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.

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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)

Endless summer days

Well, school has been in session for four weeks already, but summer has not officially ended. We still have the pool up and running, and sprinklers ready at a moments notice. With temperatures continuing to be in the mid 90s, the kids are glad there are ways to cool off!

Sponge Bob Film Festival

Need I say more??

Goal!

Josh's team won another soccer game today, 8-6. We really enjoy watching him play! After his game, he came home, got changed, and went out the soccer field Luis made him here at home and played some more. I guess soccer is in his blood!

Happy Birthday Abuelita!

Today is Grandma Carmen's 66th birthday, so the boys wanted to make her very special cards. Jonathan's favorite part was the glue! We are going to surprise her this afternoon. Jonathan decided he needed more glue on his card, and when I left the room for a moment, he turned his card into the Nile River. So, I relived the past through my children, spread the excess glue on their hands and let it dry. Then they had a blast peeling off their "skin". Funny how simple things can bring such pleasure!! Not so funny how a three year old can get into so much trouble in 30 seconds flat!

Jingle Bells

I just had one of those Christmas feelings...you know..the kind you usually get when it's November, and snow is in the air, and you are shopping in the mall with "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" playing over the sound system?? Too bad it's only September...and the only thing in the air down here is humidity and gnats!

Multiplying like....chickens???

We are the not-so-proud "owners" of five chickens. When Luis's family was down in Mexico, a hen and a rooster took up residence in our yard. After a whirlwind honeymoon, eight tiny chicks emerged about a month later. Well, due to unfortunate circumstances beyond our control (no, it wasn't Jonathan this time!), the rooster was brutally attacked (and we believe eaten whole, with only a few feathers remaining as evidence!) by one of the bully gang dogs that roam free in this neck of the woods. Then we noticed, one by one, that the chicks were disappearing, until there were only four remaining. (I guess there is some truth to the "survival of the fittest" theory). The other night, Luis left the screen porch door open, and in the morning I was met by four pairs of beady eyes, staring me down as I was going out the door. Apparently I startled them, as they did me, and we all let out a holler! Then, being chickens, they panicked when they couldn't remember how they got in. I had four frantic fowl flying into my screened windows, wishing they were small enough to fit through the tiny holes. Exhausted, (and emotionally drained, I'm sure), they finally found the open door and flew out, without looking back! Well, we hadn't seen their mother in quite some time, and feared that she was the latest victim...and then, yesterday morning, when Luis and I were sitting down to breakfast, we noticed the long lost hen digging in the dirt. Behind her were ten fluffy, newly hatched chicks. Apparently, they have, by way of squatters rights, decided that this is where they will live. I don't know what is their means of sustenance, as we don't feed them. I have a sneaky suspicion they are jumping Uncle David's fence for their morning corn meal, and then returning back to their newly claimed territory, our yard. I guess it's possible that they are surviving purely from the ants that have overtaken our otherwise beautiful green lawn. Either way, it looks like they are here to stay....I know I should be thrilled...organic eggs, chicken, AND our own ant control all wrapped up into one...I'll let you know when the thrill kicks in...don't hold your breath.

Adios Hanna!

Well, Hanna came and went with not as much as a drop of rain (Not that I am complaining!). We are thankful that she decided to scoot past the Lowcountry, and now we are keeping our eye on Ike and Josephine, and praying for Florida and the gulf coast states! Come on November!! :)

Curly Sue

At dinner tonight, I caught Luis looking at me when he was supposed to be eating his chicken enchiladas. So, I grinned and answered with my usual "What?!?" He informed me that my hair reminded him of the style of the girls from the old wild west saloons. I think that was a compliment. To me it looks more like Medusa! Only in the humidity of South Carolina do I have wild and curly hair with zero effort...well, I guess we all have our crosses (haha).

Hitting the mark

Yesterday, Josh and Jonathan waited with bated breath, for the special delivery that was scheduled to arrive. Four o'clock rolled around, yet still no package. I went online to track the package for the third time that day, and reassured them that the UPS man had their surprise on his truck. They sat on the edge of their beds, where they had the best view of the driveway. Four-thirty came and went, still waiting...at four-forty five their eyes lit up as they saw the giant brown delivery truck pull into their driveway. I left the package leaning on my car, as I knew that Dada would be home soon, and would delight in setting it up for the boys upon arrival. As I expected, he came up the driveway right at five fifteen, and without stepping a foot into the house, he opened the package and set up the soccer goal he had bought for his boys. The monster goal was put together in minutes flat. Dada with his boys engaged in a competitive game of "futbol". Perfect timing, as this season's first double-header game is tomorrow! Way to go SuperDad!!

Every dog has his day...every cloud has it's silver lining...and every man has his shed and tools! :)

"The Old Christine...err...Sarah"

OK, so by now, I am sure you can guess that I am pretty conservative in my overall life views. Well, it goes double for politics! Last night, I stayed up to the wee hours of the morning watching the Republican National Convention. I have to admit, I was just as impressed by Sarah Palin as were all of the talking heads on Fox news after her dynamic speech! But one thing kept bothering me the whole time I was watching her...she reminds me so much of Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Elaine from Seinfeld). Especially when she was "clarifying" many of the Obama camp questions and concerns about her experience and abilities. All in all, I like her...she seems like a smart, all-American girl-next-door type, whose convictions line up with mine. I like Elaine, too...for her quick wit and intelligent persona...even if she did bomb that IQ test that she took, pretending to be George, to help him impress his girlfriend! I hope that, in this case, fact is much better than fiction!!