I’m loving my life today. Not that today is any different than other days. I’m just feeling overwhelmed with thankfulness today. I am so blessed. Sitting here in my beautiful, safe home at my awesome computer working on a book that is glorifying God here on earth. This project has been incubating inside of me for a long time now, and the urge to tell this story has risen up in me like a flood. I’m ready to bare open my heart and soul for the sake of other Christians who are looking for hope and Word knowledge on who they really are and why they are here.


I am so blessed with the family I have; my healthy, beautiful kids and their incredible daddy. Jovanni is my little man, loving, tender and on fire for the kingdom. Isabella and her thoughtful ways, Gigi and her contagious joy, and AnaSophia and her energy, spark and delightful hugs and kisses every day.

Juan is the best man I could have ever asked for. I wouldn’t have thought to ask for someone like him, and I’m so glad I was young and stupid when I said yes! He loves me and these kids with agape love, and he teaches me every day. By his example of faithfulness, and constancy, he teaches me. He is my rock.

Do you ever get a little scared when life is really, really, good – almost like in a “I don’t deserve this” kind of way. I used to feel that way, until I realized that this is the life our Father wants for us, the good life. When we are healthy and balanced, we can give to and do for others. We can disciple the nations, just like He told us to do.

Life isn’t perfect, that wouldn’t be realistic, but I have joy. I’m not “happy,” I just have a joy because of Christ. Thank you Lord, for Who you are – make us more like you!!!

Autumn Delights

I love every season in its time, and try to enjoy it accordingly.  Summer in southeast Texas, however, is difficult to enjoy.  Its too hot for too long, with no respite in the evenings or mornings, and even when it rains, the air doesn't cool off.  It just hangs heavy with even more humidity.
So today, when the promised "cold front" blew in and chilled the morning off considerably, I was not sad.  The girls were excited to dress in long sleeved blouses and pull out their new sweaters.  Sophie wore leggings and a fall dress to Miss Mimi's house, happy to be bundled in the new chill.
I have decided autum is my new favorite season, with it's chillier air, and savory smells of pumkin candles and baking bread.  The cooler temperatures stir up my innate desire to bake all kinds of goodies, and the kids get excited about the trip to the pumkin patch.  It's a wonderful season, with warm memories being made and preparations for the holidays that are coming 'round the corner.  It'll be great weather, fun times and cool autumn community events.  Great weather, that is, until the cold front blows over and out and the temps hit the 90's again, with the "feel" being in the hundreds!

What's Ducks Got to Do With It?

The weather was gorgeous Sunday evening when my husband and I decided to get our exercise at the local park. It was Labor Day weekend, so many families surrounded the lake with their fishing poles, picnic baskets, and family dogs. Squirrels scuttled down hundred year old oaks, and babies squealed from their strollers as we breathed in the changing early autumn air! Our youngest, Sophie, rode in her stroller, happy to be out and about, observing the active scene along with us. As we walked and talked, she began to get restless, so we decided to stop and let her run off some energy near the water.

She immediately ran up to the edge of the water, as a group of ducks was busy scrounging through some algae, gulping it down as if it was their last meal. I squatted down near them, as Sophie chattered to them, trying to get close enough to pet them.

It was then that I noticed that there was a larger duck, quacking out orders to a group of about a half dozen medium-size ducks. “Oh, Babe,” I called to Juan, “It’s a mama duck and her teenagers!!!” He laughed, as we realized I was right, and then we really started watching the young family. The mother duck paddled off towards the center of the lake, commanding her “kids” to follow her. Only two of her young ones followed closely, while four of them continued to scrounge frantically at the lake’s edge, muttering quacks out to her. I narrated their duck language for Juan. “Look Babe,” I told him, “They’re telling her, ‘We’re coming, we’re coming mom! Just gimme a minute’!”

We laughed at the ducks, as they treated their mother’s concerns as annoying and unnecessary, much like my pre-teen son sometimes does! It occurred to me that animals in nature are often similar in behavior to us humans. We’ve seen the same ducks, as tiny hatchlings, stay constantly close to their mother, tumbling after her at all times, desperate for her reassurance and approval! Then, as they grow, they slowly gain confidence in themselves and their own capabilities. I noticed that the mother duck didn’t insist on the “teenagers” coming with her at wing’s distance, instead, she gave them their necessary freedom. Soon, due to her innate mothering skills, those “teens” would be ready to take complete care of themselves, and eventually, their own “kids!”

We walked away from the ducks feeling that we had learned a real lesson from a good mom. We must let our children grow, giving them enough discipline to help them choose wisely, but yet knowing when to give them that necessary freedom. Oh, and by the way, I don’t think that duck mama was hung up on any past regrets or mistakes, either!

Rain is my Favorite!

Rain is my favorite.  There is no such thing for me as too much rain.  Yes, it's bad for some business, bad for traffic, and around the Houston area, really bad for flooding.  I love it just the same.  Rain inspires me, comforts me, and refreshes me.
Coming from the desert, there is never enough rain to make me happy...
So today it's raining solid.  It's been raining since early this morning, and it hasn't stopped all day.  The sky is a beautiful color grey, there is a thrilling chill in the air, and I, for one, am enjoying the respite from the previous record-breaking heat we've experienced all summer.  I don't know about you, but I'm ready for autumn.
Today is most likely just a cruel tease, though, since the rain is the run off from Tropical Storm Hermine, but I'll take it.  I'm ready for sweater tops and boots, dresses with leggings, and early mornings on the back porch with my coffee, meditating on the coming day.  I've decided that September is my new favorite month, with the bearable temperatures, fall veggies, and gorgeous sunsets.
So I'll enjoy today, tease or not, as I ready myself for yet another change in life's ever-changing face.

Early in the morning...

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.

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! 

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.