YMCA Part II

We started driving to Dan's work, and Timothy asked if he could have cookies from McDonald's (there is a McDs right by Dan's work that we typically get cookies from). Dan and I are trying to be aware of the things that we run to for comfort that are not Christ. Food is a big one from me, and as I learn to stop living in denial, I am admitting it out loud! It was pretty obvious to me in this moment that Timothy was using food to comfort himself from Daddy going back to work.

I told him that we could get cookies, but that before we ate them we were going to pray. I explained that Jesus was the only one who could really comfort him when Daddy is gone. He said okay. Well, about a mile down the freeway, he said, "Mooooommmmmm, I'm ready to pray." I was totally shocked, and explained that I needed to get to a stopping place (I was driving). I don't normally care about closing my eyes, but this was especially emotional for Timothy and I wanted to be focused. Again, he said okay. We finally exit off the highway, and at the first red light he yells, "Mom, let's pray!!!!"

So I said, "Jesus, thank you for loving us and caring for us and wanting to be the one who makes us feel good. Please help Timothy and Mommy not be sad while Daddy is at work. Amen." Timothy said a resounding, "Amen" afterwards, and by the time we got to Dan's work he said good-bye easily. He has not argued with me about one thing all day today. I've had to say no to several little requests, and he has said, "okay" to every single one.

I don't think the story really communicates it well, but there was such a desperation in his voice to be able to pray. I want to be like that!

YMCA Part I

This morning Timothy started tee ball for the 1st time at the YMCA. (Info for later in the story: Dan got special permission today to leave work for 3 hours for this.) There were 5 boys (ages 3-5), and it was a purely positive experience. Timothy hit the ball very well, listened to instruction, and even learned a bit about fielding a grounder. Since we were starting Timothy in this, I thought it would be a GREAT idea to start Samantha in gymnastics right after tee ball. I was wrong.

First of all, she doesn't even "want" it like Timothy wanted baseball, and Timothy wanted to join her gymnastics class! Second, she wanted to keep climbing on the original obstacle course set up-she didn't want to have to change activities. Third, she doesn't like people. She's gone through serious times of separation anxiety, but even when she's not dealing with that she does NOT like other children in her space. Usually I only see this when bigger kids want to pick her up and carry her around. I always thought that was a pretty logical reason to be mad someone was touching you! But no, she doesn't want the other little 2 yr old girls even on the same gym mat as her!!! It ended a little on the bright side with her liking this really cool trampoline they have. It's already paid for, so I've got 3 more weeks of that torture.

When we met up with Dan & Timothy, Timothy was already upset that he was having to "leave YMCA". We tried to console him, but he was crying uncontrollably. Finally, on the way to the car, he got out his entire feelings, "I don't want to leave because daddy has to go back to work". Oh, it ripped our hearts out. He loves his daddy so much.

"When I grow up, I want to be a teacher."

My son spoke those words to me about an hour ago, and I didn't even know he knew this phrase! Since teaching is the opposite side of my gifting, I have great respect and appreciation for teachers. I am happy to hear this is the 1st of I'm sure many things he wants to be when he grows up!

Samantha Turns 2!!!

Samantha's b-day was December 8th, 1 week after Dan's. Samantha's CF has a median life expectancy of 37. Because of that, it's not hard for us to feel a little emotional when she turns another year, and more importantly, rejoice in another year of incredible health. That being said, I'm glad I didn't have a huge party or tons of presents this year because she was way more concerned about the cupcakes!!! Happy Birthday, baby girl. I love you.

Dan turns the big 3-0

Yes, my husband is 5 years YOUNGER than me. Don't rub it in. Music I enjoyed in college, he listened to as a jr. high schooler, and music I skated to in elementary, he DOESN'T KNOW. It's terrible. I wasn't worried about turning 30, but I have never met anyone so eager to be a 30 year old in my life. Dan, welcome to the 30s!!! Since I'm so behind on blogging, this actually happened December 1st. I've got to think for a second to remember what we did...

Chris (good buddy of Dan's) & Becky Dittmer met us at Arby's for lunch. Dan wants it all the time, but we never think to eat it here, so he didn't even know there was one in San Diego. So his little surprise was that he didn't know where we were going and didn't know his friends were going to be there. Afterwards, we were going to head to Julian, which is a mountain town right outside of San Diego, famous for their apple pies. Weather was really cold and Sam was starting to get sick, so we bought Mrs. Smith's instead. Dan has been wanting a chess set, and I thought as he entered "adulthood" this would be a good time to get it. He had no idea and was happily pleased.

I really thought I did more for him, but I guess I didn't!!! It was one of those lovely days, though, where everything is peaceful and you really get to experience the ones you love. He said it was perfect.

Build-A-Bear

Think back to 2007 because a lot happened that I need to blog! Timothy's school took a field trip on November 30 to Build-A-Bear. Is that the coolest field trip ever? We had never been, and the school bought the bear, so all I had to buy were the clothes (and Sam's bear & clothes). I was going to get Chargers stuff, but all they had were divisional opponents. The Chargers uniform has changed and Build-A-Bear doesn't have the new bear costumes yet. Timothy selected the Spider-man costume. The teachers asked us not to put clothes on the bears while we were there, which is why you won't see a picture of the complete bear until we got home. The kids had a great time. Samantha got a bear & princess dress, and Timothy's bear is now affectionately called Spider-Bear by both kids. Here are some pics...

Merry Christmas!!!

I think this was my favorite Christmas ever. Our church had a Christmas Eve service. Our pastor is a phenomenal, humble teacher, and the music is fantastic on a usual basis. It was no surprise that the Christmas Eve service was extremely worshipful. Our church also overlooks the San Diego Bay, so we got to watch the sunset over the ocean during the service! The sky matched the praise song slides. Afterwards we wend to the Del Mar Holiday of Lights, which is cool lighted scenes of Christmas. We came home and everyone got into their Christmas pjs. After that we read the Nativity story (Sam wanted to crash my glass Mary & Joseph together), & we let the kids open 3 gifts. We only gave the children 3 gifts from Dan & myself, but of course they ended up getting 11 or so total. Because we still wanted to explain the 3 gifts that Jesus received we decided to open 3 on Christmas Eve and then the rest this morning.



This morning was so joyous. Samantha has to get a breathing treatment as soon as she wakes up. As Dan said yesterday, "CF doesn't stop for Christmas". The treatment lasts about 15 minutes, and Timothy was completely patient while we got it done. We had a relaxing and enjoyable time opening gifts, and then the kids just played and played happily. Samantha is crashed out taking an early nap and Timothy is going to get to play his remote control car out in the cul de sac. At 1 today we are going to SEA WORLD!!! How fun is that?

Santa: the anti-Jesus?

No, I'm not trying to be a Santa hater, but I think it's good to remember his very nature (story, background, etc) has been created by a human understanding of righteousness.

This all started when I caught myself humming "Santa Claus is coming to town". It struck me like no other year that Santa's gifts are based on our actions or our ability to be good. In contrast, listen to what kind of gift Jesus gives:

Romans 6:23-For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:16-The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.

How awesome is that promise. The free gift came TO those of us who are bad and on the "naughty" list! And according to Romans 3:23, that's all of us. None of us can deny it's fun to get gifts from "Santa" or anyone else at Christmas, but why stop there when we have a gift that lasts forever!

Saturday night a friend of mine hosted a cookie exchange where we got to hear what everyone does as their Christmas traditions. We are still developing ours, but I came away knowing I want to use the presents under the tree to re-emphasize the free gift of Christ. My poor children are probably going to get sick of hearing every year, "Your dad and I bought these gifts because we love you, not based on how good you are. God came down in the form of a man (initially a baby) for the same reason." My sincere prayer is that my children grasp the infinite love of their Savior, Jesus Christ, and that reality changes their lives forever.

Gerber--Good Customer Service!

I have been a faithful customer to Gerber. After trying several sippy cups when Timothy was 1, this is the one I landed on and found it very satisfactory. When Samantha was born, it became even more convenient because the pink and green come in the same pack. It's just a rule now that the green ones are Timothy's and the pink one's are Sam's. Unfortunately, just like pairs of socks in the dryer, the spill-proof valves seem to go missing! After no luck finding the replacement valves at Walmart or Target, I decided to write Gerber and ask where I could find them before I start searching all over San Diego. Within a day they responded with a list of about 10 stores that supply the valves (all grocery stores). I was quite pleased with that information alone, but then the very last sentence of the letter said, "We would be happy to send you a complimentary pack until you are able to locate these stores." That was about 4 days ago, and they arrived in the mail today! I am a very happy consumer.

Happy Anniversary

As you all know, I haven't blogged in a while. I'm going to try to catch up in chronological order, so I start with our our wedding anniversary that was on November 18th. Seven years ago, I said the following: "I, take you, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part." If there's anything I've learned in 7 years of marriage it's that there's a reason we make the promise BEFORE we enter into marriage. I didn't know when I said...

1. "for better or for worse" how bad the "worse" days would look. They've been ugly.

2. "richer or poorer" that there would be richer days. When do those show up?

3. "in sickness and in health" that I was marrying someone who is a carrier of the exact same Cystic Fibrosis gene that I have and that we would pass it on to our daughter.

4. "to love and cherish" that there would be days I would have to will myself to love and pray hard for a desire to cherish.

5. "until death do us part" that I would die little deaths along the way so that only physical death would separate us.

I still really believed that marriage was all about me, my happiness, and happily ever after. I didn't know the beautiful things Christ was going to teach me about himself through the relationship I have with my husband. Just as James 1:2 states, joy comes from facing trials of many kinds (not being able to avoid trials). I didn't know marriage was a lot more about loving than being loved. So I am thankful I have learned that...

1. the "worse" days keep me humble and dependent on Christ. They also give the "better" days perspective. I love that each word implies that the other exists.

2. richness comes in many forms, not just monetary. And learning to live life within the means of the income we receive is a continual lesson that draws us closer together.

3. presence of disease does not determine the length of someone's life. We have a sovereign Creator who holds life and death in his hands. It is his will that we submit to.

4. Christ, in his sinless state, spent hours praying to love us to the point of death on a cross. Anything short of that would have meant eternity separated from God with no hope of ever getting to him. It is a blessing to pray to the point of loving.

5. if I had it to do over, I would do it again.

Dan, I love you.

Samantha

I meant to post this picture the same day I posted Timothy's Halloween costume. Samantha is the most delightful person to be around. In this picture she is carrying her "Teddy" (don't dare call it a bear). She turns 2 on Saturday, but she is already a talking machine. We saw an airplane on the ground the other day, and she said, "Sam fy aypane clouds" (Sam flies on airplane to the clouds). She adores her brother and since he calls her Sam, she calls herself Sam. I get frowned at when I say Samantha.

Halloween

Several of you asked for opinions about Halloween, and I never responded. I'll briefly share now. This holiday tends to make me so sad. In military housing, everyone REALLY decorates for all the holidays. Somehow not one single house is ever just cute for Halloween. It's always creepy and scary. Pumpkins and some cats are cute, but no one ever uses those. Our children have to walk up and down these streets for entire month before the night, so even though we didn't trick or treat my children still have to see all of that. We had multiple churches in our area that held "trunk or treat" things with blow up jumpers, so we got to enjoy the night without going to houses. I would love it if there was another day of the year that we could say was dress up day! The costumes are the best (if not the only) fun part of Halloween. Samantha rejected her ladybug costume minutes before we left, so I made her a pseudo-cowgirl. All she really had was a blue jean skirt and boots, so I've left her picture out.

Christmas Shopping

For those of you who like to order presents online, I thought would give you a great opportunity to help with Cystic Fibrosis research! The website explains it all, but in a nutshell, when you order items from this website a portion of the funds go to CF!!! Happy Shopping!

http://www.clicksforcf.com/