All About Dalen

Since reading an article about birth order in a parenting magazine, I must confess I am in overdrive trying to be intentional about spending individual time with each of my kids. One part of the article factually stated that second borns get 3,000 hours less of attention than first borns do. I almost feel like it's been the opposite in our home. I try to give her so much attention that I feel like Dalen is often neglected. So here is a post all about Dalen!

A few weeks ago Mario took Dalen swimming and was lifting up in the air and then dunking him in the water. Dalen noticed Mario's collarbone and asked, "What are thems?" Mario explained they were collarbones and informed Dalen he also had them too. When he felt them Mario says he began to laugh and excitedly say, "I got bones!"

So, the obsession began with bones after the incident. You can only imagine how much it increased when my mom called to inform me my dad broke his foot. We immediately got on the IPAD and showed Dalen in skeleton form the bones in our feet and he can now identify and say "metatarsals". He prays for papa's metatarsals and asks him daily how they are. Here is a hilarious conversation he had with someone the other day.

D: Bishop, my papa broke his metatarsals!
B: Oh wow!
Me: He has developed a slight obsession over bones lately.
B: What other bones do you know?
D: All 206 of them, man!

And my favorite line ever he just said to my dad tonight...

"Papa, my pelvis helps me shake my butt hiney!"

He has also called him to say, "My sternum hurts!"

Today Mario went swimming with D and I took him to ice cream tonight. On the way to Cold Stone he began talking...

D: Is B's car pensive (expensive)?
Me: Uhh, yeah. (It's a BMW)
D: Is our car pensive?
Me: Well at one time it was. Like, a long time ago when it was new.
D: But, it's not now?
Me: No, not anymore.
*silence*
D:Yeah, I didn't think so.

Too bad he has realized our car occaisonally smokes, the radio is broken, our driver's side window won't roll down, the driver's side mirror won't move and too many other things I don't have time to mention.

Worth.

While diamonds aren't my best friend, they definitely speak a language I can understand and only a language my Groom can speak and in this case I would not be talking about my husband. Bear with me and open your minds to a spiritual experience I had recently.

One random Sunday morning between our two morning services at church, a lady I have never seen before asked to speak to me. As soon as she asked me to into a quiet corner so we could be alone, peace came over me and I believe the Lord was letting me know everything that was going to occur within the next few moments had been ordained by Him.

The lady proceeded to tell me God had been compelling her to sow a seed into the life of someone else. She was uncertain at first what He wanted her to sow and who's life she was to sow it into. While praying, God allowed her to see my husband in her mind and she took it as direction to sow into his life. As sure as his face came into her mind He then spoke to her telling her, "No, I want you to sow into the life of my bride." She then knew he was referring to me.

The Lord used this woman to sow a diamond bracelet in my life (which I thought was rather odd at first) until she began to explain God was reminding me of my worth, through this bracelet. I later found out (through Google and my pastor's wife) the jeweler the bracelet was made by is one of best jewelers known. This is an area I have been struggling with and I knew this moment was orchestrated by God.

Today I received and e-mail from Twitter notifying me one of my favorite authors had requested to follow me on Twitter. I went through the house screaming, nearly giving my husband a heart attack. After accepting the request negative thoughts began to pour from my mouth. I shared them with my husband. They went a little like this...
"She probably has an assistant who does this. Why would she want to follow me?"
"She probably just got me tweet name b-c I follow her, there's no way she would know who I am."
"Maybe they are asking to follow her b-c her new book is coming out and her assistant is trying to get people who have shown interest in her work to buy the book."

My husband became pretty irritated of the questions and thoughts I was sharing because they were all established from a low self worth. My husband (biggest fan) began asking me some questions like...
"She may read your blog!" To which I laughed hysterically and replied, "Yeah right!" "Someone she knows may read your blog and they may have her about you."

Why is it that I know, God recently reminded me I am of great worth and that I am his bride and I continuously doubt I have no worth to anyone? I am pretty certain she doesn't read my blog (and just in case you do I am not a psycho!) but who is say it couldn't ever be a possibility?

We are all valued in the eyes of God! We need to realize it more and more. God is sending us reminders of how much we are worth everyday by protecting us, sparing us and blessing us. Besides so what if an assistant asked me to follow her maybe, just, maybe she will see something I say and be moved by it just I have been so very moved by her writings.

Fortunate

Since my husband hasn't been feeling well, we traded places for a day. I am at the office working on youth ministry stuff and preparing to speak for him tonight. He is at home with the kiddos. It is 2:37 and I am just taking a breath since getting here at around 10 am. I have a newfound respect for him and ALL that it takes to run a ministry. I am thinking in stead of wife swap they should make a new show where husbands and wives trade places for a day...things would get VERY interesting!

I am loving being back behind a desk, having a platform to be creative and feeling the excitement of being able to share it with others in a few hours. Maybe it's about that time to go back to work...who knows.

I scarfed down some chinese for lunch and found not one, but TWO fortunes in my fortune cookie!

Fortune #1-You have a lively family.
SOOOOO true...Thank you Dalen!

Fortune #2- You have much skill in expressing yourself to be effective.
What in the world does this mean? And why do I get the feeling that it may be a slam to my personality??

I am just taking the light shower of white papers falling out of my cookie as a reminder I have a lot to be fortunate for.

Since 10 a.m. here is what I have accomplished...
*Made sermon notes
*Completed sermon power point
*Took down old flyers around the church
*Made new signage for our new series-yikes! my husband is waaaay better at that than I am.
*Sent my husband some info. he needed.
*Created three illustrations for my message.
*made sign up sheet for girls conference weekend
*found facts on the internet about Lebron James (message related)
*made a call about girls conference weekend

Doesn't look like a lot but it is. My husband does a great job! What things are you fortunate for??

Downtown

We have been to Downtown Disney twice in the last four days, endured a sick husband/dad, made it through a 7 month old gaining two teeth and somehow managed to have a nice Labor Day.

Mario has been battling a sinus thing and Dalen and I took off to Downtown Disney today to meet up with my cousins. We had a great time UNTIL Dalen decided to have his first shoplifting experience. I honestly don't think he understood what he had done and no I am not one of those moms who thinks their children can do no wrong.

We were looking in a store called Once Upon A Toy and upon leaving I looked back at Dalen just to make sure he was close and noticed an angry older women snapping saying, "Get back here!" I then noticed a bright yellow ball in Dalen's left hand-that I had NOT paid for. He really did look totally confused and yelled back, "NO WAY, LADY!" Yay, for refusing a stranger Boo, for stealing! We quickly returned the ball and I explained how we can't just take things from stores. Since the incident he has asked to proudly tell every person that us called or that we have called. Maybe he will soon realize there are no bragging rights to almost being carted away for stealing.

After that incident I felt somewhat overwhelmed when I realized that is just ANOTHER thing Dalen has to be taught. Its just common sense to us adults not to steal (well for most of us anyway)but not to our kiddos who are blank slates. We had a great time in DT Disney.

Can all of you Clevelanders believe that Francine Rivers is going to be in town this month!? She will be touring in Cleveland, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Alabama. You can find her tour dates on her Facebok page. This has been a dream of mine for sometime and I must throw a BIG pity party NOW b-c she is coming just a few months after I moved! UGH! I even begged my husband to buy me plane tickets home just so I could meet her and to my surprise he said, SURE! Then I realized the cheap airline doesn't fly that week. The ONE and ONLY week it has off ALL year. Yeah, I could honestly say some not so nice words there.

Tasty Combos

I've never really asked anything of my readers so I don't feel bad for doing this but as stated before I am in need of interaction. So, everyone that reads this post MUST participate. If you are going to be a party pooper & not respond...you can stop reading HERE.

Because so much of my time is spent observing two kids, I think a lot. And if you have been reading for a while you must know by now I often think of things that don't matter. Well today is the start of football and I just had to wonder who started some of the most common tasty trends...

Like have you ever wondered why most people can't go to a football game without getting a big hot dog and coke? Or why is it that the movies is always paired with a big bag of buttery popcorn? Here are few Tasty combos I thought about and then you can comment and let me know what combos you think of...remember they don't HAVE to be food.

Football and hotdogs
Dinner and a movie
Movie and popcorn
Wine and Cheese

and some not so tasty ones

Do you ever wonder why God put the sand with the beach?
or what about
when you think of a therapist you probably think of a middle aged woman with glasses and a low bun.

What are some combos that come to your mind

Quarter Life

I am positive there is such thing as a quarter life crisis and if I happen to be right (for once in my life) I can guarantee you I am right in the middle of mine. I feel like the main character of Eat Pray Love. I am just so bored with my life. I get up and do the exact same thing everyday.

I really hate to admit that I am bored with my life considering millions of women would die to be a stay at home mom but some days I just get bored. I love my kids and I think it's important to stay at home with your kids for a good bit but I just need to find some way to change my scenery and entertain myself every once in a while.

I have totally found that life does not pursue you, you must pursue life. When you pursue life and the things you love it is there that you find the passion to live in fullness again. I think of the things I am passionate about and where I thought I would be at this point in my life and I realize I am not even close to acheiving those things. That fact is depressing but I know that pursuing those passionate dreams will one day pay off...at least I hope!

So here's to pursuing...cheers!

Reunited

We are reunited again! D did amazing away from home and I am told he didn't ask about us once. I am not sure whether to rejoice or cry?? I was home just long enough to see my stylist and get an inch cut off my hair, be reminded that Walgreens is the most happening Friday night place in Cleveland, enjoy my family, see a few friends and have some awesome pictures taken.

My friend Cortney Wheeler just recently began a new business venture taking pictures. She is extremely patient and creative and I just LOVE the ones we have seen so far. If you are looking for a photographer check her out on Facebook at Cortney Wheeler Photography.

The airport is becoming more doable everytime. Although I am not a fan of traveling with two kids alone through the airport, I feel like it's getting easier and easier everytime. I don't have any funny stories about our airport trip this time. One older woman did ask to hold Cola. Yes, psycho. Our conversation went a little like this...

Lady: Here. Let me hold her. (Arms stretched Cola's way.)
Me: Uhh, NO.
Lady: (Totally offended and shocked as if I should let her put her hands on my child.) Well, I am right here and I am safe.
Me: Well, I don't know that! I do NOT pass my children off into the hands of people I don't know and I have NEVER met a good mom who would do that.

I may just start my own t-shirt line for moms. Some of the phrases may read...

*NO, you may NOT hold my child.
*Just because my child is smiling doesn't mean I want to have a 30 minute conversation with you about their name, weight and age.
*Hands Off Stranger

I just still haven't figured out why people think its ok to ask to hold children they have never met. And I just love the brave ones that try to get an attitude when you say no. PUH-LEASE!

C will be 7 months in just a few days and D will be 3 in a few weeks. I can't believe it.

Day 2 from Day 3s perspective

Well, I would have updated about our toddlerless week on day 2 but I went to bed at about 9:30 and my awesome husband let me sleep until 10 am. I thought I was over my juvenile obssession with sleep but I have come to the realization that in the last few years I have only supressed the longing to sleep all the time because it has become less and less of an option in my life. So here is to my still alive and well love for sleep....CHEERS!

Yesterday we were gone literally all day. I FINALLY found Dalen a school...SCORE! It is a Christian school and totally organized with a really nice facility that reminded me of his school back home. He will start in September when he comes home from Tennessee. We also went car shopping (with no intensions of buying) to get a little guidance of what kind of payment we will get approved for and what kind of down payment we will need. I guess maybe I saw a ray, just a ray of light at the end of the tunnel.

Dalen is having so much fun in Tennessee. I am not sure if he has even asked for us one time which makes me so very proud that he is being so independent and it gives me peace that I can rest assured knowing he is homesick. I told my dad to be extra sensitive if he got teary at bedtime since he is in a new house (my parents moved) and my dad said, "I ain't raising you no mama's boy!" For those of you who know my dad you are probably laughing and for all of the others he is a good man...somewhere down in there lol.

Today we walked to the car with our diaper bag, baby in her carrier, and loaded suitcase (my husband is on the road again) and my husband looked at me and said, "Isn't it crazy that at one time we thought one kid was a lot?" I responded, "Yes, crazy and nieve." You just don't think that one more kid is going to be that much different but it SOOO is. It makes me so sad to see the many expressions C makes and I know that I miss them everyday b-c I am just too preoccupied.

Every morning I have been woken up with soft sqeals only to find the prettiest little girl smiling from ear to ear just waiting for someone to lift her out. My eyelids are usually poked by Dalen's finger with him screaming, "Mom, I need a snack!" He surely keeps us on our toes.

Day One

Well bloggers, blog readers, snoopers...I am officially toddlerless. Little Dalen flew with me to Tennessee today so that he could spent an entire week with my family. I then boarded the flight that took off just 25 minutes after we landed and came back to Orlando where I was welcomed by my husband and sleeping baby.

I have to admit that was totally overwhelmed by the thought that Lady has been here for half of a year and we have never really been able to indulge in her like we did with Dalen. I am missing Dalen but I am enjoying watching this baby like a hawk with no distractions.

I kissed Dalen's little cheek goodbye, checked in and celebrated an hour flight all by myself by devouring an entire bag of Garden Salsa Sun Chips and I have to shamefully admit I didn't feel guilty that I didn't share not even one! I requested the seat closest to the front and was assigned to the front row and had it all to myself! This is my little secret...when you are on the front row you are the last to board and first to exit. In other words you spend the least amount of time on a crowded plane. One older man walked passed and asked are you going to have that entire row by yourself, I smiled and responded I surely hope so. This was my nice way of saying don't you even get any ideas of asking to be moved, this row has my name all over it and God wrote there himself. Haha...I am such a sweetie, huh??

We got home and I cleaned my plate quickly and joined the baby for a 2 1/2 hour nap. Yes, you read that right hate me now, envy me later! I woke up only to find her butt straight up in the air and her feet gracefully crossed at the ankles. It was one of those moments where you just want to devour the stillness of the moment and observe everything and I did. I realized in that moment that this little gal IS strong enough to get up on her knees and therefore she COULD crawl at any moment.

Tonight I saw Eat Pray Love. This movie is a MUST SEE! I LOVED it and it is a story about balance and the lessons we learn without it. It was almost eerie and strange that the movie was about that because I had been thinking about some of the major themes of the story all day.

Why is it that we allow time, stress, work and setbacks rob us of enjoying the love looking at us everyday? Today I realized that constantly love is reaching for me to embrace it back by simply taking it all in. May it be from today on that I never see my baby smile without enjoying the warmth I feel in my heart or never let it be that I don't stop long enough to be entertained by my hilarious toddler. Embrace love, it is always reaching.

So here I am, wet hair wrapped in a towel, baby fast asleep, and with my sweet husband sitting across from me as I embrace love. I find myself giving more thanks when my arms are fully wrapped around love.

What will day two hold??

Little doors

As a mom, I have finally realized that little doors create BIG moments in the minds and hearts of our little ones. I am fully aware of the fact that all moms have their own systems and ways of introducing their little ones to spiritual essentials. I refuse to let little doors of curiosity stay open, only for the world to enter in and inform my son of things I should tell him. I don't believe my son is ready to hear everything in the world pertaining to life and spirituality but I do NOT think that two is too young to begin a few basic introductions to things he is becoming curious about.

Today my son saw my with a notebook and Bible on my bed. The baby was sleeping heavily beside me and I was studying for tomorrow night's message. My son very quietly (wow, that's rare) climbed up on my bed, got right in my face (HUGE pet peeve) and asked, "What you doing?"

Me: "I'm studying. Want to pray for me?"
D: YEP!
So I close my eyes, hold his hand and he begins to make a bunch of sounds that I am sure I have heard in an altar somewhere but where he got the sounds I am not sure. So I wait until he says amen and carefully walk through that little open door.

Me: What were you saying in the prayer to God?
D: You know, Mom!
Me: No I don't or I wouldn't ask. You were making some noises at the beginning but they weren't words.
D: confused and silent
Me: Did you hear someone doing that during a time of prayer?
D: Yes
Me: That's called speaking in tongues. Do you know what that means?
D: No what is it?
Me: It's when God helps you talk to him with words that only he understands.
D: Oh, like this?

D begins making the sounds again while smiling.

Me: It may sound like that or it may sound differently but the only time you do speak is tongues is it you are being helped by God.
D: Oh ok.

Runs off and plays in my room and suitcase. Not much time passes & I hear him doing it again.

Me: D?? (I look at him like he owes me an explanation)
D: What, mom?? I was being helped!!

Wow, of course I didn't expect him to comprehend the whole talk and I was super sensitive to the thought that I surely don't want him thinking he will be in trouble when the time does come for him to have that real experience so I left it alone and felt satisfied that he was introduced to what the sounds are and the appropriate time to use them.

Our pastor is an AMAZING man of God. I just cannot ever make it through a day where I don't experience feelings of blessing at the thought that we get to learn from a man so brilliant, experienced and well known. His wife is amazing as well. He LOVES kids and Dalen is his buddy. His show airs on TBN weekly and Dalen just loves to watch him. He thinks he is preaching right at that moment at our church and actually sits quietly while he speaks. He thinks its super exciting when Bishop looks right at the lens and laughs and says, "He's looking at me!" Dalen already has a love for God and church and a respect for the leaders God has ordained over us.

To all the mom...don't fear the little open doors. They are open because you are welcome right on in.

Morning Madness

It is 5 a.m.. The house is quiet and I hear an occaisonal deep breath taken by my son, who is somehow now asleep on the couch. Little Lady decided to play the "I can't find my passy and squeel until someone comes to my rescue" game and after that I was fully awake.

After updating my blog with the briefest blog ever, I realized how much I haven't blogged about.

* I was a volunteer for VBS. Actually, Mario and I volunteered to be "crew leaders" for 5th and 6th graders. I am NOT kidding by the end of the week I felt as though I had been hit by train and ran over by a bus. JUST the year we come on board our church has the greatest response to VBS ever-a total of 92 kids. Guess who had the largest group?? Yep, us. 25 preteens with 'tudes. By Friday Mario had left the country (seriously) and the other helper I was supposed to have got grounded which left me with 25 kids alone and I had to get a pie in the face because my kids won the offering contest. I am certain there will be some extra jewels in my crown.

* Our last visit to TN was for my friend's wedding and Dalen spent a lot of time with his super aunts. My middle sister let him come over to swim and challenged him to swim to "Mets-i-toe" (Mexico). Since then I have been introducing him to places all around the world via internet (haha) and he is really finding an interest in "places". This was his conversation with his Auntie just a few days ago.

D: Hey. You got a passport?
M: A passport??
D: Yep, I'm going to Posa Rica and we are going to drink Margaritas.

Wow. I can't even remember how the Margarita part was learned but this is just hilarious. This was his conversation with his Papa just a few days ago.

D: Papa, where's your passport??
P: Passport?? What do you know about passports?
D: Going to Bangladesh.
P: You ain't going to no Bangladesh boy!
D: YES I AM! (sincerely mad)

My Dad gets me on the phone and asks how in the world D knows about B and I do what my parents did to me my entire life...I answer the question with a question. "What do you think I do all day, sit and don't teach him anything?"

* Cola is JUST about to crawl. I mean she is SOOOO there its not even funny. Dalen gets sooo impatient with her and eventually snatches her by the wrists and drags her across the carpet. I will put a toy in front of her and she will squeel and just kick away and then get frustrated when she realizes she isn't actually moving. She wore her first pigtails this week and I must say she was the cutest little piggy ever. Dalen even told her, "Wow, sissy girl you look boo-tiful with your curly bows."

* I had my first illness here in Florida. I had the worst UTI one could ever imagine and strep throat. Try knocking that with two little ones. I did get through it with the help of a natural doctor here in town who is actually know all over the US. Although his process of dianosis was a little strange I must say the guy is totally legit and loves God. It was pretty cool for his nurse to come in and tell him of a patient who didn't have Cancer afterall he clapped and gave thanks to God right in front of all of us.

* And the update you have all been waiting for I am sure...I have 16 pounds left to lose and I will be the weight I was when I got pregnant with D. I am so proud of myself for developing self-control and taking one day at a time. I have DEF realized I will probably struggle with my weight forever but I know the root of my problem now.

And that's all for now.

I can't believe that a month and a half has passed and I have written two blogs...that's it! That means two things: The two readers I had are long gone and I must start from scratch. Here is a quick update about our life.

1. Cola is 6 months old! Like half of a year! I can't believe it. When we moved here she was in NB clothes and she is now wearing 3/6 or 6 m.

2. Dalen's vocabulary has tripled....again. He still keeps us entertained 24/7.

3. Mario is in his perfect element and doing awesome as Youth Pastor. I have learned when husband is happy, wife is happy.

4. I am just still changing diapers and wondering why this full time job doesn't come with insurance and a 401k.

I still love Orlando. I love how culturally diverse it is and I am loyally in love with our church. I have learned so much as a member of this congregation and feel so blessed to be a part of a rich ministry.

I have no idea why I am not compelled to blog. Our life is funnier, more challenging and more entertaining than ever but I just don't get that motivation.

So here's to blogging and letting someone out there know I am alive, the kids are healthy and my husband is so very happy!