Shlemiel, Shlimazel

Who knew that these were real words with real meanings? Not me. I remember them from Laverne and Shirley show that was on in the 70s. I thought they were nonsense words. Come to find out that they are Yiddish.

Here are the definitions:

shlemiel
A clumsy, inept person, similar to a klutz (also a Yiddish word). The kind of person who always spills his soup.

shlimazel
Someone with constant bad luck. When the shlemiel spills his soup, he probably spills it on the shlimazel.

I am not sure which one was Laverne and which was Shirley. Shirley had pretty good luck. Carmine was a cutie. So maybe she was the shlimazel. And though the girls used a great amount of physical comedy, I remember it being Laverne ending up more than not upside down with her panties showing. Which would make her the shlemiel. But she also had milk and coke dumped over her head more than once... hmmmm.

How do you remember it?

I have no cares...

Every night we pray with our kids. Its part of our ritual. The kids demand their prayers. One from me and then one from their father. All told 4 prayers ... 2 for each old kid.

Avery loves the "Our Father". She requests it every night. It must not be too slow or too fast. She interrupts at least twice and I lose my place and have to start over. Lately her request has been "the Our Father and then pray for Grandma Mac". Grandma Mac is actually her great grandmother who has been in rehab since having tumors removed from her bladder. Thankfully our prayers are working because she is being discharged to home today, three weeks after her surgery.

Cullen's prayer must have the following included, "help Cullen to have beautiful dreams and no bad ones and to think no bad thoughts". This is because Cullen has a great imagination and if he starts thinking scary thoughts he gets wound up into a tizzy thinking zombies are scratching at his window.

I put little suggestions into his prayers so that he might know he can have a relationship with God by speaking to God directly. So part of the prayer I say for him goes "help Cullen to know that you watch over him and he can turn all his cares to you God. Amen". Last night after I closed the prayer Cullen looked at me and said, "I don't have any cares cause I have you."

If I could have faith in my God like my son has faith in me I would be carefree.

I think back to my childhood and the disappointment and grief I felt when my father left the family. I thought he was a white knight, and a movie star all rolled into well. He would do no wrong in my eyes. His leaving resulted in a brokenness that I still carry. I know children need a strong foundation and sense of security. Life can't touch them with their parents around. It allows them to grow and develop without fear of the outside world. I want that for my kids. I do not want to be the reason they falter and struggle at an early age wondering if they are loved and if they are valued. So I am glad he can say with such certainty that his cares are few with me as his mother.

I also look forward to the day that he can shift that belief over to the God who loves him even more than I can.

Easter Week and things are hoppin'

I resist coming to my blog sometimes because, really, what is happening in my life that might interest others. I sometimes have profound thoughts but never remember them when I am sitting in front of the monitor. Again today, I was going through my mental list of things happening in this house and I could come up with nothing... but with a little more thought I have a list.

Many of these things come with heavy emotions and prayers. Some for survival, for healing, for perseverance and others for gratitude and grace. You might be surprised how they partner up.

Here is the list:

• Easter week observances
• Visit Great Grandma Mac in rehab after cancer surgery
• My mom moving to Maine at end of week
• Spring Break for Cullen and Avery
  
• Siamese kitten, Ming, in season and bellowing throughout the house
  
• 5 year anniversary of the Iraq War
• *Newly* poured cement walkways at our house
• Larry and Betsie have their baby girl
• Cullen lost his other front tooth
• Tooth Fairie Visits
• Easter
  

Just like the magic of an Easter morning sunset, I know that through faith and the power of Grace that all is well despite the trials and challenges some of these things hold.

And I got some bathrooms cleaned! So there is a triumph right there.

What to do with Avery

Doc and I have been talking alot lately about what Avery will do next year for school. Like Cullen she is an August baby and always one of the youngest in her class. With Cullen it was clear that though eh was eligible for Kindergarten, he was not ready. He was socially unsure, shy and anxious. So a half day kindergarten gave him the time to develop. Now he is in a full day Kindergarten at the local elementary school. He is one fo the oldest in his class and he walked in with alot of knowledge already under his belt which really helped his confidence.

But Avery is another animal. Still one of the youngest in her class, she is very social and outgoing. So it took a bit more thought to figure out where she should go to school next year. Doc and I spoke about it. He is concerned that if she starts elementary school now she will graduate high school when she is 17 which is pretty young to be leaving home for college. But I was concerned that she not be bored in school. She is all fire and ready for anything. Her brother will NOT ride the bus because of misguided fears based on TV scenerios he has seen on the bus. But Avery si ready to take that bus and says she will keep Cullen safe. We spoke to family, friends and a few of the teachers at her school. And we spoke to Avery too.

When I asked her if she wanted to go to big kid school with Cullen next year this was her answer.

"Sure. I am ready to rock."

See how she is... lol

After speaking with her primary teacher at the preschool we have decided to let her stay at her current school and enroll in the half day kindergarten. Her teacher says that is very social which is a strength but she is also very young and wants to play still. The class has been learning their letters. One each week. And though Avery does the work when assessed she can not tell you the letters that have been taught. She is writing her name and can tell you some letter sounds... but is is still a baby. She is smart as a whip and will be ready for big kid school soon enough.

Has the world gone crazy?

Sometimes I think so! I need to remember that my world view is skewed. Perspective can be relative and truth (but not Truth) is hard to come by. CNN and NPR even lean a certain way and the full picture is obscured BUT I do think I know some things for sure. What am I talking about, you wonder.

Well, lets start with torture.

To put to extreme pain or anguish; to inflict excruciating
misery upon, either of body or mind; to torture.

The president just vetoed a bill on interrogation because it limited the use of torture. Our Christian president thinks that torture, under circumstances is ok. And I KNOW for certain that my religious beliefs are counter to that. Forget about arrogance, or revenge or moral superiority... forget all that. Our nation and Christianity are founded on something higher. Nevermind that waterboarding is against the law. If we don;t walk about it and it happens and saves lives well isn;t that wonderful. But when we take it up in Congress and Bills are formed and voted on and vetoed... my eyes widen. I thought, naively that human rights and dignity were the foundation of our country... but I guess they do not apply to others who we deem the enemy.
It is my belief that the character of our country is based on how well we value all of humanity and how we address conflict. The use of torture only lowers our moral standard and jeopardizes our character as a people. No wonder countries around the world question of integrity and our motivation. I know I do.