A Smile Lights up the World

Being a mother is one of the greatest joys I have ever known. Every moment is an adventure, especially at my son's age, because he is exploring and learning new things all the time, even when I don't think he is paying attention.

My relationship with him is very physical; we are constantly running and chasing, doing flips, tickles, marching around the house, playing hide-and-go-seek, and laughing until we cry! I love it and wouldn't have it any other way! I thank God that I am young and have the energy to play with him like that. His sweet and innocent smile just lights up my whole world. He is truly a blessing from God, fashioned to give me utter delight!

When I was pregnant with Giancarlo, actually even before I knew I was, it was October 27th, my birthday, and Carlos gave me one white rose. Now, instead of being grateful for how romantic that was, I was mad that after everything, a single white rose was the best he could do. I was feeling sorry for myself and throwing a pity-party as I pulled out of the driveway to head to my mom's house. For those of you who don't believe God speaks, let me just reassure you, he does. Because in that moment, in spite of my irrational reaction to a perfectly beautiful and acceptable gift, God told me, "I'm going to give you a better gift." Now at that time, I didn't know what that meant except Carlos' rose wasn't the last word on my day. So I waited, all day, for something better than a rose. But nothing happened. That night when I laid down, I was mad; mad at Carlos and mad at God. But I wasn't patient enough because exactly one week later I discovered I was pregnant. And how badly I had wanted a baby! Then I knew he was God's gift to me, to us. It wasn't a birthday gift, it was the gift of new life.

Later on in the pregnancy, I was probably about 8 months along, I dropped Carlos off at work and on my way home God gave me a vision of a little boy, probably about 2 years old, running away from me to the other side of the room, curls bouncing. He stopped and turned around to look at me with a wide grin and giggled. The laugh echoed and the smile lit up the shadows. I started to cry just imagining the great gift God had given me.

To this day, remembering that is enough to bring tears to my eyes. Only, then I didn't realize how true that vision was until now. Giancarlo is 1 year and 7 months old, and I have, countless times, seen him run from me then turn around to make sure I am still chasing him, squeal in delight when he sees me, then keep right on going until I catch him. And his smile always pulls one straight out of me. Always.

By the way, his name means "God's gracious gift." I didn't find out until he was several weeks old because we changed it from Joseph to Giancarlo in the delivery room after he was born. And that, my friends, is a true story! Be blessed!

Wayward Wednesday

You know how some people can go on and on and on? Come on now, don’t judge me. You know exactly who I am talking about. Everyone has them in their life; everyone knows an “on-and-on-er.” Love them or hate them. I think that most of them don’t realize they are talking endlessly on a subject that their victim isn’t even remotely interested in, and they feed off of the polite “Oh, really?” responses while the poor listener waits for the chatter-box to take a break. Now can you relate? Of course you can! Without a doubt you have been on one side or the other of a conversation like that.

There are also those “on-and-on-ers” who realize their fondness for excruciating detail can be unnerving to some but they just can’t help it. Try as they might to keep it short, sweet and to-the-point, before they know it, they are drowning their listener in the “who, what, why, when and where’s” of the story, often chasing rabbit trails and getting lost along the way.

I know because I am one. My mom is too and I probably inherited it from her. Don’t ever ask us a question or for advice because we will give you a twenty minute explanation when a simple “yes” or “no” would have sufficed. And when we get to talking, watch out! My husband is a bottom–liner and advised me that after 3 minutes, he quits listening and assumes the conclusion!

Now, I’m guessing, if you’ve made it this far into the story, you are an “on-and-on-er” too, because you like details and background history before actually getting to the point! Well, here’s the inspiration for this post: I just came into contact with a fellow lover-of-details on the phone at work. While her story was intriguing, there wasn’t anything I could do to help her, but she wouldn’t let me go because she was so caught up in the details of her recent experience! It ended up being an unnecessary thirty-minute phone call.

Oh well! And that’s my Wayward Wednesday for today! Happy Hump Day! Catch ya later!

Orchids and Patience... The Story of My Life!

In case you’re wondering, this is the story of my life, my mission statement if you will. You know, the one thing that every company has, but they never actually reach, although they always keep faith that one day they will get there. That’s me. I’m always overlooking the orchids in frantic search for a perfect rose and I am the most impatient gal in the world! J But I am obsessed with orchids and in love with patience. Some day…

My dear ole Daddy is the one who always told me about the orchids. It was always the same but told a little different every time. It went a little something like this:

               There was once a man who set out in search for a perfect rose. He searched and searched, looking carefully over each and every one. After exhausting himself with the search, and finally settling on a rose that was acceptable, though still not perfect, he accepted defeat. When he looked up, ready to move on, he found exactly what he was searching for! Right there in front of him, out of place amid the bed of roses, was the most beautiful orchid he had ever seen.

The moral of the story? Don’t get so caught up and focused on finding what you consider to be perfect that you miss the beauty that’s right before your eyes. Now in reality, this is based on a song called “I Overlooked an Orchid,” although, I didn't know that until I was an adult. The song is about a lover, but I've found it to be true in every aspect of life.

And what about patience? Well, ironically, it takes extreme patience to care for and grow an orchid. Something I've never been able to do, as I always kill them with amazing skill. Maybe it’s due to my lack of patience! Just ask my husband, I am forever driving him crazy with my impatient antics. When I get something in my mind, I have to do it right then. With me, there’s no such thing as waiting for something to pan out, having faith that God will work it out, waiting for circumstances to change, planning, etc. I want it now. And just the way I see it in my mind’s eye. But reality always gives me those gentle nudges, and sometimes not-so-gentle nudges (i.e. a brick wall) reminding me that I've run away from patience and its virtues again.

So here’s to life and growing, learning and experiences, on this journey God’s given me called life. It’s not the destination, but how you get there.