Lifting One Another's Burdens

Today, I needed someone to help lift my burden.

I called my best friend. She let me talk through it.

I thanked her for listening, and she said she was glad to lift my burden.

Here's the thing: I seriously doubt that lifting my burden was even difficult for her. Probably the most uncomfortable things for her (and I'm sure she would deny even this) was the time it took to unload and the energy it took to offer support and advice.

Truly, I did feel lighter and uplifted when I was done.

My burden had felt much heavier to me than the lifting of it felt to her.

I've done the same for her on other occasions.

Isn't it interesting how lifting one another's burdens makes both parties feel lighter?

Huh.

Latest

Remember this?

Well, now we have matching holes on top:

One fell out Saturday, and one fell out Monday.

Saturday night, we went to the movie at the stadium. While the movie was lame, the experience was super fun!

This kid looks so much like Caleb did as a baby. Maybe some of you remember?

Also, we forgot to take our camera, but yesterday we celebrated Bryan's birthday by driving to Spokane. A community college there sponsors a family track meet. Anyone can compete in any event. Bryan took first in the adult 1500m. And Caleb, without telling anyone, also entered himself into the kids' 1500m. We were so proud of him! It was so hard! On the last lap, he said, "Last lap! Then take a nap!" Caleb, Savanna, and Joe also participated in separate 50m dashes. Caleb accidentally ran in the first 2 and under heat (and won). Savanna entered herself in all 4 heats of the 2-4 year olds. And Joseph was afraid of the gun, and wouldn't budge from the starting line. Happy Birthday, Bry, old man!

A Superlative Birthday

Bryan had asked me several times what I wanted for my birthday, and what I wanted to do for my birthday. My love language is definitely not gifts, so this is always a hard question to answer. Finally, I told him that I just wanted a love note. And I expounded by saying that I just wanted to feel loved, that I wanted to feel like it mattered that I existed--that I was born.

And did my man deliver? Most surely!

He enlisted the help of my good friend Carolyn, who set up the party paraphernalia, after he convinced me that we had to go to the store before family night. Even after I locked the front door (habit), he went back to unlock it so everyone could get in.

He took frustratingly long choosing his tomato plants, and didn't hurry the kids through the toy aisles. Lucky (?) for him, we did have another slight delay loading up the car because apparently Joseph had sneaked out of the cart basket and was still in the store. Bryan found him, and then we drove home.

I never caught on until about two seconds after the "Surprise!" I would have loved to see the look on my face, or even to remember what I said in that moment (and I wish it had been something really clever). But because it was one of those things you don't expect, at all, it took a moment for my brain to catch up to my eyes and ears.

Amazingly, a whole bunch of people had crowded into our living room (half of them were children) and sat quietly waiting for me.

This was the first time Bryan has ever been able to completely surprise me. I was most surprised, and least prepared. It was the biggest party I've ever had, with the most people attending. Our house was mostly too small for such a large group. The cake was most delicious. The weather was the coldest it has ever been to celebrate my birthday, but still nice enough to take the party outside. It was the earliest I've ever celebrated my birthday. It was the largest group of people to ever sing to me. I got the most bouquets of flowers in my life. I felt most loved.

Cutting my cake

Some of the kids

More friends and sweet husband

Enjoying the frosting


I was really glad that I wasn't yelling at my kids when we got home (what does this say about me???). I was really glad I didn't have to use the bathroom right when I got home. I was really glad that we had kept the house pretty clean. I was really glad that (I think) I didn't say anything completely embarrassing.

We counted 36 people from 9 families who were here or dropped by. Of course I worried that I wasn't dressed up, didn't do my hair or makeup, and didn't even have my contacts in. I worried that I kind of smelled from the day's labors. I also worried that my bathrooms were not clean. I worried that we had so many weeds in our yard. I also worried that we had interfered with other people's family nights.

But each of these worries were put to rest because I realized that what mattered to these people was that I exist.

Ike's Progress

This is Isaac's 4 month, 3 week, 1 day birthday, so I thought we should celebrate by writing a post about what he's been up to.

You know how I said he has been sleeping through the night? Little stinker! Not anymore. Perhaps it's a growth spurt, so we decided to start rice two days ago. We got nothing down the hatch, and a very starched shirt out of the process.

He found his toes. In fact, when I fed him in the middle of the night last night, I discovered that the feet of his pajamas were wet...

Reaching...

Almost there! He has begun to roll over, but he doesn't realize he is responsible yet.

Second attempt.

But this time, it all stayed down. He still didn't sleep through the night. Thbbbbpt.

Also, it is around this time of life that babies must be moved to a bigger bed.

All of them.

Tomorrow is the last day of school, so we will be shuffling the kids into different bed rooms. Wish us luck!

Happy Tuesday

When Bryan told Savanna, "Happy Tuesday!" this morning, she thought it meant today was a holiday. She was convinced when the lady on the radio said the same thing.

What are you doing to celebrate Happy Tuesday?

Cindertrooper

An Original Story by Caleb
(He gave me permission to copy it here.)

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there was a girl named Cindertrooper. Cindertrooper had mean step-clones. One day there was an invitation from Prince Luke for every girl to come to the ball on Hoth. Every girl except Cindertrooper came. Cindertrooper had to help her mean step-clones dress up. Cindertrooper was left behind at the house. She was sad.

Then her Fairy Godvader appeared. "Why are you sad?" he asked. "I can't go to the ball," Cindertrooper answered. "Yes, you can," Fairy Godvader said. "How?" asked Cindertrooper. "With my magic!" said Fairy Godvader. And with the wave of his magic lightsaber 7 rats turned into 7 horses. And one of the 7 horses turned into a coachman, and a pumpkin into a carriage. "Thank you!" she said. "You are welcome," Fairy Godvader said. Then Cindertrooper rode off to the ball.

She danced with the prince. She danced disco style! Suddenly the clock struck twelve. "Oh no! My coachman has turned back into a horse and my 7 horses have turned into 7 rats! I will take the bus instead." "NO!" said Prince Luke, but Cindertrooper had already left.

"Look she dropped a boot!" said Prince Luke. "I will find the owner." And so he rode off in his X-wing starfighter to Cindertrooper's home planet. A lot of people wanted to try on the boot, but it was always too small. Finally, he came to Cindertrooper's house. The step-clones tried the boot on, but it didn't fit. Then Cindertrooper tried it on. "It fits!" yelled Prince Luke. "I will marry you!" he said.

And they lived happily ever after, and all the bad guys fell into the pit of the Sarlacc.

Pix

My mom requested pictures, so here are a few:

Haircut.
Bryan told me not to, but I couldn't help it today when I discovered that his mop could fit into a cute ponytail. That decided it for me.

New gwasses.

DER MOM
I RILE
LEVE
YOU
FRAM
SAVANNA