My Life Is Worth More Than $50, Right?

In the last month, I've received two emails from Red Robin asking me to be a part of a focus group with them.  About two years ago, Jeff and I did this together at Red Robin - we got to taste some new tasty potential menu items, give our feedback on what we liked/disliked, and then we both received a $50 gift card to Red Robin for "sacrificing" an hour of our time.

So, when I got the first email I quickly emailed Shiloh to see if she could watch the kids.  However, she was on spring break and in NE when the focus group was supposed to take place so I forwarded the email to Jeff and said, "You should do this since it's over by your work.  I'll stay home with the kids.  One of us should earn some free Red Robin."

However, he never responded to the email and by the time I finally did, their focus group was full.

Last week, I received another email so I responded as soon as I got it.  Yes, I was interested.

A couple days later, I received a phone call -
"When was the last time you ate at RR?"  2 weeks ago (normally we go about every two weeks, but as of late we haven't been there in probably 2 months).  However, I know what they want to hear so weeks, months, it's all relative.
"Do you order a hamburger every time you visit RR?"  I most certainly do. (um, no.  I order a turkey burger if anything, but I'll eat a burger if I have to).
"Do you ever order your hamburger without a bun?"  No, but I'd be willing to. (apparently I'll be taste testing some burger wraps?
"Do you eat shrimp?"  Yes (no lies about that)

Anyway, the man on the other end of the phone informed me that I qualified for the focus group, and was I available on this specific night, etc.  Yes, I could make it.  Can I bring my husband?  No, ma'am, just you.  Guests are not allowed.  You'll receive an email with further details.  We'll see you next week.

So, today I receive the email with further details.  The focus group is not at a Red Robin.  It's in an old abandoned warehouse (at least that's what it looks like from the pictures they were so kind to attach).

I'm wondering how we're going to sample freshly made food if we aren't meeting at a Red Robin?

Now I'm convinced it's a hoax and I'm going to show up (by myself, because I can't bring a guest) and they're going to kidnap me.  Is it worth the risk?  Isn't my life worth more than a $50 gift card to Red Robin?

Stay tuned.  We'll see if I decide to go and if I live to tell about it.

This is where the focus group is supposed to take place.  Suspicious?

Two Stories Collide

About two months ago, Jeff attended a meeting at church about a family oriented missions trip to the Dominican Republic.  I was out of town with the kids at the time and when he told me about it, I got super excited.  We should do it.  All four of us.  It'll be great to expose Case to how other people live and how to give back to those in need - whether it's just playing with them or making a home cooked meal.

We then learned that a minimum of three families needed to apply in order to make it a trip for all ages.  If less than three families applied, the trip would be geared towards families with kids ages 6 and older.  We decided we wouldn't go unless we could take Siahna.

We started filling out applications and began talking to Case about the trip and how we would celebrate his 6th birthday in another country.

Around that same time, I was battling with an inner struggle completely not related to the Dominican.  Siahna has a bible verse in her room that says, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."  While I believe that with all of my heart, and I know that there was no mistake in how God made her, I struggled with how we, as her parents, will help her believe that in the coming years. 

We have no idea what the future holds for her and whether or not she'll excel in school and sports and boys (heaven forbid!), but right now we know that she'll start preschool on an Individualized Education Plan - simply put, special ed.

No parent wants that for their child.  And I've been a teacher long enough to hear those kids think they are stupid or not worth it because they have learning problems.  I don't want either one of my kids to ever believe that about themselves, even if they have problems in school.

So, I was struggling with the "I believe she is fearfully and wonderfully made, but will she think she is fearfully and WONDERFULLY made?"

At the same, one day in the mail we received a magazine from World Vision and the front cover had a picture of smiling, black girls.  Below their beautiful faces it said, "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.  Dominican Girls Discover Their True Potential."

Right then and there I not only knew that God will help me raise my little girl to know that she is fearfully and wonderfully made, but we were supposed to go to the DR.  No doubt about it.  Could it be any clearer?

We filled out our applications, turned them in and waited to hear how many families applied.  The application due date came and went and we didn't hear anything.

Jeff stopped our children's pastor (she's leading the trip) one Sunday and asked her about it.

Only two families had applied.  This meant we wouldn't be going, because we wouldn't go unless we could take Siahna.

I was crushed.  I truly felt like the World Vision magazine was confirmation.  And now my struggle was, "When you thought you heard from God, but really didn't."

But guess what?  Today, a month after all this, we got an email that we're going to the DR.  All four of us.  Three families are going to love on children, to make new friends and experience life together.

Nap Time

Nap time in the Anderson home is a thorn in my side. 

Case has always been a good sleeper and would probably still take 2+ hour naps, but chooses to have quiet time instead.

Siahna, on the other hand, has never been a good napper and is actually quite happy when she doesn't take one. 

However, I as her mother who hardly sits down throughout the day, needs a break from her so I am determined every day to get her to sleep. 

When she was in a crib, I would just put her in there and hope she would fall asleep, but if anything she was contained and I had some time to pick up without other messes being made. 

Now, she's in a big girl bed and EVERYTHING has changed.  She can now get out of bed at her leisure - and she is quite leisurely! 

I discovered at night time that if we put a baby gate on her door she won't get up and will put herself to sleep.  However, nap time is a whole 'nother deal. 

She is a problem solver - I'll give her that - and I often find her pushing a little chair or step stool over to the gate so she can unlatch the gate or simply climb over it.  So, I have to be smarter and remember to take anything of that sort out of her room before putting her in bed. 

For a long time, I would just rock her until she fell asleep even though that went against everything I had ever read about letting a child learn to put themself to sleep. 

But, rocking would often take 30-45 minutes before she would fall asleep and she isn't a light thing.

My new solution is to lay her in bed, kneel down by the bed and pin down her arms and legs until she relaxes and falls asleep.  This can still take up to 30+ minutes, but I don't have to hold her and worry about waking her when I lay her down.

It may sound like a terrible thing to pin down your child until they fall asleep, but if there's one thing I've learned as a parent it's that what works today probably won't work tomorrow but as long as it's working, don't experiment!

What Are You Thankful For?

I was recently asked, "What are you thankful for today?"  After a little thought,

and thinking back to the sermon I had just heard about the pastor stepping on legos but being thankful they were there because it meant his son was still under his roof, these are the things I'm thankful for.

Curiosity - it means she is learning.  I may hate cleaning up after her every 30 seconds (because that's how long her attention span is) but she is exploring and learning and for that I'm thankful.

Messes - because she's still under my roof and I know where she is and what she's doing (most of the time!).

Humor - we laugh a lot around here and I'm thankful that we can live life together, laugh together and love each other.

A son who still isn't too old to snuggle up with a stuffed animal.

Messy hair because she still lets me fix it.

A husband who supports our family, complains very little (only if he's forced to eat something healthy or vegetarian), prays for his children each night, and loves me unconditionally.

"Cheese"

Every word that Siahna says is a milestone for her and us.  While she can say some words, she needs to be prompted to say them and they don't come automatically.  But, one thing she knows is "Help" when she wants the ladder out in the kitchen because she wants to see what's going on.  She walks over to the ladder, does the sign for "help" and then says it.  It's precious and hard to ignore. 

Saturday she grabbed a bag of cheese off the kitchen counter.  As I tried to then pry the bag out of her mouth (that's where everything goes these days), I asked her if she could say "cheese."  She released the bag, said "CHEESE" and walked away as if she says these sorts of things every day.  It was a word crystal clear that we both heard and there was no doubt that she had just said a new word!

The following thoughts are from a blogger my sister recently introduced me to, but her words are my words - she's just better at writing them down.  She has a son, Tucker, who had speech delays and wasn't talking at the age of 2.  These are her thoughts at that time and if I insert Siahna's name, they are my thoughts.

I truly can rejoice in Tucker’s growth and victories, especially when I compare him only to Tucker.  He’s doing great.  I’m so stinkin’ proud of him, and I never, ever get tired of his darling little voice.  Today he discovered the word noodles, and although you might not recognize it if you heard it, I do.

It all brings me back to the same point again and again: God has put us on this path together, Tucker and his family.  We are learning things we didn’t know we didn’t know, and Robb and I have found ourselves exchanging quiet glances across the table or tender hugs at the end of the day, all in celebration of our sweet Tucker.  We are a team, even on the lonely days.

And in the end, I don’t think I’ll miss the chats with my little man.  The truth is, I am investing in his heart everyday, trying so hard to help him know without a doubt that his every word is important to me.  So later on, even if it’s longer than I had hoped to wait, I hope he’ll still want to talk to me.
Maybe we’ll talk about Mickey Mouse and Bob the Tomato.  Or maybe we’ll talk about his favorite books and songs.  Maybe he’ll tell me what he’s afraid of, or what he is striving for more than anything.  Maybe we’ll talk about the girl he’s crazy about.  Maybe we’ll talk about the paper he has to write for his college English class.  You know what?  I just want to listen to him talk and talk and talk.
And I’ll be listening.