A Return to Normalcy...

A friend of mine who just became a new mom recently stated that she was "desperately seeking a return to normalcy." Karis is 10 months old now and the first thing that popped into my head was.... "SO AM I...!!!" I was totally empathizing with her.

Don't get me wrong. I love Karis, and ironically, I can't imagine not having her around. But still, something inside me misses being able to do as I please without the responsibility of caring for an infant. I miss getting up and going... just going. No bags to pack, no formula to remember, etc., etc., etc. I wake up when I want, I go to sleep when I want. If I want to make a quick run to Starbucks I just wanna go! No feeding, dressing, changing, burping, or any other "ing" associated with babies and their care. I JUST WANNA GO!!!

What if I wanna take some classes? Go back to work? Attend a workshop? Take a walk? Take a shower? Will I ALWAYS have to have baby in tow and/or look for daycare that costs as much as a BMW? When will things go back to normal? Will they EVER go back to normal?

Then the answer hit me like a ton of bricks... No. Things will never be the same as they were before Karis. I sit and let that thought marinate.... "Life as you have known it, Rosie, will never be the same again." I thought to myself. For about 6.25 seconds I sank into a state of moderate depression.

I had a choice then to just sit and sulk and throw a pity party. Of which I happen to throw the best pity party in the western hemisphere (my personal opinion). But no, I resolved not to sulk, to put away the streamers and balloons of the "poor me" party and create a NEW NORMAL.

Karis has brought so much joy to my world. She's a great responsibility and I want to make sure I am the best mom I can be for her. So as a new mother I've been learning what MY "New Normal" is. It's a work in progress and is evolving with every new day and new challenge that comes my way. But it's exciting to be able to explore this "new normal" and to experience all of it's twists and turns.

Every new day I am learning to depend more and more on the Lord and this new journey of my "new normal" called, Motherhood. I've always been a pretty self sufficient person. So depending on the Lord or anyone else for that matter has always been a challenge for me. I'm thankful that He is understanding and grateful for his patience.

Our Sabbath: Stop... Rest...

Today Richard, Karis and I observed our traditional Monday Sabbaths. I used to understand sabbath as... well, Sunday- A day to go to the house of the Lord and worship him, listen to a sermon and fellowship with other believers. But it is so much more.

On our Sabbath, our family takes the time to stop, rest, delight and contemplate. This has been something that I have found a little confusing and frankly have a hard time doing. For now, I have been concentrating and pondering "Stop" and "Rest" and what that means in my life. Here are my thoughts:

• We stop working, acknowledging that He is the source of everything we have. By nature I'm what some would call "workaholic". I prefer the phrase "strong work ethic". When I am committed to something I work at it until it is done and done well. At one point in my life I found myself working so hard I didn't/couldn't attend church during the week... at all. I was working as if my life depended on me working and "killing myself" to make things work. So when it comes time to stop... we are acknowledging that we are not God... but HE IS! The world will not come to an end if I stop what ever work, task, errand I have on my very long to do list. We stop to acknowledge that HE IS THE LORD, and He doesn't need my help to make the world go 'round.
• We rest in God's care, to experience His grace in a new way. Resting in Christ has allowed me to really dwell on the fact that, I am unconditionally and deeply loved by Christ, even if I never do another thing "for the Lord". Some may have a real problem with that statement. I know I have struggled, and still am struggling with that. I was a business major in college and began my professional career in an environment where you are what you do. So now coming to a place where we are to rest in the fact that we are loved and accepted even if I don't do another thing... that is difficult. Even in many church cultures, one of the first things we talk people about is all the ministries we are in and all of the things we are doing for the Lord. Although, doing ministry for the Lord is good it can easily become a long laundry list of "look at all the things I'm doing 'for the Lord'." But NO... I don't have to do anything, and I won't be loved any less by God if I never do another thing.

It has been a great day, today. Being conscious of stopping all of the work I do as a stay at home wife and mother (e.g. household management and planning). Resting in the fact that I am loved by God and my world is in His hands. And I am learning to delight by enjoying my husband, my daughter and in anything else that gives me life (more to come on this topic in a future post), and to contemplate and remember the Lords omnipresence in my everyday life.

"What is the sabbath? A weekly day of rest and worship. A day to cease working
relax in God's care for us. A day to stop the things that occupy our workdays
and participate in activities that nurture peace, worship, relationships, celebration
and thankfulness. The purpose of the sabbath is to clear away the distractions
of our lives so we can rest in God and experience God's grace in a new way."

~Lynne M. Baab, SABBATH KEEPING

Weighing In...

I track my weight every Thursday morning and guess what... I gained 1.5 lbs! How disappointing. On top of that I had a really tough day today and just gave in to a can of Coca Cola and some Chinese Food... *sigh*

I have to admit though that can o' coke was soooooooooooooo good! (Haven't had anything but water for a while now.

Here's to the rest of the Weekend and next week!

Tears for a country in need...

As many of you know Haiti was hit by a devastating 7.0 earthquake. Just thinking about the country and the lack of rescources they had before the earthquake and now after this disaster.... My heart aches for the people of Haiti.

My prayer is that the Lord would provide them with an overwhelming amount of aid from across the world. I pray for healing, physical, emotional, and mental healing. I pray that they will be able to rebuild quickly and better than before. That against all odds they will find more people than expected alive and doing well. That is my prayer.

I pray for life and restoration... I pray for Haiti...

Losing Weight in 2010

I gave birth to Karis 8 months ago, and I'm still carrying all that "baby fat" around with me. I went online to determine my BMI (body mass index) and what that means for me and my health. It turns out because I am only 4'11" I am just entering the obese category, putting me at risk for health issues including heart problems. So, in December, I decided to join Weight Watchers.... just before the holiday's! What was I thinking?! I should I have waited until after I've had my Pernil, pie, turkey, pasta, arroz con gandules, etc, etc, etc.

The good news is I have lost 6 lbs since December 17th!!!! I'm feeling motivated and excited to get to my ideal and healthy weight! Woo Hoo!

P.S. I'm also excited to follow a new blog called Diet Buddy! http://dietbuddy2010.blogspot.com/ It has been encouraging to know I'm not alone on my journey.

Reflections on Christmas

What a wonderful Christmas I had! Family, Friends, and Food! This Christmas Eve we spent at my parents house and we opened our Secret Santa Gifts from one another and ate some delicious Arroz con Pollo! And then in the evening Richard, Karis, my parents and I attended New Life Fellowships Christmas Eve Candlelight service. On Christmas morning Richard, Karis and I opened gifts, ate breakfast, spent the day together and went over to Veronica's new house for Christmas Dinner with family and friends.

As I reflect on this Christmas season all I can say is that God is so generous and loving. I've had a rough couple of years as I've had to face some challenging situations. But the Lord has blessed me with an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, and great family and friends.

It has been tough, financially, recently because I had lost my job 3 months into my pregnancy and haven't been able to obtain employment since then. We have had to learn to adjust to living on one income while expecting an additional member to our little family. But in the midst of it all, God has been teaching us to re-prioritize, get organized and plan ahead. All while blessing us with a great Christmas of giving and receiving gifts. I am so thankful for the blessed people in our church. Many have given us Christmas wishes, delicious Christmas treats, gifts for Karis and for Richard and I. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Here are some pictures from this past Christmas season:

CORRECTION ON PREVIOUS POST: "Married with Children..." Post

CORRECTION!
Sorry for the delay. But this just occurred to me today:
I stated that Mick Jagger was in the rock band Aerosmith. He's not. Steven Tyler is.

Don't ask me why I made that connection... I have no idea! :)