Crossing Cultures

Some Time Off

2011-12-19T16:42:00.000-05:00

I can't keep up! I've taken some time off of my personal blog (as you can see, I haven't posted in FOREVER). Personal stories abound and I laugh often, posting some of the funny comments from my girls on Facebook, but storing away most of it in my heart. My time to process through all that is happening in life has been recently hijacked by the Holiday burglar and the Globalife Journeys train. In

Time Is Flying

2011-10-27T20:10:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I've posted. It's been even longer since I've journaled. Weeks go by and I can hardly believe that another weekend has come. My days are spent in blocks of time filled with activities that go from one block to the next until it's late at night and my eyes are locked on my bed.I'm loving this time with the girls... spending time with the girls as they each learn different

Grace-Filled Lessons

2011-08-19T14:17:00.006-04:00

"Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses and disappointments; but let us have patience, and we soon shall see them in their proper figures." ~Joseph AddisonThere's something in me that says that paying all your bills on time and not going into foreclosure and keeping your "life" in order is all about integrity and responsibility. I mean, people who find themselves

I Am Casey Anthony

2011-08-08T20:35:00.005-04:00

Just in case you were wondering where she went, she's living in my house. And she looks suspiciously like me. In fact, we're practically the same person. And just in case you felt free to rip her a new one yet again for what you believe she did, I just wanted to stand up for a moment and share something. You might as well throw me in the fire, too. You see, if you believe that she committed

Two-Wheeled Bulldozer

2011-07-29T14:25:00.003-04:00

After I finished the dishes last night, gave the girls a bath, and put them down to sleep...I stole outside to ride my bike in the last few minutes of daylight.Kenneth had found one of his favorite shows on TV and Bentley was happy to watch it from behind his eyelids. It was a funny show, but I decided to go outside and get a few minutes of fresh air.That "fresh air" turned into a rush of hot

My Favorite Quote Of The Day...

2011-07-22T13:46:00.001-04:00

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that

Turn Up The AC

2011-07-11T14:50:00.003-04:00

As the heat outside climbs higher and higher, I find myself getting a bit of cabin fever.Even the girls want to go back inside after being outside for a bit. And as if the heat wasn't bad enough, the humidity is so thick, you can practically swallow it. But since I wanted a bit of fresh air, I took the girls by the park to play for a bit after an errand this morning. We only stayed 20 minutes. We

Ordinary Moments With My Guitar

2011-06-28T13:57:00.003-04:00

So, every since my experience leading worship in Nepal back in March, I've been working on learning guitar.I'm working with a beginners guitar course online, so I'm able to move along to the next lesson whenever I'm ready. I'm advancing pretty slowly...maybe a lesson every two weeks or so. It's the practice time that gets me. Not that I don't like practicing... oh no. But because it's a toddler

That Changes Everything

2011-06-13T11:11:00.009-04:00

I just realized that Jesus wasn't weeping over Lazarus.Maybe I'm the only one, but I always thought that the shortest verse in the Bible ("Jesus wept." -John 11:35) was about Jesus weeping because Lazarus had died.But now I don't think so. When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, He knew instantly that his restoration would be for the glory of God (vs. 4). Then He waits two more days before going

The Re-building

2011-06-03T22:38:00.005-04:00

"This is the way God put it: 'They found grace out in the desert,these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest,met God out looking for them!" God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will.Expect love, love, and more love! And so now I'll start over with you andbuild you up again, dear virgin Israel.'" -Jeremiah 31:3, The MessageThis is for

Just Stop

2011-05-25T10:17:00.003-04:00

My prayer today...Hope, stop trying so much. Stop straining, stop working for good causes. Let go of today's agenda, and see if God happened to have one for the day. Stop fixing. Stop cleaning and being annoyed that you're cleaning again. Take off the blinders and look around. It's May 25, 2011. A day that will never happen again. And while I may have survived the rapture (this time), God will

2011-05-16T20:24:00.006-04:00

My nineteen month old, Moriah, loves shoes.She has always loved shoes since she realized that she had feet. Shoes are the first thing she will ask to put on in the morning and the last thing she wants to take off. Since she was old enough to express a preference, she has always had a preference about which shoes to wear, and she will loudly complain if you don't put on her feet the shoes that she

Checklist Junkies

2011-05-13T14:45:00.003-04:00

Had a very overwhelming day the other day. So much to do and so little time.I remember being young and hearing my Mom sigh, "Oh, there are never enough hours in the day." And I would laugh, totally oblivious to all that she was trying to do. As far as I was concerned, there were already too many hours in the day...too many hours of school and not enough hours of afternoon outdoor play. Now it's

Selah-isms

2011-05-05T16:05:00.003-04:00

Selah is now three years old and loves to talk your ear off.As we drive by a big lake....Selah: "Papa! Drive faster so the crocodiles won't get us!"Kenneth: "Ok, Selah. I'm driving fast!"Selah: "Yeah, cuz it will not be good if they get us...no."Kenneth: "What will they do if they get us?"Selah: "They will croc us!"Kenneth: "And what happens when they croc us?"Selah: "We all get a stomach ache.

Nepal 2011: Afterthoughts

2011-04-26T16:25:00.003-04:00

We returned just over a month ago from our most recent missions trip. Life has resumed and plans for the next missions trip are in the works. The girls are thriving in the sun and enjoying our many play dates with friends. Kenneth is busy with interviews, working on the next trip, and being a fantastic father. I'm a little of everywhere... working on projects, enjoying play dates, making meals,

Nepal 2011: Worship

2011-04-14T06:24:00.018-04:00

We stepped out of the small taxi and paid him for his time. He thanked us respectfully and eased off down the dirt alleyway as we stepped through the gate into the church yard. It was five minutes till 4pm, when the service was to start."Jaymasee...Jaymasee." (Victory in Christ) Everyone greeted us with soft voices and hands pressed together. Many spoke broken English. We slipped our shoes off

Nepal 2011: The Temples

2011-04-07T14:37:00.013-04:00

There are over 320 million gods in the Hindu religion. There are several major gods and many, many different avatars of them (different manifestations of the same god). Sometimes a male god will manifest as a female god. Some may be more beneficial for you to worship than others. One might say that if you want to worship any god that you like, then join Hinduism.The temples are everywhere.

Nepal 2011: MountainChild

2011-03-29T14:30:00.008-04:00

We heard them coming before we could see them. The eternal chill inside MountainChild's concrete guest house and office center in Kathmandu was immediately warmed when the children came rushing in, flashing smiles and curious glances. Each one threw their hands together and bowed their head slightly to touch the tips of their fingers as they rushed by. "Jaymasee!" (Victory in Christ.) The

Nepal 2011

2011-03-23T12:17:00.004-04:00

*Siggghhhhh*. Here I sit in my clean, dry, comfortable office at home...a million miles away from the dusty, crazy world I just left in Kathmandu.The Globalife Journeys team arrived home safe and sound from Nepal a day and a half ago. The jet lag is still stubbornly clinging on by a nail, but I think I'll shake it today. Physically, I feel pretty good. Emotionally and mentally, I feel like I just

Cramming Clothes

2011-03-08T23:33:00.005-05:00

I just finished packing a room full of children's clothes for children in Nepal. It left a permanent smile on my face.It took over two hours to sort them all by size and then bag and label them by size...then cram them in three large suitcases. And when we finally had all three large suitcases zipped up and standing at attention, ready to travel the world with clothing for children who badly

Three Year Old Selah

2011-03-03T22:19:00.003-05:00

Kenneth: "Selah, do you know who God is?"I looked at her curiously, wondering what her answer would be. I told her that He watched over her, kept His hand on her, loved her, made us and the trees and animals, etc...but Who would she said that He is?Selah: "Yes...He...He...He is the Most High King."Kenneth: "Wow. And what does He do?"Selah: "Um...well, he keeps His hand on my back. Like this." She

Moving On

2011-02-25T14:37:00.004-05:00

It's been almost two weeks since the miscarriage.I feel a lot better physically. The drugs after the D&C made me cramp a lot. But now, I feel physically back to my old self. Emotionally, I'm not there yet. The huge dramatic pendulum swing from content and accepting to disappointed and confused has calmed to a gentle drift back and forth. The hormones are dissipating, and with them goes the

Our Valentine Baby

2011-02-15T14:57:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, Valentine's Day, we lost our little baby.Our doctor wanted me to go to the hospital for another round of blood tests and another sonogram after the first one last week showed no heart activity. We prayed for life and for God's perfect will. Again, there was no heart activity. No heat, no blood flow. And the baby measured about 8 weeks and 1 day, when he should have measured about 9

Expecting Number Three

2011-02-09T13:44:00.003-05:00

Yep! We're expecting number three! And I can truly say that I'm excited to meet this little one, although, I'm embarrassed to admit that it didn't start out that way. Let me give you a quick run down.First, it started at the end of December. K lost his job. Devastating and freeing at the same time. Then, seven days later, a friend passes away. We rely on the help of family to fly K out to be with

Globalife Journeys Begins

2011-02-01T16:10:00.005-05:00

So Kenneth and I have embarked on a new season. A few months ago, we started Globalife Journeys Inc., a non-profit organization that takes anyone who wants to go on a missions trip. Usually, people have to be associated with a church or charity organization to go and serve another culture. But there are so many people who have always wanted to go, but have no connections to do so. Globalife

2011-01-29T19:29:00.004-05:00

So, Kenneth decided to take the girls out for a walk. Moriah, 16 months old, road in the jogging stroller. Selah, almost three, rode on her cute little bicycle, complete with helmet and training wheels. She loves riding her bicycle.Kenneth was walking at a fast clip with Selah riding up ahead, when he started hearing this whine coming from her direction. Then the bike started to weave. She kept

Shifting And Stepping

2011-01-18T11:49:00.004-05:00

I feel like there's been a lot of shifting going on in the last few weeks. The transfer from 2010 to 2011 has been pretty shaky for a lot of people I know. A friend of ours said that 2010 was a year of recalibration and 2011 will be a year of action. Well... "action" may mean that you're going to be on the move a lot, shifting, being flexible... but it doesn't mean that you're going to know

Kelly Legacy

2011-01-11T14:15:00.005-05:00

Levi, a young man, 22 years old, a friend of ours, lost his life to cancer last week. He was an insanely strong, kind, and gentle young man. He fought valiantly and his demonstration of courage has inspired hundreds, if not thousands of people. He will be dearly, dearly missed.His older brother, Noah, 27 years old, also a good friend, passed away suddenly in his sleep just months ago. He was

Latte With A Teaspoon Of Trust

2011-01-04T12:31:00.004-05:00

I'm currently sitting down in our office, sipping my hot instant vanilla caramel latte, and hiding in my hoodie. It's still a little cold here, though some might say that 60 degrees has nothing to do with cold. Yet, despite hugging my latte and pulling my hood over my head, I'm wearing flip flops. Hmmm... perhaps I've become a Floridian after all.I've had a frustrating morning. Nothing big...

A Christmas To Remember

2010-12-29T13:49:00.004-05:00

There we were on Christmas day, standing in the San Antonio airport at the ticket counter, all prepared to fly home. We had had a wonderful week with Kenneth's family and didn't want to go, but it was time.The girls both had their coats on, the bags were packed so that they both had two pounds to spare so we wouldn't get charged extra, and we had an extra carry on full of fun Christmas gifts--not

Merry Christmas From The Clarks

2010-12-21T07:38:00.001-05:00

This Christmas, I have friends going through a very hard time. I have friends who are blessed and joyful. I have friends overseas in the military. I have friends in all sorts of situations and some of them are not so fun.In the midst of all the commercialization and marketing, the lights, glitz, and glam... I pray that we all are thinking about others. Praying for others. Doing for others.May you

Thank You For Your Time

2010-12-14T00:14:00.003-05:00

So, there we were a few days ago, on our trip to good ol' Wally-world for some groceries. It was Friday morning and all the old folks were shuffling around Walmart, smiling at the girls as they sat in the massive made-for-children grocery cart munching on Cheerios, while I moved down my shopping list.We got out to the car and I began unloading grocery bags into the back of the truck when I

2010-12-07T14:47:00.003-05:00

Selah will be three in a couple of months. Yet, her comprehension and emotional development surprises me sometimes.Selah: "Are you ironing Papa's clothes, Mommy?"Me: "Yes, Baby."Selah: "You haf to iron them because Papa needs dem to go to work."Me: "That's right. We want him to dress appropriately for his work."Selah: "Yeah." Thinks for a minute. "When I get bigger, I will iron Papa's shirts for

Selling Religion...Or The Lack Thereof

2010-12-01T15:19:00.004-05:00

*Sigh* This story caught my eye. It's a battle over a holiday, over people's beliefs. It's very pithy to me. God needs no defending. I think the news reporter summed it up well--tho it makes me sad to say it. It's about "selling religion... or the lack thereof."Why don't we just forget the fight and pursue a relationship with the only ONE who changes us for the better? Only then, will others see

Messy Musical Rooms

2010-11-23T15:18:00.004-05:00

I've had a couple of those days where it feels like I'm the only one in the house who's trying to keep it clean and everyone else is out to thwart me. It's almost like watching a circus playing musical chairs... only in this case, it's musical rooms.It goes like this. Get up in the morning and feed the girls. Then clean up the kitchen while they mess up their room. Then enlist their help to pick

His Words

2010-11-16T15:09:00.008-05:00

Just in case you need a bit of encouragement today, I want to share something with you. I didn't write it and I don't know who did. A friend shared it with me some years ago. I love it because it reminds me of what God thinks about me. And that's more truthful and important than any other perspective of me. "I made her…she is

Fresh Air

2010-11-09T23:20:00.005-05:00

It feels like something has shifted in the Clark home over the past month or so. A breath of fresh air has blown in.And that's not just the 65-80 degree weather of Fall blowing through our open windows. Central Florida has finally lost the heat and become just gorgeous outside. Park play dates abound. Selah, at 2 years, 9 months, is talking about everything. And Moriah, at 13 months, has finally

Never Would Have Made It

2010-11-02T15:30:00.003-04:00

I got to talk to an old friend yesterday. Hadn't spoken to him in over fifteen years. We have many shared memories from my childhood and he reminded me of some really good ones. Thanks friend! Much love to your family. :)Something stuck with me after we spoke. My life today resembles nothing about my childhood. I'm still in communication with only a handful of people from then... my paradigm has

Date At Disney

2010-10-26T14:58:00.005-04:00

We had a kid-free day at Disney this past weekend. It was so great to run around--just the two of us! No diaper bag, no stroller, no bathroom breaks every hour. We hit up three parks and rode all the big kid rides. We even stayed out late and enjoyed a fabulous dinner and beautiful evening. And when it was all said and done, we found ourselves totally relaxed, full of good memories and laughs...

Conversations With A Two (and a half ) Year Old

2010-10-19T15:56:00.007-04:00

Me: "Selah, did you know that God made the trees?"Selah: "Yeeees! An...and....an... and God made the stars! and the sky! and the sun! and the leaves! and the air.... (Looks outside the window and thinks for a minute.) And angels made the cars." -----Kenneth, excited and happy, says, "Selah! Papa lost FIVE pounds this week!!"Selah, sitting at the counter,

Fall In Central Florida

2010-10-12T12:19:00.003-04:00

The weather has changed a bit over the last couple of weeks. The sun is still bright and people are still all over the beaches, but the humidity is a lot lower, and the mornings and evenings are starting to be just beautiful. It's getting up to 85 degrees during the day, but is in the 60's at night. Ahhh.... Fall in central Florida.People are starting to walk around out neighborhood and chat "

People Of Purpose

2010-10-05T22:08:00.004-04:00

I had the opportunity to lead worship for a girls conference a week or so ago. It was called "One Night Stand" and was hosted by a ministry for youth called People Of Purpose.I was so proud to be a part of it. The girls ranged in age from 12 to 19 and the leaders were anywhere from college age to in their 40's. The topics covered things like unforgiveness, Father/daughter issues, despair, suicide

Moriah Is One!

2010-09-29T13:09:00.007-04:00

Our precious Moriah Grace turned one year old yesterday! So hard to believe it's already been a year. She has such a shy disposition when you first meet her, but stick around for a minute and she'll be ordering you around with her loud squawking. :) She loves to be in the middle of things and close to Mommy or Papa all the time. She just started walking and has discovered that climbing things is

Osmosis Is Obsolete

2010-09-20T15:28:00.005-04:00

So, despite all the ridiculously obvious hints you left for him, hubby still didn't get it?You mean you left the socks on the bedroom floor for THREE whole days and he STILL didn't pick them up? And the beard stubble he left on the bathroom sink counter is STILL there, even though you left it for him to clean?! And though you'd have thought that any rational, sane adult would have figured out

WWF For Babies

2010-09-13T14:08:00.005-04:00

As I was explaining here, this is what happens when we leave Papa alone to play with the girls. We sooo need a boy!**No babies were harmed in the making of this picture.****At least not the two babies you see in the picture. My big Baby, on the other hand, got a glare that could pierce concrete, and then a resigned laugh... Because, what are you gonna do?! He has a blast with them and they are

Ode To My Multiple-Baby Mommas

2010-09-06T23:02:00.038-04:00

So now you have two babies to care for! Or maybe you just had your third...or fourth. And you are suddenly realizing that he has no idea how hard your job is while he's away at work. You are outnumbered and have run out of hands. Your sleep has been permanently deprived and you can't remember the last time that you felt like you looked beautiful. The laundry is never finished, the sink is

Going To Blockbuster with a Two Year Old

2010-08-31T15:45:00.005-04:00

Selah: "Mommy, where we go?"Me: "We're going to Blockbuster...the movie store."Selah: "Oh! Can I go in, Mommy??"Me: "Yes, you may!"Selah: "Yeah!! Thank you!" After a minute... "Mommy, what we do?"Me: "Well, we're going there to find a movie."Selah: "Oh!" Apparently very satisfied with that answer.When we get to Blockbuster, I walk through the door and look around for the new release area.Selah

Catching Moments With Him

2010-08-24T15:02:00.002-04:00

Some days I'm being pulled, wandering in a fog of fixing, cleaning, helping, watching, picking up, doing, feeding, changing... it's reactionary, repetitive, and totally dominated by the immediate next needs of someone--or something--else. And some days I'm driving in an all out race to accomplish a task, list, or project that is self determined and desired...above and beyond all the reactionary

Mommy Play Time vs. Papa Play Time

2010-08-17T16:16:00.004-04:00

MOMMY PLAY TIMEWith Two Year Old: Sitting on the floor stacking blocks. Learning colors. Recognizing letter and numbers. Reading a book while snuggling. Coloring tidily at the play table. Drawing lines and circles. Smiles and "Yeah!" are often seen and heard.With Ten Month Old: Holding hands while learning to walk. Mimicking sounds. Making faces. Learning to clap. Reaching for objects. Passing

As Long As It Is Still Called Today

2010-08-13T14:03:00.004-04:00

The other morning I was reading the Bible to the girls (Selah 2.5 years and Moriah 10 months), as I try to do most days. Usually it turns into me just reading aloud to myself as they talk to each other and play on the floor. Either way... it's all good to me.I had just started Hebrews and so was reading Hebrews chapter 3 to them. The first part was about Jesus being found more worthy than Moses.

Restful Cruisin'

2010-08-02T21:38:00.012-04:00

We just got back from a three day cruise to the Bahamas with some friends. We left the two babies at home with family so that Kenneth and I could get a restful break. All I can say is thank God for big boats that float around in the sea while I chill with a good book! While on board, I

Psalm 27:1--Two Year Old Version

2010-07-26T15:10:00.003-04:00

Me: "Selah, there is nothing to be afriad of. Remember Psalm 27:1?"Selah: "Oooooh yeah! Um... yeah... (thinking hard) uh...awwww.... I can't do it." Picture pouty face, shoulders sagging, chin droops to chest.Me: "Yes, you can! It goes like this: 'The Lord is my light and my sal.... '"Selah: "I do it! I do it! Mommy, Mommy... I do it." Breaths deeply, swallows, adjusts herself in her seat. "De

Cheers To Brothers

2010-07-21T16:51:00.003-04:00

My younger brother is 30 years old today. I'm proud to be his sister and love him very much. There were days when we didn't know if he would survive this many years. I'm really glad he's still here. I was just thinking about him and thought I'd share a few stories.As little ones, we did everything together. I remember picking blueberries and blackberries out in the woods behind our house for

Babies And Airplanes

2010-07-15T16:05:00.005-04:00

A bead of sweat is slowly winding it's way past my left eye and down toward my ear as I try to wrestle nine month old baby Moriah on my lap in one of the smallest airplane seats that was ever created.She thinks we're on a roller coaster ride and so screams with delight at anyone who will make eye contact. Then she lunges at nearby passengers, thinking their hair is free game to grab. I am praying

Mourning The Passing

2010-06-29T21:31:00.003-04:00

Two people I know have passed away this past weekend. One was only 27 and just beginning the prime of his life. He was always full of laughter and fun. The other had finally lost the fight against cancer, but won the spiritual war for her soul. She got saved in the last few years of her life.Death so often catches us off guard. It's as if we expect life to go on just like it did yesterday, with

Church Life

2010-06-22T10:41:00.006-04:00

I've been leading worship at a local church now for about six months. After The Well closed last Spring, the church that we moved to Florida to help plant, we took some time for rest. It was good, but we quickly became restless. We both craved an outlet for worship and a place for spiritual growth. We wanted and needed to serve.At the beginning of the year, we began attending Church Alive. We had

Character Improvement

2010-06-15T21:12:00.002-04:00

You may not have realized it, but my attitude has stunk lately.I seem to spend much of my time irritated that I'm not traveling the world on a mission trip or touring my latest worship album. Instead I complain about the menial tasks of motherhood and I whine about not being able to "do" more.ENOUGH! I've decided to change my attitude. God takes us on journeys through seasons to spend time with

I Will Never Get This Day Back

2010-06-09T12:14:00.002-04:00

Okay, here's where the frustration lies.IMPORTANT ITEM:There are things that I want to do each day that have long lasting consequences. These are things that are a part of my calling, my passions, or something that requires consistancy over time in order to get where I want to be. They are important to me. Like... exercising to lose weight, practicing piano and guitar, learning new songs,

Family Portraits

2010-06-01T13:35:00.008-04:00

We had never taken the girls in for a family photo shoot before and we weren't really sure what to expect. The studio was very impressive, but then again... I know just above zilch about the photography world.After about an hour of clothing changes, fast clicking cameras, noise makers and attention-getters, sweaty smiles, and seemingly awkward sitting positions, we were done. And I was sure

Savannah Situation

2010-05-24T09:59:00.004-04:00

So there we were, sitting next to each other in abject silence.The gravity of the situation sunk low into our thoughts as we saw all of our carefully laid out plans for a romantic, relaxing, restful, intimate, exciting, anniversary get-away for just the two of us to Savannah, Georgia go gliding slowly out the window. We had spent a lot of time on those plans. I think I even saw them wave goodbye

Play Date Faux Pa

2010-05-12T09:01:00.008-04:00

Selah, at two years old is usually amazingly polite and giving. She shares well, gives well, says "yes ma'am", "please", and "thank you" all the time. People are always commenting on how enjoyable and well behaved she it. (Oh, is that a pat on my back? Uh huh. Why thank you, thank you.)So, the other day we had a friend of her's--same age--over for dinner for the first time. (Well, the whole

Moving Back Into Grace

2010-05-04T13:11:00.005-04:00

I would like to say that I sit down for hours at the keys by myself and worship God. But I don't. I would like to spend extended time working on transitions and preparing for Sunday, but most of the time I can't. I would like to write more, practice more, play more, pray more, read more, sit more, think more, and just "be" more. But it just doesn't happen.Yesterday I sat down in the middle of the

Long-Time Friends

2010-04-28T11:34:00.002-04:00

Last week I took a quick flight to Tennessee with our girls to visit a good friend of mine. I got to see my family quite a bit while I was there, which made the trip even better.While it was very challenging to travel with a six month old and a two year old by myself, we did it--and it was totally worth it. (Thank you to the two gentlemen who carried the car seat part of the way through security

Trip To OKC

2010-04-20T20:16:00.003-04:00

We just got back from a quick trip to Oklahoma City to visit Kenneth's birth mother. She had never met the girls before and I had only met her once. It was a good trip and a hard trip.I don't have much time to write because the girls and I are flying out again tomorrow to visit friends and family in Tennessee. (I don't know what I was thinking only allowing two days between trips... but the girls

The Frenzy After The Shopping

2010-04-07T14:20:00.007-04:00

You just got home from grocery shopping at Wal-mart.It took you two hours because you have a 6 month old and a 2 year old with you and the 2 year old likes to get out of her seat and help you put things in the cart.You finally have all the grocery bags out of the car and strewn haphazardly across the counters. Cold and frozen items have been sitting in the warm car for 20 minutes and need to be

Kenneth Is Back!

2010-03-30T16:31:00.005-04:00

Kenneth is back from Nigeria and has spent several days now telling me about his trip. There's so much that you can't get it all out in a sitting. And he is so forever changed that I know I will be hearing more and more over the next few weeks.The time in ministry spent with those who are destitute, the hours spent with pastors who exude humility, the traffic, the culture, the food, the people,

Missionary Heart

2010-03-25T19:56:00.002-04:00

Kenneth will be home from Nigeria soon. I spoke with him the other day and he said he didn't know what to say. He's seen and experienced so much, that his life is forever changed... he just hasn't processed it enough to be able to verbalize it yet. I was so thrilled for him that I started crying on the phone... and I don't even know details yet.It's been a long week... a good week... a pensive

Nigeria, Africa

2010-03-19T22:06:00.005-04:00

My husband is in Nigeria this week, participating in a mission trip designed to address some leadership, economic, and social issues there. I miss him, and while I wish I was there, I also realize I have an important role at home right now. Just in case you have no idea what's going on there (just as most of us in this country have no clue about what's going on in other countries), take a quick

The Begining Of Freedom

2010-03-13T13:18:00.002-05:00

I was reading in Exodus today about when Moses and Aaron first went to Pharaoh to ask that the Israelites by released from slavery so they could worship their God.Pharaoh got to mad that they were even asking, that he accused them all of having too much time on their hands. He ordered that they now gather their own straw for brinks (instead of it being given to them) and that they still make the

A Day In the Life Of A Potty Trainer

2010-03-02T14:13:00.010-05:00

I. Do. Not. Like. Potty training.So, I put Selah in her underwear this morning for a few hours and reminded her that we don't pee or poop in our underwear. She was fully aware of this rule.Usually she goes about her business and--despite my constant asking if she needs to go potty--forgets and pees in her underwear. But, today she finally absorbed the concept that if she can go in the potty,

Out On The Town

2010-02-23T11:17:00.005-05:00

My husband and I had a date night last Friday. A late Valentine's Day date. It was an over night getaway. Our first since Moriah. I was a bit nervous about leaving her with friends, since she's a bit more needy than Selah, but she did okay. We had a BLAST.It started out by checking into our hotel in downtown Orlando. Then we drove a little over a mile to Church Street where all the action is and

Baby Arguments

2010-02-17T15:56:00.005-05:00

I had an argument with my five month old yesterday. It went like this.Picking her up and holding her up in front of me, totally exasperated, I said, "What else do you want from me?! I feed you, change your poopy diapers, keep you clean, keep you safe, care for you.... And all you do is scream at me!"Pouty deer-in-head-lights face stares at me then melts back into crying again."I don't understand

Song Lists

2010-02-10T14:59:00.004-05:00

I pray and wait to hear what He says. Sometimes I peruse through my folders of songs and see if one jumps out at me. Some days I just want to pick five songs and be done with it.I'm leading worship again. We're attending a great local church here that has seen some rough times and it taking a turn for the better. Now I have two small babies (two years and 4 months) running around as I prepare for

Selah Is Two!

2010-02-03T15:56:00.003-05:00

Selah is two years old now. Wow. Hard to believe.We had a great time at the park on Sunday with all her friends, swinging and sliding and chasing after balls...eating pizza and cake icing, laughing and hiding from the cold in our sweaters.So this morning, we tried potty training. Again. Selah is running around the house in her new underware, ready at any moment to dash to the bathroom and go "pee

Serving Again

2010-01-26T13:23:00.004-05:00

The time for serving has begun again.It's been eight months since The Church At The Well closed down. We've had plenty of rest and a season of re-prioritizing. We've spent time doing nothing, spent time expecting God to do something, and then spent time thinking about making something happen ourselves. And now we've come back to being willing to just do whatever He wishes.Gee. Wish we'd have

I Want God More

2010-01-19T14:57:00.004-05:00

We're on day 18 of a fast today. Kenneth is just doing juice and water, while I'm on a modified Daniel Fast. I'm still breast feeding, so I figured I still need to eat, but there are things I can take out of my diet that I'll really miss. Like chocolate. And sugar, salt, meat, and grains. For Kenneth, the hardest thing has been going without coffee. Imagine... no coffee being brewed in the

Talking About Haiti

2010-01-15T14:59:00.006-05:00

I'm sorry. But before you say anything else, let me make a few suggestions.Please don't tell me you don't want to know what's going on in Haiti and you'd rather live in a bubble because the devastation is too depressing for you. (I'm sorry... !? People are dying by the thousands, but you want to live in a bubble with your latte and talk about shopping? I'm practically stuttering I'm so shocked.)

Friends And Family

2010-01-12T15:56:00.002-05:00

Last week we got to hang out with my sister and her three oldest girls. It was a blast. :) We lounged around the house, watched movies, played Farkle and Hand And Foot, took a trip to the wonderful Ikea, and of course, played with Selah, and held Moriah a whole lot.Anytime my family or Kenneth's family comes to visit, it's always so much fun for us. And after they leave, we are always so acutely

Added Note On Christmas Camping

2009-12-31T13:57:00.002-05:00

One of the things that kept coming to mind as we layered on sweatshirts, moved closer to our charcoal grill fire, and snuggled down into our sleeping bags last week, was that there are people all over this country who are homeless this Winter. They are outside in the cold every night--except when a shelter has room for them. They may not have the warm clothes I have, or the protection from the

Christmas Camping

2009-12-30T10:18:00.002-05:00

So much for flip flops the week before Christmas. It was cold the week of Christmas!Well, cold for Florida. We went camping with Kenneth's family for a couple of days during the week of Christmas and the night low got down to 45 degrees. It was chilly. We were right on the beach with a beautiful sunset both nights.We had a wonderful time, but it was challenging with two babies. Moriah is only

The Florida Christmas Season

2009-12-15T15:41:00.005-05:00

Right now it's a week and a half before Christmas, and I'm wearing flip flops.Winter is so different in Florida. I still can't get used to it. It never feels like Winter and only sometimes feels like Fall. I got to wear my boots and jacket the other day when the evening temp dipped down into the low 60's. By the next day, it was 78. Today it was 82.People put lights on palm trees here. Instead of

Present Tense

2009-12-08T15:18:00.003-05:00

I find that I can get caught up in planning and doing. I'm very goal and achievement oriented. Which means I use to do lists, calendars, clocks, schedules, and compartments. I clean my house in zones. I write a shopping list every time I go to the store. I prioritize. I schedule my day according to priorities. I shuffle items to do according to their department and do them in groups.I'm not

The Face

2009-11-27T12:12:00.001-05:00

Mommy, will you hold me?I need to know you're there.I know you might be busy,But really, I don't care.Mommy, will you hold me?I really need you to.I feel so alone and helpless.And now I feel blue.Mommy...seriously, pick me up.I'm beginning to get sad.It's awfully lonely by myself,and I'm starting to get mad.Mom. PICK. ME. UP.I'm becoming a grouch.I'm hot and bothered andwill spit up all over the

Postpartum Brain Loss

2009-11-25T12:04:00.002-05:00

It's official. I have actually lost brain cells. I may never recover.Unfortunately, this postpartum brain fart may be permanent. I may as well explain how it happened, so that you won't be surprised when you begin to see the effects of it.Last week I sent off the paperwork to get Moriah's birth certificate. I had to send in an application, a cashier's check, and a copy of my driver's license. I

How Things Are Today

2009-11-17T13:37:00.002-05:00

I'm not one of those moms that goes goo-goo ga-ga over babies. I don't fall in love with every child I meet and I'm not prone to holding babies for hours on end just because they feel cuddly.Loving your own child is different, but I still remember the first month or so with Selah, our first daughter. It was a challenge for me to like her. Just being honest. Oh sure, I loved her, went without

Gang Assault In California

2009-11-12T13:00:00.006-05:00

My husband told me about this story when he came home from work a week or so ago. I'd had a rough day, but hearing about the assault on this young 15 year old girl in California broke me and I began to weep. I asked him to stop mid-story so I could gather myself... it was too much for me. But since then, I've researched what happened on my own. I've been up at night praying for her more times

Moments To Avoid

2009-11-04T14:39:00.003-05:00

Although a "cool" front has supposedly come through, I'm already drenched in sweat in the 85 degree weather, as I stand there astonished at the situation I find myself in. (And while it took me 45 minutes to get ready to leave the house, we had only been gone 10 minutes by this point.)Moriah, screaming as though her life was in jeopardy, is strapped to my cheat with a baby harness--while I stand

Buying Into Fear

2009-10-26T14:40:00.006-04:00

God did not give us a spirit of fear...No, we go in mass to purchase one for $9.50 at the box office.I'm increasingly bothered by how fear has become such big business. And people all around me are flocking to succumb to it. It used to be that a couple scary movies would come out a year, generally right around Halloween. Now it's all year round.On top of it, the newest horror movie is so scary

Calling

2009-10-21T13:27:00.003-04:00

One of the things I've been praying about in my quiet time lately...(Let me interrupt. Maybe "devotion time" would be a better term. Because, between diapers and feeding and playing and crying and more feeding and diapers... it's not always quiet, nor is it always at one time.)I've been praying a lot about my/our calling. And yes, part of that is being a mother to my children. But part of it is

Recovery Report

2009-10-13T14:40:00.004-04:00

It's now been two weeks since Moriah's birth. I'm now nearly completely healed from the cesarean. Yesterday was my first day without help and it was good... they were certainly a handful, but it was good.Selah took yesterday to introduce me to the world of pooping in the crib. She stripped her diaper off after her nap, then pooped and peeped in the crib. Thankfully, she didn't scoop it up and

Moriah Grace Born!

2009-09-30T20:02:00.004-04:00

Monday morning, 9-28-09, at 8:42am. She came earlier than her 2pm scheduled c-section. 7 pounds, 4 ounces, 21 inches long. Absolutely perfect. Click on the photo to see more pictures of her.

Signing Out

2009-09-26T13:06:00.002-04:00

Looks like this Monday will be the day Moriah comes into the world, so I will be taking a short break from the electronic world for a while. Be back in a week or two with photos and updates. Thanks for your prayers and support!

Embracing Helplessness

2009-09-22T09:55:00.004-04:00

I've been processing through something for a few weeks now. I'm about to give birth to our second child. The birth of the first child was very long, complicated, and traumatic for me. As I prepare myself to do it again, I find myself weeping uncontrollably. In the shower, in the kitchen, in the bed, anywhere. And it's not happy cry.Don't get me wrong... our daughter is far beyond worth it, and

Sofa Rest Update

2009-09-17T10:06:00.003-04:00

I've been on bed rest all week... okay, sofa rest. The contractions have slowed back down to 12-15 a day. As long as I lay down, all is good. If I get up, they start again. Selah and I have been managing with large doses of Dora The Explorer, books galore, and wooden puzzles. I have a Doctor's appointment tomorrow, so we'll see where we go from here. We'll be 38 weeks on Monday!

Hospital Dry Run

2009-09-15T10:35:00.007-04:00

So, there we are this past Sunday evening trying to get into the hospital, but the Baby Suites door is locked. We visited a month or so ago but weren't able to get in to actually see the Baby Suites at the time. Although I was doubtful of the sincerity of the statement, we had been told that the Baby Suites was too full for a tour.So now, it's only 6pm, but the Baby Suites door is locked,

Entering A New Season

2009-09-08T13:29:00.003-04:00

I officially go on maternity leave today.Moriah Grace is scheduled to be born by cesarean in three and half weeks, on October 2nd. Although I did actually work a little today and probably will a little more, it still marks the beginning of a new season. I won't be leading worship for the next couple of months. I will be doing less and less and resting more and more.I think that her birth is not

Ripples Of Revelation

2009-09-01T11:34:00.004-04:00

There are so many things I don't understand. So many things about the God and His ways that leave me clueless. And it never ceases to amaze me when I see something that is fully truth and yet the opposite of what I expected or would have thought. It's fascinating how the ripples of one revelation can spread and roll and wrap around and affect things/places/areas that you never thought they would

Birthdays And Babies

2009-08-25T14:22:00.004-04:00

Ok, so I know I'm cheating here. In this picture, I was seven months preggo, and I'm now eight and a half. But I figured any pic is better than none.This picture could be called cute-mom-belly. I now feel like my current style would be classified as giant-watermelon-under-the-shirt, Michelin man hands, flip-flops-go-everywhere, and mini-mom-pony-tail.And today is the last day that I will ever be

God And Halters

2009-08-20T10:17:00.007-04:00

I grew up on a small farm. We had two horses, a cow or two, several sheep and goats (sometimes more, depending on lambing season), and several dogs and cats. We even had some chickens and raised bees at one point. I spent most of my time with the horses.They would wander around on the several acres we had them fenced in on. I would go out and sit with them sometimes, or lay on their backs while

Conversation At 6:45am This Morning

2009-08-17T11:19:00.004-04:00

Kenneth: "I left my phone in Harry's truck yesterday."Me: "Oh no. Did he text you to let you know?"Kenneth just looks at me. "You really don't do mornings, do you."Me, looking blank: "What...?"