Parenting woes

Dear blog/diary

My parenting woes continue.

My little hero just don’t like school . He loves to play, watch cartoons and scare his little sister but the will to write (put pencil to paper to make legible symbols) is like “bad” blood given to an anaemic patient.

What happened to my truthful little pumpkin? Lies fill his mouth like a hungry man attacking his first meal in days. The bible teachings seem to have flown out the window together with all the nice toys - now broken that were bought over the holiday season.
His cutting remarks slice me right down my middle like the sword that led King Caesar into eternal sleep.
His disobedience is so out right almost engraved (I shudder), like a rock. But I must chip at it, one little piece by one little piece.

It’s frustrating.

How do parents love a child into obedience without considering lunatic asylum?
I’m speechless, I need the Holy Spirits intervention to articulate these matters before father God, Romans 8: 26 So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.

Too deep for utterance!!

I live at the alter for I know not of any other way to raise a human being more so in the ways of the Lord. I try, I slip, I falter and fail. Sometimes I want to bury my head under my pillow and hope that somehow a gentle, God fearing, obedient, loving man will emerge .

Many have written instruction books on how to raise a child and I have read a few. The ideas are brilliant, just when I’m about to scream eureka and run out on Semawatta road in glee, I hit a snug. I’m reminded that I’m dealing with a unique creation, never seen before this; The magic words don’t work, the formula fails, more volcanoes erupt, we get burned, the smell of the ash remains on our frames everywhere we go.
Does God feel this way about me? Do I evoke dirty emotions in Him too?

A visit with the Amish

Last Friday, Brent and Diane, Mich, Sam and I took a trip to Lancaster county to visit with the Amish.
I find their lifestyle quite fascinating, so when Diane brought up the idea I was more than thrilled to check them out. The Amish are a religious sect originating from the Mennonites, who arose directly out of the reformation struggles of the sixteenth century.

The first thing that I saw that set them apart is their transport -  the buggy. Its a horse drawn carriage. They don't use cars.
"Englisher", "Yankee" or "High People" are the names given by the Amish for anyone who is not Amish.

They are known as the plain people because they wear plain colored clothing, they live in scattered farmland locations across America. They live within highly personalized relationships, avoiding more than casual contact with strangers who might attempt to educate them to the ways of the outside world. While the Amish avoid most of the conveniences of the 21st Century, something that most outsiders have difficulty understanding, they are happy in their way of life.

I first  heard about them  when there was a shooting at one of their schools and it was all over the news. Oprah on one of her cross country tours stopped by one of the Amish homes. They don't use electricity or telephones.
They are not too thrilled with people visiting their quiet countryside farms. In fact, they avoid anything more than casual contact with strangers and any possible influence from the outside world of the "Englisher" just as they have for more than three hundred years.

They mind their own business, that made me cautious not to ask questions or stare at them. For religious reasons, most Amish avoid having their picture taken. They will cover their face or turn away from a camera just as you would if a stranger suddenly tried to take your picture. Keep in mind, too, that flash cameras snapped in front of a passing Amish buggy may frighten the horse and endanger the buggy’s passengers.

We stopped over for lunch at one of their well known restaurants and the food was mm mm good!
They kept bringing dishes until we said stop. The order of service in the restaurant was that every one ate together at one long table. If you came in and found some people already seated you would join them and eat like one big family, nice!

Last Night

Last night the moon peeped through my open window
His smile lit my room
His rays sat gently on my naked frame

Last night the wind waltzed through my open window
Her breeze sent shivers down my back bone
Little goose bumps flowered this ebony skin

Last night I saw a fairy
Pretty beyond my simple words to describe
She sparkled from top to tiny toe
She a little bigger than my tiny finger
She skittered onto my shoulder and showered me in pixie dust
Mmm the aroma simple words do not articulate
Petals of lavender, peach, lilies, cherry pie, honeysuckle

I was young again
Fresh again
New again
Again
Last night
Candles
Butterflies
Flowers
Last night!!

Two Ow One One

I love the sound of horses trotting over paved streets.
I find the firm muscles in their hind legs very captivating, a connotation of strength and power. Just!

Yesterday I was listening to I choose by India Arie off her album Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship. Something in there kept me bobbing my head; it was more than just the beat, I was feeling the lyrics.

(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be courageous in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.

(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.
Because you never know where life is gonna take you and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose.
I used to have guilt about why things happen the way they did cuz life is gone do what it do
And every day, I have the opportunity to choose.

Sam, Mich and I are loving our little bundle of Joy and energy. We added to this incredible mix by naming her Amani (Strength) and so now we have a little mukiga on our hands. Curious George has got nothing on this girl. She would give him a run for his money.
She melts her daddy's heart like butter in a hot frying pan. Monday 6:30am, daddy is on leave and turning over to catch the sweetest end to his sleep, he is pulling the blanket closer when she yells(to cry out with a strong, loud, clear sound) for attention. All groggy and red eyed, daddy turns to give her a sharp look, she wears her cutest, biggest, “Am-I-glad-to-see-you-Daddy smile". He can’t help but explode in laughter. She does it every single time.

Ever heard a baby break into a hearty laugh just before breastfeeding? That just kills me.

Thinking about the New year, I can almost feel grey hairs pushing their way out of my scalp; and the wrinkles, they apply themselves steadily around my eyes. Oi! a girl is growing older, hopefully wiser too.

So, what does 2011 have in store? That my friends’ is the gazillion dollar question.

Took a trip to Jinja for a change of scenery, where I was attacked with writer’s bout. Noto Bueno: A writer must always carry a pen and a note book to avoid the embarrassment of having to use napkins.

Anyway, since the dreaded CC (cost cutting) is still on our lips we took a humble aboard. I’m talking broken toilet seats, cracked remote controls, stained floors, squeaky doors - change of scenery alright. But I loved the fresh air, the sound of birds cooing and chirping; the sound of wind tickling the leaves and the vroom of cars way out in the distance. I could hear Mich playing with bottle tops on the stair case right outside our door. Sigh!

2011, is it just a continuation of 2010? Or something new and exciting?

No matter what, have an Anchor. That steadfast, immovable, all powerful, all knowing, supernatural, I-will-always-be-there Anchor. My personal favorite is the One who knows your life's middle from its beginning,your life's end from its middle and everything in between.

Make your plans, dream big, aim for the sky. Just know satisfaction can’t be fully achieved without His sovereign Lordship in your life.Work hard, give Him your plans, work harder and leave the rest to Him.

HAVE A FANTASTIC 2011

Naturally

Mama Mich

(And I choose) to be the best that I can be… can’t get the song out of my head