9/11

Yesterday the weather was gorgeous and my girls happened to take an extra long nap. So.. I sat in the back yard with my journal and had a great time of thinking and catching up on life. It was much needed.

At one point I was thinking about Sept 11 and the 10 year memorial. I was actually flying into Germany 10 years ago on Sept 11. Shortly after we landed I was tired from jet lag and taking a snooze when our friends woke us up and made us go to the tv to see what was going on. It was so surreal. It was especially surreal not even being in the USA while all this was going on. The Germans were amazing and comforting and so compassionate. We were traveling with our band Warrior Poets (my husband used to play with a band that traveled around). It ended up being our last tour we did as a band and I will never forget it and the impact it had on our lives.

So, here I am 10 years later. I am a mom. I live in a safe neighborhood. My kids have no idea what terrorism means as they happily went to bed tonight with full tummies and a fun day under the belt. We have so many freedoms. I can read and write and have access to just about any resources I could possibly need. I can drive. I have a husband who values me as a partner in life. The list goes on.

I don't know anyone personally affected by 9/11, yet my heart can't help to be stirred. I think about the losses. I think about the heros. I think about the evil. I think about redemption and hope.

I remember as a kids going to lots of memorials. Greeks do a great job of honoring those who have departed.
(Of course as a kid the best part was the snack we received- a traditional wheat berry dish with raisins and powered sugar.)
As I have grown older I have come to appreciate memorials as a time to remember and share perspectives. They are a time to cling to life and make sure it is lived to the fullest.

So, while I pray for God's comfort to wash over the 9/11 families and individuals affected, I am also reminded to live my life today with no guarantee for tomorrow. To enjoy life and make the most of whatever moments I have. I am going to bed tonight with a full and thankful heart. I will wake up tomorrow ready to live dreams and take moments to look directly into the eyes of my family, to give lots of hugs and kisses. To live the life given to me.

Thank you God for life. What a precious gift!

End of Summer & Anniversary

The end of summer has arrived. Whew! (It was good, don't get me wrong. But I am super duper excited for Fall)

This Sunday will be our 2 year anniversary as a church. Looking back it seems like WAY longer. It's hard to believe all the people we've met and lives that we've connected with in just 2 years.

Two summers ago we had arrived in Madison and met with a handful of people in our apartment living room talking about our vision for Madison Vineyard Church. Now we have a vibrant group of people who call MVC their church home. Each Sunday is full of new people to meet & stories to hear. I never get tired of hearing people's stories and their spiritual journeys. It is one of the best things ever.

As we get ready to launch year 3, I feel grounded on one hand and completely full of faith on the other hand. We have no idea what this year will hold, but I know in my heart it will be good. We feel momentum and favor and JOY.

Bring on the Fall!

Sophie Turns 1

My little Sophie had her first birthday in June.

We actually had an early birthday party in Texas with our family there.







Then our cousins from St. Louis visited and we had a 2nd birthday party going to a water park at the Wisconsin Dells and having a blast swimming, playing and hanging out with them.




I love my Sophia Analise. (or more affectionately known as Sophie, Soph-Soph, Sofa, and Sofamatic)
Her smile brightens my dad and her joy is absolutely contagious!

Summer Fun part 1

Considering I am digging out our long sleeve shirts today and transitioning to the Fall, I thought it would be time for some summer updates.

We've been able to travel and see family and friends during the beginning of our summer, which is always great.
Chris' cousin got married in Texas, so we had the chance to go there for the wedding.

(Chris lavishing his love on his younger brother AJ)




It was the first time for Sophie to meet most of her cousins in St. Louis and my first time to meet my cousin's beautiful twins!







We also went to Chicago to visit my dad's sister, Georgia.



Very thankful for all the loving family in our lives.

K M

Life has been really good lately.

There's certain seasons where you feel like you are in a good rhythm of life and I am thankfully in one of those right now.

Chris and I talk about having "kingdom moments". It's when we are experiencing life as it was meant to be.

We seem to be having quite a lot of them lately. (or maybe we are just more aware of them)

Every day I stop myself and recognize these "K M" happening...

Looking at beautiful flowers and taking them in

Playing at night with the girls and enjoying their childhood imaginations

Eating food and really taking time to notice the spices and tastes

Hugging my husband and feeling so close to another human being

Listening to music that lifts my soul and sets my feet tapping

Enjoying a hot shower, knowing that many in the world have to carry their water from a well in buckets just to wash dishes

Going to a grocery store with every possible choice in foods right at my fingertips

Sharing conversation with thoughtful people

Sleeping in til 9:30 because my sweet husband took care of the girls (felt like summer time as a kid when i could sleep in as late as I wanted.. i LOVE sleeping in!)

On and on..

Life is full of KM lately.
Beautiful.

Easter 2011

We've been trying to explain to Liliana what Easter means and why we celebrate it.

We have a children’s Bible and so we turned to the crucifixion and resurrection stories.

Liliana looked at the picture of Jesus on the cross and she was
stunned the first time she saw it.

She said, “Jesus has ouchies? Why does Jesus have ouchies?"

It was this mystery to her.


I quickly thought, how do explain why Jesus has ouchies to a 3 year old?

I basically said something like- Jesus isn’t on the cross anymore. He is alive and he is our king that we worship.

That seemed to be enough to satisfy her curiosity for the moment.
But everytime we got out her Bible to read at night, she kept wanting to flip to that page in the bible and stare at it.


Then about a week later, Liliana came to me and asked:
-Mommy, when Jesus was on the cross, was he in a time out?

-Yes, he was in a time out. That’s a great way to put it.

- When He got out of time out was He a good listener?

- Well, Jesus always did what his Father told him to do, so He was always a good listener. But he took a time out for us, for the times we don’t listen and we don’t walk in love.




At first I thought it was just a cute conversation. But then it dawned on me that The Holy Spirit is speaking to my kid. He is explaining the atonement in 3 year old terminology. Jesus took a time out for my daughter Liliana.

It got me thinking how the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. I love that God can reveal his love in the most simple terms to a 3 year old and also lead adults into truth that speaks at a different level.

It has been amazing to watch my daughter's own relationship with God start to form. She is very aware of God. I pray that she will have her own relationship and desire to follow him. As parents we want to be role models and show her how amazing it is to live life with Jesus at the center. But it is her own choice to follow Him. I'm excited to see it continue to unfold for her.

Hello Long Lost Blog

Hello Long Lost Blog...

There comes a point in blogging when you have neglected for so long that you aren't quite sure how to jump back in..

So...I guess I'll share some highlights from the past few weeks:

Family Trip to MN (actually a business trip that girls attended with us.) Fortunately our girls love to travel and be in hotels. Traveling is going to very much be part of their lives since all our family lives outside WI. So, it's a good thing they are up for adventures.




We also had a tour of the local fire station,







Dance party with Daddy- the girls LOVE it when Chris plays guitar and they can dance around the living room.





Lots of food parties with friends the past few weeks- Pakistani night, Asian night, Irish night, Home made pizza night and good ol' American comfort food night.




This will at least get me thinking about my blog.. more writing this week.