Found, Changed and Rearranged

Backpacks

On Louis' first day of Kindergarten, his new backpack had not yet arrived in the mail, so he was forced to take his preschool backpack. He complained almost every moment of our ride to/from school. 

After assuring him a bagillion times that his new backpack would be deliverd that day, there was finally silence. And then "Mom? ...I think I'll see if Teddy would like my old backpack."

I love it when he loves his brother like this.  He can be so thoughtful. So when we got home, he ran into the house and gave his backpack to Teddy.  And even though Teddy already had a backpack, he accepted the gift with a huge smile, "Thanks Louith!"

I want to sear this moment of kindness, brotherly love and joy in my memory.

Talking to strangers

I have this faint recollection from childhood of my Mom telling me that I wasn't supposed to talk with strangers. I was good at it too, and still am. Unless I know someone, I'm very good at minding my own business.

In light of this, I've noticed that lately people have been talking to me out of the blue. Why is this?  Is it something about where I live? Are people just friendly here? Is it that people know I'm adverse to conversations with strangers, so they talk to me?  Kind of like the cat-hater who attracts cats... Whatever it is, it used to bug me.

I'm slowly coming out of my shell. Scott and I were out to dinner at Kirby's the other night and a group of couples next to us began talking to me.  At first I gave simple answers thinking I could quickly end this conversation, but they just kept talking. Finally, it dawned on me - these people might not know Christ. It's not that I was about to whip out my bible and walk them through the steps to salvation, but I became keenly aware that my attitude, my actions, my speech, my demeanor...everything could play into the reason why they were drawn to or repelled from the message of Christ. So, I turned my chair in their direction and we talked.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I love to sleep, although it will remain fleeting for the forseeable future given that I have three children five and under.

For most of my adult life, I've had this quote hanging near my desk:

According to sleep studies, the most creative people habitually sleep the longest.  So do neurotics. - from The Compass in your Nose and Other Astonishing Facts about Humans

Hmm. I wonder what that means for me?

Weeeeee!

I've been planning to launch this blog for months, but everytime I go to do it, I talk myself out of it. Today - enough is enough.  Here I go!