by jphilo | Jun 18, 2013 | Top Ten Tuesday
10. Summer feels like a series of weeks when playing hookey from school is perfectly okay.
9. Walking by the city swimming pool in the morning and smelling the chlorine.
8. Road trips.
7. Leaving coats and jackets in the closet for weeks on end.
6. Watermelon.
5. Sleeping with the windows open at night.
4. Waking up early to the eastern sky already lightening with the dawn.
3. Birdsong.
2. Hanging clothes on the line which allows me to a) save electricity, b) feel virtuous about doing it, c) make the laundry smell wonderful, and d) work on my tan all at the same time.
1. Enjoy the fruits (see strawberry photo above) and veggies that come in our weekly CSA share on Tuesdays.
What do you like best about summer? Leave a comment.
by jphilo | May 31, 2013 | Family
One year ago today, the man of steel was bedridden with back pain. About a week later, the doctor diagnosed a ruptured disk and recommended back surgery.
The next few weeks put a strain on or marriage and revealed some flaws in his character and mine. After the surgery was over, the hospital stay put more strain on our marriage.
By July the man of steel started physical therapy, he started regaining man cards one after another. Eventually, he was given the okay to start a walking and running regime. Little by little, through the summer and fall, the physical therapist increased his running time.
He followed her instructions. To. The. Letter.
He spent late winter afternoons after work running on a treadmill in the physical therapy exercise room. Come spring, he started running outside.
Run 2 miles. Walk 1 minute. Repeat 3 times.
Every other day.
Run 3 miles. Walk 1 minute. Repeat 2 times.
Every other day.
Run 4 miles. Walk 1 minute. Repeat 2 times.
Every other day.
Tomorrow, he’s running in the Des Moines Dam to Dam half-marathon.
He’ll run 4 miles. Walk 1 minute. Repeat 3 times.
It’ll be a great day.
His back is stronger than ever.
Our marriage is stronger than ever.
And we’re thankful, the man of steel and me.
Photo Source
by jphilo | May 23, 2013 | Different Dream, Holidays, Special Needs Parenting
How Can 31 Years Ago Seem Just Like Yesterday?
Thirty-one years ago today, our first child was born at 12:35 a.m. on a Sunday morning. Like all mothers, I remember the details of that day at Lookout Memorial Hospital in Spearfish, South Dakota with perfect clarity. But my memories are different than those of many other new parents. The joy of the memory of our son’s arrival is tinged with sadness and gratitude.
I remember breakfast being interrupted with the news that our son was having trouble breathing.
I remember the food going tasteless when the doctor advised transferring him to Rapid City Regional Hospital for tests.
I remember being alone when the pediatrician from Rapid City called a few hours later with a diagnosis.
I remember wishing my husband hadn’t gone to take a shower at a friend’s house.
I remember the doctor saying the words tracheoesophageal fistula for the first time.
I remember telling that stranger to life flight our newborn to the University of Nebraska Hospital in Omaha for immediate surgery.
I remember crying so hard my husband could hardly understand my words when he returned.
I remember him taking my hand and praying for our son while tears streamed down my face.
I remember when the call arrived that our son had survived the trip.
I remember the surgeon calling at midnight to say Allen was doing well after surgery.
I remember my relief and more tears when once again, I relayed the doctor’s words to my husband.
For thirty years now, I have relived the events of that day every May twenty-third. I glance at the clock throughout the day and think the same thoughts.
This is when the doctor interrupted breakfast.
About now, the call came from Rapid City with a diagnosis.
Allen took his first airplane ride on an afternoon like this.
He went into surgery about now.
The rest of this post can be found at the Not Alone website.
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by jphilo | Apr 29, 2013 | Daily Life
The weekend’s warm weather gave us
The oomph to clean the sun porch
So the wintered over plants could be moved there
To start adjusting to outdoor air.
But when the plants, previously scattered around the
Dining room, living room, and two bedrooms,
Were gathered in one place,
I wondered if the yard would be big enough to hold them all.
I stood on the porch wondering if I’d overdone
The fall repotting,
The late winter pruning,
And the early spring rerooting.
I wondered if I had too many plants.
Then Grandma Josie whispered in my ear,
Silly girl, you can never have too many plants.
Now, take this piece of sugar bread outside to eat,
So you don’t spill on the floor and attract ants.
My thoughts filled with plants,
Grandma Josie, sugar bread, and an ant-free home,
I walked indoors,
Grateful for spring.
by jphilo | Apr 5, 2013 | Walking Down the Gravel Road
These April mornings,
When my walks begin.
I need a pep talk to push my feet
Out the door and down the lane.
The grass is brown.
The tree branches grey,
The wind is cold,
The landscape bare.
Still the cardinal,
bright red with promise,
Sings words to warm my frozen, winter soul.
“It’s spring! It’s spring.”
