I don't know where the Prophet is going

This guy has given me a few things to think about lately.

The other night while I was laying down with him at bedtime, (he still cons me into laying down "just for a few minutes" almost every night - and it's my favorite few minutes of the day), we were listening to the Primary songs and "Follow the Prophet" was playing.

He said, "I don't know where the Prophet is going."

Well, I thought that was pretty funny and laughed. But he was serious.

He knows this song. He's heard it and sang it a hundred times. It struck me that he was really listening to and thinking about the words of this song. It's a profound moment when you realize that your baby is no longer just an extension of yourself, with independent thoughts and points of view.

It's also eye-opening when you finally understand that kids really do hear things differently than adults do.

So in a few days, we will sit down and talk a little more specifically, in 'five-year-old-ese', about where exactly the Prophet is going, and why we follow him ...

Kindergarden Nutrition 101

I recently had a lesson in what my kindergardener considers to be the ultimate lunch. It was so cute seeing that he had put together his own lunch when I wasn't looking, and then labeled it just like he had seen his sister do. . . (as if the Speed Racer lunch box didn't give it away). I was just going to snap this photo and move on, but then I got curious:



What did he put in there?



Apparently, my son believes that a Caprisun, a jello, a pudding, and half a pack of saltines will get his little body through the day's demands.


To be honest, if I was five, I'd think this was a pretty rockin' lunch, too....


Of course, I had to do a little 'food-editing' and I'm sure he was disappointed when he found the carrot sticks and apple in there instead of jello and crackers (the pudding stayed, ... what kind of mom would I be...)

Moving on, I relished a brief moment of pride on seeing evidence that my nutrition attempts have not been completely lost on my kids.

Orca put together this lovely lunch ensemble - waitng for its companion sandwich (on wheat bread) (sandwiches aren't added until the morning so they don't get stale or soggy). Not bad. Granola bars count as whole grains, right?

Now, if I could just figure out how to sneak a vegetable in there...

Carolina Kids

I used to come to this track to work off stress after long hours at work or studying. Later, I walked miles and miles around it and up and down these steps to try to get rid of that baby-Sophie weight. I especially loved being here in the spring and fall.

But I don't remember it being this much fun.

Why are we here?

I've asked myself this question many times over the past 2 years.

It really was a fluke that we ended up moving to North Carolina. Back to Chapel Hill, which we had left years ago after grad school.

It wasn't in The Plan.

After all, who in their right mind moves back to the place that they were so glad to leave?

Not that it wasn't a nice place to live back then.

It was. We loved it and have wonderful memories. But we thought it was behind us.

But back then was a different time.

It was a time of being newlyweds.
Of learning who we were and how we fit together. Of being a poor little student family.
Of taking on student debt

Of uncertainty about the future.
Of memories...

When we left Chapel Hill, it was to embark on a new and bright future, full of promise and excitement...

a new job, a new state, a new baby on the way, buying a home, . . . so many possibilities.

Life was good. Things changed. Our family grew. More happy memories.

Then all at once, several different events aligned to bring us back to Chapel Hill.

Back to the beginning.

I resisted, procrastinated, made excuses, gave in:

"OK, but no longer than necessary."

It felt like starting over.
A weird kind of deja vu.
The same, but not.
Our old friends were gone.
We were different.

The places we had lived and visited looked odd...not quite as I remembered them. It's only temporary, I thought.

Two years later, I watched my kids playing together in the sand, racing each other around the track and thought about our lives here. They are happy here. They have friends, good schools, a safe, quiet neighborhood with wildlife to study, an awesome pool, and trails to roam, and grandparents nearby. This is a good place to grow up.

Mat has a good job. Our house is too small and older than I would like. It keeps us warm and dry, and it's almost paid for...

For many reasons, including new, difficult challenges that He knew we would face, and also for days like this one, I know, without a doubt, that the Lord, in his wisdom and love for us, has led us to the place we need to be. At the time we need to be here. We're home.

Grown-up kind of Party

We are well into 'Birthday Season', at the Fisher house. All of our birthdays are in the fall and winter months, one after another in rapid succession. So, in a six month period, we celebrate seven birthdays!

This coupled with the compaction of family holidays during those months makes it feel like wave after wave of 'celebration' around here!

Starfish decided that, this year for her birthday she just wanted to have a few friends go to a movie and have pizza afterward. "Perfect", I thought.

Last year, she had a big 'Nancy Drew" themed mystery party, complete with a crime scene and clues. I say it was last year, but it was really only about 6 months ago. Two parties a year? Lucky kid, right?

Well, since all our kids' birthdays are in the winter, (and also since our house is the size of a walnut) we decided to have 'half-birthday' parties at the pool. Worked great--until, it's six months later and I'm faced with another round of birthdays to celebrate...(hmm, didn't see that coming!)

So the movie idea was great, except the movie that she wanted to see wouldn't be opening until the night before the party and I couldn't find showtimes. So I guessed. Then it snowed, closing school for two days and she wasn't able to get her invitations out to all of her friends in a "timely fashion".

"What if no one can come?" she asked

"well, just have it next week." said I.

Apparently that was out of the question.

In the end, she ended up calling her friends on the phone rather than handing out invitations. Most already had plans, and so she relented and 'allowed' her siblings to be part of the party. Very mature, I think.

Not an Ordinary day.

Since she had finally turned eight, Orca was so excited to be able to join her big sisters at Achievement Night at the church. She had been waiting patiently, while her sisters participated in fun activities every other Wednesday night. Now, she would join that big group of giggling girls.

I just love seeing these sisters doing things together!

Then I realized that there were only two Wednesdays in their whole lives that they woul be doing this particular activity together. Only two, because Starfish would soon be turning twelve - and leaving primary behind (she can't wait!)

They think I'm corney for making a big deal out of it. Maybe one day they'll realize how fleeting these precious moments are. I am.

And so I grabbed my camera....

Congrats Mal

Congratulations, you did it!

We are very proud of Marlan for finishing her CNA program in December.

It wasn't easy, but you stuck it out. Way to go!

Next up: Licensing Exam...

PS. she's NOT holding up her certificate in this photo--that photo didn't turn out, unfortunatly (bad auditorium light)--but why she is displaying the menu from the celebratory dinner, I have no idea . . . I also have no idea why I took a photo of a fish menu . . .

Happy New Year!

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