Come in Mark Maier.

I couldn’t understand your numbers on my machine. I tried to comment on your webpage weeks ago, but the comment waited for moderation. I commented again tonight and again it is awaiting moderation. Moderate me.

We want to see you.

if I was paid to:

• turn off the TV and shut the cupboard door.
• drag barstools away from the fridge, pantry, medicine cabinet, sink, stove and game closet back to the island or counter.
• stub the smallest three toes of my right foot.
• have my foot stepped on by a small but extraordinarily heavy landing foot.
• make “Sin knee mon and sugar toast.”
• read – we’d be billionaires.
• talk to small children pretending to be animals, medical professionals and super heroes.
• pull the comforter back from Paul’s side where he hoards it nightly.
• have insomnia – zillionaires.
• kiss my kids and stroke their hair – well, I guess there isn’t enough money in the world to keep up with my output.

…obsessive compulsive cleaner with an especial penchant for laundry. If you like organizing things then I have the place for you! Call, write or show up today!!!

Please.

Yesterday, Beanie wanted to swing. We have two baby swings, one shaped like a teddy bear and one like a plane. There is only one big kid swing, the sort that is rubber and forms a “U” when hanging. She wanted to be in that one. I didn’t feel like tending a toddler with a concussion but decided if I was careful and she held on it could work for a couple of minutes.

I pushed her a couple of times before she squealed, “This is…” I anticipated “fun” but she said, “…Fantasgic!”

Aren’t I glad I let her risk and soar a little higher and experience something fantasgic.

I am.

1. When Birdie was about two, every morning she would march out of her bedroom, dragging her blanket, hair all tousled, squinty-eyed and announce, “I waked up!” Sometimes if I am lying awake in the middle of night and I hear Paul sort of stirring I levitate to his side and whisper gleefully, “I waked up too!” He usually laughs, if only feebly at times. Beyond our vows before God, this is one of the reasons only death will part us. Of course, one day this might cause him to kill me…

2. Until I married I couldn’t really cook anything.

3. One of my favorite things is standing beside Paul in church and singing, our voices lifting and mingling. On occasion Christopher will stand on his chair, throw an arm around each of our necks and begin belting out the song, usually a verse behind and off key. But that’s just gravy.