For today...

Outside my window...
It's cloudy.  It rained earlier. And my nextdoor neighbor is still rockin' those Chinese New Year pineapples.

I am thinking...
I'm so glad I just read this blog. We're making decisions about what to do with I#1 and school next year. I thought it was gonna come down to homeschool, but I recently discovered an International School here that starts in August, just like America. We mighta struck gold folks.

I am thankful for... 
Having the time today to scrub down our stroller. The fading I can't help, but those goldfish crumbs?! I got my eye on you!

From the kitchen...
There is a breeze. And there's about to be Creamy Vegetable Pasta when I finish this blogpost. It's how we roll at least once a week.

I am wearing...
My "For You Miami!" volunteer tshirt, circa 2003. It's gray, has a wee bit of Spanish on it, and reminds me of some really really great times. We go back farther than my marriage.

I am creating... 
a blogpost. Duh. Anthony is out of town tonight so after the pasta is over, the kiddos are going down early and I'm'a get started on a carseat-cover-redo. For some strange reason, Immanuelle's carseat cover (which is black) started rubbing off on all her clothes, and while the spare piece of fabric I've thrown into her seat in the meantime is "working" just fine, we're just gonna go ahead and take it up a notch.

I am going...
to America in 20 days. It says so on our countdown calendar. I have to count at least once a day on the actual calender to make sure we're at the right day. The boys get a bit overzealous with removing the days.

I am reading...
Nothing. I'd like to say "Shepherding Your Child's Heart" by Ted Tripp. But let's face it... there's a 98% chance I'll never get past chapter 15....er...whatever chapter I was at last.

I am hoping...
The carseat liners and stroller liners dry overnight despite the 100% humidity. Also that someone will give me $400 (or go-ahead and order) this camera. The "Go-Pro Black" I would probably take up surfing if it happened.

I am hearing...
The washing machine rustling all the carseat straps. It scratches my washer bin a bit, but I'm more thankful for the clean straps than I'm worried about the inside of my washer. Also Bird is sitting at my feet thinking I'm not gonna notice all the books she's pulled off the shelf (especially if she keeps buttering me up by putting her head on my lap every couple of minutes).

Around the house...
All the windows are open, the breeze is phenomenal, and "Tay- Tayo, Tay- Tayo, heeee's a friendly little bus. Speeding up, slowing down, Tayo always (something in a high pitched kiddie voice I've yet to be able to understand)" Pretty sure the voices on that cartoon are from Canada. It allllmost sounds American. But then not really. 

One of my favorite things...
Is the little romper Ellie Bird has on right now. The colors are like a summer sky. I totally made it myself and the stripes are lined up better than I hoped! And since you wanted to know...one of my un-favorite things is that I made the romper without snaps or buttons at the bottom. So diaper changes are a pain with a capital "P."

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Anthony getting home tomorrow!

Here is a picture I am sharing....
Its our Bird. Looks like a post-nap Bird. Her lips are that pink color all the time.

What really mattered about September?

Some "Sunshine" sent to my friend. 7.5 feet square (she has 5 kids to fit on it for a picnic or a snuggle when it's chilly...it had to be big). I finished it in July, but wanted to send it before I posted about it.

 Other than my baby boy turning 3, what happened in the month of September? In me, I mean. What mattered about it?

I mean, lots of things happened. I participated in each and every day, and yet, nothing stands out. We had a child go from 2 to 3 years old, went to Singapore, Legoland opened in our city, and I finally finally sent the quilt I made for my friend, to my friend.

So see? I DID stuff. But what made it all worth it?

Is that an enchilada on my plate? It IS! I haven't come down yet on if the Mexican Restaurant opening or Legoland opening is more significant. They even have Mexican glass glasses! (I sold/gave away my Mexican glass before moving to Asia...I'll just go borrow theirs for a meal every now and then)

Love.

That's what. 

I am such a hardcore truth person that I sometimes forget about the whole "love" part that must necessarily accompany truth.  Without it, the truth hurts.  It's a meal prepared, but not received because it was done while complaining. Or a boo-boo cleaned up and bandaged but no comfort given because of the "I told you so" that came with the anti-biotic ointment.

Been there? (I won't tell.)

So when I sewed the curtains, I prayed. When we made the cards to be shipped with the quilt I made SURE to emphasize the joy of giving and not the perfection of the picture (sometimes you can tell kids get it from you...especially when his stars just didn't turn out the way he wanted). Loving my children when they are tired and I am tired from all the public transportation and walking that seems part and parcel of the whole Singapore gig. Speaking kindly, letting kindness lead to repentance.


Don't get me wrong. I am not good at this naturally and I fail more than I care to admit, but the thing is... me loving has nothing to do with me. I believe all of the Bible is true. It says quite a few things about love, but one of the biggies- possibly THE biggie- is that "We love because he first loved us."


What a relief!  I don't have to come up with all the ways to love on my own!

"Who do you want to make a card for Zayah?" "Gloria." I may have cried. (see the heart?)

I can love my children because my heavenly father loves me. I can love my husband because I am the bride of Christ and have seen his deep and sold-out commitment to make my salvation a forever thing. Christ has called me friend, incredibly, he proved it by taking the punishment of my sin on himself. That's love. How then, am I to love my friends? Or better yet, how then am I ABLE to love my friends? Because I've been loved as a friend.

Even just a few minutes contemplating that kind of Love is enough to fill me up and get me through my day (add the lunchtime review of it, a mid-afternoon and evening recap too). And lets face it, as a Mom, a few minutes of contemplation is all I get sometimes. But oh, how powerful!

You can't have those curls. Sorry.

I've always been a fan of October. And even though the tropics doesn't bring football games (the kind with helmets) chilly nights, leaves changing and fall festivals to look forward to, I'm hoping to love well this month. Ya know? So even if the events just kinda slip by quickly, that my part in it will be more than a clanging cymbal of a wife and mother and friend.  To love well because I am SO loved.

I finished her pillow sham! Though I'm still holding out she'll be the first baby to not ever get big enough for a big-girl bed.