Thoughts

Only one week until we leave for Germany.  This weekend I started to get a little anxious about the whole thing.  My kids can always sense that.  Partly because I am more cross.  We had a family meeting last night and talked about our excitement and our anxieties.  Mine are about airports and changing planes and passports, those details.  Rebekah is nervous about flying over the ocean.  Emily isn't really nervous about anything,  she is excited to get going.   Luke has a little anxiety about the flight too, but I think mostly just has a lot of unknowns and likes to talk them through.  Pete just sits back and smiles.  Flying every week does take the newness out of it all.  

Just a note about Luke's wrestling season.  He had gone to his intersquad meet that we blogged on earlier.  Then for 2 weeks he was sick and missed lots of practices and 2 meets.  Finally he got in on the last meet of the season.  It was a big meet.   The top four placers got to go to the state meet in Ronan.  He was excited to wrestle.  His first match he pinned the guy and we were all excited.  One of his goals had been to pin someone.  His next match almost brought me to tears and I get teary now almost every time I talk about it.  He wrestled a guy who was much more experienced than Luke.  It would probably have been better if Luke had been pinned quickly.  That was not to be.  The guy had him in some holds that left Luke helpless, other than to strain enough to keep from being pinned.  It was a long 3 minutes and when Luke lost, he was very polite.  He shook hands with the guy and his coach.  Then went back to the stands where the wrestlers were sitting.  Pete found him with his head in his hands.  When he saw Pete he started to cry.  they talked a little bit and then they came past us to go to the bathrooms.  I called him up to encourage him, but that brought more tears.  I could hardly hold it in.  My friend Michelle was teary.   He went off to gather himself together after hugs and went on to win two of his next 3 matches.  He didn't get to go to State, but learned many life lessons that day.  We all did.  I think lessons that are hard are good.  They are like rights of passage in our lives.  Luke did well and we are proud of him. 

Lullabies

I was just upstairs singing to Emily. I have always sung to my kids at night. I used to be much more consistent about it and Luke probably gets less singing than the rest, but he makes up for it in snuggle time. Anyway, there have been certain songs that I sing all the time. I throw in others but there are three or four that are pretty consistent. It is interesting because each of the kids has a favorite and even though I sing others, if they request I sing to them, they want their chosen favorite. When Emily was very little, I had a cassette that had this lullaby on it. All the kids love it but this is her favorite. The words are as follows.

The stars are out, the moon is out. It's time to go to bed. I'm so glad you have a place to lay your little head. Have a deep and peaceful sleep. Dream away the hours. When you wake the sun will come and smile upon the flowers. Go to sleep my little one, beneath the evening stars. You will always have a friend no matter where you are.

I always tell my kids, that friend is Jesus and he will be with you no matter where you are.
Rebekah's favorite is You are My Sunshine.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away.
The other night dear as I lay sleeping, I dreamt I held you in my arms. When I awoke dear I was mistaken and I hung my head and I cried. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away.

Luke's favorite is a song a nurse taught him as he was waiting to have his hand stitched in the emergency room when he was 3 or 4. It goes like this.

I see the moon and the moon sees me, down through the shade of the old oak tree. Please let the moon that shines on me, shine on the one I love. Over the mountains, over the seas, that's where my heart is longing to be. Please let the moon that shines on me, shine on the one I love.

I always end by singing them this little tune.

I love you Luke/Emily/Rebekah, oh yes I do. I love you Luke, yes that is true. When I'm without you, I'm blue. Oh Luke, I love you.

Sometimes I add in a different color for blue, just for fun. They think that is pretty funny.
It makes me think of all the times Mom sang to me. She was wonderful about that. I wish I had a recording of it. I could use some of her singing about now. I can't wait to have her sing to me in heaven. Just think of the lullabies God has taught Mom since she got there. I bet they are amazing beyond words.

Misc. thoughts

I was reading Terra's blog and was reminded that Kate and I share a birthday. I love that. I had a friend in grade school that had the same birthday as me. We celebrated sometimes together. I hope she had a great day. I remember when my kids turned 5 it seemed so big. That was always an emotional birthday for me.
Tonight the Whitehall girls team stopped in Missoula to eat dinner on their way to Hamilton for the state tournament. Emily and I got to stop by and see the girls, and take them some goodie bags. It was really fun. I am very excited to see them play tomorrow.
Emily also has gymnastics meet in Hamilton on Saturday, so we will be able to catch all the action. I will post a little video of Emily's gymnastics. I am so proud of her.
Rebekah has been doing some indoor soccer practices in prep for spring soccer. She just loves it. It is a group of boys and girls her age that practice together. She leaves practice red faced and happy every week. I will post some soccer footage this spring.