“Let the wild rumpus start!”

In case you don’t recognize those memorable words, they are the words uttered by Max from the beloved children’s book; “Where the Wild Things Are”. This was one of my all time favorite books while growing up. And still is. Because of that, I was beyond happy today to see the trailer just released for the movie version coming out this fall. Here it is:

I read the book again to the kids tonight. Then before showing them the trailer, I shared with them how this book has captured the imagination of generations and how much I loved it when I was a little boy. Then just as I was about to show the trailer, Micah said with dread in his voice; “Oh boy…does that mean it’s gonna be in black and white??!!” I was about to send him to his room without supper….but quickly remembered what happened to Max. And since Micah is already “the king of all wild things” I decided it would be best for him to stay right here, “where someone loves him best of all.”

-Rob

To the rescue!

Just saw this amazing news story.

An autistic child in Thailand, frightened because it was his first day at school, crawled out of a three story window and ended up stuck out on the ledge, refusing to come back in. Teachers and authorities tried to coax the little boy to come back inside, but to no avail.

At one point the boy’s mother remarked that the little guy LOVED super-heroes. This little piece of knowledge prompted a fireman to run back to the firehouse where he kept a Spider-Man costume in his locker. (Normally used to liven up fire drills). He ran back to the scene dressed as Spider-Man!

And as the BBC reports; “The sight of Mr.Yoosabai (the fireman) dressed as Spider-Man and holding a glass of juice for him, brought a big smile to the boy's face, and he promptly threw himself into the arms of his "superhero", police said.”

LOVE this!!!
Oh, for a world filled with ordinary super-heroes!!!
Now go ahead and dust off that cape.

-Rob

Here’s a link to the story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7961208.stm

Better late than never

Almost two months ago (a solid 3 weeks before the Academy awards were given out), we received this:

Thank you Ann at Crazy for kids who gave us this award. What makes this award special is the person giving it. Ann is an amazing person with an awesome family. Her blog has encouraged and inspired us. She has made us laugh and made us cry.

There are two requirements that come with receiving this award.
1. You must pass it on to 5 of your favorite blogs and include the one who gave it you with a link.
2. List 5 of your addictions.

So here it goes…
There are so many blogs I love, so this was tough. Here are five favorites:

Love146

Dadicals

The Search

Brains on Fire

Soulemama

And now some addictions:
Besides my obvious addiction to our Tribe and each amazing, intoxicating individual in it, these are some of my other fixes:

I’m addicted to:

1. Mindless comedies: Can’t get enough Tommy Boy, Christmas Vacation, or Three Amigos. Because of my vocation, I have my head buried daily in some of the darkest stories on the planet, so I have to be creative in finding ways to decompress and distract. Nothing like a mindless comedy to help facilitate this.

2. Chick flicks with happy endings: Christel + fireplace + glass of wine + dark chocolate + “Sleepless in Seattle” or “A Walk in the Clouds” = very healthy addiction.

3. Really good books. I even like the smell of old books.

4. Meaningful conversations with good friends.

5. Love:
I’m reminded of the classic Robert Palmer song from the 1980’s that said; “…might as well face it…you’re addicted to love”. I am addicted to the kind of Love that expresses itself in action. Martin Luther King Jr. said that “Justice is love correcting everything that stands against love.” And Dr. Cornel West says that “Justice is what love looks like in public.” I am addicted to loving God and my neighbor through seeking justice for the broken and oppressed. Unfortunately, I’m not as good at this as I would like to be.

I've been on the road so much over the last few months and have not been faithfully blogging. So though I'm feeling unworthy of the award at the moment, we gladly receive it and pass it on. And again Ann...thanks!

-Rob

Just kidding

Christel left this morning for 4 days to attend Heifer International’s Women’s Kidding Program. If you’re not familiar with Heifer Intl., they are a great organization working to end hunger and poverty. Every spring they have programs which offer the extraordinary opportunity for people to experience some of the challenges of global hunger and poverty – and come away with a re-energized determination to be part of the solution.

One of those programs is the Women’s Kidding and Lambing experience. Apparently, goats and lambs all give birth around the same time every year. And Christel, along with women from all over the country, want to be there to help… as well as learn.

Some of the activities she will be participating in include:
• A mini-course on birthing and pre- and post-natal care of lambs or kids
• Birthing checks (in the middle of the night!) (And in the SNOW!)
• Daily and seasonal farm chores, such as caring for the animals
• Exploring hunger and poverty issues

This is one of the many things that I love about my wife. Not just that she loves animals, but she wants to be part of changing the world. She wants to make a difference. And does. This is her second year participating. The first year she did the Lambing. This year…it’s the Kidding.

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of goats. Take a good long look at a goat’s face. Something’s not right there. What’s up with those crazy eyes?? And those horns?? No wonder these poor creatures have often been used to symbolize evil! At one time, I actually lived next door to a guy who had a VERY mean goat named Lucifer. But I digress.

For the past several years at Christmas, Christel and I “buy” an animal through Heifer’s Gift Catalog, instead of giving each other a gift. The funds help children and families around the world receive training and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant. Better still, every gift multiplies, as the animal's first offspring is passed on to another family-then they also agree to pass on an animal, and so on, eventually helping an entire community move from poverty to self reliance.

I remember the first year we did this, we purchased a water buffalo. The kids couldn’t fully comprehend the concept, and thought that we were going to be the first (and only) family in our town with a pet water buffalo! They were already trying to figure out if they would be able to ride it or just take it for walks. It was fun trying to explain how it wasn’t for us, but actually for another family in another country.

So for the next 4 days, I will be participating in my own “kidding” program, as I was able to take these days off from work to be with OUR kids. I’ve been really looking forward to this! Last time we had a blast eating a lot of junk food and having races up and down escalators in the local mall!

And what important lessons will I be learning during Christel's time away? Based on past experience, I am assured that I will come away with a deeper appreciation for what an amazing wife and mother she is. And what a gift her heart of compassion is, not just to baby lambs and goats, but to our little Tribe…and to the world.


-Rob