BIG Day!

Today is THE day, what I mean by that is at precisely 2:30 we will be in the midst of our first homestudy. YAY! This is where the process gets exciting. This meeting (to take place in Cedar Rapids) will be approx 3 hours long! In another week or so our social worker (SW) will be coming out to camp to evaluate whether the spiders are a real issue for adoptive parents. After that, we get our dossier paperwork done and then we wait. And the next thing to come to us will be news of our children. AHHHHH. So excited!

This Saturday we went to Iowa City and met up with some friends we met at our PAC. One couple lives in Johnston, the other in Iowa City. It was great to see them again. It would be so neat to travel to Ethiopia with them.

My friend from our online forum, Erica, is official waiting. Follow her story at www.sweetpeasandsunshine.blogspot.com it is so exciting for them!

Other than that, we continue to hammer on. I'm picking up more and more clients. My boot camp class out at camp is supposed to start next week as well so that's also exciting.

In sad news, my tonsils are again swelling. Looks like I might go under the knife again soon. :( Boo. We'll see

Anyway, hope all is well. I will report again after our HS!!! We're coming babies, we're coming!

Trysten Domination at Tic-Tac-Toe

Not much new to report, but had to make mention that we (the family) are sitting in our favorite coffee shop in Downtown Davenport. Trysten says, "Dad, will you play tic-tac-toe with me?" "Sure, Trysten" Zach says. 2 Seconds later "I WON I WON I WON". Now, keep in mind, Trysten's favorite game is "I won" and he says it wheter that's true or not. So I look at Zach and he says, "Wow, he actually genuinely beat me." I felt both excited for Trysten and embarrased for Zach. And the man calls himself a competitor.

Trysten also starts soccer tomorrow. One might ask who the coaches are. Well, I'll tell you, Zach and myself. Parenthood has officially started when we are coaching our children in sports. In just a few years I will also join the PTA. My 10 year plan now consists of PTAs, coaching, escorting and mini vans. Well maybe not the latter but certainly everything else.

Relaxing weekend ahead of us. Sunday will find us at the circus and the ladies heading out to see Nanny Diaries. Shall be fun. Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone!

Catching up

So it's been a long time coming, this blog. Unfortunately I have lots to say and limited amounts of time. I'm hoping one day in the VERY NEAR FUTURE we will be coming of age out at Camp Abe Lincoln and getting what some folks call "the intranet" until then, I'm down in my mom-in-laws sewing room for the zillionth day in a row with a 1 yr old talking on my phone and pulling at my pantleg. Ah the joys of motherhood.

So life has been great, really. This past weekend we spent a long 4 days at the lake with friends. It was so awesome and we made some fantastic memories, and I took some pretty great pictures, if I do say so myself.

The kids are wonderful. Miss Dailah is building her word library and can now talk and grunt with surpising clarity, she must get that from me. She is also FINALLY standing on her own (for a short while) so perhaps it's not too soon to say she MIGHT be walking by Christmas?

Trysten continues to love life and make me smile constantly. He starts preschool next week so that will be good for him as he just can't get enough interaction with his old mom it seems.

I have started personal training officially. It's going well and I'm enjoying just having a few hours of "work" a week. Still love hanging with the kids more often than not though.

AND THE ADOPTION!!! Looks like we might have our first homestudy appointment this Tuesday. Woohoo! So obviously my goal of being on the waiting list by September is not happening but can we hope October? We shall see!

Life is flying by and I couldn't be more in love with my life, my loves, my family and friends. I'm even getting used to the spiders in my house, though that does not hold me back from going medieval on their asses from time to time.

That's all for now me thinks, I promise (mom) I'll have pictures soon!

Rest In Peace, Grandma D

The kids and I took off to Altoona yesterday to go to the famous Iowa State Fair (quite the perk when you're a SAHM, you can come and go as you please) with my parents and brother. It was a wonderful time of food, people watching, biggest-you-name-its and fun. The kids enjoyed the food, though Dailah enjoyed it too much as shown by her vomitting in the car on the ride home, and I enjoyed showing them all the cool things the fair has to offer; including the butter cow and butter Harry Potter!

On our way to the car after the fair my dad's phone rang. It was late, about 9:30ish so my mom said it was weird someone was calling that late. As noticed in an earlier post, my Grandma Dawson is 95 and her health has been steadily declining for some time. So before my dad even took his phone out of his pocket he said, "I bet it's Uncle Larry (his brother) calling to say mom died." Sure enough, it was. My Grandma Mary Dawson passed away last night. She was old, no doubt, suffering from Alzheimers and various other things. Doctors have been saying she was dying for about 5 years so last night put us in a weird state of consciousness. I felt like I had been there before, but I hadn't. I think the hardest part was seeing my dad. Of course he had known it was coming, but he still lost his mom. I don't want to put myself in his shoes. Plus, we found out she died alone, which is ultimately one of the worst things we can hear of a loved one.

I love finding comfort knowing she's restored to the old Grandma D (maybe a teensy bit nicer?). I love picturing her ascend into heaven and have an awesome reunion with my Grandpa, who died 20 years ago. These are all beautiful things, that she gets her reward for her lifetime of service to Him. These are all reasons to be happy, and I really truly am. Just a bit sad maybe.

On a lighter note, it is my favorite hubby and my 5 year anniversary today. I'll hopefully post on this soon but I must make a note and say that these past 5 years have been the absolute happiest I've ever been. Thank you, dearest Zachary, for being the absolute best person in the world and for loving me despite myself. Can't wait for the next 75! Love you hons.

Ode to Joy

So my days have been going so quickly! I must admit, I have always been hesitant about the stay-at-home-mom life. Hesitant meaning I just didn't think it was for me. But alas, it is and I'm LOVING it! Perhaps the only thing that could make it better was if a) my washer and dryer were hooked up, b) our water wasn't chlorine again or c) we had internet at home. I'm hoping all three of those will come in the next few months! :)

Not much new to report, really. I've been waiting for our SW to call regarding setting up our first homestudy appointments. Supposedly it was to happen a week after homework was turned in (we turned ours in a week and a half ago, but who's counting?) So I had my adorable hubby call. THEY WERE CALLING MY OLD CELL PHONE!!!! AHHHH. I'm hoping to hear from them TODAY on the new phone when our first meeting is.

Anyway, off to cook some lunch. Have to get the house ready because our lawyer/notary/friend is coming over to do the dirty deed that is making a will. Oh the good stuff!

SAHM = The Awesomest

So I am enjoying being a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) more than I ever thought I would. I commented to my sister-in-law that time goes by so quickly when you're playing with your kids! AMAZING! I love that I'm feeling like I get to play with them more rather than "just" raising them, I have more time for interaction and things like that. Instead of a sprint to the door; take off your shoes, sit down at the table, get in the bath, get in bed, I get to fingerpaint, go on walks, go the farmer's market. It's great! I think I can speak for both kids by saying we are all enjoying ourselves tremendously!

Still waiting to hear from our social worker. It's been exactly one week and one day since we turned in our homework and no word! I am hoping we'll hear Monday! I'm ready to get the homestudy process underway!

I am now Strength and Conditioning and Group Exercise certified for the Y. I go on Tuesday to sign some papers and figure out when I want to work and which classes. This fall I will be teaching an Outdoor Pilates class and a Bootcamp class out at Camp which will be really great. I'm really looking forward to it.

Hopefully next post I'll have some pictures, quite bizarre having no time for internet! Thanks for tuning in!

Homework, Check; Last day, Check!

So exciting stuff in life. This morning I woke up knowing it would be my last day (for awhile, at least) putting on a suit and high heels. It would be my last day throwing breakfast at the kids while running out of the door. It would, in fact, be my last day at Estes. Ahh, this is what it feels like to breath. So pleased am I!

Perhaps better than that? WE FINISHED OUR ADOPTION HOMEWORK!!!!!!!!! I am SO excited about this. Just dropped it in the mail, actually. It should arrive at the CHSFS offices tomorrow. Either Monday or Tuesday we should be hearing from our Social Worker out of Cedar Rapids. We will set up our first homestudy appointment that will take place in the CR offices. Since we are both fairly flexible with our schedules, that should be fairly soon! After that is complete, we book our 2nd (and hopefully, final) homestudy appointment. I'm hoping to get homestudies done by the 3rd week in August. This would mean it is feasible to get our dossier paperwork in by September. Go baby go!

It might be a couple days before my next post, camp isn't hooked up with what one might call "quick internet" yet so I will have to be heading to coffee shops with wireless with the kids in tow. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Prayers for MN

Again with the eyes!

This is what we call Dailah's "crazy face".

Seriously.

My brother, myself and my two kids all on one tube, AMAZING.

Trysten after his first attempt at skiing.

Trysten decided he wanted to try skiing. My brother was so kind to get all his skiis, life jackets, etc on and once all gear was on, Trysten decided he'd take baby steps and be done for now. Perhaps next time he might just get in the water?

So I got to work today and heard about the bridge collapse in MN (we still don't have our TV hooked up at Camp so I'm a bit behind with news). As most know, this is where our adoption agency is, actually just a few miles from that bridge. I was relieved to hear most of my forum friends are accounted for, but we are still waiting to hear how the staff at CHSFS fares. I am praying for, of course, all of my forum friends and CHSFS staff, but also everyone directly or indirectly affected by it all. What a horrific experience! Please keep them in your prayers as well.

On a lighter note, my dearest daughter takes after her brother in more than one way...her first official word (after momma, dadda) is "ball". We were playing water basketball in the pool the other day and she said it! It was pretty cute and reminds me oh so much of her brother. I'd be lying if I said Zach and I didn't take it as the smallest of hints that they'll be superstars in all things athletic. No pressure there, right? (And for those that don't know, I truly am being at least a good portion, sarcastic.)

Anyway, blessings to you all. May you turn to the ones you love and tell/show them just how much you love them today and every day. Thanks for tuning in.

2 More Days and 42 Spiders

Trysten is notorious for picking flowers/weeds, sometimes from other people's gardens, to give to me. That yellow flower in my ear is one such example. But look how happy we both are!

My baby boy looks so big in this picture!

Told you I can't find a picture when she's not eating! Looks like she loves my mom's potato salad ALMOST as much as her mom.

This was Trysten's idea of dessert. That is a chocolate donut on top of a cookie. I say, as long as it's not going straight to his hips, why not? I'd do it if I could.

Look at the things people come up with. A water totter? BRILLIANT I say!

AWWWWWWWWW.

2 more days of work. Hard to believe, really. I've been looking forward to that day for so long I still feel like I'm going to come Friday and someone is going to tell me I have another year to go. I was reflecting today as I walked in, box in hand, that there really is going to be a few things I miss about working here. I'll miss my colleague, Kathryn, who made lots of otherwise boring/misearble situations, bearable. I'll miss working downtown. I'll miss walking through the doors and seeing patrons of the coffee shop starting their mornings with me. I'll miss surfing the internet so frequently (ha!). I will miss being out in the community as often and getting a first glimpse into what new attractions and buildings were going up around the QC.

But I'll get to spend lots of time with the people shown above and really, I couldn't ask for more. Today as I was walking up to the Lodge to do some laundry (our washer and dryer have yet to be hooked up at camp) with my favorite son and I realized this was going to be an every day occurence. I wouldn't have to wake up at the butt crack of dawn to get our unmentionables out of the laundry, I'll be able to wait until a decent hour! I'll be able to cook them a fine lunch of spagettios and mac and cheese (yes, I have no doubt I'll resort to that once in awhile) and will have more time to make interesting dinners. I'll be able to read to the kids and go on walks with them. I'll be able to donate more time and effort to various non-profits I enjoy working with. And I'll get to do some personal training, watching people reach their fitness potential. I can't say enough how excited I am. Oh yeah, and I'll get to go to coffee shops with my sis-in-law and nephews. (Zach, you KNEW I couldn't leave that one out!)

15 Spiders Down, Unimaginable Amounts To Go

So I gave my notice last Wednesday. I offered 30 days, but they took 2 weeks. Well, they took 2 weeks but told me I could be done in the office THIS FRIDAY. What that basically means is that on Monday of next week, just 7 days from now, I will be enjoying a lingering cup of coffee on my front porch while my kids chase bugs and balls around our yard. In just 7 days, our kids won't be going to daycare and I will get to remember what it's like to intimately know my kids on a minute-by-minute basis 24/7. This could not be more exciting to me.

And in just 2 days the 1st will come and go and no mortgage payment will be mailed. Let's say it with me, AMAZING. The woes of camp life are quite insignificant when you think of all the strings God pulled to get us where we're at. It's glorious.

This weekend will have me getting my Personal Training certifcations. From 8-5:30 both days I will be hard at it. Though tiring and perhaps tedious, it will be worth it!

So yesterday's message at church was about forgiveness. What an awesome concept and one we as humans tend to fall short on. I applaud myself for being halfway decent about this. I can't remember the last time I held a grudge for too long. But I also realize I'm not near as good at this as the Big Man Himself. Can you imagine all He's forgiven us for? It's such a humbling thought to think I just forgave my husband for putting his nasty, crusty socks right next to the clean pile of clothes. Oh happy perspective! I will continue working on the little bouts of forgiveness I do on a daily basis so that perhaps if there ever is a time when I am asked to fork over a large pot of forgiveness, I will be well trained.

And the adoption is progressing. I, of course, finished my homework and am now waiting (im)patiently for my favorite husband to finish. He only has a few more questions so I'm (forcing) encouraging him to keep up the good work. :) I am excited to turn that in and get started on our homestudy! I am hoping to be completed with our homestudy not too long after courts reopen in Ethiopia. Pipe dream? Perhaps. Still counting on it? Absofreakinlutely.

Unil then, enjoy some pictures.

This is a picture of some of our wonderful friends on the fourth. Though my husband appears to be in love with the other guy, Greg, in that arc of love, they are actually terrific heterosexual lifemates. His wife and I appear to be holding hands.

Seriously, could this face BE any more perfect?

How many grandpa's do you know who WEAR their grandchildren? Not many, but not many are as good at my father-in-law either.

Hard to find a picture where the girl isn't eating, hasn't just eaten, or doesn't have food leftover on her persons from the last time she's eaten.

Now can you see why I'm pumped to spend so much time with these people?

John + Tesi = Lawn Domination

Without further ado, here are the pictures of my friend, John, and my successful domination of our yard. As noticed in a previous post, the yard had been forgotten for a few weeks and it took John to come out and help me get it under control. For about 3 hours we were cutting, raking, trimming and drinking. Only the latter could be considered fun. Here are a few pictures. I assure you, the crater pictured below has been filled in and you can't even notice it now. For details about our exursion, check the older posts.

You are 1 Today

--One year ago today you were born. Born early, but beautiful. I was so scared I would lose you, but you are here! I labored with your daddy for awhile, got some yummy pain medicine and brought in the female troops. Your Grandma Connie, Auntie Leslie and Aunt Kait joined your daddy and me in the Red Tent to welcome the newest female Klipsch. So much love for you in that little room!

--One year ago I gained a daughter; another child to love, a girl whose hair I can braid. I'll teach you about boys, your periods, shaving your legs (hopefully with more regularity than your mom). I'll teach you other stuff too, like how to be the only girl on the soccer team or the baseball team, how to chew sunflower seeds, how to bat your eyelashes at your daddy when you REALLY want that piece of candy (okay, so HE'LL be teaching you how to do that to ME). We'll get manis and pedis together and delight in the joys of being women. We'll read great books and discuss the philosphocal ramifactions of it all, the oppression of races and sexes and all the good stuff.

--One year ago today you were whisked from my arms and placed in an incubator. I wasn't allowed to hold you for 24 hours. To this day, those were the toughest 24 hours of my life. You were so little and I knew you needed me the way I needed you, but the doctors didn't trust you would thrive in that condition. 25 hours later you were in my arms and all your stats went right, they went normal; showing them the bond between a woman and her baby is so much stronger than any oxygen tank sometimes. I hope I will always be a source of oxygen for you, a place to clear your head and just feel safe and happy.

--Today you are alive and thriving. You giggle and slurp. You talk and laugh. You crawl and pull yourself to standing. You have rolls on your thighs and the most beautiful eyes. You cry when I drop you off at daycare and come crawling at record breaking speed when I come pick you up. You are life and you are joy.

--Today you are a daughter to your parents and a sister to your brother. You take these roles very seriously and seem happiest when it's just the 4 of us. You take comfort in comfortable surroundings but are adapt at exploring new and wonderful things.

There is so much more I could write about you dear daughter. Today, like a year ago, I praise God for the blessing that you are and have always been to me and to the family. You are a miracle and there will never be a day that I don't thank God for His blessings that have rained down in abundance since you entered my life. Though our family may grow, you will always be my baby girl, my sweet, sweet Dailah. Happy 1st birthday, angel.

Word Feast

So to start off where I left off....last week was both the best of times and worst of times. Monday I woke up with a bit of a sore throat, no big deal I told myself. Well Tuesday I woke up and didn't want to swallow, talk or eat (which is perhaps the biggest indicator of something amiss). So I went to the doc and was diagnosed with tonsillitis. For some reason things went from bad to worse and I don't remember much of Tuesday and Wednesday. What I do remember is asking myself why in God's name I'm throwing up when I have tonsillitis? Who knows but it's safe to say I wasn't completely normal until Fridayish.

So Wednesday night we took off for Des Moines as a pit stop to our PAC in MN. Thursday early we took off! We got to MN, tried to check into our hotel (not until 3, whoops!) and ran to KFC before the fun began at 12:30. When we pulled up to CHSFS offices we were amazed at how nice they were! Not that we were expecting a hole in the wall, but it was beautiful. So this reassured us that we picked a good place. We were thrust into our small groups right away. Come to find, our small group consisted of 2 other groups from Iowa (an Ankeny and an Iowa City, both of which are adopting from Ethiopia). Yay! The other two families were from MN and looking at the same place as well (Russia, Uzbekistan). So anyway, it was a really great small group and we had a great time. I really can't say enough about these classes. Perhaps the best part was seeing Zach feel more and more excited/reassured that the process goes (somewhat) according to plan. For the most part I have been the one doing research, etc, and relaying it back to him so it was his turn to learn all of what I already knew. Plus, they discussed issues such as transracial/cultural adoption, attachment, etc. It was eye opening and discussion inducing and GLORIOUS!!! So we were SO happy that CHSFS requires this as part of their process. We also got to hear about the Ethiopia program for about 1hr+. It was great hearing from the head of the Ethiopia program (and Ethiopian adopter herself, 4 times over!)

Not to mention my husband and I got some good alone time! The classes ended at about 8:30 on Thursday so we went and checked into the hotel and then went to go find a few drinks to bring back. NOPE! Silly MN doesn't sell alcohol past 9, that is the weirdest thing I've ever heard. Anyway, we had fun liquorless anyway!

Friday we went and met my mom and the kiddos at the lake. Ended up staying there that night just to recoup. Saturday AM we made a pit stop at the big mall to purchase an Apple laptop. Zach's eyes are my weakness, I tell you that much. The thing is awesome and I can't complain because Zach has started his homework already. We got home, I packed, Zach went golfing with the guys from our small group. Sunday found me and the kids at church and small group, Zach packing and back to work. Me packing and packing and packing some more.

Yesterday was MOVING DAY!!!! We are pretty much all moved into Camp. It was dirtier then I expected and not quite ready for us but we're there nonetheless. Stayed up late unpacking the kitchen. Felt good. I've started a count. Spiders killed: 4, Spiders seen: 22million (approx). But it's nice to be in the house, even if it was hard to find my unmentionables today. And perhaps most important that happened yesterday? I FINISHED HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. It was great, I was happy and I can't wait until the movie. I feel as though these people are my friends, that says a lot about me and I'm not sure anyone else BUT me will think it's all good things. :)

So.....with regards to the adoption. Now we complete "homework" which is basically 6-10 pages of an autobiography for both Zach and myself. As I said, Zach's started his, me not so much. I'll be doing that at work the next couple of days. :) Mine should go pretty quickly because, as noticed, I have no problems writing about myself and the people/things I'm passionate about. :) After we send that to our agency, our social worker calls and sets up our first homestudy, which will probably take place a few weeks after completed homework. So this is moving along now! Though a HUGE part of me hesitates to bring her within 5 feet of the camp house yet, I know she's looking more at the love in the house then the actual bricks and mortar, but still...

Anyway, things are well. Have to make a mad dash to Target today. Not that it wasn't interesting showering with no curtain today, but just in case one of the camp counselors decides to get his jollies from watching my make-upless, stretched-out-from-two-babies butt shower, I think I'll pick up a curtain for tomorrow. :) Until then, hope you are all well and happy!

Fun at the Lake

Turns out Dailah eats...a lot, all the time and anything. It's glorious. As shown in the picture it makes her very, very happy!

Trysten's favorite part of the lake, with his Papa John.

Do those blues need explaining?

I posted this for 2 reasons. 1) Dailah is smiling through her paci and I think it's hilarious when she does and 2) with the shadow it looks like I have defined deltoids (which I don't) but the shameless part of me pretends I do.

Me with the brave kids on the tubes.

Picture Post

Ok, my next post will be all words, so I'll get the pictures taken care of now (sorry, John, our lawn ones will come when we set up the computer, I promise!).

Trysten and Dailah at Adventureland, she really is happy, I promise!

T & D with my parents, pretty pic, eh?

Kids on the train with my gorgeous sister.

Who is missing in this picture? TRYSTEN! Why? Because he's taking it of course! Not too bad, if I do say so myself. Sister is so happy to see you big brother!

Reunited!

My reunion with my kids was even better than I imagined. It felt so good in my innermost being to hold them again! Truth be told we haven't let each other go for very long since. The weekend at the lake was excellent. Quite relaxing as it brought just my family and my aunt and uncle, probably the lowest showing we've had in awhile! Still got some good fun in the sun and family bonding time though!

So today marks exactly one week until we are living in an entirely different house. It shouldn't be as weird to me as it is considering we've lived 3 different places in 4 years, but it is quite odd, really. Truth be told I LOVE the house we're in now. It is a house I had mentally imagined us in for at least 10 years when we originally bought it (would have been 2 years in September). So perhaps that is why I'm stumbling a bit in picturing me living at camp.

Well that, and the fact that I'm more the kind of person who hates bugs, tics and all things nature-esque unless I'm hiking/driving through them. Hard to imagine I'll be living amongst them and they will be my people. And only half of the house is done presently so 4 of us will live in 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and a kitchen; not unpossible but certainly not ideal for me! :)

Don't read this as complaining, there are more positives to living at camp than I can name in one blog, I'm just coming to terms with my reality in a week. Give me 3 more weeks and I'll be singing koomba-freakin-ya and sleeping on a bed of money due to the lack of mortgage...or just saving that for the adoption.

Speaking of, 3 days and we're in MN learning about adoption. Woohoo! Can't wait to fill you all in. Until then, look tomorrow for a ridiculous amount of pictures from my kids week and John and my's successful domination of our yard.

I Miss My Kids!

Well it hit me...not that I haven't been missing them all week, but I've been keeping busy, doing things that are accomplished a lot easier without kids around. Today I get to see them in just 6ish hours. I can't wait! I miss their voices, their kisses, their smells! Oh I just miss hugging them, and talking to them, waking up with them and giving them baths. Two wonderful kids, I tell you, and they are all mine (oh, and my husband's). Can't wait to see them, even if they don't miss me as much as I miss them. :)

Last night I got a bit more packing done. Then my good friend, John Dengler came out to help me mow and do overall outside maintenence to the house. We worked from 7-10. Yes, you read that right, it was ridiculous. I think my neighbors were forming a coup against me, there was going to be an uprising to kick us out before the new people moved in. It had been THAT long since we mowed our grass. Not only that, but someone (cough, Zach, cough) had left what started out to be a freshly cut, fluffy pile of grass on our lawn with hopes of taking it to camp. 4 weeks later it was a heaping, heavy, smelly bag of compost that left a crater in our yard and a poo-smelling stench permeating the place. It was awful. The smell and soy sauce look alike stuff was getting on John and my hands and was creeping in our nostrils. It was gross. I have pictures of the ridiculous amounts of grass (since our regular mower was broke we had to use an OLD one that didn't have a mulcher, which meant raking too, FREAK!) and the aforementioned crater/heaping bag of poo. You'll have to wait until next week to see those, but you will want to because it's amazing.

Until then, hope you have a great weekend. I most assuredly will as it will include reuniting with me kiddies and fun at the lake!

Day 3, Check! And Harry Potter

Day 3 has come and gone and I'm still only slightly hysterical without the kids. Dan and Becky came back from Italy a few weeks ago and brought pasta and other yumminess with them. They made that for us last night and then went to Harry Potter with us. I got a bit of packing done beforehand and even took a load of clothes to camp. Dailah's now ready to be clothed should winter hit tomorrow at camp. :)

So Harry Potter was AMAZING. Being the book lover I am, I'm not going to mention the fact that the book was better (though it was). I am also a cinema major, so I can appreciate how hard it would be to cram a 1,000 page book into a 2hr30min movie. With that said, the movie both standing alone and compared to the book, was outstanding.

The cinemotography is getting better and better with each one, as is the acting from the various "young" actors. Overall, I was quite pleased with the whole thing. I would argue that even those who don't typically get a lot from the Potter series would really enjoy the film.

With that said, the movie reminded me of one of the reasons I love the books so much. It's just the themes of love, friendship and good versus evil. This movie really played into the fact that not much seperates Harry from Voldemort (the dark lord). As Dumbledore says in the final scene, it's not the similarities, it's the differences. I think that speaks to life as well. What both terrifies and excites me about the human race is that we are all so similar. While it excites me that there's not THAT big of a difference between myself and say, Mother Theresa; it also terrifies me that there's not THAT big of a difference between myself and say, Bin Laden. We are human, we at one point were probably held and kissed by our parents, we put our pants on the same, we all eat, we breathe, etc. The difference is our reaction to our situation in life.

How we choose to live our lives reflects the differences in humanity and THAT is where we can make our mark. Harry constantly chooses the path of love, friendship, goodness. This is because he believes in the goodness of the world even though he has seen so much darkness. What a beautiful testament to his character! This is what I hope to pass on to my kids. We will all experience darkeness, there is no way around that. Though I grieve the day my kids lose their innocence and realize there is bad in the world, I realize it's inevitable. I hope I am there to show them that there is still good, too. That they can CHOOSE to be that good when everything/one around them is choosing to be the bad. Though they may have darkness in them, because we all do, they can still CHOOSE the goodness. The darkness does not have to define them.

I love these ideas. One of my favorite lines spoken in the movie (can't remember if it was in the book) was when Sirius Black says something to the effect of, "Fear can make people do crazy things." Though that discussion is perhaps an entire blog in itself, I couldn't agree more. Look at the world we live in today, it's so fear based we have parents afraid of taking their kids on airplanes or to the pool or out in the sun. Arguably our country has perpetuated it in recent years so that it's slimed it's way down to everyone else. Fear-driven life is infinitely depressing. It can, in fact, make people and countries and things do crazy things. It can stop you from doing pleasurable, relatively harmless things. It can paralize and cripple. It is not a life I want to teach my kids or a life I want to live. Though fear creeps in dark corners of my world, I try on a daily basis not to let it overtake me and prohibit me from living a life God has given me. The only one I'll have. I'm trying to live the life as goodness, without fear. Some days are better than others, I think today is going to be a good day.

Day 2, Check!

I've made it. Only had one "replase" when I went into both of the kiddos rooms and just looked around. I think I'm doing fairly well actually. Last night I got SOO much packing done. Only one room (kitchen) left on the whole first two floors to go. The basement is pretty much complete so really I'm doing okay.

I even got to go out to eat with my in-laws last night and then go for a drink with my SIL, Leslie. If I've said it once, I've said it a million times, I am so blessed to have such great sisters and brothers! I love that Leslie and I are both vissionaries who want to make tomorrow's world just a bit better. We spent most of the night coming up with ways to revolutionize this little area of the world we live in. The Quad Cities is notorious for its inferiority complex, which is completely unjustified. It really is a fabulous place to live and has great things to offer, Leslie and I just want it to have even more. We see so much potential in this place! It almost seems like a blank slate for us, ready for two women to paint it red! Now if we could stop with the big ideas and get down to some plausible ideas.

Day 1, Check!

So I made it through a whole day without me kiddies. Who else is proud of me? Was a good day (we won't count normal workday since I'm usually not with them anyway). When I got home I did some packing, yes, I know, go me....Then we got some Casey's pizza with our friends Dan and Becky and decided to have a game night. Becky and I were dominating until the boys came from out of nowhere to beat us. Was horribly depressing, I think we need a rematch.

The kids had fun going to the new Science Center in Des Moines and Trysten so far only sounds excited to hear my voice for a brief second. He paused a couple times today so he could hear a funny part on Ice Age, I think they are surviving without me. Even Dailah, ever the mommy's girl, isn't screaming my name. Both saddened and happy about that fact.