Sick Day

Except right now the ibuprofin is working, so I'm upright for awhile. We had NO sickness in our family all winter until March & April, when winter began in earnest. It's been nothing but noses since then. Since the end of February, we've had a blizzard a week. So while spring was on our minds and the garden was in our hearts, we had to find something to do with all that cabin fever.

Jason took up mandolin. He can already play several chords smoothly.

I took up Dickens and knitting. I decided to read Little Dorrit after seeing part 1 of a 5-part miniseries on PBS. I was so intrigued, I went to the library that week and found the (800+ page) book. It's been so long since I read a novel, I forgot how they consume your thoughts. Charles Dickens is sarcastic about social structures, compassionate for orphans, and develops his characters so richly. The main character, Little Dorrit is so good as to see through the best intentions in us. Her family is so bad as to embarrass what we see of ourselves in them. Perhaps not coincidentally, I am reading George Mueller to the kids right now. His life work took place in Dickens' England. Dickens can paint such a dreary picture that I love reading of all the light the Mueller's were shining at that time. I thought I'd like to knit because I like to wear knit clothes and it seems like a useful skill. So far, only one stitch mastered.

Aiden & Taliah took up Adventures in Odyssey. Like good little descendants of Johnsons, they can quote episodes with the best of them.

Jared took up a computer game. We hadn't let him play on the computer before this spring. He likes to "color" pictures of David & Goliath, but especially Goliath.

The twins took up toilet training, finally of their own accord. Praise be to God!

I wasn't there to take pictures, but Aiden got to attend his first branding. He was the brand caller for awhile, and he can't wait for his next one. They got him to sit on a calf, but he wasn't quite ready to ride it. He also learned a few new words. He told Mr. Miller, "We need a steer-maker over here."