Something’s wrong with our blog right now. Hopefully it’ll be fixed soon.

You know how you never notice when your body is feeling good, or even just feeling normal, and then when something goes wrong it’s all you *can* notice? Well, that’s my life in the past two days. My joints have been doing fabulously in the past several months. I’ve been able to walk normally and do all my everyday activities without pain. I completely weaned off the prednisone several weeks ago with minimal aches and pains — praise the Lord! Yesterday morning I woke up with some swelling in my right foot. It’s a reminder of how good things have been recently… and how much I’ve enjoyed feeling good again. The physical pain is no fun whatsoever, but the psychological pressure if even more overwhelming. I’m pretty scared of my body flaring up again and having to experience all I went through a year ago. If you think of me, please pray that God, the Creator and Healer, would heal my foot today — and that I would trust in the Lord’s future goodness and grace, as it will never fail. Thanks, friends.

I have fallen off the blog bandwagon. (Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!) The last week has been a busy blur of events and, just so you know, blogging isn’t the only thing I haven’t been doing. The laundry has been piled high, the dishes in my kitchen still haven’t figured out how to wash themselves, and the dust bunnies were swept up just moments before carrying out a revolt. What can I say? Such is life.

I’m grateful for the activities God has tossed in my lap in recent weeks. Some time ago I prayed that the Lord would open doors for me to use my gifts—and boy has He done so! I’ve been doing a little writing for upcoming church newsletters regarding our capital campaign. These articles have really challenged me simply because I haven’t written formally in some time. I also was blessed, and again challenged, by taking photos for the capital campaign video. Zion is preparing to build a Children’s Wing, the campaign is called “Let the Children Come,” thus my picture-taking was especially enjoyable as it involved lots of adorable chilluns.

“Kids” might just be the new general theme in my life. Right now I’m finding great comraderie with other mothers. In fact, the support I’ve found with other moms has been crucial to understanding my new self in the past several months. I assisted a friend in throwing an Easter party for our mom’s group last Friday—and it was a blast. Lots of work, but fun nonetheless. Within two hours our kids (from six weeks old to four years old) painted paper eggs, conducted a rapid-fire Easter egg hunt, hopped like mad bunnies in the living room to Veggie Tales tunes, and ate lunch from adorable brown bunny sacks. The funniest incident of the morning was a toss-up between the mosh pit bunny-hopping (you should’ve seen the little ones jumping and giggling like crazy) and the moment the older girls tattled that Luke, the only boy, had his pants off. It was a riot.

So I’m back in Blogland once again. Reading up on Megan’s move to our old stomping grounds, praying like crazy with my whole heart for the Rice family, trying to keep track of who is where this weekend in the Charity/Andy long-distance romance, and enjoying the thoughts and considerations of other soon-to-be-married friends.

It’s good to be back.

On March 9, 2003, I posted my first blog entry. 327 posts and 2018 comments later and The Prairie Box is still alive and kicking.

It’s hard to remember my reasons for not wanting a blog back in 2003. My web designing husband knew it would be the simplest way for me to update our website and yet I really fought the notion of blogging. I was scared I’d reveal too much personal infomation (and I have) and that I’d reveal my foolish nature (and I have) and that I couldn’t keep it up… but I have. Heh. Despite the pitfalls of self-exposure to the world wide web, I’m really glad I’ve had this creative outlet. I’ve made new friends within Blogland. I’ve been able to share some talents God has blessed me with. I’ve actually learned quite a bit about my own personality, flaws and all.

It’s been a good two years.

1. Favorite ice cream combo (think Coldstone or sundae)
2. Favorite non-breakfast item to eat for breakfast
3. Favorite dip
4. Favorite thing to dip
5. Favorite of all Mom/Dad’s homemade meals
6. Fast food or restaurant you’d miss most if you had to move
7. Best foreign food
8. Best fondue
9. Favorite summer fruit
10. Favorite thing to eat off the grill
11. What you’d eat right now if you could

I am munching on Saltines and a banana as I surf this morning because I’m slowly healing from a nasty virus where the bathroom and Gatorade were my best friends. I know where I got the dreaded bug from (thanks, Cutlers!), so I was prepared in advance, at least as prepared as one can be for such things, for the 24 hour onslaught of illness. It has been a long time since I have felt so horrendous! I apologize in advance to the numerous family and friends I may have infected and, in the meantime, I offer this advice: stock up on Gatorade and find childcare if you have little ones at home. Jeremy has been an exemplary husband — two solid days of baby-caring and wife-tending. He and Livia got in some good quality time. She seemed kind of disappointed when he left for work this morning. Anyhow, happy days are here again! I can surf. I can eat (sort of). And today’s sky is blue.

I love this pic of my Dad and Livia. Hope you like it, too.

Is it wrong to leave your baby in her very full and very stinky diaper while she’s happily and independently playing on the floor and you’re enjoying surfing the web and reading your email?

(Note: After this picture was taken, this “the playgym’s eating my baby” picture, I realized the little gym was just too little for my big baby.)

Is anyone else still hooked on this show? The premiere last week found me a little glossy-eyed. I’m not sure I was ready for two hours of new teams running the race since the last show ended only three weeks earlier. And yet, I’m strangely and utterly addicted to this program. It’s not your average reality program (trust me, I would know)—it’s far better.

Contestants I’m rooting for: Rob and Amber. Well, so far I’m cheering them on. I tend to support teams that are fun, friendly and honest, and Rob could be pushing the envelope on the honesty ticket. I know that tons of people hated him all through Survivor, but I loved the guy. And even though he kinda lied to fellow racers last week, he charmingly winked at the camera, so all is forgiven in my book.

There are a lot of new shows on tv right now. But is any of it really worth watching? Let me know if some new gem has escaped my notice. After 8pm (baby bedtime) I’m a free woman.

Sunday was one of those amazing it’s almost spring in Nebraska days where the outdoor thermometer hit 70-something degrees and the sky was an incredible shade of blue. It was just what I needed! Jeremy and I spent a little time in the afternoon raking leaves off our front lawn, then later I went over to my parents’ house where I snapped this picture. My folks moved to a house on Spring Lake several months ago. So far the chilly winter temps have kept us indoors, but on Sunday we were able to enjoy the lake a little more. The beauty of that day is keeping my soul content as we experience highs in the 40’s this week. Ah, Nebraska! The state of rapid temperature change. One day you could be luxuriating in 70 degrees and the next your yard could be blanketed in snow. To quote one of our fight songs:

There is no place like Nebraska,
Where they’re all true blue.
We’ll all stick together,
In all kinds of weather,
For Dear old Nebraska U!

Dear Livia,

Hey, big kid! Today you are ten months old—and I can’t believe this day is here already. It’s no big deal when adults get older, but every month in your life makes a huge difference. I see you growing and changing almost before my eyes. Yesterday, in fact, it seemed like you actually looked older than the day before!

This past month your personality has made its presence known. Your eyes are indeed windows to your soul—by them I can tell what kind of mood you’re in. They light up and squint a little when you’re mischievous; they go completely round and slightly dull when you’re overwhelmed; they wear heavy lids when you’re getting sleepy. You have beautiful eyes! You also vocalize your moods… Happy noises and giggles quickly give way to coughs (which you sometimes use as fake-y cries) and sad “da-das” when you’re frustrated or irritated. You’re talking up a storm these days with more vowels and consonants than ever.

You’ve developed an eye for detail, which means that zippers, buttons, earrings and eyeglasses enthrall you. Your “go go Gadget” arms can pull off Daddy’s glasses faster than a speeding bullet (wow, two pop culture references in one small sentence!) so Daddy has been working hard to teach you “no.” I am profoundly entertained by the way you grab at his face like it is putty… You’ll pinch at his eyebrows and attempt to grab his eyelids. You like to stick your little fingers up his nose and rake over his mustache. Potentially painful but also very funny! You love to smoosh your face up against ours and press your little open mouth upon our cheeks. We’d do anything for these sweet kisses! You’re also a champion hugger now, holding my neck tightly with one arm and patting my shoulder with the other.

A few weeks ago, after I put you down for a nap, I wrote this in your journal. It still rings true:

When I hold you, I hold the world in my arms. You are all potential, existence of a spirit bound by skin and bones. You can be anything. You are everything. You are the world in baby form. How proud I am of you.

Happy ten months, Livia Raine! May God bless you as you grow.

Love,
Mama