Haircut

So I got my hair cut today, but that's not very newsworthy.

What's worthy of note is that Trevor got his hair cut. Or, I should say, HE cut his hair off.

If you're in need of a smile, watch the video below of the self-inflicted haircut.

It's short and sweet, video and haircut alike :-)

Sweet Hair Cut

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Round Here

I like that Round Here song by Counting Crows.

That song, however, has nothing to do with my post. I was just thinking about our "round here."

Monday was quite a day for the Borden offspring.

Offspring #1: Jesse took three big final exams up at Westmont. Yay, Jesse! You are now officially finished with your second year!

Offspring #2: Trevor got his driver's license (!) with his right ear still deaf from the ear infection. (We worried he wouldn't be able to hear the examiner sitting on his right and giving him instructions like, "Turn left at the next intersection.") He's happy! Good job, Truby!

Offspring #3 and #4: Colin and Heather and I spent two hours at the Department of Public Health. We needed to get them caught up with vaccinations before we get back to Africa so Colin got three jabs and Heather got FIVE! She was VERY brave until the 4th jab and then she had a little cry. More tears with the 5th, which, I understand, stung quite badly. Colin was brave throughout, as is his norm. Nicely done, Col and Heath!

Heather has been informing people quite brazenly that she now has five diseases! Well, hopefully she does NOT. Monday we go back for Yellow Fever and the oral Typhoid med. Jesse (Offspring #1) will have to have those too.

Well, that's "round here" for now...

Earache

Trevor is sacked out on the sofa for the second day in a row with a killer earache.

We were at the doctor yesterday morning and again this morning. The specialist this morning inserted a tiny sponge to help wick the medicinal drops down into the area that needs them. (The canal is swollen shut so he can't hear out of that ear, nor can the drops reach their intended area.)

Before she inserted the sponge she said, "I apologize because this is going to hurt."

"OK," Trevor said.

This from the boy who has been on codeine every four hours over the last 24 to deal with the pain. This from the boy whom I never realize is as ill as he is just because he doesn't seem to show it.

In went the sponge and Trevor yelled out quietly but with force. He looked as if he was going to punch the lady. Then he looked like he was going to pass out.

Across town this morning our little niece, Jessica, fell from her scooter and had to have six stiches put into her chin.

What a day we're having around this family!

Johnny and June

Trevor and Heather had the chance to record their version of "It Ain't Me, Babe" this morning.

I know I'm their Mum and completely biased, but it's pretty sweet.

Have a listen here

Many thanks to Michael and Jennifer at Remba Records for their friendship and generous gift of time.

Helping Trevor Become Trevor

Trevor is 17 and finishing up his senior year of high school.

Trevor is a great guy. Even so, Trevor is not yet fully himself. I want Trevor to keep becoming Trevor.

Trevor is Trevor today and he was Trevor yesterday and he will be Trevor tomorrow. But I know that as God made Trevor, he was dreaming of a fully loaded technicolor version that none of us have seen yet.

My job, as Trevor's mom, is to help Trevor become himself.

I don't know the inside track to this. I don't know, as we look together at the university options before him, which place is really going to be the best place for who he is and who he is becoming. I have some ideas. I have some inklings. I have some intuitions.

But they could be wrong and anyway, it is not my place to tell Trevor where to go for his degree.

It's my job to help Trevor find his way.

Father, you were dreaming Trevor dreams as you created him in the depths of me. I think you were smiling and laughing as you thought about the boy/ man you were fashioning. You saw him in your mind's eye, fully formed, fully himself, reflecting you in the way that only he could.

Oh dearest Father, would you please guide Trevor into the path that takes him into the fullness of who you dream him to be? Help Byron and me to be midwives in this process. We want to see him birthed into all you have for him.

We are frail and falable. Steady our hands, guard our words, grace our weakness with yourself.

This is your boy. Our delight... but your son.

17 Today

Happy Birthday, Trevor !

It's awfully nice to be your mom.

We love you!

truby's dilema

trevor's got troubles. he's a sixteen year old blond surf boy in a country of dark haired people. he also plays in a rock 'n roll band and is, in general, just a nice guy. all of this makes him kind of attractive to the young ladies.

girls call trevor. they ring him up. sometimes from other countries. he's always very pleasant on the phone. but i can't tell what he thinks of any of them. i've tried asking him but he's purposely opaque to pester me.

it goes back to almost six years ago when we arrived here in portugal and the whole group of new friends spent far too much of their time together talking about who liked who. i told them that was a waste of time. "stupid talk" i said. so now, if i ask about girls i'm quickly reminded that THAT is "stupid talk." well, it was stupid talk when he was ten. it's my business when he's sixteen.

so yesterday in the car i just asked him straight about one of the young women who is in contact with him. he was vague and funny as usual. but then he revealed the real problem.

"the trouble is, there are no cool christian girls in portugal". (bit of an over-statement but i let it slide.)

"if i go to the states," he went on, "there would be LOTS of cute girls. but the problem with them," he explained, "is that they're ALL americans!"

i objected silently to this as something to hold against a person. i am, after all, an american and i'm nice enough! but he went on...

"and if i went to africa, well, i don't think i'd find anyone there."

he paused for just a second.

"so i think i'm going to have to go to norway for a couple of years after college."

watch out, norway!