My eye spins inward
Mulling and musing
Considering over the paradigm shift.
We are moving forward
a family never still
smack in the middle of living
These days we cleave to learning and growing
no more pining or breeding -
That focus pressed away
Now, obsolete.
A burning soft memory, those days.
hidden away, sweet and dear.
That first full flush of motherhood.
Replaced by the absolute energy
of This. This. This.
Crashing tide of life abundant.
BL
10/31/10
Thank you for visiting my little corner of weekend creativity. For more views on today's word, visit Justine Gordon, guest host of The Sunday Creative.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Sunday Creative - Dynamic
Dynamic stepped into our family,
and away we sailed...
Far from the land of expectation and prediction
Where small people are puppets,
And books have answers.
Into the beautiful beyond
full of flabbergasting head-shakes
and speechless giggles.
Bemused looks and eyes squinted to catch
a glimpse of forever.
Why do we wonder at their individuality?
Taken aback and expecting else.
Unknowing that The Person begins in utero
and we only think we are training it elsewise.
Personality: the dynamic force of nature
by which
each human says I Am Here.
Deal with it.
And not only Deal, but Love and Cherish and
Squeeze and Celebrate.
Thou Shalt Put Away The Cookie-Cutter,
Open the doors and windows
and let it be.
BL
10/25/10
To see other interpretations of this dynamic word, check out The Sunday Creative.
and away we sailed...
Far from the land of expectation and prediction
Where small people are puppets,
And books have answers.
Into the beautiful beyond
full of flabbergasting head-shakes
and speechless giggles.
Bemused looks and eyes squinted to catch
a glimpse of forever.
Why do we wonder at their individuality?
Taken aback and expecting else.
Unknowing that The Person begins in utero
and we only think we are training it elsewise.
Personality: the dynamic force of nature
by which
each human says I Am Here.
Deal with it.
And not only Deal, but Love and Cherish and
Squeeze and Celebrate.
Thou Shalt Put Away The Cookie-Cutter,
Open the doors and windows
and let it be.
BL
10/25/10
To see other interpretations of this dynamic word, check out The Sunday Creative.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Flip Side
I think today calls for some good news. I need it, and you need it for me, right? Because you care, so very deeply. And, because it is Say No to Drugs Week at school, and good news keeps people off drugs. Ta-da!
Though while we're talking of Public Schools and Their Unveiled Attempts to Brainwash, just when did caffeine get onto the Drug List?! Thank goodness my girls' brilliant kindergarten teacher had the foresight to tell them: "There are good drugs and bad drugs."
Ah, caffeine and alcohol, you know which list you belong in! Thanks for the out, Teach! Of course, the teacher also said that bad drugs make you do stupid things, which may not have been the correct naughty cue word, since my kids all appear to love doing stupid things - and laugh hilariously at anyone in their vicinity who is also Doing Stupid Things.
At any rate, they are enjoying wearing red, and wearing wacky socks (though how that is different from any other day, I'm not sure), and wearing sunglasses, and good grief. How did all these things come to mean Just Say No?!
And how did we come to the point of sipping guiltily on a beer, while our newly informed children stare pointedly at us for Using Drugs?!
Back to Good News Keeping {Me} off Drugs. OK, the list is short but tres sweet.
This month's three strong good points:
1. Rick made his last car payment (insert floating stars and smiley faces)
2. I made the last Tempur-pedic mattress payment (insert flexible, non-achy back)
3. It is Rickey's birthday tomorrow (insert banners and cake!)
Yay, us! The month is looking better already.
Though while we're talking of Public Schools and Their Unveiled Attempts to Brainwash, just when did caffeine get onto the Drug List?! Thank goodness my girls' brilliant kindergarten teacher had the foresight to tell them: "There are good drugs and bad drugs."
Ah, caffeine and alcohol, you know which list you belong in! Thanks for the out, Teach! Of course, the teacher also said that bad drugs make you do stupid things, which may not have been the correct naughty cue word, since my kids all appear to love doing stupid things - and laugh hilariously at anyone in their vicinity who is also Doing Stupid Things.
At any rate, they are enjoying wearing red, and wearing wacky socks (though how that is different from any other day, I'm not sure), and wearing sunglasses, and good grief. How did all these things come to mean Just Say No?!
And how did we come to the point of sipping guiltily on a beer, while our newly informed children stare pointedly at us for Using Drugs?!
Back to Good News Keeping {Me} off Drugs. OK, the list is short but tres sweet.
This month's three strong good points:
1. Rick made his last car payment (insert floating stars and smiley faces)
2. I made the last Tempur-pedic mattress payment (insert flexible, non-achy back)
3. It is Rickey's birthday tomorrow (insert banners and cake!)
Yay, us! The month is looking better already.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Spooky Quotable
Isabella: Mom! That light is all ready for Halloween! It's perfect!
Me: What? Where?
Isabella: That light right there (pointing to the fixture over the kitchen table) it already has webs all over it! So it will be just right for Halloween!
Me: Great! I promise I won't change a thing... (snickering)
Me: What? Where?
Isabella: That light right there (pointing to the fixture over the kitchen table) it already has webs all over it! So it will be just right for Halloween!
Me: Great! I promise I won't change a thing... (snickering)
Monday, October 18, 2010
In Which I Ask You to Sit Back and (not) Hold Your Breath
Ya'll. Seriously. I don't know if my skills are up to the story-telling level that this is gonna take.
I feel like I should do bullet points for the various incidents of the past week, and leave it at that.
Did you ever have a week that included candy stuck in the throat and the ER, a fire under your van's hood, a crazed neighbor's epileptic seizure, the rescue of said neighbor's baby from the street, an unexpected sewer blowout and downstairs back-up, a furnace burnout and replacement and a big Auburn win?
I have.
And in the very week that I mantra-ed focus! Ya'll. I just want to keep shaking my head and saying "Ya'll." It conveys such a wealth of (over)whelmed feeling. Ya'll! What is going on!
Let me knock this out for you.
Wednesday: Isabella, while seated at the table, swallows a whole peppermint. It lodges in her esophagus somewhere, not stopping her breathing, but aching and staying put. Hello, ER. It dissolved and she was fine, just a few throat-scratches.
Saturday: Upon returning from the store, I pull into the garage and unload groceries. I notice that, oddly, the hood is smoking and something smells like fire. Rick pulls the car out the garage and we gather outside to see what's the big meow. As we are trying to get the hood up, and pull the water hose around...
A man from down the street (whom I know only vaguely) walks by, strolling his infant daughter. Before I can even greet him, he gets a panicked look, and begins running, half pushing, half-dragging the stroller. I remember that he has epilepsy and start yelling "Stop, Tim! We can help you! Stop!" He keeps running in a crazed fashion, tipping over the stroller and dragging it on it's side, and then upside down. A flurry of berserk activity, much hollering, and soon we have Rick running after the man, who has abandoned the stroller in the street, upside down, and run down to the street, where he is passed out. I run to the baby, all the while yelling for the Lear Brood to stay in the yard.
Whew.
Some serious action was going on. The seizure (of the psycho-motor variety, he said) resulted in Tim being totally out of it for 30 minutes, while I held his 4 month old, daughter, cleaned her scraped forehead (she is just fine, only scraped), and asked a neighbor to call 911. Our corner was a hotbed of activity: fire truck, ambulance, two police cars, multiple neighbors and all the kids wide-eyed as all get out.
The van, turns out, was the victim of an inattentive oil change mechanic. He left an oily rag under the hood two days earlier, which caught on fire, melted part of the under-carriage, and burned through a wire. We have to think of it as a necessary part of the day - because without that small fire, we would not have been out front to help that sweet baby and her peculiar father. (It's not the epilepsy that makes him peculiar, it's just him.)
Sunday: We've made it to the day of rest, in which we continue to recount and shake our head over the previous day's activity. But wait! What is that water seeping under yonder powder room door? And what is that wad of stank out yonder front door, at the clean-out pipe? Uh-oh. This can only mean that Roto-Rooter needs to pay a visit. Roots, roots everywhere, all in the outdoor sewer pipe. This will take some roto-rooting and root killer.
Monday: We've made it to the day of rest(part 2)! In which 3 Learlings head to school, and I make sense of the week ahead. But wait! Why is it 64 degrees upstairs, and there is cold air coming out of the vents. Oh no. Oh no no no. Please no.
But yes, the HVAC man says. Yes, yes, yes. Your furnace is 22 years old and has chosen to burn through some wires in the attic. Oh good grief. Wow, you look pretty calm, considering the news I just gave you, says Mr. HVAC. I smiled wearily.
Some things you just can't explain.
What an expensive week.
I feel like I should do bullet points for the various incidents of the past week, and leave it at that.
Did you ever have a week that included candy stuck in the throat and the ER, a fire under your van's hood, a crazed neighbor's epileptic seizure, the rescue of said neighbor's baby from the street, an unexpected sewer blowout and downstairs back-up, a furnace burnout and replacement and a big Auburn win?
I have.
And in the very week that I mantra-ed focus! Ya'll. I just want to keep shaking my head and saying "Ya'll." It conveys such a wealth of (over)whelmed feeling. Ya'll! What is going on!
Let me knock this out for you.
Wednesday: Isabella, while seated at the table, swallows a whole peppermint. It lodges in her esophagus somewhere, not stopping her breathing, but aching and staying put. Hello, ER. It dissolved and she was fine, just a few throat-scratches.
Saturday: Upon returning from the store, I pull into the garage and unload groceries. I notice that, oddly, the hood is smoking and something smells like fire. Rick pulls the car out the garage and we gather outside to see what's the big meow. As we are trying to get the hood up, and pull the water hose around...
A man from down the street (whom I know only vaguely) walks by, strolling his infant daughter. Before I can even greet him, he gets a panicked look, and begins running, half pushing, half-dragging the stroller. I remember that he has epilepsy and start yelling "Stop, Tim! We can help you! Stop!" He keeps running in a crazed fashion, tipping over the stroller and dragging it on it's side, and then upside down. A flurry of berserk activity, much hollering, and soon we have Rick running after the man, who has abandoned the stroller in the street, upside down, and run down to the street, where he is passed out. I run to the baby, all the while yelling for the Lear Brood to stay in the yard.
Whew.
Some serious action was going on. The seizure (of the psycho-motor variety, he said) resulted in Tim being totally out of it for 30 minutes, while I held his 4 month old, daughter, cleaned her scraped forehead (she is just fine, only scraped), and asked a neighbor to call 911. Our corner was a hotbed of activity: fire truck, ambulance, two police cars, multiple neighbors and all the kids wide-eyed as all get out.
The van, turns out, was the victim of an inattentive oil change mechanic. He left an oily rag under the hood two days earlier, which caught on fire, melted part of the under-carriage, and burned through a wire. We have to think of it as a necessary part of the day - because without that small fire, we would not have been out front to help that sweet baby and her peculiar father. (It's not the epilepsy that makes him peculiar, it's just him.)
Sunday: We've made it to the day of rest, in which we continue to recount and shake our head over the previous day's activity. But wait! What is that water seeping under yonder powder room door? And what is that wad of stank out yonder front door, at the clean-out pipe? Uh-oh. This can only mean that Roto-Rooter needs to pay a visit. Roots, roots everywhere, all in the outdoor sewer pipe. This will take some roto-rooting and root killer.
Monday: We've made it to the day of rest(part 2)! In which 3 Learlings head to school, and I make sense of the week ahead. But wait! Why is it 64 degrees upstairs, and there is cold air coming out of the vents. Oh no. Oh no no no. Please no.
But yes, the HVAC man says. Yes, yes, yes. Your furnace is 22 years old and has chosen to burn through some wires in the attic. Oh good grief. Wow, you look pretty calm, considering the news I just gave you, says Mr. HVAC. I smiled wearily.
Some things you just can't explain.
What an expensive week.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Changes on the border
Hi. I'm here. Am I always saying that?
Still here. Not sunk. Busy with teacher conferences and baseball games. And sitting out back in our almost-fall-back-to-summer-almost-fall-again weather.
I did skip my Creative challenge this week. It was kind of a gimme."Spiral" was the inspiration word, and oh how I love to wax on about the spiral nature of the universe... right? Truly. It's my secret Bill Nye the Science Guy aspect. Really though, I was just too scattered to focus. Which reminds me to stop fussing at Cole about focusing. Focusing is hard!
But I am determined to focus on doing less things, better. Because I am unemployed now, and it is working out for me. I know, I shouldn't toss that word around casually. But it's true that my part-time babysitting gig is finished, and I am relieved.
So my focus is where it should be: churning out high-quality humor for ya'll!
No Really. Focus.
OK. Here is my focus: Aiding and supporting school success for the young Lears. Potty-training youngest Lear. Staying fit.
There. That's a short list, and not too scary, right? I think I can do it. But no more bragging about how I'm acing kindergarten, or fourth grade, ok? Because I am totally not. I really need to practice my handwriting. And study my multiplication tables. My teachers hath spoken.
Speaking of teachers, can I blow your mind? Just a little? Jadyn has been receiving notes from the teacher about being.... hold your breath...
"Overly social."
Yes, I made sure it was the right child we were discussing. Yes, Jadyn smirked at me and confirmed the diagnosis. From silent phantom to chatty socialite. Not with adults, mind you, only with students. So at least that hasn't changed on me. Isabella is progressing as a serious student of the kindergarten arts, and helper of all others needing assistance. Mother Hen, word has it.
Cole is trying out the "I've got this in the bag" approach. And it's working just often enough to support his theory that he does indeed have it in the bag, but not often enough for me. Enter Approach III: Let's Do This The Full-@ssed Way, And Actually Know What is Going On In Class And In That Agenda.
See? Right back at Focus again. Family theme, no less!
And those are your changes on the border. Focus, focus, focus.
Still here. Not sunk. Busy with teacher conferences and baseball games. And sitting out back in our almost-fall-back-to-summer-almost-fall-again weather.
I did skip my Creative challenge this week. It was kind of a gimme."Spiral" was the inspiration word, and oh how I love to wax on about the spiral nature of the universe... right? Truly. It's my secret Bill Nye the Science Guy aspect. Really though, I was just too scattered to focus. Which reminds me to stop fussing at Cole about focusing. Focusing is hard!
But I am determined to focus on doing less things, better. Because I am unemployed now, and it is working out for me. I know, I shouldn't toss that word around casually. But it's true that my part-time babysitting gig is finished, and I am relieved.
So my focus is where it should be: churning out high-quality humor for ya'll!
No Really. Focus.
OK. Here is my focus: Aiding and supporting school success for the young Lears. Potty-training youngest Lear. Staying fit.
There. That's a short list, and not too scary, right? I think I can do it. But no more bragging about how I'm acing kindergarten, or fourth grade, ok? Because I am totally not. I really need to practice my handwriting. And study my multiplication tables. My teachers hath spoken.
Speaking of teachers, can I blow your mind? Just a little? Jadyn has been receiving notes from the teacher about being.... hold your breath...
"Overly social."
Yes, I made sure it was the right child we were discussing. Yes, Jadyn smirked at me and confirmed the diagnosis. From silent phantom to chatty socialite. Not with adults, mind you, only with students. So at least that hasn't changed on me. Isabella is progressing as a serious student of the kindergarten arts, and helper of all others needing assistance. Mother Hen, word has it.
Cole is trying out the "I've got this in the bag" approach. And it's working just often enough to support his theory that he does indeed have it in the bag, but not often enough for me. Enter Approach III: Let's Do This The Full-@ssed Way, And Actually Know What is Going On In Class And In That Agenda.
See? Right back at Focus again. Family theme, no less!
And those are your changes on the border. Focus, focus, focus.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
The Sunday Creative - Nostalgia
I wear my pining on my sleeve
I cannot tuck it away.
It is fresh despite years, and full of undenied longing
Logic has no place
in the realm of the heart
And that heart wants to hear a voice
A voice from the ether, a voice from the past
I cannot even say that 'just once'
would satisfy.
And gentle nostalgia lays no claim to this squeezing
twisting yearning
needing of a father.
If a voice could say all's right with the world
I know that voice for me...
And I long for it.
BL
10/07/10
I am late this week, but committed! Check out The Sunday Creative and the offerings of other creatives... and thank you for checking out my post.
I cannot tuck it away.
It is fresh despite years, and full of undenied longing
Logic has no place
in the realm of the heart
And that heart wants to hear a voice
A voice from the ether, a voice from the past
I cannot even say that 'just once'
would satisfy.
And gentle nostalgia lays no claim to this squeezing
twisting yearning
needing of a father.
If a voice could say all's right with the world
I know that voice for me...
And I long for it.
BL
10/07/10
I am late this week, but committed! Check out The Sunday Creative and the offerings of other creatives... and thank you for checking out my post.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Downtime: lather, rinse, repeat.
First of all, let me assure you, it is not I that has been acquiring Downtime: The Sequel. No, it is the brood of sick kids I have had on my hands for eight days. Eight. Days. I feel like I should create a font just for that sentence. The font that describes parents who have cared for sick kids for eight days... It would look scary, sleep-deprived and half-crazy, betcha. By the seventh day I was like some sort of awful nurse out of a Stephen King novel. You know the one. I was calling them all Mr. Man, and honing my, umm, escape route.
This morning, after their required day of being fever-free, I bundled them off and wished them well at school. By 10am, two were back home, and the third knew that I had just better not get a call from the clinic. I am on a first-name basis with that clinic nurse, thanks to Cole and his four years there.
You all already know the drill with sick kids and their care, but the Ph factor added a new angle. Phoenix was the first to be sick, and so has been well since Saturday. Which leaves five days in which he perfected his tormenting skills. Feverish, napping child on the couch? Hi, I'm Phoenix, and I will pile-drive you from the couch arm. Headachey, feverish child has just drifted off to sleep? Hi, I'm Phoenix and I will shout "Nyah-nyah-na-booty!" right in your ear, and cause you to shriek in pain.
But really. You hoped to hear about Mom's visit, right? Right.
Would you think it possible for a person to miss TWO flights on one trip? One coming, one going. Yes, she did. We can only deduct that she is locked into some sort of New Bern-Atlanta jinx-vortex. When my almost-sister-in-law called to see where Mom was, and when she would be returning, I could only say one thing: I delivered her to the flight, but I cannot vouch for where she ends up.
We had a good visit, particularly in catching up on her Tales of a European Adventure. Mama's been to Paris, and she won't forget it.
Then, before the big kids tumbled like fever-stricken dominos, we had time for one sweet tea party, a la Dea. (Phoenix calls her Dea (dee-yah) and it is catching on.) And, brace yourselves. I provided a craft opportunity. I know! I do still have it in me! It was just dormant for a few years.
The new teapot for the grandbabies...
And after a tasty tea of apple juice, mini cookies, fruit and crackers, it was Halloween craft time! It only took small pumpkins, one giant package of spider rings, glue, and scissors to snip off the ring part. Ta-da! Spiders, spiders everywhere.
Oooh, spooky spiders crawling everywhere...Our mantel is now decorated with spider-ridden punkins.
Mom has returned to water-logged NC. When my sickies are recovered and safely deposited in school, I hope to return. Until then...
Go get some pumpkins and spiders, why don't you! This craft is even suitable for toddlers, as his spiders enjoyed sliding down the side of the pumpkin on a river of glue. Sweet!
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