Friday, August 15, 2008
Douwe's Scoot
This little clip shows how Douwe gets around. He uses one hand to propel himself forward and uses the other hand to point a finger out ahead of him or hold an object. We're guessing that because we have mostly wood and tile floor surfaces that he is putting his own extra padding to its best use.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Field Trip to Chesterton
This Saturday morning we got up early to take a drive to the Old World Market in Chesterton. We purchased some local produce, wine and pastries and then enjoyed a treat on our blanket in the park. We also found a fun little first instrument kit for Douwe. He is all over the percussion toys but the harmonica is perplexing him.
Does Douwe still look like his Daddy? Unless it's just the matching shirts.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Push toys and pointer fingers
Douwe's most fun activity is walking behind a push toy. He thinks he is the greatest and looks around wondering if we all think so too! Of course we do! I need to get a photo.
Douwe also tries to tell us everything he is thinking by using his pointer finger and cooing. Today he said, "Look at the airplane!" every 5 minutes . . . my parents house must be under a flight path.
For those of you with toddlers, when does a baby tire of delighting in gravity's magic upon food morsels?
Happy mail day at our house! We got a couple coloring book pages from Steve with a return address on the envelope so we eagerly dropped a return note in the mail.
Douwe and I spent the whole day outside today first at a friend's pool and then in my parents' back yard. don't think August is used to having temps in the 70s, but it sure is wonderful.
Jeff used to live on Lafayette in Griffith, but we can't get on the street to see if the tornado got the house he grew up in.
Douwe also tries to tell us everything he is thinking by using his pointer finger and cooing. Today he said, "Look at the airplane!" every 5 minutes . . . my parents house must be under a flight path.
For those of you with toddlers, when does a baby tire of delighting in gravity's magic upon food morsels?
Happy mail day at our house! We got a couple coloring book pages from Steve with a return address on the envelope so we eagerly dropped a return note in the mail.
Douwe and I spent the whole day outside today first at a friend's pool and then in my parents' back yard. don't think August is used to having temps in the 70s, but it sure is wonderful.
Jeff used to live on Lafayette in Griffith, but we can't get on the street to see if the tornado got the house he grew up in.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The Bush
A few weeks ago on vacation I had a nightmare that I would be compelled to watch one of my children drown. I feel like that is happening right now as I have no idea where Steve is or who is tucking him in or helping him brush his teeth or laughing at his joke "Mom, I don't like you . . I love you!"
So I keep saying to the sky, because who else really can I say it to, I'm angry about this situation, angry enough to die . .which is what Jonah said when that bush died as suddenly as it grew. We discussed Jonah 4 in church this Sunday and tonight as I'm telling my bedroom ceiling I'm angry enough to die, the measly bush made a new kind of sense.
I'm like Jonah. Abstract news of destruction in Ninevah, Darfur, Thailand or Iraq is too huge for my emotions to handle or my empathy to embrace. I care, but not that much. Too bad for those people, but I need to do a load of wash. So Jonah got that bush for a few hours, I got Steve for a few years. Now that is something specific a human can care about and get attached to. And it is suddenly removed, the gift, the comfort, the delight of it. Is it all a mean trick, a lesson laced with ridicule to make us feel ashamed for not being moved enough about the cities, the countries in peril? I always thought it was, but now I see something a little kinder in that strange plant's purpose.
God affirms and welcomes our anger and concern about the absurdity of things, even if it's the death of a God-damned plant. A human can only handle so much, he knows this. And then he gently reminds me, reminds Jonah: What, a troubled child, a worm-chomped bush, makes you angry enough to die? You are that concerned? Are you right to be concerned? "YES WE ARE!" we finally shout. There it is. Yes, you are, and so you are tasting, as much as a human is able to, the immense compassion I have for every living thing. You can't fix things, you can't even care enough! But, child, maybe now you'll understand that I am angry enough to die about each human that can't tell right hand from left, walking around in a muddle, and what's more, their cows too.
Tonight I can fall asleep now because my anger and longing for things to be made right comes from something way bigger and braver than me. There is some comfort if the Maker of the Universe gets it, this overwhelming emotion we froth up over a wormy bush. He'll make everything all right again. Won't he? I hope so.
So I keep saying to the sky, because who else really can I say it to, I'm angry about this situation, angry enough to die . .which is what Jonah said when that bush died as suddenly as it grew. We discussed Jonah 4 in church this Sunday and tonight as I'm telling my bedroom ceiling I'm angry enough to die, the measly bush made a new kind of sense.
I'm like Jonah. Abstract news of destruction in Ninevah, Darfur, Thailand or Iraq is too huge for my emotions to handle or my empathy to embrace. I care, but not that much. Too bad for those people, but I need to do a load of wash. So Jonah got that bush for a few hours, I got Steve for a few years. Now that is something specific a human can care about and get attached to. And it is suddenly removed, the gift, the comfort, the delight of it. Is it all a mean trick, a lesson laced with ridicule to make us feel ashamed for not being moved enough about the cities, the countries in peril? I always thought it was, but now I see something a little kinder in that strange plant's purpose.
God affirms and welcomes our anger and concern about the absurdity of things, even if it's the death of a God-damned plant. A human can only handle so much, he knows this. And then he gently reminds me, reminds Jonah: What, a troubled child, a worm-chomped bush, makes you angry enough to die? You are that concerned? Are you right to be concerned? "YES WE ARE!" we finally shout. There it is. Yes, you are, and so you are tasting, as much as a human is able to, the immense compassion I have for every living thing. You can't fix things, you can't even care enough! But, child, maybe now you'll understand that I am angry enough to die about each human that can't tell right hand from left, walking around in a muddle, and what's more, their cows too.
Tonight I can fall asleep now because my anger and longing for things to be made right comes from something way bigger and braver than me. There is some comfort if the Maker of the Universe gets it, this overwhelming emotion we froth up over a wormy bush. He'll make everything all right again. Won't he? I hope so.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Grilling out
We were invited with some cousins to have supper at "Groen Park," our parents' backyard. It was a beautiful evening to enjoy a meal outside.
Blueberries
We travelled south to DeMotte early this morning to pick blueberries .. . Douwe lasted about 35 minutes in his stroller, then he helped Dad pick a few.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Retreat
I asked my friend Kristin to take a little two-day retreat with me, so we spent a few days at her family's place in Holland. Douwe and Mica enjoyed the attention and such water activities as the miniature pool, the beach, the sprinkler and the water table. On such a hot day, we moms couldn't resist joining the babies for a dip!
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