The house sits hushed, even the very earliest birds in the trees outside are singing quietly. I grab my decaf coffee (I know, what’s the point then, right?!) and look back at my beckoning bed, sitting there, empty and lonely. Ohhh, I don’t want to be up right now, sleep sounds so delightful… Sighing, I turn away with new determination to climb those stairs and start a new life. I know God has been telling me to do this.
I cruise through each kid’s bedroom (I love to look at them when they are sleeping!). Smiling, I silently thank God as I watch Sophie, her lanky body and strawberry blonde hair. For how quiet she is when she is sleeping. Bella looks like a princess, snuggled up in her fluffy comforter, freckles visible even in the early morning light. Like the princess that she knows she is. The next room over, Giana sleeps with vigor. That’s just like her. She’s probably plotting her next move in her dreams right now. Jovanni has his hand against his angelic cheek, like the Thinker. That’s just like him, too, always thinking. Lacey lies next to Jov, curled into the crook of his legs, happy to be her.
I wonder, what do I look like when I’m sleeping? Am I pulling my hair out then, too?!
As the computer comes to life, I realize…It is so quiet! I had previously thought that too much quiet could be a problem. How could I write without breaking up an argument every few minutes? Or without hearing “Appuh joosh, Mommy!!!” in scream form ringing in my ear.
I’ve decided, however, that I like this quiet, strange as the theory is. To think, I wanted to go back to bed! No, I’m ready now, I believe (yawn). Ready to use these precious moments of early morning, where no child roams this house yet today, and heed the calling I have to promote the Kingdom of God on paper!
For the first time in a long time, I click on my program first, resisting the natural urge to check my email or go on facebook. I’m like an addict refusing to turn back! Wow, I’m excited now! Ready! Going forward…oh, how beautiful – the sun just popped up over the horizon, and I had to watch it…Haven’t seen that in too long. Yes, Lord, I’ll obey.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Just musing while in Arizona
The best part about Southern Arizona is the cool breezes after the sun goes down. No matter what the high temperature was that the unending sunshine brought on by the day, the sunset brings refreshment and rest. Oh, how I miss the crisp evenings. I’m sitting out here writing, at 8:00, no mosquitos in existence here, on mi suegra’s back porch. In fact, I haven’t slapped a leg or arm once for any kind of biting creature!
The second best thing is the sky. Oh, what a sight! The clear, open, friendly sky. Reds, pinks and purples spread in gorgeous harmony across the mountain ridges as the sun and its heat slowly disappears behind them. The stars, one by one, appear in clarity in the deep blue heavens. As the sky gradually grows darker, the stars multiply and soon, the Big Dipper sits in its regal majesty mid-sky. The Milky Way glistens, and the sliver of hopeful moon smiles sideways at me, happily back in my desert, at least for now.
Growing up, I either had to develop an appreciation for the desert, or be miserable in the ridiculous heat that overtakes this land with no reward. Dry, thirsty shrubs spread over the dusty landscape, with a cactus here and there amongst the stones and brush. The mesquite trees provide the respite from the harsh rays, and even then the shade is a tease. But I found the beauty here – beauty I still appreciate. The way the dry, sandy soil would smell after a fresh summer rain, and the rocks would shine because the dust was washed off their surface.
As kids, we had overactive imaginations (my husband would argue that mine has never faded!) and when the monsoons came, our front porch became a pirate ship in a raging sea storm. In drier times, we built forts on the ridges of the arroyos. We were John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. We were cowboys and Indians, ranchers and outlaws, scientists and inventors. It took no money and even less effort on our parent’s part for our imaginations to invent days, weeks, and then years worth of fun and fulfillment! On those long summer days that we would lounge in front of the air conditioner, our bodies lazy from the draining heat of the Arizona sun. Then, when the relief of the evening came, out the door we would go, enjoying the desert and all its hidden charm.
Sometimes I'm sad for today's kids, who seem to need to spend money or have all the newest gadgets and electronics to be entertained. I wonder where their imaginations have hidden!
The second best thing is the sky. Oh, what a sight! The clear, open, friendly sky. Reds, pinks and purples spread in gorgeous harmony across the mountain ridges as the sun and its heat slowly disappears behind them. The stars, one by one, appear in clarity in the deep blue heavens. As the sky gradually grows darker, the stars multiply and soon, the Big Dipper sits in its regal majesty mid-sky. The Milky Way glistens, and the sliver of hopeful moon smiles sideways at me, happily back in my desert, at least for now.
Growing up, I either had to develop an appreciation for the desert, or be miserable in the ridiculous heat that overtakes this land with no reward. Dry, thirsty shrubs spread over the dusty landscape, with a cactus here and there amongst the stones and brush. The mesquite trees provide the respite from the harsh rays, and even then the shade is a tease. But I found the beauty here – beauty I still appreciate. The way the dry, sandy soil would smell after a fresh summer rain, and the rocks would shine because the dust was washed off their surface.
As kids, we had overactive imaginations (my husband would argue that mine has never faded!) and when the monsoons came, our front porch became a pirate ship in a raging sea storm. In drier times, we built forts on the ridges of the arroyos. We were John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. We were cowboys and Indians, ranchers and outlaws, scientists and inventors. It took no money and even less effort on our parent’s part for our imaginations to invent days, weeks, and then years worth of fun and fulfillment! On those long summer days that we would lounge in front of the air conditioner, our bodies lazy from the draining heat of the Arizona sun. Then, when the relief of the evening came, out the door we would go, enjoying the desert and all its hidden charm.
Sometimes I'm sad for today's kids, who seem to need to spend money or have all the newest gadgets and electronics to be entertained. I wonder where their imaginations have hidden!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
GiGi, at the ripe old age of six, has it all figured out! Why does she have to go to school these last few days, when all they do is play and do projects? “We’re not doing anything school, Mom.” She huffily pointed out a couple of nights ago. “Why can’t I just be done with school NOW?!” She’s right, they’re not doing anything academic. She’s done – done with school for this year. She’s been fed up since a couple of months ago, when she decided she didn’t like Ms. Brasier, the poor young woman who has to teach my six-year-old!
It’s been an adjustment this year for her, and her siblings, as they went from their much-loved elementary school in Arizona to two different schools here, since we moved twice. Once to get here to Texas, another to our new (and hopefully permanent for at least five years!) house. We’ve only lived in a house for three years at a time. Here, I’m really ok with not moving for a while.
So, back to GiGi. While I’m writing this, she is attending her LAST day of school for the year! She’ll have exactly 11 weeks with NO school! She thinks she’s excited, but she is a high-maintenance firecracker of a kid, and keeping her from the b-word (boredom) this summer is my greatest challenge! So far, on the roster is our vacation (we leave later today!) camp (only one week ), VBS, swimming, camping, day trips to Houston, swimming, time with friends, swimming, and more swimming. Thank God we have a community pool and splashpad! It is going to save my tushie this summer.
It’s been an adjustment this year for her, and her siblings, as they went from their much-loved elementary school in Arizona to two different schools here, since we moved twice. Once to get here to Texas, another to our new (and hopefully permanent for at least five years!) house. We’ve only lived in a house for three years at a time. Here, I’m really ok with not moving for a while.
So, back to GiGi. While I’m writing this, she is attending her LAST day of school for the year! She’ll have exactly 11 weeks with NO school! She thinks she’s excited, but she is a high-maintenance firecracker of a kid, and keeping her from the b-word (boredom) this summer is my greatest challenge! So far, on the roster is our vacation (we leave later today!) camp (only one week ), VBS, swimming, camping, day trips to Houston, swimming, time with friends, swimming, and more swimming. Thank God we have a community pool and splashpad! It is going to save my tushie this summer.
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