Seven Quick Takes

Well, mostly. Because we’ve been in the throes of Pinewood Derby, which I feel like I’m discussing ad nauseum both in the real world and online. Paul and the big boys were up late last night doing the weights — that’s the part I always forget we have to do. We get the paint jobs all set and I heave this giant sigh of relief and then Paul says, “Okay! Now time for weights!”

2) I think I have finally recovered emotionally from my boy getting lost on his camping trip. The first day, when everyone got home and Paul and I discussed it, I was very cavalier about the whole thing. “Thank goodness he was safe,” I said and then reflected on the lessons he surely learned in the midst of this.

And then, two nights later, I was up all night terrified at the what if’s and could have been’s. The more time I had to think about what could have happened out there in the pitch black for two hours, the less I could just thank the Lord for keeping my boy safe.

The hardest part to handle was how it was all just honest mistakes. The boys set out in the afternoon, they had permission, there were four of them, etc. And then, boom, they blink, the sun has set, the group gets separated, and you wind up with two boys searching for their way back to the campsite in the darkness, guided by the light of the moon. The thought of my husband and other boys there, searching frantically, of the other Scouts being scared for their friends…sooooo emotional for me.

Okay, enough. I’d prefer to get back to that Zen state of peace and trust that I was feeling before hashing this out.

3) Did you know that dumping plastic Hi, Ho Cherrio cherries into a cup sounds exactly like a can of spray paint being shaken? I discovered that this morning, as I got ready for the day and listened to Henry playing a game in the playroom. Or so I assumed until I suddenly remembered we had three cans of spray paint on the kitchen counter (from the Derby, of course) and ohmygosh please tell me he isn’t spray painting my cabinets.

I raced (seriously awesome sight at this stage of the pregnancy) to the kitchen and spotted Henry… on the floor of the playroom as I sped past. There he was, sitting so sweetly as he poured the little plastic cherries from one tiny basket to the other. “I pyaying,” he said with a smile. He gets Toddler of the Year (for those ten minutes anyway).

4) My dad drove me to my talk last Saturday. I cannot thank him enough for this, mostly because it afforded us an entire day together, just riding in the car spending time together. During the time I was speaking, he and Augie went off to visit the local Indian mounds and Augie is still talking about this a week later.

I could have driven myself, I had plans to just load up myself and Augie and zip down the road. But my dad offered and it was so generous of him — this is how memories are made. My dad totally gets that. Thanks, Dad. I love you.

5) I’m pretty sure this is a nesting thing, but I started cleaning yesterday and suddenly everything in the house felt filthy.

I called Paul to tell him we needed to either hire someone to come do a deep clean for us or we needed to have a day-long work party that involved wiping down EVERYTHING, like dining room chairs and baseboards and the risers on our stairs. And I think some repainting would be in order, while we’re at it. (Sarah at Clover Lane has a great sense of style and I’ve been picking her brain about the best paint for trim.) Don’t worry, I won’t tackle this project myself but man I want to repaint the baseboards like NOW.

6) One of my readers is a girl named Faith, who is a classmate of Ethan’s. It was very sweet to find out she reads my blog — hi, Faith!

The other day Faith wrote to see if I would talk about the pregnancy a little more. “Can you give a pregnancy update on your blog?,” she asked. “I would really like to see one! If you could do one every month til the baby comes that would be nice.”

I realized I’m writing a lot less about this pregnancy than I did with Henry (at least, I think that’s the case!). Being pregnant with Henry was the first time I was a blogger while pregnant, and I think I wrote about it constantly.

This time around, I am just as excited, but there are other issues at play. I mean besides chasing Henry (last time I did this, the next oldest was a five-year-old who needed a lot less chasing!).

Also, someone very dear to me is wanting so desperately to be pregnant and I’m trying to find a balance in living the life God has given me while being sensitive to the trials that other people endure. Of course we are all enduring our own little trials in some way or another, but it’s very complicated to watch someone want so very much what God has just dropped in your lap. It’s certainly a mystery.

I try to remind myself that God is faithful and he will answer the prayers of this wonderful woman’s heart. I know he will.

7) Pregnancy Update, Week 28 (with replaced Blackberry)
Happy Weekend, and go check out Jennifer’s place for more great Quick Takes!