Dogs and Little Girls

It is always fun to go home for the weekend, but it was especially nice to go home for the holiday since my sisters Miranda and Gillian would be in town with their families. Although I try to call them occasionally, and we chat online more frequently, I don't get to see them very often. Modern communication technology is wonderful, but it doesn't completely replace seeing people in person.

I especially love getting to see and play with my nieces and nephews. Elayna especially is a lot bigger than the last time I saw her. I had a chance to watch her for a little bit on Friday afternoon and we had a fun game of catch with the dog.

When Miranda first arrived, she mentioned that Elayna was afraid of dogs, so I was curious to see how this would play out. Elayna found one of Xena's toys, and Xena found out that Elayna had it. I showed Elayna how to toss it and Xena would bring it back to us. However Xena, like most dogs I've seen, likes you to wrestle the ball from her instead of just dropping it. Elayna was having fun watching Xena chase the ball, but she was afraid to grab it the ball when Xena brought it back. She would squeal at the dog wanting her to drop it and would yell and point for me to grab it. I was greatly amused by this situation, but I would grab the ball and hand it to Elayna to toss again.

A few times the ball went under the couch and Xena wouldn't go for it because someone was sitting on it and blocking her. Elayna would go over and yell at the dog to go get it, and then try to get people to move so the dog would get the ball. A couple of times she even dove under there to get it herself.

Eventually, she was brave enough to get it from the dog herself, maybe because I stopped doing it to see if she would, although after a while Xena was more likely to drop it. I also discovered that the dog really needs her nails trimmed.

Wheel of Time

I have recently started to reread the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. These are some of my favorite books and the ones that got me interested in fantasy.

One thing I love about the books is the constant shifting of the point of view. The story is through the thoughts and eyes of the different characters, and this gives the reader the chance to see how different events and actions are seen by different characters.

What always strikes me is how narrow-minded many of the characters are. They often interpret events in a very self-centered manner, and often based on their own prejudices. Each time I see this it reminds me that I need to be more open-minded. That things that affect me are not necessarily done with intent to injure me or hurt me, that maybe they just occur for some other reason, and I'm just swept up because of my proximety to what's occuring.

Anyway, I'm only in the 3rd book, but its a fun read again, and I regret putting it off for so long to reread them all.

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Baseball

Yes, although I live in Chicago, I am a big St. Louis Cardinals fan. And I have no problem letting all my Chicago friends know that too. The biggest influence on me becoming a Cardinals fan is my grandmother. When I was about 7 or 8 years old and starting to show some interest in sports, she would always talk about the Cardinals and in our letters we would write about them to each other.

She was a big fan of Ozzie Smith because he did back flips on the field, although I think her favorite player overall was Pete Rose because he always ran hard to first base, even on walks. As I watched more baseball, I became a huge fan of Whiteyball, and I still miss the game of the 80s. Home runs are fun, but it was fun watching those speedy Cardinals teams of the 80s. With Vince Coleman and Ozzie Smith on the basepaths, it wasn't a matter of if they were going to steal a base, but when. It seems like ages since I have seen a double steal, which is my favorite play in the sport (except maybe an unassisted triple play).

Both my Grandma and Grandpa influenced my interest in sports. New Year's Day is probably the day I miss Grandpa Leo the most because when we would visit over the holidays we would spend all day watching the bowl games. I would pick one team to root for (I usually hadn't heard of either team) and he would pick the other and we would watch the games. I can't remember if we kept a running score of who won the most.

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Bread of Life

I heard a speech about breadmaking today, and a comment by the speaker provided me with an image for life. The speaker made a comment that although it can seem like a long time to make bread, a lot of the time is spent waiting: either for the dough to rise, or the bread to bake.

At times in our life, we are seeking answers to questions, blessings, forgiveness, or any number of things. There is usually work that we have to put in to make this happen. To make bread, you have to mix the ingredients, knead the dough, and punch it down - and it is often important to follow these instructions exactly. If get the yeast to hot, it will kill it and your bread won't rise. When seeking answers or blessings, we also have to put in effort: study, prayer, and making changes to our lifestyle.

But just as important is the waiting. During the times we are waiting when making bread, important changes are taking place - the bread is rising or it is baking. Without these changes, the bread will either be solid as a brick, or just another lump of dough. Sometimes, in our lives, we need to wait or have patience for the blessings, answers, or changes we seek. Often, there is a transformation or a change in conditions that we don't see; however, the Lord is aware of these conditions, and even guiding them, so we can be made into what He wants us to be.

Although this understanding doesn't make it easier to have patience, it does help me to understand that as long as I do what I can and should do, the Lord will guide and take care of the rest to bring me the answers and blessings He has promised.

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Autumn

I love it each time a new season is ushered in. Fall is on its way, and I am excited. One of my favorite things about fall is the smells. It smells of musty leaves and smoke. I also love it later in October and November when it gets a little chillier and I go outside on a brisk morning and take a deep breath. The icy chill goes right through my lungs almost to the bones and makes me feel great to be alive.

It also has the feeling that play-time is over, which I surprisingly enjoy because I like to learn and Fall reminds me of going back to school; and now it seems to be the time when work picks up which is nice. I also love the changing colors of the trees, seeing my breath in the air on my walk to work in the morning, and the anticipation that Christmas is getting closer.

The only thing I miss is being on a college campus, because when there is a Saturday football game in town there is really no atmosphere quite like it. I will also miss the Feast of the Hunter's Moon this year as well to another conflict; it was one of my favorite things each year growing up in West Lafayette (although I never really made it every year then either). But, this is going to be a good Fall, I can tell.

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Rivers

I went on a bike tour of Chicago the other day and the guide mentioned the fact (if you haven't already heard it - it's only been brought up a thousand or so times since I moved to Chicago) that the Chicago River used to flow into Lake Michigan, but the city decided to reverse the river's flow to the Mississippi River to keep the Lake clean. To my knowledge, this is the only river in the world that has had its course reversed through a man-made project.

As I thought about this, I related it to events in my own life. I am putting forth some effort to make some changes in my life and it feels like I am trying to turn the course of a river.

There are physicists, geologist, and civil engineers who can probably explain these thoughts better (and tell me if I make any errors in this simile), but I think that in life we tend to be like rivers. If you pour water over an uneven and/or sloped surface, it will generally flow along the path of least resistance. On a large scale, like a continent, when water drains it will flow down the easiest path and eventually form brooks, streams, creeks, and eventually rivers. In my life, I think that my natural tendency is to take the path of least resistance also.

In rivers, the channels are cut deeper over time just as my own habits form patterns of routine. This isn't necessarily bad, rivers are a source of life. It is no accident that almost every major city in the world is on a river. However, sometimes a river's path needs to be changed. It is not an easy task, it is very daunting even to attempt because of the work and resources involved, but it can make the city a better, cleaner, and healthier place to live. I hope that my own efforts, with the help of prayers, can prove to be as fruitful.

Chicago Botanical Gardens

Since I've been off the last couple of week, I got a chance to see some places in Chicago I've been wanting to go to but haven't been able to as yet. A previous post showed some pictures from the Morton Arboretum. I also had a chance to tak emy first visit to the Botanical Gardens.

Here are a few pictures I liked, as well as some thoughts. This was one of my favorite views from the Japanese Walking Garden. I got pictures from several different angles, just depending on where the path went.


The prairie was another beautiful area. We saw some goldfinches in the field, but couldn't get pictures of them there (we did see them again later at a bird feeder).

I love flowers of all kinds. They remind me of fireworks, except they are much longer lasting and you can get much more creative with them.

Sometimes the contrasting colors just brings out the best in each of the varieties.

I saw a bee or two in some of the blooms. This may not have been one of them though.

Roses are so beautiful, aren't they?

I can't remember which garden this was. It may have been one of the English Walled gardens. I really enjoyed them. Mostly, I just liked this picture.

I like waterfalls and fountains too.
Both the Botanical Gardens and the Morton Arboretum recharged and refreshed me. It was wonderful just being outside and enjoying the beauty of nature. And the best part is I can go back in the Fall and it will be a brand new show!