Category Archives: Family

X-ray Vision

Posted on December 21, 2008 by juliebyers

I’ve been absent. 

For some crazy reason, I decided to make all our gifts this Christmas.  So I’ve been busy, busy, busy sewing, baking, concocting, and knitting.   

Norah turned three this month and with the grand old age of three years, she also turned chatterbox.  Seriously.  We obliged her wish for a “blueberry birthday” and celebrated with our family.  Thank you Zach for the amazing blueberry smoothies.  Thank you Broomes for the incredible blueberry bush.  Thank you mom and dad for letting us use your house.  Thank you everyone for the precious time together and of course, Norah thanks you for her gifts!

One quick story before I get back to the gift making:  Norah had her very first sick visit to the doctor.  I was furious because our oh-so-carefully-selected-for-this-very-reason family doctor could not fit her in and told us to go to urgent care.  !!$&*#&@!!  Incidentally, earlier this year, they could not see my husband when we thought he smashed his face in a kayak accident.  That was an urgent care trip, too.  I thought this is why we HAD a family doctor!   

At urgent care, we were honored by the extraordinarily brief presence of a doctor who had consumed way too much coffee and barely looked at Norah before ordering a chest x-ray.  

After the chest x-ray (which was clear), the not-on-a-caffeine-buzz technician showed Norah her heart.  Norah squinted at the x-rays, paused a moment, then asked “But where is Jesus?”   

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Sparkles

Posted on December 14, 2008 by juliebyers

If I sent Christmas cards (which I don’t under the guise of sustainability– ah, but note the non-LED lit, freshly cut fraser fir in the background, bah humbug, I’m found out), they might look something like this:

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And yes, I do remember that Samuel Clemens said “Parentheses in literature and dentistry are in bad taste.”  I went a little crazy with my parentheses.  (Sorry).   

 

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Norah’s First Advent Calendar

Posted on December 1, 2008 by juliebyers

I don’t like to think about crafts.  Planning them makes me shiver.  So, when the whim strikes, I plunge in without pattern or really much of an idea.  This craft began yesterday with the thought:  “I should make an advent calendar.”  Scott carefully reminded me that tomorrow was Dec. 1.  The gauntlet thrown, I walked to the craft closet, grabbed random items and began cutting strips of construction paper.  No idea what I was going to do with them.  Here is my finished product. 

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Fancy-schmancy, I know.  Seriously, my craft ability is equal to a 2nd grader’s.  Thankfully, Norah thinks I’m amazing because I can use scissors. 

Each envelope contains a small surprise–I didn’t buy anything.  I found objects around the house:  a button, jingle bell, seashell, bead, pebble, pecan.  Norah loves collecting these little treasures and sorting them in an egg carton.   

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I’m not afraid of the dark.

Posted on October 20, 2008 by juliebyers

I love halloween.  And I’m a Christian.

Just 20 years ago, I remember attending our small conservative church’s annual halloween haunted house.  It was awesome!  And, yes, there were chainsaw chases, opening coffins, and wiggling hands coming out of the floor vents.  My, my how culture changes. 

Now I’m not proposing churches start trying to out-do all the haunted houses in town.  I’m not even proposing they celebrate halloween.  Honestly, what bugs me is “trunk-or-treat.”

Trunk-or-Treat.

Does anyone else picture an ominous man slamming a kid in a trunk?  If “trunk-or-treat” is supposed to parallel “trick-or-treat,” then the trunk sounds like a scary thing–a trick.  I don’t think the phrase was well thought-out…but maybe that is the english degree talking. 

Really, though, churches are saying, “We’re not celebrating halloween.  Nope.  Kids are simply dressed up in costumes and walking around getting candy”  Ah, alrighty.  And the kids are probably thinking, “even though we’re doing the same thing our halloween-celebrating friends are doing, we’re ok because we’re doing it at church and calling it something (slightly) different.   

I do understand the point of these spin-off celebrations.  I really do.  Halloween makes churches uneasy.  Kids want to do something on halloween.  Parents want to offer an alternative.  But, wow…make it a true alternative.  Distinguish it.  Be creative.  “Harvest festival” or “Reformation Party” would even sound slightly better and be less confusing. 

Some things are simply not clear cut.  Some subjects deeply divide Christians.  Delightfully, I have freedom in Christ.  I can carve pumpkins, trick-or-treat, dress up, and watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown without being afraid of the dark.  It is a genetic fallacy to assume I’m celebrating pre-Christian rites by participating in these activities.  These things have lost their pagan meanings much like mistle-toe, Easter eggs, and church steeples.  If your family does not celebrate halloween, I figure you have good reasons for it and respect that wholeheartedly!  Still, if I see you at a “trunk-or-treat,” I might tickle you until you’re forced to admit you’re really trick-or-treating…      

Salt dough ornaments Norah and I made this weekend. 

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How Bulgur!

Posted on August 19, 2008 by juliebyers

Love was in the air last night.  My parents and my sister/brother-in-law both celebrated wedding anniversaries.  For Noelle and Zach, this night marked their one year anniversary.  Aww.  They pulled the top of their wedding cake out of the freezer and ever-so-sweetly smashed each other’s faces with it. 

I prepared a feast for the happy couples.  For once, Chef Willy’s famous alfredo recipe was overshadowed by a new appearance.  I made Bulgur Salad with cherries as shared by my friend, Lauren.  It was so beautiful.  And tasty.  So dust off that bag of bulgur and get cooking.

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Three Cheers for Laura

Posted on July 31, 2008 by juliebyers

Happy Day of your birth, Laura Clay! 

You work harder and play harder than anyone!  You taught me “you’ll never know until you ask” with all your bold ways.  And I’ve watched in awe at your ability to “get things” (well, expect that one thing).  You have listened to me rant and soapbox.  We’ve cried while sharing so many plates of bacon and eggs.  You are Nanoo to my child.  You supported all my mothering choices with such enthusiasm; even the choice to quit working which meant to quit working with you.  Oh great maker of cardboard playhouses and spoiler of children, enjoy your day!

Hip Hip Hurray to the only woman I know who consistently gets free chips and salsa from Chili’s!  Here’s hoping you’re not on call tonight.  Happy Birthday!     

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Hydromedusae

Posted on July 25, 2008 by juliebyers

What, you may ask, is a hydromedusae?

Yeah, so in a nutshell–it is a jellyfish–but not the stinging kind.  In the evening, this part of the beach is invaded by them.  Norah calls them “lily-pads” and was terrified by them until Scott coaxed her into poking them and then began a discus throwing contest.  The water is clogged with them.   

Since I was looking down into the ocean to avoid the rather unpleasant bumps against my legs and squishes beneath my toes of these drifting jellies, I found treasures! 

Ah, I don’t want our family time and vacation living to end.   

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Oregano’s First Cousin

Posted on July 21, 2008 by juliebyers

On vacation.  My child is trying to return all the sand to the sea.  My husband is playing.  I’m thoroughly salted, languorous, and sun-dazzled.  And thankful I finagled a friend to chop my hair before the ocean tangled with me.     

 

May whatever breaks be reconstructed by the sea with the long labors of its tides.  –Pablo Neruda

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water words

Posted on June 16, 2008 by juliebyers

Today I plunged into an cold river before my brain could catch up with my body and stop me.  A river so cold my body never got used to it.  I could only swim to keep from shivering.  There is nothing like the sensation of tingly, electric skin after a mountain water plunge. 

My dad taught me the art of river play; how to find air pockets beneath rapids, slide across rough mossy rocks, and navigate the slippery ones.  He forever urges me to jump in, swim harder, touch the bottom, slide down, make it across.  My husband, of course, takes river play to another level and sometimes I try to follow his games though usually I’m left swirling in a froth of white water. 

Celebrating with such amazing fathers; including my sister’s sweet husband (future father)–beautiful day. 

i keep hearing / tree talk / water words / and i keep knowing what they mean  –Lucille Clifton       

 

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Ride the Water

Posted on May 13, 2008 by juliebyers

Tonight we loaded up for a quick paddle and picnic.  It was Norah’s first time in a kayak.  She loved the canoe last summer so we knew she would have fun.  She’s been asking to “ride the water.” 

 

Aside from the difficulty in getting her out of the water and saying goodbye to the geese (she had to blow kisses to each of them), it was a sweet time!

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