Guilty Addiction

Here is a little known fact about me that I'm finally admitting publicly . . . I am addicted to lists . . . there, I said it. I LOVE making lists (to-do lists, grocery lists, wish lists, gift lists, packing lists, event planning lists, you name it!) and then crossing things off them. I will even write things down on my list that I have either completed already or am almost done with just so I can put that nice big slash through it! I also put silly things on my to-do lists like, "brush teeth" just so I can mark it off. Like, DUH!!! Everyone brushes their teeth without needing reminded. I have rewritten lists that have become crumpled and dog-eared so I can have a nice fresh new list. I even look at my husband's list and slash things on his that are already done. And yes, I am also the author of his to-do list or "honey-do" list as they say. Isn't that terrible? He hasn't really given me much grief about his to-do list; he is such a nice husband. He just does the stuff on the list. I also love list stationary. They have them in the dollar section at Target and I am ALWAYS tempted to buy more; the kind that have a little magnet on the back so you can stick it to your fridge. But then I remember that I have 3 of them in my nightstand drawer at home (plus, "list stationary" was not on my list), so pull myself away or I buy them for gifts. I used to like post-it notes, but they have become too small for my lists. I also have list codes. For example, "A" means urgent, "B" means get done tomorrow, not urgent, and "C" on my grocery list means I have a coupon for it.
1. I know, I know, this is a serious problem.
2. Is there any help for list addicts?
3. If so, please let me know ASAP! (A)
4. Brush teeth (A)

Things I Am Thankful For:

1. My God
2. Adrian and Mali-Bear
3. Family and Friends
4. Cate (My Wonderful Niece and Answer to Prayer)
5. Crest Whitestrips
6. Living in FL This Time of Year
7. Garlic Press
8. Flip Flops
9. Soccer
10. Gas Prices Going Down
11. Mom's Baked Corn Casserole
12. Jumping Off Cliffs at Rock Run
13. Snow Days
14. The View from Rattlesnake Mountain
15. Christmas Claymation
16. The Wood Stove at Mom and Dad's House
17. Mali's Toys Laying All Around the House (Evidence of Her Presence)
18. Coffee
19. Having an Extra Refrigerator for Thanksgiving
20. Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish
How about you?

Christmas Jesus Freak

Maybe its the fact that I am a mom now and we are thinking through what we want to communicate to Mali and forming family traditions, or maybe its the fact I am just becoming more aware of a world in need, but I have all of the sudden become a sort of Christmas Jesus Freak. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not out on the streets of Tampa clad in John 3:16 with a megaphone shouting to passer-byers to "repent." I'm just passionate about making Christmas about why it originally began in the first place: the birth of Jesus Christ "who came to save his people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21)

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. I John 4:9 NIV

That said, I found this wonderful little DVD that tells the true Christmas story, so I plan on buying it for all the little ones in my life. Christmas is not about materialism, but about blessing someone's socks off! Last year, our pastor told us that the average family spends $1,000 on Christmas gifts each year (yikes, that's a lot for an average), so he challenged us to spend half of what we normally spend, save a fourth and give away the remaining fourth. So that is what our church did and we sent thousands of dollars to build wells in Africa so the people there could have clean water to drink. That is what Christmas is all about.

Hello My Little Smart Girl!

This is Mali's latest read and boy does she LOVE this book. We have read it over and over and over and over and over . . . I also love it too, so I don't mind a bit. Yesterday I overheard her talking to herself, so looked over to see her sitting with this book opened on her lap. She was "reading" it by herself from memory!!! I thought to myself, "Oh well, she knows a page or two . . ." but she knew the whole thing!! I've got to get this on video.

Pumpkin Festival

For those of you who think this blog is worthless without pictures of Mali, here are some to make you happy.

Latest Reads

So I was happily reading Wide Awake, by Erwin McManus when the library called to let me know that the book I requested, How Should We Then Live, by Francis Schaeffer had come in. Well, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to just peek into the first couple pages of Schaeffer, but now I'm hooked. I can't very well read both at once and since I have to return Schaeffer in 3 weeks and I own McManus, Schaeffer won out for my current read. Sorry McManus. I love you and will return to you soon.

St. Maurice

Have you ever heard about a Roman military commander named Maurice? Yeah, neither had I until just yesterday when I happened to read about him. You know Christ's prayer that we as Christians "be in the world, but not of it?" Maurice took this to a whole new level. Back when the Roman Empire ruled the world and Christians were persecuted, Maurice was given orders to direct a persecution of Christians. Instead, Maurice handed his insignia to his assistant so he could join the Christians and be killed as a fellow believer. This took place in the Rhone valley in Switzerland under the mountains of the Dents du Midi. It is for him that the town of St. Maurice is now named. Wow, what strong faith he had! I want to be like that.

Nothing Better in the World

I was just thinking about the feeling I get when Mali runs up to me with arms wide open and gives me the biggest hug she possibly can or when I give Mali a snack or hand something to her and she says, "Choo choo Mommy" which translates to "Thank you Mommy" or at night when I'm tucking her in and she says, "luh you Mommy"or when she first wakes up in the morning and is still a little sleepy and will sit and cuddle with me for a while and let me kiss her hair, or when she sees a booboo on my leg and kisses it and tells me I need a Dora (her word for bandaid), or when she leaves a really loud toot and looks at me and starts laughing and then we both start laughing really hard, or at my soccer games when she shouts, "Go yeyo!!" (I'm on the yellow team) or when she gives me eskimo kisses . . . ahhhhh, that just fills my heart up to overflowing. There is no better feeling in the world.

And Keys!

When Mali's grandfather, Tito, goes off to work each day, Nana always asks him right before he leaves if he has his phone, keys and glasses. She always asks him about these 3 important things because it is a big inconvenience to not have them. Yesterday, as Tito was walking to the door to go to work, Nana noticed he already had the keys in his hand, so asked, "Do you have your phone and glasses?" Mali was there and was sitting watching TV seemingly not even paying attention when suddenly she peeks her head out from the big chair she is sitting on and exclaims, "And keys!!" What a crack up! So young, so smart.

A Nice Little Life

John Eldredge, in his book, Walking With God, says this . . .

I want two things that are mutually opposed--I want to live a nice little life, and I want to play an important role in God’s kingdom. And it’s in those times that I am trying to live a nice little life that I make decisions and choices that cause me in small and subtle ways to live outside of Jesus. The shepherd is headed one direction, and I am headed another. Not some flagrant sin—that’s too easy to recognize. Instead, I’m simply wandering off looking for the pasture I deem best. I don’t even think to ask God about it. A very dangerous way of thinking. As Christians we don’t get to live a 'normal' life, and accepting that fact in all the details of our lives is what allows us to remain in Jesus.

When I read this, it really irked me. . . because it is true and truth sheds light on the dark places in our lives. This is my struggle. Sometimes I want this nice little life. You know, the kind that doesn't involve too much pain or sacrifice. The kind that is comfortable and secure. The kind that comes with things, like a nice house, nice vacations, nice "issue-free" people in my life so I don't have to carry other's burdens, nice things like that (not that these things are necessarily harmful, but they can be if they are the focus). But then I also want to live passionately for Christ. I know that my life is not my own, but Christ's.

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3:2-3

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . . Gal. 2:20

And in the end, I really don't want a nice little life, because there is no such thing. It is a lie from the evil one. There is only the adventurous life found in Jesus or a meaningless, selfish life. Sounds harsh, I know, but it is true.

Choosing Tragedy Over Safety

This is a great quote I just recently came across . . .

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries, avoid all entanglements, lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket -safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy is damnation. The only place you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell. ~C.S. Lewis

Don't Judge Too Quickly

We were on a mission; a mission that took us deep into the indigent neighborhoods of Atlantic City. If you've never been to Atlantic City, you know that although the touristy section is extremely posh, there are also some areas that you should avoid. Those are the areas that we were headed directly to the day my sister and I were on a mission to find recao (the secret ingredient in any good Puerto Rican dish). Recao is awfully hard to find in the north. After stopping at about 4 stores, we FINALLY found it . . . the beloved recao leaves. As we were walking to the car, my sister was explaining to me how we wouldn't want to hang around there at night when a guy (stereotypical for that neighborhood) yells, "Hey, you guys dropped something!" He was holding up a piece of paper that looked about the size of an envelope. Right away, all my red flags went up. I couldn't remember bringing anything with me like that. I quickly looked to see if we had everything we came with. It appeared we did, so I gave the guy a dirty look and yelled, "Whatever!" We got into the car and sped off.
Fast forward about 2 hours. We were in a grocery store in Ocean City when my sister says, "Do you have the grocery list? I can't find it." It then dawned on me that the envelope-sized paper was exactly the same color and size of our grocery list and the poor saint in Atlantic City was just trying to help.

Financial Guru

I never thought of financial magazines as a good read for toddler age children, but apparently I was wrong. When Mali's Aunt Sarah and Uncle Todd came for a visit, Mali sat on the couch with Uncle Todd for over a hour reading with him. She really gets into it too. She even ripped out a couple articles she didn't agree with.

Our Big Helper

Lately, Mali has been our big helper! Here's a couple pix of her helping Papi mow the lawn. She also likes to "help" unload the dishwasher and fold laundry.

Plastic Ice

Today I am very thankful for my icemaker. I know, this seems like such an insignificant thing, but to me, it is WONDERFUL! I happen to love fresh brewed ice tea, but haven't been able to make it very often due to not having ice readily available all the time, and I hate dealing with ice cube trays. That problem is now solved with our new refrigerator which has an ICEMAKER! You have no idea how psyched I am. Now to figure out how to work it . . . last time I had tea, I found little bits of plastic wrap floating around in it. Apparently, I had something wrapped in plastic in the freezer which was pulled into the icemaker and VOILA, plastic ice!

M&M Tax

We have been attempting to potty train Mali. So as a sort of incentive, we give her two M&M's each time she goes. This has been working pretty well. Whenever she goes, I get all excited, shout, "YAY!!!" jump up and down, clap and tell her she gets two M&Ms. So the other day, her grandfather (Adrian's dad), whom she calls "Tito," went to the bathroom. She goes right up to the door to listen (poor Tito, no privacy). As soon as she hears he went, she shouts, "YAY Tito!!! Two M&Ms!" and claps for him. As he is washing his hands, she goes over to Nana to get two M&Ms for him. Unfortunately, both the M&Ms did not make it to Tito. I guess she figured there needed to be a delivery tax, so she ate one on the way and gave one to Tito.

I've Changed

I've changed and I didn't really even realize it. Yesterday, I turned on a Christian radio station I used to like to listen to and agreed with mostly, but I haven't listened to it in a couple years. I was listening for awhile and suddenly realized I didn't agree with this station anymore. The couple programs I listened to painted the picture of Christianity far too negative. It made me not want to be a follower of Jesus. It seemed complicated and burdensome to be a Christain. The whole of Christianity was painted as constantly being worried about sin, falling into it, or trying to stay out of it. Wow, that is not it at all! In fact, that is just the opposite. Christ has made me free from all that and sees me as His precious child without sin (through His grace and Spirit). Being a follower of Christ means being free, declared righteous, not bound by a legalistic system of checks and balances. Check out Galatians 3! Condemnation causes fear and comes from the evil one, but Jesus sets us free and makes our lives bright! The funny thing is I kept listening awhile. I think because I was glad to learn that I've changed.

Jesus at Adventure Island

I've been reading a book entitled Walking with God, by John Eldredge. In it, he encourages us to include God in our day-to-day mundane lives, in every little detail and to really listen to Him (our schedules, small daily decisions, etc.). I thought about this and why not? I mean God wants to truly lead us, and our lives would be a whole lot easier if we let Him. So Adrian and I have been trying this lately. Just a couple weeks ago, we asked Him if we should go to the beach with friends that we've been trying to get together with for ages or stay home to mow a neighbor's lawn who just had a baby. God told us to stay and cut the grass. Although I was glad to help our neighbors, I fretted about the decision for the next week because I felt we had let our friends down and knowing how busy everyone's schedule is, thought the opportunity had completely passed until next summer. It turns out our friends had gone to the beach anyway, had a blast and asked if we wanted to go with them the next weekend. We were so excited, God worked everything out.
Last week, we decided to take Mali to Adventure Island Water Park (yep, we asked God first and he said we should go) and on the way there I was fretting about the fact that we would have to pay for parking and we were only going to be there a few hours. I don't know why I was fretting, but I was. I hate paying $10 to park for 3 hours. So, I prayed that we wouldn't have to pay for parking (it seemed like a silly prayer, but I did it anyways. It felt good to cast my worry on Him). So we pull into the park and the parking booth attendant leans over and says, "Go on ahead, you guys are good to go." I couldn't believe it! Free parking, just like I asked. I was thinking maybe I should ask about our mortgage next . . . haha, no, God is not a genie, but the point of all this is, life is so much easier and more worry-free when we live in God's schedule rather than drag Him along with our schedule. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me." John 10:27 (NLT)

She's All About Kikis

So my daughter, Mali, Adrian and I were sitting at the table the other night waiting for dinner to finish cooking. Because I had already eaten earlier, I was munching on a cookie (in front of my 2 year old daughter . . . what was I thinking?!) Of course, Mali says in exclamation, "KIKI!!" (her word for cookie) This means that 1) she has noticed it so there is no use trying to hide it or pretend otherwise and 2) she would like one. Immediately I realized the error of my ways in eating a cookie in front of her right before dinner and said, "Ok Mali, you can have one right after dinner." I then proceeded to take the cookies back in the kitchen and put them away so they would be of no further temptation. She seemed to be ok with this and dropped the subject (amazingly). The great thing about having little ones is that they have short memories (or so I thought). So fastforward about 20 minutes . . . we had just finished dinner and were sitting at the table chilling. Adrian and I were in a conversation, and Mali was quietly sitting eating her last few bites. Then Adrian says to me, "Oh Babe, do you think I should get her a . . . " and before Adrian could even finish his sentence, Mali turns to him and says, "Kiki" in the kind of voice that says, "Yes, I am paying attention and don't even think for a minute that I've forgotten about those cookies." Adrian and I burst out laughing and Mali got her precious "kiki." The end.