The Langbehn-Pond Family ~ the accidental activists

we are in count down mode – hopefully not like NASA and have a scrub. David is back for her final year at Waldorf starting Wed.  Katie and Big D start the following Wed.

David’s football Jamboree is Saturday afternoon.  He’s excited and doing amazing this year – he’ll start as Offensive R tackle and Defensive Lineman.  Katie’s select soccer is going well – and she (we) are hoping she can also do Mid. School Volleyball now that she is in 7th Grade.  Went to her open house for her (and our district)  Aspire Middle School for the Performing Arts.   Staff, Teachers and kids are very excited about this new program.  Will keep all posted on how it goes.

Danielle is ready to start her sophomore year – she made the JV Soccer team this week and has her first game the 8th.  I am very proud of her. Danielle is also signing up to be a Lacey Police Explorer.  I had done a medical explorer program in HS too – I volunteer at Deaconess in Spokane.  That’s when I knew I was good at the medical stuff – but hated blood and needles – and knew I could never be and RN or MD.  She will be able to use the hours as her community service credit for graduation.  She has two more drives at Drivers Ed and then it’s just practicing between now and December 1.

I am going to the orientation to become a Thurston County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate).  I have asked to work with LGBTQ youth if possible and if there are none in care – then I am willing to be the voice for any foster child – especially ones who have been in our system more than a year.  We’ll see how I try to fit that in with running the kids all over for practice, meetings and school.

Another summer is coming to a close – we survived – on we go

peace

a brown ring has been sitting on the white weathered rail

begging me to clean it up

i bring out the can of behr bright white exterior

stirring up the can and stare into the swirling white

dipping my brush in,  slowly begin to cover up the

coffee cup stain that  has been there for 3 years

it’s time, i paint gingerly over the brown the white

glows back at me reflecting the warm sun of today

i see her leaning there on the porch, elbows down

with the coffee mug in the crook of her arm,

dripping the coffee down the sides until the brown stains

into the white paint, watching the kids play in the yard

that was three summers ago

i feel like i’m erasing a part of her by covering the

coffee cup stain.. but i must

on i go

peace

Katie has finished her first soccer tournament with her new soccer team – South Sound Select Futbol Club – The didn’t advance to the finals but did tie in 2 games and lost by 1pt in a third.  She’s pretty exhausted

Danielle is finishing a certified babysitting course and signed up for her “freeway drive” with drivers ed – oh joy

David had his 14th bday party at Lazer Tag and had most of his class there as well as Michael his brother and a couple of friends from our street.  They all seemed to have fun.

Pics have been uploaded and will be available shortly.  Busy week ahead with football practices, soccer practices, dentist appointments and on and on

15 days until David starts Waldorf…  it’s suppose to be hot again this next week – Katie head to the Bay Area on Friday to be with her Aunts to see the Putnam County Spelling Bee that my sister is Directing and Wicked – in SF – that Anna (Patty Duke) is staring in  - which means house seats and back stage access – life is good.

peace

August 12, 1995

our little man was born – not to us but to a mom that has AIDS, was addicted to cocaine, heroin, and alcohol

he was born slightly early

she gave birth and when informed that the little guy had cocaine and alcohol in his system

and CPS would be called – she pulled out her IV’s and left the hospital – never seeing him

you would think the deck was stacked against him

he went into 2 different foster homes, one wanted to adopted him but their marriage failed so he moved

the next one kept him in a highchair most of the day saying he was hard to manage at 14 months and “sick too much”

I still remember the day I met him, picked up his pudgy toddler body burning from a fever of 105 because of two ear infections

drove him to the AIDS clinic in seattle for a check up – they said it was the first time they had seen him “bonded” and sit with an adult

and yet I had known him all of an hour

called lisa on the way home – said get a room ready, I want to keep him.

he was to have a 3 week transition and as soon as the current home found out we wanted him, packed his clothes – all too small for him, some toys

and said “here you go”

we were elated – we brought home our little 17 month old boy – named him David – he didn’t even have a baby blanket or stuffed animal

let him go through the pile of blankets friends had given us and he picked out a teal green one (even though his favorite color was/is orange)

he only had one word then “gee” for the candy the other home would give him in the highchair to keep him quiet

david is a true momma’s boy – and for him – life couldn’t be better because he had 2

he may have delays but no one doubts the caring and true soul of david – he is so amazingly caring for others

it will get him a long way

so to you our baby boy – happy birthday – happy 14 – you are 5 inches bigger than me now – knew it would happen eventually

may all your wishes and dreams come true

love

your moms

here is a good one

done by the Rfamily photographers on board

enjoy

thanks to Carlos for over 1/2 the pictures

enjoy

peace

two and half years is fast approaching -

you would think I would stop counting the anniversaries but can’t

took david school shopping – he is mostly done, he is the easy one

danielle is sort of easy – just picky and katie is the terror

she wants to wear the clothes her petite sister of only 5 feet can wear

hard for her to know she’s taller, bigger etc and doesn’t like my input

we have left several stores when she’s slammed a dressing room door.

we will get through it

still feeling horrible for danielle and her oliver boy – our neighbor buried the 2 paws and fur that was left, I wish I hadn’t gone to verify

more images to invade my nightmares

think it’s time to take a break from speaking – i didn’t meet my own expectation last night – though the crowd was silent and many were moved

maybe it’s because I had friends from oly there? not really sure – just don’t feel like I told the crowd how wonderful lisa was and what a loss

to humanity it has been and how cruelty kept her and I apart – sigh

my sister and her wife celebrate their anniversary this past week – amazing, hard to know I will never celebrate another anniversary with my love

on we go 3 schools, 5 sports and 1 mom – someone said I should get that made into a bumper sticker

maybe I should – but then again not – it’s not me and i’m not good at this

will be posting more pics from Alaska from Carlos soon – he took pics from the kids rafting trip I couldn’t go on b/c of my MS and other pics

from the boat while I spent much of my time in the stateroom this year, just too hard on so many fronts

kids are all at friends’ houses – most parents would be rejoicing.. i think i’ll just go back to bed

peace

coyotes were very close behind our fence early last night.. howling so loud

daisy dog was mad and alerted everyone in the house that she was not pleased with the coyotes being so close

Thursday night I’ll be in Seattle speaking at the Lambda Legal Garden Party

Information on the Lambda Legal site at http://www.lambdalegal.org/events/seattle-garden-party.html

First time I will be speaking in public since the Liberty awards in NYC back in May.

Looking forward to seeing people I have recently met and meeting new folks for my first local talk for Lambda Legal.