Not once, but twice

Several months ago, I had the privilege of meeting one of my favorite authors. Lillian Calles-Barger has written and largely influenced my thinking on womanhood and spirituality. She lives in Dallas and I always thought to myself that if I ever met her I would thank her for helping me better understand myself and the world at large. When I met her face to face, I couldn't think to say anything.

There are only a handful of writers that I feel have really had such an influence in my life that I would actually want to tell them so. Among them are the aforementioned Mrs. Barger, Paul (from the Bible- but he's dead), C.S. Lewis (but he's dead too) and Don Richardson.

Well, I met Don Richardson this Sunday. In fact, I was in the right place at the right time and was volunteered (by myself) to escort him and his wife to a lunch at our church, which also meant that I would be sitting at his table. No one has inspired a longing to reach the farthest ends of the earth like he has. I wanted to tell him that he had helped shape my plans for life, even before I met Joel, maybe even before I graduated from highschool. I wanted to tell him that he was a childhood hero. But all I could say was, "Hi! I'm Alice. I'm escorting y'all to the lunch." At least Joel was brave enough to get him to autograph his new book.

A little teary-eyed

Yesterday was Feb. 15, marking Silas' 5 month birthday. I had a moment last night when I was tucking him into bed. He was kicking his legs and reaching for me happily when I realized that at some point in the last month or so he had learned to control his hand and arm movement. I tried to remember the first time I sat down at the computer with him in my lap and he pulled things off the desk onto the floor. I couldn't.

A lot of "firsts" happen when I'm not paying attention. It isn't that I'm not there or watching Silas do them; rather I assume they're just a fluke. I think this happens because when I think about human growth and development seriously, I'm absolutely floored. It isn't just the first breath that's a miracle. Unlike my pregnancy, this is going by too quickly.
He's changing.
Joel and I are changing.
The Fankhauser story continues.

In Andrea's honor

Andrea's birthday is celebrated worldwide in the form of Valentines day. If you misunderstood the meaning of this holiday, now you know, so let Ann know you're glad she was born. Here's what we did to celebrate:

Silas had a happy bath. I ate a powdered sugar donut. And finally-
I baked some of a $25 cake mix that I got with a gift card to Williams-Sonoma. That was going to be a post by itself that I originally would have titled "throwing reason to the wind". But after making it tonight, it was worth every penny. Thanks for being born, Andrea. It's good to have you around.

New Survey

You have a second chance for your voice to be heard! We've narrowed down the list to internal medicine/pediatric residencies including 1. Vanderbilt, Nashville TN and 2. UAMS, Little Rock AR. Here's the bonuses for each (listed in no particular order):

VANERBILT:
1. Near the Great Smoky Mountains
2. Gorgeous campus (see photo)
3. Great House Staff Alliance (spouses of residents)
4. Famous people live there
5. Country music capital of the world- my chance to get discovered
6. Should a medical emergency arise, we would be in the capable hands of this season's "the Bachelor" (is this really a plus?)
7. Starting salary: $3000 more than LR with cost of living expenses the same. We could pay off our debt more quickly OR squander our money on things like poptarts if we wanted.
8. Could be a good transition away from home before heading over the rolling seas



UAMS
1. LR is home to many fantastic childhood memories, including the LR zoo. I would love to offer those to Silas
2. close to Nana, Emily Poteet, the Poteet familiy, the Weavers, the Bartletts
3. closER to the Fankhausers, friends in Dallas
4. Joel would have fewer call nights
5. We would be able to care for Nana should the occasion call for it
6. There's a house on the market that I really like
7. Since we'll be living across the wide, wide ocean away from family once school is finished/loans are paid, it might be better to stay close to home, to make the most of the time before we leave.

Conclusion, if you exclude the bachelor as a plus, LR and TN have the same number of good reasons to go there. We have our leanings, but maybe this survey's results could sway us. Answer quickly- ranking is due Feb. 22.

Super Bowl of cereal

Tonight at a super bowl party we hadn't planned on going to, my friend offered to hold Silas while I fed him. Given pictures on previous posts, I think you can imagine the end result. We three were splattered. It was my favorite Super Bowl party yet.

"I'll trade with anyone who has a jacuzzi!"

Because I could use one right now. Joel is out of town (again) and we've got a sick baby on our hands. We spent 3 hours at the pediatrician on Thursday. After a rapid flu test (rapid is NOT the word I would have chosen to describe it) and a threatened full-work up including a spinal tap, the intern and attending concluded that it was probably just a virus, and we should give him some tylenol for the fever.

I've got to say, too, that I'm disappointed in your involvement in the survey. How will Joel and I know where to go for the next 3-4 years of life unless more people try to persuade us? Ben and Melody, thanks for caring. The rest of you, thanks for nothin'.

And to conclude this post: I cracked an egg right onto the floor this morning.