Spicy Magnolia

Compassion by Command: A Start

God is trying to get my attention on something. How do I know that? Well, for the past few weeks, a common theme has been reoccurring in the things that I read, the things that I listen to, and conversations I’ve had with friends without any effort or intention on my part. We are taking a class called “Compassion by Command” at church, and we met together for the first time last Sunday. But the week prior to meeting and even into this past week, the theme of compassion for the poor and the unlovely has reverberated throughout my heart and mind. I can’t escape it. And it’s obvious the Lord doesn’t want me to. There is something that He wants me to know, to enter into experience with Him when it comes to compassion.

Ya’ll, I am not even going to begin to broach this subject with you. At least not yet. Because one of the reasons I was interested in the “Compassion by Command” class is because I run a deficit in compassion towards the poor. I see them. But I don’t. I want to do something. But I’m too scared too. Or don’t know where to begin. Or am afraid I'm going to mess up and make things worse. As I drive through town with Brennan in the back seat, my eyes and heart are awakened to the world on a whole new level. I hope we will teach him well how to love the poor. But do I? I pray he will give of himself to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked. But do I? It’s time for some shakin’ up, for some change in my heart, and it’s quite apparent that the Lord is the One initiating this in me.

Here's a place to start for me to start. I may not live in Nashville or L.A., but I can still watch the live stream. And I can still make the effort to not forget what happened:

Help Haiti February 27th - HelpHaitiLive.com from Compassion International on Vimeo.

You can buy tickets to an event in Nashville or L.A., or you can go here and watch the live stream on February 27th to see artists such as Amy Grant, LeAnn Rimes, Rebecca St. James, and Jars of Clay.

Moved in Compassion

While reading Mark 8 this morning, I was struck by the part where Jesus was followed by a large crowd who had nothing to eat, and He was so moved in compassion for the people that He couldn’t bear the thought of sending them away hungry, for they’d faint. In the Message version, it says Jesus’ heart was broken over seeing the hungry. His feelings toward those in need moved Him to action, the action of taking seven loaves of bread and a few fish to feed four thousand people until they were satisfied and full. Running undoubtedly to the forefront of my mind while reading this passage: the nation of Haiti.

I see pictures of the devastation, but I cannot grasp the effects of what one British geophysicist described as matching that of several nuclear bombs.

While I woke up to fresh, running water; electricity; a standing home; and a family for whom I could account, there were thousands upon thousands in Haiti who are experiencing just the opposite.

I haven’t known what action I can take to help or even how to pray. But throughout the past 24 hours, various opportunities have presented themselves that I thought I’d pass along to you in case you weren’t aware.

Two wonderful organizations that have set up disaster relief funds are Compassion and World Relief, both of which are monitored and rated by CharityNavigator.org. It also takes a quick moment to leave a comment on someone’s blog. Both Kelly and The Pioneer Woman are giving $1 and $.10 respectively for each comment you leave on their blogs. The Pioneer Woman is also doing a special giveaway of charitable donations through your comments. Just click on the links I provided you. And yes, pray. Pray.

I do not understand why these disasters happen and cannot fathom the magnitude of grief and despair that hovers over that nation right now. But there is One who will supply all of the needs of the people of Haiti. The same One who in the passage of Mark was broken hearted, moved to compassion over those He saw in need. And He provided. Tangibly. Until they were full.

In that same manner, may we give generously to those in need, and in His great mercy and compassion, may Jesus comfort all of the people affected by the earthquake in Haiti; nourish their souls with His strength; bring them peace; and in the midst of their anguish, shine rays of hope.

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

 Matthew 25:34-36

This and That

• When I wrote about Brennan’s bed-head here, I wasn’t kidding around:

• I’m going to be scarce around here for the next week or two (like I’m not already), but we have some fun travel adventures ahead of us!  At least Brennan and I do; Matt has to stay at home to bring home the bacon.  We’re ever so grateful!!  First, Brennan and I might venture up to Dallas on Saturday with my folks to visit my aunt and uncle and my grandfather.  Then on Monday, I’m flying solo with the babe to El Paso to visit my dear, dear friend, Corrie, who is in town from Jordan with her baby boy, Guy!!!  Ya’ll, I can’t tell you how excited I am!  We weren’t expecting to get to see each other for at least another year, but we have been so blessed by this unexpected gift to see each other and meet our baby boys, who are only four months apart.  And well, I’m opting NOT to take the computer!  I can always use a good separation from it every now and then.

• The three of us joined our special friends, Jimbo, Beth and little Amelia for breakfast last Saturday at The Omelettry.  I once again devoured two humungous chocolate chip pancakes, two eggs, and three (or was is it four?) slices of bacon.  How was it that I left still feeling hungry and wishing they’d given me three pancakes, I will never know.  I’ve gotta do something about this appetite of mine or I’m going to be in hot diggity dog trouble!  I loved these pictures that Beth took:

 

 

• Football starts next weekend!!!  And I have a surprise for Uncle Mac.  I’ll just leave it at that for now.

• Most importantly and least trivial of all my other “this and that’s” is a prayer request once again for our dear friends, Robert and Aimee.  I first wrote about their journey walking through Robert’s treatment for testicular cancer here.  The update they received in April was very good, but late July, they discovered the cancer has come back with aggressive force.   They moved at rapidly fast pace to get Robert up to Indiana to start high doses of chemo and stem cell transplants to help him survive such high doses of chemo while Aimee went back to her parents’ place with her two little girls to await their birth of their son, who was born this very afternoon!  If you want frequent updates and to view Robert’s videos, visit “Fighting Back”.  They have a tough, tough journey ahead of them, but God is able!  I know you all have prayed before and I humbly ask you to keep praying for them.  If you’re on Facebook, there is a group called “Pray for Robert Feuille and his amazing family” that you can sign up for and it has specific prayer requests as well.  Thank you. 

God’s blessings, dear friends.

 

Prayer Updates

I'll be brief, but I wanted to update you on the people I've asked you to pray about recently.

First, our friend with testicular cancer that spread to his liver and lungs is doing well!  His liver function is improving and the tumor markers have significantly decreased since starting chemotherapy.  He's lost a lot of weight and is dealing with persistent vomiting, but the news from their end has been really encouraging and hopeful!

Five month old Stellan is scheduled for his risky heart surgery tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. EST (unless it gets moved up to tonight because of some latest developments...which are not good).  You can go here to read more about the surgery and specifics on how to pray.  Isn't he precious!?  I know their family would covet your prayers for this dear one and the road that lies ahead the next twenty-four hours, in particular. 

Thank you all so much for your prayers; they do not go unheard!

God’s love is meteoric, His loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, His verdicts oceanic. Yet in His largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks. How exquisite Your love, O God!
Psalm 36:5-7a, The Message

Blown Away

Well, I obviously didn't get to blog this past week like I thought I might.  We had a great time in Celina (more about that later), but our trip was sadly cut short because the little boy came down with his first virus.  After calling our pediatrician on Friday afternoon and telling her the symptoms he was having, she had us make an ER trip to the nearest children's hospital.  After following blogs about sick kiddos lately, I struggled keeping my mind fear-free.  It's one thing to go to the doctor's office; it's another thing to be told to go to the ER (even if it was just because we were out of town and that was our only option).

Our first ER experience couldn't have gone any better:  what was an 8 hour wait earlier in the week for other patients, was for us no wait at all.  And the staff was incredibly friendly, helpful, and understanding.  After some lab work and x-rays that ruled out more serious issues, we headed back to Celina.  It was a sleepless night for us though, and since some symptoms were lingering Saturday morning, we decided it was best to head back home early.  We have a very happy baby on our hands, but we're watching him closely.  I am a bit petrified and overly worried probably.  But my baby not feeling well is NOT fun!  

I've wanted to blog about my birthday/Easter weekend for a week now.  Yikes!  The words aren't flowing like I want them too, so you're gonna have to settle for mostly pictures.  Some of you prefer that anyway.  <grin>  I cannot quite convey the gift that last weekend was.  I was loved deeply.  And this post is just gonna fall short of trying to explain all of the emotions I was feeling, but here are some of them: 

Surprised.  Awed.  Humbled.  Taken aback.  Overwhelmed (in a good, blown away kinda way...hence the post title).  Thankful.  On cloud nine.  Peaceful.  Joyful.  Elated.  Content.  Grateful.  Contemplative. 

On Friday, my parents drove in from San Antonio with my grandfather, Papa, and my aunt and cousin drove in from Dallas so we could all have lunch together and they could meet Brennan.  Brennan met his great-grandfather and it was priceless! 

My two boys waiting for the festivities to begin

Brennan meeting Papa

 

Brennan lighting up looking at Coley

Papa gave Brennan a gorgeous silver spoon with his initials on it.  It is a priceless keepsake!

Me, my Daddy & Brennan, Papa and Aunt Shell

Three special fellas

As per Matt's instructions, I had a bag packed and ready to go for my surprise getaway Friday evening.  I opted to take the middle ground when it came to a list of instructions for Pops and Meems:  it was a list that Brennan and I came up with together of things that he wanted Pops and Meems to know.  I thought it was a creative way of taking myself out of the picture and putting the list-making action on him!  (The list was referred to, by the way.)

Having no idea where we were headed, Matt and I kissed our little boy good-bye for our first night away from him and left he, Pops, and Meems together to party!  We headed into downtown Austin and pulled up to the amazing Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin hotel where my parents generously gave us one night's stay!  The first thing we did was climb on the bed and watch a few of the videos of Brennan we recorded. <grin>  It did my heart some good!  Then we walked over to a restaurant I'd never been to before but that I've heard rave reviews about:  Eddie V's.  It was sensational!  Take a look at our bananas foster upside down cake with butter pecan ice cream and a load of whip cream: 

 

(If you haven't figured it out yet, food is a central part of any celebration we have!) 

Of course, I called home to find out how everything was going.  A splendid time they were having!  Climbing into the big, comfy bed that night was such a gift.  It was a very odd realization that I didn't have a baby to tend to.  It was somewhat a challenge to completely unwind; in fact, it was as we were packing to go home the next morning that I finally felt free to relax a little more.  Matt thought it was hysterical that I said, "I should be commended for going away for a night with my husband with a 12 week old baby at home!"  I guess it sounded funny saying that I should be commended to go away with my husband.  But the later part is what should be emphasized!  It was a wonderful getaway and such a blessing!

Before heading home, we stopped at one of my favorite breakfast places:  Chez-Zee for some French toast. 

The duration of Saturday was really relaxing.  I had special one-on-one time with Daddy on a walk.  My Momma finished up working in the kitchen and we were able to rest and watch a movie.  After putting Brennan to bed, we enjoyed a fabulous beef tenderloin, a salad full of goodies, and strawberry ice cream pie!  For my birthday this year, I requested two chocolate cream pies.  One for us all to have on my birthday and the other for me to enjoy the days after my birthday.  ha!  I'm not sure I should confess this, but I ate the second pie all within two days.  Matt only had one small piece of it.  It was divine.  I mean, look how beautiful they are: 

Alleluia! Alleluia!  Alleluia!  The Lord is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

This is my most favorite picture!  Pops with baby Brennan on Easter morning.

Molly is actually posing for the picture.  <grin>

After church, we headed home for Easter brunch.  Our friends, Chris, Jill, Harrison and Haddie (the kiddos' from the last post) joined us for a feast:  deviled eggs, fruit salad, homemade muffins, sugar-glazed ham, an AMAZING chicken and artichoke casserole (I'll post the recipe sometime this week).  And shucks, I know I'm missing something!  I had so much food leftover from this weekend that I didn't have to cook nor make one grocery store run this whole week!  Harrison had a piece of the strawberry ice cream pie and declared, "This is the best strawberry ice cream pie in my whole life!"

Later that afternoon, I had the fun of opening presents!  Matt spied some plastic Easter eggs around the house on Saturday and low and behold, I was sent on an Easter egg hunt to find my parents' gift to me!  It was such fun; I can't wait to do one with Brennan next year.  The eggs held some money in them to help go towards a customized blog design!  I am SO excited!!  Now if only I could find time to regularly blog.  ha!

Finding my eggs

I was certainly blessed with special gifts:  my aunt gave me a cross my grandmother, Cita, used to love wearing (it's beautiful and looks so much like Cita); and thanks to Matt and his folks, my birthday gets to be extended with some fun spa treatments...I think that'll be in a couple of weeks.  Believe me, it won't come a moment too soon!  As a side note, I'm gonna chop my hair!  Anyone catch that?  I'm gonna CHOP my hair!

The last gift I opened revealed why Matt had been holed up in the study for so many long hours working on my birthday project.  He made a book from Shutterfly with notes of blessings and encouragement that family and friends had emailed him!  It was a masterpiece of love and sleepless nights from my dear hubby!  I was so taken aback by all of the love from friends and family that were expressed.  Humbled.  Blown away.  Speechless.  I still cannot take it all in.  Like I wrote before, it was just too much wonderful for me to comprehend.  I felt so loved and cherished.

 

Reading what my brother wrote me...and bawling

In addition to blogging, I've been trying to get all of my thank-you notes written!  I've been so blessed...I feel like I've been writing endless thank-you notes since my first baby shower last November!  <grin>

A huge shout-out goes to my wonderful hubby for all his time in planning my spectacular birthday celebration!  And one also goes out to my Momma and Daddy who labored in love the whole weekend long (and the weekend prior!).  I just don't have the words to adequately express my thanks to everyone.  It was a priceless weekend celebrating both my birthday and Easter!  I simply do not have the words.

Moved

Let me just get right down to it:  my heart is heavy.  Heavy for a 5 month little boy who is fighting for his life.  His name is Stellan.  I do not know this little boy.  But he somehow has captured my heart.  Maybe because I now have a little boy.  And there are features of this boy that remind me of Brennan.  His blue eyes for one.  His chubby rolls for another.  I can't explain why I feel the way I do about this little boy; I don't understand it myself.  Except that I'm a mommy now.  And I can't imagine.  I can't imagine being in MckMama's shoes.  And as I look at pictures of this little boy, I am deeply moved.  Moved by the Spirit of God to ask, to cry out to Jesus, for a miracle in healing him, fully and completely to grow into a big boy.  Moved and humbled that in the midst of the ups and downs, MckMama writes something like this.

As I gaze into the blue eyes of my Brennan, I long with every part of my being for little Stellan to be healed, to return to his momma's arms fully restored and healthy.  He is able.  He IS able. 

*You can click on the sidebar button "Praying for Stellan" for more background to Stellan's already amazing story...he's already a miracle baby in that he wasn't even supposed to survive in utero...but he's 5 months old!*

D.E.A.P.

D.E.A.P.:  an acronym some friends of ours living overseas came up with when they have an urgent prayer request.  Drop Everything And Pray.  That's what came to mind today after receiving a call from my Daddy about a dear family friend of ours who found out that he has metastatic lesions on his liver and lungs.  Robert is in his mid 20s.  His precious wife is Aimee.  They have two small daughters with another little one on the way.  I grew up with both Robert and Aimee.  The connection and history between my family and both Robert and Aimee's families run deep.  Robert is one of my brother's closest friends.  Please, please pray for this special family.  This has all happened so quickly; it's hard to take in.  Robert is in the hospital and undergoing immediate chemo treatments.  We are on our knees on behalf of this family right now.  Please, take a moment to drop everything and pray with us.  Thank you so much!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

I've Been Painting Pictures of Egypt

Why is it that this is my first chance to blog in days and I find myself staring at the screen with my mind running blank as to what to write?  If that's not frustrating, then I don't know what is!  ARGH.

5 minutes of staring later...

Before I forget to mention it, Matt and I watched a movie this past weekend from Netflix called The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn with Sidney Poitier.  It was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time!  Many of you may have already seen it because I guess I'm a little behind in the times:  it came out in 1999.  But if you haven't viewed it, I highly recommend this touching drama that had an endearing humorous aspect as well.  Along with Dianne Wiest and Mary-Louise Parker, the cast was delightful in all respects.

5 minute break to fix that small massive bowl of Blue Bell Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream that I've wanted to devour the past 2 days...

On our way to the doctor's office on Wednesday for Brennan's one month appointment, I was listening to Sara Groves' album Conversations.  The song "Painting a Picture of Egypt" started playing, and as I sang the words out loud, I realized how much I could relate to the lyrics in this point in my life.  Which I guess means that I am more like the Israelites during the time of the Exodus when Moses was leading them out of Egypt than what I'd like to admit:  how often they looked back to the past and didn't trust the Lord to provide or care for them in the new place He led them.  Every opportunity they had to question His character of faithfulness or complain, they did.  I wouldn't consider myself to be in a dessert per say, just in vastly new territory.  At times, this new territory is so uncomfortable and personally stretching that it makes me long for for the solace and familiarity of what I knew prior to this new place.  And yet, I wouldn't go back.  I couldn't go back.  I'm different.  I've changed.  I am changing. 

Lord, thank you for this new place You've brought me to.  It's hard sometimes, especially when I'm tired.  And it's showing me places in my heart that I have put myself first for so long.  But only You in your grace and beauty can make a new territory feel right and good, knowing that Your tender, loving hand is on every aspect of leading me here.  Help me to trust You in this new place, to give to You the times when I mourn for the comfort of my old life.  Thank you for the ways You've already given me such new found joy and delight in where I am now.  Thank You that I can turn to You at any time, that You know all that I need. Thank You that You alone are the Source of everything, absolutely everything, that I need:  strength, wisdom, endurance, hope, rest, security, knowledge, joy, patience.  Thank You that You hold the brush, that You are the Artist of this new part of the painting that I'm in.  It's so colorful and beautiful already.  May I have eyes to behold such beauty...both in the painting and in You.

Painting Pictures of Egypt

I don’t want to leave here
I don’t want to stay
It feels like pinching to me either way
The places I long for the most
Are the places where I’ve been
They are calling after me like a long lost friend

It’s not about losing faith
It’s not about trust
It’s all about comfortable
When you move so much
The place I was wasn’t perfect
But I had found a way to live
It wasn’t milk or honey
But then neither is this

CHORUS:
I’ve been painting pictures of Egypt
Leaving out what it lacked
The future seems so hard
And I want to go back
But the places that used to fit me
Cannot hold the things I"ve learned
And those roads closed off to me
While my back was turned

The past is so tangible
I know it by heart
Familiar things are never easy to discard
I was dying for some freedom
But now I hesitate to go
Caught between the promise
And the things I know

BRIDGE:
If it comes too quick
I may not recognize it
Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?
If it comes too quick
I may not appreciate it
Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?

   Contemplating that second bowl of ice cream...I seriously think I'm gonna!

Link Love

Hi, folks!  Guess what I'm gonna finally going to work on after this quick little post:  the low down (a modest rendition) of Brennan's birth and the rest of my answers to your questions!  My aim is to post them by Friday, so keep checkin' up on me. 

In the meantime, I wanted to give you a tad bit of link love to check out some posts and articles that have caught my attention recently.  They either got me thinkin', thankin', cryin' (a good cry), or chucklin', so enjoy!

Tina at Antique Mommy comes up with the most original posts about mommyhood!  I've bookmarked one of her most recent posts called, "The Resume", in which she very strategically toyed with words to create her resume.  Yes, I bookmarked it in case I ever need to steal borrow her wording for my own resume. 

My brother, Mac, sent us a very poignant and fascinating editorial that appeared in the Wall Street Journal in January called "Atlas Shrugged: From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years".  While I've never personally read this particular Ayn Rand novel, I found the comparison of the current economic situation to her classic piece intriguing and insightful.  Maybe Washington perked up upon reading it? 

Speaking of my brother, he and Julie come into town this weekend to meet Brennan!  Matt and I are cashing in our first coupon and asking my folks to babysit for us on Saturday night so we can go out on the town with Mac, Julie, and some other dear friends, including my pseudo younger brother, Oscar, and his precious wife, Candis.  Meems and Pops jumped at the opportunity to babysit...I think Brennan already has them wrapped around his little finger!

My first week at home on my own has gone pretty well.  Today has been a really nice day with my baby boy, as was Monday.  Yesterday was a little rocky, and I must admit that there are times when I wish for my old life back.  Maybe being married 6 years before having kids made me much more content and comfortable in our way of life than I realized.  But then I have other priceless moments of sheer joy holding Brennan and looking into his eyes, ever so thankful for the gift that he is. 

One of the blog posts that has meant the most to me was a post written this week by Beth Moore called, "Before Baby Girl Comes".  At the time of the post, Beth's eldest daughter, Amanda, was 38 weeks pregnant with their second child, a baby girl.  (Baby Annabeth came a bit early and was born yesterday!)  Amanda's firstborn is a nearly 3 year old "unstoppable little force" named Jackson, and Beth wrote a lovely, moving post about who Amanda is as a mommy to Jackson.  I love the way Beth writes!  I was in tears of joy, thanksgiving, and prayerful longing as I read about being a mommy to a little boy, hoping that I would be such a mommy to Brennan.  So far, Brennan is pure sweetness and gentleness.  But who knows?  He may quickly develop into a rough and tumble precocious boy that gets into anything and everything...just like his Uncle Mac.  If that's the case, may the Lord have mercy on me! <grin> I know many of you blog readers who know of Mac's childhood would echo that prayer for me!  But I long to be a joyous and patient boy's momma, ready for the anything and everything that will come from being a mommy to my handsome boy. 

Sweet & Sour Chicken...and More Linky Love

Greetings, Internet peeps!  I wanted to take a bit of time to share with you some linky love that might be of interest to you and also would be a huge blessing to others.

• I made Sweet and Sour Chicken this past weekend.  If you're looking for a quick, tasty, and healthy meal, I would suggest you check out this recipe from Cooking Light.  I was quite pleased with how it turned out.  I served it with brown rice, and you could either go the steamed broccoli or tossed green salad route to get in some greens.
• Amanda, at Baby Bangs, is coordinating a Blessing Book for some friends of hers, Chuck and Kristi.  Just after the birth of their third son, Kristi was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer with metastasis in the liver, spine, and pelvis.  If you have a desire to encourage this dear family or want to lift them up in prayer, read this post for more information on how to pray for this family and/or participate in the Blessing Book.
• I've jumped on the Big Mama, BooMama bandwagon:  I'm addicted to the Facebook game, PathWords.  It's awesome!  I'm tryin' to build up my score and am stuck in a rut.  Any of you playing?  Any tips or strategies you suggest?  
• If you're interested in intercultural studies or cross-cultural communication (and want a good laugh), I'd recommend the movie Outsourced.  Anyone seen it?  Granted, there were a couple of situations that I'm not sure how accurate they are and we would have much rather had them left out of the movie, but overall, it was quite entertaining to me and hubby.  With the trips we've taken overseas, particularly to South Asia, it was a riot to us to watch this young American step into the South Asian world without a hint of knowing what he was doing or what to expect!  We thought that at least the first 30 minutes of the film would be a great visual resource to use in training teams to go overseas or in intercultural studies classes. 
  

It's another beautiful day here in Austin and the puppy is waiting patiently for her walk.  Must attend to puppy.  <grin>  Take care!

p.s. It's come to my attention that some of you are having trouble viewing the comments on Spicy Magnolia.  We (me and my tech savvy hubby) think it might be a Typepad bug that will work itself out.  If the problem persists, please let me know so I can follow up with Typepad. 

p.p.s. It's also not quite clear how to leave a comment on Spicy Magnolia.  Some of you have inquired as to how to leave them, and since comments are one of my most favorite things ever, I most certainly will oblige with the request!  To leave a comment, click on the word "comments" at the very bottom of a post (it's found in gray font in the same area the date of posting is found).  Or, you can actually click on the title of a blog post and it will take you to a separate page where you can scroll down to the text box to leave your comment.  Please let me know if you have more questions!  Thank you for all of your comments and emails; I LOVE them!