Harold our Plant, a Rant

He started out as a cute little philodendron from Wally-World. He was doing great. Just a happy little guy... didn't require much. You could say he was easy to please. He looked a lot like this guy here:



When we decided to move to Texas he was supposed to come along...but like the parents in Home Alone we forgot him in the hustle and bustle and he ended up on a very long extended vacation with my parents.

During the year and half he spent with Mom and Dad he had some rough times (see picture below)...

To make a long story short Mom took him to her classroom so he could get more sun (translation: he was dying).


At several points here she self-admittedly thought of switching him out for another plant before we got home. She even hoped we would forget about him so that she wouldn't have to see our face when we saw this...


It has been a rough little journey for droopy old Harold. We hope Texas treats him better than South Dakota did. Upon arrival at our apartment he got a prompt emergency soil aeration and our hopes are high that the little guy will make it through. :)

By the way... I love you Mom and Dad. :)

Babies, Moccasins, Plants, and Bathroom Stalls: My Trip to Sioux Falls

I don't know why it has taken me so long to post, but I know I need to update! I found out something very exciting this last weekend; I have friends and family who read my blog! I think previous to this experience I mostly wrote to the great abyss called the Internet (that thing Al Gore invented--you know). However now that I am enlightened... okay, nothing will probably change. I will still write random thoughts and include my musings. Some fun things happened. Here they are for those of you who care to continue reading:

1. I got to hug my parents, in-laws, sister-in-law, aunt, uncle, and cousins Sara, and Andy and their ADORABLE kids!

2. I held a baby for a ridiculous amount of time. It was like therapy for my soul to feel that little living, breathing, lovable heat-pad in my arms. Thanks to Sara, Andy, Josiah, and Tim, Barb, Sara's Grandma, Mom, Dad, and Marc for allowing me to unconditionally hog the little cutie. Oh, and thanks to Isaiah for being too young to protest my attentions! :)


3. I heard Josiah talk! He is so cute and we miss him so much. He has such a fun little personality. I loved hearing him talk about his "moan" (phone) and his "ba" (brother). :)

4. I reconnected with my sister-in-law Dianna. It was so nice to see her. I feel almost like we entered a new phase in our relationship this last week. She has grown and developed so much from her travels overseas. I love to hear her reflections on life and I am excited to continue this new chapter with my sister.


5. I got a chance to catch up with my best girl-friend Theresa Hagey and her hubby Sean (who happens to be Marc's bestie). What a blessing of God they are! Every time we get together I have a little fear in the back of my mind that things will have changed, that they will have found new couple-friends... that we won't be important to them anymore. While I still have these struggles it was good to see that once again my fears were unfounded. Thank you Sean and Theresa for your unconditional love for Marc and me. I am more convinced than ever that what we share is rare and wonderful.


6. My Mom bought me new moccasins! They are cute. :) Here is a picture just to prove it. I know I'm weird.


6b. I find no shame in saying that my Mom bought the moccasins. We are poor but happy. :)

7. I reclaimed Harold our marriage philodendron! Marc and I got him when we had only been married a few months. When we moved we forgot him on my parents' kitchen table. I will write a post about Harold's "story" soon.

8. I ran into an old college friend (Tanya Mark) in a random little town in Missouri! I came out of the bathroom stall and heard someone say my name. It was providential.

9. I used the phrase "old college friend"... depressing.

10. I mused with Marc for two hours in the car on things we love about South Dakota and the Midwest area. It was a sweet time with many tears, several laughs, and commitments to someday permanently return to our "homeland." My favorite musing was missing the way that farmers leave random farm equipment out in the middle of a field...for the whole winter. :)

Pieces of the Puzzle

Do you ever get the feeling that God is trying to tell you something? I tend to get that feeling when I choose to be quiet and attentive and reflective; however lately that has not happened nearly as often as I would like. But sometimes even in the busyness I get a little tap on my shoulder--almost indistinguishable--that says, "Look over there. Don't you see more of My beautiful puzzle?" I think that in these moments it is God reminding me to enjoy the subtle puzzle pieces He is placing in my life. I do not quite know what the big picture on the box is, but I am trying to grab the pieces I do see and fit them together. I think the end result will be quite beautiful.

Interesting art
Finding unexpected connections to a stranger
Poetry that comes alive
The smell of a new baby's head
Hot coffee and great conversations
Freely sharing my faith
The love in my husband's eyes
The smell of an orange
The squishy-cool feel of wet sand under my toes
The soft purr of a warm kitty
The feeling of being exhausted but enlivened all at once
The unconditional love of a child
The innocent questions of a toddler
An unexpected phone call from an old and beloved friend