Technology

You know on Napolean Dynamite when Kip sings the song to Lafawnda at their wedding about how much he loves technology? That's pretty funny...

So, I'm pretty sure Natty's fascination with tech gagets at least rivals, if not surpasses that of Kip. My brother is briefly in town and their first interaction was over his Blackberry. It only took a short amount of time before she was rolling around the tiny mouse ball and pretending like she was talking on the phone. She goes crazy when she sees Scotty's ipod touch and begs to use it...she even knows how to change screens by swiping her finger across. Scary. Anyway, we were at my aunt and uncles' house on Saturday and had put her down for a nap in the back bedroom. I periodically checked the monitor to see if she was going to sleep, sometimes she has a hard time falling asleep in a new spot. At one point, all was quiet, but there was guitar music coming through the monitor. I wondered if my rocker cousin, whose room is next to the one Natty was in, was jammin' on his guitar (at which point I was ready to go back there and give him a piece of my motherly mind). When I peeked in his room, it was empty. I still heard the music. I opened Natalie's door and saw her sitting in her crib, in the dark, her face all aglow with ipod screen. She was sliding her finger across, picking different songs and completely oblivious to my presence. Apparently, Scotty was playing her lullaby music and left the ipod on the bed next to the crib...way too much of a temptation for monkey arms. I was able to sneak back out of the room and get my mom and Scotty in there to see this hilarious sight. She finally looked up with that face like, "What? I'm just listening to some music." I wish I had the camera.

Merry Christmas

Just a quick note to say "Merry Christmas!!". Natty helped me wrap presents yesterday, alternating between begging me for the "to/from:" stickers and stiring the bag of bows with a wooden spoon. She developed a pretty nasty cold yesterday, so I'm just grateful she was able to sit contentedly in her miserable state. Today she is feeling a bit better so we went outside to enjoy the AMAZING, dry, mid-'70s air with blue skies and a nice breeze. There is a big park nearby where Natty could sit and play with the recycled tire pieces on the ground- it's all we ask for when she's still too little to actually walk around and play on things. Tomorrow promises to be even warmer- a standard Florida Christmas. I hope everyone a relaxing day filled with the joy of our risen Savior!

Overheard

I was in Barnes & Noble yesterday, settled into a comfy chair and enjoying the privilege of reading through magazines without buying them. Seated next to the door, I heard many bits of conversations as people exited the building. A black mother and daughter passed by when I heard the girl, of about 8 years old, ask her mom: "Is Jesus really white?". I only caught the beginning of what must have been an interesting conversation, which started with the mom explaining that Jesus isn't really white- it's just a marketing ploy. Anyway, it definitely had me looking differently at the things that look normal to me.

I'm enjoying reading through an advent devotion book written by professors at Gordon Conwell, where Scotty is taking classes, as a way of focusing my thoughts on what is most important this season. I can't say I haven't gotten caught up in the shopping and buying and even expectations of what is "Christmassy". But, with the rare chance to be in the states with family this year, I am more aware of the things that make Christmas truly a blessed season. I also am constantly aware of the trends we set now affecting our children down the road and often ponder how to make this a Christ-centered time.

Natalie has started standing on her own a little bit more and has taken to crawling around the house, not on hands and knees, but hands and feet (much like you would see a monkey walking). It's quite humorous and also makes me think she is getting to like that sensation of her flat feet touching the ground. It won't be long now! My hope is that she can walk around the La Paz airport to show off to our Bolivian friends who come to pick us up...although I'm not sure I'll want her exerting herself at that altitude. Either way, she'll be a hit!

Last days

I feel like I have done a lot of "leaving" or "arriving" posts in the last few years. Although I have mostly adapted to our lifestyle of being here and there and everywhere, sometimes all of that catches up with me and throws my emotions into a tizzy. That happened yesterday. But, today I had a lovely day with my daughter, sharing a buttery, soft pretzel and lemonade in the mall and rough-housing on the bed when she should have been napping. As I sat in the cushy, leather chair feeding Natty little bites of pretzel, I wondered if that same scenario might happen in La Paz and what it might look like. Leather and soft pretzel will not be a part of the equation, I know that much. I have tried to be focused on where we are and what we are doing in each place we have been and not look too far ahead or behind, as that usually overwhelms my fragile mind. But, I can't help the "this is the last time I'll be (fill in the blank)" thoughts that keep springing up these days. We have almost a month in Florida to enjoy with my family before we go back- but I've been in this stage before, and that month is so very little. It gets filled with last minute coffees with people, shopping for things we want to take back, Christmas activities, and hopefully, lots of dates with my husband while we have Nana and Papa to babysit. All those things are wonderful, but speed up time somehow. And so I wonder in these 6 months that we've been here, have I made the most of my time? Have I learned what God wanted me to learn? Have I grown closer to Him and more faithful? Will I be a more effective and goldy wife, mother, friend, missionary when we return?