Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Happy New Year

And, without further ado, here are our Christmas Eve pictures. Sigh.

Here is Rose #2, as a Heavenly Host. When asked what a heavenly host was, all I could come up with was Angel!! Doesn't she look like one?


And here are Roses #1 and #2 together. Rose #1 was a little shepherd. I LOVE her headdress.
And here is the group of family that came to the pageant on Christmas Eve. Left to right: H, me, Poppy, Aunt Boo, Uncle Eli, Aunt Brenna. Second row: Rose #2, Guppy, Rose #1, and in the very front, Rose #3 (who is looking forward to being a CHERUB next year).

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Holidazzle and Face Paints

We went to a firm marketing event on Friday night, and they had a SERIOUS face painter there! Here is Rose #3. It is hard to see but her design was a pony. She was VERY shy at the event (snort!). Actually, she has not a shy bone in her body. She is constantly introducting herself to everyone, hugging random people, and smiling like crazy. Maybe she needs to learn a few inhibitions? Anyway, here she is in her face painted glory:


Rose #2 was obviously a butterfly. Today when I was cooking she was sitting across the table from me and reading everything in sight. She read from a ketchup bottle: "Only the best tomatoes for only the best ketchup." All by herself! Great job Rose #2!


And Rose #1...wait for it...Darth Maul! Yeah!




Thursday, December 10, 2009

It Is -15 Wind Chill...Let's Go Swimming!

This is a note I found when I was cleaning up random stacks of paper in the dining room:


It's Time To Go To The Swimming Pool [At] 1:00. [Can] We Go Too (sic) The Swimming Pool Plees (sic)? Love, [Rose #2]

Well, after such a heartfelt plea and an earnest note, wouldn't you go?

Monday, December 7, 2009

What Are You Waiting For?

That was the title of our sermon on Sunday. Sunday was a rare occasion where I am permitted the opportunity to go to service with Rose #1. Normally, often, I am teaching Rose #3's Sunday School class. (Montessori style teaching through stories and play for 3- and 4-year-olds!) But I was not on the teaching calendar, so I got to attend service.

Rose #1 needs to learn to sit still better. Just sayin'.

Anyway, after singing the older kids out to their Sunday School lessons, we listened to the sermon. The message - I think - was that we as liberal religious people need to move beyond a theoretical and academic interest in causes. Our minister said that we are great at advocacy, but terrible at being with people in need. That we need to redefine the bottom line - in this country, in our lives. The bottom line needs to be human compassion. Education. Community.

Oh, how I believe it. Most people would. So why is the world so unlike what we dream and wish it could be? Why is the message in church the same each week, and nothing changes? Why am I thinking about these things, musing about them, when a few months ago I would have barely had time to stop to even listen to the sermon?