Author Archives: reba

“All of God’s grace in one little face”

Posted on by
1

It’s kind of a hackneyed saying used for christening greeting cards and nursery wall decor, but I think the quote aptly encapsulates Zeke’s baptism. He truly understands the grace, love, and forgiveness that comes from being a Christ follower, so he wanted to proclaim publicly his faith in this Good News.

In the fall, Zeke stopped one of his Sunday school teachers, telling her that he wanted to get baptized — something that our church leaders didn’t think he and Gabriel were ready for when they had previously asked a year ago. Neither of them quite got the simple, but transformational power and freedom of the Gospel at that point.

Zeke takes the plunge on January 31: Pastor Jeremy talks to the congregation about how discipleship begins & ends in the home as Zeke prepares to get baptized by Daddy!

But this time, our sometimes quick-to-temper, often-comedic, and always-passionate son took it upon himself to get the baptismal ball rolling. He knew he wanted tell the world that he loves Jesus and was able to convey that it’s not through works or goodness that a person is saved. Rather, it is through Christ alone.

It’s so cool to see the Holy Spirit working in people, even small ones! And this radical grace is evident in Zeke by his growing faith, as well as his excitement, joy, and pride about taking the plunge. Thank you, God, for welcoming my sweet boy into the body of Christ! You can check out the awesome video here.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” — Proverbs 3:6

Thanks too to Granny, and Gramsey and Papa for coming to town for the monumental occasion. Your presence here for the main event meant the world to Stephen and me, as well as Zeke. Y’all rock!

We’ve had our fair share of snow so far in 2016, including a minor dusting early in the year, the big “Snow-mageddon” in late January, and then another snowfall on Valentine’s Day. What all the white stuff has made me realize is that there’s a beautiful human corollary to blustery storms that I like to call “snow anarchy.”

Good friends, like Dixie, are so kind to always share their sledding equipment w/ the 3 Amigos.

But I’m referring to anarchy in the positive, voluntarism kind of way, where people help people, even breaking the laws when necessary, just doing what they have to do in a nonaggressive way just to survive the elements and/or celebrate the snow.

You know what I mean … like folks parking cars at stop signs just because that seemed like a good place to plant your icy vehicle. Or people on foot taking over a roadway just because it happens to be a good sledding hill. Or adults walking the streets with open containers of alcohol just ’cause “Hey, it’s snowing, and I don’t have to work!”

Snow brings communities together and bonds people in a way that they aren’t pushed into doing in mild weather. In fact, these latest storms have given us the opportunity to really bond with some of our newer neighbors, whom we are so fortunate to have met.

Houston & Matthew sled w/ new buddies, Jacob & Nick 2 (called that since there’s already another Nick in the neighborhood), during Snow-mageddon.

I suppose these relationships may have unfolded eventually, but nature instead propelled them in such a speedy, yet genuine way. It’s like snow is God’s means of coaxing this mad-dashed world into slowing down, relaxing with a cup of hot cocoa, sharing a cold beer, warming up in your skivvies by the fire, and being jolly!

Sometimes the snow causes otherwise smart people to turn do stupid things, though. Like when we were driving home after a Valentines dinner, cars were littering the roadsides, hazards flashing, rear bumpers poking out of ditches. There were even some folks stopped in the middle of the street.

Of course, I took advantage of the lawlessness, waiting as patiently as possible on a bridge at the bottom of an icy hill till just enough room opened up on the steep slope ahead. When we saw a small clearing among the chaos, I went for it, building my momentum steadily.

The 3 Amigos enjoy an afternoon of hardcore Nerf gun battles w/ old & new pals, Nick 1, Gavin, Matthew & Jacob, while Mommy burns yard trimmings in the nearby fire ring. Ah, the freedom of childhood is indeed a blissful thing.

We cruised on through anxiously but successfully, passing a slew of cars, including stuck trucks and SUVs. We trekked on along the darkened, icy, nearly abandoned roads. By the time we arrived at the grocery store near our house, our adrenaline levels were sky high. It was a tad stressful, but more an incredible adventure really!

We’ve been increasing our pool of friends these days … not just the boys, who have made buddies with our new neighbors, Nick 2 and Jacob, but also Stephen and I, who have bonded with their cool parents, Shannon and Sam, and Geoff and Jessica respectively.

We’ve also had some success in growing our relationships with some of our no-so-new friends. For instance:

  • We finally getting together with my pal, Pam, who I met in my recovery class years ago, and her daughter, Jess. Sure the impetus for hanging out was that she lent us a keyboard for our CC family presentation. But we made a fun afternoon out of it, and then caught Kung Fu Panda 3 with them a few weeks later to return the instrument.

It’s a bit fuzzy, but still the best pic of Stephen & me hanging out w/ our good pals, Jim & Penny … salt-of-the-earth peeps for sure!

  • Our CC/Mercy Hill pals, Jim and Penny, invited the clan to dinner at their house. Their kid, Tyrnan, is tight with the 3 Amigos, and Stephen and I have a lot of beliefs, opinions, and even politics in common with his parents. So, it was an evening of good eats and riveting conversation.
  • Jim, Penny, and Tyrnan also went out to dinner with the extended family after Zeke’s baptism. It was so nice of them to help celebrate Zeke’s big day!
  • My cool neighbor, Stacey, had us over for a small Super Bowl party. Per my request, Stacey also invited Jessica, whose husband was actually at the game in San Fran, so she and Jacob were missing him/jealous. Even though the Panthers lost, it was a wonderful time of getting to know these fine ladies better.
  • My CC pal, Adair, invited the boys and I to her house today, so her son, Will, and Houston could work on Memory Master. She’s such a neat, authentic person, so I always thoroughly enjoy my time with her. The dudes really get along with her entire brood, which also includes daughter Daiah, and sons Wright and Pearce.
  • I got to spend a little chit-chat time with Tricia and Jeremy when I picked up Houston after Bret’s birthday sleepover. Eventually, we will have some quality time with these ultra-cool folks, who also share many of our beliefs and principles. Who knew there were so many libertarian-leaning Christians out there?!

The 3 Amigos & Tyrnan exhibit their NY pizza high after Zeke’s post-baptism dinner celebration. What goofballs!

Speaking of Bret’s birthday, Houston was invited to the sleepover, and the twins got jealous. We explained to them that Bret is 11, and even though he truly likes both Gabriel and Zeke, he just chooses to hang with older boys sometimes, especially when he’s limited to a three-friend party.

I understand that it bums them out. And I know that it stings even more ’cause Bret was one of the two friends that Gabriel and Zeke invited to their birthday sleepover.

But I think another part of it is that Houston is particularly mature, and Gabe and Zeke … well, not so much, at least not on a consistent basis. Truly, they have the ability to be way more mature than they often choose to be.

I see it all the time, one or both of them behaving like such big boys, exhibiting great self-control, and being cool in the face of adversity. Then — poof! — it’s gone, and they’re back to the old ways, whining, screeching, disrespecting Mommy and Daddy, and even having a not-as-rare-as-it-should-be tantrum. Sigh.

Although the Panthers lost the big game, we ladies (L to R: Jessica, Michelle, Stacey, & yours truly) & our six wild boys sure had a blast @ the Super Bowl party!

I can’t say that I blame any boy who chooses to play with a more even-temper kid over a more spastic, prone-to-meltdown one. Makes perfect sense to me.

So, Stephen and I are simply trying to instill this truth in los gemelos without damaging their fragile little egos. I think they’re slowly, but surely catching on that even at 7 years old, a boy cannot cry about everything. The phrase “man up” exists for a reason, even if it is politically incorrect in our zany post-modern world.

Now, let me take this opportunity to say that, yes, of course Houston is sometimes the culprit, dishing a bad ‘tude, going wild physically, or (the worst case scenario) picking relentlessly on his bros. But his dalliances with misdeeds are pretty sparse these days, with the exception of the latter. But even that has shown improvement.

Granny helps Houston bake brownies for a math lesson (measurements & all that), which helps me w/ school, & then helps the lot of us stuff our faces w/ chocolate goodness. Thanks for paying it forward, Granny!

I must emphasize that we do empathize and certainly don’t expect perfection. After all, everyone has a meltdown every now and again. I tell all the boys that the aim really is to use the Fruits of the Holy Spirit to make our misconduct as infrequent a thing possible, while using that God-given strength to handle trials in a much calmer manner.

“Obedience to God leads to blessing; disobedience leads to burden.” — Max Lucado

Ain’t that quote the truth?! Poor Zeke broke an XBox controller in a fit of anger last month, and had to buy a replacement, which ran the kid $50! And then Gabriel broke the kids’ nice headphones (among a few other cheaper items) due to over-the-top hyperactivity and carelessness, and then had shell out $20 for a new pair!

Truly, time is the biggest casualty of all the misbehavior. It affects our school day dramatically, which in turn limits our opportunities to do anything else, whether it be me exercising, the boys hanging with friends, extracurricular outings, playdates, housework, chilling out at home … you name it!

Gabriel & Zeke are hard @ work during an art lesson @ CC. They are SUCH big boys when they want to be … what a heart-warming & satisfying thing to behold.

It was this scarce resource of time that pushed me into saying no to tutoring Challenge B at CC next year. A lot of the mamas were urging me to take the job because this 8th-grade-level class focuses on current events, rhetoric, and logic, which they think happen to be some of my strong suits. Neat, huh?!

“Why, I feel all thin, sort of stretched, if you know what I mean: like butter that has been scraped over too much bread. That can’t be right. I need a change, or something.” — Bilbo Baggins, “Lord of the Rings”

Alas, it was not in the cards at this juncture. Sure, we’ve made progress with our time management over the years, but truly not enough to where I feel I could honestly devote ample time to my B students, my kids, my husband, and my household duties all while maintaining a semblance of peace in my life.

Or maybe drumming is another key to having attaining more self-control. Hmmmmm.

So, here’s to my kids learning to control themselves more consistently, not me trying to control them. I know we have extremely blessed lives, that cannot be denied, but this simple yet seemingly overwhelming step could lead to even more fulfillment and joy, as well as a saner, simpler, less tiring home.

“Making the best use of the time because the days are evil.” — Ephesians 5:16, ESV

I’ll keep giving my best effort at my own self-control, too, like offering grace, listening, encouraging, and leading by example even when I want to blow my top — an imperfect but godly undertaking for sure. And Lord willing, I’ll have some refinements and betterments to report on in the next blog. Let’s get to it, fellas!

BFFs, betterment, & bustling about

Posted on by
1

Obviously, holiday happenings have been in abundant supply lately.

First up, Thanksgiving

We deviated from the normal tradition of going to the mountains for Thanksgiving. Instead, Granny came here, and then the lot of us headed to Virginia .

All the usual Richmond family gathered for the occasion, as well as frequent no-show, Cousin David, and New Orleans newlyweds, Casey and Garret. This whole cool crew + Granny made for an extra-special holiday!

Papa, Granny, & Gramsey get cheery on Turkey Day!

The following day, Stephen, Granny, and I cruised around town for a bit. We gave her a driving-by tour of some of the highlights, including Monument Avenue, the Virginia Capitol, Shockoe Slip, and a few of the Seven Hills of Richmond.

Atop Church Hill, which is Richmond’s highest point and home to most of city’s original 32 blocks, we visited St. John’s Church. This historic site was where, in 1775, Patrick Henry gave his revolutionary “Give me liberty, or give me death” speech.

We rounded out our afternoon by hitting Alamo BBQ, a funky little Yelp find of Stephen’s. Although the eats were tasty, I still think my hubby makes a way better brisket.

Albert keeps score as Zeke aims @ cans during a target-shooting contest w/ his bros. Thanks for the super-fun Nerf guns, Casey & Garret!

December: Tis the season of building relationships

The dudes and I met up with my new pal, Carrie (whom I met through Christie) and her four adorable boys for a playdate at Backyard Paradise. I’m hoping our friendships with these fine folks grows in the new year.

I got together with a gal named Kristie, who sought my advice on homeschooling. (Weird, I know.) She is an acquaintance from our days at Westover, but I also see her at random Mercy Hill events, as she and her family are neighbors with one of our pastors.

Not sure how much I relieved her overwhelmingness at being a newbie homeschooler with a kinder and two toddlers. But I’d like to think that my sharing of mistakes, as well as successes, and my passion for home education as a blessing and a calling helped instill greater confidence in her. Man do I love being an homeschooling ambassador!

Houston finally got sick of having a shaggy do & begged me to give him a buzz cut. Sure, the hippie thing is kinda cute, but man, does that kid have some thick, unmanageable hair, so I happily obliged. Here he is just moments before the big change.

Not sure if we’ll be seeing Kristie and her kiddos around CC next school year, but wouldn’t it be fantastic if we did? I think the two of us would be fast friends, if we could just see each other a little more often.

The boys and I went to see “A Christmas Carol” at the High Point Community Theater for a field trip with CC. After meeting up with a few families for lunch at Freddy’s, we headed to Wilkesboro to meet Granny.

Houston spent a weekend with his sweet Gran, who took him to a gem museum and a junk store (and spoiled him rotten, of course!), while I seized the opportunity of being sans Houston.

Gabriel & Daddy enjoy each other’s company & musical musings while playing some improv on the piano. Yay for awesome father-son moments!

See, Gabriel and Zeke sometimes feel like they’re second-rate to big brother when they’re all hanging out with other kids. It’s not that they really are. One thing is that the 3 Amigos are so close in age that they have many of mutual friends.

Nevertheless, Houston is older and pretty mature. Thus, he tends to be the ringleader, so naturally, the twins get a bit fed up with this competitive dynamic from time to time.

Now couple that with the fact that Gabe and Zeke sometimes whine (ugh!) and still have occasional tantrums (double ugh!) when their frustration gets the best of them, and it’s a recipe for Houston being seen as the cooler kid and the twins feeling like hangers-on at best.

I think it’s safe to say that Josh’s sleepover was a smashing success. See, I knew los gemelos (Spanish for “the twins”) would let their lights shine through with a little less brotherly competition.

To help remedy this a bit and foster Gabe and Zeke’s friend-making confidence, I invited Josh (their bud from CC and church) to spend the night. Well, it went off without a hitch — quite the feat, especially since it was Josh’s first sleepover ever — and everyone had a grand old time building their budding relationships!

Speaking of which, we have convinced our pals, Penny, Jim, and their son, Tyrnan, to start attending Mercy Hill. This is welcome news not only because they were already church shopping, but also because we’re totally vying for them to be our much better friends.

I jest with Penny that I’m in the market for a new BFF and that she’s in the running. But I’m only half-joking, as I’ve seriously been looking for a close mama buddy ever since Christie moved away. A good girlfriend is simply necessary for getting through this crazy thing called life!

It’s quite apparent that Houston’s exhilarated to have some hang time w/ his BFF, Asher. And yes, they’re constructing Legos in their undies … it’s just what they do!

And speaking of BFFs, the J-Crew stopped by for a quick day visit over the holidays. The kids fought over games, played in the rain, and built Legos in their skivvies. It was as if no time had passed since we last saw them half a year ago — always a good sign of a quality friends.

Stephen and I also got to catch up with Christie, and the big news there is that they recently moved to Roanoke. Sure, they’re still not local, but the Crew is now a heckuva lot closer than Charleston, so we’re planning on definitely seeing one of our fave families much more often in 2016.

Now, on to the Big Show: Christmas!

I attended the CC Mama’s Comfy Christmas Party, where guests wore PJs and traded plush socks for the Dirty Santa gift swap. In one room, we talked about gun ownership and conceal-carry permits, and in the other, we chatted about home-brewing beer and owning livestock. I just adore my cool homeschool community!

Zeke plays Christmas carols w/ Piper. I wonder if that sassy girl still wants to marry both Zeke *and* Gabe, like she used to. Hmmmm.

Miss Stacey and Matthew took the 3 Amigos to the Greensboro Christmas Parade.  They also took the boys and me to see the Christmas lights at McLaurin Farm. They let us ride with them, and they paid. Not only are they terrific neighbors, but they’re turning out to be pretty fabulous friends, as well.

Stephen went to the dudes’ Piano Christmas Party. They were thrilled to have their Daddy there for the festive event, and he was equally impressed with their performances. Turns out that all those (increasingly pricey) lessons are paying off … thank goodness!

Granny, who was visiting for Christmas, took the boys to see the newest Chipmunks pic, Road Chip. Yeah, that’s one of the “perks” of being a grandparent: going to see a lame movies, so that the parents don’t have to endure it. Thanks, Gran.

Zeke helps Granny put the finishing touches on a gingerbread house. Apparently, it was the first one she ever made, so Gran was in holiday heaven.

As per usual, we kept Christmas as simple, commercial-free, and Jesus-centric as possible. Interestingly, Santa’s still in the mix.

It’s funny ’cause Houston claims he doesn’t believe, but you can tell he still clings a bit to the wonder of it all, whereas Zeke is still firmly in the Santa camp. And Gabriel says he doesn’t believe in the jolly old elf. But oddly enough, Gabe doesn’t question the existence of the Tooth Fairy in the least.

Honestly, I think Gabriel only asserts disbelief due to Houston’s stance. For example, Gabe did some last-minute shopping with me at Barnes & Noble, where he picked out his own book. Yet, he seemed truly surprised when he opened that gift on Christmas morning.

The 3 Amigos play w/ their flags, which were among the “sensible” gifts that Santa brought them.

After Granny hit the road post-Christmas, we made another short trip to Richmond to trade gifts and chill with family. We wrapped it all up with a tidy 2015 bow by ringing in the New Year at home, just relaxing, drinking toddies, and enjoying each other’s company.

Being better in the New Year

Sure, I understand that betterment is not a self-help thing, but rather, a response to God’s radical grace. So, only by relying on the Holy Spirit any improvements ever possible.

This is what has gotten Stephen and I through the first 10 days of January alcohol-free. Our goal is to stay on the wagon for the month, so we’re a third of the way there! Funny thing is we’re also trying to be quieter and calmer, so this can be quite the quandary without cold beer to celebrate another day in the trenches of parenthood survived.

Nothing says “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” like settling grievances with bop gloves! See, not all of Santa’s gifts were sensible.

The kids are working on their issues, too. Zeke, who I call my “distracted dancer,” is trying to have better focus. Gabriel, who is our “bull the breaker,” is working on being more careful with his own stuff, as well as other people’s property.

And Houston is the “the picker,” but not of his nose. Rather, he sometimes revels in prodding and poking los gemelos till he gets the tearful reaction he wants. Thus, he’s diligent about being a kinder, gentler big bro.

So, here’s to building relationships, battling sin, and embracing life to its fullest in 2016. Happy New Year!

My Thanksgiving is for Jesus … & beer!

Posted on by
2

I was just confiding in Granny that it is Jesus and beer (and in that order, of course) that get me through this S-L-O-W-L-Y sanctifying thing called motherhood!

And thank you, Lord, for my sweet, patient, hard-working, beer-drinking, Jesus-loving husband. What a cutie pie!

Christ is not only my eternal Savior, but He truly saves me on a daily basis in the here and now. If it weren’t for God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness, love, and guidance, I’d often be totally lost in a sea of pity-party chaos or self-loathing — neither are an optimal place for anyone to be, especially a mama. 

“Obedience to God leads to blessing. Disobedience leads to burden.” — Max Lucado

Submitting to the Holy Spirit — sometimes kicking and screaming — gives me strength when I’m weak; patience when I’m utterly frustrated; endurance to keep on keeping on; and compassion when I all want to do is squash the little army that (seemingly) wants to take me down on occasion.

“Beer is proof that God loves us & wants us to be happy.” —Benjamin Franklin 

This is me the morning after Poker For Preemies. Wow, I forget how much Houston really does look like me — mouths gaping & snoring in all our glory! So thankful for that boy & his sweet bros!

I was only half joking about the latter tool in my parental survival bag. But in all seriousness, beer fits the bill when I want to toast a job well done, as well as decompress and take a break from the all-to-frequent madness.

God made yeast, as well as dough, & loves fermentation just as dearly as he loves vegetation.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sure, beer is temporary, and God is enduring. But in His infinite wisdom, He gave us many earthly gifts to utilize for our pleasure, relaxation, and appreciation of His wonder, as long as they don’t become idols and replace Him.

 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” — 1 Timothy 6:17

Houston plans to eat the brains of all those who don’t treat with quality candy, while I proudly wear my obligatory Halloween t-shirt … cheers & thanks, Grumps!

So, thank you, Lord, for showing me a path to better living, offering me relationship with you through your Son, and giving your children so many blessings in which to delight. Happy Thanksgiving!

“Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza.” — Dave Berry

On another joyful note, Zeke has decided that he wants to get baptized! As we disciple to our kids, we always want their beliefs to be a personal thing: we teach, yes, but ultimately, each one of them will choose. And Zeke seems to really love Jesus, grasp the Gospel, and understand the significance of proclaiming his faith publicly.

Zombie Houston, Ninja Matthew, Grim Reaper Jack, Creeper Zeke, Bio-Hazard Gavin, & Creeper Gabriel get ready for a gleeful night of trick-or-treating!

The folks in our church kids’ ministry agree, so Zeke’s baptism will probably take place some time in early 2016. Thanks again, Lord, for laying upon Zeke’s heart a desire to follow Jesus however and wherever and forever. Yay!

Other noteworthy, but not-so-heavy happenings:

Halloween was a blast. Cousin Rick came to town the night before, which was a nice way to kick of our ghoulish and fun-filled weekend.

Hickory memories: a beautiful day & w/ beautiful people!

Gabriel and Zeke morphed easily into Minecraft dudes, thanks to Bret, who gave them Creeper jackets for birthday. Houston’s zombie costume, on the other hand, was a bit more in-depth, especially since it took three days worth of showers to remove all the liquid latex from his face post-holiday.

We started off trick-or-treating with Matthew and Stacey, but Zeke pooped out after just going around the block. So, after getting him home, Gabe, Houston, and I drove back out to hit up a few more houses, most notably the ultra-spooky decorated casa at the front of the neighborhood.

I was totally willing to go farther and stay up later, since we had the van. However, the remaining dudes’ buckets were already overflowing by that point, so they both opted to stay home and watch scary movies with Rick and Daddy. I guess chocolate and chilling was just what the doctor ordered. Thanks for visiting, Cuz!

Dudes on a mission, gun in hand, crossing a bridge in the woods. Life is good. So thankful for my all-boy boys!

On 11/6, Grammy and Papa came to town to stay with the 3 Amigos, so Stephen and I could attend Poker For Preemies. Thanks for kid-sitting, y’all. The fundraiser, which Greg helps organize, is such a cool event: gamble a little, drink some free alcohol, smoke a complimentary cigar, eat yummy food, and hang with friends all for a good cause!

I took total advantage of our kid-lessness and Uber plans for getting home. Needless to say, I had one heckuva grand time! Cheers to Stephen, Greg, Meredith, Alan, and Beth … and thanks for dancing with me like nobody was watching!

On 11/11, the whole family went to see The Peanuts Movie at one of those places where you order and eat a meal while you watch the movie. That was a tad awkward and messy with kids and VERY expensive to boot, but still, it was a nice and deserved outing for our whole clan. Gracias, Padre!

A polar bear actually shows himself during our outing to the zoo!

From 11/14-15, we went to visit our old-time pals, Steven, Paige, and Owen, in Hickory. What kind, generous, and hospitable folks they are!

Owen is just a neat little dude. The boys love hanging out with this not-even two year old, which speaks volumes of his coolness. And I think he feels the same about the Amigos.

Thanks a million for hosting us for good eats, delicious craft brews, and stimulating adult conversation in your beautiful home. Can’t wait to see y’all again soon!

The 3 Amigos & Tyrnan rest in front of a pretty bamboo backdrop.

On 11/19, Houston spent the night with his CC pal, Isaiah. The twins were quite jealous, since they, too, really like Isaiah. In their defense, they don’t get invited to near as many sleepovers as does Houston. Thus, I’m trying to get things rolling for them.

I’ve been asking some parents if we can have their kids over for the night, so they’ll (hopefully) eventually reciprocate. I’m also urging the twins to say to their friends (whom we’ve already had for sleepovers), something along these lines:

“Hey, you had fun spending the night at our house, right? Wouldn’t it be a hoot if we could sleepover at your house some time?! Awesome. Let’s go ask your mom.” Yeah, subtlety in not my forte.

I guess this is how worn-out, sassy boys strike a pose by day’s end at the zoo. Hey, at least the elephant is cooperating.

On 11/21, the family went to the zoo with CC pal, Tyrnan, and his dad, Jim, who’s a super-nice guy who also happens to lean libertarian. The mom, Penny, is an interesting Aussie with whom I’m scoping out for a new BFF, but she was sick for the outing.

Still, we had a wonderful time at the nearly desolate zoo on a particularly beautiful, crisp fall day. Thanks for the memories, dudes!

Last but not least, we wrapped our CC fall semester yesterday. Can you believe 12 weeks down, only 12 to go?! And despite my intermittent grumblings of inefficiency or lack of self-control during lessons, I really am quite proud of the 3 Amigos. Thanks for loving to learn new things, boys, and for teaching and growing me along the way!