The Great Taylor Library Conspiracy

I'm warning you, this is long, but funny to me...

I finally got us to the library on Tuesday to get a card and check out a book. We had made two previous attempts. The first time I had poor directions ironically from google that had an old address. I drove in circles for EVER in Taylor, a very small town about eight miles from Hutto. We drove so long that Kyle fell asleep. I drove home and discovered that it was closed anyway for inventory!

Then we tried AGAIN a few weeks later. This time we were in full force, ready to go. Kyle was psyched. We go in and because I am not a Taylor resident, I have to pay $10 for a library card or I can get a family card for $25. What??? Okay, if I'm going to get one card, uh, can't we all check out books under that one card? Anyway, I'm about to hand the gal my debit card and she informs me cash or check only which I do not have on my person at that moment. Kyle by this point is quite antsy. He's babbling about getting a book and now I have to disappoint my little bookworm again. The gal tells she can keep all my information on "file" till I get back with the money. Oh, and by the way, the official document I needed to fill out was the size of a small index card, cut sloppily, and I was provided a pencil to fill out my contact information and oh yes, a pencil to give my signature. Very official. Impressive.

She then tells me we can pick out our books and hold them for me. I look at her and say "that would only confuse my 3 year old and frustrate him." Kyle then continues asking about a book so I declare that Mommy has made a mistake and we can't get a book today and we'll have to come back. Again. Since when did library cards cost money? I thought libraries were a community service. I decide then that Taylor takes their reading very seriously. I suppose since I'm not a Taylor taxpayer, then I would be mooching off their fine literary community for my son's personal vice of Thomas the Tank Engine books, hardback to boot.

So this Tuesday I knew I would have to get back on the horse and head out to Taylor agian. By this point, I'm neurotic about where it's located and decide I need to look at the online map ONE MORE TIME because for all I've known, they've discovered that a non-resident of Taylor is trying to get a card and they've decided to go to their default location underneath the county clerk's office across the street. I'm pumped. Kyle is pumped. Makenna is drooling. It's a quick drive on over and when we march up to the counter, my checkbook is in hand, Kyle is in the other, and Makenna is already walking in on her own because it's taken that many months to get our card as there is a 6 month waiting period on all personal handguns, I mean library cards.

I declare with great confidence to the "new gal" at the counter that the "lady from last time" told me she'd keep my 'paperwork' on file. Apparently they only keep it a few days, so I suppose it became someone's coaster for their soda or maybe they just took an eraser to it and let the next person use it, in an effort to keep library card costs down. They hand me my new paper and yes, the pencil. I explain that the card will be in my son's name. New Gal and Other Gal, a gal next to her, exchange glances and I realize I have just raised a taboo subject. I'm not sure if one of us is about to be thrown into a volcano or if laser beams are going to appear around our entourage.

They inform me kindly that since I'm a non-resident of Taylor, the card would be in my name and they don't normally put it in a child's name. Now I'm certain they are scanning Kyle's face for an FBI profile to see if he matches any hardened library criminals in their database. They appear like they are about to make an exception and I say, 'it's okay. we don't expect you to do anything that goes against your standard procedure.' Other Gal nods approvingly and New Gal breathes a sigh of relief that she won't have to spen the next 36 hours covering her tracks and finding an alibi for the two of them. New Gal kindly says that Kyle can present the card to them as if it's his own. Yes, that is totally fine, I say.

I then receive all the very important information regarding fees, due dates, etc. I am particularly amused by what I call the Library Card Probationary Period. I currently am allowed two books. After one month, I can check out up to ten books. Glory day! We're cleaning them out of all the Thomas books they have! So Kyle and I trek on over (yes, Makenna is ahead of us, as by now, she has achieved running in this timespan) to the kids' section and find Thomas. I have not been kneeling on the floor for more than two minutes and I'm approached by Some Other Gal, asking me to be a Friend of the Library in their reading program. I'm like, 'lady, I just got through security clearance to get my card. I don't know if you can trust me, being since I'm from Hutto and all.' I mean, seriously, they haven't even drawn my blood yet or done an eye scan! I respectfully decline and hope Some Other Gal doesn't start following me around. And now I know my photo has probably been scanned and it's hanging behind the counter for when I return and they want to recruit me again.

Kyle loves his book and can't stop reading it. It was worth the blood, sweat, and tears. Almost ten years ago, I took at trip to D.C. and went to the Library of Congress. I obtained a library card in order to get into their stacks, as I was looking for some book that I had a poem published in supposedly (those great money-maker schemes where they publish you in a book but the only copy that exists is in D.C. up in some dark dusty corner). I had my picture taken, etc, fingerprints, etc. WOuld you believe it took me less effor to get that card than my coveted Taylor Library card? The things we'll do for our kids...

Jesus is with the band

Today was a sort of bizarro world for our family but in a very good way. This morning was David's first day on the bongos in our church's praise band. He was out the door by 8 AM, a time I usually left the house on Sundays. Today we switched roles! For the first time in eight months, David and I drove seperately to church (we used to always drive seperate since I went earlier), and it was so he could serve in ministry! It is so exciting to see him free to serve like this. In fact, today was the first time I had ever heard him play the drums. (I have of course seen the famous Reagan marching band tapes he has subjected me to,and er, Joel & Tiff). Anyway, it was a total joy for me to see David serving Jesus like this. I am seeing again that by my stepping out of professional ministry, we've given freedom to the Spirit to just start with a clean slate and ignite both of us. It's just awesome beyond words.

Muscles pulled, nerves pinched? When we are weak, He is strong, as the song goes.

I'm not one to believe God likes to zap us every now and then. But I do think He likes to humble me, which is why I NEVER pray for humility. Yesterday I did something wacky to my back. I don't know if it was a muscle I pulled or a nerve I pinched. All I know was I was having a great time at my interval step class. I felt rested from Sunday and was bounding over that bench like a graceful antelope (not!), but I was feeling strong. And I thought to myself, "I'm feeling strong today." And wouldn't you know it immediately I felt a sharp twinge of pain in my lower back. Being the stubborn person I am, I didn't leave. I just "powered through the pain" as I like to say. Needless to say, I've been poppin' Motrin all day. I still do not know what I did, but I had to wonder if the Lord was humbling me. And so in my weakness this morning, as I tried to sit comfortably on the floor with my kids, I prayed that God would take away the pain so I could go about my mommy-kid stuff today. And being someone who sings "Jesus Loves Me" often, it is true that when we are weak, God is strong, as the song goes. (And being the stubborn mule that I am, I did my spin class today and powered through it fine). But nothing like a sharp pain in the side to remind me of my own imperfection and that my Creator is ultimately the only one in control of my well-being, not me. And I should be back in fightin' form soon so Makenna can have fun playing "flying baby."

We Love Our Little Lovebirds

To crawl or walk? That is the question.

Makenna looks like she's on her way to crawling soon although I was not sure she ever would do it. I thought she might just walk instead! She really disliked being on her tummy (my theory was that she couldn't see what Kyle was up to). However, in the last month, she enjoys being on her tummy and is starting to grasp that crawling will get her places and get her to all those toys out of her reach. It's so fun to see her getting motivated and then also frustrated that she can't do it yet. She's been up on her knees and rocking so it won't be long and we'll be dragging out the gate and blocking off the stairs. I love seeing her go through these changes--Kyle also praises her when he sees her up on her knees. He is going to LOVE it when she's mobile...until she tries to get to his drums or trains without his permission!

Boys Need to Hit Things

As a mommy of a boy, I know all too well the innate need a boy needs to hit things, grunt at things, throw things, and hurdle over things. Today we went to a birthday party at "Pump It Up," an inflatable bouncy place that kids have parties at. Kyle LOVED it. I too had a GREAT time going down the big inflatable slide--every adult needs to do these things--it made me feel young and carefree and giggle hysterically with my little need-to-hit-and-jump-kiddo. And here is Kyle with my personal favorite gift for this past Christmas: a drumset from Mima. He has yet to know who Shrek is but he loves playing the Shrek drum. The first few times I heard him bang on it, I bit my tongue as I was about to tell him not to hit whatever it was he was hitting--then I realized it was okay to hit the drums! He really does have that rockstar look to him in some of these pics.

Quirky Milestones Only a Parent Can Love

We celebrate all sorts of milestones in kids' lives--first bath, first tooth, first steps, etc...but I'd like to raise up a few "firsts" that I think go unnoticed and unappreciated. Kyle has made my life "easier" in a number of ways recently that I just have to celebrate.
1. My child can wipe his own hands and face. Maybe other kids his age do this faster than he did, but I am so glad this child can do it himself! He likes napkins so much that his think now is to unfold it and place it under his plate, hiding his placemat and then quizzing Makenna as to where the pictures on the placemat went.
2. Kyle can truly BLOW his nose! We have tried valiantly to get him to blow OUT and not IN (I suppose you can't blow in, but you suck in, to clarify). We've even had friends demonstrate and try to teach him the power of blowing the nose. TODAY, he did it! I was so excited! This is the highway to fewer sinus infections so yes, I was ecstatic. I think Kyle was stunned and amazed at how happy I was to see big globs in the tissue.
3. He can get his own fork or spoon out of the drawer because he can reach it! Kyle has had a little growth spurt in the last few months so to my delight, he can get his own utensils now. No worries--no sharp knives in there. 4. Kyle will play on the swing at the park. Okay, I know it sounds crazy that he didn't want to do this before, but he never has wanted to be on the swing and practically runs from it. Today he loved the swing. I was getting tired of the slide personally...So the whole point of this is to say let's celebrate the quirky milestones that those milestone calendar companies fail to recognize!