Merry Christmas!!!

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Aislinn

Here's a video of Aislinn cooing and talking while playing with rings.  If you're not a "baby person" and you find yourself asking 5 seconds into the video "Is this all she does?"  let me spare you the time.  Yes.  This is all she does.  My mom made a a comment that she doesn't like the 15 second clips because they are too short.  So this one's for you mom.  :)

Well that's just absurd.

I was on my way home this evening.  I was driving north on highway 169 around 81st.  I was next to a truck when I noticed a child in the back of the truck with his head ducked down and the poor boy holding his hoodie over his ears.  The boy couldn't have been older than 10.  The truck was going about 70 mph, down 169, during rush hour!  So I called *55 to report it.  I had their tag number and everything.  THAT'S when I learned something.  The trooper who answered my call informed me that riding in the back of a truck was not illegal.  "But it's illegal to not be buckled up!?"  I asked.  The officer carefully answered that children under 6 must be in car seats AND it is not illegal to ride in the back of a truck.  Wha......?

In the last week..

In the last week I have learned that lawyers waste a magnificent amount of paper.  And when one of those lawyers asks you, "can you mail this letter?"  please be aware that it is NOT that simple.

Bowling...

Jeff and I went bowling last night with Rachel and Emmanuel.  I am horrible at bowling and usually drop the ball behind me at least one.  Well, last night the stars must have all been in alignment because I bowled a 141!  It was the first time I had ever broken 100.  I was pumped. And Jeff got beat by his wife.  :)  Fun times.

My Baby

I really didn't expect this.  Months ago, when Melissa was miserable and pregnant with horribly swollen ankles, we went daycare shopping.  We searched high and low and found one that would work.  I was feeling ok with it.  Luckily, through the joint efforts of Joe and Grandma, Aislinn has not yet entered the doors of a daycare.  

Well, the time is approaching when she will.  And suddenly, it's all different.  NO daycare is good enough.  NO person employed there can possibly care for her like her mom does, or I do, or her Grandma.  Things have totally changed.  As I sat here and called various centers asking about rates and hours and availability, I became angry.  It just shouldn't be this way.  The most precious things in our lives, our babies, are taken to daycares, where the workers are often without much training and paid horribly.  The CEO's out there living it up, are making millions.  But those entrusted with the most precious thing in the world are paid nothing.  And when you can't afford to pay well, we all know what quality of workers you get.   And I feel like I can say this because I work in childcare.  And I have for almost 10 years now.  I've been there.  I know what it's like.  I know what it's like day to day at a daycare.  People calling in sick. Directors frantically trying to cover all the classes.  Teachers getting frustrated.  Babies getting sick.  Babies crying for longer than they should.  And no. It's not like this all the time.  But even ONCE it too many.

I suddenly and urgently feel the need to quit my job and keep her from these places.  I was ok with it once.    It is COMPLETELY different now.  That was before.  Before I watched her take her first breath.  Before I heard her cry her first cry.  Before I saw her smile at me for the first time.  Before I KNEW her.   Before she stole my heart.

How can I justify going to work everyday to take care of babies, when my own niece is being taken care of by someone else?

The Shack

So I just finished reading The Shack and I'm not really sure how to describe it.  If you haven't read it and plan to, don't worry, I won't give away too much info.  The book is about a man who is dealing with the murder of his young daughter who was murdered in this shack.  He receives a note requesting him to "meet me at the shack this weekend."  This is where the story begins.  

Waiting there for him are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each in very real and human form.  The way the author portrays each of them individually is very eye opening.  For a very conservative, Southern Baptist raised Christian, I was at first offended.  However, since my mother had recommended the book, I figured it couldn't be all that bad, so I kept reading.  After finishing the book, I was very glad I did.  I won't say much more so I won't give too much away, but if you've got an open mind and are willing to explore things a bit, I would suggest you read it.  While reading the book, I found my new favorite quote:

Faith does not grow in the house of certainty.

The Eagles

So I went to the concert.  I cried through the first half and left at intermission.  And it was beautiful.  I will never forget it.

Monday

Another Monday has come and gone.  It was such a sleepy day.  Listening to the rain on the roof while most of the babies in my class were sleeping was almost too much.  It was difficult to stay awake!  After school, I joined my sister on a trip to the courthouse.  She was showing me around and it was not what I thought it would be.  She went to "file" something, and the room was like a Tag Agency from.. well.. you know.  It was a huge room with buzzing fluorescent lights and stamps and staplers and noise everywhere.  Very much sensory overload.  

Now I'm home and avoiding cooking dinner.  I'm thinking chicken enchiladas.  I really want them, but I don't want to cook them.  I would love to have my own chef.  By the way, I just heard on the news that the first family has a personal staff of 95.  95! That's just incredible.  I wonder how many of those 95 are just sitting around waiting for someone to notice that they don't really do anything.  

Anyways.  Tomorrow night is the Eagles concert.  Jeff and I will be going.  I'm not really sure what to expect.  The Eagles was my dad's favorite group.  Many of their songs bring back intense feelings, memories, emotions...  Three months ago when I purchased the tickets, it seemed like a great idea.  Now, as it approaches, I'm not really sure what to expect.  I think it will be a good thing though.  

Hope everyone had a happy Monday.  And if you didn't, oh well, Monday is over now anyways.

Did you vote!?!?

I had a very enlightening conversation today at work.  About a hour before school was out, a co-worker asked me if I was going to go vote.  It had been a long day, and I told her that Oklahoma was "going McCain" regardless of my vote, the lines would be long, I don't really care for either candidate, and I was tired.  That was when she respectfully let me know her opinion.  She reminded me of the troops that have fought in the past and continue to do so today for our right to vote.  She reminded me of those who would give their lives for the chance to live in a country where they could vote, and of those who risk their lives by going to vote in some countries.  As I left work, I began to think on what she had said.  And she was right.  I was acting like one of those unappreciative Americans that other countries love to hate.  So I voted.  And from now on, I will appreciate what it means to vote.  Happy voting!  Now let's just cross our fingers for no dangling chads.