Pondering Progeny & Pond Ripples

Parenthood is NOT for everyone.  I know this is true; I have many friends who for one reason or another are childless.  Some chose this circumstance, others have medical issues that utterly derailed plans, and still others tried unsuccessfully to overcome such obstacles.  No judgment here; I wish success to those who are still trying.

I happen to be a parent (of four, as I'm sure most of my audience knows).  I've never had aspirations to be as fruitful as Abraham (see Genesis 15:5  "And he brought him outside and said, ‘Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’").  Innumerable progeny would be far beyond the scope of my personal parenting abilities!  ;)  Yet it would seem that the lives touched by hubby and myself around our four children (their ten cousins and all of their many friends) are stretching toward such numbers now that our youngest is in her last fifteen months of high school.  We as pebbles in a pond have caused ripples on the water's surface that encompass innumerable youngsters in such fields of endeavor as our children's schools, their Scout troops, tae kwon do classmates, swimming teammates, Sunday School and church youth group peers, DeMolay, Rainbow, etc.  This doesn't even include the youths Greg & I have worked with in our respective careers in education & social work!

If I look at it that way, then perhaps the influence DOES begin to edge toward the number of seeds in a pomegranate, or the smaller numbers of those stars God showed Abraham long ago.  That thought is humbling to say the very least!  ~:o

Politics = Bacterial? ;)

Sunday was our wedding anniversary & Valentine's Day.  On Thursday I began a rather distracting sinus infection, which was about as unwelcome as the sudden uptick in political advertising on our local stations.  Hubby was likewise recovering from an infection (his antibiotics were already finished), so our "celebration" wasn't much more than just being together feeling crummy.  About the only other thing we were able to agree on (besides firing up the wood stove & keeping it fed all weekend) was our shared avoidance of the attack ads by the various candidates.

For some time now, I've been valiantly avoiding watching the news, as I'm already weary of ads and news stories about the Rogues' Gallery that make up our field of Presidential candidates this year.  In particular, I'm sick of hearing anything about the perpetually petulant "Republican" front runner, who I fervently wish would retreat into the Manhattan high rise that bears his name and just.  Shut.  Up.  Already!  All he's doing is playing on the fears of people who would really, REALLY regret making him POTUS if it came to pass.  I'm finding it even worse at the moment because here in my adopted home state, the Republican primary is tomorrow.  I cautiously hope the vitriol and diatribe may fall off once that's over, but realistically I'm sure it'll continue to be aired on the national news until November 9, 2016 (yes, there are more than SEVEN MONTHS before this election is behind us!). For me, that means I'll continue each evening to watch Jeopardy, then find a movie to entertain myself with on evenings when I'm actually at home.  Or read a lot of books, complete tons of crossword puzzles, listen to a great deal of great music, etc.  Thankfully television isn't my only outlet for edutainment!  (Wonder if antibiotics would clean up the media as miraculously as they knocked out my sinus infection?)  ;)

Renewals

OK, so I need to get on here and post more regularly; I admit it!  :)

Today is Ash Wednesday; the earliest it's been in my life.  Easter will be on March 27th, which is why Ash Wednesday was so early.  I was the good Episcopalian and went to get my ashes at lunchtime.  This led to my being questioned by no fewer than three (3) people at a residential facility where one of my young charges stays about the "smudge of something" on my face.  (I'd expected it to be asked by my client; had not anticipated the staff looking at me askance!)

I figured today was as good a day as any to make a good faith effort toward getting back into the swing of several things I've gotten out of the habit of doing:  daily exercise, daily blogging, and daily meditation and yoga practice (for mind and body).  I know I won't always be able to blog on a daily basis due to other commitments (job, ferrying a teenager to activities out of town, other family obligations), but I CAN try to get moving again on a regular basis.