actually...

It's 6 something a.m. My eyes are barely open, but my fabulous kids are already talking. Here are some of their words from this morning:

Louie: "Daaaaaa! Daaaaa! Agero goo goo la bye-bye! Maaaaaa! Maaaaaa! Agulooloo!"

Keona: "Those dogs have been chasing our cars for YEARS! Actually, for two days."

Jonathan: "Mom, when I close my left eye and look with my right eye, everything looks normal. But when I close my right eye and look with my left eye, everything looks blue. [pause] No. I'm wrong. Everything looks aqua-marine."

I LOVE my kids!!!

Flathead Valley, Montana

Alia and I are in the Minneapolis airport returning from a WONDERFUL time with the dear women of Western Montana. For any who may visit this blog, thank you for receiving us with such open hearts. Thank you for your generous hospitality: the candles, the specialty soaps, the fireplace, the fresh fruit, the professional massages...we felt so pampered and loved. You are a beautiful group of women and it was a joy to spend the weekend with you!

why flies?

Towering trees' brown bark against vibrant green grass...

A gorgeous breeze flowing through my peaceful office...

Vanilla essence wafting around me from the rattan sticks on the counter...

And there's this FLY buzzing around my head.

The fly is the tell for me.

When I'm emotionally rested I can smile and chuckle. When my emotional margin is too thin, the fly absorbs all my attention. It's all I see, all I hear.

This afternoon, I'm smiling. But late last night I was wondering what GOD WAS THINKING when he made the little buggers.

Thank God for a good night's sleep...and fly swatters.

on bees and my honey

"But if we use it, there won't be enough for the bees!!" Jona said and he squirted our household supply of honey into a cup to give back to the bees.

"Buddy, the bees make enough for us to share," I reasoned. "Even now you can see the bees all over the purple flowers harvesting more nectar to make more honey."

Jona stared out the window.
Jona sat outside in the flowers watching the bees.
Jona ran back inside to grab paper and crayons.
Jona colored outside and placed papers all over the lawn.

"Jona, what are the papers for?" I asked later.

He brought one to me. It had an arrow pointing to a flower. "I made signs to help the bees find their way to more nectar!"

That's my honey. :-)

waffles

Recently, our family discovered the movie Enchanted and my daughter has been asking questions about "true love's kiss."

"Mommy, where did you meet daddy and how did you know that he was your true love's kiss," she asked with a dreamy look on her face.

"Daddy and I met at a Christian retreat AFTER WE GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE," I said, "and I wanted to marry him because I had never met anyone who loved God like he does."

"Oh, how did you know he loved God? Did he make you waffles?"

Besides being cute on it's own, that last sentence is loaded in our family. EVERY Saturday morning, Daddy makes the kid's favorite breakfast: gluten-free waffles with maple syrup. For Keona, this was one of the many ways Daddy tells her that he loves her.

That "every" is something I've been thinking about. More than seeing the Statue of Liberty, the kids will remember that we always took a summer vacation road trip. More than what we watched, the kids will remember that Friday nights were always movie night on the floor.

Perhaps it's not the unusual or unexpected that communicate our love in my kid's language, but rather the stuff they can count on. Without question, the spontaneous is fun. But perhaps the certain is what love can really walk on.

use your mom-imagination

It happened.

I knew it would but somehow thought it would wait a year or two.

Listening to baby Louie on the monitor I heard Keona come into his room. I heard them laugh and play. Then all went silent.

"How sweet," I thought, "She must have helped him fall asleep."

Then came the voice calling excitedly up the stairs: "MOM! I did it!" said 4.5 year old Keona.

"Did what love," I said calmly.

"I just changed Louie's diaper for the FIRST TIME all by myself!"

Yes, use your imagination!

weekend snapshots and jona's heart

Friday night I had the joy of sharing at the James River Women's Rally. I was so moved throughout the conference by their inspiring combination of beauty and substance, creativity and strength.

Their theme was "Set Free" and on Wednesday night before the conference I knew I needed to shelf my intended message and instead share "6 destiny-shaping questions." I pray it was a blessing to those incredible women!

Saturday and Sunday we were on the road participating in a missions convention. Our kids LOVE roadtrips of every kind. Keona is "pack-it" girl, Louie's just thrilled to be with everyone, and Jonathan can't wait to see new radio/tv/cell/water towers...

We stayed in a comfy guesthouse and our host had cows and chickens. Sunday morning I told Jonathan that Mr. Don had said he could go look at the baby calves. Jonathan said, "Oh, thank you, but I don't think I was born to take care of animals. I think I was born to feed the poor."

Truly, that is the concern that pulls at him each day.

"Father God, help me be more like my son."

a quest for ideas

If you were going to lead a small group bible study based on Anonymous: Jesus' hidden years and yours, what resources would you like from me?

Yesterday I spoke with a wonderful woman whose church is thinking of using Anonymous for their women's groups. They'd like to do something new and fresh.

I'm planning on writing a 6 week bible study and also a reflective journaling guide for Anonymous. But they were wondering how we could also partner real time through a weekly Skpye call or podcast or q&a with the author.

So--my techy, webby friends--if you have a few moments, I'd REALLY LOVE to hear any ideas you might have!