Child-like faith

During Steve's second ER visit last week, our minister, Don, stopped by to check on us. He had been writing his sermon for the week when he learned that Steve was at the hospital. So he left Starbucks (one of his favorite creative spots) and drove over.

He shared a funny story with us that was the lead of his sermon:

Every year our preschool holds two President Day parades and many of your children were part of this year’s flag waving throng! After all was said and done, an annoyed Pre-Ker named Jack announced, "We had two HUGE parades for the President …and he didn't even come!

The rest of the sermon is here.

Recent photos

Cooper won the award for the Cubbiest Car at the Pinewood Derby.

Katie and her new rainboots

Katie, her friends and Tyra at the preschool Valentine's Day party

Cooper and some of his first-grade buddies at his Valentine's Day party

Steve and Ami

Ami and Tyra before she leaves last week

Morning before President's Day parade at preschool

Bunco friends

A couple of years ago Jackie and Byron moved to the neighborhood. Jackie wasted no time in pulling together a fun group of women who meet once a month to eat dinner, drink a little, visit and play bunco.

Bunco is a game that requires little skill -- just the ability to roll dice, grab dice and count. That's perfect for us on a Friday night. We're usually tired from commuting, working, volunteering and/or chasing children around all week. The game is not really the point (though some are much more competitive than others -- prizes are at stake!). The best part is catching up on everyone's lives.

Last week we met at Amy's house. She started a great new tradition for the group this year. She e-mails everyone in advance to ask for pantry or household goods to donate to a local charity. Last week we also gathered for a group photo. (We're missing a couple of regulars but were happy to have some subs.)


These friends are an important part of the network that is helping our family through Steve's illness. We are lucky to have such caring neighbors.

New hair

Steve, Cooper & Katie this Sunday before church

Until this week, Cooper has had the same hairstyle pretty much since he had enough hair to shape and style. Sometimes it looked like a bowl cut, others like a mushroom. I loved it -- one length, thick, smooth, shiny. He definitely didn't look like most other little boys. (And it was very similar to my hair from when I was 5, which I realize may seem strange and is not what all boys aspire to. But he loved it, too.)

For about three years, we had the best hairdresser -- Sylvia, at a local kids-only shop. She knew how to work around his occasional curls and always finished with a straight, even cut. But she left the state a few months ago, and we've been roaming from one place to the next, in search of a Sylvia substitute.

I took him to a nearby guys kind of place this week, and the woman helping us insisted that he needed something more masculine, something to get rid of the flippiness on the ends.

Me: Well, I don't know. What would you do exactly?
Pushy lady: Oh, just layer it in the back.
Me: Would it look the same in the front?
Pushy lady: Yes, oh yes. I like the length in front. He just needs to look more like a boy.
Me: Oh, I'm not sure about this.
Pushy lady: Really, it will be fine.

The whole time I was thinking in my head, "I'm not ready for any additional drastic changes! It's just hair, and I know it will grow, but can't we just keep this the same?!" But I didn't want to spill out all that turmoil on the lady with the scissors in her hand. And Cooper said he was willing to try something different.

Well, he looks like a completely different person. Handsome and beautiful, of course, but different. Julie noted that you notice his eyes even more. I think it makes him look older, too.

And he loves it, which I know is most important.

Cooper the day after his haircut (dressed as a meteorologist for career day)

Katie's many names

In the past couple of months, Katie has become fascinated with her name. A few weeks ago, I was explaining to her that her name is Kathryn but we call her Katie.

At first, she denied her given name. "I not Kathryn! I a good girl! I Katie!" (And Kathryn is pronounced Kafryn.)

Now, she's embracing the name.

Recent quotes include:
"My name is Kathryn, but they call me Katie."
"I not Katie. I Kathryn."
"My name is Kathryn, but Aunt Ami calls me darlin'. And I call her darlin'."
"My name is Kathryn, but Aunt Julie calls me T." (Julie's son Adam, one of Katie's best friends, has called her T for a long time, as in K-T.)

T-shirt becomes a sleep shirt

Last year on spring break, we bought Cooper and Katie matching T-shirts. Cooper has worn his dozens of times since. Yesterday I pulled it from his closet for him to wear to school.

He put on his turtleneck first then walked into the kitchen with the shirt in his hands.

"Mommy, no one in my class really likes Winnie the Pooh. I'll be embarrased."

I smiled at him, didn't speak (maybe I was afraid I'd start crying, knowing our "little" boy has outgrown Pooh) and walked to his closet, pulled out one of his Star Wars shirts and handed it to him.

"Oh, Mommy, I love you," he said, and sealed it with a crushing Cooper hug.

He wore the shirt to bed last night, and after it's washed, it will officially move to the PJ drawer.

Energy

Often in the mornings, Cooper comes to our room and heralds the time.

"It's 6:14!" or "It's 6:25! Time to get up!" or "It's 6:37! Time for breakfast!"

Sometimes we can convince him to join us and snuggle for a bit. When we know it's really time to get up and get moving, we ask him for energy hugs.

This week he shared with Aunt Ami his secret about energy hugs.

He told her that when he gives Mommy and Daddy energy hugs, we think he's giving us energy. But really, he said, he's taking energy from us and just doesn't want us to know.

We won't let on that we know his secret. We'll just keep sharing our energy back and forth.

School-related Christmas festivities

Mrs. Meyer and Katie creating ornaments

Decorating a Christmas cookie with guppies (an off brand of Goldfish)

At Cooper's party today

Cooper and Mia

Cooper and Cade

No loss for words

Do you ever feel at a loss for the right words when someone you know is going through a tough time? I sometimes do -- nothing seems to adequately express the empathy or sympathy I feel.

I compiled this far-from-inclusive list of just some of the most beautiful words written to Steve and I the past week. This doesn't even include the supportive spoken words from others. We somehow have the world's most poetic, compassionate and giving friends and family members. These words are incredible gifts.

We stand ready to help with meals, errands or anything else. Just say the word. Your family really, really are in our prayers and our thoughts.

I’m here if you need anything.

I hope you can feel God’s loving arms around you.

We're pulling for you all and wish you strength during this tough time.

I know God is capable of things we can never begin to wrap our minds around.

Please let me know when I can do anything else. If you ever need to get away you know where I am.

I know you're not one to ask, but I don't want to bombard you with calls, so PLEASE let us know what we can do.

We are all connected in this world for a reason ... right now support, love and hope are surrounding you and your family.

I just want to give you a big hug.

We serve a God of healing – I hope you can both cling to that during this time. You’re both strong individuals, and your faith will bring you through this.

I'm sending positive vibes your way.

Know that you have friends that are here for you at a moment's notice.

I want you to consider me "on-call" for you starting right this minute.

I just want you to know that you guys are thought of all the time and we are praying each day for God's help and healing.

My prayers are going full throttle for all of you.

You are both in my thoughts and prayers, surrounding you all in healing light.

Stay positive, stay strong!

Your love for and devotion to one another has always been so apparent. That alone will get your through many dark periods in life.

We love you guys.

(I rediscovered this photo tonight while getting some images together for an upcoming Cub Scout project. Cooper was Harry Potter again for Halloween this year.)

Steve

I'm keeping a blog for friends and family who want updates on sweet Steve's condition: checkonsteve.blogspot.com/