Tuesday, February 28, 2012

OK, I Admit it

So I have something to admit....

When I sit in my classroom in the early morning, preparing for my day...

I listen to country music on Pandora.

It's true. There's no denying it now that it's out in the open.

So, now that I've put it out there, I must also admit that I love it.

It makes me feel cozy, happy, upbeat; all things I love feeling in the morning; things that get me ready to welcome in 24 8-year-olds with enthusiasm.

Today I heard a song by Blake Sheldon called "God Gave me You."

Now, normally this title alone would make me switch the station due to the cheesiness of it, but I let it slide.

The lyrics go like this:

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
For when I think I’ve lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true
God gave me you

On my own I’m only
Half of what I could be
I can’t do without you
We are stitched together
And what love has tethered
I pray we never undo

I loved it. It's James. It's me. It's us.

So maybe country music brings out a little cheese in me, but I loved this reminder that my relationship with James is so incredibly special.

So cheers to the quiet mornings, country music and my wonderful husband.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Quality

Quality

I love this word.

It always follows something good.

A quality conversation.

A quality relationship.

Quality time.

I hope in all I do, I strive to make it quality; my classroom, my time with my daughter, my conversations with my husband, the words I choose to use with co-workers.

My prayer today is that I keep this word in the front of my mind.

Monday, February 13, 2012

A Prayer

Dear Lord,

I pray for perseverance. I pray for your kind of strength. I pray for your kind of love. It's a love that knows no bounds; that doesn't just cover, but engulfs.

Forgive me for trying this phase of my life on my own; for forgetting that I have this resource to draw on. You are my water in the desert, my boat in the waves, and yet, I've forgotten.

I've tried doing this in my own strength now for some time and it's exhausting.

I don't expect a magical kind of strength to take over, but I know that some of this burden can be lifted. I have someone standing right in front me, willing to take some of it; no, not willing, but begging, asking.

So, what's my answer? I know I have a choice. I have a beautiful choice presented in front of me to either take this hand that's being offered; or to reject it and continue on my own.

It's time I took your hand. Yes, I've always loved you, I've always known you love me, but it means nothing if I only allow for those to be words in my life.

If I truly love you and if I truly believe you love me, I will take your hand. I will allow myself to rest in your arms and strength.

It's all part of your beauty. It's all part of this "love" I claim to know so much about.

Lord you are my strength and for that I will forever be thankful. Thank you for the reminder that your love is not one to be taken from time to time; but is to be chased and gripped, to be covered with and applied daily.

Amen.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

It's True

Come September, there will be 4 in the Kitchin Family.


Isabela-isms

Isa is a talker. There is no denying that. So far her vocabulary (what I can understand, at least) consists of the following:

Mio- (mine in Spanish) Always a toddler favorite

Mas- (again, Spanish) Means More

Cookie- Basically said for any food item she wants; the other day it was snap peas... fine by me if she thinks snap peas are "cookies."

Lila- Our dog, and one of the most frequently used words in her limited vocabulary; always said with gusto.

Mama, Dada- Self-explanatory

Baba- This word has 2 meanings, the first being her bottle; the second being her lady parts... not sure how the second came about.

Chupon- Spanish for pacifier

Li- AKA her cousin, Eli

Si- Spanish for yes

No- Of course she knows this one

Hola and Bye

Shoe

Book

Shake Shake- This word is always said twice. It's in one of her favorite Sesame Street videos

There's more, but this is the majority. It seems as though that as of right now, Isa chooses to speak more Spanish than English, although I'm always impressed with the amount of things she understands in both languages.

It's cool to see that we are raising a truly bilingual child and to see it start so early.

My little genius in the making.


Here she is reading a book while daddy reads his. For some reason she decided she wanted to be in her car seat in the garage while doing this.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Strength in the Forest


Strength...

I need some.

Inner, outer, everywhere... strength.

James and I could use a good covering.

Our bodies are weak and tired, both from sickness, lack of sleep and too much work.

Isa has been dealing with a weird eye infection, as well as throwing up this morning.

I had to leave my sick baby with the nanny to take care of her as I went to work since I already skipped work yesterday to be with her.

None of this is easy.

In fact, it's really really hard.

We went through a similar spell last year when James was writing his Masters Thesis. We were in the forest and all we could see were the trees.

Well, right now, just as then, I need to be reminded of the clearing that follows the forest. I know it's there, but it's hard to remember what it looks like.

Lord, give me strength to make it through each day, to see beyond the trees and to love in the midst of it all.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Kindness

Becoming Kind

Kindness is a beautiful human attribute. When we say, "She is a kind person" or "He surely was kind to me," we express a very warm feeling. In our competitive and often violent world, kindness is not the most frequent response. But when we encounter it we know that we are blessed. Is it possible to grow in kindness, to become a kind person? Yes, but it requires discipline. To be kind means to treat another person as your "kin," your intimate relative. We say, "We are kin" or "He is next of kin." To be kind is to reach out to someone as being of "kindred" spirit.

Here is the great challenge: All people, whatever their color, religion, or sex, belong to humankind and are called to be kind to one another, treating one another as brothers and sisters. There is hardly a day in our lives in which we are not called to this.

- Henri J. M. Nouwen

Saturday, February 4, 2012

My Girl Date

I made the call.

We set up a time and place.

That's right, this Monday I have a girl date.

************

Living in Mexico City means you pretty much only hear Spanish, all day, everyday.

But every so often you get caught off guard by the occasional English spoken here or there by that random tourist; or in my case, a family who happens to live down the street from me.

The other day as James and I were coming back from walking Lila, a woman drove by us and stopped to say hello. It turns out she's from Texas and lives just up the street from us with her Mexican husband and kids.

Her and I got to talking and exchanged numbers and have been trying to meet up ever since, and now it's happening.

************

After college, if you move away from your friends, like I did, you enter into this whole new round of life experiences; one of which is making new friends. It's weird and exhilarating and at times lonely and frustrating.

My college friends are incredible and it's hard not to compare them to the new friends I've made here, but I have to remind myself that it's just different.

College is such a unique time. A time when your only job is to be a student and hang out and make friends; and to make things even better, they stick you in a dorm with an array of girls to get to know without having to walk more than 2 feet.

Well, it worked for me in the best way possible. I made some lifelong friends and for that I am forever thankful.

But, as you grow up, you get thrown into new life situations, many of which aren't planned; or in my case, have what could be considered a thread of a plan.

************

So now, my girl date. After many texts back and forth and a few cancellations, I decided to just pick up the phone and call.

I barely know her. Her name is Nicole and she's from Texas; that's about all I've got.

But, as with any first date, I'm feeling those feelings of excitement, a bit of nervousness, and the hope of a possible new meaningful friendship.

I'm glad I made the call and I'm looking forward to what Monday brings. Amazing, mediocre or awkward; whatever it is, there's potential there and the ball is in motion.