Wednesday, September 14, 2011
10 years
Nothing reminds me of Andrew's death like 9/11. I guess it's b/c it reminds me of that year and I can relate to those who lost loved ones on that day even though my love didn't die until a month later. Needless to say, with all the news coverage, special services at church, and flags at half-staff I spent much of the day with tears in my eyes. I can't believe it's been 10 years.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
What happened to hospitatlity?
When I was a child, I remember regularly sharing meals (especially Sunday dinner) with other families in our church or community. James remembers the same thing from his childhood. Does that even happen anymore? Am I just not seeing it?
While living in Northern Virginia we were invited to our friends' home regularly. Beth is a great cook and I always looked forward to whatever she put on the table. Sometimes it was a formal invite for dinner, but most of the time we were there before or after her son's football games. We invited them to our home one time to watch an NFL game (I'd like to say we invited them more often than that, but I don't remember). We simply ordered pizza, but Beth mentioned to me that in the years that they had been living in Virginia (probably 2 or 3), we were the first to invite her family into our home for a meal. She regularly serves tables full of people, but had not been invited to another's home? She attributed it to the size of her family. I wonder if the problem is deeper. I wonder if people are intimidated by the thought of hostessing. It IS intimidating to find a time that works for both families, plan a menu, do the shopping, clean the house, teach the kids to behave, pray for nice weather, cook the meal and serve it while EVERYTHING is hot, etc. Not to mention the gazillion or so websites that show beautiful tabelscapes and decor that we feel the need to live up to.
OR are we just too busy to be bothered?
When was that last time you were invited to another family's home for a meal?
When was the last time you did the inviting?
I know people who are good at it. It's their spiritual gift. It's a gift I want to find in myself. I've been reading books and collecting (and trying) recipes. I hope to make them for more people than just my family. If I invite you to dinner, PLEASE be patient with me. I'm a work in progress. I'm not the best cook, but I don't tend to burn everything. I might leave the chicken in the slow cooker a little too long. I might not have the children in their best dresses. You might have to step over toys and overlook some clutter, but I'd love to have you come enjoy our company and our fresh air.
So, who's coming to dinner?
While living in Northern Virginia we were invited to our friends' home regularly. Beth is a great cook and I always looked forward to whatever she put on the table. Sometimes it was a formal invite for dinner, but most of the time we were there before or after her son's football games. We invited them to our home one time to watch an NFL game (I'd like to say we invited them more often than that, but I don't remember). We simply ordered pizza, but Beth mentioned to me that in the years that they had been living in Virginia (probably 2 or 3), we were the first to invite her family into our home for a meal. She regularly serves tables full of people, but had not been invited to another's home? She attributed it to the size of her family. I wonder if the problem is deeper. I wonder if people are intimidated by the thought of hostessing. It IS intimidating to find a time that works for both families, plan a menu, do the shopping, clean the house, teach the kids to behave, pray for nice weather, cook the meal and serve it while EVERYTHING is hot, etc. Not to mention the gazillion or so websites that show beautiful tabelscapes and decor that we feel the need to live up to.
OR are we just too busy to be bothered?
When was that last time you were invited to another family's home for a meal?
When was the last time you did the inviting?
I know people who are good at it. It's their spiritual gift. It's a gift I want to find in myself. I've been reading books and collecting (and trying) recipes. I hope to make them for more people than just my family. If I invite you to dinner, PLEASE be patient with me. I'm a work in progress. I'm not the best cook, but I don't tend to burn everything. I might leave the chicken in the slow cooker a little too long. I might not have the children in their best dresses. You might have to step over toys and overlook some clutter, but I'd love to have you come enjoy our company and our fresh air.
So, who's coming to dinner?
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
reminiscing
Fall is a time of pondering and looking back, for me. It's a time to sit and remember times that once were but can never be again. It's my season to enjoy my hot chocolate on the porch with a good book and some self-reflection.
It may not be fall yet, but the temperatures have lured me to that place of remembering already. Many times. On my mind lately is that there are certain things I can't say. Luxuries given to other wives that I don't have the freedom to speak.
I wish I could've loved just one man for my entire life, but that is not the road God chose for me. And that is not the road I prefer either. Do I seem to be contradicting myself? Let me explain... I WISH I had that luxury of NOT knowing what it is like to love 2 men. I wish Andrew had never died. I wish I could've had his children and lived happily ever after in ignorance about the possibility that God had something different in His perfect plan. I prefer His plan, though. And I prefer the blessed life that He has given me; knowing that I have been loved WELL by two great men is a gift that I am happy to receive.
So, while I am not able to say that my husband is the only man I have ever loved, I will be able to tell my children that their daddy is the man that I love more than anything on earth both now and happily ever after. And some day I will tell them about the other man that I loved once upon a time in a land far, far away.
Monday, August 22, 2011
me and the measure of things
I'm trying to discover things I'm good at.
Blogging is not one of them.
Growing adorable children might be.
Blogging is not one of them.
Growing adorable children might be.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
How quickly they grow...
He's getting big, huh? 8.5 months old.
Mommy: "It's a Miriam Sandwich".
Catie: "It's a Catie Taco."
Mommy: "A 'Catie taco'?"
Catie: "No, a Catie TACKLE!"
Friday, June 24, 2011
our bug charmer...
I have recently been informed that I am still blogging. I guess 3 months off isn't "quitting" according to some. Is it not a lost cause? really? Because it feels like that. I wish I could catch up on all the stuff that's happened and have it all documented and journaled with pictures so that i can remember the great (and not-so-great) moments with my family.
I'll give you a little taste of the Auffhammer life in the form of recent stories though.....
We ate dinner at the picnic table inside the screen room the other night. There were some bugs in there as a result of the zipper being open too long. Catie started noticing a somewhat large mosquite-thing. Snuggling so close to her little sister that she was practically sitting ON her she said "Keep me safe, Lydia." We all started laughing. I'm still laughing.
Later that night the 3 girls were playing nicely on their playground in the backyard. They were being so good that James and I stood at the back window watching the sweetness and enjoying the peace inside. Then we saw Lydia with something in her hands. She put it down on the swing and started pushing. She was giving the Junebug a ride on the swing.
A few weeks ago we went out to dinner at a restaurant on one of the lakes. It was warm enough for us to sit outside on the deck over the water. The girls enjoyed it, the food was pretty good and it was a nice quiet evening. UNTIL a little fly landed on Lydia's hand. She screamed so loud you would've thought her she was being injured. nope. no injury. no bug bites. no stings. just and unwelcomed guest at our dinner table that wanted some love from our Lydia.
I'll give you a little taste of the Auffhammer life in the form of recent stories though.....
We ate dinner at the picnic table inside the screen room the other night. There were some bugs in there as a result of the zipper being open too long. Catie started noticing a somewhat large mosquite-thing. Snuggling so close to her little sister that she was practically sitting ON her she said "Keep me safe, Lydia." We all started laughing. I'm still laughing.
Later that night the 3 girls were playing nicely on their playground in the backyard. They were being so good that James and I stood at the back window watching the sweetness and enjoying the peace inside. Then we saw Lydia with something in her hands. She put it down on the swing and started pushing. She was giving the Junebug a ride on the swing.
A few weeks ago we went out to dinner at a restaurant on one of the lakes. It was warm enough for us to sit outside on the deck over the water. The girls enjoyed it, the food was pretty good and it was a nice quiet evening. UNTIL a little fly landed on Lydia's hand. She screamed so loud you would've thought her she was being injured. nope. no injury. no bug bites. no stings. just and unwelcomed guest at our dinner table that wanted some love from our Lydia.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
March 22nd
Lydia had a Birthday.
She turned 3. My baby girl is 3. I don't understand her most of the time. Sometimes I even question whether or not she even LIKES me, but she is wonderful and spunky and sweet. I can't imagine my life without my Latida. She is something special and I'm thankful that God gave her to me to take care of.
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