A++

I can tell you maybe three of my favorite xeriscape plant's latin names. I remember very little of Calculus. I have forgotten my English writing tips and really, I never could spell. But if you ask me about my kids, I get an A++ every time.
Grant recently celebrated his birthday and Chris and I went shopping for the occasion. We found our selves in the Lego Isle looking for something he might like. Chris found a set with a video game theme that he thought Grant would like but I pointed out that it was a different brand. He didn't think it would matter but I told him 'Lego Snob' older brother would point it out and then Grant might think it was an inferior gift. Chris assured me it would not be an issue.
I bet him a foot rub on that.
As we were wrapping gifts the next day we showed Jack the gift.
His words were "You know it's not Lego, right?"
Yes, my feet feel fine and if you ask me about kids- I know mine!

P.S. Grant still loved the gift, or more importantly the guy time spent putting it together.

Three Cups of Tea

I lived in a small village called New York on September 11th, 2001. A woman in my ward had chard business cards blow into her yard. I had a brief conversation with an angry man on his stoop about how all foreigners should be sent home. American hate was at a high during the months afterward. Maybe you saw a bumper sticker that read "Nuke them all and let Allah sort it out".
Greg Mortenson, Author of Three Cups of Tea was in Pakistan when he got word about the Towers. Working in a village to build schools for their children, he was moved by the village women who brought him eggs, (all they had to offer) to give to the women in the village of New York to help with their suffering.
"Three Cups of Tea, One man's Mission to promote Peace one school at a time" talks about the path that lead him to work so hard for Muslims on the other side of our planet. Balti, Pakistan, a small village in the shadow of the second largest mountain in the world, is where his journey began as a mountaineer. It transformed into a goal to build a school for their children who studied on the cold ground with out a teacher. But it continued on to a career of building more than 50 schools and talks about the sweet people who are so misunderstood by Americans. He meet so many honest people who only want a better life for their families. You will not be able to read this book and not view people differently. And Greg Mortenson wants you to read this book. He wants people to know that only a fair education will bring peace to this world. And Pakistan's aren't the only ones needing educating.
The book gets it's name from a saying that Haji Ali, Balti villiage leader told Greg on one of his many visits.
The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger
The second time you share tea with a Balti, you are an honored guest
The third time you share tea with you become family.
I wish I had more eloquence to give this book a proper review. You will just have to read it and fill in the details I can not.

Let us review

I went to my first Foster Care Review Board today. At this meeting a group of people waste little time and even less space going over each foster child's case to ensure that child is currently getting the best care possible. In a tiny room; Her case manager, her parents, foster mom-me, an officiator, and a panel of four neutral observers. (I'm not sure where these people came from, definitely a jury pool somewhere) We went around the room stating our connection to Ashley and why she is in care. It seemed so awkward to discuss everything with her parents in the room. On my turn, I wasn't quite sure what they needed to hear but I felt it was important that they know she had two teeth now. She is mastering crawling, loves her 'siblings', smiles at everyone, eats baby food wonderfully and loves to wear it in her hair. She sleeps through the night (blessed little girl), has had her 6 month shots and is the happiest baby ever.
Her parents talk of their progress and desire to get CPS out of their lives and have their daughter home with them.
And I know in the end, there will be heart break for someone.
Her parents thank me for taking such good care of her and express their desire to have me in her life after they get her back, and I smile and wonder how hard it would be to abruptly move to Mexico with her.
We still do not know how this will end. I want to inform the court that they need to make up their minds quickly before it becomes too painful for Ashley and I, but I know this will do no good. So we'll wait for the next court date. May. A great month for weddings, and severance.
Is it still worth it?
Yes.
My niece died when she was almost two and has already affected my life and others for good.
Can't 6 months with Ashley be likewise.

faith, trust and pixie dust

I finished costumes for Actor's Youth Theater's Jr production of Peter Pan. Here is a cast picture. It would have been painfully crazy if not for the great help of Wendy. No, not Wendy Darling, my sister-Wendy Shay. We had a great time dressing and fixing costumes for kids 8-13yrs of age and Wendy was tireless in her shopping and sewing! My motivation for this project was a sisters get-a-way up in Utah where we surprised my little sis Peggy. It will be some time before I work on costumes again, but it was fun to work with my sister and since it paid my plane ticket, it was worth every penny.

Me Tarzan, You Jane

On communication= our way

I was feeling a little under appreciated this week; and hey, it happens to even the most confident of moms right!? I was privately praying on just how to tell my husband with out sounding whiny or being to needy. Because cop's wives can't do needy. Before toooo long my Husband could tell something was amiss and asked if I was mad at him. He always starts with the most risky of troubleshooting when trying to guess at my moods. I finally blurted that I needed flowers. So superficial, but I figure since I'd been praying to know how best to communicate and flowers came out, that must be what I need.
Chris then said he needed to do something and would be back. NOW?
And he came back... with roses and lilies.
(no picture=my camera won't do them justice and really, they are just for me. not you)
He didn't wait to find a way to make it look like it was his idea, or wait for a special moment. Wife wants flowers so husband gets. I think if I were a cave woman and asked for meat, he would say "Build fire!" and then come back with a mammoth for me to devour. If I were Jane, he'd be my Tarzan. If I were Leia, he would be my scruffy looking Nurf Herder.
So he didn't read my mind. But maybe I don't care anymore. It's surprising how cheerful I feel with beautiful flowers on my kitchen table and the foot rub that came with it. I spoke his language and he spoke mine.

Vic and Molly

Check it out... with tissues close by. Vic and Molly, you are wonderful!

Two purchases, little sense

This week I bought two things of which I was very excited about. The first was tickets to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat that a local High School was putting on. $24 for four tickets. I try to take my kids to one show a year at least and with friends we knew in it, and rave reviews, this seemed promising. (Chris was on a scout camp-out so it would be my date night with my kids.) The second was a new iron. $36. Laugh if you must, but my current iron had the tip broken off and had transfer paper glue stuck to the plate. It doesn't heat up like it used to and is generally beat up. It was long overdue so I bought a nice new one 50% off that I would not have otherwise afforded.
The show was FABULOUS! The music by Andrew Lloyd Webber was amazing and every kid hit each note beautifully. It gave me chills and I almost got up and danced during the 'Go, go ,go Joseph' number. I didn't want my friend Kristy to think I was nuts so I didn't. I drooled at the costumes and will secretly plan to sew a coat of many colors to wear when no one is around. After the show, I asked Jack, my oldest and often my sounding board, what he thought. "Ehh. The clapping was too loud."
But this morning as he ironed his Sunday shirt with our hot new iron, he went on about how wonderful it was, how easy and smooth, and how the steam billowed around the iron as he worked.
Yea Jack it was a cool purchase- but you're off by $12