The Stuff Dreams are Made of

Ahh, baseball season. The crowd, the sunshine, the sound of the ball when it makes contact with the bat. Summer is here at last.

My eight year old son is playing his first year on a baseball team, the Dodgers. They made it to the championship and the game was last Saturday. It was the Angels and the Dodgers. I hadn't made many of his games this year, dad was there for that, but I wanted to see him play in the championship. I am so glad I did.

I arrived late and saw what looked like a bleak situation. The Dodgers were down by four runs and it was the last inning. Before the first Dodger went up to the plate to bat, the coach gathered them all for a pep talk.

"All we need to win this if five runs," he said. "We've done it before, and we can do it again."

Then, I watched as the Dodgers scored one, then two, then three runs. It was now a five to four ball-game. The Dodgers had 2 outs. Only one more batter was left with the chance to win the championship game.

I suspected my son was to be up soon, so I had a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach. Sure enough, the announcers voice went over the loud speaker confirming my suspicions.

I prayed. Strike one, strike two. I prayed some more.

Then the familiar sound filled my ears, the sound of contact. My son hit a double, bringing in two runs. The Dodgers won the championship! I cried. I could of missed it. But I didn't, I was there, and I was proud.

Their childhood passes so quickly, then it's gone and you can't get it back again. It is such a blessing to see children grow and achieve and become all they were created to be.

And I don't want to miss a thing!

A Mother's Love

Amongst the noisy chaos that echos through my home, a home that contains four children, three of them active boys. I do not have much time for solitary reflections. At times when the volume level is turned up too high, and shouts of, "give it back now!" bleed through my ears, I long for a place of tranquility. But when I look into the eyes of my children, I am stirred. I want so much for them. I want them to be disciplined, hard working, and future world impactors.

But, recently I feel a calling deep within me. A calling to raise children who feel so secure in their mothers love that they can come to me with anything. No matter what they have done, they can come without feeling I will condemn, lash out, or tell them how wrong they are. But listen to them, love them, and help lead and guide them to the truth. Isn't that what our heavenly Father does for us? He is just waiting for us to come and share all our shortcomings, all our failures, maybe cry at His feet. And He will love us, unconditionally, and guide us to the truth.

The power of a Mothers Love is shown throughout history. Hannah poured her heart out and reaped a Samuel. Naomi (mother-in-law) leaded and guided Ruth into her calling. Jochebed hid Moses and wove a basket, giving him up so he could live and lead the Israelights to freedom.

So when a dish gets broken, milk gets spilt, or the opportunity of a much needed nap vanishes from view, I try (not always succeeding) to think of higher things. Megan, Caleb, Alex and Andrew, I love you! Let the dishes fall where they may...

Finally, a June day that felt like May and not April.  Getting outdoors is so wonderful after days of rain and cold.  Today, I put up three hanging baskets, three bird feeders, planted petunia's in my planter, and enjoyed being outdoors!  God has truly blessed us with so many beauties to enjoy, flowers can be so breathtaking!  :)

Book Review - The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

I just finished reading this engaging children's book. Edward is a three foot rabbit made almost entirely of china. He was loved by a girl named Abilene. Edward could not move or talk, but he could think. His days were filled with thoughts of how splendid, exquisite, and extraordinary he was. Edward was selfish, he wore his custom silk suites, shoes, and hats with great pride and arrogance and enjoyed looking at himself in the reflection of the glass window.

This is an enchanting tale of a vain rabbits journey. A journey which is thrust upon him, but in the end he is transformed by the power of love. It draws you in from the start, you may even shed a tear or two.

Endearing... Meaningful... Charming...

Book Written By: Kate Di Camillo

Here I go, I can hardly believe I am actually doing this. I have a blog. Is that wrong?

As I type I am sitting in Panera with two ladies from my writers group creating this riveting post that millions will follow faithfully each day. Okay, so maybe just a couple hundred. Okay fine, maybe just two or three.

About me:

I was born in a suburb of Chicago. At nineteen, I moved to Singer Island, Florida with my Aunt. About five years later I met my future husband, Larry. We married in 1994 and had our first child, Megan in 1996. Four years later we had our second, Caleb.  Then we finished up with an Alex and an Andrew.  For a grand total of four wonderful, unique, busy, active, energetic, (oh wait is that redundant??) children.  Somewhere between Megan and Caleb, I moved back to Chicago-land with my new family.