Sail- Ho!

This is neither a command to a woman of ill repute nor a variation on Santa's much loved cheer this holiday season. Allow me to explain . . .

Sedona is adrift in a wrapping paper boat this morning. Having unrolled it and discovered the cardboard tube inside, she quickly realized a nautical theme. The tube, of course, a telescope and/or oar, and the wrapping paper, of course, the boat.

As if that weren't enough, she decided she had better mark the tube because "I needed it to say something so that people know who I am when I go exploring." Duh.

So she weilds a marker and concentrates for a few moments before asking, "How do you spell sail-ho?"

I ask a few questions for clarification and discover that what the child wants to write is "Ahoy!" because that is what you say in a boat. Again . . .duh.


Here she is - off to discover the new world.

Breaking news . . . Nulik home: less hospitable than a desert

While under no delusion of winning housekeeper of the year, I've always strived to make our home comfortable, inviting and uplifting.

Some recent events indicate that I may have failed.

Cacti are notoriously hardy plants. They survive extreme conditions, need very little attention or love, they exist in some of the most hostile climates on earth.

One such hardy cactus was no match for the Nulik household.

In fifth grade, I bought a cactus. I remember thinking that having a cactus in my new black and white bedroom was the ticket to coolness. I imagined that it would grow to my height in just a few short years and by the time I got that studio apartment in the city after high school (you know the one, with the red convertible parked out front) my cactus would be beyond cool, ultra hip and modern. I was thinking ahead. I didn't want a flower. I wanted a cactus.

Well the convertible and studio didn't quite pan out. And so clearly, without awesome studio in which to display the cactus, there seemed little reason to upset its perch atop the curio cabinet it had so long enjoyed. In fact, it had survived two moves and more than 17 years in the Donovan (later Leget) home. (And between you and me . . . it wasn't really as big as I had imagined it would be)

For whatever reason, my mother decided that this cactus would find Missouri to be a happy home. She couldn't have been more wrong.

A mere two weeks in Casa de Nulik renders it well . . . you can see for yourselves.P.S. Mom? I have a basket to give back to you.

Connect

I spent the morning yesterday at Algoa Correctional Center, a medium security facility with a capacity of 1,635 male inmates, sharing information about Connections to Success with offenders who are within 6 months of release. I sat in the parking lot for a moment wondering how I had come to this place where I was a vehicle for connecting ex-offenders with resources, opportunities and most importantly, hope. And statistically speaking, the result of these connections is incredible. What happens if they don't get connected? If they don't have the opportunity to become a part of more?

This morning I'm browsing kiva.org with Jordan and he picked out a family in Mexico who has asked for $450 to repair/replace their roof. Jordan was nearly overcome with the idea that they didn't really have a roof on their house and begged that we do something to help. The amazing thing is. . . with kiva.org - we can (you can too, see left sidebar). If you haven't explored this incredible movement/website, then you are missing out. Jeremy recently interviewed one of the founders who talks about how the vision for kiva is not about lending money - it is about connecting people.

There is more power in bringing people together than we know. I work to bring together people of faith and ex-offenders every day and it is sometimes easier than others, sometimes more productive than others, sometimes it feels like work and sometimes, well, sometimes it takes my breath away.

Who are you connected with? How is that connection empowering you both to move forward, be better, do more? Because in those connections, we are forever changed. In those connections, we see God.

I have no explanation for this

And while I have no explanation, I couldn't not share it. Here he is, in all his glory.

Balloon Glow

Does a crazy spontaneity ever come over you? Provoking you to do things you wouldn't otherwise do? Alienating loved ones with your disregard for planning?

Two Fridays ago I heard something about a Hot Air Balloon Race in Forest Park. I picked the kids up after school and jumped online to see what I could see. Well the race wasn't until Saturday and we were booked solid for Saturday. But that evening there was something called the Balloon Glow where you could get up close and personal with the hot air balloons on the eve of their flight. So . . . off we went. I'd never seen a hot air balloon in the flesh (or nylon, as the case may be) and neither had the kids. I figured pizza and stupid movies could wait for another day. We jumped in the car and called Jeremy who was already at an event downtown and told him to meet us in Forest Park.

That spontaneity bug didn't stop there though. Half way downtown, sitting in unbearable traffic, the kids noticed people standing at what appeared to be a bus stop. I explained that it was the Metrolink, a public transit train that rus around and into Saint Louis. And before we knew it, we had pulled off the road, parked the car and jumped on the Metrolink to head in to the park. I'd never ridden it before either, but having some experience navigating Chicago Public Transit - I figured it couldn't be all that hard.

And we made it!! Jordan skipped, somersaulted and tumbled across the rolling hills in the parked. We were so excited to see the balloons glow!! Maybe next year we'll make it to the race.

Labor Day has come and gone

but not without a trip to the woods. (not sure why that is underlined but I can't make it go away)






We traveled to Mark Twain lake for time with family and friends, walking in the woods, and staring into fires.



We were even able to bring a bit of the woods home with us. Meet Silly Loo-Who, a very friendly snail who now lives in our kitchen.


This is just after she climbed onto Jordan's hand from the little bowl where she was kept for the better part of the day. Complete with slime trail. And here she is just getting moved into her new digs, hanging out with Sedona.

She seems to be doing well. Though I will say that we collect the strangest pets. And somehow they all end up in the kitchen! Who is in charge here? Why doesn't someone put a stop this?

A story -

Once upon a time, there was a magical place where it never rained and it was always dry. All the people who were there worked digging holes. They only got one gallon of water for a week. It was a very horrible life.

The end.


This rather uplifting story was brought to you by Jordan.

Tyranny in the suburbs

New tyrannical rule has taken our otherwise peaceful suburban home. . . this ridiculous notion called "character" and its all too ugly friend "integrity" nevermind the abhorred "gratitude" and "moderation". You can imagine the terror in which we live when nightmares such as these break loose in our home.

Alright enough with the drama of it all. I'm destined to be accused of being "soooo dramatic" by the 10yr old.

So I put a spending freeze on toys. At least a freeze on my wallet. I've set up a system by which Jordan can do daily tasks and even some extra chores in order to earn a small wage that he can then save for the purchase of toys - aka plastic joy. There was a seething greed and ungratefulness settling in our house and I'd just finally had enough.
There never seemed to be enough stuff. Each new toy only made the next new toy more necessary and urgent and any denial of this inalienable right to more stuff was met with outrage, deep sighs, and rolled eyes.

Enough was finally enough.

I can only hope that somewhere in here a little boy will learn the value of hard work, the importance of setting a goal and working towards it, and maybe even that "new" and "stuff" are ever elusive lovers. A fickle pair. Stuff will never be enough. And new lasts but a few minutes. Can you imagine really learning that at age 10? Well, no, neither can I, but imagine that one could .. . how much heartache would be spared? How much clamoring over senseless possessions, attention, and status could be sidestepped?

Jordan, on the other hand, is sure that I've lost my mind. After all, EVERYONE else already has a cell phone and their parents buy them WHATEVER they want.

It is a miserable little life he is forced to lead.

What I want to be. . .

In talking about savings and futures Jordan share some of his thoughts on how his savings should and shouldn't be spent.

Jordan: But I don't even want to go to college so why do we have to save for it?

Mom: I never said that you had to go to college, but remember when we talked last time about keeping an open mind and looking for all kinds of different opportunities. Maybe you'll use the money for another kind of training, maybe it will be for a car, or your first apartment. . .

Jordan: But I dont want to go to college. Then I won't have to be a policeman or a doctor or even a drug dealer. I mean ... then I won't have to . . .

Mom (a bit perplexed): No one said that you had to be any of those things. Since you seem to have a pretty good idea of what you do not want to be - any thoughts on what you would like to do?

Jordan: Yeah. I want to be a hotel man. You know, give people their keys and stuff.

Mom: Okay, so like at the front desk?

Jordan: Yeah. . . . . . .okay I'm just joking. I mean, really, that's not what I want to be.

And around and around we went. But at least now that he isn't going to college he won't have to be a drug dealer. And here I never even knew that a college degree was required for official drug dealing. I have so much to learn. Thank goodness Jordan is kind enough to teach me.

Happy Birthday to me . . .

Today is my birthday! With just under two hours remaining, I thought I'd share my day with you all.

Check out what Jeremy made for me . . .
Jana's Birthday

I received a nicely frosted donut at my Discovery Church staff meeting this morning, a fantastic Chinese buffet from even more fantastic coworkers, and a beautiful evening at the pool with the kids. See?



Its been a good day.
I'm pretty glad that I was born.

and on to tomorrow . . .

No excuses

There is no excuse for this seemingly permanent absence and so while "update blog" has sat so comfortably on my to-do list for nearly 8 months . . yes 8 months . . . I've decided to just jump in where we are. I was so overwhelmed by the enormity of trying to catch you all up that I was too often defeated before I even signed in.

That being said. . . don't get your hopes up. Subscribing might be your best bet here. I'll try to get back into the swing of things (all the easier with my new laptop - Thank you CtS!!).

And so I'll leave you (or maybe it is a long awaited greeting?) with our last 8 months in photos and I'll wish you all a happy Fourth of July! Here's hoping your's wasn't as damp as ours was.