Two weeks

Ok, it's been a while. In the past two weeks...I worked a lovely Graduation Gala at school, my students graduated, I spent my first Mother's Day trying to get Ben's 103 degree fever down while he beat a double ear infection, Ben has three new teeth coming in, we got rid of lots of stuff at a yard sale, we visited with Grandma and Grandpa, I took J.R. to the Emergency Room because he had the stomach flu, daycare ticked me off, Ben had lots of good days at daycare, and we are in the middle of doing 10 loads of laundry because the electricity was off in the basement and common areas.

Ok, update over, here are the pictures....
Here's my sickie with his juice
I'm not sure if there is a sick Ben in this picture with me, or if it's an alien baby
Ben riding his new toy Grandma bought for him

Baptism

It was a big weekend for us. Today, I baptized J.R. J.R. believes in Jesus, and has committed to making Him the leader and forgiver of his life. J.R. asked that I be the one to immerse him, and it was such an honor to do so. When I was a kid, we went to church on a regular basis. I liked it. I liked Sunday School, I love Vacation Bible School and I was even in the choir. Then one day, we (my mom, sister and I) decided to stop going. I went back a couple of times one summer while I was in college, then for 6 months or so when I lived in Reading. I never stopped believing in Jesus, I just don't think I truly realized the sacrifice He made for me. I started attending again on a regular basis about 4 years ago, and haven't looked back since. I was offered the opportunity to be baptized by immersion, but for some reason, it was a difficult decision for me, so I didn't do it then. When I moved to Philly I didn't join a new church right away. When J.R. first moved in with me, he wasn't going to church. He told me he'd like to someday, but he wasn't ready. It was a few weeks after he moved in that I started attending Christ's Church of the Valley. About 6 months later, J.R. joined me. He came with me about every other week for a while. Then, we went every week. We even joined a Home Team (small group/bible study). I decided I wanted to be baptized, but there was always some reason why I didn't do it... the days the church was offering a service was bad date, I wasn't ready, we were travelling that weekend, whatever. I finally said - I need to do this. So last January, I had my bestest bud Kelly baptize me. It was her church I started attending regularly before I moved to Philly, and her friendship, support and influence, and watching her and her family live happily as a Christian family, that helped me realize I wanted to follow Christ. It wasn't long after when J.R. decided to accept communion. Then Ben was born, and let me tell ya, if you don't believe in God before you witness the birth of your child, you will in that first moment you hold in your arms that tiny little being you helped create. J.R. and I are best friends. Our marriage, our son, our growing faith helped J.R. (and myself) understand he wanted to follow Christ as well. So, he took the plunge - literally. His mom, dad and brother came up, and our friends Rob, Michele and Abbey came as well. Rob, Michele and Abbey are also newly baptized and it's been fun having other friends getting to know Christ as the same time as us. There were also some friends from church who hung around - Jody, Al and Georgia, Leanne. It was an honor being able to baptize my husband. I'm thrilled we are now taking this journey together, and I'm so proud of him. I forgot my camera, so when I get some pictures from the others that had cameras, I'll post them.

A couple of other cool things about today - first, we saw two couples in church that we haven't seen for ages. Al and Georgia, who used to be in our old Home Team, and Mike and Sharon, and little Otillie. J.R. and Mike travelled in similar circles years ago, and we've seen them in church a few times. We started to get to know them a bit, but their lives have been really busy so we haven't seen them since I was still pregnant. We also saw two couples from our old Home Team (one at church and one at the restaurant) who congratulated J.R. It was really neat that today was the day we happened to see old friends. The other cool thing was the sermon was about God having a dream for us. Sometimes we think to follow our dreams we'll go from point A straight to point B, but in reality, that line has more turns and curves than we imagined, if we even get to point B. Instead we might not want point B anymore and move on to point C. In the end, we are better off at C, than if we arrived at B. That's God's dream. God dreamed J.R. would be baptized, which means I was meant for J.R.'s life. Boy is that a blessing.

Let it Snow!

I was at work for an hour today when I got the phone call to pick up Ben. He was burning up and had vomited all over day care's carpet. So I picked him up about an hour later, took him home, and took his temp. 98.6. No fever. He did feel a little warm though and he is catching a cold again. In fact, later on this evening, his eye was crusted shut. He's got some kind of goop going on. I'll have to call the Dr. tomorrow.

I feel really bad that we don't take Chloe to the park that much anymore, so when it started to snow this afternoon, I promised her I'd take her around 6:00, thinking there would be other dogs there. There wasn't, but wanted to get outside before the snow turned to sleet, then rain. I also need to admit, I really wanted to bundle Ben in his little snowsuit and take him out. We haven't had any real snow for him to use it. So, out the three of us went. We didn't stay out too long, because of Ben being sick, plus, the snow was changing to sleet. I did take these pictures though.

On another note, J.R. has begun classes again. He took an English writing class last spring, then took some time off to spend with the baby. Now he's taking a Business Presentations class - basically public speaking for business majors. I'm very excited for him. I think he'll do well. I'm proud of him too - it takes a lot to go back to school after so much time off and having so many responsibilities at home. Since I've been at La Salle for a while now, J.R. can take classes for free.

Peace.

A good day for Ben

I saw the director at day care today. I pulled her aside and gently told her that, although I'm sure she didn't mean it, the comment she made to me on Friday hurt me. She said she was joking and apologized several times. She said she joked like that to another dad of a cranky baby, but after she said it to me, she could tell it didn't go over well with me. She apologized again and we talked about other Ben stuff. She, along with two others said Ben had a good day today, even took an hour nap. The director says she gets teased because they say she spoils Ben - she'll pick him up and hold him when he cries. At least I know he's being soothed and not just sitting alone to cry.

J.R. says hi.

Birthday and Daycare

Yesterday was J.R.'s birthday! Happy Birthday love! We celebrated by going to a minor league hockey game - the Philadelphia Phantoms. One more goal and we could have had a free ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery! Darn it! Oh well. They still won, so that's good. Here's a picture from Ben's first Hockey game:



That was the good part of the night. Earlier, I picked up Ben from daycare. The director was sitting at the front desk when I came in. Instead of saying hello to me, she used a deep devil's voice to say "TAAAKE HIIIM!!!". I was so upset. I just said "Oh, that's nice" as I walked by her. I was like, nice greeting lady. Thanks for telling me you hate having my kid in your class (she's the director but also works in the nursery). I continued to walk by, then turned around to say something, then turned back around and got Ben. I thought if I had said something, I would have reacted, and not responded. I've been letting it sit over the weekend, and I'll let her know how upset she made me when I see her next week. I really almost cried. I mean, I know he cries alot, but don't make me think you don't like having him. Besides, that's what I pay them for. I'm really upset. I hate it because Ben's upset all day too. I wish there was something I could do. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.