New Eyes

I can't sleep tonight, though, I'm well aware that my baby will be up and ready for another day in just a few short hours. Maybe it's the thought of school and the intense months that await me. Or maybe the fact that Emmelia is in her own room now (I really miss her being in ours). Or just the excitement of life. Whatever it is, I can be thankful that it's given me a few extra moments in the day to say a prayer for the sleeping ones, and jot (or type) down some thoughts. I'm thinking of a beautiful little thought I heard just a few weeks ago, while driving in the car with Thomas. He is the king of silly podcasts, and usually I loathe them, but this one was interesting and grabbed my attention. It reminded me of This American Life...I think that's why I liked it.
It was something by Stephen Tobolowsky, who is I guess an actor, who happened to be severely injured. To make a long story (or podcast short) he was riding a horse around a volcano somewhere far away, fell off, and broke his neck. Only, the doctors somewhere-far-away didn't discover it had been broken, and sent him home, on a plane (a HUGE no-no for someone with a broken neck!!!). Back in America he discovered he was walking around with a broken neck and the only thing saving him from severing his spinal cord was his arthritis. Kind of interesting right? The next half of the story involves his recovery, the insane head brace he had to wear, near death experiences, and a really, really mean squirrel. Apparently, a very well endowed squirrel at that. So the following excerpt is from some heavy reading he was doing during recovery.



The following was regarding the divine gift of love. It was taken from the afflictions of love, which is a book in the Torah (I think?). It was written during a period of hardship, war, and loss. Obviously Stephen found it applicable :)

From Stephens readings,  he surmised that "certain individuals are occasionally tested with injury or illness as a means of lifting them up to a higher spiritual level. Despite the trauma of the test, the rewards are great, nothing less than being able to see life with new eyes. Therefore the injury or illness does not have to be viewed as catastrophic, but a rare, even divine gift of love."

(ha...I know what you're thinking..."She's still talking about that"...yes, yes I am.)

I have new eyes, and I am so thankful. God help me to keep them.

Simple

FOR TODAY


Outside my window...
Just the quiet hum of air conditioners, no crickets or frogs tonight.

I am thinking...
Of my shortcomings and blessings.

I am thankful...
For a sleeping baby and a few stolen moments to revive this poor neglected blog.

From the learning rooms...
CPR recertification next week and studying for an math proficiency exam for year two of the VN program. I have to pass with 100%.

In the kitchen...
Just some neglected dishes and some vegan double chocolate cookies left over from dinner with the Clark family.

I am wearing...
My favorite black nightgown. Nothing fancy, just another Target favorite. I bought it before I gave birth, and wore it during part of my labor.

I am creating...
A FAFSA and birthday invitations (for a very special almost-one-year-old).

I am going...
To the mission inn this weekend for some crafty fun with a sweet friend.

I am wondering...
Why we can't be normal or simple.

I am reading...
Just recipes.

I am hoping...
That the air conditioning bill won't make us frown (or cry).

I am looking forward to...
Celebrating our baby's first birthday.

I am hearing...
Just quiet.

Around the house...
It seems there is always a mess to be made or cleaned around here, constant dishes to be washed and put away, and swelling piles of laundry to be taken care of. We are only three, but we like to play, we love to cook, and we have lots of clothes to keep us warm (or cool) in. Thank God.

I am pondering...
What I was wondering.

One of my favorite things...
Ben and Jerry's Half Baked ice cream. The best ever.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
DMV, dinner and a visit to the Watson's, craft fair, and one trip to Kaiser for mama and baby bloodwork.

Here is picture I am sharing...

Sweet Baby Emmelia

Oh Christmas Tree!

I just love our tree! It's an old fat artificial tree with lots of sturdy branches, and just the right amount of missing color coded bands to keep you on your toes during assembly. I rescued it from a curb on trash day, and to my surprise all that was missing was the base. We weren't in need of a tree, but I snatched it up anyway (which made for a very grumpy Thomas).

Anyway...

This year it was a lot harder to get our fat little tree up. What used to take a few hours took two carefully planned days, a daddy, and a mother-in-law (okay, and another day) to accomplish. But, I wouldn't want it any other way. Emmelia watched me from her bouncy seat, laughing at my renditions of holiday classics (I think Frosty the Snowman is her favorite), studying my branch fluffing technique, and dozing off for a few moments here and there. It was so great. Maybe next year she can break stuff help!

Autumn

"The time is always right to make a beginning of a way of life that will lead to salvation...however, if it were necessary to name the most appropriate season of all, and if, just as there is a time to sow and a time to reap, a time to plant and a time to harvest, and a time for everything else (cf. Eccl. 3:1-8), you are looking for a season especially suited for beginning a good work, then it is autumn, particularly this month, which is our first month and the start of our year, when our salvation had its origin, as we celebrate today." taken from a sermon on the Nativity of the Theotokos by Saint Gregory Palamas

 Back in August, I read these words and was so excited to be starting a new season of my life, something so new and so potentially beautiful for my soul. St. Gregory's words were reassuring and inspired me with the hope that I could change and start over in a sense, that I, with enough effort and prayer, could grow out of my old self and into something new and more pleasing to God.

I know that it's a month late, but happy Autumn, happy beginning of whatever newness this season is bringing to your life. I hope that it is beautiful.

To Etsy, or not to Etsy

I've been thinking a lot lately about starting up an etsy page...

 

but yesterday, 73 dollars and 7 1/2 hours later,  I realized the following:

 

A) I'm too slow and wouldn't make any money

 

 B) cute fabric is expensive and therefore, making items that are "for sale/profit" would be futile.

And C) it just wouldn't be worth it!

but gifts...

gifts are always worth it :) !

It's so much more fun to sew for a specific reason, or person anyway. 

I think that if I had to sew as a "job" I wouldn't enjoy it as much! 

So, no Etsy for me.

Coast:Day 3

day 3 notes

morning. Breakfast in the mission at this really great mexican place. So. Yummy.

Second times a charm. Got into the cathedral today and got to venerate Saint John. So humbling. Lit candles and said prayers for our godchildren and Baby Ham. Met up with Alana and Erin.

Drove to Santa Rosa to meet Alana at Russian River. Love Alana and pizza bites.

Had our first argument of the trip, about going to a fabric store. 

Dropped Thomas off at Lagunitas and went to awesome fabric store. 5,000 bolts of fabric. 

Picked up husband...glad to see he had a good time.

Drove to Oakland with happy husband. Laughed at his hiccups. Stopped to pee and get coffee. Laughed at Thomas trying to order "bamnnanma bread". Smiled at a little girl looking intently at my belly. Asked her if she was. Her response: "Well I'm wondering if there's a baby in there but I know it's rude to ask".  Laughed and told her there was. She asked when it would come out and I told her the 9th of September. Her birthday is the 5th. She thought that was pretty cool. Finally made it to Oakland to see Jessica and John. Shower at Jessicas. Yummy dinner.

Coast:Day 2

Day 2 notes

the scenic drive towards Monterey

(waved at Hearst Castle...I think) 

Drove through Los Padres national forest, 

listened to a piece on Summer Camp by This American Life.

Saw lots of cows grazing by the water...thought they were pretty lucky.

me and baby ham in Big Sur.

the park ranger horses. liked. me. 

golden hills and big green trees.

Craving salt water taffy. Stopped by the monterey fisherman's 

wharf for a visit to Kasa Karmelcorn. Got Chocolate bark, a caramel apple, turtles and taffy.
Taffy was a major let down.

On our way into San Francisco stopped by Anchor brewing and the cathedral. Went past alamo square...pretty houses. Stayed at brother-in-laws house (he got to feel baby hiccups) and visited with Zack. Ate at Pi Bar (yummy pizza) and met up with Erin for some beer and sausages, aka "tube meat". Nice to see missed friends.