You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January, 2008.
My friend Jess at Sassy Pants recently wrote about seeing some of the horrible things happening in Kenya while reading an article in the New York Times. I’ve been following some of the events through radio and other news and am so sad to hear the stories of all the deaths happening there. For the first time in Kenya’s history (according to BBC news) a village church was burned to the ground with thirty people inside who were seeking protection and shelter. The country seems to be creeping towards civil war and complete chaos. I’ve heard that the two opposing leaders (the President and the candidate who lost the election) have had their first meeting to discuss the problem and come up with a solution for peace. I’m praying they do so fast and that something happens to stop what seems to be starting.
My cousin Carolie just introduced me to a new blog called Resident Alien. I wanted to share something this blogger wrote. It made me think of all the strife going on in the world and how it all seems to start so easily with just the way we view others.
She writes…
“Virtually all of us born in this day and age have learned to pre-judge others. Like it or not, prejudice is part of our human condition. It is so easy to categorize people by accent, nationality, clothing, skin color, class, occupation, choice of words — you name it. We don’t have to be Nazis or card-carrying Klan members; we all have this in us to some degree.
But accepting the problem is the first step towards getting rid of it.”
Reading Resident Alien’s words made me think of the Kenyan conflict and the problems going on there and in other parts of the world as well. It seems that no matter what part of the world you travel to each country and culture seems to have a rival or enemy nearby. People just cannot live together peaceably. There always has to be someone to blame for society’s problems and shortcomings. We see this in history and throughout the world today. Her entire post was very interesting (you should check it out) and made me think about myself and how I think, this country and the world. I was happy to see her end the post with some hopeful words. She said we can work towards getting rid of prejudice by identifying that we have a problem, this is the first step. But, I’m really left with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I guess what I’m saying is that I don’t really think that this can all end with every person holding hands and singing “It’s a small world after all.” We live in a sinful world. We are all messed up. Maybe I’m just a pessimist, but part of me realizes more and more that people know how to hate each other so well. It comes so easy to us. We have so much to learn about love and respect. I’ll always hope and pray for peace and understanding between families, countries and cultures. I don’t really want to give up on it. Today, though, I’m mostly yearning for what is to come…an eternity of no pain, strife or war. And most of all I think about finally seeing God and understanding what true love and peace really looks and feels like.
I haven’t posted about my job as a childcare provider lately. Usually, I just comment on the enormous amounts of crappy diapers I’ve changed for the day. (Which by the way has increased to a ridiculously colossal number with Girlie on antibiotics!! The poo is just flyin’ out faster than ever before!) This week I’ve been trying to figure out how much I need to work and how many kids I need to take care of. The woes of the childcare world are like this…
1. When you need more kids to care for, no one calls you or knows anyone looking
for childcare.
2. When you’re all settled and have your perfect number, the whole city
calls you looking for care.
I’m looking for the perfect schedule right now. It would be sooooo nice to have a day off so I can still have a day to get stuff done (get groceries, eat bon bons, do the laundry, paint my nails, wash the massive pile of molding dishes, take a shower, blog more, etc.) Right now I have a few mornings where I start later in the day, but the time just goes way too fast. Over the next few days I’m hoping to find the best schedule for my sanity and for the most time with Jannah….oh yeah, and one that helps us pay the bills.
On a fun note, here’s one of my favorite little things that happens each day Ruth comes over. Ruth turned one in September and she’s the cutest little thing ever.
Me: Hey Ruthie, what does a sheep say?
Ruth: BAAAAA
Me: What does a cow say?
Ruth: BAAAAA
Me: What does a mad sheep say?
Ruth: BAAAAA
And the best is her attempt at a roar for a lion…it’s more of a high pitched scream than a roar. So…yes, there are definitely some great things about having a childcare business in my house. Ruthie does a great job of reminding me of that, especially when I see how much Jannah loves having her around, too!
Girlie had fun in the snow yesterday. Erik took her out sledding on her very cute little sled that my parents found for her. It was pretty cute watching him run around the yard with her. I think he had more fun than she did! As you can see, she’s feeling much better now, thanks for all the comments and encouragement friends!
Hey all,
My friend Jess ‘tagged me’ so here goes….
Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share five random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.
3. Share the five top places on your “want to see or want to see again” list.
4. Tag a minimum of five random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment in their blog.
Okay…here we go.
Five Random facts
1. I used to run cross country and track back in junior high/high school days. I went to college and said, nah…I’ll just enjoy college life instead. I now play ultimate frisbee and enjoy that so much more than running. I’m pretty competetive and really like playing on a co-ed summer team with my hubby and some good friends. The team is called Huck Foo.
2. I love taking bubble baths. I would looooovvvve to have a jucuzzi bathtub someday…we’ll see.
3. My brother-in-law Luke is getting married (to Juli) in August. They just asked me to be a bridesmaid in their wedding! The whole Brekke clan is very excited about welcoming Juli into the family. Jannah told me the other day that she’s very happy to getting an auntie!
4. I was once yelled at by a crazy driver, just after he almost hit me while I was running across the road. This happened while studying abroad in 2001 in Malta (below Italy/Sicily). The guy yelled this in a Maltese accent (think Italian like sounding)…
“Are you ****ing mad!!” I screamed and ran the rest of the way across the street.
5. I used to have rabbits and was a 4-H member for many years. I had dutch rabbits and the little cutie babies were the best. I also used to walk my rabbits on little leashes…sort of…or were they walking me?
Top Five places I want to see or see again
1. India
2. I’ve been to Morocco, but I’d like to see more of Africa, particularily Tanzania or South Africa
3. New Zealand/Austrailia
4. Malta…I lived there for 4 1/2 months while I studied there in ‘01 and Erik and I were there for part of our honeymoon in ‘03. I can’t imagine never seeing it again!
5. A warm place with a beach that’s not Cancun or Jamaica….maybe Hawaii? Fiji? Tahiti? Can you tell I’m getting tired of winter!
Tag Friends….you’re it!
Carolie
Greg
DaMomma
House of H
Dana
I’ve been thinking about the whole babywearing thing lately. For all those non parents out there, this is when you wear a sling or some type of device that lets you wear your baby on you…like forever and ever. They have classes on this and people are super super energetic and into this trend. It’s supposed to help with bonding and making your kid feel safe.
Anyways, I’ve got a Maya wrap/sling thingy and it was nice this past summer when I’d take all four billion children I care for on a walk. I could push the double stroller and then carry girlie in the sling. I even managed to nurse her twice while doing this…and yes, I felt like supermom. The neighbor felt like running away into his house. Whatever, he couldn’t tell what I was doing…wuss!
So…back to the ranting part of the blog. Last night I was finishing up the informational DVD from the Maya sling people about how to get your older kid into the sling. Erik came downstairs and commented….”Why the heck would you wear your toddler in a sling.” I tried to come back with some sassy smarty remark about how important it could be in certain situations….but then the DVD just made us both crack up and realize, yeah….why would you? The lady on the video has her 1 1/2 yr. old in a sling and then grabs another sling and puts a very very tiny tiny baby on the other side. (That’s not before the bigger kid grabs a chunk of the newborns hair and pulls on it…whoops video lady, didn’t edit that out did ya!)
I guess I get the babywearing thing when your kid is a tiny baby or if you’ve got twins or something..but for goodness sake, let your 30 pounder walk or buy yourself a trendy stroller! The more Erik and I laughed about it, the more I was hoping I won’t be hauling girlie around the block in a sling this summer…I can barely manage the chunker now. Erik’s hoping she’ll be trotting down the sidewalk herself, I’m sure she’ll get right on that…right after she finishes up with filing our tax return.
P.S. Sorry if I offended any of you babywearing folks…
you’re all probably in way better shape than I am!
