Friends

I love my friends! Although I often get caught up in the everyday cares of raising kids and keeping our family going, when I get the rare chance to visit with old friends, it is the best! In the last week I've been able to visit with 2 old friends, JJ, who I've known since our days on the mission in Spain 16 (gulp!) years ago, and Jean the Dream, who was in my graduate program at ASU.

JJ came over and my girls instantly loved her. See some pics of our visit:

Kim & JJ Now and Then

15 Years Ago - On The Mission in Spain - 1993
Some things never change.


"What the? You ladies are crazy!" thinks Bekah.



Bekah's coming around. Maybe being crazy ain't so bad.





Then, yesterday we met up with Jean and her 2 little boys for some play time, which really ended up being chase-our-kids-around time. It was fun to catch up in between running around and averting the next disaster. Here are a few pictures of our time:



A quick little story - Rebekah has no fear and was running around the whole place regardless of where I happened to be. A few times during the day I had moments of panic when I couldn't find her right away. Then there she'd be, stealing other kids' tokens and putting them in her mouth, or reaching for the already-eaten candy on the ground (yuk!) Towards the end of our day, a child with another group fell off one of the rides, and the paramedics had to come. Here they were surrounding the child, who lay on the ground right in front of the main entrance. So, what does Rebekah do? She got away from me and ran straight over the paramedics and the hurt child. I got to her just before she actually tried touching the child's face. I'm telling you, she has no fear! Which scares me to death.

Influenza

There's a reason other than just plain laziness why I haven't blogged in the last week - the flu! I read the following online, "This year, people who received flu shots were just as likely to get the flu as those who did not get flu shots." - From http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=906.

This was true at our house. After thinking that I had gotten through flu season without catching a flu, I got slammed last week with a doozy. Rebekah was the first to get it, then 2 days later Maija got it, and I was feeling sorry for myself that I'd be home alone with 2 sick kids, while Kent went to San Diego (see my previous post.) Well, the day he left, I got hit with it, and it was a nasty flu. So, here we are 11 days later, and all three of us Farny girls are on antibiotics for secondary infections ranging from ear infection, bronchitis, to sinus infection. It's been a miserable week and a half.

The hero in this story is my husband, who jumped on an airplane an hour after I called him and begged him to come home early. Even though it was only a question of a few hours' difference, having him home early saved me! He walked in the door after coming straight from the airport, sent me to bed, and completely took over. I love that man!!!

So...will we get flu shots next year? Probably. Let's just hope they get it right next flu season.

Single Parents

Although I do not think that single parenthood is the ideal for either the parent or the child, I admire single parents who do their best and keep moving forward. Before I was a mother, I never could have imagined the amount of work and sacrifice required to raise children. I had heard others tell me of their challenges and had even seen some difficult situations, but as with anything else, you never know what it is like to go through something, until you have gone through it yourself.

I think this must be true with being a single parent. Since I haven't ever been a single mother myself, I will not presume to understand what it is like, but every time my husband goes out of town on business, I have a newfound respect for those parents who go it alone all the time. In the interest of full disclosure, I must add that I am extremely lucky to have a supportive and involved husband, who does quite a bit of his own sacrificing for our girls, and for me. I realize that in many ways I am spoiled, but I realize it even more when he's not around.

So, I'm already preparing myself mentally for next week, when I will be doing it solo. Luckily, Kent doesn't travel a lot, but the few times he is gone make me realize how amazing my own mother was. She wasn't a single mother either, but my father travelled a lot. He was gone about 2 weeks out of every month, and it was usually to another country halfway around the globe. Not only did my mother have to deal with us, but she also dealt with broken water heaters, flat tires, and a host of other repairs by herself. I can only imagine how many nights she felt alone and didn't know if she could go on. But for her there was relief in sight, knowing my father would return. I can't imagine how much more a single mother would feel the loneliness, not to mention the sheer exhaustion.

We all have our cross to bear, I suppose. However, now and then I get a glimpse of what someone else's cross might be like, and it is a good exercise in empathy.