journey

Our Adventure... and Home Again

2008-06-16T22:16:00.008-04:00

We are home from our grand adventure and we had a super-duper time!

We visited:
1) Amazing Mammoth Cave! We especially enjoyed and recommend the Historic Tour. We also took the New Entrance Tour but enjoyed the Historic a bit more. Our visit was a neat experience. Even above ground, for those whose knees or aversion to close places won't allow a wander through the cave, is beautiful.
2) Ruby Falls (the highest cave waterfall open to the public in the world, they say), the Incline Railway (a majorly crazy incline... over 70 percent!), and Rock City, with beautiful gardens, a swing bridge over a gapping precipice, and a view of seven states (but also somewhat confusingly addled with kitschy gnomes and fairy tale characters).
3) We also enjoyed a stay with my best friend Barbara in Davenport (near Orlando, FL) for several days. It was wonderful to see where she lives and sips her tea when we chat on the phone. I had imagined, but now I know.
4) We also stayed one night at The Dolphin, a fancy Disney World hotel, with Roxanne my former sister-in-law. It was great to spend time with her amazing children.
5) After another night with Barb and family we headed east and the fastest stop at the ocean which was Cocoa Beach. I quickly determined it wasn't the place to stay but nonetheless we stopped at a public ocean-front beach and took pictures of David taking in the ocean for the first time.
6) We stopped at the Kennedy Space Center. Very cool.
7) After our fun at KSC, we ended up all the way up in St. Augustine. I loved St. Augustine-- its history, and the Atlantic Ocean! So wonderful!
8) We headed home, and on the way we visited the amazing Indianapolis Children's Museum! If you have kids, you MUST, must, must visit! It is the largest children's museum in the world!
Our vacation... our journey, our time together on the road... was a special and sweet time. My dear David was an absolutely wonderful, chatty, fun, sweet and interesting traveling companion. Never once did I hear, "Are we there yet?!" Isn't that dear?
And here we are-- home again, and thankfully so. Our journey was wonderful and our time together was sweet.

My gratitude for the opportunity is deep. Memories have been made.

Mammoth Cave

2008-06-02T17:34:00.005-04:00

Mood: a wee bit upset. Okay, more than a wee bit.

Today, going to our second tour at Mammoth Cave I rounded a corner (lots of winding roads). The speed limit had been 40. (Yea, yea, some of you see where this is going...) Well, the speed limit dropped to 35, immediately followed (well, about 30 feet, I'd say. Really!) by a 25mph sign. Dang if a stinkin' copper wasn't driving... YES, driving! in the opposite direction. A short way later, or as they would say in these here parts, just a stone's throw down the road a piece, David said, Hey, Mom, that police is behind you. With his lights on. Dang (or words to that effect).

He said he had me on radar. Radar!? when he was driving in the opposite direction?

We only had five minutes to make our cave tour... but we made it, after I had the $175!!! ticket in hand.

For the rest of the trip, David and I will be eating pb&j a lot more often than planned.

OKAY... (sigh) I am trying to get out of my funk. David asked what a "funk" was. I told him it's how you feel when you've gotten a ticket and it bums you out and you're trying to move beyond it :-p

BUT, David is enjoying the fun of having the hotel pool to himself, I plan to close my laptop and join him, and I promise to have a happier report later.

Mood? Trying to lighten it.

Kentucky

2008-06-02T08:24:00.010-04:00

*** Mood: Happy and exhilarated!***

We made it to Kentucky yesterday early evening, after a very fun drive, filled with games and songs and great conversation!

Once we arrived in Cave City and checked into our Comfort Inn we swam in the indoor pool, followed by dinner at the adjacent Cracker Barrel (I felt obligated to get fried chicken livers, greens, and green beans soaked in what can only be described as fat back! I shall not do that again.) After dinner, we went go cart riding. David noticed we were motioned by the old southern fellow running the place to not drive full-out in a zig zag. :-D After, we enjoyed more swimming before we fell asleep content with the first day of our adventure.

Today, Monday: spelunking at Mammoth Cave! We are taking the Historic Tour and the New Entrance Tour.

new ride

2008-04-12T10:48:00.005-04:00

It's a Honda CR-V. I do not have the roof rack but it's still a sporty ride. The color is green tea metallic. Isn't that a fun name for a color? I have been telling everyone, Since I didn't go hybrid, at least I went green. And this vehicle should offer about a 40% savings from the jeep in gas consumption. Yay, that!

Our 13-year old jeep went to a very nice family. I took a picture as it was driven away and I waved it out of sight.

David and I are planning a road trip for summer vacation!

the arts

2008-03-21T17:12:00.002-04:00

David has his first piano recital on Saturday, May 3. Being the newbie, he will be the first pianist, following the vocalists. After, cookies, cake, and punch will be served.

Also, a drawing/painting David did of a poinsettia plant has been chosen for his school district's K-12 District Art Show. We will even attend an artist's reception! How fun.

Can you imagine the pride I am feeling for my boy?

which makes me remember...

2008-02-28T21:26:00.004-05:00

Interesting. see my previous "Santa" post

Before my previous post, and a couple of weeks ago, David said a friend of his must be a REALLY good person. I wondered why. David said, "He got a wii and ds-lite for Christmas. So he must be really good."

Unfortunately, my boy thinks he is not so very wonderful because Santa only brought him a couple of books. What was I thinking?!

Santa, redux

2008-02-28T20:50:00.011-05:00

We were in the car.

David: I have a question I have been wondering about ALL my life.

I looked in the rear view mirror.

David: Is Santa real?

I looked ahead, wondering... checking the traffic, thinking, thinking.

David: Do they tell you in college?

-pause-

Or do you know when you grow up?

Mom: Well, I think you just know when you grow up.

David: Yea, it's when you grow up. You don't get a present for your kid, and then Santa does, and then you know.

old as the hills. seriously.

2008-02-14T21:06:00.007-05:00

I have Entourage on my computer.

It keeps track of our scheduled commitments-- family amd friend's b-days; early, before-school meetings; after-school meetings and practices, from piano to swimming; and then play-dates, and so forth.

So, today an alert came up regarding a date for tomorrow, February 15th... it says, "Me: OLD AS THE HILLS. "

No doubt.

Santa

2007-12-20T04:21:00.000-05:00

Actually, I was never going to do the "Santa thing" with David but he picked it up from daycare when he was about three and hasn't let go of it since. That year, the night before Christmas, actually, he excitedly wondered what Santa would bring him the next day. I looked at him... like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming car. Santa? Santa! I can't quite remember what I did, whether I wrapped an unread book or rewrapped a long-forgotten toy, but I do recall scrambling a bit. Ever since, although I don't talk about Santa, I have continued to give him a small something or other from the jolly old elf.

Just this month however David, quite pointedly, and out of no where, asked me, "Mom, is there really a Santa?" I was taken off guard. True, I had never initiated his belief or ever expounded on the fairy tale but his child-like belief was, I have to admit, somewhat endearing. So when David asked me the question, and after I recovered, I, in turn, looked adoringly (and with a wisp of melancholy) at my little boy, poised at the edge of childhood when magic and wonder are often replaced by cold hard facts, delivered via mocking jeers by in-the-know classmates and I did the only thing I could do. I opened the computer and pulled up, Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.

Oh, you should have been there. I read it ever so eloquently, pausing just the right number of beats at the most precise moments to add an extra dollop of drama and emphasized critical words and phrases with flourish. Yes, it was a pivotal moment in mommydom. My contribution to David being able to hold on to his child-like wonder for just a moment longer. And at the end of the essay, feeling all wise and toasty inside, I glanced at my curly-haired cherub. Content, I smiled a sweet and knowing half-smile, nodded my head and asked, "Okay?"

He looked at me, "Ummm, yea, Mom, but... IS there a Santa Claus?"

David's Pokemon b-day party

2007-10-28T19:34:00.000-04:00

David recently had his eighth birthday party. That's right. Eight. Eight years old.

Unbelievable.

David wanted a Pokemon-theme party and sleep-over. We invited seven of his best buds (from school, the neighborhood, and cousins) so, including the birthday boy, we had eight Pokemon Trainers attend his party, in honor of his eighth birthday. (Okay, when he is 14 and there are 14 boys here please tell me this precedent might not have been the best idea. Well, actually, right after I suggested the number of guests to reflect the number of years he is on his b-day, I thought, Uh-oh! Maybe not a good idea.) :-)

Anyway, it was a fun time with pizza, fun presents for the birthday boy, grab bags for the attendees, a cool Pikachu cake made by mom, serious Pokemon card trading, Pokemon activities such as Find the Hidden Pokemon Card and Pokemon in the Forest at twilight with flashlights, a Pokemon video, and lots of fun throughout the evening. And, the Pokemon Trainers, tired from all the fun, fell asleep at a reasonable hour.

The next morning, a big breakfast was served to cheerful boys with hearty appetites.

It was a fun time and I loved all the energy in the house.

I have always enjoyed planning David's birthday parties. It has been a joy helping David realize his dreams and ideas for a fun and memorable birthday party. I trust these birthday parties will be memorable.

The only downside, after planning each passing b-day party, as a mom, is that after each fun party I realize David is growing up way more quickly than I ever thought imaginable.

And I reckon his nine year birthday party... is but a blink away.

a birthday wish

2007-10-11T20:16:00.000-04:00

David is a member of a "Birthday Club" at a local restaurant. On his birthday he gets a free dinner!

So, my eight year old and I went to dinner tonight for his birthday. When the complimentary birthday sundae treat came out with a lit candle I told David to make a wish. He blew out the candle.

I smiled, "Your wish is going to come true!"

He looked at me, with a steady gaze. "Why?" he asked.

"Honey, you blew out your candle in one breath. And I just really, truly believe it will." As soon as the words left my mouth I immediately hoped he didn't wish for something too extravagant or something he would never get, like a dirt bike.

He paused for a moment, and then said, "It already came true."

"It already came true?" I was surprised. Really? I couldn't imagine what gift he had wanted and had already received; after all, the microscope set, I figured, was a complete surprise.

So curious. "What did you wish for?"

He looked at me and, very matter of fact, answered, "A happy life."

A happy life?

A happy life.

My heart melted a little... which is a fairly regular occurrence, given I am mom to David.

What I have always, truly wished for David is a contented (if not happy, necessarily; but, certainly, contented) life.

So... all I can say, at this moment in time, when my newly eight year old shared that his fondest wish had already come true, is-- Hallelujah!

eight

2007-10-07T09:23:00.000-04:00

My baby is going to be eight this week. Eight. My baby... is no longer a baby. He'll be eight. In only a handful of days he will be half way to legal driving age. He is light years, and eight years, away from the little three and a half pound wonder he was, upon his premature, but celebrated, arrival. He is almost eight- and rough and tumble and funny and dear. My boy is almost eight.

sickness

2007-09-15T19:37:00.000-04:00

I was reading through past blogs.

This past week, before I missed the sixth day of school, I thought it was so crazy that we were so sick so early in the school year!

Then I read through my previous posts.

Not so unusual, after all. (I was surprised... is there a pattern here?)

It seems that right at the beginning of every school year, after a few days, the nasty germies get us.

Every time!

Not fair.

be careful

2007-09-15T17:10:00.000-04:00

My son (and I) had a milestone today. David rode his bike to a friend's house, one street over and on the other side of the cul de sac. Beyond the sight of my watchful eye.

He will be an independent eight years old in a few weeks.

Why aren't I smiling?

Award Winning Artist

2007-09-15T14:59:00.001-04:00

My talented nephew, Michael, won First Place in the 40th Annual Holland Area Arts Council Juried Exhibition!!! He is a junior in college and was among amazingly talented, older and seasoned artists. His entry was an amazing photograph taken on train during a summer trip to China.

Yay, Michael!!!

inside out

2007-09-02T10:56:00.000-04:00

Teachers went back to school last week. Students will start this coming Tuesday.

Teacher in-services are often dull, tediously long, and drawn-out affairs, with lots of talking among the staff of the entire district (hundreds of people!) and lots of sitting (not always easy for me to do!)

I took special care to wear a skirt the first day of in-services. Wanted to be half-way professional and all that, you know. About midway to toward the end of the day I visited the ladies' room.

It was then I made my discovery.

My skirt. My professional-looking skirt.

It was inside out.

over three months

2007-06-03T11:33:00.000-04:00

--that's how long it's been since I posted.

Life is waaay too busy sometimes. That's one of the many thoughts I had this morning as I prepared for church. So much to do. I have gotten lost in the busyness that has been my life.

But now it is summer vacation, a time to catch my breath and regroup and try to complete countless chores. I will also tutor this summer, but that is a smaller commitment compared to my usual full-time teaching schedule.

David is in a couple of camps this summer- soccer and science, maybe even Camp Geneva. I think he'd rather be in camp than sit at school while I tutor for several hours. ;-) Still, I also look forward to some extended, unhurried, and meaningful mom and son time on our many "off" days.

Okay. I can now check off one To Do. I made an entry on my blog.

Consider yourselves updated.

My son

2007-02-28T17:01:00.000-05:00

Oh my.
I have to say, I have the very best boy in the whole entire world.
He is such a love.

goal!

2007-01-07T15:08:00.000-05:00

I am popping my buttons, I am so proud of my boy.

David's soccer team had their first play-off game on Saturday. David made his very first GOAL in a league game yesterday! YAY! Also, his team WON so they get to play again next week. The winner of that game will go on to the championship playoff game.

Congratulations on the goal, David!!

buttons

2006-12-07T20:06:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, on Sunday, someone asked me what I did the previous night. I emailed back and explained that I had been steadily working on organizing the storage room in the lower level. I was very excited about organizing, arranging, and labeling the storage containers. It was especially fun to go through and organize my buttons.

I received a rather snide (if I do say so myself) reply about... well, perhaps needing a more well-rounded social life; that organizing buttons on a Saturday night was a bit spinsterish, and right up there with alphabetizing spices (okay, I admit, that is something else I do.)

Okay, before the story goes any further, let me explain why I spent a Saturday evening going through and organizing buttons into different little baby food jars, their screw-on tops painted different bright colors one lazy day last summer.

I have always loved old buttons. Ever since I sat by my grandma's sewing machine and inspected the colorful buttons she had tidily arranged in small baby food jars, I have appreciated the tiny treasures.

My grandma Hanna was quite a seamstress. I was told she would critically consider a dress in a window of Marshall Field on State Street in Chicago and then go home to the farm, make a pattern, cut out lovely fabric of her choosing, and execute a beautifully-tailored replica, yet better I like to think, of the original. I have never achieved her level of craftsmanship behind a sewing machine, but it was she who encouraged me to sew.

Before my Grandma Hanna patiently taught me how to guide the thread through the maze of the old Singer sewing machine, or how to sew a straight line on scrap fabric, or to appreciate a well-constructed outfit, she allowed me to pick through her many buttons. I suppose she saved unused buttons from outfits she executed years before. I'd dump the jars of buttons out on the floor or fan them across her neatly-made bed and marvel at the tiny treasures-- wooden ones, rhinestone, cloth, knotted, plastic, metal, tiny pearls, shell, ones with tiny painted flowers, leather. I held each in my hand. They told a story.

Through the years, I acquired a very small sampling of those tiny treasures. My grandma's buttons. Each brings me back to my Grandma Hanna-- her steady influence, her no-nonsense demeanor, her appreciation for a hidden-stitch hem and invisible seam. I loved her.

Growing up, Grandma Hanna and my Grandpa Jake were the strongest, dearest, and most reliable people I knew. I still miss them.

So, organizing buttons on a Saturday night was so much more than just that. It was a sentimental journey of sorts. And it was good. It was the perfect thing to do on a Saturday night.

wow, amiga

2006-10-28T12:19:00.000-04:00

I have been zipping around the house today, as usual for a Saturday, cleaning up, doing mountains (and I do mean mountains) of laundry, catching up on mail (i.e.: bills), in between doing science experiments with my son (yes, vinegar and baking soda, when mixed together, really do blow up a balloon!)

The kitchen garbage needed to be emptied and that falls into the column of David's Chores.

"Garbage needs to be emptied, Buddy."

"Okay!" (Yes, he is a wonderfully compliant child. Usually.)

He returned from emptying the garbage and, since he doesn't always put a new bag in the trash can, I reminded him, "Don't forget the bag."

"Adios, amigos!" he cheerfully replied.

I was amused and delighted that he was trying out his Spanish so I didn't mention he just told me good bye but, rather, merely commented, "It would be amigA, Buddy, not amigO. Amigo is for a boy, I think, and amiga is for a girl. That's how it works."

"Oh," he paused. "How did you know that? Did you look it up somewhere?"

My boy! Ever the inquisitive little fellow.

"No, hon, I learned that in college. I took Spanish in college."

"Wow!" He seemed impressed, "And you can still remember back that far?!"

-sigh-

"Yup, all the way back to the Dark Ages."

up-to-date

2006-10-26T20:54:00.000-04:00

The last month has been busy-- the school year is always like that. We have celebrated David's birthday, started soccer, and paused long enough to suffer from a couple of nasty colds.

David's seventh birthday celebration was a blast... from outer space that is, with its Star Wars theme! It was a beautiful day and David had such a wonderful and fun time! The garage was scrubbed and cleaned and decorated for the festivities. We had a large tablecloth with silver stars tacked to the wall and while we waited for everyone to arrive, children gathered at the large "canvas" and drew their Star Wars scenes using Vis A Vis markers. The kids went through Jedi Knight training outside in the front and backyard by participating in different activities, including a cool obstacle course. Divided into two teams, they also raced to empty a Jedi backpack and us the items that were packed in it-- a telescope to look through, a Jedi phone to make a call, a light saber to swish-swish-swish through the air, soap to wash,and a stuffed animal to hug or kiss goodnight. Then they repacked the Jedi backpack, raced back to the line and handed the bag off to the next participant. Little Jedis also obliterated a Death Star that was drawn on the driveway with chalk with grenade water balloons. Fun! Later, the kids used their homemade light saber (with their name) to keep a balloon in the air. After present opening, and eating a blue light saber birthday cake and ice cream, Darth Vader made a surprise appearance (thanks Uncle Karl!) and handed out laser-printed certificates, naming each boy a Jedi Knight! To wind down the party, the kids played pin the light saber on Yoda. It was an action-packed party! If anyone ever needs pages of plans for a super Star Wars birthday, let me know, because I have the goods!

I can hardly belive my son is seven years old already! He has been a tremendous blessing. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to be this beautiful boy's mommy.

David loves to play soccer and does so in the back field of the school playground at every recess. But during one recess not too long ago there was a boy who said David didn't know how to play soccer correctly! The boy (we'll call him HD) told David that he kicked the ball like a football. Also, on that fateful day, David fell and inadvertantly touched the ball with his hand as he fell (a no-no in soccer). HD, a fellow first grader, kicked David out of the game.

It was only after David was tucked in bed that night, lights out and after our story and prayers had been said that David quietly shared, "Mom, something really sad happened at school today." What?! Then he relayed the story. grrrrrr. Not very nice. My heart broke a little for my sweet son. I was also angry that HD kicked David out of the game. And I felt a little frustrated and concerned that David didn't stand up for himself but, instead, chose to leave and stand near by watching the game he so wanted to be a part of. We talked about what his options might have been at the time it happened. I suggested, if it ever happened again, that he tell HD that while it was true he dmight not know all the rules and skills of soccer yet, that he was still young and had time to learn. In fact, he was going to start soccer lessons soon.

And he did. On Monday, in spite of the start of a cold, David had his first soccer practice. He LOVED it! And, as fate would have it, guess who was there?!! It was HD, the little culprit... er, I mean boy who kicked David off the "soccer team" at school that one day. Ie-yie-yie! And I watched with interest when the kids were directed to sit in a big circle in the middle of the field, David and the boy sat side by side.

Once underway, the kids (about 22-24) ran around, kicked balls, and were put through some drills before being divided into two teams. David did really well. He got right in there and went for the ball; I was surprised and impressed to his his tenacity on the field. Later, his coach told me that David was picked as one of the top players by three coaches as the kids were practicing. I was proud!

Their first "game" is on Saturday morning, November 4th. It should be fun! If anyone would like to go to one of his games just let me know and I will get you the specifics.

Hopefully the terrible cold that kept us home from school today will clear up enough to allow David to practice his soccer moves, in preparation of the game. The flu season is here and it has walloped David and me! We had a lazy day today, trying to recover and rest.

hate to be sick

2006-09-16T08:27:00.000-04:00

--just completed the second week of school and I came down with a doozie of a cold on Wednesday. Completely stuffy nose, ears, and head, fever and chills, scratchy throat, achy, tired body... if you have ever lived in the Great White North you know the routine. Strep throat is also going around-- rather early in the season for that, isn't it?

On the way to school on Thursday, David asked, Do all teachers have to go to school even when they're sick? I looked back at him in the rear view mirror and smiled.

True, I hate spreading my germs around school but it is torture to make up sub plans and I try to save my sick days for when David gets sick. Now that he is older he is much healthier so hopefully we won't be taking too many sick days. I am thankful the recurrent double ear infections are a thing of the past; he hasn't had those in a very long time.

Anyway, I sure hope David doesn't catch this miserable thing... but this morning he came into my room before seven, a Junie B Jones book held in one hand, a plastic container of Attacktix and his old tattered stuffed cat Ali tucked under the other arm, and announced, I'm snuffly. --sigh--

a lazy sunday to reflect

2006-09-10T16:48:00.000-04:00

It is one of those perfect days for being lazy. First of all, it's Sunday and I got a huge amount of work done around here yesterday, so I am allowed to be lazy. That in itself seems perfect. Second, the weather in Michigan has changed, with a snap of chilly air and gray, gloomy skies. A perfect day for propping up the pillows, crawling under the down comforter and turning up the electric blanket, and reading a book that's been on the shelf waiting for me to spare an afternoon. And that's exactly what I plan to do.

But first I wanted to get a few thoughts down about D's first week as a first grader. His teacher is not a big proponent of homework so he does not come home with anything in his new orange backpack but his lunchbag and a few papers he completed during the school day. Not quite sure how I feel about that yet.

David was tested this week on reading and writing. Every first grader in our school is tested by one of our two school reading specialists. While he did great on the reading (no surprise), his writing is not on par with his reading. Yes, his handwriting is beautiful but while we were doing reading decoding and reading comprehension, phonics, and math over the summer, I somehow forgot to teach him WRITING, you know, as in sentences, stories, The Great American Novel! Oh my goodness. What the heck was I thinking? I guess I wasn't, and I'm a teacher!

So when I cornered, er... happened to run into the Reading Specialist who assessed David and rifled through her paperwork until I found his scores, I discovered his reading looks great but his encoding and sentence construction skills are certainly less than I desire. Still, with absolutely no help from his dear ol' teacher-mom with the Masters who helps kids learn to read and write everyday, D has managed to decipher the beginning and ending sounds of words but usually loses the medial sound(s). It was discovered that he also sometimes has complete reversals of the letters in his words; for example, he might spell d-o-g as g-o-d. Yikes! As a learning disabilities specialist, a couple of alarms immediately went off but, hey, if I was a doctor I would also probably have every disease known to man so, while I had a few concerns, I am trying to put it all into perspective.

Wow. Who woulda thunk first grade would be so hard. On me.

So this is what we started to do to remedy the cold hard fact that I let my little Einstein down. We are writing one or two sentences before school everyday. We are also starting some spelling of just the first few high frequency words. We will see how it goes. I don't want to push him too hard but I want him to gain ground. I want him to be a successful student.

After the first day of school I asked D, "What is your favorite part of first grade?" He said, "Being with my friends!" Spoken like the sweet and friendly boy that he is.

Today, after a full week of school and the additional "fun" of working on his spelling and sentence construction, I again asked D what his favorite part of school is so far. "Hmmm..." he contemplated for several seconds, putting a finger to his chin before saying matter-of-factly, "It's being in the same building that you are in."

Wow.

That sure did melt this mom's heart. And it put into perspective what is really important. It really doesn't matter if D is the best student in the whole wide world. He is still going to be this teacher's pet.

David started first grade

2006-09-06T20:16:00.000-04:00

My son started first grade this week. I have had a million gazillion feelings and thoughts running through my mind but not the words nor the energy right now to put them down. Hopefully this weekend, because it really has been all good.

jung typology test

2006-08-26T23:11:00.000-04:00

Perusing a blog today, I found a Jung Typology Test. Being the type of person who has always loved to take quizzes in women’s magazines, especially when I can come out sounding so interesting and noble, I decided to answer the questions; it only took a few minutes.

Turns out, I am an eNFj, which made me an Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging kinda person. Apparently, the “Idealists called Teachers” make up only 2 or 3 percent of the population.” Woohoo! I love being odd… er, I mean different. Um, no, no… I meant UNIQUE! Yea, unique! I love being unique.

Also, being an eNFj, I am told I am in the company of people like Mikhail Gorbachev, Oprah Winfrey, Elizabeth Dole, Francois Mitterand, Johnny Depp, and Diane Sawyer. ( Hey! I love Johnny Depp!) They also mentioned Abraham Lincoln and King David (from the Bible and Psalms fame) but I had to wonder just when this test was first created and how the heck they got King David to take it. Afterall, he was constantly busy; what, with shepherding, writing songs, and ruling, not to mention managing several wives. But I digress.

So here’s a summary:
ENFJs are the benevolent 'pedagogues' of humanity. ENFJs generally believe in their dreams, and see themselves as helpers and enablers, which they usually are. (Yea, yea… let me show you how to do it MY way!)
ENFJs are global learners. Some can juggle an amazing number of responsibilities or projects simultaneously. (I just call that ME being ADD.) In the sway of this rational function, these folks are predisposed to closure in matters pertaining to people, and especially on behalf of their beloved. As extraverts, their contacts are wide ranging. Face-to-face relationships are intense, personable and warm, though they may be so infrequently achieved that intimate friendships are rare.
ENFJs are, by definition, Js, with whom we associate organization and decisiveness. ENFJs are organized in the arena of interpersonal affairs. Their offices may or may not be cluttered, but their conclusions (reached through feelings) about people and motives are drawn much more quickly and are more resilient than those of their NFP counterparts. (Oh goodie, now I don’t have to straighten up the bajillion stacks of paper on my desk. Afterall, my clutter is completely organized,)
ENFJs know and appreciate people. Like most NFs, (and Feelers in general), they are apt to neglect themselves and their own needs for the needs of others. They have thinner psychological boundaries than most, and are at risk for being hurt or even abused by less sensitive people. ENFJs often take on more of the burdens of others than they can bear. Uhhm, yeahhh. So, your point is?

Okaaay, so I’m a “Feeler”. Whoduh ever thunk it? ;-)

thoughts

2006-08-26T21:08:00.000-04:00

Here are some words, thoughts, and feelings from this week:

"Gratitude is one of the least articulate of the emotions, especially when it is deep." ~Felix Frankfurter

-grace- absolute and completely unexpected.
-thankfulness-

The family is a haven in a heartless world. ~Attributed to Christopher Lasch

-love- deep and abiding.

"Solitude never hurt anyone. Emily Dickinson lived alone, and she wrote some of the most beautiful poetry the world has ever known... then went crazy as a loon." ~Matt Groening, The Simpsons, spoken by the character Lisa Simpson

-quiet-

-reflection-

"An educational system isn't worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living but doesn't teach them how to make a life." ~Author Unknown

-preparedness-

"Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants." ~John W. Gardner

-neglect-

"Keep your fears to yourself but share your courage with others." ~Robert Louis Stevenson

-go-

"The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family." ~Thomas Jefferson

-connection-

"If there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves." ~C.G. Jung, Integration of the Personality, 1939

-helping-
-mentoring-
-caring-
-sharing-

"Love is, above all, the gift of oneself." ~Jean Anouilh

"Expectations are resentments under construction." ~Anne Lamott

-hurt-

"What I was really hanging around for, I was trying to feel some kind of a good-by. I mean I've left schools and places I didn't even know I was leaving them. I hate that. I don't care if it's a sad good-by or a bad good-by, but when I leave a place I like to know I'm leaving it. If you don't, you feel even worse." ~J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Chapter 1

-moving forward-

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." I Thessalonians 5:18

-thankful, thankful, thankful-

...putting one foot in front of the other.

didja miss it?

2006-08-22T14:48:00.000-04:00

If you missed the mixed-up craziness that was my blog earlier today... well, you just missed it because my brother-in-law, His Supreme Braininess, fixed the problem, speedy quick!

As always, a BIG thanks to Karl; he totally rocks and RULES!

Now join me in a moment of silence as we pay homage to all the beautiful geeks in our lives who bail us out of the technological messes we inevitably get ourselves into.

HUH!?????

2006-08-22T07:54:00.000-04:00

Yup, a little power in the wrong hands is NOT a good thing.

What did I do? Why does my blog look like this? How can I fix it?

Stay tuned...

three amigos

2006-08-20T19:28:00.000-04:00

David, my sweet six year old, had a sleep over last night. His two cousins, four and five years old, came to spend the night. It was as wonderful for David as it was for me! I had never had my nephews all to myself. What a treat.

The three mop-tops bounced in the back seat. One said, "Chicken!" Peels of laughter quickly followed. I peeked in the rear view mirror. Then louder and in unison, "CHICKEN!" Rip-roarin' belly laughs. Three squealing boys. Cousins. Three Amigos, oblivious to the driver, were sharing in a joke that I simply didn't appreciate.

Sleep-over Events of the Three Amigos (Reader's Digest version)

•Putt-putt.

•Quizno's. And by the way, my younger sis's kids had never (that's right, never ever) had a kid's meal before. Now they have. And it's all my fault.

•Picnic (Quiznos in hand) at the park and playing on the gear after eating.

•Blockbuster. Three Amigos' quick and unanimous choice: Rescue Heroes.

•Home.

•Rescue Heroes. Half the show.

•Kids playing outside. Rode bikes and scooter. Squirted each other with squirt guns.

•Ice cream at favorite local ice cream place. Played chase. And I was It. The whole entire time.

•Headed home but first drove to look at light house.

•Home again. Finished watching Rescue Heroes.

•Upstairs to wash feet, hands, ice cream smiles. Brushed teeth. Got on jammies.

•All pile into D's two twin beds that I had pushed together to make one large bed so they could all sleep together. (Yea, I know some moms are snickering in a knowing way right about now.)

All was going well. The time? 9:00pm.

•A book. Tonka Rescue Helicopter. (I tried to stay true to the Rescue Hero theme when picking out the night-time book.)

•Prayers. We took turns. Very sweet.

•A little conversation. Then a little more.

•Night light was turned on in the bedroom, coded knocks on the wall were rehearsed in case help was needed in the middle of the night, covers arranged just so, the bathroom door left wide open with a nightlight shining near the toilet, the bedroom closet doors shut up tight, and the bedroom door opened 3/4ths (a compromise among the boys.) I tip-toed out of the room.

And then they quickly and blissfully fell fast asleep...

NOT.

Noooo, different forms of silly merriment ensued. You know the kind, such as that which results when the word CHICKEN is repeated... over... and over... again.

•I put on my teacher hat and turned back to David's room where I quickly delivered directions in my best teacher voice. I explained they could only whisper, and only for a short time more. Lined up in a row in the very long bed and clutching his Quizno's Child's Meal undersea life trading cards in chubby fingers, each of the Three Amigos solemnly nodded his agreement about going to sleep. They looked angelic.

Kisses were redistributed and hugs again provided (probably more for the adoring mom than for the boys benefit), before a quick, last, "Time to sleep," was delivered.

I paused for a moment at the doorway, looking at my son and two nephews in the glow of the nightlight, before walking the few steps back to my bedroom.

And then... yes, then they really and truly DID fall fast asleep.

About 45 minutes later.

new look

2006-08-18T21:33:00.000-04:00

While I like to mix it up a bit ~my home decorating attests to that~ I did not purposefully set out to create a new look for my blog.

Nope, it came by default. I was in the template of my "old" blog, rearranging this, zipping around cutting and pasting and redoing that, and saving changes as I went (we all know how important that is.) So I was saving as I was a-changin' until, finally, I previewed my blog and...

Boing!

It was totally askew. Yes, askew. There really isn't another suitable word for what I observed.

Who knows what I did. I tried to figure it out, I really did. I backpedaled. I studied the html or css or whtevr'tis to figure out a way to bring back my original blog. But no. Blogger wasn't havin' it, no way.

Okay, no problem. Plan B. So here you see the new version. Hope you like the new look.

And like I repeat when I rearrange the furniture (for the third time in one day), change can be good.

laura claire, my newest niece!

2006-08-15T14:30:00.000-04:00

I have a new niece. Her name is Laura Claire. Isn't that a beautiful name?!

In part, here is what my brother had to say:

"God is great!
Laura Claire... weighs 8 lbs. 10 oz. and is 20 inches long, born at 1:55 PM
on August 15, 2006."

Yay! I cannot wait to hold the newest addition to the extended family.

my baby vs my Big Boy

2006-07-28T21:47:00.000-04:00

My baby went through a rite of passage yesterday, as did his devoted mom.

My baby, my boy, my D went to his first sleep-over last night. Yes, he is growing up. And there is no stopping it.

Brendan's,daddy called up on Monday and asked if David would like to go over and spend the night on Thursday. "Oh... well, um, I'll have to talk to him about it," I sputtered. "He has never spent the night at anyone's house before," I explained, "And we will have to talk about it." I promised to call him back within the next day to confirm, or send regrets.

I got off the phone and told D that I had something rather important to talk to him about. I explained that Brendan's dad invited him to spend the night.

"Oh! Good! Yea! I wanna go, Mom," he instantly replied, before turning to go back about his play.

"But wait a minute, wait a minute... think about it, hon. You've never been overnight at someone's house before..."

No hesitation, "No, I wanna go, Mom." He shook his head up and down and offered a reassuring smile.

Oh. O-kaaaay.

I called and told Brendan's dad that D would be there on Thursday. I hung up.

I started counting down the days.

Last night, Thursday- the night I let go just a little bit more, was a rather long night. I awoke at least a couple of times. Each time I said a little prayer that my little boy was safe and sleeping comfortably and well.

I won't go into how I called him to say good night or how I brainstormed ways to kill time this morning and early afternoon before I could pick him up from his friend's house. Let's just say the minutes did tick by, however slowly, and I was only about 10 minutes early to get my boy.

He isn't my baby anymore. He is almost a first grader.

He went and spent the night at a friend's house with barely a backward glance.

There is absolutely no doubt. He is officially a Big Boy.

what have i created?

2006-07-08T21:04:00.000-04:00

Okay, so today D was sitting on the floor in the family room with his dvds in a wicker box.

What does Little Einsteins start with, Mom? he asked. At six and a half (he always adds the "half"), D still doesn't consistently have his R or L sounds down in his expressive language.

I was sitting at the kitchen table reading a book. I looked up briefly and said, What do you mean? The letter it starts with? He shook his head up and down, taking all the dvds out of the box and fanning them out on the floor.

"L," I replied, sounding it out- lll-ll, el.

I went back to my book and then looked at him again and smiled. My heart raced just a little faster. Oh my, surely it wasn't possible.

What are you doing, Buddy? I almost dared not ask but did anyway, Are you putting your dvds in alphabetical order? My heart skipped a beat.

Yea, he shrugged.

Oh, that's a neat idea, Honey! Cool! I tried not to act too excited but organization always thrills me and my son was initiating a very useful strategy all on his own!

Hmmmm... then I started to wonder whether he inherited some of my anal retentive leanings. Was it really a good thing? Afterall, I alphabetize my spices and color-code the clothes in my closet and people have said that is bordering on OCD (but really, retrieving what I am looking for is sooo much easier that way!)

I sat and considered all these things. Maybe my son alphabetizing his dvds wasn't such a good thing afterall. Maybe incessant hand-washing or turning on and off the light a certain number of times were right around the corner (no, I do not do either one.) Could this emergent organization strategy be a "bad" thing? Naahhhh.

Organization is a good thing!

Now if he would only acquire a hankerin' to clean (something I am not too motivated to do at all anymore) we would be in good shape.

back in business

2006-07-04T22:20:00.000-04:00

My geeky (and I say that with great respect and admiration) brother-in-law Karl helped me get my computer "tuned up" today. Thank you, Karl.

He set me up with Safari and Firefox. Tweeked this and adjusted that and taught me a few keystrokes and shortcuts. Yay! Isn't technology fun?! I am having such a good time with it. Hopefully I will continue to learn more and more!

I finally tracked down and reposted some of my favorite links too. Yay again. Be careful if you decide to visit a few of the sites- you can easily while away several hours! Some of my very favorites are the gardening links, such as autumn cottage diarist and perennial passion, a goodie for Michigan gardeners. Be sure to check out tse-tse and aisforapple under Stop for Art too! Enjoy.

fourth of july

2006-07-04T20:39:00.000-04:00

What a nice 4th of July. We went to my dad and stepmom's cottage and spent time with family, near and extended. The cousins splashed in the lake and had a great time together. I love spending time with family. Today did my heart good.

are you kidding me?! *@#!

2006-07-03T14:27:00.000-04:00

I had spent many hours deliberately and/or aimlessly cruising the cyberways to include some of my current favorite links. I proudly added them to my "links" list so that I and visitors could visit these magical and useful sites anytime. And guess what!??? They disappeared! P@@F! gone. Back is the original Google News and two additional generic tags. Arggggh!

Okay.

Back to square one.

at church

2006-07-02T10:59:00.001-04:00

There has been a lot written about the emergent church movement and what it looks like.

Given that right at this moment I am blogging this while sitting in church might qualify this place as one of those new-fangled emergent churches. I am not in the main auditorium (we don't call our main worship room a sanctuary because frankly it isn't, it is an auditorium). I am seated in the large common area that has bistro tables and leather chairs and couches. It is more comfortable for a single mom like me-- no losing out on the shared arm rests separating the chairs in the auditorium or being a "lonely" single wedged between neat intact families.

So maybe this "emerging church" has made a comfortable place for me, a divorced single mom. Although it is not in a visible leadership position to the congregation, then at least it is at a stylish bistro table in the lower level of the building.

And coffee (lattes and cappucino for a price but regular ol' joe in help-yourself carafes) is only about fifty paces to the right.

words for today

2006-07-01T11:44:00.001-04:00

breathe

be

allow

relax

first step

2006-06-28T23:33:00.000-04:00

It is here that I take the first step in creating my online journal.

Looking over my shoulder, I see my life's journey has not always been gentle or without complication, but it is my hope to daily remind myself to simplify, simplify, simplify.