{"international what?"}

I don't usually write about arguments, but let's face it. We all have them. I also don't usually write about those days where nothing seems to go right, but we all have those too. So, the only reason why I'm writing about this one is that it's provided many laughs, our arguments are rare, and I want to remember the bitter, the sweet, and the irony. Pared back, the jist of it...here it is for shits and giggles.
It was Jonathan's Friday off, and I also had a rare Friday out of class. During some texts back and forth a few days earlier, he had asked me what I wanted to do. My answer was: "How about you surprise me." Well, I have to admit, the morning started out gloriously, getting to sleep in. But when Jon mentioned a hike to the hot springs, I thought surely there was not time to do that and get back to pick up the kids, and told him as much. We then discussed distance, logistics, mileage, miles/hr...and I never picked up on the fact that this was his plan for the day. In truth, I downplayed it. When I got back from dropping off Katelyn, he was still in his pajamas (although washing dishes). Apparently, no plan. Then we started into an argument about Chad's baseball season which escalated into hurtful things said and me leaving to go study. Baseball, really? Neither of us had a clue why we were fighting or how it started, but we felt that our perfect day had been ruined. And how is this at all comical?
As I was driving to the coffee shop, I remembered Jonathan saying he needed a massage since he's been training for a triathlon. I called several places and found the International Day Spa with an opening. After booking the appointment, I asked Carly to call and tell Jonathan about it and when to be there (I didn't really feel like talking to him yet). But when I got there to pay, Carly told me, "Yeah, I just talked to your husband. He didn't sound too excited." I retorted, "Well, we're not having the best day. He can get over it" and left before I could register her facial expression. I sat in Augie's for a while before Jonathan came in with a beautiful dozen red roses and tossed them on the table. I could see he was still upset, so I tentatively asked, "Did you get a call?" He answered, "45 minutes is a little over the top don't you think? 5 minutes would have been more than enough." I was puzzled, mad, hated those roses, and thinking rather evil thoughts. We tried lunch, and I couldn't eat. Finally, I pushed back my plate, got up to go, and said, "Well, you better get to your appointment or you'll be late. Like it or not, I already paid for to to get a sports massage."
"What???" he asked, as a realization began to dawn on him. I repeated myself with plenty of vigor. And then I heard..."Wow. That lady called me while I was picking out flowers and said she was calling from International Day Spa. I heard 'International baseball!'... that my wife had made an appointment (I thought to find out more details about Chad's baseball season), and that I needed to come 20 minutes early for a consultation." Wow is right. There were no other words.
Did we instantly make up? No. In fact, the day continued to sour because of other sad things happening beyond our control. But we do love each other, at the end of the day "it's not the mountain to die on," and years from now, we'll read this and...laugh:)

{train trip}

This Christmas, with my 4 week break from school and all Jonathan's PTO at work, we decided to visit the Farney and Petty families by way of a long train trip to both places. But first, we drove down to San Diego on Wednesday, December 21 to see David's graduation and promotion from Marine basic. We are so proud of him and the man he has become! We felt honored to be there. We then drove back up to our house where a friend picked us up and took us to the train station. At 2200, we boarded the super liner. The kids were so excited, they could not sit still. It was even hard for me to go to sleep! All the next day, the train glided through the snow and ice outside, while we rested, ate in the diner car twice, watched movies, and I read pulmonary physiology for my HW. We arrived in Newton Friday morning at 0400 and got to Grandma Farney's house an hour later. Our time in Wichita was relaxed and laid back. Shara brought over sugar cookie dough, which she cut out, baked, and decorated with all the grandkids. We played lots of games, including a new one introduced to us by Jeremy...Quelf. I've never laughed so hard in my life. And I got many awesome and embarrassing videos- from Daniel miming in a cage full of rabid ferrets, to David barking orders at the game pieces, to Jonathan making up a limerick with thumbs in his mouth, to Curtis running in slow motion with a snorkel attached to his face to Christin attempting the splits...all while calling each other pet names such as "my little rose bud" and "sweet cheeks." Ahh, what memories! One day after Christmas, Jonathan and Christin headed up making homemade horseradish from the roots growing in Mary's garden, while David and I loaded and delivered firewood. That night, Steve Zackula brought over food from Manna Wok, which we enjoyed all sitting around in the basement. Another night, we sat in the hot tub with Curtis and Shara, while our kids spent the night with their kids. I loved our time there. All the siblings have such a strong bond with each other, the fellowship is sweet, and each are healing with time and love.

Thursday, December 29, we got on the train at 0300, headed for St. Louis where my mom picked us up for the drive to Mt. Vernon, Indiana. All my siblings and their spouses had already arrived when we drove up. The country greeted us with vigorous sensory pleasures, although the landscape was brown and barren. My parent's place is what I wished for as a kid...a horse barn and a horse, chickens, garden, blackberry patch, pond... The kids just loved riding Whoops, fishing with Papa, and gathering eggs. Each morning I enjoyed a tall glass of raw milk and coffee with fresh skimmed cream. Although it takes a few days for us all to get used to each other, the time there was awesome. We went to see some crazy rock formations called Garden of the Gods, played a violin quartet in church, went bowling, enjoyed another epic game of Quelf (we liked it so much, we had it shipped overnight), and got to go on a late night hay ride through the fields. Chili and hot chocolate helped us warm up after that. One by one, everyone left. We were the last to go. Sadness was tangible, although lessened by the fact that we made our train with less than a minute to spare! It was a fantastic family trip, but we were excited to get back to warmth and California. The fact that it has become our home was apparent when our friends had a picnic to welcome us back. Even as I start this next hectic semester, I know all will be well. Besides, it's kinda cool having my entire year mapped out already:) Makes for a small list of resolutions: do my best at the task ahead, take care of my family, stay fit, count my friends as blessings, and always give the glory to God...

{God's eyes through a 5 year-old's eyes}

How Kate spent her time during the long move to CA

Kate and I were on the way to the store today when I looked in the rear view mirror and noticed her pensive face. It did not take long to find out what was on her mind.

"Mom, how many eyes does God have?"
"Well, when Jesus came to earth, He had 2 just like us," I answered.
"Then how can God see everything in the whole world with only 2 eyes? I have 2 eyes like Him, and I can't see everything." And then, as if that wasn't enough to have to explain, she followed it up with another question: "Is there one God for every world with people on it?"
"Kate, I think there's only one world with people on it, and yes, there is one God."
"But, that doesn't make any sense, Mom. If God loves people SO much, there would be many worlds with many people so He could talk to them all and love them."
Oh, boy.

{semester's end}

One semester down, 2 more years to go. That seems like a long time, but I have to take it day by day to get through. I can not look at the big picture right now. It scares me too much. Only the end result and each single day leading up to it. As usual, I am scared of next semester. Jonathan says I've been saying that before each semester since 1999. He's known me awhile I guess. At least I don't disappoint. I am ecstatic about my grades that were just posted. I have never wanted a B so badly. C in any class is not good, because no one can graduate with a GPA less than 3.0. With Jonathan's support, Brian's help, and God's mercy, I got 2 A's and 2 B's. As Debra Maloy put it: "There are no ARNAs or BRNAs, but you have to get those to be a CRNA." 

But for now, I am just enjoying family time, playing games with the kids, and packing for an awesome Christmas vacation. Michelle and Ted are coming Saturday from Guam. So long! I've got alot to do!

{scissors}

I came into Chad's class today to watch, only to find him missing. Mrs. McCarty quickly filled me in. "He's in the office with Anthony. The boys were throwing scissors at each other." Horrified, I walked to the office. The boys were writing out what had happened. As soon as Chad saw me, he grew grim. I looked down to see his first sentence. "I told my nightmare to Anthony, and he laughed at me, so I threw my scissors. He threw his back at me." My next question, "What was your nightmare?" brought a torrent of tears. "I dreamed I was really sick, and the only way I could get better was if a girl kissed me. It was a really bad dream! The worst nightmare ever. She kept trying to kiss me, and I would rather be sick. I NEVER want to be kissed by a girl." It was all I could do to keep from laughing. I smiled and kissed him. "It's not so bad. Did you get better?" "Mom, that kiss was so awful, it woke me up."

We'll see about that. For now, it's quite okay with me. Not the scissor throwing. That needs to stop.

{mail to Michelle}

The kids were elated to find a letter in the mail today from Aunt Michelle. There were stamps and stickers inside. And even more fun were all the foreign coins she included, from places she has visited. We got out the globe and found where each coin was from. Immediately missing my sis, I called her...
...While I was talking, Chad was getting something together to send to her. He drew some pictures, made a craft, and wrote a note on a 3x5 just as she had. He even put in a penny, labeling it "This is a penny from the USA." The next morning after Chad went to school, Jonathan and I found this in the mailbox. So sweet, I had to take a picture.
When Chad saw the picture, he asked me how the postman knew which Michelle to give it to. "Well, I added 'Hamilton' after 'Michelle.'" He wondered, "Does the postman take it all the way to Guam?" "No, Chad the letter goes to post office, gets sorted and put on a plane to Guam. Then a mail worker there takes it to her mailbox." He frowned. "Uh-oh! How will he know where her house is?" "Well, I wrote her address on the envelope too." With a sigh of relief, he gave me a big hug and said, "You're the best, mom."

{rainy day}

I've always loved the rain. Quite possibly because I have so many great memories of the rain beating down on the propanel roof of my grandparents cozy little cabin in Colorado, while we drank hot chocolate and put together a puzzle. I am far away from that cozy place. I spent my day drowning in toluenes, voltage gated sodium channels, dihydropyridine sensors, and digoxin toxicity--getting glimpses of the driving rain from the second floor of the hospital. I am in my 7th week of school, and it's already October. I feel like my mind is on overdrive and my desire to write is waning in correlation to having entertaining things to talk about. But I need a break from studying organic reactions. So I sit here and grow pensive...and an analogy comes to mind. I am a train on a track that God is laying one piece at a time. I have to keep going, and making choices, and have faith that God will keep laying the track. I don't know where each day will lead, if I will like it or not, how uphill the climb, or the speed at which I can go. I don't know who I will encounter or how I will get there, but I do know the destination. I am thankful for that. At this point, it's a good thing I can't look at the layout for miles ahead of now. God knows that would be all too daunting. Along the way, He continues to bring blessings into my life. My husband supporting me through this, my sweet kids providing snuggles and funny pictures, my friends sending me encouragement, and my study partner Brian- who has become a good friend and patiently explains the physiology processes. I will keep going. I will get back to naming benzene rings... and watch- with a smile- as the rain washes the world outside.