Really, I promise that this particular mnemonic began developing well before the potty training even started.  
Of course, any experienced mom knows that it is perfectly rational to pray for um, #1 (not to mention the even-more-challenging #2!), but I wanted to pray for more than just the obvious. And every time I started brainstorming I came up with even more "P's" to pray for.  
Here's my list: 
Patience: 'nuff said.
Presence: That I might be mentally, emotionally, and spiritually present in my children's lives, as well as physically.  Going even deeper: that we might all learn to practice the presence of God in our household, living each day with the awareness of His immediacy in our lives.
Peace: That there might be inter- and intra-personal peace in our household.  Most importantly, that there be peace with God.  
Perception: That I might have the wisdom to perceive what is really going on - that for each incident of minor or major disobedience, anxiety, or just plain annoying-but-non-defiant instance of childish behavior, I would be able to read between the lines and adjust my response accordingly.  
Pertinence: Perhaps stretching the definition a bit, for me I'm asking that my words not be spoken carelessly and without effect. Also that I will not speak (snap, yell, threaten, badger, nag) simply because it is inconvenient to act. 
Persistence: That I will not become weary of doing good ('nor discouraged when failing to do the same).  That I will not give up when the lessons I am trying to teach don't seen to be getting through, and that I will gently encourage my children to stick to it as well.    
Pride: Specifically, a lack thereof. Except, of course, for when we're talking about the healthy sort that encourages hard work, diligence, and excellence.
Pretense: Again, a lack thereof.  That I will not allow pride to encourage me to pretend that my weaknesses do not exist, are unimportant, or need not be addressed. 
Penitence: That I will learn true repentance and the humility that comes with it, especially as applies to my role as a mother. That I will model this for my children as well, and encourage them to express sorrow for wrong behaviors and make recompense to God and any other offended party when appropriate.   
Purity: That as a family we will develop purity of mind, body, and purpose.  
Providence (and/or Protection): God's protective care in our lives 
Passion: That each child would develop and pursue healthy passions that inspire excellence, action, and a sense of wonder and fun.  
Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual health: OK, I slipped in an "S," but none of them actually start with a "p" sound, so I don't feel like it's serious cheating! ;) Anyway, fairly self-explanatory. 

Does that 'bout cover it?  
Of course, this is more than I am ever likely to cover in a single prayer session (crammed, as they tend to be, in the moments that I am rocking the little one to sleep), nor have I by any means memorized the list.  But it's a good memory jog - if I just sit down and think of "p's," many of them come to mind.  
There are still more thing I want to pray for, too - still looking for a "P" to cover obedience, integrity, wisdom (although I guess it's touched on by several of the above), and maybe that incredibly rare and  treasured quality of "picking up one's toys and clothing automatically without being asked or providing resistance." Hmmm... any ideas?  

I've been thinking a bit recently on the issues of poverty, and my own response to it. My recent post on the Filipino baby seems incomplete, so I'm trying again with a few more thoughts on why we (I) don't give when it is in our power to do so.
1) First and foremost, selfishness keeps us from giving. If I give away half my lunch, then I won't have that half to eat myself. I might get hungry before dinner. No fun. So I'll keep my lunch. And my dinner, and my extra coat and the rest of my paycheck.
2) We carefully insulate ourselves from real poverty.
3) Fear of getting ripped off. Most of us have given to panhandlers in the past. Those signs and pitches are so well crafted to tug at your heartstrings, present themselves in the best possible light, and play on your guilt. "Just a quarter so I can get a sandwich?" "Ran out of gas money and we're just trying to get to Eugene." "Recently homeless with two young kids," and the ubiquitous "Will work for food." Even if you haven't seen the John Stossel documentary on the the subject, you've got to always be wondering "Really? What's in Eugene and how long have they really been trying to get there?" and "What are the chances that fellow would actually do my weeding for me if I offered him $50?" I know for a fact I've been taken advantage of any number of times when giving to some of these folks, and frankly it ticks me off. I hate dishonesty in any form, and I especially hate being manipulated. Better to say "I gave at the office" and leave it at that.
4) Fear / Frustration that the giving isn't being done Efficiently. This one figures in to my recent experience with the Filipino mother. My personality type prizes efficiency, categories, and systems. Therefore when individual, one-on-one requests such as this one are made, my inner voice complains "but there ought to be a program for that!" I do not mean a government program, by the way - those are just another excuse for not giving personally in my book. I mean a locally administered system in which needy and deserving folks are somehow screened, vetted, and - for lack of a better word - triaged. A central fund should be set up and administered by a responsible missionary. Money should be donated in large chunks so as to reduce the percentage lost to transfer costs. Etc, etc, etc.
Note, by the way, that my inner voice is not without merit or even scriptural support. The early church in Acts found themselves in need of just such a structure to handle the needs of their widows - the 12 Disciples (primary purpose: spreading the message of the gospel) were spending far too much of their time in admin. Solution: appoint 7 honorable men with the official purpose of administering their food program.
Indeed, we have a group in our church that has made its purpose learning and discerning how we can most effectively support our missionaries. And that group may indeed set up some sort of program, or fund, or something. I don't know. My point is, using the lack of a pre-existing structure and decision making framework as an excuse for not helping an individual is not OK. Using the Existence of a pre-existing structure when the person who needs help doesn't fit the right category is Also not necessarily an excuse for not helping an individual. Efficiency is not, like cleanliness, next to Godliness. When was Jesus ever really efficient?

Recently I helped fund the birth of a Filipino baby whose mother I've never met, and probably never will. Our connection is through a missionary our church is supporting who serves, among other ways, as a midwife for some of the women in her neighborhood. We in the States don't come into contact with much true poverty, both by careful design in our personal lives, and by that fact that it frankly barely exists in a country where "the poor" are more likely to be obese than underweight and sometimes have better cell phone plans than I do. And besides, we know somewhere in the back of our minds (and often the front) that there's that great government safety net that will make sure no-one ever really gets hurt. Sure, there are some holes in it, but we Know that if someone shows up at the emergency room and needs a C-section, she'll get one and they'll worry about who pays later. This isn't the case in the Philippines. The doctors won't even look at you if they don't believe you have the cash. So this poor woman's best chance for her baby's survival, and possibly even her own, is the kindness of some perfect strangers on the other side of the world who, for the love of Christ, are willing to extend her aid.
When faced with the immediacy of the request in my e-mail box, I admit to a whole host of emotions and thoughts, some charitable, some most certainly not. Please don't judge me too harshly when I admit that one of my first emotions was frustration or irritation: it was already 9:30 pm, there were - or at least seemed to be - a lot of Logistics to deal with (not my forte.) Besides, isn't the internet something we're supposed to use to keep people at arm's length while fostering the illusion of intimacy? I'm not supposed to actually have to Do anything! Of course, there was also concern and sympathy for the woman, her husband, and her baby, and for my friend the missionary and how difficult a spot she is in. I wanted to help. I could help. I Would help!
And then, up pipes that rather cold, obnoxious voice of practicality that I seem to be cursed with. Could I afford to help? Absolutely. Giving birth in the Philippines isn't all that expensive, even when done at a hospital. Even a C-section in The Philippines isn't all that expensive - peanuts compared to a perfectly normal birth procedure here in the States. And I am part of a larger body: we'll all work together, and the funds will certainly come through. But what if this becomes a pattern? Could I afford to help the next time? Well, yes. But the next time? And the next, next, next, next time? Clearly at a certain point I run out of either resources or the willingness to apply them - I am afraid I know which one is most likely to happen first in my life. But even were that Not true, it's perfectly obvious that nothing that I can personally do can help every pregnant women - even every pregnant woman in a relatively small section of The Philippines - who is in a medical crisis. I can Never do enough. The math simply doesn't work. So... that little voice asks... why bother even helping this one?
That voice, I fear, is that of the Enemy.
The story of the boy and the starfish has been told so many times and in so many contexts that it's become cliche. Nevertheless, I believe it applies here. In the fable, a man happens upon a boy on a beach littered with starfish stranded by the outgoing tide. The boy is methodically picking up the fish and throwing them back into the waves. "Kid, you're crazy," says the man. "There are thousands of starfish on this beach. There's no possible way for you to help every one of them. You can't even make a difference!" The boy unconcernedly tosses another fish back into the water. "I made a difference to that one," he replies.
Jesus told us quite clearly that the poor would always be with us. He said this in the context of defending a woman who was lavishing gifts upon him personally that one of his disciples snarkily pointed out could have been better sold and given to those in poverty. It would obviously be a serious mistake to draw the conclusion that he doesn't also expect us to help those poor who are in our capacity to help - not only his own teachings but that of the entire rest of scripture make that clear. But he also obviously doesn't expect us to Succeed. That is, we will Not End Poverty. There, I said it. The war is un-winnable.
It does not follow, however, that it should not be fought.
Because we are of infinitely higher worth than starfish (or sparrows, for that matter). And making a difference to even one - well, Jesus also said that whatever we do for the "least of these" we are in fact doing for him personally. That should be motivation enough.
How and when and where and in what quantity we help... those are all questions that we must individually and prayerfully wrestle with. They're unpleasant questions, and I don't Like dealing with them. They make me examine the quality of and the limits to my own faith and commitment. They make me resent my own inadequacy and that of my race. They anger and upset me on so many levels, and I'd ever so much rather they'd just go away and leave me in comfort! But thankfully I can occasionally be jolted from my safe zone. Because at least at this moment I am content that one mother and her healthy child in the Philippines are a step closer to being "back in the water" with a little help from me. And that is enough.

Every once in a while when the weather is nice my husband and I like to take the kids and walk around downtown Portland. We park somewhere relatively central and then hit some combo of Saturday Market, the Farmer's Market, Powell's, and Pioneer Place (for pitstops) on foot.
We do not Live in downtown. We live in the nice, sheltered suburbs where you don't see your neighbors unless they walk their dogs or maybe need to borrow a shovel. You try not to run over their kids, and otherwise pretty much pretend they don't exist. Frankly this suits the introvert in me just fine. A weekly trip to Costco and lunch in their food court (where strangers can and do sit at your table) is about what I can take. After our trips Downtown I often find myself a whorl of complicated, conflicting emotions and operating pretty close to sensory overload. Today, for instance, we saw...
* homeless men, women, and teens smoking, sleeping, playing guitars, and panhandling
* a guy in silver clothes makeup performing a statue act
* kids running in the fountain near Saturday Market (brrr!)
* teeming throngs of people throughout Saturday Market and the adjacent Skidmoore Market
* many of the same booths at the Market that have been there since I was a little kid - Spoon Man, the puppet guy, the handmade ocarina lady...
* One booth selling your choice of clay wall sculptures depicting (a) rather demonic looking dragon heads, (b) pentagrams, or (c) Celtic crosses
* a variety of street musicians
* a break-dancer
* lots of strangers who smiled at my kids and remarked on their adorable {hair, hats, eyebrows}
* probably drunk guys loudly discussing the rapture scheduled for 6 pm. The elder proclaimed he was an atheist and had no patience for all this garbage. His take: "The world ends every day for someone - you just don't know who."
* wedding reception being set up in the outdoor courtyard of the World Trade Center, complete with portable heaters which were obviously going to be necessary
* families riding 3 to 6 seater surreys
* a lady in wheelchair with an SLR around her neck
* bicyclists, boarders, dog walkers, couples, strollers, and everything in between travelling up and down the mall along the river
* earnest-looking young people holding signs advertising "Free Spiritual Reading" and "Free Physical Healing?"
* a couple of Royal Rosarians in their full cream-suit and straw-hat regalia
* a fellow in military uniform playing with a balloon with his kid
* the Fun Center being set up at the Waterfront (ack, is it really Rose Festival time already?!)
* a wedding party at The Old Church
* largely empty streets and parks once off the Waterfront
* The Pioneer Place mall teeming with people bearing shopping bags from high-priced shops
* Posters on newspaper machines proclaiming "Jesus is coming back on May 21. Here's what He should do."
* a small protest march (30 people max? We didn't get close enough to see after we heard what they were saying.) The only slogan we could understand was "Free abortion on demand!"
* A musician on loudspeaker at Pioneer Courthouse Square singing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" - as the protest march was reaching the square.


ACCCK! Overload.
Unsurprisingly it was the protest that actually Upset me the most, but just... everything! I can't process it all. David and I ended up in a long discussion on the way home springboarding off the protest and our strong negative reactions to it, but we frankly have some pretty strong disagreement on what ought to be done. This upsets me even more.
Makes me want to rush back to my safe little world and stay there a while. Maybe forever.

David heard about the quakes online last night before we went to bed. We said a prayer for the victims, and as we turned in I remarked to David that I wasn't too thrilled to have been reading about tsunamis while staying on the coast! In retrospect, David thinks he must have been awfully tired not to realize that the situation really Could affect us. I too had thought exactly as far as "Japan is in the Pacific. We are on the Pacific. OK, bed time!" But at 3:30 am when the sirens began wailing... well, let me just say that for those of you who have come to believe that small children mean very long exits, I think the four of us were in the car with the majority of our luggage with the engine started within 10 minutes of the first alarm! I freely admit that I was scared half to death, even when the verbal announcement finally penetrated by brain and assured us that nothing was scheduled to reach us until after 6 am. By the time we hit Hwy 42S and started making headway to the east, we were starting to think a bit more rationally, but not to the point were we were willing to turn around and simply find a higher spot in town - if for no other reason than we were sure that siren would be blaring the entire rest of the night. (Our hotel is at something like -20 ft sea level. Even in Japan David assures me that the bluff overlooking the ocean at 50 ft above would have been adequate.) So, with vague hopes of finding a Shari's or other WiFi enabled all night diner, we continued going until we hit Coquille. Carmen at that point confirmed that we were not going to find any such thing in the next hour of travel, so we finally simply parked the car on the street (it was about 4:30 am) and killed a couple of hours there. When we could actually see the road again we continued on into Myrtle Point and had breakfast at a greasy spoon. Still no internet and a truly frustrating lack of solid information on the radio (note to self: Coast to Coast AM is not the most fear-quelling place to be getting your data in the middle of the night!), but by the time we were finished eating it was after the time at which the first waves were predicted, and more importantly we'd heard that Hawaii was not being badly soaked. And we'd started to actually believe that a 3 ft surges were probably not going to hurt us. Still, when we made it back to Bandon - watching Carmen's altimeter and keeping above 30 ft - the radio told us that the all clear had not and would not be sounded until 11:30 by the earliest. But the sirens weren't running and life seemed to be proceeding as usual...
We spent some time watching the waves at aforementioned promontory (49 ft), at a nearby park, and finally - as James was not willing to nap, despite having been awake practically since 3:30 - went ahead and visited the wild animal park. And then came back to the hotel to sleep a while. And yet, even now I see an advisory still listed. Not quite sure what we'll do tonight. Maybe pack up the van and be ready to have it running in 5 minutes...

http://www.lifenews.com/2011/02/01/planned-parenthood-caught-on-video-covering-up-sex-trafficking/

http://www.lifenews.com/2011/02/03/second-video-shows-planned-parenthood-sex-trafficking-coverup/

I considered whether or not to re-post and comment upon these videos for a few days, and finally decided that despite my general distaste for starting (if not participating in) politically charged discussions, that the extent of the degradation of this non-profit, tax funded organization really needs to be seen.

In a nutshell, actors from a pro-life group posed as a pimp and his prostitute and, armed with a clandestine video camera, visited a Planned Parenthood clinic in NJ. They asked the worker for information on how they could get their girls - 14 or 15 year old illegal Asian immigrants - STD tests, pregnancy tests, and abortions. Without batting an eye, the extremely helpful worker explains in great detail how PP can help them out. She gives tips on how to coach the girls to avoid disclosing information that will force anyone at the clinic to report abuse of a minor. She provides directions to a different abortion clinic across town that will give abortions to 14 year olds without parental consent. She warns them about the PP nurse who might be inclined to report things that she herself would let slide. She gives tips on lying about student status and age to make certain tests cheaper. She volunteers that the prostitute should ask for her whenever she comes in with one of her girls so she can help smooth the way.

Unsurprisingly, Planned Parenthood - who seems to understand that, while they may be able to get away with murder, they won't be given a free pass on supporting human trafficking - disavowed their employee's actions and sacrificed her as a scapegoat. Unfortunately for them, the same pro-life organization ran their sting on several clinics, and at least one additional video of a similar situation has been released.
(PP also publicly deplored the methods used by the pro lifers and promised to get on with "business as usual" in face of their attacks. My heart bleeds.)

So, this raised two questions in my mind. First of all, while watching the video I found it very difficult to believe that the PP worker didn't smell a rat. I mean, there was nothing subtle about the "pimp's" script - certainly she Had to suspect a setup!
Unfortunately the only logical explanation I can come up with is that the PP worker must have encountered such situations before - frequently enough, in fact, that it didn't seem over the top at all.
The other question I asked myself is why, once the whole thing was revealed as a sting, the PP worker didn't attempt to claim that she was playing along so convincingly only so she could win the pimp's trust and then rescue each of his girls as they came in, possibly even bringing him to justice as well.
There could be several explanations here. Perhaps the most likely is that it is be demonstrably true that this particular clinic has no record they can point to of turning in anyone for sex trafficking, abuse of a minor, or etc. They've never used this technique in the past, so why should we believe they're doing it now?
Additionally, it is probable that the employee's actions were in clear violation of the PP handbook - in other words, they probably have an official procedure for dealing with apparently prostitution, and it doesn't include stringing them along. (Not to mention that she was Way too helpful with genuinely usable advice on how to slip in right under all those mandatory reporting guidelines...)

Conclusions?
Well, I've heard it suggested even by those who were at least reasonably pro-life that Planned Parenthood is nevertheless a valuable organization because of the non-abortion birth control and family planning services they provide. Certainly young women need somewhere to turn for STD tests, pregnancy tests, and professional, confidential advice on reproductive issues. And minors especially need somewhere safe to go where their needs can be met with privacy at the forefront.
Yeah, sure they do. And if those minors just happen to be non-English speaking sex-slaves imported into the States for nefarious purposes, it's clear that PP has provided just such a place for... their Pimp.

Found this list of review questions on SimpleMom.net and thought it would be a good exercise...
I don't know how introspective I feel just now, so I may skip a few. Or a lot.

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
Grace Katherine's birth.

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
Adding Grace Katherine to the family - both before she was born and even more so after.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
I'd say "Grace," but she wasn't precisely unexpected - after March, in any case. Also, it's been a rough transition and I am not sure I'm totally at the "joy" stage with her yet. Certainly there was a good deal of joy this year, but again most of it was around our ordinary experiences. So I will instead list a number of the "good things" that kept me happy, sane, and perhaps even joyful this year
a. The WWDDA group (Women Who Don't Do Anything), which meets weekly on Tuesday afternoons for - nothing in particular. Sometimes we do things, and usually we don't. But we always enjoy it.
b. The Women's Bible Study (or, more accurately, Prayer Group with an Occasional Foray Into Study) group which meets on Mondays
c. Watching James develop and grow, hitting all sorts of milestones from crawling to walking to climbing, talking, eating new foods, learning new physical skills like stacking blocks, connecting Duplos, listening to books, going down slides, playing with cars, etc, etc.
d. Watching James' relationship with both his (maternal) grandparents grow and deepen
e. Hearing James ask for "Mommy," "Daddy," "Grandpa," and "Grandma"
f. Going to the park
g. Strolling around the small Cedar Hills Mall with the kid(s) and David once a week or so
h. The bi-weekly Matt. 25 missions group
i. Visiting Grandma with James nearly every week
j. Scrapbooking!

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
Again, "unexpected" may be too strong a word. I knew that adding child #2 was going to be tough. I don't think I realized *how* tough. Nor did I expect the amount of postpartum, hormonally caused depression I got in the first 2-3 weeks. Thankfully that has evened out and I feel like myself, but Grace remains fussier than James was at this age, and she cries in the car which he never did. This is hard on the nerves. Worse, James sometimes picks up her mood (or has one of his own, I guess) and his occasionally incessant whining, Mommy-demanding, and crying is even harder on the nerves. It is surprising how annoyed I can get with him - I know sometimes I take out my frustrations over Grace's crying on him, although he certainly does plenty of annoying things himself.
Perhaps I should list "getting James to mind" as an unexpected obstacle. I think I knew even last year that he was clearly a strong-willed child, but I again did not anticipate the degree to which I was going to have to discipline myself to discipline him - nor how difficult it would be to wisely identify the "hills to die on." He doesn't Want to make us angry with him, but he honestly does not see any reason that he should respond to my frequent - one may even say incessant - instructions of "NO, James, don't touch that!" or "Come here NOW!"
I need to limit the # of times per day I say "No" somehow so that it can regain some of its meaning... but it seems that if I do that I am essentially giving up on getting him not to do certain things that, while not specifically dangerous, are none the less incredibly annoying such as removing objects from my night stand and side tables, picking up my books, and generally getting into "my" things.

5. Pick three words to describe 2010.
I'm not good at this sort of analysis.

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2010 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you
think your spouse sees you).
Ditto. Although one of them would probably be "irritable," and another may be "needy" or "fragile." Errgh.

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2010 (again, without asking).
Uh...

8. What were the best books you read this year?
A few highlights include the "Dies The Fire" and "Island in the Sea of Time" series by SM Stirling, the Honor Harrington series by David Weber, "Sky People" and "In the Courts of the Crimson Kings" (Stirling again), and a variety of Koontz novels.
See my whole list at http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1426170?shelf=read

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
My women friends at City's Edge, especially the WWDDA group

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
Easy one: Mom of One to Mom of Two

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
Hmm... did I? I think my self talk has improved a little, mostly by virtue of new habits formed when talking to James. :} Mostly, however, I feel like I'm fighting the same battles as always.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
I'm not sure that I did, honestly. I feel that neither marriage nor motherhood has done much for my spiritual life - rather the reverse, I fear. I have not prioritized it. Although I have not managed to break it into manageable, specific goals yet, this is something I'd like to turn around in 2011.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
You mean aside from gaining 35 (pregnancy) pounds? ;) About half of that is already gone from a combination of nursing ans a nasty GI bug. Um... on a scale of 1 to 10, "getting in shape" is down around 3 or so. Not a major priority this year, honestly. Too much else to do. Still, I'd like to lose the last 15 lbs, and if my experience similar to last time I won't have to do much specific in pursuit of this goal. I'll reassess in 2-3 months, because I really don't want to settle for gaining either 3-5 permanent lbs a year or even 5-10 per kid. But I've got No experience dieting!

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
Discovering Facebook allowed me to reconnect with a handful of distant family members and old HS friends. Of course, Livejournal has gone by the wayside by and large so I've lost much of my contact with some of those friends. :}
I'd like to deepen my face-to-face relationships this year. Again, this is one of those nebulous goals that needs to be turned into specifics if I wish to be somewhere other than here next year...

15. What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
Hmm... I've missed my "real job," although I remain committed to being at home w/ the kids. I've been enjoying baking, but also missing the opportunity for crafts like sewing, soap making, etc.

16. What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
In a word? Kids. In another word, "Discipline!"

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
FACEBOOK! (Or maybe Scrabble, Starries, or Goodreads. I will not say "Scrapbooking," because that's not wasting time. Really!)

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
Ummm.... not sure this applies, but for a few weeks before Grace was born I did a pretty good job of doing 5 minutes of housework every evening after James went to bed - tidying James' toys and various tables and counters and finishing up any lingering dishes. This helped me let go of some of the stress / anxiety I let build up over the state of the house, and also stop trying so hard to "shovel during the snow storm" - i.e. clean up James' toys while he was still in the room!
Re-instituting this habit is a goal for 2011 - it'll be harder since Grace has no set bedtime thus far.

19. What was biggest thing you learned this past year?
That I really need to work on living in the moment, not sweating the small stuff, and releasing myself (and kids, and husband) from my unreasonable expectations so I can enjoy whatever is going on Now without focusing on the imperfections.

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2010 for you.
Errgh. Not the way my brain works. :}

I go back and forth on the resolution thing from year to year. I rarely keep them, and this induces guilt, and so I usually resolve not to make any. And then I do anyway, perpetuating the cycle! I know they need to be very specific in order to have the slightest chance of succeeding, so goals like "be more patient with my kids and husband" probably won't help do anything except encourage aforementioned guilt. :}
That said, here are my three specific goals for 2011
(1) Read Something from the Bible every day. No, I'm not going to try to do the whole thing in a year, but I might try the three year plan. (http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/Bible/Plans.htm?QueryStringSite=Zondervan)
Also, pray Something several times a day. Even if its a set prayer (recited) or a simple "arrow" prayer (i.e. "HELP!!!")
(2) Get back down to my pre-pregnancy weight of 115. That's 15 lbs to go.
(3) Plan my meals at least 2 days - and preferably 1 week - in advance.

Now, for the unspecific stuff. I need to resolve to try and break these down...
(1) Work on "living in the moment" and "not sweating the small stuff." I've become increasingly aware that I allow myself to get anxious and stressed over things that simply don't bear stressing out about - i.e. toys on the floor, minor disobedience from the boy, unsleeping baby, children/strollers/shopping carts being disruptive or in the way, too much "stuff" in general, etc.
(2) I'd like to be in better physical shape. I expect to lose the pregnancy weight without much trouble, but there are other things I am letting slide like my chronic back/pelvic issues. I know how to make these better, but I have never been good at forcing myself to do the exercises regularly. I should also be looking for opportunities to be more active in general.
(3) Respecting my husband, consciously and actively. This can also be expressed negatively as something like "not getting resentful when he fails to read my mind or otherwise behave precisely as I expect a 'husband' ought to."
(4) Asking for help when I need it, but also Volunteering help to those who need it - even if it seems like it'll make my life harder. It probably won't!
(5) Deepening my relationships in general. Being willing to Start spiritual conversations, not just respond to others' overtures in that direction.

It's been a quiet year in Lake Bingo...
Wait, wrong show.
And while there is indeed a lake behind our little house on Bingo Ln - formed by the ever-rising creek as we experience record rainfalls this week - it has not, in fact, been a particularly quiet year for the Collins Family. (Or should that be the Collinses? Colloni? Collinseseses? Never have figured out what the plural ought to be!)
In any case, we started 2010 with a cheerful 7 month old who hadn't quite learned to crawl. We are ending it with a still cheerful 19 month old who feels compelled to Climb everything and loudly demands to know the name of every object in his environment and a 6 week old who's favorite activities are crying, eating, being held by anyone with sufficient body heat, and sucking on things.
Here are a few highlights of the year which will may shed some light on how we got from there to here...

January:
After much frustrating experimentation, James learned to crawl. This quickly lead to pulling up on everything - even walls - and the ability to reach a lot of stuff his parents had not anticipated. Much time is spent installing baby gates and other obstacles to keep him away from the truly dangerous or fragile.

From James Month 9

February:
We grab a three-day weekend in Lincoln City and Newport, including a visit to the Oregon Coast Aquarium. James does not chose to sleep in the hotel room, or most of the drive back. We consider staying home for a few years...

From James Month 10

March:
We learn that there is a new baby on the way. Ack! Did we really mean to space them just 18 months apart?!
Also, James learns to climb the stairs - up, anyway!

From James Month 11

April:
I relax enough to let James play in a mall playground and test out the swings at an outdoor playground. We also take a trip to the zoo with some friends. James and his Daddy enjoy playing with blocks: David builds, James topples!
Also, James masters going Down the stairs in sort of a modified slide that looks a little scary to observers but has actually resulted in a fall only once or twice.

From James Month 12

May:
James celebrates his first birthday with two separate parties - one for family on the day itself, and one for friends the following weekend. Tired and probably a bit overwhelmed, he refuses to even touch his birthday cake. I try not to let my feelings be too hurt! :)
We continue to believe that he'll be walking "any day now," but frankly he's so good at crawling that he simply doesn't seem to Care about walking. Knees are starting to wear out in his pants...

From James Month 12

June:
Grandma Mary comes to visit for a week. Throwing caution to the wind, we try another overnight trip to the beach. James does Much better, and the weather is very nice. We also get to explore the Gorge and spend some time with my parents, who have all the cool baby toys - like a playhouse and slide!

From James Month 14

July: Annette turns 34. >>Gasp!<< (This, perhaps, figures into the mere 18 month spacing!)
More excitingly, James takes his first unaided steps at church on the 4th, motivated by the M&M's Grandpa is holding just out of reach. It's a couple more weeks before he routinely walks anywhere, but clearly the barrier is broken. He also develops an obsession with brooms which continues to this day: he seeks them out in every context and announces them loudly. Either "Broom" (Broo!) or "Bubbles" ("Bu Boos") - another obsession - is his first word.

From James Month 15

August:
James is in full-on climbing mode and is able to independently obtain the top of the porch swing and much of the other furniture. He thinks this is wonderful. His parents are getting a little harried, though: everything breakable keeps moving up higher and higher until there really aren't enough spots to put it all in...
We also take advantage of the weather with another day-trip to the beach and several trips to outdoor playgrounds, which James thoroughly enjoys.

From James Month 16

September:
The three (point five) of us go to Family Camp at the beach over Labor Day Weekend with James' grandparents. Uncle Michael, Aunt Brittany, and Madelyn come over on Saturday afternoon. Grandpa and James have so much fun together that it really does become a vacation for David and I who get a little time to ourselves!

From James Month 16

October:
James gets two separate Halloween costumes: He's Tigger at church in the morning, and then a member of the Spanish Inquisition with David and I for the evening party. We win the family costume award for the second year running.

From James Month 18

From James Month 18

November:
Grace Katherine arrives safe and sound on the 20th. While this is technically only 3 days past her due date, Mommy was ready Much earlier! ;) James, having thankfully grown out of his inclination to panic the instant I leave his sight, has a wonderful three days with his grandparents while we're recovering in the hospital. He also flirts shamelessly with the nurses while visiting us and studiously ignores his baby sister. Portland gets a very early snowfall the day we're released (11/22), which thankfully does not start until after we've reached home! Thanksgiving is celebrated at the end of the week at my parents' place (the snow is long gone), where we are invited to stay for a couple more days which helps ease the transition.

From GraceMonth1

December:
David celebrates his birthday as Grace completes her second week. The pediatrician pronounces her healthy with a gain of 1 lb over her birth weight and a height gain of a full inch. Wow!
I am slowly easing into being a mother of two small children, and am very thankful for the help received from my mother who stayed with us most of the first two weeks and the friend we've hired to help during the day for most of this month. James still isn't sure what to think of Grace, but he's starting to at least Acknowledge her!

David and I are both profoundly grateful for two happy, healthy children, a roof over our heads, full employment, family both near and far, a wonderful and supportive church community, and a host of other blessings from God almost too numerous to count.
We hope that this Christmas season finds you happy and healthy and invite you to join us in celebrating Jesus, the central reason for this season.


Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel!


-Annette, David, James, and Grace

From GraceMonth1

From GraceMonth1

Like a lot of women, I've normally had very negative self-talk. I'll use language, tones of voice, and epithets on myself that I wouldn't use on my worst enemy. I've been aware of the issue for years and consciously try to correct and moderate myself, but I've never made serious progress - the problem does tend to cause a self-perpetuating cycle! Oddly, and completely unexpectedly, the turning point seems to have been becoming a mother. I talk to James all day long, especially now that he's a toddler and picking up language of his own, and my tone by and large is soft and comforting. Always there are plenty of endearments and encouragements thrown in among the (usually) gentle corrections. Recently, I've become aware that my own self-talk is changing to match. Presumably this is purely out of habit - the same habit that causes one to accidentally answer their home phone with their employer's greeting or say "I love you" to the salesman on the other end of the line. And while it feels a little foolish to confess to calling myself "Sweetie" or dealing with one of my myriad minor frustrations by saying "Shhh, dear, it'll be OK - we'll worry about it later," one must admit it's a fair sight better than muttering "Stupid!" under my breath or venomously hissing "Shut Up, Idiot, and deal with it later!" In any case it's a step in the right direction and I hope that it sticks. My "inner child" seems to greatly prefer my "mommy voice" to being constantly insulted!