Sunday, March 31, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
New York
It was officially a weaning trip, but unofficially a time to travel "South" and visit with family and friends. Tickets were cheap, so it seemed good to invite my eldest along for the journey. She is a stellar walker, can fall asleep anywhere, listens and responds well, and can be helpful, so it seemed like it wouldn't be too much of a stretch for her. And I thought it would be such a comfort to "bond" with Songbird as I mourned the loss of Raindrop's babyhood.
All this was true. Songbird almost never complained about being tired of walking. She did a great job of keeping up as we traipsed from Elmhurst to Manhattan to Brooklyn and beyond. We went to the art Museum and were delighted by the fact that she could pick out some of the famous Masters artists we've been learning about. (We even got to see Degas' sculpture of Marie - one of our favorite little ballerinas.) We saw old dresses, golden relic boxes, men with bows and arrows, and knights and armor. I was surprised she lasted for over an hour before she got tired. We tried to have a picnic in Central Park afterwards, but it was so windy and cold that we only lasted 15 minutes before having to call it a day.
On Saturday we enjoyed an entire day in Brooklyn visiting with a college friend I hadn't seen in years. It was so encouraging for me to see her life and how the Lord is using her family in new ways and in new places, and it was so much fun to watch our daughters play together all day long with only one little scuffle along the way (instigated by mine) :) Songbird has definitely met her match as far as capacity for playing dress-up, and it was such a joy to hear so much imagination and so many giggles amongst them (and it allowed Heather and I lots of time to catch up). Songbird said later that she wished we could go back and play again soon.
Sunday, after Steve made us all berry / chocolate chip waffles, we went to Redeemer for an encouraging church service centered on the conversion of Cornelius, and I was impressed that during the sermon Songbird wanted to go with the children to children's church. Even though she didn't know anyone else there, she was so bold and brave and joined all the other kids who seemed to be popping out of the woodwork.
After church we went home for lunch and then had a very special outing. Songbird and I accompanied Rebecca and three friends from church to an old-timey ice-cream parlor near Forest Hills. It was Rebecca's birthday, and since it was also St. Patrick's Day, they made green whipped cream. It was quite a treat, and Songbird was giddy to be out with all the girls on such a special day (she was a little bit more than giddy after finishing her entire ice-cream cone) :) That night Rebecca "ordered" a babysitter who stayed with the sleeping little ones while we went out for more Birthday fun. Steve had been working so much all week it was nice that Rebecca's birthday fell on a Sunday and that he could join in the celebration.
Monday we braved the Subway to the train station and boarded our Boston-bound train. We were both tired, but the excitement of the train kept me awake (and the i-pod bubble app entertained Songbird for a very long time).
This brings me back to my one major miscalculation. In thinking about this trip and Songbird's readiness for it, I totally forgot about the Subway. Of course I knew we'd be taking it here and there the entire time, but I forgot about how dirty it was, how dark it seemed as you left the upper world for the lower, underground world. I forgot how loud the trains were as they blurred by and how much wind was produced in the passing. I forgot about rush hour and the pushing and compacting that happened. I definitely wasn't taking into account all the "interesting" people doing "interesting" things (musicians, amateur filmmakers, fighters, etc). Put all of these realities in the face of a super sensitive 5 year-old and you have a recipe for a panic attack.
I was thinking about how her being anxious or fearful about the situation forced me to notice it in such a deeper, fuller way. Had she felt totally comfortable, I probably wouldn't have thought about the wind from the train, how loud it was, why that person was asleep in a ball. But she forced me to stop and consider. She also forced me to pray for things that might have gone unnoticed. And in entering into her fear and anxiety, she allowed me the joy of joining her in celebrating her victory. So when I say that Monday we "braved" the Subway to the train station, what I really mean is that in humble reliance on God, we descended the stairs into the dark and dirty Subway world at the peak of rush-hour train service, pushed our way onto a train where we were totally packed shoulder to shoulder (or shoulder to bum as Songbird's case may be), and rode the entire way with our backpacks and suitcase without once breaking down, yelling that we hate the subway, demanding to get off the train immediately, melting down and sobbing, or refusing to get back on our connecting train. That, folks, is a demonstration of God's power at work in the life of the believer :)
All this was true. Songbird almost never complained about being tired of walking. She did a great job of keeping up as we traipsed from Elmhurst to Manhattan to Brooklyn and beyond. We went to the art Museum and were delighted by the fact that she could pick out some of the famous Masters artists we've been learning about. (We even got to see Degas' sculpture of Marie - one of our favorite little ballerinas.) We saw old dresses, golden relic boxes, men with bows and arrows, and knights and armor. I was surprised she lasted for over an hour before she got tired. We tried to have a picnic in Central Park afterwards, but it was so windy and cold that we only lasted 15 minutes before having to call it a day.
On Saturday we enjoyed an entire day in Brooklyn visiting with a college friend I hadn't seen in years. It was so encouraging for me to see her life and how the Lord is using her family in new ways and in new places, and it was so much fun to watch our daughters play together all day long with only one little scuffle along the way (instigated by mine) :) Songbird has definitely met her match as far as capacity for playing dress-up, and it was such a joy to hear so much imagination and so many giggles amongst them (and it allowed Heather and I lots of time to catch up). Songbird said later that she wished we could go back and play again soon.
Sunday, after Steve made us all berry / chocolate chip waffles, we went to Redeemer for an encouraging church service centered on the conversion of Cornelius, and I was impressed that during the sermon Songbird wanted to go with the children to children's church. Even though she didn't know anyone else there, she was so bold and brave and joined all the other kids who seemed to be popping out of the woodwork.
After church we went home for lunch and then had a very special outing. Songbird and I accompanied Rebecca and three friends from church to an old-timey ice-cream parlor near Forest Hills. It was Rebecca's birthday, and since it was also St. Patrick's Day, they made green whipped cream. It was quite a treat, and Songbird was giddy to be out with all the girls on such a special day (she was a little bit more than giddy after finishing her entire ice-cream cone) :) That night Rebecca "ordered" a babysitter who stayed with the sleeping little ones while we went out for more Birthday fun. Steve had been working so much all week it was nice that Rebecca's birthday fell on a Sunday and that he could join in the celebration.
Monday we braved the Subway to the train station and boarded our Boston-bound train. We were both tired, but the excitement of the train kept me awake (and the i-pod bubble app entertained Songbird for a very long time).
This brings me back to my one major miscalculation. In thinking about this trip and Songbird's readiness for it, I totally forgot about the Subway. Of course I knew we'd be taking it here and there the entire time, but I forgot about how dirty it was, how dark it seemed as you left the upper world for the lower, underground world. I forgot how loud the trains were as they blurred by and how much wind was produced in the passing. I forgot about rush hour and the pushing and compacting that happened. I definitely wasn't taking into account all the "interesting" people doing "interesting" things (musicians, amateur filmmakers, fighters, etc). Put all of these realities in the face of a super sensitive 5 year-old and you have a recipe for a panic attack.
I was thinking about how her being anxious or fearful about the situation forced me to notice it in such a deeper, fuller way. Had she felt totally comfortable, I probably wouldn't have thought about the wind from the train, how loud it was, why that person was asleep in a ball. But she forced me to stop and consider. She also forced me to pray for things that might have gone unnoticed. And in entering into her fear and anxiety, she allowed me the joy of joining her in celebrating her victory. So when I say that Monday we "braved" the Subway to the train station, what I really mean is that in humble reliance on God, we descended the stairs into the dark and dirty Subway world at the peak of rush-hour train service, pushed our way onto a train where we were totally packed shoulder to shoulder (or shoulder to bum as Songbird's case may be), and rode the entire way with our backpacks and suitcase without once breaking down, yelling that we hate the subway, demanding to get off the train immediately, melting down and sobbing, or refusing to get back on our connecting train. That, folks, is a demonstration of God's power at work in the life of the believer :)
Dear Raindrop
We are officially separate people.
Last Thursday I left you for the first time since I discovered you were in my womb.
I kissed your cheek and walked away, holding your older sister's hand,
remembering 4.5 years ago when she was your age.
There was a deep and definite pang in the leaving
and the giving up.
And there was you - smiling good-bye - innocent and unaware.
While I was away the busyness of time kept tears at bay.
When I came home and saw your face, wanting nothing more than
to hug and squish noses, you turned from me and clung to Papa,
and then I let the tears flow freely.
It is a new stage, and you are no longer my little baby.
No, you are growing and determined,
Eager, and exuberant,
and I am looking forward to knowing you
in a new way.
Last Thursday I left you for the first time since I discovered you were in my womb.
I kissed your cheek and walked away, holding your older sister's hand,
remembering 4.5 years ago when she was your age.
There was a deep and definite pang in the leaving
and the giving up.
And there was you - smiling good-bye - innocent and unaware.
While I was away the busyness of time kept tears at bay.
When I came home and saw your face, wanting nothing more than
to hug and squish noses, you turned from me and clung to Papa,
and then I let the tears flow freely.
It is a new stage, and you are no longer my little baby.
No, you are growing and determined,
Eager, and exuberant,
and I am looking forward to knowing you
in a new way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)