Weapons of Love

What you can see in this photo are Jack-Jack's weapons. He has a sword, a lightsaber, and a pistol. He takes them all very seriously. He hadn't yet put on the whistle he uses when he dresses like this. If you can't sort through the weaponry to draw the conclusion, he's a police officer.

What you can't see is the stuff he carries inside of him. His light, his thoughtfulness, his intelligence, and his amazing capacity to love. He loves EVERYONE. He talks to everyone, smiles, waves, and greets all people. I love that about him.

A week or so ago, we were at the grocery store. A very elderly woman was in line behind us. He was making eyes at her and she was smiling at him. He turned to me and asked, "What's his name is?" I said to the woman, "Ma'am, wants to know your name." She told us her name was Eunice. "Oh, HI, Eunice!" said my sweet little man. The look in her eyes told me that at that moment, he made her happy.

He makes me happy every day. Even when he's sassy. It's my prayer that he always uses all of his weapons for the better good. For his momma and all of humanity!

The Bright Side of Fall

For Julie

This is a really hard time of year for me.

I love fall. The colors are startling beautiful. I love fall desserts. I love the feeling of a warm fire and apple cider on a chilly day.

I also despise it. It's the last hurrah before it's bare branches and snowflakes. Actually, I don't mind the snowflakes. I just hate the cold. It's so hard to have two little rugrats who need to be bundled everywhere we go.

You know what? Never mind. I'm going to make the best of it. Here are the winter positives:

1. We can play outside. Jack is 2 1/2 and can really enjoy the outdoors this year!

2. They can kind of dress themselves. Yes, we'll have sloppy wet clothes, but I'm going to come up with a drying solution in my mud room. I've been blessed with a really great big room inside the garage that I can come up with a better system than we've had in the past.

3. I have an electric blanket. I'll be warm at night. :)

4. And before it comes, I get to enjoy Autumn. I'm not going to let the winter 'foliage sleeping' season to bring me down. It's my choice, right?

Happy weekend, everyone!

Apples

My sister-in-law Trista gave me these beauties from her tree this weekend. I have three new neighbors and now I have a great ingredient to whip them up some yummy treats to welcome them to the neighborhood.

When I explained to my sisters that couldn't make an desserts right now because my apple peeler/corer/slicer broke last fall, they all said they don't own one, either. They peel by hand. GASP!

Call me lazy or spoiled, but I'm heading over to the local hardware store to procure myself a little peeler/corer/slicer so I can make some apple crisp, for much less effort than my sisters. Peel away, ladies.

What's your favorite fall dessert?

Is Spectating a Sport?

Saturday we went to the Plymouth 5k. Krista and her hubby were running, and a bunch of other people I knew (including these two rock star Plymouth firefighters, Mike and Michael, who did it in fire gear). I thought it would be fun to go cheer them on. I've been to the Twin Cities marathon a few years and it's so great to watch! Those runners are such an inspiration and really appreciate the spectators cheering them on.

I will never run a marathon. I'm pretty sure that if I'm going 26.2 miles, I'm gonna drive there. I admire those with determination to do it, I'm just not one of them. I'll go down to the river and watch the marathoners, I'll give them the support they deserve. It's an achievement for athletes, and I hold them in high regard.

But I could run a 5k. I saw runners who were obviously struggling (and heard stories of some who were struggling, but it wasn't obvious), but they did it anyway. And 3.2 miles is nothing to sneeze at. It does take a measure of discipline to be able to complete it. I actually ran one once. I finished near the end with two elderly (and by elderly, I mean 70s...?) gentlemen who encouraged me the whole way. I don't remember my time, but I remember the feeling of accomplishment. And I want that again.

How about you? Do you run? Have you set a recent goal? Inspire me!

FINE!

Sheesh. Can't a girl take a Blogcation?

Seriously, I have a lot on my mind. I've just had a hard time putting it into words. I have several topics in mind, but I'll run with this one:

LOVE.

How do we actually 'love' others?

I have been thinking of this a lot. If I am to love my enemy (and I believe I am), how do I do that? First, I have to define my enemy. Who is that? Someone who threatens me physically? Then I guess we have to look at our global enemies, those who might take away our physical freedoms, right? I think that's the easiest way to define the word. Then how do we love them? Pray for them? Send good thoughts? Physically MOVE OUR BODIES INTO ACTION and help them? Julie just read a book called Three Cups of Tea, maybe she can share some of that here.

I think that's too easy, though, too literal. Who else do my enemies include? People who have hurt me? Sure. People who still hurt me? Yep. And when I dig deep into that well, there is where I see where I'm lacking in love. Without getting into politics again*, I will say that others' viewpoints have hurt me. And I know that's wrong. And unjust. But sometimes people, through their opinions alone, have caused me pain.

So...what have I been working on? Loving them for our differences. I just re-read Embraced by the Light (changed my life years ago and was as powerful this time), and I realize now that it doesn't really matter if we have differences. We're all on different spiritual journeys and they're supposed to be different. We're supposed to see things differently.

So sometimes, when I see a hateful status update, or a venomous blog entry, I need to learn to leave it alone. To pray for peace and happiness for that person or entity and move along. And don't feel those negative feelings towards them. It's counterproductive and, frankly, a waste of precious time. I don't think loving them means trying to convince them that I am right. I don't even think it means calling them out on their negativity (although I did that once or twice). I think it means loving them for exactly who they are. Even if I don't agree with it.

Mindi and I have mastered this. We've had lots of practice. Politically, we are classic Right and Left. We have a very hard time finding middle ground. But it's humbling how our relationship has changed, and grown, because of our love for each other. And our love for humanity, actually.

Who else, then, is our enemy? Anyone who challenges our emotional comfort? Anyone who takes more than they give? Anyone who makes poor decisions and makes others suffer for them? Anyone who makes us angry? Anyone whose lifestyle we do not condone?

And, most importantly, how do we love them?

*From now on, I'm going to try to keep my political conversations to facebook. Because it's as exciting (right, ladies?!) and there's no risk of anonymous posters. If you want to be my friend there, find me. I accept everyone.

There is nothing cuter than a four year old on his first day of preschool. These two are so stinkin' cute. I picked Grace up this morning, and spent the 10 minute car ride listening to them talk. CUTE!

(Discussing their "homework." They had to color an elephant their favorite color.)

Matthew: My elephant is green. I colored it all by myself.
Grace: Mine is a rainbow elephant.
Matthew: Brown isn't in the rainbow.
Grace: No one helped me either!
Matthew: Do you like my fancy shirt?
Grace: It's awesome. Do you like my shirt? My mom bought it at Penney's. Like her name.
Matthew: Yeah.
Grace: Do you like my pants?
Matthew: Yes.
Grace: Do you like my shoes?
Matthew: Yes, and I like your socks! Do you like my shoes?
Grace: They're awesome.

No, kids, YOU'RE awesome. Hope you have a great first day of school!