Wonderful Weekend

This weekend I took the plunge and swallowed my fear. I played on the church women's basketball team! It might seem like a little thing but I have wanted to play for years. I have always been a coward. Finally we played a game Saturday and we won, 18-35! It was so fun, even though I only made one shot. I loved it! However, I think I may now need a knee replacement. :) Even when I played with the young women's team in high school, (see below)I wore a knee brace because they are so weak and painful. Without braces, and with 12 years added to my age, I am in trouble. Now I am taking it easy before the next game.

This picture is of the Kensington Grapes, my young women's team. Man, those were good days!

Also this weekend, Jared and I finally submitted our first offer on a house for sale. It may not even be considered, but I am so in love with this little townhouse and I thrilled that the ball is rolling.

Happy Birthday, Brittany!

Can you feel the love tonight. . . . in this picture?

I really love this woman. Happy birthday, Brittany!

I adore Brittany for the way she shoves her hair against her scalp when she's nervous. For her contagious, almost dorky laugh. For her tears shed over the people of Brazil. For her ability to give the present moment all the energy of her soul. For her conversations with in-utero-Stuart. For her crinkled nose. For her dancing barefoot in her wedding dress. For her power to change the world. For her resilience during personal trials. For her love of Jesus. For her love of me.

"I like Brittany because she loves me." ;)

Happy birthday, doll. I love you, Brittany.

Happy Birthday, Mary!

What a week for birthdays! And there is still one more to come. It is hard to keep up...

When we called Mary to wish her a happy birthday, I teased that her age has finally caught up with her maturity. This lady has been a wise woman long before she shed the title of "teen". I admire Mary for her courage to be herself, make difficult meaningful decisions, live a beautiful Christian life, and do it despite pressure from the world. Mary is a picture of virtue, love, talent and joy.

The other day at Stuart's dentist appointment (to fix his tooth) the receptionist said, "Your son is so beautiful. If your son is that gorgeous, you must have a daughter to see how beautiful she will be!" I agreed and told her, "His beautiful genes come from my husband's family. All his sisters are beautiful women." And looking at that picture, wouldn't you agree?

Happy birthday, Mary. I love you!

Happy Birthday, LeAnn!

And welcome to the family! I admire LeAnn, the birthday girl, for nearly every detail I know about her! I met LeAnn in the temple only last month, a few weeks before she married my father-in-law. I immediately respected her. LeAnn radiates friendship, love for children, and a life full of adventure. She is strong, persevering, joyful and intelligent. I am very grateful to welcome her to the Ondricek family. Happy birthday LeAnn!

Happy Birthday, Matt!

I have adored my brother-in-law Matthew since the moment we met. He is a loyal friend, a genius comic, a clever scholar, and a loving uncle. I've never had a little brother, but I am so delighted to have Matt as a substitute. Mature beyond his years, Matt has so much to teach me. I love you, Matt. Happy birthday, friend!

Happy Birthday, Madi!

I am so lucky to have this little gem in my family. Her personality is like your favorite citrus fruit. It takes a little work to peel back the outer layer, due to her initial shyness. But once you get in, she is the sweetest, juicy little ray of sunshine. I am so glad you were born, Madi, and love having you in our family. I love you!

Incredulous injury

I still can't believe it. I am just beside myself. It has been 24 hours and it hasn't sunk in yet. Last night Stuart chipped his front tooth. It startles me when he smiles. I am in mourning over the loss of his little baby tooth. I still hold on to the hope that it will come back.

The scene of the crime: the hall.

The suspect: the laundry basket? Really? A plastic basket? Yep. That's what the evidence suggests.

Jared and I were talking 4 feet away when we heard a bonk like we often hear. Anyone who has seen Stu walk lately knows that he is wobbly. He walks like Frankenstein, with his arms up and out to stay balanced. He plops on his butt a lot and looks at us for permission to be OK. We usually look and say "you're OK" and we all move on. Not last night.

I looked over and he was on his butt, sitting up, facing the white basket, but it was on its side.

Then he wails in pain and we rush in for the rescue. I immediately notice his top lip is bleeding. See where it is swollen? Right there I found a little white piece in his open lip wound! I rushed to the sink with Jared right behind and I flicked the white thing in the sink to clean and dress the wound. It was only after I flicked what I thought was a cashew piece did I notice his tooth through the blood! Oh no! Did I just lose his tooth down the drain!?!?! Panic. Screaming. HIS TOOTH, JARED!!! It was not pretty.

After we stopped the bleeding, calmed the Stu, pressed it with ice, and grabbed every little white speck in the sink, I realized we lost his little tooth piece. Now, I am not a complete idiot. The ONLY reason I thought it was a cashew is because Jared had been snacking and sharing them with Stuart just minutes earlier. Stuart holds on to edible treasures for what feels like hours. Thus, my assumption it should be flicked down the kitchen disposal. I don't know why I wanted to keep the little chip so much, anyway. I needed it to go back where it was, dangit!!
His smile was so endearing to begin with. His little gap (due to a large muscule attaching his gum and top lip) made for a memorable smile, combined with nearly no other teeth. Jared says this will just give him more endearing character. I am trying to hold on to that, and not focus on the possible negative consequences of his tooth looking like that until he's seven. Endearing. More character.

Either way, we are going to the dentist this week.

In addition, the poor kid is cutting THREE molars this weekend. He is such a survivor!

Last week's adventures

It finally snowed and stuck here in our nook, so we took Stuart out for his first adventure in the snow. It was more like ice, but fun, nonetheless.

Oops. Clean up time. This is our new friend, Cecelia.

(Oh. Double oops. He's still wearing Christmas pajamas...)

Thank you to whoever invented the cardboard box. Stuart loves you. These moments remind me of a book Stuart and I read together: Little Boy by Alison McGhee & Peter H. Reynolds. Thank you to my dear friend Liz who gave it to us. The authors repeat, little boy "so much depends on your big cardboard box."

Is it creepy that I watch him sleeping, usually once a day? It's when I reach nirvana.

Candle Light and Cooking Traditions

After enjoying our ambient candle-lit Christmas dinner, I'm wondering why I have never had a candle-lit dinner before now. Man, have I been missing out! This will be a mealtime tradition in the coming years at the Ondricek home.

We enjoyed a slow-cooked chicken (decidedly not my favorite way to eat a whole chicken), parmesan roasted broccoli, and Jared's homemade cornbread using polenta. Thank you, Jared, for your adventurous spirit! He's made cornbread from scratch before, but this one was the best!

For as much as I enjoy eating food, sometimes I think I enjoy making it more. I look forward to making meals and trying new ingredients and methods. Eating the food is like my dessert after all the fun.

I just bought myself a new cookbook, Nourishing Traditions: the cookbook that challenges politically correct nutrition and the diet dictocrats. Getting it was like Christmas morning again. And it's just a cookbook. Did I mention I love cooking?

What is your favorite meal-time tradition?

Sad News: Oh, Well

source

Well, after researching the MSW programs, I only applied to one. It appeared to be the only good match for my circumstances in life. After months of waiting, I finally heard back from them:

Hello,

The MSW Social Work Admissions Committee has reviewed applications for our Distance MSW program. It was a very competitive process with a large number of excellent applicants in the pool. Unfortunately, your application was not among those the Committee recommended for admissions at this time. Don’t assume this means there was something wrong with your application, it simply means we had too many strong candidates and had to make some difficult choices. You are welcome to re-apply for the next class which will begin in May 2013.

AKA: not this time, but we will gladly take your money next year.

Oh well. I know everything happens for a reason and a purpose. This is not the right time for me or my family. Or maybe this is not the right degree or school at this time. Either way, I am going to be alright with this decision. I am at peace.

This reminds me of these verses in Ecclesiastes chapter 3:

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

For me, right now is a time to heal, build up, embrace, lose and a time of peace.

What time is it for you in your life right now?

Gold Digger

He's only a year old and he's already after our money.

A Month of Travels, Part 2: Christmas in New York

I continue my travel log. . . .

After finishing up my adventures in Idaho and Utah, we flew in to BWI and took a bus to my parents in NYC. The bus ride was terrible because Stuart was really sick. He was miserable. All the people going to NYC were miserable and not friendly. I think it would have been better had they talked to him and distracted him. He loves people.

We went to NYC before Christmas so I could be present for when my sister and her husband attended the temple and received their endowments for the first time. Although Stuart was sick and later I got sick that week, I am so happy I didn't miss going to the temple with my family.

Then, later that week Jared drove up to be with us for Christmas and Krista and Benny's sealing to each other and their gorgeous son!

Every Christmas Eve we have a tradition of opening one gift in the evening. We enjoyed the gifts and beautiful scripture readings and stories from my dad. He told of his trip to Bethlehem and his spiritual experiences in the places where Jesus was born and grew. It was a beautiful evening. Here we are opening our gifts on Christmas Eve:

Jared and the babies. Stuart is so sick and his eyes are red from wiping all the goobers away. :(

Stuart was so happy when his daddy finally joined us. We missed him so much!!

No one was looking at the camera, but I wanted to capture our candle-lit dinner on Christmas. I suggested we do it because I want my family to have this tradition every Easter and Christmas. It makes me think of a simpler time and creates a reverent atmosphere. Jesus was born in a world with only natural lighting. :)

Christmas morning after church! We opened all the presents and Stuart was actually able to participate this year. Although, he was pretty weak and tired. Below he got a puzzle from his aunt and uncle. We love puzzles.

A journal I gave to Krista. It had an inspirational quote or scripture I wrote on every other page.

Benny is SO happy. He liked his Dr. Bonner's castile soap from Krista. We use this soap for EVERYTHING in our house. From scrubbing the tub to washing our hands.

The little boys fighting over the ball Stu got for Christmas.

Such a happy boy! Oh, I adore him!

Stuart loves these blocks and box he got from Aunt Jenn. Thank you!!

Then, a few days after Christmas my dad treated us to a show on Broadway: "What's all this, step in time!!" I LOVED Mary Poppins.

This is dad, Jared, me and Karla (and my mom took the picture) enjoying a day downtown to see the new memorial site at ground zero. I didn't get any great shots of the actual site.

"MAY WE NEVER FORGET"

This one made me laugh. Stuart is trying to fit his butt on the top level of this doll house. He wanted to sit in it.

A visit with my cousin, Tracy, and her family. Thanks for popping in!

And last but not least, the event my whole family gathered for: the temple sealing of Benny, Krista and Camilo!!! Below is the happy family with the missionaries that taught Benny the gospel before he was baptized. They came all the way from Utah!

This is the whole family that was able to make it for the sealing. Everyone except Karla, who had to fly home early. We missed you Karla! Almost my whole family in the temple together. Amazing.

After the sealing, we had a dance party to celebrate, but Stuart was not interested in dancing or celebrating. He went home early to sleep.

This video is from the sealing celebration. It is Krista and Benny's "first dance." They started out dancing to a traditional love song, swaying to the beat. However, they are definitely not a traditional couple, so they surprised us all and busted out with this about 10 seconds into the dance. I missed the beginning, but here is the rest. They made me laugh, and unfortunately I giggled obnoxiousness through the whole thing. :)

Late in the week we opened more gifts with the family members who arrived after Christmas. Jared was enthralled. :)

This gift was extra special. I gave it to the sister behind the frame, Marcia. She had been crying from when she opened it. This little cross-stitched beauty says "Ewes not fat. Ewes fluffy" and has been up in our grandparent's house for decades. It reminds me of them and has been a joke between us sisters whenever we feel fat. At my last visit with grma and grpa Stephenson, grma insisted that we take something to declutter her home before they relocate to a rest home. I took her up on the offer and took this family "heirloom" for the sister that reminded me of it the most. But not because she is fat. ;)

What an eventful month!!! Two first endownments, two sealings, a graduation, travels across the country and time with lots of friends and family. What a blessing to have been there.