Archive for March, 2010
Monday, March 8th, 2010
100 and counting
Today was my 100th workout at Curves. Just don’t ask me when I got started. But at least I got this far.
Next workout will be #1 towards 200.
I’m curious how many of you work out regularly. How many at Curves?
Saturday, March 6th, 2010
A champion in the family
Outside, germinating seeds are competing with icy geodes. That means spring is near in Minnesota. And spring means the season of playoffs. And speaking of playoffs, our granddaughter Millie is advancing to the Minnesota State Spelling Bee.
Never one to deserve the taj of a dunce, Millie prepared pragmatically for the competition, poring over the libretto of words, words, words. Not even the beauty of the carmine setting sun could lure her from her spelling recitations.
Squashing the suspicion that such obscure words could have been assigned only through misanthropy, she pursued mastery of each word like a vigilante.
Through all this hard work, she wedged her way into the Regional Bee, adjacent to only one other 5th grader–both girls facing down the machismo of 7th and 8th graders. Millie held on obstinately to the end, through 11 rounds and a spell-off for 4th place.
By the end of the Bee, her father was in need of a tranquilizer.
If there had been a sashimi restaurant in town, that would have been a worthy place to celebrate.
Way to go, Millie!
Saturday, March 6th, 2010
Digging out of chaos — I have a study
It’s time for the big update you’ve been waiting for (if you’ve been with me long enough). I’ve dug out of the chaos in what was “the den” and is now “my study.”
My study is beautiful and, most important, I can use it for something besides a walk-in junk drawer. I used to stand in the doorway (because it was unsafe and unhealthy to walk any further) and toss stuff onto the pile. Now I can walk into the room and sit down at my desk and work at my computer.
A visiting grandchild can sit opposite me on that little stool and work at the desk with me. And there’s room beside me for Talitha to pull up a chair so we can look at school work together.
Or I can sit in my armchair and read my Bible or just do nothing.
AND now I have something I’ve never had before–a place especially for my sewing machine. And even better, it’s a fold-away shelf, so it’s out of sight when I’m not using it.
I am so thankful for the gifts God has given our son Benjamin, who took my ideas and wishes, worked with what was left in the room after I emptied it, got creative with Ikea pieces to make them fit with existing shelves, and coordinated the project.
I know I may not be entirely objective, but there are plenty of others besides me who think Piper Construction is pretty great.
Digging out of chaos — previous posts:
Friday, March 5th, 2010
Sewing for Haiti
Many of us find our hearts drawn toward the struggles for life in Haiti. But for various reasons, it hasn’t been the time for us to go.
I became acquainted with Real Hope for Haiti Rescue Center in the days soon after the earthquake. They have been working in Haiti since 1999, so they were already in place to provide relief after the quake.
Their ongoing work is primarily residential care and treatment of children with severe malnutrition, although if you page back in their blog to the days just after the earthquake, you read about doing what needs to be done for many people in physical crisis.
And there are even more children needing care now. How do they clothe dozens of kids and keep 50-60 young ones in diapers?
That’s the mission we can help fulfill from our homes–dresses made from pillowcases, diapers, and aprons from pillowcases for the nannies. At this post from their blog, there is a description of the need and links to patterns for the projects.
There’s also the mailing address in Minneapolis where supplies are being collected to fill a container. The deadline is soon–end of March.
So Talitha and I went thrift shopping today and came home with a dozen sturdy, colorful, clean pillowcases. She’s excited about the project, and I’m happy for her to have some practice time on the sewing machine.
For the name of Jesus among the children of Haiti!
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
Our house through a plane window atop the world
Taking inspiration from my son’s blog, here are photos of our city and neighborhood taken through my airplane window. Click on the photos to enlarge them.
Top: Our city on the prairie.
Bottom: Our church & neighborhood in the city on the prairie.
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Happy birthday!
Quick!
Off the top of your head!
Which author has been read by more American children than any other? (Sorry. I don’t have any proof of this fact. I’m just guessing.)
Today is the birthday of Theodor Geisel, who once upon a time wrote and illustrated a book, signed it with his middle name, and forever after has been known as Dr. Seuss.
My youngest brother learned to read by following along in Dr. Seuss with Uncle Claude–maybe Hop on Pop or One Fish, Two Fish.
There aren’t many authors (any?) whose books I read more of and more often to my children. I especially enjoyed Green Eggs and Ham . My husband admired the sensitive, kind, persistent Horton.
You’d have to ask my children which were their favorites–I’m afraid it might have been The Cat in the Hat.
Anyway, with 44 books, there’s something to appeal to just about everyone.
Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss.
Monday, March 1st, 2010
Chopin
Today is the 200th birthday of Frederic Chopin.
I’m celebrating by downloading a free album of his music.
