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Nov 29, 2008

Accidentally Wonderful

This week we went down to spend some time with Todd's family. While we were there, we were lucky to be able to slip away for a night without the kids. We started our date by checking in to our hotel. Our original plan had been to stay at a bed and breakfast, but all the cheap rooms were gone... The hotel we picked had great reviews online, but the first thing we noticed was that there was a lamp missing - just the lampshade remained sitting on the floor. When Todd got the lights on I saw that there were 3 or 4 cigarette holes on the bed spread. I was starting to worry that this wouldn't be such a hot date.


We didn't really have a plan once we got into Charleston, and Todd kept saying "Just trust me." I don't know exactly why, but when he says those words it makes me want to turn tale and run! We walked around the historic district looking for a place to eat. Nothing really looked that good. We were accosted by Chris from the "Vacation Station" who wanted us to come to his sales pitch. The sun was setting and it was getting cold. I was wondering if trusting Todd was really such a good idea.

Then we stumbled upon Jestine's Kitchen. It looked charming, so we decided to give it a try. I think it is fair to say we were both a little apprehensive.




Todd ordered the fresh catch of the day and I ordered some fried chicken. The service was great, the food was great, and we loved the atmosphere. I thought that the desert was worthy of a picture. We felt more than a little silly busting out our camera to take pictures of pie, and were trying to be discrete about it. But the ladies behind us noticed, and then they took out a camera to snap pictures of the fried green tomatoes. It was very good. Todd was quite pleased with himself.

We finished our meal and came to the realization that it was dark (and cold) and most of the historic district was closed up but we still had time to kill. We didn't want to go bowling or catch a movie, since those are things that we can do anytime at home. But we couldn't really think of anything better to do. We headed back toward the hotel, and missed a turn. With the one way streets and us not knowing the area, we ended up more than a little off coarse and not exactly sure how to get turned around.


Todd pulled off to let an aggravated driver pass, and we saw that we were on S Battery Street. Todd's face lit up when he remembered his dad telling him that Rainbow Row was located in the part of town called the battery. We had been hoping for chance to check out this well known strip of houses. We parked the car and walked around. We walked a long time, down several different streets. It was beautiful and somewhat intimate (there was hardly anyone else around) but we weren't finding what we were looking for. Just when we were ready to call it quits, we found Rainbow Row. Since it was night time, the pictures didn't really come out well...


At the end of the night, Todd asked "Why can't you just trust me? Wasn't that a great date?" And I conceded, it was wonderful. Accidentally wonderful. I love you, Todd ;)

Nov 23, 2008

American History

Todd pointed this study out to me, and then told me to take the test myself. It is a test of your knowledge of American history and government.

From the story on 9WSYR's website...
Earlier studies focused on college students but this one included Americans with all types of educational, economic, and political backgrounds.71 percent earned an F on the test. 164 people included in the study have held elected office, their average score was 44 percent.

Of course, I scored well above the average elected official. Maybe I should run for president when I'm old enough. Do you know how old you have to be to run for president? I do. If you want to take the test yourself, you can do it here. Click the link that says "take the quiz" near the bottom on the right. If you have a PHD in American history(you know who you are), I expect you to get a 100. If you don't have a PHD, and want to take the quiz, leave a comment with your score. It will be fun, I promise.

Nov 21, 2008

Revolution '08

Last night, there was a concert at the Palace Theatre. Among the performers, my very own Missio worship band. I say "mine" because I am very possessive of them, even though I am just their sound tech most of the time. And I am especially partial to the lead guitarist.



Despite a lot of craziness, the show came off well. There were 4 rap artists, Missio, and a band from Buffalo called Relevant Worship. My favorite of the rap acts was Sonz of Thunda. Aside from putting on a great show, they are really sweet guys. I ran sound for a rehearsal for them and they the most polite, considerate guys you could ever meet. Relevant also put on a good show - lots of energy and they were really tight.



I tried to get some pictures of Missio's performance, but my camera sucks. It has no zoom and a lousy flash. So these pictures aren't very good. The first picture is Jim, our worship leader and Jeremy on the drums. They did a great job in spite of lots of craziness and very limited practice time.


And here is the lead player. He is really good, and he's cute too! Unfortunately we had to set up behind Relevant's stuff so I couldn't get a good shot of the amazing mirror finish guitar (yes honey, there is a little sarcasm in there). You can't really tell what Todd is doing back there but I assure you he was playing some face melting leads (no sarcasm here).

Video coverage from news 10 now is http://news10now.com/Video/video_pop.aspx?vids=81048&sid=1001&rid=1013here

Sensory Update

After a lot of back and forth, we decided to try a weighted blanket for Jacob as our first "big" investment. The thinking was, if he starts sleeping better it make lots of other things better, too! His therapist suggested we try a 10 pound blanket. And after lots of research, I bought one from eBay (affordable therapy solutions) that is weighted with poly fill pellets.


Jacob knew that we had ordered a blanket, but I didn't tell him anything else about it. I think he was expecting it to be very clinical - like the one at therapy. He was excited about it coming, but when he opened it and saw it he could hardly contain his excitement! I did snap a picture of his face as he opened the box, but my camera shut down on me and didn't save it. He really was more excited than he looks.
Aside from having a cool camouflage design, it is also very soft. And it is machine

washable. It's small enough that he can bring it down to the couch for school time but big enough that it will just about cover his body when he lays down.

Nov 13, 2008

Quarter Report

Well, we are now officially one quarter of the way through a new school year. The report has been typed up and sent off in the mail. And I'm still standing (yeah, yeah, yeah).

I have to say that my boys are loving early American History. Thank you Sonlight!!! Gabriel (my 4 year old) was reading a Junie B. Jones book about a Columbus Day play and he came to tell me that the book was wrong because it talked about Queen Elizabeth but spelled it wrong and Elizabeth didn't have anything to do with Columbus. Because he knows that she was the queen a hundred years later when Roanoke was settled. After a minute I realized that it must say Isabella, and reminded him that she was queen of Spain when Columbus sailed to the new world.

Not all subjects are going as well as history, but I think that we are off to a good start none the less. Latin is going fairly well. I am seeing improvements in Jacob's spelling even if they come slowly - I think switching to a true mastery approach for spelling has been a good thing. His writing has matured significantly this quarter.

It is math that really concerns me. He is good at math concepts. He understands new stuff quickly. But he can't remember math facts to save his life and he never works carefully through the steps of a problem. And so now, Mr. Math Whiz says he hates math! I am in the process of stepping back and trying to fix that, but I don't have complete confidence in myself here.

And lest I leave Cadence out, at three and a half she can finally count consistently to five, and sometimes even gets to ten. That is after us counting with her several time a day for months. She also has learned to recognize the letter "m". It is the only letter she knows, but knows "big M, little m". I think Super Why taught her that, 'cuz I decided to give up on letters until she figured out how to count.

Nov 11, 2008

I hate Sensory Disorders!!!

I just have to say that well therapy seems to be going well, and I am oh so thankful to finally have a diagnoses for my oldest and most troubling son, I HATE SENSORY INTEGRATION DISORDER! The last week or two has been rough. And with the weather turning colder, my options for appropriate therapeutic activities are dwindling. I have found that things like a long walk with Jacob pushing a stroller work well to calm him, but if it is cold Mr. Sensory will be flipping out the entire walk because it is cold outside.

Nothing calms him down and gets him focused like some intense swinging. You should see the kid when walks out of therapy. I wish I could bottle it and keep that boy all week long. We don't have a swing set and aren't sure that getting one would help... would he go out to swing in the cold? And a normal swing is no good. He likes to spin and twist (think tire swing). We could maybe mount a swing to the ceiling, but then he would likely destroy some walls or something because he is such a maniac.

I did fill an old pillow sized stuffed Bob the Builder with marbles for weight. He has been sleeping with that on top of him the last few nights, and he seems better rested in the morning (and he is sleeping later). At first Jacob was very resistant to the idea of a weighted blanket, but I figured out that the one at therapy is just too heavy for him (it's 20 pounds) and he is interested in a lighter one.

One other really great thing that I have found is that he loves to scrub walls and appliances. Any kind of scrubbing or cleaning is good proprioceptive input for him. One of the books I read specifically mentioned a spray bottle, and Jacob will use a half bottle of Windex in a day, but he happily goes around and cleans (sort of) off all the dirt that he put all over my walls. And after a wall or two, he is more calm but it isn't as lasting as some of the other activities. I think I will teach him to scrub the bathroom floor with a scrub brush next...

Nov 5, 2008

Happy Halloween?


You decide...

Nov 4, 2008

The Bible and Harry Potter...

are two of the books that I am currently reading. The other day I came across this passage in Luke that I don't ever remember hearing until this fall...
"Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat?' Would he not rather say, 'Prepare me my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' " Luke 17:7-10

Jesus is telling his followers that service to him should not be done in hope of gaining status or reward. It is simply our duty to serve him. This parallels something that I have heard Jordan say over and over. "God is deserving of our worship because of WHO HE IS, not what he has done for us..." I have been challenged by that thought, as one who previously ascribed worth God primarily as savior (of myself and the world). We are to serve him because is the boss. We are to worship him because he is holy, perfect, true and just. God does not have to give us anything in return for our service to him. I think we forget that sometimes, at least I do.

But what has Harry Potter got to do with it? I'm glad you asked! I am nearing the end of the final book in the series, and Dumbledore says something to Harry that struck a chord in me...
"Perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who , like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well."

It made me think back to the passage in Luke. The best leaders are the ones who aren't looking to gain anything from it. Because if you think you have something to gain, you will lead selfishly.

So, that is where I am at. Trying to learn to have the heart of an unworthy servant. That means I have to be content in every situation, even I can't seem to see any gain for myself in it. Sometimes, that really stinks!