Gratitude for Monday

Today we are thankful for:

Connor: "For Mommy because she's so pretty." Aww, Connor gets to have cookies for dinner tonight!

Christian: Blueberry ice cream (I'm not sure when he's ever had blueberry ice cream)

DP: For having Daddy-Connor time this weekend to do guy things...Sears, Lowes, and other guy stuff (insert grunting/burping/etc here).

Me: I'm grateful that my boys are learning to love the Lord.  Christian in particular has a keen awareness and interest in the Bible.  Tonight he told me the story of Ruth and Naomi:

Lobbying by Religious Advocacy Groups on the Rise

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released a study today that looks at the number of religious advocacy groups vying for influence in DC.  Lobbying for the Faithful: Religious Advocacy Groups in Washington, DC.  That number has grown nearly fivefold in the past four decades, up from less than 40 organizations in 1970 to more than 200 today.

I'm fully supportive of religous organizations having voice with the government.  I'm supportive of lobbyists--I was a lobbyist for more than half the years I spent in DC.  I represented several terrific faith-based organizations. As good citizens, we have a duty to see that good, wise policy is in place.  I do find it somewhat troubling that while so many denominations are seeing church attendance in decline, the rate of engagement in advocacy is rising.  The two issues may not be related, but I would much rather see church membership growing at a rate as strong, if not stronger than the growth of lobbyists.

The study authors researched the websites, tax documents, and other public discloures of these organization as they conducted the study.  Some data they found include:
One in five religious advocacy groups (19%) have a Roman Catholic perspective.

• The largest percentage (54%) of the advocacy organizations are interreligious, representing the policy interests of multiple faiths.
• Collectively, these organiziations employ at least 1,000 people in the DC area (Government is the one area where you'll never know that unemployment is hovering at 9%, as jobs related to government just keep growing...)
• The study conservatively estimates that combined annual expenditures on lobbying activities are $390 million dollars. 
• 40 groups accounted for $330 million of the total $390 million in expenditures.
• These advocacy groups are working on a wide range of about 300 policy issues--everything from marriage and family issues to capitol punishment to abortion to international policy and so on.

The study interviewed 212 religious advocacy organizations, including three Lutheran groups: Lutheran Services in America Policy Office, Lutheran World Relief, and the Legislative Affairs office of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.  (In case you were wondering, none of the three Lutheran organizations were included in the top 40 biggest annual spenders) A complete list, including organization profiles of the organizations included in the report can be found here.

This study focuses on the umbrella advocacy organizations that are working for religious groups.  It doesn't cover the number of individual faith-based/religious organizations that have lobbyists, or that have staff responsible for communicating with the government.  That number would be significantly higher, as many individual faith-based groups, including colleges, social service programs, youth programs, etc, etc, etc have advocates in Washington working on their behalf. 

So, as with everything inside the Beltway, there's more to the story. But, this report is an interesting read and includes some good data.

Gratitude

Heading into Thanksgiving week, I'm reminded that no matter the struggles we face, we have so many reasons to be thankful.

I thought that each day this week I'd ask the boys what they were thankful for and post their responses here (I'll include DP and me too, but our answers might not be as entertaining).

Christian: "Our house." This is the painting of the house he did this afternoon.

Connor: "Crwanberry juice."

DP: That the desk is back in the office...and that wifey is done asking for help with projects around the house for the weekend.

Me: I'm thankful that we're home...really home.  After so many years of feeling like we were living without roots, we're home in a place where we can plant and nurture our roots.  That feels really good.

Home Based Saturday

What a great, unscheduled, home-focused day today.

After a day of painting...painting the office, painting a lamp, my nails, and painting coffee beans (who knew?) I thought that making cookies would be the perfect ending to a productive day at home.

Yum.

I've eaten far too many, but it was my dinner, so that's ok, right?

Right?

Let There Be Color!

This weekend is the first weekend in ages that we haven't had a soccer game to go to, a birthday party to attend, or other places to be.  What a treat!

When I saw that today was going to be blissfully unscheduled, I took a look at the office that has been crying out to be put back together for a few weeks now and knew what the agenda for the day would be.

Painting!

Of the colors we were considering, we ended up using the Martha Stewart Shale.  In the can in looks like a pure grey, but on the wall it takes on a really pretty grey/blue/purplish tone.  It's pretty, and while darker, still neutral.  I'm beyond happy with it.

Mom, (AKA the master edger) came over to help.  I'm glad she did.  Not only did it make short work of the project, she's really good at edging.

Christian didn't want to be left out, so he grabbed a roller and went to work.

So, just about 2 hours after we started, we were done. Mom has a before and almost after over at Respublica.

I'm thrilled to have color in the house!  Now I'm going to let the paint dry, hang the pictures on the wall, and bring up the desk.  The room is almost ready to be put to use again.

Opa and Christian

On the way into pick up Connor from preschool, Christian and I looked at the bulletin board in the entry and saw this:

If you look closely, you'll see Opa in the Seminary poster right above Christian in the My First Hymnal Poster.

Opa has some friendly competition.

For Sale: Kodak Gallery

Does anyone still use Kodak Gallery for online photo storage?  I used to, and still have quite a few albums stored there, but in recent years I made the shift to Snapfish.  More and more, I've found that I only put photos onto Snapfish if I know I'm going to be ordering prints, or other photo products.  If I'm not planning to print them but want to share them with family or friends, the photos end up in Facebook albums.

According to the WSJ, Eastman Kodak has put Kodak Gallery up for sale, reportedly for hundreds of millions of dollars.  Eastman Kodak has been hit with a significant funding shortfall and is looking to sell the Gallery to fund a turn around. 

A lot of the photos I have on Kodak Gallery are from our wedding and honeymoon.  I  think I may start looking for a way to make sure those are safe.  A traditional photo album perhaps?

Nouveau Beaujolais

Ah, today is the day that the 2011 Beaujolais Nouveau was released.  This is a wine that is released on the third Thursday in November, with the intention that wine lovers will drink it right away.  

So in that spirit...

Ahhh.

Wait, what's that?  2010?  

Yep.  I popped open a bottle of the 2010 Beaujolais Nouveau.  

I didn't have a chance to get to the store today to pick up the 2011 release.  In my wine rack I had this bottle of the 2010.  When we closed on our house, the kind folks at our real estate agents office gave us this wine as a housewarming gift.  

Nouveau....new house.  Get it?

I hadn't opened it yet, so I thought that today was as good a day as any.  

Cheers!

Midnight Madness...Kindergarten Style

The Kindergarten Chargers Basketball team had their first practice of the season tonight.  At 5:30, the boys gathered in the gym to begin the transition from dribbling with their feet to dribbling with their hands.  Making that transition took a bit of time.

But, once the coaches had their attention, the team listened and began to learn the fundamentals of basketball.

Sorry for the sub-par photos...the iphone camera, fast moving kiddos, and the gym lighting don't mix well.

They started out practicing how to dribble the ball.

Connor came along.  If Christian was playing ball, it shouldn't be a surprise that Connor was eating.

After practicing dribbling and passing, they lined up for kindergarten style freethrows.

Hey, Mom, I made it!

All the boys did great for the first practice.  Lots of baskets were made, and lots of cheers were happening from the parents gathered on the sidelines.  I think this team has promise!

Checking in on Appropriations

Here we are on November 15, six weeks after the FY 2012 federal fiscal year began.  The Congress still has not passed a single appropriations bill for the current fiscal year.  But, there has been some progress! Believe it or not, last night House and Senate Appropriators on the conference committee released a "minibus" appropriations package.  When the Congress deals with appropriations bills collectively, rather than separately, they call it an omnibus.  When they combine just a few, they call it a minibus. 

The package released last night, and scheduled for a vote on the House floor tomorrow, contains three spending bills: Agriculture; Commerce, Justice, Science; and Transportation, HUD.  It also contains another continuing resolution that moves the deadline for completing the remaining nine appropriations bills to December 16 (remember, these were all supposed to be completed by Oct. 1).

So, there has been some progress.  Because the Congress has the ability to use CR's, it can keep moving the goalposts.  I still would bet that if these bills get wrapped up before the end of the year, it will happen at the very last minute--right before the families of the Congressmen start wanting them home for Christmas.

While I'm still sort of paying attention to how the process is moving, I haven't missed being in the weeds of the process.  I don't have to read the bills if I don't feel like it.  Unless I'm having trouble sleeping, I probably won't this year.

If you are interested in seeing what is included in the minibus, you can check out the Committee's information here: http://appropriations.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=268919. 

Fun With Paint

The BoBos love to get out the art supplies. After all, what's more fun than making art (mess) with paint?

Tonight's project was a handprint tree. Perfect art for the fall mantel.

Keeping Up With Books

Looking at the paper this morning, I came across the list of the recent New York Times Bestselling books.  There was a time (pre-kids) that I could look at a list like this and click off how many I'd read.  Usually I'd read at least 3 or 4, if not more. 

Now, with the BoBos, my reading at home is limited mainly to childrens books.  The last book I read cover to cover was Make Way For Ducklings. I'm lucky if I can make it through the first few pages of any book I pick up before falling asleep.

Escaping into a book for fun is energizing.  It can also be a stress-buster.  Trying to find the time to really do it is another story. 

So, here are The New York Times Best Sellers for the week ending Oct. 29:

HARDCOVER FICTION
1. "The Litigators'' • John Grisham
2. "1Q84'' • Haruki Murakami
3. "The Best of Me'' • Nicholas Sparks
4. "The Snow Angel'' • Glenn Beck
5. "The Christmas Wedding'' • James Patterson and Richard DiLallo
6. "The Marriage Plot'' • Jeffrey Eugenides
7. "The Night Eternal'' • Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
8. "The Affair'' • Lee Child

HARDCOVER NONFICTION
1. "Steve Jobs'' • Walter Isaacson
2. "Killing Lincoln'' • Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
3. "Thinking, Fast And Slow'' • Daniel Kahneman
4. "Boomerang'' • Michael Lewis
5. "Unbroken'' • Laura Hillenbrand
6. "Three and Out'' • John U. Bacon
7. "The End of Normal'' • Stephanie Madoff Mack with Tamara Jones
8. "Seriously … I'm Kidding'' • Ellen DeGeneres

Have you read any of these?  Do you recommend any of them? Or, are there titles not on the list that you really enjoyed?

(Rare) Quiet

Can you hear that?  No?  This is one of the rare moments that the house is quiet and still (well, except for the hum of the sander coming from the basement--DP is helping me wrap up the desk refinishing project).  By quiet and still, I mean the boys are zonked. 

Connor is headed past the three hour mark on his nap.  Should I wake him? Probably, but not just yet.

Christian is worn out from a busy day of being five.  After church he had indoor soccer (Breakaways won, 3-1!).  After a quick lunch he was off to The Heights Aquatic Center for a pool party.  Bud Bud is T.I.R.E.D.  He's not asleep, but zoned out on the couch watching football.

This is good.  This is what Sunday afternoon should be like.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Soccer Saturday

Today was the last game of the season for the Chargers soccer team.  These kids did great today.  Absolutely great.  All season long they've been playing in the Catholic Youth League against some really good teams.  It's been said before, but we're pretty sure the Catholic teams have been practicing together since before they could walk.

We've watched the Chargers improve each game this season.  They've come to work well as a team.  Each player has started to find the position he's most comfortable playing.  For Christian, that position seems to be back playing defense.  He's becoming fearless--he's not afraid to go after the ball, to run down an opposing player, or to kick the ball out of the way.  It's really fun to watch him and the rest of the team come into their own on the field.

After a game a few weeks ago I suggested that maybe he didn't want to be dancing in the backfield.  "I wasn't dancing Mommy, I was filling the space."  He was getting ready.

The fun part about today's game was that the Chargers kept the action away from their end of the field and stayed in scoring position most of the game.  The last time we played St. Michael's it was quite the opposite.  Our defense got a huge workout that game.  Today, our defense, including Christian had some time on their hands.

More time.  All the action was at the other end of the field.

Yep, see the defense down there.  They've got it easy today.

After working so hard on defense, they subbed out and cheered on the Chargers.

Connor talked Opa into taking him over to the playground.

Christian gets set to take a penalty kick.

Connor wasn't happy about having to leave the playground.

Proud Charger parents line the sidelines.

And that's the game.  Chargers tied 1-1.

Way to go team!  We're proud of you.

Stay tuned for the indoor version of Soccer Saturdays.  Several of the boys on the team wanted to keep playing after the season ended, so one of the parents formed an indoor team for the kids.  The next installment of Soccer Saturdays will feature The Breakaways.

Corduroy's Secret Club

It seems that today, 11/11/11, is a day loved by the Cordury Appreciation Club.  At 5,000 members strong, today is the day they've been waiting for because 11/11/11 most closely resembles the classic fabric.

And judging by the WSJ's story, the Club takes corduroy very seriously.

To join, applicants must recite an oath and pledge to regularly wear clothing made of corduroy, and to keep mum about details of what goes on during meetings. "We practice secret rituals," says Mr. Rohan. "I wouldn't call it dancing but there are chants." 
 
And, should you want to join the Club, you'd better follow the dress code:

Security is necessary "to keep the undesirables out—usually some ruffian at each big event," says Mr. Schlachter, 32. And who, typically, is an undesirable? "Some advocate of denim or velvet who shouldn't be there," he says.
Tonight, the Club, which wanted to emulate a "secret society" will host a runway show in New York to celebrate the fabric.  A corduroy bikini will be showcased.  Really?  When I think of corduroy, I don't tend to think of beachwear.  We'll see if this registers on the fashion pages this weekend.

Are Your Hands Clean?

Are you washing your hands long enough?  If the Clean Hands Company is successful in marketing its new soap dispenser, your boss might start keeping track.

The Clean Hands Company has created a soap dispenser that tracks how long you soap up.  You say your name, and the dispenser can monitor how long you wash.  This device is being marketed to hospitals, restaurants, and grocery stores. 

How long til other businesses who are focused on employee wellness start bringing this into their facilities to keep track of the personal hygiene of employees?

Classic Toys Inducted into Toy Hall of Fame

Hot Wheels, the Dollhouse, and the humble blanket were welcomed into the National Toy Hall of Fame yesterday, bringing the total number of toys honored to 49.

In our house, we have loads of Hot Wheels.  They're everywhere, but the boys love them.  Connor doesn't go anywhere without his blankie.  It's often used as a cape.  The boys have also recently learned the fun of using blankets to build hideouts in the living room. 

The National Toy Hall of Fame, located in Rochester, NY, selected the three from a strong list of finalists.  Among the toys that didn't make it this year are the Rubik's Cube, Twister, Star Wars Action Figures, and the Pogo Stick.  The blanket is recognized in a special category: Toys of Imagination.

Sounds like a fun place to visit.

Climbing for Cheerios

Connor is a bit under the weather today.  I stayed home with him, and most of the day he snuggled on the chair with me, alternating between too many episodes of Jake and the Neverland Pirates to count, and reading books. 

He really hasn't had much of an appetite today, but I think that's changing.  A few minutes ago I heard "Mommy, I can't reach."

So I went into the kitchen and found my climber doing this:

He hauled one of the dining table chairs into the kitchen and scampered up in an attempt to get the Cheerios that are on top of the fridge. 

Of course now that it's about dinner time, he's not interested in food.  He's back to snuggling on the couch. 

Walk on the Right

When you are walking down the hall, or down the sidewalk and encounter someone coming towards you, what do you do?  Do you step to the right and continue walking? Step to the left?  Keep going as you were and force the other person to squish to the side to pass you?

I was taught by my Dad to walk on the right when someone is walking toward you.  Easy.  From what I can tell, no one really does this anymore.  Whether I'm on the sidewalk, at the store, in the office I've found that when two people are coming toward each other it's like a game of chicken to see who will go where.  I've also found that if I do step to the right, chances are that the person opposite me is stepping to their left, so we start the fun bob and weave game of trying to decide who will walk where.  Geesh.  Just walk to the right already.

My copy of Emily Post's Etiquette is buried in an unopened box somewhere in the basement, but even the advice on her website seems to acknowledge that no one walks to the right.

             

Walkers should stay to the right on city sidewalks--although the odds of people actually following this rule are about the same as an alien craft landing on the block. Maneuvering your way down the block is all about bobbing and weaving past others as expertly as possible. 

 

Why?

Choosing Paint...

The desk that I started re-finishing a couple weeks ago is nearly finished.  I'm really happy with it--I just wish it was done already!  It's taking a while due largely to the limited time I have to work on it.  This is how it goes with any crafty type of project I get a mind to do...I want to do it, but between working outside the home full-time, and keeping up with the boys and the house the rest of the time, the time to work on "fun" projects is tight.

Because the desk is nearly done, and because it is currently in the basement, means that before it is returned to the office, the office will be painted.

Having lived for many years in rentals, we never got to play with color on the walls.  I'm tired of monochrome homes.  I want there to be some life.  Paint is such an easy way to do that.  Most of they house will likely stay subtle, but I do want to have some boldness in the house.  Connor has requested that his room be painted red.  I think he may get one wall red...not the whole room.

The room I'm most focused on right now is the office. One, because it's a wreck right now.  Papers that should be on or in the desk are on the floor, as well as lots of other stuff that needs a home.  Two, because it's not a large room, and because it's a space we will use mainly for working on the computer and reading, it can stand to have some color.

This was my inspiration room (via Pinterest):

The desk is right on.  And we're looking for a chair to recover on Craigslist.  While I love the turquoise color in this picture, after I brought home the first paint sample and DP frowned, I headed back to Home Depot (my new favorite store, second only to Hobby Lobby).  After the bold of my first choice, Martha Stewart Hummingbird Blue (which I really like), I aimed for more muted colors.  I came home with four more samples.

Martha Stewart Shale (a purplish-grey)

Behr Harmonious (the purest blue of the bunch)

Behr Venus Teal (a muted teal)

Martha Stewart Geyser (very similar to the Venus Teal, but a touch more blue)

These chips don't give the truest color and look very similar. On the wall there is quite a bit off difference, but what can you do?

We've narrowed it down to 2 colors, and I think I now what I'm going to do.

What color would you pick?

World Series Impact By the Numbers

The St. Louis Business Journal breaks down the impact of the World Series to St. Louis.  Some highlights:

Post-season attendance: 418,456

Game 7 attendance: 47,399 (single game record)

Increase in parking costs near Busch Stadium: $15 in regular season, up to $25 for World Series Games

Metro Link riders for Game 7: 86,500

Metro Link riders for victory parade: 75,900

Estimated tourists in town for World Series: 10,000

Estimated direct spending tax revenue: $3.5 million

Estimated impact of those tourists: $15 million

Number of designs in the Rally Squirrel line of shirts at Sportsprint: 11

Not bad.  How about we do it again next year?

Time Keeps On Slippin'

Did everyone fall back?


I've been out of sync all day, partly due to the time change and partly due to this mornings schedule.  We're still settling on the church we want to make our church home.  So this morning, we went to Sunday school first, and then to the late service.  I've never been a late service person.  I prefer going early, so that we still have most of the day left to rest.  The later we get home, the harder it is to finish the errands and such, and still find time to sit still and recharge.  More time before church also means more time for the boys to get worked up, greatly diminishing their ability to sit still in the service.  It was nice to cross a few to-do's off my list before church, but going to Sunday school first, then church, and then getting home later than usual just messed with me today. 

Time in general has been puzzling me since we've moved home to the Central Time Zone. I've been asked many times, "How does it feel to be home?"  One of my common answers is that there is more time here.  The time is slower.  Days are longer.  And because there is more time, the days can--and are--filled with more.

Here, my commute to work is a dream.  No highways to take, no bridges to cross.  The length of my commute might vary by 30 seconds or so depending on how I hit the traffic lights.

In DC, you never knew.  It could take 20 minutes, or it could take an hour and a half.  Motorcades, accidents, suspicious packages, Metro problems, rain, snow, or the slightest threat of rain or snow could tangle up traffic for hours.


With the commute easy and predictable, I have more time with the boys in the evenings.  With traffic in general being easier and more predictable, we can do more on the weekends.  We live close to school, close to church, close to work, close to my folks.  It's easier to do more.  Days are longer and less hectic because there isn't really the same stress of traffic and distance to muck up enjoyment of the days plans.

Yet, I'm finding it difficult to keep up with of the things that were easy (easier) for me to keep up with in DC. 

Read that magazine, or flip through the latest Pottery Barn catalogue?  Nope.  Do the crossword puzzle? Oh how I wish.  Read a book for pleasure?  Please.

Current events?  News? Political scuttlebutt?  If its not on the morning news for the 6 minutes or so I get to watch before the BoBo's take over with Jake and the Neverland Pirates, forget about it.

I had a television in my office in DC.  Because I need to have some background noise on while I'm at my desk to keep me from losing my mind, I would usually have cable news or C-SPAN on throughout the day.  As a result, it was easy to keep up with current happenings.  Now, I don't have a tv in my office.  It's quiet.  Really quiet. Radio helps, but isn't quite the same sanity-saver.  Plus, the reception for KMOX in my office is awful.  Con-I'm finding it harder to easily stay current with what's going on in the world...and I don't like to not know what's going on.  Pro--there is less stress, irritation, and annoyance at what and how the media covers the news when you don't watch it much.

I'm finding I see less tv overall since moving home.  Again, not really a bad thing.  The Central Time Zone is great--shows come on at a reasonable time (for us early to bed types).  So while I might actually make it to halftime of Monday night football now, I'm really not watching much evening tv anymore.  If I do, it's on the DVR.  Evenings are filled with dinner, cleaning up dinner, bathtime and bedtime for the boys, and anything that needs to be done around the house--and there is always something that needs to be done.  By the time I get through that race, I'm whipped.  Off to bed.

While there is more time here, I'm still finding it to be a precious commodity.

So, now that I'm running out of daylight time to rake leaves, it's out to the yard I go.

Soccer Saturday

Today was the second to last game of the Kindergarten Charger's soccer season.  It was a chilly morning in Shrewsbury at Odenwald Field.  This was a great park complex, and even better, was only five minutes from our house.  There are several soccer fields, baseball field, playground area and more great green space.  Thanks to the rain we had earlier in the week, there was also a lot of mud.  And puddles.  Naturally, the kids loved the puddles.

Christian takes the field for the game (he already has mud on his socks and sleeves at this point--muddy kids are happy kids).

Here we go!

DP has been helping out by being the bench coach. Here he and Christian watch the action while Christian takes a breather.

Connor snacked his way through the game on Goldfish crackers that Oma brought for him.

Hey, who's that?

It's cousin Tania.

The best line of the morning came from Tania.  "I grew up in Stratford, TX.  The only soccer we knew was played in Europe." 

At the end of today's game, the kids were corraled into the goal for a team photo.  Christian, get back with the team.

Better.  Aren't they a cute bunch?

Nice game today Chargers!

Friday

It's been a long day. The day started before dawn at the Seminary and ended after dark at the Seminary.

A lot happened between sunrise and sunset. But the best part of the day was walking into the Fieldhouse and seeing my boys.

Tune Inn Has Been Tuned Up

No! Not the Tune Inn!  Back in June, that was the reaction when the news spread that the Tune Inn had been damaged in a kitchen fire.

No one who lives and works, or used to live and work on the Hill could imagine a Hill without the Tune Inn.
 
The Tune Inn has been a fixture on Pennsylvania Avenue, NE for decades.  It's legendary.  And I'm so glad that it's reopening tomorrow.

For the last four months, the Tune Inn has been getting spruced up.  The owner, who is the third generation of her family to own and operate the Tune Inn, said that she's taken care to renovate in a way that her dad and granddad would have liked.

Yeah! It's back!

From what I've heard and am seeing in pictures, it looks largely the same.  The two biggest differences seem to be the loss of one of the stuffed deer butts that adorn the wall above the restrooms, and it seems shiny.  Can it be the Tune Inn if it's shiny?  Part of what added to the charm of the place was the layer of smoke and grime that had built up on the walls over the years.  Now, with the smoking ban in DC restaurants, I doubt that that same grime will ever get built up again.

Nearly everyone has a story about the Tune Inn.  Heck, Guy Fieri taped an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives here.  You can find that video here:

Yes, it was a dive, and that's what was/is so great about it.  In a town like DC, where everyone cares about your title, and if the title isn't "right", on to the next person, this place offered a breath of fresh air.  It's one of the most unpretentious places in DC.  A huge display of taxidermy on the walls, layers of smoke and grime, dim lighting.  And it's where I first met my husband.

Yep, Darren and I met on New Years Eve, 2000, at a party at the Tune Inn.  A friend of mine from the Hill was hosting a party at the Tune Inn.  I went, but Darren hadn't planned to go.  He had just flown in from Texas.  After lengthy flight delays due to snow, he had rented some movies (The Patriot, I think?) and was going to sit home alone and crash.

A friend of his called him up, called him every name in the book, and said "It's New Years Eve. Come on!"

Darren only lived a few blocks away so he listened to his friend, and came out.  I was talking to this friend as Darren walked in, and that was that.  Somewhere, I have a picture of us from that night.  As soon as I find it, I'll post it here.

Updated: I knew I had it somewhere!  Here we are, just hours into what is about to head into its second decade:

My First Hymnal--Part 2

Last week I shared that Christian was asked to be in a video to promote the new My First Hymnal from CPH.  We had a great time doing the video with Paula (who I think Christian now has a little crush on).

So yesterday the video was released, and as of this afternoon has been viewed by a lot of people (mostly Lutherans, I imagine).

Yikes.

In case you haven't seen it, here is the video.

Today, Christian's school had early dismissal, so he came to visit me at the office.  I took him over to visit the music department.  These wonderful folks are responsible for the My First Hymnal. 

They were so sweet to Christian during his visit.  David asked Christian for his autograph.  Without saying a word, Christian stepped up, grabbed the pen, and very seriously began to sign his name.

I've heard some reviews/commentary of the video--they've all been good (aw, thanks everyone!).  It's been noted that Christian is too cute.  Yes, yes he is (I might be a little biased).  But one other comment that has kept popping up is how authentic/genuine/real it was.  Well, yes.  We read with our boys--a lot.  And, in particular, we read them Bible stories and take care to teach them about the Bible and about church.  This is the time to ground them in their faith.  If we don't lay the foundation for their faith life now, we can't just expect that it will be there later as they grow up.  This is a huge responsibility for a parent, and one we're taking very seriously.

Christian seems to get it.  I tease that he's a little version of my dad...well, is it teasing if it's true?

It's not uncommon for Christian to pick up the Small Catechism to read. By the way, he's five.  Five.  We shouldn't assume that just because our kids are young, they won't get it. They're smart.  He asked me once, "Mommy, why didn't Martin Luther give us an afternoon prayer."  Umm, go ask Opa.

He asked today, "What was the first theses that Martin Luther nailed to the door?"  How random a question for a five year old.  But, one that shouldn't really surprise us, given that we just celebrated Reformation Day, and kids listen.  They absorb information.  Let's teach them.

That's why the My First Hymnal is so great.  It doesn't talk down to kids. I think this may be why I like it so much.  It doesn't dumb it down, or make it cutesy and watered down.  It gives them the liturgy and hymns in a smart, engaging manner that will help them grow to be active participants in the church service.  It gives them credit for being smart, and helping them to learn.

And as adults, isn't that our duty?

My Heart Nearly Stopped Tonight

One of my worst nightmares as a parent nearly happened tonight.

He is my heart. 

And for a frightening time tonight feared I'd lost him. 

This sweet, precious, stubborn, silly little boy. He loves to snuggle, to climb things, tickles, to be sneaky, and to count.  And his blankie. This little boy who mirrors me in temperament in so many ways.

Tonight was a rare night that I got to pick the boys up from school.  I love being able to drop them off and pick them up.  I picked up Connor at preschool first, then we headed over to Christian's school to pick him up from Kid Kare.  Christian and the other kids were playing on the playground.  I ran inside to grab Christian's backpack.  When I came in the hall, Christian and the other kids had come inside, as that time of the afternoon had come.  "Where's Connor?" I asked.  Christian said, "he's in the hallway." 

As I looked, he wasn't there.  I looked out on the playground and didn't see him.  Looked down another hallway, and didn't see him.  Checked Christian's room, didn't see him.  Looked outside again (got locked out), didn't see him.  Around this point, Christian's wonderful teacher joined us in the search.  Soon, all the kids that were still at Kid Kare and the other teachers were helping look for him.

We looked in the gym.  A natural place for Connor to go. He wasn't there.  We looked in every classroom, the kitchen, the bathrooms, the storage room, the utility room, the Sanctuary, the church office, the fellowship hall, back onto the playground, the parking lot, upstairs, downstairs, everywhere.

With every passing empty room, my heart began crying.  Where was he?  Where did he go.  God please help us find him I cried. 

After about 15 minutes...it seemed like hours, I was making a loop outside of the church, through the parking lot, looking at busy Watson Road.  Where is he? 

Then I heard a cry-"We've found him."

Thank God.  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

The mother of one of Connor's classmates had him in her arms coming across the far end of the parking lot.  She had been driving on Watson Road to pick up her daughter from Kid Kare and saw him on the side of the road (in the grass she assured me) near the apartment complex that neighbors the church.

Oh my gracious.  Oh my....

I grabbed that sweet boy and sank to the ground.  He wrapped his arms tightly around my neck.  "I was looking for you Mommy."  He clung to me for a long time, and all he would say was "I was missing you Mommy."

Oh baby, I'm not letting you go. 

It appears that when the kids came into the building, Connor did come in with Christian, but decided that he wanted to go back outside to play.  He didn't tell anyone that was what he was going to do. Independent as he is, he headed out to the playground.  When he got out there, there was no one left, and when he found he was alone, he tried to get inside, but the door was locked. He thought (as a three year old naturally would) that we'd left.

So he started looking for us. 

He headed in the direction of home, all the while, looking for us.

I can't even begin to put into words how grateful I am to the mother that brought him back to me.  And to Mrs. Belsha and everyone else who helped search for him.  So grateful. So thankful. 

Even Christian was worried.  He helped search.  When Connor was found, Christian hugged him and said "we were worried about you."  Shortly after that, Christian informed his brother of the safety rules. "Don't ever go away without telling a grownup, Connor."

In addition to not letting him out of my sight from now on (he may have to come to work with me tomorrow) is getting anything he wants tonight.  So far he's only asked for McDonalds and Jake and the Neverland Pirates on tv.  I hope tonight isn't the night he decides to ask for a puppy, because he'd get it.

I love this little boy.  Always and forever. No matter what.