day 5

I've been cooking almost entirely at home & dancing/working out regularly . . . and still  gaining inches (argh!).  My clothes were so tight that they actually hurt.  Ugh!  My thyroid decided to go haywire again.  Though I've been on meds & feel better than last fall, still not 100%.

So I decided to do a cleanse.  Fruits, vegetables & lentils only for 21 days.  No meat, no sugar, no caffeine, no fillers, nothing processed.  Everything organic.  

Today is day five.  And . . . I . . . feel . . . G  R  E  A  T!!!

Homemade guacamole!

Lentil, tomato, basil soup - yum!

Yes, people - I feel FABULOUS!  It's so amazing to have energy, think clearly, feel optimistic & want to play!  Here are a couple of the things I've made today.  So yummy!

between scooters & cookie dough

Yesterday with my kiddo was hilarious. 

I simply adore her.  There are so many facets to her, but one of my favorite (as with all kids), is her ability to go from very mundane things (like making cookies & riding scooters with the neighbors) to asking incredible questions. 

Here are a few recent gems: 

• We delivered some lunch to Dan & his students. When I asked if she'd like to stay & have a pizza with Daddy's students, she responded "I'd be delighted to meet Daddy's new students!"  (What is she, like 55? :-)
  
• "Um Mom, why are there only boys & girls in this lifetime?"
  
• When dancing wildly to one of her favorite CD's, she announced that I should watch her do the "commotions" (thought I'd die laughing)
  
• Since this week's Dancing with the Stars Episode (that had the group KISS on it - yeah, THANKS DWTS - read in sarcasm), she's been obsessed with painting her face white and "doodling" KISS on the computer (yeah, she means "googling" them)
  
• And her best (impossible to answer question so far), "If God is so big, how does he fit in our hearts?"

livin' the dream

Back when Dan started his Master's Degree almost ten years ago, he dreamed of the day when he'd have his own office (along with a full time job), complete with many book shelves, his degrees framed & on the walls, a university-provided computer, and co-workers he enjoys.

So today, I join the celebration . . . the office is done and . . . . DRUM ROLL PLEASE . . . . all of the books fit onto the shelves!!!  A true scholar's dream come true!

wide open

I've been spending all of these last few months helping our little family of three transition.  We've had to find the grocery stores, unpack, file taxes, get new IL driver's licenses & all of the other mundane stuff of life that has to be done in a new state.  I've been doing all of the official "other duties as assigned" stuff for our family.  

Now that our boxes are unpacked, our godsons & my folks have broken in our guest bedroom, the first two conferences are done and Dan's office at work is finally 100% complete . . . it's time for me to figure out what's next for me.

What's been SO cool is watching God's vision for Dan come alive.  Literally, since the day I met him, God has given me very vivid visions of what Dan's calling was.  It's a dream come true to watch it unfold before my eyes.  But I haven't had that same clarity of vision for my own life.

I find myself in a very interesting spot.  I've had three careers in my almost 40 years.  I've lived in three states.  And I have a kazillion (that's Mahalia's favorite number these days) interests that I'm open to pursuing. 

So beginning Easter Sunday (Easter being my favorite holiday), I'm beginning a season of discernment.  I'm thinking it'll be at least 40 days - maybe longer.  But I'm hoping to walk away with clear vision & direction for myself.

my kids

I have four children.  One is biological.  Three are not.  But all three are mine.  I have loved all four since birth (except the first - didn't meet him until he was four).  It's amazing how a heart can love that which it did not personally grow inside first.

Those of you who have adopted or have godchildren - or who simply love others' children deeply can relate to what I'm saying.  There is something special about children & how our hearts get attached.  Devohn was my first.  Technically he is Marie's.  But he asked me to be his godmother when he was four.  Then came Antonio, my second son.  Then Ma'Jari.  Last came my first daughter.

Eating Chicago Deep Dish Pizza

Everyone got new shoes for Spring Break

Fun at the zoo!

So being our new home & having them together again has been a joy.  My heart is full & I'm deeply grateful for our abiding love over these last 15 years.

every square inch

This week, I had told Mahalia that we were going to be cleaning her room, as it had become an opportunity for broken bones - literally every square inch of the small room had something on it.  It looked like a bomb exploded.  I put it off for a few days, but was planning to get to it yesterday afternoon.

As is our usual custom, she either takes a nap or a quiet rest in the afternoons.  Yesterday, we helped some friends with a project, so didn't get home in time for a nap - so quiet rest time, it was.  Throughout the course of the 60 minutes she was in there, I heard regular banging (nothing big enough to warrant in interruption in my time alone though :-).

So you can imagine my SHOCK when I walked in to see this . . .

I literally couldn't believe my eyes!

When I asked her why she did it, she said, "Because it takes too long when you do it with me, Mom."

Well, bring on the solo cleaning!!!

an hour

Our weekly Friday tradition is to go to Sukhadia's to get the most delicious Indian dessert.  Mahalia & I pick it up, so that when Dan arrives home from work, we eat dessert first - and then dinner :-)  So yesterday, since it was such a gorgeous day, Mahalia & I decided to walk to the restaurant (about a 20 minute walk). 

I thought LA was diverse . . . but the north side of Chicago is a whole other story!  We were gone for an hour, and within that hour, I only saw three other white people (a family walking a dog).  Other than that, we (we'll me, really, since Mahalia is Blaxicasian) were the only Caucasian folks.  It was the coolest feeling - to be surrounded by such incredible, beautiful diversity.

If you know me, you know I LOVE people from other cultures.  There is something so beautiful about the way God expresses himself through people & their way of life.  I find it to be a wealth of adventure & lifelong learning that inspires me & intrigues me to constantly be learning and trying new things.

Our neighborhood is a solid mixture of Indian folks, Jewish folks, and Muslim folks.  There are Qurans, Temples (Hindu & Jewish), and Mosques everywhere. It's remarkable, really.  So many people from such incredibly different backgrounds - all sharing a few square miles together. I'm anxious to re-learn the history I've been taught as a white American & learn more about their culture, so I have an even greater appreciation for my community, for them, and for God's creativity.