things a two year old says

Yesterday Malachi was playing in his room with his friend Micah and I overheard him say, "no, no Micah, you can't hide from God." so this little phrase comes from a kids bible story on Jonah and in the story Jonah is told he can't hide from God. who knows what was going through Malachi's head as he said this to Micah.

It made me laugh and then I started thinking about it. It is true we can't hide from God - he works in our lives despite us. We ignore him, try to hide or just become overwhelmed. I have shared with some that this past week I was overwhelmed with a lot of brokenness and hurt around me and in people's lives that I care about. To top it off on Tuesday night there was a dramatic arrest of a car thief across the street from our house. Note to all who live in the LA area, when the helicopter keeps on circling around your house you should just go inside and lock the door. So anyway. We have been reading Space for God in our Monday night group and I have just taken a lot to heart from the readings. One huge lesson is that prayer brings us to the places that break God's heart, to the brokenness in our community. Then this brokenness and injustice lead us right back to our knees. My friend read Psalm 121 on Monday, the words have gone with me through this week. Then when Malachi pulled the phrase on not hiding from God out of his memory bank, it led me back to this Psalm. God does always watch over us, we can't hide.
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills-
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip -
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watch over over Israel will
neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm -
he will watch over your life;
The Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Ok so I haven't been very attentive to this blog - but I have an excuse, actually 2. One my computer is not allowing me to save anymore pictures, yup I'm out of disk space. Second we have had visitors - my parents and sister Annika. We had a great time going to the beach, seeing the Korean friendship bell, playing at parks, and just hanging out together. We missed Sarah & her boyfriend Ryan but enjoyed our time together. I stole the pictures from my parents blog so I could give you all a glimpse into life here. The boys are great and full of energy. Abram is now in the final countdown to 1 and letting his personality shine. He has a new pouty face which cracks us up and he seems to like to use it. He is such a cuddly kid and loves giving kisses and snuggles. He is standing on his own now and walking behind anything that moves, chairs, toys, empty buckets. Malachi has a favorite new hobby, puzzles. He enjoys figuring out where the pieces go and as we call it is a great, puzzler. He also discovered a new "friend" in Ryan's old cabbage patch kid. Joey, now sleeps with him, goes to the potty with him, eats with him, plays with his toys - its very entertaining to see what Joey does each day with Malachi. We are also doing well - Ryan is enjoying the growth happening with Kingdom Causes - two new programs starting in the last months. Affordable Housing: Our Place Housing Solutions and a Landscaping Business/Job Training: Good Soil are both taking off, very exciting. If you live in Bellflower and you need your lawn mowed call, Kingdom Causes. After feeling really tired earlier this summer he is discovering new energy in focusing each morning on glorifying Jesus in each day, one day at a time. Simple yet something we need to be intentional about in life. I am learning more about being a parent and we trying to figure out all the best discipline strategies for our precious (sometimes stubborn, yes you can laugh) boys. What a 2 year old can't teach you would be my question of the year!? I am also enjoying working about 1 day a week consulting with Kingdom Causes main office. This is a transition back into a place I love working, yet in a new role. We also are loving having family here with us and look forward to Ryan's parents and brothers coming this week. We have recruited another family member to CA, Rob will be starting at Azusa Pacific this week!! This is our plan if you didn't know, slowly bring our family members to CA, one by one.

our little guy is growing like a weed and gets bigger in my eyes each day


malachi's new favorite past time - puzzles


reading with annika


dirk's place in hollywood


venice beach


11 months!


fun at the park with oma


learning to walk

if you've ever wondered where malachi learns his stuff...

WORD

I feel like when I have the chance to blog lately it is to just get something up and not very reflective or profound. I am just trying to keep up some days with everything, ok most days I am just trying to keep up. That is why laundry is unfolded, dishes are dirty and toys have taken over the house. But I continue to learn that it's ok to set that all aside to just be with God each day. Today I read some words from a couple authors that I enjoy and I wanted to share some of it - so I'm not being profound they are - but the words were good and true.

"I, who live by words, am wordless when
I try my words in prayer. All language turns
To silence. Prayer will take my words and then
Reveal their emptiness. The stilled voice learns
To holds its peace, to listen with the heart
To silence that is joy, is adoration.
The self is shattered, all words torn apart
In this strange patterned time of contemplation
That, in time, breaks time, breaks words, breaks me.
And then, in silence, leaves me healed and mended.
I leave, returned to language, for I see
Through words, even when all words are ended.
I, who live by words, am wordless when
I turn me to the Word to pray. Amen.

Madeleine L'Engle, The Weather of the Heart, p.60

abram 10 months

abram seems to be changing right before my eyes. in less than 2 months he will be 1! he is becoming quite the little man. he loves his big brother and gets so excited when we go into the bedroom to wake up malachi from his nap or when he knows he gets to play with his brother. he loves music and crawls over to the leap frog barn on the refrigerator and dances to the music after he presses the button. he has a shy look for people he meets for the first time but this look also goes with a smile. he has finally gotten his bottom two teeth in and the one front one is poking through with the second on the way. he is now walking along the couch or the fireplace, and a little over a month ago he just sat so content. i guess some good things come to an end. today abram experienced his first earth quake, as did malachi. we were all playing in the their bedroom when the house started shaking. the boys were near a large bookcase that is not bolted to the wall, so I scooped them up and we sat under the door frame. as we waited out the shaking I heard a crash and glass break. the only damage was one large frame above the fireplace falling and breaking. malachi thought something hit the house and he can't quite understand where that earthquake disappeared to after it hit us. hopefully we won't have another for awhile.

dance, dance

On saturday night we celebrated Carolina's quincenera, she is a friend from the community center neighborhood. This was our first quincenera and Ryan was asked to give the talk. Often Quincenera's have a Catholic Mass before the party, but Carolina's incorporated the blessing time into the party. Carolina's mom, Leticia, asked that Ryan speak in Spanish but Ryan wasn't that comfortable with his Spanish language skills. I think he does a great job of speaking in Spanish but one on one is different than being in front so Leticia translated his message... We were honored to be a part of this party and we love the investment in recognizing and shepherding Carolina in to being a young woman. Her family and friends surround her and celebrate her. Ryan adapted Isaiah 55 into a letter from God to Carlolina and talked about God pursuing her heart and how others will also try to pursue it. What amazing promises in Isaiah that we will have God's enduring love forever, and a whole & joy filled life when we commit our hearts to him. We pray Carolina enters into her days as a young woman with these promises before her. She looked amazing in her blue gown and her court had great black dresses - we left before the dance really started but we have to take credit for Malachi kicking it off. Before Carolina danced with her court and her dad Malachi rocked the dance floor. What a joyful spirit he had and a ton of energy - he was still going strong at 9 asking to dance again. We all laughed a lot. Enjoy the video!!
(Yes everyone is clapping for him)

do these brothers look alike?

lately I have been getting a lot of comments about how much the boys look like each other. so i thought i would share pictures of them taken in the same place with the same clothes on. malachi could tell who was who, so should everyone else right?! ryan says their "butt chin" is what makes them look so much alike - I guess they have me to thank for that but I prefer to call is a dimpled chin...

happy birthday ryan!!

it's ryan's birthday today - 30 years ago his dad and mom celebrated the birth of a precious little baby boy. today we celebrate 30 years of God's faithfulness in Ryan's life and the husband, dad, friend, brother and son he is. we bless God for Ryan!