Medicine of Immortality "It's a cold, and it's a broken, 'Hallelujah!'"

Joy in Simplicity and GrandeurPosted by Rachel on August 13th, 2009

I love that it’s the things that cost the least money that usually are the most fun. Rick and I went to the pet store today just to let the kids look at the puppies and kitties, birds and fish, snakes and lizards, and one really disgusting bullfrog. Antonio was thrilled with everything. He is an animal lover to the core. Kyrie loved the puppies and was quite interested in the “bearded dragons,” asking if they could fly, “Because they can fly on DragonTales!” (sigh) It made me happy to see my kids squeal at all the animals and enjoy a free evening, just being curious about the creatures in the world around them.

There are just some things money can’t buy. I mean, yes, money is necessary for us to get by, pay the bills, buy food, have a place to live, etc. But I am most aware of my joy when I am looking at a summer sky streaked with flaming pink clouds resting above the honey-orange glow of a sunset. Or from smelling the crisp, clean night air and looking at the thousands of twinkling stars and a mellow, gleaming moon and knowing that God put it all there. My joy comes from knowing that even though we are so small, so insignificant, just…dust, we’re still loved by a God who pours out His love on us because He is love.

And it comes from the love that I impart and receive every day, to and from my husband and my children. Their kisses and smiles and words of affirmation give me the strength I need to love them back, and clean up after them, and comfort them. And Rick’s never-ending patience and loyalty helps me cope when I would have otherwise given up long ago.

But at the root of it, joy isn’t dependent on a good situation, financial or otherwise. I guess it isn’t really even dependent on beautiful sunsets or starry skies. It’s just knowing that God is love, that He loves me, and that I am here to love and serve Him for eternity. And that’s the source of my joy. Even when I’m not feeling happy, nobody can take away that joy.

Mini-CapezzaismsPosted by Rachel on August 9th, 2009

Earlier today, while we were headed to the store, Rick and I were talking about how fun it would be to go to Hawaii (yeah, we often talk of exotic vacation spots, we can’t help it) and Kyrie said, “Hawaii?? That’s the place where they dance.” “Oh, really? What kind of dancing?” we asked her, and she said, “The kind where you wiggle. You wiggle your body. I’ll show you when we get to the store.” Once we got there, she started rocking her hips back and forth in the parking lot and said, “See? That’s the kind of dancing they do in Hawaii.”

Tonight, during Compline, Antonio looked at the eighth notes on the page and kept saying they looked like cars (the ones that were grouped together—I can kinda see it). I explained that it was music, so after Compline ended, he flipped through the LBW to various hymns, singing “Lord, Lord, Loooord!”

And I’m blanking on several other cute things that were said by the kiddos this evening. Maybe it’ll come to me later.

A few RecentsPosted by Rachel on August 7th, 2009

Just thought I’d share a few photos from the past few weeks.

And there was rain.Posted by Rachel on August 7th, 2009

Rain, glorious rain! I’ve hoped for some for quite a while, mostly just so our water bill would not be so high from watering our enormous and rather yellowish lawn, but also just for a change of scenery, and the smell of water on hot pavement and dust that I’d been craving. I love hot, sunny days in summer, but welcome are breaks like these, complete with thunder and lightning. (It even feels like we have air-conditioning in our house right now!)

I have taken lots of pictures that haven’t made their way onto the computer yet. The heat has mostly been to blame for this, since the desktop computer is upstairs, where it is too stifling to stay for more than two minutes at a time, and the laptop doesn’t have Photoshop. And I’m pretty much helpless without my Photoshop. If tomorrow is as mild as this evening, though, I might have some new photos up and ready to share. We’ll see.

I made a cake with marshmallow fondant icing today. It was a ridiculous thing to do with a 3-year-old and 1-year-old wanting to involve themselves in the process, but it was done, not without lots of powdered sugar getting all over everything and everybody. I think everyone has reached their monthly sugar quota as well. The cake turned out just all right for a first attempt. If it had been done by someone about 15 years younger, it might be impressive. As it is, I need practice.

We watched “Enchanted” tonight as a family. I was surprised to see Antonio watching so intently, as he usually completely ignores the TV unless it’s Backyardigans or Blue’s Clues, which will keep about 1 minute of his attention. At the end of the movie, I asked Kyrie, “So, did you like it?” She answered, “No…I loved it!” And so they both continue to grow up at alarmingly fast rates.

Kids are asleep, house is half-messy, half-clean, Rick’s clothes for tomorrow are in the washer, and the fan is blowing the fresh, cool night air over to me. I’m debating between picking up The Jungle and reading from where I left off, or going to bed. I will probably regret it if I start to read, because I have a hard time stopping, especially when there are no cries or pleas coming from little people who always surround me. And then I’ll stay up too late, and pay for it in the morning. But…just one more chapter.