While We Wait

My thoughts are fermenting. When they are ready we will pop the cork and revel in the intoxicating delectability of an aged spirited piece.

Until then… I am on wireless sitting next to the tub watching my water-bug play with his bath toys and splash around. The invigorating smell of soap is in my nostrils. And, since I have nothing else at the moment, I will rely on our good friend Dr. Seuss and share this blogg with you from his inspiring work “The Shape of Me and Other Stuff”.

Forum Question

Does success inspire or intimidate?

(Please add your thoughts in the comment section below)

Lasagna Lover

When was the last time that you enjoyed a meal so much?

Perfect Peace

Have you ever shaken a soda pop just to see what happened? At times our wee ones are driven by this infantile desire to test the limits.

The dreary monotony of yet another bed time battle loomed before the weary mother. She was the carbonated beverage in the bottle; and her children were the hands wrapped tightly around shaking and jostling half for the fun of it and half to see how far they could push the limit.

Regretting her previous impatient reactions in similar situations she clenched her fists and squeezed her eyes shut tight desperately trying to regain control. Distaining the impending tears and pounding headache, she knew there had to be another way!

In a twinge of pity she scooped up the fussy toddler and set him in her lap. He writhed and wriggled. Breathing out a prayer she begged God to give her child peace. Almost immediately he ceded. She lifted her son to his bed. Two words came to her: perfect peace. The others came pleading for a story, “Tell me a story! Tell me a story!” As they repeated the demand a new idea seeped into her mind. It brought with it hope.

Could there be a connection to perfect peace? The whole verse reads, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Slowly the cap of the bottle was turned letting the pressure out as she breathed a hopeful whisper, “Storytelling!” That was it! Stories are a path to peace, an irresistible way that a mind is channeled into trusting the teller.

She began to let her imagination run. The stories would bring the peace the house needed. Could it be that this is the reason that the bible is full of stories instead of pragmatic points and formulas? Yes! God wants us to trust Him. He knows that if we trust him then we will have perfect peace. But how can he create that trust? By hearing his stories we believe if it happened before it can happen again. We have perfect peace when our mind is stayed on God. We stay our mind on him by replaying the ancient stories handed down for generations.

We connect to truth, faith, trust and peace with the all familiar line, “Once upon a time in a land far far away…”

Change is Good

Three changes in my life have taken place in the last couple months. It’s all good…

1. Finished nursing my boy. He is one now. Walking. Eats real food real good. This is great because I have so much more time on my hands.

2. Started back at the gym. Haven’t darkened those doors since… well, the important thing is that I am going and I like it.

3. Journaling my children’s journey. I write down what I learn from them, life lessons they are learning and interesting anecdotes about them that I think they will appreciate reading in the future.

For all you bottom line folk out there: I feel like these are all positive changes for my well being and the way that I relate to those around me.

My Man Loves Me!

Look what my man brought home for me today. I love my husband! Yummy, yummy, yummy.

Handfuls

In this year: We celebrated one year as Christ Nation Church, the orphanage celebrated one year of caring for children, we are coming up on one year in our beautiful apartment, and my youngest just turned one year old.

In this year: We joyously celebrate 11 years of marriage, look back over 9 years of parenting, mark 6 years as career missionaries, complete 4 years of home schooling, and rejoice that both DaRonn and I have been saved for the majority of our years alive.

I sincerely hope that all my life is marked by a continual flow of newness and consistency. A handful of new things next to a handful of consistency is a fulfilling sight.

Belly Button Gazers

Getting the kids ready for bed last night DaRonn says, “What would it be like if the world did not rotate around Gabrielle?” A hypothetical question not necessarily directed at our six year old. Nevertheless she did not miss a beat and explained, “It would be like everything would be stuck in their place and not moving; like freezed.”

How often do we have the attitude of my precious little girl? We think that if it were not for us then the world would go into a catatonic state of shock. It would be ‘freezed’ if it were not for us, and our brilliance, and our work, and our ideas, and our whatever.

I believe that everyone is special and important. I believe that everybody should feel free to express themselves in all their creativity as they love their Maker. I also believe that we need to look at the way we are viewing ourselves.

Eastman Curtis calls selfish people “Belly Button Gazers”. They incline their heads at such and angle that the singular view they have is that of their own belly button. What a sad song these people drone out, either in self-pity or in puffed up pride.

Let’s lift up our heads and look around today. You might just be the answer that God has provided to ease someone else’s misery. (But don’t let that go to you head now; smile!)

Cochabamba Botanical Garden Slide Show