You just can't seem to find a good, solid Darwinian these days- ya know? I came across this news piece the other day and I was left sort of scratching my head. The segment talked about bats in southern California (SoCal, for those of us who have lived there!) that are dehydrating because of the extreme temperatures. So, naturally, the politically correct public rallied and gathered volunteers to re-hydrate them by medicine droppers and water-soaked cotton balls.

WWDD? What would Darwin do? Seems to me that a true Darwinian would realize that this was natural selection right in front of our eyes. If the bats cannot endure the extreme conditions, then seemingly nature would be "selecting" them to die off- at least in that area.

Just imagine if the public outcry were that strong regarding "the least of these" in reference to humans. Jesus didn't say, "If you've given a cup of water to one of these bats in My name, you've done it unto Me." Hmmm...

Don't you just love songs from the 70s and 80s? Anyway, my beloved has returned from his 17-day job training seminar. That's right- 17 days without coming home. And 17 days of single-parenting. Yikes! My oh-so-smart man hooked up web cams on both our laptops so we could see each other while talking. The kids had a blast with this. It was super effective if Dad had to discuss any "issues" with the children...you know what I mean.

So, just how did I occupy myself during this time? How did I manage to stay within the realm of sanity? Why, I did what any smart mom would do- I took all four kids to Florida for a vacation! No, seriously. We went to visit my sister. Imagine, if you will...four adults (me, sis, mom, dad) and four children together- quite cozily, I might add- in her 1 bed/1 bath apartment. I'm being generous to estimate about 700 sq. feet. Oh, and there was also the two-people-in-here-is-really-stretching-it kitchen. But, honestly? It was fun. And I'm not crossing my fingers when I say that.

First- and most obviously, vacationing with young children is much easier when you don't have to take "gear" along. You know, the Pac-N-Play, the stroller (or in some cases, the double stroller), the diaper bag, the booster seat(s)- all the accessories we can't live without when our littles are in that stage. Please don't think for one minute that I didn't love that stage. In some ways, I really miss it. But you do understand what I'm saying- it's much easier to move about the country without all that stuff.

Second- my sister's condo/apartment has both a pool and a private walkway to the beach. 'Nuff said. Illustration: one afternoon all the children were resting and the adults were discussing plans for the rest of the day. My mom suggested, "Do you think the kids will want to go to the pool when they get up?" Dad snorted and said, "Are they breathing, woman?!"

For a long time I resisted the whole idea of vacationing. I mean, let's be honest- it's never really a vacation for the mom, right? (Yes, I'm whining) We still cook meals, wash dishes, tidy up condo, and bathe children (unless you're of the persuasion that chlorine and salt water count as "bathing"- Faith!). It's really just mobilizing the stress. That used to be my take on it. Now, thanks to a good friend who saw through my whining- hi, Christine!- I realize that family vacations aren't about me and what I do or do not get to do, but about making memories. I know, it sounds like a Hallmark card.

And while we were doing these fun things, one thing was clear- I missed my husband! And the children missed their daddy! He is such a vital part of the Wilkerson family (well, obviously) that there is a gaping vacuum when he is gone. It has nothing to do with whether or not I "run a tight ship" when he is gone, or if things "continue to function as normal." Because they can't. Function as normal, that is. Simply because "normal" for our family is having Dad home and plugged into what we do. I don't ever want it to be like taking a knife out of jello when Rob is gone. You know, the mass just closes up like nothing was ever there. Yes, it is hard when he is away, but it is a good reminder of his important- and beloved- role in our family.

I love you and I'm SO thankful you are home! Now, can I please go grocery shopping alone...

Wow! Talk about your unrelated items! Well, trust me on this one, these three things are definitely related!

The children and I left yesterday morning for Gallatin, TN to see Rob. He is there for training for his job. This was going to be a quick trip to see him for a short time and then come right back today. Ya know, a hotel room just isn't quite roomy enough for 6 people for a long stretch of time... So, we left early, stopped at McDesperate's for a quick hotcakes breakfast, drove to Chattanooga where we got snacks (Cheetos, Moonpie, York Peppermint Patty, PopTarts and Pemmican beef jerky). I know, Gross! Hindsight is 20/20, yada yada yada. In my defense, this was the first time EVER in the history of my parenting that I have allowed my children to choose their own snack. Now I remember why I made the rule in the first place. Let's just say they chose poorly!

And then we arrived at the hotel where we shucked our clothes in favor of swimsuits and headed to the pool. Sophia and Kirk have just recently discovered the joys of jumping in the pool over and over and over again. My new pool-side mantra is, "Keep your mouth closed. You don't need to drink the nasty pool water." Apparently I should have added, "and if you do get water in your mouth, spit it out and don't swallow." Again, hindsight is 20/20...

So, what do you get when you combine McNasty's hotcakes with Moonpies, chlorinated pool water and O'Charley's chicken fingers and frenchfries? You get Sophia throwing up in the hotel at 10:00pm. On her blanket. And her pajamas. And her hair.

But amazingly, she felt fine this morning. Just in time for our marathon drive back home. Oh and guess what we had for snacks on the way back? Apples and water!

why my tomatoes are rotting on the vine? They are not quite ready to be picked and eaten, but they are going mushy and brown. This has not always been the case. I have picked and eaten some beautiful ones from this plant, but lately...things are starting to go downhill.

FYI- *better boy tomatoes
*pot-planted
*staked and tied
*fertilized every 2 weeks
*watered daily

So please- any suggestions will be welcomed!!

This is the name we had chosen for our second child. Of course, that wouldn't fit well onto the birth certificate, so we had to go with a more Anglo version: Joshua Owen. He was to be our first "granola baby" born in California. Here are just a few of my memories of this pregnancy...

What a hot summer! Southern California in 1997 was miserable. Now we know it brought about El Nino the following winter! That was the summer I discovered and fell in love with the Starbucks Frappaccino. I would literally roll pennies to pay for one, so great was my craving. My indulgent husband would sit by and just laugh.

Harrison was looking forward to having a "new baby." He wanted to count baby fingers, toes, arms, legs, ears and eyes. He gave up his baby bed and moved into a "big boy" one to make room for this new addition.

We went to Knott's Berry Farm amusement park near the end of my pregnancy. What a ripoff! I couldn't ride but 2 kiddie rides and had to pay for a ticket anyway! But it is quite a nice place and much less crowded than Six Flags. Harrison and Rob had a blast.

I went into labor on July 4, but didn't realize it. My contractions stalled after 2 hours. So I walked. And walked. And walked faster. Then walked some more. But nothing happened. Until the morning of July 8. I had a prenatal appointment early that morning, so Rob, Harrison and I went together. At that appointment, my midwife remarked that since it was my due date she would need to examine me. During the examination she said I was 7 cm dilated! Wow! I guess I really had been in labor on the 4th. When she listened for the heartbeat, she couldn't find it, but said she wasn't worried since Owen was so low in the birth canal. She sent us aross the street to the hospital to have him.

Once there, the flurry of activity began. The nurses told me to remove my clothes quickly and get into a gown. I barely got into the bed when some doctor came in and broke my water. It was peagreen and I became panicked. He tried to shove some electrodes into Owen's head to monitor his heart and breathing, but he was unable to do so. He barked orders for an ultrasound machine and ran the probe all over my stomach. Then he left the room. I looked at Rob and noticed he was very pale and not speaking. The nurse came into my room and asked me if I wanted any pain medication, but not an epidural because they wouldn't give one in the case of fetal demise. What???? in the heck did she just say? It soon became clear that we wouldn't be taking our baby home from the hospital, but that we would be going to his funeral. After Owen was delivered, it was determined he had died approximately 4-6 hours previously.

Oh, the theological struggles in that 24 hour period following. We cried, held our baby, rocked our baby and dressed our baby. I realize twenty years ago he would have been taken from the room and we wouldn't have seen him again until in a casket. At the end of the day, we had to agree with Abraham, "Will not the Judge of the earth do what is right?"

So, why am I thankful? Well, for many reasons. Owen never experienced the temptation to sin. He has never been sinned against. He has a perfect, whole body. You know, as we walked through this devastation, we remembered our Sunday school teaching from a few weeks before Owen died. The lesson was from John 9- about the man born blind.

And as He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him."

So our focus became, "What works of God might be displayed in Owen's death?" Before this happened, we would proclaim to any listener about God's sovereignty. Now was the time to put our belief into action. See, theology isn't just for our time in the pew on Sunday mornings. It is to be lived out as a testimony to all.

Our Owen would be 9 years old today. Instead, he is with our Savior. How could I possibly want him back here? Hopefully, our faith and the fruit of our faith has 9 years worth of growth and trust in our great God, the Judge of the earth.

I do so love summer, don't you? Admittedly, I am not currently enjoying the skin-searing-blistering-heat-that-saps-your-breath-when-you-walk-out-the-door temperatures we are having right now, nor do I enjoy the lack of rain that causes my daughter to tell me, "Momma, your garden plants look really sad. They are hanging down." But I digress.

I'll admit it: I love the slower pace of summertime. No schoolwork, no homework, no strict bedtimes- these are just a few reasons. Yes, we still have a daily "routine," but it is loose. If we want to hop in the van and "pop in" on another mom and kids, well, we just do! And as far as routine goes, I find it much easier to keep up with my housework and laundry in the summer when I am not trying to make sure we have completed our school assignments for the day!

LOVE: Round sleeping bottoms sticking up out of the covers; extra time for snuggling; early morning exercise walks; leisurely breakfasts; late-night "dates"; watching my husband and children play Ultimate Frisbee with other people from our church fellowship; watering my garden; more visits to Grandpa and Grandma's house; neighborhood bike riding; swimming; my "coppertone ad" children running around.

HATE: Mosquitoes; fire ants; aphids; no rain, which in turn causes my grass to become like little brown knives sticking up from the ground; skinned knees and elbows; infected mosquito bites; infected ant bites; sunburn (me); humidity.

How about your likes and dislikes?