Forest of the Plains

It's so fun to watch your favorite men's college basketball team and know that they actually have a chance at winning each game. It's also fun to watch Matt Painter coach. He obviously learned how to make facial expressions from Gene Keady.

It's also fun to know that the team is comprised of kids who understand that basketball isn't all there is to life. Some of them are earning 4.0 GPAs. It's clear that they are at Purdue for four years of education, in addition to laying the foundation for a great era of Purdue Basketball.

I longingly watch the Paint Crew. They have a catchy name and something to cheer about. When I was in the student section, all we had to do cheer for was Brian Cardinal's "hustle" (aka taking so many charges that they started keeping track). We did also get to boo at Brad Miller and Bobby Knight. And we did still have fun.

Jacob has enjoyed learning some cheers. He likes doing hand motions (with help) to "Go Boilers!" and "Boiler Up!". Sadly, he has grown out of his Purdue shirt. We really should get him another one!

There is so much excitement in West Lafayette that we can feel it in Kansas!

Go Boilers! Boiler Up!

Coughing, wheezing, crying, pulling at the ears -
Rearrange the schedule, we're off to see the doctor.

What? Mom needs to go to work?
A quick call to Grandma; too sick for daycare today.

On the floor cleaning up tortellini and spaghetti sauce -
Plop! More of it lands on your head.

11:00 pm and another nebulizer treatment -
The sick boy falls asleep, snuggled in your arms.

According to the church newsletter, the theme for next Sunday's sermon is "Immigration". Immigration is an important issues to be discussed within the context of church. I haven't heard it discussed in our current congregation, so I am interested to hear what the pastor has to say.

I learned about immigration issues as an 8-year-old. I learned that there are many reasons why someone would want to leave their country of origin and why bureaucracy and/or politics may not allow them to do so legally. I learned faces, names, and stories of illegal immigrants. As an 8-year-old I did not quite appreciate or understand the lessons, but as a 30-year-old I do.

Within my church I learned that the welfare of individual people is more important than any law, and I learned that as citizens of Christ's Kingdom, our allegiance is to God, not to a country established by man. I saw church members find creative ways to live out their faith, at a risk to themselves and their families, to support immigrants. While living in a very white community, I learned to appreciate the importance of diversity.

When we moved to Kansas, I was shocked by the hatred toward Hispanics or anyone who looked Hispanic that I observed. Not by everyone, of course, but even people who were not blatantly hostile still showed intolerance. For example, I would hear people grumbling about singing a Spanish hymn at church because "we don't speak Spanish here".

Growing up, I was told that Americans need illegal immigrants because the immigrants will do the jobs that Americans aren't willing to do. In Kansas I met people who felt threatened that the immigrants would take their jobs. I still struggle with how to respond to these situations because it's hard for me to get over the shock that the situations exist!

Intellectually, I want everyone to follow all laws. At the same time, I can't blame someone for wanting to better themselves or keep their family safe, and I remember the lesson learned as a child: as Christians we are called to love everyone. When I hear the debate about immigration reform and undocumented workers today, there are no black-and-white right-or-wrong answers for me. I wish there were!

Yesterday afternoon it was warm enough that I didn't need a coat. Today we're experiencing a "wintery mix".

Jacob is now able to take several steps by himself, though he's still very cautious.

Jacob was diagnosed with RSV today. It was very encouraging to have the doctor's last words to me be "Good luck!" There are 9 kids in Jacob's daycare class. He's the fourth to have RSV, plus another child has pneumonia.

While waiting to pay for Jacob's prescriptions, I spied Cadbury Creme Eggs! Let the season begin!

Today I made my first purchase at a home health supply store: a nebulizer with Bubbles the Fish II mask. Jacob was very interested in the tubing and mask until I made him keep the mask on his face. He was pretty upset about his first nebulizer treatment, but it must have done something right because he fell asleep toward the end!

from our local paper, The Newton Kansan


PUBLISHED: Thursday, January 3, 2008

Authorities seek owner of black calf

The Harvey County Sheriff’s Department is trying to locate the owner of a black calf that was found Nov. 12 in the 4700 block of North Burmac Road in Burrton.

The calf is either a bull calf or a steer, 300 to 400 pounds with a red ear tag with the number 20 on it. Call the sheriff’s department for more information.

I have been a member of at least one choir for as long as I can remember. I was usually involved with both school and church choirs when they were available for my age group. I also grew up in a church that really emphasized music.

If you ask a Mennonite to name the most important aspect of worship, the answer will most likely involve song. A capella 4-part harmony. You just can't beat it!

Last year I had to take a break from church choir and that was really difficult. This year John and I both were happy to return to choir. Our choir is your typical Mennonite choir mix - some music professionals, some who can barely read music, everyone who enjoys singing. I think John is the youngest member, and the oldest one is near 80. There are usually about 40 people. We have a lot of fun and often function as a support group, too.

I often marvel about the difference between Adult Choir and School Choir. In school, people watch the conductor and at least *act* ashamed if caught whispering in the back row. In Adult Choir, whole sections of people are talking and laughing out loud while another section is trying to practice, and the conductor is openly challenged. (Don't you want to take that a bit faster? I don't like that high note, let's change it! Are you sure you want us to sing this song?) While it takes a firm hand to keep a School Choir on track, it takes every skill imaginable plus some luck and prayer to keep an Adult Choir going!

Our choir has needed more than "some" luck and prayer the past four months. At least three choir members have spent time in the hospital, one of them was in the hospital for two months. And our director has had medical issues that necessitated a temporary leave from choir directing. Our accompanist filled in as the director, and another choir member filled in at the piano. Choir has gone late several times as we stayed to make posters for hospital rooms, sign cards, and participate in an anointing service for our members.

We're on break right now, and start practicing again in a couple weeks. We'll start up with temporary director #2 and the regular accompanist. All our members are out of the hospital, if not physically able to sing yet.

Things are looking up! But, there is still a void in choir until Marcene comes back. She has an unknown road of healing ahead of her and no one knows how long it will take to travel. We all miss her wit and smile. It will be a blessing when she is able to lead us again.

Or at least that's how I'm choosing to interpret the head-free rat left on the lawnmower. Looks like Sneaky has decided to keep us!

I know, not many people read blogs to induce thinking, but it's good for us all sometimes!

Dr Rob has a great post on mercury, autism, and the important role of Jenny McCarthy. I just can't believe that people still think vaccines cause autism!

Marc recently discussed class privilege, as experienced by himself and his daughter, and linked to an article on race privilege. I like Peggy McIntosh's quote: "I was taught to see racism only in individual acts of meanness, not in invisible systems conferring dominance on my group."

On a lighter note, Purdue may or may not be getting a new football coach. The current coach and the rumored future coach may or may not know about it yet. It seems that nothing is official.

Are you tired of reading about Christmas and Jacob yet? I think this is my last story about Christmas, but you never know!

Our Christmas Tree sat undecorated for a couple of weeks because we couldn't find the lights. Jacob barely noticed it. Finally we gave up and John bought new lights. The next day while Jacob was napping, I decorated the tree.

Jacob was very excited about the lights and decorations. We talked about touching the decorations gently and he got to hold a couple of them. He also got to explore the boxes under the tree (they had some of his old toys in them).

Several times the next day, Jacob started barking at the tree. John and I are a little slow, so it took us a while to realize that Jacob saw a dog ornament on the tree that he wanted to hold. It didn't help that John and I thought the ornament was a bear, and there were two bear (excuse me, "dog") ornaments near each other. Luckily, Jacob has learned to be patient with us and show us exactly what he wants.

Jacob really enjoys the dog ornament!

Until our Thanksgiving trip to Indiana, Jacob was still getting baths in his blue infant/toddler tub. Jacob was getting too big for that tub, so it was time to transition to the regular tub. My plan was that we would start using a regular tub while we were in Indiana, and then just continue that way when we got home. I should have consulted Jacob.

The first tub Jacob was in, he screamed as if his legs were being cut off. High pitched screams of terror. It was so shocking that I barely knew what to do. Eventually I managed to pick up my wet, shaking, crying boy. He calmed down just as I was starting to think about the risks of holding a diaper-free baby. He did consent to a bath in the bathroom sink, but he wasn't happy about it.

Two days later it was time to try another bath. This time we just started in the kitchen sink. He did okay, but did not enjoy the experience. The next bath time, we tried the tub again. It did work, but took two adults to work with one little boy.

After the last bath experience, Grandma Yoder asked a few questions. Grandma has 7 children, 13 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. I bet even Grandma doesn't know how many children's baths she has given! Luckily, all that bathing experience added up to a happier time for Jacob.

Grandma knew exactly how to help Jacob adjust to being in the big bathtub. First, put his toddler tub in the big bathtub. Fill both with water and show him the great toys outside of the tub. Then put him into the big bathtub, right beside the toddler tub. We had a whole process that took 4 baths, but it worked and now he's pleased as punch with the big tub.

On another baby bath psychology note: I read that you shouldn't drain the water out of the bathtub while the baby is still in the bath because the baby will worry that they'll also go down the drain. That made sense to me, so I've been draining the water after Jacob's out and having him watch and then we talk about the water going to the lagoon. Maybe Jacob wants to visit the lagoon, but he really enjoys draining the water himself while he's still in the tub. It will be interesting to see if he ever develops a fear of the drain.