The Daddy Day's of Summer

It's been so much fun to have my best friend around again.  Someone you're so in sync with, who makes me laugh, makes me smile, makes my bed, and can't get enough of me or Sophia.  I think I discovered just how sarcastic I've been become in reaction to this lifestyle.  Being with Nate I feel calmer and sweeter.  .  . go figure
The end of two blissful weeks with daddy at home. We've had beautiful summer days, shooting stars, storm watching, lazy afternoon fishing trips, and lotz and lotz of laughter.  Tonight we dropped daddy off at the airport heading for Cleaveland.  Sophia & I drove away blaring Daniel Bedingfield's Friday (CHORUS: he's coming back on Friday!) 
LA or Bust! Cousin's Kelly & Valerie stopped through on their cross country road trip.  Next stop Bridges of Madison County west of Des Moines.

We three kings. .  . ZigZag, Sassy & Gabe. 

Lake Mc Bride one of my favorite places across the globe.

Monday's are for Dancing

Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn't music.  ~William Stafford

There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good.  ~Edwin Denby

How can we know the dancer from the dance?  ~William Butler Yeats

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Breath for Bones

"Archeologists have not yet discovered any stage of human existence without art.  Even in the half-light before the dawn of humanity we received this gift from Hands we did not manage to discern. Nor have most of us managed to ask: Why was this give given to us, and what are we to do with it."  ~Alexsandr Solhenitzyn in his lecture on being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. 

My recent silence hasn't been due to lack of things to say. Thankfully quite the opposite has been happening and much thanks goes to our church, Imago Christi.  Imago is one of those rare Christ communities that value art AND the artist.  Sometimes I think the reason churches are fearful of art is not b/c they have anything against beauty.  It's the artist themselves, channeling God's beauty often requires broken vessels, warn and cracked.  We're rarely balanced, we're often raw and sensitive, and we're desperately in need God's grace. What a pleasure to find a group of Christians that welcome the artist and inspire the art.

The Rest of the Story. . .

Mission Accomplished--In the last month we've emptied our home for a new family, and FINALLY gotten slightly settled in my parents in-law suite.  Late Friday, I was finally feeling like we were ready for daddy to come home.

As a mom who's never broken a bone or needed stitches I always wondered how you knew when a cut was bad enough for an ER trip. Instantly, after trying to close a pocket knife I looked at my thumb and thought 'I don't think you're supposed to see your muscles? I think I need stitches.'  Of course I'm sitting in my sweats, tired, dirty from cleaning and nobodies home except Sophia.  

Thankfully, I sliced up the inside of my thumb right where it bends--there are very few nerve endings there--except in the muscle that I cut into (that hurt came later.)  My grandparents moved to town last year and were more than willing to take Sophia while I went to the local Urgent Care. They must have been running a special on sutures that b/c I was number six to walk-in that afternoon. 

Alls well that ends well. Friday night Daddy stepped off the plane and told us he'd be home for the week.  Plus we have a lovely little home to rest in and spend some much needed time together.  We've accomplished the move and although Daddy isn't necessarily home to stay. At least for today he's home.

Thumbing Through

A run in with a pocket knife, six stitches down my thumb, definitely slowing down my hitch hiking and my writing, among other things. Never knew how much I'd appreciate opposable thumbs. . . .

"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish & stupid."  Epictetus

 I  doubt either of us envisioned an ordinary life when we first married. Right now life is anything but ordinary.  Moving back into your parents home seems like a step backwards by most standards. I hate moving but Nate & I are very thankful to have this option as a way to supplement our family time.  We're defininately testing the limits of the foolish & stupid.  That is where the faith part comes in for me.  I believe God is in control and smiling on our strange gypsy lifestyle.  None of us enjoy the weeks apart but I keep telling myself that unlike our nations soldiers Nate comes home every weekend & isn't getting shot at.  Not yet at least.  One moment, one prayer at a time.

A Moment of Silence

This week all alone, at my parents home.  

Trying to create something from nothing. 

Praying that God will come down and sit with me, in this beautiful place. 

Bless my hands with the words He has asked me to share with the world.

“I can’t get behind the ambition to be ‘discovered’ as much as I can get behind the ambition to write beautifully and honorably and steadfastly. Here’s what I believe about creativity. I believe that creativity is a living force that thrums wildly through this world and expresses itself through us. I believe that talent (the force by which ephemeral creativity gets manifested into the physical world through our hands) is a mighty and holy gift. I believe that, if you have a talent (or even if you think you do, or maybe even if you just hope you do), that you should treat that talent with the highest reverence and love.

“Don’t flip out, in other words, and murder your gift through narcissism, insecurity, addiction, competitiveness, ambition or mediocrity. Frankly – don’t be a jerk. Just get busy, get serious, get down to it and write something, for heaven’s sake. Try to get out of your own way. Creativity itself doesn’t care at all about results – the only thing it craves is the PROCESS. Learn to love the process and let whatever happens next happen, without fussing too much about it. Work like a monk, or a mule, or some other representative metaphor for diligence. Love the work. Destiny will do what it wants with you, regardless. Just love the work.”

~Elizabeth Gilbert

The Uglier Side of Life

Moving.  .  . it should be a four letter word.  In my opinion--hell would entail constantly moving households.  As I got to thinking, that is what we've been doing since January! 

I grew up moving frequently, across the globe. But now I'm the MOM! Designated coordinator of the stuff, and general manager of our nomadic life. (Think I should put that on a business card? Maybe a tee-shirt.)

This is me this morning. Complete with raccoon suntan in my mom uniform:tank top and work out pants with WAY too much mail to go through.   The lack of make-up is due to my husbands 6 am flight--he won't be home till Friday.  These days, feels like I only put on mascara when Nate & I have an ichat date (sad, but true.) 

Tangent: Nate barely made his flight this morning due to Eastern Iowa Airport Security. You have to ask him about it--we fly all over the world and we've never see anything like this.  It's insane! If he gets arrested some Monday morning --mark my words it had something to do with Cedar Rapids TSA.

Tonight, a neighbor lady asked when we'd moved in?  My mind got stuck on the verb? Have we really moved? A new place? Neighborhood?  Granted, we're living in my parents in-law suite outside of Cedar Rapids, so we're technically home.  But we're FAR from settled. 

It was like a lightbulb went off in my head.  I guess we did MOVE! My daughter keeps asking me when we're leaving Nana's? I've been thrilled to tell her we're not going any where for awhile. Oddly, recognizing the fact that we've MOVED (there's that word again) makes me feel so much better about myself. No wonder I can't keep a thought in my head or find a single pair of matching socks! 

My furniture is in the old place through the end of the month, so very little can be unpacked at my folks. (The furniture here is going back where it came from at the same time. Storage for a missionary family)   I can't even worry about it for the moment but it's insanely distracting! I  have no idea where I put half my household?  Or WHY we ever accumulated so much stuff in the first place!

Today was affirmation of our decision to rent out our home and live with my parents while Nate travels.  Sophia's landed a nasty little cold so besides taking Daddy to the airport, we didn't get much accomplished.  However, at five Papa & Nana swooped in and saved the day! Eating dinner together helped Sophia & I feel normal.  Unfortunately, I think Sophia's sharing her cold with the rest of the family, but I'm still so thankful we're here. It's been an incredible example that home isn't a place, it's a feeling. 

Sassy's Got Style!

"I got style mommy!" You'll have to forgive me. This outfit cracked me up! Sophia was so proud that she dressed herself today.  She did a pretty good job. The Superman tattoo's she and daddy added last night just put it over the top!   

Three Year Old Theology

It would be safe to say, this summer has been a difficult one for Nate & I, but through it all we've had moments that take our breath away. Sometimes it was the scenery, most of the time it was our precious little girl.  Our conversations about God have truly blown my mind. Sophia learned that if we need to fight or when we're in a tough spot we pray that God would fight FOR us. Learning that little ears are listening has been a BIG lesson for us.

After a difficult afternoon in San Francisco, Sophia prayed to 'ask God into my heart" and told her daddy all about it when he came home for dinner.  Sharing these moments with Nate make them even sweeter.  

Sunday night as we tucked Sophia in we were singing and came to a line about "He will wash away my sins."  Sand? She asked, why will God wash away my sand? Instantly, the imagery overwhelmed me as we explained sin, that we have as many sins as there are sands and God's forgiven all of them.

On a lighter note last night we sang something like Jesus died for me.  And she stopped me with a serious observation.  God can't dive mommy. . . . He doesn't have flippers!

There's No Place Like Home!

Industrial Water Slide: $40.00

Monday Night Flight-Cedar Rapids to San Francisco:$380.00

Spending the Afternoon with Your Daughter: Priceless

We're Home!  Sophia, Nate & I landed in Cedar Rapids on the 4th.  (Coming home as a family was worth it--Nate gave me his first class ticket and I rode in total relaxed comfort! Plus we didn't have to pay for our luggage--all 5 pieces--we were gone for 2 months remember!)

Nate headed back Monday night and we're both grateful for the chance to catch up with loved ones.   Sophia & I will be staying at my parents place while Nate commutes home every weekend. The last leg of the project is going to be tough so he could use your prayers. All this coming and going is getting to the both of us. I don't think we'd change a thing about our trip but we're glad to have the family back in Iowa!

Shoes

Thrusting forward on my toes

Trusting forward on my souls

Teetering, balancing all my womanhood

Pinching, strutting all my motherhood

Ever since my little girlhood

Why? Oh, why? Do I love my shoes?

Written at Tamalpa Institute

Labyrinth at Lands End

Life at Land's End

Lately, not knowing when we were going home or whatever comes next.  I've felt like we're traveling in a boat, sails unfurled, full-steam ahead toward  the end of the world.  It feels like God is pushing land and water underneath at the last possible second, for which we're thankful.

So it seemed fitting to hike across Land's End this weekend.  The farthest point west in San Francisco and our little corner of the world.

Beautiful Braidilicious

Sun, sand & joy!  Auntie Minga made sure Sophia was 'Stylin'  Oh and the sunglasses were brought to you by Nana.  'My Nana is cool!' quote of the day from the Sassafras! 

Summer?!?

Remember that song (from Forest Gump for those of us who were born in the 80's) If You're Going to San Francisco. . . .the song suggests you wear a flower in your hair.

Personally I'd suggest a coat.  It's the end of June with a high of 68 and a low of 54! Most days there's a brisk wind blowing off the Pacific. So we improvise!  Hot tub on the porch (only takes like 12 trips with pails of hot water from the sink.) Feels like spring but we're eating like summer.

New favorite recipes:  California Kabobs  & Panzanella

We'd been saving the heals of bread to take to the ducks in the park.  But I couldn't resist this Panzanella recipe. It uses broth instead of oil which makes it really light.  We used feta cheese, doubled the red wine vinegar, and added capers, parsley and olives instead of turkey pepperoni (We Love having Tara Ely stay with us so I'm vegetarianizing all our recipes) Mmmm think I'll see if there are any leftovers!

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

We got to see Gavin Rossdale, Matt Nathananson, Sugar Ray & Parachute this weekend in Golden Gate Park.  Do you think Sophia likes concerts?