Martini Reads!

This school year has been quite wonderful with all the things Martini has been learning at school, but most of all, it’s been a lot of fun discovering the wonders of reading with him. He loves to read signs while we are driving, books, and any word he happens to see while we are out and about. It’s such a neat thing to see your little one discover reading and all the things out there to read. I remember this realization when I was learning to read. I started reading the store signs and different posters on the windows. It was like a whole new world to me. I don’t enjoy reading like I wish I did. But, I sure do hope that Martini loves it more and more as he grows up. I think it is an admirable trait.

Well, some grateful recipients of Martini’s new skill are his siblings. Here is Martini reading to Ethan and Carmelita this morning. I was in the kitchen and found them all sitting down to a great book and laughing at the pictures and story. I was so proud of this moment. I hope that there are many more to come!!!

New Kitchen Sink

MyLove so lovingly installed a new sink for me in January. Our previous sink was a white acrylic sink that had so many ugly stains in it and various chips. It was quite unsightly. Well, MyLove found this most awesome sink that is a granite composite and also a beautiful faucet to go along with it.

Our little Carmelita is our water baby. She has probably not missed any more than 20-30 baths in her entire two years of life. She loooooves her bath time, and she does not settle down without one. She gets quite grumpy actually and even reminds us of bathtime before bed sometimes.

Well, the other night, I decided to give her a bath in the sink, and she was in water heaven. It combines her two most favorite things: acting like she is washing the dishes and taking a bath. Oh, she just loved it. We have given her a bath in the sink again and now she sees the sink and the water running and tries taking off her clothes to get in or points to the water and says, “Bass, bass!” (for bath, bath )






Thank you, Honey, for my most splendid sink! You are my hunky handy man!

"Taken"

Last night, after my time at Starbucks, I came home and met MyLove. We got dressed up and went on our date to Thai Cottage for some awesome curry beef and shrimp and scallop skewers. We then headed to Target for a pint of ice cream and went to see the movie "Taken."

What an intense movie it is! MyLove and I were gripped the entire movie. It is a despairing premise but you leave the theatre feeling like it ended well. Yet, MyLove and I were impacted by the injustice and reality of the underground sex slave industry. We had seen a special on this a while back on PBS and were so impacted. When we came home, we prayed that if the Lord wanted to use us somehow, that He would. It is all so overwhelming, to think that we could actually have some kind of impact in this large, dark world, but we do know that we can pray. Our hearts were also brought to prayer after seeing the movie "Blood Diamond" and the cruelty of forcing children to become soldiers.

These issue lay so heavily on my heart, and MyLove's heart. Again, it is overwhelming because we have such a strong desire to do something. But, where do you start? How do you get the ball rolling? What to do first?

Before we were married, one of the biggest aspects that drew us together was our desire to one day live somewhere internationaly and share the Love of Christ. Well, we continue to pray for this and just wait on the Lord. It's all so unsure. We know we have this desire, but we don't want to jump the gun and take things into our own hands without letting the Lord lead. We do not want to be a mission field casualty - one who goes in too quickly and gets burnt out and never wants to do it again, or worse, ruin our testimony and lead others away from Christ.

All this to say, when we hear of these things: sex slavery, children soldiers, the children sex trade (running rampant especially since the tsunami in December of 2004), we ask the Lord what He wants us to do. Maybe these are the venues He will want us to be a part of to rescue those who are helpless, give a voice to the voiceless, shelter and care for the motherless/fatherless.

However the Lord leads, we know this. We can pray our hearts out! And that is what we'll do!

A Blessed Respite

So, this week, Martini is on spring break. My mom so lovingly offered to take the kids for a few days while I relaxed and enjoyed some time by myself and alone with my fantastic Love! Right now, I am at Starbuck writing this post in my comfy leather chaise lounge (I know, isn’t that wonderful? It’s the first time I’ve seen one of these at a Starbucks.) I am conveniently tucked away in this little nook with three walls about me and my feet pointing out toward the open space. It’s wonderful. I praise the Lord for this time. It’s been so sweet. I have had uninterrupted time in the Word soaking in beautiful truths and taken my time cross-referencing, going off on rabbit-trails and reading whatever fluttered my heart. What bliss! I long for this experience for everyone.

Martini, Ethan, and Carmelita are all spending the night at mom’s tonight and then tomorrow I will pick up Carmelita. The boys will stay there another night and I will pick them up on Thursday!

Tonight, when MyLove gets home, we are going to see a movie (either “Taken” or “The International”), and then who knows. Just be together. What bliss! My heart is overflowing with anticipation and excitement and gratefulness.

Here’s to blissful times. I hope that your day has been wonderful!

My "Important Job"

I was cleaning off the cutting board about to make dinner when Ethan says, "Mommy, your job is to clean."

"That's right, Son." I said wondering if I should expound on that and let him know that we all have to clean as a family, and that Mommy can't do all the cleaning. But, I figured he was saying it since I was cleaning the cutting board and around the sink, so I just kept quiet.

"That is your job." he says.

"That is right." I respond, still wondering quickly in my head if I should again expound on this.

"You have the most important job, Mommy." My heart melted. Wow, affirmation from my four-year old. What a blessing and what encouragement to this mommy!

"Thank you, Sweetheart. It is an important job. Did Daddy tell you that?"

"No, I just know!"

Thank you Lord, for these little beings who add so much to our lives! I love them so much.

Ethan and Carmelita on the couch together. Ethan laid next to her to share his cookie with her. Such sweet moments

Chronicles of Narnia

Yesterday, Martini's school had a book fair and we bought The Chronicles of Narnia series of six books for children. Tonight, MyLove read to them the first chapter and they loooooved it. I am so excited for them to go throught this series. They are going to love it and so are we!!!

We usually read the children's Bible, a boy's devotional, Beatrix Potter, or one of many we've read over and over. This is going to be a wonderful change. What books do you read to your children? Please share!

This is Martini and Ethan with Clifford at the book fair.

Martin Ford, Jr.

So, the other day Martini's teacher calls me and tells me that Martini told her that he nolonger wants to be called Martini, but Martin now. Actually, Martin Ford, Jr. She immediately honored his request (she is awesome like that) and called him Martin. Martini's classmates told her, "that's not his name. It's Martini!" She told them that he wants to be called Martin now and the class had such a fun time calling him his new name. I got a paper back and he so nicely wrote out his entire name.

Our little man is growing up. We always said that we would let him decide when he wanted to be called Martin, but we didn't think it would be this soon! One day, you're holding your precious one in the crook of your arm wondering what they will be like when they're older, then you blink and your little one is six years old telling you what he prefers to be called and explaining that he is his father's junior!