My Senior Moment

I guess it's important to laugh at yourself. Believe me, there are days I don't stop! I had one of those moments today. I thought I would share it because it might encourage some friends of mine. Especially Julie...she's older than I am, it will probably make her smile to know that I am showing signs of aging.

I am planning a softball tournament. This is not a major ordeal - it's only six teams. I was sending an email out to the team managers today and a wave of panic came over me. "Did I reserve the ball fields?" I knew that I had talked to the sports complex director, but I honestly could not remember reserving the date. And to make it worse, this is one of the few times that I did not write it down. (that noise you hear is a slight disturbance in the force)

So I argued with myself for a moment or two about how to handle this situation. Do I ignore this pang of fear and rely on my past history of organization or do I call and confirm? Now I realize for some of you this is no big deal. But for me this was new territory - I don't forget these kinds of details. Don't hate me 'cause I'm organized.

In the end I decided to make the call. I reasoned that it would be far better to make the phone call and allow the director to think me a fool, than to assume and end with me and 75 other softball players to be standing on the sidelines watching someone else use the fields that I forgot to reserve.

What I have learned is that with age comes wisdom - because when your mind slips, you have to work really hard to think through the options!

Are You Sure They Are Related

We have many children...many, many children. All live in the same house, all raised by the same two people, but my how they differ! I experienced this again today at lunch. After we were done eating two of the girls began to play.

Madison: Asked mom if they could have a tea party this afternoon. She sat down at the table, made a checklist, and then began collecting all the necessary paraphernalia.

Megan: Ran around the house with a headless doll, sticking it in her sisters' faces, pressing the button that makes the doll laugh. (It is really odd to hear a headless doll laugh - kind of creepy)

All of this to say that I continue to be amazed at the difference in my children. Each of the 5 have their own personality, and they are nothing alike. How cool that God can wire each of us to be ourselves, to be unique, even when our circumstances are similar. I love that about Him.

Oh yeah, pray for Megan.

Security, just to use the bathroom?

On the way home from Louisville, Kentucky we stopped in St. Louis at the arch. We had a bathroom emergency - with five kids, that's not a big surprise. So we went to find the restroom only to realize that we had to pass through security. This was airport security level! Belts off, electronics in the bin and everything - just so my six year old could pee! I hate to think of what our kids are filing away in their minds.

Even with the ultra-secure toilet bowls, we had a great time in Louisville. Two sick kids cut our time a little shorter than we had expected, but we've learned to roll with it...it's going to happen. A water park, 2 museums, an imax theatre, the skate park, swimming pool, a crab shack (thanks Joe), and great worship every day! That's a good week.

Good night. I am tired after 11 hours in the van with 5 kids and 2 adults - you don't even want to know.

So long...and the same lesson learned.

Well first of all, I can't believe that it has been so long since I posted. Wow, time flies.


I am not the most stubborn person in the world, maybe not even the most stubborn one in my house. :) I have learned a lesson in disappointment, again. I like to think that I have figured some of this out by now, but I guess we never stop learning - even if it's the same lesson over again.


We were in Minneapolis last week for my daughter's annual check-up at Children's hospital. She was born with a small jaw and had to have surgery when she was two weeks old. We have gone back for these annual check-ups ever since. Our expectation was that this check up would go as the previous ones have - "she's perfect, see you next year!" (we even suspected that this would be her last check-up - "she's perfect, have a nice life!")


The check-up consists of one doctor after the other throughout the morning, lunch, and then a consult with the whole team of docs in the afternoon. So through out the morning we saw each of the docs and instead of coasting through, we got one bit of disappointing news after the other.


To summarize the visit: she has minor hearing loss in her left ear, and they have no idea why. They will look into it further when we go back later this summer. And she is not able to close her airway in her speech. She will need surgery to help her keep air escaping through her nasal passage. This too will be done later this summer.


I didn't realize at first how disappointed I was. It wasn't until I shared the news that the emotions came and revealed the fact that I was not ok with these developments. I should say that I had a similar experience after her birth. I knew that God was able to heal her, and that if He would, the doctors and "experts" would have no choice but to acknowledge His power.


What I didn't realize was that what he had in mind was for me. By going through the experience of surgery, hospital stays, lost wages, etc., I had no choice but to acknowledge God's provision. He cared for us in every way possible. The lesson was for us, not the experts.


Obviously I had learned that God will take care of us. So imagine my surprise when disappointment reared its head again last week. I am certain that God has something in store...one of us needs to learn a lesson: me, Heather, our other kids, the experts, or maybe someone I will never know of.


And you know what, that's ok. We have claimed all along that we are at God's disposal and for his pleasure. Now is the part where we live it. I would obviously prefer that my daughter not have to go through another surgery (the other day we were talking about the surgery at dinner and she asked what she would do if she got scared this time - ouch), but I am sure of God's hand and his ability to care for her through whatever he calls her to.


So come what may, we are thankful for how God will choose to use it to reveal himself to one of us. And Sammy is created by His hand, just as he intended...
"She is perfect! Have a nice life."