Would You Like a Little Gas with that Lecture?

I love my Dad. My Dad and I are a lot alike. We know each other pretty well. My Dad used to own service stations, he used to be a mechanic - once a mechanic, always a mechanic. Anyway, Dad always taught my sister and I to take care of our cars. He also is a big fan of keeping your car gassed up. This has always been important to me too. However, since I had Jude, it's not as easy, because I like to fill up at a place where you have to go in can't pay at the pump and it's a pain to get Jude in and out of the car.

So not too long ago, I noticed that I was getting low on petrol and needed to fill up soon - my car didn't give me the little warning beep and light though, so I figured it'd be ok. Anyway, I got to thinking about it one evening and knew that I needed to go out with Jude the next day and if, by chance, I were to run out of petrol, I wouldn't want to be on the side of the road with Jude. So Colin looked after Jude while I headed out to fill up the car. I made it around the corner and then the car went dead. I couldn't call Colin because I had the car with the car seat in it and he had Jude. I really didn't want to call my Dad because I knew he'd be disappointed in me, but I didn't have a choice. So, I called my Mom and Dad. They were very gracious and went right out and filled up a gas can and came to me.

So here I am, Dad's putting the gas in the tank and we're chatting. He's not giving me a hard time or anything, but I start making my excuses. Of course, he's got the answers to all of my excuses. I start to laugh and tell him that I didn't want to call him because he'd be disappointed in me. I say, "So do you want some gas with your lecture?" It wasn't a big deal really, but it just made me so thankful for my Dad - for his graciousness, for the fact the that he's conscientious, but most of all because even though I got a bit of a lecture, he brought me some gas when I hadn't been smart and I was on the side of the road. Reminds me of my other Father.

Thoughts...

I was so happy today when I went through the list of blogs that I check everyday and nearly every one of them had been updated - it was so cool! A reminder to me that I need to update more often. I have the thoughts, it's just taking the time that's the issue.

Yesterday, Colin and a friend of his did a gig at a retirement village here in town. Jude and I went along for moral support and it was a lot of fun. It was a very nice place - Colin and I were thinking of moving in, but it's for 55 and older. The gig went really well, Colin on a very nice grand piano and his friend played sax. They did mostly jazz ballads and oldies - they did great. Jude was great too. He was quiet for a while and then, of course, he wanted to get up and go. So he and I walked around the dining hall, mostly with Jude walking behind his stroller. It struck me as very ironic as I watched men and women come and go using walkers, some with very similar gaits as Jude, halting and unsure. Here is this beautiful little boy learning to walk, to use his legs. Here are these men and women losing their ability to walk, to get around on their own. What a short amount of time we have of full health and ability. Not that it's bad, it's life. We move quickly through these stages of life.

Jude was a huge hit. As we were leaving everyone was very appreciative of the music, however, one woman actually said that while the music was good, Jude was great!

Anyway, that's enough for today. Coming soon, a story about my Dad and me.

Am I Weird?

So, I tidy Jude's play pen. It's not just that I put toys away, I actually put things in alphabetical and numerical order. I don't think I obssess about it though - it just gets to me when it's been chaotic for a while - I think that Jude won't be able to find his toys and won't have fun if it's all a mess. Of course, he seeks to destroy all neat stacks as soon as I make them. But that's the fun of it I suppose. Is it co-dependent that I like to tidy and that Jude is a little chaos-maker?

Before

After

All the Little Penguins Lined Up in Numerical Order

In other news, we've decided to officially mark March 17, 2008, St Patrick's Day, as the day Jude spoke his first word. Here's the scenario: Colin had Jude on teh changing table and Jude was babbling away, mostly saying "bah, bah, bah" and then I walked up beside him, he looked right at me and said "mama". It was amazing. Sigh...

Places That I've Lived

I was lying in bed last night, thinking, not sleeping and I turned to my past. I thought about all the places I've lived. It's amazing the affect each has had on my life. From the place where I was born, that I thought I never wanted to leave, to the places that I love so much, that I've had to leave for various reasons.

It's interesting to me how places help to form people - how people from particular areas are united by similar traits and attitudes - all because of where they are from. I feel so priviledged to have been able to experience many different cultures in the US and abroad.

So here's the list...

Richland, Washington, USA
Medford, Oregon, USA
Springfield, Missouri, USA
Linstead, Jamaica, West Indes
Kingston, Jamaica, West Indes
Tucker, Georgia, USA
Leytonston, London, England, UK
Leyton, London, England, UK
Tyler, Texas, USA
M/V Anastasis - Holland, Wales, Canary Islands
The Canary Islands, Spain
Federal Way, Washington, USA
West Richland, Washington, USA
Nuneaton, England, UK
Isle of Dogs, London, England, UK
Bethnal Green, London, England, UK
Leytonstone, London, England, UK
Howick, Auckland, New Zealand
Tacoma, Washington, USA
Mount Eden, Auckland, New Zealand
Tacoma, Washington, USA
Bend, Oregon, USA

It Hurts So Good

Sometimes when I think about Jude, my heart aches so much with love for him. It's amazing how this has happened. He doesn't really do anything to earn this devotion or depth of emotion from me. I have to pretty much do everything for him, the good, the bad and the ugly (don't forget smelly, tedious and frustrating). And yet I find myself so in love with him, wanting the best for him, saddened by any injury or illness in him. There isn't much I can imagine that I wouldn't do to protect him, to help him. Is this really how God feels about us? Does His heart ache with love for me when He looks at me, even when He sees my messes, when He smells my stink, when He hears my cries? I believe that He does, though it's hard to imagine at times. My desire for Jude is that he lives life fully, that he loves God completely and that when asked, he will live for others. I imagine that is God's desire for each of us.

Jude Playing the Highchair Like Animal Plays the Drums

Oh yes, there is no limit to his talents!

As Little Children

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

Mark 10:13-16

This is the first time in my Bible reading that I have read this passage since I've had a child. It takes on a different meaning to me now. I am so thankful that Jesus doesn't turn children away in favour of "more important" adults and busyness and ministry. I pray that I am one who will bring my son to Jesus, that He might touch him and lay His hands on him and bless him. And I pray that Jude will always come to Jesus with the heart and faith of a child whether he is 2 or 27 or 65. I am excited to introduce to Jude to the only One who loves him more than Colin and I and to see the plans that God has for Jude unfold in his life.