Legacy . . .

We have the joy in parenting to pass along many legacies to our children . . . these can be of our faith, of our character, of our attitudes, and sometimes, our eyes . . .

Today Hannah went to the optometrist for her first eye exam . . .

And wouldn't ya know it . . . the kid needs glasses. I hope someday she'll look back on her childhood and notice a few other things I've passed on . . . I was amazed at how confident she was today in going through the motions of her appointment . . . how excited she was to learn the news (said, "Just wait till the kids hear about this at school Mom!") . . . and how stinkin' adorable she looks in her new glasses (metallic purple with sparkles on the side!!)

Science Center . . .

Yesterday, Hannah and I (with our good friend Carrie), headed down to the Pacific Science Center . . . it was a much awaited field trip/birthday gift for Hannah. (Good idea Carrie!) We touched and played and learned and laughed and had a great day . . .

Hannah laid down in a dinosaur foot, lifted a meteorite, pet a coach roach, sat on a ladybug, touched sea anemones and sea stars, checked out her flexibility and strength and much, much more. Thanks again Carrie for a fun day - and giving us a "big girl" day to explore without distraction of preschool agendas!!

(FYI - I'm working on figuring out how to enlarge the pictures on our blog entries without losing the clarity of the photo . . . stay tuned!!)

Saturday . . .

It's pouring down rain . . . our newly carved pumpkins are resting on the table . . . the girls are drawing while munching on roasted and salted pumpkin seeds . . . sometimes it all just works!!

Pumpkin Patch . . .

This morning Haley and I bundled up and joined some great friends from MOPS at the local pumpkin patch. It's put on by the local rotary club and all the proceeds go to reading (YEAH!!) . . . they have free hay rides, a fun train, a bouncy house, a mini farm and lots of great pumpkins . . .

For Haley, it was a fun field trip to celebrate the season . . . for me, it was a blessed day of feeling like a "normal" mom . . . for almost two hours there was no asthma, no medicine, no doctoring, no resting, no side effects, no drama . . . and it felt sooo good! I'm not short-sided to think everyday will be so fabulous but this journey we've been on as a family has sure made the "little things" oh so sweet . . . 

Personalities . . .

Each of us are born with a few set personality traits. As we grow, we can foster certain traits or lose certain traits or lean new traits . . . but some of us are just born "that way" . . .

This has become especially apparent in my girls . . . they were both born at the same hospital to the same mom and dad . . . and yet so much is different. For example: Blue Beauty (our Beta Fish) died a week ago . . . Travis discovered the tragedy and we spoke as parents as to how to break the news to Haley (it was, after all, her fish - and she took great pride it taking good care of it.)

We discussed how and when to tell her about it, if and when we should "take care of it" and if we should dispose of the evidence before we told her or let her see the proof. We decided she'd need to see it to believe it . . . as I was helping her put on her PJ's that night, I thought it'd be a good quiet moment to share the news. I gently told her that the fish is not alive anymore (he can't swim or eat) and that I felt sad our fish was dead . . . she responded with a contemplative "huh" then she paused for less than 10 seconds before she asked "Can I touch it?!"

Can I touch it?! What?! Totally not the emotional response I was expecting . . . not a tear was shed nor a question asked . . . it was black and white . . fish dead . . . sounds interesting . . . how can I experience this even more . . . and that's Haley . . . she's matter of fact . . . cut and dry . . . and she is very interested in all things buggy and squirmy and dirty . . .

Yesterday, after we met Hannah at the bus stop, we discovered a small garden snake in our garage (probably trying to seek refuge from the increasingly cold temperatures). Hannah squirmed away from it and checked it out from a distance . . . Haley jumped right in and picked it up. Personally, I tended to feel more of Hannah's response but realized I couldn't over-react as I didn't want to pass on my anxiety about the creature Haley was so fascinated by . . . and I realized, isn't that one of the more interesting and challenging jobs as a mom? How do we encourage the broad range of personalities in our children without bending them towards ours? I'm learning sometimes it's letting them pick up the snake . . . and sometimes not cracking up when they ask it they can touch their dead fish . . . 

Creative Camping . .

Savoring one of the seasons last sunny days (with the perfect crispness in the air) the girls decided to set up a camp out on our deck . . .

They carried out blankets, pillows, toys, and tissues (cause Haley has a stuffy nose) and enjoyed giggling, snacking and being kids . . . the party ended when the sky when dark but a memory was made and what more could you as of a Sunday afternoon?!

A New Kind of Normal . . .

This morning I went to the hospital for an hour and a half pulmonary function test. It was bizarre . . . sit in a clear phone booth lovingly called the "body box" . . . put your mouth on a device . . . listen to a serious man give you instructions on how to breath in a series of different exercises (long in, short in, puff out, pant like you're running, hold, let out, breath normal etc.) . . . it was less than exciting and I left exhausted . . . but the task was accomplished - another set of results for doctors to ponder over. Good times.

While waiting for the test, I finished reading a book recommended to me by a friend called "A New Kind of Normal." It is written by a mom whose son was sentenced to life in prison. . . no getting out . . . no "normal" life again. What does one do when "normal" is no longer? (I have often asked myself this same question . . . )

The author says, in her opening chapter, "It's about discovering fresh hope and renewed courage when we'd rather give up. It's about willfully choosing to make the future better even if we don't receive a tangible benefit for making the effort. It's about choosing not to waste the sorrow. It's about giving hope to others in the midst of our brokenness and tears because it's all we have to offer. And because it's all we have to give, it is enough." She goes on to describe her situation and the process she went through to discover what "normal" could be . . . and honestly shares how hard it is . . . and yet how amazing it can be when you accept "normal" is different for now . . .

She ends the book with this incredible insight . . . "Embracing your new kind of normal is the most empowering choice you will ever make. It transcends common sense. It is resistant to old patterns. It is sticky, uncomfortable, agitating and difficult. But it is liberating and live giving and spirit enriching. It changes your life and the lives of everyone who joins you on your journey. And then, quite unexpectedly, you realize you are splashing hope into the lives of others because you have an intimate love relationship with the Source of hope. Living in a new kind of normal has taught me that pain is pain is pain is pain . . . and we live in constant astonishment that God uses broken people to minister to broken people."

This book was such a timely read for me as I am learning to accept this road - that it might not go away no matter the amount of tests and doctors and medications . . . and I found hope in the process . . . even if the outcome never changes.

May I continue to embrace my new kind of normal . . . and thanks to those of you who so lovingly encourage our family in this journey we are on . . .

My Sister's Wedding . . .

Many have asked . . . time has flown by . . . but here are the much anticipated wedding pictures from my sweet sister's wedding on July 10th, 2010 . . . they are definitely worth the wait!!!

Congrats again sweet sister . . . couldn't have been a more beautiful day full of beautiful memories to last a lifetime!!