Thanks and Giving

This was my second year participating in the 5K Turkey Trot, and as I got my number and free shirt, I delighted in the fact that my long-sleeve wardrobe almost doubled.

After the run, I joined Tom and the boys at the annual church football game. We stayed after to play soccer until we about passed out from hunger and fatigue.

Thankfully, Linda still hosts Thanksgiving dinner for Tom's family. I brought homemade crescent rolls, french beans with almonds, citrus sugar cookies with royal icing, and a pumpkin ice box with fresh whipping cream. Matthew said the prayer while Tom's family (minus his dad) held hands in a circle. I'm sure Tom's mom was thankful to have all 6 grandchildren present along with all 7 children alive and healthy.

We didn't deliver Thanksgiving dinners this year as a family. Our intention is to be open to whatever inspiration comes with respect to giving. An opportunity did come on Friday when Tom was about to go home for a nap. What he did instead is one of the reasons I love him.

A friend of mine has a son with leukemia and happened to be in the hospital on Thanksgiving. A quick trip to Miller's Children Hospital 30 minutes away to spread some love wasn't planned, but Tom was easily persuaded.

This small act was a perfect reminder of my thanks for healthy children and of giving to those who aren't. A reminder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and our fondness of their vision. A reminder of our journey there and what is currently missing here; a boldness, a oneness, a noble woman, a family of means.

And then Tom took me to see the movie The Blind Side, which reminded me again of my thanks and giving. Makayla said the movie makes me want to change my life. It makes me what to thank and give.

Unoccupied Messes May Bring More Power

Matt went back to school today, and the medicine sitting on the table for the past 5 days found its way back to the cupboard until next time. I knew the end of his sickness was approaching because I kept finding unoccupied messes around the house again; a sure sign Matthew's better.

While Matt was sick, Travis earned a "WHAT A GREAT KID" coupon by making Matt toast, setting up a movie for him in his bedroom, and letting him borrow his water bottle.
Thankfully, Grandma took care of Matthew last Thursday, so I could shop with Travis to spend his reward. Apparently, it was burning a hole right through his pocket, which isn't good because he only has 2 pair of pants that he'll wear. And they both happened to be dirty this morning because I had no laundry soap.

Luckily, I was in possession of my mother powers today because I didn't have any money to buy more pants or soap.

My car will be leaving in 10 minutes. You can leave hungry or not hungry.

Travis had other priorities besides eating. He was frozen in his room unable to pick an outfit for school after I vetoed his idea to steal from the dirty pile.

What I did next is exactly why Tom picked me to be the mother of his children and why Travis will someday be well adjusted.

My car will be leaving in 2 minutes. You can wear clothes or you can go naked, unless you want to put on some underwear.

Matthew asked Travis on our way to school, "Why are you naked?", to which Travis replied, "I'm not. I'm wearing underwear."

There are at least 100 ways in which I won today, but mostly, I am celebrating how cool I remained through the whole ordeal; never giving up my power.

And although he didn't earn another "WHAT A GREAT KID" coupon for his behavior, I think I earned credits toward my doctorate in parenting, or maybe I just earned more power.

Things You Can Do While Taxiing or Laying In Bed

Last night before going to sleep, I laid in bed celebrating the day I had. Celebrating Travis. When he was 2, he kept saying, "Almost there, mom", on our family hike because he knew my sighs were from exhaustion and from carrying him.

He likes to take my hand while walking up the steep sidewalk from the elementary school to the park and huff, "We're almost there."

He didn't know Matt had the advantage at skeeball, and he didn't see Matt's rewards spilling onto the floor. He didn't even notice when the girl next to him took his only 2 tickets.

He is blind to the emptiness in the glass. He reminds me daily.

Today at the store, I was carrying a basket to the cashier wondering out loud if it was too big. Well mom, if it's too big, we could just bring it back. He wasn't thinking about it not being the right size or the hassle of standing in the return line.

Oh, I do love this about him and a hundred other things like how he loves to cuddle. He's been that way since birth, and I remind him of that. Not because he's forgotten it, but because he loves to hear about his infancy.

So, that's what I did on Wednesday while we were taxiing in the car to church. I started with Makayla and reminded her how she hated bottles and drank out of a cup at 5 mos. How she loved to be rocked to sleep, which was wonderful and exactly opposite of Matthew who would cry if I rocked him and coo once I plopped him in his bed with his kissing bear.

Matthew and Travis laughed hysterically when I told them how they would eat and poop and eat and sleep and eat and poop. And both Makayla and Travis had blankets and Matthew had a bottle in the middle of the night until he was 18 mos.

We got to the church just in time as we ran out of more good things to say about babies. But that is no accident. Thanks Travis for reminding me the glass is sometimes half full and not just too big.

Remember Indoor Soccer?

The kids have been patient. Tonight may have been a turning point. Or it may have just been that I was too sick to tell them to stop.

In Utah, we had a long and HUGE family room/kitchen space where the kids would play nerf soccer. Actually, we all played on the hardwood floor using a doorway and the space in between the island and the counter as goals.

It took months to notice the nerf ball slowly deteriorating, even though I'd vacuum the tiny yellow flakes daily. I didn't discard the ball until we moved back to California. It was death for both the ball and our hope for indoor soccer; the house here is tiny.

In April, when we pulled up the carpet and had the hardwood refinished in the living room, Makayla tried to revive the family sport.

I would have said, "yes", if...

... if it weren't for the original 1940's picture window in the front room of our house.

... if we weren't renting.

... if the space was bigger.

... I could go on.

But, something tonight made me remember. Remember how laid back I used to be to allow indoor soccer. The noise of their pounding feet, their yelling, their crying...their laughing. Something about it reminded me of me. Where have I been? They have been so patient.