Sicker Than the Dog

1. I know my legions of readers (HA!) are shocked that I'm actually posting on a Friday, especially when I have a nasty cold, but this is really going to be Quick Takes, I promise.

2. We are delighted to have my cousin's beautiful dog staying with us for the weekend while she and her family are away in Florida. Little Pepper is a darling pooch and we are trying to keep the children from fighting over who gets to play with her next. Here is a picture I unabashedly stole from my cousin's FaceBook page:

She is tiny and adorable and we really are fighting over who gets to cuddle with her next.

3. If you're a fan of Simcha Fisher and her blog and you missed all the brouhaha this week, here's a few helpful links:

• The original "offending" post.
• Trolling responses.
• Aftermath

4. I was planning to do an end of the year movie wrap up today after seeing Les Miz this morning, but being sick has postponed everything. Dang.

5. I watched the entire series of Beauty and the Beast on Sunday night, all 9 episodes. For what it is, it is well written.

6. We took the children to the Family Christmas Eve service at church on Monday afternoon and they did remarkably well. Alex still doesn't like congregational singing, but her only had his fingers in his ears for the first song or so.

7. Jen is particularly funny today. Don't miss it.

A Voice Calling in the Wilderness

At the close of this year, a mournful darkness seems to inhabit our land. But listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah:

The people who walked in darkness
   have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
   light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
   you expanded its joy.
Oh, they’re so glad in your presence!
   Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
   sharing rich gifts and warm greetings....

For a child has been born—for us!
   the gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over
   the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
   Strong God,
Eternal Father,
   Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
   and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He’ll rule from the historic David throne
   over that promised kingdom.
He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing
   and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
   beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
   will do all this.
Isaiah 9: 2-3, 6-7 (MSG)

Let the message of God's unyielding hope saturate your mind until the light of Christ is the center of your existence and the future can be seen through the lens of His love.

New Car, New Car, Move Down!

1. We bought a replacement car for me on Saturday, a 2003 Subaru Forester. I'd give you a picture except that Marshall is out driving around in it right now. I took it to church last night in the dark and the rain and liked the way it felt steady on the roads, even if I am still a bit spooked from the accident. And it has a tape deck (Marshall has ordered a new stereo that will work with our MP3 players) so I resurrected some of my mix tapes from the 90's. We bought it from Auto Direct Cars in Delran, a used car dealership notable for not having even the faintest hint of slime. Very nice people.

2. I was chauffeured by both my mother and mother-in-law last week, as well as borrowing my mother's car for several days, so big thank you's to both of them. It meant that I didn't miss anything important all week long.

3. I don't have to go to traffic court tomorrow to give testimony against the person who caused the accident, which is a huge weight off of my mind. I've requested a copy of the police report which I hope will have more details. The insurance companies are working on their own piles of paperwork, but we should have most of the reimbursement from Allstate later this week.

4. We made the final adjustment to Alex's anti-anxiety meds over the weekend. We'll sit down and discuss it with his doctor Wednesday afternoon. I'm hoping for a happy boy for at least a month, especially with Christmas vacation just around the corner. He's been grumpy since Memorial Day and we need a break.

5. Miranda's been suffering from chronic diarrhea for several weeks. I thought it was her exotic food allergies rearing their heads again but after several consultations with the pediatrician and a few fun tests, the judgment is too much fecal material in her system, so she's on a diet of Miralax milkshakes (well, milk + Miralax + lots of chocolate syrup) for several weeks at least. It means lots more messy pull-ups this week, but at least the end is in sight.

6. My cleaning lady texted me this morning to say she has an opening first thing tomorrow, so I will have a clean house by lunchtime!

7. Here's a bunch more pictures from Thanksgiving that I promised ages ago:

Brandon, Piper & Madelynn.

The "originals;" that is, my parents and siblings.

Grandparents with all 4 grandkids.

Stephanie with Colin and Piper with Madelynn.

Grandma & Grandpa with babies.

Jonathan, Stephanie and Colin.

All of us together!

The four of us.

My parents.

Our kids between photos.

Alex had pretty much had it with pictures by this point.

I love this picture of my dad and Maddy.

Here's Jen.

Smashed

I know, another Friday goes by with no blog post. Again, apologies.

If you missed it on FB, Miranda and I were in a car accident last Friday afternoon on our way home from a pediatrician appointment. We are fine. We have a few bruises from the seat belts that saved our lives, but on the whole, we don't have any permanent damage. Our Scion xB is totaled, but cars can be replaced.

So the blog fell to the way side this weekend as I was resting up from the trauma of experiencing a head-on collision (another driver drifted into our lane and hit us). And now I am being chauffeured around by my mother or mother-in-law, trying to take care of all the doctor's appointments both for my body (to just be sure I didn't suffer any damage from the accident) as well as Miranda's to try to figure out what's causing the problem we were at the doctor's for last Friday in the first place. And finish up all the Christmas gifts for the teachers and aides and therapists that work with Alex & Miranda at school and church.

Our insurance company is incredibly helpful and reasonable and we may have a check in hand with which to purchase a replacement car by the end of next week or soon thereafter. And, because the police have found (in a preliminary statement) that the other driver was at fault, there will be other matters to attend to. But we have been praying for that other driver who was injured in the crash and went directly to the hospital. The roads were slippery and it looks like she simply lost control and ran right into us.

Please pray that Miranda is able to work through her emotions about the crash and not suffer any long-lasting effects. And that we will find an answer to her current health condition. Please pray also that Marshall will find a replacement car quickly and that everything will work itself out. Please pray also that I will give over to Christ any anxiety I might have about driving in the future.

Thanks.

I'm Sorry, I'm Sorry, I'm Sorry

1. What with the whole family visiting for Thanksgiving and babies to cuddle and then catch their cold, we've been a little busy. But I have to post something, so here's a bunch of photos from the visit. BTW, this only covers the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I might need to do daily posts this week to cover all the days photographed so excellently by my brothers and their wives. Apparently, I'm the only one who didn't get the "can take a good picture" gene in the family. So not fair!

My mother and Colin.

Maddie wants to walk but still needs to prop herself up with something.

I loved how Colin was always watching Maddie to see what she would do next.

Maddie has the most amazingly expressive face; it's so fun to watch all the features change and rearrange, especially at the dinner table. So sweet!

Colin can't quite pull himself up on furniture yet but Maddie's quite good at it (she is almost 3 months older), so he was always trying to pull up on her.

My kids enjoying the park behind my parents' house.

With Aunt Piper.

Brandon, Piper and darling girl, Maddie.

Maddie thought Miranda was the coolest, after Mom and Dad.

My darling with Maddie.

Miranda's always been very photogenic.

Maddie loved playing in that swing.

2-7 Enjoy the photos!

Here's Jen.