ER

Things that went right today:

1) A pet groomer that comes to my house. How awesome is that?

2) My nasty cold is almost gone

3) Painted my fingernails purple for fun

On Friday night as the pizza was arriving and shortly before we were due to take the family to the movies our plans took a sudden turn. We heard a door slam followed by screaming and ran upstairs to find blood. A lot of it. Coming from my five year old son's finger. We couldn't see it very well but could tell it was pretty bad so we wrapped it up in a towel and dashed to the urgent care nearby. As the doctor there unwrapped the towel her shocked expression told the tale. It was worse than we had initially realized. The bleeding had slowed by then so we could now see that the top segment of his index finger was actually about 50% severed. The room did a little spin for me as I absorbed what I was seeing. My poor oldest son who was there was also stunned. He wants to be a doctor someday and as such has seen a lot of surgeries and things, but this was hard even for him to see because it involved his little brother. The urgent care people assessed quickly that this was beyond their ability to treat at their facility. So we had to get back in the car and drive him over to the hospital 15 minutes away. This was one of the longest drives of my life. As much as the dr had tried to be reassuring it was evident she was not sure what was going to happen to his finger. That it was serious. And I had to stay focused and drive. My eldest had given our little patient a quick priesthood blessing in the urgent care parking lot which had done a lot to calm my nerves, but it still took all of the courage I could muster to smile back at my sweet guy and tell him not to worry. That Mommy was there and it was all going to be ok. He was so scared, but amazingly brave. Braver than I felt inside for sure. At the emergency room of the hospital the staff there got him right in and immediately called in a plastic surgeon to do the repair. While waiting for him to arrive an x ray revealed that the tip of his finger bone was also broken. All in all we were there for about 6 hours but at the end of those we came home very grateful. First for tender mercies and a competent surgeon. With such a severe cut we had feared the worst in terms of recovery. But by a miracle the break was above the growth plate and joint so should heal fine with no lasting damage and we are pretty sure the cut bypassed the nerves. So while it is still too soon to tell, he will more than likely regain full mobility and most of the feeling in his finger as well. He will need some hand therapy sessions for sure, but should make a full recovery with no more than a nasty scar that he can brag to his friends about at school. As frightening as it was, it could have been so much worse. It hurts to see your children hurting, but my heart is full of gratitude today that my little one will be alright.

I am also so thankful for the wonderful staff at the hospital. I cannot say enough to describe how good they were to us. They brought my son toys and made him laugh. They held my hand. They brought us food. They were so kind and warm and loving. There were not just medical professionals...they were true caregivers. If I had to spend 6 hours in a hospital that night I couldn't have asked for a nicer group of folks to spend it with. They made me feel calm and safe even in a scary situation. I will always love them for that gift.

Steak salad

Things that went right today:

1) Got my computer back!

2) My son's surgeon saved his broken finger

3) Got a yummy loaf of bread from a friend

I offered to take my son out to lunch a few months ago. Without thinking through the potential consequences I told him he could choose where we went. We were near our home at the neighborhood shopping center and of course he selected a place that was within his line of sight at the time (with teenage boys it is important for food to be close at hand...no waiting). He also chose the place with the most "guy" energy. Naturally. The sports bar on the corner. I had seen it before but had deliberately avoided it. Sports theme restaurants are not really my dining destination of choice typically. They are usually smokey and loud and seem more like a venue for a end of the year soccer party than a planned meal. Not to mention that you can generally assume that the menu is packed with artery clogging fare which is not on my current diet plan. Plus it was obvious from the outside that this one was definitely a bar first...restaurant second. But true to my promise off we went.

We got inside and it pretty much was what I had expected. Huge TV screens blasting too many different games at high volume to do justice to any of them. Smoke, lights, total sensory overload. But I figured it was a fun way to spend time with my son anyway so I was upbeat...especially since to my pleasant surprise I discovered a steak salad on the menu. Things were looking up. And then came the bread. All I can say is...well...heaven sent! Seriously. Light fluffy rolls with a hint of honey taste to them. Melt in the mouth goodness. So I ate three. There went the diet but I did not even care. They were worth it. Not long after arrived the best steak salad I have ever tasted. I cannot really define what makes it so wonderful. It's a pretty ordinary salad really, but something about it makes my mouth water just thinking of it. The steak was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I am not usually much of a steak person but I LOVED that salad. I scarfed every morsel and would have licked the plate if I thought I could have gotten away with it. No kidding. For the following week I thought of that salad ridiculously often until I couldn't stand it anymore and made my husband take me back. He raised his brows a little in amusement when I begged to go to the sports bar, but he sensed my desperation and has learned over time that it can be dangerous to get between me and a food craving. So off we went and guess what? He loved his kabobs too. Now over the past few months we have been back a half dozen times. We have become a bit obsessed actually. It is kind of getting embarrassing now so we may need to hold off for awhile, but every time I go I have the same thing....Steak salad and yummy rolls. And every time I leave stuffed and satisfied. Bliss!

So the moral of the story? I am thankful this day that I followed my son's lead. That I tried something out of my comfort zone. Had I followed my own instincts and habits I would have missed out on so much deliciousness. Sometimes it pays to try something new. Or give a second look before judging something's worth. There are treasures untold that can be ours if we are not too blind or afraid to discover them.

Books

Things that went right today:

1) My son come homes from college this week

2) Christmas story and cookie baking night with the kids tonight

3) got the Christmas packages all mailed off

I decided to start a new tradition this year and give every family member a book for Christmas. The kids at first kind of rolled their eyes like, "Come on Mom..really?" But I was undaunted. Determined to pass on my love of reading to my children. Some of them have caught the vision but others not so much. As a former English major this has distressed me greatly. Books have been the source of so much joy for me. I want them to feel that too. Why do I care? Well to begin with the books they requested say a lot. One got a collection of princess stories. One a romance. Another an autobiography of an ultra marathon runner. One a Christmas story. One a collection of adventures. And so on. All so different but perfect for their tastes. There is something for everyone in a bookstore. The trick is to match the individual to the book that will come alive for them at that time.

Books can unlock so many doors. We can learn a new skill or be inspired by the story of someone who overcame hardship. Be swept away to another time and place. We can get a sense of history. Or escape to a fantasy world. Discover truths about our own natures as we identify with the characters on the pages. What a great way to learn from the foibles and successes of others without having to live them ourselves. We can revel in beautiful poetry. Travel to distant lands. Come to understand the thoughts and feelings of people who differ from us. Weep and rejoice. Find new dreams to dream. Books are magical. Books can teach us. Books can set us free and remind us that our ordinary lives are part of a bigger picture. There is so much out there to see and do and know. More than we can do within the normal limits of time and space...except for in books.

I may never speak face to face with a nobel peace prize winner or travel to Tibet. I will definitely never orbit the earth or slay a dragon. But in a book...I can.

Today I am grateful for the books that have touched my life. For the lessons I have learned and the fun I have had. I look forward to many more adventures ahead.

Thanksgiving 2009

Things that went right today:

1) Yummy buffet dinner at the Hyatt with the family

2) Family movie date to see the new "Christmas carol" movie with Jim Carrey. It was amazing.

3) Went further than ever running today without stopping.

Ok so what would a blog about thankfulness be without a post on thanksgiving day? I find it heartwarming that our nation has a holiday dedicated to reaching out to loved ones and counting our blessings. It makes us better people to stop and reflect formally each year on all that we are grateful for doesn't it? And Thanksgiving sets such a wonderful tone for the upcoming season where we will collectively celebrate the birth and life of our Savior Jesus Christ. It puts us in a charitable frame of mind. And a humble one. We are filled with greater love for others as we gather together to celebrate and share our abundance one with another.

I am reminded today as I relax and feast with my family that there are many who are still hard at work. Devoted individuals who have chosen public service professions that do not allow for days off. Today as I slept in there were firefighters showing up early at the firehouse. As I lounged on the couch cuddling with my kids there were police officers out on patrol. As I enjoyed a lovely meal there were doctors and nurses caring for those in the hospital who needed their skills on this day. Today as my family laughed and played together there were soldiers in far away places, often dangerous ones, who were longing for their families too. Today I am thankful for the steadfast hardworking people who provide comfort and safety in our communities every day. Even on weekends and holidays. I thank them today from the bottom of my heart.

fines

Things That Went Right Today:

1) got an early start on some Christmas shopping

2) cleared up my library account

3) yummy leftovers for lunch instead of the usual sandwich

Ok so I admit it. I skipped out on library fines. When we moved away from Ashburn suddenly last spring I had an overdue library book. "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley. I had not had the chance to read it yet, and with the frantic nature of our move a trip to the library to return it was not on the agenda. I figured I would deal with it once the move was over. But the trouble is that the book got stuck in a box and I did not know which one. It sat in a box all summer and when it became clear that we would be moving back to Ashburn in the Fall I left the boxed items alone and planned to sort things through once we got to the new house. In the back of my mind though I felt guilt. I knew that library book was in there racking up fines and fees right? Fast forward to Fall and the move. We hauled the boxes over, but only unpacked the ones we most needed. After so much moving we just ran out of steam and there still are many unpacked boxes in my garage as we speak. Every now and then that book would sneak into my mind and pangs of guilt would hit, but I would quickly shoo those thoughts away. Well I tried anyway, but you can't run away from your own mind. I knew I should go take care of it. I knew that odds were it would be a very long time if ever before that book resurfaced. But I was worried that the fines were super high after so much time. More than that I pictured a very stern librarian scolding me for my delinquency. My solution? Just never go to the library again. Problem solved. NOT! I felt like a fugitive every time I drove past. Ducking and hiding...from whom I don't know. It's not like they know me personally there, but still. A few times for book club I wanted to go and check out a book but convinced myself that I couldn't. I kept faking my head out with the notion that I would unpack a dozen boxes to find the book again, but never did. Finally it happened. A book I needed was not at the bookstore. I had to go to the library. Gasp! Time to face the music, so I dragged my trembling self down there. I took a deep breath and told the librarian my sad story. I cringed waiting for her scorn, but oddly, she smiled at me and said it was no trouble at all. I emphasized to her the magnitude of my tardiness and asked how severe the fine was. Again she smiled and informed me that in Loudoun County they no longer issue fines for overdue books. If a book was late you simply could not check out another one until the book was returned or paid for if lost. What??? No fine? Really? After 6 months? Could it be real? Again I bravely asked what the replacement fee was for the book...fearing the worst. She smiled again and told me that since it was an older paperback the fee was only $3.95 to cover the book. I happily paid the money and then cautiously asked if I would ever be allowed to check out books here again after my past behavior. This time she laughed and said that I most assuredly could. I skipped over to the shelves with a lighter step and demeanor than I had walked in with and discovered that they did not have the book club book I needed. So what did I check out instead? Why "Frankenstein" by, Mary Shelley of course. They had two other copies on the shelf. But now I felt less like the monster in the book and more like myself again. Only $3.95 to unload that burden? I can't help but marvel how easy it was to fix a problem once I set out to do it. I had made it bigger and scarier in my mind than it actually was and held myself back for such a long time for no good reason. Today I am grateful for a kind librarian and the chance to clear my good name for only $3.95. I will carry this lesson with me in my heart for the next time I feel I have something I need to clear up...no matter what it may be. Probably it will be easier to fix than I initially fear, and it is worth paying any price to have a clean conscience.