April 24, 2006
The Station
A good post for my 200th, I think!
I was reminded of this parable today when I read Amanda’s blog. My Mom sent a “Dear Abby” newspaper clipping to me in 1999 as Travis and I were engaged and planning our wedding. It’s so easy to get caught up in the future – next week, next month, when we buy that house/property/vehicle that we forget about today. I have to remind myself often to ‘enjoy the journey’ as it doesn’t come easily to me, but is certainly worth the effort.
My favourite part is the last paragraph.
Now I’m going to go outside in my garden, barefoot!!!!
The Station
by Robert J. Hastings
Tucked away in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long, long trip that almost spans the continent. We’re traveling by passenger train, and out the windows we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hills, of biting winter and blazing summer and cavorting spring and docile fall.
But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour we will pull into the station. There sill be bands playing, and flags waving. And once we get there so many wonderful dreams will come true. So many wishes will be fulfilled and so many pieces of our lives finally will be neatly fitted together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering … waiting, waiting, waiting, for the station.
However, sooner or later we must realize there is no one station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.
“When we reach the station, that will be it !” we cry. Translated it means, “When I’m 18, that will be it ! When I buy a new 450 SL Mercedes Benz, that will be it ! When I put the last kid through college, that will be it ! When I have paid off the mortgage, that will be it ! When I win a promotion, that will be it ! When I reach the age of retirement, that will be it ! I shall live happily ever after !”
Unfortunately, once we get it, then it disappears. The station somehow hides itself at the end of an endless track.
“Relish the moment” is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. Rather, it is regret over yesterday or fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.
So, stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot oftener, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more and cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.
All Rights Reserved
Robert J. Hastings Estate
April 21, 2006
A quiet day (for me)
Last night I got a call at 10:15 PM (!)
(yelling) “HI MOMMY! I’M EATING ICE CREAM!!!!”
Then, this morning, I phoned to see how the night went, and was told she was just finishing up her FROOT LOOPS.
Just as long as the sugar high wears off before Sunday night when she comes home. Really, though, I’m so glad that she’s having a great time. I remember trips to Grandma and Papa’s. They were the best.
But, do I need to be worried about a puppy?
April 20, 2006
An unexpected reprieve
Yesterday, on her way to work, my Mom phoned me.
“What would you think if I took Sarah with me to Vancouver this weekend?”
pause.
“… are you serious?!?” – said I, thinking don’t play with me here by dangling this offer in front of me then taking it away.
“Sure! I’m leaving after work on Thursday and will come home after the shower on Sunday. Rachel will be around to help, and we’ll be staying at GG and Papa’s.”
“Yup, ok, sounds good, love it!” me again.
Now before you go thinking that I’m some ungrateful horrible parent, and why did I become a parent anyways, if all I ever do is talk about vacations and holidays away from my children and about how much they drive me crazy, know this: Travis left today for a middle school conference in Victoria, meaning I was going to be left alone with two kids for three days. Three long days. Three days that by the end, I may not have been alive, or at least sane. Sarah has this …… um……. challenging aspect to her. Come spend a day with me, and you’ll see. ( I can say this now because mom and Sarah are already on the road, and it’s too late to bring her back! Besides, she’ll be a perfect angel for Mom et al. and will promptly drive me to the brink as soon as she gets back.)
And so, it’s me and Ben. I get to spend three days with my boy. He’ll hardly know his good fortune to have minutes, hours even, on end of mommy time. Time where no one will steal his toy, or step on his hands, or lay on top of his whole body trying to squish him, or push him over, or scream for no reason. I’m thinking that I’ll maybe teach him what a horse says, or maybe a cow. It’s probably time for him to know that stuff. Important, I know.
I’ve already had sushi for dinner, and tomorrow, I clean. This boy can still nap twice a day, and I plan to use every minute. We’re going out to the Dykstras to talk about stamping and other stuff, and I’m sure Graham will be confused as to where Sarah is.
Which leads me to this. As I was packing up her stuff, and talking to her about going on a trip to Vancouver with Nana, and seeing GG and Papa, I was thinking about how much I was going to miss my bear. I still don’t really relish the idea of me and two kids for three days. That does NOT sound one bit fun to me. But miss going to Granville market with her. Going for walks to DQ from my grandparents place. Going to the park. Seeing her with my Mom and Grandma and Papa. Seeing her excitement at the bridal shower for my cousin (hope it’s not a surprise).
It’s the paradox of parenthood. They can drive you so, so crazy, but explode your heart with so much love all at the same time.
April 18, 2006
So, how was YOUR day?
If I told you that I had to do a load of laundry at 9pm last night, and another 2 pretty quick this morning, would that give you a bit of an idea of how our night went?
We had barf aplenty in the house last night. Sarah’s bed was on it’s 3rd set of sheets and she her 3 set of pj’s by the time she finally settled for the night. ‘Set of sheets’ — who am I kidding?!?! We have one set that fits her bed, so by the time she was ready for bed, she was sleeping on a flat sheet tucked around the mattress. And I joined her for the night, poor thing, was so totally freaked out about barfing. (On a side note, I better go shopping for more bed sheets!)
So I drew the short straw, and got to stay home with the sickos (Ben had his fair share of spontaneous explosions this weekend). Fortunately, the day has gone pretty well, no more barfing, and we all got to nap for at least an hour and a half. Unfortunately, though, Travis is working on a paper tonight and then gets to go away to a middle school conference in Victoria on Thursday for three days, so my relief is going to be sparse this week.
I need to start working on my bosses at work to send me to that CT conference that’s held in Vegas every October.
There’s always hope, no matter how delusional.
April 16, 2006
A performer in our midst
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Nana and Opi have a kareoke machine which the girls love to sing on. This performance happened today in the midst of Easter dinner, an Easter egg hunt, jumping on the trampoline, helping rake up the grass after it was power raked, more jumping on the trampoline, more chocolate than that little body has EVER had, and basically running around the yard blowing on her whistle with the usual running commentary on every little thing. This may explain her disheveled appearance. Anyways, if you can manage, watch till the end cause she really pulls out all the stops.
The great Easter egg hunt
Now I just have to do laundry as Sarah seems to be unable to contain chocolate in her mouth when she eats it, it flows out of her mouth and streams down her chin with no control. It’s worse when it’s smarties, then you have to deal with colour.
Does chocolate come out of white linen?
Ben slept through most of the hunt, but still was spoiled just the same. He loves his chocolate too!
April 11, 2006
Posting from the land of 35mm
Have you noticed that I got a roll of film developed yesterday?
And I have a day off today?
What gave it away?!?! 🙂
Here is my ballerina. She got the body suit as a hand me down, and the tutu in her stocking at Christmas, put them together, and you have a dancer. She loves to wear the outfit and dance around to whatever music we have on the go. Today I registered her for preschool for September, and I think that some kind of dance lessons will be next.
Sunglasses, 2 remotes.
A BIG smile on his face.
He’s his daddy’s boy all right!!
What I like about day light savings time…
1. The longer days. The obvious reason, but also the very true one.
2. The sleep in. My kids are waking up sometime between 7:30 and 8, sometimes closer to 8 if we have nothing going on. Nice.
3. Spring is HERE, and summer is coming.
4. The BBQ has got a full tank of propane, and is starting to be used more.
5. Flowers and blossoms. Though my yard is really lacking in both, next year it won’t be.
What I don’t like about daylight savings time:
1. Late bed times. We’ve been hitting 9 and 10 pm. It’s ridiculous. Seriously, I live for both nap time (happening right now) and evenings. The past week I’ve had about 30 mins to myself before it’s my bedtime, and that’s usually spent doing dishes or laundry or whatever that’s not fun or relaxing. I’m telling you, it’s GOT to change. Either the drugs are coming out (I’m not telling you for whom), or I’m going to lose it.
I think that’s the only thing I don’t like. Good thing there’s 5 that I do! 🙂
Flying
My dad had arranged for 6 flights, for me and Trav, Jenny and Ken, and Mom and Dad. We were out at the Oliver airport, and were taken flying by the cadets out there. Each ride was about 12 minutes, and lots of fun.
I did realize though, that I’m not as good a flyer as I think I am. Visions of planes coming down run away with my imagination. Too much ‘Lost’, I think.
Mind over matter, anyways.
Here is proof positive that pictures of me actually DO exist.
I told the pilot that this was going to be the quietest 12 minutes of my day!! 🙂
Saying goodbye to the bear was not so quiet or easy. Check out her expression. So cute.
(I’m taking this picture from inside the plane)
Back on solid ground.
“Mommy, you came back!!!!!!”
Travis’ turn.
Thanks, Dad, for a really great, fun, and memorable afternoon!!
Growing up. 