Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Today I Feel Thankful Because...
So there I was, with my wife and two of my three children - the ones who are 22 and 16 - enjoying a nice day at the beach. Actually, it was day on the island, but give me a little leeway here, please. It was a Saturday morning - a warm Saturday morning. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and I really and truly shouldn't have had a care in the world, but I have a tendency to create cares where none exist. I'm an old curmudgeon, in other words. A mulligruber.
I don't recall what my worries were on this glorious Saturday morning, but I'm sure there was something that didn't suit me. Perhaps my coffee had not been hot enough at breakfast. Perhaps our entourage had taken too long to get ready for our bike ride - which happened to be the only thing on our agenda for that day. Perhaps I wasn't satisfied with the way the golf tournament was going in Augusta.
The point is, I am sure I wasn't enjoying the day as much as I should have, because that's just the way I am lately. I had stopped at the Sweet Shoppe in the Jekyll Island village. Not the one the millionaires built. The one regular folks can shop in, if they have enough money. I wanted a praline, and my oldest child wanted a turtle. The two of us walked out of the store with our treats and were greeted by the sight of a young family who seemed to be enjoying their day more than I was enjoying mine.
I couldn't help but smile as I watched the young man in the Texas A&M baseball cap wipe melted chocolate ice cream off the face of his own daughter. The fresh-faced young father looked like he couldn't possibly have been a day older than my daughter, the one standing beside me enjoying her turtle. The child with the ice cream on her face might have been 3 1/2.
I took the beautiful brunette - the one with the 18-month-old in her arms - to be the young man's wife and I felt like a voyeur as I stood for a minute or two and just watched them interact with one another and with their children. I could tell by the way they looked at one another that they were very much in love - with one another and with life itself. I could no more have resisted speaking to them than I could have resisted eating the last bit of my fresh confectionery.
"Are you an Aggie?" I asked the young man, in reference to the baseball cap that covered his closely cropped blonde hair.
"I am," he said proudly. Class of 2003.
"Really?" I asked, surprised that he was so long out of college."What are y'all doing so far from College Station? Are you out here on vacation?"
"I'm stationed at Ft. Stewart," he told me, "and we just drove over to enjoy the day."
And then he added, "I just got back and we needed to spend some time together."
"I just got back," the Aggie told me.
I didn't have to ask from where, so I asked, "How was it over there?"
"About the same as the first time I was there," he answered.
The first time. A young man who looked to be no older than my daughter had already served two tours of duty in Iraq.
"Really?" I asked. "There is no change?"
And then he amended his response. "Oh, no. there is. Things are lots better from the Iraqi stand point. They are beginning to take over and things are a lot calmer and everything will be OK soon, if we stay the course."
If we stay the course. His words. Not mine. Not George Bush's. Not John McCain's.
And then he said, "It just wasn't any easier to be away from them," nodding at his young family. "That's what I meant when I said things were about the same."
"Are you home for good?" I asked.
He smiled and said, "Yeah. Or until next time."I didn't learn the name of the young hero in the Texas A&M baseball cap and I didn't want to steal any more of his time.
I simply said, "Well God bless you all. Thank you for your service," and started on my way. His young wife, however, reached out and touched my arm."We knew what we signed on for," she told me, "and as hard as it is, it's worth it. It has to be done."
I smiled and turned away because I hate for beautiful young brunettes to see tears forming in my eyes.
On April 19, 1775, the first American soldiers answered their country's call to arms and for 233 years now brave men - and more lately, women - have been leaving their families to serve on our behalf.
I don't know what kind of mood you are in today or what you have on your plate, but I know that each and every one of us can breathe free because there are about a million-and-a-half men and women in uniform scattered across our country and around the globe, making sure that we are as safe as we can be in a world gone crazy. God bless them one and all.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Compelling
My close friend's family friends have been trying to get pregnant for years, and it just wasn't happening. They finally got pregnant last summer. Immediately after the first sonogram her OB/GYN discovered that something wasn't right with the baby. After a few months and many tests, they determined that the baby had many abnormalities and would be born a dwarf. They were told that the baby would be born without many vital organs, would be on a feeding tube its entire life and would have to have a tracheotomy at birth. Her doctor also said that for some reason or another, carrying the baby would be a huge health risk to the mother. This couple traveled around the metroplex and visited specialist after specialist who all confirmed this. Each doctor advised that the couple terminate the pregnancy for both the mother and the baby's health.
Now here is the part I wish I knew more about. The parents decided to carry the baby to term. I don't know if they felt called to do this, didn't believe in terminating the pregnancy or what their specific reasons were. From what I've been told, even their family members were discouraging them from continue the pregnancy.
Last night the baby was born COMPLETELY healthy! The doctors are telling them it is truly an impossible miracle. All the tests and sonograms showed otherwise. WOW!!!
To me, this brings to mind two things:
1) The most obvious point, how amazing is God and the power of prayer! This story would truly be a testament if the family did feel called to carry the baby. It's a testament either way, but WOW! That's all I can really say about that.
2) The benefits vs. the harmful effects of modern technology. What if, just what if, the family hadn't known about this from the very beginning? A girl I know is carrying twins. Early on sonograms showed a tumor on one of the babies' brains. This naturally caused weeks of unnecessary worry and stress, because the tumor wound up dissolving. Her doctor later told her that these type tumors have only recently become visible because of modern imaging and in most cases they go away on their own.
I'm not knocking doctors or science or anything like that. I just wonder where you draw the line. I have been thinking about this all day, and I think it's different for everyone. I guess that for me, the answer is that you trust and believe in medicine but you trust and believe in your faith a little more.
Friday, April 25, 2008
TGIF
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Foxes
I stormed down the hall and pulled the student out of his second class to deal with what I thought was about to be a huge racial issue.
"What does this say?" I demanded. He looked at me with big, brown eyes so confused.
When he told me what it said, it took every ounce of self control I had not to burst out laughing right there.
"Ninja fox."
So the only real problem here appears to be that my student can't spell the word NINJA.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Happy Monday!
It is SO great having Nick home with me this afternoon before 7:00! It makes me wish he worked closer. Actually, it makes me wish we were both retired. We are about to go to Super Target. Tomorrow is Earth Day so if we wear an "earth shirt" to school we can wear jeans. Mission "earth shirt" GO! Also, right before Nick goes out of town, he always feels the need to stock the house with groceries for me. It's completely pointless considering I will be going out or will probably eat cereal if he's not here to eat with me. But he insists on it anyway.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
New Glasses
It's a lot like the time I first got glasses in fifth grade. I remember driving home from the eye doctor and looking out the window of my mom's blue Honda feeling shocked that I could actually see the leaves on the trees. I had always seen the trees and the leaves but now, I was seeing them in a new way. Through new eyes, per se. That's a lot like how it feels now. Except not as cool.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Lovin The Weather
Last night was a lot of fun, too! We went over to see our friends Lisa & Ryan's new house and eat dinner. They just bought a goregous home in Mansfield. Their house sits on an acre and they have a large patio, so the weather made it perfect to sit outside all night. Growing up, Lisa lived next door to me. She is a couple of years older than me, and I have always looked up to her. Part of the reason I even went to A&M was because Lisa went there, and she became my big sister in Kappa. Ironically, I have known Ryan since I was young too, and they wound up getting married. Now, Lisa and Ryan have an adorable seventeen month old, Addyson. I am admiting it, I am about to sound like my grandparents. BUT here is my moment of reflection. I hadn't seen Addyson in several months, and I just couldn't believe what a little person she is now!! It's so amazing to think about how long I've known Lisa and Ryan, and now to see their daughter, this little person, walking around. It's hard to explain, but it such a neat feeling to look at Addyson and think that she is Lisa's daughter! It really is crazy how fast time goes. Here is a picture of Miss Addyson Tate:
Monday, April 7, 2008
Grayhawk Lately
Lexi celebrating one year at Grayhawk.
I am currently making cupcakes for one of my teammates' birthdays tomorrow. You would have to know Tammie. She is the ultimate Miss Frizzle. She is like science galore. So the cupcakes are science themed. I'll post a picture of how they turn out.