Monday, February 15, 2010

Lilac Turns Six

So much has been going on in the House of Chaos; some new, some exciting, but really.... most of it mundane.

On Monday my parents went into the MTC in Provo... for all y'all who don't know Mormon lingo, they entered into the Missionary Training Center in advance to heading off for the Washington DC South Mission, where they will serve in various places (mostly VA) for the next 18 months.

They gonna be doing a full-on Proselyting Mission. Dude. My 'rents are hard CORE. I feel something trembling on the cusp of amazing.... something momentous, at their making this commitment. The sight of them in their name tags at the restaurant on Friday night as they had just left the MTC and were yet to begin their drive to the East Coast, I swear that I could see... something. Something not quite of this mortal realm, something of eternity in them, or around them. Was kind of like sitting down to have a steak dinner with my parents, and maybe some angels.

I have a lot more to pray about these days. I have been more regular about saying my personal prayers, and put more of my heart into each prayer than I have in years.

Among other thing, I have a baby sister doing some work overseas right now. In one of those places, those scary places that I will be glad to have her back from. Not directly in harms way, but not far enough away that I rest easy.

I have learned a few things that I had learned before. Guess I will have to relearn them again next month or next year... 'cause apparently I learn like some kind of sieve. One lesson that I want to talk about, but may be redacted later for Birdie's sake:

Lilac's birthday was yesterday, Valentine's Day. But since this year it fell on Sunday, we decided to celebrate it on Saturday. I try to let the kids have a "friend" party on the odd number birthdays, and reserve the evens for "family" parties. Hopefully it keeps them from getting inflated expectations... we'll see. She turned six this year, so it was to be a cousin party. Anyway, I did not entirely have my act together and we had to hit a couple of stores Saturday morning to pick up some last minute items for the party that afternoon. I couldn't leave anyone home because Dadguy is taking every spare minute he can to put into programming an app for the release of Apple's new iPad, so he was long gone working. Birdie was having a rough time of it. Actually, she was being downright ugly about having to come along to the store, about Lilac's birthday, about not being the center of the excitement. Although, to be fair, Birdie really hates going on shopping trips in general.

I got pretty fed up with it pretty fast. She was really raining on Lilacs parade, and I was also feeling pretty outraged that she would be so nasty about someone else getting to have a special day so soon after such a lovely fuss had been made over her. I felt like she was being very ungrateful and very selfish and very shortsighted.

"Why," I thought, "couldn't she just enjoy the moment for someone else? Why couldn't she be happy to think that her sister was about to get lovely gifts that she would probably share with her sisters? She was about to attend a party, eat cake and generally make merry even if the party was not all about her?" I finally got in her face and informed her that I was not about to let her be so nasty about this, not going to allow her to attend the party if she couldn't find a way to turn it around and help make this a special day for Lilac. It is to her credit that it took her maybe three minutes of silence before she chimed in with an idea for the party.

Sigh. Gratitude. How must I offend my Father in Heaven with my shortsightedness and nastiness, my unwillingness to be happy for others having so much. My ingratitude and insistence that being invited to the party is not enough. That I must be the star or I will be ugly about it.


I pray that I can be like my Birdie, that I can turn it around so quickly. Dang, I cringe to think of how I must hurt and offend my God when I turn a blind eye to my blessings.

Anyway... speaking of blessings! Look at this glorious six year old !



And a close-up of the cake. Feast yer eyes, cuz this will the last super-fancy cake I make for quite a while. Took six-seven hours to make all told, I started making it the day before and I was still up against it time-wise at the very last... to say nothing of my helpers "helping." Too much time and too frustrating, and all I can see is how sloppy it looks. I know I know, it's fine, it looks great. But I am thinking that the time investment is not worth it. Really. The kid woulda been thrilled for a bakery cake from Wally World.

8 comments:

Superwoman said...

WOW! That's some exciting stuff going on! Tell Dadguy to call Sushiboy and get him going on helping with that stuff, weren't they going to work together on it? I think the cake looks great and I have thought the same thing, why did I spend all this time? The kids would have been happy with a storebought cake. However, at least for my kids it's one of the ways I show them I love them and they know it and look forward to it. I don't have the awesomeness that you do with cake decorating but it's good enough for my kids! Just don't let them see your awesomeness ok?!

Fantastagirl said...

Okay, I look at that cake and see - WOW, it's totally amazing!

And I wish I had one tenth of the talent that you have in your pinky - I am in awe.

And - how awesome that your little one decided to turn it around and have a good time!

Jam said...

Bon I think you are amazing... and very cool. XXOO J

Mama D said...

Um... sloppy. I'm not going to give you too much grief about saying that about your amazing cake because I myself can be guilty of that sort of modesty, though not related to cake making artistry.

Wow! That sounds amazing about your parents. Very exciting.

Lindsay said...

Cool Bon. And I'm glad to hear I am not the only sieve.... :)

anne nahm said...

That cake is fantastic - happy birthday Lilac!

It is easy for me to imagine God in the roll of 'angry/disappointed parent' when I am embarrassed about myself.

Having children has opened my eyes to how much greater love for someone is than irritation about the things they do. And my love for my kids is only mortal and imperfect.

It gives me hope that God looks at me and smiles, instead of doing that 'tsk-tsk' thing and shaking his head sadly.

Sibley Saga .... said...

Hey-been awhile since I came visiting to your blog. I'm pretty stoked for your parents to be off and doing such marvelous works and wonders. I don't think it's much of a secret I think your parents are stinkin' cool.

Your girls are beautiful and I am thinking it won't be long before I'm off on the crazy birthday party experiences.

And by the way, thanks a million for the pump you sent my way. It's saving my fanny having to be a working Mom and trying to save money AND trying to have the healthiest option anyway. Total lifesaver. : )

Sibley Saga .... said...

Hey-been awhile since I came visiting to your blog. I'm pretty stoked for your parents to be off and doing such marvelous works and wonders. I don't think it's much of a secret I think your parents are stinkin' cool.

Your girls are beautiful and I am thinking it won't be long before I'm off on the crazy birthday party experiences.

And by the way, thanks a million for the pump you sent my way. It's saving my fanny having to be a working Mom and trying to save money AND trying to have the healthiest option anyway. Total lifesaver. : )