Hay Happens and Hay's Happen

Life-giving words come from HIM.

I take this to heart when we memorize our verses each week. Now, we are up to 30 verses. This week, we worked on Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Then we make a little reminder for her wall. This art wall is a compilation of the best of the best of our little projects and some of our verses.

When I taught school, I would make the walls speak because I believed that students would remember better if the wall was “alive!” I know when I was a child, as I fell asleep, I would stare at my wall and it would speak to me. Hopefully it speaks LIFE into her!

In terms of all written words, my child loves books. She speaks out what she sees, and when the written word can be read clearly, she’ll read even more, I am sure.

When I make breakfast….she reads:

When I put her to bed, I’ll catch her……

Reading!

Reading is a wonderful habit, and what matters to me is her heart. I want these verses, the love of reading (hopefully good books!), the love of life-giving words to come from HER. So far, I see this happening, but time will tell. All I can do is model, pray, and be the best mommy I can be for her.

I love you Tot (and so does Snuggle Bug!)

 

It was 1996, 22 years ago, I walked into Dick Jordahl’s office. At the time, he was head of Outreach and Twin Lakes Church (TLC) in Aptos, CA. (Aptos is a suburb of Santa Cruz). My interest was to start a food bank. I had no idea what or how this would happen, but he said they’d find a space and they did. It was a teeny storage area in the back of the church. Our ministry became the People’s Pantry. Do you know what?

It’s blossomed!! Funny, our goal was to reach 5000 by 2000 (we had t-shirts made), and now they feed thousands per week and over a million meals in one year (they have partnered with a local food bank). Each week, they also deliver the gospel before they serve. Wow.

Well, more on Dick and Marilyn. They moved here in 1999 after retiring from TLC. When I returned back to Phoenix in 2000, we connected and they mentored me. They also became my spiritual parents. They saw me through some of my darkest times. Now, sadly, they moved back to Santa Cruz (lucky for TLC sad for me).

Marilyn emailed me and said they’d be in town and if I’d like to meet with them. Tatum and I JUMPED at the chance to spend a lunch with them.

They will always be so very special to me. Now they are serving abundantly to so many. There’ll be a special place in heaven for these two.

I feel this silence behind me as I back up. You know that feeling when it’s so quiet and you wonder what is going on?
She is mimicking my driving.

Yes, she made a steering wheel of her own out of a paper plate.

Again, I love her brain.

She just made it on her own with some cutouts and bandaids. She also found a storage place for it.

This led right into a craft we would do again; making little cars for her lego guys. They need driving lessons too, right!?

We added to the collection.  I especially love this little lavender baby.  (It turned out kind of a light shade of blue but alas.

After this, she asked me to help her make a better steering wheel. I need to make a replica.

After snapping a picture, we got to work.

Now she can control the volume and cruise if needed. I’m pretty sure she’d turn up our music higher to drown out my singing.

Ready to roll!

Coti, you want to come?

I woke her up. Yes, I woke her up, folks. It was about 7:15, and I had not heard a peep so I went into ring in the new year crown and all.

This little cutie was ready to stay in her jammies all day while we craft, clean and camp out.

First, we turned back to Day 1 Month 1, and started over the devotion. We have been reading this same book since she was 2! That deserves a toot!

But, this book can only last one more year, you think?

We broke open a new one to read alongside.

The beauty of our mornings is that they have one thing in common. We never miss a day of getting in God’s Word. It always includes a devotion, but sometimes it may include a Bible story. Why do we do this? Why is this so important? We are building habits. I read this somewhere:

“More than 40 percent of the actions you perform each day aren’t actual decisions, but habits.” 

If that particular habit can be part of the 40% of unconscious living, then hopefully the 60% of decisions can be God-influenced.

This little adorable fuzzball is also part of our daily habit. It’s just a natural action to welcome him to the day with a little walk.

Can you even get enough of this little guy?

What’s another habit that seems to be a daily occurrence sans Sunday? (that day usually includes a food you can put syrup on, ha!).

Oatmeallarama. That means the oatmeal becomes a party in your mouth. The “fixins'” may be sugar free mini chocolate chips, chopped banana, sprinkles, coconut, maple syrup, and on a special day, a dollop of whipped cream (or two!). (Especially today) ……and the kitchen characters all say hooray!

Today, Tatum wanted to do a craft, and that is another habit we continue to cultivate. A cross was her choice. I think she is more excited about painting on the painters tape since it’s quite forgiving.

Later, we peeled away the final product!

and added one of our verses.

This is another habit we like to practice in the new year: Kindness, compassion and being slow to anger. This means taking lots of breaths (breathing in HIS Spirit, right?).

As we are busy in her room, guess who is our audience?

Do you know what we also do every single day? We read loads and loads of books, and then she does the same.

The rest of the day is usually and habitually filled with many creative Tot-isms. She likes to create her own buttons, tablets, pads, and bracelets. Today, she added little paper buttons to her hat which makes her do funny things when you push them. (And they really do. Trust me).

2018 is already showing to be more and more of keeping good habits, and maybe we’ll adopt a few new ones. I hope she’ll start reading more to me! Whatever the year holds, I know for one thing: My love for this beautiful Tot (who is now becoming a young girl) grows more and more each and every day.

Thank you Father for giving me the gift of my family.

 

Today was Day 12 and also the last day of 2017.

As we unveiled the 12th call for a service opportunity, I had a tinge of sadness but also a revelation. This 12 day extravaganza was really motivated by my desires. Sure, Tatum got into it because I was with her, but it was not “natural” for her to think of others the first part of the day and throughout.

But, is it any of our natural tendencies?

At times, more often than not, I was a tad frustrated that she was not more “into it” at the unveiling each morning. It was a picture of how God probably sees us when we don’t naturally go to Him or think of another above ourselves.  He must command us and model it for us because you know what? We are selfish creatures and our nature is to be of and about ourselves.

Such is a child.

Was I to expect her to dance around each morning and beg me to do the this or that for him/her/them? No, in fact, most mornings, its “I’m hungry;” “My toe hurts;” “Mommy, this is wrong or that is wrong…” However, we would do a 180, and she would willfully and obediently do as we should. Be focused above and out. I think that is what God expects of us: “If you love me, you’ll obey what I command.” (John 14:15). He commands us, and the longer we are IN HIM and ABIDE IN HIM, the more NATURAL it shall become. Others-centered. Jesus-centered.

Serving others each and every day becomes more natural as time goes on, and it it becomes part of who you are. This is my prayer for my Tot. It all starts with “Seek ye first the kingdom of God (and all these things shall be given to you.” (Matt 6:33)…It all starts with looking up.

So today, we make

Gratitude jars….

 

And spend time in gratitude for our family members.

We shall be more intentional each and every day to make it about HIM.

 

 

We cleaned up her room, and Tot helped by moving the furniture.

Then it was time to make some crafts.

Oh, did I forget to tell you? We picked the Day 11, and made the trip to Trader Joe’s to get flowers.

Ms. Holly, her Sunday school teacher, is the perfect choice.

Also, the craft will be a nice touch to add to our gratitude for her!

Starting with a circle, these would become beautiful stars.

Tatum decorated it.

Adding a stick….

and some ribbons, we are ready.

Now we have  a few to celebrate Happy New Year.

After we celebrated our Day 11 and wands, it was time to have some quiet time. She opted for my bed, reading, under the “fort.”

A full day of such and such and this and that. Tatum is one big ball of energy, always thinking of things to imagine and create. It’s definitely never a dull moment.

In the morning, we gave the flowers and wand to Ms. Holly! (and there was much rejoicing.

Today is Day 10. I can’t believe it’s happened so fast.

Can you tell she’s excited? Hee hee. More like tired. The Tot has been sleeping in every day which has been glorious for her mommy. (smile!!)

We went through her jammies and also knew that she could donate some new ones. We made a deal that she’d donate two pairs of jammies and some slippers.

We took them to St. Vincent’s instead of Phoenix Rescue Mission. Next time, we’ll find out how to donate the PRM.

I’m thoroughly enjoying this, and I know Tatum is too.