I Am A Queen!

One of our family jokes is that I am the queen. Not in a froo-froo princessy way, but more in a royal-feel-free-to-serve-me way.

Lately, though, I have been thinking they may not realize it's actually a joke. It seems every time I turn around my boys are doing nice and kind things for me. Of course they have always done nice and kind things for me, but I really think it's happening more and more.

For instance, tonight Boy 2 asked me to write down instructions for how to make spaghetti. When I asked him why, he said he wanted to make dinner so I could have the night off.

Both the boys and Mark show their love for me in myriad ways, and I wonder if I do half as good a job showing my love for them. Too often I walk into a room and see a mess instead of a family. I assign a chore and see what wasn't up to par instead of what was.

I fear I am in the same predicament with my love for God, Creator of the Universe. Despite His constant signs of love for me, I am far more apt to see things that aren't just the way I want them.

I'd like to improve my eyesight and begin to see things as they are meant to be seen.

More than Just a Name

My 40th has come and gone, and what a blast it was! I've been asked if I will continue to blog. I might, but if I do, I need a new title for my blog. 

I like to have edgy titles for things I write or teach. Titles can capture the imagination of a potential reader/listener. Good titles hint at something unexpected lying just below the surface of the title. Good titles reflect accurately the content of the piece while making room for a creatively fresh look at the subject matter. 

I don't really blog about a specific topic. Many of my posts are anecdotal tellings of everyday life. One day I might write a humorous blog, another day might find me tackling a serious issue. Often my tellings reveal something about God.

So what do I call this eclectic blog? What title will best reflect its content in an edgy and nuanced way? 

I don't know. 

Woot! Woot!

Well, here it is. My birthday. I'm finally 40. Woot! Woot!

To celebrate I asked my family if we could do a whole lot of nothing today. No studying. No housework. No cooking. No fuss. Just me hanging out with the three most beloved individuals in my life. Lovely.

Of course there were gifts. From Boy 1 a full-on, top-down housecleaning. A very clever card in which in which he gave me a lesson in birthday math (39 + 365 = 40) announced his gift for me. This is a huge gift considering how we all disdain housework. A true labor of love: doing something he abhors for someone he adores.

Boy 2 wrote me a letter and attached a large black bow. The letter informed me that his gift will be all the vegetables he will grow in the raised garden bed he built last weekend. Another labor of love: doing something he loves for someone he loves.

Finally, Mark presented me with a scrapbook of sorts. One which proclaimed that I ought to get out of town. To that end, the pages took me on a tour of an overnight trip for two to Chicago...one which my groom will be whisking me off on in the very near future!

All three gifts were a perfect reflection of what my family knows I love and appreciate. I love gifts that are homemade, given from the heart and hard work of those who love me. I love gifts that include time to spend with those I love. And I LOVE the cities of this world!!

Now that I'm 40 I don't feel any different. No, I feel just as love and blessed beyond measure as I did yesterday and the day before and the day before....

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I Love Ya...

Tomorrow is the big day, the mother of all birthdays, the culmination of this blog:

My 40th Birthday!!

You may recall that I started this blog in an effort not to let my big birthday be stolen from me. Being several years younger than most of the people I spend most of my time with, milestone after milestone comes long after they have come for my "older" friends. Consequently, by the time I get to the milestone, everyone else has so moved on.

In an effort to preserve the sanctity of my 40th birthday, I have celebrated the joys and shared the woes of my 39th year of life through this blog. And I have had a blast doing it!

Of course, I realize that this is just one more birthday. There will be no bells tolling for me tomorrow, I won't suddenly have life figured out and know exactly what God intends for me. In fact, I cannot expect to become anything more than one day older.

But oh the difference a day can make!! I love you, tomorrow!!

The Inside-Out Boy

A little more than 10 years ago Boy 2 entered this world with a gusto that flows far more than it ebbs. At the age of 3, when asked who he was, he stood upon the chair he was in, raised his hands to the sky and proclaimed, "I am KING of the universe!!" Of course, his dad and I have helped him better understand his place in the universe, but his great passion for living has not diminished.

More than just wearing his heart on his sleeve, Boy 2 shows all his emotion everywhere on the outside of himself. Indeed, I have taken to calling him the Inside-Out Boy. I never have to guess what Boy 2 is thinking or feeling, When he is sad, you see it on his face and in the downward droop of his entire body. When his is excited, step back and get out of the way!

Not only are Boy 2's reactions to the world obvious, they are always full of dramatic expression. He is never bored, he is at great loss for any iota of entertainment! Sleepy? No, "utterly exhausted." Happy is not a big enough word for Boy 2; he requires something more along the lines of "excruciatingly joyful." And if you ever have the blessing of watching that child eat ribs you will be treated to a full-on experience of palette pleasure.

Of course, this trait comes with its challenges. When Boy 2's feelings are hurt, his outward mourning is apparent to all and becomes for some invitation to hurt more. He's had to learn a time or two what kids will do if you let them know how successfully they got to you.

But far more than challenges, Boy 2's enthusiasm and gusto bring great joy. Simply watching and listening to him experience life is enough to give hint to the joy of the Father when His children enter full-on into living life.

So to say that I am thankful for Boy 2 would be to insult his Inside-Outness. Instead, I must insist that on this, the 8th day before the grand occasion of my 40th birthday, I am filled with such a rush of momentously loving emotion that I can hardly keep my feet on the ground!

The Chin-Strummer

For 14 of my nearly 40 years I have been blessed by my firstborn, Boy 1. From the very beginning Boy 1 has made his unique personality known: in utero snapshots often showed him strumming his chin as if deep in thought. A teacher once likened him to still waters that run deep and time outs never worked for he would simply sit in a corner and ponder.

A tender and compassionate heart pairs itself in Boy 1 with a strong desire to benefit the Kingdom of God on earth. A few years ago Boy 1 bought a bunch of stickers and began giving them out to younger kids he came across in the hallways of our church building. Another time he gave his entire savings (about $50 at the time) to buy school textbooks for some children who could not buy their own. Many small and hidden acts of loving service have always been a part of Boy 1's quiet stroll through this world.

In the midst of Boy 1's serious outlook on life runs a marvelous sense of humor and a love for the silly and absurd. And the love he holds for his brother, though appropriately well-masked by sarcasm and acts of aggravation, shows the depth of his heart.

Boy 1 grows evermore fascinating with each passing day. I am blessed beyond measure to be mom to this chin-strumming, seriously sarcastic and silly, loving deep thinker. 

He Has a Great Vocabulary!

Anytime I think about what I am grateful for, my first thoughts fly to my boys. One of those boys is my husband of 18.5 years.

I first met Mark 20 years ago this December. I was in my junior year in college, and he was a high school teacher. A mutual friend, David, convinced me to attend the book review Mark was giving at my college's library. I did not expect much from this book review, but I went to satisfy my friends.

I arrived a few minutes late and the review was already under way. Glad I would be able to slip in and out unnoticed, I found a spot with some friends. What happened over the next 30 minutes or so surprised no one more than me.

I noticed how cute Mark was right off, but as I listened I began to see a number of admirable qualities in this man I would have completely blown off if my friends had let me. Rather than slipping out unnoticed I became  determined to meet him.

When I got home later that night, my roommates asked me what I thought of this Mark Parker guy. "He's cute, has a great vocabulary, and is quite witty," I told them.

Twenty years later Mark ranks at the top of my list of blessings.

My Birthday Gift to Me

I've said for many years that I love having my birthday fall on Thanksgiving Day. Knowing the whole nation is giving thanks on my birthday makes the day even sweeter. I know that 99.9% of the people celebrating Thanksgiving are not giving thanks for me specifically, but it's still nice. So having my birthday of all birthdays fall on Thanksgiving seems appropriate.

Therefore, I dedicate the rest of my 40minus365 blog to the convergence of these two magnificent days by giving thanks for things that bless me tremendously.

Today, I would like to take a moment to give thanks for naps. I love naps. I adore them! If I were not already married, I would marry a nap.

Naps are so great I even dressed up as one for Halloween.

Naps are also quite useful. Think of all the times we hear the phrase, "Boy could I use a nap right now."

Naps are a luxury most of the world does not enjoy on a regular basis. I, however, have an opportunity to nap at least twice most days. I can generally get a nap in during at least one of Wee 1's naps and during the 4 o'clock hour when carpool is done and everyone is home.

That's not to say that I take naps twice a day...that would be gratuitous. I really don't even take one every day. But just knowing I could take a nap if I needed to makes me very happy.

For my birthday this year I am going to give myself a nap.