Unstoppable and in control December 31, 2011

Riding Arion, Hazel felt powerful, unstoppable, absolutely in control—a perfect combination of horse and human. She wondered if this was what it was like to be a centaur. (from The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan)

This is a familiar feeling for me. A wonderful, beautiful feeling. And a feeling that I miss in my life in Boston. I’ve spent the last few days riding my beloved horses, and remembering things about myself that I first learned on horseback and which are most true when I am around horses. Like knowing that I am strong, and that I am able, and that I am in control of myself. I am stronger, calmer, brighter, and more in tune when I am around horses. I am more me around horses. And you know what? I can’t think of a better way to start a new year than feeling powerful, unstoppable, absolutely in control. Thanks, horses!

Christmas perhaps December 23, 2011

“It came without ribbons! It came without tags!

It came without packages, boxes or bags!”

And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.

“Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”

(from How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss)

A daughter December 21, 2011

Years rolled on again, and Wendy had a daughter. This ought not to be written in ink but in a golden splash. (from Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie)

Yesterday I had a sonogram and discovered that we are having a baby girl. I have loved being mama to a little boy, but something about a girl is just so exciting. I haven’t really been able to put my finger on it, but today I read an article in my MOPS Momsense magazine that may hold the key. The article was by Carol Kuykendall about fun being a family value. She says, “If we live out our average life expectancy, we will spend twice as many years as adults together with our children as we do when they are living at home with us.” She goes on to talk about forging the kinds of relationships with our kids that will cause them to want to be our friends when they enter adulthood.

I think that’s what it is about a daughter–it’s a chance to grow your own best friend. I can share with her the books, recipes, movies, jokes, values, and experiences that I love in hopes that she will love them too. I love my son and I have so much fun with him. I hope he will be my friend when he’s all grown up (tear!) too. But, God willing, my daughter and I will one day be women together, understanding things that men cannot.

I’m so glad she’s a girl. I think I would have been really relieved if we had heard “boy” yesterday just because I already have all the boy stuff and kind of know what to do now. And I think sometime a while back I started thinking of myself as a “mother of boys,” probably because I babysit my nephew five days a week while also caring for my son. I could just picture myself with three boys in the end. So it took a little while for the “girl” news to settle in with me yesterday. But once it did, it was like a golden splash.

When is too early to start her on Anne of Green Gables? And is there a 12-step program for Pinterest addiction? Because the girl stuff on Pinterest is so darn cute I can’t even stand it.

 

Christmas all the time December 21, 2011

“If everybody wanted everybody else to be happy, all the time, then would it be Christmas all the time?” Laura asked, and Ma said, “Yes, Laura.” (from On The Banks Of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder)

When I read this a few nights ago I immediately thought of Liam, of how he is making it like Christmas for some people all the time by providing clean water for those who didn’t have it before. If you haven’t yet, please check out our posts from last week and weekend, with links to Liam’s water project. Give if you can. It is humbling to see how unselfish a child can be–a child who has valiantly fought an unfair opponent in leukemia, yet chooses to reach out in love to a world in need. He and his family have looked past their own very deep needs and their very real heartbreak to share light and love and water with people who are so thirsty for it. A line from a Caedmon’s Call song comes to mind when I think of Liam’s water project: “It takes a deeper well to love one another. Share the well, my friend.” May we all take a page out of Liam’s book.

That was Santa Claus December 21, 2011

Whenever anyone was unselfish, that was Santa Claus. (from On The Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder)

I can carry you December 18, 2011

“Come, Mr. Frodo!” he cried. “I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you and it is as well.” (from The Return of the King by JRR Tolkien)

Who Made the Lame Beggars Walk December 17, 2011

He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day who made lame beggars walk and blind men see. (from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens)

I confess that when I read this book [every year], I love Tiny Tim dearly. I love his little paper-and-words heart, and how he understands—in a way that only children seem to—that his life is meant to be a blessing to other people, whatever his circumstances.

That’s something that Liam understands, too.

If you haven’t been reading for the past couple of days, please take a look at those posts for more information about Liam and his mission to help provide clean drinking water for people in Africa. And please leave comments to encourage him!

Liam’s Wells December 16, 2011

Dying’s part of the wheel, right there next to being born….Being part of the whole thing, that’s the blessing. (from Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt)

Yesterday we posted about six-year-old Liam and his mission to end thirst in developing countries by raising the money to dig wells. Liam has been sent home from St. Jude to receive hospice care in his own home and he is still actively raising money for this cause. What an amazing kid! As Liam comes to the end of his battle with leukemia, please show your support for his family and this cause by leaving a comment to them here on the blog. For every comment, we will donate $1 to the well project. You can read more about it in our previous post. You can comment on any post in which we talk about Liam. We will make sure his family gets a print out of all of the comments next week. Money is tight around the holidays, I know, but this is a way you can help that will cost you nothing. Please read the previous post for more information and leave your comment in support and encouragement below. Thank you!

Liam’s Wells December 15, 2011

*****Update on this Post******* Please leave a comment to Liam on this post, sending him encouragement. For every comment received, we will donate $1 to Liam’s Wells. Comment, give, tell your friends.

“What makes the desert beautiful,” said the little prince, “is that somewhere it hides a well.” (from The Little Prince by Antoine de-Saint Exupery)

If you’ve been reading this blog for long, you already know about our friend Liam. We introduced him here about a year ago when we did a Christmas book giveaway and then he’s been mentioned several times since then. For those of you who just joined our little community, Liam is a six-year-old (almost seven!) who is absolutely unbelievable. In November of 2010, Liam was diagnosed with Leukemia and his family began a journey of treatment that has had many ups and downs. But Liam has been remarkable throughout. His cancer was in remission for a brief time before he relapsed in June of this year. When he relapsed, rather than focus on himself or wallow in the pain and unfairness of it all, Liam chose to reach out in love to people in need around the world. He started a project to provide wells for people in developing countries where the lack of clean drinking water leads to disease and death. Liam raised enough money to provide two wells in Kenya earlier this year and now he is at it again.

Liam’s family just received the devastating news that his latest round of treatments was unsuccessful in killing the disease. He is coming home today to begin hospice care and his family will surround him in the time they have left to be with him. I have never heard of a more amazing six-year-old. Some people go their whole lives without doing anything significant for other people and he is changing the world for hundreds and hundreds of people in Africa before he is seven years old. And all while dealing with a devastating illness.

If you would like to join Liam in helping to raise more money for wells in Africa, you can find out how here:

 http://thewaterproject.org/community/profile/liams-wells

I think it would be a fantastic way to show Liam and his amazing family how much you care, to join his vision and help him help so many others. The well project is so close to his heart. Giving charitable donations in a family member’s name is a great Christmas gift idea as well. Another fantastic way to support Liam, if you are so inclined, is to pray for their family. To a mommy and a daddy, a little sister, and grandparents, no news could be more heart-breaking.

The Most Beautiful Place December 15, 2011

Where you love somebody a whole lot, and you know that person loves you, that’s the most beautiful place in the world. (from The Most Beautiful Place in the World by Ann Cameron)

 My husband went out of town for three days, which nearly did me in (I really don’t know how military spouses handle the separation). He returned yesterday afternoon to a messy house but a happy family. I wish I could have had the house clean and glowing and smelling of freshly baked cookies when he walked in. I wish I had been dressed up and with nothing more on my schedule for the day. But we were in survival mode, so his homecoming just was what it was. Our house in its normal state of disarray and love.

This morning, our son woke up at five o’clock and wanted to come to our bed. And as I lay there, listening to both my husband and my son breathing deeply in their sleep and feeling the baby kick and roll, I couldn’t help but think this is the most beautiful place in the world.