Anantha prasad
Wednesday, February 23
Where Else Would I Be? But in an email?
I went to my friend Sarah's desk at work this morning and asked for a Bible. I just needed a Bible. She didn't have hers with her today but suggested online. That's an option, but it wasn't what I needed this morning because I didn't know what I was looking for. I needed to flip the Bible open and have a passage speak to me. I needed God to turn the pages for me.
Then I went back to my desk and this was waiting for me in my email...
Wednesday, February 23
Where Else Would I Be?
God, help me to have peace when you do things that I don't fully understand.
READ
REFLECT
This is worse than losing your kid at Wal-Mart or Disneyworld.
Jesus' parents left and went home. And when they realized He wasn't around, they hurried back to town (as fast as you can go on a donkey). Three days without their son, and then they found him in a temple, of all places.
As interesting as this story is-giving us a glimpse of Jesus' family life and relationships-it's Jesus' response that's so intriguing. He essentially says, "Where else would you expect me to be?" But He wasn't pulling the sassy teenager card. He was revealing a clear understanding of his identity and mission. (It just wasn't what His parents expected.)
RESPOND
We probably don't think about it often, but we're in a relationship with a God who is far beyond our understanding or comprehension. (And that's a good thing.) So we can have expectations, but there are times when God will absolutely blow through them and do something entirely unique. Take a few minutes to ask God to help you experience his peace as you rely on his perfect provision and timing
Sour cream, Gold Star Chili and Peanut Butter...
Disgusting. I know. But I am stress eating. Not healthy. I know this. But I don't know what else to do. I can't do anything else right now except worry. And I am doing plenty of that. I don't think I can do anymore of that. So I am eating. By the spoonful. Straight from the jar. I am going to be sick in the morning. And tired.
I need to stop. But I can't. I can't turn off my brain. I can't stop thinking of all of the many many ways this can turn out. I am reaching for the peace of God. Which I know is there but right now. Tonight, I can't. I can't find it. But I can find the fridge. And I can find my pantry. And a spoon.
I need to cry. But I can't. I need to go to bed. But I can't. I need to fix this! But I can't. I need to make Niklas all better. But guess, what - I can't!! I am the parent. I am supposed to be able to protect and keep my boys safe. But again, guess what?!? I CAN'T!!
Peanut butter anyone?
I need to stop. But I can't. I can't turn off my brain. I can't stop thinking of all of the many many ways this can turn out. I am reaching for the peace of God. Which I know is there but right now. Tonight, I can't. I can't find it. But I can find the fridge. And I can find my pantry. And a spoon.
I need to cry. But I can't. I need to go to bed. But I can't. I need to fix this! But I can't. I need to make Niklas all better. But guess, what - I can't!! I am the parent. I am supposed to be able to protect and keep my boys safe. But again, guess what?!? I CAN'T!!
Peanut butter anyone?
Words will come... but not today.
Sunday, January 2
Minnesota Christmas
On the Wednesday after Christmas we all piled in the car and Reed drove the rest of us sleepy heads to Minnesota (I have to give Reed major credit here... the kids and I slept from Cincinnati to almost Chicago!). The drive was remarkably smooth, the kids were ridiculously good and I slept like a rock. Not a bad drive (says me who is still rubbing her eyes from her long naps!).
We got there rather late in the day on Wednesday, and sleeping that night was rather rough... far too much excitement! Being at Blunce and Tete's, knowing we were going to see Grammy and Opa, and OPENING PRESENTS! And the excitement lived up to all they thought it would be :)
Thursday morning we headed over to Grammy and Opa's for our Christmas. What fun! Kids sure add a bit of excitement and life back into Christmas -- even when you have to work between naps :)
The rest of our time in Minnesota was calm and relaxing :) Even New Year's Eve. Grammy and Opa babysat, Reed, Todd and Allie and I went out for dinner. From there we were supposed to go to a concert but Allie and I decided that our ideal New Year's would be someone else putting ours kids to bed and relaxing on the couch :) And since Grammy and Opa successfully had the kids in bed by 8:30, by 9:30 Allie and I were relaxing just as we wanted on the couch and the boys headed out for the concert. It was beautiful!
The kids all had fun, the adults all had fun :)
And some of the adults even thought they were kids again :)
(Nice dolls Opa)
We got there rather late in the day on Wednesday, and sleeping that night was rather rough... far too much excitement! Being at Blunce and Tete's, knowing we were going to see Grammy and Opa, and OPENING PRESENTS! And the excitement lived up to all they thought it would be :)
Thursday morning we headed over to Grammy and Opa's for our Christmas. What fun! Kids sure add a bit of excitement and life back into Christmas -- even when you have to work between naps :)
The rest of our time in Minnesota was calm and relaxing :) Even New Year's Eve. Grammy and Opa babysat, Reed, Todd and Allie and I went out for dinner. From there we were supposed to go to a concert but Allie and I decided that our ideal New Year's would be someone else putting ours kids to bed and relaxing on the couch :) And since Grammy and Opa successfully had the kids in bed by 8:30, by 9:30 Allie and I were relaxing just as we wanted on the couch and the boys headed out for the concert. It was beautiful!
The kids all had fun, the adults all had fun :)
And some of the adults even thought they were kids again :)(Nice dolls Opa)
Tuesday, December 28
Quotable Quotes :)
Niklas says as we are leaving Fresh Market...
"Let's go home and I get down with my bad self!"
huh? You funny kid!
"Let's go home and I get down with my bad self!"
huh? You funny kid!
INGENIUS!
You, Mr. Smarty Pants, just figured out that you can make yourself a little taller.. :) Quite creatively too! I had the vacuum out (YES! Can you believe it!?! I know how to use a vacuum! Well at least I own one!) and Niklas figured out that by taking the vacuum tools he could make a little arm, and with the little arm he could turn the lights on and off... and on... and off... and on...
and off... and on... and off...
and on... and off... and on... and off... and on...
Yes, it was rather annoying. Thankfully no one in the house is epileptic or we would have had some serious issues... but you could be very useful if we ever want to have a strobe light effect, not sure why we would, but your new skill would come in quite handy if we did :)Where'd Henrik Go?!?
Oh of course! Behind the bookshelves! Peek-a-boo!
We have your bookshelf in a corner of your room and you love to crawl through the bottom cubby, stand up and push all of the books off the shelf and play peek-a-boo. It's hours of fun! Your favorite time to play this game is during diaper changes -- of course ;)Niklas and his Puck :)
So exciting! He is so proud :) Niklas and his Mikko Koivu puck :)
(I think he is so Vana White in the photo above... cracks me up!)Monday, December 27
GAME DAY!
As I mentioned in our Christmas post, we got Minnesota Wild hockey tickets for our family as part of our Christmas :) We had so much fun in November we turned around and bought almost the same tickets all over again :) The last few hours leading up to the game, they must have been the longest hours of Niklas' life :) He was SO ready to go to the game the moment he woke up. He told me the night before that he wanted to make Christmas cards for Mikko, Burns, Havlat and Backstrom -- his favorite players on the team :) The Wild players were the only ones that made Niklas' Christmas card list (sorry Grandma, Grandpa, Opa and Grammy -- you were on my list, not his!). So I made a deal with Niklas. If he helped me make the cards, we would make cards for his Wild players :) So he did! He helped me cut, glue and he even wrote the name cards out for each player!
And while Niklas was working on his Christmas cards, Henrik was off getting into trouble :) Putting everything he could find in his mouth... Never a dull moment :)Good thing you are cute!! ;)
And then snack time (yes, even though we are still in our jammies... some days are just meant to be comfortable!!) This was another treat that was (supposed to be) from Santa. But oops! Santa left it in the kitchen pantry until this morning when he delivered it to the boys :) They were so cute sharing it :) And though you wouldn't know from the pictures, Niklas did get his fair share :)
Then.. FINALLY! It was game time! So off we headed up to Columbus :) Niklas feel asleep before we even made it on the highway (all of a whooping mile from our house). And as we were driving Henrik was just heartbroken his buddy wasn't awake to play with. He kept reaching his hand out to Niklas with this sad dejected face... Of course when I took the camera out he cheesed it up for me but he never did stop reaching out for Niklas :)
As is our tradition, we went to Ted's Montana Grill for dinner before the game. Who orders meatloaf at a restaurant? oh Me! Every single time we go to Ted's. LOVE IT! And that's saying something because really... a meatloaf? Shocking. I know. Even more shocking when you see the rest of their menu :) Niklas on the other hand decided to try the lemon off the shrimp plate...
hahaha.. I have seen it a million times but still, I giggle every single time :)Then on to the game :)
My boys!! Just by looking at Niklas face you can tell no one is out on the ice yet.
We had 15 minutes to wait. Just to wait. It was killing him.
We had 15 minutes to wait. Just to wait. It was killing him.
Some are more easily distracted than others :)
Others I know choose to stalk the locker room doors just waiting... and waiting...
Until he sees someone! Anyone! And the first someone he saw, lucky him, was Tony Dacosta, the equipment manager for the Minnesota Wild. He stopped to say Hi to Niklas and talked for a few minutes. While I had him there I thought I would quick interrupt and see where I should mail the players Christmas cards. Tony gave me the address and then asked Niklas who his favorite player was. Niklas told him Mikko and then asked where Mikko was and when he was coming out :) Niklas was pretty excited he got a chance to talk to one of Mikko's friends :)Then Tony had to leave and head back to the locker room and Niklas and I wandered over to a few other seats where we could see the players as they came out on the ice a little better. And as we are standing in the other seats Tony comes back out looking for Niklas. Once he found Niklas, he tossed him a puck... and not just any puck... and MIKKO KOIVU AUTOGRAPHED PUCK! WHOA! That's HUGE! Holy smokes! Nuts! Insane! Niklas was pretty geeked, and rightfully so!
We had an awesome time at the game. Everything went perfectly! Even though it was a late game the boys hung in there like champs.
We had just a few extra seats on the other side of us and that gave the boys some freedom to wiggle. I am positive that helped the night go as smoothly as it did. Especially for Henrik :)
And when the game got dull (for the Blue Jackets fans of course, never the Wild) Henrik was there to act as entertainment :) He is quite the flirt!
And he figured out the best place to stand and see the players himself! And he did. He was mesmerized. And every now and then he would look back to make sure I was watching and he would just look at me like "Mom, whoa! Are you seeing what I am seeing?! Do you know what's down there!? This is awesome!"
Until finally he couldn't stay awake anymore.5 minutes in daddy's arms and he was out like a light :)
Niklas on the other hand... He just never stopped. The blood was pumping and every minute he just got more and more excited and that much giddier (is that a word!?).
And then finally the game ended and we went back out to the car. Henrik had woken up for the last bit of the game but feel immediately to sleep as soon as the car turned on. Niklas - he was still so fired up he didn't fall asleep! He talked the whole way home!It's always a good day for a hockey game! :
