Quick Thoughts

I'm typing to a chorus of coughs, sneezes, and sniffs. Everyone has a cold. I think I had a mild version already - which, hopefully, makes me immune (?)

I'm up at midnight (almost) trying to finish some writing I'm behind on (because I've been the family nurse forEVER now). I clicked on my yahoo homepage and laughed out loud at the story headline, "Americans not getting enough sleep, CDC says." Ya' think? I guess I'll go to bed now!

Go, Carter, Go!

Carter's Go, Diego, Go birthday breakfast was a hit. Unfortunately, Mason is sick and didn't feel like joining us at the table. And Kaylee and Destiny, who are here every morning, weren't here today. But Carter was thrilled that the four of us were singing to him. He even blew out his own candles - after a few tries.

Everyday Genius

Nothing, aside from getting a baby to sleep through the night and toilet-training a toddler, is more difficult than teaching a child to tie her own shoes. DreamTeamShannonR

I subscribe to Disney Family's e-newsletter, The Dream Team Daily - Ordinary parents saving the day, and I LOVE it! Finally, thanks to the internet, we moms can share our brilliant ideas with each other and help make life with kids a little easier. Today's article was about teaching kids to tie their shoes - something I've only touched on with Mason. I've considered using Velcro until one of his friends in middle school teaches him to tie laces, but that seems a bit cruel. Shannon R. offered a simple, yet fabulous, piece of advice about shoe lace-training. Use two different colored laces so that your directions are more clear. "Bring the red lace around the blue lace," is much more clear than, "No, not that lace, the other one, on the other side, in your other hand." Of course, these laces should probably be practice laces on cardboard or something - unless different colored laces on shoes happens to be "in" at your child's school. Anyway, we'll be trying out this new technique soon!

Evangelism 101

Apparently the Mormons have a new witnessing technique to increase conversion rates of the 28-35 year old female demographic. Flattery. The friendly kid in the black suit that came to my door this weekend asked me if my mom or dad was home. He was serious - and very embarrassed when I burst into giddy laughter, thanking him profusely. I would have hugged him, but I think that's a mortal sin for Mormons. I wouldn't want to keep him out of Heaven accidentally.

I'm trying really hard to not forget Carter's birthday on Wednesday. I have SO much to think about in between now and then, and I'm afraid I'll forget to make the muffins for his breakfast party. I have 6 daycare kids for breakfast Wednesday morning - automatic party! We're also having a family pizza party in Norman on our way to Dallas, but I thought I should at least do something for the poor kid on his actual birthday. I can't believe he's going to be 2. He's such a little sweetie pie!

Mysterious Ways

Earlier today, just before I opened my Dove chocolate (dark chocolate - it's health food), the thought crossed my mind that God might have a message for me in the little saying on the wrapper. Then I decided it was superstitious, maybe blasphemous, and put the thought out of my mind. When I opened the first one, (I don't remember what the other 3 said :-), it said, "Share a sunset with someone." I knew then that God didn't send me that message because I've never been a big sunrise/sunset fan.

This evening I was driving home from McDonald's (also health food) with Mason and Carter at 5:53 p.m., and Mason said, "Look at the sunrise!" I replied with a quick, "Sunset," without even looking out the window. Then I remembered the Dove message. So I looked out the window, and there was a gorgeous, picture-perfect sunset scene in the sky - with pink clouds and perfect, yellow sunrays. Mason added, "That's what it looked like in Israel when Jesus came back from being dead. And now He's here...God is right here with us."

Wow! I'll pay closer attention to my Dove chocolate wrappers from now on. I also won't worry so much when Mason compares God to Diego (as in Go Diego Go) or asks for Satan underwear. If Mason can teach me to appreciate sharing a sunset with someone, I think God will help him work out the other issues in his mind, too.

Picture: The nightly ritual of Jas carrying Mason and Carter (and Boo) to bed

Today

I've thought of a few things to blog about this week, but I can't get to those until I write about the one thing I've been avoiding. I've been so sad about John Kilgore's death, and I haven't wanted to put it in words. That makes it a little more real somehow. His funeral yesterday gave me the strength to write about the life and death of a man that God put in so many people's lives to be an encouragement, an inspiration, and a blessing. The service was over two hours and included an exhilarating praise and worship time. My best friend Collyn (since the 2nd grade :-) and her brother Ben can sing better through tears than most people can sing on a good day. God gave them the strength to give a phenomenal performance to honor their dad - Ben's Midnight Cry solo took on a life of its own and has a whole new meaning for all of us now. Except for the sadness and tears, it was a lot like I always imagined Heaven would be - it was truly surreal. Several people yesterday mentioned the John "bear hug," and that is certainly something we will all miss. But more importantly, John was a rock for his wife, his family, and his church. Thankfully, John's rock was God, and he would be the first one to tell us that God's grace is sufficient. We'll miss you, John - thank you for sharing your life and God's love with so many people.

Friday Blog Catch-Up

Wow! I haven't posted in a long time. Actually, I'm so busy writing for other people's blogs and websites that I don't have time to even think about my own. Even as we speak, I'm behind on a writing project or two. I'm going to have to master the time-management part of freelance writing one of these days.

The secretary for the cardiothorasic surgeon in Dallas finally called yesterday. We scheduled Mason's valve repair surgery for Tuesday, March 11. He'll be in the hospital for 5-7 days and then home recovering 1-2 weeks. I'll just be glad when it's all over and he's back to normal.

Speaking of heart valve surgeries, we're praying for Collyn's dad, John, today as he has his aortic valve replaced.

Oh, and it's my birthday. Happy 34th bday to me! Maybe I'll treat myself to a much needed haircut today. I keep forgetting to make an appointment, and it's been months since I got it cut. I like to call it the 'homeless-chic' look. It's not pretty, but it's easy!