details...

I am naturally a very inquisitive person...I may be quiet, but I am one who loves details and I pick up on everything! This can be a very good quality for a forensic scientist, a detective, or some other sleuth of that sort...but when it comes to the plans of God, I have to admit my curious, logical mind sometimes gets in the way! I have improved over the years...many lessons learned...some the hard way, and, more recently, some by learning to hear and trust God's voice. It's funny how I can strive to create a plan, but when I just learn to let God direct it, something miraculous happens...and a path that wasn't even visible yesterday, suddenly emerges right in front of my eyes.

We just today became members of a church that we have been going to for about 3 months! We are already seeing God's hand opening doors that no man can shut! (Hallelujah!!) I am also praying for miracles for my extended family, both on my side and Luis's...there are so many needs...but God is more than able! He has been so gracious to us, and we are so thankful to Him. My prayer is that God helps us to be real Christians...no sugar coating...no rose colored glasses...just REAL! I think the world has had enough "make it look like everything is perfect" Christians, who are really full of bitterness and empty on the inside. The time is getting short, and so many people's lives are hanging in the balance. 2009 is going to be a year of great harvest!! Get ready, get set, GO!

We had a nice Christmas at home and then later at Uncle David's house with he and Grandma Carmen. I am trying to figure out how to convert my video...so for now, you'll have to settle for pictures...unfortunately I took more video than pictures.

What Child is This?

It's Christmas Eve, and the house is quiet...everyone is asleep, and I am thinking with excitement toward tomorrow morning...the stockings have been stuffed and are hung...the presents are wrapped and tied...everything is ready. We had our traditional Christmas Eve...we read the Christmas Story from the Bible, and each opened one gift. We talked about God's gifts to us...love, peace, joy, forgiveness, and heaven. What an awesome gift, that He would leave the beauty and perfection of heaven for each one of us. His motivation was sheer love and a desire for the Father to be reconciled with the creation that he so deeply cares for. Pastor Kevin spoke this past week about the "discussion" in Heaven when God was creating the world...Desiring to have fellowship and communion with mankind...knowing that he would give us free will, which gives us freedom to choose to love Him, as well as the freedom to sin...knowing we would need a Savior to rescue us from that sin...and Jesus stepping up during the conversation and saying "I'll go, send Me", all before man was even formed out of the dust of the ground. What an amazing plan...what total sacrifice...what great love. What child is this? This was not an ordinary child...this was and is Emmanuel...God with us...I AM...the one who was...who is...and who is to come! Happy Birthday Jesus...thank you for being the greatest gift of all.

The Twelve Days of Christmas (Parra style!)

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me....

Twelve lawnmowers humming (my romantic small engine mechanic ♥ )
Eleven peppers roasting
Ten piles a-heaping (we have leaves...everywhere!!)
Nine loads of laundry
Eight gallons of milk (per week...we need a cow!)
Seven swarms a swatting (gnats!)
Six geese a laying (literally, over at Uncle David's)
Five molten wings (as hot as lava...only Luis can eat them!!)
Four crawling bugs (Palmetto, to be exact)
Three torque wrenches
Two fried tamales
and
A part for our lightning-struck stove

I Wonder as I Wander

Have you ever been wading in the ocean, walking out deeper and deeper as you face the horizon? Then, after being out there for a while, you turn around and face the shore, and you find that you have drifted far to the left or to the right of your spot on the beach. We begin to walk back toward our point of origin, now with our attention focused on a target, a definitive destination...the very thing that was lacking when we were facing the other way. Sometimes life can be that way, as well. We set out on a course that is right before us, thinking that we are completely in control, only to find that our intended course was not what was intended for us at all. We can get so caught up in the here and now. So captivated by the sights and sounds of those things that are only pleasing for a moment, but have no eternal value. Trapped by things that seem divine, at first glance, with mortal eyes.

Then, at other times, we feel as though we are drifting, wandering without a purpose or point. Our focus is fixed, yet when we momentarily shift our eyes, it seems as if we are going nowhere. Our path has taken twists and turns for no apparent reason at all. Our trek seems futile, at times, and we question each step. Then after a long time of walking, steadily fixed on the unchanging, immovable Mark, we are given a gift. We, for a moment, have the ability to see our voyage from the viewpoint of a high flying eagle. We see that the twists and turns were necessary shifts that had steered us away from danger...danger that we never even came close to...danger that we never even realized was there. And although these crooked paths made the journey a bit longer, and bit more curious, we are stronger and healthier because of them. We realize that what we perceived as walking blindly was actually a sanctuary paved through a mine field...a trail that we would not have chosen, had it been left up to us to choose. Yet every step, a precise calculation by the One who always sees the beginning from the end.

The difference in these two walks is not really in the walking at all. It lies in the point on which we are focused. The first, a vast sea of endlessness, beautiful to the eye, detrimental to the soul. The second, a firm foundation, unchanged by the rolling waves or shifting sand. Life giving, and secure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation)

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

I went out his evening, by myself, for a relaxing, testosterone-free, ladies Christmas party with some of the gals from church. I left my three "merry gentlemen" at home. When I returned, Luis was asleep on the bottom bunk, and the boys had beaten me to the door, putting in their snack requests....When I asked why they didn't ask Dad to get it for them, they responded "He said wait for Mom to get home". Ahhh...it was a heavenly three hours, while it lasted...

Let it Flow, Let it Flow, Let it Flow!

Today we finished school relatively early, and I put the finishing touches on my Christmas cards. The weather was so mild that I let the boys go out to play in shorts and t-shirts...definitely not the central New York, cabin-fever winters around here! I was going around, doing some chores, when I peeked out the front door to check on the boys. They were busily playing in the front yard. After a few more minutes, I peeked out again, and saw Joshua and Jonathan huddled in the soccer goal. I called out to them, to make sure everything was alright, and Josh decided to then inform me that his little brother was bleeding. As Jonathan began to walk toward me, I noticed a large, grapefruit sized blood stain on his t-shirt. As he came closer, I noticed that there was also blood on his shorts and hands. Uncle David came into the yard and made a comment about the large quantity of blood. So, I lifted up Jonathan's shirt, and saw that his whole little tummy was stained red...more blood. So, I got him in the house, went to the restroom, and began to strip him down. I wet a wash cloth and started to clean up his once olive, now crimson skin. As I put his clothes to soak in cold water, I tried to find the source of the bleeding. After wiping for a while, I noticed a small, pin-sized cut, just over his lower ribcage. I mean this cut was so small, that I only noticed it because the blood began to flow after I cleaned him. How this tiny opening made such a horrid mess, I'll never know! All I can figure is that there must have been a small vein near the cut, and it just kept pumping out through the path of least resistance...namely, his cut. After about 15 minutes of pressure, I was finally able to get that little pesty cut to stop bleeding. I bandaged him up, and "Shouted" out his clothes. Jonathan later admitted that he picked an old scab, just to see if it would bleed. He is definitely all boy! Just another average, ordinary day at the Parra ranch.

We Wish you a Merry Christmas

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to go Christmas carolling at a nursing home in Fairfax. It ended up just Jonathan and I, along with a great group from our new church (that we just love!). Jonathan was (and still is) in dire need of a haircut, but due to the lack of time, I just wet it, slicked it back and hair sprayed it. (He's three, and gave no protest...miracle!). When we got to the nursing home, one of the ladies from church commented that he looked like a little Eddie Munster...after looking at his little slick hair and sweet face, I had to admit she was right! No matter...he and his little friend J.R. were the stars of the show as they passed out presents to all of the residents that attended our little gathering. Out of my boys, Jonathan is most assuredly the more outgoing one, and he gave handshakes, hugs and a "Merry Christmas" to each of the men and women that he talked to. My heart was really touched as I watched the sweet elderly residents sing along with us to the old familiar Christmas songs. Even though we were only there a short while, I felt like we had touched eternity . I left that center feeling so full, knowing that I had received much more than I could have ever given.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

I was wondering today, just how big (or small) Bethlehem was at the time of Jesus’ birth. Obviously it was small enough, that the many people returning to it, as ordered by Caesar Augustus, filled every inn and vacant spot available. I am sure the homes were bursting at the seams by the sudden influx of visitors. Historians say that the population was somewhere between 300 and 1000 inhabitants when Jesus was born...a far cry from the tens of thousands that it grew to in the twentieth century.

I love to get a glimpse of the mind of God. Isn’t it amazing that God would choose the least likeliest of places to be the setting of the most important birth of all? Think of it...the Jewish scholars of that time were trying to decipher the scriptures, while right there, in the middle of nowhere, God was unfolding it all. The intellects of that day had their minds and hearts so focused on the triumphant entry of a king...one of high loftiness, one of great power and influence, and there, in the little town of Bethlehem, God fulfilled His Word in a way that was so unpretentious, and so incredibly basic, that even the shepherds in the fields nearby knew that something supernatural had taken place. The intellects of our modern world are not much different than those of old. While the technology has changed, the mind set has not. So often we believe God only works on a large scale and, in searching for the "greatness" we trample over the very thing that God has set before us. God still chooses to use Bethlehem as the setting in which to fulfill His will. My Bethlehem has a population of four. My sphere of influence, with God’s guidance, is endless.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

It may be 70+ degrees outside, and I may even have broken a sweat sweeping leaves off the steps of our house yesterday, but hey, a girl can dream, can't she??

Away in a Manger

One of my favorite sights at Christmas is the nativity. Here in Hampton, down in the main square, they have a large, almost life-sized, nativity that is just beautiful. While Hampton has it's problems, it's nice that at least they get some things right now and again. We have a small nativity that I have set up in the living room. It's funny...amidst all the ornaments, ribbons and bows, the thing that the kids enjoy putting up the most is the manger and all the characters. It's almost as if they sense something special about it, even without really understanding the full importance of it at their early ages. I remember growing up, Mom had a manger, too. I used to love to assemble it as well. Hers had a light that was placed through a hole in the back of the "stable", and I remember how I used to sit next to the fireplace, or wherever Mom decided to place the manger that year, and rearrange the sheep, and the cow with the funny spring horns, and I would notice how Mary and Joseph's faces would glow from the light from that star-bulb. Since I have had my boys, I find myself thinking how it must have been to give birth outside, surrounded by lowing animals and a bustling city too small to hold all of the citizens returning for the census. A far cry from the beautiful birthing centers and even hospital rooms that we find ourselves in today, (which many times we complain about in the course of our stay). I also find myself wondering if I would have been as brave as Mary to say "yes" to the Lord's plan. How it must have felt to be carrying the Savior of the world for nine months, then raise Him, and ultimately watch Him hang on a cross for all humanity...even for those who would mock and reject Him. Then to raise again, in all His glory. What a time it must have been to be alive. Sadly, for some both then and now, it is a tale too far-fetched for their logical, pragmatic minds to believe. For the rest of us, it is the foundation of all of our faith, the Hope that we cling to, and the Promise that is soon to come again.

Do you hear what I hear...

I am the only one awake, and the house is quiet. This is the time of the night when I can hear sounds that usually fade into the background next to the sounds of two healthy, energetic boys. Without even trying, I can hear the quiet hum of the computer...the swishing of the dishwasher...if I focus a little more, I can tune my ear to the deep breathing of little ones fast asleep with not as much as a single care in the world. If I listen even more intently, I can hear the sound of peace...no, it's not readily audible...but rather a subtle, motionless calm. It is something I could never create, for even the attempt would be loud in comparison. It is a gift that has been extended...not one I have earned or even deserve. Sometimes I forget it's here...or even sweep it out the door inadvertently. Sometimes I overlook it, and fail to give it it's proper respect. Sometimes my words disturb it, cut through it like a knife, and I toss by the wayside the very thing that my heart needs most. But as the coldness of it's absence drifts through the rooms, and the chill of the void brushes my arm, I am reminded that all I have to do is let the peace back in...and upon the invitation, it rushes in like a flood, bringing a warmth and glow to everyone and everything it touches. The Prince of Peace came to us on Christmas. And He continues to come to whomever desires Him...bringing peace like a river...peace that passes all understanding...peace in the storm...peace. Stop. Listen. Do you hear what I hear?

Santa Claus is coming to town

This is something that was in our Women's Ministries Newsletter for this month, and I liked it...and thought you would too!

Why Jesus is Better Than Santa Claus

Santa lives at the North Pole...JESUS is everywhere. Santa rides in a sleigh...JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water. Santa comes but once a year...JESUS is an ever present help. Santa fills your stockings with goodies...JESUS supplies all your needs. Santa comes down your chimney uninvited...JESUS stands at you door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited. You have to wait in line to see Santa...JESUS is as close as the mention of His name. Santa lets you sit on his lap...JESUS lets you rest in His arms. Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"...JESUS knew our name before we were born. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address, too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads. Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly...JESUS has a heart full of love. All Santa can offer is HO HO HO...JESUS offers health, help, and hope. Santa says, "You better not cry"...JESUS says "Cast all you cares on me for I care for you." Santa's little helpers make toys...JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions. Santa may make you chuckle but...JESUS gives you joy that is your strength. While Santa puts gifts under your tree...JESUS became our gift and died on a tree...the cross. Let's remember to keep Christ in Christmas...Jesus is the reason for the season.

and here's one more...(this one really hit home...especially the part about he kids and husband!)

1 Corinthians 13 applied to Christmas

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, stands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love, I am just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautiful adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love, I'm just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't. Love bears all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree...

...how lovely are your branches...well, what little there are of them, anyway! haha..Luis, the boys and I went out to our little woods behind our house and chopped (well, chainsaw-ed) our quaint little tree for Christmas. Now, we don't have the lovely Douglas firs or scotch pines...the ones like Dad use to go a cut down for us...we have the old southern pines. So, since we are being frugal (cheap), and since we wanted the fragrance of a real tree, we went out and hunted for the best one we could find. For those of you who aren't familiar with the southern pine variety of a Christmas tree, don't feel bad..it's because it was never meant to be a Christmas tree. Our pines are about 25-30 feet tall...all trunk until the very top. So you can't really see what your tree is going to look like until you cut the tree down. Since we don't want to kill more than one tree for our living room, we take what we cut, trying our best to eye a good one from the ground. Then we do our best to fill in the gaps with the many ornaments we have collected over the years. Although our little Christmas tree looks just like the one Charlie Brown brought back to the Christmas play, and was ridiculed for, we gave it some love, and made it our own. We took the rest of the night to decorate our tree, while the holiday channel played our favorite Christmas songs. We drank cocoa, and ate cookies, then watched a Christmas movie. It turned out to be a fine day!!

This afternoon, when we came home from church, our precious little tree was lying lifeless, in the middle of the living room floor...I think it was a sign...Our treasure of a tree has been evicted from the house altogether, and now resides on the front porch...I informed Luis that next year, we're getting a fake one!

Exposed

The other day, I was making breakfast for the family...a Parra favorite- homemade French Toast! As I was cracking the eggs, I noticed that a piece of shell fell into the bowl. I ever so carefully used the broken egg shell to attempt to retrieve the renegade tidbit, which had quickly hidden under one of the yokes. As I finagled my way around the yoke, the edge of the shell caught the side of the yoke and all of a sudden...POP!!! The yoke broke.

I don't know if God talks to everyone in the same manner, but God spoke something to me that morning as I was fishing out the shell from my eggs. He said, "That's how a life is...when that life chooses Me over all the desires and trappings of the world, that life walks with a shield encircling them...a shield that comes from Me...when the attacks and snares of the world try to destroy the very life I have created, this shield is impervious. But, when a life chooses to step outside of the bounds of My protection, and leave the habitat I so carefully formed for it, it becomes so very fragile, so exposed...because it is outside of the destiny, the provincial armor in which I have created for it to live."

I began to think of how far this egg must have travelled...all of the bumping and jostling along it's long journey...and ever so miraculously safe inside the shell that was designed for it's protection. Not even as much as a crack on the outer shell...divine security. But then, the minute that egg left the safety of it's Creator's perfectly devised environment (and entered my bowl!), it was suddenly left unprotected in a place it was never created to be and became so very vulnerable...even to the very shell that was once it's safe haven. I began to think of how it is when we willingly and knowingly step out of God's perfect will for our lives, and we too find ourselves defenseless...far from the shielding hands of the Father...not that He doesn't desire to care for us, but He can not go against His own word...and that Word, which was meant to guide and keep us, must now judge us, when we choose to deliberately walk contrary to that which we know to be just and right and pure.

I have lived on both sides of that "shell". The peace, the sure foundation, the confidence that comes from knowing that God's own hands are surrounding us every moment...every step...every breath...when we choose to walk in the path that He has, so beautifully, created for us...is something I pray I never take for granted...and something I do not ever wish to live without again.

A heart full of thanks

I am always very nostalgic around this time of the year (to which I chalk up to being my Dad's daughter-I love you Dad!!), and I often catch myself remembering how we celebrated Thanksgiving growing up. As you might well expect, a family of ten brought it's share of excitement and stories over the years. I will always cherish the hustle and bustle of everyone home for the holidays...a crowded house...sitting elbow to elbow in our little ranch home that was filled with love. I can almost hear the sound of Mom's old meat grinder, pushing out ounces and ounces of what was to become the coveted Turkey Pate. Those of us who had been craving it for the last twelve months knew that we had better get our fill before Gregg came home...or else we would have to wait until next year for another cracker full...I remember watching Dad carve the turkey just so...every piece cut to perfection...white meat on one side, dark on the other...and sneaking a taste for Gram during the slicing...I remember setting the tables...both the "grown up" table and the "kids table" and using the REAL cloth napkins...knowing they were saved for this special day...Mom outdid herself every year...making a feast fit for kings...then, when we had all sat down, Dad would read from his little burgundy Bible, and get teary when he talked about the goodness of the Lord, and all of His blessings He had shown to our family. (This teary part, I also inherited from my Dad!) I remember the folding of hands, the bowing of heads, and the peacefulness of a home that was simple, yet immense with respect to the impact that it had on every soul who entered.

Then, with each clink of a fork, and every "please pass the rolls", we would, without even realizing it, make memories that would last a lifetime. On this Eve of Thanksgiving, as I remember special times of years past, there is a fullness in my heart for a family that is unlike any other. Not because it was perfect or because it was without it's share of ups and downs...but just because it was mine.

Eat your heart out, Willy Wonka!

Chocolate covered cherry mice...mmmm

You name it, we covered it in chocolate today...from cherries to bananas to animal crackers...we are officially on Thanksgiving Break, and a major sugar high!

Way to go Reds!

Tonight was the last game of the fall baseball season, and the team went 6-0. What a great season!!! (And extra big shout out to the great coaches-Uncle Robbie and Aunt Marybeth-Woot woot!!)

Giving thanks

Trying to teach our kids about being thankful (grateful, content, satisfied) isn't always an easy task. We have learned this week about the first Thanksgiving, and all that was celebrated at that historic moment. Many things have change since the Mayflower hit that old Plymouth Rock...so I asked the boys what things they were thankful for...

Josh's "thankful" list:

That Jonathan's not crying

My hot wheels game

Pool table

Making us our Indian vests

Matt and Robbie

Jonathan

My TV where I can watch cartoons

Mom's pies

Nani, Papa, all my cousins, Aunts and Uncles

Jonathan's list:

my birthday toys

Aunt MB, Uncle Robbie, Robbie, Matt, Ali

My Dada

My cat

This year, my list has really gone back towards the same simple, yet vital things that our forefathers were thankful for...peaceful journeys, food for nourishment, loving family and friends. Peace in our hearts, fresh new beginnings, and a soul at rest. Thank you all for making our life that much more enjoyable along the way. Love and blessings to you this Thanksgiving!

Joy in the Journey

Every once in a while, God gives us the opportunity to redo something that was done poorly in the past. Most of the time, we think of it as a mountain...something negative that we have to get around, over, or through. But today, I have an excitement...and unspeakable joy about something good that we are able to redo from the past. I can't really give too many details, mainly because I don't have them all at this point, but suffice it to say, God, in His awesome way, is allowing us to right a wrong that was made many years ago, and we are so excited about it! It's not every day that we are allowed to retrace steps of the past, and then, from the vantage point of a traveller who has a little more experience and understanding under the belt, make adjustments to a path that once led to heartache, and redirect it to a divine destination. Yesterday, in our Bible class, Josh, Jonathan and I read the story of Joseph, one of my favorites. As I was teaching the boys about how God is always with us, even in the midst of circumstances that seem so bleak, God deposited that truth into my own heart once again. The beauty of how Joseph walked upright, even in the midst of adversity, with integrity of heart before the Lord. How his character never waivered, even when no one was looking. And the fact that what his brothers meant for harm, God fashioned for good, in a way that only He is able. Yes, he was betrayed by the brothers that he loved, yes, he was falsely accused, yes, he had to spend some time in a foreign land, and yes, he had to wait in prison more than two years...but I have no doubt in my mind that after everything was said and done, Joseph didn't regret a single moment of his journey. I so relate to Joseph at this time of my life, and I am so looking forward to the thrill of living out the truth of what the enemy meant for harm, the Lord meant for good! I think I can almost hear Joseph cheering us on...

~~Joy in the Journey, song by Michael Card~~

"There is a joy in the journey,there's a light we can love on the way. There is a wonder and wildness to life, and freedom for those who obey. All those who seek it shall find it, a pardon for all who believe. Hope for the hopeless and sight for the blind. To all who've been born of the Spirit, and who share incarnation with him; who belong to eternity, stranded in time, and weary of struggling with sin. Forget not the hope that's before you, and never stop counting the cost. Remember the hopelessness when you were lost?"

T'was the night before Friday, and all through the house, not a creature was sleeping!!!

That's right! It's 10:30 pm....and everyone is awake! Yes, even Jonathan, my sweet three year old, is playing like it's the middle of the day. Luis is watching TV with Josh (some "Nick" sitcom) and I am listening to them laugh out loud. Usually, by this time, I am the only night owl at her "perch" (the computer)...but not tonight! Jonathan just walked by, and went to pull out his toy train box...then Josh came in and hopped on his bed...I was sure he was going to call it a night...but he grabbed a pillow and headed back to the couch with his Dad. This night is definitely gotten off track...time to round up the troops...and time for Mom to get off the computer!! Goodnight to all my family and friends...love to you all!

Josh and Jonathan wanted to be buried in the leaves...all but their faces! (Look at the size of the leaf on Josh's chest!! I have never seen one that big!) After, the boys started collecting pinecones...and we made a Fall garland from gum tree seed pods and leaves...then we decorated our front porch and made it into a Fall wonderland!

Josh, after I gave him a trim...my little boy is growing up!!

Little things..

The boys and I drove to Walterboro on Friday after school, and I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the leaves were! I don't remember the trees ever looking this pretty down here in South Carolina. As we drove home from all of our shopping excursions, the boys were sleeping in the back, and I was just taking in all the colors of fall. I was reminded just how very much God is in control of every little detail...and that He is concerned with the things that concern His children. If he takes the time to paint a pallet of beautiful colors on each tree, how much more so is he interested in our lives, and the things that effect us.


"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34

Chores

The boys begged for a chores list today...where they could get stars for all the items they accomplished. Much to their dismay, they had to work hard for their stars....I think the fun has already worn off.

Hypnotized

I have really been pondering this election outcome, and I have found myself taken aback by it all. I have a mixture of emotions as I watch everything unfolding in the world around me. I have tried to place myself in the shoes of the millions of black people that are in this country. I am thrilled that our country is becoming more and more "colorblind". What a moment in history to be alive!

I, too, know something about being a minority. I know, you are thinking, "What??" Living in San Luis, Arizona, population 25,000, and being pretty much the only white, English-as-a-primary-language resident, I got a taste of what it felt like to be odd-man-out, with little to no voice. Then I remember going to church in Mexico, and being the only American there...and when, by chance, another American would visit, I would find myself drawn to them, because of the common bond. I think that's how the majority of the black population is feeling today. I think that they are feeling empowered...that for the first time in history, they have a voice on a National scale, something they have, until now, only dreamed of. The issue that I struggle with is that sometimes, when you feel such a bond on one level, you can become indifferent to the things that really matter. I can't help but wonder how many people really looked beyond their own skin color to make this choice. I understand the power of culture...the pull that it has on humanity. I feel like many of the black people are deeply spiritual, "big faith" people. A majority have had strong Christian roots. But the excitement of this campaign has clouded their moral vision. There has been a hypnotic effect that has caused them to make choices that they normally never would have made before. I have learned through the years that we, if we truly are Christians, must not be controlled by our own human culture, but we need to be controlled by the culture of heaven...the moral standard that has been laid out before us. All of us...White, Black, Brown...need to be able to objectively look at the choices that are in front of us, and decide if we are going to be guided by the standards of the world, or the standards of the One who made the world.

The other struggle I have is that I am watching the country I love, heading in a direction that I don't like. I am watching people put the economy on a higher priority level than morality. People holding out for a hand out, rather than the satisfaction of hard work. Because of this, I am more energized then ever. I have been reminded of the urgency of the times, and the vitality of participation. We all have been given a sphere of influence. So, I am pulling my boots up, determined to let the Lord use me as He sees fit..to make an eternal difference in the world around me.

And the winner is.....

Being Election Day, we decided to scrap the traditional school day, and celebrate the democratic process of our land. Our little school room has been converted into a voting room. We have designed the whole day around the election, complete with voting, and electoral college maps ready to be colored red and blue as the results come in. (It's going to be a late night!) The boys have been excitedly following this election, and have learned a great deal about how it works! We'll have the "Parra District" results after Mom and Dad vote later today!

Update...5:09pm....well, the polls are closed here in our house, and the votes are in and counted in the Parra district...and McCain has won it!! It was a landslide victory, complete with jumping and cheering from the youngest voting members...Now we are getting settled to watch the real votes roll in!

It's a priviledge and a right!

"Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. " Psalm 146:3-4

This scripture, that was on my blog today, seemed very fitting for the times in which we are living! As Election Day approaches, filled with campaign promises from here to the moon, I thought is was fitting to remind myself that the only one we can really put our complete faith in is God. Using that plumb line, both candidates fall so very short of living up to a standard that high. So, tomorrow, I will venture out with my boys, and cast my vote for the man who I believe lines up with the issues that concern God most, not the issues that concern my pocketbook most. After all, He promises to bless us according to His riches in Glory, and not according to the economic standards of this great country. That being said, I encourage all of you to vote tomorrow...vote your conscience...vote as if God was watching over your shoulder...because in reality, He is!

Sweet tooth!

The boys and I went to the store yesterday, and being that it's close to October 31st, there is an enormous amount of candy for sale. Have you ever noticed how much the candy has changed since we were little? Here's a list of my favorites from my childhood...most of these are probably no longer sold...haha...I am getting old! :)

Marathon Bar...these were a foot long, chocolate covered carmel "ladder" that we used to almost choke on because it was so stringy and sticky!

Ice Cubes...delicious creamy chocolate cubes...the smoothest thing around...my Gramma "D" always had some on her purse!

Necco wafers....dry and weird tasting, but we bought them anyway! LOL

Whistle pops...Lollypops with an loud whistle (made by some candy man with no children, no doubt!)

Candy cigarettes...we "puffed" on these things until the paper got soggy!

Bazooka Joe gum...hard as a rock until you chewed it for a while...once it was soft, it lost all it's flavor...we could buy it for 2 cents at the snack shack...and the comic and joke of the day were great, cheap entertainment!

Pixie sticks...if accidently inhaling the powder didn't kill you, the 1.5 second sugar rush just might!

Reeses pieces...if it weren't for E.T., these candies would have never lasted!

Fireballs...another snack shack favorite...why did we buy something that spent more time staining our fingertips than in our mouths???

Sour patch kids...wegmans sold them in bulk, and we snuck them into the movies!!

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These days, our kids have an incredible variety to choose from...

Gummy whatever...bears, worms, bugs, body parts...Chocolate anything and everything...So what did my kids get on our excursion to the store?? A package of gummy Krabby Patties, Josh eats them like a squirrel with his precious acorn. Jonathan took one bite, yelled "Yuck!!", and spit it to the ground. I'll stick to my modern favorite...the Take 5 bar!

Asleep

This week is my least favorite time of the whole year. I really dislike Halloween and all that goes with it. Our family does not celebrate the "holiday" or trick-or-treat. You might be thinking it is because of my upbringing and the fact that my family didn't celebrate it either. While this is somewhat true, Luis, who had a very different upbringing than I, feels even more strongly against it. Mom and Dad taught me that there was nothing cute or fun about Halloween. As the neighborhood kids came to our doors dressed like ghosts, witches, and other hideous things, my parents would hand out candy along with a little note about Jesus. We would stay home that night, and always have an abundance of left over candy, much to our dentist's dismay. One of the moms down the road from us felt such pity for me, that she made her son that was in my class, give me a portion of his candy. (No wonder that kid didn't like me!). Those parents didn't share or even understand the conviction that my parents felt on the subject. We, as children, didn't always understand either, and merely saw it as "they got candy and we didn't". Now that I am a Christian parent, I find myself sharing those same convictions that my parents did. I have noticed how much the "church" has changed on the whole Halloween issue. More and more, the standards that used to draw distinct lines have been weakened and watered down until it has gotten to a point where it's getting difficult to tell the difference between the Christians and the non-Christians. The world has become more evil, even just in my short lifetime. The worst part is that as the world continues to move down the slippery slope, the Christians have moved to the same degree, away from their convictions. Even down here in the "Bible belt", it is evident. Our children definitely live in a different world than Luis and I did as children, and we are finding ourselves having to explain issues to them that we didn't even know about until high school and beyond. Never before has the world been so blatantly anti-Christian. This generation has very little knowledge of a moral standard, because for the first time in history, the generation before it, in general, has not passed it on to them. The alarm has been sounding...college campus shootings...school field trips to the county courthouse to watch a gay wedding...presidential candidate images hanging with a noose for all to see...and we keep hitting the snooze button, hoping for just a few more moments of sleep and warmth...Little do we know how late it has gotten, and how desperately we need to wake up!

A little cheese with that whine!

Is it just me, or is whining the most annoying, most irritating sound ever to pierce a mother's ears?!?! Our youngest has mastered the art, if you can call it that. Not only does he whine at the drop of a hat, he does so at the highest decibels know to man!! I think even the dogs in the neighborhood are deterred by the shrills of Jonathan whining! Apparently, he thinks it is a viable way to protest, as it is his modus operandi anytime something doesn't go his way. Don't get me wrong...he can be the sweetest kid in the world. He'll walk up to me and just give me a kiss and a hug...out of the blue. He'll tell us he loves us around the clock, and he very quick to share. But mark my words....if you cross his path in a way he thinks is unjust, prepare to be bombarded by noises that were never meant to be uttered by human lips!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful (ok, maybe not quite THAT bad)!

Well, it is officially FREEZING outside down here in the lowcountry! OK, it's not like a NY freezing, but hey, after 6 years in the arid Sonoran desert, where the daily highs at this time of the year are still 99, I'm COLD! We have pulled out all the San Marcos warm fuzzy blankets, and all our "winter clothes" which basically just means long sleeves...The boys are rooting for snow, but I broke it to them gently that flurries are a rare event here. I showed Josh a picture of his first snow experience...high atop Laguna Mountain in the Southern California mountains! Simply beautiful there! It's amazing to think we have been here over a year already...and even more hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner. Where does the time go?!?

Take me out to the ball game...

Well, tonight was the first practice for "fall ball" as they call it here in Hampton. Josh, who is still finishing up his soccer season, with his last game this Saturday, is super excited to be able to play on his Uncle Robbie (Aunt Marybeth)'s baseball team, along side his cousin Matt. He was a little nervous thinking about playing...and it was all because of "The Machine"...sounds like something straight out of a horror movie! In actuality, it's the pitching machine. He has "graduated" from T-ball, and this is the next step up before "real" baseball. He almost decided not to play, since he was so afraid he wouldn't be able to hit the ball, or feared that the ball would hit him. He sat and watched all the kids on his teams get up there and take their turns at bat, then, at last, came the moment of truth...He got up there, and after some tips on his stance and swing, Uncle Robbie backed away...Josh got a hold of 3 out of 5 pitches, with the last hit going right up the middle of the field. He's definitely not the strongest or most talented kid on the team, but he was grinning from ear to ear when I went to tell him that he did a great job, because he knew he did something that he thought he couldn't. Our fears can really keep us from doing so much, if we let them...but when we break through those fears, there is such a thrill and sense of accomplishment! I sat back as a proud Mama tonight...proud of Josh, for not letting his fears get the best of him. I was also taking in all the sounds and activities of the ball field and practice...something that I absolutely loved as a child, and am really excited that my boys love as well!

How magnificent!

Recently, a friend of mine posted on her website, a photo from the Apple Festival in Lafayette, New York. In the background was a hill of maple trees with the most magnificent coloring. I found myself staring, in awe of what is now only a faint memory, as I have not been back home to New York in autumn since I first left in 1996. I was even caught up in the grass, which, against the blue sky and fall colored leaves, was a brilliant green, one like I have not seen in ages. When I lived my childhood and adolescence in New York, the changing of the season was just a signal that winter was on it's way. It meant raking leaves, putting down the storm windows, and getting out Gramma "D"s afghans. The colors were beautiful, but as a child, I took for granted that they would always be there, year after year. After living for twelve years, away from a climate with four distinct seasons, I found myself almost in disbelief of the photo. My memory had not served me well, and over time, I had lost the images of the things that were at one time, literally in my backyard. As I looked at the photo, I was thinking back to a time when I wandered away from the Lord. I had taken all the praise and worship for granted, all the instruction was there week in and week out. It wasn't until I finally came back to a right relationship with Christ, and saw things with wide opened eyes, that I truly witnessed the beauty of God in all His facets. It would be better if we always had the ability to appreciate what is around us...what we have been given...but sometimes, going away, rekindles the love of what once was so strong, but has been forgotten.

My little pundits

Well, I have been spending an exorbitant amount of time watching the news and following the campaign trails lately. I realized today that the boys have been paying attention, too. Josh is a complete McCain supporter, and distraught that he is not old enough to vote. We were looking at the electoral college map today, Josh smiled when he learned that South Carolina and Arizona were "red". However, he was shocked when he saw that New York was a "blue" state. He asked, "Why are Nani and Papa voting for Obama?", so I had to explain about how it all worked. Anyway, Josh easily recognizes McCain (and Obama for that matter) on TV, but I have to laugh because when President Bush comes on, and I ask him who that is, he always says George Washington. I guess that name has stuck, since we studied him earlier this school year. So today, after going through every state with Josh and seeing which are "blue" and which are "red" as of today, Jonathan informed us he was for "Rock Babama"...which got us laughing so hard (sounds like a Rap star or something)...then, realizing that he was the center of attention, he kept adding last names...like Rock Babama Llama Cama...he is such a ham! It's good that when the world is in an economic crisis, and the election is going terrible, that we can still kick back and laugh!

Writing on the wall...

After 2 time-outs, and a stern talking to about lying, Jonathan finally came clean about the writing on his bedroom wall. However, he insisted that the last "N" was not his doing. On a positive note, I am please that he almost has his long name memorized, and just look at that penmanship!! Not bad for a three year old!! :)

Nothing ugly about this duckling

The boys were so happy when Abuelita Carmen showed them a duckling that hatched today. He (or maybe she??) is one of eleven new arrivals on Uncle David's farm. Their faces say it all, don't you think?

Clear as a bell

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TRANSPARENT (definition taken from the Miriam-Webster's dictionary)


(1)having the property of transmitting light without appreciable scattering so that bodies lying beyond are seen clearly

(2) free from pretense or deceit

(3) easily detected or seen through

(4) readily understood

(5) characterized by visibility or accessibility of information especially concerning business practices


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Luis had someone pay him a compliment the other day. He was told that his transparency was appreciated and refreshing. In this day and age of instantly deletable digital photos, air brushed magazine covers, and even cover-ups in the church, I am so thankful for a "what you see is what you get" Luis. We have learned over the past few years, that being transparent is a powerful thing. When we allow the real "us" to be seen, it opens the door for God to get all the glory for something only He could have done! Rather than trying to keep up the false appearances that everything is a-okay, we have learned that, albeit a vulnerable place to stand, it allows the light of the Lord to shine and illuminate the miraculous way that only He can transform a situation. I am thankful for the people God has allowed us to be in relationship with, family and friends alike, who have this same conviction of being transparent and honest. You are truly great examples to those around you, who are searching for answers in an opaque world.

Garage Sale

Josh wanted to have a garage sale, and said he has some toys that he wants to sell. Jonathan, too, wanted to be a part. Since I really have gotten rid of most "extras" when we left Arizona, I really don't have any reason to have one. So I told the boys that they needed to have a pretend garage sale. They agreed, and each got a box to put things in that they thought they could part with. When they were done, they each brought their boxes to me to show me their money making items. Joshua's box contained a variety of toys, like dinosaurs, wooden snakes, and his caterpillar lantern. He had put stickers with prices on each individual toy, ranging from five cents, to five dollars. Jonathan's box consisted of three toys, all of which were broken (he is no fool!!). Josh asked for me to make a "garage Sale" sign...once I finished, I asked him where he was going to put it. He told me that they wanted to hold the sign out by the fence, where cars pass by. I was so glad I asked, because I would have had a lot of explaining to do as the people drove in for the "sale". Anyway, they resorted to having a pretend sale, on the front porch, with fake money. From the looks of it, they raked in a small fortune.

Perspective

One thing I have learned in the twelve years that Luis and I have been married, is that perspective is everything! During our first four years of trials and turmoil, we were so discontent with the cities/towns we lived in, the jobs we had, and pretty much everything else around us. We let our own problems and the circumstances all around us rob us of any joy that we could have had. Nothing made us happy, and after a while, we even started turning on each other. Instead of working hard to make in indestructible team of three (him, me, and God), we were a frayed rope, ready to break apart under the pressure. All the finger pointing didn't matter. We were both guilty of not putting our marriage in the highest priority, after our personal relationships with God. As newlyweds, we made LOTS of mistakes...lots of trial and error...lots of running round and round the same mountain over and over again. It really didn't have much to do with being from a different culture, although that can bring challenges of its own. Mostly, it had to do with not getting the right perspective on what our mission in life was, and what God wanted. Bottom line, we were selfish, and were holding on to many things that we thought we needed for survival, which really turned out to be the very things we needed to put aside to be truly content. Arizona was a clean slate...a fresh beginning. We were very fortunate to have the opportunity to start over. It is not always so easy to just leave your whole life behind and say, "OK, do-over"! It was scary, exciting, sad, and joyous...all rolled up into one. When we got to Arizona, we rented a room in a house from a couple in the church that we were attending. We had nothing but a little savings. We had no jobs. The only family were some extended relatives on Luis's side, that he really didn't know. Basically, we were alone...just where God needed us to be...away from the distractions...away from the chaos...away. How many times in the Bible did God tell people to get away...so He could talk to them. Most of the time, that is how it was, and so with us. Before, we were so consumed with everything else, that God's voice was, in essence, inaudible...but not by any fault of His. Out in Arizona, we found ourselves in the desert (literally and figuratively)...a place of wide open skies, vast fields of sand...and silence. No more distractions...no more noise...and we were desperate to hear from God. For the first time, we learned to seek God as a couple, two people with a common vision...which at first was merely just to stay together! Life was not easy (nor did we expect it to be) and a few times, we reenacted the Israelites in the desert, grumbling about leaving Egypt! We both struggled to find work, to pay for our bills that followed us to Arizona. At one point, Luis started working in the produce fields, picking broccoli, just to have some kind of money coming in. Thankfully, that only lasted three days, and he was then hired at a golf course in the foothills, just outside of Yuma. I later found a heavenly job (that I stayed at for the whole six years we were there) that was even better than what I left in South Carolina. Little by little we were getting back on our feet financially. We were learning how to make decisions based on what we felt were best for our little family of two, with only the Lord's help. Somewhere in the middle of those six years, a tight friendship formed between Luis and I. I can't say there was one specific time or place that made it happen. It was just constant walking, praying, and helping each other...spurring one another on, and keeping our eyes fixed to the only One that could ever restore something..or rather, create something, out of nothing. No, life wasn't perfect, and it still wasn't without trials. But for the first time in our lives, those trials didn't knock us flat on our backsides every time they reared their ugly heads. Six years passed like a blink...a brand new house, and wonderful church family just across the border in Mexico, and two children later, Luis began to feel a pull back to South Carolina. I have to admit, my first reaction was a flat out "NO WAY, NO HOW, NO!!!". Life had been so positive in Arizona, and South Carolina only had memories of all the hurts and bad times that we had left behind. "Why would I ever want to return to the place that almost ruined us??" I expressed very matter-of-factly to Luis. In these six years, we had learned that we needed to really turn everything over to the Lord, and allow Him to lead us. Luis simply told me, just pray, and we'll talk about it in the future. He too had learned how to wait on the Lord, and the mysterious way that the Lord can turn a heart when needed. It was a year from the time that Luis first felt that we were supposed to return to South Carolina, until we actually did it. I can honestly say that God changed my heart. My reasons for not wanting to return were purely out of fear, not out of faith. Two months before we moved back, we walked into our church in Mexico and read the banner that was placed that week on the wall, right smack dab in from of the church above the altar...translated into English, it read, "2006, The year of restoration". Luis and I just smiled at each other, not needing to say a word. By this time, we had already both come to the same decision that we needed to go back to South Carolina. I had already told my boss of our plans, (that were not yet set completely), in order to give ample time for someone to be trained in my place. At this point, Luis was already at home with the boys Monday through Friday, taking correspondence courses for a degree in small engine mechanics, and working his own landscaping company on the weekends. We were able to purchase our five and a half acres and a mobile home in S.C., using the equity in our home in Arizona. We left Arizona in June of 2006 and put our home in Arizona on the market, just as the housing bubble burst and the market came to a screeching halt. The second week we were here, Luis found a job, in his field, for the exact salary we needed to pay both mortgages and all the rest of our bills, while still allowing me to stay home with the boys...something I desired to do since Josh was born, but financially was not able. Six months later, in the middle of the housing freeze, our little 1000 square foot home sold for double what we paid for it just five years earlier, covering both the remainder of the initial mortgage as well as the home equity loan we took to buy the land in S.C. Luis found an even better job, closer to home, better benefits, with a Christian boss, and he has been there one year this month. We live just minutes from Hampton, a town that we lived in prior to our move to Arizona. When we lived in S.C. before, I hated Hampton!! Nothing here made me happy. Ah...perspective...I was miserable inside...thus miserable outside as well! Now, even though this town has MANY things that are inherently wrong...segregation of blacks and whites even to this day, (if you can believe that...come on..it's 2008 for goodness sake!!!), the small town good ol' boy system still is the law of the land, the Hampton County Grapevine thrives...I could go on and on...but all in all, we are happy here. I do believe that now, I could live just about anywhere, and have joy. Perspective is a mysterious thing. The Lord gave us a wonderful year to spend with Luis's father, (Abuelito Tomas), before his passing in June of this year. We were able to go home to New York for the 50th anniversary of my parents this past May, something that would have been very difficult to do had we lived in Arizona still. The Lord is continuing to unfold His plan to us for S.C., little by little. We are excited just to be where God wants us. Our perspective has been adjusted so that we can begin to see a little clearer into God's 20/20 vision for our lives. We don't take anything for granted anymore, and have learned to appreciate even the littlest things...Saturdays at a soccer game...picking blueberries...quiet, peaceful nights at home.

Double take

Since we have returned to South Carolina, after being on a hiatus in Arizona for six years, we have run into a plethora of people in Beaufort and the surrounding areas that we knew in our first few years of marriage. It's so funny to see the reactions on people's faces when they see us. We didn't really keep in contact with many of our old friends when we left, and consequently they had no idea we had returned. We will be in Walmart, and make eye contact with someone, and the people will look, and then look again, and a third time, then finally either Luis or I will say something to put their wondering minds to rest. It has been so fun to reconnect with these people, and be able to tell them of the wonderful things that took place in our lives in the past six years. We have forgotten many names, but the faces have been fixed in our memories. I have also been mistaken for each of my two sisters who live (or used to live) in Hampton. We Kellish girls do not think that we resemble each other in the least, but apparently, the rest of the world thinks otherwise. People look at me, and I can almost read their thoughts. Most of the time time, they don't say anything. I often wonder if these people are thinking that there has been a divorce/remarriage, as Luis is usually with me, and he definitely does not look anything like either of my brother-in-laws. What a trip!!

Rude Awakening

(I came across this little story that I wrote a year ago, when we first moved back to South Carolina. I am happy to report that the situation is much better now, and we are enjoying life here in little ol' Luray).
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As I stepped out of the car heading into work on my official “last day”, many thoughts raced through my head. Did I make a difference? Will anyone remember me? What are we going to do without all that money? Then I thought with great pleasure to the new profession I was embarking on…full time Wife/Mom! Suddenly those questions didn’t matter anymore. I completed my last day of work, moved cross-country, and started my new career at home. Then it happened. You know…it! The first few weeks, I felt like I was on an extended vacation. Sipping sweet tea on the front porch in the rocker…Heaven! My final paycheck was mailed to me, and I thought, “This is the life!” Then, on the third week, as my husband scrambled around looking for a clean pair of socks to wear with his wrinkled work shirt, it hit me…like a brick. Reality slapped me upside the head. I have never been much of a “housewife” in the sense of keeping a neat, tidy, immaculate house. Don’t get me wrong…I really envy those people who can do that. I just am not one of them. Maybe it comes from being one of the babies in my family…you know...the spoiled ones that get away with murder (and all the older siblings said, “Amen!”). I never really learned to cook or clean. My mother used to repeatedly tell me to straighten up my room…until finally, she would do it herself. And believe me, it always looked better when she did it, anyway. Mom did it all, so I never had to. I guess that had its advantages, especially to a teenager. But sadly, it was all catching up with me, as the piles of laundry were about to overtake my children. So, I did what every good housewife would do. I went to the nearest dollar store, and bought all the essentials for keeping a neat house. Armed with scrubbing bubbles and liquid plumber, I meant war! With Mr. Clean on my side, I was ready for the fiercest of battles! Now I should explain that the home we bought, we bought as an investment. (That is what people say when they don’t really like their house). It’s not terrible or unlivable-don’t get me wrong. But let’s just say it will never appear on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens. It's a mobile home...and I guess I have always been a "firm foundation" kind of gal...We actually love the 5+ acres of land, and bought the house “sight unseen”. People would ask me, “Oh, how many bedrooms does the home have that you are buying?” I would muster up as much pride as I could and answer, “I’m not sure” to which people always smiled and nodded, and then changed the subject. I am sure some thought we are crazy! Maybe, to some degree we are…but crazy is a very relative term. Long story short, I am now in the groove of the housewife and mother role. My house is still not immaculate, but it’s getting better. My husband always has clean socks, at least most days, and my kids are happy I am here, most of the time. I have found that there really are only a few essential cleaning products out there…and I am still looking for the practical cleaning use for the pumice stone I bought. In the mean time, I’ll have the softest feet in the neighborhood!

New Pictures!

Fall comes to Luray

The boys swept all the leaves and branches out of their fort yesterday, and today they asked to have a picnic inside it. It was about 60 degrees and windy...a perfect day for peanut butter sandwiches and hot cocoa!

Just Bee-lieve!

This afternoon, the boys and I took advantage of a completely perfect day out in the sunshine and fresh cool air of the Lowcountry. They were busily flying kites, and I curled up in my lawn chair with my Mary and Martha book, as I have class tonight. Soon, the boys tuckered out from all the running, and they came and sat by me to take a rest and grab a cool drink. Josh caught a glimpse of some movement down on the ground near our chairs. Somehow, hundreds of tiny ants had managed to ground a far larger yellow jacket and were repeatedly attacking the bee. Josh, with his tender heart, saw the disadvantage of the bee and decided to defend the underdog. He took a stick and pushed the ants away from the bee, and kept holding them off to give the bee enough time to regroup, find its legs, and take to the air where it was designed to be. As I watched Josh take action, I was reminded of how life is often like that. We are God's creation, his masterpiece designed in his own image, and often we are attacked from every angle. Designed to live as His children, with all the blessings of a Father who loves us deeply, yet many times we find ourselves entangled in the cares and traps of this world, in spite of the greater power that has been extended to us. We allow these things to so overwhelm us, that we are dragged out of our rightful place in His kingdom, thus ineffective on all fronts. As I watched Josh move his stick vigorously to keep the ants far enough away from the bee, it made me think of how many things that God holds back, lovingly, protecting us from the onslaught that would surely devour us if not for His provision and defense. Yes, we are assured that this world will bestow it's fair share of trouble on our lives, but moreover, we are promised that the One that overcame it all, is on our side. I am learning how deeply intimate the Lord wants to be toward us, if we would just let Him. I am always amazed how He can use anything (even a little boy, a bee and some ants) to reveal a beautiful truth about Himself to the ones He holds so dear to His own heart.

Feeding frenzy

I grew up in a family of ten, where my mother made a real dinner every night...I mean a real dinner...complete with every food group! She never made the same meal twice in one week, that I can remember! And if my memory serves me correctly, we all devoured pretty much what ever Mom made...we rarely turned our noses up to anything (unless it was the occasionally vegetable that we didn't like, which is pretty normal in any family!) Well, I have come up against a brick wall with Joshua! The boys are at opposite ends of the spectrum in their tastes. It's hard to find a meal that Jonathan won't eat, and hard to find one that Josh will! Luckily, Luis seems to like anything and everything. But finding something that Josh will eat is a constant challenge. Breakfast I have got under control...they both love their pancakes and scrambled eggs, which I make almost daily. Jonathan takes grits with his plain eggs and pancakes, and Josh likes his eggs with ketchup, no grits. I can even get them to eat cereal if need be, and there's no battle. Lunch is usually fine...soup, sandwich, some kind of fruit, milk...no problems. When it comes down to dinner, our main meal together, that's where the fun begins. Anything with a corn tortilla is out, in Josh's book. Basically, Josh is not a fan of any Mexican food. So staples like beans, that I cook a pot at a time, don't go over very well. We just studied in Science about our tongues and taste buds. I did the fun taste test of being blind folded, and holding your nose and trying to figure out what you are eating. So, this past week, I have forced Josh to eat his veggies, and told him if he really doesn't like the taste, to just hold his nose. So far so good. Unfortunately, he is such a picky eater that he is holding his nose at almost every dinner. Oh well, we won't be eating out at any five star establishments any time soon. I so hope this is just a phase!

Our Grandfather's Yard

Lying on the cool green grass, looking up through the branches of the towering sugar maple trees, we were surrounded by the unmistakable fragrance of autumn. They were stately giants, adorned with flaming reds, burnt sienna, vibrant yellows and oranges. We watched, my sister and I, as the leaves fell, one by one...drifting and swirling...taken by a gentle breeze and sailing magically, down, down. We tried to catch these dancing beauties, only to have them flit and flutter above our heads, then be whisked away by the breath of fall. Out of our reach, we could almost hear them laughing as they eluded us...making their final journey to the earth. The lush yard was soon transformed into a radiant carpet of fallen jewels. We sprung to our feet and leapt from one leaf to another. Each snap and crackle beneath our shoes echoed in the otherwise peaceful silence of the country. We knew that this would only last for a season, and soon the cold winds would arrive, scattering our treasured leaves. The blankets of winter would come to tuck them in, ever so deeply, until they would mysteriously vanish. Never again would they display their hues in all their splendor. Even still, we played as carefree children, in the utopia of our Grandfather's yard. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (This was written from my memories as a child in our Grandpa Kalisiewicz's yard, just next door, along with my best childhood buddy...my little sister.)

flan-atic

Luis reminded me at dinner tonight of our many negotiations that were agreed upon as we were moving from Arizona to South Carolina. The "Parra Treaties" were harden-fast pacts, that would be binding, once we took up our new residence. I was going to be a stay-at-home Mom, and homeschool Josh. Luis was going back to work after being Mr. Mom/college student for more than a year. I agreed to get up every week day and make breakfast and lunch for Luis. Well, I DO stay home with the boys, and homeschool now. And Luis HAS gone back to work. I also have kept up my weekday ritual of waking up before the roosters to make a hot breakfast and lunch for Luis. OK, these sound like normal everyday occurrences, I admit. But there was this one request, that Luis reminded me of tonight, that I had completely forgotten about. During our bargaining hours in Arizona, Luis slipped an "earmark" into one of his "bills"...that being: "the privilege of staying home with the kids needed to be counterbalanced by ensuring there was flan every Friday for dessert." For those of you who don't know what flan is, it's a traditional Mexican dessert made from eggs, sugar, and milk, much like a custard or a creme brule. Very rich and very fattening...yum! So yesterday, I happened to make a batch of it for dessert. The four helpings were devoured in one night...Two by Luis, and the other two by Josh! (Now I have another flan-atic in the the house!) Anyway, Luis informed me that I hadn't kept up my end of the flan bargain, but that he wouldn't hold it against me and I could begin tomorrow. Josh concurred with a "Mmmm...flan".

The lost art of imagination

What started out as an afternoon in the sprinkler, ended up as a mud bath! The boys made rivers zig and zag in the lawn. My little sis and I used to spend many hours playing outside, using nothing but our imaginations! We had some great adventures. I remember our secret spot, out by Grandpa's sugar plum trees, where we would pretend that the brick stacks were stoves and places of hidden treasure. We made our share of mud pies, and created forts in the field of tall weeds behind our house. Those great memories are priceless...

Lighten up!

Tonight, while being out in Hampton for soccer practice, we ran into an acquaintance who has a son the same age as Josh. In the course of the conversation, the mom said, "we need to have Josh overnight some weekend". To which I gave my prepared, (yet cordial) reply, "Well, we don't really do over-nighters." When she pushed the issue a little further, I told her that the only place that my kids are allowed to stay the night (other than their own home, of course), is at their Aunt's house in Hampton. The over enthusiastic mom informed me that I needed to, in her words, "Lighten up". My immediate thought was, "THAT, deary, is precisely why he won't be going over to your house", but I refrained. So I left it at, "well, we'll see". Last time I checked, our duty as a parent was to lead, protect, guide and shape our children, in the way that we, as parents, deem prudent. I lean more on the strict side, because I have learned it is much easier to let out a little more reign when appropriate, then to try to find the reigns when they have been released too fast, and are flailing wildly in the wind. I have also learned the hard way that there are consequences to every choice...positive or negative, and these consequences are like writing with indelible ink on the recesses of our hearts. While our children are small, they do not have the wherewithall to make these life altering choices for themselves. That is why we don't leave six year olds home alone, or allow three year olds to use anything sharp! Well, the car ride home was an interesting one, filled with pouting and anger on the part of Josh who, in his six year old mind, thinks "no" is the end of his world. I told Josh that Dad and I would have to discuss the issue, but I felt pretty sure that he would not be spending the night at any one's house, except allowed family. So Josh, being the go-getter that he is, raced up the stairs to the front porch where he intercepted his Dad, and started to list all the reasons why he wanted to spend the night at his friend's house. Luis listened for about five minutes, then he gave a definitive "no". We then spent the next 15 minutes telling Josh that even though he doesn't understand or agree, we have the responsibility to make decisions based on what is best for him, and not based on what others feel is right. Not an easy concept for a six year old.

I had a nice conversation with my Mom tonight, and I told her about this situation. It reminded me of the strict rules I had growing up. Many of them which I didn't understand, but being the law of the land (Kellishland), I went along with. Not always happily, and not always quietly, but went along with, nevertheless. My parents had such wisdom...and there was no floundering on what they thought or said. They were often judged by acquaintances in their community, but stood their ground and held to their convictions. As an adult, I so appreciate the standard that they strove to instill in us, even though I may not have, as a child.

So I told Luis about the "lighten up" comment. And, as often occurs with English (Spanish) sayings, they don't translate very well. We are used to translating them for each other at a drop of a hat. I told him it was like saying, "don't take life so seriously". As I listened to the words roll off my tongue, I was struck by the power of that statement. And the reality of that statement. Life IS serious. Everyday, there is a battle going on for people's souls, children's' minds, marriages...as a parent, I think almost daily about the charge that I have been given to raise my children in a Godly way, and that I will someday give an account for what I did and didn't do, when they were young and in my care. I believe one of the enemy's greatest desires is to lull us into a false belief that "everything is OK, so sit back and relax!" Too many people have lightened up so much that they have lost priceless ground in their community and in their homes. Life is too short, too precious, and too fragile to take it too lightly. I probably won't be receiving the Mom-of-the-year award from my children as long as my "no" counters their, "Can I do, go, have", etc, etc, etc. And in case you are still wondering, other than the results from my aerobics and healthy dieting, I won't be "lightening up" on many other issues any time in this decade.

~~~

Words to live and love by:

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6(niv)