Make Salad, Not War

Luke, my 8-year-old, and I alternate nights with my 5-year-old for snuggles before falling asleep. On Luke's nights, he likes to stay awake as long as possible chatting about whatever he can come up with. Sometimes I am dead tired and there is my wide-eyed little Luke all excited for Mommy snuggles and as soon as I lay down he'll start in with, "so, what should we talk about?" I wonder whether I am going to have one of those closeted teenagers or whether he will always be this adorable eager beaver?

Several nights ago it was Luke's turn for Mommy snuggles. I lay down beside him and slid my arm around him.

"Mommy," he said, "did you know that the Stormtroopers in my Lego Star Wars game have guns that turn into carrots?! Isn't that crazy?!"

"Carrots?" I said, "That sure is crazy!"

"They can't hurt anyone Mommy! They're just -- carrots!" he said.

"Wow," I said, "What if that could really happen and we could replace all of the guns in the world with carrots?"

"Yeah!" he said excitedly.

"And bombs could be tomatoes," I said.

"Yeah, it's like salad!" he said even more excited.

"Yeah Luke! Make salad, not war!" I said

And with that the two of us fell into a fit of giggles. Luke decided that he was going to start a major campaign to replace weapons with vegetables and encourage world peace by making salad, not war. Politics with an 8-year-old is so much fun!

The Semester is Over and I've Survived!

Little did I know a year ago that I'd be sitting at my computer having completed my first semester of graduate school on my way to a whole new career. It's amazing how life can change in a year. I'm so thankful for the amazing gifts that life has thrown my way in friendship and family. As much as I've seen around the globe, it's the amazing relationships I've found with people that have shown me that no matter how much craziness, darkness, and brutality we all may hear about there is far more light and love to be found.

My mother came to me last spring and offered to pay for my education at a time when I saw no opportunity. I have an incredible mother. I delight in every day that I've been able to raise my own children as I hold onto their giggles and snuggles and watch them sprout up before my very eyes. When I jokingly say, "My! You are almost ready for college!" My 5-year-old daughter wells up and says she will never want to leave me and my 8-year-old son proudly proclaims that he is taking "mommy, baby beluga, sleepy bear, and RS Media" (his robot) with him. I chuckle knowing the reality that they will be oh-so independent in a very short while, but know that I am truly blessed. I am thankful for the friends, both old and new. The friends I have known since I was 7, 17, 32, and just a year or two ago. Friends who have made life rich with laughter and compassion as we've shared our growing, our greatest joys, our greatest sorrows and sometimes just a good glass of merlot.

So as 2008 comes to an end, I hope that all are able to look for the light and love, the joy and laughter in your lives and welcome in a bright 2009. Peace.