I'm really sad tonight because Anders is sick. It makes me so sad to see him suffer. He caught some virus from who knows where and has had a fever off and on for the last two days and now a rash that has come and gone throughout the day. The doctor said we should keep him away from people for a few days. Well, except for me.
I get to stay home with him all day. For the next two days. Alone.
Which is fine, because I'm his mom. And the upside is, he's a little more snuggly than normal. (Which is saying a lot). And I'll take a few snuggles here and there when I can get them.
But, it also bums me out because we're missing out on some fun stuff. Like today.
We stayed home from my Bible Study. It was only week #2 of a study in Revelation and I really didn't want to miss. And, we were supposed to watch my friend's daughter, like we do every Wednesday (she watches Anders on Tuesdays & I watch one of her kids on Wednesdays--it works great), but decided we better not risk exposing her to his germs.
Tomorrow I was supposed to watch another friend's baby (like I usually do on Thursdays--this is my way of getting my girl fix--playing with dolls, dressing them in pink...). But no go tomorrow. Too contagious.
Friday I was supposed to go out to lunch and to the mall with a friend and her son. And I'm sure we would have squeezed some Rock Band in during nap time. But again, no go. He'll still most likely be contagious. And better to be safe, than sorry.
I'm not really a sit at home and do nothing kind of person. Can you tell?
So tonight as I was choosing to feel a bit sorry for myself, and mostly sorry for Anders, I had a realization (or maybe a Revelation?): God doesn't like it when we're spiritually sick; we miss out on some good stuff.
He gives us everything we need to make ourselves better, like medicine when we're physically sick. God gives us His Word, other believers, a church body, worship, prayer...and the list goes on. But just like medicine, we must take in His gifts in order to make ourselves better. Much like when we're physically sick and dependent on friends and loved ones, we must be fully dependent upon Him to heal our spiritual illness.
And I've realized tonight, I've got some work to do.
God, did you really have to make my son sick for me to realize this? A sticky note on my Bible would have sufficed.
Sideburns since college=13 years
Waiting for our friends to arrive!
This picture really shows how much snow we got! And this isn't even all of it!
Monday night was a big event for us--Joel's first official poetry reading at Barnes & Noble. The high school where he works had an event at our local store where a percentage of the profits purchased on Monday went to the library. Every year they have students and teachers "perform" in the cafe during the event.
(He really, honestly thought he could lift this pumpkin.)
And a couple of pumpkin pictures.
Where's Anders?
Now that Anders 13 months, he is really more of a "toddler" than a "baby". Just today he was playing in the family room while we were enjoying the Broncos game. He must have played for about 30 minutes, basically by himself.
This past week was Homecoming Week at Joel's school. Wednesday was "Dress in the Dark" day, which basically means wear a totally crazy, tacky outfit. I think Joel would have scored a "10" for creativity. The sad part is, his mom had an equally "creative" outfit, and I neglected to get a picture.
Although I don't have it pictured here, Anders does know how to throw his arms up in the air when we say "Touchdown!".
We didn't stay very long, but it was a great trip. Haiku had fun swimming in the lake, Anders enjoyed being in the backpack--he's high enough up to see what's going on, and Joel & I enjoyed the slower pace of life, even if it was only for a few hours.
