Amali-Tales

1). When Adrian calls, I answer my phone, "Hey babe . . . " so after I got off the phone with him the other day, Amalia asks, "Was that babe?"

2). She LOVES the song "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt." She likes to sing it with me every night before bed.

3). I was teaching Amalia a 3 part song in which one of the parts goes, "one bottle of pop, two bottles of pop, three bottles of pop . . . " I sang it and then asked Amalia is sing it back to me. She piped in, "one lollipop, two lollipops, three lollipops . . . "

4). She loves to "help" bake cookies and do laundry

5). Amalia is a bit of a drama queen when it comes to bumps and bruises so when she hurts herself, I pick her up, dust her off, give her a hug and tell her, "You'll be ok. See, there's no blood." So the other day we were swimming and I was trying to show her how to do a back flip under the water and I smacked my face on the bottom of the pool. Amalia comes over and puts her arm around me and says, "You'll be ok. There's no blood."

6). The last two consecutive mornings the very first words out of her mouth were, "Mommy, I want to play Candyland." She LOVES this game right now. There is a character called "Gramma Nutt" but she calls her "Peanut Gramnut."

7). Amalia just told me this morning that she likes freckles and wants to someday have freckles like me.

8). While driving around doing errands yesterday, Amalia proclaims (out of the blue) from the back seat, "Mommy, the park makes me happy." I was wondering if this was a hint . . .

9). She loves broccoli right now. Everytime we're in the store, she wants to pick out her own broccoli. She also likes to help me wash it when I'm making it for dinner and later I notice little nibbles out of the top.

10). Yesterday, Luci and I were going over our grocery list of what we need at Costco. Amalia pipes in from the backseat, "And toys! They have a lot of toys."

Rain

I love this little video by Rob Bell. Rain always comes . . . in our lives. It just does. Its a fact. But atleast we know the Lord is near and that He can see the end and knows the way out.

This Is All That I Have

I was having coffee with a friend just recently. She was looking for some answers to relationship issues she is having. So I was thinking of what I could say to encourage her. I am not in the least bit an expert on this. Maybe I could suggest one of those self help books. I have read my fair share of them, mostly christian ones. You know, the ones that have a seven step process to wedded bliss and the ones that tell you ___ + ___ = the perfect life (you can fill in the blanks). The formula ones. Or the ones that give you a list of rules to follow and then everything will turn out alright. To be honest, I have met people who are quite good at following rules, lists and formulas and some of them are jerks. And those books usually just frustrate me more than anything. I finish the book determined to "get it right this time" and then mess up big time soon after and I am back to square one. And on top of that, I eventually forget what I have read and must continually relearn things. Maybe a marriage seminar or retreat? I come away from them so encouraged, but to tell you the truth, as soon as I get home and into the schedule, I slip right back into former ways. Plus, they are really expensive! Maybe I could tell her that she needs to go to church more, listen to hymn cds in the car and find more Christian friends who also listen to hymn cds in the car . . . no, not that either because I don't even listen to hymn cds in the car. So where can she find answers? Are there any answers or are we all just swirling around in confusion only achieving success by pure luck?

The only thing I could come up with worth telling her about is the only thing that has ever brought any transformation in my life . . . that being my relationship with the living God and Creator of all things including me (a.k.a Jesus Christ). The one who came to heal the broken hearted and set the captives free (Isa. 61:1). I'm not talking about going to church and reading the Bible. That would be like saying I'm best buds with Abe Lincoln because I visited his house and read his biography. No, I'm talking about an actual day-to-day relationship with Jesus Christ. He talks to me, I talk to him. Sounds crazy, I know. But when he speaks truth into my life, all of the sudden a light goes on and I am forever set free from that struggle.

I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life. ~Jesus (John 8:12 NLT)

I don't know of anyone else who can do that, so just maybe the answers aren't in a formula or in a set of rules or "religion" and God actually created us to be relational to have our needs met by closeness with him. Just maybe this Jesus is a whole lot bigger than we think and just maybe we can depend him to get us through life.

Pink Umbrella - Part 2

I went to pick up Amalia at Nana's yesterday and guess what she came home with from Wal-Mart . . . yes, you guessed it, a new umbrella complete with princesses and ruffles (Grandparents are such softies!) Later that night when I was putting Amalia to bed and she wanted to pray, I said, "Why don't you thank Jesus for your new umbrella." So she starts praying, "Dear God, thank you for . . . thank you for . . . " and then turns to me and whispers, "I forgot." I whispered back, "umbrella" and then she continued praying, "Thank you God for french fries and my umbrella."

Happy Birthday Mi Amor

This is to you, mi amor. I love you. Thanks for making my life so great! Thanks for providing for Amalia and me and thanks for being the best ever papi to Amalia and husband to me!!!! You are my best friend, a true man of God and the one whom I respect and look up to more than anybody else on this earth! I always think of you first when I need advice, encouragement or a shoulder to cry on. On top of all that, you have an amazing vision and dream that you are couragious enough to follow. I am so blessed.

Faith and Green Onions

Laura is one of my best friends in the world and also my hero at present. She and her husband have left their comfortable, secure lives in New Mexico and have moved to a whole new part of the country to Washington State to plant a church. It is so awesome to see their faith and hear how God is providing. I was cracking up when she wrote me this story. With her permission, I wanted to share it with you:

. . . I am searching for recipes on the internet. We are trying everything we can to save money. I am so not susie homemaker, but you would laugh at the lengths to which we are going. We are planting a garden, baking our own bread, making home made cleaning products. Oh, and the best story is when a few weeks ago I went to make some potato soup. The recipe calls for green onions. I went outside and saw where a previous tenant had planted a million green onions. I was ecstatic. I said "Craig, look, we will save so much money with all these green onions!" I cut them up and put them in our soup. It tasted a little different that night. We described it as "earthy" and "organic" but we were so proud that I had found them outside and not spent money on them. Our neighbor came over the next day and I offered her some since we have so many. Her name is Anna too. She says, "Green onion? Are you sure? You better show me what you ate." She pulled some up and we all died laughing when she let me know that I had picked and cut up garlic bulbs that hadn't matured, and wouldn't mature until July. Um, yeah. I won't be throwing random vegetables from our yard into our food without confirmation of what they are anymore. Hope that makes you smile. . .

Thanks Coach!!

I was recently reminded in 1 Thess. that I should remember to thank those in my life past or present who have encouraged and influenced me for Christ. Then I was given the opportunity when I heard my college soccer coach was being inducted into the National Christian College Athletic Association Hall of Fame. Here is what I wrote to be included in a book given to him at the ceremony:

When I heard you were being inducted into the NCCAA Hall of Fame, I could not think of a more deserving person. Having you as a coach during my 4 years of college soccer as well as working at summer soccer camps at BBC were some of the best times and my most cherished memories. I do not even know how to begin to thank you. Above all, thank you for being faithful to Jesus Christ in everything because through you, I learned more about Him. You always kept our team focused on glorifying God with our lives and through soccer, taught us the essential life lessons of perseverance, endurance, joy, the value of teamwork, etc. I have fond memories of summer soccer camp, pre-season team-building trips (remember the white water rapids trip that turned out to be more like the brown water floating trip in 1998?), bus rides (at times, keeping you awake and praying the bus would make it and driving past the thriving metropolis of Turbotville), championship games and indoor soccer in the winter. I have fond memories of all the wonderfully grueling morning runs (rain or shine . . . or snow!) always in your excessively chipper morning fashion. I came to love those morning runs, and I still jog in the mornings, but it is not nearly as fun without you and the rest of the team. You were somehow always able to work us extremely hard and yet we would have a blast doing it. Actually, I had so much fun that I kept on playing and coaching and I now direct a girls’ soccer program at a soccer club in my area.
Also, I could not thank you without also thanking Mrs. Davis for all the sacrifice, love and support she gave which enabled you to be so great. As time passes, I realize more and more what an amazing blessing and honor it was to be part of your team. I also realize that I am just one of many who could say the same. You have made a huge impact and have left quite a legacy. Thanks Coach and congratulations!!!

Pink Umbrella

This is my conversation with my 2 year old, Amalia this morning while I was getting her dressed.

Amalia: Mommy, its raining outside.
Me: Yes, you're right.
Amalia: We'll need an umbrella.
Me: OK, we'll use an umbrella today.
Amalia: Yes, we need to use an umbrella today.
Me: OK
Amalia: Mommy, I need my own umbrella. I would like a pink one.
Me: But we already have umbrellas.
Amalia: No, I want my own umbrella. I want a pink one.
Me: OK well, we'll see.
Amalia: But mommy, I need an umbrella . . . can I have some apple juice?

Learning Patience

Today Amalia was with Nana and she came into the kitchen and asked Nana if she could have some chocolate covered cherries (an indulgence only nana's can get away with). Nana was busy cooking and said, "Nana is busy cooking at the moment, but I'll get you some in a few minutes. Just be patient and wait." Amalia seemed to be ok with this and went back in the living room. Well, Nana accidentally forgot all about the chocolate covered cherries and about 15 minutes later, Amalia comes back into the kitchen doorway with arms crossed and foot stamping and says, "I'm waiting, I'm patient." Of course, Nana just starts cracking up and Amalia got her cherries!

Searching for Significance

I've been having significance issues lately and I've been doing all kinds of things to try to fix the problem. I've been praying for direction and clarity, I've been trying to get more involved at church, I've been thinking through career paths, I've been looking at grad schools and then prayed some more and all I got was a bunch of road blocks and one answer from God, "Spend more time with me." This was NOT the answer I had in mind. So I completely ignored God and kept striving on my own (*side note: As I look back over all the wonderful things in my life, I have never had to strive for any of them, so what made me think I would need to start now?). And again, all I got was more road blocks and one answer from God, "Spend more time with me." This whole "ignoring God" thing went on for a while and the frustration mounted. I have even lost sleep over this. I kind of thought God's answer was beside the point, but in my heart I knew that it WAS the point. So recently I have given in to God and started spending more time with him and all the sudden I have more direction and peace than I've had for months! Then I came across John 12:43,

For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

And it hit me that my striving was due to my perceived need for praise from people. Erwin McManus in "Wide Awake" says it like this:

God glorifies himself and finds the greatest honor from our lives when we are willing to fail in the eyes of others simply by doing what is right even if it means losing our perceived value in the world. Faith is not measured by success . . . would you choose success in the eyes of others or failure that brings your life its greatest meaning? Sometimes we hesitate to choose the more difficult path even when we know it leads us to the life we were born to live.

I was searching for significance in all the wrong places. In short, significance and success defined by our culture is vain and empty. It will neither satisfy nor give us the peace that we are all looking for. But Christ will. It is such a huge relief to not be under the pressure of the world. This song by Tenth Avenue North says it well and brings me to tears when I hear it.

On Discipline

Ok, now I really am on my little soapbox, but I have been thinking on this lately. I believe children are a wonderful gift from God, but also a great responsibility entrusted to us who require A LOT of time and energy. That said, the longer I have been a parent, the more I realize that you cannot be lazy and be a good parent. I see so many children who are terrors and it weighs heavy on me. I am sad for the children much more than I am sad for their parents. They are not going to be able to live life to its fullest if they are focused only on themselves. Discipline is not a way of controlling a child so parents can have an easier life, it is setting our precious gifts from God up for success in life. All of life is about serving others and when children are taught that they are the center of the universe and parents and others are there to serve them, they will be rudely awakened when they get older and enter the workforce, and it will be painful for them. I discipline because I love my daughter intensely. I want to set her up with truth and character. Cute little sins now turn into big ugly ones later and it is much easier for her to learn the lessons now. But my aim is not to change outward actions (that is just legalism). My aim is her heart. Sorry to get all preachy on you. This is what I woke up thinking about this morning.

Pony Riding and Cookie Eating

Mornings with Amalia

I have quickly figured out that I am the only morning person in our family. My wonderful daughter takes after her Papa in many ways and not being a morning person is one of them. Saturday mornings consist of me sitting on the couch all by myself sipping my coffee and either watching the morning news or reading. This goes on for at least an hour until about 9:00 until Adrian gets up. Then he and I have about another half hour until we start hearing squeaks from Amalia. I know, this would be a dream come true for many moms of bounce-off-the-walls, get-up-at-the-crack-of-dawn kids, but I actually used to want everyone to get up when I did. After a few grumpy mornings and me finally figuring out that not everyone has to be a morning person, I settled for letting everyone sleep. And it is not as if Amalia doesn't get enough sleep. Along with an afternoon nap, she goes to bed at about 8:30 p.m.!
Weekday mornings are always interesting because I have to wake Amalia up at 8:00. "That's not early" you may say, and I well agree, but it is for non-morning people apparently because I give myself an entire half hour to get her up and ready and I am almost always late. I have learned to compromise, and I have learned to be very calm, tranquil and serene. So on to the point . . . I went in to wake Amalia up this morning and in my rehearsed semi-calm, serene way, I said, "Good morning." This is definitely a learned art because after a jog, a warm shower and a cup of caffeine-laced coffee, I am rearing to go and think everyone else should be too. The slits that contain eyes slowly opened and then closed right back up again. She then rolled over and clutched her blanket (luckily, I had spotted her pacie before she saw and hid it under the pillow because if she has that it is ten times harder to get her up). I began gently rubbing her back and said, "Amalia, do you want to brush your teeth?" (this tactic worked for a little while because she LOVES to brush her teeth, but I think she has become wise to it). she winced and rolled her shoulder as if to try to detach my hand off her back and then turned back over toward me and and tried to push me off the bed with her feet. Sensing the grumpiness coming on, I got up and starting getting out her clothes to give her a little more time. You have no idea how much self control this takes on my part. When I was little, my dad used to come in, jump on me and start tickling me ferociously and that is exactly what I want to do, but Amalia will start crying! After I did everything I could possibly think of to give her more time to wake up, I went over and sat on her bed again but didn't say anything. This time she opened her eyes and finally conceded, "Ok mommy, ok . . . be patient." This of course just cracked me up, but I was careful to chuckle quietly under my breath instead of a loud boisterous laugh and said, "Amalia, I love you." She retorted with, "No, I love YOU!" A sigh of relief! I knew then I was homefree and could proceed with the rest of the morning without WWII erupting.
She is only 2-1/2 now . . . I can only imagine the adventures I am going to have when she is a teenager.

Bread for Thought

I love bread. My mom used to laugh at me when I was little because almost every night I would ask if I could please just have one piece of bread and some water before bed. She said I sounded like a refugee. You have no idea how disappointed I was when I found out bread isn't all that good for you, at least eating it at the rate I was. Well my refugee days are over, but I've moved on to bigger and better things . . . namely Panera Bread. It is one of my favorite spots. Ask my husband who has had to endure eating with me at this "chic restaurant" (as he calls it) for the past 6 years. He would much rather eat some steak, but is instead reduced to froo-froo soups, salads, and sammies which of course come with a steaming hot mouthwatering loaf of fresh baked bread. Speaking of bread, I've been ruminating on John 6:34,

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty . . ."

This naturally caught my attention and made made me think. Bread in those times was the sustenance of life. It was essential for survival, not a carb no-no like our current culture. There was no appetizer, main course and desert, it was just bread and maybe some wine to drink. That's it kids! That's what's for dinner! Bread gives satisfaction, life and energy (oh baby does it ever. Just try not eating for a couple days). Of course bread is a metaphor. Jesus is the bread of life because He brings us life through faith in Him! A life that is radically changed into something better than you could ever ask for or imagine. He is salvation to those who want it. What is your salvation? We all have one. Is it success? Is it money? Notoriety? Education? Family or friends? Is it that house with a white picket fence? Anything other than the true life-giving bread from heaven is like eating dirt. It doesn't taste good (unless you don't know any better, but that is a whole other topic), diminishes the quality of your life and will not satisfy. Do you want a life lived fully with freedom and peace, adventure and purpose? Feast on the delectable, super tasty bread from heaven, Jesus Christ, and you will never hunger again.

. . . I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Munch on that for a bit and in the meantime, I'm headed to Panera Bread!

Fun in the Snow

All I wanted for Christmas this year during our visit to Pennsylvania was snow for Malia to play in since we live in Florida and she hasn't seen any since she was 6 months old. Well, I got my wish . . . complete with sledding and snowman making! Here's the evidence. My mom (a.k.a. Mimi) was all ready for us with a snowsuit, boots, hat and gloves so Malia wouldn't freeze her little toes off (Thank you Mimi!). I was curious to know what she would think about the snow and whether or not she would like it. I got my answer the day after our first time out. As soon as she woke up and EVERY morning following that, she would go right over to the window and ask, "We gonna play in da snow Mommy? We gonna play in da snow?" And then in about 10 minute intervals all morning long through breakfast until we were ready to go out, she would ask me again, "We gonna play in da snow Mommy? We gonna play in da snow?"