Easier Said Than Done

"Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, Bless—that's your job, to Bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing."

My friend sent this to me today. I don't know if she read my blog post yesterday or not. So, I am making efforts to be agreeable, sympathetic, compassionate and humble. These are somewhat easier for me. But no retaliation?! no sharp-tongued sarcasm?! This one is a struggle that I will need help with. :-)

I do want to raise Ella to have these characteristics, so I guess the best way to lead is by example. I do feel at times that I am owed the right to respond to some people in a negative way. I feel like I have the right to be impatient and irritable. Don't these people know what I'm going through? And then I catch myself feeling so righteous and I hate myself for it. How selfish. How self-centered.

But then I realize... EVERYONE is going through something difficult. Everyone is experiencing trials. So, with that being said I apologize for being so focused on myself and for being short-sighted and only seeing the struggles in MY life while turning a blind eye to what my family and friends are going through. Not to mention what the rest of this crazy world is experiencing. A couple of Sundays ago our church service suggested taking the focus off of oneself and placing that focus on others.

Praying that we all receive peace and grace. And hugs.

Making the Readers Work - Your Homework Assignment

This time of year wears me out. And this freaking divorce is wearing me out. I'm wearing myself out. Will someone please blow some sunshine up my ass??

Please leave a comment that includes your favorite poem, song, bible verse, link, etc. Check out what others are leaving. I'll go first... (You'll want to mute my music that automatically loads.)

Dave Matthews singing John Lennon

Favorite Foto Friday - Giving Thanks!

I have almost "virtually" vanished. I have deactivated my Facebook account and haven't blogged for weeks. I am definitely in a melancholy mood - to put it lightly. BUT my family had a wonderful week! PRAISE REPORT! My dearly beloved brother-in-law had a yucky, icky spot on his lung. The doctors said the "c" word. (Most of you guys know my twin sister, Angela? This is her husband.) So he had surgery on Monday and... guess what??? The spot was removed, along with two lymph nodes, and everything was benign! Yay! So we are definitely in the mood for giving thanks! See pics below... Aren't they adorable??

And then I receive Dick Rutger's journal update and find a very large and gorgeous picture of my favorite kid at Hermano Pedro -Perla! I am so happy to hear that she is doing well and I always get super excited to see pics of her. During the short time I have had the opportunity to hold and love on her I have completely fallen head over heals for her.

I am also very thankful for my family and my friends - who are one in the same to me. There really aren't enough words to describe how fabulous my mother is, how great my brother and sister are, how terrific my dad is... And don't even get me started on my aunts, cousins and friends! Isn't this one great? Me, Angela and Danny with our cousins Jimmy and Michael... circa 1980? My post would be never ending. So big happy hugs to all of you from me and Ella.

Favorite Foto Friday - Black and White

She was such a sweet little baby! Now she's all grown up. I don't even think she was two years old yet.

Favorite Foto Friday - Adventure!

Today's theme is ADVENTURE! We had an adventure last weekend when we went to Boyd's Apple Orchard. Ella went down the big slide all by herself. I had to go with her last year. She loved it!My favorite adventures have all taken place in Guatemala! This is a picture from the second time I went. I climbed to the roof of our "hotel" and touched the sky. Awesome!This is a picture from my third trip. Me and my soul sister, Greta Jo. I love sharing adventures with her!We met the nicest people who happened to be staying in our hotel and volunteering at the same orphanage where we were working. Hi, Dawn!

Those of you that have seen me in person know that I am short and small. Don't I look ginormous next to this Mayan woman?? A new perspective. Suddenly I am the big, tall American woman!

An Interview with Ella

Boyd's Apple Orchard

Those of you that know me well know that I DESPISE fall and winter. I hate cold, dark weather. HATE - which is a word we are not allowed to use in our house (it is almost as bad as fuck) is not strong enough to describe how I feel about these formidable months. BUT there is one thing I do like... Apple Orchards/Pumpkin Patches! We go every year. In fact, we go a few times every year. We went yesterday and are going again on Saturday, weather permitting. Laura and Jonathan went with us. They are two of our favorite cousins. Ella LOVES them. I had to buy her jelly beans to get her to let me take her picture.
Laura and JT - beautiful, aren't they?Ella and JonathanMy smidget trying to get a better view of the aminals. Yes, aminals. She almost kicked this little boy's ass. He threw sand on her.
Here is her expression when I tell her she can't kick this little boy's ass.

Cheese - fake smile!

WOW! She did this a couple times. Last year I had to go with her.

Once again, thinking of the mean little boy.

This is one of my favorite pictures from the day.

She could do so much more this year than she could last year. She is getting so big!

Even though Dave and I are getting a divorce we decided to let him come. Here is the picture I took of him.

Here are some posts from this time last year. You should check them out. I can't believe how much has changed!

Louisville Boo - with Sarah and Sophie

Happy Jack's - with Angela and kids, Laura and JT, pregnant Amber and Flynn

Favorite Foto Friday - Orange

Yes, yes - I know, I know! Ella is not wearing orange. But I love these new pictures - she looks so beautiful and grown up. I've made my peace with my baby becoming a little girl. Isn't she gorgeous? My friend Leigh Anne and I had a conversation about the way that America defines "beautiful" and how Ella does not fit into the American definition of beauty. She blows it out of the water. The one word that comes to mind - even when I am searching for words to define something like her outer appearance - is STRONG. She is so strong and resilient and can be as sweet as can be - yet she has a certain toughness about her. Not a mean toughness (OK... a little bit mean) but one that reassures me that she can take care of herself on the playground. Look at that expression. Sweet and sassy! This is her best friend Morgan. I love this picture. I love the way they are dressed. (There is orange in her skirt.) I love how they are leaning on one another. I even love the difference in height. They are blessed to have one another. And here is my bookworm. She not only has an indescribable beauty, is a terrific and loyal friend, is sugar and spice with a dash of pepper with a great personality - on top of all of that she is SMART.

My Tiny Tumbler

We have had so much fun the past few weeks. Birthday parties, tumble classes, etc. Here are some of my favorite pictures.

Way Back Wednesday

Can you believe my BIG girl used to be this little?? Those were definitely simpler times!

*Marlene's Stats*

Click here to learn more about our beloved Guatemala. This will also provide an opportunity for you to give back!

Peace and Hugs,
Becca

Silent Auction Update ~ How to be a Trickster!

Aimee/Mayna's Momma (She's Going Bananas) is so far our most generous bidder! She has bid $50 on the Kick-Ass Bows gift certificate that Holly has donated. Thanks to both of these women!

Now that aside ~ let me tell you how to sneak in and pull this right out of Aimee's hands. Sshh!! Don't tell her I'm doing this!

What you need to do is go to my original post and bid more than $50... Like $51. Or $52. I know, I know - it is tricky and mean - but you're being tricky and mean for a wonderful cause! And honestly... I don't think Aimee will get too mad at you. She may forgive you in a couple years. :-) If it would make you feel better you could let her know.

And for those of you who have had trouble donating - Marlene has fixed the problem!! The donation button on the left is up and working.

Peace and Hugs,

Becca

Guatemala Food Project Silent Auction - Kick-Ass Bows Gift Certificate

Hello to all my fellow Bloggers and Guatemamas! If you've been staying up to date on current events then you know what I'm getting ready to write about. I've been writing about it for weeks now. At least on Facebook... (Bad Blogger!)Guatemala is in a severe state of calamity. Women and children are suffering. And we can't tolerate that. Guatemala is dealing with one of the worst droughts ever. Children are suffering from chronic malnutrition and literally starving to death. If you're like me and have a precious angel from Guatemala then you know what happens when you look into the faces in these pictures. You see YOUR child. Because you know good and well that had your son or daughter not come home that he or she might be in a similar condition. Sucks, doesn't it? Keeps me up at night. Keeps me very aware of my blessings.

According to UNICEF (I know, I know - not one of our favorite organizations), the United National children's fund, more than 60 percent of families in Guatemala cannot afford an adequate diet. UNICEF reports that Guatemala has the worst malnutrition problem in Latin America, even higher than the 35.2 percent average in Africa. Nearly half of all Guatemalan children suffer from malnutrition which has a direct and negative impact on their physical and mental growth, severely compromising their educational prospects. The problem of malnutrition is most acute among Guatemala's Mayan people (40% of the total population). Nearly 70 percent of Mayan children are malnourished.

The UNICEF representative in Guatemala, Manuel Manrique, has said that the effects of malnutrition on child development are like a "life sentence" because it "compromises their health, their ability to learn, and their growth." Ironically, the Latin American region produces three times the amount of food needed to feed its population.
Can you imagine being a mother carrying this burden? Can you imagine holding your child in your lap because they are too weak to hold themselves up? Can you imagine trying to calm them while they cry from hunger pains. Can you imagine how horrible that must be?? Keeps me up at night. Makes me want to scream obscenities from my roof. But I won't. All that will do is get my arrested or put away. Instead I'm going to help Marlene Koenig DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Marlene is going in December to do what she can for these women and children. And guess who else is helping? The One And Only Holly Grigoli! She has donated one $25 Kick-Ass Bows gift certificate. I am starting a silent auction. It will start now and begin at $25. It will end next Friday, October 9th at 12:00 noon. So leave a comment and let's raise some money for OUR kids!

If you would like to give but you are not interested in participating in the silent auction you can still give. See the button the left of the screen? Click there to donate to Marlene's mission trip. She's preparing to head to Guatemala in December. Love and bless her very huge heart! And pray for my jealous heart. I want to go, but alas, it just isn't in the stars. Damnit. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LINK THIS POST TO YOUR BLOG!

Hidden Hunger in Guatemala

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8OtvYVkyis

Nikki ~ Blogs for a Cause

So what do you guys think of my new makeover? Doesn't Nikki kick some major ass? And all of her money goes to help her do volunteer work. What an awesome girl. Check her out and give your old and faded blog a face lift.

Peace and Hugs,
Becca

http://www.madebynikki.blogspot.com/