Let's Go for a Ride

Many Hands

Super Topher

It Comes In Many Pieces

Bryan took not one, but two epically long trips to Ikea last weekend. After he and I spent hours curating a list of items for him to purchase, he and Peter drove well over an hour on Friday afternoon only to discover that the app gave false information and many of the things we wanted weren't there. He discovered that an Ikea in the opposite direction not only had the stuff we were looking for, but also offered curbside pickup. On Saturday he ordered everything, then spent even longer in the car than he had the day before to get it. He was exhausted, but we're thankful for his sacrifice.

While he was there, Bryan picked up a few fun treats for the kids. On Saturday morning, before his second Ikea quest, he gathered the kids together in the kitchen and the following conversation took place.

Bryan: (holding up a bag of Swedish candy) I got some special Ikea candy to share with you.

Peter: Oh, do we have to assemble it ourselves?

All the rest of us: (stifled giggles while we try to keep listening to Bryan)

The candy came pre-assembled, but the furniture did not. Peter and I are working our way through the boxes...

Returned

I've got a backlog of books that I've been listening to recently. I've burned through a few series (Phoebe wanted new recommendations, so I tried them out first), read an excellent book about personal revelation, and am looking forward to those in my queue. I always love adding another title to my ever growing list of books.

Something I don't love? Dedicating time to a book and having to stop partway. Usually I have a good sense if a book is going to cross my appropriateness threshold soon after I start reading. Occasionally one slips through. Last night I had to stop reading a book after I was more than halfway through. And I was annoyed. I didn't think the story was well served by the addition of material that made me blush and say out loud, "Nope" while I returned it to the library. I'm mostly annoyed that I gave almost three hours (listening to the book at double speed) to a book that I'm not going to finish. But I'd rather return it than add that kind of material to my brain.

Oh well, on to the next one.

In Your Dreams

One night this week Cooper was upstairs in his room after Topher had been tucked into bed. Cooper heard someone walking around so he got up to check who it was. He saw Topher, sitting in front of his open door but behind his closed gate. That's when the following exchange took place.

Cooper: Buddy, why are you awake?

Topher: No, I'm just dreaming.

Wacky Wednesday

We had a low-key celebration for Dr. Seuss' birthday. It was so low-key that it basically just consisted of reading/watching his books and passing around a tall white and red hat. But something is better than nothing, right?

Mr. Independence

We are officially in the I-will-do-everything-for-myself-or-else-I will-go-pout-or-throw-a-tantrum stage.

It's exciting.

Tree Time

The People

For many years we've discussed world events with our kids. We made the choice early on to talk with them about big and scary things, not because we wanted to frighten them, but because we knew if we didn't someone else would. This often happened when they attended school in person. A friend or teacher would mention something that had happened and the kids would come home and ask questions. I guess you could say that awareness of current events is part of our family culture.

Bryan and I had been watching Russia encroach on Ukraine, holding our collective breath, praying that they did not invade. Last Thursday morning we woke to news that Ukraine was under attack. We were both heartsick. Peter and Phoebe are both avid headline readers, so they were also aware of what was happening early on. We've talked with them and tried to answer their questions.

I keep thinking about the people. There are good and innocent people in Ukraine, people who are being attacked, people that are being driven from their homes and their country. And there are good and innocent people in Russia, people that do not support the wicked actions of their leader, people that are being imprisoned for speaking against him and his horrible actions. It hurts my heart.

And I'm worried about what will happen if the leader of Russia claims Ukraine. Will he press forward? Will one country be enough for him? 

We will continue to fast and pray for the people of Ukraine, for the people of Russia.

I wish I could do more.