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Autumn ran away again….yes, again. A neighbor brought her back and chewed us out about how we are terrible dog owners.

In the years since we have had Autumn we have:

• paid over 250 dollars in animal control tickets
• had to go to the city court
• rescued her from the pound at least twice
• purchased numerous dog tags and other animal junk that she scrapes off
• pried a neighbor’s pit bull off her ear with a golf club
• she’s escaped from our fence what seems like hundreds of times
• broken her tail in the car door
• repaired house windows she’s jumped out of
• destroyed our neighbor’s front door trying to get away from rain
• chewed through several webbing leads
• she’s been hit by two cars (same incident)

Before we owned Autumn, she was run over by a brushhog – which took her back leg, she was abandoned on interstate 540, and terrorized by coyotes when she was tied to a tree…..so we’ve heard.

So…sometimes we think of giving her away. But then she looks up with those big brown eyes and I don’t think we could quite do it.

I’m picturing my sign now:

Free Dog: 3 legs, broken tail, been hit by cars, you’ll need a houdini proof cage when it rains, make sure you put a line in your budget for dog catcher fines, good luck.

Naaahhh….

OK, I’m embarrassed to admit it. I’ve been listening to X-sinner – a band from the late 80’s early 90’s time frame. This was from the time when I thought that nothing could be cooler than listening to Christian music that was as close to satanic heavy metal like AC/DC as possible. And you know what… it still is – it’s so addicting – I can’t stop listening!

www.x-sinner.com

Look at the pictures – all the guys are running around in either ripped jeans or black leather tight pants …. yeeechh…

Parenting is a mysterious science. Today I was confronted by the stark needs of my kids in conflict with my own desire to just have “me” time. Balance is good in everything, but I know my selfishness sometimes prevents me from engaging them at the level I need to. My philosophy is that as we get married, we are confronted with the needs of another individual, and we lose some selfishness. Then as we have 1 kid, we lose a little more – but we still have big pockets of selfishness (maybe we just move our own “stuff” around). Now with two kids, another precious someone demands time in the hitherto “my time” zones – I am confronted by my selfishness again. It’s a good thing they’re so cute! If we keep having kids – pretty soon I’ll be completely pure – no more selfshness!

Welcome neighbors, friends, relations and otherwise

Another life has bloomed here in the Fields and we stand in wonderment. What a delicate little flower she is. What a Joy!

It’s been two years ago and no more than a day, I recall wiping sleep from my tired eyes as I entered baby’s nursery to be greeted by a sunshine boy who, on tip toe, passed a goodmorning smile over top the white crib bars to Mommy. I treasure that gift.

Looking upon the petal tinged cheeks of that boy, my son, the song Edelwiess came to heart and has remained:

-small and white, clean and bright
you look happy to meet me
blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow
bloom and grow forever-

It is our joy to share in this journey with you as we all grow Son ward together, higher up and deeper into the expanse of our Creator’s love.

Recently Jen had a fun trip to the doctor. She came home with Laura with three band-aids on her legs and Luke with one on each arm. Then we proceeded to deal with two miserable crabby children for the rest of the night. We rested secure in the knowledge that we were protecting our children from horrible maladies – and one night of pain was a small price to pay. Many of our friends who are at our stage in life (young kids) have elected not to immunize. I’ve heard a few reasons, including the chance that the kids could actually develop the diseases they were being immunized against.

Any thoughts about this quandry? Post your comments!

I still remember my impression when blogging was first introduced…it wasn’t positive – I thought it seemed a bit arrogant and flashy to have a site where you post ordinary thoughts and people come read. Who were these individuals who thought people would want to come read their drivel? Media meant content to me and to me blogging wasn’t content.

So now a lot has changed, a lot of water under the bridge and I find my life full, busier than I ever dreamed, and I feel like a need to connect to loved ones far and wide – scattered everywhere. The hope is that this blog will help us do just that, communicate the trivial, the critical, the ordinary stuff of life with those Jen and I care for.

Welcome friend, read on, and if it seems trival or arrogant, our apologies and keep browsing :)