January 2007

That’s about all of the electric media that I consume outside of the internet. And when you don’t have television (in order to save money and save our children from widespread, unadulterated marketing) I end up hearing both ALL THE TIME. Olivia watches Toy Story at least every other day. She watches part of it every day. I am becoming intimate with all of the nuance and depth of Woody and the gang. And since my other brain-rot outlet is NPR I have developed some fun characterizations of your favorite toy Cowboy.

Woody is the equivalent of G.W. Bush. The All American Cowboy who’s used to things being his way. Then along comes Buzz Lightyear (the Democratic Party) which comes along and spoils all the wild western fun. Now, since Andy (who represents America) wants Woody and Buzz to get along, they’ve gotta find some way to make some bipartisan progress. Read the rest of this entry »

Every time that I start to feel bad about my parenting I read Dr. Sears and then I feel confident again.

Elise is my barnacle. She literally cannot be away from me without anxiety. Unless she is engrossed in play with another family member, if she is not near me she is NOT happy. But if I hold her, or stay in her line of sight all day she will not cry at all. She’s amazingly simple to put to sleep, rocking for 5 or 6 minutes usually does the trick. She really is a dream baby.

She just really loves to be held. So, I’ve been wearing her in a sling or wrap, almost all day, everyday. And she is sooooooo happy.

This isn’t really normal in America (no kidding) so I start to feel a little weird after a while, and begin to think that perhaps I am spoiling Elise. Read the rest of this entry »

And I ask this, not in a “what can YOU do” sort of way, though that is a good question. But I ask in a more defeated, “ah, I’m feeling the weight of sin” sort of way.

My Dad just went to India on a business trip. While he was there a bunch of beggars came and started pounding on the windows of the car asking for money. Some of the children didn’t have hands. Apparently their parents cut their hands off so that people would feel more compassion on them and they would bring home more money.

Also while there, he and his associates were taken out to dinner. The waiter brought out the Indian version of Diet Coke instead of the American version and so his boss fired him. My dad said that he felt terrible because it didn’t matter to him which kind of Diet Coke they served.

How is it that I can be sitting here in my warm comfortable house, with my children still connected to all of their limbs? I am feeling the weight of sin Read the rest of this entry »

Mortal Sin.

Being the theological misfit that I am– raised Roman Catholic, coming of age in a Modern Evangelical church, and converting to Lutheranism as a young adult– I am so often surprised at the things on which people are in disagreement.

For example, I can’t understand why all of Christendom doesn’t understand the Parable of the Seeds the way Lutherans do, it just seems so straightforward. I guess I’d have to admit never believing “once saved, always saved,” even though that’s what most of my friends have always believed is true and were shocked to discover Lutherans don’t. I was just as shocked (or better yet, confused) by their position.

Back to Mortal Sin. I read this post by the Rebellious Pastor’s Wife Read the rest of this entry »

The Love and Blunder family has just recovered (or is almost recovered) from a very icky bug which stopped by around New Years. But this post is about a different bug.

I have caught the running bug. I’ve been running at least 3 times a week for the past two weeks, and every day I like it more. I’m finding that it is exactly what I’ve been needing. I think it is that I can get away from everything and everyone for an hour and listen to music.

The other perk of running is that children CAN NOT touch you while you are running. You have your whole body to yourself, which isn’t so spectacular unless you are the mother of two small and happily attached children.

I’m probably going to be running in the Cleveland Half Marathon this May. My Papa ran it way back when, so it’s only fitting that it be my first.

And just for fun. Here’s the playlist that I made to work out to. You’ve gotta have tunes in the iPod age, and these ones are just right for running: Read the rest of this entry »

Last night we had some very good friends over for a little get together. Two friends from college, our daughters’ God-parents and their son Deacon, Rob and I all partied until way later than we should have. I got jealous of a MacBook and wished we had Photo Booth on our OS10. I drank more in one sitting than I have in years (2 drinks in as many hours). And we woke up a lot since all the kids were sick.

Today, I celebrated 2007 day number one in a steamy bathroom, eating brie, reading a book by John McWhorter, and holding a very sick 3 month old hoping to clear her congested chest.

Partying as a parent! Woot.