Shane got to play with my phone at wrestling practice the other week. Many pics were blurred.
Or included a finger.
This one captured the essence of the mat.
Hello, Coach's armpit!
You can peek into the basketball gym through the double-doors, too. The wrestlers all know, because clean, cold air leaks through.
Shane did capture some wrestling.
It kept him busy. I hope he absorbed some of what he saw.
He got a few of me, too.
He focused on everyone else, though. They were much more interesting.
That's a half-nelson, Shane. He's grabbing the near knee to help roll his opponent, but you lose pressure when you're on your own knees. Good shot, kid. I'll have to watch the next time we practice.
Like I said, I hope Shane learned something (I learned I stand funny).
I arranged for a sub in case Shane was sick. He woke up fever-less, Carrie woke up fever-full, and my right eyelid refused to open.
It was a good thing I already had a sub!
We kept the day sick, but productive. Carrie's x-rays and appointment longer than expected. The doctor said it looked like she was healing. He pointed out there was some "wiggle room" in the joints. If it doesn't go away as Carrie heals, then she made needs screws to prevent arthritis by forty. If she does need surgery, that would keep her yearly average on track. We'll no more at our next appointment in January. I snuck out for an hour during Shane's nap to get my allergy shot. They're going to be hard to keep up with during wrestling.
UPDATE: Carrie's fever was strep. She went to the doctor on Wednesday. I had viral pink eye. My temperature was elevated for several days and cold symptoms hit. My eyes looked mostly normal except for gunk in the morning. I had to try and stay "hand offs" at practice. Shane must have gifted it to me from daycare. His eyes never looked pink, but he did get some gunk in them Thursday night. The gunk is what prompted me to go to the doctor in case he had a sinus infection (Nope!).
It's been a tough month. Carrie got hurt November 1st. Shane got strep November 2nd. Then I got sick on the 3rd or 4th. Work didn't slow down. The wrestling interest meeting was the 5th and I got hired as a MS Coach the 6th. I found out the details over the weekend. High school started practice the 9th. MS began the 16th. Throughout I had several deadlines for testing and re-evaluation packets. I popped a tire and changed it in the dark at Shane's preschool one day, too.
We survived until the holidays, but now Shane has fever again. He's had it since the day before Thanksgiving (the 25th). The cough started the night before. I took him to the doctor on the 27th, but she said it was probably a virus and should go away on it's own. Shane must not have gotten the memo. He woke up coughing and gagging last night and had a low grade fever in the morning.
Healthy or unhealthy, Shane calls out every morning at 6:58 AM: "Daaaddy! Oh, Daaaaddy!" It keeps me shorter on sleep. If he still has a fever tonight, I may need to call in for a sub Monday. Otherwise, I may not have time to find someone to cover (not many subs jump at going to my school either). I was going be a little late to take Carrie to her doctor's appointment, but Shane upped the ante. Speaking of appointments, Carrie's got moved back 15 minutes the other week. That's not a lot, but I was already cutting my schedule close to beat my students to class. We're not sure how long the appointment and x-rays will take, so any push back makes me wonder.
Months like this aren't the most fun, but they serve a purpose. They allow you to show love, grit and faith, stretch you, and help you to appreciate the highlights when they hit. Shane and I got to finish out soccer, go to a birthday party, and we all ate lots of turkey! I am thrilled I get to coach wrestling again, as well.
The good and the challenges all take energy. November's drained me. I meant to write more and catch up with the blog and every other little thing over the holidays, but I didn't. I spent more time on the computer doing nothing and stared into space than I should have. I rested enough I'm ready to hit Monday with what I've got.
I write this to keep my blog honest. I don't want a highlights reel. This is not a complaint. I like behind the scenes stories. Life's not easy and it never will be. I don't always care for the struggle in the moment, but life would be bland without it.
I won't complain if God let's us take a breather, though. I have to figure out something to do for Shane's birthday....soon!
PS - Carrie thinks she has whatever Shane started with. She has a 101.2 temp.
PPS - The inspiration for this post came after I saw the quote from Furtick and then Carrie and I watched "Chaos on the Bridge" (a behind the scenes look at Star Trek TNG).
Shane's bathroom has smelled for a week. It started at a wet fart, progressed to "did a cat take a crap upstairs?" and hit rotten-egg/sulfur this weekend. That lovely smell indicated sewer gas.
Carrie and I think we figured it out, though. The water in the p-trap must have evaporated. No one's used it since Charles and Jenn visited for Columbus Day. I ran the bath and the vent. No more smell.
Another lesson brought to you by home ownership 101: Something will give somewhere!
Carrie found Shane wrestling duds online. He got to try them out today.
I wanted to sign Shane up for a kid's wrestling program. The day and time didn't work out. Shane will have to settle for rolling around with my boys instead.
It won't be every day, but maybe it'll spark his interest in the sport!
Carrie bought a refill for our foaming soaps, but who knows where it landed? After a week of empty pumps, she made her own foam with water and concentrated dish soap.
Shane got his first car maintenance lesson years ahead of plan. He got to hold the light while I changed a flat. We were in the parking lot of his school. I could have done it without him, but I figured it was an experience. I'm no sucker, though. I loosened the bolts, set the jack, and unloaded the spare before I checked him out.
We made it to the end! Shane attended every soccer practice! We celebrated ahead of time at Chic-Fil-A.
Actually, Carrie was still asleep when Shane woke up. I snuck him out the front door for breakfast, so she could sleep. Chick-Fil-A was close to the soccer fields.
Shane was fueled up and ready to go when practice started. We made it early, too!
My one complaint: There was no practice. Instead, the kids played back to back games. Shane's heart wasn't really in it.
I talked to the coach later. "What did you say to motivate him?" Shane didn't like the mud on his shoes. Coach said, "If you run it will fall off!" Brilliant! That explained Shane's strange run kicking his feet. Coach and I had a good laugh.
Shane wasn't the only kid to feel soccer fatigue. Many other kids started to drop off and fade away as time went on. An hour is a long time to ask 4, 5, and 6 year olds to focus on anything (that's not electronic!).
Shane ran around and kicked the ball some early on. He enjoyed seeing his friends and the snack at the end. C'est la vie. We enjoyed the season while it lasted. I am strongly considering signing Shane up for the Spring session. I don't know if he's old enough to do baseball or something else. Soccer was a good experience.
The reaction online to Syrian refugees is disheartening. Fear is palpable. What bothers me though, are the people who claim to follow Jesus out of one corner of their mouth and then oppose allowing any refugees into the states out of the other. The "Bible Belt" was quick to forbid any refugees from entering.
The scriptures that oppose this are legion.
Jesus said:
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’(Matthew 25:35-40)
If the online reaction is a measure, it's no stretch to say the Syrian refugees are considered "the least of these" by many people.
And if you counter with "but Muslims are the enemy!"
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? (Matthew 5:44-47)
Jesus made a point of reaching out to the people others would push away.
15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:15-17)
The way the refugees are looked at may be similar to how many Jews looked at Samaritans. Even many non-Christians know the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus told.
Then there are the Christians online who say "It's dangerous" or "Jesus wants us to have common sense."
To the dangerous:
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12)
Jesus frequently said (if I can paraphrase) "It's not going to safe or easy."
And to the bit about common sense: Since when did Jesus follow the path of common sense? His own disciples were aghast when he told them he was going to die.
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many thingsand be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. (Mark 8:31-32)
They all thought that he was going to come, kick butt, and rule with authority. Jesus had some choice words that followed.
33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
The Way of the Cross
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:33-38)
There is very little "common sense" by this world's definitions in what Jesus said. Jesus never has and never will be about personal safety. He's far more concerned with our character in trials than our comforts.
The idea of a "safe" Jesus appeals to many but (to go Old Testament):
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:12)
These are only the first arguments and scriptures that come to my mind and I'm no scholar.
From a secular standpoint, it doesn't make sense to me to forbid Syrian refugees either.
Most of what I read online feels like it could be contributed to fear ("If I gave you a bag of grapes, but told you a couple were poisoned, would you eat them?") or to misunderstandings.
Here's an example of both:
George Takei called out the mayor of a nearby city (Roanoke) for referring to Internment Camps as a 'sequester.' The mayor also compared the terrorist attack in Paris to Pearl Harbor. Now, the Paris attack is a tragedy. The 130 lives lost are worth mourning. However, I don't know why the mayor would consider it an apples-to-apples comparison with an attack made by the army of a sovereign nation that killed over 2,500 people and launched our nation into WW2. Some environmentalist will probably point out that the USS Arizona has leaked oil since the attack and probably made someone's fish taste bad, as well.
I have learned something from what I've read online, though. Only ~30% of the US wanted to allow Jewish refugees after WW2 in one poll. I'm not surprised, but it's still sad.
What chance do the Syrians have when they are being killed by terrorists and their own government, but have the same general look as the people killing them? We didn't want to let starved and tortured Jewish refugees in and they didn't look like the Aryans who wanted to exterminate them.
I'd write more, but I don't have all the facts I want on hand. I suspect ISIS has killed far more Muslims than any other group of people. I worry that if refugees are treated horribly and refused in place after place that could be used as a recruitment tool by ISIS ("See? Everyone hates you! The world is corrupt, blah blah"). I read a long post by a lawyer that said "Do you know how hard it is to be allowed refugee status?" He explained ad nauseam and while no process is perfect, he concluded "There are much easier ways to get into our country for a terrorist than as a refugee."
I think he's right, too. The refugees walk a dangerous and desperate path. One picture of a Turkish soldier holding a drowned five year old refugee I cannot forget comes to mind.
I do approve of my state governor's refusal to block refugees from entering. He recently made huge strides in ending veteran homelessness in VA, as well (poignant when one of the many memes I see chastises people for thinking about refugees when there are homeless veterans).
I don't know it all, but that's my two cents. I'd come up with a better ending, but it's late and I'm tired.
Sometimes super heroes "fly" over the top of the shower curtain. Only when Shane showers, though. A pair of them hung on here. "Come down, Michael Keaton!"
Happy Birthday Party, Samuel! He didn't turn three yet, but we sure celebrated it. Samuel's mom arranged for everyone to tour the Fontaine Street Fire Station: The first new station in Charlottesville in the last 50 years.
Shane was too excited to let me take a picture.
When we stepped through the front door, we walked into a small memorial.
There was a girder from New York, concrete from the Pentagon, and a rock from Stonycreek Township.
The little ones were too young to understand the significance, but they enjoyed looking at the memorabilia.
I found some fliers shaped like fire trucks. Instant toys.
There were real toy fire trucks when we went inside, but we couldn't touch those!
When the rest of the party arrived, the captain started the tour.
We walked through the kitchen, dining room,...
...and into the lounge.
Once there, the firefighters talked to us about fire safety plans. The captain asked, "Who has talked to their kids about a safe fire evacuation route?"
No one raised a hand.
I remedied that later! I'm sure many others did, too!
When continued on the tour by going up to the third floor. We got to look down into the entry hall,..
...and see the training room. The station acted as the region's fire college. It could also be used as a command center to coordinate during extreme weather or taken over by the secret service if the president visited.
Behind the training room, were the dorms. Firefighters work 24 hour shifts, so they have rooms where they can sleep. Four firefighters lived in the station full time.
Each fighter gets a small room with a twin bed. There are red lights and a speaker on the wall to wake them up if needed.
If they are called, the fighters need a way to get downstairs in a hurry.
We got a demonstration later. I wish I could have slid down, too.
I'm glad Shane didn't get a chance, though.
The stairs between levels were long and straight to run down in case of a backlog at the polls.
Next, we peeked at the offices on the second floor, but the engine bay was the real exciting part.
The captain let everyone take turns in his seat.
The kids explored the office of the haz-mat engine, too. Shane tried to crawl on the desk.
Another firefighter geared up for the kids to see.
Firefighting has always held an allure to me. I briefly thought about as a career, but never was serious. I ended up where I'm supposed to be, but it's fun to think about in retrospect. My sisters started training to be volunteer fighters once upon a time, as well.
Shane and I are none to wander (like my thoughts). We found a map of all the fire stations and their service areas while everyone else was still checking out the engines.
After the tour, everyone rendezvoused back at Samuel's house for cake and pizza.
The kids were hungry.
Then they got to take out their energy on Darth Vader.
A pinata seems like the perfect way to get rid of excess Halloween candy (If Shane's candy lasts until his birthday....hmmm)
I took a video of everyone singing Happy Birthday.
Last but not least: Presents.
We wanted Shane's gift to be heartfelt, so he picked out one of his garbage trucks to give to Samuel (he only had one). Now Shane and Samuel can both play with garbage trucks on community group nights! Carrie stuck an amazon gift card in the truck to make it heartfelt from us, as well.
My wrapping....was a little rushed.
Carrie's the artistic one. She's limited. We didn't know the details about the party until Tuesday night, either. Wrestling is in full swing, SOCA hit in the morning.....I'm lucky I found a grocery bag.
Samuel liked the truck. I'm glad we're down one (until the next time Nana visits, at least).
I was wiped by the end of the party. Shane didn't want to go! Happy Birthday, Samuel!
