Year Round Holiday (even after 8pm)

Well folks I know what you're thinking-
1)It is not even close to Christmas
 and
2)I have been blogging incessantly about how excited I am for summer.

While Christmas is not even close, and I am incredibly excited for the summer heat - I lovelovelovelove Christmas time. It is not only the actual event of Christmas Eve/Day that I love. It is from November 1st until January 2nd - the whole holiday season that I am in love with. It is the spirit of the holidays. The crisp air, beautiful decorations, amazing food, all of the baking, all of the giving, all of it. I love it all. I feel that this coming holiday season will be the best yet (I say this every year- and I always seem to be right).

"One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind"  -– Romans 14:5-6 (NIV)

Maybe I should try to bring the joy of the holiday spirit to all of my days. I think I just might give that a shot.

Today I had my first final of the semester and I proud to report that it went well. I am glad that it is over - now only 2 left and I'll be on my way to summer bliss.

Boys are doing good :) Growing, chatting, and keeping us on our toes. They have a pretty set bedtime of 8pm. This of course varies some on the weekend, but nearly every night during the week they are in bed at 8. But as of lately, they have been in bed and monkey-ing around until well past 9. They are not crying or whining, just not sleeping either. Usually it is a variety of laughing, switching blankets/stuffies, and making funny faces. And while it would be nice for the house to be quiet after 8- I choose to pick my battles on this one and as long as they remain in their beds, I will listen to the laughter coming from their room. I think it is part of the brother thing.

Until next time,
Carmen



an odd kind of day.

Today was an odd kind of day. Let me tell you why.

I'm in a religion class, and it is about death and dying. While this sounds kind of dark and awful, most times it is not like that at all. We examine historical, political, and cross-cultural issues surrounding death and grief. It is an interesting class to say the least. Well today was the final day of that class and when I walked in, the professor had everyone put all of their things away except for a single piece of paper and a pencil. Then he said, "You have ten minutes left to live and all you have is that paper and pencil. Go."

Yep. I had a day like that. A day where I had to sit and find some sort of final things to say to all of those people who I love so dearly. Let me tell you that I am not a big fan of crying in general, but there I sat in a classroom full of 58 other students and I had tears rolling down my face as I put that pencil to paper.

What do I say? How do I say it? How can I do this? Why would you make us do this?

But you know what? I have been in college for two semesters, and I learned more from that blank piece of paper than anything else I have studied all year. I learned more about myself in those 10 minutes than I have in the past 20 (almost 21) years. I learned a lot today. A whole big bunch... And as much as I resented that piece of paper in that moment, I am also certain that the same piece of paper will have a lasting impact on the rest of life. 

On a more chipper note, I just got back from a 3 mile run and I feel like a rock star.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

Love to all of you,

Carmen 



Magic.

Can't. Keep. Studying. So I took a quick break from a couple long days of studying to hang out with the guys. We had a great time :) We played outside, mowed the lawn, colored with sidewalk chalk, grilled dinner, and then finished the night off with ice cream sundaes. Doesn't get much better than that.

Christian colored an orange airplane. It was quite fancy.

Nolan colored many different dynamic drawings. I am not exactly sure what they were, but they were brilliant none the less.

Mommy drew kidneys, complete with the aorta, descending vena cava, cortex, pyramids, and renal calyces.

By the time we were done, our feet were many different colors. It was a blast.

We made ourselves a magical afternoon. And it was perfect.

Until next time,

Carmen



Cats with Hats & Summer.

As cute as these cats are, they are not mine. This picture was just too cute to pass up.

I am a crazy cat lady. I don't know exactly how it happened, but it did. A little over two years ago, I got my cat Lucinda. She is white with gray ears. She is my cat. Yosi tries to say that she likes him more, but it isn't true. She even sleeps above my head on my pillow at night. She is the only other girl in the house, and we are great friends. We also have a loaner cat named Ed. He is alright. I never really thought that we would be a two cat family, but for now we are. Ed has been staying here for almost a year and he is working his way into our hearts. One day he might go back to his other home, and chances are I'll be sad when/if that happens. Lucinda would probably miss her cat friend too.

Well I have one week of classes left, then finals week, then home. I'm pumped. I can't wait to say that I successfully completed my first year of college. Not only that, but I am just ready to spend some time at home with my guys. AND, I'm excited for summer itself. Here is my plan for the summer:

Summer

-play outside

-make popsicles

-play with sidewalk chalk

-learn how to bake vegan muffins

-go to the beach

-learn how to mow the lawn

-play outside

-drink lemonade often

-build many sandcastles

-go to the beach

-take those awesome naps that happen when you get home from the beach

-buy and use lots of sunscreen

-run

-play outside

Can't even wait <3

"Rejoice evermore. " 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Carmen

 



Time is running.

I think that is speaking directly to me right now. School is busy. Home is busy. Work is work. Sleep is scarce. Coffee is definitely burning a hole in my stomach lining. But I am loving it (mostly). And when I don't feel very lovey about studying math after 6 hours, I make some more coffee and keep going.

Two weeks until summer vacation, and I have never been so excited for summer in all of my life.

Oh, and I've been running. You know, outside?
Yosi and I decided awhile ago that we wanted to run a marathon together. So I've started training. My body hurts. Everywhere. I think my hips are the most traumatized. I have confidence that they will adapt soon and before long I'll be gliding through the air.. okay well I hope to be walking without a limp by Sunday at least. BUT, I am running with love. I really do enjoy getting out and just going.
Me, my own two feet, and fresh spring air.
It's empowering and I always feel great afterwards, except all of the hurting.
I should say proud. I always feel proud afterwards.
I really am proud that I have logged a little over 8 miles since Tuesday. While that is nowhere near he 26.2 of the marathon, I am getting there :)

Boys are good. It is really starting to dawn on me that they are getting older. Christian is going to be five this year. What? Where did that time go? And Nolan? Well, I recently bought Nolan tiny little pairs of underwear. I can't believe they are growing so fast.  I was cleaning out one of the closets the other day and I found a newborn sized diaper. I looked over and saw my two little men playing happily and could hardly remember either of them being so little. I cried.


Enough for now,
Carmen



My blessings, My A, and My Moat.

*a word of caution: this post is all gushy and wonderful. it just happened.

Today I feel blessed. So incredibly blessed. I was trying to think of some words to describe my life. Here are some things I came up with:

hilarious

beautiful

chaotic

winging it

( I know that's two words but if you know me you understand )

bold

busy

curious

testosterone-y

( I also know that it's not exactly a word, but seriously I live in a house full of boys of various ages )

adorable

mine

Sometimes I think that the last one is the craziest part of the whole thing. I have a wonderful husband. I have amazing little boys (amazing and a teeny bit wild active). I have found faith. I have somehow managed to end up with all of the exact things I thought I never wanted. God works in mysterious and amazing ways. 

 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Well today was a busy day here. I woke up a little later than planned and had to rush around the house this morning getting myself and the little guys ready and out the door. I have an 8am lab on Tuesdays so that made it a little more chaotic than usual. But we made it just fine. In more exciting news, I gave a big presentation today for a group project and it went so well! My group and I had been working hard, but I was still a touch nervous about how it would go. I shouldn't have been because all of our preparation definitely paid off, what a relief! One more thing- remember that project I was working on last month? I got it back. And I earned an A. End of bragging.

When I got back into town from school, I went and scooped up the boys and we were off to the park. We had fun :)

magical.

He looks so grown up. Kind of.

I love this.

We built a sandcastle, with a moat and bridge. We're awesome like that.

Until next time,

Carmen











About living and dying.

I work very part time at a psychiatric hospital. I'm talking 16-20 hours per month (hey I'm pretty busy). So because I am not there all too often, I don't have a specific job, I just fill in where they need me.  Tonight they needed me to sit with a man as he died. And so I did.

I did not know this man well, I've only met him a time or two before. It didn't matter much. I sat with him, and held his hand like we were old friends. And while I've sat with patients at the end of their lives before, it never gets any easier.

There is something profound about sitting with a person as they go from living to dying. I think it is one of the most real moments there is in life. Watching how temporary life really is.

It's hard to explain.

I could not do much for him, but I could sit there with him and keep him company. I could hold his hand. I could pray with him, and tell him that he was not alone.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.

 

My life is temporary. I will be grateful for each day. I will focus my heart on the what matters most, and appreciate all that life has to offer.

 

Rest in peace Mr. S.

 

Carmen