My Son the Lyricist

Miles likes to make up songs and sing them loudly, usually when he thinks no one is listening. I'll hear him in his room at 'quiet time' or in the tub, and sometimes while we're riding in the van. Last night Casey, Miles and I were driving home. It had been quiet for a little while until Miles began his songwriting. The lyrics eventually morphed into these, my favorites so far:

"I'll beat you, I'll beat you, I'll beat you at the beach...I'll beat you at the Christopher Robin beach!"

For the record, I'm pretty sure he's saying he'll win some kind of race, not actually beat someone.

Conversation at 11:20 p.m.

Me: "There's a spider on the door, would you get it?"

Casey: (Sigh) "I'm looking for this in the marriage vows."

Wordless Wednesday

John Shore Talks 24

If you love 24 but haven't seen the finale (and why not?!?) that aired last night, don't click on the link. If you have watched it, click here. If you don't watch 24, I would say still read the post. John Shore does an awesome job of showing comparisons between Jack's life and our own Christian walk.

I already told John, but his post left me with chills.

Shoeless Miles

Back in January I told this shoe story, which was definitely a humorous event that I'm sure I'll retell even when Miles' children are older. Little did I know that I would soon have another shoe story to share. Thankfully, the fault in this one falls more on my wonderful husband Casey (who is also a wonderful father).

Friday night at our house is 'date night.' That usually means that once Miles is in bed we are free to watch a movie or TV show, or play a board game, that we've been saving for that particular evening. Another thing about date night is that Case and I take turns each week, meaning that if it's my turn I pick the show, movie or game. What I say goes. And when it's his turn, he picks.

This past Friday was Casey's turn, and he decided that we were going out to eat -- with Miles, but that was okay with us. He does well in restaurants, so it's not like we dread taking him. I wasn't told where we were going, just that we'd be driving a while. Being that we live in a not-so-large college town, there are only so many affordable eating places we can visit before we are looking for something different. And if we're visiting a favorite place, the drive is worth the while.

We arrived at our destination (Texas Roadhouse, one of Casey's favorites) and began getting out of the van. Case went to get Miles out and I heard, "Uh...oh."

"What is it?" I asked.

"I forgot to put Miles' shoes in the van."

My eyes widened, but I turned to look at a shopping center nearby and said, "There's a Payless! We can run and get some shoes there real quick!"

Casey's response (which frankly surprised me) was, "Are you kidding me?" to which I wanted to say, "No...are you kidding me?" Instead I explained that I was not taking my four-year-old child into a restaurant shoeless. A one-year-old...maybe I could get away with that. But four? No.

Since we had called ahead and would have a table waiting, we agreed that Casey would go in and get the table while I drove Miles to get the 'restaurant shoes.' It was probably the longest I've taken finding him a pair of shoes -- which turned out to be camo flip-flops -- not to mention the longest Payless line in history with one cashier working on a semi-broken machine. While she was answering the phone.

It worked out in the end, and the time I imagined us taking was not that long after all. Casey was in our booth waiting, and we were able to start our appetizers soon after that.

Oh, and the shoes? Miles said they were too tight. Well, of course they were!

Book Review: Life, In Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice by Kristen Jane Anderson

When you look at the cover of Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson, the first thing you might think is 'Wow, this girl is so full of joy!' And she is.

What you might miss when seeing her bright smile is that she is sitting on the ground, and out of focus behind her is an empty wheelchair. Her wheelchair. Anderson's account of how she came to need this wheelchair -- she laid down on some train tracks at the age of 17 to end her life -- gives a clear picture of how the title was born.

I had seen Kristen Anderson on Oprah a while back and was intrigued by her story. I was excited to read the whole story, her thoughts as she went through such horrible tragedy -- at her own hands, no less. So I was quick to take the opportunity to review Anderson's book, which is a quick read.

How does one come back from depression and a suicide attempt that should have taken her life? And when she didn't die as she'd planned but instead ended up a paraplegic, how would that affect her depression further? I'm sure there is so much more Kristen Anderson could have included in her story, but what she did tell had me shaking my head, taking deep breaths, and just sitting in amazement as I would read some passages several times over.

Anderson testifies strongly that God played a large part in her life being spared. It was humbling to read how she went from a very angry young girl to a courageous and joyous young woman. I've been through my own tough times -- we all have -- and Life, In Spite of Me is a great lesson in taking what life has handed you and turning it all the way around.

*You may purchase this book by clicking here.*

This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Fun Friday Question!

No big stories to share, just a question for everyone to answer...

How will you honor your mother this Mother's Day?

Wordless Wednesday