A fragmented post

One of the happiest moments of my day...



Watch more of Maya's violin lesson here.

Some other happy moments...

Arriving to work early after an eerily calm morning... without rushing. Early enough even for a rare visit to the Starbucks drive-through.

A couple of my little violinist girls were patient enough (and happened to have good enough timing) to feel some surprisingly powerful Sophia/Ian kicks while I tuned their violins.

Hearing my beginner strings class celebrate so enthusiastically as we attempted each new song in their books today.... "Pepperoni Pizza," "Hot Cross Buns," and "Au Claire de la lune."

Dinner at 6:00 with Ryan and Maya...and the sun was STILL shining. hope. spring.

Cookie dough ice cream.




For me today, life and beautiful things kept happening...but part of me felt like everything should stop. Mostly, it was a very heavy day. And I haven't really allowed myself to feel the full weight of it. It just isn't something my mind can process, but I'm aching still.

My school day ended in a circle on the floor with my fourth graders, listening to another teacher carefully explain to the class why a Grandma had come to get one of their friends earlier in the day. She came to bring her home and to tell her that her father (who had just celebrated his 41st birthday with her yesterday) suddenly, without any explanation (so far) or any warning had died this morning at work.

As Ryan and I sang and tucked our Maya into her bed tonight, I couldn't stop thinking of my little red-headed girl who won't have her daddy tuck her in tonight or ever. And who never imagined that this could be what today would bring.

I love this little girl so much. Maya adores her too. She plays with her while she waits for her violin lesson to start each week. I will miss hearing her play Boccherini's famous Minuet tomorrow. I hope she is sleeping now.

Finally, a birthday dinner...

....to celebrate Mom (Corbin's) birthday. It was really on the 8th. But the snow kept foiling our plans to celebrate with dinner. We'll never repay her for the 101 meals she cooks for us every year, but her birthday is a good chance to catch up a little.

After dinner, we went upstairs to visit with the other birthday guests (via our Mac).

And Maya ran wildly back and forth between the bedrooms as Nana and Papa entertained her with puppets!

have you seen...

...ryan's new posts?

He's been 'blogging' all weekend...just not on his blog. You'll have to visit our new mac page.

We're happy to be home today. I love snow. Especially when it gives me an extra long weekend.

Today at breakfast...
Maya: Sheep who?
Me: What, Maya? What do you mean? Sheep?
Maya: (patiently explaining again) Momma. Knock-Knock.
Me: Oh!! Who's there?
Maya: Sheep.
Me: Sheep who?
Maya: Cow.

She learned this new concept of 'knock-knock' jokes from her friend Ryan (also known as "Ry-rhine"), but I haven't heard one in a few days so I wasn't expecting it.

Maya: Door. Knock-knock.
Me: Who's there?
Maya: No-No
Me: No-no who?
Maya: No-AH! (erupting into giggles)

Later...at lunch.

Me: Maya, you should tell Daddy one of your "Knock-knock jokes"
Maya: knock-knock
Daddy: who's there?
Maya: Ry-rhine
Daddy: Ryan who?
Maya: No-AH! (running away to hide her proud smile by burying her head in the couch cushions)

sorry i'm so slow chris o.

So, my friend Chris (who has always been one of the friends I most enjoy conversations with and one of the smartest people I went to high school with) tagged me to post this book survey thing....a while ago. I was very flattered. But not sure I could live up to his expectations... Despite my anxiety and procrastination, here it is...

01. One book that changed your life
Hm... I think I have to pick two...or twelve. Okay, just two.
First. Traveling Mercies, by Anne Lamotte
I don't think I'd even put this one on my top ten list of favorites, but it did change me.
I read it during the summer after my freshman year of college at Cedarville University. (And though now I find that after reading too much of her 'voice' I'm exhausted and annoyed by her cynicism and obnoxious ranting)...for me then, at that point in my life...her stories painted a really beautiful picture of Christianity that wasn't so...white and conservative and narrow...predictable and based on following rules and fitting a certain mold.
It helped me to see a far bigger picture of The Church...and it was surprising and refreshing and exciting.

Second. Walking on Water, by Madeleine L'Engle.
I've quoted her already here.
"...chronology will teach me how to be more aware, open, unafraid to be vulnerable, involved, committed, to accept disagreement without feeling threatened (repeat and underline this one), to understand that I cannot take myself seriously until I stop taking myself seriously--to be, in fact, a true adult.
To be." -Madeleine L'Engle

My forever struggle of finding (or accepting...or continuing toward) my 'place' as an artist, a musician, a wife, a mother, a follower of Christ...feeling mediocre and disappointed sometimes...those feelings were validated in her words. And yet her wisdom and honesty made me feel more content somehow...inspired and motivated...yet also at peace. Even her fiction makes feel more hopeful about the world.



02. One book that you’ve read more than once
Several of Jane Austen's novels.

03. One book you’d want on a desert island
I think I'm gonna have to steal the survival book idea too. It just seems wise.

04. Two books that made you laugh
Bridget Jones Diary. I laughed out loud often.
Russel the Sheep, Go to Sleep. We read it every night for a month, but it was still sad to give it back to the library last week.

05. One book that made you cry
A Severe Mercy. My favorite book last fall. Ryan even started reading it too, just because he loves me.

06. One book that you wish had been written
I wish I'd been journaling more during this pregnancy. When Sophie (or Ian) gets old enough to see the inequality of my two pregnancy journals...I'll have some explaining to do.

07. One book that you wish had never been written
hm... ?

08. Two books you're currently reading
Reading Lolita in Tehran
Out of the Silent Planet

09. One book you’ve been meaning to read
Some of C.S. Lewis that I haven't read yet.
Harry Potter.
War and Peace.
and so many classics...

(with no pressure, of course...it took me about two months to follow through on this assignment) I tag...
Rachel Beach and Katie Rose and my mom (maybe she'll actually start blogging again! I know you've been reading some good books, Mom.)