Three is a Magic Number

We had an unexpected journey out to the "east" this last weekend to the real part of WI.   I needed to attend a workshop in Burlington, and I didn't find out about it until Wednesday of last week.  Because the trip was so long, Paul suggested that we all go and get a hotel with a waterpark for the kids.  We stayed in Lake Geneva on Friday.  Paul drove the kids into Illinois on Saturday, just because Samuel complains about how few states he's been to.  We drove over to Lake Michigan in Racine on Saturday early evening.  Burrrr.  Stayed outside of Milwaukee on Saturday night.  Spent Sunday at the capitol, UW-Madison campus, and downtown madtown.  Pictures are poor--cell phone.  I really need to start remembering the camera. Paul and Em walking down hall. Quote from the trip:  While walking through the capitol, the kids noticed how pretty it was.  Faith said, "The person who owns the sta...

May you experience vast, expansive, infinite, indestructible love. May you discover that this love is as wide as the sky and as small as the cracks in our human hearts. And may you know, deep in your soul, that love wins. (Adapted, Rob Bell) Picture by Patt's fireplace after the Celebration of Remembrance. This World is not conclusion, A Species stands beyond— Invisible, as Music— But positive, as Sound— It beckons, and it baffles— Philosophy, don’t know— And through a Riddle, at the last— Sagacity, must go— to guess it, puzzles scholars To gain it, Men have borne Contempt of Generations and Crucifixion, shown— Faith slips—and laughs, and rallies— Blushes, if any see— Plucks at a twig of Evidence— And asks a Vane, the way— Much Gesture, from the pulpit— Strong Hallelujahs roll— Narcotics cannot still the tooth that nibbles at the soul—  Emily Dickenson

Thanks to auntie Kate for the cookie making! Hugs and kisses. Christmas Tree. Samuel's holiday concert. At a Christmas shop and tree farm, with sleigh.  Jody took us.

Having finished my first semester at UTS, I am getting asked, "How is seminary going?"  The short answer... fabulous.  I have to admit, the transition was a bit rough at first.  New schedules, new ways of thinking, new ways of writing.  It took me forever to complete every assignment, and I missed my old work place.  United is a very strange place.  People take every issue, every corner of their lives, seriously.  Talk about living intentionally.  The level of passion was a bit overwhelming.  When you walk into the cafe, nearly every table has a theological, ecclesiological, or political discussion occurring. And Bibles are opened in every study corner.   Yes, it took awhile to adjust. But after about a month, I was adjusted; Paul was adjusted; and the kids were adjusted.  Assignments started to become easier.  I started to use words like "context," "social...

Faith had her first birthday party with friends today. But before we get to her, first a story about about Emilee. Emilee was invited to her best friend's party.  The two parties just happened to fall on the same day.  Faith decided it was best for Emilee to go to her friend's party.  So Paul took Emilee/Samuel, and I did Faith's party here.  Last night, we still had not picked up a gift for Emilee's friend, so on my way home from work, I called Emilee and told her I was stopping for a gift.  I asked, "What does 'Jane' like to play with?"  She said, "Stuffed animals and me."  Super cute! Faith had a garden party.  Very ironic since I was driving kids home in three inches of snow.  We had a tea party using the tea set Grandma Cookie gave her.  Instead of tea, sugar, and cream, we had hot chocolate, marshmellows, and cinn sticks.  She loved it and the little girls were so cute pretendin...

When my kids were toddlers, I spent a lot of time wishing the time would go faster.  Looking back, those years were hard.  I was juggling many schedules, and while I loved my kids, the twos, threes, and fours were not my favorite years. Now, during the last two years, I have been spending a lot of time wishing time would slow down.  I want to keep my kids these ages forever.  I find them so interesting and fun.  They love being with us, but are beyond needing us to take care of basic needs.  I went with Samuel to a middle school field trip this fall.  It was just 5 months ago that I worked at this same middle school, so you would think I would know what middle school kids are like.  Yet, seeing Samuel among them made me so ... confused.  Where was my little boy?  Samuel was so great on the trip--he stuck by me and even when I asked him if he wanted to hang out with some friends, he said, "But I invited you to come so w...

5th Grade, 3rd Grade, 1st Grade