December, 1989- 20 month's old

October 6, 2007

Sisters... sisters... there were never such...

It's eight o'clock.  Eight of us brave the crowds and enter Walmart.  There is no hat but the storting begins.  We all receive red bands.  Gryffindor.  We smile.  The kids fill out raffle tickets while I head to the bench in the fabric department.  I have a dress to smock.  Too bad I don't have Molly Weasley's embroidery needles.  Maybe they work like her knitting needles.

The store announces a trivia game in the electronics department.   Jenna wants to go.  Looking at patterns isn't nearly as exciting.  I remember why we're here (and it's not to get this piece smocked!) and we mosey on over to the electronics department.  Just in case you ever need to know... there are 13 quidditch teams in the league, Harry's birthday is July 31, Lupin's middle initial is J, Hagrid's mother is Fridwolfa , and Dumbledore's favorite jam is raspberry.  Just thought you might want to know.

Another quiz was starting playing the Sceene It game up near the customer service counter.  I now had bands for all houses.  While Jenna played the game (and knew most of theanswers by the way) I went to sit with a friend over in front of the ladies department.  Smocking slowed to almost a stand still but hey, it's more fun to talk with a friend anyway.  We discussed curriculum, the books and discovered that both of us were orginally in the anti-Potter camp.  I confessed how my pride was bruised when I had to face the fact that I was wrong about the books and what they were about. 

Meanwhile, Morgann and Amy Blair went to Jack in the Box and got me one of their decadent chocolate cakes.  They also bought fun marguerita glasses and orange juice as well as a sparkly light up wand.  Fitting wouldn't you say?  We went out into the foyer at Walmart, they sang an embarrassingly loud rendition of "Happy Birhday" (which I managed to speed up from the dirge-like tune) and I ate my cake and drank my juice.  It was a hoot.

Sometime after this, during a particularly empathetic moment, we all began writing on the backs of our left hands, "I must not tell lies."  Now that I'm done reading the book, it actually means something to me other than the bit of fun that it was when we did it.  Jenna managed to miss getting hers done so I just did hers a bit ago.  In red ink.  She's feeling particularly special at the moment.  Snort.

The hour ticked closer.  At a quarter till midnight we were shooed out of the store in order for them to set up the books.  Our group was second behind two other Gryffindor ladies.  11:50.  We're getting excited.  11:58.  Excitement builds to a point where we are ready to start counting down.  11:59:50.  We start counting down.  10, 9.... 4, 3, 2, 1...

Nothing.  The seconds tick by.  The minutes tick by.  We're confused.  At almost 12:05 our door opens.  "Ten at a time."  I feel awful.  I don't want to limit those who want in for books by all of us coming in but on the other hand, they've been waiting to see the piles!  The employee, a little disppointed by our decorous behavior suggested that we run.  hee hee.  Morgann was thrilled to be the first one to pick up a book from the tables at our Walmart.  We bought two.  We'll be giving one to the library when we're done.

I confess, I felt a little like I imagine Christians behind the Iron Curtain must have when Bibles were smuggled across.  How we take our Bibles for granted.  I'll be holding mine a little more dear this week.  As anticipated as this book is, and as much fun as it was to hold a party for its debut, it's just another book.  It's a good one, I grant you, but we take our books for such granted in this country.  I'm feeling so very awed at the mental image of people in places like East Germany or Russia during the height of Communist rule hearing that there are Bibles coming to xyz store and they can buy them.  There will be a party for 4 hours before the Bibles are released for sale. 

People come dressed as their Bible heroes.  They do quizzes and count down the minutes.  People can't wait to see the stacks of Bibles and be the first to have one in their hands.  We live in a country where this idea is so foreign to us.  Many Christians have half a dozen Bibles in their homes.  Our family has well over a dozen by the simple fact that there are 10 of us even if each only owns one Bible.  I can see the people rushing home.  It's after midnight but they dont' care.  They want to read this book that has been talked about, anticipated, and they've read snippets of for years.  They stay up until their eyes won't stay open another minute.  They collapse exhausted but content. 

It was a little like that.  We were home, comfortable, and reading the book by 12:25.  I read the final words, went to bed, and slept like a baby at 6:25 am.  I'm now up and mulling the storyline in my head.  It was so good.  Such a satisfactory ending.  It wasn't an EASY ending and I must confess I'm feeling a sense of loss over a few characters but the loss is worth it. 

People have questioned whether J.K. Rowling is a Christian or not.  Sure, she belongs to the church of Scotland but does that mean anything in terms of salvation.  I don't know.  I refuse to make it my business to determine the eternal state of anyone.  I encourage everyone to sit before the Lord, His Word in their hands, and see if they are sitting redeemed and if not, appeal to the Lord for salvation before it is too late.  However, the end of this book shows that there is no doubt as to Rowling's opinion of the Gospel.  Her final chapters read as almost allegorical.  It is so clearly influenced by the final chapers of the Gospels that plagairism kept coming to mind but it's the wrong word.  That word implies that Rowling did something wrong and she didn't.  Her final chapters remind me of Aslan in Narnia.  Clearly influenced by scripture, definite recreation of it, but you can't say it isn't their own work.

I'll be reading it again.  No, it's not on par with scripture.  I won't memorize it and 'hide it in my heart' but I am thankful that a series of stories that I've loved so much does prompt me to want to read my Bible in a new way.  I wonder... if Harry is a fictional 'type' of Jesus, is it a coincidence that his last name is 'potter'?

I just can't stop thinking of Paul's words in Philippians 1:15- 20 where he essentially says, "I don't care why or how someone preaches the Gospel, JUST DO IT. 

Parodies are Kevin's forte.    He's well known for his famous Christmas songs "Oh Christmas Lights" and "Merry Christmas Trees are Here".  He is also known for his politically and domestically incorrect version of "I don't know why I love you but I do"  For those unfamiliar with this song, here are the original words.

Clarence 'Frogman' Henry - (I Don't Know Why I Love You) But I Do Lyrics

I don't know why I love you but I do
I don't know why I cry so but I do
I only know I'm lonely and that I want you only
I don't know why I love you but I do

I can't sleep nights because I feel so restless
I don't know what to do, I feel so helpless
And since you've been away, I cry both night and day
I don't know why I love you but I do

My days have been so lonely
My nights have been so blue
I don't know how I manage, but I do

Each night I sit alone and tell myself
That I will fall in love with someone else
I guess I'm wastin' time but I've got to clear my mind
I don't know why I love you but I do

So Kevin sits around and creates his own versions of this song which would send Hilary and Gloria into fits of indignant outrage.

Kevin.  Cyclist extrordinaire.  The guy whizzes through our town, up the hill to the college, and back down at breakneck speeds.  He calls it 'fun'.  I call it crazy.  Especially in our frigid winters and nasty heat filled summers (where 115-120 is not at all uncommon!).

But, off he whizzes, helmet on his head, cycling shorts keeping him slicing through the air at breakneck speeds, shirt whipping in the wind fanning him into a degree or too cooler than he would have been.  So thoughtful.

So this year, after he has ridden the same bicycle for the past 20+ years, I insisted he get a new bicycle.  He researched (he loves to research purchases).  He did more.  He compared.  He balked at prices.  He tried again.  Finally, I sent him to the local store to at least look at what they had.  He came home with a 1700 dollar bike on clearance for 1300 (including tax, license, and extortion fees). 

So now, on his uber lightweight Ribeaux bicycle he tears up the road on a whole new level.  It makes a wife proud.  I cheer him on from the recliner sipping my coke as I wait for his return.  I eye my workout video.  I roll my eyes.  Not until after 9 pm at least.  I wouldn't want to dehydrate in this heat!

Happy Birthday Kevin!  (Who got new shorts from Challice and David for his birthday and Baseball Classic Movies for Father's day.  You have to cool off anyway.  Might as well enjoy a good movie while you do it!

Tonight we had Challice's Birthday celebration.  Tomorrow David is off work and they plan to spend a lovely day together just the two of them.  Sunday after church they will spend the afternoon with her In-Laws so we chose to go for the Friday option!  :)

Braelyn gave Challice a bunch of lovely flowers.  You know how Challice loves flowers!

She requested Scotch Broth and Cheesecake for dinner so that's what we had!  The Scotch Broth was sooooooo good.  Challice seemed hungry.   Then again, by the time she left we knew that food wasn't long for her stomach so she's probably hungry again.  But I digress.

After a meal of croissants and Scotch Broth we ate the great cheesecake I found at Albertsons!  It had four flavors!!!  Lemon, peach, wild berry, and strawberry!  I had wild berry but I believe the birthday girl had peach.  Kevin, of course, had lemon.  Nolan cut the cake with excellent critical...er... supervisory aid.

I wish Braelyn had gotten a picture of the cake.  It was so pretty with all the colors etc.  Good too!  Just the right amount of crust.  Have you ever noticed that a lot of cheesecake either has almost no crust (boring) or too much crust (icky).  This was perfect!

Then we opened presents!   I haven't  included all the pictures here.  We have a great one of her tearing off wrapping paper and tossing it in the air.  It was a gift from the Grajeda family and was a tea-pot with miniature violets all over it.  Gorgeous.  You know how Challice loves tea and flowers!

Morgann gave her a pregnancy care package!  Complete with pinapple, canned soup, ravioli, raisins and who knows what else, this thing was HEAVY.  She doesn't look like she's complaining though!

Nolan made her a plaque wood burned with the words from Isaiah, "The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the words of our God will stand forever." (ESV)

The kids and I got her gift certificates to the Quilted Quail, Walmart, a bag of Reeses, note cards, and a journal.

I think she thought my signature on the card was funny.  I signed it Mom (aka. Mumsie) and Dad (I don't recommend Dadsie or even worse, Dudsie.)   As you can see, she has an easily tickled funny bone!

Lorna got her David fix.  As usual she kept us laughing half the night.  There is something about 2-4 years old.  They're so funny!

We all had so much fun.  We were sorry to see them go... I think Jenna was angling for a game of Apples to Apples but Challice's evening misery hit and I think she just wanted to be home.  How strange that is to write.  I have a hard time remembering that this ISN'T home like it used to be.  Prayerfully it'll always be home in some fashion but it definitely is different.

Happy Birthday Challice!!!

Our door is always open.  We welcome you and your family at any time.  Come in and have a seat!  Can I offer you something to drink?  We have coke, water, coke, water, and I might be able to find some tea.  Morgann has coffee around here somewhere.  Oh, please do not be surprised at our occasional bursts into song.  It is normal around here and no, we're not trying out for Broadway.  We're just the Family Von Havig y'know.

Kevin is sure to make a few puns, tease your children, and teach them to always say (when he grabs their hands in a 'death lock') "Mr. Havig is brilliant and handsome too."  He'll grill us some burgers or chicken and probably do something incredibly thoughtful in the process.  (Like bring me coke!)

I, Chautona, will probably chatter on about books and fabric and clothing.  You'll be thoroughly sick of the topics when you leave I promise.  Oh, and if you hope you're coming to a nice polite home where we don't discuss politics or religion, I'd suggest you reconsider your visit.  We discuss both and with passion. 

Morgann will delight your children and keep them occupied.  She'll be behind the scenes making sure there are snacks and that everyone has a good time.  What a lovely diplomat she is!

Braelyn will keep things funky.  She likes to mix things up and keep them hopping.  She'll make a joke, do  a dance, a "Sophie" pose that only ebay afficionados can possibly understand, and then tell us about her latest fan fiction story.

Kaylene will probably say something incredibly brilliant sandwiched between a couple of sentences that we are supposed to understand but can't.  She'll toss that gorgeous hair over one shoulder and voila!  We're all sunk.  She's a lean mean laundry machine when the mood strikes.

Nolan is our resident medieval weapons maker and delights us constantly with his servant's heart.  Half a dozen times a day I hear someone call "Nolan, will you go to the dairy/99cent store/video store/grocery store/neighbor's"  etc.  He'll probably be sent for glasses or ice to put in glasses.  He'll play with your little ones and get them all nice and wound up for you

Jenna will probably be one of the herd that attacks...er I mean... GREETS you at the door.  She'll show you her new scar, offer to take your coat, and drag your children outside for lots of fun.

Andra will be right behind Jenna and probably add a few incomprehensible statements like, "How are the penguins in the Sahara?"  Just answer the question as thought it made sense, "I haven't asked lately.  I'm sure any penguins in the Sahara are fine."  Trust me, it makes sense in the grand scheme of Andra's things.

Ethan will probably shadow everyone.  This gives him the appearance of extreme busyness but honestly, he's just keeping his nose in everyone's business in case for some reason he wants to play along.

Lorna, however, will greet you, bring you to wherever she wants you to sit (probably uprooting someone else) and then delight you with her antics.  Well, unless she grabs daddy's leg and holds on for dear life.  Don't be too flattered or offended.  She just likes variety and it seldom has anything to do with her opinion of you as a person.

We'll feed you, talk you senseless, game you until your mind wants to shout UNO in your sleep, and then send you on your way.  Feel free to come back.   Have fun!