Above Freezing!!

I had just written to my mom a couple of days ago that I needed a day that was at least in the mid-20's outside so that I could get out and play with the kids. Someone with more clout must have heard me because today we were pleasantly surprised with mid-40's(!!!!) weather! It was marvelous! We definitely didn't need to get as decked out in our snow gear because within half an hour we were shedding hats and stuff to keep from overheating...


I have noticed (in my nine years here in MN) that the snow has to be just right -not too dry or wet or cold or warm- in order to build a snowman. And I have never been able to really build a snowman the "right" way. Ya know, where you make a small snowball and then roll it on the ground into a bigger one. So, when I got outside this morning, I decided to try the "right" way again completely predicting another failure. But NO, it worked!! I was astounded! So here are Ben and Madelyn rolling the snowman bottom and middle. And then below, we decided to pose with him. However, an hour or so later, it got so warm that he fell over and melted.... poor snowman. I had to go out and save those Thin Mints that we used for eyes before they were lost forever. And then I ate them - yum! Forget the carrot, I'll leave that to the squirrels.

the third time's a ......

Yesterday, Madelyn and I took a trip to the ER. She was playing with some friends at church before service and ended up with her face hitting a wall. I didn't see it so I don't how exactly how it (or she) went down, but I do know that it was deep enough to need some hefty stitches. So, off we went to get stitches for the THIRD time in the past year for a Rhodes child. (I'm starting to wonder if Ben and I are doing something wrong here....) We got there and Madelyn was pretty upset. I finally got out of her why - she thought that if we went to the hospital she was going to have to stay there, like overnight. I assured her "no, you don't have to stay" and she calmed down pretty well. When the doctor came in, she suggested gluing the cut located on her cheekbone instead of stitching it. I'm glad because it was much less traumatic and seems to be well put together to minimize scarring. She also said the one on her eyelid was superficial and didn't need any "stitching". This picture was taken shortly after coming home from the hospital yesterday. Today her eye has the additional hues of purple and red and some swelling. Madelyn is being such a big girl about all of this. She isn't upset about it, although she was a little shocked the first time she saw herself in the mirror after our ER trip yesterday.



Can I be honest for a second? I'm angry... I'm angry that my little girl has gotten this very prominent cut on her face and will probably have to look at a scar on her face for the rest of her life. I'm angry that I couldn't stop it from happening. I'm angry that we didn't deal with some of the issues that could have kept it from happening (like not letting Madelyn run in her sunday shoes). If it happened the way I've heard, I'm angry that she got pushed. I'm trying to confess this to God and allow him to heal this anger inside of me but I'm also having a hard time letting it go. When I really think about it, it's so petty to be angry about something so insignificant in the larger picture of life and love.

God, you are our Provider and Protector. I know, in my mind, that You are sovereign and that You know us better than we know ourselves. Lord, help me to see, in my heart, how you love us and desire to care for us despite all our shortcomings. Help me to see what is really important and not get stuck in the superficial, shallow trappings of this world. Please forgive me.

the last two months...in short

Okay.... I'm not letting the guilt get me down. Just letting it get to me enough to get a post up. Things are great (but COLD) here in MN. Did I hear you say, "What have you been up to?" I'm so glad you asked! We have done so much! Let's see if I can run down memory lane real quick.

1. Well, I made it to a full year of staying home!! And I'll have to say that it has been fun, albeit exhausting!
2. Ben and I also made it to our 10th anniversary.... don't act so surprised! We celebrated it kidless in downtown Minneapolis - what a blast!
3. We've had a very cold and snowy winter which means we've done a lot of sledding alternated with huddling inside with hot chocolate. Madelyn likes the being outside part and Greyson has decided that he much rather stay inside.
4. We flew down south for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time seeing Ben's extended family and meeting my first nephew, Sam!
5. My parents and sister came up for Christmas and it was hard to see them go... it seems that right as we're all reconnecting then someone has to leave.
6. Greyson is absolutely attached to his ukelele that we got him for his birthday! He hardly ever puts it down! He has made up his own hand sign -struming his fingers along the other hand's knuckles - to say that he wants to play it (along with saying "o-rahn ee-TAR" - orange guitar). Lately he has started "singing" to his playing too.
7. Madelyn is still my little dress-up queen. It is amazing! Now we have put her in dance class too so we now have a princess who wears ballet shoes, twirls, is learning her positions, and sings a very cute song with the words, "I love you, a bushel and a peck...." Very cute!

FYI - If I can find the time and gumption, I'll probably come back and do dedicated posts to some of these. We'll see...