theology of progress

“The theology of progress forces us to act before we are ready. We speak before we know what to say. We respond before we feel the truth of what we know. In the process, we inadvertently create suffering, heaping imprecision upon inaccuracy, until we are all buried under a mountain of misperception. But Sabbath says, Be still. Stop. There’s no rush to get to the end, because we are never finished. Take time to rest, and eat, and drink and be refreshed. And in the gentle rythm of that refreshment, listen to the sound the heart makes as it speaks the quiet truth of what is needed. “

- From Sabbath by Wayne Muller

Taken from The Freedom Experiment, a beautiful and inspiring place.

Seven Months!

Since the twins turn seven months old today, I thought I would post some (or several thousand) pictures of them and their cuteness. Enjoy, family!

new book, new movie

Tina Fey's little auto-bio is awesome. Joel gives me those really adorable, questioning looks when we sit on the porch to read together, because I am sitting in my camp chair, laughing so hard I am crying...every five seconds. For a much more thorough review (I agree with everything she reports about it), go to http://lifeofcarbon.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/bossypants/.

The Descendants immediately filled my very empty good movie void. It is one of those very rare films that I can watch over and over and over...the music, the location, the story, the script: all are moving, real, and punctuated with just the right amount of funny. Love, love this.

A beautiful letter about first love.

Thanks, Nat, for sharing these!

baby talk

As much as I love getting advice, every now and then I get the urge to take all that information, chuck it out the window, and do it my way (which, unfortunately for my rebellion, usually turns out to be the way many many mothers before have figured). In other words, I much prefer getting advice when I ask for it, not when I am perfectly fine (and not asking). I am not completely begrudging here random strangers who come up to me offering advice or a comment; even though I can be rather touchy, I understand that they are just intrigued or trying to be kind and helpful. It is just that I sometimes get tired of constantly accepting advice. (isn't that okay?)

While shopping in Target one day with the twins, a dad stopped me and asked for any helpful tips because he and his wife were expecting a baby any day, and they already had an 18 month old. Ah, I had no idea what to tell him. Nap them simultaneously, take time for yourself, accept help from others, etc etc etc...I am sure they knew all of this, that their minds already had become a storage place for the piles and piles of help thrown in their direction, that they were like advice addicts. I should have said something ground-breakingly important about schedules. But all I could do was give him a look of true anxiety, fake a smile, and say, "You will both be fine." Here, someone was actually asking, wanting, craving a tidbit of help, but really, what else could I say?

Because they will be fine. I had my twins, I fed, burped, soothed, changed, napped, and played with them both, and it was tiring and tough and easy and hard. But it's all you know, and so you just do it. Perhaps the most important thing to realize is that it is okay if their naps are not in sync, or one is walking before the other one is even crawling, or they play in their cribs and not the living room when guests are over (or vice versa! do whichever one shocks them the most). Manuals galore give outstanding tricks, but really, all you need is a good head on your shoulders, and you can figure it out. It might take a while to figure out that you can do this on your own, and that's okay too. A little breathing room, trial and error, these are necessary for becoming a good mom. You and the babies (or baby!) really will be fine.

This morning while reading articles on parenting (I know, and after all that schmucking), I ran across these great (and totally real) tips from babble.com for mothers of twins. Here are just a few, three that I do/did, and they are the ones I want to be able to have ready if anyone ever asks again.

my oscar look

Forgetting that you don't get the channel on which the Oscars are showing, minutes before they begin is heart-wrenching! After weeks of anticipation for this night, Joel and I only caught some of the red carpet fashion/arrival live video feed from the Oscar website, and then we watched an episode of Portlandia online.
If I were a star, nominated for Best Actress, this is the look I would strut:

The Hair and the Dress.

Side Note

Alas, we were mistaken, and the Oscars never did come on last weekend. The finale of Downton was watched instead, and I am still horrified about what happened to Isis. This Sunday, the Oscars it is!

One More

Just as I was getting a little tiny bit bored with the happenings of Downton, last week's episode turned my world upside down(ton). My annoyance towards Bates has increased (who on earth says on their wedding day to the brand new spouse, "I hope this is a decision you won't regret."??) and so has my adoration for Cora (Cora! Cora! If only you knew!). I am back to obsession mode!

This Sunday, my little household will be watching the Oscars, so we will catch up with the series on Wednesday, when they show the re-run on PBS. What if it became practical fashion to name your house/property? I wonder what my house would be called, if I had to make up one?

Going Through Books Like Water

I have a friend who drinks so much water that sometimes she gets headaches from it all. Water is my favorite and dearest beverage, but I wish I drank so much that I got headaches. A headache is something definite to let me know when I have had enough; I would rather have too much than too little.

On the other hand, I usually get headaches from reading books. That may or may not be because I need reading glasses, but I like to brag that they're from reading so much. Here are a few of the many books stacked on my nightstand right now:

This book is pretty fascinating so far. It's written in a very beautiful an poetic way, a lot of times from a newborn's point of view. In my opinion, the cover doesn't quite match the content; it's a practical, textbook cover, but a sublime read with a lot of scientific information. Even so, it's given me lots of understanding about the ways of a baby.

Joel and I are reading this together.

Am already prepping the twins with this book's 'presigning games' and it is so much fun!

Joel are reading this one together as well. I love a good modern novel for it's ease, and witty heroines.

What's life without a little dash of '90s class? Joel and I are reading this for old times' sake.

Happy Gal-entine's Day!

The day is neither Valentine's nor Gal-entine's, but I can still wish this secret internet wall a happy one. Mine was spectacular.

How Pinterest Could Have Killed Me

If I had discovered Pinterest (which, by the way, I called "Pin-Interest" for the longest time. How embarrassing.) in the summer of two thousand ten, my wedding would probably have looked like this.

Last night, Joel and I found out that our dear friend and California free-spirit, Marley, died on Friday night. The redwoods mourn for the loss of his runs through their underbrush; he was full of joy and hope for everything he saw and smelled. We love you and miss you, precious one.

How on earth could anyone have been reading posts in such a tiny font size? On to larger letters!

This video is me, every time I click, "New Post."

Name Changer

Finally, a name for this blog with which I can be at peace. Whims are nifty and have their place, but this little title* has been my catchphrase for years (in my head). Comfort at last!

*Okay, Lupey is my darling sugarmuffinpuppy who lives with my parents, and who I miss so much it hurts my heart! I have a mission to get that little poophead living under my roof very very soon.