Elevator talk

So today was interesting. I went to the hospital to work out a prescription error that happened and while I was in the elevator a friendly man looked at my two lovely daughters and said to me "you are SO lucky" I said "yes I am" He then went on to say how he would give anything to have young cute kids again. He wished he could go back in time and do it over, etc. Then another woman in the elevator said "you couldn't pay me to go back! I am so glad it's over" My first thought, was- that's a mother's perspective for you. Someone who remembers all the hard work, this Dad was probably just the come home from work and play with the kids type. Then we went on to discuss the number of kids I had and just as I was about to get off the truth came out that I have 3 older sons in school. There were 2 college aged young men in the elevator with us, and they seemed a bit shocked. It's funny, I can remember when I used to think that telling people I had 5 kids someday would be a bit embarrassing. Now I feel like it's somewhat of a badge of courage for everyone to admire. Shows how I have matured I guess. (Or maybe I am now just cocky). So I found myself being somewhat like my Father (who used to embarrass the heck out of me) saying to them all as I left something like "I leave to all to ponder and respect me as I get out on floor number 2 here" (What the?)

Then as I walked to my van, thinking about my kids and the value of having a family, a somber thought came to me. I remembered how the schools went on lock down Monday because of some man who flipped out and killed his family and was missing. He later drove into a cement barrier on the freeway killing himself as well. I was shocked to find out later that he and his wife had adopted 4 Chinese children. How does someone go from being the kind of person who adopts children from China to someone who embezzles money from his work to support his drug habit then gets caught and sees no other way out except to kill his family and himself? Someone very very selfish and depressed. Someone I don't understand at all. Sorry to be so depressing in my last two entries. I am grateful to be alive and safe and to have a loving husband who makes good choices. Life can get awfully messy when you don't. Perhaps it is better to be the come at home and play with your kids type after all.

Hug a little tighter

Well I hugged my kids a little tighter today as I was reminded how precious and sometimes short life can be. A friend of mine from church lost her husband of 15 years to cancer this week, and I attended the funeral. I have only known this family since we moved here to Iowa, but I have been so impressed by them! It was interesting to hear a bit more about his life. I was asked to bring funeral potatoes and was supposed to have them there by 9:00am. Circumstances in the morning put me in the car at 8:15 (Drew forgot to bring a poop-bag with him when he walked Abby this morning, so being the responsible person that I am, we were driving my usual 'walkers' to school. With a short stop to pick up her droppings on the way-lovely!). SO, I decided to drop off the potatoes as well a bit early. Good thing I didn't drop the potatoes on the way to school and deliver the poop to the chapel- THAT would have been embarrassing...

BTW did you know that there is a website depicting what LDS people do for a funerals and listed as a tradition are 'funeral potatoes' along with a recipe? Not that surprising I guess. The preschool teacher was asking me all kinds of questions about appropriate LDS funeral procedure, to pass along correct information to fellow friends of hers at University Preschool. Christi had kids who went to the same preschool. Teacher KiKi mentioned the potatoes to me just as I was about to ask about it (I swear!)

So I was there early and happened to see the hearse pull up delivering Rick's body. I didn't really time it this way, but as I was headed into the building so were they. Two funeral-home workers, myself and the casket. I asked if I could hold the door, and they were appreciative. I told them I was proud to do it, delivered my funeral potatoes and went home to think. Life is hard, and it's so hard to know what to say to them. But having been through the loss of my mother to cancer, I can empathize a bit more I guess, and realize that everything I have can be taken away in a moment. Troy is out of town this week, and I just keep thinking that it's hard to be the only adult around, and this is what Christi faces from now on. She is very capable and strong. She will have to be from now on I guess. I pray for her and her children, and with mine- I can hug them a bit tighter and be a bit more grateful today...

PS I just snapped at Evan who scared me to death while I was trying to focus on my blog and what I wanted to say. So much for good intentions. (I have so much to learn!)

DC here we come! (Again)

Well, it's finally official. We are heading to Walter Reed for the next 4 years at least. If you had told me this a month ago I wouldn't have been so thrilled. But it feels so nice to know what our plans are. It feels like a big load lifted. Sorta like the last month of pregnancy, where you just don't care anymore how or what happens you just want it to be OVER! So my concerns with the DC area have also started to fade since I have been looking at the falling housing prices. It would appear that we can actually afford a decent home there. (Depending on what you call decent). We thank our lucky stars that we sold our home there 3 years ago before the market changed. Somebody up there must like us. Hope He is still smiling when we try to get the stars to align in our favor when we go looking for a home with: 3 great schools, a good ward, good commute for Troy, and not too pricey. Could we actually be that lucky?!?