As my friend Janet says, “If you live long enough, something’s gonna get ya.” So for Kory, now, it seems, his time has come. Apparently he has lived more than one lifetime, as things are “gettin’ him” right and left. The bladder infection he battled a few weeks ago went into hiding while he was on some antibiotics, then came back with a vengeance once he stopped taking them. Unfortunately, the infection went into his kidneys, so he was one sick puppy for most of last week – running a fever and plagued with chills, headache and no appetite. By Wednesday afternoon he was sick of being sick and went to the doctor and got some major antibiotics to kill the infection before it killed him. I had to pick up the slack with Kaleb’s school work as Kory couldn’t get off the couch all week, so I’m already feeling somewhat burned out and we just got back from vacation!
The week was in full swing with routine activities that now define our existence. Sunday I facilitated our home fellowship group where we planned ways our kids can raise money to buy food for hungry children in Africa. An organization called “Children of the Nations” has a cool program where they deliver all the bulk food to an organization and let those that raised the money, assemble the food packets. Each bag contains a complete protein (rice, lentils, dried veggies, broth and spices) and when mixed with six cups of hot water, makes enough food to feed six kids. It only costs a quarter, so all our kids are excited about the opportunity to make a difference in other kids’ lives. Every time Kaleb earns money now, he takes the 25% he gives to “God,” multiplies it by four (based on a quarter per food packet), then multiplies it again by six (based on how many it will feed), and proudly spouts off just how many meals he has earned. I like the way he thinks. So far he’s set aside over a hundred dollars for this program, and he’s far from being done. We assemble the packets in December.
The Destination Imagination class I’m teaching on Mondays is a big hit with the eight boys on our team. They will compete regionally in March and if they are good enough, will go to State competitions in April. They are pumped up and full of creativity and excitement so it’s fun to facilitate this afterschool activity. They get challenges that seem impossible to do, but their little brains come up with the most clever solutions with just the materials they’ve been given. They like building towers and bridges the best, but they also do impromptu dramas and problem solving. It’s the ultimate team building activity, and that’s why I do it – because Kaleb needs to know he is not an island.
Last Tuesday, after I drove Kaleb to Mill Creek to meet with his “personal life coach,” we continued on into Seattle to take our beloved Grammy J out to dinner for her 74th birthday (without Kory due to aforementioned ailments.) We ate at a restaurant down by the water’s edge and watched the sky as God painted a luscious sunset as a special gift to us all (see photo), but Janet felt especially touched by His handiwork. Her daughter, JaRon is back in the hospital again, fighting bone cancer, so it’s been a tough week for her. She’s an amazing woman who sees beauty and God’s hand in everything around her, even in the midst of trials. We just love our Grammy J and we treasure any and all time we get to spend with her.
Wednesday was significant because it was the first day of Confirmation class. Our church has a two year confirmation program for middle schoolers, so the time has come for Kaleb to attend. There are thirty Confirmation students, seventh and eighth graders – and of the nineteen incoming students, Kaleb attended pre-school with seven of them. It’s too weird to think they were all toddlers together and now they are being ushered into the teenage years together. Childhood is but a flash.
Thursday I taught the debate portion of a speech class for a group of homeschool kids, Kaleb being one of them. I introduced the idea of formal versus informal logic, deductive reasoning versus inductive reasoning. I asked for examples of each from the dozen kids there and when I asked specifically about deductive logic, Kaleb raised his hand and said, “Well, it’s kind of like that quote from Michelangelo when he said he just chips away everything from the stone, that isn’t the statue.” The speech teacher and I just stared at each other with the look that says, “Where does that kid come up with this stuff?” I was so impressed with his ability to process that concept into some applicable. He really does scare me sometimes.
Kory was feeling well enough to go with Kaleb to Friday School (a homeschool co-op) on Friday morning so I got the house to myself and enjoyed the peace and quiet. It’s funny because sometimes I freak out thinking I might out live Kory, and Kaleb will be grown and gone one day, and I’ll be rattling around in the house all by myself and that thought sickens me, but when I can grab a few hours alone NOW, it’s actually quite pleasant. I was able to work on a Bible study and have some alone time with God. Kaleb went home with a pal after Friday School for nearly eight hours so he got to skip the rest of his school day, only to have to make it up on Sunday. It was worth it.
Saturday was a glory day for all of us as Kaleb was invited to an awards ceremony sponsored by Johns Hopkins University (see photo). They make a big deal out of the kids that score well on their standardized tests – so we dressed up and headed down to Seattle Pacific University to watch him receive his certificate. He’s actually gotten one before, but we were gone for the ceremony so they just mailed it, which doesn’t have nearly the same effect. The speech they gave was very inspirational and I think Kaleb was a bit surprised by all the hoopla – being called “the brightest and best” and the “future leaders of America.” I wish I would have recorded that speech.
One of our favorite fall and winter routines is to make soup for Saturday night and have our neighbor, Joan, come over and play cribbage with us while we slurp down the soup. We started that routine back up again this week, so our world is getting very familiar, if not a little hectic. The pattern is pretty well set for several months now, as the calendar has the same events written on it week after week. The only difference will be what ails Kory. This morning he woke up with a stiff neck and can’t turn his head without screaming. He went to the chiropractor, but couldn’t get an adjustmenty, so hopefully tomorrow will be better. Kory is miserable to be around when he’s in pain, so we do our best to avoid him. Our life may be routine, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
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