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Long Overdue

Saturday was one of those days. You know, the kind where you want to sleep in, but have to get up even earlier? And then it’s clean the house, do the laundry, work in the yard.

But…

How wonderful it was to have the Diva come over and work with the Drama Queen because she was singing in the praise band for the first time tonight. But what made it even more special? When the Talented One started talking harmony with them; giving them suggestions and then singing along with them and helping. What a moment!

And then, taking Chicken Noodle Butt and the Drama Queen outside with me and teaching them how to trim the rosebushes. And we talked and laughed as I shared memories of trimming rose bushes with their oldest brother. Which took me down memory lane…..

And having chili dogs and guacamole outside in the backyard; just sitting in a circle laughing and talking.

And working on Bboo’s hair while watching the four youngest playing baseball in the backyard. Laughing while we listened to them screaming “run, run….get the ball, get the ball!” And remembering baseballs and soccer balls crashing through the same window through the years.

And finally, playing Super Mario races half the night; laughing as I kept falling off the cliffs and rainbow road (or whatever it is called), and getting inked or struck with lightening.

In our hectic life, these are the type of days I long for. I’m so glad I was blessed with one this weekend.

Cool Mom Award

I am pretty sure I should get the “Cool Mom Award.”

Bb00 wanted to get her nose pierced. For those of you who don’t know me well; let me share one thing.

I

HATE

NEEDLES

With a passion.

I avoided epidurals and had my babies natural just to AVOID that GIANT NEEDLE in my back.

I do NOT like needles.

Yuk.

So, her two older brother’s took her so I wouldn’t have to go.

Nope.

Because her older brother had to have proof of guardianship.

On the one hand, I’m glad to know kids can’t just walk in and get their bodies pierced without a parent’s consent.

On the other hand….that meant I had to go in.

Where there are NEEDLES!

Her brother’s conned me into going one night. And so, she got her nose pierced.

Cool Mom Award, right?

But wait…it get’s better!

The ring fell out when she was showering.

So, we had to purchase another one or let it close up.

Did I mention I hate needles? And that the needle they put through her nose was BIG?

She tried for two hours to get the ring back in her nose.

I finally admitted it…the only way it was going back in was if I did it.

So, the Smart One shined his flashlight in her nose while I pushed it back through.

She now has a pretty little blue jewel glittering her nose.

And me?

Just waiting for that cool mom award!

What is Family Anyway?

Today has been an interesting day. Twenty years ago my hubby asked me to marry him. This morning I dragged my family outside in the cold at the crack of dawn to take family pictures. We haven’t done family pictures in seven years. They’ve been threatened, coerced, and then threatened some more; no matter what, they would not mess up my family pictures in any way, shape or form!

And it was fun; cold, but fun!

This afternoon, hubby and I took some of the youth from our church, as well as our own kids, and went on a mission. Earlier this fall, the girls Bible study had come up with the idea of collecting blankets and then taking them this weekend to pass them out to the homeless, along with the Lovewell bags. (You can read more about that here.) We piled the kids, blankets and bags into our van and went off in search of someone to give them to.

As we drove downtown into the heart of the homeless, we were saddened to realize we did not have near enough blankets; or bags for that matter. We had to choose where to pass them out because we realized there were certain areas where there were so many homeless, we’d never be able to provide enough for them.

And yet, we prayed and asked God to direct us where to go. At one point we stopped and the boys got out to pass out the blankets and bags. The people were so grateful; it is so cold out tonight. One of the men took a blanket and said,

“I don’t need this, but thank you, I’m giving it to someone who does.”

They were sleeping in boxes, make-shift tents, and on the dirt ground in a lot next to the road.

Over and over we pulled to the side of the road, passed out blankets until we ran out, and then continued to pass out the bags. They’d see our van pull over and come running when they realized we were handing out something special for them. Having no home, they still smiled and said “Thank you” or “God Bless You” as we presented them with a small token: socks, snacks, water, and hygiene items.

And they’d tell their “family” to come over and get a bag; or they’d ask for an extra to hand to their friend.

They took care of one another. Family.

As I sit here thinking over the day, I am grateful for the home that I have. For my family and friends.

For God giving me a daughter who has such a heart for those who have so little.

We’re already talking about continuing. Next time we’ll bring more blankets. Next time we’ll add sandwiches to the bags that we pass out.

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving. I miss my family who is so far away and I don’t talk to nearly enough. I hope they know how much I love them and miss them.

And I thank Him, for reminding me of all that I have. Twenty years ago I never dreamed of a day like this. A good day. And a wonderful twenty years of blessings.

Rainbows

This week my schedule is a little off. Not in a bad way at all. It’s actually been kind of nice.

This morning, I had the privilege of driving my two youngest to school. Usually, a friend takes them. This morning, I took her daughter instead.

I was on my way to pick her up after dropping off Bboo and started driving my normal routine. This forced me to be a little later while I backtracked to get her. And then headed to pick up my kids, as well. By the time we were situated and on our way, the sky was doing some unusual things in the desert. It was a beautiful pink, with clouds and rain. The Smart One noticed it at the same time as I did and pointed it out right away! Right in the middle was the most brilliantly colored rainbow I’ve ever seen. It was incredible! We both just kind of stared in awe as we kept driving towards it, remarking about the beauty that God has created.

As we got closer, it started to sprinkle, then rain. I love the rain.

We went inside to carry on with our day. As I spent the rest of the day working, it was so nice to have the Drama Queen stop each time she passed me to say hello. Or bring her friends over to meet me. It is a special moment when your child wants her friends to know who their parents are!

The Drama  Queen’s name means, “Beautiful Rainbow”…what a blessing this morning to have such rainbows in my life!

 

Hope Lives

It’s funny how sometimes it only takes a child to remind you of the greater things in life.

Lately things haven’t been going great; we’ve been reminded time and again how God is in control…and we’re not. We feel like life is in a sort of limbo while we wait for Him to move that mountain.

And then we have a conversation with a child.

I was visiting with some first graders when one of them came up to me. He noticed my ID and asked,

“Is your name really Hope?”

I responded, “Yes, my name really is Hope.”

He thought for a moment, then in all seriousness replied, “That’s a great name. It means that there is always hope. You’ll always have Hope. Hope is good.”

I smiled and told him that my family and friends will often remark that there is always hope when I am around.

He smiled, but remained very serious.

And then he said something else. I paused, taken by surprise, and asked,

“What did you say?”

He said, “Hope Lives. Your name means Hope Lives.”

Startled, I asked this bright SIX year old, “Do you speak spanish?”

He replied that he spoke a little bit; that he’d read my ID and saw that my last name was Vivas, which means to Live.

“You have a good name. Hope is good. Hope Lives.”

I let him know I was so glad to have met him and let him know I have a nephew with his name. He liked that.

As I left the room, I couldn’t help but smile. It was a really tough week. An even tougher day. But I reminded myself that Hope lives within me. As I’ve pondered this weekend, I’ve looked for the Hope that lives within me. He’s there, sometimes we just forget to look.

Until a child is sent to remind us.

Jeremiah 17:7
“ Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD.

Romans 5:3-5

3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

And my favorite…

Romans 12:12

12 rejoice in hope; be patient in tribulation; continue stedfastly in prayer;