Because I often lose sight of my reasons for thanksgiving...a visual list.
For baby roars flying around corners from a little who has found another piece of his voice, found another clue to his place
For small hands wrapped around weed flowers, presenting them with such pride to mama
For off key voices shouting loud in song to God for right teaching
For leader husband willing to go down on knees to comfort babies, scrub floors and teach classes full of waiting eyes that God is power and powerful.
For full and new and enough mercy each morning -- to conquer the battles that lay waiting in shadows. New each day so none has to be stored, none saved for "what-ifs" and "in-case".
Monday, March 9, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Haute and Modern
Rarely do I use this blog as a place of advertisement except instances where I have fallen in shopper's love with a particular vendor. This occasion is no exception. I was recently invited to two baby showers within a month of each other -- a rare occurrence since most of my close friends are working on baby #2 if not 3 or 4. Typically I am strict registry purchaser. After leaving my own shower for Jack laden with mountains of baby blankets, onesies and overalls and without boring, yet essential things like bottle nipples and liners, breast pads and baby butt paste, I have made it a rather deliberate point to only purchase those things the new mom or bride-to-be requests -- even if I think some of the items are...well, ridiculous (but that's an entirely different post). However recently I stumbled upon a wonderful online boutique stocked with items I couldn't resist; once I found this I didn't care that the mommies didn't register for the items! The owner of the boutique is a stay-at-home-mom with kids about the same ages as Jack and Sam; in fact one of her sons is in Jack's preschool class. Anyway, the boutique is called Haute & Modern. (click the title to link to the website). See below for some examples of stuff I purchased. I really cannot say enough positive things about Dana and the company: top quality material, wonderful eye for design, excellent customer service and prompt attention throughout the entire purchase process! If you need gifts and are tired of the same boring things, check out Haute & Modern!!
This is the ribbon onesie, matching bloomers and matching burp cloth.
Close-up of ribbon onesie
Close-up of matching bloomers (love the eyelet lace at the legs!)
Close-up of matching burp cloth (excuse the sideways view -- forgot to edit photos!)
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A few things I know
There are a few things I know for certain; most are contained within the 66 books of Inspired Word. The others, like no one should plant silk flowers in the front yard -- they are NOT a replacement for real flowers -- while not in the Book, perhaps may have merit if I look hard enough. I digress...
Some things I know: My God loves me with a love that is so unique that it is unreproducible. Loves me enough to call me child, loves me enough to sacrifice his Child -- a part of himself -- so that our child/parent relationship would be made righteous -- having the quality/characteristic of right. Don't we all desire to have the quality, the characteristic of Right? And really isn't that only accomplished when our relationship with Him is in tact?
My God says what he means and means what he says. Telling us to be patient in affliction, to be anxious in nothing, to present everything to Him -- that's a tall order. But let's consider this -- how many products, how many strategies, how many self-help books/programs/vitamins exist to quell that feeling of anxiety? And how quickly does that anxiety fade when we, in everything present our requests? Not in laundry list of "I wants" but in prostrate, broken and humble fashion, how quickly does that peace that passes understanding find us? Just one example made clear in recent days to me...
And for now, the last thing I know is that the previous things I know are a good thing. Because I also know that I am a mess, like the underside of a tapestry that isn't quite finished. I know that any particular day the story of my life reads as confusing as a novel that begins in medias res. I know that many days I choose to save face rather than obey commandments, that much like a child, I stick out small hand to touch just one more time that which I've been warned to avoid. I know that when I lose focus, even briefly, I lose balance and lessons learned become distant and I find myself struggling, in vain, to right it all. But because of the other things I know I can say with certainty that I must truly be a new creation, no longer Valerie but Christ in Valerie's skin. Good thing...
Oh and one more thing -- little boys are magnetized to attract dirt -- while not scientific fact, the sleeping mudballs resting upstairs right now sure make a convincing case.
Some things I know: My God loves me with a love that is so unique that it is unreproducible. Loves me enough to call me child, loves me enough to sacrifice his Child -- a part of himself -- so that our child/parent relationship would be made righteous -- having the quality/characteristic of right. Don't we all desire to have the quality, the characteristic of Right? And really isn't that only accomplished when our relationship with Him is in tact?
My God says what he means and means what he says. Telling us to be patient in affliction, to be anxious in nothing, to present everything to Him -- that's a tall order. But let's consider this -- how many products, how many strategies, how many self-help books/programs/vitamins exist to quell that feeling of anxiety? And how quickly does that anxiety fade when we, in everything present our requests? Not in laundry list of "I wants" but in prostrate, broken and humble fashion, how quickly does that peace that passes understanding find us? Just one example made clear in recent days to me...
And for now, the last thing I know is that the previous things I know are a good thing. Because I also know that I am a mess, like the underside of a tapestry that isn't quite finished. I know that any particular day the story of my life reads as confusing as a novel that begins in medias res. I know that many days I choose to save face rather than obey commandments, that much like a child, I stick out small hand to touch just one more time that which I've been warned to avoid. I know that when I lose focus, even briefly, I lose balance and lessons learned become distant and I find myself struggling, in vain, to right it all. But because of the other things I know I can say with certainty that I must truly be a new creation, no longer Valerie but Christ in Valerie's skin. Good thing...
Oh and one more thing -- little boys are magnetized to attract dirt -- while not scientific fact, the sleeping mudballs resting upstairs right now sure make a convincing case.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Jack's Jobs
Late this past summer I decided it was time for Jack to take on some responsibility for his own care; after much pondering "Jack's Jobs" was created; he has a list of things to do on his Morning Jobs and another list on his Night Jobs. Here's a picture of his jobs for the morning.
All of Jack's jobs have, until recently, been done under the careful supervision of Mom or Dad. Now that Jack is quickly approaching 4 we decided that it was time for a little more responsibility. Thus began solo-job completion. Night jobs are still supervised as part of the bedtime routine; we decided that the solo-night jobs combined with the disappearance of the night-time pennies was too much change all at once. Plus Jack's not really big enough for unsupervised bathing yet. Morning jobs on the other hand are completely solo. I send Jack upstairs in the morning after breakfast with instructions to complete his jobs. It usually takes 30 minutes for them to be done completely but he's working and that's all that counts, right?! Of course in this I've had to let go of a few things -- the bathroom is a bit messier after he brushes his own teeth, the face towel isn't folded neatly on the counter after he washes his face and rarely is his bed made as neatly as I'd like, but he's doing it on his own! I don't want to discourage him so I don't make a big deal out of the things that aren't "just so" and this includes his choice of dress. Here's what he came down the stairs wearing this morning. (In case you can't quite tell what he's wearing a red/white Poland soccer jersey, brown plaid shorts, navy socks with a gray and hunter green stripe and navy velcro shoes) Don't you know it was hard for me to bite my tongue and to then congratulate him on a job well done!??!!
All of Jack's jobs have, until recently, been done under the careful supervision of Mom or Dad. Now that Jack is quickly approaching 4 we decided that it was time for a little more responsibility. Thus began solo-job completion. Night jobs are still supervised as part of the bedtime routine; we decided that the solo-night jobs combined with the disappearance of the night-time pennies was too much change all at once. Plus Jack's not really big enough for unsupervised bathing yet. Morning jobs on the other hand are completely solo. I send Jack upstairs in the morning after breakfast with instructions to complete his jobs. It usually takes 30 minutes for them to be done completely but he's working and that's all that counts, right?! Of course in this I've had to let go of a few things -- the bathroom is a bit messier after he brushes his own teeth, the face towel isn't folded neatly on the counter after he washes his face and rarely is his bed made as neatly as I'd like, but he's doing it on his own! I don't want to discourage him so I don't make a big deal out of the things that aren't "just so" and this includes his choice of dress. Here's what he came down the stairs wearing this morning. (In case you can't quite tell what he's wearing a red/white Poland soccer jersey, brown plaid shorts, navy socks with a gray and hunter green stripe and navy velcro shoes) Don't you know it was hard for me to bite my tongue and to then congratulate him on a job well done!??!!
From the mouth (and mind) of Jack
I asked Jack this morning, "Hey Jack, what do you want to be when you grow-up?" His reply, with a heaping dose of "duh" was, "a grown-up." Then he walked off to go play swords with Sam.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Wandering Thoughts
I've brought you the product of my thoughts while on the date with Luke; now I'll bring you some thoughts I had today as I galavanted across Houston with my kiddos. There are only a few...
1. As I was pumping gasoline into the Green Monster (my expedition) in preparation for the trip, I studied my appearance in a close-by storefront window and tried to convince myself that surely the image I saw was distorted; I'm a hip, young mom after all. Ego slightly bruised I turned and noticed my reflection in the side of my car and continued to attempt convince myself that this time it was a combination of the curve of the car door and the amount of filth on it that distorted the image. That's when I wondered, "am I the perfect contestant for 'What Not to Wear'?" Seriously...is that Stacy what's-her-name woman lurking in the shadows waiting to toss all my clothes in the garbage bin as she mercilessly makes fun of my choices?! Then the epiphany hit. I triple-dog-dare that woman to trade places with me for a week. Bring all your cute clothes and sassy shoes, all the handbags and accessories, all the "product" and hair tools -- bring them to my house and do my job. Let's see how long that lasts. I'd like her to do my job, kids, house and all dressed her way. She'd have to worry about more than herself and focus on things like daily vitamin requirements for 4 people, proper social/physical/emotional/spiritual and intellectual growth for two people, budget minded living, and on and on and on. I wonder if she's go for it...and if she did I wonder, if at the end of the week, she'd have kept her style or if she'd look a little more like me...
2. I passed a van labeled "2M Office Supplies" and thought of this tagline for them, "2M Office Supplies. When you just don't care enough to pay for the extra M."
3. I took the kiddies to McD's today. I love all the posters for salads and apples. Cracks me up -- that and the ad I saw attempting to convince me that McD's s produce is better for me than the grocery store salad I could make myself. Plus the McD's salad comes with a side of French Fries.
That's all...I'm going to work on a more edifying post for next time.
1. As I was pumping gasoline into the Green Monster (my expedition) in preparation for the trip, I studied my appearance in a close-by storefront window and tried to convince myself that surely the image I saw was distorted; I'm a hip, young mom after all. Ego slightly bruised I turned and noticed my reflection in the side of my car and continued to attempt convince myself that this time it was a combination of the curve of the car door and the amount of filth on it that distorted the image. That's when I wondered, "am I the perfect contestant for 'What Not to Wear'?" Seriously...is that Stacy what's-her-name woman lurking in the shadows waiting to toss all my clothes in the garbage bin as she mercilessly makes fun of my choices?! Then the epiphany hit. I triple-dog-dare that woman to trade places with me for a week. Bring all your cute clothes and sassy shoes, all the handbags and accessories, all the "product" and hair tools -- bring them to my house and do my job. Let's see how long that lasts. I'd like her to do my job, kids, house and all dressed her way. She'd have to worry about more than herself and focus on things like daily vitamin requirements for 4 people, proper social/physical/emotional/spiritual and intellectual growth for two people, budget minded living, and on and on and on. I wonder if she's go for it...and if she did I wonder, if at the end of the week, she'd have kept her style or if she'd look a little more like me...
2. I passed a van labeled "2M Office Supplies" and thought of this tagline for them, "2M Office Supplies. When you just don't care enough to pay for the extra M."
3. I took the kiddies to McD's today. I love all the posters for salads and apples. Cracks me up -- that and the ad I saw attempting to convince me that McD's s produce is better for me than the grocery store salad I could make myself. Plus the McD's salad comes with a side of French Fries.
That's all...I'm going to work on a more edifying post for next time.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
A Night at the Movies
Last night Luke and I trekked to the Woods, The Woodlands to be exact to drop the boys off with Grandma so we could enjoy some much needed grown-up time. I love shopping in The Woodlands -- Market Street is awesome! So before heading to Benihana to satisfy the jonesin' I've been having we ventured to the mall. Blah, blah, blah...no one wants to hear these details. I just figured I should set the scene. At the end of the night I've come to a few conclusions that I think are share-worthy...and here they are...
1. You shouldn't be allowed to shop in stores geared to crowds younger than yourself...particularly if the store was FOUNDED after you were born. I passed American Eagle only to find a mid-50s aged woman checking out the clothes...for herself. In the window, one of the shirts she was considering said, "founded in nineteen eighty seven" My thought: yeah, you wish ma'am...more like nineteen fifty seven!' Ouch...that was tacky, but let's be real.
2. Certain Hollywood "stars" should be sentenced to jail sentences of considerable length for teaching little boys that wearing hoodies and sunglasses at night is cool...seriously they just look like tools. Also -- the "punk" look is NOT new...not at all. In fact it hasn't been that long ago since Flock of Seagulls wore hair that was SHOCKINGLY similar to some of the coifs I saw yesterday. Dude...it wasn't good then either!
3. Small children should not be taken to nice restaurants in the evening on typical date nights. I left my munchkins at home only to be seated at a table where the number of kids' meals outnumbered the adult entrees. Pissed was I?? Oh you can bet on it. (In case you were curious, these awesome parents then took the little ones to the movies -- at nine pm).
4. There is such a thing as too much Pink. I know some of you are shocked to find that sentence coming from me. I saw a lady pushing a VERY expensive stroller/car seat combo in a horridly tacky dark pink/light pink/black plaid. It was awful...seriously...I think it scarred my retinas.
5. People will buy anything as long as its labeled with a name brand. Take Williams-Sonoma for example. We stumbled upon some of their "Famous Texas Chili Starter" -- complete with advertisement of true Texas beer -- Lone Star beer to be exact. REALLY?? From what I remember from my college days, Lone Star Beer ranked up there with Natty Light in tastes horrible but is super cheap and therefore great for college kids category. WS couldn't splurge for Shiner? (I just realized that latest entry made me sound like a beer connoisseur -- totally untrue).
Overall -- a wonderful night -- good shopping, good food, decent movie, awesome conversation. Two thumbs up -- an evening worth the repeat, of course that's what I say every time we do this!!
1. You shouldn't be allowed to shop in stores geared to crowds younger than yourself...particularly if the store was FOUNDED after you were born. I passed American Eagle only to find a mid-50s aged woman checking out the clothes...for herself. In the window, one of the shirts she was considering said, "founded in nineteen eighty seven" My thought: yeah, you wish ma'am...more like nineteen fifty seven!' Ouch...that was tacky, but let's be real.
2. Certain Hollywood "stars" should be sentenced to jail sentences of considerable length for teaching little boys that wearing hoodies and sunglasses at night is cool...seriously they just look like tools. Also -- the "punk" look is NOT new...not at all. In fact it hasn't been that long ago since Flock of Seagulls wore hair that was SHOCKINGLY similar to some of the coifs I saw yesterday. Dude...it wasn't good then either!
3. Small children should not be taken to nice restaurants in the evening on typical date nights. I left my munchkins at home only to be seated at a table where the number of kids' meals outnumbered the adult entrees. Pissed was I?? Oh you can bet on it. (In case you were curious, these awesome parents then took the little ones to the movies -- at nine pm).
4. There is such a thing as too much Pink. I know some of you are shocked to find that sentence coming from me. I saw a lady pushing a VERY expensive stroller/car seat combo in a horridly tacky dark pink/light pink/black plaid. It was awful...seriously...I think it scarred my retinas.
5. People will buy anything as long as its labeled with a name brand. Take Williams-Sonoma for example. We stumbled upon some of their "Famous Texas Chili Starter" -- complete with advertisement of true Texas beer -- Lone Star beer to be exact. REALLY?? From what I remember from my college days, Lone Star Beer ranked up there with Natty Light in tastes horrible but is super cheap and therefore great for college kids category. WS couldn't splurge for Shiner? (I just realized that latest entry made me sound like a beer connoisseur -- totally untrue).
Overall -- a wonderful night -- good shopping, good food, decent movie, awesome conversation. Two thumbs up -- an evening worth the repeat, of course that's what I say every time we do this!!
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