Nameless....

Today is March 24th...Robert's birthday. I think it will always be a difficult day for me. There are so many feelings to be felt and much to think about and say. I think a TV show I was watching a month or so ago summed it up best. A family had lost a child and the parents were trying to sort out their grief. The wife said something that really stuck me. In summary it went something like this: when a child loses a parent she or he is called an orphan; when a spouse loses their partner they are called a widow or widower; but, there is just not a word in the human language to describe the word for a parent who loses a child. So...today I will remain nameless. I still miss Robert--he has forever changed my life. Happy 3rd Birthday little one!

Running Commentary

Joshua is chatty. He was slower to start talking than our other children, but he has certainly made up a lot of the volume. When he hears something, he often parrots what has been said or makes something up. Here is an example of this from tonight's scripture study:

"Adam, Eve naked!"

"Yes Joshua, Adam and Eve were naked in the garden of Eden."

After a moment's silence he pointed to his feet and said, "Elmo slippers!"

"Hi Elmo," he says while waving and then he bends over and kisses the Elmo on his slippers.

Then he points to the picture in the story, "Eve naked!"

"Eve wore clothing after she left the garden of Eden, Joshua."

He usually has a lot to say.

A Favorite Quote

Let me say something about that word: miracle. For too long it's been used to characterize things or events that, though pleasant, are entirely normal. Peeping chicks at Easter time, spring generally, a clear sunrise after an overcast week—a miracle, people say, as if they've been educated from greeting cards. I'm sorry, but nope. Such things are worth our notice every day of the week, but to call them miracles evaporates the strength of the word.

Real miracles bother people, like strange sudden pains unknown in medical literature. It's true: They rebut every rule all we good citizens take comfort in. Lazarus obeying orders and climbing up out of the grave—now there's a miracle, and you can bet it upset a lot of folks who were standing around at the time. When a person dies, the earth is generally unwilling to cough him back up. A miracle contradicts the will of earth.

—Leif Enger, Peace Like a River

Savor the miracles you find.

End of an Era

Joshua had to say goodbye to a favorite companion this week. Saying goodbye can be hard.

Random Observations

Did you know that Joshua loves the color pink? I think he might get that from me. Growing up in my family, each family member had a different color plate. Mom's plate was yellow, Dad's was orange, Matt's was blue, Oliver's was purple, Sara's was green, Eric's was white, and mine was pink.

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Joshua has become interested in the going to the bathroom. We are excited because I would love to minimize the two children in diapers stage. We have learned that he will take off and run around the house naked if you are not careful.

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Grace has the blogging gene. She does not have a blog, but she has a bulletin board in her room. She changes what is on the board almost every day. Instead of a weblog, I call it her wall-log.

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Caleb recently purchased a new Webkinz. It is an adorable little monkey and just screams Caleb. He has named the monkey, BoyKing. Isn't that a great name for a monkey?

File this Under the Title of Somewhat Disturbing

I find this commercial quite funny. I am not sure why. The first time I saw it I thought it was lame, but it becomes funnier with repeated viewing.