Reasonable Resilience

Okay, I'm a mom of two and I raise my kids the best I can. I make choices that some others may not, and I keep my opinions of how others raise their kids to myself. Home Depot man, this is for you. I see those signs. I know what they say and even why you have them. I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt, ever. Especially my own kids. I enjoy home depot on occasion, depending on what we are going for. I think it's great that they have racecar carts and my kids really like them. On occasion we are buying wood and need a big barred cart to haul the wood around the store, you know the ones, right? I am a capable person. I know how to watch my kids, while some others in your store may not, although I do wonder if when we walk in the doors someone pushes a button that makes that recording about watching your kids come over the loud speaker...anyhoo. I read the words on your big rolly carts for wood and big items and I know that they say, DO NOT RIDE. But I am a mom, as I have already...

Yes this is our best Christmas Eve picture. We had the timer on and I thought it important to have Lucy, our dog, in the picture. Well, if you don't know Lucy I'll just say that she's a really sweet dog. We love her to bits, but, well, she's lucy. Yes I am holding her by the neck to try my darndest to drag her into the photo. You only have 10 seconds you know. Yes that is a milkbone in my right hand. She wanted it, but wasn't gonna get too close. Also, Noah thought it was hilarious that Lucy wasn't doing anything that I asked her to, so he kept watching to see what would happen next. I could have cropped her out, but what fun would that be? So here it is. Here we are. The Steinkes Oh and I thought you might like this one too. Merry Christmas.

(Grace's Nativity Finally with Baby Jesus in His Manger) Today has been another day. I'm not sure if or when Christmas Eve will feel like it used to. My family was always so busy on this day. Wrapping presents and getting ready to go to Grandma B's apartment. I looked forward to that like you wouldn't believe. I miss it, a lot. I miss family and I'm still not sure after two kids and almost 7 years of marriage if I'm ever going to be comfortable with what we do now for our Christmas celebration. This place isn't home for us and our chrch family isn't really family. A lot of friends and people we really love, but not like our Moms and Dads and siblings. I wish for all of you to feel blessed, as we do, and to relax in the although overwhelming, grace that was given to us this and ever year past and future. (Lucy LOVING her U of M/Christmas scarf, can't you tell?) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Here's how it happens We're happily sitting at the newly brought up from the basement table... Noah decides that he wants to tell us something... so he does.

I think we may have found a solution to a problem I have. I can't seem to come to terms with cutting Noah's hair. I didn't have this problem with Grace. I thought, oh she's going to love this, it'll be fun for her and she will want to go to the salon with me and it'll be GREAT! But Noah, he's different. I think that as soon as I cut it, there's no going back. He'll be a big boy. I'll be the mommy of a big boy, not my baby boy. I'm still trying to think about how I'm going to do it, because this... ain't gonna work for long.

I don't have any pictures, but I have been reading a really good book. Do you know Jodi Picoult? Wow, some crazy good stuff comes from her, if you're into that type of reading. I'm reading "The Tenth Circle" and I cannot put it down. If you've read any of her books or know of any other authers like her let me know.