Most days I feel like a broken record. It seems like I dole out the same pieces of motherly admonitions over and over and over again. And then I say them again. I wonder if I counted up all the repeat phrases I use in a day, how many words would they equal? If we are only allotted so many WORDS A DAY, then I think I might be wasting them on the same commands over and over again.
Here's what I've been using my words up with.
"The couch/table/chair/bed/columns at church/world at large is not a jungle gym."
"Use your fork, not your fingers."
"Don't pick your nose. It's gross."
"Princesses don't talk sassy/crawl on the floor/pull their dresses up in public/screech/whine. That's what Ugly Step-Sisters do."
"Your shirt is not a napkin."
"You walk on your shoes. I'll walk on mine."
"Don't pester your sister/brother."
"Where is your bow?"
"Don't take your shoes off in the car. Ever."
"If I find this lego/princess shoe/stuffed animal/light saber on the floor again, I'm throwing it away."
"You are singing so loudly, I can't hear myself think."
"Please walk on your feet, not on your hands/knees/bottom."
"Please throw your Sonic straw wrapper/McDonald's toy/gum wrapper/school papers in the trashcan. Not the floor of the car."
"Stop talking and eat your breakfast/lunch/dinner."
"No, we are not getting a dog today."
Just think of the witty, stimulating, intellectual conversations I could be having if I weren't saying these other things 47 times a day. It's a staggering thought. But time for that later, I guess. You know, when I'm not telling them that I am the mom not the maid (again).
Seriously, I can't wait.
What do you say more than three times a day?
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Hawaiian Chicken Sandwich Recipe
I do *love* being back on a schedule!
School started this week, and I am already loving the predictability and productivity of a set schedule. I'm cleaning again. I'm creating again. I'm cooking again. Oh, how I'm cooking again! I've spent some time looking for some new recipes and decided that I was in the mood for a Hawaiian Chicken Sandwich. A sweet and savory sandwich on a crusty kaiser roll. (Alliteration makes them taste better!) I found one, but for the life of me, I can't remember where. I've searched all over my favorite food blogs, but it's not there. I love to give credit where credit is due, but I just can't find it! And I need to share it with you. It was sooooo easy and fast. My neighbor and her kids dropped by on a fundraising errand just as the chicken was finishing up. She said it smelled divine! I told her I'd let her know if it was good...and it's so good, I need to share it with everybody! We had our sandwiches with cut up veggies and store-bought kettle chips. Yummy.
Hawaiian Chicken Sandwiches
4 slices canned pineapple
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon molasses
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (I used 2 really big chicken breasts, pounded them thin, and cut them in half)
Salt to taste
4 kaiser rolls, halved, toasted or grilled if desired
Lettuce leaves
Lay the pineapple slices on paper towels, blot them dry, and set them aside. In a small bowl, blend soy sauce, honey, molasses, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, and ginger. Place a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and drizzle in some extra virgin olive oil. Salt chicken breasts lightly and add to skillet. Fry the breasts about 4 to 5 minutes per side, turning once, until just done. Add the sauce to the pan and fry another minute or so, spooning the sauce over the chicken and turning to coat both sides. Remove the chicken to a plate and immediately add the pineapple slices to the skillet. Cook about 30 seconds on each side to glaze the pineapple and remove the pan from the heat.
To assemble the sandwiches, place lettuce, if desired, on the bottom of each roll and top with a chicken breast and a slice of pineapple. Spoon a bit of the sauce from the pan over each pineapple slice and serve. Makes 4 sandwiches.
Since I didn't take a picture of my yummy sandwiches, I'm posting a picture of Phoebe on her very first day of ballet class. She is pretty darned excited!
School started this week, and I am already loving the predictability and productivity of a set schedule. I'm cleaning again. I'm creating again. I'm cooking again. Oh, how I'm cooking again! I've spent some time looking for some new recipes and decided that I was in the mood for a Hawaiian Chicken Sandwich. A sweet and savory sandwich on a crusty kaiser roll. (Alliteration makes them taste better!) I found one, but for the life of me, I can't remember where. I've searched all over my favorite food blogs, but it's not there. I love to give credit where credit is due, but I just can't find it! And I need to share it with you. It was sooooo easy and fast. My neighbor and her kids dropped by on a fundraising errand just as the chicken was finishing up. She said it smelled divine! I told her I'd let her know if it was good...and it's so good, I need to share it with everybody! We had our sandwiches with cut up veggies and store-bought kettle chips. Yummy.
Hawaiian Chicken Sandwiches
4 slices canned pineapple
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon molasses
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (I used 2 really big chicken breasts, pounded them thin, and cut them in half)
Salt to taste
4 kaiser rolls, halved, toasted or grilled if desired
Lettuce leaves
Lay the pineapple slices on paper towels, blot them dry, and set them aside. In a small bowl, blend soy sauce, honey, molasses, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, and ginger. Place a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and drizzle in some extra virgin olive oil. Salt chicken breasts lightly and add to skillet. Fry the breasts about 4 to 5 minutes per side, turning once, until just done. Add the sauce to the pan and fry another minute or so, spooning the sauce over the chicken and turning to coat both sides. Remove the chicken to a plate and immediately add the pineapple slices to the skillet. Cook about 30 seconds on each side to glaze the pineapple and remove the pan from the heat.
To assemble the sandwiches, place lettuce, if desired, on the bottom of each roll and top with a chicken breast and a slice of pineapple. Spoon a bit of the sauce from the pan over each pineapple slice and serve. Makes 4 sandwiches.
Since I didn't take a picture of my yummy sandwiches, I'm posting a picture of Phoebe on her very first day of ballet class. She is pretty darned excited!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
What's In A Name Part II
When we got pregnant with Eli, it was a golden time in our marriage. We still wore our rose-colored glasses to view life. Brad had just finished law school and was beginning to work at the law firm. We had moved to Amarillo and were looking for our first house. We were going to have four children, spaced exactly 21-24 months apart. We were going to be "that" couple who seems to sail through life on the boat of prosperity and happiness and love and hope. I was teaching pre-K, but not for long because I was going to stay home and be a mommy.
And I knew just what kind of mommy I wanted to be, too. I was going to be the kind of mommy who cherished every second of her child's baby-hood. The kind of mommy who showed God's love to her child and taught him how to show it to others. The kind of mommy who disciplined with patience and loving words. The kind of mommy whose eyes were always fixed on the ultimate goal of raising a child who was a disciple first and all-around-fun-to-be-with child second. The kind of mommy who reads 14 books a day to her child. The kind of mommy who creates works-of-crafty-art with her child. The kind of mommy who teaches her child to read by the time he's three. The kind of mommy who was patient and loving and even-tempered and consistent and fun and energetic and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
Since I was going to be this kind of mommy (and who isn't, right?), I poured over baby books to find the very perfect name for my soon-to-be-because-of-me perfect baby boy. Even then, I wanted all my children to have names from the Bible because they were old and stood the test of time well. It was much easier to find a biblical boy name than a GIRL NAME. Because I'm a word eater, the meaning behind these names was also a big consideration. As we tossed around names (and there were quite a few, by the way...ZEBULON, GABRIEL, MICAH), Brad really liked the name Eli. It wasn't my very first choice (that was Zebulon, but Brad really *detested* that name), but it had a nice ring to it. Made me think of an old cowboy with an earnest glint to his eye and laugh lines around his mouth. When I looked up the meaning in a baby name book at Target, it said that Eli meant "uplifted", as in we were going to be uplifting our son to the Lord and His Kingdom.
What I didn't realize was that we were going to be uplifting him the way Abraham uplifted Isaac for sacrifice.
Where Phoebe is like a PRINCESS, Eli is more like a lightning bolt. He's fast and bright. He's impulsive. He's strong and strong-willed. He's sure of himself and his ideas. He can be beautiful and terrifying all at the same time.
As the years went by with Eli, I realized that he wasn't the son I had envisioned all those months before he was born. In some ways better and in some ways worse. Life happened and our marriage wasn't what we thought it would be, our children weren't what we thought they would be, and I wasn't the mom I thought I would be. More and more often I cried myself to sleep because Eli was the kind of son I just didn't know how to parent.
We lifted him up as a sacrifice to God because we just flat out didn't know what else to do.
We still don't.
We probably never will.
He is "too much" for us. Too loud. Too bright. Too passionate. Too strong. Too stubborn. Too loyal. Too everything. Too perseverant. By default, he is exactly what his name says he is. Uplifted. Daily. Constantly. As every worry I have about him comes bursting out in silent prayer from a mommy who cannot be everything she wants to be for him.
But I love this boy with all my heart. He is my heart. And I wouldn't want him any other way.
And I knew just what kind of mommy I wanted to be, too. I was going to be the kind of mommy who cherished every second of her child's baby-hood. The kind of mommy who showed God's love to her child and taught him how to show it to others. The kind of mommy who disciplined with patience and loving words. The kind of mommy whose eyes were always fixed on the ultimate goal of raising a child who was a disciple first and all-around-fun-to-be-with child second. The kind of mommy who reads 14 books a day to her child. The kind of mommy who creates works-of-crafty-art with her child. The kind of mommy who teaches her child to read by the time he's three. The kind of mommy who was patient and loving and even-tempered and consistent and fun and energetic and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
Since I was going to be this kind of mommy (and who isn't, right?), I poured over baby books to find the very perfect name for my soon-to-be-because-of-me perfect baby boy. Even then, I wanted all my children to have names from the Bible because they were old and stood the test of time well. It was much easier to find a biblical boy name than a GIRL NAME. Because I'm a word eater, the meaning behind these names was also a big consideration. As we tossed around names (and there were quite a few, by the way...ZEBULON, GABRIEL, MICAH), Brad really liked the name Eli. It wasn't my very first choice (that was Zebulon, but Brad really *detested* that name), but it had a nice ring to it. Made me think of an old cowboy with an earnest glint to his eye and laugh lines around his mouth. When I looked up the meaning in a baby name book at Target, it said that Eli meant "uplifted", as in we were going to be uplifting our son to the Lord and His Kingdom.
What I didn't realize was that we were going to be uplifting him the way Abraham uplifted Isaac for sacrifice.
Where Phoebe is like a PRINCESS, Eli is more like a lightning bolt. He's fast and bright. He's impulsive. He's strong and strong-willed. He's sure of himself and his ideas. He can be beautiful and terrifying all at the same time.
As the years went by with Eli, I realized that he wasn't the son I had envisioned all those months before he was born. In some ways better and in some ways worse. Life happened and our marriage wasn't what we thought it would be, our children weren't what we thought they would be, and I wasn't the mom I thought I would be. More and more often I cried myself to sleep because Eli was the kind of son I just didn't know how to parent.
We lifted him up as a sacrifice to God because we just flat out didn't know what else to do.
We still don't.
We probably never will.
He is "too much" for us. Too loud. Too bright. Too passionate. Too strong. Too stubborn. Too loyal. Too everything. Too perseverant. By default, he is exactly what his name says he is. Uplifted. Daily. Constantly. As every worry I have about him comes bursting out in silent prayer from a mommy who cannot be everything she wants to be for him.
But I love this boy with all my heart. He is my heart. And I wouldn't want him any other way.
Monday, August 23, 2010
A Blessing To My First Grader
Bless this little mind. May it be focused and ready to learn something new everyday. May it be open to receive all that the Lord wants to impress upon him this year.
Bless these little eyes. May they be open to the blessings that the Lord freely gives. May they always look for and find those who are hurting and need his help.
Bless these little lips. May they speak words of kindness and encouragement to those who need them. Let every word he utters be a praise to God.
Bless this little heart. May it be filled up with Christ’s love for him. May it be so full that it overflows and brings peace and reconciliation to a broken world.
Bless these little hands. May they be instruments of help and hope. May they only act in kindness and love.
Bless these little feet. May they bring Your Good News to the world that we are sending him out into.
May the Lord bless him and keep him. May the Lord make His face shine upon him, and give him peace all the days of this year.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Last Day Of Summer
It's the last day of summer.
Oh, maybe not officially, that's not till SEPTEMBER 23RD, but for all practical purposes, our summer is over. School starts tomorrow. The school supplies have been bought, labeled, and dropped off at school. The clothes for the first day are clean and laid out. The backpack is packed. My camera is charged. We're all ready.
But summer was fun. I hope that we enjoyed it enough. I hope that we soaked up all the moments we could during this summer when Eli was seven and Phoebe was three. I hope that we created some memories from the summer of 2010. And I realized last week that I hadn't taken any pictures at our local pool. So on our last day to swim, I toted my camera along and got a *few* pictures of my children enjoying this timeless, quintessiential summer activity.
Oh, maybe not officially, that's not till SEPTEMBER 23RD, but for all practical purposes, our summer is over. School starts tomorrow. The school supplies have been bought, labeled, and dropped off at school. The clothes for the first day are clean and laid out. The backpack is packed. My camera is charged. We're all ready.
But summer was fun. I hope that we enjoyed it enough. I hope that we soaked up all the moments we could during this summer when Eli was seven and Phoebe was three. I hope that we created some memories from the summer of 2010. And I realized last week that I hadn't taken any pictures at our local pool. So on our last day to swim, I toted my camera along and got a *few* pictures of my children enjoying this timeless, quintessiential summer activity.
I love that he's smiling for the camera in mid-jump! :)
"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." ~Henry James
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Rest In Peace
Last week a valuable member of our family bit the dust.
No, it wasn't Phoebe.
It was my dear friend, EUREKA. She'd been sick for a little while. When Eli would use her after dinner, the battery would lose its charge pretty quickly. And sometimes she would just stop working all of a sudden for no apparent reason. And then last week her handle broke off. I guess after being used once a day (if not twice) for a year and half finally took it's toll and she just couldn't take it anymore.
I cried.
I mourned for a week.
Then I couldn't take it anymore and I went out and purchased LITTLE RED. He's a beaut, isn't he?
His head swivels and his little hand vac is going to help Eli more effectively and efficiently vacuum my stairs. I have big plans for this little guy.
Not that I make plans with my cleaning appliances or anything.
Or name them.
At least tell me I'm not alone. Right?
No, it wasn't Phoebe.
It was my dear friend, EUREKA. She'd been sick for a little while. When Eli would use her after dinner, the battery would lose its charge pretty quickly. And sometimes she would just stop working all of a sudden for no apparent reason. And then last week her handle broke off. I guess after being used once a day (if not twice) for a year and half finally took it's toll and she just couldn't take it anymore.
I cried.
I mourned for a week.
Then I couldn't take it anymore and I went out and purchased LITTLE RED. He's a beaut, isn't he?
His head swivels and his little hand vac is going to help Eli more effectively and efficiently vacuum my stairs. I have big plans for this little guy.
Not that I make plans with my cleaning appliances or anything.
Or name them.
At least tell me I'm not alone. Right?
Thursday, August 19, 2010
We've Met The Teacher
While I'm going to try not to post 476 times about the first day of school, like I did last year, I still feel like Meet The Teacher is one of those big moments in a child's life.
This is Mrs. Summers.
She seems nice enough. It's hard to know in a twenty minute conversation what kind of year Eli will have. (And Eli did most of the talking in those twenty minutes!) I left feeling a little less anxious about Eli's first grade. Most of my anxieties have nothing to do with his teacher, anyway. I worry about him finding a good buddy in his class. (He didn't last year and I worry he won't again.) I worry about what kind of child he is in someone else's care. I worry that we haven't equipped him enough to handle the outside influences of school. Sigh. I'm pretty sure that's what being a parent is all about.
I guess all that's left to do is pray. :)
This is Mrs. Summers.
She seems nice enough. It's hard to know in a twenty minute conversation what kind of year Eli will have. (And Eli did most of the talking in those twenty minutes!) I left feeling a little less anxious about Eli's first grade. Most of my anxieties have nothing to do with his teacher, anyway. I worry about him finding a good buddy in his class. (He didn't last year and I worry he won't again.) I worry about what kind of child he is in someone else's care. I worry that we haven't equipped him enough to handle the outside influences of school. Sigh. I'm pretty sure that's what being a parent is all about.
I guess all that's left to do is pray. :)
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Going To The Chapel
I know it's common for little girls to dream about their wedding. About the church. And the dress. And the cake. A lot of us having a pretty good picture of what "our" day will be like before we ever even have a ring on our finger.
I had no idea that little boys did the same! Eli has got his wedding all planned out and he told me all about it while we were running errands yesterday. (And, by the way, it was crazy busy everywhere I went! I guess everybody was out trying to avoid the crowds of TAX FREE WEEKEND and we all decided to shop today. Sheesh.) The following conversation took place in the Target parking lot.
Eli: "I want to get married in a quiet place. By a river. Not like right here." (We were in the parking lot!)
Mom: "Really. Why?"
Eli: "Because it's quiet and pretty and I like to be outside."
Mom: "You've thought a lot about it. Do you know what you're going to wear?"
Eli: "I'm going to wear that stuff like a vampire wears, but not the cape."
Mom: "That's called a suit. What about the girl? What's she going to wear?"
Eli: "She going to wear a white dress...like a ballerina. And one of those things on her head."
Mom: "Nice. Do you know who you're going to marry?
Phoebe: "He's going to marry me!"
Eli: "I'm not going to marry you, Phoebe! I don't know who it is yet. But if Phoebe is in the hospital because she has a broken arm, I'm not going to have the wedding then. I'm going to wait for her to come to my wedding."
Mom: "That's good thinking. Phoebe what about you? Any ideas for your wedding?"
Phoebe: "I'm going to get married in a church with a lot of people!"
I'm glad we've got all that planning out of the way. He'll make some girl very happy someday!
I had no idea that little boys did the same! Eli has got his wedding all planned out and he told me all about it while we were running errands yesterday. (And, by the way, it was crazy busy everywhere I went! I guess everybody was out trying to avoid the crowds of TAX FREE WEEKEND and we all decided to shop today. Sheesh.) The following conversation took place in the Target parking lot.
Eli: "I want to get married in a quiet place. By a river. Not like right here." (We were in the parking lot!)
Mom: "Really. Why?"
Eli: "Because it's quiet and pretty and I like to be outside."
Mom: "You've thought a lot about it. Do you know what you're going to wear?"
Eli: "I'm going to wear that stuff like a vampire wears, but not the cape."
Mom: "That's called a suit. What about the girl? What's she going to wear?"
Eli: "She going to wear a white dress...like a ballerina. And one of those things on her head."
Mom: "Nice. Do you know who you're going to marry?
Phoebe: "He's going to marry me!"
Eli: "I'm not going to marry you, Phoebe! I don't know who it is yet. But if Phoebe is in the hospital because she has a broken arm, I'm not going to have the wedding then. I'm going to wait for her to come to my wedding."
Mom: "That's good thinking. Phoebe what about you? Any ideas for your wedding?"
Phoebe: "I'm going to get married in a church with a lot of people!"
I'm glad we've got all that planning out of the way. He'll make some girl very happy someday!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Things We Do For Our Children
As parents, there are things we do for our children that we really love to do as well. Waterparks. Santa Clause. Vacations. DisneyWorld. Then there are the things we do because our children love them even though we really don't. It's different for everyone, I'm sure, but for me, that's FAMILY CAMP.
It's not so much the "camping" part I don't really enjoy, especially since we stay in cabins with beds and bathrooms, but it's the four hour drive, hauling two sets of bedding and towels and multiple layers and changes for each person each day and snacks and flashlights and everything else a family of four needs for a 48-hour stay in the mountains. And then driving four hours home to unpack and do mountains and mountains of laundry. It just wears me out!
Here's why I do it.
It's really sad that no one ever takes pictures of this neglected little girl.
It's like she doesn't even know how to "ham it up" for the camera.
Good times, folks. Good times.
What do you do for your children that you would never do for just yourself?
It's not so much the "camping" part I don't really enjoy, especially since we stay in cabins with beds and bathrooms, but it's the four hour drive, hauling two sets of bedding and towels and multiple layers and changes for each person each day and snacks and flashlights and everything else a family of four needs for a 48-hour stay in the mountains. And then driving four hours home to unpack and do mountains and mountains of laundry. It just wears me out!
Here's why I do it.
It's really sad that no one ever takes pictures of this neglected little girl.
It's like she doesn't even know how to "ham it up" for the camera.
Good times, folks. Good times.
What do you do for your children that you would never do for just yourself?
Sunday, August 15, 2010
A Back To School Post
There's only one week left before school starts. And while I'm trying to soak up the last few days of summer with my children (and keep my sanity at the same time without a schedule), I'm also still thinking ahead about what this next school year is going to look like. Eli is starting first grade (gasp!), Phoebe is starting ballet (I'm so excited!!), and I'm headed back to teaching Pre-K at KU (I'll blog about that later). It seems that all these changes, and my tendency to worry and plan about everything, have put me on the look-out for new, easy, yummy recipes. If you're the same way, have I got a BLOG for you! It's one of my new favs. :)
She does a lot of crockpot meals, which I love, but sometimes I have issues with the texture of the food cooked in a slow cooker. I haven't tried many of her recipes, but I did try THIS one last week to make sure the chicken didn't have that dry, stick-in-your-teeth texture it sometimes does when cooked in the slow cooker. Am I the only one who feels this? Holy Guacamole, Batman, was it delicious! Chicken tacos are definitely going to added to the menu more often around here. We ate ours on warm flour tortillas with store-bought pico de gallo (cause I was being lazy), avocados, and sour cream with a side of black beans. We had it one night for dinner, I made nachos with it the next day for me and the kids, and then I froze half to pull out in the near future to make tacos or quesadillas again soon. So versatile, I tell ya!
And here's the recipe, in case you didn't want to click over on the link.
Chicken Tacos:
4 large chicken breasts (Mine were frozen! How easy is that?!)
1 can chicken broth
2 packages taco seasoning
Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker. (I didn't add all the chicken broth because I thought it might be too much liquid, maybe 3/4 of the can. I thought I might add some later, but I didn't.) Cook on low 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. (I cooked mine about 8 hours.) Shred with a fork and stir to incorporate liquid.
That's it! Easy-peasy!
Eli even told me I was the best "Home Cook" he knew. Melt. My. Heart.
She does a lot of crockpot meals, which I love, but sometimes I have issues with the texture of the food cooked in a slow cooker. I haven't tried many of her recipes, but I did try THIS one last week to make sure the chicken didn't have that dry, stick-in-your-teeth texture it sometimes does when cooked in the slow cooker. Am I the only one who feels this? Holy Guacamole, Batman, was it delicious! Chicken tacos are definitely going to added to the menu more often around here. We ate ours on warm flour tortillas with store-bought pico de gallo (cause I was being lazy), avocados, and sour cream with a side of black beans. We had it one night for dinner, I made nachos with it the next day for me and the kids, and then I froze half to pull out in the near future to make tacos or quesadillas again soon. So versatile, I tell ya!
And here's the recipe, in case you didn't want to click over on the link.
Chicken Tacos:
4 large chicken breasts (Mine were frozen! How easy is that?!)
1 can chicken broth
2 packages taco seasoning
Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker. (I didn't add all the chicken broth because I thought it might be too much liquid, maybe 3/4 of the can. I thought I might add some later, but I didn't.) Cook on low 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. (I cooked mine about 8 hours.) Shred with a fork and stir to incorporate liquid.
That's it! Easy-peasy!
Eli even told me I was the best "Home Cook" he knew. Melt. My. Heart.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
What's In A Name: Princess Phoebe
Shakespeare wrote, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose/ By any other name would smell as sweet."
I'm pretty sure any pregnant mama would disagree. It's why we start thinking about baby names long before we are even thinking about having children. It's why we pour over baby name books when we finally do have a child. It's why we write them out and say them out loud and look up the name's meaning. Some of us announce them before the baby is born so we can monogram burp diapers and onesies and call the baby by name as if we can begin to get to know them just a little earlier. Others keep it a closely guarded secret from friends and family so as not to hear the (unavoidable) opinions and comments. Some of us want names with depth and meaning and strong family ties. Others want names that as original and unique as they hope their future children will be. It's not a decision taken lightly.
My dad says there are two kinds of people in this world: word-eaters and number-crunchers. I am a word-eater. I believe in the power of the spoken and written word. If you can give something a name or a description, then by that you give it an essence. Articulation is power. So it's no surprise that I wanted my daughter's name to convey all that I wanted for her.
I wanted an old name. Preferable one from the Bible because they seem to stand the test of time well. Problem with Bible names, especially girl names, is there just aren't that many. There are the usual ones: Anna, Abigail, Hannah. Each lovely and old with great meaning behind them, but we already knew so many Annas and Abigails and Hannahs in our own time that those names seemed to already have personalities and shapes to them. There are the unusual ones like Keziah and Jemimah, the daughters of Job, after all his trials, who were beautiful and shared in their father's inheritance with their brothers...not a common thing at the time. And then there's Phoebe.
Phoebe is mentioned in Romans 16:1 "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea." It's the New Living Translation...the NIV says "servant". Whatever your translation says or whatever you believe Phoebe's role to be in that early church, she was a leader. A woman. A leader in a church, ordained or not. A woman of great faith. This is what I want for my daughter. This is my hope for her. I want her to emulate her name-sake.
My Phoebe comes from a long legacy of faith. My parents and my grandparents and my great-grandparents were strong, godly men and women. My dad's mother, who passed away when I was very young, was a strong, Christian woman. She taught the ladies Bible class at her church for years and years. To this day, I have people come up to me and tell me she was their spiritual mother, that they learned more from her than anyone else. I wish I had known her longer and better. But I know her faith. A faith she passed down to my dad and then to me and I hope to pass down to Phoebe. She's been given a great gift, but with this gift comes a great responsibility. Kind of like Spiderman, but more like a great dynasty of believers. A princess, if you will.
And sometimes we call her "Princess". A term of endearment,yes, but also a reminder. That like a princess, she has responsibilities and obligations and a place in His Kingdom that she cannot shirk. And I'm not talking a damsel-in-distress princess. I mean a self-rescuing princess (like in Enchanted...and dontcha just love that movie?!) who only needs one thing to do what she's destined to do...and it's not a knight in shining armor!
By giving her this name and calling her my princess, I'm shaping what I want for her. Power in articulation. Power to shape something by the words we give it.
And I think she's up for it.
* Don't worry. I have a similar post for Eli percolating in my brain. I just don't have the right picture, yet. :)
I'm pretty sure any pregnant mama would disagree. It's why we start thinking about baby names long before we are even thinking about having children. It's why we pour over baby name books when we finally do have a child. It's why we write them out and say them out loud and look up the name's meaning. Some of us announce them before the baby is born so we can monogram burp diapers and onesies and call the baby by name as if we can begin to get to know them just a little earlier. Others keep it a closely guarded secret from friends and family so as not to hear the (unavoidable) opinions and comments. Some of us want names with depth and meaning and strong family ties. Others want names that as original and unique as they hope their future children will be. It's not a decision taken lightly.
My dad says there are two kinds of people in this world: word-eaters and number-crunchers. I am a word-eater. I believe in the power of the spoken and written word. If you can give something a name or a description, then by that you give it an essence. Articulation is power. So it's no surprise that I wanted my daughter's name to convey all that I wanted for her.
I wanted an old name. Preferable one from the Bible because they seem to stand the test of time well. Problem with Bible names, especially girl names, is there just aren't that many. There are the usual ones: Anna, Abigail, Hannah. Each lovely and old with great meaning behind them, but we already knew so many Annas and Abigails and Hannahs in our own time that those names seemed to already have personalities and shapes to them. There are the unusual ones like Keziah and Jemimah, the daughters of Job, after all his trials, who were beautiful and shared in their father's inheritance with their brothers...not a common thing at the time. And then there's Phoebe.
Phoebe is mentioned in Romans 16:1 "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea." It's the New Living Translation...the NIV says "servant". Whatever your translation says or whatever you believe Phoebe's role to be in that early church, she was a leader. A woman. A leader in a church, ordained or not. A woman of great faith. This is what I want for my daughter. This is my hope for her. I want her to emulate her name-sake.
My Phoebe comes from a long legacy of faith. My parents and my grandparents and my great-grandparents were strong, godly men and women. My dad's mother, who passed away when I was very young, was a strong, Christian woman. She taught the ladies Bible class at her church for years and years. To this day, I have people come up to me and tell me she was their spiritual mother, that they learned more from her than anyone else. I wish I had known her longer and better. But I know her faith. A faith she passed down to my dad and then to me and I hope to pass down to Phoebe. She's been given a great gift, but with this gift comes a great responsibility. Kind of like Spiderman, but more like a great dynasty of believers. A princess, if you will.
And sometimes we call her "Princess". A term of endearment,yes, but also a reminder. That like a princess, she has responsibilities and obligations and a place in His Kingdom that she cannot shirk. And I'm not talking a damsel-in-distress princess. I mean a self-rescuing princess (like in Enchanted...and dontcha just love that movie?!) who only needs one thing to do what she's destined to do...and it's not a knight in shining armor!
By giving her this name and calling her my princess, I'm shaping what I want for her. Power in articulation. Power to shape something by the words we give it.
And I think she's up for it.
* Don't worry. I have a similar post for Eli percolating in my brain. I just don't have the right picture, yet. :)
Monday, August 09, 2010
I've Been A Busy Bee!
Remember when I wrote that I'd tell you all about my little much needed, mini-vacation with all my gals? And remember that I was going to tell you all about it? Well, that was several days ago and I'm behind on my blogging (and everything else it seems!) so here's the wrap-up: we ate; we laughed; we shared; we walked around the ACU campus; we junked in San Angelo (great fun, by the way!); Maria stole a precious, vintage baby quilt from under my nose; we ate some more; we stayed up way too late; and all around had a fun and fabulous weekend. We're the worst group of gals about taking pictures of ourselves, but here are a couple that turned out pretty good.
On the steps of the Bible Building...the same place we had a sunrise devo almost 14 years ago. Guess which one of us was the only one to attend. We hadn't met each other yet.
Saturday evening. After we had walked all over San Angelo and worn ourselves out. They were all impressed with my homemade shirt.
So impressed, in fact, that they all wanted one of their own. I had mentioned that I had big plans to make them all one but had run out of time. (Story of my life, people!) So we all headed to Old Navy to find some t-shirts. That's where the troubles began. Rebekah didn't want a scoop-necked t-shirt. Something about she felt like they were choking her. I told her that I wasn't sure how to fit a cross onto a shoulder. Then she mentioned that she didn't want a cross anyway. And she picked out a color I wasn't too thrilled with. Then Stephanie decided that she wanted two shirts. One with a cross (no problem) and one with an owl (problem!). Sheesh, girls. I'm not running a business here. Nor do I want to. But because I'm such a great friend, I schlumped all those t-shirts home and got to work.
And I finally finished late last week.
Here are the close-ups.
And these two I'm really proud of.
Especially the owl.
I also (finally) finished the top to my nine-patch quilt and started on THIS dress for Phoebe. It's going well...except for yoke. I've ripped the seam out twice and I'll probably be doing it again before it's said and done. However, my fabric is divine so it's all good.
However, the rest of my house is not so good due to all the crafting and sewing I've been up to. But I figure the laundry and the dust will still be there tomorrow. And the day after that. And probably even the day after that at the rate I'm going.
On the steps of the Bible Building...the same place we had a sunrise devo almost 14 years ago. Guess which one of us was the only one to attend. We hadn't met each other yet.
Saturday evening. After we had walked all over San Angelo and worn ourselves out. They were all impressed with my homemade shirt.
So impressed, in fact, that they all wanted one of their own. I had mentioned that I had big plans to make them all one but had run out of time. (Story of my life, people!) So we all headed to Old Navy to find some t-shirts. That's where the troubles began. Rebekah didn't want a scoop-necked t-shirt. Something about she felt like they were choking her. I told her that I wasn't sure how to fit a cross onto a shoulder. Then she mentioned that she didn't want a cross anyway. And she picked out a color I wasn't too thrilled with. Then Stephanie decided that she wanted two shirts. One with a cross (no problem) and one with an owl (problem!). Sheesh, girls. I'm not running a business here. Nor do I want to. But because I'm such a great friend, I schlumped all those t-shirts home and got to work.
And I finally finished late last week.
Here are the close-ups.
And these two I'm really proud of.
Especially the owl.
I also (finally) finished the top to my nine-patch quilt and started on THIS dress for Phoebe. It's going well...except for yoke. I've ripped the seam out twice and I'll probably be doing it again before it's said and done. However, my fabric is divine so it's all good.
However, the rest of my house is not so good due to all the crafting and sewing I've been up to. But I figure the laundry and the dust will still be there tomorrow. And the day after that. And probably even the day after that at the rate I'm going.
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Does Anyone Else Think This Is A Bad Idea?
When a princess and a self-proclaimed tai kwon do expert spar...
...somebody's bound to get her nose karate chopped.
It's okay, though. She recovered with an impromptu song and dance.
*Sorry (again) about my fuzzy photography skills. I was using my "sport" setting and I guess there wasn't enough light in the playroom this afternoon. Sheesh. I *really* need to take some kind of class!
...somebody's bound to get her nose karate chopped.
It's okay, though. She recovered with an impromptu song and dance.
*Sorry (again) about my fuzzy photography skills. I was using my "sport" setting and I guess there wasn't enough light in the playroom this afternoon. Sheesh. I *really* need to take some kind of class!
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