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!