I'm You: You Are Me and We Are You

We have just finished breakfast and are heading out the door to take Daddy to work. The Honda is being maintenanced, and I'm suddenly very grateful we now have two cars. Busying myself with breakfast dishes, I vaguely hear Chris in the background playing the say game. "Say Isaac." "Say Daddy." And then I hear him. "Isaac," Kameen says. Of course it's not clear or pronounced, but it's definitely "Isaac." Just yesterday he learned to say "Daddy." Up to now it has always been "Dada." And today, his own name, "Isaac."

In Hebrew, Isaac means "laughter" or "he laughs." It is a play on the reaction that Sarah had when she, at the age of 90, conceived a son (Genesis 21:1-7). If there is one thing our Isaac does, it's laugh. When I hear him say his own name, I realize, I'm him, he's me, and we are one, all three. It's fun to think that from two comes one, and soforth. Perhaps I think too deeply, and so I finish the dishes. Perhaps tomorrow he'll say "Mama."

EGG-stravaganza!

I glance around the room, wondering why it's full and yet I have spoken to no one. It's Thursday, and we are at the Northland Rec Center where they have set out mats, balls, and other play things for the children to entertain themselves while we wait for the big moment...the egg hunt. I'm amazed that so many adults can be in one room together and yet stay completely distracted with their child(ren) so as not to have to socialize. Then I realize, I haven't spoken to anyone either, and I determine I'm no better than them. Kameen is busying himself with the balls and running on the mats. He is as tall as a lot of other kids, and I am amazed at how big he is and how he is growing up so fast.

Finally, the moment arrives. The egg hunt begins with the Easter Bunny greeting the kids and rallying them to the great outdoors. There is a sense of competition in the air, and I try to ignore it. There are plenty of eggs for all. Kameen loves picking up the eggs and putting them in our H-E-B (Happy Easter Bunny) grocery bag, once I show him how. He is distracted by the playscape, as are most of the little ones. We sit under a tree and open the eggs, and I stuff cheap candy in my purse while he plays with the plastic spheres. It's a great day.




Repeat similar story on Saturday morning. Include Daddy, Grandmama, Grandpapa, facepainting, and bunny ears!

He is Risen!

This Easter, let us remember why we celebrate. He IS Risen!

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

Matthew 27:50-54

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Matthew 28:1-10

Taking Root

I am glancing out my kitchen window, admiring the Live Oaks that grace our new backyard with shade and adventure and promise. The season is not quite Spring, but Winter is bowing gracefully out. And, I see it. Yesterday, it was not there, but today....


On a rainy Monday morning, two months ago, the movers arrived. Two miles down the road, our new house sat waiting for us to make it home. Not quite the dream we originally envisioned, it was God-given and God-inspired nevertheless. We were grateful....for the extra space, the low mortgage, the fresh start. My prayer, my promise was, "Lord, I will make the best of it. I will make it wonderful, no matter what."

Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

-Ephesians 5:15-16

First it was the movers - the broken gas grill handle, the grime down an entire side of our $4000 tempurpedic mattress, the rain. Then, it was every technician who came out to install our lives, and came out again and again to fix it - the cable, the internet, the security system - for the next 3 weeks. Then, it was work that came knocking at the wrong time keeping me from unpacking a single box. Then, a nasty stomach virus that ravished my son's little body and withered him. And, it was even the things we WANTED, the improvements to the house that we chose to make. It was everything - every opportunity to make the most of it, and I finally lost it, one month in.

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

-Ephesians 5:19b

Down on my knees, I prayed. "I don't want this burden. Change my heart, O God."

Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

-Matthew 11:28-30

Yesterday, it was not there. But, today, there is a pink and yellow rose blooming on the thorny bush that I was considering uprooting. Afterall, thorns and toddlers don't mix. A single, tiny rosebud presents itself to a world that is still bare from Winter's chill. Seeing the beauty of this tiny flower, my heart is changed. I will keep the rosebush. I will plant my garden. I will bring in the roses to decorate this house...this becoming, home.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

-2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Lord, make my house a home. Make my heart true.