Snow and Significance

We moved into our new home last Saturday, and I must say, it's beginning to feel like home. Having always lived in "my own" house, it has felt strange taking on someone else's home and making it our own. But now that we've put the washing machine, oven, and furnace through the paces, it's much more like home.

As we have been unpacking boxes, we have observed that the Komproods seem to do important things during the middle of winter, or more particularly, in the middle of snowstorms. We were married 5 years ago (today!) during a mixture of snow/rain/ice, took our 3rd anniversary trip during another ice/snowstorm, it stormed the day after Michael was born, and we also decided to move during a blizzard. (Apologies to my parents-in-law for making them follow behind me while I was crazily plowing through pillow drifts on the interstate...)

Matt commented the other day that you know someone really loves you when they are willing to go into debt with you... I guess I really, really love my husband because we now have a significant amount of debt. I am also indebted to my husband for his patience with my failings and all the things he does for just a simple "please". If I had known, 5 years ago, how good marriage is, we would have married in our teens [smile].

Perhaps it is simply a matter of probability that snow and significance go hand in hand in our lives (a good probability, considering that in ND, snow is on the ground for 4-5 months). But as I gaze out our sun-room windows at the new, sparkly snow that fell last night, I wonder if the snow is a little Heavenly gift for us as we journey onwards Home.

Idiocy Persists Despite Obama Election

Truly, this is difficult to believe, but according to the front page of my newspaper this week (actually - according to a dimwit from the AP) - "Racial Disparities Persist Despite Obama Election". No kidding. Did we really think that 50-some% of Americans casting their votes for an African-American would just suddenly level the playing field???

This must be a serious blow to the dreams of the Obamadeists who have had the audacity to hope that Americans could have a messianic president. Perhaps those who have faith in the power of change to accomplish all their hopes and dreams can take solace in knowing that even Jesus (although He was not as hip) did not solve all the world's problems simply by appearing. But take heart, Obama still can change the world in other ways. His picture was in the sports pages this week (of all places). Apparently Americans don't waste enough productivity during March Madness. Now, in an Obamapinion, we need a November Footbrawl, or something like that.

I probably tend to lean towards a more pessimistic worldview, but my opinion is that many hearts will be broken by this Obama presidency. Political candidates always make promises that they never keep, but something that I observed in this go-round was that everyone seemed to believe all the promises... And already we've heard that Obama does not plan a timeline for troup withdrawal, may not increase taxes on the wealthy, and has appointed quite a few old-timers and insiders to his cabinet (and don't get me started on Tom Daschle - talk about conflict of interests).

Next headline: Despite Obama Election, Pollution Still Exists

Growing Up...

Here are a few recent pictures of Michael. It's hard to believe he is 19 months already. He has turned 2 in many ways already. Time-out has been a valuable tool in dealing with some of his less appealing behaviors (e.g. hitting, throwing, biting...); somedays I look at him being naughty and realize in shock that I am actually the parent now and have to do the discipline! What a change it is to be the adult...

We bought a piano this fall - have always wanted a little upright or spinnet for the kids to play, and so I can play around a bit, too. So we are quite happy to find this one. Michael likes banging on it, and sets his board books on the music stand to "play".

Both our mothers had a bunch of apples this fall. I set a box full on the freezer in the garage, and Michael used boxes in the garage as a step-stool to get to the apples whenever we went outside. For awhile he was good about eating just one. But one day as I was hanging laundry on the line, I realized he was coming out with different sizes of apples every few minutes. He had lined up half a dozen apples on the freezer, each with one or two bites taken out! We had apple pie that night. Matt didn't mind! We are super excited because our new house has a large apple tree. An apple fresh off the tree is a perfect snack, and fun for the little ones to have their own apple to chew on.

I was moving the chairs around when vacuuming one day and we made a tent for Michael to play in. He had a great time peeking around the chairs, putting his toys in his "house", and then pulled in my kitchen tools. He loves "cooking" - our pans and utensils are on the floor more often than not.

My New Favorite Book

For all you old-fashioned fiction-philes, here is a book for you:

Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge

I haven't finished it yet, but when I do, please snap it up from the library, because it's well worth your time. It's been a long time since I was this entertained, inspired, and drawn into self-examination (in a Christian sense, not as in psychobabble-ish "Who am I... who am I really?). The fact that this book was published in 1944 and smells perfectly old-bookish is simply another benefit.

Here's a little taste:

"You were born again, my daughter, you escaped from the weight of the old self when you passed through that terrible humiliation. Though you did not realize it, the new self was growing as a child in the womb during the time of chaos; destruction and construction always go hand in hand, the one the price that is paid for the other; they will go on through your whole life; for until you die, sin and judgment and rebirth will be an integral part of your growth. But you need not fear that that particular depth of suffering will come again. Something was destroyed in you then that will not need to be destroyed again. Now you are made anew." (pg. 285)

So for a bit of poetry, a lot of romance, and an adventure that will keep you up into the wee hours of the morning, give this book a read!

Let Us Pray...

I'm not asking you to agree with me... just to think with me for a moment...

The election is 8 days away, and I know everyone is excited to vote. There hasn't been a lot of talk about "single issue voters", but what there is of it has been overwhelmingly negative. Those of us who do tend do vote on "a single issue" don't have a one-track mind. As a nurse, I'll be the first to say health insurance coverage for everyone is crucial, and like everyone else, I sure would love to see my tax bill go down (and down, and down...).

But there is no such thing as liberty and the pursuit of happiness, if we don't have life. All the science and all the philosophy points to the fact that life begins at conception. And if we don't know that, then we need to err on the side of life. All the issues are important - but the RIGHT TO LIVE trumps them all. It doesn't matter if your taxes are lower, or we get out of Iraq sooner, or NAFTA is re-negotiated, if we don't have the right to LIVE. 50 million Americans don't exist, and that's our fault.

The next president stands to decide on many issues - who our next supreme court justices will be (potentially up to 5 - for a generation's length), how we will fund abortion clinics and if alternative options to abortion will receive funding, and whether we increase our exportation of abortifacient drugs and abortion procedures overseas. Barack Obama has voted against born alive legislation multiple times and is endorsed by abortion rights groups. John McCain has voted against expanding abortion rights and to improve access to further options for women. The facts are the facts - you can check them out anywhere.

I think women DO need options - and that is the problem. As it stands, the abortion industry receives millions of government dollars to promote the ONLY option - as they present it. Women facing unplanned pregnancies are scared and feel abortion is the only way out - "a woman doesn't want an abortion like she wants an ice cream cone. She wants an abortion like a wolf stuck in a trap wants to gnaw it's leg off". We need to fund compassionate alternatives that acknowledge the innate worth of a woman's ability to bear new life into the world, to give her financial alternatives that will allow her to raise her baby if she so chooses, or better options for adoption and health care. When we treat women with the respect we deserve, then women won't feel that abortion is the only option, and have to deal with the physical, psychological, and emotional harm that is caused by abortion.

We don't have to impose this on women - we have to give them options, and that won't happen until we stand up and say enough is enough. Legislating more abortion rights over more choices for women is not the way to go. I urge you to dig deep, think about the things we don't want to think about, and truly pray about the gift of life and how that will influence your vote next week.

Blessings,
Sarah

House for Sale

We are selling our house in preparation to move. It will be listed tomorrow. If you are interested or happen to know of anyone who is moving to our fair city, just let us know.
I spent all of yesterday touching up paint, cleaning the carpets, and packing up some odds and ends. I am feeling rather stressed about this whole moving thing... Wondering how we are going to get everything from point A to point B - do we really need this object, or will I feel guilty if I discard it because it may someday be useful? And are we really making the right decision on the house we are buying? (More details on that later...)
I do know for certain we will not be burying poor Saint Joseph face-down in our yard. We may need his help but I can't imagine he is willing to assist when he is eating dirt and his feet are sticking out of the ground. All of you who have purchased homes and moved in the recent past have my sympathies.

Double Standards

Here's my two cents about politics as of late.

#1 - Yay for Sarah Palin! It's about time a Sarah made it to the White House. So much of the buzz is that McCain picked Palin to appeal to young and women voters (negative slant, of course). But if he would have picked Lieberman (to appeal to independents and democrats), Romney (to appeal to rich white businessmen and Mormons), Pawlenty (to appeal to... hmmm, who would really go bananas over Tim Pawlenty? Sorry, Minnesotans), would anyone have made as much fuss? Politics is all about the spin and appeal and getting voters in your pocket. So shut up media. Of course any decision is politically motivated.

#2 - The big fuss over Sarah Palin's new grandchild is sickening. Given that over 60% of babies in Iceland are born out of wedlock, and only a slightly smaller % in the US, it hardly seems a scandal anymore. Don't get me wrong - I firmly believe that children are for marriage and marriage is for children, but how can we create a pro-life culture if we condemn those mothers, fathers, and children who aren't living in ideal situations? They need support, mercy, and guidance to know the truth and live their family life in God's grace. It speaks to Palin's strong love of life that her grandchild is even in the news - Obama has publicly stated that if one of his daughters were to become pregnant, he would take her to have an abortion. So much for women's rights...

#3 - I am SICK TO DEATH of the media's bias against the republicans! During the newscast, they kept breaking to spots of Obama's speech - come on, this is the RNC, the DNC is OVER and it's time to move on.

Something Silly

Michael loves it when we sing to him. He really hates it when we brush his teeth (who wouldn't like to be held down while one's teeth are vigorously scrubbed?). So I composed a tooth-brushing song, which should be sung to the tune of "Row Your Boat".

Brush, brush, brush your teeth
Every night before bed
Squeaky clean, sparkly white
Brushed teeth feel so good

Okay, so this is really silly, but this is what one does when the baby is wide awake and you only had 5 hours of sleep the night before.

Clutter

Today is the day! I'm going to tackle the bathroom closet (after I finish wasting time on the computer, that is). Even though our house may look fairly clean day-to-day (although even that is debatable - depends on which day you come visit!), don't look in the closets! Yes, I do engage in the nasty habit of throwing things into closets and closing the door when tidying up quickly. So look out bathroom - here I come. All in all, it's been a fairly productive weekend, hopefully now extending to the week ahead.
We went to a wedding on Saturday (congratulations, Sarah and Chad!), and it was so much fun to see many friends from college. Nearly all of them have had babies in the past 18 months. We sat in the back of church together and our babies traded cheerios and toys back and forth. The most beautiful part of the wedding was when Rachel and her choir sang a Litany of Saints after Sarah and Chad took their vows - amazing.
Michael and I went to the playground on Sunday evening. He spent most of the time picking up the gravel and handing it to me or trying to put it in his mouth, but we also tried out the swings and the slide. He is learning many more words - "peach" means pretty much any fruit shaped like a peach (oranges, apples, tomatoes) but also a peach, and he learned "pea" today while we were picking peas in the garden. He also makes the appropriate noises for farm animals while reading his farm books - I discovered this at Mass yesterday. Better than crying...

Changes, changes, and more changes!

It's been awhile since I have posted, but have a good excuse because it has been a wild ride the past two weeks.
1) I am now a seasonal flex employee for 6th floor - meaning I work when I want to, and only during the summers. Good-bye weekends and holidays! (Okay, so I still have to work a weekend a month and one holiday a year. But that's a big improvement from every weekend and three holidays a year. No working on Christmas this year!!! I feel as though I have my life back - no more missing baby showers, weddings, and spending time with family and friends because I have to work when everyone else is off.)
2) I am now a clinical instructor for the university for 6th floor. I start in two weeks! It's amazing how it all came about. Needless to say, I feel it was a huge gift from God, Who knew what I needed and couldn't even imagine to pray for.
3) I have just submitted my application for grad school. The university requires that it's instructors be enrolled in a graduate program. If I am accepted (it sounds like they will fast-track my application and it is likely to be accepted so I can begin teaching), I plan to take one class per semester, and the entire program is online. The degree program I am applying for is a masters of science in nursing with nursing education specialty.

I don't know what will come of all this, but I am extremely excited for these new opportunities (and very overwhelmed! Just two weeks ago I was anticipating continuing to work my weekends until Matt graduates in December). There are many benefits - health care benefits are completely paid by the university, free classes for myself and 50% off for my dear hubby and dependents (maybe Michael can start taking classes for his degree soon, while it's still discounted...), and more time at home with my family. It will be a big adjustment - my first "real" teaching job, adjusting to doing more work at home, and balancing work with my child and husband's needs. But I'll still be working with the patients I've come to love and hopefully making a difference for nurses-to-be. Pray that all goes well, and join me in thanking the One Who has made it all possible.

Sarah

Garden Goodies

I managed to grow two heads of cauliflower this year for the first time in a few years. Last year the heads were eaten by bugs, the year before that were too wet and infested with slugs, and I don't recall what happened the year before, but my cauliflower was a flop anyway. This year, one head was quite perfect, and the other (as you can see) was quite tasty but looked a bit mutant. The mutant head was quite large - plenty for eating fresh, plus some for the freezer (makes a lovely bag with some broccoli added). Michael and I picked green beans and sugar peas today. He helped by digging "weeds" and eating dirt. I think he'll enjoy eating fresh string beans for supper tonight; he loves feeding himself and fresh veggies are one item that he can actually get into his mouth without making a huge mess. He loves being outside so much, especially now that he has learned how to turn on the water faucet.

Babies for Obama!

Can we climb on the table? Yes, We Can!
Can we throw noodles on the floor? Yes, We Can!
Can we pull the cat's tail? Yes, We Can!

The moment the earth began to heal was when I pooped on the carpet and saved a disposable diaper from going to the landfill. The oceans began to recede when I dumped bathwater onto the floor instead of allowing it to go down the drain.

And I have the audacity to hope that soon my parents will stop feeding me with baby spoons and allow me to get my hands on their plates.

-Michael

The Cathedral

Matt, Michael and I took the day off yesterday. We had been talking for two months about going to see an art exhibit, and Matt took the initiative to choose day for us to go. We visited the Rodin exhibit at the Plains Art Museum - well worth the drive there and Michael's testing his voice off the gallery ceilings. I was fascinated most by one sculpture - (no, not The Thinker) a pair of hands tented together in a praying position, entitled The Cathedral.
The hands, although large, were very feminine and graceful. I like to think that Rodin wanted to say something about a woman's hands when she pairs them together and points the tips to Heaven. My hands do such a number of things - how many of them, I wonder, are grace-filled and constructive, rather than mindless or done out of ill will.
How often I want to go to Mass but then am unable due to a napping (or hollering) baby, or make excuses to not go. My little cathedral in my hands is no replacement for Heaven on earth - when Jesus comes to us in Mass - but perhaps on those napping (or hollering) days it would behoove me to think of Rodin's Cathedral and how important it is for me to do good with my hands - at very least to make a little church and wait for the Lord to enter in.

Prejudice - Jane Austen style

"Prejudiced! I am not prejudiced."
"But I am very much, and without being at all ashamed of it. . ." (Jane Austen, Emma)

Though I don't identify much with Emma, I do find a bit of myself in her reply to Mr. Knightley. Prejudice had a different meaning then - a sense of discernment or selection, favoring something that was good and bypassing something nasty (a prejudiced person knew which biscuits to put out for tea). Now the word prejudice is used to denote icky things like racism or xenophobia. I like the old meaning and rather admire those who are willing to show a bit of prejudice (old meaning) now and again.
I am looking forward to sharing musings and opinions and truths now and again. If you find them prejudiced, don't send me grouchy e-mails; however, I am always open to discussion. Those of you who know me well already know I am not embarrassed to tell you what I think.
Would Jane Austen have shared her prejudices on a blog? I doubt writing novels was much of a fad, so she probably would not have joined in the melee. But then, she did write what she thought (with subtleties, and without), so perhaps her compatriots would have been treated to Emma's frippery in 3-paragraph lengths.

Sarah