So Many Odds!

Easter last weekend:  Bryan was driving in from MO, where he'd spent a day clearing out what was left in the barn we sold.  The kids and I enjoyed the day at the Burches, cementing what was already the tradition--now 5 years running.

It was a snowy, cold day.  Pretty typical for Colorado. The kids and I had been listening to the audiobook of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and though I've read it before, this time, it struck me.  Maybe because it led up to Easter? 

In one portion, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver are trying to explain to the children what being in the presence of Aslan is like.  "He is terrifying," Mr. Beaver said.  "Terrifying, yes, but he is also good."

***

Our homeschool co-op wrapped up last week.  They created a version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.  This had been months in the making, with the kids imagining great things for their production. 

In execution, it involved children acting out the key scenes under Cecilia's direction (she's the 12 year old among them) whilst I recorded it with my DVD recorder. 

After 3 1/2 hours of work, they had made 18 minutes of footage, which we then watched together.  "All that work?! Only 18 minutes long?!"

I'd say they all learned something. . .

Gemma was Lucy, by the way.  Joshua was Mr. Beaver. 

***

If I know anyone on the planet who should have a GPS in the car as she's driving, it is the superhero, Amy Ponce!  It is impressive how lost I have gotten, especially at times and in places where no reasonable person gets lost.


Look, I don't have a lot of common sense.  It's too bad, sometimes.  But I like to think that this lack has created an opportunity for creativity that has made for a rich life so far.  With a GPS, I now feel like I have a lot less of the pain of being non-common-sensical, with all of the creative gain.

We now also have a hand-held GPS that we use to geocache.  This was our Christmas present from the grandparents and we so enjoy the hobby.  I have wanted to be a geocaching family ever since Gemma was about a year old.  Now, both kids are big enough to hike on their own two legs. 

***

One more gadget is new to me:  An iPod.  My first digital music device.  Seriously.

I'm loading music from my cd's onto it as I compose this message.  The pod itself is tiny.  A "nano," which, when we won one in a raffle back in Korea in 2004, was shockingly slim: 4 inches high, almost as thin as a credit card.

The one I bought yesterday is, like, and inch and a half, just as thin, with a clip on it.  I can wear it on my collar and its pedometer function will still take an accurate count of my steps.

It can hold up to 4000 songs.

Is anyone else dazzled by this technology? 

I think there's even an "app" (we've shortened the word "application" because of this technology! who would have thought that the syllable, "app" would ever mean anything?) related to fitness tracking I could use.

But I don't think I will.

***

Speaking of shortening words, this has become Gemma's habit.  It's weird.  She started doing it with people's names. 

We all do this with people we know and love, right?  People we feel very close to and can take license with?  I mean, it would be pretty normal if I started calling my husband, "Bry." 

Gemma calls on of the cul-de-sac kids--one who is hardly ever home or outside playing, we see him maybe half a dozen times a year--has started calling this child, named Regan, "Rege." 

Not just names, either.  "Are we having tacs for dinner?"

"Tacs?"

"Tacos?" she clarifies.

***

Joshua was with me in a store the other day.  We were there to get a shirt for me.  He saw a toy and asked for it.

"Not today," I said.  He persisted.  "Joshua," I said, "I am not going to buy you a toy for no reason."

"But I want it!  That is a reason!"

(No, I didn't get it.)

***

Let me tell you about the shirt. 

Previous to July 2009, I was a v-neck t-shirt and skort kind of girl in the summertime.  These v-necks were red, black, white or navy blue.  This was a good look for me.

My physique is somewhat different now.  This look doesn't really work.  It would if I were to wear fake breasts, but I don't really want to.  I found a new look instead: a tank top under a button-front, collared shirt with the buttons open. 

This hangs nicely.  Doesn't draw attention to my bony expanse of ribs.

Two problems, though: 

1. It's hard to find women's button front shirts that are not too long for me and

2. It's hard to find women's shirts that do not have pronounced darts sewn into them.  Darts that I do not, ahem, need and that hang funny when there is nothing darting into them.

Then, one day while in a dressing room, facing this problem yet again, I had a revelation: Now that I am built like a pre-pubescent boy, why not starting wearing their clothes?

The perfect length!
The fronts are sewn straight.  (I do have to pin the backs to get that part to cut in. . .so, not a perfect solution)
And you'd be surprised at the colors they make for boys' clothing.

No, I don't plan on handing them down to Joshua.

I do feel like a genius for figuring this out.

***

AWANA graduation was this past weekend.  Bryan and I were responsible for the Cubbies' graduation ceremony.  But Bryan had the nightshift for an exercise for the better part of 2 weeks, so, really, I am the one who had to put it together.

This is totally OK.  He did most of the work throughout most of the year.

The point is, I was keenly aware of how many hours go into something like this, and the whole time I was thinking, "Who even cares about Cubbie graduation?"

Then, at Cubbie graduation, I saw each little pre-schooler up close as he walked across the stage.  And I'll tell you who cares about Cubbie graduation:  Cubbies.  They were so happy and proud and thrilled.  It was so precious.  What a blessing to be a part of that.

Joshua got an extra round of applause when he walked across.  People know that when parents do ministry, their kids end up "doing" it, too.

We got the whole thing done in 30 minutes, by the way.  Something of an AWANA record.

Then it was the Sparks' turn.  Gemma won 'Clubber of the Year' for her age group.  I don't mean for that to constitute bragging.  But this is our family record, right?  Now, if I were to point out that she won this award last year, too, that would be bragging.

As for Gemma, she seemed surprised by the award.  Delighted.  But humble, too.  We're just glad both our kids like AWANA more than any other thing they do.

***
I leave for a trip to DC on Thursday morning.  Return is on Sunday. I leave on Monday for a road trip with the kids. 

I would love to blog from the road.  I'm not sure if I will.  I'll tell you what's odd: When we are busiest, as we've been this April, for instance, I want to sit down and write least of all. 

Yet, these busy times are full of the stuff that wants writing down. 

Maybe our trip will be boring and I will post lots of blogs.

Just in case, though, I'm taking my own deadline away.  Not that's it's meant much lately.  We'll be back in mid-June.  I hope to check in before then!