Moving Again

We're moving to New Jersey next month- meaning I will have moved every summer since 2008.

2011: From NYC to NJ
2010: From Maine to NYC
2009: From Dallas to Maine
2008: From College Station to Dallas

2004: From Houston to Texas A&M Univ. in College Station.

Before that, my family lived in Abilene Texas, West Virginia, and in Bellville Texas.

This Is the Stuff

Did you know that Volkswagens have locks on their hub cabs so that tires cannot be removed with standard tools? Well, after the auto shop could not find our key (prob bc the last auto shop accidentally kept it), I had to purchase a new one for a whopping $27.00 (we're talking about a 3"x3" piece of metal here. I had to pull every rubber cover off of every bolt with a deformed wire coat hanger to find the lock bolt then count the 16 points on it in the rain before I could ask if the dealer had its key in stock.) then I drove back to the auto shop to get a new tire.
On my drive home, I was still stressed and frustrated. I started thinking- this problem is way to small to affect me this greatly. I said a prayer then thought, this would be an ideal time for Francesca Battistelli's This is the Stuff to come on the radio. I turned the station from NPR to Star 99.1 and believe it or not, the first chorus was starting: This is the stuff that drives me crazy... In the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I'm blessed... It might not be what I would choose, but this is the stuff You use. I felt better instantly and even laughed at myself.

Lesson: A lot of stress and frustration is self-inflicted. If I choose to pray as Francesca sings, "break me of impatience and conquer my frustrations," then I will not be easily angered or unduly stressed to the point of popping a blood vessel. Rather, I will be optimistic, patient and have a less permeable joyfulness. That sounds like a much easier way to live and a better way to not beget a heart condition. I will pray this prayer more often.

Click for the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqqdA8LHN7I&feature=fvwrel

Spring in Manhattan

Most would leave Manhattan to see the spring, but I wanted to go to Manhattan. The contrast of the lively cherry blossoms against the steel and concrete intrigues me. So, Chris and I ventured to the city to enjoy.
My favorite part comes in a week or two when the blossoms begin to fall- when the trees are still full and ripe, but the petals fall like snow and blow around the city (allergic persons might argue). On those few precious days, I wear a pink skirt and twirl under tree branches. There is a sense of urgency to catch the moment before the wind has stolen it all for another 350 days.

"The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”

like christmas lights

Do you remember December car rides after dinner to view Christmas lights? After work today, when I drove around Tottenville looking at blossoming trees I was reminded of those memories.

Some branches are smothered already in cotton-white or baby pink blooms- fullness like saturation- while other branches are still scarcely covered. They pop open one at a time like popcorn does until its bag filled.

clipart from Dragonartz Designs.

Dear New York,

You seem to have forgotten spring. Your temperature has jumped from 52 to 88 and has put color in my cheeks. The outdoors even smell like summer, but the backdrop of brown trees looks odd behind skateboarding teens in sleeveless ts. Thank you for your consideration. I will try not to complain when it is 56 tomorrow.

Heather

Linus and Leeks

Laura Joost: How are you and Linus doing?

Me: We're quite well! Chris teases me about my "little belly" growing, but he really thinks I'm cute. Side effects of pregnancy are quite random. Ex: I have never dropped so many things in my life. Nor spilled so many liquids (mostly from missing when pouring. I've wasted so much milk and tea and chopping vegetables has turned into a squats workout). I had been getting so frustrated with myself then i read that "pregnant women tend to drop things." Really?

Speaking of chopped vegetables droppings, I discovered leeks today. I made leek and thinly sliced mushroom soup in chicken broth. How have I gone my whole life without leeks? Laura, was this soup actually amazing or is this another one of those weird pregnancy food things? Chris argues the latter.

Laura confirmed that leek soup is truly good. :) I'm glad.

You can't fall upward. You can't slip uphill. In order to move anywhere but down and back, you have to work at it. Right?

I felt movement this morning

I jumped out of bed quickly because I poured my bedside glass of water on myself. Smart. After changing shirts and switching to the dryer side of the bed to cozy back in for my morning reading, Linus (My family jokingly named the baby Linus and now Chris has joined in. He comes home from work each day, "How's my little wife? And how's little baby Linus?" No that will not be his/her name.) anyway, Linus did not cozy back in so quickly. I had read that slim women tend to feel their baby move earlier in the pregnancy than other women, but I did not expect to feel anything for a few more weeks. It felt like...um... I felt like a jar probably feels when moths are trapped inside it. Moths or small hyper frogs.
I have heard about a t-shirt that says, "I make people" across the front. I want it.