It seems that I update the blog best when I come to realized that I really need to update the blog. Perfect.

Summer has been hot and dry (ok, somehow it's always super humid, but we're also experiencing drought for like the everyeth summer in a row since we've lived here).

We've had lots of company! The Norquists of Rhode Island, Ashlee, my 'rents, all in June. We spent a chunk of time up north in July, and since then it has been a blur of Ben traveling off and on. This has all made for a summer that has felt extremely short.

Ben was able to spend a few days here, as well as a week in Italy debriefing with Bryan's missions interns. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it.

I've been purposefully ignoring my garden. The cooler times of day = a gazillion bug bites = sleep trouble, which is so not worth fresh tomatoes. That's how I feel about it. You can't even really see the soil anymore for how overgrown it is with weeds (and herbs. Love the herbs). As I had sort of resigned myself to not having a garden next year anyway, I think its spring 0f 2012 before I return to cultivation.

Henrik is loving summer. Pool time, park time, coloring, movies while mom makes dinner... It really is the good life. Oh, and LOTS of blueberries. Henrik is talking more all of the time, to the delight of pretty much everyone who hears his sweet voice. Really.

Babies #2 & #3 seem to be doing well. Another check-up and u/s in about two weeks, then on to every week or every other week appointments (depending on this next u/s) with an u/s about every two weeks. I also just joined the Chattanooga Area Moms of Multiples Club and have my first meeting this coming week. I'm excited to meet these ladies-- browsing their website and seeing the support the group offers was really encouraging back when I was feeling a bit panicked those first days after we found out about the twins. By the way, for anyone who hasn't heard yet... we have a boy and a girl on the way! We're very excited to welcome these little ones in late October/early November.

Soon the Bryan students will begin arriving in town. We're excited for a new school year, and the rhythm that participating in the college year gives our family life.

Someday I'll post pics.

We Shall Remain

There are a lot of things I'm not really interested in.
Dolphins, manatees, and marine life in general. Military history. Cars. Most sports. Some people (true confession!).

I've never been that interested in Native American history until, well, I guess about 4 years ago, when Ben and I started reading a few books on the history of Minnesota and came across some really riveting accounts of the contact and conflict between White settlers and the Native Peoples of the Dakota territories.

It has been my experience (especially with the people part) that interest and real care develop quite naturally when I dig into the intricacies of a person or topic area. To get to know him, her or it, if you will.

That is my experience with the stories of the people who called this place where I now live home.

It's really easy to be ignorant of those stories. In fact, I've been surprised by how hard it really is to find decent film and print histories about specific Native American peoples or time periods. I tried to put together a unit for one of my classes at RCHS a couple of years ago and couldn't come up with much of anything aid me in teaching about the Cherokee people and the Trail of Tears. And those are not exactly obscure topics!


So. Ben and I are jumping into a PBS series (full episodes may be viewed through the official website) called American Experience: We Shall Remain. The 5-part series follows pivotal events within 300 years of Native history, from the arrival of the Mayflower to Wounded Knee. A few years ago we listened to a book on CD (cannot find the title!) about very early America. That account of the post-Mayflower time period was slightly different than this PBS version, but only in particular details. As is with much of history, a lot is known and a lot is not. Our next episode is about the Trail of Tears, an event we are are especially interested in because it literally took place in our back yard. In some ways, though, I am apprehensive about watching it because I know that gaining knowledge about this event is sure to affect me emotionally and give me a sense of responsibility that I won't know what to do with. Yuck.

But those are poor reasons to remain ignorant. And the stories are indeed an "essential part of American history" and super interesting.

We'll let you know what we learn.

What are you recently interested in? What don't I know about you? What truths/realities burden you?

Last Week in Photos

Henrik fits in the 5-gallon pot! Last year he fit in a pumpkin...

The view of Snow Falls Pocket Wilderness from Buzzard's Point. Ben and I hiked this as a date!

Sunday afternoon playing in the leaves. I took a LOT of photos and couldn't get him to look at the camera.

Ben painting the house. It might be a while before the final unveiling...

Wanting to Wait Well

Well, we are definitely ready for the baby to arrive. Ben asks him to come at least a few times a day. And he asks me to go into labor. So far neither the baby nor the mama are very obedient. Through the day my own desires and patience fluctuate and change. I feel peaceful and patient in prayer for peace and patience. Then I feel a little nudge inside and hope for my water to break. Hmm. Our impatience must be obvious, as people often say things like, "Well, its better for him to have a few more days inside." Probably true. This morning Ben and I prayed for joy in this time of anticipation (a precious life stage that we will only experience this one time!), and rest in the assurance that God's plan for this baby's life (even the day of his arrival) is truly best.
Hmm. This Saturday I cleaned the house for 12 hours, washing curtains, rugs, vacuuming window screens and the dryer exhaust, etc. It didn't feel like nesting (in that it didn't feel special or unusual), and Ben and I reasoned that we can't really take much from that, since that is sort of how cleaning happens for me. Things get bad, then I clean everything all at once as though it is a battle for life itself. I also wonder if my emotional desire to have the baby soon didn't spur me on to the cleaning. Along the reasoning of if everything is ready around us, maybe my body will get ready, too? I'm pretty sure that isn't true nesting.
We've had a hard time narrowing down name choices, but I think we have a few good ones, now. That feels nice. We'll have to see which combo seems best when the baby arrives. Until then, all is secret.
These days I mostly think (talk and blog) about the baby. As far as the rest of life, all is well with us.
Ben has been finishing up a "shop" that provides us with wonderful work and storage space for things like paint, tools, etc. We are thinking of painting our house yellow. We have to paint the shop, so we might as well paint the house at the same time?? Right now it is a pretty depressing brown. I like the idea of a yellow house with white trim and lots of red geraniums all around. Happy and European cottage-y.
Yesterday I went 3-store grocery shopping. We hadn't restocked from our summer away, and had been in great need. It feels good to have that done, too.
We are having some good times with friends, enjoying dinner together, etc.
Really, though, the big news is that the baby is coming SOON! A few weeks at the most!
Hoping to post about his arrival next time. Or at least the time after the next...

Things That Go "Bump" in the Night

Soooo... last night when I went out onto our porch in the midst of a roaring thunderstorm to make a phone call (the only area with semi-reliable cell reception), I noticed a branch hanging down from the porch roof. Oh, wait. That is actually a snake. I didn't hang around to make a positive ID on the variety. Don't know if it was a bad snake or a good snake (Okay, are there really good snakes? Don't comment on that.) It was a snake, though. Maybe 2-2 1/2 feet long, an inch and a half around or so? Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew. Later in the evening I heard it fall (jump?) off and land on the porch. That was actually a relief, because I didn't want it to climb into our attic and make itself at home or something. Ew, ew, ew. Ben was teaching last evening, so he didn't get to see it. He says that if he finds it in the future, he will weed-whack it if it is a copperhead or the like. Weed-whack it? That is more than I can handle. Personally, I think it might be time to get a shotgun. By the way, this is the second snake that I have had the pleasure to encounter on our property. Ben has yet to make the acquaintance of any at all. Why is that? Not that I want him to see one, or whack one, I just don't want to see them any more! Ew.

Window Screens

Our house came without window screens. I realize that most of the world makes it without window screens, or even the option of A/C, but I was really getting tired of the situation. After pricing out (expensive) relplacement screens, we found a nifty screen making kit at Wal-Mart. Ben crafted perfect-fitting screens for each window in the house, installing the last one yesterday afternoon. We were in heaven! There was a light rain outside, and the breeze was refreshing and bug-free. Last night, perhaps around 11, when we were falling asleep in our newly ventilated bedroom, we heard furious scratching UP THE SIDE OF OUR HOUSE and clawing onto the screen in our bedroom. The CAT, whom we do not officially own, but who lives on our property, had torn a hole in the 6-hour old screen in an effort to socialize. Maybe this is why there were no screens on any of the windows. Ugh.

Things this Week

Last weekend Ben was in D.C. with a group of students attending the Global Prayer Gathering of the International Justice Mission. I wasn't there, so can't give a first-hand account, but it seems that it was a top-notch experience for all. He and the students came back with some new perspectives. Ask Ben more, or visit the website for details...

Tuesday night Ben took me out for my birthday to The Curry Pot for Indian. It was really wonderful-- incredible spice flavors (better than India Palace, which used to be my measuring stick for all other Indian-- can you believe it?)! The Curry Pot is owned by Christians, interestingly, and they serve beef! Ben ordered Beef Biryani, and I had Vegetables Korma.
Yesterday afternoon I told my Punjabi 1st-grade student that I had Indian in Chattanooga, and he got sooo excited.
"Did you have the circle things?" (I gathered that he meant the doughnuty sort of dessert
served in a rose water syrup-- I don't remember what it is called, either.)
"No, but I've had that before. It's yummy, isn't it?"
"Yes, I want one. I really want one. I want a BIG one. I want one as big as an ELEPHANT!"
By this time, he had climbed up on top of his chair and was shaking with excitement as he gestured. Guess he likes to eat out, too. So cute. As for myself, I am ready to go out for Indian again tonight. I won't, of course, but I'd like to. I'd really like to.

Sigh. In all, we have had a busy few weeks. Right now there is are ENORMOUS piles of dirty dishes (the dishwasher is malfunctioning, which doesn't help that situation), dirty clothes, garbage (we haven't taken a trip to the dump for a few weeks), and the grass is about 18 inches long in the front yard. It's a good thing there aren't any ordinances in these parts limiting one's right to a lawn au natural.
Tonight I have about 2 hours after work before students come over for class. Hopefully these piles can be diminished. Except for the lawn problem, which will linger a bit longer, seeing as we don't own a lawn mower.

Garage Saleing

I really love garage sales-- always have. I love the deals, of course, but also enjoy the stories a family's discarded possesions tell. I love exploring the neighborhoods and back roads. I love that it is a chore in one sense, but a pretty fun one!

I had a great morning of saleing this past Saturday.

Details:
In our parts, sales happen not just in garages, but in parking lots, yards, and along the roadside. Few take the time to price their wares, or even sit them out on tables. Often there are just piles or boxes of junk, through which the bargain-hunter sorts. The first few ventures I made at Southern garage saleing were totally unsuccessful. If things weren't priced, I would just wander a bit, say thanks, then leave quietly. How Minnesotan of me.

Major breakthrough in strategy this Saturday, though!

Here's how you sail the sales, Tennessee style:
1. Excavate the piles.
2. Load up your arms with the desired goods.
3. Approach the seller, "How much for this?" Point to ONE of the objects.
4. Seller responds, "Oh, 75 cents. Well, how about $2 for all of it?"
5. Deal! Pay up and head out.

A list of what I got for a total of $7 on Saturday:

• 6 pairs of Baby Gap socks, various sizes and colors
• Baby Gap sweater and hat set, off-white cable knit
• Answering machine
• 2 hardcover kids books
• Vick's brand humidifier
• 2 really nice Carter's onesies
• baby carrier (the soft cloth kind that fits on the parent's front or back)
• baby bottle drying rack
• "I love Daddy" bib

Pretty good, huh? 3 cheers for assimilation!

Trail of Tears, Continued

A few months back Ben and I were told that our home sits pretty much a stone's throw from the old road bed that was the Trail of Tears. This has caused us to do a bit of research into the history of the Cherokee people in our area, and more specifically, into the portion of their history that ended in their removal at bayonet-point from our area.

The short version of the story is that from 1833-1836 (after an embarrassing series of failings in our system of checks and balances), 18,000 Cherokee were forcibly removed from their homes in Northern Georgia, parts of Tennessee and North Carolina to a reservation in Oklahoma. During this thousand-mile trip on foot, 4,000 Cherokee died of starvation, exhaustion and disease. It is a pointed example of the injustices in the United States' relations to the Native American Nations during the early part of our country's history.

You can read the long version of the story (please do, it really is interesting!) at:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2959.html

Nunna daul Tsuny (The Trail Where They Cried)

Last night our neighbor, Dave, came over for a visit and brought a gift of two arrow heads that he found recently here in the cove where we all live. He pointed out the differing colors of the arrowheads and explained that the darker flint is made from a local stone, and the lighter tan colored flint is from farther north, so it was probably traded for.

Dave says that the Trail of Tears came through this area on a path just behind our property, as in, you can see it from the back of our house! I knew that the Trail came through Dayton, but did not know its specific route. I am so motivated to find out more of this... And a little humbled. I confess that I have harbored a little bit of attitude against the invisible "powers that be" of Dayton who have not done much to acknowledge or remember the forced relocation of the Cherokee through our area. Couldn't they have put up some sort of display or memorial plaque or something, somewhere in town? Now I feel a little pang of guilt over my judgement of whoever they are that didn't made a big enough deal of this, and a genuine desire to know more about this history that literally walked through our back yard...

Honestly, Native American history was not that interesting to me until last spring, when Ben and I read a history of Minnesota. I don't recall the title.. something about a tour of Minnesota historical sites or something? The author spent a lot of time on the history of relations between the pioneer settlers and the Native peoples. Learning those specific stories really piqued my interest in the vast (in some ways merely unknown, in some ways unknowable) history of the Native American peoples. This furthers one of the lessons I learn over and over again in life-- that if I just take the time to get to know a person (or in this case, about people groups), I will truly care for them.

Maybe we should put together a little local history to accompany our artifacts... And seek out others' stories-- the Lord will teach us much about Himself if listen to the story of His works and love those whom He loves.

Check back for Cherokee history...