Food Tour

This past month we've had some fun food experiences. Babysitters have been coming out of the wood work, so we have been taking full advantage.

Our food tour started off with a hole in the wall Vietnamese place near our old neighborhood. There's about 10 tables in the restaurant and it's owned by an older couple. When we went for lunch, the Vietnamese man stopped and talked to us each time he brought something to our table. His wife was in the kitchen cooking and you could tell he was so proud of his wife as he bragged about her food. The food was delicious. The word we kept using was fresh- everything tasted so fresh. We loved eating the food, while hearing this old man tell us about the homemade sauces his wife made and seeing his cute personality and pride in his family business.

Last week we had some of our friends treat us to dinner at a new Mexican restaurant. It more like a Mexican bistro type place verses your typical place with mariache band playing in the background and pinatas hanging from the wall. The presentation of the food was art and the flavors bold. It was yummy- especially the sangrias. One thing that stood out to us was actually in the bathroom. They had old black and white photos of wedding pictures (we're assuming it was the owner's parents) hanging in there. Again, the touch of food and family- we loved it.

This week we went for Greek food. One of the Greek Orthodox churches in town hosts a luncheon every Friday where they cook up some good Greek grub. I've heard about it, but have never gone, so we ventured out there. As soon as I stepped in the door a whiff of incense hit my nostrils and I immediately thought of my childhood. Greeks love to have actual incense in their services as a representation of our prayers. You have to get used to it, otherwise you'd probably get a head ache every week. Anyway, we satisfied my Greek craving and on the way out we noticed the bulletin board: "Lambs for sale for Easter. Call ..." Seriously, where else will you find a bulletin board advertising lambs? I'm sure Gus or Pete or whoever is selling the lambs will sell out this Easter. Every Greek home has one cooking away come Easter morning. I used to love my dad's lamb he made at the holiday.

So, it has been a fun month having our own little "Taste of St. Louis". Lots of variety, good food and creative atmospheres.

Zoo

We took Liliana to the zoo for the first time this week. Fun. I just love to hear her giggle when she gets excited. Sometimes she gets so worked up she almost has to gasp for breath.

Besides the pufkins and wanting to climb in the water with them, I think the second high light of her day was eating snacks next to this animal that was a cross between a zebra and I don't know what. The bottom half was striped black and white and top half was brown. Interesting little creature. Oh yeah, she did try to kiss the glass where the monkeys played until Mommy pulled her away. Gross germs..

All in all it was a fun morning at the zoo.

Part 2

Last week I was struck by the word delight. This week I am too, only in a completely different context…

I was reading what Paul had to say in 2 Cor 12-
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I had to re-read it.. I DELIGHT in weakness…

This takes on an entirely different context for me. I admit that I don’t delight at all in my weakness. In fact, I don’t like them at all. Yet, it is my very weakness which is the threshold for Christ’s power resting in me. If I didn’t have weakness or hardship in my life, why would I have to lean on Christ and press into hear His voice and see Him work things out? If I sincerely want His power in my life, then there is no other option but to delight in weakness. It is in that place that an exchange happens, where I admit my need for Jesus and He rescues me.

Same with Liliana.. she is just a toddler and is weak. The other day she was playing with her toys and her foot got stuck in her little storage container. She tried as hard as she could to get free, but she was too weak. She cried to me for help and I was able to rescue her. She didn’t try to hide her weakness or difficulty; she knew I could rescue her if she just cried out to me in her struggle.

Same with Chris.. if I didn’t have difficult days or weak moments, when would he have opportunity to hold me and encourage me and be my “knight” to save the day? All he would have would be an independent wife living a separate life, instead of being one and leaning on her beloved.

So, I am re-thinking this word delight and hopefully I can learn to delight in all things.

DELIGHT

The other day Chris told me that he delighted in me. He often affirms me, but there was something different about this particular compliment. It was a word of life that went deep into my core and something I find myself meditating on the next days to follow.

My concept of the word delight has changed since I have a daughter. When I am with her I find myself constantly pausing to declare how cute she is or to watch her and smile at what she does. Just seeing her walk around the house with her big cloth diaper butt sticking out or her hair that sprouts on one side when she wakes up from her nap brings me joy. At night, before Chris and I say our good night prayers, we talk about the cute things Liliana did that day and just delight in her together.

Then there’s her delight.. she finds joy in the simplest pleasures. A few days ago I took a bunch of her different colored socks and put them in a Ziploc bag and she had a ball taking the socks out, putting them back in. She played with it over and over again. I don’t know what the “Toy of the Year” was that they advertise in those parenting magazines, but I don’t think it held a candle to “Socks A La Ziploc”.

Then of course there is Jesus’ delight.. both His delight in me and my delight in Him. Often I’ll be driving or going about my day and just sense Jesus’ smile. What an amazing feeling and gift!

So, I am thankful for the word choice Chris used in expressing his love for me the other day. I still like to hear him say the standard, “I love you”, but “I delight in you” spoke such a fresh breath of life into my entire being. :-)