Officer Chad

Jeremiah poses with his aunt "chees" and uncle "tad" after the graduation ceremony.
Jeremiah claps and says "yeah" for every graduate. That was his favorite part. :-)

Chad receives his diploma (or whatever they call it).

Congratulations to my brother Chad who graduated from the police academy yesterday and is now an official police officer! Aaron had the day off yesterday so we went to his graduation ceremony and then out to eat with the Rapier's and Chad's family as well. We are so proud of Chad! He so impressed the Dalton police department that they initially hired him before he turned 21 so that they could get him in the academy. It is a little strange to think about a close family member being a police officer and being in danger every day. It is also strange to think that now whenever he is with us he has a gun strapped to his waist under his shirt. But we are proud of his desire to serve God and serve his community. And we are proud of Cherise for being such a supportive wife to him. Pray for them!

Potty Time?

My first post this morning was about politics - I figured Jeremiah warranted a post of his own.

I think we are coming out of the sickness, but there are globs of snot coming out of his nose! I know, it's gross, but true. So, please continue to pray for his healing.

This morning I pulled a small potty out of its box and placed it in the bathroom. Now, just to clarify, I am not one of those parents that is in a huge rush for my kid to be potty trained. In fact, I look with some dread at the whole process and I was more than willing to put it off until well past his 2nd birthday and closer to his 3rd. But, according to everything that I have read Jeremiah is showing all the signs of being ready to be potty trained. Seriously, every checklist that I read I can check everything off. Except for the fact that sometimes he still wakes up from his nap wet. He knows the difference between "poo-poo" and "pee-pee", he knows what the toilet is for, he tells me after he has pooped in his diaper. I read the check lists over and over again. No! I thought, I am not ready for this yet. This is going to take consistency and patience that I am not sure I have right now.

So, I figured if he is showing the readyness signs I shouldn't ignore them. I will definitely take the process slow though and let Jeremiah take the lead. The potty will sit in the bathroom for a few weeks before we even try to use it. In the next few weeks I will encourage Jeremiah to do more of his own dressing - he still does have some trouble with the whole pants down thing. He gets the concept but he tries to sit down while he takes them off, which of course isn't very effective. We are currently working on washing hands before meals. And in the next few weeks I will try and find some books about using the potty.

We'll see how it goes. I am not in a hurry and I don't want to push Jeremiah if he is not ready. If it doesn't work initially we will stop and try again later.

I just realized that I wrote a whole post about Jeremiah's bodily functions. I am so sorry! It seems I have turned into one of those mothers. You will not hurt my feelings if you are not the least bit interested by this post. And feel free to call me to talk about adult things - view it as an intervention if you wish!

My dad's fault :-)

I am tired and bleary eyed this morning. Since we were out of coffee, I'm still not sure how that happened in this house, I have already been to Wal-Mart this morning to get some more and now have a much needed cup in hand. Why am I so tired? I mean, aside from all the obvious reasons. Because I stayed up last night watching election results. Yep. Yesterday was one day when I would have gladly paid to have cable and been able to keep CNN or MSNBC on all day. But alas, I had to wait until the regular newscasts to get my election day fix. Why am I such an election day junkie you ask?

It's my dad's fault!

Ever since I can remember on election day my dad has talked to me about the process and then we have watched the results together. The first election I can remember was when I was in the 5th or 6th grade and Dukakis was one of the canditates. When we were in the Netherlands watching election day results was abit more of a challenge and adventure. I remember getting up in the middle of the night and driving over to an American couple's house to all watch the results together. I was thrilled to be considered mature enough to participate. I think that election was one that involved Ross Perot. I still laugh at the SNL skits about him!

The first election I ever voted in was at Covenant College. I remember my friend Bryan driving me to a small polling station on the mountain. It was a thrill to actually go into the voting booth, pull the curtain, and pull the lever. This year in Georgia anyone can vote by absentee ballot so I had the ballot on my dining room table for a few weeks while I prayed, researched and thought about who to vote for.

I consider myself an idependent. I vote for the person, not the party. And I am definitely not a one issue voter. I think that my facination with election results is more about watching trends and issues in the nation. As a sociology major I have an obsession with watching people, trying to figure out why they do what they do. So, obviously I was watching yesterdays results with much curiosity. I am even more interested to see what the next few days and months will bring and what the reaction from the "religious right" will be.

I have been frustrated in the past few elections with the religious community's use of faith to try and force Christians into voting for certain candidates. In discussions that I have had with various Christians that I love my faith has been called into question because I had concerns about certain candidates. I found this commentary on last nights events interesting.

I think though that in general I have become pretty cynical about the whole process. As Aaron says, we don't really have a choice, the choice that we have as American voters is basically between 2 white, rich guys. The other night Aaron read me this startling statistic - 20% of children in America live below the poverty line. Guess what percentage of children lived below the poverty line 20 years ago - 20%. I think that more than anything that statistic says where our priorities are as Americans.

Regardless of my cynical attitude, the process of democracy is facinating. And I fully intend to engage Jeremiah in the process as he grows up. I hope that discussions around our dinner table will include politics and that I can raise Jeremiah to have a thoughtful mind as he begins to think about national and global issues. One day I hope to be staying up late, watching election results with Jeremiah on the couch next to me and I think it will be a proud day for me when I take my 18 year old son to vote for the first time!

Sunshine & Snowflakes

Yesterday I experienced a full-circle moment. The record (yep- record as in vynl, record player, lp) that I had been searching for for the past few months arrived! Here is the story:

When I was a kid we didn't watch much tv. In fact, we didn't even own a tv until we moved back to Philly when I was 10, and even that was a small black and white one that was only rolled out of the closet to watch the Cosby Show on Thursday nights. We listed to tapes and records for entertainment. I think I still know all the words to Psalty the Singing Songbook, Bullfrogs and Butterflies, and Music Machine. We used to sing all the songs and act out all the stories. One of the tapes I remember as being my very favorite was Sunshine and Snowflakes. I'm not sure why I loved it so much. It is a record (which we had recorded on tape) of 40 kids in a children's choir singing mostly traditional Christmas Hymns to fun, upbeat arrangements. Maybe it was the harmony's, maybe it was the enthusiasm of the kids, whatever it was I loved it.

Throughout the years as an adult around Christmas time I find myself still singing those songs and have frequently asked my mom if she knew anything about the original recording. Where could I get it? She didn't know. Last week, thanks to the wonders of Ebay I found it! Sunshine and Snowflakes on LP (which by the way is the only way it is available since it was recorded in 1976)! I put my bid in immediately, and since they are apperantly not in high demand won the auction with a whopping $2.50.

Yesterday the package arrived in the mail and I immediately opened it. I was acting like a kid in a candy store. Jeremiah liked the bright colors on the album cover. I went straight to our record player (yes, we do have one) and put on the record. The music started and it was everything I remembered it to be. I picked up Jeremiah and we danced around the room. And then, I started crying. So many memories of my childhood were flooding back to me at the very same instant that I was dancing with my own son. Who is this person I am now? Can I truly nurture Jeremiah the way he needs? Why can't the world be as simple and joyful as 40 children singing enthusiastically about the coming of Christ? So many uncertainties that seem to be part of this time of self-evaluation as I turn 30.

Jeremiah seemed to like the music, but did keep saying "Veggie Tales" over and over. It seems that one day when he is in his 30's and has children of his own he will be sitting at his computer searching Ebay for long forgotten cds and video tapes of the Veggie Tales. I hope that he will also have an antique record player to play his Sunshine and Snowflakes record on. And, for good measure, I have added the Music Machine and Bullfrogs and Butterflies cd box set to his Amazon wishlist.

Quoting Jeremiah

The other day I noticed Jeremiah shaking his head back and forth and saying "mope, mope, mope." He was playing with his Larry the Cucumber and I couldn't figure out what the heck he was saying. This morning I asked him if he wanted another bite of cream of wheat. "Mope, Mope, Mope" was the emphatic answer combined with vigarous head shaking. I got it now! "Nope" Apperantly in my quest to not say "no" all the time "nope" became the next best thing. I wonder what child development experts would say to that......

Still dealing with runny nose and cough, but sleeping well at night (and that is the important thing). I am abit worried because it sounds like he is having to work a bit for breath. But again, he is not slowing down. If this is the same tomorrow then I will break down and go to the doctor.

Have a great day everyone!

God's Politics

Please read this article before voting on Tuesday!
I think it has a lot of good things to say.

More leaves

Cute, cute, cute!
Look closely, there is Aaron!
My boys!
Jeremiah decided that he wanted a ride in the trash can we use to take the piles of leaves out to the street. Apperantly that was more fun than playing in the piles themselves. Crazy kid!

We had a fun day (more pics below). The weather was beautiful! Jeremiah is still sick though with lots of snot and drool and a cough. Aaron stayed home from church with him this morning. It doesn't seem to slow him down much. But he does scream bloody murder when we try to put saline drops in his nose.

 

Playing in the leaves

We spent some time today raking the leaves in our yard. Jeremiah was not too sure that he wanted to jump into them (he hates to get dirty). Here I am trying to coax him to come and play in them.


I finally got him to come into the leaves, but he still wasn't really sure that he liked it. He sat there for a few minutes and then decided he had enough.

 

Promises, Promises

Can it be? Is it possible that I have a quiet minute all to myself? Yes, it is true!

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers over the past few days. Having made it with flying colors and little problems through teething up until now the final molars are presenting a problem. The last few days have a been a slobery, snoty mess. Thankfully except for a bit of extra whiny-ness Jeremiah seems to be his usual enthusiastic, energetic self.

In a past blog entry I promised to expound on a few things:

Last weekend we watched the movie Thank You for Smoking. I highly recommend it. It was hilarious. I think I laughed the whole time. And I think it provides some interesting food for thought about our society and our desire to hear "spin" rather than truth. I would love to see a movie like this about the NRA or gun industry - that would be really interesting.

College Football: I am not sure how this happened but now on almost every Saturday afternoon our TV is on and showing a college football game. Wierd. We are not fans of any one particular team, but it is fun to watch the games, keep up with the standings and generally feel like we are a in some small way being part of the college football mania that descends upon this area at this time of year. Maybe after 10 years of living here I am trying to be more part of the culture. Plus, I have found that sitting in the sun on the couch with the droning of a football commentary in the background is very condusive to good napping!

So, my promises are fulfilled! We have no plans or obligations for the weekend and I am looking forward to some real rest and relaxation. Have a great weekend everybody!

Not my usual entry

I usually don't get into political stuff on this blog because that is not the point of this blog. But I ran across this blog entry on another blog this morning and I couldn't resist making a link. It's pretty interesting.

More later, got to run to my Friday morning work now.....

Quick

Hi everyone. Just a quick post this morning. Jeremiah did not sleep well last night and woke up congested. Thankfully no fever but he is definitely not himself. Thankfully I had no plans for today so we are going to spend the day resting. Please pray that he will feel better. Please pray that I will be able to care for him with patience. Thanks!

Halloween

The little lion in his natural habitat.
The little lion forages for berries.
Seriously, he will spend hours picking the berries off the monkey grass.
He will pick one, bring it to me and say "boobee."
The little lion earns his candy.
Jeremiah's job was to put the candy in children's bags. He actually seemed to enjoy it. You should have seen some of his facial expressions when some of the more scary costumed people came up. He definitely wasn't too sure about the whole thing. His other job was to say "bye bye" to kids as they left the yard. This he did with great gusto and enthusiasm. I figured he deserved some candy for his hard work and good sharing.
The little lion does not want to stop eating candy.
Once Jeremiah had gotten a taste of candy there was no going back. He spent the rest of the evening trying to get more. Many methods were tried. There was the try to sneak around mama and see if she doesn't notic method. There was the full frontal assault method. There was the whine method and of course finally the full out cry method. I stood firm. I figured a lollypop and some smarties was enough sugar for the evening.

Halloween has changed since I was a kid.
I remember being creative and making our costumes. One year my best friend Beccy and I made a kick butt double headed dragon costume. It was awesome! Now most of the kids wear store bought, cheap costumes, and some didn't even bother with costumes at all. Those ones only got one little piece of candy from me. I told them next year they had to earn it. Don't worry, I didn't bruise the self-esteem of any little ones, they were in junior high
I remember walking around the streets. Most of the kids I have seen tonight were driven in their cars up to the driveways where they jumped out, got their candy and then jumped back in. It seemed more like a s.w.a.t team operation.
I remember saying "trick or treat" before I got candy, waiting for the person to put the candy in my bag and hopefully I said thank you. Tonight only a few kids volunteered the "trick or treat", most grabbed for a handfull of candy, and I can probably count on my fingers the number that said thank you.

Next year Jeremiah can decide what he would like to dress up as, we will walk around our little neighborhood, and he had better use his manners or his mama will eat his candy! :-)

 

New table!

We love Jeremiah's new table! It makes snack and meal time so much easier. It is also the perfect place for him to play with his puzzles and I forsee it being a great place for art projects and play-dough! So the high chair is now in the attic and we enter a new stage of independence.

Yesterday we walked to the library for Monday morning story time. Lots of fun and a great opportunity for Jeremiah to interact with other kids his age. It is quite funny to watch about 15 toddlers all playing in the same room. One little boy wanted to hug every one and got quite upset when another little boy who absolutely did not want to be hugged ran away from him. I think that Jeremiah did quite well when he had to share a toy at one point.

Tonight is Halloween and I am hoping that Jeremiah will stay in his lion costume long enough to help me hand out candy.

 

Hay ride Part 2

 

Hay ride part 1

Mama & Jeremiah on the hayride.
Cherise & Jeremiah.
Chad & Cherise
In case you didn't notice, Chad was cold.
Blake (the one in all the camo gear, its a long story, he is also Chad's brother), Joni and Joni's nephews.

The hay ride was fun, and thankfully not too cold. In case you wonder about the photography, it is really hard to take pictures in the dark. It was a kind of point, shoot and hope you framed it right situation. :-)

 

Harvest Party

Jeremiah in his lion costume.
Unfortunately he doesn't seem to really like to wear it that much so we had to snap the picture quickly.
All 3 of us with Linda.
Jeremiah liked roasting things over the fire, but he didn't like standing too close becuase it made his face hot. This posed a bit of a problem for him.
Aaron won the annual chilli cooking contest!
I guess you will have to ask him for his recipie. It was quite a hit.

 

lazy saturday

Here is what I have done today:

- Walked in the park with some women from church.

- Let Jeremiah go home with his grandmommy for the afternoon.

- Went to Toys R Us with Aaron and bought Jeremiah his own little table and chairs (too cute, pics to come later).

- Sat on the couch to watch college football and woke up 2 hours later!

I think I can say it was a good day....

We are on our way to the annual harvest party. A fun night of chilli, hot dogs, marshmallows, hot chocolate, a roaring bonfire, hayrides and laughter with friends (pics of that hopefully to come later too). I am hoping that Jeremiah will wear his lion suit!

Stay tuned for future entry's expalining my new addiction to college football (abit crazy right?) and a review of a movie we watched last night.....

Comfort Food

Yes, for you sceptics out there, the picture up there is of an acutal chicken pot-pie that I actually cooked! Most of you know my aversion to cooking. And I especially hate to cook during the summer months when the kitchen gets very very hot. But since it has been cold here I have hauled out the comfort food recipies. Jeremiah loves this stuff and scarfs it down. This is my current favorite because it is incredibly easy and incredibly good! If I can make this come out good, so can you!

Deep Dish Chicken Pot-Pie
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 1/4 cup Italian dressing (I use abit less, more like 1 cup)
4 oz. Nuefchatel Cheese, cubed
2 Tb flour
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
2 refrigerated pie crusts (I use the kind that unroll)

* Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook chicken in dressing in large skillet on medium heat for 2 minutes. Add cheese; cook and stir until melted. Add flour, mix well. Add broth and vegetables, simmer for 5 minutes.
* Line 9 inch deep pie plate with 1 pie crust. Pour in mixture. Arrange 2nd pie crust over filling, flute edges. Cut four slits in crust to allow steam to escape.
* Bake 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

 

Eye Opener

Yesterday was a busy day. I had an important meeting at DFCS and so left Jeremiah with some friends for the afternoon. Aaron picked him up after work and by the time I got home he was completely exhausted because he hadn't taken his nap. The little guy was asleep by 7:20. He didn't even want me to read him books, but just pointed at his bed and laid down all by himself. I thought we would get to sleep in a little this morning - but not a chance - we were up at 6:30!

About my DFCS meeting. I like to think that when I was a DFCS case worker I was open minded and did as good a job as I could under my circumstances. I like to think that the majority of my co-workers across the state were the same. Yesterday shook me a little. Because I can't give details, all I will say is that I sat through a meeting in which 4 DFCS staff sat across from a couple approved by our agency who want to adopt a teenage girl and basically grilled them like they were on trial. I could tell from the tone of their questions that they thought that the only reason someone would want to adopt a teenage girl would be to use her for labor or to abuse her. By the end of the meeting I was steaming mad and doing my best to remain polite and businesslike. I understand their concerns becuase they do not know the family like MCC does.. But 3 of the DFCS workers were rude and condescending and one lady never even changed facial expression or made eye contact. Just plain rude and unprofessional.

I realized something yesterday, up till now in my work with MCC I have always given DFCS the benefit of the doubt. Because I used to be a DFCS caseworker I am sypathetic towards them. Not anymore. The meeting I participated in yesterday showed me why people that I talk to in the community are fed up with the system. I will still be polite and professional - but I will no longer assume that every case worker we deal with has the best interest of the children at heart.

I hate becoming cynical and jaded....

New Clothes

Now that the colder weather is here (it is colder here than in the Netherlands, what is up with that?) I am trying to find appropriate clothing for Jeremiah. The problem - he is just a tad too big for the 12 month size, but a tad too small for the 18-24 month size. So picture this, Jeremiah is running around the house in his new jeans. All of the sudden he comes running up to me holding his jeans in his hands! They had fallen right off while he was playing and running. In Kmart the other day they fell off and took his diaper with them as he tried to escape down the toy aisle....
I'm not sure who designs children's clothing - but do they really expect kids to grow 3 inches taller and 2 inches wider in just 6 months?
As for the hat. Many of you know of Aaron's attachment to hats. Jeremiah does not seem to have developed that attachment yet. He is wearing it in this picture, but believe me, 2 minutes later it was gone.