Stray Thoughts with Gretchen:

Things you might overhear in my house...



"Mom, Dad says you're obsessed with blogging, Facebook, and Twitter. Are you obsessed?"



or



"Gretchen, do you really need 3 electronic social networks?"

Why, yes. Yes, I do. And guess what? Big actually tried Twitter for a while. Without.telling.me. And now he's a mocker. Because he felt like the updates on his fave sports figures were just too much. But he's not such a mocker that he's not helping me set it up and work it with my phone. He just happens to shake his head in resignation.





Support can be beautiful. I hear, anyway.

Moving on...

"Mom, I think it's pretty disturbing that you have a crush on (new) Spock."



"Mom, did you vote for Kris? I really like him. Vote for Kris. No, not Danny, Kris". (This after we assured them that we'd vote for Adam and another. I suggested Kris or Danny, Amber. Ahem.


And moving on. "What'djyado yesterday, Gretchen?"

Yesterday, I failed as the strong, stoic type. I took my daughter in to see the podiatrist after getting tired of hearing her complain several weeks of heel discomfort which was aggravated by her running in and doing all things track. Even though she only has 3 more meets, I feel like it's important to nip whateveritis in the bud so that other running sports aren't a problem (she had mentioned heel pain in the past when playing soccer). So, I took her to her primary doc, began PT, and scheduled an appt with the podiatrist. Yesterday, the podiatrist took an xray, and it seems little Drama has a stress fracture in her heel at the growth plate. I haven't read me no xrays since doing swallowing studies as a speech therapist many aeons ago. But I can see broken. Poor little duck. So, when we looked at this xray together with Drama Girl, the dream crusher doctor told her: no PE, and no track. Period.

Well, I tried. I knew, in watching that little face-trying-so-hard-to-be-a-"mature"-10-year-old-while-crumpling-anyway, that I needed to give a hug and be strong. Well, I got the first part. But dangitall if I wasn't tearing up, too. We know (and praise Him) that catching this when we did means she won't be in a cast. It means that for a month of her life, she won't be doing stuff she likes to do. She can try long jump (the probable culprit) when her bones have fused, and she can run in events until then. That really, this is small. But when you're 10, you want to be doing those lemming important things that your friends do. Yeah, the running is part of it, but you've just joined a new school this year, and you're just now feeling a part of the team. So, I cried for her and with her. For just a little. For I needed to drive, and only one person can be wrecked at a time in our family. That's my policy.

And then I prayed with her.

And then I made her laugh. Because that's what I do.

Lastly, I treated her with medicinal Starbucks white vanilla bean frappucino with a shot of hazelnut, and dropped her off at school.

Randomnosity

So, I did some very important work today...I removed the Halloween neckerchiefs from the hounds and sewed Fall/Thanksgiving neckerchiefs. And got started on a Christmas neckerchief, too. Because I'm sure I'm on my way to being a weird old lady with dozens of dogs and kleenex up the sleeve of my polyester jogging jacket. And, BTW, do.not.look.at all the clutter in the pictures!

Anyhoo...Been reading along in the Good Book. Finally finished Job. Thank goodness. What a downer! But of course I mean that in the most reverent way. God teaches that He gives and takes away, and who are we to question His sovereign plan. Nice to know that the Bible was written for the likes of me in mind: those who need things repeatedly repeated until the light goes on and I have some sense. Yep. Nevertheless, it's lovely to dive into the book of Psalms, though. If I've lost you, I started reading the Bible from page 1 in July. I know...some snails are faster than me. But I don't care.

Now...I'm thinking of Christmas...you know...just the planning stages. The church part and the rejoicing over Jesus is easy. The scheduling all this rejoicing and gladness without overscheduling takes a deft hand. Plus, I'm in a dessert theater musical at church, which I lurve. However, given the Saturday rehearsals from here on out and the actual (6!) performances during the first 2 weekends of December, I'm sort of thrown for a loop in terms of decorating, meal planning, and of course Christmas crafting and shopping. Can you tell I love this time of year? I do. The busyness can be challenging. I try very hard to find balance so I really appreciate Christ in the celebration. I don't always get it right and migraines ensue. But...it's still the "most wonderful time of the year" for me.

Also thinking of Thanksgiving. We're going to CO for a short, short time, given a wacky-good price on airline tix. So...even though staying a bit longer would be nice, we're dealing.

David is doing well in his school--thank you for your prayers over the last month or 2. What a blessing for this mother to see her son come out of school smiling. I thank God for His provision that we can send this boy where he needs to go and that he's finally t.h.r.i.v.i.n.g. What a long time in coming. God's perfect time.

Got to catch up with my friend Jean today as we raked leaves in the rain. It was totally fun. The rain glued the leaves together, so it really was quick work. And BTW, all work goes much smoothlier with a pumpkin spice latte. Just keepin' it real.

Oh, also--applause, please. I went for the second night this week to the health club with my children. We all exercised. It was a true and faithful act of God, because I have no love in my body for exercise and health clubs are insanely distasteful to my preferred sedentary self. However, we made it. I think we're going to (gulp/hyperventilate) try to make a Tue/Thur habit of going. To be honest, I'm thrilled that they're old enough to work out with me, both as an example (ha!) to them and as inspiration for me to keep healthy and spur them on toward healthy habits. Dang my mom for being skinny.

But lest you think that we embrace the healthy lifestyle in its entirety, I must confess that we picked up pizza on the way home from the club. Baby steps. Plus, we do a pizza night once a week. We just do. That's how we roll.

Okie dokey. Survivor's on in about an hour, so I'd better feed the laundry beasts of burden and go do mommy duty. SDG!