The way of the swan

When we looked toward Christmas this year, we also looked toward a week full of wedding and anniversary activities and celebrations. 

Last Friday, we attended the reception of our friends, Helen and John, who were married nine months ago, but delayed their formal reception until Helen's parents could come from China.

Today, Coty and I celebrate our 32nd anniversary. (Happy Anniversary, sweetheart.  I love you more every year!)  We are putting off our celebrating til things quiet down around here a little bit, because tonight ...

we attend the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner for our friends, Rick and Rachel, and tomorrow evening is their wedding.

Also, tomorrow our nephew Gray and his fiance, Sasha, are coming to visit from Virginia.  Coty will be officiating at their wedding next September and we are going to spend some with them going through some of the material that we normally use when we do premarital counseling with couples at our church.

Finally, on Sunday, New Year's Day, Thomas and Kay celebrate their first anniversary.

In honor of all of these special days and special people, a few lines from a poem I read recently:

"On the Marriage of friends" 

by Greg Delanty

So you have chosen the way of the swan ...

Did you know the life-coupling way

of the swan is also that of the crow?

And there'll be crow black days

you'll caw at each other with blind gusto.

But there'll be times when you'll sing

the duet of the black-collared barbet,

with the first part of the song sung

by one and the second by the mate.

We wish you now many such duet days

and sing for you like the red-eyed vireo

who sings nonstop through the summer blaze

on this day you take the way of the swan & crow.

*Please do click over to the links, if you want to know why the poet chose these particular birds.  If you're interested, I read the poem in a lovely little book called Bright Wings which is edited by Billy Collins and illustrated by David Allen Sibley.

A little birthday free verse ...

On this day 23 years ago

You entered the world

Late.

But once it was your time

You came at record speed

Scaring the midwives,

Scaring your daddy,

Making me focus on the task at hand

by relaxing while others 

did the worrying for me.

Cord around your neck,

Alice's expert hands

Helped you through,

and then oxygen blowing on your face

While I shivered uncontrollably

and ate Aunt Laura's goody balls,

Blankets heaped high.

If any of us had been prophets

at your birth,

Instead of greatly relieved,

and overjoyed

parents 

and helpers,

We would have said ...

"Thomas is here.

Let the fun begin."

sorry for the dark, fuzzy photo, but I just love the laughter and the expression on Thomas's face!

Happy 23rd birthday, Thomas.  

Thank you for all the fun, the laughter and excitement; for the way you love Kay and all the obvious intentional ways you show it; for the ways you love your family and your thoughtfulness and devotion; for reaching out to others -  organizing football games for younger kids, late night gas station Christmas parties, and so much more.  Thank you for the ways you have embraced and shared learning, for the ways you enrich the lives of the people you work with; for your insight and compassion, your hard work and your heart.

I'm a very thankful Mother - though I still think it's funny when you call me by that name!

I love you.

Hugs,

M

We wish you ...

OK, line up everybody.  That's hilarious, Kay.  

Where's Coty.  Stand there, Thomas ...

Hold on just a minute while I ... 

stick out my tongue, clean my teeth, scratch my neck.  

Oh, brother!  This family is not very together here ...

Could we just line up.  La di da di da ... look at that airplane.  

Guys, turn around.  Look at the camera.

We are never going to get this done.  There goes another airplane.  

What'd you say, Joel?  

I don't know about the rest of these clowns, 

but Clara and I are ready.

  

Quick!  Snap it!

We're (almost) all smiling and looking in the same direction with our eyes opened.

As, I was saying ...

We wish for you ...

the gifts that Jesus gives,

Joy unspeakable,

Stunning grace,

Sure hope,

Love without bounds.

So many reasons to celebrate.

Merry Christmas, all!

This song ...

... sung so beautifully in church week before last by Amy and Albert, is part of the music in our home and in my head these days:

O Savior of our fallen race,
O brightness of the Father's face,
O Son who shared the Father's might
Before the world knew day or night,

O Jesus, very light of light,
Our constant star in sin's deep night,
Now hear the prayers your people pray
Throughout the world this holy day.

Remember Lord of life and grace,
How once to save our fallen race
You put our human vesture on
And came to us as Mary's son.

For from the Father's throne you came
His banished children to reclaim,
And earth and sea and sky revere
The love of Him who sent you here.

O Christ, Redeemer, virgin-born,
Let songs of praise Your name adorn,
And with the Father we adore
And Holy Spirit evermore!

You came downYou came downTo a stable and a manger,Not a kingdom or a crown.

You can listen to it here.

The moon breaking through, on an early morning walk last week

*anonymous (6th century in Latin as "Christe Redemptor Omniam") translated by Gilbert Doan, chorus (it italics) by Andy Gullahorn and Jill Phillips

A six (plus) child day

I got to speak with every one of my children today!

First, we skyped with Erin and Clara. While we were talking to them, my cell rang and it was Jonathan calling from India to ask if I wanted to get on skype.  I suggested that since Erin was online, that he and Kandyce talk with her first and then skype with us, so that's what we did.  It was funny to have J and K telling me that Clara told them she was going to get a package from me, a fact I had just told her minutes before.  The news went from North Carolina to New York state to Tamil Nadu state in India and back to NC in the space of a few minutes.  This is still rather mind-boggling to me.

Andrew and Joel are here, Matthew arrived this afternoon, and Thomas came over for dinner.  So that makes six!

In addition, one of our "adopted" daughters, Jenn, arrived yesterday - that's why it was a six (plus) day.

And now, everyone who's coming home this year is here. (except Kay wasn't here tonight - she had to babysit, but of course she'll be here - the first Christmas for T and K as a married couple!)

Thomas and Joel

Matthew, Jenn, and Andrew

What to do the first night we're together?  Finish decorating the tree, drink Russian tea, eat treats, and play a rousing game of Pictionary.

Long, slow exhale ...

Done.  For a little while. (except for grading two tests and finalizing the bio syllabus for the spring - but we won't talk about that right now).

Classes are over.  One son is home.  Another is coming soon.  My house is clean.

We had a very lovely visit with Missy, John, and the boys, who pulled in last night after their concert was over.  We visited over hot cider and popcorn and I loved that three of my big boys and one daughter-in-law were here to just hang out, too.  We started again this morning over coffee and breakfast and lingered long.  What a perfect way to start our break.

I have stayed in my pj's all day.  This is unheard of for me ... but after a very busy fall when it seems that I had either a soccer game, a pressing class deadline, or some other looming time demand, the pj's are a reminder to myself that it's time to breathe out.

After our friends left, I sat with Andrew and Kay and drank tea and finished a scarf.

Then, I watched Cranford and sewed.

I might change out of my pj's in a little bit and go for a slow walk.

There is no hurry for anything today.

Smells: Fragrant and Otherwise ...

I woke up early and started cutting potatoes and cauliflower for soup.  Made banana bread, too, so that by 9:00 when my students arrived, the house smelled really nice.

My biology students, however, changed that!  Today was a dissecting day.  Sheep plucks which means the sheep heart, lungs, trachea and associated connective tissue.  By the end of two labs and classes, the house didn't smell so good.  There are occasional drawbacks to lab at the kitchen table.  I did assure my students that the plastic tablecloth with roosters and French food names is only used on biology class day.

After classes and dissections were done, Cameryn came to the rescue.  My young friend and I baked Christmas cut-out sugar cookies.  I hadn't done that yet this season, so was happy for the chance to spend some time with Cameryn and bake.  Cam and I mixed the dough and while it chilled, she helped me pull the garland and a few other Christmas decorations out of the attic.  Then she helped me hang the garland over the door by standing in the yard and telling me, "It's a little low on that side.  No, still a little longer.  Now it's drooping there."  Til finally, I got it just right and she gave her approval.  It's nice to have a 13 year old girl with a very good eye around.

Then our dough was chilled and we rolled and cut - Santas, bells, stars, and circles, donkeys, Christmas trees, a whole little nativity scene in sugar cookies, teddy bears and snowmen.  Cookies went in the oven for 8 minutes and the house smelled good again.

Happy birthday, Joel

On this day, 17 years ago, we received a very special gift ...

When he was born, Joel was our biggest baby yet.  He weighed 9 pounds, 15 ounces and I remember Grammie's remark, "Look at his jowls."  He certainly had plenty of baby fat.

I remember a little boy who wouldn't give up.  Most of our friends and family know the story of the persistent asker,

"Mommy, can I have a cookie."
"No, sweetie." 

(she didn't get what I want, I'll make sure she understands)
"Mommy, can I have a cookie."
"No, sweetie." 

(there are a lot of people around here, maybe she doesn't know I'm talking to her, try again)
"Mommy, can I have a cookie."
"Not now sweetie. 

(maybe she can't understand me.  I'll slow down)
Mommy, can. I. have. a. cookie."
"No, sweetie. It's almost dinner." 

(maybe slower and louder will get my point across)
"Mommy, can. I. have. a. cookie."
"Sweetie, what is it about no you don't understand?" 

(what is it about me having a cookie you don't understand?  wait, did you say dinner?  oh, well that changes things.  dinner works for me)

I remember a bigger boy who ran almost a mile up a hill at the end of a long walk in Cameroon, just because someone wondered if he could do it.

I remember a boy who made up a game with baseball cards and dice and played for hours, keeping score sheets and stats in looseleaf notebooks, mystifying the rest of us with his complicated rules and lightning computation skills.

I remember a boy who made a smashing first impression on our very first high school co-op day with a whole new group of peers by crashing into a chain-link fence as he ran, eyes gazing upward, trying to catch the grape, thrown high in the air, in his mouth.

I remember a boy who would ask, almost every day, "Are we doing anything today?"

I remember a boy who played the policeman, the D.O.W.N.'s delivery man, the screamer, and more in brother's video productions.

I remember a boy who sat outside reading on a chilly day, who was happy to get a box of used books for Christmas.

I remember a boy very eager to play soccer with the big boys, doubling on the middle school and varsity teams, content to practice with the big guys and sit the bench, just for a chance to get in the game.

And now, I know ...

A young man who loves the Lord,
loves his family and friends,

works hard,
plays hard ...

that's Joel, in green, with the N, at last night's NCAA College Cup

and still is happy when he gets a cookie.

Happy birthday, buddy.  We love you.

Can we say ...

Cheeeeeeeeeeze!

Missing this little girl,

 but happy for time she gets to spend 

with her very special Olson grandparents

49th Tuesday

When I started this post, it was still Monday ... just barely.  Now it's Tuesday afternoon and I've spent most of the day grading biology lab reports and AP government free response questions (frq's) and trying to figure out how to weight the grades and figure averages for the semester so far.  This is the part of teaching I really don't like.   But I have reason to give thanks!  My former professor husband came down and helped me figure it all out and set up a spreadsheet for me.  So, I am very thankful for ...

2123.  an experienced grader, spreadsheet whiz, and patient husband to walk me through it!

I had a whirlwind of a weekend, full of soccer and boys and soccer families and college coaches and sunshine and soccer.  Yeah, soccer.

Joel's club team played in a college showcase tournament and won all three of their games, all shut-outs.  It was very fun to watch the guys playing together again -  the first time since last spring.  If this weekend was any indication, this is going to be an exciting soccer season.

Wait, you're saying.  I thought soccer season just ended.  That's funny.  Soccer season never ends.  Not around here.  It just shifts to a different team, different fields, different opponents.

I was happy to get away this weekend and really have nothing to focus on but following my mapquest directions (no, I don't have a gps.  I'm old fashioned that way), getting to fields on time, taping Joel's ankle, and watching a ball get kicked around a field.  Sometimes it's good for your brain to step away from all the normal activities and do something completely different for a couple of days. Very restful.

I didn't think about sheep heart dissections or campaign finances or what to cook for dinner.  I didn't vacuum or do laundry.  Wait, I take that back.  I did wash Joel's green uniform in the hotel bathtub before the third game, using his very manly scented body wash.  Quite a fragrant uniform in that last game.  Maybe that's why he did so well - he scored the only goal in that game on a header from a corner kick.  If you don't know what that means, then you probably don't keep a fold-up chair in your trunk or have a shoe rack outside your door filled with cleats.  You probably don't shout, "Unlucky" or "Clear it!" either.

Anyway, I had a wonderful weekend with my #5 son and found myself over and over again feeling incredibly thankful for ...

2124. the opportunity Joel has to play
2125. his health and strength - gifts from God
2126. the "squeaky clean", above reproach reputation he has among his teammates
2127. a nice man at Auto Zone who assured me that the check engine light wasn't a problem (he was right)
2128. safe travel
2129. time to get to know parents and teammates better
2130. seeing Joel reading his Bible in the hotel room

2131. trustworthiness, yes I let him stay in Chapel Hill and drive back on his own to Raleigh after the Carolina game we went to on Saturday evening.  He went to dinner with a friend who just happened to be a girl (not a girlfriend, though he got plenty of grief from his teammates!)
2132. teamwork - among players and families
2133. an athlete husband/father who understands and encourages
2134. gorgeous, perfect sunny weather all weekend

Shortly after we got home, it was time to head to church for the Children's Choir Christmas program and potluck.  I sat in my seat, holding a friend's six month old giving thanks for ...

2135. that precious little guy on my lap and his beautiful mother
2136. sweet, young voices
2137. a dedicated, creative, patient, talented, fun choir director
2138. people who cook and share delicious food - I've always loved potlucks!
2139. hugs from little people

I was mostly a spectator this weekend - a relaxed, happy, thankful spectator.  It was good.  Yesterday and today, it's back to work.  And that's good, too.