Be Strong and Courageous

As we crossed the street, little Ashley trotted alongside me.  I pulled the stroller to a stop on the other side of the crosswalk and set the brake.  We had a few minutes until the big kids got out of school ... and a few minutes to catch our breath from the hike up the hill.  As I reached for the icy water bottle in the stroller pouch, Ashley shrieked.  I had inadvertently stepped on an old apple core.  Covered in ants.

"Hey, it's okay.  No problem, Honey," I said reassuringly as I nudged the ant-feast against the fence with the toe of my shoe.

I turned to Ashley. There was obviously a problem.  Her wide eyes surveyed the scene and then she screamed again.

One little ant had managed to leap from the apple to my shoe and was slowly making his way up my leg.

"Whoa, whoa.  Settle down," I said as I brushed off the detoured little fellow, "See?  He's gone."

Ashley was breathing quickly and her sweet little lips were quivering.  Ever since her run in with the wasps, she has been understandably a little unnerved around creepy crawlies.  She nodded her head, as if convincing herself that the danger had passed.

Then she went a little bonkers.

One minuscule ant was headed the wrong way ... crawling up her leg.  Oops.

Sweet Le-le screamed and started tap-dancing in place.  Her little legs were flailing around.  She flapped her arms wildly, sending her jangle-y bracelets up into the air, scattering across the sidewalk.  She was terrified.  (And so was that poor little ant.)

With great mommy-speed, I swept the unfortunate bug off into space and pulled Ashley toward me.  I hunkered down next to her and tried to console her.

"Sweetie ... it's just a little ant.  He didn't want to hurt you, he was just lost.  He's gone now.  You're okay."

I rubbed her back, wiped her tears and peered into her scared little eyes.  I explained to her that ants don't usually hurt you.  Some might have little pinchers, but most just lumber from place to place carrying things.  This tiny guy was ...

Ouch!

At just that moment I felt a sting on my foot.  And then another.

As nonchalantly as I could, I casually shook my sandal off my foot and brushed the little fiery ant bully off my foot.

Thanks, buddy.  You're really not helping things here.


So much for, "he didn't want to hurt you."  Apparently there is a bit of danger lurking everywhere ... even at the crosswalk.

How often have you found yourself in that same type of situation?

Perhaps a loved one comes up against something difficult, something scary, something new, something sad and you find that you must be brave for the both of you.  Then in the midst of your attempts to bring comfort and encouragement, you, too, are struck with a taste of their fear, worry and weariness.  


How do you remain strong and courageous in the face of of someone else's challenges?


More than anything, Ashley needed me to be brave and even though part of me want to tap-dance my way to an ant-free-zone, I needed to be calm.  My panic would have only escalated her already high-level of bug frenzy.  My rational response allowed her to lower her insect-threat-level back down to "code mellow-yellow".

I know that I won't always be able to sweep away my kids fears and worries - at least not as easily as thwacking that ant - but we can take these opportunities to learn how to deal with our problems sensibly ... while still validating their concerns.  We can see these little scary episodes as teachable moments and learn how to talk calmly, breathe deeply, pray quietly and remind ourselves of God's presence.

In the Old Testament book of Joshua, we read about a promise that God made to the Israelite leader, Joshua.  After forty years of wandering in the desert, God's people are finally preparing to cross the Jordan River and enter the land promised to them.  Most certainly a scary prospect.

Here's what God has to say:

⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9

When I read this text, I am struck by the number of times God tells Joshua not be be afraid or discouraged or weak or cowardly.  I think of Joshua as being a great warrior, but it would appear that he had his own doubts and his own fears.  Not only is this astonishing to learn, but it's also comforting, in a way.  If God promised to be with Joshua as he set out to conquer the giants in the Promised land, then I know that He will be with me and my loved ones as we face our own giants.

Be they challenging friendships, hard life lessons ... or pesky little ants.

My Mouth is Not Happy

I don't think that I've ever been a truly picky-eater, although my mother might have some enlightening stories.  I do remember that I was known for picking the meat out of an meal and leaving the green stuff behind, but what kid doesn't shun veggies?  I know I had a deep aversion to fish or anything that had once swam with fish (i.e. shrimp, lobster, etc); I was much more a red-meat gal.  I also remember feeling a tad-bit grossed out whenever there was something sweet in a savory dish.  For example I was a little repulsed by grapes in my chicken-salad, pineapple on my pizza and raisins on a green salad.  ... shiver ...

As my palate has matured, however, I have found myself willing to try new things and re-discover that some foods that I pushed around my plate as a kid are actually rather delicious.  Who knew that brussels sprouts cooked just right with a little balsamic vinegar and feta cheese could be so scrumptious!  As for the contrasting sweet and savory flavors in a dish ... can you pass the mango salsa? With the heat of the jalapenos and the coolness of the cilantro, I find myself forgoing the chip and reaching for a spoon!  And sushi?  I don't know how to say "addict" in Japanese ... but that would be me!

Armed with such bold culinary courage, I thought that were wasn't really anything out there for which I wouldn't request seconds.

I was wrong.

Several years ago, my hubby and I celebrated our 10th anniversary with a "just you and me" trip to the Oregon coast.  One of the recommendations that we received from everyone we talked to (family members, fellow tourists and B&B owners alike) was lunch at Moe's.

"Get their clam chowder ... you'll love it!"

"You have to have a bowl of their clam chowder.  You'll never eat chowder out of a can again."

"Stop and have their clam chowder.  It's amazing!"

So, of course, we went to Moe's.  And we ordered the clam chowder.  And then we got a little curious.

The table-tent next to the condiments sang the praises of Moe's oysters, too.  Hmmmm ...

"I've never had oysters, have you?"

"No."

"I guess if you're ever going to eat an oyster, this is the place, right?"

"Right," flagging the waitress, "We'll take two of the oysters on a half-shell."

The little squishy fellas arrived and stared up at us.  The song from "Alice in Wonderland" floated into my head ... curious little oysters ...

Brett and I looked at each other, grabbed our shell, smiled painfully and ... down the hatch!

BLECH!

It was the most awful mouthful I have ever gagged down - made only worse by the fact that I bit into that slimy little oyster and felt a squirt of nasty salt-water spew down my throat.

Uuuggghhhh ....  I can still taste the slippery little thing ... slimy, rubbery, salty and way too big!  There was not enough water at the table to wash away that sea-water taste, or the sensation of swallowing something slick and stubborn at the same time!  Even now, my little gag-reflex twitches when I think back on it.  ... gulp ...

Gratefully, our clam chowder showed up shortly after my shellfish-shock and I was able to end the meal on a good note.  Actually it was a deliciously, creamy note.  A lip-smacking note that I think back on with fondness and a little surge in my appetite.

So ... if you ever find yourself on the Oregon coast, go to Moe's for their clam chowder.

Just avoid those slimy, slippery, squishy little oysters.  The curiosity will leave you with a stomachache.

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Writing Prompt #4 ~ Describe a food you abhor.

Time-Warp Wednesday

Today's Time-Warp is a mix of past and present, sweet and ewww, precious and yucky, memories to keep ... and one I'd like to erase from my brain!

Let's start with the sweet memory, shall we?



Awwww ... so adorable!  This is my little Lydia when she was about six months old.  My little peaches-n-cream baby girl.

I love her dark wispy hair (my only baby to have dark hair ... or to even look like they have any hair at this age!).

I love her rubber-band wrists and her pudgy little arms (I just want to nibble on them!)

I love her little angel-kiss birthmark right there between her eyebrows (you'd be amazed at how bright that little mark can get when she gets to screaming!)

I love her little grin (I think she look like she's just about ready to say something profound.)

I love her all wrapped up in her boppy, her lovey, her favorite, snuggly blanket.

This is definitely one of my favorite snapshots of my Weeda.  So sweet and so precious.

Now onto the ewwwww....

Today I took this same little girl (now a spunky, sassy, silly two year old) to the doctor.  She wasn't really sick, but she'd had a runny nose for about 2 1/2 weeks and yesterday it had seemed a little worse.  On top of that, she had started to smell.  Badly.  At first (several days ago) I had noticed this unpleasant aroma when Lydia would be snuggled on my lap.  Pee-you.  My solution:  wash that girl!  Unfortunately it didn't seem to help much.  Then on Sunday, Brett noticed it and he asked, "Do you think it's her breath?  Baby halitosis?"  Our solution:  brush her teeth!  Nope, that didn't seem to help either.

Maybe she's just a stinker ... and not in the "go sit in the corner" sort of way.  Maybe she has developed some stronger than usual baby b.o.  Not a pleasant thought seeing as we are years away from actual puberty!  Do they sell baby deodorant?

Finally, yesterday she was sitting on my lap and sneezed.  And I caught a whiff of this unpleasant smell full in the face.  It's safe to say that it reeked.  Hence our trip to the doctor this morning.

Upon sitting down in the examining room, the nurse asked a few typical questions:  fever?  duration?  complaints?  appetite?  No.  Too long.  No.  Yes.

Next the doctor came in.  She asked the same questions.  She pulled out her otoscope (known in our house as the "eye and nose looker").  Then she asked a different one ... to Lydia:  "What did you put up your nose, Sweetie?"  What?!?

Sure enough, there was something stuffed up in her little nose!  My poor baby!  With a little head and hand holding (translate: full-body restraint), the doctor got a hold of the foreign object and slowly and gently removed it from her right nostril.   (insert Mommy gagging here ...)

What was it?!  A nasty, slimey, disgusting, putrid wad of ...

boppy, lovey, blanket.  Ewww...

At some point, that silly girl had pulled off some boppy-bits.  And stuffed them up her nose.  And then did it again.

We are assured that the smell will go away in about 24 hours and the runny nose should dry up in the next day or two.  And you can be sure that her boppy, lovey, blanket has been safely stored up in the closet ... out of reach of her hands (and nose).

So ... I'm glad that I have this sweet and precious little snapshot to treasure of my baby and her beloved boppy.

And hopefully that other image won't last nearly as long. :)  ...shudder....


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We enjoyed another KEBL night last night ... it had been a while!  Check out the fun we had during our family Bible time!