"The Ocean"

Just wanted to share my younger brother's latest video:

"The Ocean"

The ocean is so vast; so powerful; so full of life.
As I stand and watch it, I am awed by its majestic size and power.
I can't help but have an unspoken respect for it. Reverence.

Yet it has no power over me. I stand on dry ground, at a safe distance, unharmed.
Sure the waves may get a little close to me, and sure the thunderous sounds are intimidating from afar,
but I know it cannot impose its strength upon me, and that I can't really know its full power.

Unless....unless I choose to confront it.
I can go in, I can put my body at the mercy of the ocean.
Then....then when I am completely surrounded, completely emerged, completely surrendered.
Then I can experience its full power.

Reminds of God.
We'll never know the full power of God until we choose to run into his presence.
We'll never experience what God can do for us unless we jump in.
This is worship!

- Ronnie Jenkins

Summer "Yes Please" Experiences

The first day of summer was just back there in the corner...We’re 4 days into summer and the last week or so I’ve been thinking about what experiences I want to create this summer and so here are a few:

*My DH and I live near, as in adjacent to a park. Every weekend there’s at least one large group of families and friends camped out at the park, often celebrating a birthday. I’m not looking for any big bonanza experiences, I want to simply enjoy a picnic dinner in the park.

*I’m nearing 27 (never thought I’ld be where I’m at...but that’s another post) and the DH is 31, yet working full days leaves me feeling old!! At least once this summer I want to head down to Santa Cruz after work and eat Cotton Candy along the Boardwalk, and ride the Skyline, and watch the waves crash in at the Pier and remind myself that 27 and 31 isn’t old!!!

*It’s one of those things that DH and I often say would be fun to do, but we've yet to actually do so. I want to ride bikes over the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito and ride the Ferry back. I’m sure my DH is shaking his head because bikes + big roads + lots of people + Ellie = a scary combination!!

*I’m not a big fan of the heat, but I do enjoy the summer season. I just find the high heats to be unbearable. We’re heading as a family to Escondido this August and one of the things I’m looking forward to is sitting by the pool and letting the sun warm me, all the while loosing myself in a good book or 5!! Anyone have any book recommendations?

*Our newest member of the family, my nephew Liam, is joining us on the trip and I can’t wait to build “summer yes please experiences” with him for the first time - from playing in the pool with him, to maybe going to the beach, to sharing in family time and laughter.

*Both my DH and I enjoy the city, we like the hub of the urban and after a sun soaking week in Escondido we fly out to NYC to meet up with my DH’s parents and take in the sights, sounds, and magic of NYC. It will defiantly be a “summer yes please experience.”

When you’re in a job that continues normal working hours through the summer it’s easy to miss the merriment of summer. I want to be able to look at Summer 2010 and see many more “Summer Yes Please Experiences.” From the simplicity of a picnic to travelling to NYC I want a 2010 Summer Yes Please Experience, I’ll let you know how it goes. 

What about you? Any “Summer Yes Please Experiences” you want to share?

The Bee Sting

I was stung by a bee on Saturday. Have you ever been stung? Prior to this stinging I had been sting clear. I’m not terribly afraid of bees, and stick to the script of 'if I leave the bee alone it won’t bother me.' I don’t flail and flap my arms around when it is close, I just ignore the buzzing bundle of yellow and black.

I was sitting by the pool, minding my own business and this bee was mesmerized by me, or so it would seem as it didn’t leave me alone. It kept flitting by, buzzing around my legs, around my arms yet I stuck to the script. Noone told me though it was a different director with a different point of view, and lo and behold the dastardly buzzer buzzed it’s last when it stung my arm and left it’s stinger as proof.

It HURT!! It stung :) More than I realized it would. There were others sitting at the pool and I didn’t want to cry out, but you know that icy cold and then hot flush that emanates from the inside out when you’re body is in pain?! Well, that was my first physical reaction. Then I had to pull the stinger out, it didn’t hurt but it did take a moment before I actually yanked it out.

I continued to sit by the pool, my arm aching and my body feeling a little off kilter, but I was finishing a book so a good book trumps all :)

The area around the sting swelled up and the redness spread down my arm. It has irritated me for a few days now, and I’ve resisted the urge to scratch.

It made me think of being stung in other areas of my life. The bee’s sting caught me off guard. Granted he was buzzing around, and had been for at least 30 minutes, but I had never been stung before so I didn’t have any reason to suspect that this creature would sting.

Ever have those moments in life with people? I’ve had a few dramatic ones in recent months, and it stings. The initial sting hurts, then you have to pull out that which stung, and then the pain and irritation from the sting lingers. You have to resist scratching at it, and making it worse. You have to administer soothing lotion to the area. You have to ice the area and allow it to cool down. The area eventually reduces in swelling and redness, and in a month the sting will be just a memory.

But do you know what’s interesting? I learnt from the pharmacist that once you’ve been stung once by a bee, you’re much more likely to develop allergic reactions and the subsequent stings can cause much more damage.

My dad said perhaps I should change the script, rather than let the bee buzz freely around, take a swat at and give it a bruising! I think perhaps his words are words of wisdom, sometimes there are instances and people that rather than let them buzz around you waiting for them to sting, you have to make the first strike and sometimes that strike can as simple as removing yourself, because as good as a book is, it doesn’t diminish the sting it just allows you to momentarily forget!!

To My Sweet Nephew

Dear Liam,
Let me tell you a story, a story of a journey, a story of love. It was August 2009 and your Daddy called to tell the great news that you, yes you little Liam was starting to grow in your Mummy’s womb. I was so happy, I jumped and skipped around the kitchen while your Uncle G looked on with a bemused smile on his face. Already I couldn’t wait to meet you and know you.

Your Mummy, Liam, was a trooper from the get go, in one full swoop to offer you the best protection and safest environment to grow and develop she gave up smoking and drinking. She did this knowing that a week after she discovered that you were growing we were heading to Las Vegas. Your mum might not think so, or remember it this way, but she was beautiful. She was beautiful in her love for you, a love yet to be fully realized, but a love nonetheless.

We celebrated as a family in September where Nanny gave you your first cow toy, and in November we celebrated as we discovered you were a little boy. More celebration followed when in December your Daddy announced your name - William David Jenkins - after your Granddad, and your Mummy offered the invitation to me, Nanny, and Great Nanny to be in the room when you came into this world.

February Uncle G and I visited. Mummy and I chatted and shared and laughed and I painted the words of the Hebrew prayer above your bed, and your Uncle G installed dimmers and kept Daddy company. Again I was blown away by the beauty of your Mummy. She loved you dear sweet Liam, and I would watch her and your Daddy rub the tummy, and whisper to you, and pray for you.

The days were swiftly ticking by, you were growing, and March came and along with Mummy’s other friends and family we gathered to celebrate your impending arrival. It wouldn’t be long, and we were ready to meet you. Your mummy had everything ready, your Grandma made sure your drawers were full of diapers ready to protect your little bottom, clothes lined the closet, oh the clothes sweet baby - you had lots of clothes ready for your little body to fill.

April 11 I came down to spend time with Mummy before your expected arrival on April 19. It was such a special time for me Liam. To spend this time with your mummy before her world was rocked in a life altering way. We stayed up late up chatting and sharing and laughing and doing life together.

As your due date neared, you gave us a little scare by sleeping just a little too long and I took mummy to the hospital so they could check what you were up to. There I heard one of the most beautiful sounds, I heard your heartbeat, like a train pumping away and I saw you, your little body curled up and perfectly content. The nurse remarked what a big baby you were.

Your due date came and went and mummy started to feel that you needed to be in her arms instead of her womb, and thus begun trying all those home methods of inducing labor to no avail. (Castor Oil, anyone?!) So at midnight on April 21st Mummy, Daddy, and Grandma went to the hospital where the nurses encouraged labor medicinally. It was a looooooong labor sweet Liam, you were just too content and at home in there.

Some of the best moments of the labor include your Daddy coaching your Mummy through contractions watching the up ride, and then putting his head on the bed to sleep for two minutes before the next contraction hit.

Or your Daddy sleeping tucked up close behind your Mummy in the bed, your Grandma asleep on the bench, and your Auntie sleeping on the chair. The only one not sleeping was the one who needed it the most, your Mummy and as luck would have it not only was your mummy not sleeping she was kept awake by the head banging of your daddy, and the wall reverberating sound of your Grandma snoring to the point that your poor mummy shouted for it to STOP!!!

Then after 20+ hours the moment came, with Daddy at Mummy’s side and Nanny, Grandma, and me gathered at the foot of the bed we watched your mummy push with with all her might and strength. I watched her go even more beyond herself to bring you into this world, and out you came - all 9lbs of you. Daddy cut your umbilical cord, the nurses took you and cleared your airways, and weighed you and whole time I watched on with wonderment that you were here. Not but five minutes ago you were tucked inside your mummy, and now here you lay. Even though it was now close to 3AM waiting outside the room, eager to meet you were your Granddad, Uncle Ronnie, and Uncle G. We passed you around, loved on you, whispered our hellos, and made introductions.

You are beautiful sweet Liam. God made you perfect in every way. He formed you in your mummy’s womb, he knows each hair on your head, he has a plan for you.

Little Liam, my sweet baby nephew, your Auntie Ellie loves you. You are the best gift of 2010.

A welcome and a list!!

I've been blogging on and off for the past number of years, although in recent months my posts have been scarce. If you're joining me from my previous blogsite, welcome :) If you're new, welcome :)

Earlier today I had a running list of blog post ideas with many of them semi fleshed out, but now that I am sitting at the computer my mind is not fully firing!

So to kick start the writing, a list...

I like lists. Let me rephrase that, I like writing lists. I like to write what I need to get done for the day, the week, the month. I like to list what I'm going to make for dinner for the week. I like to create lists of activities that I want to accomplish. As good as I am at writing lists, I'm not so great at completing the lists.

All that being said this list, is a compilation of 15 random points of interest about ME!!
*You may know some, one, or none of these but as I tried previously I hope to use this list as a starting point for future posts.

1. I've been married for nearly two years and it's been one of the hardest and yet most rewarding life changes.

2. On April 29, 2010 I took the oath and became a US Citizen...

3. I had the privilege and honor to witness my first nephew enter the world in April, AND he is such a cutie!!

4. I'm in the process of figuring out "what's next" in life...it hasn't been easy!!

5. I often wish I still had the simplicity of a child.

6. One day I would like to live in Europe again.

7. I've been "learning" French on and off for the last three years, and have been met with little success.

8. One of my biggest fears is the fear of letting others down...especially the ones I love, care, and respect.

9. I spend HOURS reading a fast growing blogroll

10. Staying organized is not my forte.

11. When the week has been particularly busy and full of people interactions I crave "me" time.

12. I tell myself "I'm going to bed" at least three times, for at least an hour before I actually make it to bed.

13. I like to bake. I cannot bake without making a mess. I like to cook. I cannot cook without making a mess, but I'm learning!!

14. Program was paused while I spoke to my DH who is currently in France visiting family. He's been in Israel for work for 10 days and now France for 4...home on Monday!! I've missed him.

15. When I was younger I believed I excelled at most all of my endeavours, which included dance, choir, violin, drama, drawing, story writing, director, running, academics. I had parents who encouraged me to try but while they praised my effort they weren't adverse to questioning the talent, but that didn't stop me from thinking I was brill at everything!!!

I think that's a good starting point, and seeing as a good two hours have passed and I've said I need to get to bed at least three times, this is where I close.