Remember the Way Home

We piled six bikes 

onto the back of her truck...

her bike

my bike

her son's bike

my son's bike

her daughter's bike

my daughter's bike

Since our hubbies had to work

(and school was closed)   

it didn't take a mathematician 

to figure out that...

bikes + kids + holiday 

(in Southern CA) 

= the perfect beach day

She came to pick us up, and once all of our bikes 

were strategically placed onto the back of her truck

we climbed in...

my daughter

her daughter

her son

my son

me

her

and we set out for another

family field trip adventure...

  

Once at the beach

we found parking

unloaded the bikes and

took off

until the children noticed 

a sand dune inviting them to...

veer off the trail

hop off of their bikes and

run across the sandy slopes to explore

She and I stayed back to chat, but when we 

looked up a moment later, our boys were gone

"Where are your brothers?"

we shouted over to the girls 

as they pointed down the other 

side of the hill toward the ocean

Well it doesn't take a mathematician

to figure out that...

two boys + sand + water

= a muddy mess

"Tell the boys to come back up"

and with that

the girls also disappeared

And for a moment...

in the silence...

we wondered

we watched

we waited

with only remnants 

of childhood still visible

a deserted bike

an empty hill 

  

Until one...

two...

three...

four...

children were back on the hill

(and in that moment) 

I realized that motherhood is about...

allowing your children the freedom to explore

the other side of the hill

the ocean side of the hill

without you

and it can be scary

not being able to

see them

reach them

touch them

and knowing there is a great big ocean

ready to swallow them whole

(just as would life itself)

but you 

remind yourself

as you stand 

watching the hill in faith 

because

you also know

that they know 

that the only way home 

is on this side of the hill

What We Have Really Learned from the Resurrection

I was standing in the hallway sorting laundry when my son, half asleep,
started talking before even opening his eyes...

"I just had the most amazing dream, Mom..."

he said as he proceeded to tell me about his dream of a

seemingly awesome,
yet impossible task

for an 11-year old to accomplish

I only listened, but he also believed...

he said

"and I know that it is possible because
I've seen people do things even harder than that"

and as I finished sorting

the laundry
his comments
my thoughts

It occurred to me...

This is the real lesson from the Resurrection!

Jesus died and rose again

a seemingly awesome,
yet impossible task

but when we embrace His Gospel

His death
His burial
His resurrection

with

our death (repentance)
our burial (water baptism)
our resurrection (the indwelling of His Spirit)

we come to understand that through Him we can also accomplish the seemingly impossible
we come to understand that what we have really learned from the Resurrection

is that

when life knocks you down...

get up

when friends

doubt you...
betray you...
deny you...

get up

and even if your enemies

capture you...
beat you...
and surround to watch as you slowly die...

look to heaven
pray their forgiveness
close your eyes to rest a while

and then...

GET UP!

"APFLH" Children's Art Studio... Adult Session

Last month I cancelled our

children's art studio session...

 

The reason?

 

I was asked to present a play-inspired workshop for a group

of Early Childhood Educators in the Los Angeles area!!

 

So I... 

 

put a closed sign on our door

packed up my materials

and took the show on the road!

 



Resource and Idea Table

Dramatic Play

w/ Asian inspired restaurant props and
chopsticks (for fine motor development)

 

inspired by the book...

"Lion Dancer"

by Kate Waters and Madeline Slovenz-Low

Play Dough Monster Creations

Homemade Play Dough (not pictured)

Play Dough tools

 

inspired by the book...

"Go Away Big Green Monster"

by Ed Emberley


Dinosaur Babies

Repurposed Box- (with a trash bag liner)
Bird Seed- (used as a substitute for sand)

Cups for scooping

Toy Dinosaurs

 

inspired by the read-along...

"Dinosaur Babies"

by Lucille Recht Penner

The Music Box

Paint Dot Art on Paper Towels

and a...

"Things that Grow"

Food Collage

Grocery store ads or cooking magazines

Play Dough scissors

Construction Paper

Glue

 

inspired by the book...

"Growing Vegetable Soup"

by Lois Ehlert
 

----------------------------------

My take-away message is always to...

 

keep it "hands-on"

follow the children's lead

and learn to use what you have!

 

These repurposed school fundraiser boxes for...

 

Before...

 

 

After...

 

Marble Painting/Waffle Ball Painting

Marbles or Waffle Balls- (depending on the ages of the children)

Box- (repurposed box or small pencil box)

Paper

Paint

 

inspired by the story...

"Little Blue and Little Yellow"

by Leo Lionni

 

 ----------------------------------

I have found that not only do I enjoy inspiring children,

 I also enjoy inspiring the adults who work with them

 

The best way to make a difference in the world

is through the life of a child!

Up next...

"Bubbles"

Get Naked (A Mature Thought)

I had gone to the mall alone with my two babies...

one in pull-ups
one in diapers

one with a sippy-cup
one with a bottle

both asleep

and strapped safely into their double-stroller

My dilemma?

I had to use the bathroom...
and it could NOT wait until I got home

So I did what I had to do...

I pushed my double stroller into the restroom
entered the stall
pulled my sleeping babies in as close as possible
and proceeded to use the bathroom

...with the door wide open!

Complete strangers walked by, noticing, and no one said a word

I had never imagined that becoming a mother would change my perspective so much, but in that moment, my children's safety was more important than my pride

Mothers do what they have to do...

and several years later, as my cousin prepared for the birth of her first child
I remembered that day

and shared with her my thought,
that for mothers,

perhaps the real purpose of delivery
is to deliver you

from the burden of what other people

say
do
think

because once you're a parent, you can't let those things move you

Your body

changes
grows
stretches beyond recognition

and then

just when you think you've had enough you must find new strength to

release
push and
deliver

that which has grown

And so using the bathroom with the door open is brought into perspective, because after all,

Nobody gives birth fully clothed...

you have to first get naked!

Once to conceive
and again
to deliver

And in that very act
of getting naked

lies the vulnerability
the humility
the gracefulness

that opens the door to intimacy

Our Lord showed us that as He allowed them to

strip Him
torture Him
mock Him

as He willingly bore the shame

to deliver me
to rescue me

because in that moment my safety was more important than His pride

His act of

vulnerability
humility
humanity

opened the door to our intimacy...

And when we fully realize this

we have no other choice but to come to Him

sincerely
respectfully
repent fully

and allow our hearts to get naked before Him

knowing that He

sees it all
flaws and all

and loves us anyway
and has taken away all of that shame

since He...
when He...

decided to first
get naked