Watching Disaster Happen

January 28, 1986

I was sitting in Mrs. Brown's third grade class at John R. Williams Elementary School.

It was going to be a special day, because Mrs. Brown had arranged for her grown son to bring a box television set to our classroom.  We had all attended an assembly the day before, during which one of our sixth grade teachers explained how her friend, Christa McAuliffe, had been selected as the first teacher to fly into space.  She beamed as she shared with us the application process Christa went through, and told us how all three sixth grade classes would be participating in a special Space Program Unit during the Challenger's mission.

The students in our class waited impatiently while our teacher's son fiddled with the television reception.  In fact, my fuzzy memory of this day includes a very clear memory of Mrs. Brown anxiously asking us to quiet down....several times.

There were a few minutes of waiting...questions, discussion.  The countdown began, and we excitedly joined in.  BLASTOFF!

For 73 seconds, we watched in wonder.  And then, disaster.

We now know what a disaster this truly was.  But in those moments, it was just confusion.  Confusion as our teacher grasped for an explanation.  Confusion as the country looked on in horror.

I don't have much memory of what ensued next, except a rather quick exodus of the television from our classroom, followed by an announcement over the PA system by our principal, explaining the fate of the space shuttle.


Some people have lived through a handful of these tragic events- there are many that preceded this, some bearing much greater loss.  This, however, was the first real disaster our generation witnessed and remembers.  Unfortunately, it wasn't the last as we've watched explosions, massacres, and terrorist attacks take their place in our mental scrapbooks.  Each bears a story as we remember sounds, smells, faces...all bringing us back to those fateful days.  

 Where were YOU when the Challenger exploded?  
(I've emotionally prepared myself for those of you who will respond with "I wasn't born yet".)

Checklist for Encouragers

Every time I pull up my Facebook timeline, I find a link to some kind of checklist.


27 Surreal Places to Visit Before You Die.
7 Simple Ways to be Happier
5 Best Ways to Survive "Christmas Shoes"  (serious LOL)
17 Cheap Ways to Stay Warm This Winter   (Local friends.  heh.)
100 Ways to Conserve Water. (California friends.  heh.)

I read some.  I'm amused by some.  I implement some.  I discard some.

Every time I open up my Godbook, I find checklists, too.  (See what I did there?)

10 Rules by which to Live
9 Attributes of a True Christian Life
8 Kinds of People God Blesses

The best instructions for life aren't found on Facebook or Huffington Post or BuzzFeed or latest issue of O Magazine.  They are found, and have always been found, right here in the Scriptures.

This week, as I was reading through 1 Thessalonians 5, I was reminded how important it is to be an encourager to others.  As these "instructions" are generally applicable to both believers and non-believers, I thought I'd share them here as inspiration for us ALL. 

Reference:  1 Thessalonians 5:11   Example : Build each other up.

Application:  Point out to someone a quality you appreciate in him or her.

5:12  Respect leaders.

Look for ways to cooperate.

5:13  Hold leaders in the highest regard.

Hold back your next critical comments about those in positions of responsibility.  Say "thank you" to your leaders for their efforts.

5:14  Warn the lazy.

Challenge someone to join you in a project.

5:14   Encourage the timid.

Encourage those who are timid by reminding them of God's promises.

5:14  Help the Weak

Support those who are weak by loving them and praying for them.    

5:14  Be patient

Think of a situation that tries your patience, and plan ahead of time how you can stay calm.

5:15  Resist revenge

Instead of planning to get even with those who mistreat you, do good to them.

5:16  Be joyful

Remember that even in the midst of turmoil, God is in control.

5:17  Pray continually

God is always with you- talk to Him.

5:18  Give thanks

Make a list of all the gifts God has given you, giving thanks to God for each one.

5:19  Do not stifle the Holy Spirit

Cooperate with the Spirit next time he prompts you to participate in a Christian meeting.

5:20  Do not scoff at prophesies

Receive God's word from those who speak to Him.

5:22  Avoid every kind of evil

Avoid situations where you will be drawn into temptation.

5:23  Count on God's constant help

Realize that the Christian life is to be lived not in our own strength but through God's power.

Source:  Life Application Study Bible                 
   

Era of the Princess

First, there was Snow White.
Then, there was Cinderella.
Then....a bunch of other ones.

And now, there's Kendall, fairest of them all.  (And I do mean fair.  We get far less than our fair share of Vitamin D up here.)

This is what Chris has been dreading since the day we found out we were having a baby girl.  Princess dolls and dresses, jewels and crowns are all as foreign to him as hockey is to me.  But, I'd venture to say that nowadays, the "princess phase" is inevitable.  And though there are hundreds of diatribes about how these fairy tales are creating unrealistic expectations in relationships and how no self-respecting woman should let a man rescue her (gasp!), I see it as a harmless milestone for every little girl.

Kendall received some princess toys last year, and they collected dust for months on end.  I scratched my head and thought do we have the one little girl in the world that doesn't care about princesses?  Then slowly, it happened.   Cinderella was broadcast on the Disney channel.  Fluffy dresses started to catch her eye.  Her little brother became her dancing partner at the ball.  Mommy's shoes became glass slippers.  Her fairy tale began.

Begrudgingly realizing this stage is unavoidable, Chris agreed to accompany Kendall and me to a Disney Live production here in Fargo last fall.  It was Kendall's first real encounter with Disney magic and though she was excited, she definitely didn't know what to expect.  I don't think we will soon forget the wonder in her face when the curtain went up.  And I certainly don't remember much of the show, as I was choking back tears...so grateful to be able to experience something so magical with her for the first time.

Though Chris still cringes at phrases like "Daddy's Little Princess" (and highly disapproves of any clothing bearing these words), I think we can agree that making our children feel cherished, important, and loved is among our primary goals as parents.  And when it comes down to it, that's what being a princess is all about. 

P.S.  I took the Princess Quiz.  Everyone is doing it.  I'm most like Aurora...."a vision of beauty inside and out, we are loved by everyone."  OBviously!  ;-)  Which princess are YOU?

Glaucoma Awareness Month

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month.  You probably didn't notice since NFL teams aren't accessorizing in green like they do for Pinktober.  (Greenuary, anyone?)  Glaucoma isn't life-threatening like some conditions, but it could have stolen our son's eyesight.  Having lived through the experience of battling the condition on his behalf (he was only 3 1/2 months old when diagnosed), it's a pretty significant part of our journey with Carter.

We were invited to collaborate with other parents who have experienced/are experiencing Pediatric Congenital Glaucoma at Amplatz Children's Hospital (where Carter received his treatments).  We were unable to attend, which was a bummer because not many others can relate to words like "trabeculectomy" and "goniotomy".  Glaucoma is relatively rare in children, affecting approximately 1 in 10,000 births.

Many people ask us about the initial diagnosis.  HOW DID YOU KNOW?  Well, we didn't.  It's not like you look at your fussy baby and think, "Hmm...they must be crying because his/her corneas are ripping apart from extreme pressure!"  This is how it went down:

Carter's eyes began to appear bleary and red, all the time.

Carter began to close his eyes in any kind of light.

Carter would scream when placed on his back.

We thought he had a scratch, so the doctor prescribed drops...which made him scream bloody murder.
There was no change in their appearance, so we took him to our regular pediatrician.
The pediatrician referred us to her friend, an eye doctor here in town.
The eye doctor was suspicious of possible glaucoma, so she referred us to the specialist under which she had completed her residency....who happens to write the textbook on Pediatric Glaucoma...literally.
The surgeon (in St. Paul) gave us an affirmative diagnosis and scheduled Carter for surgery.
He went in for surgery at 7 months old, a double goniotomy. 
Two months later he had another surgery, a trebeculectomy in one eye.
Carter had to wear arm braces to prevent him from touching his eyes.
Following his procedures, we trekked to the cities every 6-7 weeks for a pressure check under anesthesia.
At 11 months old, he received his first pair of prescription glasses.
After a year of follow up, he was given a "thumbs up" and we were released from the surgeon's care.

Though the worst is likely behind us, we are diligent with periodic check-ups to make sure his pressures don't spike again.  Though Glaucoma (in later years) is not curable, you can slow the progression with treatments.  But early detection is key to keeping your eyesight in tact!  Here's my PSA for the day:  The Glaucoma Research Foundation recommends that you check for Glaucoma

• before age 40, every two to four years
• from age 40 to age 54, every one to three years
• from age 55 to 64, every one to two years
• after age 65, every six to 12 months

Here's to happy, healthy eyes!

Siberian Chill

If you follow me on social media, or if you actually live here in the arctic, you've been horrified along with me at the temperatures occurring outside.  Over the last six months, I've heard that it's going to be a cold winter.  "They say it's going to be a cold winter."  Well, pshh.  We live in Fargo, of COURSE it's going to be a cold winter. 

The proverbial they were right.

Good Morning America's meteorologist Ginger Zee gives Fargo a big ol' shoutout on a daily basis, it seems, while phrases like "Siberian Chill," "Polar Vortex" and "Arctic Blast" pop up regularly on the seven-day forecasts.  And here we are, smack in the middle of it.   For this California-grown girl who HATES being cold, I haven't been dealing with it very well.  There's a fair amount of childish foot-stomping occurring if I have to leave the house, and a number of tears that have been shed due to the pain affiliated with being outside at all.  I. Hate. It.

Last Monday, the temperature decided to spike up to the mid-thirties, something we haven't seen in a couple months.  You wouldn't believe the amount of people out playing in the snow....building snowmen, sledding, winter merriment.  I looked at my children who haven't played in the snow at ALL this year and felt pangs of guilt.  I should be letting them experience the snow!  So I sucked it up, pieced together a mis-matched, too-small snowsuit for Carter complete with his sister's boots, and took them outside.  Oh gosh, the excitement!  Here it is, documented for all to see:  I brought my kids out in the snow :)

Now, many people have asked me how I like living in Fargo.  There is a short list of perks, one of those being that the cold temperatures force us to SLOW DOWN.  Enjoying family, cuddling, eating in, being creative with our playtimes...all good things.  I've appreciated this aspect of living in the Northland, considering I came from a busy, egocentric metropolis.  The discrepancy is huge.

But there is such a thing as "too much of a good thing."
THIS happened today:

This winter hasn't been the "let's stay in by the fire and be cozy" romanticized sort.  It's been a "MY BODY HURTS WHEN I GO OUTSIDE,""BEING OUTDOORS IS LITERALLY DANGEROUS" kind of winter.  THAT kind of winter is no fun.  THAT kind of winter takes fun weekend plans and blows them away in 30 mph freezing cold wind.  THAT kind of winter makes us feel trapped inside, doomed to another day of jumping on couch cushions and pounding play-dough (this monotony, of course, bothers me much more than my children).

We spent almost half of December plunged well below zero degrees, and the forecast is pretty grim for us heat-lovers.  It's only January 3.  There's a lot of winter left to endure.

Pray for your frozen friends :)



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