I think I'm just going to let these pictures tell the story of JD's crabbiness. :)
He's not flipping off the camera, I promise. I think he's trying to bowl!!! Hahahahha
What can I say? JD caught crabs in NewPort!
hahahahahahahahahahahahah~!
Friday, July 9, 2010
{Crabby} in Newport
We probably aren't your {normal} vacationers. We're actually not really {normal} at all. I heard a quote once that goes "God didn't put us on this Earth to be normal". I can't remember the author but I'd have to agree with the sentiment. Normal is so totally overrated.
I think I'm just going to let these pictures tell the story of JD's crabbiness. :)
He's not flipping off the camera, I promise. I think he's trying to bowl!!! Hahahahha
I think I'm just going to let these pictures tell the story of JD's crabbiness. :)
He's not flipping off the camera, I promise. I think he's trying to bowl!!! Hahahahha
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
the {art} of birthing cows.
Just wondering.
Have you ever seen a calf being born? I've seen kittens and puppies...and my own children of course, but never a cow. I guess I just assumed it was similar to what all mamas go through to bring their chillins into this world. Not so.
On our trip to the coast this year, we passed by a bazillion dairy farms. One farm in particular, caught our eye. We even stopped off the side of the road for a double-take.
There, in the middle of this green pasture was a mama birthing her calf. I was so in shock that I failed to grab for my camera but the image is still so very vivid in my mind.
Black and white cow. Green field. Other cows not really {caring} what was going on. The look on her face - persistent, purposeful pain? Slight rain. Clouds. Not the greatest weather to be birthing in. She made eye contact with {me} and instantly, I felt the need to DO something.
From one {mother} to {another}. It was like a call to action!
The calf was about 1/3 {out} and it's hoof was smashed up against its face. It's tongue was dangling lifelessly out of its mouth as if to say, "I've not got much longer here". I could tell that all it needed was a lil {tug}.
JD could see the look in MY eye so he dutifully drove up a small road to the farm owner's place. He knocked on the door but there was no answer. Just as he was about to jump the fence and pull the little calf to safety, I jumped out of the truck and knocked on a second door. This time, luckily, there was an answer.
With urgency in my breath, it was all I could do to get out "There's a cow in your field and she's having a baby!!!!" I instantly knew how idiotic it sounded but I cared not. It was an emergency, after all.
This woman. Bless her heart. She took one look at me and sighed patiently.
"They do it all the time. It's natural and sometimes it takes a while".
Of course it is. Of course it does. JD claims he could see the look on my face - wind out of the sail, he describes. Shoulders sunken.
Of course.
As we drove up the road, I explained to JD how this whole 'situation' was one of my MOST embarrassing moments of all time. Just then, we slowed to notice other travelers parked along side the road. They too were in awe of this miracle and sensed the {need} to contribute in some way.
And as JD explained to me how GLAD be was that he didn't rip open some prize winning dairy cow's you-know-what like they do on city-slickers, a woman came walking up to the side of our truck.
"Does it bother her, having all these cars around watching?"
...to which JD replied "We don't know. We're just as stupid as you are".
Not really what we {meant} but definitely how we {felt}.
Just so you know. If you see a cow giving birth in a green pasture, just let it.
Have you ever seen a calf being born? I've seen kittens and puppies...and my own children of course, but never a cow. I guess I just assumed it was similar to what all mamas go through to bring their chillins into this world. Not so.
On our trip to the coast this year, we passed by a bazillion dairy farms. One farm in particular, caught our eye. We even stopped off the side of the road for a double-take.
There, in the middle of this green pasture was a mama birthing her calf. I was so in shock that I failed to grab for my camera but the image is still so very vivid in my mind.
Black and white cow. Green field. Other cows not really {caring} what was going on. The look on her face - persistent, purposeful pain? Slight rain. Clouds. Not the greatest weather to be birthing in. She made eye contact with {me} and instantly, I felt the need to DO something.
From one {mother} to {another}. It was like a call to action!
The calf was about 1/3 {out} and it's hoof was smashed up against its face. It's tongue was dangling lifelessly out of its mouth as if to say, "I've not got much longer here". I could tell that all it needed was a lil {tug}.
JD could see the look in MY eye so he dutifully drove up a small road to the farm owner's place. He knocked on the door but there was no answer. Just as he was about to jump the fence and pull the little calf to safety, I jumped out of the truck and knocked on a second door. This time, luckily, there was an answer.
With urgency in my breath, it was all I could do to get out "There's a cow in your field and she's having a baby!!!!" I instantly knew how idiotic it sounded but I cared not. It was an emergency, after all.
This woman. Bless her heart. She took one look at me and sighed patiently.
"They do it all the time. It's natural and sometimes it takes a while".
Of course it is. Of course it does. JD claims he could see the look on my face - wind out of the sail, he describes. Shoulders sunken.
Of course.
As we drove up the road, I explained to JD how this whole 'situation' was one of my MOST embarrassing moments of all time. Just then, we slowed to notice other travelers parked along side the road. They too were in awe of this miracle and sensed the {need} to contribute in some way.
And as JD explained to me how GLAD be was that he didn't rip open some prize winning dairy cow's you-know-what like they do on city-slickers, a woman came walking up to the side of our truck.
"Does it bother her, having all these cars around watching?"
...to which JD replied "We don't know. We're just as stupid as you are".
Not really what we {meant} but definitely how we {felt}.
Just so you know. If you see a cow giving birth in a green pasture, just let it.
Monday, June 21, 2010
This {little} Light of Mine...
I haven't blogged in a loooong time. Truth be told, my life is writing this story so fast I can't keep up. I've had a lot on my mind lately -
adjusting to our life with {3};
adjusting to our life with {3}+a house;
adjusting to our life with {3}+a house+a job;
adjusting to our life with {3}+a house+a classroom to empty
adjusting to our life with {3}+a house+a classroom to empty+ a different job;
Everyone else seems to be adjusting an eensy weensy bit better than I am. My {science} classroom (and all the fun experimental kinds of things that are tiny and add up faster than I can type this that come along with that word) is finally FINALLY cleaned out.
There is not one spec of {me} left in the middle school. Gone. Like a candle in the wind ~ extinguished.
My teaching license allows me to be flexible and so that's what I keep chanting to myself - "I'm flexible. Flex-eeee-blay" But my hearts keeps piping up too - this {job} is who I {am}. I've poured out myself into {it}. I've worked long and hard. It's my mission field. These middle school kids have been my mission.
Surely I cannot be the only person in the word who has ever had to {change}.
---
Today I sat on the floor of my 'office' going through old boxes of cards while the {3} slept. I came across a card that someone had given me for my college graduation 10 years ago to.the.day (God works in mysterious ways, eh?). My heart needed some words and not surprisingly, it found them in a box.
If I could give you anything as you graduate from college, I would GIVE you a candle that burns as BRIGHTLY as the light within you, the light you are...I would tell you to keep it burning, no matter what. I would say don't let the well-intentioned extinguish it. Don't let the mean-spirited blow it out. Don't let your light flicker and fade because of everyday challenges and concerns. The world is large, and no one can illuminate it alone, but it is amazing how a single candle, burning brightly can light so many others.
And so it is. I cannot possibly be the only one who feels extinguished; snuffed out; slipped away; defeated. But perhaps like me, someone's heart needs a reminder.
Press on. Push forward.
The world needs your light. Hold your candle high.
adjusting to our life with {3};
adjusting to our life with {3}+a house;
adjusting to our life with {3}+a house+a job;
adjusting to our life with {3}+a house+a classroom to empty
adjusting to our life with {3}+a house+a classroom to empty+ a different job;
Everyone else seems to be adjusting an eensy weensy bit better than I am. My {science} classroom (and all the fun experimental kinds of things that are tiny and add up faster than I can type this that come along with that word) is finally FINALLY cleaned out.
There is not one spec of {me} left in the middle school. Gone. Like a candle in the wind ~ extinguished.
My teaching license allows me to be flexible and so that's what I keep chanting to myself - "I'm flexible. Flex-eeee-blay" But my hearts keeps piping up too - this {job} is who I {am}. I've poured out myself into {it}. I've worked long and hard. It's my mission field. These middle school kids have been my mission.
Surely I cannot be the only person in the word who has ever had to {change}.
---
Today I sat on the floor of my 'office' going through old boxes of cards while the {3} slept. I came across a card that someone had given me for my college graduation 10 years ago to.the.day (God works in mysterious ways, eh?). My heart needed some words and not surprisingly, it found them in a box.
If I could give you anything as you graduate from college, I would GIVE you a candle that burns as BRIGHTLY as the light within you, the light you are...I would tell you to keep it burning, no matter what. I would say don't let the well-intentioned extinguish it. Don't let the mean-spirited blow it out. Don't let your light flicker and fade because of everyday challenges and concerns. The world is large, and no one can illuminate it alone, but it is amazing how a single candle, burning brightly can light so many others.
And so it is. I cannot possibly be the only one who feels extinguished; snuffed out; slipped away; defeated. But perhaps like me, someone's heart needs a reminder.
Press on. Push forward.
The world needs your light. Hold your candle high.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
{different}
change has been looming on the horizon for a while now. it's mostly been {rumor} which is always a real treat. i've done a lot of nodding...and smiling when i encounter people around me who seem to know more about my future than i do but to be honest, it's been tough to teeth my way through those conversations.
part of that is what comes with maternity leave. the note that reads 'you have a different job next year' must be burried under mountains on my desktop, waiting to be read upon my return{tomorrow}.
i found out today that i'll be teaching something {different} next year - for sure. it's not a rumore any more. i'll be packing my middle school bags and heading out for an adventure of another sort. the hours will be {different}. the building will be {different}. the collegues will be {different} but most of all, the kids will be {different}.
{different} is good but so is God. better, in fact.
and the {difference} is two grades. stay tuned to hear tales from the fourth grade...
part of that is what comes with maternity leave. the note that reads 'you have a different job next year' must be burried under mountains on my desktop, waiting to be read upon my return{tomorrow}.
i found out today that i'll be teaching something {different} next year - for sure. it's not a rumore any more. i'll be packing my middle school bags and heading out for an adventure of another sort. the hours will be {different}. the building will be {different}. the collegues will be {different} but most of all, the kids will be {different}.
{different} is good but so is God. better, in fact.
and the {difference} is two grades. stay tuned to hear tales from the fourth grade...
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Ryan is {6}
It's true. My biggest baby is growing right up.
Ry - You still suck your thumb and I'm sure we'll have the orthodontist bill to prove it. Old tricks die hard. :)
You are a spitting image of your dad right down to the way you shove your little hands into your pockets. 
You've got one foot into manhood but lucky for me, you still run to my arms.
Happy birthday little {man}
---
My dad is seriously one of the coolest people I know.
Can you see the crazy in those eyes??? lol
teaching...
loving....
killing????
I decided to take Ryan for a lil birthday photo shoot around the neighborhood. I just can't help but think about him as a senior in high school in some of these pictures!
Ry - You still suck your thumb and I'm sure we'll have the orthodontist bill to prove it. Old tricks die hard. :)
You are a spitting image of your dad right down to the way you shove your little hands into your pockets.
Your favorite thing to do is ride your new cool bike that Papa Bob built just.for.you.
You love legos and I'm quite impressed with your creations! You prefer your mind's eye rather than the box. LOVE that!
Your spirit is gentle...you think with your head AND your heart, as Uncle A would say.
You requested pizza for your birthday dinner and a bowling party, both of which came out of nowhere!
Your questions amaze me but even more so, your understanding.
You love to chill with papa, read The Making of Titanic, and draw jets with missiles.
You insist that you'll be working in the army...flying a P51 Mustang.
You love the Lord.
You have a sense of justice right now - especially when picking up toys you didn't play with.
You still scout stuffed animals with skinny tails that you can rub against your nose.
You wear glasses and a size 6 slim jean. Every pair of jeans you own have holes in the knees, by the way!
Your spirit is quiet but by the same token, you are a force to be reckoned with.
You've got one foot into manhood but lucky for me, you still run to my arms.
Happy birthday little {man}
---
Bowling Party:
My dad is seriously one of the coolest people I know.
Can you see the crazy in those eyes??? lol
teaching...
loving....
killing????
The 'cake' - those little white cupcakes are supposed to be bowling balls but I keep having to tell people that...lol!
Overall, a day DEFINITELY worth {celebrating}.
Happy 6th sweet boy!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
bloomers; bloomie; bloom-a-luff-a-gus
that's me. for now. a bloomer...bloomie...and bloom-a-luff-a-gus.
this time last year, i was bloggin' about this dream to run a marathon. bloomsday isn't a marathon but it may as well be (from my point of view).
and so time went on...and i had a sweet little baby boy...and still, tucked away in the far corner of my mind...held on to the dream of running bloomsday.
but i let go of it. all in good time, i thought. all in good time.
but candy didn't let go...and she convinced...encouraged...prodded...called...even signed us both up AND picked up my race packet :) gotta love candy! i must admit though, i was secretly wishing she'd cancel!
and now i can say, without a shadow of a doubt, i am a bloomer. blooming slowly but surely. a bloomie.
jd thought we'd walk the whole thing. so did jeff. heck, so did i! to tell myself the truth, i was relieved to hear that they have a sweeper truck that picks up the slow pokes. that'll be me, i thought, gettin' swept up! who runs in a race 8 wks after having a baby? certainly not me!
the race started and i freaked out - was afraid i'd get trampled to death. the excitement kicked in my endorphins or some darn thing because before we knew it, candy and i were high-fivin' the 2nd mile marker! we had finished the first thirdish of the race in 20 minutes!!!! that's a 10 minute mile and that's AMAZING (for us).
we continued to jog...walk...jog...walk until doomsday hill. after mile 6, we just didn't have a whole lot left in us and ended up walking a lot more than jogging. we did, however, pick it up when we heard the rocky theme song and saw the finish line.
it was definitely an experience.
it was definitely FUN
it was definitely worth it (and worth doing AGAIN)...
definitely worth {blooming} and i have the shirt to prove it! :)
crossing the finish line
this time last year, i was bloggin' about this dream to run a marathon. bloomsday isn't a marathon but it may as well be (from my point of view).
and so time went on...and i had a sweet little baby boy...and still, tucked away in the far corner of my mind...held on to the dream of running bloomsday.
but i let go of it. all in good time, i thought. all in good time.
but candy didn't let go...and she convinced...encouraged...prodded...called...even signed us both up AND picked up my race packet :) gotta love candy! i must admit though, i was secretly wishing she'd cancel!
and now i can say, without a shadow of a doubt, i am a bloomer. blooming slowly but surely. a bloomie.
jd thought we'd walk the whole thing. so did jeff. heck, so did i! to tell myself the truth, i was relieved to hear that they have a sweeper truck that picks up the slow pokes. that'll be me, i thought, gettin' swept up! who runs in a race 8 wks after having a baby? certainly not me!
the race started and i freaked out - was afraid i'd get trampled to death. the excitement kicked in my endorphins or some darn thing because before we knew it, candy and i were high-fivin' the 2nd mile marker! we had finished the first thirdish of the race in 20 minutes!!!! that's a 10 minute mile and that's AMAZING (for us).
we continued to jog...walk...jog...walk until doomsday hill. after mile 6, we just didn't have a whole lot left in us and ended up walking a lot more than jogging. we did, however, pick it up when we heard the rocky theme song and saw the finish line.
it was definitely an experience.
it was definitely FUN
it was definitely worth it (and worth doing AGAIN)...
definitely worth {blooming} and i have the shirt to prove it! :)
crossing the finish line
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