An Appeal to My Children

My dear sick children,

I love you more than life itself, but please don't sneeze in my face.

I will sacrifice even unto death for your body and soul, but please don't wipe your runny noses on my neck and hair.

I will devotedly nourish you back to health, but please don't cough in the pot of chicken noodle soup.

I will purchase tissues by the truckload, if you will only use them; and cough drops by the barrel, but please leave them in your mouth (not on the upholstery).

I will tend to your daily desires and your nightly needs until you are well, but please give me 15 minutes to shower in peace.

With my undying love forever,
Your mother

Odds and Ends

I really don't have much worth saying right now, but I have several thoughts on my mind and the urge to write, so here goes.

1. After almost five years of "growing it out," I feel like my hair has finally reached a length I consider to be long... and I'm not sure I like it. Part of it has to do with the fact that the ends really need a good trim, but I feel like if I take off even an inch it will no longer be long enough to be called long. Sigh. It just ain't what it was in Wade and my engagement pictures... over ten years ago. Is it possible to get that back again?

2. Wade isn't home tonight, which is both sad and fun. I always feel a little gloomy when he has to spend a night away, and it's hard to motivate myself to fix anything for dinner without him here to enjoy it. However, without him here, I get to stay up late! Woohoo! I'm terrible at hitting the hay on time without him here to entice me to bed. Thus, my plans for the evening include blogging, folding laundry while watching a much anticipated documentary on America's national parks, and maybe even scrapbooking a page or three if my eyelids hold out. It will hurt in the morning, but then it always does, so what am I losing?

3. We're studying Genesis in Sunday school and touched lightly on the young earth/old earth debate this week. Both sides make good points, but I really don't think it matters in the end. It's not a salvation issue, after all. Yesterday I read an article in The Banner called "Reading the Bible Well," which I wished I had read two days prior. It said, "Christians have long used that text (Genesis 1) to argue over when and how the world was created. But that text was never intended to answer those questions... The story was written to help Israel (and now us) address the questions of who created the world and why." Or perhaps this point just satisfies my desire to avoid conflict.

4. St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham made the February edition of Reader's Digest, which just arrived in our mailbox today! Somehow that made me feel happy inside.

Security Blanket

I knew Levi loved his Noah blanket, but I didn't know how important it was to him until tonight.

"It's the only one that keeps the scary thoughts out."

No wonder he always falls asleep with it over his head.

Twist my arm, why don'tcha

Our Christmas munchy supply was replenished yesterday at church when we were all sent home with goodie bags full of peanuts, candies and chocolates that were supposed to go out Christmas Day (or the following Sunday) when church was cancelled (for both dates).

This evening Elijah asked, "How many can candies can I have?"

Feeling generous I answered "Oh, how about three."

"How about two?" he countered.

"Uh, okay."

Momentary pause.

"Okay, okay, how about three," he replied.