How to Shop for a Baby Gift When You Don't Know the Gender of the Baby

It's baby shower season.  My friends and family members are all expecting new little ones soon and it's fun to be able to watch from afar.  I mean, it's about time I got to enjoy watching everyone else be pregnant.  And of course that means it's time to shop for baby gifts.  This, my friends, is easier said than done.

How do you shop for a baby gift when you don't know the gender of the baby?  Let me just get this off my chest--if you choose not to find out the baby's gender for your first baby, don't expect great baby gifts.  Really, this makes baby shower shopping really really hard.  Almost to the point of being rude.  If you want to be surprised on babies #2 and #3 it's really no big deal, because people typically buy you gifts after they're born.  But not finding out Baby #1's gender only results in horrible baby gifts.

To all those "gender neutral" prospective parents out there, let's be clear about something.  Most stores don't carry many gender neutral items.  Even the baby clothing is divided into baby boy and baby girl sections.  You might be lucky to find an orange or red stroller, but blue and pink dominate the baby items.  I even tried multiple stores to find a "gender neutral" blanket this week.  I had such a hard time that I almost bought a red fur throw, until I remembered that this was for a baby.  I'm sure somebody will think that the gift I actually bought is too boyish, but in my opinion, it's not my fault.  Better to buy a baby girl blue than to dress a little boy in pink, right?

So what do buy when you're shopping for a gender neutral gift?  Well, for starters, you could buy off of the mom's baby registry.  I know, this is so boring.  So if you're wanting to do something a little more exciting, pick a theme gift.  Mickey Mouse, Dr. Seuss, safari, or even sports team gear are all great ideas.  Or, buy the baby something cute that relates to the parents.  For example, if daddy is a doctor, buy a pair of scrubs.  Or if mommy is a teacher, buy some books and wooden alphabet blocks.  Be creative.  And give yourself plenty of time, because most of these specialty items will have to be purchased online (Babies R Us carries most of these ideas online although not in store).  Otherwise, you're stuck choosing between yellow or green blankets and sleepers.  And come on, don't we all hate yellow?

If you are or have been a "gender neutral" prospective parent, this blog post really isn't intended to be slap on the wrist.  I've had a baby.  I understand that pregnancy fogs your thinking and makes you do things that you normally would not do.  Trust, me, after birth the hormones only get worse.  But anyway, it's your baby and you have the right to do whatever you want.  Just don't be disappointed when your neighbor gets a really cool Juicy Couture outfit and matching stroller for her baby girl and you only get the yellow Graco stroller.  Remember, it's what you wanted.  All so that you could be surprised for a few seconds at the hospital!

And to all the baby gift buyers out there, I feel your pain.  Just remember the gift giving rule that my mother taught me: always buy gifts for other people that you would want for yourself.  So if you've been dying to buy a pink zebra outfit with a big floppy bow, go for it.  Just make sure that you buy a blue sailor outfit just in case it's a boy.  Or maybe just include a gift receipt.  It's the thought that counts.  And it's all for a good cause.

Shana Tova Umetuka

"The Lord said to Moses, 'Say to the Israelites: "On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present an offering made to the Lord by fire."'" Leviticus 23:23-25

It is officially New Year's day on the Jewish calendar.  Thus it's time to say "Shana Tova Umetuka" or wishes for a good and sweet year.  If you're still not sure what I'm talking about, check out your calendar and you will see that Rosh Hashanah officially begins at sundown on September 28.  This holiday commemorates the creation of man and his relation to God. It's described in Leviticus as the Feast of Trumpets; a day of rest and new beginnings.

If I were Jewish, tonight I would probably either be at the Synagogue celebrating this holiday or I would be having family dinner with my parents in honor of the occasion.  As a Christian who completely respects the Jewish traditions, I'm not doing either of these tonight.  Instead, I intend to have my own New Year's celebration with my boys tomorrow.

I found the kid's guide to celebrating Rosh Hashanah on the internet along with some fun recipes for the holiday.  Tomorrow, my boys and I will be heading to the grocery store to buy the ingredients for our very own candy apples.  We found a yummy sounding recipe at http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/354763/jewish/Candy-Apple.htm.  If I get really brave we might even try a recipe for honey cake.

For those of us who did not grow up in Jewish homes, we often forget about the relevance of the Jewish holidays to our lives.  Many of the holidays and traditions come directly out of the Old Testament.  And today, they carry the much of the same meaning as they did back then. 

So on this glorious New Year's Day,  remember to thank God for His creation.  And thank Him for the new beginnings that He offers us.

And if you feel left out because you missed out on the New Year's Day celebration, don't worry.  Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the High Holidays.  You'll have plenty more opportunities to celebrate in October! 

I Will Not Fear

I think in order to be a good lawyer, you have to have the gift of foresight.  Or at least you have to be able to envision the worst case scenario and make sure that the worst case never happens.  This is probably why lawyers are stereotypically "downers."  You know, they're stressed out worriers who are slightly paranoid.  They should be.  That's their job.

Unfortunately, this can carry over into life too.  My husband and I have recognized that we have to be so careful that our personalities and our jobs don't cause us to raise our family in an overcautious, paranoid environment.  We really just have to let go sometimes and remember that we can plan and take all the necessary precautions in our personal lives, but God is still the decision maker.  Whatever He wants to happen will happen in our lives regardless of all the risk management we've done.

This gives me such peace to think about the fact that I can release the burden of fear and worry with regards to my life and family.  The constant vigilance that is attached to my job description does not have to define me.  And the constant burdens that I carry as a mother, don't have to be mine alone.  Because in reality, all I can do is my best and trust that God will handle life.  Fear just doesn't fit into this picture.

As I was contemplating this reality last night, the words of the song, How Can I Fear, by Ron Hamilton, were ringing through my brain.  This morning, I found a beautiful version of the song on You Tube by the Harold Dean Miller Family (you guys are awesome!). Both of my boys came running to the computer to listen.  And that's when I realized that this song needs to become part of their musical repertoire.  I learned this song when I was their age and it has stuck with me.  It's funny sometimes how the things you learned as a child become amazingly relevant and meaningful the older you get.     

When shadows fall and the night covers all
There are things that my eyes cannot see.
I'll never fear, for the Saviour is near.
My LORD abides with me!

 

How can I fear? Jesus is near!
He ever watches over me!
Worries all cease; He gives me peace.
How can I fear with Jesus?

When I'm alone and I face the unknown
And I fear what the future may be,
I can depend on the strength of my Friend!
He walks along with me.

 

How can I fear? Jesus is near!
He ever watches over me!
Worries all cease; He gives me peace.
How can I fear with Jesus?

Jesus is King! He controls everything!
He is with me each night and each day.
I trust my soul to the Saviour's control;
He drives all fear away!

How can I fear? Jesus is near!
He ever watches over me!
Worries all cease; He gives me peace.
How can I fear with Jesus? 

This Little Light

"You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." Psalm 18:28

I'm not the kind of mother that just buys everything her kiddos want.  But every so often, when one of my little guys sincerely wants something, I cave and buy it.  This happened last week at the Dallas Cowboy's Pro Shop when one of my boys found a rather cool looking football night light.  It didn't have a price tag on it, so I was hesitant.  But when my son explained how this night light was something he really wanted, I couldn't resist.  (My little logical thinker has figured out that logic works well on his analytical mother.)  We've been having some issues at night with him needing a light on, so I figured that this little gadget might make life better for all of us.  Mommy gave in.

That night, when my husband tucked our little guy into bed and helped him turn on his new night light. Our son then told Daddy, "I love you Daddy, and I love my night light too."  This made me smile, because I knew that my son was serious and sincere.  Of course he loves his daddy.  But he also really does love his night light.  It gives him security.  It allows him to see into the darkness.  And it helps him find his way when he needs to come find Mommy and Daddy or the bathroom in the middle of the night.  He doesn't have to scream into the darkness for Mommy and Daddy to come to him anymore.  Now, he can see.

When I found this verse, I was struck by the fact that God is like my night light. Without Him, I'm like that little boy screaming into the darkness for help because I'm scared, have a physical need, or feel alone.  Having God illuminate my path truly does make all the difference in the world.  It's amazing that my son is so appreciative of his little light that he's willing to pray for it and tell it he loves it every night. 

I just hope that I show that proper affection to God for His work and light in my life.  Because of God, I am not alone.  I don't have to wander aimlessly through life.  I don't have to worry and carry constant stress being scared of the future.  I now know that God will show me my path and give me just enough light to get me through every day and season of life.  Plus, I know that His light is always going to be there.  I just have to look for it and follow it.

So if I haven't said it recently, "I love you Father and I love that you're my night light too."

NFL Week 3: He Chose Poorly

Maybe guys are on to something.  There is something kind of exhilarating about beating the pants off your opponent every weekend by just "picking" the right football teams and players.  Yes, I said beating the pants off my opponent.  I've gone from daydreaming about winning a designer handbag to actually shopping online to figure out which would look better on my arm--Burberry or Louis Vuitton?

I know it's still early, but I gained a  10 point lead in my college football picks and a 3 point lead in my NFL picks.  And yes, I picked Buffalo to win AGAIN!  Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm starting to enjoy Sunday afternoons.  (Although I did not get much face time with my TV due to another pending matter.) 

For the record, I am picking the teams on my own with no help.  Week 1 I did get help, but I've discovered that using my own instinctive methods is actually better.  I mean, there's a 50/50 chance that my instinct is right.  And you know what they say about female intuition being a real phenomenon.  I'm pretty sure my husband is a believer in that phenomenon now.

So here's the deal, you don't have to know much about football to enjoy it.  You don't even have to really like football to enjoy it.  In fact, you don't even have to watch football to enjoy it.  All you have to do to be a winner every week is to choose well.  And this week, HE chose poorly...  (Come on, isn't it fun to use guy movie quotes too?)

Upgrades and Migraines

I hate upgrades.  Mandatory upgrades are even worse.  I totally get that we need to find ways to do things more efficiently, but sometimes it's such a hassle.  Isn't the "old school" way really better sometimes?  Or am I just lazy?  Or am I a technophobe?

My law firm is upgrading their computer system and network, so I'm getting a mandatory upgrade at work.  This also means that I have to upgrade my own computer software and hardware at home.  This upgrade is so not about having the coolest technology in town.  Instead, it's about being able to work from home and actually make a living.  And now, I'm going to have to forge through the icky process of learning all the new gadgets and tools at my fingertips.  Some people would probably get giddy about this process, but I'm not.  In fact, I remember sitting at my brand new laptop a few years ago in tears because I just didn't understand Microsoft Office 2007.  (True story and pathetic at the same time.)

While I'm making techie changes in my workspace, I've also made some changes to my cyberspace, aka, my blog.  It started out as an accident.  I just wanted to see what another background would look like.  And then I went through multiple backgrounds and font changes.  And now I have this new fall look.  Since my wardrobe gets a new look each season, it's only appropriate that my blog does as well.  I kind of like the vintage high heels that were posted earlier this week, but let's just say I realized some flaws with the layout when I was experimenting with my new technology.  So, here you go.  Cute and sweet for fall.

I guess change is good sometimes. Sometimes "newer" is better, even if it means that I'm going to get a migraine figuring out how to use the new tools.  I've got to stop acting like an old person.  (You know, those people who just can't let go of Word Perfect.)  When I saw the picture above, I realized that if I keep resisting new technology this could be me someday.  So, I'm making a few upgrades in my life--even if that means learning Microsoft Office 2010.

Don't worry.  I've already checked to make sure I have ibuprofen in my cabinet.  I have a feeling I'm going to need it this week.

Happy Autumn From Texas!

It's September 23, and according to my calendar, it's the "First Day of Autumn."  After a triple digit summer, I feel like we should be throwing a big party.  There's nothing so great as getting to wear a sweater on a chilly day.  Or driving to Starbuck's because I'm cold and need a hot drink.  Or maybe buying a new wool coat.  Ok, fall is just a great time of year.  Let's celebrate.

Where's the Warning Label?

When people become parents, the child should be sent home from the hospital with a warning label attached that says the following:   

Warning.  This child must not be left alone in an unconfined space for any period of time for the first 18 years of life.  Beware that when living with this child, any and all personal items may be damaged or lost.  Any damage to self, personal, or real property are solely the responsibility of the owner of this child.  Enjoy at your own risk.

Everyone knows that as parents we're supposed to "child proof" our homes so that our precious little ones cannot hurt themselves.  But what parents are not told is that there is really no way to "parent proof" ourselves or our possessions from the child.  So when you have a baby, anything you own is really fair game as far as it's ability to outlast the child.

If you still don't have a clue what I'm talking about, let me tell you about Tornado Man.  My sweet, adorable youngest child has earned this nickname due to his amazing ability to destroy everything in his path.  Just this past week, he has managed to break the TV's remote control, hide some jewelry, deprogram my printer so it no longer works, place his daddy's glasses where mommy stepped on them, and break mommy's cute posted note holder.  And this is just a typical week in our house.  We've already had broken vases, broken cups, shredded CD's (not sure how he does that), broken CD players and cracked cell phones.  And I haven't even started talking about the stains in the walls, carpet, or rugs; the cracks and dents in the furniture; or the damaged baby equipment.

Parenting definitely comes with its own risks.  So if you're really attached to your pre-baby life and possessions, find a storage unit and pack it away.  Or you could welcome your sweet, new little one into your house and realize that life as you once knew it is over.  Your life and possessions are no longer your own.  And every time you look at a scratch in the furniture or a broken vase, just remember that they are reminders of the little life in your house. 

After my second son was born, I randomly met a wise lady one day who told me that she had learned to accept the changes in her life that her children brought.  She said that she ended up with terrible stretch marks from carrying her children.  But she said that she's thankful that these scars are her love marks--reminders of how much she loves her children. 

I'm going to take her approach and apply it to my life.  When you come to my house and see stains or dents in the furniture or walls, please don't judge.  These are my love marks.  They remind me of the precious little people in my life--including Tornado Man.

I'm sure at some point in the future, the products liability lawyers will get it all figured out and find a way to impose warning labels on children at birth.  But until that time, parents beware!

Football is a Woman's Sport Too

MICHAEL DeMOCKER / The Times-PicayuneA dress by Tru Color

What has happened to me?  Yesterday afternoon I sat on the couch for about 3 hours actually watching NFL games.  My husband's evil plan to get me more involved in his activities has worked.  Not only did I watch the TV yesterday, but I actually started yelling and cheering for teams that I've never cared about in my life.  And I have a bone to pick with the NFL Red Zone Channel, the cute little 4 game shot you put on the screen doesn't work very well.  I have a gigantic TV in my living room and I could barely see what was happening in any of the games.  Stick to 1 or 2 games at a time.  But the concept of watching all the games at once is pretty genius...

So we're 2 weeks into the NFL season and I'm hanging in there on my weekly picks game.  After a rough start last week, I gained ground yesterday when Buffalo, Washington, and Tampa Bay squeaked out their wins at the end of their games.  I still don't know much about any player on any team. (Except for Buffalo's Scott Chandler, but that's only because we went to youth group together in high school.)  So I figured out my own method for game picks.  I call it the handbag method.  It's my motivation for continuing this male activity.  I can't divulge the details of my method here, because I'm pretty sure my husband reads this blog.

Technically, I'm in the lead on our weekly picks.  In addition to the NFL games, we're also picking college games.  Last week I said that I liked college football, and I've proven that I know something about college football by maintaining a 4 point lead for the last 2 weeks.  I'm tied in my NFL picks and I really don't anticipate getting a huge lead anytime soon.  But we'll see.  This Cinderella did manage to win in her March Madness bracket challenge. 

My biggest problem is that my husband is a walking book of sports statistics.  He literally knows just about everything about everyone in baseball, basketball, and football.  In the past, we couldn't even go to a major league baseball game without him actually knowing somebody on each team.  Like he actually played with these guys at some point.  It's really hard to compete with that elite level of knowledge.  But when a designer handbag is on the line, I have to believe that my sports fairy godmother is going to work her magic.  What I'm saying is that I still have a chance.  Even if I'm hanging by a thread.

I'll have to admit that this football thing is kind of fun.  Who knew that a girl could actually enjoy watching the Buccaneers and the Bills on Sunday afternoon?  I didn't even watch all of my "own" Cowboy game!  I suppose if done correctly, football can be a woman's sport too.  Maybe it's time to break out the bedazzler and decorate my Cowboy's jersey.  Or maybe next year I'll convince the boys to let me play fantasy football too.  Maybe we should just see how this week goes...

A Week of Laughs

Sometimes I wonder where my child comes up with the things he says.  His TV is pretty limited to 1 or 2 PBS shows and an occasional Disney movie.  He listens to church songs and Johnny Cash on his CD player.  He doesn't hang around other kids much.  Yet he constantly amazes me and makes me laugh by coming up with the funniest things.  Here are my favorites from this week:

 "Boom, kaboom crash!"  My son has been saying this phrase for the past week in his loudest voice he can find.  He said it to the lady at the haircut place, he screamed it in the grocery store, he yelled it while watching a ballgame on TV, he repeated it over and over again in the car.  He informed me that when he does this he's being "fireworks."  He also informed me that fireworks are his favorite "light source." (His words, not mine.) This newest obsession with fireworks really makes me laugh.  And as far as fireworks being a light source, I'm pretty speechless about that.

It seems I have created a monster--a shoe monster.  My son insists that we visit the shoe section when we go to stores.  He loves to try on shoes to see if I like them.  I guess he knows that I like shoes, and he wants to impress me with his selection.  I must have gushed and clapped for him at some point when he picked out a good pair, because now he finds me shoes all the time.  This week I took the boys to one of my favorites stores so that I could find a pair of shoes to match my new dress.  And as I was trying on various heels, my little helper was also trying on a variety of shoes.  At one point he walked up to me wearing this hideous pair of black clogs and asked, "what do you think Mommy?"  Naturally I replied that I didn't like that pair of shoes.  This response apparently shocked him.  And he said, "You don't?  Oh, I'm sorry Mommy."  Then he immediately took off the clogs and tried on some leopard print high heels.  We both agreed that he had struck gold.

Yesterday we decided to try something completely new.  So we took my parents and the kiddos up to the Plano hot air balloon festival.  (I wouldn't recommend this event to anyone.)  But anyway, on our hour long trip to Plano, my parents started this game where the boys had to either duck their heads every time we drove under a bridge, or they had to raise their hands in the air to hold the bridge up.  My oldest elected to "duck" under each overpass--and there are dozens of overpasses between my house and Plano.  So every time we drove under the bridge, we'd all duck and cover our heads and he would say, "quack, quack, quack."  Hey, at least he knows his animals.  

This week I was reminded that parenting can be so much fun.  There are plenty of days when I just want to wear ear plugs and hide in the closet with a bowl of ice cream.  But there are even more days when I just want to sit on the couch and laugh with my kiddos.  This past week was a good reminder that if I'm willing to listen and pay attention, my little ones will blow my mind with the cute and smart things they say. 

Open My Eyes

"So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, 'Let me not see the death of the boy.' So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. And God heard... Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink." Genesis 21:14-17a, 19

There's something so heart wrenching and sad about the story of Hagar and Ishmael wandering in the wilderness.  It's every mother's worst nightmare.  She's trying to support her son and she just can't do it alone.  There's literally no water.  As her son's body is starting to shut down, she can't even hold him.  Instead, she sits down a few feet away and cries.  I wonder how many mothers have experienced this ultimate helplessness?  How many women have completely given up because they cannot save their own child?  How many people give up completely because they are consumed by helplessness and the realization that life is completely out of their own hands?

 I've always wondered why God allowed Hagar's situation to get to such a dire point?  God had already promised Abraham that Ishmael would be the father of a nation.  But as Hagar watches Ishmael's body slowly waste away, she is faced with humanity and the limits of this world.  She actually believes that her son, who has a predestined promise and future, is going to die.  Then God acts.

God opens her eyes to see a well of water.  He doesn't spontaneously cause a spring of water to flow from the earth.  He doesn't have another human bring them a bucket of water.  Instead, God opens her eyes to the well.  This implies that the well was there the entire time and she just couldn't see it.  God had provided for Hagar and Ishmael from the beginning, but they could not be saved until they could see clearly.

How many of us are missing the wells of water in our own lives that are right in front of us?  Let us not wilt away into a helpless state because we cannot see the provision that God has given us.  Let us seek to see what God has for us.  May God open our hearts and minds to the goodness that He has in store for us.  Then, when we face our own dire situations, we will not be in a helpless state. 

I love the words of this old hymn. May it be the cry our our hearts today.

Open My Eyes, That I May See 

 by Clara H. Scott

Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.

Open my mouth, and let me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.

Let the Woe Go!

"Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him.  Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart." Psalm 32:10-11

It's amazing how quickly my blood pressure can rise.  I hate when I get myself worked up about something, but inevitably, it happens.  And I am convinced that this only happens when my focus is not where it needs to be.  Not that my woes aren't understandable, but like the Psalmist says, those who trust in Jesus should rejoice in Him and not dwell in our woes like the wicked do. 

So I'm going to get this off my chest and let my woe go.  I am highly annoyed at my doctor's nurse.  Actually, I doubt she's a nurse.  There's no way a registered nurse should act that incompetent.  At my son's annual check-up last month, she asked me what shots he needed!  Thankfully, I am a registered nurse who has a clue and knows that he doesn't need anything until kindergarten.  But let's just say, this girl and I had a very strange conversation about my son's immunization history that just about sent me over the edge.  She just couldn't figure out why he didn't need another Hep B shot since he's only had 4 already.  (Hello woman! He only needs 3, so I'm pretty sure that vaccination has been covered!)  Then, when I asked about flu shots, she looked at me funny and answered "I don't know anything about that."  Oh my goodness!  Incompetence makes me angry.

I'm typically patient and understanding, but this was not an isolated incident.  And although it happened 2 weeks ago, it's still making me mad.  So mad, in fact, that I actually had an entire letter in my mind that I was prepared to write and send to the doctor's office manager about the incompetence of their nursing staff.  As a registered nurse who has run my own clinic, I know incompetence when I see it.  And trust me, I've seen it too many times at too many doctors' offices.

But this afternoon, my husband said something that made me think.  If I'm that mad about incompetent care, maybe I should go find another doctor.  Otherwise, I'll be known as "that patient" who wrote "The Letter."  And he's right.  As a former clinic nurse, I know that I would be the patient with the label.  And I'm not ready to go find another doctor at this point because I really like the one I see.  He's amazing, despite his incompetent medical assistant.  Maybe I just need to take a chill pill. 

Maybe I need to show some mercy to this girl and remember what it was like to be the new nurse.  I don't have to let her actually give my boys their shots (I'm definitely not ready to let her use a needle with my kids at this point), but I can help her out and show her some tricks to pediatric care.  I mean, I am a pediatric nurse.  In my opinion, my boys are getting pretty good full-time nursing care.

I'm just going to have to let this one go.  This woe is gone.  As the Psalmist says, those of us who have experienced the love of Jesus should not be consumed by the things of this world.  Instead, we should be rejoicing in Jesus and praising the Lord.  When I ask myself what Jesus would do with this situation, I'm pretty sure that writing a letter describing the flawed communication, training, and competency of the "nursing" staff isn't on His to-do list.  No, he would be assertive and kind.  He would be constructive in love and He would show patience. 

Thank you dear husband for setting me straight.  And thank you Jesus for your example of mercy and love. 

Exploring

My little guys took me "exploring" the other day.  I knew that the boys thought this was a fun activity to do with Grandma and Grandpa, but I had no idea that their version of exploring was so sophisticated.  This was actually a trek through the woods.  Both little guys seemed to understand the concept of following the dirt trails into the woods and both were actually eager to do it!  Ok, the little one didn't exactly want to stay on the trail, but nevertheless, I was very impressed by their bravery in the woods.

The pictures don't really do the trails justice.  At a few points they do get really small and interesting.  I'm not quite sure how the trails actually ended up in some woods in the middle of a suburban town, but whoever blazed the way did a great job!  We could have explored for at least another hour.  And this was quite a hike for my toddlers.  The little one spent most of the journey on top of Grandpa's shoulders.

When I was a little girl, my family used to go visit state parks in Indiana where we would walk on elaborate trails through the woods.  And even though I am not, and never will, consider myself to be an outdoorsy girl, I still like little hikes in the woods.  Thankfully, the heat and dry weather kept many of the Texas critters off of our path.  (I really had visions of finding a rattler in the high grass--especially when my parents decided to stop and have an entire conversation in the high grass!)  Of course, as the pictures below will show you, the dry spell also changed the course of our adventure as we were able to walk through the dry creek bed when we got "lost."   Let's just say that Little Bear Creek, the creek that flooded many homes and backyards a few years back, is completely dry today.

I'm sure I'll get to do a lot more exploring in the future with my little scouts.  And I'm pretty sure that our hikes will get more elaborate in the future as well.  But this week I was proud to not only survive the walk through the woods, but to do so with very few scrapes, stickers, and absolutely no poison ivy.  Thank goodness I bought a pair of tennis shoes last week!

A New Perspective on the NFL

I survived my first NFL weekend.  This year, my husband got this brilliant idea that I might be willing to embrace professional football if there was a huge incentive in it for me.  He signed us up in a Yahoo league where he and I pick who is going to win every week.  At the end of the season, he promised that if I win I'll get a huge prize--like a designer handbag.  I'm not sure what he gets if he wins, but he's already winning because I'm watching NFL games. (I'm kind of thinking that if I watch all season I'll get the handbag anyway.)

I don't know why I've never really liked the NFL.  I just can't get into it.  College games seem so much more surprising and unpredictable.  Plus, I have my own college team that I cheer for every week.  But professional football is like watching a bunch of overpaid men putting on a show every week.  It's the old-school reality television. 

Anyway, I don't think I'm winning at this point.  I would be if the Cowboys and Broncos hadn't had major flubs in their 4th quarters.  Who would have predicted a fumble at the 1 yard line?  Really, Tony!  But as you can see, my husband got what he wanted because I actually have a good understanding of who did what across the entire NFL.  I confess that I even watched SportsCenter this morning to catch up on my scores.  Something is definitely wrong with me.

I love girly things.  I love feminine things.  Football just doesn't seem feminine at all.  But when there's a designer handbag attached to the season, football takes on an entirely new meaning.  So if your man is wishing that you would be interested in his ball games week in and week out, try some negotiating.  And you too could be well on your way to a dream handbag.  In this sport, it seems that everybody wins.  The man gets his ballgame watching buddy.  And the woman gets a new (and much earned) accessory.

That September Day

I was hanging out in the student lounge with my friend after our early morning class when she received a phone call.  It shook her up.  That's when she said that New York had been attacked.  I could tell she was scared to death.  And then she told me that her dad was on a business trip to New York City.

Over the course of the next few minutes, other students were starting to hear more rumors about airplanes and Washington D.C., and at some point, somebody wheeled in a large TV to the student union so that we could watch the news.  The rumors were true.  The United States had been attacked.  I never expected this in my lifetime--especially not during my freshman year of college.

I think the events of 9/11/2001 changed my life in many ways.  For starters, I don't see the world the same way anymore.  I'm not one of those unrealistic dreamers who believes that the entire world is going to lock arms and sing boy scout songs together.  I now see that there is a spiritual battle waging in this world.  There is true evil in the world.  We can't negotiate with it, reason with it, or tolerate it.  We have to pursue what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The events following 9/11 also ignited my interest in politics.  Although I didn't change my major at the time (thanks mom and dad), I did start creating my own political world view.  Somewhere down the road, that led me to law school.  I'm still not sure where I'm headed down the legal path, but for now, I've been called to be an ambassador for Christ in my local legal community.

9/11 also taught me what it means to be an American.  I've read and heard stories of the people who gave their lives in past wars so that I could be free.  But now that my generation has joined in the fight for freedom, I have a better understanding of how costly freedom is.  I value my freedom.  It's rare.  I understand America is a land of free people who have been given an opportunity to live like no one else. 

It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since that day in the student lounge.  I'm not the same person I was then.  I'm not naive and idealistic.  Now, I'm a Christian who sees a much clearer purpose for my life.  And I'm proud to be an American.

Sometimes You've Just Got to Play Ball

You can read all the parenting books in the world, but sometimes the most useful lessons are the ones that you have to learn on your own.  Since each child is "special" in their own sort of way, there's no one-size-fits-all solution to parenting dilemmas.  (And let's face it, don't we all hate one-size-fits-all anyway?)

Motivating a child can take some imagination.  Fortunately, I'm starting to "get" what makes my boys tick.  My oldest child is a lot like his Daddy.  He is developing a love for sports.  And one of his first words was "touchdown." During the NFL game last night, he informed us that football is his favorite game.  He stood in front of our large screen TV during the first half and played "air football."  On every play, he would run around after the snap and pretend to carry the ball until the end of the play when he would roll on the ground as if he were tackled.  It was funny at first, but I'm pretty sure his orthopedic doctor would not be pleased that he was getting tackled on every play.  (He still hasn't been cleared to resume full activity since his collar bone fracture.)

When we watch baseball on TV, my son plays air baseball as well.  He warms up and taps the plate before every at-bat with his pretend bat.  Then he swings at every pitch.  If the batter remotely makes contact, my son then runs around the entire house and slides into home plate.  This game seemed kind of dangerous too, but that was before he started playing pretend football.

The moral of the story is that ball games and sports lingo work with my son.  He doesn't have a "bedtime."  Instead, he knows it's time to hit the sack at "halftime" every night.  He also knows that staying up for "overtime" is a huge privilege, because that means he's staying up really late. Whether it's golf, baseball, basketball, football, or soccer, using sports terminology with the little guy works great.  Let's just say that counting to 3 takes on an entirely different meaning when you're talking about striking out. 

I've also discovered that I can use sports as a great "reward" for good behavior.  It's really funny to see a child so motivated to clean up his room or to take a nap just so that he can spend his evening with the family at the driving range.  A few weeks ago, Grandma promised him a football party at her house.  He was the best child that day.  He announced to people everywhere we went that he was going to have a football party.  It must have been fun, because he informed me that he and Grandpa need to go see some more football when it gets dark again.

Apparently, using sports to teach economics works too.  My son hates that Daddy goes to work every day.  But he was willing to accept the concept that Daddy goes to work to make money so that Daddy can buy him a basketball court someday.  I can already tell you that I'm dreading our future house hunting adventures with this little guy.  Most children want swimming pools.  Mine want basketball courts and putting greens.

Anyway, I can't tell you what's going to work for your child, but I am learning to think outside of the batter's box with mine.  Sometimes when it comes to dealing with my kiddos, I just have to be willing to play ball.

Where is the Love?

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." I Corinthians 13:1-3

My friend and I were chatting the other day about something that we have both observed in recent years that has really impressed us.  We've both had the opportunity to be involved in churches where something exciting was happening.  One church was large and well known.  The other other church was small with a young congregation.  But both churches were alike, because they were full of love and grace.

My friend and I grew up together in a church where the Bible was taught clearly every week.  There was an emphasis on prophecy, ministry, and knowledge.  We were both given a strong biblical foundation because of that church.  But something terrible happened at that church that deeply scarred both my friend and me.  The church split.

On Sunday, a man at my church shared his testimony.  He too had experienced church splits.  The effects of the church splits impacted him so much that he even doubted the relevance and necessity of a church home.  After all, who wants to build relationships that are only going to crash and burn when the church leaders decide to declare war on one another?  Church splits are horrible.  They ruin lives.  They destroy ministries.  They are evidence of a real lack of love inside the church. 

I'm not saying that churches can't recover from splits and divisions.  God can restore bodies of believers to have effective ministries.  But when churches decide to split--for whatever reason--they are dragging God's name through the mud.  And many of them leave a wake of trampled hearts and lives in the process.  I 100% believe that church members can leave the church in peace and unity with the intent to further God's ministry elsewhere without destroying the church.  Unfortunately, this is rare. 

When I read I and 2 Corinthians, I was encouraged to see that Paul gives instructions for change in the church.  He acknowledges the strengths and weaknesses of the church.  But he never gives up on the believers.  He admonishes them.  He encourages them.  He loves them.  And he encourages them to love others.  Paul never destroys a body of believers.  Instead, he continues to build them up.

We need to be sure that our churches are full of love.  When we're "church shopping" we need to be careful to look for churches where grace and love abound.  We must realize that the style of music, the Sunday School curriculum, the dress code, and the number of ministries don't really matter if there is no love.  And we must do our own part to share God's love within the church.  Build relationships with other Christians.  Share your experiences.  Pray for the needs of other members.  Recognize and acknowledge sin just like Paul did.  But don't give up on the sinners.  Continue to pray and love on those who need grace most.  God can do amazing things when we leave it to Him to restore peace and unity.

If God hates divorce, you can imagine how he feels about splits within the church.  Let's try to honor
Him by pursuing love and grace instead.

New Inspiration for My Work-out

Every so often, I realize that I need some inspiration for my work-out.  In the spring, the idea of enjoying the gorgeous Texas weather while getting a hint of a tan is really all I need.  For some reason, every summer, my enthusiasm wanes.  I'm sure it has something to do with triple digit heat that causes me to "glisten" every time I walk from my front door to my car.  So every year, in the heat of the summer, I purchase work-out videos that I can do in the house.  The novelty of these works for awhile, but they're just not as fun as cranking up my music in the garage for a work-out or cruising my neighborhood trails with my boys.  Thus, I've reached that point every year where I need some special inspiration.

This weekend, my husband took me shoe shopping--tennis shoe shopping.  As a general rule, I don't wear tennis shoes in my everyday life.  I kind of think that femininity should be a head to toe statement, so you're much more likely to catch me wearing some wedges or boots or some cute flip flops that allow me to show off a nice pedicure.  Tennis shoes are for function and comfort.  I used to wear them to work with my scrubs.  I wear them in the garage when I work out.  I mow the lawn in tennis shoes.  So who really cares what they look like?

I've never been that interested in the fashion statement made by my tennis shoes.  In fact, it recently occurred to me that I have not even purchased a new pair of tennis shoes since March of 2009!  But hey, if you don't wear them much, they last. Right?

Anyway, my husband decided that it was time for me to buy some tennis shoes to match my personality.  He knows that I've been losing inspiration for my daily work-outs, so buying some fun tennis shoes was his solution.  Isn't he a genius?  The current tennis shoe looks are definitely inspiring.  These are some of my favorites below:

I ended up with the first pair above.  It's been years since I bought a pair of Nike's, but I couldn't resist the Boise State blue color of these shoes (much brighter in real life.)  And you know what?  I can't wait to put them on again and go work-out.  Maybe a new pair of tennis shoes can inspire a girl.  But don't get any ideas.  Unless you catch me wandering out in my work-out clothes, you might never know that I have a colorful pair of sneakers in my closet. 

Who knew tennis shoes could be so inspiring?

Worry is a Waste of Time

"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow..." Matthew 6:34a

While driving home from church yesterday, I heard a sermon on the radio that really made me think.  The preacher stated that we bring a lot of grief upon ourselves when we worry.  He said that when we worry, we are voluntarily assuming responsibility for a situation that is outside of our control.  And this is sin.

We have been given the freedom to be free from worry.  God wants us to stop carrying around unnecessary burdens.  We can do everything "right" and yet situations can go extremely wrong.  For example, we can be the best employee at our job.  But when the economy tanks, we can still be the first fired for reasons completely unrelated to our job performance.  Or as parents, we can do everything in our power to raise our children properly and to discipline them in love.  But when they grow up, for better or worse, they will make their own decisions despite what they've been taught.

I'm seeing a lot of my friends stressing out right now.  They just took the bar exam and have started looking at the job market.  It stinks.  The good jobs that are open are requiring applicants to have 4-9 years experience.  A year ago these same jobs only wanted 2-3 years experience.  Career service offices at law schools don't even have any leads these days.  It's really depressing.  But worrying about the job market is not something that we should be doing.  The market is outside of our control.  All we can do is live our lives, be diligent to do our best at what we do, and trust that God will work out His plan in our lives.

I know it sounds like I'm taking the job issue lightly, but I'm not.  I absolutely did everything wrong in law school.  I intentionally skipped on-campus interviews, despite having good enough grades to get interviews.  And I refused to waste my time on law review.  I just wasn't interested!  Instead, I went through school and did my best to be a good student, a wife, and a mom.  My career adviser probably hated me because I wasn't ambitious enough, but I didn't really care.  Even if I followed all of her rules, she couldn't guarantee me a job.  Yet, I did get a job--a job that far exceeded my expectations.  I have a boss who is nice to me and who is willing to let me be a mom to my kids while also being a productive employee.  Only God could make that happen.  I certainly didn't.

God is faithful.  He brings along the right people in the right time--not our time, of course.  He hasn't called us to carry around the weight of the world.  He's called us to trust in Him.  So stop taking responsibility for what you can't control.  Do your best.  Trust.  Know that "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

A Must See Date Night Movie

My husband and I were blessed yesterday to have my parents come watch our little ones (who were sick) so that we could go to a movie together.  I think we've been to exactly 3 or 4 movies together since our oldest child was born 3+ years ago.  That means that we see approximately 1 movie per year at the theater.  When we dated, we would sometimes see 3 movies a week!  But now that we have kiddos and work schedules, we've discovered the genius behind cable tv's On Demand button.  Anyway, I digress.

Yesterday we saw 7 Days in Utopia.  I kind of expected it to be another slow golf movie.  Don't get me wrong, I like golf movies. Generally speaking, however, golf movies are either very slow or kind of dirty--Tin Cup comes to mind.  This movie was no Tin Cup.  7 Days in Utopia was a legitimately good, clean movie with a really solid message.  From start to finish, this was a wonderful movie, and I think every family should own it.  Plus this movie has the rare ability to mix a Christian message with great acting.  If you love Robert Duvall as a cowboy (Lonesome Dove was kind of great), you'll love him even more as a wise, Christian cowboy. 

So if you need a good date night movie to see, go try out 7 Days in Utopia.  I promise you won't be disappointed.  And you might even fall in love with the Texas Hill Country too. 

Sorry, I 'm not going to give away what this movie is about.  Just go see it.

Learning Verses at Home

"And don't forget to do good and to share with those in need." Hebrews 13:16a

This verse is my son's memory verse for Sunday School.  Every week, the Children's ministry posts a blog for the parents with reading assignments and Bible verses to memorize.  Until recently, I hadn't really spent a lot of time reviewing the assignments with my son.  After all, he's only 3. 

Recently, both my boys were promoted to different classes, so I figured that I probably need to be a little more vigilant on following through with our weekly "homework."  I'll have to admit, I was really unsure about dealing with memory verses.  Is my son really able to handle weekly Bible verses?  Possibly.  I mean, the kid can remember events that happened when he was 18 months old.  So I figured, why not see if he can remember Bible verses too.

The first week was a little rocky.  (We've had this verse for 2 weeks.)  Every morning at breakfast, we would review his verse.  He was a little all over the place the first few days and acted like he totally didn't get what we were doing.  But yesterday, he came into my office and said his verse for me all by himself!  Somewhere along the long, he was actually retaining the information.  Now, he has started randomly quoting his verse throughout the day.  He gives me a new perspective on meditating on God's Word day and night--even a child can do it.

I'm actually really excited about starting another verse with him next week.  This actually forces me to memorize Scripture as well.  I write down the memory verse on a sticky note and place it on the front of the refrigerator. So now, whenever I go to get the boys milk or juice, I'm reminded to review our verse. 

Don't underestimate the brilliance of a child.  And don't miss out on the early opportunities to teach a little one how to learn and love Scripture!  I know that I'm wishing I had started sooner.

Some Things are Just Meant to Be

Once upon a time, there was a girl and a boy.  They went to school together, went to church together, sang in the same band together, had mutual friends, and they really drove each other crazy.  Sometimes they were nice to each other.  Sometimes they got into trouble together.  And sometimes, they were flat out mean to each other.  By their senior year of high school they had practically declared war on one another.  But when all of their friends went off to college and the two of them were left at home, they learned to coexist.  And then when the boy married one of the little girl's best friends, civility was finally restored. For now...

So now the little girl and the little boy are all grown up and have children of their own.  The little girl has a son, and the little boy has a daughter.  Yesterday, their children enjoyed a nice playdate together.  The mommies had fun chatting together.  The brothers played and took naps.  But the new generation's little boy and little girl antagonized each other all day. 

For the life of me, I could not figure out what happened to my son yesterday.  He's always such a push-over with other kids.  He loves to play and have fun.  But for some reason, he was not himself yesterday.  I don't know if he was being the aggressor or just putting on a front for self-defense, but he was a different child yesterday.  I was really worried about it last night.  Until my husband explained it all to me.

My son was acting like me.  It's like he and this little girl were meant to have a non-sibling rivalry.  My husband thinks it's hilarious.  He says that maybe it's just the way it was meant to be.  Who knows?  Maybe he's right.  Maybe the saying is true that the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.  I guess sometimes history does repeat itself. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not excusing my son's behavior (he had consequences.)  But yesterday was a good reminder to me that my son is a lot like his mother.