Category Archives: Sabbath

Friday

Posted by mattblazer on

Friday is my day off.  I try to not work.  I try to only read enjoyable literature.  I try to reflect on my kids, even as I parent them.

We went to the zoo and it was good.  Julia won two arguments with me about where animals were.  I distinctly remember this with Caroline – me always knowing best until we learned that we had better listen to her.  We were post-birds and pre-Giraffes and Julia turned right.  Shocking.  I told her where the giraffes were, she told me they were the other way.  I am 34.  She is 3.  We bickered for 5 minutes.  Which is significant for a number of reasons: 1.  She didn’t run away during our argument (or cry).  2.  When I looked above her (she is short) there they were.

Then, we received a very nice gift.  This happens when you visit the zoo often.  We go probably 15-20 times/year.

The baby giraffe was sitting down.  The ostrich was squawking at us, it.  Then it bit the baby giraffe in those little horn things giraffes have.  The giraffe ambled up, and kicked the ostrich square in the torso.  There were 25 of us watching.  It was awesome.  Caroline and I re-hashed it 10 times.  Julia tried to climb in.  She got past the rails, but not over the wall.

Julia’s second winning argument was about the whereabouts of the Jaguar.  To be fair to me, she was saying Tiger.  To be fair to her – the Jaguar was awake and if I had ignored her we might not have seen it.  We discussed spots and stripes.

Our other nice moment was 20 straight minutes looking at a wounded (or very tired) butterfly.  No kidding.  20 minutes.  Have you met my kids?  They didn’t touch either – just looked, oooohhed, pushed each other for position.

It was a good trip.  We played on the turtles (we almost always do).

I pray to love my daughters well.  A good Sabbath will help.

Side-note: While this is not the video of what we say (our giraffe did better), isn’t this the STL zoo?

Shabbos Email

Posted by mattblazer on


One of these days I will take the Sabbath seriously enough to remember how I work.

Our family has been getting better at playing on Saturdays, and today I had un-get-out-of-able meetings this afternoon and we had people over later… So, the morning was all for playing and being. Rachel made a LOT of coffee (helps everything) and some blueberry muffins, and when Julia went to sleep for morning nap I took Caroline to Rocketship Park (which is kind of dad and Caroline’s Park). But, before I left I checked my email.

Now I’m mad. Because… Well, that’s why – I’m not telling you, the anecdote is not about anger, it is about knowing that I didn’t need to check my email. Yea, checking my email drew me into my work life where someone had disappointed me. This blank space is in honor of that email and my thoughts _________________________________________________.

Caroline wanted to swing for awhile (I thought about the email). Then she wanted to climb for awhile (I kept thinking about it). She didn’t want to slide because last time we were there there was a big puddle. Then we went to the sand… Ahh, the sand. I sat on a bench. I know not to, she wants my presence, so I ran in the sand with her. Then we sat in the sand. In the sand I let it go, there was grace in the sand. We hung out. She made some sand angels (snow angels might be too many senses and a bit of fear, btu we are ready for sand angels). We talked about Wall E (I am Burn-E from the short movie, Julia is MO, Rachel is Eva… you might be able to figure out who Caroline is). We watched a train or two. It was neat to watch Caroline learn with her eyes, and no talking, that she could see the train in two places through the trees. Good ole’ Rocketship Park.

I felt myself relax, let it go, etc. Things that are a normal part of living and working and knowing people. But, how much easier would it have been to be present (I’m so good with grammar and words) if I had simply not checked my email? I don’t play video games too much anymore because I realize they don’t actually relax me. I drink more tea. I try to reflect. This last one seems easier when you’re sitting in the sand. Thank you Lord for the grace of the sand. I will try to not check my email next Saturday. Thank you Caroline for continuing to want to play.