Simple...not easy

As many of you know, the last year has had a lot of ups and downs for me - (the short version follows:)
Up, up UP - the birth of another healthy, beautiful baby boy - the blessings of managing to keep our jobs in this awful economy, overall health, watching Dominic grow and learn and develop, and generally being really grateful for what we do have.
DOWN, down, down - my dad's death, a new baby who was really colicky and cried A LOT, some extremely difficult moments with my job, constantly fearing that Mike's job would be lost, Mike breaking his hip, juggling lots of changes and just adjusting to a household with two under 2... then more difficult moments with my job, and some frustrating personal stuff.

These ups & downs have left me feeling stuck in a sort of roller coaster for some time now - just sort of going with the ups and downs and not really having a clue how to get off of the ride or out of the amusement park! The problem with being in a roller coaster is that you don't have control - you don't have brakes or an escape or anything.

But last week, the most important person in my life did some things for me, because of me, that may seem small to others and small in the scheme of things, but helped me really "get it" that the toughest lesson to live is the simplest: truly treat others as you would have them treat you.

I was trying to live the advice I'd read in an article ( http://kyria.com/topics/marriagefamily/marriage/helphealing/onewayturnaround.html ) lately - "Someone has to choose to be everything their spouse needs them to be rather than yearning for their spouse to be everything they need." - and making tiny steps in that direction, but he's the one who legitimately did that and took the big steps.

Treating others as you would have them treat you sounds so simple, right?

And we've heard it so many times that it certainly shouldn't be earth shattering. But it kinda was for me, because if I'm going to be the kind of wife, mom, employee, colleague, daughter, sister, niece, cousin, friend, church member, citizen, that I want to be, I need to be more intentional about doing that very thing - loving others as I love myself. With full recognition, of course, that the first commandment is even more important - Loving God with all my heart, soul, and mind.

Somehow, even though I know that I'll still have lots of ups and downs (that's just life), I feel like those kindnesses and that realization helped me get off the ride and even out of the park and back in control of my attitude - and to a position that allows me to be intentional.

If I get nothing else right in life, these are the things I want to do correctly: love God and love the people in my life with everything that I am... no matter the circumstances.

Loooooong Time...

Okay, so it's been a REALLY.long.time since I've posted.
But I've kind of missed you, blog.

Life has just been so busy... happening.

My kids...they are just growing up so darn fast.

Tonight, Zachary started singing the "hot dog" song from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Hellooo - he hasn't said "mama" in a long time - and he's singing the hot dog song? I don't know whether to be proud (isn't it a little early to be singing?) or sad... does that mean we're not bonding well? (Nah - he really is a Mama's boy. I think his brother's just teaching him too many things!)

(I posted just for you, Uncle Dean. I promise, I'll try to post more soon!)

Sad

When I worked as a reporter for newspapers, I loved my job.
It was so great to always be meeting new people, to hear new stories, to learn new perspectives, to see the world in a slightly different way.
And these days, I'm thinking that maybe I missed my calling & should've been a political reporter - I feel as though I am truly able to see things from many perspectives. The topic fascinates me greatly and sure, I have my own biases, but I feel as though I could be pretty darn objective.

But my job right now can't get much better. Sure there are issues there (where aren't there?) but the benefits are too many to count. When working for a newspaper, I was doing all kinds of stories (news, feature, etc.) every day, which I loved. Working for a magazine, however, the pace is much slower. You have more time to dig deeper, to get to know people a little better, to get more of their story. And for this particular magazine - I share a common tapestry with all of them.

In college, a friend told me that I always got too attached to my stories. I guess I still do. Which makes it that much harder when tragedy hits the "subjects." Today I learned that one of the liveliest women I've ever met - and one of my favorite interviews in how many years - has weeks to live, at best - her cancer has returned with a vengeance. Her children asked for extra magazine copies to display at her funeral.

Karen, thanks for welcoming so many to the Table of Plenty.
http://www.malonemagazine.com/fall-2008/come-to-the-table-of-plenty

The tour of "No"

Yesterday, Dominic's grandma came over for dinner.
After dinner, Mike & I went upstairs to pay bills (oh, the exciting life of newish parents!) while Little D kept Grandma entertained.
He decided to take her on the tour of "No." He led her over to the bookshelf by the mantle, climbed up onto the bottom shelf, and shook his head "No."
Then he led her over to the French door with a register behind it. He picked up the register cover, shook his head "No" and put the register back down.
Then he took her to an electrical outlet, touched a cord, and shook his head "No."
Then he went to the tv, pretended to push the button, and shook his head, "No."
Finally he led her into the kitchen, persuaded her to give him sippy cup of milk (which she happily obliged), marched back to the living room, sat down, took a big gulp of milk, and gave her an ornery grin. He was done!

Just in case...

Just in case anyone finds me on here rather than Facebook and you don't know yet... Michael & I are having another boy.
We're still working on a name, and think we've found one, but we're still mulling it over for a while.
Meanings of names are very important to me - Dominic Michael means "Belonging to God" and "Who is Like God?"

Here's a hint: the name that we're considering means "God has Remembered" and "Beloved" (We're pretty sure this will be the middle name regardless). Another choice we're considering means "Watchful one" and would be significant to both Mike and me for multiple reasons. Email me if you think you know what they are (hee, hee!).

Hope you all are well!

amber

THREE days in a row?

Advice, please.

So when you have a very ornery, very curious one-year-old boy who is into EVERYTHING - especially things that plug in and glow and have cords and that he's not supposed to touch... what do you do about a Christmas tree?

Thanks!

- amber

How 'bout this - two days in a row!