Date Night

We've been blessed to have many friends and family offer to watch Mr. T. And we do love that. But it is nice to sometimes have an "At Home" date night. Here's just a peak into our latest "Movie Date."



What's in the box? We'll movie candy! Of course!



Movie Tickets: $10-$11
Popcorn: $5
Candy: $9 (I had three boxes in there.)
Babysitter: $30-$40

At home: $3!!
*Only had to buy the candy.

Loving Motherhood

This little boy has captured my heart. It's true that I never could have imagined that I could love him as much as I do. And it's true the even more now do I understand what a sacrifice that God made to give his ONLY son.

I am blessed beyond words by his life. And am blessed by the opportunity to stay home with him. (Thank you again, my dear husband, for all your hard work.)

How can I begin with all the smiles he brings to my face? He has this almost uncontrolled laughter. He'll be sitting (all by himself I might add) and look up and start laughing. He'll see a smiling face and laugh. I'll read him a book, and he'll laugh. Mr. T likes to laugh at the sounds "Snort" and "Oink." Or when we say "buca baby." (Where that comes from, I have no idea.) And he's ticklish. I have to stop myself from continuing to tickle him, cause he's got the best laugh! And when I say ticklish...I mean everywhere - under his chin, sides of belly, thighs, occasionally feet, and the newest is his armpits.

Mr. T has never been one to rest his head on my chest. However just over the last couple days when I rock him briefly before laying him down, he'll gently rest his head on my chest. How sweet. I want to just keep holding him, but it's like he realizes what he's doing and arches his head up. :)

And our little, big boy is eating solids! As of right now, it's just rice cereal and sweet potatoes; and he loves them!!

Hope in God

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."

Amidst the sadness of life's circumstances, there is great assurance that I can hope in the Lord. Our God is faithful, comforts, brings peace, and has immense love. While the passage above is in the context of enemies, I can be reminded to hope in the Lord.

I said to Eric yesterday that my heart is so sad today. Devastated over a friend's loss. Shocked by the way a friend has been treated. Heartbroken by a friend who is told having a child is unlikely.

And yet, hope is rising up. (I stop and ask myself, 'How?' Oh yes, by God's hand.) Comfort for the loss. Shelter for the mistreated. Light for the childless.

God, help my heart trust in you.

Follow-up

Book club leading went great! Good discussions, lots of laughter and delicious food! If you are ever in Evanston, IL and are looking for great southern-style food, check out Dixie Kitchen. http://www.dixiekitchenchicago.com/ They have real sweet-tea!

Favorite book quote: "I don't like azaleas and I sure didn't like [Gone With the Wind], the way they made slavery look like a big happy tea party. If I'd played Mammy, I'd of told Scarlet to stick those green draperies up her white little pooper. Make her own dam man-catching dress." :)

"The Help" Discussion Questions

I finished up a list of discussion questions like I said I would yesterday. :) Leave free to leave comments on what you think about them. Two questions* are taken from the questions posted on http://www.kathrynstockett.com/stockett-reading-groups.htm; however, I've modified both of them.

1. Can you tell this is Kathryn's first novel? And there's a critique that she is not "qualified" to write from the perspective of a black woman of this time? How do you think she accomplished this task?

2. *What do you think motivated Hilly? On the one token, she is extremely rude to those she dislikes. On the other hand, she a loving mother? How can she live this "double life?"

3. What is the point of children in the book? Is there a difference between whites and blacks and how they view their children?

4. What was the most shocking moment in the book for you? (Without giving away the story, I will say the bathroom incident with Minny and Celia.)

5. *Do you think Mae would have grown up racist like her mother, Elizabeth, had Aibileen stayed to work for them? Is racism inherent or taught through a child's environment?

6. Aibileen said, "She [Celia] just don't see them. The lines. Not between her and me, not between her and Hilly." (pg. 311) What lines did you see throughout the book? Do we have lines in our culture today?

7. What is your take on the title? (Reasoning for the title from character's perspectives on pg. 356.)

8. Was the ending rushed? Possibly left open for personal interpretation?

My obsessions

So...I must admit: I'm really great at checking other people's blogs and really bad about updating ours. Maybe I like the idea that I can just click in my "blogs I like" folder in bookmarks, and I don't have to think about what to write. I just read. I love reading. :) Side note: 1st obsession would be "The Help." It's a must read, and I'm leading the book club I'm apart of tomorrow night (it's my first time and I'm super nervous). I'll post discussion questions when I finish them tonight or tomorrow. :) Talk about waiting till the last minute. While I'm on this "side note," I've convinced my grandmother to read "A Wrinkle in Time," another all time favorite of mine. I read this with my 6th grade students the past two years. I'm a little sad that I will not be journeying through it again with another group of students this fall. I may just have to read it at home. :)

I began writing tonight, because I've fallen in love...with a blog. Not just any blog. This is a mom, with many sons and a little girl. She's extremely artistic. Takes stunning photos of every day life. And is real. She shares real life. Things she likes, doesn't like. How crazy life can be. And she has all these cute names on her blog for her kids. I'd like to be her real life friend. However, I just pretend she's my friend as I read her blog. Enough, enough. You can find her blog here: http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/

Updates:
I had a cold. Timothy has a rash. A rash the doctors haven't been able to figure out. We're trying out some meds for eczema, so we'll see if that works. It sucks being sick, and then it's even worse seeing your little baby sick. It's such a helpless feeling.
I realized that I need to keep up with friends better. I've said "good-bye" to four wonderful friends in just six weeks or so. Wow, I didn't realize how sad I was about that until I just typed that. Four friends have moved away...and I'm not sure when or if I'm going to see them again. That's depressing. Thank goodness for facebook and e-mail and phones. :) Maybe Skype and I should become better friends so that I can see those friends.
I love each of you.
To Talissyn: My soulful, urban loving friend who loves people by seeing through the exterior and getting down to the heart.
To Michelle: My passionate, extremely skilled teaching friend who is graciously honest and understands when a meeting has gone on too long.
To Ellie: My sweet, gentle friend who I just didn't get enough time with. Could you come back and live just another year? 1yr. is just isn't enough.
To Kristy: My joyful, joy bringing friend who always knows when I need a good laugh and is unabashedly herself.

And here's to my little, big boy:

Timothy and Daddy