The Dentist

J had his first trip to the dentist last week. Yes, I know it's a little late to be starting that, but we tend to follow the "If it ain't urgent, it ain't happening" principle around here much of the time.

When I told him I was going to take him, he was very excited. He wanted to go right then. It was a big letdown when he found out we had to make an appointment. He could hardly wait until the big day arrived. I wasn't quite sure what to make of that. I was glad he was excited and all, but didn't know if he really understood what was coming. There was the time, after all, that he begged for a shot at the doctor's office. I had assured him in advance that there wouldn't be a shot at that particular visit. He was so disappointed. When the doctor suggested he get a flu shot, I said, "No, I promised him he wouldn't get any shots this time." After J and I went through a couple rounds of "Please, Mommy!" and "Are you really sure you want one?," he got the flu shot. It apparently wasn't what he expected. He hasn't asked for one since.

So, anyway, I was a little afraid it was going to be a repeat of that: excited about going to the dentist, a little ticked off once they start poking around in his mouth with sharp or noisy instruments.

It wasn't. He was absolutely the most charming little dental patient you could imagine. He hopped up in the chair, picked out his flavors of polish (bubble gum) and fluoride (mint), and opened wide. They had told me ahead of time that they would just do as much as he would tolerate - anywhere from just showing him around the place to a full cleaning. He didn't flinch through the whole exam, so he got the full treatment.

Despite our late introduction to the dentist, he got an A+ report. His teeth are completely healthy and his alignment is good. That last part was a big relief. After allowing him to keep his pacie for more years than I'm going to admit in writing, we had concerns about what it might have done to his teeth. Apparently our fears were unfounded. H can keep hers until she's 18 now for all I care.

I got a couple of surprises out of the experience. Turns out he's officially growing up. He has his "six year molars" in. I had no idea, since he never complained about that hurting at all. But then, he never seemed bothered by cutting teeth when he was a baby either.

We also learned that he has 2 loose teeth. That was pretty disappointing news. I've always thought that's the thing that ages a child the fastest. They lose all their "baby-ness" once those big teeth start coming in. He's only 5, after all. I was a late bloomer in that area and didn't lose my first tooth until I was 7 (second grade). I had hoped he would keep his baby teeth longer too, but alas, my baby's growing up.

I Heart CVS

It's been a while since I've shared any CVS deals. That's partly because I've been preoccupied with other things (funeral, baby, surgery, for instance) and took some time off from bargain shopping. It was also because the deals were a little slim at CVS for a number of weeks.

Well, the past two weeks, CVS got back in the game, and so did I!

Here are last week's winnings. I got Huggies wipes, Duracell batteries, Colgate, Speed Stick deodorant, 2 packs of notebook paper and 2 memo pads. After coupons, sales and Extra Care Bucks, I paid $0.89 out of pocket and got $10 back!

This week I used that $10 combined with coupons and sales to get more Colgate, 3 boxes of Kashi granola bars, tampons, panty liners, a travel-sized first aid kit, and 2 composition books. This time I paid $1.80 out of pocket and got $11 back!

And if that wasn't enough to make me giddy with delight, look what is going up around the corner from me:

Yeah! A brand new CVS right in my back yard! Oh Happy Day!

Overheard this morning

H to J: "Let's play Tom and Jerry. I'll hit you with a shovel and then you hit me with a shovel."

Perhaps we need cut back on the electronic babysitting.

Summer Beauties

Father's Day

I participated in several writing contests during my years at college. I never considered myself much of a writer and certainly never had any expectations of winning. I did it as more of a self-improvement project. They were the sort of competitions where you showed up, they gave you a topic, and you had an hour or so to write about it.

One year the subject was "What is your favorite holiday and why." I wrote about Father's Day. It was probably an unusual choice for a female college student, but it was an honest one. I have a lot of happy memories of Father's Days.

For years, the Detroit Grand Prix was held on Father's Day. All through high school and a few times during college, my Dad would take me down to the race. He did a lot of work with Motorola in those days and would get invited to the courtesy tent they had at the track. We would go after church, eat free lunch, and watch the race. I can't say I'm much of a fan, but I enjoyed the experience, just because it was special time with my Dad.

That essay came to mind today. This was the worst Father's Day I've had - I spent much of it in bed crying. I know for my Dad, however, it was his happiest one ever. He got in free again, but this time, admission was courtesy of the blood of Christ, not Motorola. The food was no doubt far better than what we had at the tent. He was part of a crowd of people from every tribe and nation cheering for something far more glorious than a car race.

"I can only imagine. . ."

An Open Letter To Chris Tomlin

Dear Mr. Tomlin,

I have been blessed by many of your songs, and appreciate your ministry. I particularly like your reworking of the hymn "Amazing Grace." On more than one occasion I've been moved to tears as I meditate on the the overwhelming thought that my God, my Savior has indeed ransomed me from the chains of my sin.

But there's something about the third line of the chorus that distracts my easily-distracted mind, and so I have to ask you,

"Is that a type-o?"

Before I ever saw the lyrics in print, I was sure it was supposed to be "like a flood. . .rains" not "reigns." But now I've seen it in print a lot of times, and I've never seen it any other way, so I'm guessing you spelled it that way on purpose.

You see, I grew up singing songs like "There Shall Be Showers of Blessings," so I'm quite familiar with the idea of mercy drops falling around us. But I'm having a hard time understanding how mercy can reign like a flood. I suppose a really bad flood "takes charge" of an area. Is that what you meant?

It reminds me of a book I used to see on my Uncle's Father's coffee table when I was a child, The King Who Rained. I'm pretty sure that one was a pun.

I'm sorry to trouble with such a trivial matter when you must be very busy. Since I'm sure you read my blog regularly (and have just been too shy to comment in the past), I thought this would be a good place to clarify the issue, so I can get past my confusion and just worship.

Sincerely,
SJ

Friends don't let friends drive pregnant