In Which Ramona Maintains a Positive Vocabulary in a Negative Situation and Griffin Lends a Helping Hand.

The kids have been amazing with helping out this week while I have been under the weather. Sam and Isaac were upstairs cleaning up Legos while I laid down to take a nap with Ramona. Because Hailey was at work, and Zeke was stinky, Griffin realized he was indeed going to have to change a poopy diaper.

Ever so quietly at first I was pulled from my slumber.

"Mom?" I heard.

Then again, a little louder than before.

"Mom? I hate to wake you but there is poop everywhere and I need your help."

Napping with Ramona is like sleeping in a spider's web. To untangle yourself without waking her is virtually possible.

Ramona followed me to the living room to answer Griffin's plea. In no time at all we had the bulk of the emergency taken care of and were returning to the bedroom to finish our nap.

Cuddled up behind me with her pudgy fingers playing with my hair she commented "That was NOT awesome. That was NOT beautiful."

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A Good Mommy

Scenario:

I'm feeding Zeke in the rocking chair in the bedroom. Ramona rolls up with her empty doll stroller.

Conversation:

Ramona: We're two mommies.

Me: Are you a mommy too?

Ramona: Yes

Me: Where is your baby?

Ramona (looking into her empty stroller): I don't know. I better go find her.

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I Am Progressive #OnlyWhenIWannaBe.

I can't sleep. #SometimesThatHappens.

Between nursing a 5 month old and responding to the 2 year old's "momma? MOMMA!" through the night, I'm not even sure what time it is. Saturday, Sunday? #DaylightSavingsTime.  

I reach for my phone. My constant data retriever. #MyLoyalFriend.

I check Facebook. Not much new between midnight and now. (2am-3am?) #DidIChangeMyClock.

What boring friends I have. #TheLifeOfTheParty #NOT.

I stock my Tiny Tower. I finish a few gold crown levels on Siege Hero. I check Twitter, there's always news there.

I open my YouVersion Bible app to do a little study prompted by a tweet that looks intriguing. @doorposts

Still not working right. Can't seem to access my favorite translation: NIV84. #Delete.# Reinstall.

It's gone. NIV84 has disappeared. #Ermahgerd.

Back to Twitter to learn the version has been made unavailable by Biblica and Zondervan. @Youversion #NIV84.  #TheresAlwaysTheNewNIV.

Whoa. Back up. What?

You can't just change stuff. #MyRules.

I just got used to calling the NIV84 the NIV84.  They tried to pull the wool over my eyes and sneak in their new NIV translation by using the name NIV and changing the old version's name to NIV84. But I'm on to them.  I know.  See how I think?  #ItsPureTorture.

Just like how the Newsboys still call themselves the Newsboys even though there's only one guy left and they don't sound anything like they used to. I guess it was @Peter Furler all along for me. Even VanHalen/Hagar had the decency to change their name. #ButItMattersToMe.

I digress.

I suppose the switch from KJV to NIV was like this for some people way back then. I also, for the record, had a hard time with the new Hymnal when it came out in the early 90's. #LutheranLifer.

It was introduced when I had two very small children and couldn't wrangle them both and the hymnal to follow along for months. #NotAnOctopus.

I was the one still singing the old responses. #OneInEveryCrowd.

Again, digression. #OnARoll.

The Bible doesn't have to be so conversational does it? Isn't there some comfort in the words themselves?  What about memorization? #StuckInMyWays.

At the rate these new translations are flying about, I'm afraid that pretty soon the whole Bible will just be a paraphrase and Jesus will be all emo for going postal in the temple. #IsNothingSacred.

The B-I-B-L-E-N-I-V-8-4 Yes, that's the book for me. I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E-N-I-V-8-4. #MaybeImJustTired.

If you want me today (tomorrow?) I'll be the one rocking in the corner clutching my guns, ammo, hardcover NIV84, along with my old Newsboys CD's.

#Peace out. 

Loaded Question

A few weeks after Ramona was born Matt and I decided to take the younger set to a gun show. Isaac was very excited while the other boys?   Not so much.

We are a family infatuated with weapons of all kinds but the idea of an afternoon of "don't touch", "slow down", "hands to yourselves" might have had an influence on their indifference.  But Isaac?  He was absolutely giddy!  He even dressed for the occasion:  Full mismatched camo, vest included.

We perused aisle after aisle of displays when, out of the blue, Isaac tugged on my sleeve and asked...

"When does the gun show start?"

Do Hard Things.

On the way to the soccer tournament this morning Hayden asked me, "What if I asked to play goalie today?".

"What?!?!?! No way!" was the first thing that escaped my mouth thinking he was kidding.

I made it through my entire educational career with only one formal speech under my belt.  I don't know how I weaseled out of them.  I think I feigned sickness and took the "F" once, probably didn't take classes that required them... 

That's pretty much how Hayden has avoided the goalie position for the last 13 years.

"Well, it all depends on who we play... it's my last day, and if we're really far ahead... Maybe I'll give it a shot."

He played his usual defensive position for all but the last 10 minutes of the game... they were down 3-0. 

From the sidelines I saw him donning the long sleeved green and black striped goalie shirt.  I fumbled for my video camera.  Ramona started crying.  I opted to watch instead of film.

So, with Ramona bawling on my hip and me pacing the sidelines the game commenced with him in the goal.

It wasn't pretty... In fact, their first drive on goal ended in Hayden picking up the ball out of the box and being called for handling.  Then shortly after, they scored on him.  He made a valiant dive to try to block it though.  The ball never made it in his vicinity again.

He was smiling when it was over.  He had given it a shot and had failed.  Twice. 

But he was still smiling.

I was proud. And inspired.

A Special Bond

While watching the 3 banded armadillo yesterday at the zoo, a mom stood by and listened as her two young sons, I'd guess ages 2 & 3, engaged in typical bathroom humor conversation.

As if she suddenly realized she wasn't alone, she looked my way, apologized and said "I'm sorry, I've got two boys... I don't even notice it sometimes."

"It's okay" I reassured her "I've got 4."

We shared a knowing smile and went our separate ways.

Ahhhhh......