ramblings of a possible lunatic

These are not the lunatics. Okay, maybe a little. I love this picture.

I was just thinking someone should do a study on what your blog background says about your current mental state or personality or something. I'd be interested since I'm feeling conflicted about what to do with ours.

I've finally finished grades. I know, procrastination. I feel like I'm a perpetual student because I always have these deadlines at the end of the semester and I procrastinate them. SO to those of you whose nightmares involve never graduating or something, I can understand that. Although I do love being on a school schedule. You can't beat it. I think that's one secret to why people stay in education even though they are totally equipped to make billions in other industries. Take it from me. Heh.

My procrastination ended up being an even worse factor this year because, of course, the kids got sick right at the same time. I'm talking the kind of sick that had me doing laundry like 7 times a day. Poor Sammy had the worst of it, because he has a more sensitive stomach--has always "lost it" easier than Miranda--and because his gave him more diaper trouble too. In fact, he was having a little trouble the other day and was leaning against my leg as I was typing at the computer, and I felt this serenity and stillness, and looked down...HE WAS SLEEPING STANDING UP, barely perched against my leg. Oh man. I have never seen the likes. Poor kid.

Plus Miranda prayed immediately after throwing up the first time (even before she let the goop be washed out of her hair) that she would not throw up again. And she has faith. So the first time was the last time and she's fared pretty well in all of this yuckiness.

The house felt like quicksand for a few days there, but people seem to be doing better now and we are going to claw our way out today and enjoy the sun and fresh air. And obviously I'm posting a new blog post so that's a good sign.

In less emerging-out-of-the-abyss news:
Just wanted to give a little shout out to my Bro and Sis-in-law who had their baby last week and gave our kids their FIRST COUSIN and made me and Fernie AUNT and UNCLE for the first time. YEAH! awwww isn't he soooooooo cute?!

Unintentional Advice on Parenting: from the PARENTED

This morning Miranda wanted to play "The Grinch." Sammy recently chose a stuffed toy Grinch for fifty cents as one of his purchases at our Church's Young Women's Group Humanitarian Fundraiser Yard Sale (probably had a shorter name, also really well done), so I think she noticed the toy again today and that sparked her decision.

She played young Martha May Who, the Grinch's love interest in elementary school and beyond, and I, of course, played:



The role comes naturally to me.

Sam wasn't really involved, but he was likely cast--happily--as Max the dog. Another naturally fitting role.

She kept the Grinch game going as we drove around doing errands. She likes to add drama to otherwise sufficiently dramatic stories so she wanted me, as the Grinch, to talk about my feelings about my treatment by the other Who's, my feelings that I was too ugly to warrant her affections, and my disdain towards Christmas.

I lamented in my Grinchy way that I didn't understand Christmas, that it was all about stuff and presents and decorations and I didn't like all that. Martha May paused, thinking intently about how to teach me about the true meaning of Christmas.

"Mommy," she said as an aside to the dialogue, "This is the Grinch 2, where Martha May knows about Jesus."

The Grinch 2...perfect. This would allow Martha May to give me, the Grinch, a spiritual insight and thus change me to the nice Grinch (which is, I think, the true meaning of the Grinch story...that the love of Christ or charity enters into his heart and makes it grow...alas, I wax philosophical...you can't fool me with your fanciful language and innocent rhymes, Dr. Seuss).

Anyway.

Miranda added, as an aside, "Because in most movies they don't really care about Jesus."


I got the message. Media isn't just influencing the young (and the rest of us) through what's there, but through what's missing. Any 3 year old can tell you that.