Monday, October 10, 2011

America

I wake up each morning and take a breath of FREEDOM.

I live in America. 

 

In America,

I can

have as many children as I desire.

 

 

 

IMG_6283

 

In America,

I can

express my thoughts and views without fear of punishment through a blog or some sky art if I so desired.

 

 

IMG_6272

 

In America,

I can military recruiters can

jump out of airplanes waving giant American flags behind them as they float to the ground in front of a high school audience full of boys waiting to be inspired.  Actually inspiring everyone. 

 

IMG_6286

In America,

I can

support what I believe in.  We gather, and cheer and love the country we live in.

 IMG_6274

In America,

I can

do whatever the men are doing.  Women are not held back.

 IMG_6264

I feel blessed to wake up each morning in a country where I am free and encouraged to become whatever I desire.  Although, I am also graced with just a wee bit of common sense.  Enough to know that scaling a chain link fence and running across the football field to the sign up booth is probably not for me and the military, well, I’d probably be denied for a multitude of good reasons.  But I am inspired by those who did go marching over to the booth and sign up with the waiting recruiters and all those who have done so in the past that lay there lives down on the line everyday out there just to protect all those qualities that make America America.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

words

 

IMG_6043

 

worried…  Finn’s new speech therapy teacher tells me she is concerned with his inability to follow direction sometimes.  He passes my evaluation at home with flying colors but must be doing something peculiar at school.  Is he just timid or new to the routine or developmentally delayed or having some kind of absence seizures or feeling so special he doesn’t feel the need to follow the directions for the regular kids or afraid of getting yelled at or deaf or daydreaming or synaptically impaired or fill in the blank?  My mind runs with ideas and when I come up with a new diagnosis. I try to recall every tiny situation he’s had since he’s come in to this world to either prove or disprove my theory.  This is what mothers do I suppose.  Worry till they have ulcers and wait for the real answer to be revealed.  I can’t wait to discuss it further because each day it gnaws at me a little.  I’m not a fan of those lack of control situations. 

 

healed…  Eye doctor appointments this past week revealed that Gavin no longer needs glasses.  Good because he lost them.  But disappointing for Gavin because he had some trendy new frames picked out.

 

excited…  Each day I see more evidence supporting the notion that Petey might soon be potty trained and I can find a new use for the diaper budget (maybe Carbonite).  I think I still have many years of wipes, but the diapers may soon be history.

 

smarter…  I may have figured out another piece of his personality puzzle.  Tommy seems to be an angel when he’s rested (only child in our house with an actual bed time), fed and physically exhausted (this means swim 4-5 nights per week).  Now it’s just keeping each of these “banks” topped off that is tricky. 

 

connected… Gavin goes through phases like I go through cheese and eggs.  This year alone it’s been Harry Potter, Nascar, cactuses, skateboarding, scootering, magic and Nerf guns.  I have never been able to relate however, this past month his phase of choice has been pets.  Pets were a childhood passion of mine sometimes having up to 20 at a time (depending on what happened to be multiplying at any given moment).  As an adult, pets equal responsibility and money but as a child it was pure pleasure.  Gavin won’t be owning any more pets anytime soon, but I can appreciate all of the research he’s been doing and can tell him stories about my pets.  We’ve also been visiting local pet shops and holding the animals and discussing them.  I hope this one lasts longer than the weightlifting phase, I like this one.

 

tired…  Sometimes I can run on little or no sleep and then there are times when I start to feel like I’m in love with my husband mattress.  Last week I showed up early at the bus stop twice just so I could sneak a little cat nap.  

 

pressured… We have appointments almost every week until the end of the year to use up my flexible spending medical account at work.  Dentist, eye doctor, lab, and doctor X6 appointments each.  Not fun, but satisfying I suppose.

 

uncertain…  It sounds like we will be moving in the near future.  When?  It’s up in the air.  Where?  It’s up in the air.  Family, rest assured it won’t be far, just closer to the things we need to be closer to, work, schools and pools.  I am packing things away that we won’t need during the next six months.  I feel a bit like a mother hen not sure where to build her nest, but am resting assured that we have many good options and a home has to do more with the people living there than the actual shingles and bricks. 

 

content…  We seem to be in our school year groove and are falling into a consistent routine.  I count my blessings each day that I am not a single parent because I just don’t understand how they do it.  This household requires a minimum of two parents playing the part of chauffeurs, chefs, maids, nannies, and life coaches.  Most days, I’m certain we could even use a few more moms around here.  I like where were at now.  It’s a happy, chaotic and exhausting, but a happy labor of love type place.