The Love Transfers

WE had a little trauma this weekend. Poor little Clara put her finger into the hinge side of a bedroom door as it was being shut. The tip of her right, middle finder was nearly amputated. She was very brave. After a minute we had it wrapped in a towel and she stopped crying. We drove straight in to the ER and she talked about the lights and things on the way in. She did amazingly well in the ER too. They gave her a couple of tiny shots in the base of her finger to numb it so she cried when they did that but actually held it in mostly. After waiting quite awhile for x-rays they worked miracles and sewed that little finger back together. She didn't cry or struggle at all while they did it. They had her wrapped in her little quilt but she didn't even try to get up or anything. The nurses and doctors said she gets the golden pediatric award for the year because she behaved so wonderfully. They said they often have 3 or 4 people restraining toddlers when they have to do something like this.


First, when we arrived at the ER someone noticed us and waved us right back, no paperwork. I was very touched by the humane-ness of that.

I was feeling so very sad and sorry for Clara, thinking of the pain she was in. I was shaking and traumatized. The nurse got us into a room, checked her finger as I sat and held her. She said, "I have a blankie for her."

She then brought Clara this beautiful handmade blanket.

It had obviously taken quite a few hours to create, this blanket, a lovely patchwork. I was so surprised at the love that I felt from the sweet person who carefully labored to create something that might lend comfort in a stranger's moment of pain and need. A personal touch of kindness.

And it did just that.

We had something to wrap around my little hurting baby and my aching heart.

The love transferred.

I wish I had a way to let that hardworking, artistic, and kind person know.

I felt it.

These two blankies were at home waiting. One carefully handcrafted by Aunt Sandra just for us and the other purchased by Grandma Terri and sewn for us by Janis Forbes. The love transfered here too! All night long, cozy in her bed. Thanks for the love!

Halloween!

Grace started out the festivities a couple weeks before Halloween when she was invited to a Halloween birthday party. After working on the princess get-up idea for a week or two, she had a change of personality and decided to go with the witch experience. Brittani graciously came and painted her lips and nails black and gave her a good witchy hair-do. I was so grateful as I was plum out of black nail polish....

Grace had a fabulous time at her friend's party. I enjoyed hearing about how wonderful her friend's house was, how she had a tv and radio/cd player/ Hanna Montana player, bunk beds, etc. right in her very own, private room. I also thought it was amusing when I asked if she like the friend like the "My Little Pony" present we gave her and Grace said, "Yes, because she used to collect My Little Ponies but her mom got rid of them all when she was at school."

We had a fine time with John's power tool carving pumpkins.This was Grace's happy face pumpkin.

This is Emma's pumpkin -with help from Dad...

Brittani's cool scariness pumpkin -carved by the artist herself...
Clara's pumpkin carved by in her honor by Gracie....
and last, surely you know who's pumpkin this is. I drew this up thinking it was good and scary/crabby looking. Grace then took a look and said, "Mom, that's the face you do every year." Hmmm... I'm wondering if I've been a little stressed out the last few years. ;)

We found we had three busy dogs on our hands for Halloween this year!

and one quiet little cow! So cute.

They had great fun at our church "Trunk or Treat" on Friday and then went to a few houses to get a little more sugar on Saturday. I employed the "eat it as fast as you want" method and Grace and Emma had their candy gone by Sunday night. Thank goodness they didn't have that much!

It's Personal.

On Sunday, John, my darling husband, decided it was time for some personal interviews.

I always had them as a teenager with my dad. It was just a few minutes alone with Dad to discuss life, unload any worries, and maybe plan something fun to do together later. They were a life-saver for me in those troublesome teenage years when I didn't feel like talking, let alone talking to a parent, about maybe something weird that was bothering me. It was nice though, just getting things off my mind and hearing Dad says something like, "I think that's very normal" and I would challenge you to....". Helped me through some tough times.

(My very first interview didn't go that well, actually. I was about 8 and was fussy and pouty. But, when I found that we were actually planning a bike ride together and that was it, well, I cheered up and started thinking of what I would ask to do with Dad next. Just a little encouragement encase you try it and the first time it's a disaster.)

Clara got her interview first. John took her into her room and I heard him talking to her and then he sang her a little song. Then, I think, they fell asleep in the rocking chair. Everyone seemed happy about that. I asked John what they talked about because I was so curious. He said, "Oh, we talked about what she does at home, with you, while Grace is at school. Stuff like that."

Emma was next, later, after dinner. She was so delighted to get to talk to Dad for a few minutes, to have him all to herself. They planned a Daddy-Daughter date for Tuesday night. Chinese food and a movie. (I was a little jealous)

Grace was last. I have no idea what they talked about but they planned a date for next week. She was a little unamused that Emma got to go first.

Later I was just tickled and asked John "WHAT did you talk about??" I was so interested in what they might have had on their minds.]

"Well, it's personal. I can't really tell you" was his reply.

I'm charmed to think that John kept their thoughts "confidential" even though I am pretty sure they consisted of pretty innocent things like, "what are you going to be for Halloween' or some such thing.

They seemed to be charmed too.

Tripping!

Did you know,

I got to go on vacation with this good-looking guy?!

and this little darlin'.... as well as this happy snacker....

this pretty sweet heart..... even, this beautiful young lady...

and this tiny cherub.

And The First Red Ripe Taste of Summer Goes to....

I thought I would take a lovely photo of Clara holding the first fruit of summer.I handed it to her and as I prepared to take the picture, she got down to business.

She really was serious about it.

And,

after about 10 minutes of focused munching, since she was done...

she left the last bite for me.

It was pretty tasty!

1st Day of 1st Grade!

8:00 A.M. Ticonderoga pencils.. Where's the sharpener! Out the door... Not too nervous.

I loved walking in the front door of the school and hearing Mr. Oldenkamp, Grace's Principal, (who used to be my principal when I taught in Parma), saying sweetly to some 1st graders who seemed to be wandering... "Come with me, I will show you right where you will line up when the bell rings. Who's your teacher? "

Grace seemed to be very comfortable with her friends, running into each other's arms, hugging as first grade girls do, discussing important matters as they waited in line.

This is Grace's teacher. She had about 35 kids in her line. Thankfully they weren't all hers. I thought the smile was a indication of a good sense of humor given the experience. Mr. O showed some good humor too! I did notice that the other 1st grade teachers seemed pretty happy with their short lines of about 10 students.

Grace and Katie laugh at Mom taking pictures from the hall as they sit down at their new desks!

Grace rode the bus home without telling me so when I went to pick her up she was already gone. Very funny.

When I drove up and found her walking home from the bus stop, she wasn't interested in riding with me.....

She's too big for that.

PRAY TELL!

And WHAT, pray tell, is THIS?

I was fairly interested to see what the explanation for this was. I found Grace in the room with the door shut and this lovely sign posted. Emma wasn't ruffled, in fact, she seemed rather happy about it . Perhaps, I misunderstood it.