The Little Climber

Evelyn LOVES to climb on things: the dining room table, the back of the sofa, etc. So it is REALLY awesome when we are places that afford appropriate things on which to climb. Here are just a few of the reasons we love the BEACH and PLAYGROUNDS! Note that, on the playground, she is wearing a DRESS. She wants to wear dresses all the time, although I have managed to get her into skorts this summer, now that she's in undies. :) Actually, I think I wore dresses for the whole first semester of 7th grade. I wanted to be Laura Ingalls. Until the fateful day that a girl whom I thought was my friend (maybe this IS a sign of true friendship) told me in the hall that she wouldn't be seen with me anymore unless I got some better clothes. I must have told my dad this, because he took me out and bought me my first Levi's (they were really the hot thing--courderoys, and you had to have a comb in your back pocket with the handle sticking up. He got me one of those, too.) I remember leaning forward in my desk in Social Studies the next day and someone said out loud, "Oh WOW! Tina's wearing LEVI'S!!!!"

Aunt Jenny, Aunt Amy (and Liv, too, I think!), who do "real" rock climbing (the kind that requires special shoes and lots of straps and clips to keep one from falling to a most certain death), these videos are for you!

"It is now time on Sprockets when we..."

...get new glasses. Check out Alan in his cool, new specs. Now, pardon me, for some reason I feel the need to dress in black and dance. Or, should I say, "dahnce." (And don't forget you can check out "Dieter's" music here. )

Nothing says "You're getting older" like...

...a routine colonoscopy, and the nurse's questionnaire, which includes the query, "Are you wearing dentures?"

The Spirit of the Law

Today Evelyn was practicing Ephesians 6:1-3 (earning a candy cane. Don't ask how old the candy cane was, but know this: she enjoyed it immensely.) We were blessed enough to have Aunt Amy visiting from Oregon to witness it:

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, for this is the first commandment with a promise, 'that it may go well with you and that you may have loooooooooooooooooooooooong walks on the beach.'"

After recovering from our laughter, Amy, Alan and I decided that long walks on the beach would be a delightful reward for honoring our parents.

Evening on the Patapsco River

Last week the girls & I spent a lazy evening at a local riverside beach picnicking & playing in the water.

It's a special time right now--the girls just want to spend time with us, and they are ready to do pretty much anything as long as we are together (and it is introduced with some enthusiasm, "Guess WHAT?!? We're going to play the CLEAN UP THE TOYS game!!") Maybe it's because I started this parenthood thing later in life, but I am extremely aware of how fleeting it is, and how quickly the time is passing.

Maybe I am a little TOO aware. I've often told the girls, "It's Mommy and Daddy's job to teach you how to be grownups. Someday you are going to grow up and move out of our house and have your own houses and take care of yourselves."

One day out of the blue Evelyn said, "Mommy, I don't WANT to be a grownup!"

Me: "Why not?"

E: "Because I don't want to move out of this house! I want to live with YOU!"

What a heart-melter. I'll save the moving-out talks for later.

Walking to the playground

A few blocks from our house is a middle school with a nice playground. It's the girls' favorite and the only one at this point we can walk to without the stroller (makes for great toddler exercise!)

One of their traditions at this playground is to give a kiss to the "lady on the wall," part of the mural on the side of the school building. I don't remember how it started, but in spite of the questionable cleanliness issues, I've let it continue because I think its cute. Besides, I doubt any other kids are kissing the lady on the wall regularly.

Rethinking what matters...

My friend Betsy's husband, Logan, lost his father last week and I went to the funeral. I am still in awe as I write, and I pray I can do justice to what was shared.

Logan is a gentle, tender, wise, godly man who gives of himself, works with his hands, selflessly serves others, and has a loving partnership with his bride. When he stood up at the funeral, he shared something I hadn't known: that his father had spent the last 51 years of his life institutionalized with schizophrenia. (That is not a typo--51 years.) Logan and his sisters were small children when their father, a young, godly man studying for the pastorate in seminary, had to leave their home because a mysterious disease had attacked his mind. One of Logan's earliest memories is of his mother at his bedside, teaching him to pray "that God would heal Daddy." Logan had prayed that prayer every day since, and it was finally answered when God took him home.

In spite of schizophrenia, Logan and his dad had a relationship. They had frequent visits, and Logan continued those visits until his father's death. The illness often rendered his father antagonistic, irritable, and unintelligible. In his muttering, they would listen for a familiar phrase to which to cling, such as "Take it to the Lord in prayer," or "asleep on the hay," and that would inspire them to sing, "What a friend we have in Jesus..." or "Away in a manger..." and his father would often be calmed.

Betsy once asked her father-in-law if he had been reading anything lately, and in a moment of clarity he replied, "Colossians chapter 1." He proceeded to read it, and when he got to the final verse, he said, "Christ in you, the hope of glory." He looked at them intently, raised three fingers and said, "You have to say that part THREE times," and led them in saying, "Christ in you, the hope of glory; Christ in you, the hope of glory; Christ in you, the hope of glory." That became a common occurrence in his last years: reading Colossians 1 with that precious, thrice-repeated phrase at the end, and they read it again at the funeral.

How incredible it was to see this lovely, quiet man standing up there talking with love about a father he never knew as "normal," recalling special times with him that all took place inside a hospital or group home and always hinged on the hope that a touch of mental acuity would allow them to fellowship with the Jesus they both loved. What a picture of what that same Jesus can DO--that Logan's father's godly prayers for his son, in his healthy youth, would be answered so eloquently and fervently; that Logan's mother would so joyfully and selflessly set about the task of supporting and raising her three children to love their father, pray for him, visit him, and respect him; that a little boy, devoid of what the world would call a normal childhood, could grow into a man who would remember it all through the veil of Jesus' healing power. All of that happened because Christ was in them, as their hope of glory.

I drove away regretting that the list of "things I'd never do as a parent" ever included silly stuff like letting the kids watch TV or shop at chain stores. Do I want Evelyn and Amelia to say, "My mom never shopped at Wal-Mart," or do I want them to say, "My mom never said negative things about people?" Do I want them to remember that I didn't let them watch Saturday morning cartoons on network TV, or that I didn't fly off the handle in anger, but instead responded with the love of Jesus?

Logan and his father have inspired me to re-think my "list." This is only a start, but it is a good one:
1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deut. 6:5)
2. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (Phil.2:3)
3. Do everything without complaining or grumbling. (Phil.2:14)
4. Above all, love each other deeply. (I Peter 4:8)
5. Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. (Psalm 95:1-2)

Feel free to add more...

Ah, the summer of the cousins!

My cousin Kelby (the cute kid in the middle) came up from NC to volunteer for a month at RVR this summer. In the midst of it, he turned 14 and we threw him a party. Aunt Barbara (my Amazing Race audition partner #2!) spent the weekend in our 3rd floor suite and Lindsy (Kelby's sister) joined us the day of the party.



Cousin Annie, Sambe, & their son Eric came up from D.C., too, and we played a rousing version of "The Name Game" with Mom & Dad, Jon & Courtney & Shelley. (Which is REALLY fun to play with a group of smart, well-rounded, internationally-traveled people!) They all surprised me w/presents for my belated birthday (Kelby and I are only a week apart...and a few decades), and Esther joined in for the fun. Aunt Barbara gave the kids coloring books, which the girls are still enjoying, as you can see! THANK YOU, everyone, for a GREAT day!!

My own birthday was spent the way I like them these days--with very little fuss. For the past few years, I think I've given the impression that I don't like my birthday, but that's not true. I'm just at a very busy place in life, and on my own birthday, my request is to have one day of the simple life that I crave and never quite achieve. While I can say honestly that I don't like surprises, I have nothing against parties. It's just nice to have a day of quietness, rest, and some rare solitude when one's life is so rich with excitement!

My mom and the girls and I spent a little time at the mall shopping (to no avail, unfortunately!), and later, after the girls were in bed, Mom came over and we watched a quirky, Australian, early 90's movie called "Strictly Ballroom" that we'd not seen, well, since the early 90's! It was sweet.

(As I finished typing, Evelyn said, "Mommy, I'm cutting a dress!" Scissors in hand, she'd decided that one of her hand-me-down dance outfits didn't need all that fringe, and now our living room is decorated with pieces of pink string in various lengths. Well, that's what I get for blogging while my kids are awake. At least it wasn't Amelia's hair. Let the excitement continue!)

Repeat after me...

Yesterday we had a family outing to Target (yes, Alyson & Courtney, you heard right.) Alan had shopped for me and we were making returns & exchanges. I have decided that letting Alan buy clothes for me is a good bet. He picks out stuff I'd never even look at--mostly because it's not on the sale rack--and he has a good sense of style.

We entered the store and Evelyn was agog. She kept looking around saying, "THIS is TARGET? It's so BEAUTIFUL! I've never been HERE before! It's so BEAUTIFUL!" (You Target shoppers are LOVING this right now.) I just keep lengthening the list of things I said I'd never do as a parent: let them watch TV (public television, of course, but plenty of it), feed them in the car, bribe them w/dessert, and NOW, taking them shopping at a giant chain store.

Afterwards in the car the girls wanted a sip of my Diet Coke. (I know, I gave up Diet Coke last September, but I let myself have them on special occasions. For me, shopping for clothes and actually BUYING some is VERY special. Just ask my mom.) I told them they could have some soda at a red light. Evelyn was fine. Amelia, however, ramped up her volume and screamed, "I WAN SOME DINK NOWWW!!!"

Using my firm & serious mommy voice, I said, "Amelia, you may not ask for things in that way. You need to say, 'Mommy, may I have some drink, please?'"

"Yes."

My next attempt: "Amelia, I'd like YOU to say this: 'May I have some drink, please?'"

"Sore." (Sure.)

"Amelia, say THIS: 'Drink, please, Mommy.'"

"Ok."

Alan is convinced she does this on purpose. I don't know. I DID get her to repeat, "please," ("peas") to get a sip of the Diet Coke.

Later, on the way home from Bible study, Amelia was silent through an entire conversation Evelyn had with the moon. I played the role of "Mr. Moon," and he and Evelyn talked all the way home. Upon arrival she ran around the house to find the window from which she could wave goodnight to him. It reminded me of drives home at night from the Ranch when we were kids and my mom would personify the little light on the dash that came on when she used her high beams. He would have to mysteriously leave now and then (I'm not sure we noticed that it was in the face on oncoming traffic), and he would have to go for good once we hit the interstate. Memories like this renew my determination NOT to buy that DVD player for the car from Target. :)

The next generation of cousins...

This summer it is especially obvious how valuable family relationships can be, and I am reminded, every time the girls get together with Anna, Aidan, Casey, or any of their cousins, how precious it is that they know each other so well.

So this is how it looks to be decorated with flowers that you didn't even know shouldn't be picked. Beautiful.

Cousin Ryan Visits!

The Summer of the Cousins continued when Ryan, who works full time with Youth With A Mission in Switzerland, stopped by for a few days while on his US vacation. He loves Jesus and has a heart for people in cities, and we had a great time catching up & playing games.

If there was one more picture in this series, it would be me asleep on the couch, which is exactly where I ended up. So much for keeping up w/the younger cousins...

"Come unto Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

An Arabian Garden Party

(Invaded by pirates!) Cousin Darcy started these themed parties for the "little" Bisset cousins. She sends out elaborate, handmade invitations & then enlists the aid of co-conspirators Cousins Kate & Jay. On July 27th they turned Darcy & Dave's living room into a Sultan's palace & fed everyone Arabian-style food (hummus & pita, grapes & blueberries on skewers, and--my favorite--jello jigglers in the shapes of rubies & diamonds.) Poor Amelia had a fever that day & stayed home w/Alan, but the other three kids LOVED it.

Jay created a treasure hunt extraordinaire complete w/burned-at-the-edges map and clues that led us in, out, & around the house until the kids found...well, click the video! Jon narrates the discovery, and I think there is something ever-so-Steve-Martin-esque about him. (But I've thought this for a while now. That's a compliment. I love Steve Martin!)

Thank you, Bisset Cousins, for making the little ones (and big ones!) feel so special. AAAAAARGHHH, Ali Babba!

The things they say...

Amelia loves singing her ABCs. My favorite part is "H, I, J, K, Elmo, P."

Yesterday the girls were finishing their lunch at the breakfast counter. Evelyn said, "What are we going to do next?" I put on my animated face and said, with much anticipation, "Well, it's time to take..."

She rolled her eyes and jumped in, "What? A nap? A bath?" And then, as she swung her head from side to side she raised her voice and chanted, "A nap a bath a nap a bath a nap a bath..."

Who is that masked man?

It's Cousin Casey! I am dubbing this "The Summer of the Cousins!" It's been GREAT. On July 26th, Becky, Matt, & Casey drove up for the day. Our annual Hamilton Neighborhood Festival was in full swing, and we enjoyed making paper hats (that's Amelia), jumping in the moonbounce, and sharing lemonade. Hamilton is an eclectic and colorful slice of life, so just walking down the main street (which we can see from our front porch swing) is entertainment enough.

Matt & Becky shared fresh vegetables from their farm co-op & we enjoyed our back yard in spite of this year's bumper crop of mosquitos and weeds. To be truthful, Alan & I both long for a nice yard w/nice grass & lovely landscaping, but we find ourselves choosing to spend our precious time in other ways, like being with people who (we hope) like US more than our yard. Fortunately, we have a lot of those people in our lives--like Uncle Matt & Aunt Becky & Cousin Casey--who just come in spite of the bugs & weeds. (Besides, every time we DO have company, it inspires an energy surge of yard work. It also re-awakens our personal disgust & I try to rearrange those 24 daily hours to fit in a little more yard work. I did manage to pull a bunch of weeds today while the girls were playing in the sandbox & wading pool. The weeds are still out there in piles, but I pulled them.) Thanks for coming, Matt, Becky, and Casey--you made our Saturday, for sure.

I guess I ranted a little bit. (I've been considering a "rant" for the blog--perhaps coming soon--so this was a tiny attempt. I'm not a terribly good ranter. I'm still deciding if I like ranting, if ranting is really "me.")

I will leave with a thought--back to yard work--I heard in a sermon by Dr. Tony Evans. It was a story about a friend of his whose yard was not in great shape. He was outside with his family one evening when a well-meaning neighbor came over to encourage him about his lawn. The friend smiled and said, "Thanks for the advice, but right now, I'm raising children, not grass."

"Blessed is the man...who delights in the law of the Lord, and on this law meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." (Psalm 1:1-3)