Ladybugs and little girls

I have a great affinity for ladybugs…..always have and probably always will.  But the reasons are different for me now than they were when I was a little girl.

When I was a child, Mama introduced my sisters and me to those pretty little bugs.  The bright red color with the precision black polka dots made them stand out on the leaves and therefore, easy to locate for my pudgy, stunted fingers.  I would catch as many as I could then put them all together in a jar just to see the impact of their collective beauty.  I simply LOVED watching them.

Ladybugs could take me to a different world.  A place where fairy tales were real and life was lived confined only by one’s imagination and wishing and dreaming.

But, that was a lifetime ago….

Now I am older (by far) and a bit wiser (by a little)  and I know these bugs do not possess the abilities my young mind once thought they did.  BUT they still hold a special place in my heart and now remind me of a special little girl.  She is the daughter of one of my oldest and dearest friends, “KM”, and therefore, an extension of my family.  I am blessed to be part of her life and she holds the honorary title of “God Daughter” and “niece”.

She came to us (my friend and her husband) many years ago by way of Russia. The first time I saw her was when KM showed me a video she’d received from the adoption agency.  It was of a child approximately 16-18 months old.  She could hardly walk, wore shoes that didn’t really fit her tiny feet and had only a whisper of hair to cover her little head.  When the video was complete my friend asked me what I thought.  I simply smiled and said, “I think you just found your daughter”.

As KM began planning for the arrival of her little girl, “E”, she worked hard to make the toddler’s room just right.  She painted stripes on the walls, used pinwheels for flowers and had ladybugs crawling around —- it was just perfect.  Seeing those bugs took me back to that era in my childhood when they were all I could think of, but now, seeing them will be forever linked to this special little girl who changed our lives.  I hold dear a gift E made for my garden several years ago….it was a large smooth stone she’d painted red with large black polka dots and glued-on googly eyes.  I still have it and smile when thinking of the love that went into making it for me.

Last week, I received an announcement in the mail from KM for a promotion ceremony for E.  In Arizona, (where they live) there is a tradition of celebrating the end of a student’s time in middle school and the beginning of a whole new phase in their academic career, high school.  For most of us it was the best of times and it was the worst of times but it was a time of growth, character building and life-long friendships blossoming into life.  I am looking forward to what this time in her life will bring for her.

It has been a joy to watch her grow from that little girl I first saw on a video into the beautiful young woman she is today.  She can be lovely and sweet.  She can be loud and spirited.  She can be distant and aloof one day and be your clinging shadow the next.  She can be sullen and enraged one moment and calm and contented the next.  In other words, she is a typical female and all that word encompasses.

Sweetie, this new season of your life will come with its own set of challenges and triumphs.  You will hate it and love it all at the same time.  You may be overwhelmed and you may be tired but, in the end, I know you will overcome anything life has to throw your way.  Your heavenly Father hears your every prayer and when everything else fades away, HE REMAINS.  Never let the weight of your circumstances to cause you lose sight of that power.

FOR I AM CONVINCED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NEITHER ANGELS NOR DEMONS, NEITHER PRESENT NOR FUTURE NOR ANY POWERS, NEITHER HEIGHT NOR DEPTH NOR ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD – Romans 8:38,39

AND, don’t ever stop chasing ladybugs, they are magical!

I love you,

Auntie

We were just kids

Years ago my life began a new direction.

I was born and bred in the deep south (for which I am grateful) and I had rarely ventured more than a couple of hours away from my home at any given time.  Life had been fairly normal, at least what I knew as normal, until the time when it was discovered my father was having an affair with one of the young girls in our church youth group.  He decided to leave his family because his selfish desires were more important than his commitment to his wife or family or the Lord.  Mama never had to support a family before and had never really worked outside our home but now she would have to in order to support us all.  We had to move closer to my maternal grandparents for help and support while Mama tried to figure out what our lives would look like, sans my father, her husband of 17 years.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

After several years of being a single mom she reconnected with an old friend in the state of Arizona and our path began anew, again.  A long distance courtship for her and a cross country move for us all removed me from everything I had always known.  It was frightening for me, starting over, not knowing anyone or anything about my surroundings.   I came to understand in a way I’d not known before that my life course was one I would steer, not anyone else.   I would have to step up and take responsibility for my actions and choices and bear the consequences of both.  I was only 16 yrs old.

Fast forward to the winter of 1983………

Our journey from Georgia was complete and I came into my new home, new state (not in the south, boo-hoo ) new people, new surroundings and new school.  It was a whole new world for me and an opportunity to recreate the person I was.  It was mid school year and students had already chosen classes for the entire year which meant my choices were limited.  I was placed in all my required classes but the elective courses were a different story all together because they were so limited.  It seemed the only available courses were ones like weight-lifting, shop or mechanics and I was less than thrilled with any of those choices.

But off in the corner of the page of electives listings was a theater class schedule that might be able to take on one more student…….and BOOM …….. my life changed …….  FOR – EVER.

In that one happenstance (though I know it was the Lord working behind the scenes for my good )  I was able to find my passion, my voice, my new life-long friends and my new path.  I was venturing into un-chartered territory and for the first time, I felt like I belonged.  These people were crazy, silly, funny and fun in ways I had not experience in my 16 yrs on this earth.  Little did I know at the time, this decision was going to be life-altering in ways I had not anticipated.  Because the next thing I know………

In walks “Curly” -  the lead in the spring musical “Oklahoma”  (aka Steve Murphy) and oh! I was smitten.  One might even say it was love at first sight although I made him work hard for that first kiss.

I couldn’t get enough of him.  I wanted to spend every minute with him.  I wanted to spend my days doing nothing but talking to him.  I wanted my every waking moment to be with him.  He was everything I never knew I always wanted.

And I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him……..

So 26 years ago today, we made it official.  Committing our lives to one another, and as a couple, to the Lord – accepting His blessings and His life lessons but always keeping Him at the center of our relationship.  We have weathered quite a bit over our years together.  We have dealt with what we sometimes felt were more than our fair share of ups and downs but we have survived – even thrived through it all, always coming back to our little nucleus of two.  Best friends facing the world together no matter what life threw our direction and here we are today, stronger than ever.

We would never have made it to where we are today without the hand of God in our lives.  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I am where I belong and with whom I belong.  The Lord knew the desires of my heart and granted me His favor.

Life has never been the same…..its been better.

Baby, I love you more now than I ever thought possible…….Happy Anniversary!

And here’s a little something to think about……it all began because of one little drama class, with one little opening, for one more little student, from a one little southern town.

FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, DECLARES THE LORD, PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE.         JEREMIAH     29:11

starting the day

I went to bed late last night (around 3 a.m.) but when the pets woke me up at 6:30 a.m. I felt ready to get the day started.  I resisted getting out of bed for about a half hour then decided to put my feet to the floor.

The house was quiet, a rare thing these days and I was getting the pets their breakfast when I suddenly felt a smile come across my face.  It hit me that my DH was coming home today.  His mission trip in Uganda was complete and he would be home this afternoon.  Because of poor internet connections we have only spoken a couple of times since his departure and that is difficult for us.  Over the many years of our marriage, we have come to realize we do not do well apart from each other.

As I am writing, DH texted he had just touch down in NYC ….. getting really excited now!  YAAAAAAAY!

I am getting together breakfast for all of us when my sweet little doxie alerted me she needed to go outside so I got her situated and then settled into a chair to watch over her activities in the yard.  There was a soft breeze bringing the wind chimes to life and creating a lovely atmosphere to just sit in and enjoy.  The sun was rising slowly and peaking through the trees across the yard just as a gentle rain began.  I took a deep breath drawing in all the contentment these elements created in me.  I love the rain, I love the sunshine, I love the Creator of them both.  (((sigh)))

The day is shaping up quite nicely for me.  Sun and rain and breeze in the morning and DH coming home in the afternoon…….I AM BLESSED!

Hope your day is a great one, too.

Blessings

only 7 hours difference but a world away

I heard from my DH a few hours ago.  While this may not seem like a big deal to most, it is to me because he is half a world away in a foreign land.

He left yesterday morning, headed for a town/village in Uganda, Africa.  He is there to document a wonderful organization who is running a hospital on mere dollars a day - (a feat which could not be replicated here in the USA) something we would like to see replicated in other areas in Africa where our church (Seacoast.org)  has a regular presence.

Can you imagine not having access to health care?  Not being able to save your child from a minor infection which could very well prove deadly simply because antibiotics are not readily available?  Or dying in childbirth because you didn’t have prenatal care and there were  complications during the birthing process ?   And what if the only doctor in your region is a three-day journey away?

This is a reality in many areas of the world, especially Africa.

DH is there to capture images (as he is a gifted videographer) of how this particular hospital is able to help so many, using so little monetary resources.  It is a true missionary outreach.

While there, he will be spending some of his time learning about the culture, the people and the surroundings.  He will take a trip down the river Nile………can you imagine?  What a gift to be able to see something so significant and symbolic.  The very waters which were turned to blood during the many plagues visited on Egypt in the days prior to Moses leading his people out of bondage.  The very river which is referenced in the prophecies about the end times.  The very life-giving waters of Africa – WOW!

Talk about a real “wish I was there” moment.

In the meantime, DD#2 and I will hold down the fort while he is away.   The guard dog will be watching out for “bad guys” and keeping us protected…..that is after I give her the green beans in the fridge to go with her evening dinner.  And the cat?  Well his days are VERY busy lying around the house and peeking out the windows chirping at the birds and lizards on the property .  It’s a difficult life to have, I know.

While we will miss DH, we encourage and support the work he will be doing as well as the many opportunities he will have to further the work of the Almighty.  Please stand with us as we pray for a blessed visit and safe return home.

Blessings,

Selena

 

destructive vices

Today, I woke up to find myself crying but I didn’t know why.  A dream? A nightmare? What?

Then I remembered……….

Today was a special day, only, not in a good way.  It marks an anniversary I’d just as soon it didn’t.

Today, my entire family grieves.

The following post is from Murphy24p.wordpress.com – (my DH’s blog).  Please take a minute to read one daughter’s account of her loss……..

OUR daughter.

As you read this, take a minute to think about the impact your decisions have on others.  Sometimes your vices, which, you think affect only you, CAN and often DO have far reaching ramifications.

Blessings,

Selena

GUEST POST – murphy24p.wordpress.com

While I realize that this blog has evolved into a church media spot, today I will go a bit more personal. You see, today marks 4 years since my mother passed away after a brutal fight with lung cancer. Most days, I feel like I’ve gotten passed most of the sadness, but then April 26th. rolls around and it all comes running back. My oldest daughter called me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I had a moment for her to read something for me. After hearing it, I asked her if I could honor her grandmother by posting here today (thank you, Larissa):

#######

Grandma’s Vice

I got the call on Thursday, April 26, 2007.  I’d been anticipating it for weeks – months really.  I was on edge any time my phone rang.  I knew it was coming, but even as my dad’s number flashed on my phone I wasn’t prepared for his words, “Grandma’s gone.”  At 19 years old, I had yet to deal with death personally.  I had never known such sorrow in my life before that April morning, and have yet to know it since.

I think I knew from an early age that they would kill her – the cigarettes.  She certainly knew how to kill a pack and at her peak she killed 3 a day.  Her life was ruled by her next cigarette break.  Everything that came from her house reeked of cigarette smoke – clothes, gifts, and sometimes even baked goodies.  I hated that smell.  And at the end of her life, I think I hated that she slowly killed herself day by day ignoring the stench that I loathed.

After a night of crying, a test, and a two-hour trip to the airport, I was back in Phoenix for Grandma’s funeral, trying my best to balance grieving and studying for the final exams that awaited my return to school.  Coming to terms with a new reality was a very long process that had only just begun. One moment in my grieving that I will never forget was having the privilege to deliver the scripture reading at her funeral.  It was a passage from the Book of Wisdom, an inclusion of the Catholic Bible, that I was not familiar with but knew, being the scripture of my Grandma’s life, would have been written on her heart. Maybe that’s why it took such a hold of me.  It wasn’t some cliché passage I had heard repetitively in church so I could truly take in the words and the ideas behind them.

But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect.

As I stood on the stage of my grandparents’ church, I could hardly read these touching words through my tears.  My tears were full of sadness and anger at the same time.  My heart was breaking with the realization that she was truly gone, but I was angry that she could have prevented her death. There are days when I miss her so much it hurts, like my wedding day when she wasn’t there to see her pearls as my “something old.”  Other days it’s simple things like birdseed and honeysuckle that remind me of her.  I know part of her will always be with me.  I just wish she had fought her vice.

-Larissa Webber

#######

My plea to smokers: Some one loves you dearly… perhaps many do. Don’t cut your time with them any shorter than it has to be. I know that quitting smoking is one of the toughest things you can go through, but it’s so worth it.

Thanks.

oh the thrill

The older I get, the more I enjoy the simple gifts in life.  The ones that include time spent with friends and family, playing games and  catching up with each others lives whilst everyone sits around the proverbial fire.  It is wonderful to kick back with someone you’ve known all your life; someone who knows all your secrets and loves you anyway.

I wanted to tell you about the wonderful gift I received from my older sister this past Christmas.  It came in a small package, an envelope even, and, I couldn’t remember a gift over which I have been so excited in such a long time.  It was a gift which had to simmer, steep and be sat on for a while (didn’t like that part very much) but it was WELL worth the wait.

Sooooo, we had opened gifts, cleaned up and were heading for bed but before I shut down lights in the family room, my DH reminded me of a gift I had received from my loved ones in AZ, my sister, to be exact.

There was a wrapped gift, a Christmas card and another card labeled “OPEN THIS LAST” so I followed the instructions.  When I read the nice Christmas card and opened the gift, I proceeded to zip open the card with the curious instructions.

OPEN LAST

This was the card I pulled out.  It was from a set of cards I sent to her a while back — we BOTH love the ocean and all that entails — the seaside picture should have been a clue but I was not too swift catching on.

When I flipped up the card, I sucked all the oxygen from the room, brought my hand up to my chest and began to well up with tears.  DH could not imagine what she would have conveyed in that card which would cause such a reaction.

It began with…

“We will be arriving in SC to visit”………  Not only was SHE coming but she would be bringing HER DH and her grand-daughter (my grand-niece) as well!!!!

Whaaaaaa?????? Really????  She gave me plenty of notice ….weeks in fact and I could barely stand the waiting.  She told me she struggled to keep it under wraps once the plans were made because she set this all in motion BEFORE Christmas and she wanted it to be a surprise for us.

Well, mission accomplished!

This was the first time my AZ family has traveled to SC for a visit of any kind so you can imagine my excitement.  We miss them all so very much & the thought that family would come all the way out here for a visit simply overwhelmed me.   Excited, excited, excited!!!!

It was the first time in a VERRRY long time I had seen my grand-niece and she had a hard time remembering me in the beginning, but quickly warmed up.  First thing we did when they got out of the van (after the potty break) was go for a walk to the park so she could get some of her wiggles out after sitting in a car for several hours.

She was most thrilled with the tree swing.  See?

grand-niece and her Nahna

She was squealing with delight the whole time she was on the swing………. one of my most favorite sounds.  You’ll notice the jackets they are wearing, well, it was a strange few days weather-wise when they were visiting  and so very cold.  I will not complain though, because they were in MY home.

swing time!

Barbie puzzles are hard to put down

The wee one stayed busy and happy, uh, as long as she had her Nahna’s telephone and could play with the puzzles or watch a cartoon.

Isn’t she just a cutie patutie?  I know I’m biased, but come on……. she really is!

The one day we were able to go to the beach, there was such a breeze and temps were, again, well below average, so we were not there for long.  Still, it was nice to be there with them.  Even my bro-in-law, who, is not too crazy about all the seashells my sister has collected over the years, was himself, looking at all the different types of shells on our beaches, (even picking up a few)…wild, I know.

We were all in tears when they had to leave.  My sister and I have lived in close proximity almost all of our lives, separated by mere minutes…. not miles, so this has been difficult for us, not being geographically close, that is.  We talk a lot, we text and email, but that does not replace the ability to just “drop in”  on one another whenever we need face time (or fudge), or to chat (or get fudge), or get together for the holidays (and have fudge).  She’s been at my side since the day I was born and it has been challenging for me without her in that position…….but I’m trying.

our day at the beach

This picture shows the last little bit of tangible evidence I have of the visit;  a beach hat, beach towel, seashells, shades and a castle building toy.  I have not been able to bring myself to remove what’s left of the sand in that toy. In fact, it makes me sad to think about cleaning it and putting it away because my heart smiles when I think of the little hands that packed it with the sand which still remains.

Bro-in-law, thank you for making my new hometown a destination stop on your most recent visit back this way.  I needed the time with y’all more than you know.

Big sis, I miss you terribly and I love any time we have together.  You are an inspiration to me.  I hope we can soon lengthen our visits and shorten the time in between them.  I love you.

Oh!  And one last little piece of information I’d like to share;  I may be fatter, but you’ll always be older and I am Mama’s favorite, just so’s you know.   [:-p   snicker, snicker, snicker

Always with you in spirit,

Selena

sneezes, tears and snazel drainage

It is that time of year again when all the sleepy plant life begins to awake from its long winters nap.

Trees begin to leaf out, days get longer & warmer and the lawn becomes a pleasing shade of green.  The flowers are ready to be planted and the beach is calling my name again – (it says it misses me) :->

But … as this change of season evolves, it comes at a price for some people (allergies) and property by way of pollen dust everywhere.

Puddy tat trax

You see, these are kitty tracks in the yellow pollen.

You’ll have to take my word on that since I couldn’t get Roscoe to walk across the table on command when I had a camera at my disposal.

Each day there are more tracks and other strange shapes popping up. I know they are Roscoe’s tracks because he is an indoor pet – never allowed out – no other cat allowed in and the doxie is too little to jump up that high so by process of elimination —- he’s it.

And because he is a black and white tuxedo kitty, this is the time of year when he breaks out of his ho-hum color palate and adds a little yellow to his wardrobe lineup. (again, he wouldn’t pose for a picture)

Still Puddy tat prints well, a butt print anyway

This is what greeted me today when I walked onto the porch to let my doxie out in the yard to do her, um, “business”.

I had to study this for a minute to realize how this one was made.  I had no doubt it belonged to Roscoe but just what was I looking at?

After reviewing it a moment, I could clearly make out it was where he sat down on his behind with his tail curled up slightly behind him.  Cute, huh?

He truly enjoys sitting in the screened porch because he thinks he’s “outside”.  He keeps tabs on all the action in the ‘hood from his vantage point here atop the glass table.

Why, you might ask, do I not just wipe that table off?  It’s simple.  This yellow dust which lays to rest on anything horizontal comes back day after day for some time.  You also need to know how difficult this is for me to resist the urge to clean it off everyday – (my daughters have  joked with me for years saying I’m a bit OCD) but I know back in the recesses of my well organized, spic and span, handy-dandy catalog of how to keep a home, I am breaking some kind of rule by not cleaning off that table top 3 times a day and  if needed, every day…..I just know it!  Maybe I am the only one who feels this way….. no?

There are greater powers at work in this.  I know the yellow dust must come during the time when flowers are blooming and redefining our landscapes in front yards and back yards all over the U.S.  It is wondrous to see.  When I see the tree limbs become plump with buds, I know the flowers are not far behind so I watch with great anticipation.  And each new day, I study the progress those flowers have made on each and every limb and before I know it, I find myself grinning ear to ear because God has seen fit to provide me with  another season which lets me know He cares about what is important to me.  He causes these lives to awake and say;

Hello, world

backyard tree

These  are the things which make me happy, they make me smile and I wish they always looked like they do right now because they bring  joy to my heart.  Currently I am trying to figure out how to make that happen (at least with the flowers blooming in MY yard)  I want to see blooms of some sort all year long because it reinvigorates me.

If I have to endure the pollen and the sneezing and snayzel drainage that comes with it;

Well, I will not complain, it’s a good trade.

Blessings,

Selena

something new for dinner

I love to cook for my family (and friends).  I love trying out new things in the kitchen.  I love pouring over new recipes looking for just the right thing to fill the bellies of our little family, I think it’s fun.  So during the Daniel Fast at the beginning of the year, I began searching for special dishes which would satisfy our hunger AND please to our palate.

One night I was thinking about these things and started looking at what was in my pantry and refrigerator.  There was a lot of the normal stuff most of us have in our homes, but much of it was not “Daniel” friendly so I worked at adapting what was “Daniel” friendly.  I remembered a dish I’d been served at a local hangout and thought I could make some substitutions in it to accommodate our needs so here it is.

 

my version of Julienne veggies

This is a mixture of carrots, zucchini, onions, garlic and fennel.  The time-consuming part of this meal was most certainly the chopping for this dish.  In a rush, one could very easily purchase the store-bought pre-cut veggies and save tons of time and energy……just an option.

 

Brown rice

 

 

 

This next part was an easy no-brainer, brown rice in a bag.  I used 2 bags and let them boil while working on the next portion.

 

 

 

tofu

 

Now don’t gross out and leave me here.  Tofu is a truly unsung hero to the vegan diet.  I bought a couple of block of it and cut one into small cubes then put them in a pan to cook.  I used soy sauce to simmer it in and the aroma between it and the garlic in the veggies was outstanding!  When cooking with Tofu, one must remember that it is a tasteless protein and will absorb whatever flavor you put it in to cook.

(I have a niece, who, from the time she was a toddler would pick it out of the soups at Chinese eateries and just look at you and grin as her little teeth chomped into the pieces).

It can easily replace the chicken or beef in almost any dish.  It is most versatile.  If you can work your way past what you have probably been told all your life, (that Tofu is nasty tasting) and give it a try, you might just be surprised at the many ways you can work this into a meal.

Depending on how many you are feeding, it is easy to make this dish work for a small family or a large gathering.  Here’s what you will need.  (bear in mind I will give guidelines of proportions and measurements but you can add or subtract as you like)

1 package of plain Tofu cut into cubes

2 boil in a bag style rice (I use brown rice)

1 to 2 cups fresh zucchini (cut into small strips)

1/2 to 1 cup diced onion

1 to 2 TBS minced garlic (fresh or jarred)

1 to 1&1/2 cups of carrots (easily found pre-cut in the veggie aisle)

1/2 to 1 cup fresh fennel (delish!)

1/2 cup Soy sauce (more or less to taste)

Salt and pepper to taste

2 TBS olive oil

You will want to start with the veggies.  Cut them and place them into a pan with a touch of olive oil and set them aside.  They will cook quickly and you do not want them overdone or else they will be “soggy” – not good.  So wait til last on cooking them.

Next get your water boiling for the rice and follow the instructions on the box.  Usually this will take about 10 minutes to complete.

Now cut up the Tofu place it in a pan to “fry” on medium-high heat.  Once it has seared the desired amount, turn down heat and add the soy sauce.  Let this reduce down SLOWLY as the Tofu will absorb all the soy sauce.  You may find you need to add a bit more so watch it closely.

When the Tofu is almost done (about the same amount of time it should take the rice to complete) you can begin cooking the veggies.  Toss them in the olive oil so that it is distributed evenly then bring the pan to a high heat rapidly.  You will want to cook these quickly so they heat up without losing the crispy texture.  Also, add your salt and pepper in this step and taste it along the way.  Only cook them about 5 minutes or so.

When you plate this dish, start with the rice for a bed, then the veggies, then the Tofu.  Add a little soy sauce to each plate and then enjoy your creation.

I would like to show you a finished dish but we were so anxious to eat it that I forgot to take the picture before we devoured it!

Silly me.

Blessings,

Selena

 

 

 

keeping up with Micah

Well, over the summer I posted a blog about the newest little addition to my family….. baby Micah.   He is doing well and is a joy to his Mama and his Daddy.  I “skype” with my sister so I get to see him and talk to him in real time (isn’t technology great?) and I watch him while he squirms all around making those cute little faces that only babies can make.  Love it!

It has been fun to watch my younger sister come into her own as a new mother.  She has experienced more emotion in the first six months of his little life than I think she ever anticipated she would.  All the women in the family who have walked this path before her knew this would happen and perhaps she did, too, but I do not believe she thought there would be so much.  You know what I am talking about, right?

For those who are lost right about now, I will enumerate some of those emotions new mothers grapple to harness.

1. The one that is so familiar to us all is the roller coaster of  being thrilled one minute and crying the next – (think Rachael Green from TV’s Friends during the naming process of her daughter).   We simply can not control these things.  Hormone surges are from the devil!  Can I get a witness?

2. Next we have those strange mood swings, (also related to hormonal surges).  These are those times when you want to show off your little one to anyone and everyone.   “I would love to have company, no I don’t, yes….I do, no…..I don’t” ……oh! I don’t know —— or was this something only “I” did?

3. There is the “How does this little thing create so much laundry, clutter and SMELL? Oh .. my.. goodness, the things which were once off limits to speak about in public are no more when you become a parent, am I right?  Not only do we talk about how often our baby poops, we also have to discuss the  color & consistency as well as the structure and stench.

mama, I'm hungry

oooooh, this is good

4. Maybe the one which is most important of all…sleep.  Remember what it felt like to be able to sleep more than a couple of hours at a stretch?  Once upon a marriage, you could sleep to your hearts content but now there is this “Mommy’ thing that gets in the way of a good nights rest.  What happens to us when we don’t sleep?  See my numerous posts about that very thing.

one of his short spurts sleeping

Oh, he is still a cutie-patootie just as he has always been.  I think on this his Mommy and I will agree.  His parents are still adjusting to being new at this but they are adjusting even if the occasional day (or week) tests their resolve.  My sister comes from strong stock and I have no doubt she will overcome each obstacle as it presents itself.

Who needs to do laundry, buy groceries, change diapers or stay up all night with a whimpering baby?

Isn’t that what we have husbands for? [;->  (hahahahahaha, I even made myself laugh at that one)

Blessings,

Selena

The Daniel Fast

Sunday at sundown was the start of the Daniel Fast for our church.  It is a plant-based fast (basically a vegan diet) and we have participated in it for the last three years.  There are 100′s of other churches and thousands of people across the nation who join together in this scriptural and spiritually founded sacrifice.  It is a wonderful way to begin a new year.  If you are not familiar with this fast, check it out at Awake21.org for information and origins.

Anyway, I kept meaning to get to the market to stock up on the foods we needed in the house to keep us from starving the next 3 weeks but couldn’t seem to get there.  DH stopped swung into one before he came home yesterday to pick up emergency items to get us through so I could get my list together for a trip tonight.

We have been a part of that strong winter storm which blanketed the southeast with freezing rain and snow the last several days.  This is one of the reasons I didn’t get out myself.  But what I didn’t take into account was all the trucking traffic that would be stranded in places like Atlanta preventing our groceries from getting to the intended destinations, ie. my house.

Take a look at what greeted me at my favorite store tonight.

veggies?

ANNNNNDDDDDDD………

still no veggies to speak of

ANNNNNNNNDDDDDD……..

Berries anyone? Anyone?

Oh! the horror of it all! ((sigh))

In the words of Scarlet O’Hara……

“I’ll worry about it tomorrow.  After all, tomorrow IS another day.

Blessings,

Selena