Happy Anniversary

Can't help thinking about my sweet grandparents on what would have been their 70th wedding anniversary.  I'm so grateful for the 60 years they got to celebrate together in this life, but can't help but smile thinking of the insurmountable joy and celebration they are experiencing every moment of eternity.  Everything here pales in comparison.  So thankful that I don't have to miss them in sadness, but can look forward to seeing their smiling faces again!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Okay, so it's not. And with extreme heat advisories the last few days, it's not beginning to feel much like Christmas either! But that's not getting me down! I am bound and determined to mentally escape from the brutal summer heat one way or another.

Today is August 25th. That means there are only 4 short months until Christmas day. Can you believe it? (I'll give you a moment to recover from your mini-stroke...) So much to do and not nearly as much time as you think.


Join me as I launch my brand new blog Countdown To Christmas, and together we can make the most of our time and stretch those holiday dollars!

Here We Go Again

Well, here we are.  Two weeks into the new school year and life is already insanely busy.  If we keep at this pace for the remainder of the year, I'm dreading the impending sickness that will fall on our house in the coming months.  Last year the first illness manifested itself just before Thanksgiving and lasted until May.  Yes, I said May.  Someone in our home was sick consistently from November to MAY!  I don't know about other families, but that's record sickness for us and it was extremely uncharacteristic.

Daniel has now been in school 11 days and has already brought home a stuffy, runny nose that he has graciously passed on to his brother and sister.  As of yet, it seems to be minor and countless prayers are being offered up that it passes quickly.  In the meantime, it's early to bed and extra Juice Plus+ for everyone.

Just in case, I'll be making a run to Target today to buy volumes of PediaCare, Motrin, Benedryl, Dimetapp, Triaminic, Robitussin, Little Noses, and anything else that might come in handy over the next few months!

Things That Only Happen On the First Day of School

The first day of school is a strange phenomenon for parents.  It is faced with a mix of excitement, relief, and dread as you realize that your children are embarking on another school year guaranteed to fly by as fast that those before it.  Regardless of one's feelings about the first day of school.  There are five things that occur this particular day that will not happen for the other 179 days of the school year.

1) Your children will be out of bed on time, and more surprisingly, so will you.  There is something unusually easy about getting up before dawn to get your kids dressed and out the door as soon as possible on the first day of school.  No need to hit the snooze button today.  No chance of accidentally over-sleeping.  It's back to school and you will be there at least 10 minutes before the bell rings.

2) Your child's clothes will be pressed and looking sharp.  If you're like me, this is a rare occurrence for anyone in the household, including yourself.  There are few things I detest as much as ironing and therefore, I purpose to do it as little as possible.  But I realized this morning as I pressed a miniature polo shirt and navy cargo shorts, that I was definitely going above and beyond.  Why?  It's the first day of school.

3) You will provide a healthy and substantial breakfast for your children.   On the first day of school, your child will partake of each of the four basic food groups from the veritable smorgasbord of food you will prepare.  After all, they cannot possibly function and be sustained throughout the day without the proper nutrients on the first day of school.  Every other day of the school year, a cold Pop Tart eaten in the car on the way to school is considered sufficient.

4) You will watch the clock religiously and wonder what your child is doing at each moment of the day.  This is perhaps the most puzzling ritual of the day.  This is largely due to the fact that, for most parents, it will be a matter of mere days before you lose track of time completely and nearly forget to pick up your children from school.

5) You will retire unusually early, exhausted from your extra efforts and knowing full well that the process will begin again in the morning.  The good news is, you can hit the snooze button tomorrow.  It's not the first day of school. :-)

Another School Year

I'm coming to terms with the fact that another school year is upon us.  Yes, only two days until we get back into the "swing of things".  It's a bittersweet time.  On one hand this mother is wishing to see ALL three of her children headed out the door with backpacks on Wednesday morning, after what seems like an eternity of whining, fighting, and sweating buckets.  But on the other hand, the perceived loss of freedom that comes with having to get up and out the door at what seems like an ungodly hour to start school, is disheartening.  At the moment it is 7:30.  My kids are happily munching on peanut butter toast, watching tv, and I am blogging in my pajamas while sipping my coffee.  Aaah, the lazy days of summer.  I'm not quite ready to let go...

Fourty-eight hours from now, I will be a giant ball of stress, throwing lunch and school supplies in a backpack, shouting orders for kids to get shoes on, and mercilessly brushing through a rat's nest of curls to get my three kids presentable enough to take just one to his first day of school.

How much enjoyment can I squeeze out of these two days before they're gone?

Santa's Birthday

We started a new tradition today and it's one that's going to stick!   In the aftermath of yesterday's holiday shopping extravaganza, I decided to do something special with the kids on July 25th.  They are still too young to understand the  "Christmas In July" concept (as are some adults, evidently.  I pity them)  A couple weeks ago, completely out of the blue, my oldest posed the question, "Mom, when is Santa's birthday?"  Please note that I am aware of the correlation between Santa and St. Nicholas, whose birthday is traditionally recognized on December 6th.  However, seeing an opportunity for something fun to break up the monotony of the summer months, I decided that our family would celebrate Santa's birthday on July 25th.

The morning started with green and red scrambled eggs, a piece of fruitcake,  and a knock on the door.

On the doorstep we found a gift and a letter from our mischievous Christmas elf, Alfie.  Alfie was with us the entire month of December, sending reports to Santa on good behavior and finding his way into all kinds of trouble!  Alfie's letter described Santa's birthday celebration at the North Pole and came attached to a wonderful gift the whole family could enjoy.

After breakfast, I lit my favorite Christmas candle and turned on the Christmas tunes.  As we listened to Bing, Dean, Frank, and Nat, we made ornaments for our trees and colored holiday pictures.  We also watched the first of our Christmas videos, which the kids were anxious to see- How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Lunch time was uneventful, something I think will change next year, and afterward my own little elves headed to bed.  D and I made some red and green popcorn and settled in on the couch for our Christmas movie- The Muppets Christmas Carol.  It was brand new for him and became an instant favorite, which is great news for this Muppet fan!

When our movie ended, we broke out our new gift, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for Wii.  (Buying holiday items off of Amazon in the middle of the Summer can be very economical, by the way.  Paid less than $5 for this brand-new game)  It was a hit!

We're finishing supper and the kids are eagerly anticipating their reindeer cupcakes.  We'll end the night with baths and Christmas books before bedtime.

Who knows how long we'll be able to celebrate Santa's birthday.  Either way, July 25th will be a special day in our home.  I can hardly wait for next year!

Christmas In July

My mom and I celebrated our 5th annual Christmas In July over the weekend.  It has quickly become one of my favorite days of the year and is in danger of pulling ahead of the day after Thanksgiving.  What is Christmas in July you ask?  In our world it consists of two grown women, plastered to the television ogling everything Christmas from decor to gift ideas on QVC.  It includes wonderfully smelling candles, Christmas cookies, a pine cone (our family's favorite Christmas appetizer), pots of coffee, and piles of Christmas idea books.  It's our day to get a jump start on our holiday shopping and planning and we love it!

We've been told on more than one occasion that we're crazy, but I think the word "crazy" is highly relative.  To me, crazy are the people running around like headless chickens the month of December, stressed to the max and burning up their credit cards to buy gifts in a pinch. 

What was accomplished this year amid lots of laughing and even more eating?   Gifts for eight teachers and the school office staff, a present for my sister-in-law, and I managed to pick up a couple goodies for myself- all from the comfort of my parent's living room.  All in all, I'd say it was a successful day!

Birthday Boy!

Happy birthday to you!  Happy birthday to you!  Happy birthday dear Daniel...Happy birthday to you!

Today is our baby's birthday and the day can't pass without my thoughts turning to those events six years ago that brought him to us. I can scarcely believe that it has been so long.  So many milestones have been passed and so many memories have been made.  My baby is not a baby anymore. He looks more grown up.  He acts more grown up.  And more and more often, as I look at him, I see glimpses of the man he is going to be.  Somehow, it manages to make me so happy and so miserable all at the same time.

Daniel, you are an incredibly gifted, talented, witty, charming, tender, and loving boy.  You make us so proud!  We couldn't possibly love you any more!!!  Happy birthday, buddy. 

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Birthday Fails

There is a buzz in our home this week as we prepare for our final family birthday celebration of the year.  Our baby boy turns six on Thursday and he, more than anyone else, is giddy with excitement. 


I, on the other hand, am much more apprehensive this year.  Our poor kid has had some pretty rough birthdays in the past few years and I'm just hoping this year will end the curse of bummer birthdays for my sweet boy.


Birthday 2009, we celebrated early with a big party at Chuck E Cheese, which I think was more of a bummer for me, just 3 weeks out from giving birth to our youngest.  On Daniel's actual birthday, I arranged to take him to his very first movie.  I had planned to have a family celebration that evening, but when we got home from the theater, everything changed.  Isaiah, who was only 23 days old, had been having trouble keeping his formula down.  It had lasted for a good week and we were under the impression his sensitive stomach just needed a gentler kind.  But that day, I decided to call the doctor to ask a few questions and was told, under no uncertain circumstances, to immediately take him to the emergency room at Phoenix Children's Hospital.  Panic set in and we were in motion.  Hours into the process, I realized our poor birthday boy wasn't having his celebration that evening.  Isaiah was admitted, we spent a restless night at the hospital, and handed our newborn over for surgery the next day. 


Birthday 2010-  On the heals of the previous birthday debaucle, we wanted to avoid any disappointments (and medical emergencies, I might add).  Daniel was turning 5 and starting kindergarten shortly thereafter.  This birthday was a big deal!  For months we planned and made arrangements to surprise him with a trip to Disneyland.  When the day came, his grandparents came for cake and presents.  The next morning, we woke him up and told him we were going on a trip.  He had no idea where, but being alone with Mom and Dad kept him from caring.  We arrived at the hotel and showed him Disneyland through the window.  He was ecstatic!  This was going to be a birthday to remember!  Was it ever......
Moments, and I mean MOMENTS later, we found a couple of red spots on his arm and one on his cheek.  Thinking he had been bit by a mosquito, we continued on with our plans.  Dinner in Downtown Disney, shopping at the Disney Store, and endless hours of jumping on the bed.  But the morning light dawned on another birthday disaster.  Daniel's face, arms, and legs were covered with red welts.  Before breakfast we were headed to an Urgent Care to get hims some cream and an antibiotic for what I was convinced was Fifth disease.  To understand the level of misery of this particular occasion, one has to be familiar with Daniel's extreme phobia of doctors.  The mere mention of the phrase "doctor's office" had sent him into a sheer panic, not to mention the fact that the doctor visit was now in liew of Disneyland itself.  We arrived at the urgent care only to find out that he was having a serious allergic reaction and a shot of antihistamine was the only alternative.  We had officially entered the ninth circle of Daniel's own personal hell. We pinned a screaming, panic-stricken, 5 year old to the table, and the nurse administered the injection.  Ten minutes later we were in the car and headed to "The Happiest Place On Earth" in complete silence.


I face this week with trepidation and hope that we can manage to avoid illness and all contact with medical professionals. 

Dora Undies

I remember fondly a time in my life when I would get excited only when something out of the ordinary and truly delightful happened. Graduating from high school.  That was exciting!  I won a radio contest once.  That was exciting!  Landing my first job.  That was exciting!  Getting engaged. Exciting!!!  Buying our first house.  Do you get the point?


I'm a "little" older now and have come to realize that life is a little less exciting and yet, for the oddest reasons I find myself in moments of sheer and uncontrollable delight as if Ed McMahon just appeared on my doorstep with a sweepstakes check.  And seeing as he has been dead for quite some time, that would be extremely exciting...or disturbing. 

I digress.


I found myself in such a state last week and, in the midst of my celebration, realized just how much my perspective on excitement has changed.  What was I in jubilance over?  My 3 year old going to the bathroom on her own.

Now, in my own defense, this mother has been in a constant state of diaper changing for the past 6 years so the fact that this single event moved me one step closer to a diaperless existence was a very big deal.  I would be less than candid, however, if I didn't express that my joy was momentarily interrupted by a revelation of the fact that I have now been denigrated to celebrating basic bodily functions.  

Gone are the days of relishing in the traditionally "exciting".  New adventures, surprise gifts, world travel?  Nah.  I'm euphoric over Winnie the Pooh potty seats and Dora undies. 

Or perhaps, I'm just enraptured by the little girl who wears them.

A "Few" Thoughts on the Subject

My husband and I were enjoying a leisurly evening last Sunday night, relaxing and watching television when our program was interrupted with news that Osama Bin Laden was dead.

Two things happened immediately. My heart and mind were reminded of that fateful day, almost ten years ago, when I was getting ready for work and news splashed across my television about the planes flying into the Twin Towers. I thought about the families of those victims in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. For them, I was glad. I was proud of our country. I was proud of our Presidents, both past and present. I was proud to be an American. I saw Twitter and Facebook explode with joyous exclamation of victory and celebration. And then something else happened.

Slowly, one by one. Comments started being made about the ungodliness of rejoicing in the death of the wicked (a portion of Ezekiel 18:23 was repeated over and over again). Christians starting faulting other Christians for their joy and I got angry, very angry.

I thought my anger was the response of my natural self and a bi-product of the emotion of the event and that it would pass. But the next day, as more and more of these "entries" started to pop up and believers started jumping on the proverbial bandwagon it continued to grow. Questions about the United States right to carry out such an action were posed. And the word "hypocrite" was being hurled at Believers who didn't "mourn over this lost soul".

We know that it is the Lord's will that none should perish, but that all would come to repentence and faith (2 Peter 3:9) and as followers of Christ this should be our loftiest goal. But there is nothing unbiblical about rejoicing in the victory of good over evil. I was stunned at the number of people saying how we should "Love our enemies". Indeed we should! We are commanded to. That's easy to do when your enemy is dead. I wonder how many of my brothers and sisters, who are so quick to call "hypocrite" were loving Bin Laden when he was alive. Love is an action, isn't it? Love isn't something you feel, but something you do. How many believers were combing the caves of Tora Bora searching for Bin Laden to minister to him while he was in hiding. How many Evangelism Explosion groups were pounding the pavement in Pakistan to lead him to salvation? How many Christians in the United States were on their knees daily over the past 10 years praying that Osama Bin Laden would come to faith in Christ Jesus? I don't know the exact number, but I'm certain, if anything, it was small. That's how you love your enemy. You don't wait until he is dead and then condemn others for having a smile on their face as a result. We need to be mindful of casting out the title of hypocrite. In my experience, it's those who choose to use it first that are the guiltiest of all.

Another thing that occurred to me was that, in all the discussion, there was no mention of the sovereignty of God. As if the United States acted outside of His will. Are we that naive, or dare I say arrogant, to believe that our country had any power to do this apart from God? Regardless of whether one thinks our country is honoring God, we must remember that God is in control. He sets up kings and deposes them (Daniel 2:21)He has determined the length of each of our lives. We will not live one day more or one day less than He, the Creator, has set. This included Osama Bin Laden. We have to consider the "possibility" (I say that tongue in cheek) that the omnipotent God, in his sovereignty, knew the depths of Osama Bin Laden's heart and the reality that while Christ indeed died for him, he would never accept that truth and turn from his wicked ways. (Don't bombard me with arguments for or against Calvinism at this point. Regardless of your own personal school of thought, not one person comes to Christ to the Father's surprise). Is it really so difficult to see that if God's purpose for Osama Bin Laden was to come to salvation through Christ and spend his remaining days leading lost, Islamic militant boys to the Lord that he would still be alive today? If that day was not his last day on this earth, no highly trained group of US Navy Seals, no predator drone, no nuclear device could have taken him out.

I agree that while the average American danced in the streets celebrating victory and revenge, that our hearts should have been aware of this poor man's fate and stirred by it. But we can still celebrate. We SHOULD still celebrate. Americans tend to have a very ego-centric world view. We are a super power. We are a force to be reckoned with. We can face any challenge and come through stronger. We are right and you are wrong. It is arrogance and I personally believe we will see in days and years to come exactly how weak and vulnerable we are. (But that's a post for another time) I am proud of my country. I love being an American and I thank God every day that I was blessed to be born here and have the life that I do, but Osama Bin Laden's death was not our victory. Yes, the United States was used as a tool and I am grateful to our leadership and commend our stellar military and intelligence community for their amazing work! But this battle is not ours to win.

In all the discussion of the "proper Christian response" to Osama Bin Laden's death, I've not heard one mention of the fact that he was first and foremost an enemy of the Jews. He hated Americans. Why? Because of our alliance with and involement with Israel. He despised us because of our presence in the Middle East and defense of a nation he was bent on destroying. He was an enemy of the Jews and of their God. America plays a supporting role in a battle that was waged in Genesis and the world has been fighting ever since. Those of us who are so quick to point the finger over the celebration of this man's death need to remember that this battle is the Lord's and he will come to the defense of his chosen people. We have been witness to this. The Sovereign God, the Creator of the Universe, who Was and Is and Is to Come intervened on behalf of his people and reigned victorious. For that we should take to the streets in celebration. Our God reigns!

Birthday Trouble

In my last post, I mentioned something of a conundrum that I am in the midst of over the birthday of our youngest son, Isaiah.  Now, I realize that he is only going to be two years old and most likely doesn't give a rip what kind of birthday he has.  However, seeing as I am running out of time to make these decisions exclusively, I intend on making the most of them.

I decided on Sofia's birthday theme when I happened upon an adorable castle cake in a magazine I was thumbing through.  Much to my surprise, it looked "doable".  So, I went with it.  I purchased her party decorations from  Birthday Direct and decided to order Isaiah's party goods as well to save on shipping (seeing as their birthday's are little more than a month apart).  I spent quite a bit of time pouring over birthday themes and decorations- everything from Mickey Mouse to fire trucks and landed on monkeys.  Before making my decision, however, I had to figure out what kind of a cake I could make to go with our theme.  (Have I mentioned my OCD?)  After running a random search for "monkey cakes", I came across this masterpiece.  I fell in love and we were moving along full steam ahead.

However, in the last three weeks or so, Isaiah has absolutely fallen in love with Elmo, whom he lovingly refers to as "La La".  It took me a while to figure out why until this dawned on me one day as Zay freaked out about seeing La La on his diaper.  Elmo's Song 

How stinkin' cute is that?  But now, this obsessed little boy (no, I don't know where he gets that from) goes ballistic whenever he sees Elmo.

Therein lies the basis of my enigma.  Do I do what I feel is the selfish mom thing and go with the monkeys or do I bag the monkeys and start over fresh with a La La party.   Have I mentioned I already have an Elmo cake pan from Daniel's second birthday party?   Perhaps it's not the selfish mom thing.  Could it be it's the practical mom thing?  Anyone?  Anyone?

Christmas In the Air

Okay...it's not. The air is currently still flooded with pollen and each day becomes increasingly warmer as desert temperatures continue to rise and summer officially approaches. Tomorrow June begins- the hottest month of the year in Arizona when temperatures can reach in excess of 115 degrees during the day. Dreading. Dreading. Dreading.


In our household, we are still in the midst of our family "birthday extravaganza" that commences each year in April and lasts through the end of July. It sounds better than it is. That's just my way of saying we have a birthday every month in our home. I like to throw the word "extravaganza" out there periodically just because I can.


My husbands birthday was a success, as was Sofia's princess party. Next up, Zay's 2nd birthday which I am currently in a conundrum over. More on that later. But the lapse in time and the lack of preparation, based on the aforementioned conundrum, has got my mind wandering ahead several months to the holiday season.


It happens every year. The temperatures rise and I long for shorter days with cooler temperatures, for things like stew, oven-baked meats and creamy casseroles, for spiced candles and cozy sweaters.


In my traditional obsessive compulsive way, I begin planning for the holidays in August. Which despite criticism from skeptics has proved VERY successful and, may I add, is extremely beneficial to our budget. Faithfully, on July 25 each year, my mom and I take leftover Christmas cookies out of the freezer, light a deliciously scented candle, pour ourselves a cup of tea, and settle in on the sofa for Christmas in July on QVC. We buy very little, but it has become a beloved tradition and I don't intend on giving it up very...er...uh...okay...EVER!


Yet I cannot keep my mind from wandering there even now, almost two entire months early. There's so much to do and plan in the meantime, so I guess Christmas is going on the back burner...for now. It will arrive in due time. But don't judge me if I sneak a whiff of my Christmas wreath candle periodically or you catch me humming Carol of the Bells.

2011 Reads Update

It's Memorial Day weekend and we are nearing the half way point of the year.  With only a few weeks to go, I decided it was in my best interest to evaluate my reading progress and see what I need to do to maintain momentum.  That last sentence is code for "look at the list of books I was supposed to have read and have not and cram as many of them into the next four weeks as possible". 
 In my defense however (you knew that was coming), I have read books.  But like everything else in life, I've been distracted from my goal.  This is the result of a few things.  Number 1:  My children still live with me.  This will be the excuse I use for the next 12-16 years.  It is valid.  Get used to hearing it. Number 2:  My dear husband, after dealing with his inevitable remorse for the "You're not a reader" comment, did in fact buy me a Kindle for my birthday.  I am happy to say that I love it and use it often!  However, it posed a problem I didn't anticipate.  I now feel guilty reading anything other than my Kindle for fear that he will assume I'm not interested in it anymore and revert back to his previous opinion regarding my affection, or the lack thereof,  for literature.  Furthermore, I cannot bring myself to purchase Kindle books that I have sitting on my shelf.  Number 3?  Evidently I have guilt issues.  This is a topic for another time.


All that being said, I am happy to report that I have finished the following books:
Stuff Christians Like by Jon Acuff (frighteningly accurate, but did make me laugh out loud on more than one occasion)
Crazy Love by Francis Chan (not funny in any way, shape, or form, but completely alters the way you look at your relationship with God and will challenge you to change the way your faith looks to others)
So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore (about 1/3 of the way through this one- Wow!  Dealing with some issues I never knew I had and some I did.  Tough stuff)


I've also begun  reading Extravagant Worship by Darlene Zschech, which is on my original list and am working my way through Fearless by Max Lucado.   I'll tell ya, it's not like tackling J.I. Packer or Charles Spurgeon, but that's some heavy reading right there.  I think I'm going to need to take a break from the soul-searching next and read Calvin and Hobbes or something equally mindless.

Short-term goal?  To finish So Long, Insecurity and Extravagant Worship by the mid-year point.  Which means, it's time to get off the computer, grab a cup of coffee and get reading!

Today

In the words of my sister, "I'm a little sad today".  Can't think of a better way to put it.  It was a year ago, today, that my precious grandma went to be with the Lord.  And although, I am confident in that, it stings a bit today.  Therein lies the ultimate dichotomy of the human soul.  Hope and promise of what is to come amidst the pain and anguish of loss.

I don't think I'll ever forget the call I received on May 26th, 2010.  Fortunately I was up  and ready for the day, knowing I'd be heading out at some point.  My aunt and uncle were already in town and we were all anxious to spend as much time at my grandma's bedside as possible.  My cell phone rang and sweet Doris from my grandmother's home told me I wanted to get there as soon as possible.  I called a friend to watch the kids and almost literally threw them in the car.  I was not a quarter mile from my house when Doris called again.  "Sweetie, she's gone."  Those three words, spoken is such love and compassion, ripped a giant-sized hole in my heart and I'll never forget the exact moment I heard them.

I'll also never forget what happened over the course of the following hour and the overwhelming peace that flooded my wounded heart.  For the tears of sadness and joy that my family was able to share as we cried and laughed our way through the morning, rummaging through pictures that characterized my grandma's life.  We grieved with hope.

I've done that a lot over the past 12 months and even found myself smiling at the thought of what both my grandparents have experienced.  This year that has seemed so long at times and yet so short at others, has not bound them.  They've not once looked at a clock or wondered what's taking so long.  I'm sure neither one is thinking, "has it already been a year?"  My finite mind cannot grasp what they see, hear, and feel.   I'm beyond thrilled that I know they are together and that I will see them again- whole and perfect.  I cannot wait for that moment!

But, I'm a little sad today...

Praying for Martha

It was a quiet evening at home Sunday when I picked up my phone and began reading reports of a devastating tornado that ripped through the town of Joplin, Missouri. A town, that until that moment, I had never heard mention of before. After our brief stint in "Tornado Alley", my heart breaks for those who suffer such tragedy. The sound of tornado sirens piercing the black night is terrifying and the destruction left behind horrific. We were blessed to remain out of the path of destruction but I remember the sights, driving down the I-30 through Benton, AR, after a tornado touched down in the Spring of 2008- cars mangled, billboards shredded, houses destroyed. As a result, my sensitivity to victims of tornadoes has heightened considerably and I began to pray for the safety and recovery of all those in Joplin.

The following morning was busy as usual, breakfast, laundry, cleaning. I sat down for a stint in front of the computer to check my Facebook page and got curious. In typical Facebook stalking fashion, I began searching for random friends and distant family members. As I searched for one such friend, named Martha, a result quickly appeared on the screen. Not only did it appear, but somehow how the link opened and I was taken immediately to her page. I noticed little more than her name, which was identical to the gal I was searching for. But underneath it is what caught my attention. Her location? Joplin, Missouri.

You don't have to have a relationship with God long to realize that he moves in ways that, while they may not make sense to you, are purposeful. And I believe with all my heart that this was a God-given appointment. There I was, virtually face to face with someone I'd never met in a town ravaged by a tornado only hours before.

I don't know Martha personally. I don't know if she is alive, if she's injured, if she lost a loved one, or if she is among those aiding victims. I may never know. But I will continue to lift her up in prayer as often as her name comes to mind. Please join me in praying for Martha.

Best. Purchase. Ever

As mentioned in our Year in Review post, at the beginning of December, my sister and I took our mom to New York City for her birthday. It was something we had been dreaming about our whole lives and planning for over a year and half.

My mom grew up and worked in and around the city. As a child, her parents would take the family out to dinner and to Radio City to see the Rockettes as part of her birthday celebration. This was our goal and it was FANTASTIC!

In addition to our show at Radio City Music Hall, we had several other "must dos" on our list which included afternoon tea at The Plaza, Christmas shopping at F.A.O Schwarz, pizza in Little Italy, and of course Bloomingdales!

I wanted so badly to come home with a "Brown Bag" even if it was only a little one.  But, we did better than that.  Not only did I come home with a "Little Brown Bag", I came home with what is now one of my favorite purchases of all time...

My Bloomingdale's mug!

Now, as I sip my coffee each morning, I am reminded of our wonderful trip and the special time spent in an amazing city with my even more amazing family!

Best.Purchase.Ever.

Thursday Clothes

It has come again. Thursday. It's never been my favorite day of the week. Let's face it. Is there a day that we wake up feeling worse than Thursday...4 days into our work/school week?

However, over the past few months, Thursdays around our house have evolved into a respite of sorts, following what is generally a fairly busy beginning to the week. Thursday is my day to play catch up on laundry, cleaning,organizing, and do I dare say blogging? I don't like to make plans on Thursdays unless they involve staying home. On Thursdays hair usually doesn't get brushed, make-up is seldom applied, meals consist largely of leftovers, and our apparel is something I now lovingly refer to as "Thursday clothes".

Thursday clothes are a lot of things. Thursday clothes are comfortable. Thursday clothes are roomy. Thursday clothes can get dirty. Thursday clothes occasionally coordinate. Thursday clothes are things I would not be caught dead wearing out in public.

Thursday clothes are NOT stylish. Thursday clothes are not always the right size. Thursday clothes don't always come out of our own closet (some of my favorite Thursday clothes are baggy t-shirts I pull from my hubby's dresser). Thursday clothes are not flattering.

But, oh how I love my Thursday clothes! We all have them. Thursday clothes are the t-shirts you have had since college that are so soft and comfy that you don't care about the holes you've worn in the front. Thursday clothes are the baggy bottomed sweat pants that are so roomy and comfortable, but that your husband does not find sexy.

We all have, love, and need our Thursday clothes. They are an outward expression of the comfort, warmth, and simplicity that we crave so much during a busy week. Yours may be Monday or Friday clothes. Whatever day is yours to slow down, throw on your clothes and enjoy your day!

A Random Act of Kindness

Please take a moment to read the following story, written by my husband, and prayerfully deconsider how you may contribute to this cause.

Do you ever wish you could find a meaningful way to make a difference in someone's life? For me, the feeling is pretty constant. On many occasions I have this aching feeling as I see people on the street or hear about someone who is hurting, but for some reason I lose interest or just get caught up in my own agenda. Many times I catch myself telling Eileen that I "wish I could do something" or "if I had a million dollars I would just give this person what they needed". Today I came across this situation and I wanted to share the story of a man named Teshita.


Last night I set aside about $10 with the intent of getting my shoes shined at the airport on my way to NJ for work. The truth is that I have never had my shoes shined before and thought I would treat myself to this luxury. I think it had something to do with the fact that I had been upgraded to 1st class for the first time in my life and thought I'd perpetrate the image of a succcessful business man as much as possible.

After I purchased my high end cup of coffee I went to sit "on deck" in the empty shoe shining chair while Teshita was finishing up work on a rather scuffy pair of brown shoes that belonged to a chatty middle aged man. This man couldn't stop asking Teshita about the village he came from in Africa. I overheard Teshita explain how he comes from a farming community and that because of the drought finding work was especially difficult. Teshita seemed to just respectfully agree with the man's opinions of the progress made in that part of the country and kept right on working.

As soon as their transaction was complete Teshita gave me a warm smile and got right to work on my shoes. I made a conscious effort to not talk for some reason, maybe I figured that he could use the break from the empty chatter. To my surprise Teshita's raw emotion transcended his broken English and grabbed my attention right away. He told me how the last few weeks have been really hard to get through and after speaking with the last customer he was reminded of how much he misses his wife and infant son who were back in his tiny village in Africa. He told me how he was selected in an immigration lottery 2 years ago and that he jumped at the chance to come to the USA to earn a living so he could support his family. He went on to tell me that his only option right now is to shine shoes partly because of the job market but also because he has some physical challenges as well. It was at that point that I noticed his crooked legs...it's funny what you don't notice when someone has a smile on their face isn't it? I asked him how long it had been since he saw his family...Teshita immediately gave me the exact figures - 22 months 2 weeks etc... He said his son was a newborn when he left. I probed a little and he said it's too expensive to fly back - a ticket costs about $2000. Teshita told me he makes $1 per shoe shine plus tips so it's not easy to raise the money. He told me that he would drop everything and go home today if he had the money but that it's just not possible.

It was at this point that my heart broke and he must have noticed the look on my face at the mention of missing his son's first 2 years. I mean the only thing holding him back is a couple of thousand dollars?

- What a difference could we make in not only this man's life but in the life of his family?
- What would it mean to his son when he is held in his father's strong and loving embrace for the first time in years?
- How special would that first kiss be when he sees his wife after all this time? I wish you could have seen the joy and surprise in his eyes when I gave him a generous tip. I want to share this feeling with anyone who wants to be part of helping him out. Trust me - it will be an investment with great rewards. How about we practice love instead of talking about it?

Eileen and I have already started a fund for him - we are throwing in the first and last $100 and I am determined to send this man home. If you feel compelled to make a difference let me know. I'm collecting anything that can help him out. Maybe you can spare $20? Or maybe you can get a ticket from Az to Africa for cheap?
Please let me know what you are willing to do and we'll figure it out!

Happy February

I absolutely LOVE this time of the year and, in addition to my unhealthy affinity for the holiday season, I look forward to it every year. There is something about the slight increase in temperature, the arrival of the scent of the orange blossoms in the air, and the anticipation of what's to come that ignites something in my soul.

February has always been an eventful month. It's the month of my birth and the month of our anniversary, which always give me something to look forward to- lots of celebrations and, let's just be honest, hopefully some gifts here and there.

I love presents! Not expensive presents (although they can be utterly wonderful), ANY presents. My love language is gifts, so I always look forward to feeling especially loved this time of year, regardless of the fact that the holiday of love, Valentine's Day, is often boycotted in our home (sounds like an upcoming blog post in and of itself).

But the things I look forward to this time of year aren't wrapped and aren't usually surprises. It's the comfort of the familiar that I love. The holiday season is over and the natural feeling of letdown that follows all the excitement of it has passed. Our family seems to be healthier. The sun shines a bit brighter and warmer during the day- just warm enough to don some short sleeved shirts and bust out a pair or two of flip flops. The smell in the air is cleaner and can be enjoyed by opening the windows in the afternoon. I previously mentioned the smell of the orange blossoms that, while causing me to sneeze relentlessly, lightly fragrance the air. Strawberries come back in season. And let's not forget the Girl Scout Cookies!

I think what is so beautiful about February, especially growing up in Arizona, is that it truly is the onset of our Spring- temperatures in the 70s, flowers beginning to bloom, there is a sense of renewal. It's something we want to hold on to because we know that as the rest of the country ushers in Spring in the months to come, our summer looms on the horizon.

So for now, I'll just open the windows, take a breath of warm fresh air (grab a Thin Mint), and enjoy!

Happy February everyone!

Soup and Apples

Sometimes it's the little victories that mean the most.

I used to set the bar unintentionally high for myself saying things like, "My kids will eat only organic food, lean meats, leafy green vegetables, and whole grain breads." Life experience and a firmer grasp of reality have taught me that plan was naive and......well, stupid. Kids are kids. They like hot dogs and macaroni and cheese out of a box (a very specific box). They like McDonald's and Oreos. They prefer plain white bread, processed cheese, and, for the most part, they do NOT like leafy green vegetables. While my intention is to keep my kids healthy by feeding them the right kinds of foods, this battle inevitably has a negative effect on my own health and well-being by increasing my blood pressure, creating unnecessary tension in my muscles, and giving me a headache. And seeing that the goal of making my family eat healthy is that I can avoid dying prematurely of a stroke and/or heart attack, I've had to make some changes.

So, what do I do? Typically hide green leafy vegetables in other dishes or add them into items that can be smothered in ketchup. I buy bread that they'll eat and make pancakes with whole wheat flour which can be hidden under syrup. I do my best, but have chosen to choose my battles wisely. Let's face it...most days we're just glad our kids are eating. Period. Which is why my heart smiles a bit when I can steer them away from the "usual" and serve them something like homemade soup and apples for lunch. It's a small victory but on days like today, I'll take what I can get.

"Mom, I Want to Move to a New House"

I'm coming to terms with the fact that this phrase was uttered by my 5 year old today. I understand that he's been couped up in the house for the last six days with the flu and is in need of a change. However, having moved five times in the last three years, the term "move" sends chills down my spine.

Imagine my alarm, then, when I received the following text from my husband later this afternoon-
"Guess who's moving"

(insert mini-stroke here)

Thankfully, the answer is NOT us. Although that was my first guess. I'm also thankful that my husband assures me he would not choose to announce something so large through a text message.

I am not convinced that God doesn't have another big move for us in the future, but we plan on crossing that bridge IF and when we come to it. In the meantime, we are happy and content right where we are and are not in a hurry to pack up yet another house.

Sorry, buddy, regardless of how much fun you think it is to move into a new house, you're just going to have to live here a little while longer!

2011 Reads

I was informed yesterday that my husband was going to buy me a Kindle for Christmas until he realized, and I quote, I'm "not really a reader". The words unintentionally cut me to the core and I've been in a self-induced funk ever since. Why? I LOVE to read. I admit, I don't always run to it the first chance I get. But, those of you who are mothers can attest to the fact that free time is a precious commodity and is often spent seeking pleasure other ways- like showering. The truth of the matter is that I don't have a lot of time for myself but I'm convinced that I can make some progress in this area this year and convince my family (namely my husband) that I am in fact a READER.

So, here we go again! It's time to scour the shelves of our personal library and decide which books I want to attempt to read this year. I must admit, I didn't accomplish what I set out to in 2010, but my list did help me to focus on a few particular books instead of staring blankly at shelves lined with them until I was completely overwhelmed and reverted to playing "Angry Birds" on my phone. I must also add that I did read a couple books that were not on my list originally.

My 2011 Reads are as follows-

• The Lord of the Rings Trilogy- J.R.R. Tolkien
• Extravagant Worship- Darlene Zschech
• The Sacred Echo- Margaret Feinberg
• More Letters from Pemberley- Jane Dawkins
• Before Green Gables- Budge Wilson
• Sizzling Sixteen- Janet Evanovich (this series is my guilty pleasure. I read the first 12 books in 2 months, when I had one child. I have now owned this book six months and have manged to get through 3 chapters)

This list is much more concise than last year's. This is largely due to the fact that, in the past 12 months, I've gotten a healthy dose of reality and have learned that I'll feel much more accomplished if I set the bar a tad lower. Ultimately, it is because I have promised my husband that I will begin the year with Tolkien (since he's been reappearing on my list for quite some time now) and, having not read these books since high school, I am anticipating that I'll need about 8 months to get through all three of them. That's being optimisitc.

Happy reading!

Our Year In Review

We say this every year, but, as we ring in 2011, it really is difficult to believe that another year has gone by.

2010 began much like it ended, with sickness in our home, medications and dosage cups lining the counter. Our house was on the market and after sharing our bedroom with an infant for nine months, we were eagerly looking forward to moving into a bigger home. We celebrated my grandmother’s 95th birthday with a party at our house. We enjoyed a long weekend visiting our good friends, the Kings, in San Diego where we spent the weekend laughing, sailing, and watching our boys play together. We are thankful for our good friends. After we left San Diego we drove up to Oceanside where we met up with Fernando’s parents and were reunited with Fernando’s brother, Oscar, whom he had not seen in 20 years. It was wonderful getting acquainted with him and his family and we were blessed to be able to introduce Daniel to his two “new” cousins!

In February our sale went through. As the house we were planning to move into wasn’t going to be available until April, we began contemplating where were going to spend the month of March. We happily celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary on February 8th.

Thanks to good friends, we were able to move the first weekend of March. It was bittersweet leaving the home we purchased when we got married, but, seeing as our family has outgrown it, we were excited to be starting a new chapter. We were blessed to spend the next six weeks in a beautiful home, much larger than we needed, but SO enjoyable.

April brought yet another move (our 5th in three years) and hopefully the last for a little while. 

May was a month of milestones and mourning. We celebrated the 2nd birthday of our sweet little princess. She has grown into such a beauty and is as charming as can be. She definitely knows how to get her way with the help of her big brown eyes and ridiculously long lashes. We were thrilled and a little saddened as we watched as our firstborn don his first cap and gown and graduate from preschool. In a blink he’ll be headed off to college and we are determined to treasure every moment we have with him. Unfortunately, close to Mother’s Day, my grandmother was hospitalized because of a very bad cough. We all thought it was a cold that had gone bad but quickly found out that she had stage 4 lung cancer. Our family was shocked at the diagnosis and struggled to come to terms with the fact that her time with us was limited. At the time, we didn’t know just how limited. Meemom passed away on May 26th. It was an extremely difficult and emotionally trying time for us, but we were blessed with visits from almost our entire extended family and, amidst the pain, built lasting memories.

In June, we happily celebrated Isaiah’s 1st birthday. We were amazed at how quickly his first year had gone and are still in awe at how much he has grown and changed. He continues to amaze us and bring smiles to our faces every day.

July is yet another birthday month in the Orona house and this year we celebrated BIG. For Daniel’s 5th birthday we decided to surprise him with a birthday trip to Disneyland. It was not uneventful, as an allergic reaction to some latex balloons landed us in an urgent care in Anaheim and warranted a shot in Daniel’s behind. But he quickly recovered as we headed down the road to the Happiest Place on Earth. He had a blast and enjoyed some quality time alone with Mom and Dad.

August brought continued heat and the anticipation school starting. Daniel started kindergarten at Westar Elementary and fell in love with it instantly. He has grown and learned so much since starting school and he never ceases to amaze us. He is bright and eager to learn.

We spent most of September trying to adjust to our new school schedule and I, quite frankly, had the hardest time figuring out how to get three kids up and out the door before 7:30 am everyday. Sofia took a big step and moved from her crib to a “big girl” bed. To this day, she still hasn’t mastered the concept of staying in her big girl bed. We’re hopeful that 2011 is our year! Fernando and I we’re blessed with a weekend away to San Diego, thanks to a conference he needed to attend. We were able to enjoy some quiet time on the beach, an adult only dinner with Ron and Susan, and a fun evening out with my brother and his girlfriend, Wendy.

October was eventful, to say the least. We enjoyed seeing Daniel in his first school program, in which he played a crow. It was the perfect part for our energetic, chatty little boy! Mid-month, I underwent a long overdue surgical process and finally had all four of my wisdom teeth extracted. The procedure went very well, but the recovery was much worse than expected. Severe nerve pain kept me on strong meds for the next three weeks and made managing three young kids very difficult. Thankfully, Fernando picked up the slack (and my medications) and I learned a VERY important lesson. Percocet is my friend! We also began passing around the first of about 100 head colds we would experience throughout the remainder of the year. In spite of the runny noses, we celebrated Halloween, Orona style, which included pizza with Grandma and Peepaw and trick-or-treating. Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Yoda came back tired and toting pounds of treats!

November started with a bang and a trip to the pediatrician’s office which will never be duplicated- one parent, two toddlers, and six immunizations. We welcomed much cooler weather and enjoyed spending Thanksgiving with family and very good friends, the Hermans.

December was jam packed, but what fun month it was! The month started with a much anticipated trip to New York City for my mom, sister, and I in honor of Mom’s birthday. It was one we’ve been dreaming of and planning for years and it did not disappoint! We spent five days roaming Manhattan, seeing sights, shopping, eating ourselves into oblivion and loving every minute of it. It was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Poor Fernando willingly stayed home with the babies and began battling a nasty case of the stomach flu that would sweep through the house in the coming weeks. Once again, this year, we were able to take the kids up north where we spent a day celebrating Christmas with my sister and her husband and then headed to Williams to take a ride on the Polar Express. The kids had a blast and we couldn’t help but enjoy watching the wonder and amazement on their faces as we headed to the North Pole and Santa boarded our train. The rest of the month we spent enjoying the season with our kids, watching Christmas movies and looking at Christmas lights. Fernando and I were blessed to be part of the Christmas Eve services at Palm Valley Church and are humbled to have been able to be part of these services for the past 8 years. We enjoyed the holiday season in spite of the cold and flu season, which we have yet to conquer.

We are thankful for our home, Fernando’s job, our church, and the nearness of our family. We pray God’s richest blessing on you and your family in the coming year and look forward to 2011 with hope and anticipation that the Lord has amazing plans for us and is able to do exceeding abundantly more than we could ask or think.

Happy New Year!

With love,
Fernando, Eileen, Daniel, Sofia, and Isaiah