Friday, June 20, 2008

This girl


This girl has always been a challenge for me. And this last weekend as we were on our way out of town, I got a phone call telling me that this girl had been out the night before at a party. Doing things you hope and pray your children won't do EVER or at least until they're in college. One of her friends was hit by a car and had broken her leg. She had to have surgery. My girl was physically fine, but sobbing and barely able to breathe when she called me to confess the bad choices she had made. The hardest thing for me was that I wasn't there to hug her. I wished so badly that I could reach my arms through that cell phone and hold her tight. Also, the shock of it was so severe. It was like my whole conception of the world had been knocked askew. I second guessed everything. I felt so helpless.
Being away for the weekend helped me to bring things into perspective. It gave Mark and I a chance to think, and pray and discuss our options. We made a plan. And so far, it seems to be working pretty well. At least it is from my limited point of view.
Then, later, I checked my email and there was a prayer request from a dear friend about a family whose 4 year old son had drowned. He was in a coma and decisions were being made about if he should be disconnected from the breathing equipment. Oh so suddenly, my family "tragedy" paled in comparison. TLast night, this family lost their youngest child. And although my youngest child had put herself in great danger, she was still here for me to hug and chat with and drive to appointments and kiss and occasionally yell at. I am so thankful for the blessing of my headstrong, wild-hearted girl. I hope and pray that I can help her to live a life of joy and kindness and love and compassion. I hope I can be a good enough mother to help her to make good choices. To be her best self. Please God, help me to do this.
And, if you have a child, go and give him or her a hug.

Love, Nancy

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Thankful

I am thankful for so many things... but on a day to day basis I tend to forget and become enveloped in the annoying, the irritating, the unimportant. So, for today, I am making an effort to be thankful. Here are the things on my mind:

1. That my children are both at home safe. Bad choices have been made, innocence shattered, adulthood tested. But for now, they are home. They seem content. We are together. We ate dinner tonight at the table. Everyone ate. No one glared. Giggling happened. There was witty banter. Plans were made.

2. I had a lovely evening on Tuesday. I learned that I am not the only one. That many suffer from the same woes as I. I drank lovely white wine. I chatted. I listened. I ate some seriously tasty tacos.

3. For 7 days in a row I have worked out. My body occasionally aches, but I feel my heart growing stronger. My waist is as small as it was back in March.

4. That tomorrow we will celebrate the beginning of summer with ice cream for breakfast.

5. That I took my crazy little dog for a walk today.

6. That Mark accompanied me on my weekly grocery shopping trip today.

7. In 9 days I will be on my way to Cabo. And sweet and sassy Kristin and Levi are coming with us! I can't wait.

8. That I got to spend time last weekend with some of my dearest high school friends. That Michelle is reveling in motherhood. And I saw Danette 3 times in the last 3 weeks... that must be a record!

9. That it has been sunny here for 2 days straight.

I hope you are enjoying your summer!
Love, Nancy

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

En espanol, por favor!

So, almost all the way through his 2nd year of Spanish 1, my dear boy has not picked up much to say. Tonight we spent hours going to 4 rooms and saying about 5 lines in each. We had to video it.
Then, I could not get the video (which is on 4mm) onto a VCR tape. TV's just have too many cords these days. I hope his teacher gives him credit. We both worked pretty darn hard on it.
I didn't get any of my work done and the days are ticking by. Only 6 more...