Rainbow

One thing this weather loving gal missed in California was, well, weather. Nothing ever happened. So moving to the Midwest brought a big change in that department. We have ourselves some thunderstorms! You know the kind that come on suddenly, where one minute it is light and bright out and the next you are looking at a dark-cloud filled sky! The thunder rumbles and the lightning strikes... (oh wait, that is song lyrics, sorry Garth) Anyway, we have been having some spring storms. The other day, we saw this out of our dining room window:



"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow."

GK Chesterton

I like the quote, because I don't like the rain. If I am having a bad day and Ross asks how I am doing I relate it to weather (see, should have been a weather gal) and usually say, "Fair to partly cloudy... or bring on the rain" So the visual reminder of the rainbow makes me smile! I hope where you are at this moment, you can see the rainbow! And if not now, then soon.

Why I am such a fan of Zoey's soccer games...

by Max


My sweet sister shares the post-game snack... And it is oh.so.yummy.

Marathon

The Nashville Marathon was this past Saturday! When I signed up, I originally thought the course was pretty flat and had read that the average ending temperature was around 65 degrees. Seemed like a pretty ideal race to me! Well.... Nashville actually is not so flat. The hills make the city really beautiful, though, which I was pleasantly surprised by, just not while I was running!! HAHA. Anyway, the hills and the temperatures hanging out in the 80's made for a tough run! I did fine and I finished, so that is good:) We left on Friday... Ross had class, and Susy's husband was out of town, so the two of us rented a minivan, to transport us and the kids down to Nashville in time to pick up our race packets. Both husbands came later in the evening. Here is a picture Ross wanted to take of me about to head out in the van:



And so the adventure began. The van had a blown fuse, and we tried to fix it, but we just couldn't, so we alternated between DVDs for the kids and using the GPS for navigation! And once we parked downtown, poor Max had to pee so bad I was sure he was going to lose it. We made it to the bathroom, though and after a serious minute of going he said, "Man, that feels better!" As we walked outside, we noticed the wind! Yikes! Now we had heat, hills, and wind... that is probably a runners triple threat nightmare right there!!

I don't have a pre-race picture. We had to leave too early for Ross to be snapping shots, but he and the kids were about 1/4 mile from the finish, so he got this one:

I had actually already run passed him when I heard him. He said he was screaming my name over and over so loud! I only heard him once! Must have been focusing on just getting done at that point. I was thrilled to see them at that point though. My kids have zero patience when it comes to staying still in one spot and waiting for something not very exciting, so I knew Ross only had a short window of time to be there! One cool thing too was my family got to see me cross the finish line on-line through a live webcast. So that was very neat. A couple of other things that I remember from the race... We ran along a neat street that had tons of music companies and production companies, but they were all in older craftsman style houses along beautiful tree-lined streets. We also ran along a lake or a river that was pretty as well. I mentioned it earlier, but I really had no idea how pretty and neat this city was. We ate dinner downtown near Vanderbilt one night as well, and like that area, too. Oh and I saw a bunch of nuns along the run. I was actually hoping to see two girls I went to college with outside, because they belong to this particular convent, but they weren't there! They probably thought I was crazy though because I ran really close to them and tried to examine all their faces to see if I recognized them (I had to get close because they wore their full habit), but I didn't see them, so I just waved!

So, it is all done now! I'm probably retiring my marathon shoes:) Maybe try some shorter races. Thanks for thinking of me and cheering me on!

Five Random Friday Ramblings...

1. I just ate some eggs that came out of the hen yesterday! I can't decide if that is cool or gross. They were tasty though! Ross has a classmate who is a farmer. Or, at least, has a farm. He gave us the eggs that were just laid that morning. To this urban-ish girl, that is just weird!

2. To add to my organic eating fun, we have put in an order for some grass-fed beef as well! I told Ross it was either that or go vegetarian... after half a second thought of Thanksgiving and a Tofurkey, he decided to go carnivore. (I didn't really give him that ultimatum... it was just a funny thought. If anyone who knew Ross in his single and/or college days heard that he was a vegetarian, they would fall out of their chair laughing!!) Back to the cow... I am excited about it! The grass fed beef is supposed to have some much better health benefits and be very tasty! We can even go visit the farm and see the cows, but I think I better not do that. It would be a little too Charlotte's Web for me. I'd try and save the cow with a miraculous spider, probably wouldn't have as good of luck, though.

3. We are having a beautiful day!! FINALLY!! My friend, Susy, and I did an 8 mile run this morning as our last run before a marathon next week!! We head down to Nashville for the Country Music Marathon on Saturday!! Yikes. Should be an adventure if nothing else.

4. Ross and I are enjoying watching Zoey's soccer games. It is so fun to cheer for these little girls and see the excitement on their face when something good happens!! We find ourselves jumping up and down and cheering like it was a professional game or something!! What isn't fun (for Ross, especially), is watching one girl in goal completely walk out of the way so the other team could score the goal, and another girl picking grass, and another girl doing handstands while the ball is being thrown in!! I guess most of it is just a young girl thing, but a little frustrating all the same!

5. Do you watch the show LOST? We just started on DVD and are hooked!!! It is so crazy and interesting and fun! We have been staying up so late because we can't.stop.watching...


Oh... here's my bonus funny (it's a doozy): I was in another room and Ross was walking down the stairs. Max just went to the bathroom (yes, more potty humor), when he yells, "Hey, how many turds do I have? I have TWO Turds!"
We are so proud.


That's all. Happy Friday!

Desiderata

So... as you can see... I changed the blog title! It comes from the poem Desiderata by Max Ehrmann. I figured I needed a change. I started the blog while living near the beach and although we still see magnificent sunsets outside our window daily, we no longer have the sandcastles!! I had an idea of what I wanted, but couldn't quite find the way to do it. I have been searching and searching, and today, it finally hit me! I have loved this poem since I was in fourth grade. It is one of my Dad's favorites, and when I was about 9 years old he found a bookmark with it and gave it to me. I remember sitting at the dining room with a big dictionary looking up a bunch of words like aridity, and perennial and feign. The dictionary helped define the words, of course, but didn't really help me grasp the meaning of the poem! It carries a little more weight and desires more life knowledge than your average fourth grader has. Still, I kept the bookmark, and read it occasionally throughout the years. When my Dad dropped me off at college for the first time, he bought me a present. It was a poster with the same poem on it. I smiled and thanked him, glad to have the reminder of him and of home and also to have something to hang on the concrete dorm wall. It was a little later in the year, when I was lying on the top bunk bed, staring up at the wall, that I read it for the first time! I could finally grasp what the entire poem meant and what it meant to me. Although, at this point I would also not consider myself overly worldly and mature, I finally got it. And each time I read it, I get something different. As life goes on and circumstances surrounding me change, a new line stands out and a new meaning comes forth! I love things like that. I've read books written by people in the 1600's that amazingly apply today! Or things like our Constitution! We always think what incredible foresight the writers had, of course. But I think it is all God.

I still have the poster by the way. I hung it up in our basement and was reading it as I ran on the treadmill. So that is my long story about the new title. My beautiful world... in short, my world is beautiful, my blessings are many, and I hope to find treasures in the small things of each day. If I can remember this each moment, I will certainly keep eyes on the Lord, for the credit is all to God.

If you've never read the poem, I am pleased to share it with you...

Desiderata
by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

p.s. thanks, Dad

Music Man Max

Max has an ear for music. He often has a song in his head that he hums along while he is playing with his toys. He is also very quick to pick up melodies and lyrics. Sometimes amazingly so! We really have to be careful what plays around him because he will hear a song once and then go off and sing it throughout the day!! Not that we listen to bad music, mind you, just that some of it is not the most kid-friendly. An example would be work out music that Ross and I have. Somehow I can't imagine having to run to the tunes of the Laurie Berkner Band or the Backyardigans soundtrack! Anyway, the music director at our church is very good. He has a PhD in voice among other things and sings very well, and just brings lots of beautiful music for all occasions! On Easter Sunday, we had a renewal of baptism vows and then the priest walked around sprinkling everyone with holy water. During this, the choir sang a version of "Wade in the Water". It is a song relating to Old and New Testaments and song in the form of "negro spiritual". It basically sounded like a little chanting with some Gospel in it... but take that with a grain of salt, because I have no idea what I am actually talking about. So the chorus repeats with this:

Wade in the water.

Wade in the water children.

Wade in the water.

God's gonna trouble the water

And then one of the verses talks about Jesus getting baptized in the Jordan river. That is all I remember. Another thing that Max does when he sings is just makes up stuff when he doesn't know the words (he gets that from my side of the family, particularly, his Auntie Tina). So yesterday he is laying in bed singing (perfectly in tune, by the way) his version!

Wade in the water.
Wade in the water children, now.
Wade in the water.
God's gonna get in the water...

(the next part you need to add some soul, which he did)
Jesus and God go surfing on the wave.

Wade in the water...

The Lord must really get a kick out of my kids! Surfing?? Really?

On Being Resourceful...

Until Ross' chopper gets finished, this will have to do:



Ross found some "ape-hanger" handle bars and put them on Max's chopper trike! Here is Max going for a ride!


It was just a temporary change! We are back to normal now.


And Happy Easter to you! We have had a nice couple of days, with egg hunts, and dinners with friends... We still have egg hunts and egg-coloring to do! I know, I am behind, but it is the Easter Season after all... so I am just spreading the Good News out... making it last longer!! God Bless you today and always...

Going Green!

It seems to be the thing to do nowadays, right? Green is the "new black" and all... Well, the kids are even more on the ball with things like recycling, than I am. (Shhhhh.... they sometimes catch me throwing something away in the trash because I am too darn lazy to clean it out, and ask, "Ummm, does that go in the recycle bin?") So the other day at the children's museum, they had a recycling display where kids could put objects into the correct slot of a truck. Max was having fun sorting, but after awhile, we were ready to leave this area, so I told him it was time to go. He replied, "Ummm, not yet. I'm just recycling!"

GOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!

Wooohoooo! Zoey scored her very first goal today in her soccer game! It was the first game of the season. What a way to start! And just the confidence boost she needed!! We were so excited!! It was a totally legit goal, too. She took the ball up the middle, took a shot, it bounced off a defender, so she shot again into the corner of the goal and scored!!! She was so proud of herself too!! Nice job, Zoey!!

"Oh lay oh lay oh lay oh lay"

Spring Break

We are Spring Breakin' it here in the O-H. (that's my way of making ohio sound cool like the OC)... Anyway...I'm a dork, I know. So let me rephrase, the kids (and I) are on Spring Break. But Ross had his last week. So, since the schedules didn't mesh, we are just hanging out here. Staying up late, sleeping in a little, and just trying to do something a little fun and different each day!

We went bowling one day:

And here is the sad thing... Ross is better than me at everything! Such a sad existence for me, I know... pity party alert!! EXCEPT for bowling. He has never beaten me until today! The stinker pulled it out in the end and bowled three strikes in the tenth frame!! NICE! Well, I redeemed myself, however. I have to hang on to the one thing I got... I bowled a 180 the next game. Oh, and the kids had fun, too!! HaHa

We've been riding bikes around the loop:




And painting a certain girl's room PINK:



We have to do some more stuff to her furniture and bed, but will post a finished product picture sometime in the future.


And today, we visited our local Children's/Discovery Museum. The kids had a nice time!


And... April already!!