Thorburn Family

As some of you know, I hurt my foot this Spring and it took forever to heal.   I had been on a nighttime 8 mile run w/my highly-svelt and now-gestating (w/child #6) running partner who had kept herself in top shape all winter, while yours-truly hit the bon bon’s.   I over-did it on that early Spring run, and at the same time turned my already-hurting foot on a slab of newly laid pavement.  Ligaments, tendon assaulted.  That was it.  The summer was over.  

We had a foot funeral for my foot, which can be found under “videos” if you care to view that unfortunate bit of history. There was disappointment, though it certainly  was not the end of the world as we had a busy summer and my mind has been on other wonderful things like my husband and five precious kiddos, and preparation for another year of homeschooling.  

Oh no, it hasn’t bothered me AT ALL that my almost-15 year old daughter is making great use of all the clothes I fit 3 years ago.. ..  that doesn’t affect me in the least.  It is a very good thing that I am so spiritual and never long for MY PANTS BACK <twitch, twitch>  

Anyhoo, after MONTHS and months of not running, gaining weight, not fitting any of my clothes, not even my “fat clothes”…, Not to mention the fact that I really LOVE to run and it is such a huge part of my health picture… I decided that TODAY is the day.  I am getting on the treadmill.  This is it. Time to face reality and rein it in, pay this some attention and get back on track.  I think my foot is healed.  

SO.  I got my water, got in my uh.. well, my jammy pants, as my running clothing does not fit at the moment.. and headed for the treadmill at the appointed time on the schedule.

Thus began the 30 minute search for how to get it to unfold.  It’s been so long, I can’t even remember!!!!   LOL  We never did figure it out so I finally submitted to God’s will for my day (ha) and poured a nice glass of wine.   I will start tomorrow, after Rich can tell me how to work this thing again!   Bottoms up.    Diet and “the way back” to my running-life begins.. tomorrow :^)  Anna

My mother, Anna, sent this article by email to all of us girls and INSISTED that we read it.  She must be forgetting the day she screamed all the way home on a run in a lightning storm, completely unhurt.  View the video above as an illustration of the article.  In all seriousness, we are taking instruction of these things, though we won’t be legalistic about it. :o) ~Lyd

Screamers, by Nancy Wilson 

One of life’s embarrassing characters is the screamer, and screamers show up in various settings. Let’s say you are at an outdoor picnic and someone gets stung by a bee, and thus begins the screaming and flopping on the ground. No one really knows what to do even though everyone knows the unspoken cultural expectation to rally round and offer comfort and what not. But with the over-the-top screaming and shrieking, no one feels compelled to offer the comfort because what is actually needed is someone to tell the person to grow up and blow it out, it was only a bee sting after all.

On two-year-olds we all look at the parents and feel a mix of sympathy and criticism. No one likes to have their child flip out and melt down in public like that, so we feel sorry for the poor parents. At the same time, we wish the parents would step in and correct the child.

It is not wrong to be hurt; but it is wrong to throw a complete fit about it. Learning good conduct, even in pain or fear, is a godly discipline. When a teenage girl falls down and skins her knee in the volleyball game, we expect her to jump up and keep on playing. When she curls up in a ball and starts wailing, we feel ill at ease, wishing she would reel it in. Even if a bone is sticking out of her arm, there is a difference between legitimate cries of pain, and uncontrolled sobbing and yelling, cussing and kicking.

You know what I mean. We delight to see courage and self-control because we admire it wherever we see it. But bad temper and cowardliness are always shameful, no matter what the age of the screamer.Even grown women can over-react when they are hurt, crying and yelling, swearing and complaining, whimpering and fussing when they should be showing courage and strength, faith and self-control.

Screamers never inspire us; they make us feel embarrassed, like we are seeing something that should be off stage.In pain and in fear, we should continue to consider our duties as Christian women. What is your duty when you undergo medical testing or when you slip on the ice? If you stub your toe or fall down the steps, do you shriek and panic or do you gracefully blow it out and control yourself?

Though we might correct a two-year-old (or wish someone would), it is not exactly socially acceptable to tell a grown woman to quit acting like a baby. We would be accused on lacking sympathy and tact. But most people who are out of ear shot will certainly raise their eyebrows and express their disgust at such displays.

Christian women need to keep their duties of glorifying God in mind when they are in pain. We all understand our duties if our child is starting to run out into the street: immediate courage, strength and decisiveness. But we may forget our duty to conduct ourselves in a ladylike and God-fearing manner when we are the one who is afraid or hurting like the dickens. But those women who do handle themselves gracefully during such times always command our respect and gain our admiration.

This past weekend we enjoyed a visit from Anna’s Dad who drove 7 hours for the time together.  It was wonderful to visit w/him, to hear him singing in church w/us (one of my favorite childhood memories) and to have him here for Benjamin’s first birthday since joining our family.   Benjamin is now 5!   Hard to believe!!!!  

Benjamin had his first haircut since being adopted into our family!   His fabulous stylist, Sherra Carr, did a great job!    

 Benjamin is a blessed little boy!  He has a wonderful, sweet Social Worker (pretty, too :)) who always thinks he is fantastic (I believe those might be her EXACT words! LOL).   Darcy is Benjamin’s Permanency Worker from our local Division of Children, Youth, and Families. She oversees his adoption for the state of Nevada, coming to our home for a casual visit every month for six months (four down, two to go!!), till we have our court date in a NH court to officially finalize.  During these visits, Benjamin’s goal seems to be to show her how cute and charming his is, and he’s willing to pull out all the stops if necessary.  We are thankful for Darcy and love the way the God has put just the right people on this adoption team!!!!

Polite Moments is a little gem, well worth every penny of the $12 or less you’ll spend to obtain it.  This is a series of little booklets put into one precious book.   The five booklets were:  General Topics, Visiting Other Families, Working For Others, How To Be A Servant, and Learn To Do Things.  From small children to adults, anyone can benefit from reading these short and specific instructions.  

I have started carrying the book around with me for 2 minute refreshers while we are waiting for the next thing to happen, like lunch to be put on the table.   Most are a half-page in length.   Every instruction is loaded with Scripture references & specific application anyone could understand.  Each helps me remember that striving to be authentically polite & loving is not a matter of a checklist of do’s and don’ts, or stuffy formality, but rather knowing (and applying) what is fitting, considerate, appropriate, and how to fulfill the law of Christ in every relationship.  We really need it! . 

There are over 100 topics/lessons.  Here are  just a few:
Never Cause Fear To An Older Or Weaker Person
Ask–Don’t Inform
“I Keep Under My Body”
Learn Through Respectful Questioning 
Look At People When You Are Talking To Them
Always Use People’s Names
“Endure Hardness”
Daniel Purposed In His Heart

Oh.. so many more!   In the last section, “Learn To Do These Things,” they have a short blurb on each quality that one should learn to be able to accomplish all the previous ones, such as:  Learn To Control Your Thoughts, Learn To Listen, Learn To Sit Still, Learn To Deny Yourself, Learn To Be Content, Learn To Be Pleasant, and Learn To Fear The Lord, etc.  

Outstanding stuff, cute sketches, and you can tell these people live in the nitty gritty of daily life by the examples and application they give.   This book is “do-able” and not an undertaking.  Bite sized pieces but full of wisdom.  Polite Moments is available through Plain Path Publishers.   Enjoy!     

After much discussion with “the masses” (ha) who read this blog, it seems important to say…*I know* I am no poet.  And *I know you know* I am no poet.  

And, thank God Almighty that we have English tutors for homeschooling high school writing in this house..I managed to teach my children the basics of various kinds of poetry, owing any success to utilizing well-written curriculums.  THIS is the problem with having a blog and “bearing your soul” and all your “family-isms” (I know you’ll have a cow over THAT word.. )… when you have a lot of home-educating friends (or WRITER/EDITOR friends.. hi Jean..) who KNOW EVERYTHING.  I am so glad you all know so much in the area of poetry and synta… what was it??.. and the rest.. whatever it was.. LOL.. I get it, and I know it, and I don’t care (ok, well.. I don’t know it).  

So here’s for the record that I know that you know that I don’t know, and I don’t care, and I am all set to be “cute,” which I have been called 4 times today so far. 

Speaking of education.. today was our first day of school…the first year in my life that I have homeschooled five children.   Went quite well.   Little things need to be tweaked, the kinds of things you can only know by actually doing it, no matter the amount of careful planning ahead of time. However, the tweaks are quite pleasantly minimal.  Maybe I am actually getting to be a decent scheduler/coordinator, after doing this umpteem b’zillion years now (it seems…LOL).   Which is good, since we have established the fact that I am no poet (all you nazi-poet-knowers).:^]    

Twas the night before Sunday and all through the clink
Not a Thorburn was stirring, not even for a drink.
Each tooth had been brushed and each face washed with care
Every mouth having uttered a quick thank-you prayer.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of late homework danced in their heads.
And Lydia in her kerchief, and Benjamin in his cap
Had just settled down to a long autumn nap.  

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
Jesse sprang from his bed to see what was the matter!  
Away to the window he flew like a flash
Threw open the shutters and threw up the sash.  

The moon as a spotlight on the puddles in the road
Gave the lustre of midday to the objects below.  
When what to his wondering eyes should appear
It’s Mom in the mini van, adjusting the mirror!  

Dad yells “JAMMY RIDE!!!!” and they all come quick
A hootin and hollerin…”Dad, what a trick!”  
More rapid than eagles, Val and Jube hit the floor.
Dad’s revving the engine, Mom’s closing the doors.  

“To McDonald’s! To McDonald’s!”  Ben shouts with his might
And before you know it, they’re all out of sight.  
Dollar Menu awaits and there’s ice cream to be had.
You heard it’s not healthy but ask Mom and Dad.

As we stumble in the door, we look quite a sight.  
Good thing we live in Claremont, where that’s really alright
Sundaes for all, and napkins for the boys
“No, you can’t have a happy meal; and no Ninja toys.”  

In a twinkling we’re huddled round tables with care
Eating and chatting with an excited air.  
Relationships strengthened and memories made
Another investment in the parent-trade.  

The days are long but the years are short
And soon they’ll be heading off to port.  
Filling those bellies with ice cream and love
Just another great gift from the Savior above.

An hour has passed and tomorrow is church
So we wipe Ben’s fudge mustache and grab Mom’s orange purse
Five kids wide awake!  Will they go back to sleep?  
Oh well, life is short, and babies don’t keep.  

But I heard Dad exclaim as we drove out of sight
“You never know when the next Jammy Ride will be…..
 
SO GET SOME SLEEP, AND GOODNIGHT!!!!”

Our first Jammy Ride.  It will not be the last!!!  Kisses and jammies and sleep-tights.. lights off.. half of them asleep…and 45 minutes later… The lights went on.  The music is playing!!  The engine is revving…. and Dad and Mom yell, “Jammy Ride!!”  Here we go.. get in the van…no, don’t change out of your pajamas…..  (Lydia.. “Mom, don’t you think you guys could have done this in the daytime?? LOL… sensible child.. where did she come from??? LOL)….  Out into the rain, buckle everyone in.. “I think I know where we are going,” says one.. “nope.. we passed it… “  LOL…  Well, this first Jammy Ride was to McDonalds for sundaes.  Great conversation and lots of laughs.   Then back to bed.   A tradition has begun.  You never know when the next JAMMY RIDE will be!!!!!  Thanks, Nancy Wilson, for the idea!    (Nancy’s blog is http://femina.reformedblogs.com and Jammy Rides are under the Child Rearing section)