Audio Book Review - Change of Heart

Typical Jodi Piccoult, full of difficult issues and well-researched human realities, this story focuses on what happens when a death row inmate wants to donate his heart upon execution to the sister of his victim. Interesting exploration of religion, belief systems, capitol punishment and mother-daughter relationships. Narration by the talented cast helped since the story changes point of view frequently. Loved it!

May 26 - Naomi Turns 5

A very happy birthday to my precious princess! We partied all week!

We celebrated with Libby, Leah and Belle at a dress-up tea party.

And again with family and Sarah and Natalie and ice cream sundaes!

I hope all your wishes come true! (Except maybe the one about getting a Pug, I'm not ready for another pet just yet...)

May 19 - Field Trips R Cool

Today Skyler & I had the priviledge of going to Fernwood Botanical Gardens with his 1st grade class. I grew up just around the corner and have been going for years, so I'm biased, but I think it's a wonderful place. Full of frogs, fish, ferns and of course fun!

After an orientation to the evils of poison ivy, we set off in groups. We had a funny, strict old lady guide who kept tsk-tsking the adults for holding up progress as we tramped through the forest, over streams and along the river . We saw frogs, birds, spring flowers and several snakes sleeping in a bush over the St. Joseph River.

Skyler has always been an outdoors guy, prefering to play outside whatever the weather. I hope he keeps that joy forever!

May 14 - The New Place

The move went fantastically thanks to thorough organization by my mom and tons of help from all my wonderful friends. Of course there were things that got left behind or messy that I would have liked to have taken care of, but I kept running out of daylight!

So we're settling into the new place, which felt like home to me from day one. I can't believe it's been almost a month already. Now the insecurity of riding a new bus, following a new routine, and having less stuff in a very small space has worn off.

Thought I'd touch base with the kids and see what they thought so far:

What do you like most about our new home?

Seth - TV

Skyler - my bunk bed and playing

Naomi - the whole house, riding my bike

Melisa - life simplified, just what we need

What do you miss most about the other house?

Seth - I don't miss anything about it

Skyler - Shrinky Dinks

Naomi - the swingset and the rocks

Melisa - playing by/in the lake

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Seth - Japan, because that's where they make Pokemon

Skyler - in a wooden house I built somewhere around here

Naomi - everywhere in the world

Melisa - Right here (at least for right now)

Book Review - Sex God

"Exploring the endless connections between sexuality and spirituality", this book was recommended reading during the recent Sex for Sale series at my church. I hesitate to write about this issue because I don't want to be judged and I'm still working out how I feel about sexuality and desire and boundaries and, well, pretty much everything in life. But I found the perspective from this book helpful in the journey. I like this description: it's the story of God becoming human, of humans mirroring God, and love made manifest in the messiness of our humanity.

Yep. It's messy all right. Some days I'm angry for being designed with these desires and drives at all. Some days I'm angry with Scott for leaving me without a healthy, safe outlet for expressing them. (Hel-lo. Mid-thirties female. I'm like an 18 year old boy, just with the added responsibility of being a soon-to-be divorced working mom of three. Ugh!)

It does give me an opportunity to value sensuality as an aspect of human interaction and multi-dimensionality in daily life, not just the mechanics of fitting body parts together. We are incredibly and wonderfully made! I hope I can remember that if, well, "push comes to shove" as it were.

May 10 - Naomi's a Chicken

Well, actually, she played a mama duck in her stage debut "On the Farm". She was so excited, bouncing around the house, yelling her line "Look at all my ducklings!" for days. The boys were less than excited to have their evening video games interrupted by preschoolers, but Naomi set them straight. "This is important to me and we will go as a family." Aww.

Then we arrived at the Performing Arts Center with the small crowd of families and hysteria set in. I was the ONLY parent who had to go back to the dressing room. After 30 minutes of clingy sobbing, I carried Naomi onto the side stage and the teacher pulled her off me with soothing words and a firm hand. I stayed close by, sure she was going to run off howling.

But she surprised and impressed me, making it through the whole program cheerily participating. She sang every song, announced her line, and knew all the moves. At the end she even posed for pictures, saying "that was fun!" Maybe she's not a chicken at all, but a star waiting for the right motivation.