A Sweet Moment

Yesterday I took my two year old to my midwife appointment. He was a little cautious in this new enviornment. When the midwife took my blood pressure he was worried it was hurting mommy. And then when the midwife was listening to the baby's heartbeat he was worried again that it was hurting mommy.

He even said "OUCH!" while the midwife was listening to the baby's heartbeat.

I responded by saying, "No, ouch, Baby."

"OUCH!" he said again with a furrowed brow.

"No, Baby. No ouch. Mommy is just fine." I replied again.

By the time the midwife was putting her equipment away my son had lifted up his shirt to show his belly and then asked, "More and more?"

Simple Summer Pleasures

Picking blackberries for my son to eat as we take our morning walk.

Trees hanging heavy with not quite ripe apples and pears.

Watching the grapes on the neighbors fence get a little bit bigger every day.

Playing at the park with friends.

Little boys with farmer tans.

"America's Most Powerful Religious Leader"...REALLY?

Has anyone see the cover of the new Newsweek?

I'm a bit torn about what to think about Rev. Warren these days. I'm not doubting the motives of his heart.

But does he really represent the American Evangelical movement as a whole?

And if that answer to the above question is YES, is that a good thing?

I'm also diappointed in our culture that can only acknowledge a movement based on the places (churches) that draw the most people. Aren't there alot of great things happening in small congregations around the country, as well?

Just a bunch of questions today.

Another Son

Today we had our ultrasound.

And we're having another boy! Is this the generation of boys or what!!??

This is my parent's 5th grandchild...all boys.

To tell you the truth, I couldn't be happier!

Even in the ultrasound, he seems to be a totally different child from the first one. Does that sound silly?

Anyways, I'm happy and grateful for God's amazing provision.

My Suggestions for a "Pick Me Up"

I know this song is a couple years old...but it still gets me going!

Enjoy!

Another Homegoing

Another member of our fellowship passed a few weeks ago and his homegoing was celebrated last Wednesday. Unfortunately, I was very ill and could not make the service. This man has another story of a hard, hard life. His body was beat up from war and drug abuse. And his passing was sudden and unexpected.

Yesterday, I heard some stories from the memorial service that remind me of why I love Jesus and the community He has placed me in.

I heard stories of men of God (my brothers) speaking to the adult children of the man who had passed in ways they had never heard their father spoken about before. They heard heartfelt stories of the servant who entered our fellowship only desiring to serve God and serving so many of us in the process.

The night of the service, in a hotel hot tub, two of this man's children were baptized - joining the family of faith that their father desperately hoped they would become a part of. The other two rededicated their live to Jesus.

Praise be to Him, from whom all good things come.

The Wierdest Hour of the Day

It's almost 5:30pm and I am expecting either my phone to ring or my front door to open. Just minutes ago I could have sworn my almost 2 year old was calling "Daddy! Daddy!" and I spontaneaously broke into a "Daddy Come Home" song.

My mom often tells of when we all waited for my dad to come home on week nights. According to ledgend, the Ramirez girls (all six of us including my mother) would, literally put our heads together and chant, "Daddy, come home. Daddy, come home. Daddy, come home." Usually this ritual would happen somewhere around the 20th time the question, "When's daddy going to be home?" was uttered.

For those of you who stay at home and await the arrival of your spouse, do you have a ritual you do with the kids to help them pass the time?

(Just to keep you up to date: my hubby called while I was composing this post.)