Techie Trap

The power went out today due to a winter storm.

I had worried about that. All morning I ran around the house preparing, just in case. I stuffed laundry in the washer, tried to get dishes done and put a pot of soup on. My efforts to enlist the help of my kids were of no avail.

The two who could have been the most helpful were more concerned about keeping the computers running than filling jugs with water. Both are both very technically inclined and can fix anything wrong with your computer or electronic device. They did not share my perpective on the order of priorties.

Then the lights went out. I asked them if they had any ideas about an alternate source of heat since the electricity had failed. One boy went and found a camp heater, but parts of it were missing. They sat on the couch.

I was totally disgusted. "You guys are no use at all," I told them.

"Of course not," retorted son number one. "The power's out."

Meeting the Governor

It's not every day you get to meet the governor, but last week I did. I listened to him speak to a smallish group, wishing my daughter could be in the room. This is an important man.

He was very personable. I enjoyed his talk immensely and told him so. I got to shake his hand and have my picture taken with him. Right before the picture was snapped I wished I had worn something else, but was pleased just the same thinking about how I could say to my friends, "Guess what? I met the Governor!"

Here it is week later and I didn't mention it to a soul. It's been a hectic week. We are trying to get ready for a trip my daughter is taking. Performances are involved, so there are practices, costumes to get ready, hotel reservations to make, the list goes on. One of the boys is sick with some sort of virus again. It has been raining quite a bit lately and my car sprung a leak. A good six inches of water collected in the bottom of the trunk before we noticed it. There has been some upheaval in other areas of life as well. I think the most disrupting thing has been the addition of a new puppy to our family.

He is an eight week old mixed darling who came to us needing medical care and grooming. Now that he is feeling better we have discovered he obviously has some ADHD heritage. While our new pup Thunder is a joy, like some of the human boys in this family who also have ADHD heritage, he is an exhausting joy. He is going to be l a r g e. It is imperative that he learn commands like 'down' as soon as possible. Anyone who has ever had a pup knows there is a massive time investment in the cleaning and scooping areas as well. So I've been busy. Too busy to think about name dropping at all.

Yesterday my hands were in a sink of dirty dishes and I was day dreaming about being a famous novelist someday. Perhaps people would line up just to shake my hand and smile at me. That's when I remembered meeting the Governor. If I ever do get famous I will certainly not be as important or vital as he is, and I had forgotten all about my big moment of meeting the governor.

Should my day in the spotlight ever come and my head start to swell, I will remind myself that people might have other things on their minds besides thinking about how great I am. Like getting on back to the house in hopes there won't be extra puppy messes to clean up.

At my last writer's group meeting the flash writing prompt I chose was 'Hot Pink'. This is what I came up with. I rather like it.

Hot Pink
Blusher Brush
Toes Done
Bubble Gum
Flip Flops
Tu Tu
Going on Thirteen

Super Heroes

People find it hard to recognize them without their capes. Always unassuming and quiet, never do they seek attention. Shadow people, going about the business of fighting for justice, they move quietly among us.

The best super hero stories are the ones in which the hero is suddenly thrust into battle already underway. Not fainting in the face of responsibility, he takes up the sword. The villain is twenty or one hundred times his match but the fight is on. Quitting is not an option.

A hero uses his own body to shield those weaker than himself. He fights for the side of right and helps the fallen. Hero work costs. Everything he has is given. Muscle, might, and mind strain against the adversary bearing down. Super heroes suffer. Super heroes don't whine.

Isn't it amazing how slipping on a pair of glasses fools the world? I wonder why no one sees the super heroes standing right beside them.

Sustainability

My second son was reading a newsletter article titled "Sustainability."

"Hey Mom!" he said, "We're energy efficient. We always fill the washer to capacity when we do laundry."

Point A to Point B

Recently, I attended a lecture about writing by Allison Pittman. It was morning. There came a time when we were asked to pick up a pen and write. I had my notebook. I had two pens. But it was morning. Besides, flash writing is not something I usually do well at. And it was still morning . . . or at least it wasn't lunch time yet.

I gathered my thoughts and was about to make a mark on my paper when, at that exact moment, she said, "Your three minutes are up."

Discussion followed. I did not contribute. When she resumed her speech I was struck by her statement, "to get your writing from point A to point R . . ."

I thought to myself, "I'd be happy to get from point A to point B."

Extravagant Love

Both days and nights are filled with medical demands. And the costs! Tremendous. People wonder, in their lesser moments, why someone would seek out such a child. Eyes that see nothing, hands that only grasp. Doctors tell her he will not live long, tell her how defective he is.

She holds him in her arms, draws the small head to her face, and kisses his tender cheek. This is the child she moved mountains for. He is not of her womb, but was chosen because of his great need.

When I look at her face, I see Jesus.

And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:16 NIV
　
　
　
Please pray for families that choose to adopt those with special needs.

Boys Are Strange Creatures

We were sitting at the pizza place and I told my friend Baby Girl's most recent observation. My friend agreed that boys were, indeed, very strange creatures. She lamented the fact that she could not understand some of the things her son did (or did not) do.

Being blessed with an over abundance of boys, I thought of my vast knowledge of all things Star Trek, how I listen to different music than my peers, and the way I sometimes blurt out, "Cool, Dude!"

I sipped my water. "You shouldn't try to understand them," I said, "It's like going over to the dark side."

How to go Fishing with Jesus

1. Get in the boat.
2. Row.
3. Cast your net.
4. Pull the net in.
5. Keep all the fish.

Sweet Tea and Petit Fours

Snow-white hair,
                   soft eyes.
It wasn't what they said,
                   but how they said it.
When they spoke I thought of doves.

Perhaps the years have taught them to recognize a mother's broken heart.