Friday Notes

When I was in Junior High
I had this wild and crazy friend
named Mary
who would make Friday Notes.
Friday Notes were like a party on a page.
You might get confetti in yours.
Or pieces of candy.
Or nothing.
They were covered in jokes and crazy things,
funny pictures, just random thoughts.
I hadn't thought about those in years
.....until I typed in the name of this post.
But guess what?
There's no confetti for you here today.
Nor have I posted you a Jolly Rancher.
(Haven't figured out how to do that...hmmm...)
And I don't think I have any jokes for you....
but I am certifiably crazy......
so there's something.

But it is Friday and it is a good day.

Today I finally returned to our homeschooling co-op.
My dear mother has been taking the kids all this
semester so far until now. Well, today I took three
of the babes and my mom kept Sweet T,
who you may recall, is still sick.
(But he's getting better--he looked so much
better this morning after a couple of doses
of antibiotic and a good night's sleep.)
So I went back to co-op and it was good to see people.
I think they thought I'd have this tiny newborn baby
and they'd look and say, "He's so big!"
Yeah....well....he is almost three months old.
I mean to be back sooner....


Part of what made the return to co-op great was that
one of my favorite people in the world was there.
My friend T-fanny who had moved away was
back visiting today. T-fanny and I met in the nursery
at co-op a couple of years ago and today we were back
in there together for about two hours. It was so
great to see her and to be there was just like a flash
back in time. I love T-fanny and wish she wasn't so far
away. But she's here now! For a little while.
And I'm so glad to get to see her.

I may actually have two outings in one day---and if
you're keeping score at home, you may need to wake
yourself up to take note of this (anyone keeping track
of my social schedule lately is sure to be
fast asleep...for months...)
because even one outing seems like a rare thing for
me anymore, so two in one day is just like
social chaos at the moment.
How different life is when you have a baby.
But Outing #2 (if I go) will be meeting T-fanny and
miscellaneous other friends of ours at a coffee shop
in the next Tiny Town over.
What's funny about it is that I checked with my little
redneck-brother and he and his song writer's group will
be there tonight. So I can go see my pals and hear my
brother (and his group). I need to make an effort to go.
I have a tendency to just want to stay home all the time
and not do things because it might take a bit of effort
on my part. I need to get more involved in
life outside my four walls.

In other much more important news
--which continues to emphasize the fact that
I need to get a life----Dear Reader, I am now in
possession of the last two books in the Twilight series.
(and there was much rejoicing)
I have started on book #3. I picked up these two
books from a friend of mine after co-op today.

We were having this big conversation about them
and it just made me want to get on with the story,
you know, and find out what happens to these characters.
We were discussing the fact that these books have
won awards under the category of "children's books" and
that surprised me. I am sure they are aimed more at
a "juvenile adult" audience, but for them to even fall
under the "children's" category surprised me.
I have Lovely K wanting to know if she can read them
and I am thinking, No way.
Not because they are bad or anything.
They aren't bad.
But they aren't for children.
Or at least not my children,
not my nine year old child.
She's reading Magic Tree House books
(though they are way young for her, but I'm not
discouraging any reading) and Hardy Boys mysteries.
I'm not letting her jump from those to
"vegetarian vampires."
And that's kind of what I was talking to this other
mom about. With homeschooling and being with our
kids ALL the time, we know exactly what they are
doing and reading. I know what's going on in my kids' lives.
There's no mystery. There's really no room for secrets.
When I was in school (once I started public school in
4th grade, before that I went to private Christian schools),
my parents didn't know what I was reading.
And if Lovely K was in school, I wonder if I would know
what she was reading in the library or books she could
get from her friends.
I want to be able to protect my kids and I am glad
they are leading a more sheltered life. I think kids
are exposed to so much at such a young age nowadays.
I don't like that. But then sometimes too I wonder
if I shelter my kids too much. My kids are very
naive about things and very innocent.
I mean, even about things like calling names or bad words.
I don't know if they would even recognize a cuss word
(as being something "bad") if they heard one.
This one girl in the conversation today was saying
she didn't want her kids to be so sheltered and so naive
that when they did have to go out into the world
they wouldn't know how to deal with things
or that they would just be overwhelmed.
I know we are supposed to be "in" the world
but not "of" the world.
Sometimes I don't know exactly how that plays out
in day to day life. I grew up in some churches
that wanted to draw the lines for you,
play the role of the Holy Spirit for you,
and they went way over board.
I don't ever want to teach my kids a list of rules
that makes them feel comfortable and satisfied
with themselves when the process of sanctification
is a never-ending thing.
Do you know what I am saying?
I don't know how I got off on this tangent.....


But it's Friday.
Here comes the weekend.
We are springing forward this weekend, Dear Reader.
Are you ready to spring forward?
What if I just slowly walk forward?
I'll get there.
I just think I'm way too tired
to do any springing.
And how excited am I about losing an hour of sleep?
I've been doing that a couple of times a night for weeks....

I can't help but be excited about Spring, though.
This is my favorite time of year.
And it's coming, Dear Reader, it really is.
I think that's what I am so happy about today.
Even though I can barely stay awake and my head is
killing me, I can just tell that the change is in the air.
We had a rainy, stormy morning,
(which I love anyway---I love spring rains!)
but the sun is shining behind the clouds
and I can see the trees looking at each other,
wondering if it's too early to start whipping out
their little leaf buds.

Come on, trees!
Whip 'em out! Let's get it started!

I am so ready!
Aren't you?