Pure Joy!

Time to go...

Let me take you on my morning jog...

JUMP!

UGH!!!!

I know you readers, my friends and family, are probably wondering..."who is this boy, what happened to his head and why is he on this blog?" I'll just say, the common denominator is me. Yep. This is Ed. He is Jay's friend and my friend's son. He is a sweet boy and on Monday, he was entrusted to me to go to the pool with his little brother, Cal, and Jay. I even asked, "Niki, do you trust me to take the boys to the pool?" I think I know what her future answer will be..."Not NO but (bleep) NO!"

Okay I will save you more guessing...yes, he split his forehead open under my watch, but no, it didn't happen at the pool. We had a brief stay due to weather. I was ever so vigilant the whole half an hour we were there...watching the clouds, counting the boys, looking for lightning, counting the boys, listening for thunder, watching the boys...I didn't even sit down. As dark clouds loomed just beyond the foothills I paced the side of the pool...first sign of lightning and we're out of there! I didn't even wait that long..."what if..." kept creeping into my thought processes. Finally, after giving JUST enough time for the boys to get wet and splash around, jump off the side, once or twice, I gave the order: "Boys, it's time to go!" Having been warned every five minutes of this inevitability, they each complied with little complaining. I dried them off, disaster diverted, and then, my brain must have gone on vacation for the walk home.

The boys ran up ahead. I watched them cross the street, run down the grassy hill, stop, look for cars and then start across the next street. It is at this point, I haven't any idea where my head was...it must have still been in those dark clouds that were inching their way closer. The next thing I knew I was jolted back to earth by a loud, ear piercing scream...the kind that says, "I am REALLY hurt." And there was Ed, laying on a ramp to a landscaping trailer parked on our street. Then, another ear piercing scream...this one came from his little brother who, unlike me, witnessed the whole thing. I ran over, sat him up, saw the fear in his eyes as blood squirted out of his forehead. I know, its gruesome...but I have to describe what I saw. The same towel I had used to dry off his little body, just moments ago, was now pressed firmly to his forehead. "Ed, you are going to be okay...Cal, GO GET YOUR MOM!!!!"

I knew, without a doubt he was going to need stitches. I knew because four years ago it was Jay's forehead that needed that same attention. But for some reason, this time, I had this horrible sinking feeling in my gut. Don't get me wrong, every time one of my boys gets hurt, it hurts me worse. My heart breaks for them and I would give anything to take their pain away. I felt this same way for Ed but on top of that, I felt a tremendous weight and guilt over not protecting another person's child...of not staying attentive every moment that he was in my care.

Niki, Ed's mom and my friend (still), was incredibly understanding, generous and gracious. She realizes how quickly our kids can get into trouble and I know she doesn't hold me responsible. Ed is fine and wears those stitches like a badge of honor...full entry into boyhood. As for me, I hope that in some way, that cut on Ed's forehead will leave a scar on my heart...that I will always remember to pay attention and stay on my guard when caring for all children.

Just Stuff

Well, it has been a while since I have posted anything. So, this is just a random update to what we have been up to lately. First of all, we are just getting over six, yes 6, weeks of someone being sick around here. Mostly it has been Luke with one thing or another, then Jay, then Nick got the "man cold" (if you aren't sure what that is, check out this video: www.glumbert.com/media/mancold). Then I got the "man cold" which after getting it felt bad about not rubbing Nick's forehead and saying "poor little bunny" because that is exactly what would have made me feel better. So, finally, after Jay's cold and a brief concern of chicken pox, we are all back to normal. Luke is back into everything!

With our illnesses behind us, we picked up the pace and had an action packed weekend and unfortunately I didn't break out my camera once...sorry. It started early Saturday morning with my first half marathon since Luke was born in memory of my friend Andrea...in record breaking heat, and therefore, no record breaking time. My only hope was my friend wasn't looking down on me from heaven embarrassed that this was my pathetic attempt at a memorial...walking at mile 10 and asking an old lady if she would drive me to the finish line. Just kidding, I was only asking in jest. My first mile, though, was an 8:48...which I think may have been my problem...I petered out at mile 5 with 8 more to go...UGH. After the race I had to race home to get my house ready for a totally kick-hiney, Texas Hold'em, birthday party to celebrate Nick's 43rd. It was a blast. Then after a late night of card playing and socializing we woke up early to well-rested boys and a very messy house, which we hurried to clean up so we could join our friends on the lake...another record breaking heat. Let's just say, we all slept well Sunday night.

And now, I think life is returning to its usual pace with Jay at school and laundry piling up while Luke takes his morning nap because instead of folding clothes I would rather write this pretty boring post that I wonder if anyone will actually read. So, I guess this is where I sign off and get back to work.

TTFN (ta ta for now)

Happy Mother's Day!

A shout out to our moms.

Thank you for years of good advice. Thank you for waking up early morning after morning to make sure we were clothed and fed and taken care of. Thank you for waking up in the middle of the night to rock us back to sleep. Thank you for the meals. Thank you for making us special treats for our birthdays and for no reason at all. Thank you for the many sacrifices you made on our behalf. Thank for teaching us about life. Thank you for your patience. Thank for your discipline...I know that part isn't easy. Thank you for your example. Thank you for teaching us God's love and showing us his face. Thank you for volunteering in our classrooms. Thank you for reading to us. Thank you for always being honest with us and teaching us the value of trust. Thank you for healing our wounds both physical and emotional. Thank you for keeping us safe and protecting us from the monsters that lurk under our beds and in the closets. Thank you for orange butter coffee cake. Thank you for rootbeer floats when I had a sore throat. Thank you for teaching us how to sew and crochet. Thank you for listening. Thank you for teaching us the importance of going the distance, of not quiting when things get hard. Thank you for playing games with us. Thank you for forgiving us. Thank you teaching us to respect all forms of life. Thank you for teaching us tolerance. Thank you for teaching us the importance of taking care of ourselves. Thank you for all the times you clipped our nails when we couldn't do it. Thank you for mourning when we were sad and rejoicing in our happiness. Thank you for respecting and accepting our spouses. Thank you for always making us feel special and important and welcome. Thank you for all the birthday parties. Thank you for teaching us how to swim. Thank you for all of those gifts you gave us that went unappreciated. Thank you for allowing us to take you for granted. Thank you for changing our sheets...and our diapers. Thank you for cleaning up our messes. Thank you for making us clean up after ourselves. Thank you for cooking us broccoli and making us eat it. Thank you for making us turn off the television and pick up a book. Thank you for teaching us how to drive and how to save for a car. Thank you for coming to visit us. Thank you for loving our children even when they act like monsters. Thank you for loving us. The "thank yous" could go on and on, so...

Thank you for the decades of selfless love that made us who we are today.

We love you.

Happy Mother's Day!

Grandma Great

It is with great sadness that I write this post. Yesterday, Nick's grandmother Jacqueline Boyle passed away quite unexpectedly. Yes, she was getting on in age but was the picture of health. She died in her home, just as she would have wanted. I am comforted knowing that she now resides in heaven with her Lord and Savior and the love of her life. Grandma Great was an amazing woman, someone I am so thankful I had the pleasure of knowing. She was gracious, kind, gentle and carried peace with her where ever she went. Despite her petite and frail looking exterior, Grandma was as tough as nails and a very hard worker. Without any doubt, she loved her family. My only hope is she knew how much we all love her. She is survived by her daughter, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Grandma, you will be deeply missed.