Recipe for thankfulness...

I enjoy cooking. I love taking recipes, and tweaking them, changing ingredients out for things I prefer or have on hand. This week, I feel like God's given me a recipe for thankfulness. Only in this recipe, there's no premeasurements, no specific ingredients. He's made me stop to appreciate the blessings in my own life.

So here's my recipe for thankfulness.

The health of Grandpa Dean makes me appreciate the importance of family. It calls to mind those Christmastimes, birthday, and general celebrations at the house with that unforgettable soft red carpeting. Adults gathered around the dining room table near the front door, which most days sat unused. During these gatherings, however, several leaves were added, and we'd work together to prepare the tables, the buffet line, the drinks. We'd sing our family's version of grace, and we'd head through the line. People moving everywhere, on both floors, in every room, talking about sports, school, music, politics, current events, and family life. These memories wash me in warmth, radiating outward directly from my heart.

Thank you God for a family who cares deeply for each other, and who come together to celebrate and to mourn. Bless our family, and give them strength and peace over the coming weeks and years.

My visit the the emergency room yesterday helps me remember that God wants us to cry out to Him in times of need. He didn't intend us to exist alone, and as needed, will allow us to go through tough times to remind us of this fact. I had to step out of my comfort zone and ask peoeple around me for their assistanec. Later, as my physical pain increased, God placed people around me to comfort me, to remind me I am not alone. He's there, looking out for us, ministering to us, loving us regardless of circumstances. Even after the pain subsided, God continued to show me how many people he's placed in my life, helping me to know that even when life gets in the way of contact, when it's needed, His people are still there.

Thank you God for friends who support and love me and my family. Help me to minister to them, Help me to support those who've already come to You, and guide me in ways so that each one may find and love you.

I visited the library this week, and spotted a book on a topic which has been weighing heavily on my heart for a long time. Reading the book helped me to realize again that I'm not alone, especially in this particular struggle, and that it takes time, understanding, and compromise to solve.

Thank you God for providing this resource, and helping my heart to be ready to receive the insight it contained. Help me to have the courage to share this knowledge with others searching for it.

Thank you for my Sohl-mate, and for his loving and caring personality. Thank you for my loving, healthy, inquisitive children. Help me to be the wife and mother You want me to be for them, and guide my choices and decisions to allow eaach to grow in their walks with You.

Photographic Memories...

Ah, the joys of our digital world. The ability to snap pictures at will, free from the worries of bad lighting, blinking, or money wasted on developing what can only be described with an onomatopoeia; I'll go with "argh."

With this spirit of snap-happiness, I'll share some photographic memories of the past few weeks.

Our little Sohl gal's learned to stick out her tounge in the past

few days, and does so on regular occasions. This trick, however is nearly impossible to catch, and though I'd prefer a better one, this is the only photographic evidence I have at this time. She also gives superb baby kisses, huge smiles, and giggles when tickled under her arms. Favorite people include her brother, who equally adores her, and her daddy, who misses her terribly while away.

My Sohl son's *dramatic pause as the author whispers a quick prayer for continuation, much like most would knock on wood* potty trained!. As such, he's earned a man bathroom for this formidable task, which he's chosen to decorate with a "Buzz Lightyear-ish" theme. The shower "curken" stars glow in the dark, we've added an orange bath mat and hand towel, and selected the "spinny" toothbrush holder. Oh yes, very manly, indeed. The space ships adorning the toothbrush holder have seen interglacatic action, it seems, and have the battle scars to prove it.

This feat also earned him the much-anticpated Lightning McQueen potty training toy which has resided atop our fridge for many-a-month. He now enjoys programming the car to drive itself, or more correctly, programming it to repeat 10 of its sayings over, and over, and over, and over. BUT, we're potty trained!

Last weekend my Sohl mate and I continued purging our Sohl possessions. My task was the pantry. For posterity's sake, I'm posting a picture of my efforts: I want my organizationally-inclined friends to know what an accomplishment this is for me. While Mission: Organization it's not, I am pretty proud of my little food closet. Go me!

Wooo-sah...

It's been my mantra recently. Wooo-sah. This calming sound, accompanied by arm motions from my head down to my stomach, and outward. In an attempt at relaxation I learned from Bad Boys 2, wooo-sah has helped me to regulate my emotions in an otherwise out-of-control situation.

Our church moved into the 95,00 square foot beautiful new facility Easter weekend, and I was completely amazed to learn that over 10,000 people attended services that weekend. That's one small step for the church's over all mission, reaching those who don't currently know Christ; one giant leap for the volunteers, helping to move across town in a weekend. While construction, building, painting, shopping, and ordering have been in the works since early November, the actual finishing work has taken place over the last few weeks.

Wooo-sah I'm sure for those devoted few who were committed to as-close-as-possible-to-perfection for that opening weekend. And God be praised, near perfection it was. Wooo-sah for the families who gave so much, financially, physically, and emotionally to open this facility, allowing so many the opportunity to know Jesus's love and grace. Wooo-sah for the moments of grace we all needed as the inevitable kinks played and worked themselves out. Wooo-sah for the staff, as they make the transition from "new building" to "home."

Our hometeam recently learned that our leaders will be creating their own version of Bay Area in Mexico. These two individuals are incredible, amazing, Christ-like people. I've learned so much from them, and am honored to call them friends. Wooo-sah for me, as my friends move on to reach those in need of God's loving message, and wooo-sah for my friends, as they wait for God's plans for their family.

My grandpa, living alone after the death of Grandma Berdean (miss you G-ma), was recently admitted to the hospital for what I thought was a cold. It led to the discovery that he currently has 15% heart function. Wooo-sah for him, my family, and myself as we cope with this news and pray for his comfort and health. Wooo-sah for the nerves which build up as I attempt to plan out a phone call to him, and quickly learn that he has not the strength to talk as he oh so recently did. Wooo-sah as the tears well up as I consider the times I now wish I'd called to share those tidbits I so foolishly decided were not important. Wooo-sah, as there's nothing else, for all other words have left me. Wooo-sah, for I hear again the song I've tied to my grandparents lives, and more importantly their love. Wooo-sah. Wooo-sah. Wooo-sah.

Wooo-sah for finally understanding my dad's frustration upon seeing the temporary illustrations I'd so happily placed on my skin.

Wooo-sah for the mix of elation and sadness that sweeps over me, as my little Sohl gal improves daily on her quest to sit alone.

Wooo-sah for the line of ten desperate late tax-filers who stand ahead of me to use the tape and pen at the post office. Wooo-sah for the lady at the bank in the lane next to mine who learns the bank's policy on cashing checks from other institutions.

Wooo-sah for the friend who volunteers to watch my little Sohls, while my dentist bestows upon me a crown.

Wooo-sah for me, while my dentist bestows upon me a crown, or more accurately wooo-sah as he administers the shots.

All in all, I see wooo-sah as a mini-prayer. A cry to God: Grant peace upon these circumstances. Help us to know you are always and forever in control. In your time, Amen. Wooo-sah for belated-blogging guilt.

I respectfully disagree...

During one of our recent Hometeam meetings, we discussed one of Pastor Bil's messages about the power of our words. One of the questions posed by our Hometeam leader was, "How do you respectfully disagree?"

As I've considered this idea, some days it feels like regrettably my internal, and sometimes my external response is, "I don't. I'm right, and whomever I'm talking to already knows that or soon will." On those days, then, I'm not honoring God's will for me. I'm not loving everyone, not offering them the kind of unwarranted, undeserved acceptance that God offers me.

One specific case of this is with my Sohl son. All too often, I take the "my way or the highway" approach with him, and as I consider it now, no wonder he seems to be completely frustrated and spirit-crushed when I'm around. I don't necessarily even consider his ideas, so I'm not even giving myself a chance to respectfully disagree with him. I can imagine it would be difficult, or more correctly, impossible, to work with someone who never allowed me to try things my own way or make my own decisions. Granted, there are some instances where for safety's sake or schedule's sake, he really can't do what he wants; however, I'm praying for more opportunities to allow, yet disagree with his decision.

Another common arena for disagreements comes in parenting, and even more specifically for me, from other stay-at-home moms. Breast or bottle; co-sleeping or crib sleeping; solids at 4 months or 6; preschool/public school or home-school; water or juices or sodas; fast food or organic foods; TV or no TV; crafts or sports. While none of these decisions are truly a one-choice response, they are but a small portion of the battle grounds facing a stay-at-home mom. As fiercely as she might defend her children, some moms defend their choices made out of love, sometimes even going as far as to shame another mom or argue about the expert who said... In these instances, I declare a truce: let's all recognize that we do what we know how, the best we can, and need support from others to keep going, .

Respectfully disagreeing in my mind means that we allow others to share their viewpoints, share their ideas, share their strategies, and refrain from criticizing them. It doesn't mean we become "yes-people," simply agreeing with their ideas, strategies, and viewpoints. I see it as dialogue, a conversation, with each side sharing their knowledge. Sometimes we walk away with new ideas, sometimes we walk away more convinced of our "correctness of thought." Either way, we walk away still representing the ideals God laid before us in the Bible, as we loved the person or people enough to hear them, and talk with them, without talking at them, and ignore their input. Don't you agree?

Sohl Titles...

Unless you're an education professional, a children's literature connoisseur, or spend a great deal of time perusing the library shelves, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the choices offered in children's books. Here are a few of my current favorites.

How Are You Peeling: Foods With Moods, by Saxon Freymann and Joost Elffers. This is a great book if your child needs work on identifying feelings and emotions. The book uses fruits and veggies to demonstrate emotional reactions.

Skippyjon Jones, by Judy Schachner. Cute illustrations, lots of Spanish vocabulary, and cute rhyming action make this a fun read-aloud. My Sohl son asks for this book all the time.

Lizzy's Do's and Don'ts, by Jessica Harper. Most children hear a list of don'ts, and Lizzy is no exception. In this book, Lizzy and her mom discuss this things she isn't allowed to do, and create a list of things they are allowed to do.

Birthday Monsters, by Sandra Boynton. A gift for Carter's first birthday, this book is classic Sandra Boynton silliness, with great rhyming. Short and sweet, we like this one just before bedtime.

Manana, Iguana, by Ann Whitford Paul. (Think the Spanish word for tomorrow) This book is a retelling of the Little Red Hen, with obvious Spanish influences. It has a Spanish pronunciation guide, and cute illustrations.

What are some of your favorites?