The M&M Story

Brian's Birthday Celebration Originally uploaded by smaynor . For Daddy's would be 37th birthday, both Maynor families gathered for steak, baked potatoes, and Rocky Road ice cream with chocolate sauce. As you can see, entertainment followed.

M: "Hey, Mom. (Not sure where Mommy went, but apparently I am now Mom.) Do we have to go through space to get to Heaven?" Since then, we've prayed several times that M. would dream about space because he "really wants to find Heaven."

I found this funny story that Brian had written before Max was born. I vaguely remember this event, as I was several months pregnant, working full-time, trying to finish my master's classes. I had begged Brian to drive me to class (it may have been bad weather; I don't recall the details), and thus, his story. As you can see, he didn't finish it, but I can say that we did arrive safely home after class that night. It will all make sense after you read... I am the most absent-minded man alive. I took a straw poll today to see if other people considered themselves absent minded, and almost every male I spoke to launched into a list of things he’d lost. Pens, coats, keys, glasses, folders, wedding rings, wallets. Very few women had misplaced anything significant recently. One woman with a family of half boys and half girls, insisted that absentmindedness was written into the genetic code of males. She’s a biology teacher; she would know. I’ve bought more replacement gas ca...

Piggy eating Tiger Originally uploaded by smaynor . A couple of weeks ago, Briggs decided to draw Piggy, so he put Piggy on his drawing board and traced around it. I think--I say I think because I was not actually watching this--Max then added the nose and teeth. He then drew Tiger in Piggy's stomach. They called me over, and with great pride in their work, announced that Piggy was eating Tiger. They proceeded to point out all that was happening in the piece of art, and I did everything to keep from laughing, or maybe crying, I'm not sure. They felt this was a perfectly normal happening in the life of Tiger and PIggy. Boys certainly have an interesting take on things.

Max asked me today if Herod went to Heaven. After the correct theological response, which included why Daddy is in Heaven with Jesus, Max then asked, "Is Daddy everywhere the way God is?" I'm continually amazed at his thoughtfulness.

B's new favorite word is "cool." If he likes something, most often a picture or a toy or something concrete, he'll say, "cool, Mommy." By the time he hits high school, that word will be back in style.

I've lived in St. Louis on and off for many years. I've perspired in the heat of summer, and I've bundled up in the dead of winter, but I've never lost power for an entire week. And the funny thing is I've now done it twice in six months. Crazy. I'm actually rather addicted to electricity - the hum of a fan, the beat of a song, the ding of a microwave. There always seems to be a buzz of sorts when the lights are on, almost a feeling of constant companionship. But when they are off, it gets insanely quiet. Almost too quiet. And suddenly you feel alone. Or should I say, I feel alone. As I've experienced this quietness, I've thought about how much we need electricity. We need it so desperately, all the time, to give us most of what we need in a day - light to read, food to eat, hot water to bathe, and heat to keep warm. But we take it for granted. We forget how much we rely on it because it is always there, giving to us. And so when it disappea...