thoughts for a hot day

hot day.... ice cold water... refreshment.

Last year when I returned from Uganda, I think the most important revelation that I had was how thankful I was for clean, running water.    America is blessed, exceedingly.  

 I am currently reading Awake by Noel Brewer Yeatts.   And on this hot day, I'm reading a chapter about WATER!   Yep.   A reminder of our American wealth and the harsh reality of death and disease that plagues the rest of the world.   This particular passage caught my attention:

I don't like to simply focus on numbers, because each of these numbers represents a life and a story.  Numbers can also too easily seem overwhelming.  But some numbers are helpful- the numbers that show how easy it is a make a difference.

The worldwide water crisis could be solved with 20-30 billion dollars a year.  Yet Americans spend $16 billion each year on bottled water alone.

Americans also spend an average of $700 each at Christmas, which, with a population of a little over 300 million, works out to over $210 billion.  Even if we take the high estimate of $30 billion, if just half the population set aside $200 of their Christmas spending and put it toward the water crisis the problem could be solved!

Sometimes numbers make a lot of sense.

Did you flush your toilet today?  Just once?  You have already used more water than the average African has for an entire day- for drinking, cooking, cleaning, bathing, washing... everything.  Just one flush.

She goes on to say that our perspective of water is associated with swimming, fishing, fun.  

 Perhaps we need to change our perspective of water?

So today... when you have a glass of ice water, drink from a water bottle, go swimming.... or flush your toilet.   Remember that you are among the worlds wealthiest and healthiest.   

random...

Fathers Day came and went without much ado.   The boys said that they did not want to do anything special in memory of Thayer.   My mention of releasing balloons was shot down.... so we basically focused on my Dad/ their Papa.  
My Dad had spent the last two days at our house tending to the yard and building furniture with the boys.   He has been a great help with the guy stuff. :)

I tried not to be too down about the absence of Thayer yesterday but the lack of a father for my kids is pretty obvious on such a day.   I was doing okay until the pastor made a small remark about the importance of having a father in the home.   People always like to point out that children with a loving/active father in the home are 99.999999 times more likely to become productive members of society.  Or something along those lines.  :/
Those statistics that stack against my boys are always a mood killer.

On a cheerier note-
Yesterday afternoon we played kickball with our lifegroup.  It was confirmed that I am out of shape, afraid of airborne balls, and ultimately not too graceful when I fall.   I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to walk today, following my tumble, but only a hefty bruise and a slight soreness remains.

Today, something possessed me... well... maybe the reality that my boys are having a yard sale....made me suddenly motivated to clean out the junk side of our basement.   We went to purchase sturdy shelving so that I could get some of Thayer's tools a bit more organized.    When we got home the boys put the shelves together while I took a NAP!!    Unheard of!!   I am SO thankful that I have two aging kids that are capable of such tasks... completely on their own!  I'm so proud!
Upon waking... the kids insisted upon making their own dinner which consisted of Chef Boyardee, Cheetos, and Cream of Wheat.  I proceeded to make a bag of popcorn for myself.  (dinner of champions!)
I then dove-in to the basement cleaning/organizing.  
Four hours later, I am proud to say that the junk room looks amazing!!  I now have shelving full of things that I still don't have a clue as to what they are.  But atleast it's all displayed nicely :)
I also managed to drop Thayer's skimboard on my foot which will be a nice addition to my bruised knee.  ow!
While I was task oriented my boys managed to watch 5 straight hours of Myth Busters on Netflix.  I'm 99.9% sure that they learned alot about science.     
They might turn out better than expected ;)

pool

I have a confession to make.

I KNOW that for the past several years I have been a 'hater' of pool memberships.   I have never seen the cost benefit in joining a neighborhood pool.  I've done the math and it just didn't make sense for our family.    Basically, I decided that we would have to go to the pool somewhere between 42- 57 days during the summer to make it worthwhile.  And with the usual vacation, rainy days and weekends thrown in there... 57 days sounds absurd.

(if you're trying to figure out my math..... I calculated using a $400 membership... and used $7/day as a basic assumption.... since it would cost my boys and $7 to swim at the public pool.  And therefore you would have to go to a $400 pool 57 times to balance $7/ day.)

but anywho.  I'm not hatin' those of you who spend the money... because I'm sure that you will go 57 times this summer.   Especially now that I've done the math. ;)

Back to my confession....
 I just bought the 'family pass' to the local public pool.  It was only $90 in comparison to the $300-700 that others pay.... so I don't feel as bad as I should.    Also, I used the money that I was rewarded through my credit card's reward program.  So, technically it was free money and therefore our family pass was free....

whew.  guilt gone.

(We will need to go 12 times to make the pass worthwhile.  And we have already gone 4!  score!)

While I'm on the topic of the public pools, I'd like to give a shout out to our local pool. 
(I think it continues to have a bad rap among certain people in our community.   And I just don't get it. )
My family has enjoyed the pool for several years.    My boys have participated in swim lessons (which are very cheap, btw), and we have enjoyed the afternoon swim times.  I feel very fortunate/blessed to live in a community that offers such a great facility at super affordable prices.
Please think of supporting your local parks and recreation department by participating in various aquatic programs.    
Or... just pay a few bucks to come and sit by the pool with me this summer. 
We'll be there atleast 8 more times... I'm sure of it.

the dvds

I'm sitting here looking at a box of old camcorder tapes that I recently had transferred onto DVDs.   The DVDs are ready for viewing.   I'm super excited, totally glad to have them in easy-to-view format yet REALLY intimidated by the fact that I should probably, actually, watch them.
I was telling our barber lady that I know that I have a video of her giving Daniel his first hair cut.  And I know I will love to watch it. 
When I watch it.

I haven't seen any of our videos since Thayer died.  
Well... I did watch our wedding video on one of our anniversaries... and that went..... as to be expected.

So... our family videos.  I know they will be cute.  I know they will be funny.  I know that the kids will enjoy seeing themselves.
And I know I will cry.

Not that I even expect to see that much of Thayer in the videos.
(because you know how it goes... you fill 30 minutes of footage recording your first child's nap, or something equally exciting). 
I'm just pretty sure that seeing my little family from years ago will be emotional.  And especially whatever footage of Thayer.
And hearing his voice.
  gulp!

Tonight, I asked the kids if they wanted to throw in one of the DVDs. 
Daniel said "sure"... and I reached for the box. 
Lucas said "no".... and a stream of relief flooded over me.   
I knew that I'd be safe with another evening of Bear Grylls.

Those DVDs will sit here and taunt me until I just dive in one day soon.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Speaking of Bear Grylls.... I just read his bio and saw that his sons' names are Jesse, Marmaduke and Huckleberry.    Those. are. awesome.
:-)

it's beginning

Summer life has arrived.   (please, no mean comments about how much you hate me)
I enjoyed a super duper cabining trip with my friends this past weekend and jumped right in to 'summer' today with my boys.
We had grand plans to hit the local pool but we awoke to rain and cloudy skies.

Both boys asked to go to the barber shop!!! They are amazingly cute (as always)... but there is now a bonus of actually seeing their faces! :-)  

After their time at the barber shop we made a huge trek to walmart and target to stock up on food and supplies.  I intend to eat at home this summer.  Well, mostly at home.

With the pool on their minds all day, the boys convinced me to take them swimming at 3pm.   I managed to sit in my bathing suit, covered by a towel and watch my boys swim.... in the rain.  They had a blast.
Home for a dinner of Nachos and a few episodes of Man Vs. Wild.  
Off to bed early so I could appease my facebook and blogging addiction. 
All in all a great day.

on being 35

Well, it's safe to say that there was no drastic change between the ages of 34 and 35.  Today started off well great as my boys served me breakfast in bed and designed a chalk birthday wish in the driveway.  

The best gift was that they came up with these ideas on their own!  
I love having capable, creative kids!

I was also surprised by visits, phone calls, cards, and fun phone messages.  Thanks to everyone who made me feel loved on my birthday :)

Another birthday gift was watching Lucas finally having his cast removed.   The past six weeks have been long weeks.  He has missed field trips, family trips and pool parties.
Yesterday was the last day of school and I am SO glad that he can start summer off with two arms that can swim.
The cast removal was much worse than I had imagined.   His arm was very sore and creepy feeling from being immobile for so long.     Fortunately after my birthday dinner, and nice soak in the tub, he was feeling better.    His next goal will be to regain some muscle and movement in his arm.

Anywho.
Summer has officially begun!     There are no vacation plans on the calendar, but I am slowly adding various day trips to the mix and I'm looking forward to visiting with some friends near and far.

from the ashes

I was out with some of my 'widow friends' tonight.  (I know we should come up with a happier name for ourselves...and make t-shirts... or get matching tattoos... or something...)
We attempt to get together every month, and usually the attendees vary by month.
Tonight, five of us managed to stroll around downtown and discover some new places. 

On the way home, I was trying to wrap my head around our little group.    I was feeling blessed in the fact that God has placed each of these women in my life.  
We are an eclectic group. 
I'm sure they would all agree that we never would have met each other if our husbands were still living.
God brought us together through terrible circumstances.  Yet my life if richer and blessed through these women.    Several of them have become staples in my life.

Dare I say that this is something good that has come from death?

I remember when Thayer died, I told myself that God would make something good come out of it all.  I had no idea how He was going to pull that off.  Because nothing can be good about losing a husband and father.

I know that as time passes and as good things, and blessings, unfold in our lives it will be hard to process.  
Having Thayer here and alive sounds like the best possible scenario.  But since that's not happening... I need to lean on the fact that God does have a plan for us.    I want to notice... and be encouraged... when I see God working in the little details of our lives.

Tonight I am thankful for the friendships that have sprung from the ashes...