He gives and takes away.

Last week was bizarre. On Wednesday, February, 23, a beautiful new life entered this world while a beautiful older life left to be with Jesus. 

Reed Joseph Hargraves made his grand entrance into this world, kicking and screaming I might add, and was welcomed by his pretty mommy, Lynsey, proud daddy, Joe, and big brother, Dylan. They are a beautiful family. They didn't have the easiest time with the whole "begin your family thing" and I watched Lynsey deal with loss and pain with such grace. God really is faithful, and she is now the proud, crazy momma of two handsome boys. I could not be happier for them. Lynsey is such a great mom...and friend. She's real and I love her for it. She doesn't pretend to be anyone she isn't. I like that too. Congrats you all on your new addition, I can't wait to watch him grow up.

On the flip side, Mrs. Jan, a lady who has gone to my church since I've attended, passed away leaving a lot of us sad that we won't get to be around her classy, loving, calm spirit anymore on this earth. I led worship for a few years and Mrs. Jan was a part of the team for a good portion of the time I was involved. She always came in with a smile and with super cute shoes, I might add. I always told her when I turn 70, I hope to be as stylish and classy as she.  She passed away in her early 70's,  I believe...seems like we should have had a few more years with her. But God knows best.

David and I had to leave her funeral early on Saturday because the boys were tired, hungry, and still not feeling completely up to par. On the way home, I told David I was frustrated because I would have liked to have stayed for the whole thing.  I felt bad that I wasn't able to give her the respect of being there for the whole ceremony. Then, a thought crossed my mind. If miss Jan could have been there, sitting in one of the two front chairs in the foyer of the church (she sat there often), and she knew I needed to get those boys home, she was have said, "Oh Hunny, it's no problem. I'll be fine, take them home." She would have smiled a big smile and waved me on home. I felt released knowing she wouldn't have been the least bit offended. I want to be that kind of person. I want to put people at ease and make them feel comfortable. Thank you Mrs. Jan for being a lovely lady who loved Jesus and people. I'm sorry that cancer made you hurt. Mr. Al and the rest of her family, you are in our prayers.

When I thought about the day and how Reed's earthly life began while Mrs. Jan's ended, the song Blessed be Your name came to my mind. The song's bridge says, "You give and take away, You give and take away. My heart will choose to say, blessed be Your name." That pretty much sums up my feelings about the day. Thank you, Jesus, for both of these lives.

We Don't Brush.

Parker's first trip to the dentist was a year ago. However, it almost doesn't count because he went to his Aunt Sarah who is a fantastic dental hygienist. Also, at age two, they essentially do as much with the child's mouth as they can without getting a finger bitten off. No x-rays were taken and Parker left thinking we went to see Aunt Sarah blow up the green latex gloves. No biggie.

I decided he should go back again since it had been a year and we have had all sorts of little issues with his mouth. Nothing major, just a chipped front tooth from running on concrete, a torn upper frenum from busting his mouth a few times (this actually may have saved us from a small surgical procedure in a few years, thanks Parker), and a loose bottom tooth from hitting the floor gym at preschool. As is turns out, none of these things are an issue. Whew!

Parker loves to brush his teeth and does so twice a day. We always help afterward to complete the job. Apparently, brushing consistently in addition to a low-sugar diet paid off because he got a clean bill of oral health. Yay! Everything was great. Good thing, too. If there had been a cavity, they (being the dentist and hygienist) would have blamed me. Let me give you a quick summary of the conversation the DH (hygienist) had with Parker when we first arrived.

DH: Hi Parker, how are you today.

Parker: Good.

DH: I'm going to tickle your teeth with my special toothbrush...is that OK?

Parker: Giggle. Yeah.

DH: (Lots more kind, reassuring, child-level chatter about what she was going to do. She is really great child hygienist.) Parker, do you brush your teeth at home?

Parker: No. (While shaking his head side to side.)

Mommy: (In the background quietly shaking her head up and down.)

DH: Do you have any teeth that have been bothering you or causing you any pain?

Mommy: (Again shaking her head no, because Parker has NEVER mentioned any pain.)

Parker: Yes. My back teeth. (Pointing inside his mouth)

DH: OK, well, we'll take a look at those.

Really Parker? That's fantastic. Way to make your mommy look nice and negligent. Lucky for me, your teeth were healthy and maybe granted me a little validation. Parker really did do great. He took all his x-rays, even the ones that gag you to death. He was a trooper.

The x-rays look promising. They promise that Parker's permanent bottom teeth are coming in extremely crooked and we will have to spend big bucks to straighten them out. I guess I'll be looking through Highlight magazines with him in a few years while waiting in the orthodontist office. The x-rays also promise he's going to have ginormous front upper teeth. Like T-Rex large. Poor Parker, those darn x-rays promised that he'll not escape that really awkward looking phase. Oh well, most of us went through it and have awesome pictures to show for it.

If anyone is wondering where Graham was during this whole experience, I'll ease your curiosity. My friend Annyssa, who referred me to Children's Dentistry, played with him in the waiting room until she had to help take the x-ray pictures. She then had him wrangled under one arm while snapping the film with the other. It was humorous. Thanks for you help, Nys! You rock.

Dental trip February, 2011....success.

random busi-ness

Wow. It's been more than two weeks since I've blogged. Ouch. I'm pretty sure that's a record since I began this lovely life script. Here's a quick description (and a few correlating photos) of my last few weeks. Hold tight. It's a slight whirlwind of randomness.

• I found cute chairs for my living room (pictures to come when I finish my living room...or at least get closer.)

• Graham fell down and bonked his head.

• I sewed a few pillows to brighten up my living room.

• Parker hit his head on the train table inducing a lump and bruise that would have everyone in Kanawha county wondering if I beat my child. No, really, you should see the looks I've gotten. Thanks Parker. (He's holding a football ice pack on his injury.)

• I reupholstered a bench in my living room...and managed to staple my hand. And yes, it hurts as bad as it sounds like it would, especially when you are using an industrial stapler. I had to pull the staple out of my hand muscle. Super fun. At least I like the outcome...of the bench, that is. (This wretched i-phone picture makes me crave a nice camera...one day.)

• Graham fell. 

• I made a few valentine shirts for friends and family.

• Graham slipped and fell.

• Our Family joined the YMCA in hopes of...well, I don't have super high hopes. Health is number one, right?

• I organized and hosted a Valentine party for my 3 year old's preschool class. All the teachers of preschool children deserve gold medals.

• Graham fell yet again.

• I made a few necklaces using material and gumballs. What? I saw it on a blog. I liked the necklaces but feel they lacked just a little something. I'll figure it out.

• David got sick.

• Parker got sick

• Graham got sick, really sick...and then fell. He got to sleep with me for 2 nights. He was struggling to breathe and I felt more comfortable with him close to me.

• I got a tooth excavated and packed with metal. I'm sorry if it's a bit dramatic, but it sounds more accurate than "got a filling."

• I went blonder, and am really enjoying something different for a change.

• Graham fell.

• I had a wonderful Valentine dinner with the best husband in the world.

• I enjoyed a birthday lunch with David and my wonderful WV family. Happy birthday, Babe, you truly are the best!

• Graham fell.

Ok, so there you have it. A lot of sewing, decorating, falling, and celebrating going on in my life. It's a complicated good life.