If You're Heading to San Francisco

"You HAVE to watch My Name is Khan!" Came my mother's recommendation this week. Turns out my parents and Nate (my resident indie flic buff) had separately stumbled onto it via Netflix and we're raving about it. The name triggered something in my memory.

"Is it filmed in San Francisco, in the bay by the Wave Organ?" I asked. Click. It came together in my memory. Summer 2009, celebrating San Francisco sunshine Sophia and I stumbled onto a Bollywood production filming My Name is Kahn. Check it out--the movie's reporting a worldwide release of over $19 million in three days. Not a bad review--but I'd love to hear yours.

Speaking of San Francisco, I just finished a great book you shouldn't pass up: Locked Rooms: A novel of suspense featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. I've been on a bit of a Laurie King kick lately (I love the mystery/history combo this is a great example exploring San Fran and the Great Quake of 1906).

If you like Sherlock Holmes books, you'll love these titles by Laurie King:

• The Beekeeper's Apprentice: Or On the Segregation of the Queen/A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes (Mary Russell Novels), the first in the series where we meet a young Mary Russell and a retired Sherlock Holmes.
• Followed by their solidified partnership in A Monstrous Regiment of Women (Post WWI England).
• The Game (Mary Russell Novels)
• O Jerusalem (Mary Russell Novels)
• The God of the Hive: A novel of suspense featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes

Last but not least, I can't say enough about Touchstone by Laurie King. This time a masculine lead character recovering from WWI shell shock and it's unusual affects. If you like Jeffery Archer or Iian Pears An Instance of the Fingerpost: A Novel you'll love Touchstone.

A great movie or book has to be shared! Pass it on.

The Wandering Dove

I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;
I would hurry to my place of shelter,
far from the tempest and storm. Psalm 55: 6-9

You Yourself have recorded my wanderings.
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your records?

Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call.
This I know: God is for me.

In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me? Psalm 56:8-11

For the broken, the weary, the wanderers, the empty hearted. For me. . .

The Village Church & Darfur

What can one person do for the people of Southern Sudan? According to Matt Chandler, pastor of the Village Church, we can pray for the January 9th Sudanese Referendum for Secession . Joining others across the world to pray for a continued resolve in Darfur and Southern Sudan.

For our family- Sudan is hard to ignore simply because its in Chad's (my husband's native country) backyard. In 2008 an attempted Chadian coup brought to light just how interconnected the two countries can be, continued peace in Sudan means stability and progress for an entire region of the globe. Visiting Chad in 2010 deepened our connection to this corner of the world giving us a first hand account of the similarity of people across the border simply trying to eek out an existence in an unforgiving but beautiful territory.

Moving to the Dallas Fort Worth Area in 2010 the Lord brought us to the Village church though a series of personal encounters that had little to do with Sub-Saharan, Africa. Now it's a pleasure to discover the Village Church's commitment to the people of Sudan and share something each of us can do for this troubled portion of God's earth. Please check out Actions Speak Louder and consider what one person can do today.

New Beginnings

Today, my little brother Dana started Air Force Boot Camp in San Antonio, Texas. This marks my parents official introduction to military life. Suffice it to say, our hearts are now connected to the men and women in uniform that are far from home this holiday season, including my brother-in-law Joseph Ndjerareou, stationed in Bagram Airforce Base, Afghanistan.

In honor of Joseph and Dana I wanted to shine light on Operation Gratitude that sends care packages, scarves, candy and personal letters to the armed forces stationed around the world.

Thank you again for your prayers for Dana and Joseph. We look forward to seeing Dana at graduation in February and we're counting the days until we see Joseph next summer.

A Must Have Stocking Stuffer

It's no secret I adore children's books. Long before I had Sophia, I've believed children's books are good for the soul. The simplicity of story telling, powerful words and beautiful illustrations, continue to be one of my favorite art forms. I'm thrilled to high light Rachel Isadora's work, it contains these best aspects with an African twist.

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Rachel Isadora is the classic song with gorgeous African visuals that speak for themselves. Five golden necklace rings. Eight maids a milking (goats.) The nine ladies dancing looked remarkebly Swazi, one of my former homes. Sure enough, Rachel spent 10 years in Africa some of that in Swaziland.

Delighted by this book I started looking up other Isadora books and discovered a couple were already favorites on my family shelves including:

At the Crossroads

I'm exceptionally thrilled to introduce Isadora's classic children's stories to Sophia. As an inter-cultural family, I'm always touched to find wonderful books to create a dynamic and visually diverse context. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Gratefulness

This year a full heart look like. . .

My grandmother's lace table cloth, bringing a little of my history to a whole new tradition.

My great-grandmother's stuffing recipe & many turkey-strategy phone-calls home to mom.

Seeing loved ones in far away places (thank you Skype.) Banga in Afghanistan and grandparents in Iowa.

Celebrating little ones, this year Sophia's cousin and best friend in all the world turned five. (Sophia can't quite figure out how Hannah got to five before she did--it brings out her competitive side. She's happy for her cousin and the fact that we had cake and pie this year!)

Laughter with cousins all day long. (He ain't dead!)

Creating new traditions with Nate and Sophia (learning Nate prefers pecan over pumpkin pie.)

A table full of people this Thanksgiving. American's, Algerians, Chadians, Nigerians and everything in between. This year our Thanksgiving represented the very best of the essence of the holiday--a feast gathering strangers, becoming family simply through shared table and hearts.

This Woman Has A Secret

"Ahhh a little baby," I cooed this evening as an infant squawked nearby.

"Mommy, I want to see your little baby." Sophia told me, looking very sad and serious for a moment. "The one who went straight from your tummy, to heaven."

It doesn't matter how old you are, I believe, something in us delights in children. As our family mourns the child we won't meet this side of heaven, we're being introduced to a group of people who suffer empty arms, silently. I'm so thankful for groups like HOPEFUL HEARTS, my church's support group here in Dallas and brave women like Andrea, an infertility success story who took her painful journey to the web, both of these are shedding light into the pain of miscarriage and infertility.

It wasn't until this issue became personal did I realize how much shame and pain couples who are struggling to have children deal with. Self Magazine did an expose on it this fall, it's a MUST read for anyone who breathes. The stigma, shame and lack of research or options for this issue astound me. There is no reason that a couple should face this alone, especially when mind/body anti-anxiety is so vital for success. Please check it out and prayerfully consider how you can extend support and comfort to those around you.

"Infertility is where breast cancerwas in the 1970s—completely in the closet." Because no one wants to discuss infertility, "nothing gets done about it," says Lindsay Beck, founder of Fertile Hope, a program run by the Lance Armstrong Foundation in Austin, Texas, that supports cancer patients whose treatments threaten their fertility..

THIS WOMAN HAS A SECRET, Self Magazine

Thank You Rangers!

Check out Sophia's video debut! If you've been paying attention, I've been talking about Sophia's recent fears and overcoming things that make her nervous. This little video made us all so proud, not because of her talent (of course I think she's a natural) it was how she worked to overcome her fears that thrilled us. (I'm seriously afraid she will never be my brave girl again.) Sophia became SO nervous when she saw the camera crew, but we knew she'd be disappointed in herself if she didn't try.

She started the morning by saying "get up Mommy, the Rangers need us!" She's a little passionate about her Rangers. Especially when they beat the 'hankies'. We're passionate about the Rangers--but we're even bigger fans of my college buddy Brandon and the team at You Plus Media. Thanks guys for making Dallas look so good!

The Streaker!

This is my daughter--my dare devil little girl! The one who would take a fall on the playground and shake it off like a pro. Other mom's would say they'd never heard Sophia cry. No matter what country or continent she'd find friends by barreling in without any kind of fear.

Flashforward to last week when me using the broiler caused a melt down like I'd never seen. "What happened?" Nate asked. "I made a tuna melt?" I said. Daily she's been freaking out when I turn on the stove, not just screaming or crying but running out the front door. The other day she ran out without a stitch of clothes on. She didn't care! That's not the only thing she's afraid of, a recent fascination with earthquakes and tornadoes is now a constant battle against every type of sound that resembles a siren.

I'm learning it's a phase, a natural part of learning about life. I do believe its a good survival mechanism. We've been praying with her, for her, over her coupled with lots of talking. We're learning healthy attitudes and behaviors toward storms and strangers. Our family definitely has fire plan now. Thankfully, Nate is home during this time but the fear is creeping into all our lives. I miss cooking with my little girl. This week, Nate made popcorn after she went to bed to avoid a scene. No alarms or anything, just the faintest hint of cooking smells. This time I was prepared. Taking a position by the front door, in a blink of an eye, I caught a frantic four-year-old trying to make a break for it! Sigh. . . I miss my super hero!

"What's so alarming is that we took ordinary children and made them into liars, simply by telling them they were smart."

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

This line has haunted me for days. The author, Carol Dweck in her fascinating book Mindset, discusses two distinct paradigms for handling learning, life, and even relationships. One being that a fixed mindset where all feedback either proves or disproves how smart, pretty, likable, (the list goes on) we are.

In a fixed mindset there are only so many smart or talented people. The rest of us live in fear trying to prove we're part of the smart group. According to Dweck's staggering amounts of research, when a scarcity paradigm is implied to personal ability there are nasty and negative results. Children praised for their ability shy away from situations where they will not be shine. They believe if they're not naturally good at it the first time, it implies negatively on their being, therefore why try? Dweck exposes the mindsets in adults in multiple examples as well,

The contrary, the growth mindset is most easily explained in children who are praised not for their ability, but for their effort. These children receive commendation because of the time and attention they placed in overcoming a problem. They learn they're not defined by their failures or successes. They have multiple resources to draw from and failure is simply a natural part of learning. Dweck spends chapters elaborating on the quantifiable consequences of the mindset played out in every aspect of life. It's a fascinating look at much of life.

Personally, this book came just when I needed it most. As a mother of a dynamic, beautiful and intelligent four-year old. It's easy to act like your child hung-the-moon. But when the same little girl stops wanting to write her own name (something we've been doing for months) because other kids do it better??? Or as she puts it, "mommy it's not perfect." Admittedly, I was stunned and saddened.

Thankfully, I got a quiet afternoon to absorb much of Dwecks research and immediately changed my conversations with Sassy. Granted it's only been a few days but now we have an understanding of what her little brain is processing and how to change her (and my) focus from ability towards effort. I could go on and on about this book, but I also enjoyed the fact that it fit with much of my worldview and faith. We are called to work hard in all things, as if working unto the Lord. Effort is acknowledged, but we're constantly reminded that the results are in God's hands.

Happy Birthday Nathanael

¹ Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3

This weekend we celebrated my beloved husband's birthday. I can honestly say that although the year has been difficult, the celebration was genuinely joyful. The grace of the Lord has given us much to rejoice in, good friends and family, renewed relationships and deep, deep awareness of the glory and goodness of the Lord.

It's such a delight to celebrate a man who's heart belongs to God. We can rest knowing that regardless of what life brings our way, we prosper in the Lord. God is where our treasure lies, nothing more, nothing less. This year's forced us to change our ideas of what's important and I've been so grateful for Nate's encouragement and his pursuit of the Lord. Happy Birthday darling, it's a pleasure and a gift to call you husband and friend.

Proof Positive

Scrolling through pictures this weekend I kept getting glimpses of the patient, dotting father Nate is, in countless captured moments. I just had to share a few. No matter where we are in the world, daddy always makes an effort to spend time with his girls. I don't need any convincing that Sophia has a wonderful daddy but this is a tiny sampling of the devoted father, adventurer and gentle leader Nate is for his family.

Heading to the beach, Playa de Carma, Mexico

First Birthday Fun--Sophia didn't end up covered with cake--but daddy did!

Loving his long legged newborn!

Gymnastics class, Twisters Gym

Watching the seals in San Fransisco

Exploring the Louvre, Paris

Bath time, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Quiet moments, Wheaton, Illinois

Goofing off taking daddy to the airport, Chicago, Illinois

Walt Disneyland, California

Summer fun, Shueyville, Iowa

"Sledding", White Sands National Park, New Mexico

Playing catch, Moundou, Chad, Africa

Celebrating another birthday with his princes, Dallas, Texas

Go Rangers!

Even though we're new to Texas--we became Rangers fans months ago. (Believe me you have to be a fan to go to an afternoon game in AUGUST.) It helps that we can see the stadium from our house. But nothing makes you a fan like beating the Yankees in October!! Thank you Texas!