sound of silence

My parents and brother left this morning, and the house is suddenly very quiet.  They're not loud folks, and we actually weren't even around the house much, so I'm sure it was never very loud.

However, I'm noticing the calm after the storm, so to speak, and realizing that our week with them was really active.  

In light of the quiet, I think I'm going to take a nap with the Obi's and catch up on some rest. Blogging can wait, right?

Happy New Year, if I don't catch you before then.

tis better

Is it better to give, or receive?

This question pops up a lot in December conversations.  Often we say we love giving, but pair that statement with the rhetorical, "What do you give the person who has everything?"  Surely some say "'it's better to receive," in quaint honestly, but we all recognize 'tis the season of giving, right? 

This time of year is about generosity... find just the perfect gift for each person on our list... make the most of our budget... give to those in need.  If we trust the marketing and casual conversation, Christmas, or "the holidays," really are all about giving.  Even in spiritual circles, we're given "The Wise Men" as examples - bringing things of great worth to Jesus.  Shine yourself up and purchase something grand.  Bring your best, give your best, because 'tis better to give.

But Christmas, at its core, isn't about giving.  At least, it's not about our gifts.  In fact, if you want to see what God thinks of our gifts to Him, look here...

I think we like giving because it allows us to think of ourselves as the people who have everything.  I've heard a lot of people tell me, "I really don't need anything."  We recognize we are full... cluttered... overwhelmed... with the stuff we've already given ourselves.  We believe there is nothing we need that we can't provide for ourselves.  We sound altruistic when we talk about those "in need," but listen closer and you may hear the tones of arrogance and pride under some generous phrases.

So it may surprise you that I'm not writing about "relational giving,: or giving "experiences instead of stuff," or any other catch-phrase of the season.  I'm writing to challenge you to receive.  Truly, truly receive.  

Because this is the season of receiving.  

No matter how much we'd like to make it all about what we give - our money, our craftiness, our time, even our hearts - it's not.  It's about something we cannot give.  We weren't even enlightened enough or honest enough to ask for it in advance.  It takes humility and a broken heart to even ask for it, and most of us don't want to look at our broken heart or humble ourselves.  However, this is the greatest Gift.  There is one Gift for everyone who will recognize they cannot earn it, they cannot reciprocate, they cannot find it elsewhere or make it for themselves.  

They - we - can only receive... and celebrate.

Yes, 'tis probably easier to give, but better to receive.  Make room in your home... your workplace... your schedule... your heart.  Receive the Gift - a savior, a king, a teacher, a friend.  

good news

"Good news, children: Jesus Christ is bored in the gym!"  

--- Obi-2

(I think this is supposed to be "Good news, children: Jesus Christ is born in Bethlehem!")

fun with the elves

Have you seen this? A friend sent me the link, and the boys and I have had a ball with it.

Enjoy a little laugh with the Kenobi Elves

love,

MamaToo

let your light so shine

The house was exactly what we wanted. The neighborhood looked fantastic - neighbors were out playing with their children, and homes were kept in a way that said, "I like living here." Our realtor showed us through the home, and we knew it was the right place. As we started to drive away, we noticed the next-door neighbor's house didn't fit. It was in dire disrepair, appearing nearly abandoned, with an old car parked (or rather, set) in the driveway. I commented that it was either a drug-infested rental, or an elderly person unable to keep up on their home. We hoped it was the latter.

Oddly, it did not deter us. Other places like that had kept us away. The unknown, the possible risk, the ugliness unmasked... we were like many home buyers who wanted appearances to matter. In this case, by God's grace, it did not matter, because that was meant to be our neighbor.

Beautiful Mary lives next door in that house. She's lived there since since 1961. Her husband's parents lived there before them, and when her beloved passed away her son gave her a dog for companionship. Years later, a younger dog, Gracie, and a couple cats keep Mary company, as do the neighbors. Neighbors mow the yard and take care of the plants as best we can. Friends pick up her groceries - canned dog food (chunks, not ground), cases of pepsi, fresh pies. Treats and dinners are carted over to fill in her meal options. Neighbors sit with her on the porch and watch the sidewalk activities throughout summer, and little boys ride up to her front door to ring bicycle bells and shout "Hi Mary!" She likes to be independent, but she receives help graciously. She is a beautiful piece of our neighborhood.

I had planned to get a wreath for Mary when I got ours this week. We got back from church on Sunday to see that somebody else beat us to it. Many neighbors spent the afternoon hanging lights and putting up decorations, and the first one done hurried over to Mary's to hang a colored strand across the front of her porch. The extension cord reaches across property, to make sure she can enjoy the festive look without adding to her electricity bill. When I looked out at this neighbor, generously giving his time to let Mary enjoy some of the beauty of lights, I nearly cried at the joy of living in such a place. When Mary came out and saw it, she did cry. Overwhelmed, she just kept saying that that we (all of us) were too kind, too good, too much.

If I didn't know them better, I'd give those neighbors a giant award for their kindness and generosity. They made Mary's day... week... Christmas season. I do know them, though, and I know that serving others is just what they do. I also know that others in the neighborhood were jumping to help, to be part of blessing Mary. It was a moment - one of many we've had here - of setting out lights in each others' lives.

Some people don't think much of our neighborhood. Some write about our urban area with disdain, carrying prejudices and focusing on problems. Many choose to live somewhere "nicer" or "safer" or "better" or "more beautiful," though appearances rarely match reality. I don't know that we've ever lived someplace better, and there is a rare beauty in our neighborhood. This is a place where love thrives.

As we anticipate and prepare for Christmas, we want to keep our focus. I think our neighbors helped with that this weekend.

"let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

o christmas tree

My mom is a true pioneer woman.  She hunts every autumn (seriously - we're eating venison thanks to Nani).  She grinds her own whole wheat flour to make bread.  She... let's just say I could (and maybe will) write an entire post about her many pioneering attributes.  The true irony is that she's spent a lifetime of dancing and teaching ballet.

 

I admit I'm no pioneer woman, but every once in a while I want to be like that.  This year, our family decided to take advantage to living in an area known for its evergreens. Imagine a first for us: tree hunting with saw in hand, bounding through snow to a glorious spot.  Finding our Christmas tree deep in the forest and hauling it home in a one-horse-open-sleigh.

Okay, it wasn't quite like that.  We went to a tree farm.  In town.  True to our lovely climate, we trekked through mud in the rain to find just the perfect evergreen... and then another... and then another...

The boys reminded me to see beauty in non-conformity.  I reminded them to pay attention to details.  They looked at trees their height, stringy branches reaching out to poke their cheeks. I found tall, handsome tannenbaums.  They found trees with holes from thin branches scattered unevenly.  They pointed to ones whose spines had bent against the northern wind a bit too much to stand straight.  I found ones full of even, neatly spaced bows and tall, straight trunks.

In the end, we found two trees we could agree on.  The first was at the bottom of the hill.  To take it home would require a very long hike to the top of the hill.  Wisely, we decided to wait on that one and see if there were any lovely trees nearer the top. 

 As we hiked into the thick of nobles, we found IT.  There (in a very convenient place) stood a gorgeous, full, healthy tree.  At about 8 feet tall, it was magnificent.  They boys shrieked with delight, and I sighed at finally finding one we could all agree on.  There we gathered, smiling, imagining it covered in lights... 

But enough of that.  There was a saw in my hand, and I needed to get that tree out of the forest - er, tree farm - before the rain thoroughly soaked us.

We posed for a few photos, and then I set the boys to stand back so I could cut our fresh, "live" tree for Christmas.  A few tugs back and forth on that saw, and I was huffing and puffing with very little to show for my effort.  Mud covered my cute, plaid boots and squished up onto the cuffs of my jeans.  My ski hat caught a branch, pulling my hair with it.  Without work gloves, needles were painfully sharp on my cold fingers.  Obi-2 started wandering away from the safe spot where I'd placed him to see the action up close, and I started to envision my 2-year-old crushed by a wayward falling Christmas tree. 

I finally admitted I was over my head in this adventure.  Would I be like a pioneer and cut our own tree, or head to the Boy Scout's stand and purchase one?

Well, I did neither.  Instead, I transformed from pioneer woman to damsel-in-distress.  I pulled out my cell phone, made a call to my knight in shining armor (whose office was minutes away), and begged him to take an early lunch.  Thankfully, he obliged, and cut the tree at its base with swift, strong motions.  He also made quick work of lifting, tying, binding, and securing it to our van. I only had to hand our friendly tree-farmer some change and sweetly chirp "Merry Christmas!" before we were on our way.

So, folks, there you have it.... the story of how we got our Christmas Tree. 

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

How lovely are your branches.

thirteen things we're anticipating

It's a season of expectation and preparation.  We get to choose what we're expecting, though... so often, December has a way of sneaking up on me with obligations, higher expectations, and extra costs.  This year, we're trying to make it a bit different.  

We made a list in October - yes, around the time of this post - of experiences we wanted to have during advent.  Some were simple, some required scheduling.  Our idea was that we'd intentionally say "yes" to some things, and "no" to others.  

It has worked in some ways.  There's also the rush of new invitations and opportunities around this time of year.  A constant stream of potential stress gives us a chance to have grace with each other and ourselves! 

I was blessed with many traditions and good memories of Christmastime.  That is a gift in itself, and one worth sharing.  I'm also interested to know the traditions, stuff, and fun other people enjoy this time of year.  Here's a small sample of our practical list.  I've written in no particular order.  Please join the conversation and leave you own ideas in comments!

1. Cut down our Christmas tree


2. Attend the tree lighting ceremony and carols in the town square
3. Bake cookies for the neighbors (with enough for us, too!)


4. Host a potluck Christmas dinner with our small group


5. Hang lights on the outside of our house 


6. See the Christmas ships sail down the river


7. Visit the Grotto to experience the beauty of that place and hear some wonderful music


8. Load a huge library of Christmas music onto my iPod


9. Make handmade gifts for loved ones


10. Take the boys ice skating, and enjoy a hot chocolate at Nordstrom's cafe afterward


11. Hang my grandparents' Santa Claus painting in our home


12. Learn Silent Night on my guitar


13. Take part in a candle-lit service on Christmas Eve

Not everyone is celebrating, nor excited, at this time of year, but many people write lists on Thursdays.  Visit them!  

blessings,

MamaToo

quote for you

I received this quote from a dear friend, so I'm sharing it with you...

If, as Herod, we fill our lives with things, and again with things; 

If we consider ourselves so unimportant 

that we must fill every moment of our lives with action; 

When will we have the time 

to make the long, slow journey across the desert as did the Magi?  

Or sit and watch the stars, as did the shepherds?  

Or brood over the coming of the child as did Mary?  

For each one of us, there is a desert to travel 

– a star to discover – 

and a being within ourselves to bring to life.

- Carmel of Reno Monastery

anyone for tennis

We just enjoyed a weekend of tennis.  Yes, that's right - we enjoyed it... every (well almost every) minute of the 15 hours we spent watching the Davis Cup world finals.   The Kenobis (Mr's family) got tickets to all three days of competition (a feat in itself, as the event sold out in 11 minutes!)  I should have been elated, but instead I was worried about my 2 and 4-year old boys.  Each day's play started around noon, which translates to "nap time" in our house, and as I mentioned, it was 15 hours over the weekend!

Much to my surprise, they both really enjoyed it.  They quickly got the hang of tennis and followed our team.  They were silent when a point was played, and joined everyone in screaming, hollering, clapping, and dancing with the pep band and cheerleaders.

You heard me right.  Cheerleaders.  With a pep band (think drums, tubas, and cowbells - I just gotta have more cowbell - hee, hee.)  It was very loud!  When the crowd got excited by pivotal points, you'd have thought we were watching a sport where crazy, face-painted fans are normal.  This was not the serene gentlemen's sport you might think when you hear "tennis."

This chaos is one of the reasons that some of my favorite memories are of each of the boys sleeping through play.  They fell sound asleep, in their nearly-aunt A-becca's lap and stayed right on snoozing through renditions of "Get Fired Up!" cheers and fans around us blowing horns and screaming.  And I was worried about them missing naps... silly me.  

It was also a patriotic place.  With the outfits and demographics, it could have been a Republican National Convention.  It was not, of course (we're in Oregon!), but it was very colorful.  It was, however, a fun place to cheer "U-S-A" with thousands of other people.

One piece of clarity from the weekend is the little time we have before organized sports are a bigger part of our life.  Obi-1 now wants to be just like "Danny Roddick."  Grandma & Grandpa are chomping at the bit to see the boys start sports.  With Uncle Bo-Bo coaching an eighth grade basketball game Saturday evening, we could have spent even more time as fans, but I pulled a Mean-Mama-Move and kept the boys home with me.  

While everyone else headed to see more sports, we watched the Rockettes' holiday show.  To my delight, they loved it - exclaiming in joy over the tap dancing and singing.  The boys dubbed the dancers "Rock Kets," so as to not confuse this fun holiday dance show with spaceships.  For me, it was a wonderful breath of arts and music, and special time with our boys.

So, there you have it: a wild, exhausting, wonderful weekend.  The best part was probably the dozens (and dozens!) of people who complimented the Obi's behavior.  Of course, I thought they were fantastic, patient, and wonderful fans, and I know they're amazingly cute.  But, you know, I admit I'm biased.  It's good for the little guys to hear those compliments for themselves, and we did hear it (over and over and over) from family and strangers.  

I started the weekend trying to pretend to be grateful, but worried about all the things that could go wrong.  I ended the weekend truly grateful - for the many, many things that went right.

like charlie

"Charlie Brown, you're the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem. Maybe Lucy's right. Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest."

- Linus Van Pelt

Perhaps it's the fact that it's dark around here at 4 pm... 

or that it's raining... 

and cold... 

but not snowing.

Or that our parish group is talking about "Advent Conspiracy"...

and I love decorating for Christmas...

but my Santa decorations are an ironic backdrop for that discussion.  

Maybe it's that so many of my friends are in...

or moving to... 

Seattle.

Maybe it's because I'm comparing myself to people...

who are brilliantly successful in their work...

or living in beautifully clean houses...

or writing witty stories.

Whatever the reason... 

I'm feeling like the "Charlie Browniest" today.  

Where's Lucy's psychiatrist stand when you need it?

:) MamaToo

how much is that doggy in the window

Some people are dog folks, some are cat people.  I've mentioned before on this blog that most of our friends and neighbors are the latter, though some have dogs, too.  We're probably best considered "dog" people, but we haven't had a dog since Obi-1 was a baby.  As much as I'd like a pet, it hasn't really fit into our lifestyle. :)

However, the boys are getting older and they are lobbying for a pet.  They have joined together to ask for a dog, cat, or dinosaur.  Mostly they'd like a dinosaur, but we've explained that those are sort of hard to find.  So, they wait and ask and wait some more.

In the meantime, Obi-2 has taken to pretending he's a puppy.  It's not constant, but it's been consistent over the past month.  From time to time, he'll just announce, "I'm a puppy!" and then all must address him as "puppy" instead of his given name.  He'll run around, wag his little hiney, and "arf" happily. He's not only a puppy at home, but also in his little preschool program, church, and sometimes the grocery store.

The beautiful thing is, he is a very obedient puppy.  Perhaps even more so than the 2-year-old boy who lives here!  I can simply say, "come here, sit, and stay," and he does right away.  He's been trained not to bark, and understands that no puppies are allowed in Mama & Daddy's bed.  He eats with a fork and spoon, and uses the bathroom (mostly) independently.  There is no water dish to trip over, no midnight walks in the rain, and no carrying little baggies every time we're outside.  

I'd say we have the best little pet ever.

it's a conspiracy, part III

Advent - a time of expectation and preparation.

We expect... that God will faithfully deliver us the slavery and despair we experience... that a ruler will be sent to govern the world with justice and peace... that we will receive a gift we could never imagine or reciprocate... that God will be with us.

We prepare... recognizing the ways our hearts and lives long for change... raising hope in our home, neighborhoods, and world... living generously and acknowledging the source of all we have been given.

I'm in a bible study with some women from my neighborhood. What a blessing that has been in and of itself! Our current book is by Beth Moore, and this week part of our homework studied the Greek word that is translated to "thanks" in several passages. Parts of the definition from Strong's Concordance gave us pause. It was interesting to discuss and consider how "thanks" might be more than our own uses of the word...

Transliteration: charis
Definitions: 1) grace 1a) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech 2) good will, loving-kindness, favour 2a) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues 3) what is due to grace 3a) the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace 3b) the token or proof of grace, benefit 3b1) a gift of grace 3b2) benefit, bounty 4) thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward

In many ways, the marketing world we're witnessing this weekend has it right: Thanksgiving is the best kick-off to Christmas. Beyond the 4 AM sales and piles of catalogs, there is this truth: we begin Advent with recognition (and celebration!) of all we have. We have an opportunity to pause in thanks, praise, and fellowship. We can be openly grateful. We are invited to enjoy the people and things in our lives. We can see the painful in the midst of the joy. We can feast!

This year, our family is taking several practical steps to expect and prepare a celebration of God's arrival into humanity. To begin with, we'll be asking 'round the Thanksgiving table to hear proofs of grace received by each person. Like the pilgrims, some stories are not so much about bounty as survival. Other stories will reflect an amazing season of harvest. In each reflection, we can choose to hear God's grace, mercy, and provision.

As the weeks progress, I'll be sharing some of our practical Advent ideas here as well. I'm sure I'll be checking out Shannon and many other WFMW folks for their ideas! In the meantime, what works for me is simply this: pause, revel, and enjoy the grace and abundance God has offered!

healthful snacking

We try to eat rather healthfully around here.

Some friends and family think I'm a little too stringent with the kids' diets. Who's to say? My opinion, is that healthfully can be loosely translated to mean

NO SNACKING ON BUTTER!





And now, a word from our should-be sponsors at Cooking Light. :)

american dream

I declare: I have a business.

Now I am - officially - a business owner. The logical next question is probably, "What do you do, MamaToo?"

I may buy a Mac. Yes, indeed - I may buy an iMac, and it will be a business expense.

Now you're puzzled, right? Well, it turns out that Mr. Kenobi and I put a lot of thought into purchasing a new home computer. You may recall that this decision is moving from "nice" to "necessary" at lighting speed.

We have also put slightly more thought, over the years, into what exactly I do. From time to time, I am paid for various "consulting" skills. In addition, I have various "community" involvements that may require my professional skills from time to time. All of this has generally fallen under the useful label of "MamaToo's Consulting."

This all worked awkwardly, with me serving as a personal 1099 employee for a few people and collecting about enough to hire a cleaning lady or get a pedicure a couple times a year. Let's be clear: I do not tend to do enough work, nor make enough money, to consider myself part of the American Dream of entrepreneurship. I do, however, use my little office space and computer and various materials for different projects that can be (and sometimes are) billed.

A couple weeks ago, my dear friend Auntie Em recommended I start my own business. She thought I could consolidate the various skills & projects under a single business name, creating a little less confusion at year-end. The business also creates a nice place for "business expenses." Even though there's not much income, it would create an easier way of tracking that around tax time. Since we are buying a computer, and it will be used for this consulting/product making stuff, maybe it will fall into such category.

So, I looked into starting a business. It turns out that there is nothing - nothing - required to file, pay, or do in order to start my own business. I can choose a business name, and pay to register that, but if I keep my own name I don't have to register anything. I simply pay the appropriate taxes at the end of the year, and enjoy business ownership in the meantime. Beauty, mate.

Back to your question: "But WHAT do you do, MamaToo?!" Here's a small list:

1. Marketing Consulting, part I: offering insight & advice to questions about marketing one's business (I know, it's a bit ironic that I'm not doing so for my business.)



2. Marketing Consulting, part II: designing, writing, editing, or producing various print materials



3. Making arrangements for a company holiday party



4. Assembling a mail-merge label list for mom's real estate business



5. Sewing baby slings, complete with illustrated instructions



6. Creating Year Planner calendars, which are probably most useful for busy moms/women



7. Web development (very simple) for a few different small businesses



8. Sewing & teaching others how to make a "Quillow"



9. Creating curriculum for church nursery ministry



10. Blogging (not sure if I want to call this a business skill, but there is potential...)

Okay, that's not an exhaustive list, but it's a little exhausting to look at it and try to figure out the answer to our question. What title, or category, contains this list, and the rest of my potentially billable "work?" I've mostly viewed some of this stuff under the category of "keeping my resume current." Perhaps that's all there is, or maybe consolidating it in one place will bring something else. I'm not sure what God might bring in my path, but this does appear to be a pretty clean and easy step forward.

Let's just say that for now, this - my - business includes some of the things I do. And, like many of you, I'm a Mama, too! :)

pie crust

It's that time of year, again... but then, when isn't it a good time for pies?

The very first thing I learned to bake on my own was pie crust. My grandmother, Mamie, taught me her recipe, and together we made a banana-cream pie (my dad's favorite). Since that day many years ago, I've made countless pies.

Today I made several crusts. We will enjoy one of them in a quiche this evening, but the rest will go into apple, pumpkin, and pecan desserts later this week. Yum! My grandma's recipe used lard, and many recipes I've tried since use shortening. However, my favorite recipe is found in Nourishing Traditions, and I'm sharing it here since many of you have asked for it in person!

Flaky Pie Crust
1 1/3 C unbleached white flour
pinch of sea salt
pinch of stevia powder (or 1 tsp sugar)
1/2 C butter, frozen, cut into chunks
2 egg yolks
3 rounded Tblsp cold water
Stevia is a natural, highly potent sweetener (I know - I'd never heard of sweetener in pie crust, but it's delicious!). Anyway, I've noted a substitution, in case you can't find stevia.

1. In a food processor (a wonderful machine!), sift together the flour, salt, and stevia.
2. Distribute butter over the dry ingredients, and pulse until it's broken into pea-sized pieces and mixed through.
3. Beat egg yolks and dribble over the flour mixture, then pulse a few times to mix in.
4. Have water ready, then turn on processor and slowly dribble in the water. Stop processor as soon as water is added, then turn crust onto waxed paper or lightly floured surface.
5. Form into a ball and flatten into a 1-inch disk. Refrigerate until ready to use, then roll out on a lightly floured surface or pastry cloth.

This crust rolls out wonderfully, so if you like super-thin, flaky crusts like I do, you won't be disappointed. It makes enough for about 1 large single-layer pie with lattice top, or 1 regular-sized double-layer (i.e. apple) pie.

enjoy!
-MamaToo

to honor a veteran

I posted this in September about flying our flag. It is a good reminder for Veterans' Day. Our country now has veterans from every generation of adults... We have much (and many) to be grateful for.

In particular, I just want to say how proud I am of my brother. He is currently serving in Iraq, which I wrote about in that post. He was already a veteran of foreign wars before this tour, which makes him one of many veterans who are currently serving in dangerous places and away from families and comforts. I hope and pray he will return home soon. In the meantime, our flag flies - to honor him & the others who join him as veterans.

My mom gave me a t-shirt that many people are wearing in my hometown. It has this to say:

Because of a Soldier

Because of a soldier

I display this yellow ribbon

It says nothing about my political views.

Brave men and women volunteer

to come to our aid in time of need,

answering the call of duty, no matter what it may be.

This ribbon tells them and the world that I salute

a soldier's courage and commitment

and will support them... in any way that I can.

If you happen to disagree, you have that right -

love,
MamaToo

it's a conspiracy, part II

Thanks for your ongoing conversation and thoughts on Advent. This is Wednesday, which means I'll share what "Works for Me." Shannon asked us writers to do things a little backwards this week... instead of sharing a tip, we're asking a question. So, here's mine...

How do you prepare for Christmas?

Specifically, how does your preparation support your values for the holiday? Do you have any special tradition that helps you or the kids focus? Do you start on a certain day, or follow any special timeline? Do you eliminate or add anything during this season?

I'm eager to hear. And, without breaking the rules, I want to share a link to an idea that has our community thinking about this question: www.adventconspiracy.org.

it's a conspiracy

We sense something is amiss. Something does not feel right. Everywhere you look it's "Christmas" season in full swing. Or is it? My earlier post got many of you commenting your own observations and frustrations. There is something not-quite-right about the season ahead.

This post begins a several-part series about advent. I'll share information & ideas from our home and community later. For now, I want to share a few questions from our hearts...

What holiday(s) do you celebrate?

How?

Why?

feliz something

Is it too much to ask? Seriously... is it too much?

I got in the car today and heard "Feliz Navidad" playing over my favorite station. Thinking it was a little fluke or promo, I kept it on... right through Elvis' "Blue Christmas" and Nat's "Christmas Song." Somewhere in the middle of an orchestral "Joy to the World," I turned off the radio.

I love Christmas music - ask Mr. Kenobi, who thinks there's entirely too much around this house after Thanksgiving. :) I also understand the concept of celebrating Jesus' birth all year long, but seriously - Elvis? Nat? Is it too much to ask that we wait on this music until - I dunno - NOVEMBER?!?

It's Halloween. Playing Christmas music is just a bit creepy.

wordless wednesday

boo has spread

Boo!

This is just an update to say that our little "Boo" project has spread throughout the 'hood. Almost every house on our block (both sides!) has a "Boo" sign. Can you imagine? This is a long city block, and there are a lot of houses. We've had a lot of boo-ing.

Our neighbors have been making copies, thinking up clever treats, and blessing each other with sweet surprises. I'm thankful to be here, and when the neighbors come knocking on my door tomorrow, I'll be happy to see them. When it rains again & I'm homesick for my friends or old neighborhood, remind me of this. God is good, all the time.

Oh, and if you're looking for a fun spin on celebrating this holiday, we read "The Pumpkin Patch Parable" this week. You might enjoy it as well.

technology, smechnology

You may be wondering why I've posted so little here lately. Or, maybe you're not wondering. After all, there's only a handful of people who read this, and you're all busy folks. Anyway, in case you were wondering (or now you are wondering), here's why the posts have dropped off:

I am having technical difficulties.

Our computer is aging. It's a bit over 7 years old, which is about 112 in computer years. This sweet little Dell has been good to us. However, it seems time to let our friend retire. It is no longer keeping up with the technical demands of the Kenobi family.

The problem is that, for me, a new computer rides along that fine line between need and want. We do nearly all of our accounting, bill paying, communication with family & friends, and much of our shopping via computer. We store nearly all of our photos, music, and important files on here. I routinely use the computer to find or store recipes, calendars, medical notes, write the nursery curriculum & schedules, and do my "consulting" work. I could say we really do need a good computer.

(And yes, we back things up. Because it would be a major inconvenience (scary!) to lose it all.)

But truthfully, this computer does everything we need... just not everything I want. It is trying - really trying - to keep up with the demands of blogger, Explorer, itunes, outlook, excel, picasa, facebook, sitebuilder, frontpage, etc. As these programs get more sophisticated and I start to use them more, the computer processes ever more slowly. Do I need this? Do I want it? In thinking through good stewardship & personal relationships - is a new computer warranted?

I've had to start removing things from my "to do" list for the truly essential things. As much as I like this bloggety-thing, it rightfully falls behind making dinner, paying bills or writing my brother in Iraq. It is an outlet for my creative juices, thoughts (rarely profound), and desire to keep connected. So, it could be valuable time - if it weren't so often wasted while I wait for my computer to process or crash.

This is all to say we'd like to purchase a new computer, and I'm telling you for two reasons:

1. Solicit your advice: mac or PC?
2. Preface my upcoming blog series about Advent. As you will (hopefully) soon read here, we're doing some things this year to draw attention to spending & celebrating. It would seem a little hypocritical to approach that without sharing this decision.

Thanks for the patience & thoughts!

love,
MamaToo

a good day

We had a tea party.

Who said only girls will enjoy this? The Obi's were thrilled with our afternoon tea - completed by English muffins with preserves and egg salad sandwiches. They even invited their friends (sitting comfortably on the window seat).

It is these moments - these good days - that make me thankful I get to spend my days with these boys.

civic duty

I was summoned for jury duty. It was the first time I've received jury notice, so I was kind of excited about the prospect of "Law & Order" in my life. As I read the summons, I thought back to civics classes... the right to a trial by jury of one's peers... the responsibility to serve impartially... the call to participate in ensuring justice for somebody else, because someday you might need them to decide your fate. Truthfully, I sort of wanted to serve, mostly for that last reason. Mothers can be pretty good at sorting through conflicting information.

This is all to say I was ready to go. However, I quickly realized that answering the call of jury duty was more complicated than just showing up.

I stay at home with my boys. Blessing as this is, it also means that I don't have alternative childcare for the day(s) I might be on a jury. While it's pretty rare to have a trial last more than a couple days, there are always the possibilities of many weeks or even months. It's extremely rare to be sequestered, but who knows. And then there's the beautiful issue of sleep in our house, which makes it very difficult for me to be at a courthouse by 8 AM.

I scanned the summons for reasons to be excused. Our state law requires that citizens over 70 years old and nursing mothers are excused without question. I'm neither.

So, I called and asked for advice from the jury coordinator. I told her I was willing to serve, but I wasn't sure what to do if they chose me for a multi-day trial. The kind woman on the other end offered complete grace. "I completely understand. If they'd have called me when my children were little, I would have had no options. Don't worry - you're excused from service."

And that was it. I'm released from jury service. Perhaps - hopefully - I'll be called again someday.

boo

We're spending less time outdoors on bikes or in the sprinkler nowadays. It's another reason I don't like the soggy weather here - I miss all the random times with our neighbors that we enjoy in the summer.

So, we're boo-ing the neighbors, and frankly, I'm hoping the sentiment spreads!

I was unfamiliar with this tradition until I stumbled on it in a craft store. It's basically a very sweet way to be neighborly. "Boo-ing" requires secretly delivering treats to 2 neighbors. The packages can be as simple or complicated as you want; the main point is to have fun and be thoughtful.

While I don't consider myself particularly crafty, I can follow directions and enjoy cool, homemade projects. Some people mistake this for creativity. I say, "there's nothing new under heaven" and figure a borrowed good idea is nearly as nice as an original. Plus, I'm happy to share it with anyone who wants to copy it, too!

I share my grandmother's habit of saving and reusing things, so I simply used a couple of gift boxes I had on hand. I did buy a plastic table cover from the dollar store (for $1 - imagine that) and cut it to cover the boxes. Result: cute & somewhat weather-resistant gift packaging!


Inside the boxes, the boys and I put a variety of little sweets, some purchased and some homemade (leaf cookies). I bought little celo bags and filled a couple with candy corn and caramels. I also bought a pair of "goofy glasses" for each box. Finally, I bought some doggy treats, as one of the neighbors we chose to "Boo" has a pet.



Now we'll simply sneak to the neighbors' houses & deposit their gift by the door. Boo instructions are copied or printed on a double-sided page, which is pictured below.

(Hopefully these pictures can be enlarged when you click on them. Feel free to print it out and copy for your own use!)

Instruction side:


Sign side (for them to post on their door):



Here's the text, in case you can't or don't want to click on that photo or you'd rather make your own signs. I found the poem on a website, but when I went to write this for you I couldn't find it again to give proper credit. Feel free to comment if you know the source!

Happy Halloween

This treat is for you, we hope you enjoy.

The idea is simple, one all can employ.

You pass "BOO" along to two other neighbors.

Along with any kind of Halloween favors.

If we all do our part, and spread the good cheer,

By Halloween night it will be very clear,

We're a friendly bunch, we like to share fun

So please do your part to keep "BOO" on the run!

You’ve been BOO’ed! Here’s what to do:
1. Enjoy your treat!
2. Place the “BOO” sign (the back of this sheet) on your front door.
3. Within 2 days, make 2 copies of this note AND 2 “BOO” packages.
4. Secretly deliver the “BOO” treats to 2 neighbors who don’t have a sign on their front door.
5. Keep an eye on nearby doors to see how fast BOO spreads!

I know Halloween gets a bit of controversy, but we think it's a great opportunity to have fun and bless our neighbors. After all, how often to people show up at your house unannounced, except for this one night every year? So, perhaps you'll enjoy starting this tradition as much as we have today. I can't wait to hear if it spreads in your neighborhood, too!

leaf cookies

We just did the sweetest autumn project. Delicious and fun, messy but a teeny bit educational... we made leaf cookies! I found the idea in BHG magazine, and made some changes so it worked for us. Here's the project:

1. Make sugar cookies, cut into leaf shapes. I found cookie cutters on sale (the Thanksgiving stuff is on clearance because Christmas stuff is in the stores already!). (I used ATK's "Christmas Cookie" recipe, but you could use any plain cookie. I was tempted to make a chocolate one, and I still might... but today's batch was pretty simple. I suppose store-bought dough would probably work, too.) :)

2. Make icing. Here's my recipe:
3 Tblsp whole milk, plus more to adjust consistency
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 Tblsp cream cheese, softened
2 C confectioners' sugar
Whisk together milk & vanilla. With a hand mixer or by hand, mix in cream cheese. Once liquid is thoroughly combined, add sugar a bit at a time, whisking vigorously. Continue to mix it until it reaches a smooth consistency. (For this project, you want the icing a bit runny, which is why I use a bit extra milk.)

3. Color the icing. We used red, yellow, and green. We also ended up making orange, to demonstrate red + yellow = orange. (See? I said it was educational.) Divide the colored icing in separate spaces of muffin tins or juice glasses.

4. While sugar cookies bake & cool, spread out wax paper on a table or counter. Put smocks or aprons on everyone - this is going to be sticky! Distribute clean (best if never-used) paint brushes, and place the "paint" (icing) within reach.

5. Paint leaves cookies with icing. We tried several methods:
a) Brushing icing directly onto the cookie. (This leaves a very thin glaze of color and blends the colors together.)
b) Dropping blobs of icing onto the cookie, then swirling them together with a brush.
c) Dropping blobs of icing onto the cookie with a brush or finger, and finger paint the cookie.
d) Dip the cookie into the icing, then let the colors drip down the rest of the cookie.

Beautiful, tasty results:

So, this project worked for me this week... accomplished many fun things, some necessary things (a friend asked me to bake cookies! Seriously - what a friend!!), and some kind of I-didn't-think-I-was-that-cool sorts of things. Lots of other very smart, quite cool women do things that work, too. Check them out in this list...

boys will be boys

A few years back, a single friend was expecting her first child. She stopped by the day she found out (via ultrasound) that her baby was a boy. I was one of the few people in her circle with kids, and she confided over tea that she was pretty nervous about babies in general. She hadn't spent any time around little ones, especially boys. She wasn't sure she'd relate to boy-stuff.

In perfect timing, Obi-1 (less than 2 years old) roused sleepily from his afternoon nap. He came into the room, climbed into this stranger's lap, and promptly let go of a noisy bit of gas.

"I toot on you!" he giggled.

Of course, I was a bit horrified at the way my son had introduced himself. Under my surprise, though, I was amused. It was the first of many times I've learned that boys really do have a fascination with bodily function. Up until motherhood, I assumed those boys in sixth grade had just seen too much Bart Simpson.

On a recent evening, I snuggled up on a sofa and Obi-1 asked to join me. What started as a serene, Norman Rockwell-esque situation quickly turned stinky. Before long, we had a full-on Kenobi wrestling match, complete with boys and dad finding much humor in their own hot air. I had to draw the line when Obi-1 tried to climb on my face to "toot on you!" That is just gross. Seriously. Gross.

So, now I find out that another friend is expecting a boy. She is a bonafide girly-girl. She even has a pink mixer (although I think her husband is drawing the line at the pink vacuum. Good for you, Brent!) I started to write her a note of congratulations, and realized it was getting too sappy and serious. The card read, "Sons are a heritage from the Lord." (Psalm 127:3) . My note commented, "Soon you'll have your own baby to hold, and all the wonderful sounds, smells, and experiences he brings will be yours..."

Also true: their sounds, smells, and experiences will be yours, whether you want them or not. Laugh with them, hold your breath through them, and enjoy the adventure.

love,
MamaToo

dakota moments

There are simply too many wonderful, funny, and/or memorable moments from our vacation. If I keep trying to edit them down, I'll never get them posted. So without too much more delay, here are some favorite captions to highlight our recent Dakota adventure.

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"Would you like to meet the pilot?"

Our first flight was far too early in the morning to be doing anything. Mr. Kenobi & I were barely keeping our eyes open enough to finish our coffee. Fortunately, we were greeted by a peppy flight attendant who smiled and said, "Would you boys like to meet the pilot?" Of course they would.

We filed into the plane and toward the cockpit, where a tall, handsome man stooped down to introduce himself and invite the boys to look into the pilots' area. Before I knew what was happening, he had scooped each boy up and into his seat. The co-pilot greeted them and Mr. Pilot turned to me to say, "Mom, do you have a camera?" Of course I did.

Click, click. By this time we were all awake and thoroughly impressed with Delta Airlines. Mr. Pilot set his pilot's cap on Obi-2's head, and encouraged the boys to pull the steering thingy and push buttons. No kidding. People boarded in behind us, peering in at these kids and their parents at the front of the plane.

Just before takeoff, a voice came on the overhead speakers,

"Good morning, folks, and thank you for flying with us today. I especially want to thank Obi-1 and Obi-2, who helped me check out all of the systems and prepare the plane. Everything looks good, so sit back and enjoy your flight."

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It's all downhill.

It was not, as we were corrected sternly, all downhill on the first day of the Mickelson Trail Trek. My mom, aunt and uncle participated in a 3-day bike ride through the Black Hills, while we hung out with dad at "The Cabin." While the overall elevation decreased nearly 2500 feet on the first day, there were many ups and downs to the ride.

Fortunately, we had great evening dinners together. A bit of electrolyte juice and some hors d'ovuers later, and everyone enjoyed the relaxing beauty of our retreat. Of course, it didn't hurt that we got to make s'mores at night.

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Good trade.

Nani & Papa (my parents) took the boys back home, leaving Mr. Kenobi at the cabin with their zippy little red convertible. We spent a couple days touring the winding and scenic highways of the Black Hills, visited the Presidents, and marveled in the Badlands. It was the first real "weekend away" we've had since starting our family, and wonderful. We even had time to see Wall Drug...

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"Help me watch for the exit."

There is a sign for Wall Drug nearly every 1/2 mile in the Dakotas. As I told Mr. Kenobi, if you miss the exit(s) to this tourist trap, you don't deserve the free donut and 5-cent coffee they serve up there.

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"What's the sherbet today?"

I admit it. I'm a bit cautious about my children's eating habits. Oh, fine. I'm very strict - at least compared to most parents - about avoiding sugar. It's not that I don't allow it at all, but you can probably imagine my reaction when I heard the boys were making their own ice cream cones (and eating them) every day at 11 am!!!

Of course, as soon as we pulled into town, we had to head to the local Zesto, too. Among the dozens (maybe hundreds) of ice cream treats they offer is sherbet. Creamy, fruity, and "less sugar than ice cream" I was promised by the owner. Yeah, right. It is delicious, of course, and we enjoyed every bite!

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still young enough

After ordering an adult beverage at dinner last night, our waitress glanced up at me and said,

"I'll need to see your ID, please."

I handed it over and smiled ever-so-smugly at Mr. Kenobi, who had not been carded moments earlier. That's his reward for (jokingly?) reminding me all week that he married an older woman. :)

older (more)

Mr. Kenobi is now the same age as me. He claims that he's still younger, but he's not. Thirty is thirty.

Happy Birthday, honey!!! I am so happy we get to grow old together.

older

Today I am one day older than I was yesterday.

What, you too? How about that. Congratulations.

In related news, my mom & dad have now been parents for 30 years. Yikes, they're old!!

Oh, and Mr. Kenobi wanted me to mention this: I am officially older than my husband. He's still only 29.

:)

thou shall not covet

I am just back from a wonderful vacation to see my parents. It was relaxing, plenty of time, and yet altogether too short. Don't worry - it also provided a lot of material to share. (Heard daily amidst much laughter: "You've just been blogged!") While on vacation, Mr. Kenobi and I continued a fun tradition of daydreaming together. We ask hypothetical questions, like...

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Why?

Our answers have changed over time, though thankfully they include our present home. Since having children, we both have wanted to live near(er) our parents. Mr. Kenobi's clan is mostly on the west coast, while mine are back in the midwest, so it's impossible to be next door to everyone. With wonderful work out here, we've ended up closer to the Kenobis. While I love them dearly and appreciate my children growing up near them, I long for the similar closeness to my own parents & siblings.

Sometimes I think it would be good enough if we were within a day's drive of my family - near enough for the long weekend or holiday, close by for a quick trip back and forth, not so far that we'd need airplane tickets and layovers.

In our little dreamy conversations, one constant remains: Bozeman, Montana. Bozeman is a beautiful, accessible, and perfectly sized town (in my opinion) with everything we'd need. Except work. There aren't a lot of jobs for either of us - especially Mr. Kenobi - back in Montana. So, I daydream about the mountains and the town where I met my husband, and perhaps I romanticize it too much, but it remains a place I hope I'll return someday. At my worst moments of dissatisfaction and ungratefulness, I think that everything would be alright if I just could move to Bozeman.

It's not true. Geographic therapy rarely works.

Yesterday, I spoke to a friend whose son received great news: he has been accepted to MSU-Bozeman. We had talked to him about the school, encouraged him to consider it, and we join his parents in excitement for this achievement.

Today, another friend called. She is moving soon. Yep, she's also headed to Bozeman, MT. Her husband got a job with a great company, and they are madly packing for their new adventure. I am thrilled for her. Both of their families are in Montana, so their children will finally be an easy jaunt to Grandma's. This job and move is an answer to many years of prayer and waiting.

And in other news... this afternoon, our local weather forecaster (with glee?) commented that, "we should now be seeing the real start to our rainy season, after this little break of sunshine moves through..."

So you know what I'm thinking, right? I'm happy for my friends. Of course, they should be warned: they are headed to a place where several feet of snow may pile onto their walkways. At least I don't have to shovel rain, right?

Right. I probably wouldn't mind the snow, either. Even amidst the drifts of Montana snow, the sun shines nearly all winter long! I do admit I'm prone to envy them. This is where I needed to write and share the news with you.

God lovingly and firmly instructs us not to covet the homes, possessions, relationships, or opportunities He has given to others. I believe it's because envy gets in the way of us trusting His wisdom. If we covet what others have, we can't gratefully recognize our own gifts. May I remember and believe this in my heart, and may I have many more trips East in my future! :)

flag to remind

Is your flag flying today?

Six years ago, when tragedy jolted us all, many tried to figure out what we could do. Some gave blood - do you remember the lines of donors? Many of us prayed. Most of us tried to do something to remind us of who we are, where we are, and what we have. Those moments continue to impact our nation today.

In the weeks after the Sept. 11th attacks, nearly every home in our Seattle neighborhood had a flag on display. As time passed, people started putting their flags away, not because they didn't love their country or flag, but they were just moving on from the season of remembrance. We were one of those families, not of malicious or political intent, but we just sort of moved back into "special day" flag flying.

My brother, who is part of the US military, told me I should fly that flag at all times. He says it reminds us of who we are, where we are, and what we have - every time we see it waving in the breeze we can remember to live as if we are grateful. He says it reminds us of those who have served, still serve, and will serve our country. I didn't disagree with him, but (as lame as it might sound), I didn't have a light on our flag, and didn't want to forget it out in the dark, so I just put it out on holidays.

I have friends here temporarily, stationed on a project with the Australian Air Force. In each of their homes hangs an Australian flag. They also have a flag sticker on their vehicle windows. Even if you didn't know them, you would immediately see those flags. Quite possibly, you'd ask them questions. I loved that they were comfotable in drawing out those questions, even engaging in conversations with people, to claim their own citizenship with a beautiful mix of pride and humility.

Over time, I started thinking that I don't know many Americans with flags in their foyers, tailgate windows, etc. Perhaps it's because most of us live where flags fly in public places everywhere. Perhaps it's because we fear tension with neighbors over a perceived (intentional or not) political statement. Perhaps, as cynics suggest, we tend to use a flag as a representation of our emotion - celebrating with gusto, but forgetting quickly.

My brother left yesterday. His wife and children, my parents and brother, our family, and all of his friends will not see him for quite a while. He has left for military duty in Iraq.

When I spoke with him this weekend, I was reminded of how I am much more interested in my own comfort and stability than he seems to be. Honestly, I don't understand his strong desire to go and serve in a dangerous and difficult place, especially while I know how deeply he cares for those here, and how much they need him. He is certain that this deployment is where he is meant to be at this time. His wife, similarly, wants him to go and do the work ahead. (This from a happily married couple who absolutely want to be with each other!) Certainly, she wants him safely home, but she is excited and convinced that he is headed into purposeful work.

I asked him if he was nervous about going over there; I wondered if he worried about his safety or purpose. My brother, without missing a beat, answered, "Yeah. I am nervous. I hate flying over water, and that Atlantic Ocean is going to be a hard flight."

Um, I meant, are you nervous about being in a war zone? Again? On your second trip?!?!

His answer was just as quick, but absolutely sincere: "No. I will be safe, and I want to go. It's a phenomenal experience to do this. It's amazing to go, to get to contribute and experience it for yourself, instead of just taking what people tell you. " And then this: "I volunteered to go. This is what I want to do."

Wow. I want to have his strength and courage, but I don't. I told him I'll be nervous for him, and I'll be eager to see him safely back home with his wife and kids. In the meantime, I'll be praying. I'll also be flying my flag. It will remind me and everyone who passes or enters my home of my brother - and others like him. It will us of the many people who have fallen while living and defending what we have. Its wave will remind me to pray, both with gratitude and hope. It will remind me that many men and women have gone, are gone, and will go far away from the cities, homes, and country where the US flags fly freely.

I don't know the answer to why our flag went into "sometimes" use, but I do know I want to see it every day and remember.

drum cake and other memories

Here's a list of memories from Obi-1's fourth birthday party...

1. Drum Cake.
Er, that is a cake made to (hopefully) resemble a drum. It's a 2-layer carrot cake at his request, (I couldn't talk him into chocolate...) with vanilla buttercream frosting. I colored a bit of the frosting and piped it on to make it look like a drum, then used pretzle sticks and marshmallows (from the recent camping adventure) to make drum sticks. Martha, watch out!



2. Good game: water-balloon toss.
I used colored sidewalk chalk to draw circles on the patio, complete with point values for each. Kids stood at the line and tossed water balloons to rack up points. Turns out that the largest point value (50), about 5 feet off the line, is actually quite easy to reach. Also, we learned it's best to go in age order (youngest first) in order to preserve some of the game... :) In the end, the patio was washed off and everyone had fun.

3. Not-so-good game: musical chairs.
I hadn't thought of this: in order for you to win, everyone else has to lose. If kids, ages 2-8, lose, they generally aren't very happy about it. By the end of the game, several kids were in tears, which brings me to...

4. Another not-so-good game: wet catch.
Teams of adult-child had to toss a water balloon back and forth until it broke. Again, in order for one team to win, everyone else has to lose. Some kids figured they could just gather up any extra balloons to heave them directly at the remaining players, leaving a few in tears. We did find an effective distraction in dousing the parents. :)

5. Neighbors make great guests.
Nobody had to drive, everyone knew our house well, and when one of our guests wasn't interested in eating dinner at the party (ham & cheese sandwiches with a variety of fruit & veggie finger-foods) he could just head back across the street for his own comfort food. When another guest was tired and wanted to go home, he could, while his dad and Mr. Kenobi continued their conversation about commuting by bike.

6. Less is more.
Keeping the guest list to three families (four, including us) made it manageable and fun. Any more would have surely increased the tears at musical chairs. :)

7. Great gifts/prizes: homemade CD's.
Obi-1 is famous (with the neighbors, anyway) for DJ-ing his music for playtime, and our theme was "music." So, our guest gifts were custom-made CD's of some of his favorite music. We had three "mixes" according to three themes: Animals & Vegetables, Friends & Fun, and Quiet Times. In addition, a complete "4th Birthday Party Mix" provided a soundtrack for our festivities.

labor and the five-day week

...brought to you by Obi-1 Kenobi.

It was Labor Day in 2003, a day set aside to celebrate the American worker. In the Kenobi family, it was a day we expected to meet our first child. Labor started in the morning with contractions 4 minutes apart, lasting about a minute each. These numbers meant nothing to me months earlier, but they were pretty much all I could think about on that day. Things were far more intense than I'd expected and we were certain that our little "Gummy Bear" would arrive at any moment.

And, technically, he did. Except that moment really came about 5 days later. Appropriately, labor had lasted a 5-day workweek: Monday morning through Friday evening. I'm sure American labor unions were proud. :) When he was born, Mr. Kenobi was first to see and announce to everyone that we had a son. Those moments are seared into my memory, part of a very foggy and yet remarkably detailed history of our family.

Obi-1 is now four years old. I cannot believe our little baby has grown into a boy. I look ahead, and we're closer to kindergarten than we are to those infant days. In many ways, celebrating his birthday is also celebrating the birth of a mother. I was a daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife. Now, I'm a Mama, too.

I remember looking at him shortly after his birth. Something welled up in me that I'd never felt before, and I turned to Mr. Kenobi and said, "I just love him! And I really, really like him!" I never questioned that I'd love my child. As soon as I saw him, I loved him with a new part of my heart. As indescribable as it can be, that love continues to grow as we grow older together. Perhaps what has surprised me a bit (not because I thought I wouldn't, but because I didn't think about it at all) is how much I like my boy. He is a genuinely likeable kid, a beautiful person inside and out, a kind-hearted, creative, funny, big-eyed, moppy-haired boy that is growing into a very interesting, intelligent, and loving person.

Happy Birthday, Obi-1. I love you, I like you, and I'm happy to be your mama, too.

thirteen camping memories

... note: I forgot to publish this yesterday (Thursday). So, yes, I know it's not truly a Thursday Thirteen (even in Australia, where it's already moved onto the weekend!) Just pretend it is, or pretend you forgot to read yesterday, and enjoy the little list!

We went camping, and it was fantastic. I've decided that should be one of those things they require to get your parenting license. (What? You didn't have to get a license?) There are benefits of camping you simply cannot match in your home, like encouraging that friend who just watched her child pick something out of the dirt and put it in her mouth with a laid back, "hey, it's organic!" and then hearing her echo it to another squeamish mama later. That, my friends, is priceless. So are some other great memories of our weekend...

1. S'mores. Simply put, there are few better reasons to go camping. My friend asked me if whole-wheat graham crackers make them a health food. "Only if you use my dark chocolate," I quipped.



2. The only thing better than s'mores is plain roasted marshmallows, which I love. Perhaps it's the process as much as the treat, really. I love roasting them slowly, turning constantly so they're just barely golden and perfectly molten inside. Mr. Kenobi likes to start them on fire and eat the crunchy part... eeeeewww!



3. "Airplanes! Look at all the airplanes!" My Obi-1, now nearly 4, was amazed by the bright lights above him on the first night. Oh, dear - we have an urban boy.
   "Those are stars," his daddy corrected.




4. Counting the stars - after explaining they're not airplanes - is an amazing way to see my son connect with the bible story we read a few weeks ago. Genesis 15:5-6 tells a beautiful story about Abraham, and we memorized a related verse from Galatians. To see that story, the amazing largeness of creation, and the promises of God come together in my son's mind was beautiful.



5. Hanging out around the campfire with other grownups... after everyone's kids were sleeping. Every bit of packing, organizing, cleaning, laundry, and too-thin-camping-mats was worth it to get to know these precious friends better.



6. Coffee. Delivered hot & fresh in a French Press from friends next "door."



7. Simplified housekeeping. Boiling water, biodegradable soap, four plates, four utensils, four cups, a pan, and some dish towels. Dishes were done after every meal, and took only a few minutes and little water. I am reminded of how wasteful our home life can be when I look at the little hands reaching for his fourth new cup of the day!



8. Simplified housekeeping, part II. Sure, you can wear those shorts again today! What's three days in the same clothes?



9. Swimming - er, wading - in the river. It was all of 60 degrees, so quite refreshing, if you will. The boys were warned sternly of the dangers of rivers:
   

   "You can only go to the river with Mama or Daddy. If you go by yourself, you could fall in and get water up your nose!"

   My friends' child is not nearly so cautious (she can swim!) and needed a more convincing warning:
   

   "If you go in without us, you could get swept down the river and never see Mama again!"

   Therapy with that s'more, anyone? :)



10. Snakes (that I didn't see, thankfully!), weird cartoon-looking caterpillars (orange with "fake eyes" painted on their backs), and baboons hiding in the grass by our site (actually, that's how he said "bamboo," but who's getting picky on pronunciation?) Ahhh, nature. It's exactly the kind of stuff you need to get out of the city to see.



11. Our first real hike - on foot for everyone. Both Obi's did great. We only went about 1 hour, and probably covered less than a mile, but it was a good introduction (read: everyone had fun) to hiking without carrying a boy in the backpack.



12. Sleeping in the tent. Under the stars. With the breeze gently blowing through (or emphatically, as it did Saturday) and the whole Kenobi clan nestled into our sleeping bags.



13. Shared meals in lawn chairs. New friends and stronger friendships emerged from our weekend, often borne out of pot-luck style meals in the shade of our campsite.

I've decided on a new business idea for my lists (I'll explain later). Make fun of me if you want, but things are ready for our next outing and the hardest part was finding our tent. Now that the weekend is behind us, we're looking forward to the next outing. Perhaps you'll join us!

the birthday party dilemma

Obi-1 turns four soon - FOUR YEARS OLD! - and we're having a small dilemma over his celebration. He's old enough that he knows what birthday parties entail: cake + presents for him. He's even mentioned Chuck-E-Cheese, to which I replied, YIKES! I don't want to spoil the joy in a child's birthday, but the details are tricky.

We have been blessed with many little friends now, some from the 'hood, some from play groups, some from church, and some (especially one very best friend ever) from our old city. We talked with Obi-1, and suggested we have only neighbor friends at our party this year. He is satisfied with that, but we might want to provide treats for our play group and church parish group that day, too.

Our family considers themselves "local," but can't commute over to us mid-week. Obi-1's birthday is on a Wednesday. Do we celebrate on a Saturday instead? We have plans that weekend, and it doesn't seem fair to make him wait days to be celebrated, anyway. So should we have a party without family? Or, do we have separate celebrations; family one day, friends another? Do I need to make a cake for both?!?

Finally, what do you do for a 4-year-old's party? There are entire sites and catalogs and industries devoted to theme-parties. Again, YIKES. We're just hoping for good weather so we can have it in our backyard.

The main dilemma for us is this: how do you celebrate the child in your family? How do you focus on him, and not how much sugar one can eat or plastic stuff one can accumulate in a week? Is that possible? Is it reasonable? Obi-1 knows the birthday routine of others, and in spite of creative options otherwise, he expects presents and cake. However, I'd like limits on some things, so our values don't get thrown out once a year.

So, that's the question o' the day. We want to express to our son that we are so grateful for him, so proud of his growth, so excited about his next year... all without excess stuff and events that muddle the message.

packing list

Once upon a time, Mr. Kenobi and I were bright-eyed college kids in Bozeman, Montana. There I learned to camp, mountain bike, hike and downhill ski. What makes those memories especially sweet was the company of my best friend and favorite guy in the whole world. Living so close to the trails and rivers allowed us to head outside on nearly a moments' notice. I remember throwing some gear and a couple packets of Lipton noodles into his SUV one Labor Day weekend. We spent most of the day biking and hiking, and finally got around to setting up camp as the sun set.

Only then did we realize we had brought a cooking pot, but no utensils or plates. After scrounging around through the car, we found a couple dixie cups and a packet of plastic silverware from a fast-food place. It'd have to do. We whittled off piece of kindling to stir the boiling pot, then dipped the cups into the pan, trying to avoid any major burns, and ate in with laughter while the stars came out over head. We ended the evening in our crazy-creek chairs by the campfire, eating marshmallows (the one camping essential I never forget!) and dreaming out loud. It's an amazing memory, one of many times we went somewhat under-prepared for modern conveniences. We were always ready for survival, but rarely planned for comfort.

Fast-forward to now, and our impending camp trip with our church. I have an excel spreadsheet of lists for packing. Our minivan will be loaded, all for a 2 1/2-day camp out with about 100 friends. Here's just a sample of our list...
camp stove, fuel, coffee pot, cooking utensils, cups,
dish soap + sponge, dishes bucket, little broom (for cleaning out the tent),
mattress foam (for under boy's sleeping bags), sleeping bags, sleeping pads,
spare rug/mat (for holding muddy shoes), tarp, tent(s), towel/rag, towels,
plates, pots/pans, utensils, wet wipes, utility knife, mallet (for hammering in tent stakes),
camp chairs, swimming suits, baseball bat, bikes, buckets, water guns, sunscreen,ice cream ball...

Our plans for meals include chicken kabobs with red peppers, fresh guacamole, omelets, and gourmet sandwiches. One look at my list, and I realized a lot has changed...

Lately, I have felt homesick for the lifestyle and landscape we enjoyed in Montana. As my list shows, I've gotten much more domesticated in my camping plans. I'm sure some would say it shows I've learned from the non-utensil days.

Perhaps that's not the only lesson. My family never camped; my mom hated the stress of trying to replicate our life outside, and she never slept well in a tent. Mr. Kenobi's family, like us, stayed at hotels when they traveled. Our mothers didn't enjoy the enormous task of planning, packing, setting up, cleaning, and everything else they saw as part of camping.

We have dreamed of taking our children into nature. We hope they'll love the physical and mental challenge of life in the wild, and grow to appreciate and care for the marvels of creation. As I pondered this list today, I wondered if I might be trying to turn the outdoors into a mini-version of our home, rather than just being at home outdoors. That pressure could quickly take the joy out of the experience for everyone, and we could end up like our parents: giving up on camping because the work leaves little time for fun.

So, I'm re-thinking my list and priorities. I'll keep you posted on the stars and marshmallows.