Why is Dirt so Expensive and Other Quick Takes about Stuff.

1.

I have a bunch of grow boxes. I got them three years when we lived in Florida and used them to grow a few vegetables on the sidewalk outside our tiny little house.

I'm trying to decide if I want to invest the money to buy the dirt (potting mix) to put in them.  Especially since we will most likely NOT be living in this house next spring, which means we will have moved, which means I'm not moving a bunch of dirt, which means I'll only be able to use the dirt for one season.  And, while they do produce well, it's not like I don't still have to buy vegetables. I do.  They don't produce enough to 100% keep our family supplied with organic vegetables and sometimes I wonder if they even produce enough to make the dirt worth it. 

On the other hand, Heidi and Greta are studying Botany this year for science, which means I *HAVE* to use them or they might just take away my homeschooling license. 

So, I'm probably buying dirt and seeds (and a really, really, really long hose, to reach the one corner of the yard that actually gets some sun) this weekend. 

2.

March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day, and in honor of my first cousin once removed who was just born with down syndrome two weeks ago, I'm sharing this video.  For those of you not in the know of cousin-speak, my first cousin once removed is my cousin's child.  The once-removed means that we are in a different generation.  However, little Gabriel (along with his sister and brothers and his first cousins) is my children's second cousin, because they share a set of great grandparents.  You are welcome for that little genealogy lesson. 

3.

In that same vein, I'm sharing this post from my friend, Jacqueline, who we were lucky enough to know while Ben was in law school.   This really is an excellent post and I think you should all read it.

4.

So a little over a month after I posted how I'm a fan of early potty-training, we finally have reached some sort of success with 18-month old Elsa.  She will reliably sit on the potty and produce on a regular basis, both at home and when out in public and she "tells" me when she has to go.   She's still not out of diapers yet, but I figure taking her to the potty isn't any more work than changing diapers, and now I have way less cloth diapers to wash.  Note, it did take a month to get to this point.

5.

Speaking of potty stuff....I really loved this post from Sole Searching Mama.  Can you spare a square. Revelations that Result When the Toilet Paper Runs Out.  Probably because I'm always running out of toilet paper.  Actually, she has some really good insights.

6. 

I also really loved this post from Molly about the holidays and  that Huffington Post piece.

7.

I amostly liked this article about modesty.  I'm trying to decide if I want to get my thoughts together to actually write a post, but I'm not a huge fan of the whole "modesty movement." Not that I think people should be dressing provocatively but not dressing provocatively is not the same thing as meeting some arbitrary standard of "modesty."  Perhaps I shall try to get my thoughts together on it.

Go see Jen for more quick takes.

Tinatella

This is the story of Tinatella (tin-a-tell-a). Tinatella is different. She has pink skin and polka dots on her face. The other girls think she is ugly and make fun of her, but I think she is beautiful. See her...she is so beautiful, with her beautiful pink skin and polka dot face. The other girls make fun of her and think she is ugly, because she is different..but she is really beautiful and I love her.

This is the story Greta told his afternoon while she was procrastinating doing her actual school and begging to finish this one drawing while I drink my milk.  Greta doesn't just draw pictures though...she tells stories about every picture.  And, this was the story she told this afternoon.   I found it very interesting...her choice of words and topic.  We haven't really talked about people who are "different."  They really only know one person who is "different"  or has a "disability"...my sister/their aunt, and they've always known her and her "difference" has nothing to do with her face (it has to do with her legs).

Yet, this was the story she told.  And, it got me thinking.  Last Thursday (on 3/21) was World Down Syndrome Day (see...told you, I'm always late to the game..just posting about it now).  Other than seeing a few random adults with Down Syndrome at church or stores, I've never really known any families affected by Down Syndrome until about 1 1/2 years ago when a family we knew through law gave birth to a beautiful baby girl with Down Syndrome.  They are 20-something and Abigail is their first child. The husband graduated from law school last year and they've moved out of Florida, but I've followed their lives and adventures through Jacqueline's blog, Journey Narrative.  Since knowing them and reading her blog, I've really learned a lot about Down Syndrome. 

I had already known that over 90% of all babies prenatally diagnosed with Down Syndrome are aborted (thanks to my mom and her book.)  Which is a tragedy...because EVERY person's life is valuable and important and worth living and worth fighting for.  So, this post is my small way of trying to bring awareness to this issue.  It's ALWAYS worth it to choose life, because LIFE is worth choosing.  No mother regrets the babies she has...only the ones she doesn't...so if you ever come across anyone dealing with an "adverse" prenatal diagnosis...send them this book and help them choose LIFE...because EVERY LIFE has value and worth.

And maybe, just maybe, Greta's story and drawing was more important than her spelling words this afternoon.