips or ideas on this one, PLEASE let me know. Otherwise google will be my friend in researching this endeavor.

What Do I Value?

Loaded question, right?

I am speaking on merely basic terms...nothing major...at least that's my intention.

I am realizing...
...that I will have been out of high school for 10 years this year.
...I met my husband 8 years ago.
...I finished college 6 years ago.
...we will have been married for 6 years in May.
...we had our first child 3 1/2 years ago and are expecting the arrival of our second daughter at the end of June.
...I will be 28 years old in July...(young, right?)

After realizing all this, I am moderately amazed, but not surprised, that what I humanly valued 10 years ago, I still greatly value today.

I value...
...good conversations with great friends.
...a good dessert loaded with calories. :o)
...a fast-paced, well written book.
...my "me" time.
...my family.
...positive, infulential people in the media and in my personal life.
...common sense and reasoning; logic is a virtue in my world.
...well delivered critiques.
...simple joys that can be found when playing with small children.
...SLEEP.

The last one...SLEEP. It has become something that I've never really been able to fully achieve when I most want or need it. I love sleep. I love being warm and cozy in my cocoon of covers. (Brian wonders why I try to kick him out of bed in the morning...it's simple; I Want The Covers - and to a degree the bed - all to myself.) I love feeling refreshed. (My body requires more sleep than the average adult. Please don't laugh at or mock me when I say that I thrive and do my best on at least 12 full hours of sleep.) I love being able to start a new day with a fresh outlook...even if it may be noon when I roll out of my cocoon.

When I first came to Chicago, I had to be at work at 6:30am...6:30AM!!! When there was an opening to work in the "late classes" 3 days a week, I jumped at it because it meant that I wouldn't have to be at work until 9:30-10am or later...I didn't care that it meant I wouldn't get home until 7-7:30pm, I wanted my sleep.

I stopped working when Mackenzie was born. Now, we all know that if you plan on sleeping when you have a newborn, you can just kiss that pipe-dream goodbye. I was blessed that she would sleep until 9:30am or later, but the broken sleep with 3am feedings killed me. I'd nap when she'd nap, but it's not the same as a full night's rest. (I am NOT looking forward to the sleep schedule that awaits me in a few short months.)

I can only dream of a day when I can make my own sleeping schedule...that'll be when the kids are all in college, unless I've gone back to work full-time by then. :oP Which means I've got...hmm...over 19 years to go at least (add more years if we have more kids.) During those years I will be at the mercy of school schedules and events. I will be responsible for dragging my children out of bed to get dressed, fed and out the door so they aren't late. *sigh* Oh well, it's worth it.

I can long for the days when I can sleep as long as I want, but for now I will cherish the days and nights when I stay at my parents' house, or the child(ren) stay with others overnight. I will milk those precious hours of sleep for all they are worth...and I will value them all the more.

Righteous Indignation

I admit here and now that I have a soapbox. Occasionally I like to get on it. I am aware that what I say while on my soapbox may not always be popular, but it would drive me crazy if I didn't get on it and type what's on my mind. (I have never done overly well with on the spot debates or apologetics, but I generally continue to process and linger on topics of converstaions or debates well after they are over.)

Soapbox topic of the day: the "Tim Tebow Ad"

I am astounded at how much media attention this 30-second commercial spot is receiving.

I mean what is advertising other than a mean of promoting your beliefs and products?

Are there voiciferous protestors out there that slam alcohol ads because they are insensitive to those who have drinking problems? How about those "Go Daddy" ads that are usually a part of the Super Bowl repetoir that border on pornographic? Car ads that encourage the middle class workers to take on more debt and drive them further into financial instability? Fast food retailers that don't tell you that the meal they just advertised contains your entire daily caloric intake, plus at least 2 full days worth of recommended fat intake?

We've already banned cigarette ads on TV, why not go the whole 9 yards and ban anything that is "unhealthy" for the general public or better yet, the minority public?

Why not? Because in the end it's who has the most money and the loudest voice. $2.5 million dollars for 30 seconds to influence the minds of millions of people watching a football game (many of these millions are likely drinking and possibly intoxicated and won't pay a bit of attention - or take the commercial time to grab a snack or use the restroom). Why does the content of 30 seconds matter so much? Because we think it does and that's all that matters, right?

--

I will now outline what I know of the Ted Tebow ad: His mother had several children already. She and her family were on a mission trip during her pregnancy. She got sick or had other underlying health complications. Her doctors recommended she have an abortion due to her health. She CHOSE not to.

It aggravates me to no end when I read articles from supporters of N.O.W. or other feminist movements and pro-choice organizations.

Why?

1. Mrs. Tebow is a woman. As a feminist, she is one of your own because she is a woman.

2. Mrs. Tebow was given a CHOICE. She made a CHOICE. She chose against what others were telling her.

3. PRO-CHOICE organizations should be championing her case, because she is clearly stating that she was given options and she chose the one that was right for her. Evidently it was not abortion...which leads me to a much longer side rant...

If pro-choice organizations and members are only championing people who step up and say "I was given a choice, I chose abortion," what exactly are they championing? Death? There have been other commercials championing pro-life messages (Bethany adoption centers, The Cradle, etc.) What makes this one any different? Or are they not necessarily being negative towards the choice, but more towards the sponsoring organization - Focus On The Family? If that be the case, then direct your anger elsewhere...there are plenty of advertisers that get their funding from less than kosher/questionable intent organizations. What does it matter who paid the bill for an advertisement? Television corporations don't really care so long as the check is good...most of the time (I will conceed that there are exceptions to this rule that I know of.)

I've even seen negative comments towards this ad from Human Right advocates! HUMAN RIGHTS! Is the unborn child not human? Is it the product of alien experimentation? So what exactly is the big deal? Who gives us the right to decide when exactly an unborn fetus is considered a "human" or even a complete person worthy of the rights we all share in this free country? Who is their voice?

I am tired of every time a story comes out from a "Pro-Life" proponent that various other organizations cry "Foul!" or "Insensitivity!" I think it's positively sad and pathetic. Again, let me reiterate a point I have previously made...Pro-Choice, when given a choice a person chooses the option that they feel is best for them. Are we really striking a senstive chord when we want to hear positive outcome stories from minorly influential people? Do they really think we are trying to cram "God" and "Religion" down their throats in a meager 30-seconds? Why aren't they attacking the "Catholics Coming Home" advertisements??

I have known people who have had to cope with the decision to have an abortion - or not to. Every story is different: they were too young, they didn't know they had other options, it was the child of a rape or abusive relationship...

I have also known people who struggled with infertility and are desperately seeking a child to adopt - most of these children come from unwanted pregnancies. Many of these people are still on long waiting lists...

I have known people who chose life for their unborn child. And I applaud them. They did something completely self-sacrificing in having their child - against the counsel of friends, family, even religious leaders - they chose to give their lives away in the hopes and love that they knew they could share with their child.

I have also known people who have chosen adoption for their children. Children that they knew could go to a loving family to be raised and cared for. They gave someone else the precious gift of a child...the precious gift of life.

There are so many loving families waiting to adopt, why deny them the opportunity to love and care for a child that someone else does not want or feel they can? Why are we not FULLY educating troubled women with all of their options and not just the ones that fit our agenda - yes, even "pro-life" people. It is not our place to judge or sway, it is only for us to counsel and pray. Be an example through actions, not just words.

If you need more information on a great Chicago-based organization for those with unwanted or troubled pregnancy check out www.caris.org

*sigh*

I am done with my rant. So I will end with my disclaimer.

I am pro-life. I believe that no matter what circumstances a woman is in, that they become pregnant for a reason...regardless of the reason, we may never understand it.

To the unmarried and married, this is my mantra: "The second you choose to have unprotected sex is the second you're willing you say "okay" to becoming prego."

I am trying very hard not to bring God into the picture for a reason..I want my message to not be discounted by society as "just another Christian rant".

My beliefs and ideals are shaped not only by my faith in a higher power, but moreso by a value for human life. Who gets to decide when life truly begins? Conception? First heart beat? Able to sense pain? Or express emotion? Why and how did we get the right to play judge, jury and executioner with Human Life?

Oh yeah, God gave us freedom of choice from the get-go.

Do the world a favor, choose to think and reason first rather than simply react.

Childhood Influences - Teachers

Over the past month or two I've been thinking a lot about who in my childhood impacted me the most. Obviously my parents, but there were plenty of others that shaped and molded me into the person I am today. I wanted to share with you, and reflect back on, a few of them.

Mrs. Lehr - my Kindergarten teacher
She taught me that foods have different shapes. Like when you cut an apple crossways instead of straight down you can find the shape of a star. She also taught us something every 3 year old today even knows - Oreos are circles.
Most importantly, I learned that it's the simple discoveries that can make a day interesting and fun.

--

Mrs. Georgia Pope - my 2nd Grade teacher
(She is the one who actually inspired me to write this post to begin with)

I loved this woman, and I missed her dearly when we moved in the middle of the year to a new district. She is probably the person who shaped me the most in my elementary days, and I was only with her for a few short months.

Mrs. Pope shared with me a love for reading - one that I still have today. She introduced me to "Clifford the Big Red Dog." When I moved, she gave me a book that I don't think would be typical or on level for a 'normal' 2nd grader. A short, and imaginative chapter book titled, "Ozma of Oz" by Frank Baum (who also wrote the "Wizard of Oz.") I still have it and read it today. She wrote a short note in the front of it...and if I could find the book amongst all the books I've read lately I would write what she wrote...but no matter. I read the inscription every time I pick up the book and my heart is warmed and I feel inspired to keep on being who I am without regret and to keep exploring new worlds through reading.

She fostered my creative side and allowed me to explore it freely when I completed my assignments - which never took me long, it seemed. I would sit in the craft corner of the room making various things. The biggest "project" was a paper chain from our scrap bin. I ended up getting the entire class (and the neighboring class) involved and we made a chain that was the extremely long - several lengths of the combined classrooms. We hung it as a decoration after it was completed. Never once did she tell me, "It's a waste of time," or "Why are you doing that?" She simply encouraged me and the other students in whatever our endevors were.

I would give Mrs. Pope a big hug and tell her, "I love you," multiple times a day. She was indeed my favorite teacher of all time. I attended her retirement party a few years later - I think I was in middle school by this time. I recieved a letter from her after I had invited her to my high school graduation open house. She still remembered me, and seemed to cherish her time that she had had as my teacher.

Even in retirement, she still gives freely of her love and acceptance and compassion. I've heard from others, and read in the local paper back home, that she daily reads & records books and newspapers for the blind to listen to. She is a wonderful example to me and others that we are never too busy, too old, or too young to give of ourselves to others.

Lately my mind wanders back to those simpler days of 2nd Grade...and I wonder if still yet today, 10 years after my last correspondance with her, 20 years since she was my teacher, if she remembers me. My heart tells me she does and it makes me smile. I'd love to give her a call someday soon and express my appreciation for her and to see how she is doing. I still have her phone number after all these years. :o)

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Mrs. Christopher - my 5th Grade teacher

5th Grade was a very rough year to say the least. Socially unaccepted and awkward, I found solace in taking care of the classroom pets - a guinea pig named Ernest, a fat hamster named Butterscotch (or Butterball as we called her), and the fish. I loved animals and Mrs. Christopher allowed me to express that in taking responsibility for the pets.

Mrs. Christopher also had connections with Ball State and regularly arranged for the portable Astrolab to be brought in so we could study the constellations and learn about how they got their names. I loved these days. Partly because it was a time when we were all in the dark, lying down, looking at the ceiling and hearing stories. Partly because it allowed me to mentally escape from the social pressures I daily faced. Mostly because I loved hearing creative stories of mythical origins and being able to connect them with something real.

Mrs. Christopher also introduced me to one of my all-time favorite authors, J.R.R. Tolkien. Each day in class we would read a chapter or portion of, "The Hobbit." Again, it was a chance for me to mentally escape into the reaches of my imagination. With the way Tolkien wrote, so vividly and realistically, with every detail you could ever want to know, it wasn't hard for me to close my eyes and imagine that I was a character in the story - off on an adventure.

We read the story for our honors english class the next year, 6th Grade. When I was reading it for myself, I could easily hear her voice as some of the characters.

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There are assuredly other influences from these formidable years, and I hope to write another post about them. But for now I will cease my typing, and delve into another book from our over-filled shelves. I am blessed to have a husband who loves reading Almost as much as I do. ;o)

...and so I blog.

I will keep this inital entry rather short. Several of you have read some of my “notes” on Facebook and have encouraged me to begin a blog of my own…something that I could update with what is happening in my life so you could share in my journey.

Therefore, here is my blog.

I will go ahead and make my disclaimer statement: I am not perfect. I have never claimed to be as such. Should you not agree with any of the postings, feel free to state as such. However, do not berate or condemn me for my opinions or views. They are not yours…
With that, I bid you a happy following/stalking. I look foward to writing a “real blog” soon.