An Apology To Apple Inc.

No, you're not having deja vu. This is a follow-up post to this post. Apparently the people at Apple are the most patient people. You see, my iPod Nano (after installing an update through iTunes) began to give me problems. It would play a song and after 30 seconds it would stop, or go into sleep mode.

I was not happy.

So after phone call #2, my iPod was sent away to be "serviced," since the nearest Apple store was about 2 hours away. I was hesitant, as I mentioned in that last post, because I didn't want to have to pay anything, due to the following facts; that my iPod was a) a gift, b) less than 3 months old and c) there was no way I could run (meaning on a treadmill) without it.

My iPod came back, in quite a timely manner, with the diagnosis being; "nothing was wrong with it."

That's like when you go to the doctor's office and they say it's "viral," and "there's nothing we can do." Then you say, thanks a lot and shuffle out of there all sick, as you hand over your money.

Well, there was something wrong! It kept stopping! And I went on to tell her how this was my first Apple product that I owned, and it was a gift and how I didn't want to send it away and...blah, blah, blah, I was about to put the ear bud to my phone so the Apple rep could listen, when she said:

"You do have your ear buds plug, plugged all the way in, right?"

Of course, I do (duh!)

"That means no silver part is showing, correct? You need to push that plug all the way in"

Huh? Wait, yeah there is a silver part showing (fumble, push plug in, hear a "click.") oops... (Hence, Exhibit A, pictured above, the evidence was right on my blog.)

Well, I told her I felt really dumb, because guess what? I had never plugged the ear buds plug all the way in, ever. I also started to apologize profusely for my ignorance with my iPod. (Silly Apple newbie...)

She was incredibly kind and proceeded to tell me that if the plug wasn't completely in, my iPod would think that I wasn't using it, so it would go into sleep mode...after 30 seconds. Good to know.

*crickets*

So, people, what have we I learned here? That Apple products still rock (as do their customer service representatives,) and for those of you who didn't know, push the plug all the way in until you hear the "click." Problem solved. Thanks Apple. Back to the treadmill for me.

Wonderfully Made

I'm a mom to 3 usually healthy kids. I struggle with all things moms struggle with. Yesterday I spent half my day with some very precious children. Children I'd never thought would grab at my heart strings, almost as much as my own children are capable of doing.

A boy born with half a brain, 3 boys whose autism spanned the entire spectrum, a young lady with cerebral palsy, and others whose "special needs" don't even have a name. It took all my mental strength, and at times, me biting down on my lip, to not burst out in tears.

Learning and cognitive disabilities were far from my mind, my focus was on them, as beings. Their disabilities did not hide their endearing personalities.

What can I do to communicate with them? What can I do to help them? What can I do to love them? And then it became instinctive, my love would come out in the form of drool wiping, in handing over crayons so a fifth grader could color a map, love would pour out endlessly, almost as if I was their maternal mother.

As someone who likes to take pictures, it's typical for me to see God's beauty outside amongst the landscape of nature. It's possible at times to feel God's presence in a church setting on a Sunday morning, but if I could describe what I saw yesterday, it was God's marvelous creation in these middle school children.

Later that evening as I ran on the treadmill, my husband said he'd look over and see how hard I was running. I don't typically run hard, I hate exercise overall. I told him I was running from demons, from pain, from my heart that was breaking with those kids' faces on my mind and without question on my heart.

I kept thinking, "God, I love those kids."

My hardships are so puny in comparison, I only have an inkling of what a parent must go through seeing their child in this capacity. How this must weigh heavily in their lives.

My day which was hard on my heart, was perhaps necessary for my spirit. More lessons about thankfulness, blessings, and humility...

I don't know why these children moved me so much, I don't know why I did end up sobbing over them, all I know is they are a product of God's own hands and each of them, with their own personalities, are so wonderfully made.

Bacon Ham Chowder

If it's the end of March, why am I still shoveling? The snow hit us so hard, we had a snow day last Wednesday! On a positive note, these crazy below-average temps are allowing me to cook comfort food for at least another week. Here's a family favorite. (For my friends everywhere else in the country, save this for next winter!)

Bacon-Ham Chowder

Serves 6

1 lb. bacon                                      4 c. whole milk
4 chicken bouillon cubes               1/2 c. flour
2 c. water                                         1 1/2 c. ham, cubed
5 potatoes, cubed                         1 tsp. hot pepper sauce

1 bunch green onions                    cracked black pepper

1 c. carrots, sliced                           1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded

Cook bacon until crisp and set aside. When cool, crumble into bite-size pieces.

Combine bouillon and water in large pan. Heat to boiling. Add potatoes; cover and simmer 5 minutes.

Add onions and carrots and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.

Whisk milk and flour together. Add to vegetables. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until bubbly and thickened.

Add ham, bacon, pepper sauce, pepper and cheese and heat until cheese is melted.

Endurance

I used to think motherhood was about balance. But today as I tried to keep up with my husband's run, I realized that "endurance" was a more accurate word.

There are times when all a mom can do is hang on. Sleepless nights with sick little ones, looking around her home and seeing all that needs to be done, wondering when this ______ will pass (fill in with: weaning, potty training, whining, etc.)

And so as my husband and I set our goal on 2.25 miles, I tried to go faster, thinking, let's be done with this, enough already. But I couldn't hang on, I couldn't keep up.

Sometimes just running the race is good enough. I can deal with "good enough" better than complete defeat.

Some days, good enough is all I've got.

Photo credit - Amana stock photo

What I'm Loving Wednesday

http://www.littledaisymay.blogspot.com/

I'm in love with where I can play my music~

Loving that we have four seasons to enjoy~

I'm in love with everyday beauty~

The comforts of home~

And finding moments like these~

Easiest Snack Ever

I don't know anyone who isn't looking for an easy salty/sweet snack once in awhile. I decided to combine Nutella with Ritz crackers. The combination was great. But don't use a Townhouse cracker, it just isn't the same...

Spread some Nutella on a Ritz and top with another cracker. My oldest said they reminded her of Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies. Hmm.

Simply divine.