Posts in Musings and Miscellany
Before and After the PICU, a Photographic History of the Garden
Before our 11 day stint in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the kids were really seeing their garden boxes give a good yield. But when mama's gone, well... we tend to forget the care of some things, like the garden. I give you BPICU (Before Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) and APICU (After Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, naturally):

BPICU, all was peaceful in the garden. The tomatoes slowly stretched their way up the supports, the new and cheery birdhouse beckoned little birdies, and the chickens happily foraged with the promise of fresh eggs for our family...

APICU. Those tall things? They're weeds. There's stuff growing under them, but they're weeds. See the birdhouse behind them? Neither can I.

BPICU, girls gathered their bountiful Eightball Zucchini crop, enjoying thoughts of fresh zucchini bread nibbled upon for breakfast...

APICU. "Uh, Mom? What are those gigantic bowling ball thingies in my veggie box? And why do the leaves look dead?"

BPICU, lovely young ladies took pride in their rapidly growing bounty, nourished by the rich California soil and sunshine...

APICU. Does anyone know where Abby went? Abby? Abby?

BPICU, pumpkin vines grew lushly as the drip irrigation system lovingly installed by the grandfather fed their need for moisture.

APICU. WHOA! Attention all Fletcher children: the fall menu will consist of pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin souffle, pumpkin soup, pumpkin cake, pumpkin waffles, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pasta, pumpkin sandwiches, pumpkin on toast, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin stir fry, pumpkin omelets... you know, when you write the word "pumpkin" over and over, it starts to look a little odd. Pumpkin.

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Life with Preschoolers, Mighty Joe's Story, Musings and MiscellanyKendra Comments
Back to Life as We Know It
Life post-ICU is moving at lightening speed and I find it difficult to keep up!  Mighty Joe is doing beautifully, and although his MRI is scheduled for August 8th, we sure wonder if they'll find anything of permanent concern.  He's a healthy little 11-week-old boy. I will be giving my Preschoolers, Preparation, and Peace workshop this Friday at the Valley Home Educators Convention as planned.  Mighty Joe gets to come with me and we're both excited to meet any of our blog readers who might be coming.  Please make sure you say hello! My oldest son and I'll also be helping Linda Hobar in her Mystery of History booth both days.  Super excited about that! I have a couple of posts in the hopper, and I hope you'll enjoy reading things that aren't all about our Mighty Joe.  It's back to life as we know it!
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Musings and MiscellanyKendra Comments
Wild at Heart
I'm usually not a Top Ten Bestseller book reader, particularly if the top ten books fall under the category of "Christian". When Wild at Heart came out, we didn't pay much attention to it until my brother gave it to us for Christmas. "We'll crack it", we thought. My brother is a thinker and has three boys of his own, so we believed the book must have enough merit for him to have given it as a gift (unless he was just trying to unload it on us, which wouldn't really be like him. I think.) Want to know what I remember most about the book? The ability to let boys be boys. To let them test themselves. Push the limits. To not be a molly-coddling mom who freaks out at the sight of male blood. Or female blood, for that matter, but so far my girls know their limits and don't often test them. This trait comes in handy during moments like this:

Those are my second and third-born boys. If you're hoping for manly men for your daughters, you'll find them here. They might, however, come with scrapes, scars, and some really great adventure stories.

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Musings and MiscellanyKendra Comments
Dontcha Just Love It When...
You're standing in line at the grocery store and someone makes a comment about your pregnant belly/toddler/baby-in-the-cart that goes something like this: "Just WAIT until he's/she's two!" or "Just WAIT until they're teenagers!" or "Girls, huh?  Just be glad you don't have BOYS!" or "Boys, huh?  Just be glad you don't have GIRLS!" I always get a kick out of their reaction when I spill the beans.  And as of today, it's official: I have two teenagers, three grammar-schoolers, one preschooler, one baby, and another due in seven weeks.  And you know what?  They are all a lot of fun.  Wouldn't trade any of them!

Happy Birthdays, H and N!

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Musings and MiscellanyKendra Comments
Eric

And he said:

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:21 Eric Davis went home to be with the Lord today. Please pray for his grieving family and our church family. God is good, all the time. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

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Musings and MiscellanyKendraComment