Sources
In the car, I asked Peter if he wanted to listen to the radio.
Mom: "What station would you like?"
Peter: "We can listen to your music."
Mom: "Why don't we call it 'our' music?"
I turned the dial to WFMT, which was playing an early opera overture by Richard Wagner.
Peter: "That sounds like Tom and Jerry!"
Distraction
Fly, our border collie, is declining rapidly. She's still eating well, and very alert, but her legs don't work anymore and she's not able to stand unassisted.
Fly is quite vocal and whines when she needs something. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish between her needs and wants. Today at lunch, we had taken care of several issues (food, water, pain control, need to eliminate) and yet she still whined. I think she wanted to sit under the table where she likely stayed when she lived in Lila's condo.
When Peter finished eating, he grabbed a pack of Uno cards and sat down with her to play. She quit whining and watched intently as he dealt a hand to himself and her. When she didn't respond to his questions, Jonathan reminded him that dogs are color-blind.
Peter continued, "Ok, Fly, this card is red. R-E-D!"
David couldn't stand it anymore, and yelled from the kitchen, "Peter, she can't read!"
Never mind that she also can't talk! But she sure paid attention.
Rituals
A surgeon.
A pastor.
A judge.
A professor.
All maintain order over their space.
All receive deference in specific ways.
All work in very defined cultures.
I know some of these cultures well, and am learning about others.
Regatta
Definition: a rowing, speedboat, or sailing race or a series of such races
Natural Consequences
When the child smokes before school, it's necessary to open a car window while driving. Otherwise, Mom gets nauseous from the smell.
When the child doesn't wear a heavy coat in cold weather, an open window in the car means the ride is uncomfortable, even if the car's heater is set on high.
When Mom has hot flashes, the open window in the car doesn't bother her at all.
Kudos
This morning, Sarah told Jonathan:
"Dad, my throat is still really sore--for three days, now. Could you give me some cough drops to take to school?"
Jonathan replied:
"We need to make an appointment for you with the pediatrician. You might have strep throat."
Sarah's response?
"Dad, but if I have strep throat, I can't go to confirmation today!"
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What a testament to the wonderful job our youth director, pastor, and volunteer youth workers are doing!
First Snow Today
In my mind's eye, I can see our husky Dakota frolicking in the first snow of the season.
At the Library
At the Schaumburg Public Library, recently acquired books are tucked into a colorful array of scarecrows, pumpkins, and fall leaves. A prominent sign nearby makes the following plea: "Please don't let your children play in the display."
Military Reference
In the last few weeks, David and Peter sold lots of popcorn as a fundraiser for the Boy Scouts. If we ever had questions, we telephoned the adult in charge, who is called the "Popcorn Kernel."
Short on Time
Here's a photo taken by one of our children. It's of a waterfall in Oregon:
Avalanche
Usually a home avalanche is a pile of papers spontaneously cascading to the floor. Today, however, it was a LARGE bucket of Halloween candy hidden in the master bedroom closet. As I quickly grabbed a coat to run out the door, the sound of countless small objects hitting the floor accompanied the crash as the bucket broke. All I could do was set the gate to keep the dogs out of the bedroom. Poor Jonathan--he gets home today before I do!
P.S. Teen Culture
"Gangnam Style" broke the Guiness record for most "likes" on YouTube. The dance moves are seen in our house alone more than once a day.
Surprise!
Spring forward, fall back. What a wonderful gift to gain an hour every autumn. Last night, instead of setting my alarm for my regular 5:00 am on Sundays, I set it for 4:00 am to get some extra work done before All Saints' worship services.
I woke about 3:45 to the sound of creaking steps. The closet in the master bedroom fits under the stairway, so it's quite easy to hear any movement. The footsteps very slowly moved from the steps into the living room and on into the kitchen. I listened intently to the very careful footsteps, and eventually the child went back upstairs.
As I heard the feet descend the stairs again, my alarm clock starting ringing. The footsteps suddenly bolted up the steps. That's the fastest they'd moved for 15 minutes!
Teen Culture
Sarah adores the hit song called "Gangnam Style" by Korean singer Psy. It's amazing to me that a song in Korean as well as English is topping the U.S. charts. I looked up the meaning of "Gangnam" on the internet. Here's how the Urban Dictionary defines it:
"Gangnam" means "south(nam) of the river(gang)" in Korean. In this song, the "river(gang)" is the Han River, which penetrates the City of Seoul, capital of South Korea. The northern part of Seoul(gangbuk) has been the capital of Korea since the early 15th century. Development of Gangnam and expansion of Seoul started in 1970s. Gangnam is the icon of the rapid economic development of South Korea in 1970s and 80s. Mostly benefited from skyrocketing real estate price followed by planned economic development, Gangnam has become the most wealthy area in the entire South Korea. "Gangnam" is being regarded as the place where people are rich, girls are pretty and everything is supposed to be cool.
A Lovefest on Sarah's Facebook
Sarah Stahlke
Tuesday at 15:47
A lot of people are embarrassed to put this on FaceBook, the internet, where everyone will see it.. But why? You don't want the world to know that you love your mom? Well I'm not!(:
I ♥ You Mom! (Mary Stahlke)
Judy Bruschuk
Tuesday at 18:22
I love your mom, too!!
Mary Stahlke
23 hours ago
Sarah, you just made my day! I love you, too.
Sarah Stahlke
14 hours ago
love you mommy
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