NEW DAY, NEW JOURNAL, NEW POST

Yesterday, I started a new journal. In our storage closet, I have journals dating back to 1985! With journaling, I've adhered to strict journaling techniques; but I've also journally let-loose, penning whatever's on my heart. The cool thing about it, is it allows me to "clean the tank" before starting the day. The cool thing--for you--is if you've never journaled, it's never too late to start!

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE SON?

YELLOW STICKY FROM GOD

When I saw this passage in The Message bible, I imagined it being a love note from God. Maybe something for a yellow sticky, to be stuck to a dashboard or mirror:
Dear Child,
"I can see your pain and poverty...Fear nothing in the things you're about to suffer...Don't quit, even if it costs you your life. Stay there believing. I have a Life-Crown sized and ready for you."
Love ya, God

NEW ADDITION THAT RHYMES WITH LOG...

After begging, shutting up, praying, pleading, not nagging, praying some more & waiting, Raul finally came to me with a list of criteria that a dog would have to meet before he'd even consider it. I was all over that. And finally, today, as if the clouds parted & a piece of heaven shined down on Earth, there he was. THEE dog that would meet ALL of Raul's criteria. So we brought him home. He's great. Effortlessly becoming a part of our family. Today, alone, giving me shots of joy that I've recently been praying for. Without further ado, please let me to introduce you to: Otis...

CRAZY PRAYERS

Boy, in my lifetime, has God heard some crazy prayers. I wonder if He sometimes laughs (in a good way) at my perpetual, preposterous prayers. Here's a sample:
1. God, please send one of your angels to Earth to guard so-n-so.
2. God, please take me home (sometimes, Heaven just sounds too good & I'll shoot straight with God about that).
3. God, please send a mate who is a Christian, hasn't lived a wild life, is OK with my craziness & wants to settle down & marry.
4. God, please help every single child on the entire planet who is being threatened right at this moment & please tend to every single one of them & let them know you see their tears.
Don't be afraid to give God your crazy prayers. He's ok with it. Really. "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

THE ULTIMATE CONCERT TRIO?

I love concerts! I still recall my p.'s taking me when I was a wee-one, so I've been hitting them for 30+ years. My first concert (without my p.'s) was Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. I'm still licking my wounds from missing Coldplay's concert last year...wah wah :( But I got to thinking, what would be the ultimate concert trio? It's hard to narrow it down, but I'd probably pick: U2, Phish & Black Eyed Peas or Jack Johnson, John Mayer & Lincoln Brewster or maybe Alicia Keys, Natalie Merchant & Brooke Fraser. Like I said, nearly impossible.
What 3 would you pick?

[pic: my lil man, Andy, at his first concert.]

A Day in the Life of DJs Verse Memorization

Weekly, DJ memorizes a bible verse. It pains me to say this, but he doesn't like it. Tonight, for whatever reason, he was a real bear about it. But one thing that's cool is as DJ learns it, so does the rest of the family. Tonight, I had to laugh, when DJ started crying out of frustration & Andy spoke up & finished the verse for him. Here it is, in case you wanna learn it too: "Don't let anyone make fun of you, just because you are young. Set an example for other followers by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith, and purity." 1 Timothy 4:12

Baked

I thought I'd try this Martha Stewart recipe. Which meant actually turning the oven on & putting something in it. But it was actually good & the boys & I pleasantly pigged out. If you try it, let me know what you think. If you don't pleasantly pig out, don't shoot the messenger!

Spinach & Mushroom Quesadillas
Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 medium red onions, thinly sliced *optional*
  
• 8 ounces (2 1/4 cups) mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 6 ounces (about 8 cups) prewashed spinach, chopped
  
• Coarse salt & ground pepper
• 8 flour tortillas (8-in) *I used whole-wheat tortillas*
  
• 8 ounces (2 cups) pepper Jack cheese, shredded

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400. In a 12-inch skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon oil. Cook onions, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden, about 5 mins. Add mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until they're tender, 6 to 8 mins.
2. Add spinach in two batches, letting first batch wilt slightly before adding the next; cook until spinach is completely wilted, 2 to 3 mins total. Season with S & P.
3. Brush one side of tortillas with oil. Place 4 tortillas, oiled sides down, on 2 baking sheets. Layer each tortilla with cheese, spinach mixture & more cheese, dividing evenly. Top with remaining 4 tortillas, oiled sides up & lightly press to seal.
4. Bake until cheese has melted & tortillas are golden brown, turning once, about 10 mins. Cut quesadillas into quarters. Serve w/ salsa or sour cream

Wow, Wow & Wow

Wow. I think our kid needed a haircut:

Wow. OK. Not playin.' He really needed a haircut:











Wow! Whew. That's more like it:

Flat Tire: Nothing is Coincidence

I was flying down the interstate when my car started swaying & shaking. Did I pull over? Of course not. I kept going. But the problem escalated so I begrudgingly exited & pulled into a shopping plaza. I had a 3-inch slash in my tire & it was flat & my car comes with no spare. Oops! Raul called the tow truck company for me & I waited in a nearby coffee shop for them to come. While waiting, I became acutely aware of the manager-on-duty repeatedly belittling his teenage employee. It took a lot of restraint for me to not jump the counter & take him out...when the most unexpected opportunity arose. As the manager walked past me, he exchanged a quick pleasantry. So I expressed that I would've crumbled in shame & tears if he would have talked to me the way he did that kid. We went back & forth about it. He finally justified it all by saying, "Look, with your smile, you could get anyone to do anything" [implying he didn't have that luxury]. I paused, pondered then said, "And so could you." I left reflecting on the choice we all have to forcibly manage or lovingly lead. I'm praying that manager gives the latter a chance.

Thankful for the Ones Not Like Me

As a mix breed of German, Irish & Italian, I'm about as cracker-white-American as they come. I was born & raised in a white 'burb in Middle-America & grew up on a steady diet of hot dogs, Mac-n-Cheese & Frosted Flakes. I have pasty white skin, blond hair, green eyes & my name shouts yankee - "Heather Michelle." But since moving to Florida, God has opened up wonderful doors to friendships with Trinidadians, Romanians, Peruvians, Brazilians, Dominicans, Mexicans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Bahamians, Barbados-ians, El Salvadorians, Puerto Ricans, South Africans, Chileans, Costa Ricans & (saving the best for last) Cubans. All have added color, spice, adventure & diversity to my life & I'm grateful for them. The bible says Heaven will be ALL tribes & ALL nations. How cool that God would allow you & me to sample that, right here, in our own backyard.

We'll End the Week With This...

...How was your week? Want to end it smiling? Watch this video. (thanks, Mom, for pointing me to it)

Happy Birthday, BabySitter

Since Andy was 8 months old, Cill's been a part of our fam & a sitter to our boys.
She has cared for them when I've been in the hospital, unable to.
She's encouraged them, empowered them & esteemed them.
She's fixed their boo-boo's.
She helped Andy crawl, talk, stand & walk.
She's corrected, cooked, colored, chilled and chauffeured them.
She has sat front row at their school programs--she's the one they want there!
She's like a BIG sis to my boys & a little sis to me.
She is a blessing to my life, our home and our family.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CILL!!
Thank you for all you do, all the time.
We're so grateful,
Raul, Heath, DJ and Andy

4 Sentences of Hope

Even when you are old, I will be the same.

Even when you hair has turned gray, I will take care of you.
I made you and will take care of you.
I will carry you and save you.
-God

Lil Book Review; Lil Book Giveaway

In the last 2 months, I've read 4 books that I'd like to recommend to you:


1. Morning Sunshine by Robin Meade - a book about confidence, especially for women in the public-eye. My 2-Word Review: humorous-transparency
2. A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers - a 5-in-1 story-compilation about the 5 women in the lineage of Jesus. My 2-Word Review: life-altering
3. The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family by Patrick Lencioni - Raul made me read this. I'm glad he did. The title speaks for itself. My Two-Word Review: simply-practical
4. This Little Prayer of Mine by Anthony DeStefano - the author sent me an autographed copy to review. My lil mans enjoyed it. My Two-Word Review: rhyming-inspiration

If you would like one of these, I'd be happy to give you mine. Just leave a comment or shoot me an email HERE.

Mystery Guest

Mirror Mirror on the Wall
Who's the frumpiest one of all?
Can you guess this mystery guest?
Dressed in her winter's best?

Why the Cuban Has Stayed With Me For 11 Yrs

11 years ago, the Cuban & I said "yes" to become one & today we celebrate 11 years of that. Now we don't make a big, honkin' deal out of our anniversary. Don't make special plans; don't give lavish gifts. To outsiders, it may seem irreverent or unromantic. Not to us. The reason today is like any other--is to us--EVERY day is an anniversary. When you get as close to divorce as Raul & I did 9 years ago & nearly kill yourselves putting the marriage back together--still waking up to the same person is a daily dose of appreciation & celebration. Cuban, thanks for sticking with me. I know you could have found easier love, but that's just like you to go for the challenge! Everyday I'm grateful you did. I love you so much. My heart is bigger because you are a part of it. Love, Heath

The First Time

I saw these two pix that have one thing in common: my boys doing something for the first time. DJ ice-skating for the first time & Andy tying his shoes for the first time. There's something endearing about the first time. In my boys, I see fear mixed with wonder; courage mixed with doubt; and "can do" mixed with "will I?" Sometimes God can use first-time moments with kids to teach us (adults) so much--even a quick recap-lesson in Philippians 4:13!

Long, Dirt Roads

Robert Schuller said, "I was born at the end of a dirt road that had no name and no number. You can go anywhere from nowhere." This inspires me because it means that no matter where I came from, I can always go somewhere. My pastor always says that life is a journey. He is right. Our lives are not punctuated by a period at the end of sentence, but by an ellipsis (i.e. the dot-dot-dot...) And no matter where we start, there is always somewhere to go. And as long as we are breathing, our story continues...

Remember the Memory Games?

When I was a wee-one, I played the Milton Bradley game, "Memory." When I was an adolescent, I played the memory game, "Simon." And then somewhere between adolescence & adulthood, I quit memorizing. Perhaps scarred by too many college nights of cramming-the-night-before. But lately--due to my grandpa dying from Alzheimer's & the realization that I read my bible but don't recall it--I've been nudged to take action: bible verse memorization. So without looking, I'm gonna see if I can recall two for you...
1. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits; and in His word I put my hope. Psalm 130:15
2. We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; knocked down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
You'll have to let me know if I botched those! Anywho, I hope memorizing verses helps my memory; more importantly, helps when trials come my way.