Be Kind... Please Rewind.

K and I set out for the library yesterday. It was cold and ugly out and we needed something to do. I promised K that if she was good (which she was) we would get a movie from the library. So when it came time to pick something out, she picked out a Barney. As much as I am not a fan of Barney, it was what she wanted. But of course she picked out the only one that did not come on DVD, but on VHS. That really wasn't a problem... we have a DVD/VHS player in our family room... so we took it home. What I had not planned on... trying to explain to a 2 1/2 year old what "rewinding the movie" means. I forgot she only knows movies on DVD and no rewinding is ever necessary. She did find it incredibly humorous to watch the movie rewinding, she wanted them to "dance funny again!" I imagine someday I will find myself explaining other things we parents all know about... like encyclopedias, black and white movies, corded phones, record players, cooking without a microwave... feel free to add to the list, I know I must be missing somethings.

And just in case you were wondering... the movie did have a "Be Kind, Please Rewind" sticker on the cassette!

What? Did you say something????

For those of you following this "no-voice" saga... its day 2. The first hour this morning was promising... after 7.5 hours of resting my voice. There were some completely audible and understandable sentences. And then, it died again.

So today our house will be another day of quiet toys, coloring, movies (which I hate having to do....) and oodles of play-dough. Anything to help a 2 1/2 year old understand why Mom can't read countless (much less 1!) book or play any game that involves conversation. As for dear Scott... he gets another quiet day when he comes home from the office.

At a loss for words.... literally.

I have no voice. I have, on occasion, had a very hoarse voice from a cold, but I can honestly say this is my first true experience with laryngitis. The first few words this morning were audible... but only by four legged furry friends. So yeah, I was a caught a little off guard by the whole thing. I quickly learned that today was going to be a "quiet day" at our house and thus far I have said, maybe 250 words all day at any sort of audible level.

However, K and I did discover that great deals at Kohls' has absolutely nothing to do with the volume of your voice. So we did find lots of great deals on winter clearance items and a few extras. Perhaps it was luck or perhaps my sense of a good deal was heightened by my lack of verbal communication... you know lose one sense and the others are heightened!

Anyway, we (okay, maybe just me- Scott might enjoy the silence) pray that tomorrow will bring a little more relief and lot more volume to my voice.

God is Good

I especially know this today because this week He has blessed me with most well-behaved little almost 2 1/2 year old. I'm not bragging, really. But Daddy left on Monday morning only to return on Friday at dinnertime and I came down with a NASTY cold on Wednesday and have barely been functioning ever since. K has been a trooper... playing nicely with herself or quiet toys with Mom, sleeping well, and mostly just understanding that Mom is not up for 1 (much less 30-gazillion) rounds of Running or Ski Patrol, her new favorite pretend activity.

For those of you yet to experience K's new love of Ski Patrol, the game goes like this. We pretend to cross country ski around the basement. At the appropriate time, I fall down and pretend to be hurt. The "Ski Patrol" then comes and picks me up and offers me hot chocolate, which she has so graciously tested to see if its too hot. The general concept came from her favorite show The Backyardigans, but I guarantee you, she's given it her own twist!

Flash Gordon is back....

I just have to say that as much as Facebook can be very annoying (how many times have I been invited to random things...MILLIONS!) but I love the fact that I have actually found people we really care about and have reconnected! I will say it again... I'm so glad I live in the 21st century and keeping in touch with friends and loved ones is so easy.

Glad to have found you, Gordon. Flash missed you!

2008 is underway...

And so far its been good. Its been a little less crazy than the end of 2007, but hey, that's what happens during the holidays when you live no less than 8 hours away from immediate family. We did, again, make the McGregor Midwest Tour, as we like to call it... and with K's increased love of singing and dancing, it was more of a Concert Tour. Here were the cities and venues of her choice...

Dec 22- Peoria IL -- Holiday Inn Downtown
Dec 23 - Marshalltown IA -- McGregor Family Complex
Dec 27 - Decorah IA -- Country Inn and Suites and Luther College
Dec 29 - Kohler WI -- Schnettler Family Complex
Jan 2 - Springfield OH -- Homecoming Concert

For those of you wanting to buy the T-shrit... we're all out, sorry. We will be touring again soon, I'm sure and will be sure to print some extra's next time!

But seriously, we were extremely blessed to travel over 1500 miles safely, mostly in good spirits (only 1 "I WANT OUT" tantrum!) and see a majority of our family and a lot of close friends. After trips like this, I am always extremely grateful to live in the 21st century, with reliable cars and roads, flexible jobs, the ability to travel and see family and friends (and did I mention portable DVD players for 2 year olds!) I often wonder what it would be like for us if we didn't have all these fabulous things to keep us in touch. As much as I enjoy Little House on the Prairie... I was not born to live it.

Snow Reflections...

I must admit, I love the first snowfall of the year and this year's may be the best yet. We were awakened on Wednesday morning to 3 inches of fresh powder gently falling from the skies. You know the stuff that usually only appears on Christmas cards or sappy Christmas movies (both of which I love!) As K was working on a "craft", I was able to grab a minute to reflect out the window. I had just tried to explain to her that there wasn't snow in Bethlehem (we'd been playing with her navitity set). But as I gazed out the window, I realized how that white, perfectly white snow was a reminder of God's love... of that fact that in His eyes we have been washed cleaner that than perfect snow. And now, after another day of less than perfect moments with a 2 year old and another 3 inches of fresh snow, I am so grateful for His forgiveness and love. Without it, winter (and life!) just wouldn't be the same.

Blessings on all your snowfalls...