Relax!

   I am learning how to relax when things aren't going well!
   I was in the check out line at the grocery store, and the clerk seemed impatient and upset with large loads of groceries.  He preferred small loads.  I thought, "He's going to be here for his 8 hour shift--what does it really matter whether one basket is full or not full?"
    I used to act like I was "on salary": hurrying to get to the next thing and frustrated if I was in a place I did not want to be for too long.
    But now I have shifted to acting as though I am "hourly": I'm going to work till I drop at the end of the day, so what does it matter if something is taking too long?
    It is actually a lovely change!  I love it!

Busting Your Burble

     Such a loopy time!  I drive to pick up my preschooler at the wrong time; I ask my husband what we are making for dinner when he has just told me; I walk to the car with no keys, no diaper bag, no car seat.  My brain is walking around in circles, as am I; we're just not walking the same path!
     The girls, prone to giggling anyway, have found all this especially humorous.  We have laughed and laughed over last week's weird new phrase: "I hate to bust your burble!" (Burst your bubble.)  I said that, quite by accident.  We laughed till we cried.  The girls are still telling each other that they hate to bust each other's burbles!!

First Smile!!

   Sebastian gave his Daddy his first smile ever!  Ron has a knack with making people smile.  It is no wonder that Sebastian smiled for him first!

My Favorite Movies

   I am in search of great movies!  Being home-bound as much as I am--who wants to stay out long with a delicate  newborn?--good movies are a pleasant reprieve.  But I am running out!  If anyone has great ideas, please let me know!
   My favorites of all time are:
-Enchanted April
-Dan in Real Life
-Cool Hand Luke
-Run Fat Boy Run
-Rudy
-Bend It Like Beckham
-New In Town
-Notting Hill
-Knight and Day
-Jesus of Nazareth (Zeffirelli)
-Brother Sun Sister Moon
-St. Rita
-Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat
-Pride and Prejudice (with Colin Firth)
-Midnight in Paris
-Les Miserables

An Aged Mother

   The benefits of age--of being middle aged--are taking me by surprise!
   For the first time, after five other babies, I am experiencing the overwhelming wonder and awe of how tiny my baby is!
    For the first time I am amazed at how vulnerable my baby is!
    For the first time, I am infatuated beyond words with this tiny creature, and in a constant state of adoration!
    My age has given me a healthy distance.  In my yonder years, I was a bit shocked, a bit scared, and a bit unsure of myself.  As attached as I was to each baby, I carried an uncertainty with me, and a fear that I wasn't doing it "right."  Newborns, after all, are shockingly dependent on their moms, and moms have a huge responsibility to their little bundle.
    But having thought I was done with having infants, and now returning to it, I have a perspective of hindsight that is all new for me.  The experience is fresh.  With this freshness I have sheer delight, almost no fear or anxiety, and abundant gratitude for this little creature, not much more in substance than a loaf of bread or a doll.  And yet he is alive; he clings to me, nestles against my chest and rests well only in my arms; only hearing my voice and sensing my touch is he truly at peace.  
     The miracle of it--this is a cliche.  Yet the miraculous aspect of this new, live person, is poignantly brought into full view, as age has swept away my concerns and left room for nothing but wonder, awe, and an embrace of pure love.

Sebastian's Baptism!

   I was so struck yesterday how very Lutheran/Calvinistic infant baptism is.  There is NOTHING an infant does to cooperate with or earn salvation; there are no "works" at all.  Infant baptism shouts "God's grace alone is what saves us!"
    Sebastian's baptism was the happiest event I've participated in, in a long time.  Oh, the joy!
   We have 100 people at our home afterwards!  65 children!  And yes, we are still cleaning the crumbs out of our furniture!!

Sleep!

     Sleep is such a precious commodity!  Sebastian used to wake at midnight, 3 AM, 4AM, 5 AM, 6 AM, and the get up for the day at 7 AM.
     But now he is skipping the midnight feeding, and sleeping until 3 or 4 AM.  Then again at 5 AM, and then at 7 AM.  Three times is SUCH a huge improvement!!
     Plus, sleeping from 9 PM till 4 AM is 7 straight hours--this is fabulous!!
   

Impressionable

Oh how impressionable children are!
My girls saw Frozen a few too many times this summer, and were constantly singing the songs around the house.  it was unnerving to everyone who was not actually singing.
So as we have begun school, I have introduced music--just vocals.  We choose one song, pick out the tune on the piano, and then sing it over and over until we've all really got it.
Now they sing these songs, seemingly in perpetuity!
It is shocking how easily re-directed they are!
Really, all people are impressionable.  It matters what we spend our time thinking about, looking and and focusing on.  May we choose wisely!