Out of the Mouths of Babes

Children are an embodiment of joy and innocence. Their joviality reminds us of everything that is good and peaceful in the world. They are our greatest hope for the future.

Through the years, our children have supplied us with a healthy dose of humor and laughter. Here are a few of those precious moments:

Danielle, at age 3, upon receiving a special toy: (Wide-eyed surprise) "I've wanted this my whole life."

Danielle, at age 4: "Arthur got the chicken pox...(pause)...That's from chickens!"

Joseph, inspecting a tube of SPF30 sunscreen: "Mommy, if I put this on twice, will I get SPF 60?"

Mary loves to help in the kitchen. She especially enjoys combining and mixing the ingredients for baked goods. The two of us were making lemon blueberry muffins this morning when I took out a bright orange box (labeled Arm & Hammer). Instantly recognizing the box, Mary exclaimed: "Oh, I know that. Babies can have that soda. It's baby soda."

Before driving off this morning, I put on my ear piece because I was expecting an important phone call on my cell phone from school. At this point, Mary asked: "Mommy, why are you putting on your loosetooth?" (I was in stitches trying to tell her that this device is called a "Bluetooth").

As they say, "Laughter is the best medicine." Hope your day is filled with joy and laughter.

Whose Idea Was It to Play Tag in Cyberspace Anyway?

From My Friend at The Schneider Web

I got Tagged!

Here are some things about me -

I am: a content stay-at-home mom.

I know: a thing or two about raising children.

I have: very little me-time.

I wish: I could go back in time and re-live all of my experiences from childhood until today.

I hate: when the best laid plans go awry (although "hate" is a bit strong. To say that I am "sorely disappointed"....would be more accurate).

I miss: my grandparents; and growing up in the Philippines and Guam.

I fear: I could be doing a better job in the faith formation of my children.

I feel: worrisome about the future.

I hear: the clothes dryer.

I smell: fabric softener.

I crave: time with family.

I search: for the good in everything I do and everyone I meet.

I wonder: what my life would be like today if I had made different choices.

I regret: cleaning up the kitchen instead of playing tennis with my son this afternoon.

I love: God and my family.

I am not: a risk-taker (though I venture outside my comfort zone on occasion).

I believe: in the power of prayer.

I dance: with my children.

I sing: terribly. I hum mostly.

I cry: easily at movies.

I don’t always: iron my clothes.

I fight: against temptation.

I write: for the joy of it; as a hobby.

I win: some.

I lose: some.

I never: take time for granted.

I always: make the bed first thing in the morning.

I confuse: my husband sometimes.

I listen: to my instincts.

I can usually be found: in the kitchen.

I am scared: of snakes, sharks, wild creatures, and poisonous animals & insects.

I need to: be near my children.

I am happy about: having grown up with six brothers and sisters. It was so much fun.

I imagine: Heaven.

Fruits of our Labor

One of the things that appealed to us about this property was its verdant lawn and the wonderful array of fruit trees that line the backyard. Today, these fruit trees are a veritable cornucopia of nature's goodness. During the cold winter months, our orange tree is adorned with large, plump, juicy oranges. Their bright orange color radiates a glow of warmth on an otherwise cold and gray season. In the summer months, Mother Nature sprinkles our yard with virtually every color of the rainbow. From red-orange tomatoes that hang so delicately from their vines, to mouth-watering lemons that are perfectly yellow, clusters of crisp, green apples too heavy for their branches, two-toned nectarines that are deliciously tart, and deep-purple plums that are refreshingly sweet.

In as much as we are blessed with an abundant supply of fruit, we are equally burdened with the task of picking up fruit that have fallen to the ground. Overripe, smelly, decomposing, bug-infested fruit! Small wonder that the children have developed a mild disdain for this particular chore.

Armed with little more than gloves and plastic bags, we set out to rid our yard of decaying fruit. It was on such a day, crouched in the shade of the apple tree, enveloped in the pungent aroma of rotting fruit, and gingerly picking up globs of mush, that this prayer came to me:

Thank you God for the sense of smell
That I am able to appreciate all that nature has to offer.

Thank you God for the use of my arms
With which to swat these pesky fruit flies.

Thank you God for the ability to hear
The sweet sound of my children's voices;
Even when they cry out, "Yuck","Ewww",
and "Do we have to do this?"

Thank you God for the gift of sight
That I may bear witness to life's everyday miracles.
Like the trees that give life to fruit
And the fruit that give life to tiny, little creatures.

Suddenly, picking up fruit doesn't seem so bad.

Seeing the forest for the trees

The view along Highway 50 towards Lake Tahoe is truly a sight to behold. The narrow, winding roads, centuries-old trees, ageless boulders, formidable stone walls, steep mountainsides, tranquil creeks, and rustic cabins. Driving along, we marveled at nature's glory and splendor in anticipation of our family vacation to south Lake Tahoe.

For me, this vacation was a chance to let my hair down -- figuratively and literally. While on vacation, the words chores, piano, and workbook were noticeably absent from my vocabulary. It was as if the mountain breeze had toppled my stack of priorities like a house of cards. I surprised even myself by resisting the urge to make the bed first thing in the morning. And I'm sure I surprised my children by not requiring them to do likewise. The summer sun seemed to melt away our cares of yesterday and our worries of tomorrow. We lived in the moment.

And so while our house sat empty and quiet, we sat poolside amidst the sounds of water splashing and children laughing. The cries of "Marco! Polo!" reverberating through the air. While mail accumulated in our mailbox at home, pictures of our vacation accumulated in our camera. While our To-Do list hung steadfastly on the refrigerator, I hung on ever-so-tightly to my children as we raced across Lake Tahoe on a speedboat. And while our sun-loving tomatoes turned riper and redder with each passing day, our sun-drenched skin turned tanned and golden.

Now that we are back, and the children's summer vacation draws to a close, we can forge ahead with invigorated spirits to face the hectic school schedule that lies ahead. Oh how I wish to have a few more months of these carefree summer days.

To see pictures of our vacation, view our slideshow (with background music)!!

Are you a MOM?

Although multitasking is not exclusive to women, many of us, especially mothers, have become quite adept at it. The ability to multitask could mean the difference between surmounting obstacles versus being overrun by them. Which begs the question, are you a MOM? You know, a Master Of Multitasking? Extreme organization and forward-thinking are paramount to becoming a MOM. A MOM is analogous to a well-oiled machine. She can run a household, manage finances, run a part-time business, coordinate social functions, head the school PTA, take up charitable causes, and still manage to devote ample quality time for her family. The list goes on. To a degree, I strive to be a MOM; but mostly I am just a regular mom. You know, the kind with a perpetual To-Do List. The kind of mom who finds herself folding laundry at 11:00 p.m. while watching the late night news. The kind of mom who, at the end of the day, wishes she had more time to complete certain tasks.

If life were an ocean, a MOM would glide swiftly to shore; whereas a regular mom would dog-paddle through the water. We enter into motherhood without the imprimatur of any formal training. We learn on the job, gaining invaluable experience and wisdom along the way. For me, combating the effects of sleep deprivation was perhaps the most difficult. Combined with the baby’s crying spells and nursing around the clock, it was quite overwhelming. I was elated with my new baby, yet there were fleeting moments of despair. I can honestly say that being a first-time mother was tantamount to a deer caught in headlights. Fortunately, the baby blues gradually faded over time; and once I got my bearings (and a little more sleep at night) life seemed “normal” again and my world was turned right-side up again. I even found ways to do ordinary chores with a baby in tow. For instance, I found a way to cook while rocking baby in the infant carrier using my foot! I learned to wash dishes, dust, and vacuum with one hand while holding baby in the other.

These days, as a mother of three, my multitasking skills are always put to the test. At home, I bounce from child to child, activity to activity. All of my senses are on overdrive. My ears are tuned in to Joseph’s piano playing; my eyes and lips follow the words on Mary’s book; my brain is focusing on a math problem that Danielle needs help with; and my hands are busy stirring a pot or chopping vegetables. On the road, the children and I talk about anything under the sun and I am peppered with stories and remarks. My brain undergoes mental gymnastics as I respond to each of them as attentively as I can. Danielle says, “Oh mommy, there were French exchange students at our school today and everyone was following them around. Celeste gave one of them a hug (giggle).” “Did you meet any of them?” I ask. Then Joseph says, “I played basketball at recess today. But Jordan never passes the ball and it’s not fair.” “That’s great, but it’s too bad Jordan doesn’t pass the ball. Who else was on your team?” I reply. Just then Mary chimes in excitedly, “Mommy! Mommy! That man is riding a bike without a helmet!” And to this I respond, “Tsk, tsk, he really should wear a helmet, shouldn’t he? A helmet will keep him safe in case he falls.” It is almost like being in a Seinfeld episode, and I can’t help but be amused.

As mothers, we become a hybrid of sorts: part teacher, counselor, spiritual leader, cheerleader, chauffeur, life coach, nurse, psychologist, problem-solver, caretaker, playmate, and friend. The list goes on. In retrospect, I realize that multitasking has always been a part of my life with a few subtle changes. For instance, I used to read the newspaper while having breakfast. These days, I also read Mother Goose nursery rhymes while Mary eats her breakfast. On leisurely afternoons, I used to take up a hobby or paint my fingernails. Today, playing board games, coloring, and painting are our leisure activities. And just as I knead dough to make biscuits for dinner, I also knead Play-Doh.

It’s amazing how these subtle changes make such a remarkable difference in our lives; but more importantly, in the lives of our children.

Here’s another take on motherhood from the “William Tell Overture Mom”. If this is your first time seeing this video clip, you’re in for a treat. If you’ve seen it before, it is definitely worth seeing again!