Cafe Bustelo & a tbsp of sugar

Last Year's RP Parent's Group Halloween Party
where Kerri's family met mine

Last year, this time, I met Kerri and her two young red headed boys at our park on a city cleaning day. The leaf blower man loudly cleared debris from each nook and crevice of the play structure, while we attempted to play. Judah was only 3 mo. old and napping in my Ka'Tan wrap. This was a memorable day because we learned how to make new friends.

Kerri was tall with gorgeous long highlighted hair and I was sure she couldn't be American. Her oldest boy was 4 and walked along with David up and down a half-moon cinderblock wall as we waited on the leaf blower man. Her youngest sat snuggly in his stroller. Kerri initiated conversation with me and I discovered that she was new to RP. They had just relocated from the East Coast for her husband's job. Our conversation carried on for the next hour as her oldest patiently directed David around the big kids play structure. I so enjoyed talking to Kerri, and before we parted she invited us over to play. Our first invitation to have a play date with new friends!!

Heading over to Kerri's apt for the first time, I reassured David that our destination contained lots of new toys and his new buddy. Upon entering Kerri's beautiful home, my hopes were confirmed - amazing toys and David's friend was ready to give a tour. Kerri and I chatted about our families, her husband's job at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, and I felt like I had known this woman for years. We discussed this shared familiarity, how we were thankful to have found one another. However, I was most thankful for Kerri's example of reaching out and inviting new friendship in. I'm not sure she even realized all that meant to me. She had come at a time where I was navigating the loss of close friendships and anticipating winter.

In the Spring, Kerri and her precious family ended up moving back to the East Coast for her husband's job. We didn't get enough time playing with them before they left, due to our youngest boys, their nap schedules and runny noses. However, I think of Kerri often, and it warms my heart to think about the possibilities of relationships in our futures. Kerri's family did not claim any specific belief in faith, but God definitely used her in my life to remind me that He provides. I didn't have to reach out to find her friendship, she reached out to me.

Sometimes it's easy to forget about people who are in our lives for short seasons. And sometimes, little events bring the memories back. I remember now why I knew of Cafe Bustelo, beyond that my bud Kelly shares her daily pot with me often - It's the coffee Kerri poured me on our first play date. Still more memorable was the heaping tablespoon of sugar I was offered to sweeten it! She had asked me if I took sugar, to which I replied, 'Oh yes.' And apparently that translates into a heaping tablespoon. Cafe Bustelo is so intense that one must have a heaping tablespoon of sugar to sweeten. And thus, I'm thinking of my dear friend and praying for her two boys as I enjoy yet another cup (and tbsp of sugar).

I am a Woman

Wonderful weekend with Belmont University roommates concludes as my friend reads aloud this poem in the car and I am touched to tears:


"I am a Woman"
by Christiana Moss


My willingness to carry life is a revenge, an antidote to the great battle of every murder, every abortion, and every genocide. I sustain humanity. Deep inside of me life grows. I am death's opposition; I push back the hand of darkness today.

I have caused there to be a weakening tremor among the ranks of those set on earth’s destruction. Today a vibration that calls angels to attention echoed throughout time; laughter threatened hell today.

I have dined with the greats of God’s Army~~ I made their meals, I tied their shoes. Today I walked with greatness and when they were tired…I carried them. I poured myself out for the cause today. It’s finally quiet, but life stirs inside of me, gaining strength. The pulse of life sends a constant reminder to both good and evil that I yield myself to Heaven and now carry its dream

No angel has ever had such a privilege, nor any man. I am humbled by the honor. I am great with destiny. I birth the freedom fighters. In the great war I am the leader of the underground resistance. I smile at the disguise of my troops. Surrounded by a host of warriors, destiny swirling, invisible yet tangible and the anointing alters history.

Our footsteps make our land for conquest. We move undetected throughout the common places. Today I was a barrier between evil and innocence. I was the gatekeeper watching over the hope of mankind and no intruder trespassed. There is not an hour of the day or night when I turn from the Host—the fierceness of my love is unmatched upon the earth and because I smile instead of frown, the world will know the power of grace.

Hope has feet; it will run to the corners of the earth because I stood up against destruction. I am a woman, I am a mother, I am the keeper and sustainer of life here on earth, and Heaven stands in awe in honor of my mission. No one else can carry my call.

I am the daughter of Eve, and Eve has been redeemed. I am the opposition of death-I am woman.





Thanks for sharing dear friend.

2006

2008

2013

A Teacher's Touch

About two years ago, a very important teacher stepped into our lives - for the sake of her privacy, we'll name her Mrs. Sweet. She's courageous in every way and has set a powerful precedence for toddler behavior in our little church nursery. The first Sunday I left David in her care, I was amazed and inspired by the way she crouched down to communicate with the little man. She praised the way he set down toys and immediately guided him with gentle words when he revved up to throw one. When it looks like David is going to runaway with his emotions, Mrs. Sweet suggests a new fun thing to do or play. And that new fun thing is often her.

This past weekend, we got a chance to go to our favorite frozen custard place with Mrs. Sweet and her husband. By now, David's grown very fond of her and will run when she suggests or take her hand to cross the street. I absolutely love saying to David, 'Mrs.Sweet is coming!' because he gets shyly excited. Very endearing to see my sons grow attached to people I also love.

At the custard place, I sat back a bit and observed Mrs. Sweet interacting with David. She was so kind and David became such an important person in their conversations. His getting up from the table didn't ruin our conversation and turn in into discipline. Instead, Mrs. Sweet got up and took him to have a closer look at candy and we picked up when they returned.

I'm reminded as I write how my Albanian missionary friend said that my children are a key part of my ministry. That's exactly how Mrs. Sweet treats David, like he's a key part of our outing.

This past year, I've set to really 'train' David in obedience to me and Tripp. This has required a lot of communication, consistency, teaching, outlasting, and bootie spanks. After a while, Tripp and I feel that all we do is reprimand David. Our tones (everyone's) start to intensify until someone is yelling and sadly, that's Tripp and myself by most bed-times. It's become increasingly harder to train without loosing self-control and heaping past frustration on to accidental spilled milk. And we're only on training child #1!

Watching Mrs. Sweet, who has raised children and teaches many daily, literally changes me from the inside out. David and I have had one of our best weeks, and I just wonder if it's because of the custard date. Which brings an interesting conclusion - I am the variable. My changed attitude and heart somehow effected my interaction with David enough that he acted differently. I suppose I am the one that needs training. Or maybe just simply, a teacher's touch.

Called away, called here

This week we said goodbye to dear friends, Zach and Katie Byington as they go forth as missionaries in Liberia. Tripp and I are crazy about these guys and their friendship refreshes us in the Lord. We met Zach and Katie just as our close friends, Mark & Katheryn McCreary, were moving on from Chicago to Iowa. Then soon after we would bid farewell to long-time college buds, Jon & Clair Lee, as they settled in TX near family. Essentially, we had a lot of goodbyes in our life at the time we first said hello to Zach and Katie. In truth, we had said goodbyes to so many people, even more than I've included here, who were like family and loved us as brothers and sisters in Christ. In that season, we informed Zach and Katie of these great losses and told them that they better be stayin'. Oh what different and better plans the Lord has for us all!

So, as God would have it, He's called another close set of friends on. This time, into the mission field. So how can we argue?! Truly, we can't. I am so, so sad to see my brother and sister go, especially to a place we can't drive to. But I am so encouraged at how God loved us through them. Zach and Katie had not been attending RPCC long before stepping up as small group hosts. Katie relieved so many of my anxieties during this past women's retreat and she inspires me to serve selflessly at RPCC. They'll be greatly missed, like our other dear friends who have been called on.

I was reminded that we, all believers no matter the city, have been called as well. What an important thought and reminder from God. Perhaps we should be thanking Him for making a way for us to live in this transient place. Acts 17:26 says that He has determined the boundaries of our dwelling places, or in some translations 'the places that we should live'. And in God's sovereignty, according to Isaiah 61:1, we are here to proclaim the freeing and healing news of Jesus. This is our mission, and He has called us to it here. Glory to God.

Visit their blog at: http://zandkbyington.wordpress.com/

There is a very sweet children's bible song that sums up precisely what I'm sayin':

There were twelve disciples Jesus called to help him:
Simon Peter, Andrew, James, his brother John,
Philip, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus,
Thaddeus, Simon, Judas, and Bartholomew.
He has called us, too. He has called us, too.
We are His disciples, I am one and you!
He has called us, too. He has called us, too.
We are His disciples, We His work must do!

This version with someone singing with his kids is adorable (except the photos). He's called us regardless of how we sound singing his praises:

Pool fun with Jana

It's not quite summer, but as a sun-loving-Chicagoan it's never to early to crank out the baby pools! This morning, David and I borrowed the car to drive over to Norma's in Lincoln Park for some quality deck pool time with Jana. It's very sweet to see David taking on Jana as a big girl since she's just turned 1 this past May 31st. One year ago, we could all only have hoped for a day like this!

Success!

Adventures with Harper

David has been lucky to have his little friend, Harper, to go on adventures with! The other day, we got to hang out with Harper on David's turf and they are absorbed in activity!

Do you have your flour bucket yet?

Photography from Storybook Woods, a blog I've not read until borrowing this beautiful picture from.

Over Easter weekend I spent time with my dear friend Meghan and her inspiring family. In their kitchen, next to the stove and in a cabinet all to itself is a bucket of all purpose baking flour. Megan's mom is home economics teacher at our local high-school and she parents a family of bakers. At anytime that I've been to their home, something is either being mixed, baked or shared. Ha, that could be a family blog post all in itself!

Meghan and I have been friends since 1995 and we refer to one another as 'kindred spirits'. That term we tossed between one another in notes to one another during class, and then correspondence journals all through middle school and high school. I think this label for our friendship was prophetic in a sense that the Lord gave us a friendship not locked to time and place but within our spirits. This Easter visit, I was reminded that we last hugged a year ago. A year passed since I saw my dear friend, and yet we converse like sisters.

To touch on all the life events that unite Megan and I would be a novel! Still when I left her home after our visit, I knew that I had to record the significance of the 'flour bucket'.

Meghan and I at during Xmas break
in 2003

Growing up, my family and I spent time around the house sitting, chatting, playing whatever age appropriate games we liked. I loved my childhood and I treasure how my mom made herself 100% available to be my friend. Her answer was almost always 'yes' to my hundreds of requests for themed parties and social gatherings. I glean from my up bringing that I have it in my blood (and by The Blood if you know what I'm sayin') to be my children's friend. I can relate and influence them as my mother did with us, as long as I'm open to trusting the Lord and confident in speaking the truth.

Considering the other homes I 'grew-up' in, I remember Meghan's. I remember sitting at her kitchen island and chatting with her parents or one of her 3 siblings. There was always lots to be said, laughed about and always motion. Her kitchen was inviting and well equipped for baking, yes they had a flour bucket. It was as if Meghan's mom planned to that her kitchen was a gathering and creating place. From what I've observed, almost every of their 4 children have baked something incredible that I've tasted. This was Meghan's mom's talent and her gift to her children. A gift that gathered... I loved it. I loved that this home of 4 children (all 2 years apart) worked together to make delicious memories, traditions and holidays. Oh the holidays! I almost always must ask what their culinary plans are for holiday meals, they're always detailed and sometimes hilarious.

Maybe 2 years ago

I don't remember the context of the conversation but it went like this...

L- 'Meghan, I love your family. I think of your family often when I consider how I'd have my own'

M- 'Oh yeah? That means so much to me.'

L- 'Truly, when I think of my aspirations for a family, I dream of having 4 kids and a flour bucket in my kitchen.'

M- 'Haha, that's awesome, can I tell my mom? She's sitting right here.'


2 weeks ago

Meghan and I during our Easter
visit this year, 2012

We were sitting in the Harner's living room, their entire house glowing from the 'staged to sell' decor touches. I sit down in an adorable newly reupholstered armchair with birds on the fabric and David is playing with Meghan's dad and their friendly yellow lab, Callie. We talk about the nearing arrival of Judah and Megan's mom says to me:

D (Donnie) - 'So have you gotten your flour bucket yet?' 

L- 'I haven't but I'm close! I've finally started baking more regularly'


We joked about how Megan's dad didn't hear us right and then the conversation moved on. Meghan's parents have their house on the market and their ready to move on to the next adventure of retirement in their home/project in North Carolina. I remember when we were in college Meghan made jokes about how her parents were 'training' at home doing sit-ups and push-ups to prepare for their vacation to Italy. That is just how Meghan's parents have always been! Fun and adventurous, including the whole family or taking time as a pair.

When I envision home and one being filled with children, I do dream of so much creativity, motion, and cooking that we simply must have a flour bucket. I dream of raising teenagers who get excited about home made cinnamon rolls but retain the grace and flexibility for macaroni and cheese with hot dogs. (Meghan's house was the first place I ever had this, brilliant). My mom demonstrates that raising a family requires more than dreaming, it's being intentional and available. I will intentionally pray the Lord gives me the grace to be a friend and a baker and a mother of 4.

Tripp, Me, Meghan, Donnie, Mckenzie, Scott
Note - Donnie made my wedding dress!!

A weekend with Matt

For the first time since our Seattle trip in 2008, we were blessed to have a weekend with dear friend Matt Holland! Matt reminded us that the 4 year gap between visits is the equivalent to our time together at Belmont University... how time flies. All the same, it feels like no time at all has passed. Good weather and good friend = good weekend!

All 3 of us together in a photo! Thank you Matt!
We're heading down town on St.Patrick's day...
we'll never do that again, but I guess glad to say
we saw the green river once?

Blossoming trees in RP!

Handsome dudes

Happy family waiting for our dang bus to take us to the Zoo
Poor D was soooo over CTA and all the St.Pat's shenanigans

CTA and St.Pat's shenanigans can't dampen this guy's spirits!
Truly, Matt is the one of the best guests!

Meet up with the Halvers in Lincoln Park and they let Tripp try
their kid bike seat... he loved it, I was nervous :)

handsome dudes in Lincoln Park

The Halver's football was the highlight of D's day

Good friends and glorious day!

boodie baby getting so big...

David was so tired, but thankfully he didn't put up much
of a fight as we enjoyed this beautiful day. I love this baby boy.

And on a final note, Matt cooked us Sunday breakfast and washed almost every dish that landed in/near the sink this weekend. He introduced us to Vivaldi playlists on youtube and brewed enough green tea to jump start all of our metabolisms. I felt like we had a little trip to Europe this weekend with such a dear friend.