Which, was pretty surprising in and of it self because I didn't know Moose knew how to lay anywhere else than on someone's lap.
And, who wouldn't love this face?
I also came across this boy with funny teeth in his mouth. . .
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Coming Home
Last night I walked in the door after class and saw this . . .
Which, was pretty surprising in and of it self because I didn't know Moose knew how to lay anywhere else than on someone's lap.
And, who wouldn't love this face?
I also came across this boy with funny teeth in his mouth. . .
Which, was pretty surprising in and of it self because I didn't know Moose knew how to lay anywhere else than on someone's lap.
And, who wouldn't love this face?
I also came across this boy with funny teeth in his mouth. . .
Monday, January 25, 2010
First Basket
On Saturday Sam scored his first basket. You'll hear Alina on the video saying that all the cheering hurt her ears, but we were SO excited for Sam! I love how Sam runs up the floor afterward, sets his sight on his man for defense, then looks over at us and gives a big smile!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Stafford and Moose
We headed to Petsmart yesterday afternoon for a new fish to replace Geoffrey. But, we got sidetracked, as we always do when we go to Petsmart, by the kitties that are for adoption there by the Arlington, WA humane society. And, while we were looking at the kitties, I fell in love with a big cat by the name of Moose. Mind you, I am really not a cat person. Maybe it is because my first cat, Barber Shop, ran away after we moved when I was 5 (that will need to be talked about in therapy!).
Most cats had their weight listed (i.e., "Sting," 9 lbs., 14 oz.). Moose's size was simply listed as "Large." But, we weren't able to pet him until the volunteer came to the store to exercise the cats. So, while we waited, Sam picked out his new fish––"Stafford." Stafford is named after Matthew Stafford, the quarterback of the Detroit Lions. Stafford is a stunningly beautiful blue fish. And, fortunately, seems a bit livelier than Geoffrey did when we bought him.
And then, finally, the volunteer arrived. We got to spend time with Moose. Well, mostly I did. He was a big guy, and a lap cat––which is perhaps why he is such a big guy. We decided that we would adopt him. The kids and Jean would take a kitty anytime, but Moose stole my heart. We had to come back to Petsmart between 6 and 8pm to fill out the adoption paperwork. We did, and brought the Big Fella home.
He was a bit restless in the night. He'd sleep on my tiny wife for a while, then go visit Sam's room
, then Alina's. Then, Repeat. A little after 4am he didn't return. When we got up this morning Jean and I searched all over for him. We didn't see him in either of the kids' room. We searched and searched the house. Then, we went back in Alina's room. Silhoetted in the night light was Moose's head on Alina's bed. The rest of his big body was under Alina's kitty blanket. She had covered him up in the night when he got on her bed.
He loves being in our home. He loves being loved on by Jean and the kids. And by me. Today, during nap time he slept on my stomach for over two hours. He'd probably still be there if I was still napping. He loves Jean's lap, and has become her new "laptop."
Most cats had their weight listed (i.e., "Sting," 9 lbs., 14 oz.). Moose's size was simply listed as "Large." But, we weren't able to pet him until the volunteer came to the store to exercise the cats. So, while we waited, Sam picked out his new fish––"Stafford." Stafford is named after Matthew Stafford, the quarterback of the Detroit Lions. Stafford is a stunningly beautiful blue fish. And, fortunately, seems a bit livelier than Geoffrey did when we bought him.And then, finally, the volunteer arrived. We got to spend time with Moose. Well, mostly I did. He was a big guy, and a lap cat––which is perhaps why he is such a big guy. We decided that we would adopt him. The kids and Jean would take a kitty anytime, but Moose stole my heart. We had to come back to Petsmart between 6 and 8pm to fill out the adoption paperwork. We did, and brought the Big Fella home.
He was a bit restless in the night. He'd sleep on my tiny wife for a while, then go visit Sam's room
, then Alina's. Then, Repeat. A little after 4am he didn't return. When we got up this morning Jean and I searched all over for him. We didn't see him in either of the kids' room. We searched and searched the house. Then, we went back in Alina's room. Silhoetted in the night light was Moose's head on Alina's bed. The rest of his big body was under Alina's kitty blanket. She had covered him up in the night when he got on her bed.He loves being in our home. He loves being loved on by Jean and the kids. And by me. Today, during nap time he slept on my stomach for over two hours. He'd probably still be there if I was still napping. He loves Jean's lap, and has become her new "laptop."
Friday, January 22, 2010
Goodbye Geoffrey
Last night we said goodbye to Geoffrey. Geoffrey was Sam's fish. His first pet. He cried when we knew it looked as if Geoffrey was dying. Yesterday Geoffrey died.Last night we held a small service for Geoffrey and we each dressed up. Sam wrote the eulogy and read it during the service. And, then Sam prayed. He did a great job.
For Sam, it was about his fish. For me, not as much. For me it was about letting Sam grieve, and being there with him in his grief. To be his dad, to hold him while he cried, and let him know it was perfectly okay to be sad as he wept.
Today, we plan to get another fish. Not to replace Geoffrey in Sam's heart, but to help take a bit of the sting away.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Tenacious D
Keep an eye on number 12 for the team wearing the white jerseys. Sam plays tenacious defense for the Eagles.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Inside
After Sam's basketball game today we headed downtown to Top Pot for doughnuts, then we walked around the city. One of the places we went into was a piano store. Alina walked up to a piano and began playing "Inside" by Van Halen. Nice!
Friday, January 15, 2010
My First AA Meeting
I'm taking a Substance Abuse class in school. It is an elective. I'm taking it because the population that I want to work with after graduation will likely suffer from substance abuse issues. A slightly lesser reason for me taking the class is that my dad was an alcoholic and I want to understand something about who he was.
As part of my Substance Abuse class, we have to attend a 12 Step Meeting. I attend one last night. It was a meeting just for men. My intention was to say as little as possible. I sat at one of the round tables, at the far end of the room from where the leaders of meeting were sitting. Another new guy was there, and he sat next to me. Every one else knew each other and were joking with each other and catching up. A few guys recognized that we were new, and they introduced themselves to us.
The meeting kicked off and a few guys read things. Every time someone talked, they would say, "Hi, my name is so and so, and I'm an alcoholic." The group would respond with, "Hi so and so." Then, the man would continue speaking. One of the orders of business was to ask who had a birthday this month. I started to raise my hand because I have a birthday this month, then I soon realized that wasn't what he meant. That was awkward for me. He was asking for people to share how long they'd been sober.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the only awkward moment of the night for me. The two of us new guys had to wear goofy hats for part of the meeting to acknowledge that we were goofy, just like the rest of them. During this time, one of the group leaders read from the "Big Book." Others had mentioned the Big Book earlier. I came to find out that it wasn't the Bible. It was the Alocholics Anonymous 576 page book. The man then shared some things from his life related to what he had read. He then called on people the rest of the night to share. He called on half to three quarters of everyone there, and I was not exempt. When he called on me, I just smiled and shook my head "No." He then asked the other new guy to speak, and the guy did. A few more guys were then asked to share before there was a smoke break at 8:20.
During the smoke break the guy who had adorned my head with the goofy hat asked if I had a Big Book. I said no. He asked if I wanted one, I said sure. He came back with a brand new copy for me. He also gave me a list of guys in the group and their contact information. He said that because this is my first time and don't have a sponsor he would like to be my intermediate sponsor. He asked me to call him today. He talked a lot about the group and how great it was that it was just a men's group because they could "fart, swear, belch and do all of the things that men do." He then told me to be sure to call him tomorrow [today].
Not really wanting to make conversation because I felt like a spy, I buried my head into the Big Book. With about 5 minutes to go in the smoke break, the guy who had initially read from the Big Book and had asked guys to share, including me, came and sat next to me. He introduced himself and asked how long I had been sober. He had a name like a disc jockey. I told him that my dad was an alcoholic. He asked, "but you're not?" I shook my head no. I am not sure that he believed me. I think he thought I was still in some sort of denial. He said, "We have guys here with other problems, too."
After the smoke break a few more guys shared, and we were done a little after 9pm. As awkward as it was, I was mostly impressed by guys who shared how when they hadn't been at a meeting for a week or so, other guys would come pick them up and take them out for coffee. How guys were not willing to let others fall.
On my way out, my intermediate sponsor thanked me for coming and reminded me to call him tomorrow [today]. I smiled and said, "Thank you."
As part of my Substance Abuse class, we have to attend a 12 Step Meeting. I attend one last night. It was a meeting just for men. My intention was to say as little as possible. I sat at one of the round tables, at the far end of the room from where the leaders of meeting were sitting. Another new guy was there, and he sat next to me. Every one else knew each other and were joking with each other and catching up. A few guys recognized that we were new, and they introduced themselves to us.
The meeting kicked off and a few guys read things. Every time someone talked, they would say, "Hi, my name is so and so, and I'm an alcoholic." The group would respond with, "Hi so and so." Then, the man would continue speaking. One of the orders of business was to ask who had a birthday this month. I started to raise my hand because I have a birthday this month, then I soon realized that wasn't what he meant. That was awkward for me. He was asking for people to share how long they'd been sober.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the only awkward moment of the night for me. The two of us new guys had to wear goofy hats for part of the meeting to acknowledge that we were goofy, just like the rest of them. During this time, one of the group leaders read from the "Big Book." Others had mentioned the Big Book earlier. I came to find out that it wasn't the Bible. It was the Alocholics Anonymous 576 page book. The man then shared some things from his life related to what he had read. He then called on people the rest of the night to share. He called on half to three quarters of everyone there, and I was not exempt. When he called on me, I just smiled and shook my head "No." He then asked the other new guy to speak, and the guy did. A few more guys were then asked to share before there was a smoke break at 8:20.
During the smoke break the guy who had adorned my head with the goofy hat asked if I had a Big Book. I said no. He asked if I wanted one, I said sure. He came back with a brand new copy for me. He also gave me a list of guys in the group and their contact information. He said that because this is my first time and don't have a sponsor he would like to be my intermediate sponsor. He asked me to call him today. He talked a lot about the group and how great it was that it was just a men's group because they could "fart, swear, belch and do all of the things that men do." He then told me to be sure to call him tomorrow [today].
Not really wanting to make conversation because I felt like a spy, I buried my head into the Big Book. With about 5 minutes to go in the smoke break, the guy who had initially read from the Big Book and had asked guys to share, including me, came and sat next to me. He introduced himself and asked how long I had been sober. He had a name like a disc jockey. I told him that my dad was an alcoholic. He asked, "but you're not?" I shook my head no. I am not sure that he believed me. I think he thought I was still in some sort of denial. He said, "We have guys here with other problems, too."
After the smoke break a few more guys shared, and we were done a little after 9pm. As awkward as it was, I was mostly impressed by guys who shared how when they hadn't been at a meeting for a week or so, other guys would come pick them up and take them out for coffee. How guys were not willing to let others fall.
On my way out, my intermediate sponsor thanked me for coming and reminded me to call him tomorrow [today]. I smiled and said, "Thank you."
Thursday, January 07, 2010
DEPRESSION PRECEDES BREAKTHROUGH
As a person who suffers with depression, I love these words . . .
"C. H. Spurgeon is one of my favorite dead-guy pastors. He wrote and led in the 19th Century and wrestled with depression most of his life.
"C. H. Spurgeon is one of my favorite dead-guy pastors. He wrote and led in the 19th Century and wrestled with depression most of his life.
I love this insight from him: “This depression comes over me whenever the Lord is preparing a larger blessing for my ministry; the cloud is black before it breaks, and overshadows before it yields its deluge of mercy. Depression has now become to me as a prophet in rough clothing, a John the Baptist, heralding the nearer coming of my Lord’s richer benison.”
Have you ever thought that your depression or struggle could be preparing you for something greater?"
Written by , People of the Second Chance blog
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