Not a typical Sunday

A bunch of us from The Springs went down to Galveston this morning to help the aunt and uncle of Chris Garcia. They live in a one story house in a typical neighborhood you would see in any town- in other words, they don't have a wash-out level and they aren't on stilts like so many of the houses you've seen on the news since Hurricane Ike hit 3 weeks ago. The ocean tidal surge went through their house and filled it 3 feet deep. The city of Galveston just let residents come back to their homes this past Wednesday, so the carpets and drywall have not been touched in 2.5 weeks. While I knew all this before we got there, I still wasn't prepared for what we saw.



The area we live in, League City, has piles of foliage, such as tree limbs, on the curb of every house you pass. It's depressing because this normally green, lush area is brown and cluttered. There is a smattering of blue tarps on roofs to cover missing shingles, and there are a few other evidences of wind damage. Galveston is different.

The first thing I noticed was the boats, on the road. Literally. On the road. The water had risen up over the highway and pushed boats every which way. When the water receded, some of the boats stayed there, on the road. I didn't try to count, but I know there were at least 30 randomly deposited boats along the roadway.

The next thing I noticed was the lack of blue roof tarps. Granted- this was overshadowed by the fact that many roofs were flat on the ground, and no longer needed tarps. But there was no large display of roof damage that could be covered up with simple tarps. I also noticed that all of the shrubbery was standing, but brown. And most trees (other than palm trees) are also standing, and brown. Seems this is what happens when salt water gets in to the soil to such a degree that the fresh water is outnumbered. Salt water kills most plants.

Finally, the massive destruction of Ike is apparent in the things in the piles of debris sitting on the Galveston sidewalks. No tree limbs, but lots of refrigerators. And other major appliances. And carpet, drywall, armoires, side tables, kitchen tables, couches, chairs, paintings, books (so many books), mattresses. Simply everything that had once been INSIDE the houses was now OUTside the houses, waiting to be hauled away.

I could write about the specifics for pages and pages, but I want to mention three things that stood out to me. 1- it's all just stuff. When it is waterlogged and mildewed and rotten, that stuff that once seemed vital and important is just stuff to be placed on the curb and hauled away. 2- some of that stuff survived, and I watched one of the home owners we helped carefully wrap a ceramic hamburger in paper and place it in a box, to be placed in storage to some day be unwrapped and displayed again. A ceramic hamburger. Despite the devastation around her and the massive amounts of stuff she was tossing to the curb, she is still human and found importance in that hamburger. I almost asked her the significance of the ceramic piece, but left her to her own thoughts as she gently handled the trinket. I wondered what I would do with my trinkets. On this side of it, I think I would just toss it all. But that's easy for me to say as I sit here surrounded by all my stuff in perfect condition.

And 3- as we were leaving, I saw a tiny blond little girl walking through some of the debris holding her mother's hand. Stab to the heart. I cried for the first time that day when I thought about my kids, and what it would be like if I had to live with the destruction that they were living with. It's hard enough to walk down the street with my kids and keep them from picking up pretty rocks they find on the way. How much harder then to say "don't touch that" to EVERYTHING on the road? No electricity, probably no carpet, exposed beams in the house, very little furniture, if any.

I wish we could have stayed until it was finished, but that may be months from now. Please, if you can take time and go down to help someone, do it. If you can't, give to an organization set up to help those people. If you can't do that, pray for them. And take this opportunity to realize that the stuff in our lives is just stuff, that the only thing we can hold on to for sure through any storm is Jesus.

Wonderful time away!

Our trip to the beach to celebrate our 10th anniversary was wonderful! Here are some pics to mark the occasion...

Me at Wahoo's- my favorite place.
And this is our view from our condo.


Craig and me on the beach- awwww. And the entire result of 10 years together!

Meeting the neighbors Part 2

Yesterday was a big day in the life of our new house. We went out and saw the forms have been laid for the foundation, and we met our next door neighbors. The neighbors are Kent and Julia, and daughters Tina (7) and Valerie (4 months). Julia has a heavy accent, but I couldn't determine of what origin. They didn't chat long, as the baby was fussy, but Jonas, Carleigh and Tina hit it off in a matter of seconds! They said they hoped the house would done on time, as they need to have Tina in school. Julia doesn't drive. So- she and I may see a lot of each other, as we are both at home all day, and Tina and Jonas will go to school together.

The backyard is as small as we expected, and the front is as big as we hoped. On our way home Craig and I agreed that we would need to do something with the fence as it will be our only scenery from our bathroom window and one of the kids' windows, as well as the back porch. I then got excited thinking about the vines we could grow, or the hanging baskets that lay flush with the fence we could set up. There won't be room for any trees, but that makes mowing easier, anyway! As I said before, it will be perfect for a slip n slide!

Random thoughts

Carleigh announced a few days ago that she wants to be a fire-fighter, a ballerina, and a drummer.
Jonas wants to be a police office and a drummer. As a mom who was a drummer in high school, I'm not sure why I'm not more proud!
Jonas had field day yesterday and brought home a first place ribbon, two second place ribbons, and a participant ribbon. I have no idea what the ribbons are for, as he described races like the hippity hop, the tire jump, and the baton race. What ever happened to the 50 yard dash? Regardless, I am happy for him!
Carleigh sprinted home in front of me from the bus stop this morning, and announced that she's fast because her Croc's are fast. I'll let her believe that.
Craig continues to work hard to impress his boss and build the business. This weekend will be long for him, as he will work his normal 7-6:30 today, then go set up a spinal screening booth at a concert in the park in Pearland. He did these last year and they were effective. But we also know from last year that he won't be home until after 10:30. Then tomorrow starts at 6:30 at the Pear Run- a 5k fun run in Pearland. He'll rush from that over to an elementary school where he will set up a spinal screening booth at their end-of-year carnival. He'll go to the office in time to see patients from 9-12:30, and then go back to the carnival to work until 4:00. It normally isn't this jam-packed, but his co-worker, Dr. Davis, has to go to a funeral tomorrow morning and will not be able to help with any of that stuff. Then Sunday our church has a Mother's Day picnic planned at the park, which will end with the moms leaving and the dads handling the kids. I feel like I should switch the roles this Sunday and let him have some time off. He's worked much harder than me this week!
Weight loss- I lost 2.5 pounds last week! This week has been harder. I want to reach my goal so badly, but I'm beginning to think it won't happen by the 29th.

Newsboys pics

As promised- here we are (Carleigh is in my arms and hiding her face) with the band. Jeff, Peter, Duncan and Paul. ( You can click on these to see them bigger)Jonas shows off his backstage pass.

A great shot of the band on stage.

Weight loss update

I haven't mentioned my weight-loss endeavor recently, but I certainly haven't abandoned it. I have managed to lose .5 pounds each week for the past two. How frustrating! Even though I am 8 pounds from my vacation goal (different than my forever goal, but more about that later) losing half a pound is dissapointing. With only 5 more chances to weigh in before May 29th, the day we start our vacation, I have to do better than that. So I joined Weight Watchers Online. I can't manage to ever get to the meetings (two kids, husband who works past 7 most nights and almost every Saturday...just doesn't work) and I sit in front of a computer every day, so it seems like a good fit. I've done WW before and it works for me. The Points tracker is a fantastic accountability tool. I started this on Sunday, and I think I've had a good week. I'll weigh in tomorrow and know for sure.

Speaking of tomorrow, I can't wait to see how our weekend turns out. We are leaving this afternoon to drive to the DFW area. We will be staying at my cousin's house. Tomorrow morning we are going to get all the cousins together (Jonas, Carleigh, Kelley, Cody, Jake, Jett, and Brooks) and go to the Dallas Arboretum to take some group pictures. Eventually those pictures will be framed and given as a giant collage to my parents. They will love it.

But we aren't just making this drive to snap photos. Craig has a patient whose son is a roadie for the band Newsboys. Newsboys happens to be Jonas' favorite band! I like them too, a lot. At the least, we have free tickets waiting for us at their concert tomorrow night. At the most, and we're still waiting for final confirmation on this, we have backstage VIP passes waiting for us!!!! I haven't said a word to Jonas, in case this falls through. But as we get closer I am getting very excited! I need to rehearse what I might say if we get to meet them, as I do not have a good track record with celebrities.

When we were in Jr High, Sara Penrod and I had gone skiing with my family, and we were souvenir shopping in Taos, NM. I slipped on some ice in front of a store and a man rushed out to make sure I was OK. Other than embarrassed, I was fine. He invited us in for some hot chocolate. He chatted with us for a minute about where we were from and our vacation, then he said good bye and left. We browsed the store and I ended up buying something (no memory of what). There was a flyer next to the cash register advertising a concert that weekend. The artist was Michael Martin Murphy, a country singer. I asked Sara "Doesn't he look familiar?" to which the cashier said "You were just talking to him. He owns this store and he's the guy who just gave you your drinks". So close!

And another brush with fame came when the band Third Day and Micheal W. Smith were signing autographs at an organized meet and greet at a local mall. I stood in line with all the other people and listened to an organizer say 5+ times "Don't try to shoot the breeze with these guys- there are a lot of you and we only have a limited amount of time." I took that to heart. As I quickly got Third Day's authographs and moved down the table to MWS, the guy behind me strikes up a conversation with the drummer of Third Day. MWS glances that way and sees the gap and says "How are you?" to me. Seems we had been given a few extra seconds and he decided to chat with me. Yep- I couldn't get out anything other than "Thank you!" and walked away. I heard MWS say to someone standing behind him "I guess she didn't want to talk to me!". DOH!

I did manage a civil and intelligent conversation with then Texas governor George W. Bush. His first High School graduation speech as governor was at my alma mater the year after I graduated. My dad, who has been in politics, was invited to a reception before the graduation to meet W. I went with him. He was polished and professional, diplomatic to be sure (glanced at my name tag and addressed me by my first name immediately) but very warm. I told him I had graduated the year before and he asked if I was going to college. I said yes, UNT, and he asked if I had made it to a Ranger's game. He was part owner of the baseball club at the time. I said yes, and then he signed a magnetic Ranger game schedule I had brought with me. Who knew I was shaking the hand of the man who would be president when both my children were born? Very cool.

So- tomorrow could go either way. I can't wait to get back and tell you how it goes, and hopefully post some pictures!

The worst 30 minutes of my life

Literally, I don't think I have ever been more afraid, sad, mad, and terrified in a span of 30 minutes as I was last night. Craig went outside to tell Jonas and Carleigh it was time to come inside, only to discover that he couldn't find Carleigh, and none of the other kids knew where she was either. I half-calmly walked around the center of our apartment complex, calling her name and checking the pools and playground. All the kids who know Carleigh were helping too- about 15 of them. After I made the full circle and Craig had too, I was no longer calm and began to imagine the worst. After 20 minutes I called 911. I was mortified- the idea that I was on the phone with the police because my adorable blonde blue eyed daughter was lost...even writing that makes my stomache drop. They said an officer was on the way and to take my cell phone and keep looking. At one point, either going up some stairs on when I finally found her, my forehead touched the ground because I have a scrape there today. I remember praying for calmness, but I also think I literally hit my knees in relief when she calmly walked out of a friend's apartment.
Turns out she had seen a friend and ran to her apartment and started watching a movie with her. I know this girl vaguely, but didn't know what apartment she lived in. They hadn't heard us calling for Carleigh because the tv was up and the doors and windows were closed. Her mom had happened to open the door to put something outside when Craig rode by on his bike yelling for Carleigh. She said "She's in here," and out walked the angel herself. It was about this time I rounded the corner and the police car drove through the gate. The officer was nothing but compassionate and nice. She made sure I was who I said I was and left. Carleigh didn't understand why she couldn't stay and finish the movie, but I had to get home and breathe.
I was much more upset with myself than with Carleigh. She's 4~ what am I thinking letting her play outside with only 8 and 10 year olds to look out for her? That's not their job! It's mine, and I failed. Thank God she is okay and she and Jonas both understand now why I've always said not to go in anyone's house without me knowing about it (Jonas was visibly shaken by all of this, too). I don't plan to permanently attach her to my hip from now on, but I do plan to be much more careful.

Your mom does what???

What a great dinner we had last night! A family from The Springs came over and we had typical comfort foods- meatloaf, potatoes au gratin, corn on the cob, and brownies. YUM! But the best part was the conversation. Cameron talked previously on his blog about crossing the line between acquaintances and living life together, and we certainly crossed that line last night. Our kids were telling stories on us, while we told stories on our parents. Transparency was a word that was used, and I think I like that. We were real, and leave it to the kids to get that ball rolling! My only regret is that last night was the very first time we have intentionally had people to our apartment for a meal. We have lived here for 15 months- that's just wrong. Yes, we are in a small space, but it didn't bother anyone last night. The kids headed outside just as fast as they could anyway, which freed up lots of space!
Thank you, God, for creating us to be with other people. Thank you for our pastors who encourage us to do so, intentionally.

Speaking of strawberries and the lack of fantasy (Updated)

One of my best friends, Sara, just called to tell me that I am missing a land-mark episode of Go Diego Go. I have previously made fun of this otherwise harmless show for it's lack of authenticity. Granted, cartoons aren't ever going to claim to be factual or accurate, but there is a difference between, say, the Backyardigans and Go Diego Go. The Backyardigans are all animals who walk, talk, dance, and act like humans- anthromorphized penguin, moose, kangaroo, and ladybug- so we know from the start that this is imaginary. Dora the Explorer has a human character, Dora, but also has Boots the monkey, another animal who has been given human qualities. Once again, the cross over is obvious and there is no harm, no foul.
But Diego seems to be marketed as the cartoon version of the crocodile hunter. This is a boy who has access to lots of different kinds of animals and teaches kids very specific things about them during the course of 20 some minutes. The premise, to me anyway, is that kids can take what they learn and apply it to real life ("Hey look Mom! There is a three toed sloth/ banded armadillo/ howler monkey just like we saw on Go Diego Go!"). But then they go and mess it up by sugar coating the idea of predators and prey and don't mention that the wolves would never race against the armadillos in the relay race because they would be too busy EATING THEM.
So Sara called me today to let me know that I would be proud of Go Diego Go, episode 76, "After the Wind Blows". Seems the hero armadillo is going to help Diego save his grandfather's strawberry farm. How, you ask? By eating a bunch of strawberries and then pooping out the seeds at the appropriate time and place, of course.

I have to say I'm confused by my emotions. I am thrilled that the armadillo didn't pick up a basket of seeds and walk on his hind legs to abuelo's farm and plant the seeds himself, using a hoe and watering can. But I am also disturbed that they assume the armadillo will eat the strawberries on demand, hold his poop until it is time to let loose, and then defecate in the appropriate location, again on demand. *sigh* I will have to hold off on a final decision until after I see the entire episode for myself.

I immediately went to my DVR and found said episode and set it to record, so I can see this rare bit of, albeit far-fetched, accuracy. Want to see it too? Monday, April 21st, at 8:30 AM CT on Nick.

Update- I'm speechless. First, to correct my entry above, the hero is an iguana, not an armadillo. Resisting the urge to tear into the entire series, I will simply say that I should not be watching Go Diego Go, and I should prepare myself for questions when I let my kids watch it. If you have seen the series and have anything to add, please do so. Otherwise, I'll be moving on now.

So this is when the real fun starts

Jonas brought home a new word last night- the 'f ' word. Starts with f, ends with k. You know the one. This is a word that Jonas has probably never heard. We don't use it, we don't watch shows or listen to music that uses it, and 99% of our friends are just like us, so they don't use it. But some great kid on the bus told Jonas about this word, and was even nice enough to teach Jonas how to spell it. I knew this would happen some day, but when he stepped off the bus and asked me if I knew what that word was, I wasn't prepared. My first impulse was to be mad at him and punish him for saying it. But within a nano-second I realized he was just asking a question about a new word. So I calmed down and told him it was a word he should never use and there are too many other words in the world he can use, and to not waste his time or breath on that one.
But leave it to Jonas to go one step further and ask "But what does it mean?"
I was stumped.
All I could eek out was something about it being used to be mean and hateful and really didn't have a meaning, per se. What a crock! Jonas didn't buy it, and asked at least 3 more times "But what does it mean?" I had to finally tell him that all he needed to know was to not use it and to ask other people not to use it around him. Here I am, the parent who has taught him the correct anatomical names of his body parts and never pretended Santa was real. We talk about the difference between skinny and healthy at dinner, and I've taught him how to read the nutrition label on food packaging. There has been no veil of secrecy or fantasy in our house. But when it comes to a simple word...I pull the equivilant of "Because I said so". And Craig pointed out that it only gets harder and more complicated from here. *sigh* God help us all!

Big bummer (little yard) and strawberry fields

On a whim I stopped by the builder's office today to see if they happened to have the official plot lines for our land yet. They did. The front yard is going to be nice and big, but the back, well, not so much. It is a great width- 69 feet. But it's only going to be 10 feet deep. That's crazy! So it will be big enough for a slip n slide, and that's it. If it weren't for the fact that it starts at the end of our covered porch I would say "no deal" right now and walk away. Our porch, which is included, is 17x13 and fully covered. So we don't have to find room in that 10 feet for furniture and a bbq pit. And we weren't planning on getting a trampoline or playscape anyway. And our house is on a cul de sac, so the kids will be in the front yard most of the time. I don't know. I'm not fully convinced either way yet. We'll see...
Trying to wear the kids out and keep them busy while spending little or no money, we headed to Alvin this afternoon. Froberg's Farm is a great farmer's market sort of place on several acres on which they rotate crops. Right now there are strawberries! So the kids and I went and picked our own strawberries. It was a beautiful day, and the kids really got in to the idea of "harvesting" their own food. I see this becoming a spring tradition!

Funky Houston caterpillars

I don't even know for sure if they are caterpillars, cuz they are sooo weird looking. But past the two sets of fuzzy antennae, three distinct white humps on their backs, red heads, and varied colored bodies, they do resemble a caterpillar. These are all over our apartment building. And the kids are fascinated with them! At first I had them convinced they might be poisonous and to not touch them. But that ended when Carleigh picked on up and played with it. Then the collecting began! At one point I think they had over 20 in one small bug carrier. All fine and good, I guess.
But then yesterday Carleigh broke out in a rash on her legs, face, and torso. I cannot figure out what it is from! There are no spots on her back, but they are all on her front. So I've decided that she must be having some allergic reaction to the caterpillars. (Not sure if it is true, but I'm going with it.) I told the kids this morning as we left for the bus stop to not touch any caterpillars as Carleigh already had a rash. Jonas, the smart boy he is (grrr) quickly says "Well I didn't get a rash so I must not be allergic. I'll catch them all from now on!" I guess I'm glad he doesn't spook easily.
Carleigh called me out on the porch a few minutes ago to show me that one of the caterpillars seems to have turned in to a cocoon. Hmm. Could be. Looks like it. Now we'll wait and see what happens. I am kinda excited about the idea, and very glad that my kids collected those weird things. Maybe we'll see a complete metamorphosis on our very own back porch!

Update: I've discovered that these are Tussock Moth caterpillars. http://eny3541.ifas.ufl.edu/Tussock/Orgyia.htm This site talks about the Florida variety, but since our climates are similar, I don't see why these can't be the same as ours. AND they are considered mild stinging caterpillars, thus Carleigh's rash!

Carleigh and her potty mouth

Ever have one of those moments when you just can't find the right word to explain how you are feeling? I sure have, and so have 4-year olds. Carleigh's problem is a lexicon that is not fully developed. Thus the following situation:
Daddy: Where did you find that, Carleigh? (pointing to a putty knife Carleigh is holding)
Carleigh: It's my, uh, screwer.
Daddy: A screwer? What do you do with that?
Carleigh: You use it to screw things.
Daddy: Oh yeah?
Carleigh: Yep! I'm going to screw you Daddy! (as she approaches him, turning the putty knife like she would a screw driver) Screw you! Screw you!

I honestly didn't think we'd hear her say that to one of us for at least 12 years, if ever!