It Doesn't Matter How You Look.  It Matters How You See.

Lucky Adam!  He got glasses last week.  After some time of his telling us that he really couldn't see that well, we finally took him in to the optometrist, and lo and behold, he was right!  He's pretty darn nearsighted.  Now I've officially passed on my poor eyesight to half of my kids--Rachel and Adam--which seems about right statistically and genetically speaking.  Karen and Matt were blessed to see more like their dad.  (Mike is still not even losing his up-close vision.  I, on the other hand, am precariously close to reading glasses.)

Adam has been remarkably even-keeled about the whole thing.  He's at an age (almost 14) that I thought it would be very difficult for him to have to get glasses.  Looks seem to be important at all ages in our society, but during the rather awkward middle school years, kids seem to be especially sensitive about their appearance.  However, Adam is so amazed by how well that he can see that he really doesn't care much about how he looks. 

Of course, his smooth transition into glasses made me think of the obvious metaphor:  it's more important how you see than how you look.  I wonder how many times I've missed out on lifting another person because I felt too awkward or wondered if I looked good enough to approach them.  Have I been too preoccupied with my own appearance that I've neglected to see how I can help someone out? 

It has been fun to watch Adam see the world so much more clearly.  I remember that feeling myself.  The world just looked so different with those new specs on my face.  I could actually see leaves on the trees and gravel on the road--WOW!  I also realized that there have been times in my life when I truly believed that I was seeing things clearly.  Then someone (or even just time) would offer me a new insight, and suddenly, the situation at hand seemed much more in focus.  That has reminded me to be a little less quick to judge and more willing to listen to what other people have to say.  And, yes, I'm still working on it.  Probably always will be. . .

From the sports scene:  Matt's team won the Performance Cup here in Boise a couple of weeks ago.  I got to go to all of his Friday and Saturday games.  He doesn't play on Sundays, so none of us went to that game.  His team lost that game, but fortunately, they did well enough in all of their other games to take the cup on points.  I was particularly pleased when they beat an obnoxious team from Montana.  Actually, it was pretty much just one player who was obnoxious, but if that kid had shoved one more of our players in the back when the refs weren't looking, I may have decked him.  (I'm obviously still working on the patience thing.)  Alas, we got no pictures that weekend because of the cold, the wind, and the rain.  I'm hoping that spring will come and STAY in the Treasure Valley soon.

Adam is also enjoying his way too short track season.  He's running the 1600, the 800, and the 4x400 relay.  He ran really well last Friday but came up against two beastly runners from Sawtooth Middle School who ran 5:05's in the 1600--as eighth graders!  Adam had a personal record but was about ten seconds back.  It's nice to see him run so well.  Better still, he seems to really enjoy the challenge and have fun.

I've held back sharing this silly little story for a couple of weeks, but when Mike, Adam, Rachel, and I went golfing a couple of weeks ago, I almost got a hole-in-one.  It was on a par-3, 156-yard hole, and I hit a lucky 5-wood into the wind.  I was surprised when the ball landed this close to the cup.  Mike watched the shot and said, "Hey, that looks good.  That looks really good.  That could be in. . ."  Well, it wasn't in, but I was still pretty excited about it.  I decided I could share my story because it's probably the closest I'll ever get to an ace, and I should enjoy the small pleasures in life.  (No, I do not carry my camera with me, but I did have my cell phone.)

Mother's Day this year was pretty stinky because I had to work 12 hours.  Fortunately, I won't have to do that again for three more years.  However, I did get to talk to my mom in Bulgaria before I started my shift, and I realized again how very much I love her and how fortunate I feel to be her daughter.  I miss her.  We also got to Skype with Mike's mom and dad in Mexico when I got home, and it was fun to wish her a Happy Mother's Day.  I'm grateful that she raised Mike so well.  I also feel grateful for the privilege of being a mom.  I've learned more doing this than in any other endeavor I've undertaken.  Period.  It's great to be a mom!