Tuesday, March 31, 2009

I Am Sick!

That is all. Ugh.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

This is something good to know about

A week or two ago, a mom on one of my internet discussion boards posted that she will be deploying to Iraq shortly. She has a one year old. She was looking for tips and commiseration from folks who have been through such things, and I posted to her about my experiences being separated from my kids a year and a half ago. Then someone else posted this, which I had never seen before:

http://www.hugahero.com/index.php

I thought that this type of concept (maybe the picture blanket squares) would have been another source of comfort for my kids when we were apart. It was truly an incredibly difficult period on both ends. One of the interesting things I heard said about the war in Iraq on NPR a few weeks ago was that this war is an unusual one in that the human toll continues to be great, but that statistically, few of us actually know anyone who is deployed. Still, I think this is a good resource to know about for anyone any of us may come across who is looking for family resources before they deploy (or are facing separations from their kids like I was, for other reasons).

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Oh, was that me?

http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/video/episodes/#vid=1059701

Hmmm, first 40 seconds of "30 Rock" this week reminded me just a little too much of myself. Hilarious!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Mom and Baby Yoga

Here are my kids, back in Jan. following along to a "mom and baby yoga" DVD. Pretty darn cute, huh?!








This post has a specific purpose and may not be permanent, so comments are unecessary :-).

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Scary (and Cute)

Today K. and I were talking about nursing. She had asked about whether I have milk in my boobs. K. of course did not nurse, as it isn't allowed in foster care, but she knows that some kids get their milk from nursing. I told K. that when she is an adult, she can nurse her babies (if she is a mama).

She corrected me, "No, when I am a teenager."

I said, "No, when you are an adult you can be a mama," to which she incredulously and firmly replied, "No! When I am a teeeeeenager!"

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

"Bushvilles"

Another Blog I Neglected To Mention

http://zachaboard.blogspot.com/

This blog belongs to a totally brilliant, creative, kind and generous, and all-around awesome houseboat-living mom I know from "elsewhere on the internet."

I also corrected a few blog links from my shout-out post, as they were to specific posts rather than the general blogs. If I missed any incorrect links, let me know.

(Added link to original post 3-10-09)

Monday, March 9, 2009

Another Cool Artist to Check Out

On Facebook, I re-connected with an old friend tonight, Brianna Martray. She and I met in the UU youth scene back in the day. Turns out she is now in the Denver art scene, and she has been doing some amazing art. Here is her stuff: http://www.briannamartray.com. Thought she was deserving of a plug on my blog.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Sad

I just opened an email newsletter from the HANDLE institute to learn that its founder, Judith Bluestone, died this February. Our family experience with HANDLE was tremendously powerful, and Judith's book The Fabric of Autism: Weaving the Threads Into a Cogent Theory (which I personally prefer in audio format) remains on my all-time favorites list.

What sad news!

On a totally different note, here is another blog I neglected to put on my list. This is a mom I know from "elsewhere on the internet." She blogs periodically. Please note that she has music on her blog, so you'll want to turn down your speakers if you are at work or have a sleeping babe next to your speaker or anything like that ;-). http://adventureswithboandboo.blogspot.com/

(Added link to original post 3-10-09)

Friday, March 6, 2009

What a Wild and Amazing Couple of Days!

Yesterday I went to Harvard Divinity School for a seminar/panel presentation on religious responses to intimate partner violence. The speakers included a Rabbi, an Imam, and several ministers including one who operates an interfaith Safehaven program. It was an interesting seminar, and I found it valuable to commit some time to this topic, especially in anticipation of a "Safe Congregations" meeting I will be attending next Wednesday in the church I serve.



After the program, I thanked the speakers I could catch, and in particular the two women who appeared to have organized the seminar (I took an incorrect exit thus was late and missed introductions, so don't know for sure). I let them know that I am both a religious professional and a prospective divinity school student. Little did I know that I was chatting with the Dean of Students from Andover-Newton Theological School. She promptly gave me the proper hints to clue me in, and then encouraged me to come check out the school. She took my email so we could schedule a time to chat, about another topic but also about the school. And she told me there was an open house the following day (today) at Andover-Newton, which she urged me to attend.



I decided to go ahead and go check it out, and I am glad I did. It was a very worthwhile and satisfying day.



The school was beautiful, especially their new chapel. But what really impressed me was the absolute warmth and hospitality of everyone from the president of the school to the student employees who took part in the day. I was greeted immediately and with such gracious hospitality (the kind we all strive to express in our churches), and it wasn't long before the Dean spotted me and with a warm smile and hug drew me into the crowd. Shortly she introduced me to another member of the staff with: "This is who I emailed you all about yesterday evening." Wow! Throughout the day, whenever I talked to faculty and staff, they would say, "I am so glad you came today." I truly was blown away by the welcome.



There were several other things that struck me during the day:



1. This school was not only the first theological school in the country, but also the first graduate school of any type in the country! Its tradition has truly shaped the mold for theological education as it is known today. It has a very rich history from which to draw, but it also seems incredibly well-positioned as a forward-thinking, cutting-edge institution. They have just totally restructured their curriculum because they are well aware of the reality that the 21st minister is working in a totally different One of the themes of the day was

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

A List of Blogs I've Read (in recent memory) or Read

It's "shout out" time again.

Family of Faith (whose blogs may or may not be "about" faith)
http://bostonunitarian.blogspot.com/

http://www.peacebang.com/ and http://beautytipsforministers.com/

http://learningumbrella.homeschooljournal.net/

http://happycindy.blogspot.com/

http://monkeymindonline.blogspot.com/

http://mskittyssaloonandroadshow.blogspot.com/

http://uuminister.blogspot.com/ and http://www.lovethroughaction.blogspot.com/

http://thehanifblog.blogspot.com/ (at least skimmed)

http://chalicechick.blogspot.com/ (though I have to say because I can't post a link including someone else's endorsement before I've offered mine that I vehemently disagree with the UUA presidential candidate endorsement on this blog...more on that another day)

http://chalicespark.blogspot.com/

http://justgini.blogspot.com/

http://tandik-fueledbyfaith.blogspot.com/ (LOVE it, but not frequently updated)

http://barbsbantering.wordpress.com/

http://www.uumin.org/sam/ (click blog on the left hand side of page)

http://truust.org/

http://unmitigatedbliss.blogspot.com/

http://iminister.blogspot.com/


Guilty Pleasure
http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/


Montessori Mom I Discovered Randomly
http://chasingcheerios.blogspot.com/


Moms I "Know" From Elsewhere on the Internet
http://zachaboard.blogspot.com/

http://isle-of-inisfree.blogspot.com/

http://2undertoo.blogspot.com/

http://truebluexf.blogspot.com/

http://fostermomx2.blogspot.com/

http://rainbowmamajourney.blogspot.com/ (not updated for quite some time)

http://pumpkingirl71.livejournal.com/

http://adventureswithboandboo.blogspot.com/

...I know I am forgetting a number of folks, and I am so sorry but I am getting tired and need to head to bed. Ack! My deepest apologies.


Family Members
http://ragtagsf.blogspot.com/

http://awfulbrothers.blogspot.com/ (updated in periodic spurts)

http://colin-quodlibet.blogspot.com/

http://www.sunthroughleaves.blogspot.com/ (very sporadically updated)

http://www.chickadeescout.blogspot.com/

http://amazingadventuresofdante.blogspot.com/ (very sporadically updated)

http://justsebastian.blogspot.com/ (rarely updated)

...I'm probably forgetting whole other categories of blogs I read and stuff, but that's all I can do right now. Now, bed.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Dancin' Yogis

I think K. and M. really could use some time at the Dancin' Yogis class here:
http://www.mamasmove.com/?page_id=11

This is a someday thing to go on a wish list for sure! Doesn't it sound like a cool idea?!