Housekeeping

A few things:

* Most importantly: an update on Oma. She is at home, and while she did have a few minor complications during the blood transfusion, she was not admitted to the hospital. It is clear that there are some imminent health issues that need to be dealt with, but I am thankful that she is now stabilized as much as possible, preparing her for what is to come. I thank you for all your prayers and loving concern.

* I posted those bread recipes and a crockpot recipe for Split Pea Soup, bringing my virtual kitchen out of hibernation and back into the land of the living. Go ahead and head on over to Kitchen Riches, if you have a hunkering for bread. Or peas. ;-)

* I received in the mail the other day four coupons to give to anyone who might be interested in trying out Netflix, good for one free month. Matt and I have a TV which we can watch if we want to see snow for hours at a time. We do not get any channels (not even the news) but still enjoy us some movies. I opted for Netflix for these reasons:

~ it has a huge database with any and every movie imaginable. I have YET to discover a movie I am not able to get- both oldies and brand new releases.

~it saves us mondo money versus going to rental stores. In our old home, the video store had $.99 cent rentals, and for new released $1.99. Now that is a bargain for a movie rental. I was appauled when I headed to a local movie store when we first moved here-because it cost $5.99 to rent a SINGLE movie! I nearly swallowed my tongue!

Finally, and most importantly: I got sick of going INTO movie stores. Why? It is a pain to haul the kids in and out of the car to search for movie, true, but that is not the primary reason I despise movie stores so much. Long time ago- I went in to the local video store and was searching the sci-fi for some movie Matt had requested. Thankfully, it happened that the children were not with me at the time. I went over and saw a boy about 8 yrs old. crouched down looking at a video in the sci-fi section. When I went over and started scouring the titles he looked at me sheepishly and high-tailed it out of there. I thought "uh oh-wonder what's got him so up in arms." So-I looked. WHY did I look?!?! What posessed me to be so nosy?!? What I saw was a video cover that had two naked women very nearly doing something that no two women should ever do- totally clothingless. It was porn, plain and simple and it was in plain sight-at good eye levels for children. How is that RIGHT? I asked myself. It was then that I realized not only did I want my children to be exposed to that, but I didn't want to be exposed to that. Hence~ Netflix.

It is a wonderful thing, let me tell you! After that long schpeal: If anyone is interested in getting the coupon code for a free month, just leave me a comment with your email address. I'll email the first four people interested.

There. That's done! ;-)

Field Trip

(this turtle followed Corynn around the tank so many times I was wondering if she had some sort of magnetic field. Not so with the Panda...)

A few weeks ago, I took the children to a local Science and Discovery center to celebrate my little sister's birthda, and if I bought a membership, the cost to get in THAT day would be deducted from the annual cost of membership. I think it ended up being only $20.00 or something like that, and we have free access to the Center (and many affiliated museums) for a year. By golly, I forked over the cash knowing full well I would make good use of it.

I don't regret it. Not one iota.

(did you know that cockroaches have 18 knees?!?)

This particular center has four large and very generalized divisions: an outdoor center, a 'living' center, a creative and youngers center, and basically- science everywhere else. It is a huge place and often children are so overwhelmed that they fly from one thing to another, leaving parents feeling as though they did something educational when in fact, not a stitch was accomplished more than excited squeals and running about. And even then, you don't see everything.

Having this year long membership has really helped to curb the whole "MUST SEE EVERYTHING if only for a moment" syndrome-and encourages ACTUAL learning and discovery. I forewarned the children we would only go on the one side today: the 'living' center.

(an albino frog!)

We got to explore and experience in ways we wouldn't have otherwise. We were introduced to strange creatures. And get this: brace yourselves now: we actually READ the signs and learned something!

(With all the sludge on the glass of this aquarium you ought to be mighty impressed that frogs are actually seen here...)

The kids even got to watch TV! (Seriously though- this was the last thing we did and let me tell you: sitting in the dark movie cave and listening to the song of the humpback whale nearly made me fall asleep!)

It was a pretty amazing time. I loved it. The kids loved it. I was enthralled with the creatures-and so were they.

That is, until Andrew spotted the simple machines station.

And then-well, you know the rest.

Oma

Just a few hours after posting about my excitement of today's journey northward to visit with Oma and Opa, I received a dreaded call.

Saying: stay home.

Oma apparently fell and was taken to the hospital where they discovered her blood levels so low they thought it best to start blood transfusions.

She is not well- rapidly losing what's left of her weight, struggling with *another* bout of cancer, and dealing with other health and age issues all the while being sole caretaker of my Opa, whose Alzheimer's is making life increasingly difficult.

Which is why I was so excited to have the opportunity to see her and Opa because we have to squeeze these trips in as oft as possible, while they are still attainable.

Mom is headed out there today and from what I gather, will stay for a few days to help care for Opa. Thankfully, Oma and Opa have other children close by who will also be there to help.

I do very much covet any prayers you can offer up on behalf of my grandparents. For the health and safety of my Oma- and to ease the confusion of my Opa, who has learned to lean on her so heavily.

Edited to Add: When I was called last night, the phone was thick with noisy distractions, which blurred the story a bit. Turns out- Oma didn't fall but nearly passed out. Reason number One to be thankful: her frail body wasn't injured. Also-I was under the impression that she would be in the hospital for a few days but after just talking to my mom, I was informed that a straight-forward blood transfusion can take just 4 hours or so-which means, barring any complications, Oma won't even be 'admitted' to the hospital. Amazing how one little phone call can make things look so much brighter!

Crisp

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~Stanley Horowitz

The deep, rich colors of fall are beginning to catch my eyes-and it is a beautiful sight.

Here are a few, along with a very lacking in eloquence update on our home:

This weekend, we huffed and puffed and fetched all our things from storage, where it now not-so-gracefully resides in every nook and cranny, and within every walkway. Living with nothing for so long was very nice-and SPACIOUS!!! I had sort of grown accustomed to it, and had foolishly led myself to believe we were nearly done unpacking and settled in. I chose not to think about the actual boxes that crowded the storage building, and so, when the boxes came and all our earthly belongings were in our presence again- I was overwhelmed. To say the least.

Now, several days later-and yet not a stitch more unpacked-I am feeling better about it. Much of what we own is in the way of clothing for the "possible" Newman babies of our future. And graciously, this is the first home we have lived in with an attic. Soon, many bins will be out of sight, out of mind. At least for a little while.

Though the house looks worse than it ever has (minus the construction dirt and tools, that is), I feel like it is doable. We are in the home stretch. It's been a LONG labor, but now comes the delivery of something beautiful. Just have to get through the last few pushes.

Speaking of delivery: today I had a midwife appointment, the first I have ever gone alone to. My mother-in-law watched the children for me, since I had to have an hour long glucose test done, along with two other appointments. Every moment of running from one floor to another, waiting in the waiting room, and watching the hands of the clock make its full cycle over and over again, I was saying a little prayer of thanksgiving that the children were NOT with me. Five hours later, I am finally home-and exhausted. (I did squeeze in my first CVS trip after a long hiatus-which was well worth it, by the way!)

Bunkin is growing and thriving, and while I love midwives-I sure would love another ultrasound. I miss seeing my sweet Bunkin moving about! :-( On a good note though: they didn't even own a hint of surprise when I told them today that we don't use birth control and won't plan to after the birth. Much different than their doctor counterparts, at least the ones that I myself have encountered.

For the record, since this will never happen again in my life I am sure, I must say: I have gained only 13 pounds this whole pregnancy. The month before I got pregnant, I put my foot down and started working at losing weight-and lost 14 pounds. Which means now, seven and a half months and a sweet little Bunkin brewing later, I am just NOW the same weight I was when I began!

This is BIG people! HUGE! Both prior pregnancies I gained upwards of 50 pounds! Sure, I started out more this time: but hey, I am taking it! Previously, all I had to do was LOOK at a bowl of icecream and the scale weighed down another 13 pounds. So 13 pounds?!? I am loving it. And yes- I keep saying 13 pounds. Over and over. It's like music to my ears. Please, don't make me stop. Because 13 pounds is hardly anything at all considering I am only weeks away from meeting my wee one.

13. 13. 13.

Ahhhhh- I feel better.

Other newsy things:

~ We finally have a working stove, as of Friday night! We've been putting our orders in, let me tell you!

~Tomorrow I am travelling with my Mom to my Oma and Opa's house-a happy invitation. It will be good to visit my grandparents, hopefully snap some photos, and get/give my Mom ('s) nearly undivided attention for a few hours in the car ride up and back. That is, if my children cooperate.

~ I love my Mattie-but since when is that news? I missed him today, even though he just went to work. I can't wait until he gets home!

~Also-I planned to post recipes (bread and the like) to my neglected Kitchen blog on Friday, only to realize that our internet was temperarily unavailable. Who KNOWS! I plan to get to it on Wednesday. If all goes smashingly well.

Fresh Baked

Still have no working stove, though my hope is by the end of the week. This will be my eighth week without a stove/oven.

I've hated every moment of it.

Just so you know.

Iin case you didn't.

~~~

When I opened the box labeled "Bread Machine" I started drooling and went to make bread that very moment, only to discover I had no yeast. So I made an emergency trip to the grocery that night, because you KNOW it was a justifiable emergency I was facing.

That night I dreamed of fresh warm bread. I coveted and yearned for it. I pined away. I didn't care if we had anything else for dinner. All I wanted was warm, fresh bread with gooey melted butter atop.

So yesterday we excitedly added ingredients to our magic box that bakes bread and could hardly contain ourselves when it began whirring.

Last night was SUCH a feast. Belgian Molasses Bread and every bite was divine. I *did* by the way, make some Hearty Split Pea and Sausage soup to go with it, but the bread was my PERSONAL hightlight.

I ate it for breakfast this morning too.

And I have another loaf in the works for today....

yum.

A bit of yellow and orange

I had great plans for a day at a Discovery Center today, but they were thwarted, much to the Little Miss' great disappointment. The sun shone bright today, the sky was blue, a gentle breeze blew and I KNOW days like these are few. (And lookie there: I am a poet!)

Fact is: I hate winter. Despise it. Loathe it. Detest it. But I thank Fall for the last few precious days gifted for my sanity, and try not to let them pass by without taking full advantage.

An utterly disappointed girl but a sunshiny day just screamed an impromptu trip.

I chose the Pumpkin farm.

We didn't buy any pumpkins, but we sure did enjoy them- along with all the other beautiful sights and smells of the forthcoming season!

Near every animal space there are 25c feeder dispensers. My children get inventive though and feed them grass and clover. Who would have THUNK!?!? A goat? Love grass and clover? And you didn't have to pay 25c per half-handful?!? WELL....

An amazing view. Trust me, I am a seasoned veteran of this place, and let me tell you-in about two weeks there will be so many people here that you won't be able to see the hay on the floor. Makes me appreciate getting off my duff and getting out here so we could casually stroll, and exclaim over things, and take our time without mass chaos going on around us.

Someday, when these filthy barns are cleaned out (which will probably take years, and no I am not exaggerating thankyouverymuch!) I would LOVE to display Matt's own collection of antique tools in them, much like is done here. Though I can tell you, he doesn't have NEARLY the selection!

I loved how these hens lined right up to get as close a look as the children were getting.

Bunkin's first view of chickens...ha!

Speaking of Bunkin. This photo is for all you (wonderfully gracious, and very ill informed) ladies that suggest I gain only baby weight! HA! A big HA to that one! Although I will say, my previous two pregnancies resulted in an additional 60 pounds. I have only 10 more weeks to go and I've actually only gained 11 pounds this time around. Probably because I started OUT a chunky monkey! ;-)

These days, my belly could be named Bertha.

Sacrament of Place

“To be a Mother is to be the sacrament — the effective symbol — of place. Mothers do not make homes, they are our home: in the simple sense that we begin our days by a long sojourn within the body of a woman; in the extended sense that she remains our center of gravity through the years. She is the very diagram of belonging, the where in whose vicinity we are fed and watered, and have our wounds bound up and our noses wiped. She is geography incarnate, with her breasts and her womb, her relative immobility, and her hands reaching up to us the fruitfulness of the earth.

...Your body is the first object any child of man ever wanted. Therefore dispose yourself to be loved, to be wanted, to be available. Be there for them with a vengeance. Be a gracious, bending woman. Incline your ear, your heart, your hands to them. Be found warm and comfortable, and disposed to affection. Be ready to be done by and to welcome their casual effusions with something better than preoccupation and indifference."

An excerpt from the book Bed and Board by Robert Farrar Capon, as discovered through N. Wilson's blog archives. Really spoke to me and put into solid thought the words that have been swirling about my brain these last few weeks.

Adding that book to my Must-Read list.

Underfoot

It was two Saturday's past, warm, sunny and inviting outside. It also happened to be the first day the children and I had been able to enjoy the presence of our most beloved husband/father for more than a few hours as his work had called him away for a few days.

For nearly three days we had spread the memory of his words, his sounds, his smell and his love out; hoarding the memories and coveting the time when he would return and conserving them with fervor. But our tanks were low, we were running on fumes-and we needed him near us again.

That Saturday, before He had even woke up and been given proper time to rest himself, we famished three (and a half) came and drank him in as camels in a desert, overwhelming him with US. We hadn't allowed him time to nourish himself and so the day began grimly.

The children, wanting to be near and close to the father they love so tremendously with their entire beings were at every corner underfoot. And children underfoot of an unrested soul is never a good thing.

I was working in the kitchen, alone (and enjoying the peace, not having had it for three days) and listening to the sounds on the other side of the door~ the sound of the Papa, breaking down emptied cardboard boxes, the giggles and delight of the children as they could hardly contain just being NEAR him.

I heard impatience, and felt the stress continuing to rise as Matt couldn't come up for air.

And I prayed aloud, my hands gathering the ingredients to begin preparing our meal, my eyes glancing out the window at Matt,

"Lord, open His eyes to the love his children have for him. Help him to realize that they need to be near, and that the most precious thing for them AND him is for them to be together. Open his eyes to the fact that he ought to be HAPPY that they are underfoot, and help him to realize that if he grows impatient and stern- that one day, they won't WANT to be there. Give him patience, Lord, and show Him how important this is..."

It wasn't long after my lips became silent that the door slammed and an excited wispy haired girl came inside, beaming despite the strain obvious to me in Matt's voice.

"Mama. Whatcha doin'?" my girl asked.

"Working on supper..." my simple reply.

"Can I help you with something?" she asked, and I knew in her heart she was pleading.

"No, Corynn. Thanks for offering but there isn't much to do. I just have to make the grilled cheese and cut the cantalope and... Well, I can do it myself. It would just be easier if you ran outside and played."

"But Mama- I can get the stool, I can help you cut the cantalope. I'll be careful with the knife!" the pleading I knew was inside her was, as suspected, starting to emerge.

"Corynn." I said in my serious voice. The voice I give when she argues with the answer I give her... "You heard what I said. Go outside and play." Then, I added a strained "please." as if feigned politeness would make it all better.

She turned on her heels and headed outdoors and I heard her mutter, " All I wanted to do was help you, Mama."

Those words, deep and steeped in confusion, hit me hard in the gut. Then, I remembered the prayer I had just prayed on behalf of Matt.

And another crushing blow forced me to my knees.

I pray and I long for others to change~ but the log has not been pried from my own, blinded eyes. Full of pride, I point out what our children need (to Matt, to God, to blogdom), and how much, and when~ and yet, I don't act on behalf of that knowledge. I see the joy potential, but don't give of myself to live it out.

I stood, humbled and ashamed for many moments, not believing what had just happened and the irony of the prayer I had just spoken on another's behalf. Who WAS I?

I said a little prayer of repentence, then went outside to find Corynn. I told her that I was wrong to push her out the door, and that I would be pleased to have her come help me in the kitchen.

The rest of the evening, she slathered bread with butter as I sliced cheese and ham for grilled cheese. I took the seeds from a cantelope and wedged it, she cut the wedges into little pieces (with a sharp knife!) She pushed the buttons on the microwave and helped stir as our soup warmed. She set the table and I lit the candles. She called the 'men' in for supper as I filled the glasses.

Her little body, perched atop a stool but doing grown up things, right alongside me. Fingers working, getting soiled alongside one another, hands working to a greater, common good. That night I sought joy by giving of myself, and it was realized. But, I found out too, that giving of myself to create that joy-memory, wasn't as inconvenient as I thought. It wasn't that great of a sacrifice.

In fact, it was pleasure. It was fun. It was a glimpse into the future, when hands much bigger and more capable can work alongside me in the many projects and endeavors I have. It was the cultivating of ground so that when those hands ARE bigger, they will still seek me out to help and share, and love and give.

Lord, help me to realize my shortcomings, and to see clearly my need for change. Open MY eyes to the joy of these children and help me to show them that I want them near, that they are important and dear. Help me to cultivate the ground in this early years so that it might be fertile and grow beautiful gardens later.

Week One. Check.

It's official. The first week of school: grabbed by the horns, done with a vengeance, and now complete.

What Corynn learned:

~ Focused on her short A sound, practiced all the others.

~ Did more Math than we have ever done before. Practiced counting to 100, which she did well with just a teensy bit of help. Her favorite? Counting, subtracting and dividing into equal parts CANDY CORN. Yeah-that one even made it into her afternoon lunchtime prayer "Thank you God for making Mama give us candy corn to count for a special treat. They were SO delicious and it was such a fun surprise that I would love it if we got to do that tomorrow too!" ha.

~ Relearned and lived the story of David

~ Introduction to quite a selection of art~ the most poignant for her: a painting by Gerome depicting Martyr'd Christians in a Roman colosseum.

~ Self read four Bob books, all on her own and independently read a plethora of words created in pencil, crayon, playdough, and pointed out in stories. It is starting to click!!! WA HOO!

Things Panda learned (and things I learned about Panda):

~ He wants to sit with us, no matter how long and 'do' school too. Not even my suggestion.

~ He can complete shape puzzles in record time- like SECONDS.

~ He can now complete a 15 piece puzzle with minimal assistance. He just was introduced to it on Monday, but it had a tractor on it, so he was infatuated-and begged to do it every single day.

~ He can count to 15 easy, peasy with no help at all. At just two- this impresses me, probably because Corynn took much longer to get the whole numbers game. I think this boy is a numbers kind of guy which is fantastic, because I am not.

~Became very interested in colors and shapes, and especially MATCHING colors this week.

~ He is very good at praising his sister. I would often hear him say "Good job di-da!" in an enthusiastic voice. This boy of mine, he is top-notch.

What I learned:

~ If school becomes a routine, I CAN be self-disciplined enough to do it each day!

~ I got everything done everyday that I wanted to get done, if I set my mind to it.

~ Though I did get everything done, I really need to schedule my week in advance so I don't scrounge around each morning. Being more organized is at the top of my 'necessary to-do list".

~ I am already loving the flexibility of homeschooling.

~ I am loving watching my children ENJOY doing school- helps me to be enthusiastic.

~ Having some sort of creative outlet is a great way to break up the subjects. Making bookmarks for our workbooks did WONDERS to get her revived to get through one last lesson. Apple printing and creating clay words was just as educational, but left smiles on their faces for the rest of the day. Mental note: these are goods things. Do them more.

~ Corynn needs a more mature, all-encompassing approach to phonics to go along with the simple worksheets she does. She loves the worksheets, but she is far beyond working an entire week on a single phoneme. I need to challenge her a bit more.

~ Phonics and Math are great, but I want to do more hands-on stuff too. Art. Nature study. Memorization. I'm going to tack on some things for future weeks.

Overall, it was a GREAT week. I actually can't complain about a single thing. Most especially, I am thankful to realize that I can be self-disciplined enough to do it each day. It helps to have a little girl rushing to get clothes on and teeth brushed to 'do school'.

We are all looking forward to next week!

Now that this is written, I look forward to our LAST week of school, and the time I can revisit this post and see how far we've come. I wonder where we will be then...