Comments & Old McDonald.
The disaster in the South is simply unfathomable to me. I tried to come up with something to say, some words, but nothing. I have been following along on my friend Brad's blog (Carrie Colbert's fiance). He has a history with that area, family, friends, memories.
My heart goes out to all who have lost so, so much.
"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." Mother Teresa
And then, here at home, we sing.
We sing Old McDonald Had A Farm. We sing about cows, chickens, pigs, ducks, turtles, giraffes. You didn't know that giraffes lived on farms? Well, in our house they do.
Simon goes back to school today. He had a month off. He spent a week of that month with my parents. It is hard to work when he is here. Hard to understand that mama needs to work. Hard for mama to explain.
Today he's back in the school that we love, that he will leave when we finally move. We had anticipated that we would have moved by now, but there was always a possibility that we would still be here. And here we are...and where we are going next is still up in the air. Simon is signed up to start at an Early Education Program in mid-September, a couple hours a day of a preschool with a more in-dept focus on language. We live about 20 minutes away from there at this time. Chris is being a huge help, taking the lead in getting Simon to speech and school.
And Simon, man, he is so cute. And getting older. His language is developing. At what we call, "Simon-pace." Gotta love the sparkle in his eyes. This morning we were playing with blocks that create a train. He was labeling the colors, "blue block," "red block," etc. And then he said something else. Often I can figure out what he is saying by making a connection with the context. But I had no idea what he was saying this time...he was looking right at me...wanting me to understand...that is when it is tough. He just looks back down and keeps on building.
Feeling thankful and so very blessed for the safety and security of our family. Even if a million and one things are up in the air, we are blessed with being together.
Amidst all the chaos that is Katrina, it put a big ol' smile on my face to see Simon and read about his progress. Love you, A.
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That's wonderful. I was just saying how difficult it is to go through something like this, to watch the news, hear the horror stories, and then go home & play lego's with your kids & watch Baby Einstein... you still have to be the Mom that they know - as if everything is still the same. It's bizarre, to switch it on & off like that. But nice. We need that as much as they do.
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I too have no words... I can't even begin.
blessing to you and your family. i too feel so thankful. Sitting in the warm sun yesterday watching my kids play at the park thinking... We are warm, we are dry, we have food, we are laughing and we are safe. WE ARE BLESSED. My heart breaks.
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If giraffes live on your farm, would you please tell me what sound they make? Because my 2 and a half year old keeps askink me to put them in Old McDonald's Farm too, and I have no idea what to do when I get to that part of the song... Just a little light thought to distract from this horrible week :(
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Hey, we have giraffes here, too! What a coincidence! I agree - it is so hard to watch what is happening in New Orleans and the neighboring areas...every little bit helps though!
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Hi Ali,
I had an idea that I wanted to share... taking a chance that it won't be seen as too presumptuous or weird.
You have such reach with your blog -- so many people who are faithful readers -- and I was thinking that perhaps we could get this little scrap-blogging community together in a show of human goodness.
Wouldn't it be great if everyone who reads your blog could donate something -- whatever they can -- to the Red Cross Relief Effort for the victims of the Hurricane?
Endorsed by you -- or Cathy or Renee or Donna -- or all of you together -- it could be an amazing awareness raiser of what people CAN do to help.
Just a thought. Hope you don't mind that I shared it here. Please don't feel pressured to do anything if you don't want to -- but I believe that God gives us all special ways to touch people -- and the following that you've created has certainly been testament to that -- so I just thought I'd put it out there.
Peace,
Lynne
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:) Our farm also has giraffes, and hippos, and occasionally toucans! Thank you for a ray of sunshine in what has been a very bleak week. Giant hugs to you and your family as you embark on Simon's new adventure in education. My daughter starts kindergarten on the 6th!
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It is hard to imagine how Katrina has changed so many lives. I pray for them and focus on my family. We are blessed and I never want to take that for granted.
I love the way Simon is sitting to play Old Mac...so cute!
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It is funny looking at this picture of your son sitting as he is. My four year old sits the same way and it baffles me that they are not uncomfortable. I am sure you will find a wonderful place to live and all will be well for you and your family. Continue to be blessed and pray for those who are not as fortunate as we are to have a home at the moment.
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Funny, I'm very reflective today, too.
((hugs)) to you and your little man...
.....and if someone does figure out what noise a girraffe makes, please send it my way....the little people at my house would love to know, too! ;)
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I can't fathom what is going on down in the south. Just makes me so incredibly sad :(
And feeling so guilty to be safe so far away.
Happy to see Simon growing and learning. Go Simon!!
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nice post, sometimes saying nothing is all you can say, if you get my meaning. By the by, is that Simon getting taller, he seems to have sprouted up over the summer. Isn't that so funny I have never even seen him and from the pics i see here, in your book and in CK, I can chart his growth, how cool!
Rochelle
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Just had to say that I agree with you and your fellow bloggers...Katrina is a tragedy beyond words. After living through a personal tragedy, I feel a deep emotional connection and pain to people I have never seen or met. It's hard to fall asleep in a warm, comfortable bed knowing thousands of people are cold and hungry and would do anything for a warm shower and a piece of bread. It's a reminder to all of us to never take a moment in this life for granted. Even the boring, repetitive moments- like singing Old MacDonald with our kids. Blessings to you, Ali, for appreciating the small stuff in life and for savoring what you have.
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it is so had to see what is happening. being the neighbors to New Orleans and seeing all the people here from there breaks my heart. I have so many emotions going on inside that its so hard to make sense of it all. Here in Houston life is great - wonderful - hot and muggy - but life is good, then to see and hear about the wonderful people of New Orleans brings so much hurt to my heart. Everyone please continue to pray for the protection of the people in New Orleans. Know that in Houston people are doing everything they can to help.
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The situation down south is devastating! We have to remember to count our blessing each and every day!
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I love that you have giraffes on "your farm". Love the things kids come up with. Amazing.
I remember when my sister and I were little and would sit that way, (I call it the frog pose), couldn't do it now if my life depended on it, but did it for hours at a time as a child. So great that you captured it - it's a fleeting thing.
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I can't imagine. I think it is hard to concentrate with a puppy! Simon is so freaking cute!!!!
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Dear Ali, I have only recently discovered the remarkable world of scapping blogs. What an uplifting alternative to the political blogs to which I was I was acccustomed.
Thank you for the link to Carrie /Brad and the positive thought for all those suffering.
Kathy
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It is so true how much we do take for granted..and to think I was whining about paying 3+ a gallon for gas today...so wrong of me. It is all so devastating..I had to turn the news off tonight.
I can see by your pictures how much Simon is growing too! Early childhood Education for an amazing experience for us here too. David went for two years and entered K right on schedule! Big hugs to you all!
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Just to let you know... Giraffe DO (actually, IRL) live on farms. We have a farm about 5 min from our house, on the way to "town", and we saw 2 giraffe right next to the road on Sunday. They make a kinda "hew-haw" sound (like donkeys). This farm has blesbok (kind of deer), zebra and warthogs too. So, tell Simon, that when he visits Africa, one day, he'll get to see giraffes on farms, and he's VERY CLEVER to know that they live on farms. (BTW, my boys says that giraffe live at "Glen Navar", where we live, and "in the grasslands").
I feel for you, the frustration on not knowing/understanding what he's saying. Being a mom is the hardest and most wonderful job in the whole world.
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We have fish and babies at our farm ... :)
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The devastation in the south has put things into perspective for me very clearly. I'll cheerfully pay more for gas and take what comes our way in exchange for the safety I feel in this moment that those victims do not. My heart goes out to them.
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Hi Ali....my son just started kindergarten, and he, too, went to a speech intensified developmental preschool. It was amazing what they accomplished with him. I hope for the same for your little boy.
My journey with my son's developmental issues have led me to creating www.mylilpicasso.com . Art kits for kids, with a toddler kit geared at sensory integration activities for those who have these issues with development. Not to push anything on you, just thought you might find it interesting.
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