A New Day

The New Year, such as it is, doesn't really mean much to me. The day does, because I get to celebrate being married to an amazing man, better than I deserve, but the changing from 09 to 10? Just another day, like the changing from May to June or Wednesday to Thursday. And yet, this New Year, I feel renewed.

In the four days since the year has changed, Brian and I have realized some things about my moods, awareness that has already changed the way I approach life each morning, for the better. I may need some help to regulate some mild depression, or maybe, awareness will be enough. Time will tell, and just knowing my situation has already made a difference.

My children have been running on empty. Red rimmed eyes and whiny voices caused by too many missed naps and late nights… part and parcel of the holiday festivities. Last night, storytime in bed at 7:10, lights out at 7:30. Today, an early lunch and naps promptly following. The change is immediate. Oh, and no more TV. To combat the wariness of grouchy children, we allowed television at all hours, a chance to have a conversation, a cup of tea, a break from children yelling and running in crazy circles in the living room. But oh, the consequences in this household of watching TV. Nothing guarantees bad behavior like time in front of a flashing box. It always amuses me, first, that I forget that this happens, and second, the difference it makes. After an announcement of "no TV this week", an arbitrary amount of time so that we can reevaluate, they don't even ask. And they are content.

Our new pastor gave an amazing sermon on Sunday about the power of prayer, about tapping into that, about the privilege we have of talking to God, and his promise to hear those called by his name. Much of what he said was thought provoking, but one thing in particular that has really stuck with me was when he said, "Sometimes when I talk to God, I start with a time of confession, because I just need to be clean before Him". This morning, I did that. And what a weight was lifted. Being critical, judgmental, catty. Short with my children and my husband. An addiction to my computer screen. What a relief to lay these things before the once who is willing and able to take them! And the joy of a renewed mind; a day in which I don't see my children's childishness as a personal affront! Silly, I know, but when one is inclined to be peevish…

So that's where I am today. It's been a great day. I haven't broken any resolutions because I didn't make any, but there are definitely places I hope to grow. And now, I will turn my computer all the way OFF and go spend some time being present with my kids.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

Beautiful Girl

This coat and hat were made by Brian's great grandmother for his aunt, as I understand it.  We were thrilled to have her wear them. 

Food is Meant to be EXPERIENCED!

Miscellany 12.20.09

I have about a million pictures on my camera, so my next few posts are going to be pic intensive!  I have one (count it... ONE) deep thought in my head, but I'm not sure how to articulate it, so that will be coming sooner or later.

Tonight at dinner, I served twice baked potatoes.  As some of you know, my two eldest children don't consider potatoes edible unless they are of the french fried variety.  Nathan asked me in his most polite voice, "Mom, could you never, ever make this ever again?"

Brian is dog tired after working from 4am to noon Saturday and Sunday.  I am thrilled for the two coming four day weekends.

I'm pretty sure Nathan's quilt will be done for Christmas.  Yay!!  It's weird to have a project that I've spent a year working on, but Brenna is eager for me to start on hers.  It will be pink and pupple (yes, I meant to do that).

We have an ornament graveyard going on the kitchen counter.  And none of them were broken by the baby.

An old friend brought a great book store, Better World Books to my attention. They have a 5 for $15 bargain bin with free shipping, so I just scrolled through books until I found five that I knew I wanted for the kids.  Only a couple of them are appropriate right now, but I got Sarah, Plain and Tall.  It's a short little book, and I decided to read it because I remember not really caring for it as a kid.  It's heart wrenching.  The story is about a widower who advertises for a wife in the newspaper, and his two children, as they prepare to welcome Sarah into their lives.  The most important criterion?  That she sing, because there has been no music in their house since their mother died.  It's got me thinking about emotional maturity and when it's appropriate to introduce negative emotions in a safe way.  I can't remember when I read it... probably around third or fourth grade.

We have only one meal's worth of turkey left from Thanksgiving, and I've decided that next year I'M NOT MAKING A TURKEY.  Blasphemy, I know.  But I've never particularly liked turkey, and having several meals of it after the big day, on top of the work of making it in the first place... just not worth it.  Besides, Thanksgiving is about the carbs anyway, right?

Okay, I think that's it.  My brain is sort of empty for the moment.  If you made it this far, thank you!

One Year

I'm pretty sure this was yesterday:

 Happy Birthday, Isaac!

 

Who Says They Have the Best Food Here?

When we moved I had to give up my sourdough starter.  It was a sad day pouring that down the drain, but there was no way I could bring it.  So Brian and I have been on a mini-search (all inclusive of the stores we go to often!) to find some good sourdough.  A few weeks ago, Sam's club had ONE package of sourdough, which we brought home, made sandwiches with, then spilled water all over.  I almost cried. 

On Sunday, at our weekly trip to Sam's club, I decided to ask the bakery if they had any, since there wasn't any on the shelf.  A woman making an order kindly let me go in front of her to ask.  The answer was, of course, no, but as I turned to walk away, I heard the woman who was behind me ask, "what's that she's asking for?"  and I glanced over my shoulder to see the young lady at the counter, with a VERY dubious expression, gesture that it was a round loaf as she said, "you put filling or something in it".  And with a look of total distaste and a shrug, "some people like it".

Alrighty then.  A new starter is sitting on top of the refrigerator!

7 Quick Takes Friday - New Orleans Edition

I've wanted to do a New Orleans edition (I typed 'addition' twice) since we moved here, and finally I'm remembering before Saturday. Woohoo! Here goes:

1. First things, first, here is a map of the city.  We live in the Lower Garden District, which is at the bottom right of the crescent (circled, a little hard to see).  Brian works right now up in the Jefferson Parish (northwest of the crescent) while they prepare to start work on the levee, but the levee is actually in St. Tammany Parish (East of the crescent).  Click on the map to view it full size.

2. Neighborhoods in Brief  Here's a brief summary of each of the major neighborhoods.  A little bit of history and the boundaries.  I found it interesting.

3.  How Ta Tawk Rite  The street names here are a whole mix of languages, and this guide cracked me up.  I was so proud of myself when I was able to pronounce the names of the muses... but who knew, New Orleanians pronounce their names phonetically (for instance, Calliope.  Pronounced Cuh-lie-oh-pee, right?  Nope. Here it's cal-ee-ope.  It feels so wrong!)  Oh, and my favorite street name, we live a couple blocks from Tchoupitoulas.  That's Chop-it-too-las.

4. As soon as we moved here, we made a beeline for the Louisiana Children's Museum.  It's wonderful, but has the most horrendous parking.  Trying to park at this place has almost broken me a couple times!

5.  The place we're spending the most time exploring right now is The Audubon Zoo.  This is absolutely the most beautiful zoo I've seen, and we really loved the Columbia, SC zoo!  Today, when Isaac wakes up we're going to visit the Insectarium.  Nathan is SO excited!

The fountain in the zoo entrance

A huge grove of oaks in the center of the zoo

A little fairy descending from Monkey Hill

6. We're attending Calvary Baptist Church while we're here, and we really like it.  They have a great children's program, and this week I went to a women's Bible study that will be a lot of fun, I think.

7.  Tomorrow, we're going to spend the day at Shady Pond Tree Farm hanging out and picking out a Christmas tree.  The kids are very excited about the tree, and Brian and I are very excited about a (very cold) day spent outside exploring what looks like a beautiful farm!  I plan to take my camera and make the kids wear clothes that don't clash wildly in an effort to get some great Christmas pictures of them.  We'll see how that goes!