a fun weekend

On friday night, mommy and lauren went on a girls' night out to see the big spring dance show at calvin. It is always a sold-out event but I wasn't sure if lauren was old enough to enjoy it yet. However, she sat mesmorized for over an hour past bedtime...asking with each new song "Do we have this song in our car?" and then making random comments after clapping for each dance: "Mommy, S starts with Snakes!" as she noted that we were in row S. :) She talked the whole way home and the next day she was all about playing "dance show."
Saturday we were up bright and early for the 5k! I was so excited to be able to run a race with Matt, despite my spotty training. And of course, with him coaching me along, it went really well! My sister and brother-in-law watched the kids, and as we ran past them on the course, Lauren called out "Why are you running away?" Poor girl-didn't quite get the concept.
At night we got to try out Indian Cuisine, a place with character and lots of good flavors! It was a lovely weekend.

Running

I married a man who has completed a marathon and numerous other races of lengths that I cannot imagine surviving. And his training, since he's typically gone 12 hours a day, consists of running once, early on Saturday morning.
For me, running has never been something I've done willingly. Matt got me out and running a few times before we had children and he was incredibly patient. (He should really be a coach someday.) Then it was pregnancy, nursing, and more pregnancy. But last year I had no excuse and promised him I would try a 5k. Fortunately I had 2 wonderful women to train with. And I surprised myself--I completed the race and actually ENJOYED it! So I decided to try again this year. It's a good discipline for me. My dear sister-in-law has been training with me, when we can. But with most of my spare time at night going to hospital visits, I haven't been able to stick to the training schedule. So I'm a bit nervous, but hoping to make it, no matter how slowly we have to run! I am very much looking forward to my alma mater's 5k in a couple weeks--I've volunteered at it in the past and this is the first time I'm going to try running it!

another reason to love mckmama

because she inspires moments like this:


Little Stellan has been heavy on my heart lately. (www.mycharmingkids.net)
In a strange way, his journey has been somewhat parallel to my sister's-who's been in the hospital now for over 3 weeks and also has stumped the doctors as to how to fix her. The ups and downs that MckMama writes about are strangely familiar, though imagining my own child in those shoes wrenches my heart. For some reason, it's almost easier for me to empathize with her pain than it is to figure out how to feel about my sister, who seems to be slipping away from us at the moment. As Jennifer (MckMama) says, "Lord, come quickly!" That prayer is all too true when the pain and fragility of this life surrounds us. Thank God we have more than this life to cling to-an Easter resurrection to look to.

communal music

i had the privilege of hearing andy crouch speak, play music, and inspire the other day. he led us through a number of musical pieces and talked about what makes fine music whether it's the blues or Bach(he brought up points such as faithfulness to a form, indirectness, patience, experimentation, etc.) and how the same can be said for culture...which is pretty much everything we do. (see his site at http://www.culture-making.com/)
one thing that stood out was what he said about music having lost its communal nature over the years. he mentioned that music is listened to now more than ever, but it's also listened to in private more than not. now, don't get me wrong, i love my mp3s, but this fact struck a chord with me. he mentioned that family organs/pianos were once a centerpiece in living rooms because people actually gathered round and made music together. my parents have one such organ that dates back to the early 1900s:

on occasion i've witnessed my aunts and uncles gathering round the organ to sing. and my parents have been part of a monthly hymnsing group for...47 years...wow. so when's the last time you gathered round with your loved ones to sing?