Generosity on Display April 23, 2013

It’s not something I talk about much online, but for almost 9 months now, I have been doing some specialty baking for friends and family.  Once I started baking grain-free for us, other people got interested, and it kind of snowballed from there.  Until recently, I was using any money I made as profits to buy newer, more efficient kitchen tools.  But once I got my kitchen up to par, I felt a new desire growing in my heart.  The desire to give.  The desire to bless others with my excess.  My initial thought was to use some of the money I was making to buy healthy food to donate to vulnerable families.  This is something that I am very passionate about and it made sense considering that I made the money initially by selling healthy food.

While I did feel a green-light from God about the food donations, I also felt like he was telling me to bless someone else first.  There is a family nearby (The Hammonds) that I have met twice, and I knew that they were working to adopt 2 children from China.  I really felt like God was wanting me to give them the first bit of money I had to give.  So I was obedient to that urging.  And I sent them a check.

The very next week, The Hammonds held an online auction for fundraising.  They listed things that people donated to them, like scarves, jewelry, children’s items.  And I bid on some small things that I didn’t really need.  Then one day, they added a piece of art to their auction.  The art was valued at $175 and right when I saw it, I knew it was mine.  I just knew it.  It was a picture of that ride you see at fairs or carnivals.  The one with swings, and when you ride it, you feel like you are flying.  That was always my all-time favorite ride.  I had a visceral reaction to this art and I wanted it.  The bidding started at $45 and I bid $50.

The next day, someone outbid me and I upped my bid to $65.  Please bear in mind that I wasn’t gushing about this piece of art during the bidding process.  I was just posting my numbers and hoping I would win.

And then the day before the auction was over, someone else bid $175.  Her post talked about how much she loved this and how this was always her favorite ride.

I did not have the money to outbid her, and she seemed to love it so much that I figured even if I did, she would outbid me again.  So I let it go.  I wasn’t devastated, but I was a little sad…..although I was very happy that someone was giving $175 towards the adoptions!!!

Let me stress here that The Hammonds do not live in my town.  We met at an adoption banquet, and we only have one mutual friend (who I also met at the adoption banquet), who lives in a third city.  So I did not know any other people who were participating in this auction.

A few days went by, and Erica Hammond (the adoptive mom who held the auction) sent me a Facebook message.  She said, Guess what?  Wendy, who outbid you on the art, wants to give it to you as a gift.  She has already paid for it.  She just wants to bless you with it.

I do not know who this Wendy is, and she doesn’t know me.  But she felt God telling her to do something, and she obeyed.  And I am humbled.  And now this hangs in my living room……

a reminder that God really does care about the desires of our heart.  A reminder to listen when God asks us to step out in generosity.  A reminder of the goodness in people when it feels like there is evil all around us.

Thank you, Wendy.

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full–pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. (Luke 6:38 NLT)

In Case of Emergency April 10, 2013

Recently, I explained to the boys about bathroom emergencies.  Things work well at home when you can go to the bathroom at will.  But what about at school–during rest time when you’re supposed to be quiet, or during carpool when you have to stay in line?  What if you have to go?  I remember that fearful feeling as a child, when obedience and manners seem more important than listening to your own physical cues.

I told the boys that sometimes there are emergencies and all teachers understand this.  You will not get in trouble for having a poo-poo emergency.  Your teachers want you to make it to the bathroom–believe me.

So now it isn’t uncommon to hear them running to the bathroom at home, giggling that they are having a pee pee emergency.

This morning Matthew approached me and issued this sage advice, “Mommy, emergencies are pee-pee, poo-poo, and a fire inside your house”.

Or even worse–all three at the same time.

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In Absentia February 8, 2013

I feel like I’ve been ignoring this special little corner of the blogosphere, which makes me a little sad.  My kids are still cute and they still say the most hilarious things. Life is great, but finding the time to record it all is getting tricky.  Recently, as our diet changed and I found myself spending more and more (all??) of my time in the kitchen, I found that I wanted to write about food.  I’d like to keep this little space dedicated to my family and all the wonderful that happens around here, but if you’d like to know more about my delicious life, I would love to visit with you in my new space as well.

I will be checking in here every so often, but you’re much more likely to find over at my new blog pondering junk food or perfecting a banana blueberry muffin.

Stay yummy.

 

Fly Away, Little Boy January 29, 2013

Tonight we realized that Isaac’s two front teeth are loose.  I know it sounds dramatic, but my heart nearly stopped.  I was at once very excited and completely devastated.

Time, you thief!!  You found us again.

The two front teeth are a big deal.  Once those suckers start coming in, it changes the whole look of your face!  Everything begins to transform and morph.  And I can go ahead and tell you, these aren’t going to be just some dainty little teeth.  Isaac hails from “big teeth” genetics–we’re talking multiple stints with braces, headgear, getting permanent teeth removed to make room in your mouth kinda stuff.  This could be all kinds of crazy.  I’m not ready.  My newborn who became a baby who became a toddler who became a preschooler who became a little boy is now about to be:  a kid.  I don’t remember authorizing this.

But I don’t know why I’m surprised.  The signs are all around me.

His toes are stretching the seams of his footie pajamas–the biggest size I could find at Carters.

The little boy who used to pore over the Thomas catalog and recite the engine names in his high, breathy voice chose a Mario video game manual as his book tonight.  (Don’t worry, mom, he told me, we will only read the part in English.  Not the Spanish and French.)

Yesterday, on the way to karate he informed me that my van was a rectangular prism.

He’s growing up.  And I would be pretty ticked off about it if I didn’t just absolutely adore the person he is becoming each day.

He is such an incredibly kind and thoughtful person.  I was sick on Saturday and he left me notes all over the house to make me feel better.  This one was stuck inside my makeup drawer:

He’s creative and sensitive and well-liked at school.  Every day I wake up amazed that I get to be his mom.

So with that, I loosen my grip on this little boy.  Not that I have any choice about it, really.  The more I let go, the more space I give him to amaze me daily…..with his pure Isaac-ness.

He’s growing up.

Fly away, little boy.

Thanks for the Clarification January 5, 2013

This morning, Matthew sat down at the dining room table to write some letters.  This, in itself, is amazing because up until this week, he hasn’t had the confidence to try and sound out words on his own.  He found a formula that he was comfortable with and stuck with it.

“Daddy u r my best daddy”

“Isaac u r my best Isaac”

“Mommy u r my best mommy”

Isaac pointed out to him that I was his only mommy.  But I stopped him.

Actually, Matthew has 3 mommies.  Can you tell me about them, Matthew?

You could see a light bulb go on in his head.

Omma?  And tummy mommy?

That’s right!

And just like that, he sat down to write a new letter:

Way to keep me in my place.

 

As Heard in the School Lunchroom December 17, 2012

Hey, Isaac’s mom!

Hey!

Isaac’s mom, did you adopt Matthew? (this is my name when I’m at their school.  Well, this and “Matthew’s mom”)

Yes, I did.

Well, my mom, you know?  She had surgery on her place where babies come from?  And she can’t have babies anymore.  And she doesn’t want to adopt a baby, but I really want a little brother to boss around.

{Makes me shudder to think what my kids say about me to the other parents!!}