Why all the bridge hate, you ask?

Okay, when Chris heard my last post (sometimes I make him listen to them!), he focused mainly on the fact that I was practicing bridge hate. I told him that it isn't all bridges, but just that one. Here is a snippet of that conversation:

C: "Why that bridge?"

M: "Because it is so long and there is a hump in the middle and you can't see the other side."

C: "It's not that long and besides, the one in Louisiana is longer. Do you hate it?"

M: "No, because that one is flat. When I was a kid, I was at someones house and they had a TV. There was some movie on and the only part I saw was the collapsed bridge and cars driving over the hump and flying out into the air. I was always afraid that the bridge was going to be out and because like three people a day drive the Natchez, I was going to be the first to discover that it was out."

(At this point, Chris is scowling and I am imagining my car flying out into thin air.)

And so you have it. That is why I hate that bridge. Logical? Maybe not. But fears rarely are logical in nature.

Later that night, I was thinking about that bridge and realized that there was a spiritual lesson to be learned from it. You see, I was on one side and really wanted to be on the other side. But the bridge had to be crossed. Once on the bridge, I couldn't see the other side, but had to trust that the other side was still there and trust God that the bridge was going to get me there. Sometimes when God ask us to do something, we have to leave a place where we are comfortable to get there. We really want to do what God is asking, but the uncertainty of the bridge scares us. The other side is your success. But on the bridge, that is where you don't know if you will be a success or a failure. Are you going to make it or go flying off into thin air and crash into the water? But, you have to try. Yes, the bridge could have been out (obviously, it never was!), but I never would have gotten home by just sitting on the other side worrying about the bridge. And you will never be a success just sitting where it is comfortable and worrying about the risk.

Fall is in the air!

So, what do you think of my new look? I am feeling fallish so much that I just want to go out and buy pumpkins and mums and school supplies! And then use the three and make a wacky table arrangement. Here in Taiwan, it doesn't cool down as quickly as it does in the states during fall, but the days get a little shorter and the sun slants in that beguiling fall way and I love it! Why am I so addicted to this time of year? The crunch of leaves (only memories from the States, certain not an experience in the ever so lovely, but ever so green Taiwan), Apple pies, new clothes for school and the hint of a chill in the air just excites me. When I was in college and would head home for a visit, there was this one road that I always took. The little, winding Natchez Trace with its two lanes, 50mph speed limit (who was the drunk that decided on 50?) and gorgeous fall foliage. I can still see in my mind the trees meeting overhead and the afternoon sun peaking through the oranges and yellows and reds of dying leaves. If you live near the Natchez Trace in Northern Mississippi or Alabama, go take a drive. Take one for me and look at the leaves and relax. But when you get to that terminally long bridge near the Florence exit, turn around. I never liked that bridge.

Guess who has started school!

Last month, Abbey started school at Morrison, an American school here in Taiwan. We had originally thought that we would need to home school her, but at the last moment it became possible for her to go to Morrison. She is so excited and you know what, I am so excited for her. She is making new friends, learning to listen to someone other than her parents (which is a bit sketchy at times) and teasing the boys mercilessly! While I am a full supporter of Homeschooling and may still end up homeschooling my children, I am thankful for this opportunity. On a side note, I am also thankful for a clean house that stays that way pretty much all day.

Typhoon Update

Hello everyone! I have had some concerned calls (my parents) and concerned e-mails about how we are faring after the recent typhoon. I am happy to report that we are doing great and did not experience any flooding or mudslides or well, really anything. Here in Kaohsiung, a few trees blew over and we were housebound for about three days because of the rain, wind and basically everything being closed. Mom and Dad Bracken's house did flood on the first floor, but they were not home at the time and are safe and sound. Dad was able to move most of the furniture from the first floor to the second and save it from being ruined. There is a major road construction project on the main road out from their house and most of the people in their neighborhood think that mud was clogging the drainage ditches and caused the back-up of water. All of the people in our church and their houses are fine and we thank God for his protection. I have to honestly say that I had no idea that the typhoon caused so much damage until I saw the report on Yahoo. My dad did not appreciate me laughing off his concern, but it just struck me as funny that my dear father who lives on the gulf cost where a good hurricane can turn everything into toothpicks was worried about us as we sit here in our concrete building. Just think about it for a minute. But we are doing fine and I do appreciate people thinking about us. However, later, if you hear a loud, blood-curdling scream, it is just Abbey getting her booster shot before she goes into first grade. I will just apologize now for the noise.

So Sorry!

Dear lovely readers, I haven't forgotten you. Honestly, I have thought about this blog plenty of times in the last few days, but I have been too too too busy. We just finished VBS-2009 today and I am happy to say that I will be back to write... next week. Just as soon as I can recover.

The Truth Comes Out...

Yesterday we finally got to the heart of why Abbey has been asking so many questions about babies. She ask me, "Momma, do you have any more babies left in your tummy? Because I would really like to have a little sister too." And to this I quickly replied, "No, honey, I don't have any more babies in my tummy. I am happy with the two great ones I have!" And I am. I am totally happy with the two I have.

I am Speechless…

Abbey is fascinated with babies and how they grow and develop in their mommies tummies. A couple of months ago, she ask me how babies get out of their mommies tummies and I told her in great detail how she and Ethan were born (C-section). I was immensely happy to have dodged the bullet on how most babies are born. Well, today she ask me how babies get in their mommies tummies. And I am sorry to say that not one 6 year-old friendly answer came to mind. I tried to pass it off to Chris, but he just replied, “Well, answer her… very carefully.” I delayed so long trying to think of an answer that she moved on to something else, but I know that question will be back. Does anyone have any suggestions? Any six-year-old friendly answers?