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.

Lingering Over Ice

The headline read "A messy morning commute thawed by morning sun." It iced overnight in Austin. Chris and I lay in bed listening to the frozen pellets of rain tap on the house, the grill sitting outside our window, the grass. We talked. It was late. I knew it would almost be gone by morning, and I was enjoying the rare symphony.


At 8 am baby is awake. We enjoy our morning routine of nursing and getting Daddy ready for work. Having forgotten the icy orchestra of the night before, and forgetting for the umpteenth time that we no longer park in the garage for the time being, we head out to the driveway, bundled. The morning is warming the earth as the hours tick forward. Everywhere water is dripping from rooftops and treelimbs. And, as we get into the car, we realize, the gentle frozen shower that cozied our midnight conversation, has left a thick layer of visual impairment on our windshield.

At first, Chris looks for an ice scraper. It is lost amongst the boxes, the moving day that looms. He tries a small shovel, a razorblade. We are truly Texan. Get some warm water, I suggest. Yes, he is headed that way. He returns, hot water creating a mini hotspring steamshower on this cold morning. I remember Costa Rica, remember Tabacon. The water gently melts away all that skews our line of vision. Not only that, it cleans the glass that had been neglected for months. Suddenly, all is very clear, and the day is bright, even if the cold from the night still lingers. The sun is fighting to win.


On my way home from the morning commute to Chris's work, I am thinking still about the ice, the car barely warmed from the 10 minute drive. Lord, show me how I can see you in this. And, it is clear. HE shows me how our hearts, often iced over from the wintery storms of life can skew our vision. How fear, anger, resentment, jealousy, malice, can form a thick layer of frozenness in our lives. We take tools, instruments such as shopping, drinking, socializing, busying ourselves with anything and everything to try to scrape it all off. We try in vein to remove the blinder, so we can see to go on, to keep going as we normally do. We forget that we are now parked in a new place, in HIS kingdom. We forget that we must do things differently when the ice comes. We must warm our hearts in HIS Word before setting out for the day or else risk crashing. And, when we fail to warm ourselves properly so that the ice can melt away, HIS mercy steps in and pours warming waters of life on us so that we might continue on and give HIM glory for the blue skies, the sunshine that warms our face, even as the gusty arctic air of trouble threatens to freeze us once again. Indeed it is a messy morning commute, thawed by HIS morning sun.


Thank you, Jesus, for warming my frozen heart. Thank you for melting my fears, my anxiety, my troubles. Help me remember to warm myself up with You before setting out for the day.

Photos courtesy: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

snugglepunkin

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14 months..going on 2

Could it be? Are you really 14 months? Most people say you look more like an 18-month old. You often think you're much older. I can tell you'd like to do all the things 2 and 3 year olds can do. You try...boy do you try. You are climbing, climbing, climbing these days. Up and OVER the couch. You even thought to make a step stool out of mommy's plastic drawer in the bathroom. Boy did you have fun grabbing everything you could off the countertop! I just know I'll come in one day and you'll be on top of the refridgerator! You already climbed into the bathroom cabinet, where I found you crouching like a cat. I laughed and laughed that you could manage to get into such a small space.

And, then, you're words are beginning to come more easily now. You are working so hard to communicate, and I know you get really frustrated at times. But, it will come, and you'll have lots to say and ask, I just know it! Mommy and Daddy can't wait to hear what you'll say next. You also love your books. You read and read to yourself. And doggies! You love to bark like a doggy. :)

We'll be moving soon. And, I can't wait to show you your new room and all the new space you'll have to play in. Mommy plans to create a special play area just for you. I hope you really like it. Once this move is done, we'll have much more time to go to the park and go on outings with your friends. I know how much you love to be outside!

Oh yes, and for your 14-month mark, Daddy decided to give you your first haircut....Mommy cried when she found out! But you're as handsome as ever! Love you sweet boy.