I work for a consulting firm (http://www.mdaleadership.com/). We provide leadership consulting for companies around a variety of issues. Our CEO is Sandra Davis. A few months ago she came to me and said "I'm going to Ghana."
I had shared our story with Sandra...how my husband was stuck in Ghana with an immigration issue that had already taken him away for two years while we wait for it to be resolved. She was empathetic and a good listener. However, she was about to take it to another level.
We had coffee and she talked about her trip. She told me about how she serves on the board for a non-profit organization that works in third world countries, and provides macro loans mostly to women to start businesses. She was going to tour some of the work that was being done in Ghana. Of all the countries - they work in many countries and areas of the world. It just happened to be in Ghana. I don't believe in "happenstance" - I knew this was "providence."
She offered that she had a bit of time and could meet with Nana, my husband, while in Ghana. I was apprehensive. Would it work out? Were we worthy of the visit of someone who was so well-connected? Someone who was regarded as a thought-leader in our industry? Someone who was hard to get time on her calendar?
But God was in control - and He had a plan for this meeting. I helped coordinate their schedules and they met on Saturday, December 1st at her hotel. My husband assured me that he was right on time. :) He took her to a very nice restaurant where they ate local fare. Thinking he'd get maybe an hour, they spent almost 3 hours together talking.
I know that God sent Sandra Davis to Ghana to view the work being done by her non-profit, but we were blessed tremendously by her willingness to bless us in this way with her time. I have been praising God for such a gift. My experience at MDA has really been a divinely appointed job as I transitioned from Nana here to him being away for the past two years.
Praise God for His Goodness!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Spiritual Cosmetic Surgery
I'd love to have cosmetic surgery. A big cut here, a little cut there. And voile - the new and improved Naomi. However, I've watched a couple of shows where surgery happens - and the participants come out looking like they were on the wrong side of Mike Tyson's fist. They're moaning and in great pain...and I change my mind and say - I'm ok with all of this. :)
But there's another type of surgery - surgery at the steady hand of the Great Surgeon. 2007 has been my year of surgery. At the beginning of the year, I was pulled forward to the altar at Sanctuary (http://www.sanctuarycovenant.org/). Pastor Efrem Smith was preaching about how God "cuts" us - and though it's painful, in the end, it's needed. I went forward and said "God cut things out of my life that are dysfunctional. Make me into a godly woman. Teach me how to work through hard things rather than working around them."
I didn't know what I was saying at the time. Since then, God showed me that there is a great need to push through conflict rather than retreating from it. He's shown me that He is taking care of me. I don't have control over things - but I don't need to. He will show me the path He has for me - in my family, with my husband returning from Ghana, as a mother, as a sister, as a colleague at work. But the passage through 2007 was the most painful I have ever seen. Hours of tears, Bible reading, focus on working through conflict...it seemed that I would recover from one thing, and another issue would be headed my way.
I haven't arrived - I'm still a work in progress. But I can slowly see how God is shaping my story - he's cutting me and it's really painful. But in the end, it will be beautiful. It's just getting through the recovery period - and not giving up on it. It's waiting on God and allowing him to remove the bandages slowly. Sometimes the healing isn't done so the bandages are placed lovingly back on.
My healing isn't done - my bandages still exist. But God is working in and through me to create a more beautiful me - on the inside.
But there's another type of surgery - surgery at the steady hand of the Great Surgeon. 2007 has been my year of surgery. At the beginning of the year, I was pulled forward to the altar at Sanctuary (http://www.sanctuarycovenant.org/). Pastor Efrem Smith was preaching about how God "cuts" us - and though it's painful, in the end, it's needed. I went forward and said "God cut things out of my life that are dysfunctional. Make me into a godly woman. Teach me how to work through hard things rather than working around them."
I didn't know what I was saying at the time. Since then, God showed me that there is a great need to push through conflict rather than retreating from it. He's shown me that He is taking care of me. I don't have control over things - but I don't need to. He will show me the path He has for me - in my family, with my husband returning from Ghana, as a mother, as a sister, as a colleague at work. But the passage through 2007 was the most painful I have ever seen. Hours of tears, Bible reading, focus on working through conflict...it seemed that I would recover from one thing, and another issue would be headed my way.
I haven't arrived - I'm still a work in progress. But I can slowly see how God is shaping my story - he's cutting me and it's really painful. But in the end, it will be beautiful. It's just getting through the recovery period - and not giving up on it. It's waiting on God and allowing him to remove the bandages slowly. Sometimes the healing isn't done so the bandages are placed lovingly back on.
My healing isn't done - my bandages still exist. But God is working in and through me to create a more beautiful me - on the inside.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Baby Talk
Ada! Aba! I heard these sounds over and over from Martin. In the past, he's enjoyed pretending to be a baby for fun or playtime. However, this was getting annoying!
Frustrated, I told him, "Martin, you're a big boy! Stop talking babytalk!" He just looked at me like I had lost my mind. After about a week of it, and my frustration with his new "babytalking," a lightbulb came on in my head. He's not babytalking. He's learning a language!
As we had set things up with our new babysitter, I made sure that she would teach Martin my husband's language, Twi. She speaks that language and a few other tribal languages, but she said that she would be sure to do that. (Theresa is from Ghana!)
As I spoke to my husband and imitated the sounds Martin was making, he immediately knew he was learning Twi! By the time we're reunited with Nana in Ghana, Martin will be able to have some "babytalk" conversations with his daddy.
What a blessing that we have a Ghanaian babysitter for Martin so he can keep the contact with Nana indirectly.
- Naomi
Frustrated, I told him, "Martin, you're a big boy! Stop talking babytalk!" He just looked at me like I had lost my mind. After about a week of it, and my frustration with his new "babytalking," a lightbulb came on in my head. He's not babytalking. He's learning a language!
As we had set things up with our new babysitter, I made sure that she would teach Martin my husband's language, Twi. She speaks that language and a few other tribal languages, but she said that she would be sure to do that. (Theresa is from Ghana!)
As I spoke to my husband and imitated the sounds Martin was making, he immediately knew he was learning Twi! By the time we're reunited with Nana in Ghana, Martin will be able to have some "babytalk" conversations with his daddy.
What a blessing that we have a Ghanaian babysitter for Martin so he can keep the contact with Nana indirectly.
- Naomi
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
London? Or Minneapolis?
The weather has been grey for days, maybe weeks. Where did the sun go? I feel like I was transported to London and didn't know it. I wish that would happen - I'd much rather be touring London. ;)
Have you ever tried to shop with a toddler? Last night Martin and I tried the endeavor of shopping. We hit Fleet Farm, Gap, Old Navy...thank God I got myself a depth charge (a regular coffee with two shots of espresso - for the hard core drinkers). Our mission: to find a coat and snowpants for a 2-year-old under the price of $50. Do you realize just how hard that is?
With toddler in tow, I hit Fleet Farm (it's like a big farm store with clothes). No coats there under $50 - so we leave and the buzzer sounds. The security woman comes over to check things out. I desperately hope the toddler didn't take anything. No, it's my work badge. Thank God. As I'm talking to the woman, my toddler runs to the big green lawnmower. I hope that he doesn't run out of the store. Whew - I look and he's still there. I'm flustered and dragging him out, while he screams to go back on the big, green lawnmower. We have a talk in the car about good behavior. He smiles sweetly and says "Sorry Mama." Uh huh.
We hit Old Navy and finally Gap. Still nothing under $50. Martin wets his pants. I pull my hair out waiting to check out (we found shoes though!) with the woman in front of me who decides not to use the coupon after her $150 purchase. I march over to adult Gap. Martin runs and hides, giggling. I drag him back, check out with the "Poor you" looks of the checkout girls, get to the car, change him to the new pants from soaked pants, and sit there for a minute.
The moral of the story: Don't shop with your 2-year-old after work. :)
Have you ever tried to shop with a toddler? Last night Martin and I tried the endeavor of shopping. We hit Fleet Farm, Gap, Old Navy...thank God I got myself a depth charge (a regular coffee with two shots of espresso - for the hard core drinkers). Our mission: to find a coat and snowpants for a 2-year-old under the price of $50. Do you realize just how hard that is?
With toddler in tow, I hit Fleet Farm (it's like a big farm store with clothes). No coats there under $50 - so we leave and the buzzer sounds. The security woman comes over to check things out. I desperately hope the toddler didn't take anything. No, it's my work badge. Thank God. As I'm talking to the woman, my toddler runs to the big green lawnmower. I hope that he doesn't run out of the store. Whew - I look and he's still there. I'm flustered and dragging him out, while he screams to go back on the big, green lawnmower. We have a talk in the car about good behavior. He smiles sweetly and says "Sorry Mama." Uh huh.
We hit Old Navy and finally Gap. Still nothing under $50. Martin wets his pants. I pull my hair out waiting to check out (we found shoes though!) with the woman in front of me who decides not to use the coupon after her $150 purchase. I march over to adult Gap. Martin runs and hides, giggling. I drag him back, check out with the "Poor you" looks of the checkout girls, get to the car, change him to the new pants from soaked pants, and sit there for a minute.
The moral of the story: Don't shop with your 2-year-old after work. :)
Monday, October 15, 2007
Conversations with a Two-Year-Old
"Mama, go Auntie Theresa's house?" I hear the little voice asking me in the morning. This is the two-year-old version of "What's our itinerary today?" I answer back with the plan for the day "Today is church day." "Today is Saturday - you get to stay with Mama all day!"
This morning we were driving to daycare and I heard the little voice in the back loudly in my ears "Stay with Mama today?" While the question is innocent enough, it's loaded in the mind of this working mom. My mind goes forward to 25 years from now and I see my poor son laying on the couch of a psychologist - talking about his mother rushing him out the door at 6:45am and returning at 5:30pm every day. Hurry hurry hurry was all I ever heard! he is saying. My mind crashes back to 2007. "No honey. Today you are going to Auntie Theresa's. But Mama would love to stay with you and have a mommy baby day (we call it)!"
I quickly pray that God would help him continue to adjust to our life - me existing in temporary single parenting. I know so many mothers who work full-time, either as a single parent or as a married couple who just have to pay the bills. Some women choose to work full-time. My hat goes off to those who balance working, parenting, and life successfully, especially those single mom's and dad's who do every day.
We continue driving and talking about what we will do on our day together. Martin is happy to discuss his plans and we converse and sing for the rest of the drive to daycare. I go to work as I do every day.
But my heart stays in a grubby little hand.
This morning we were driving to daycare and I heard the little voice in the back loudly in my ears "Stay with Mama today?" While the question is innocent enough, it's loaded in the mind of this working mom. My mind goes forward to 25 years from now and I see my poor son laying on the couch of a psychologist - talking about his mother rushing him out the door at 6:45am and returning at 5:30pm every day. Hurry hurry hurry was all I ever heard! he is saying. My mind crashes back to 2007. "No honey. Today you are going to Auntie Theresa's. But Mama would love to stay with you and have a mommy baby day (we call it)!"
I quickly pray that God would help him continue to adjust to our life - me existing in temporary single parenting. I know so many mothers who work full-time, either as a single parent or as a married couple who just have to pay the bills. Some women choose to work full-time. My hat goes off to those who balance working, parenting, and life successfully, especially those single mom's and dad's who do every day.
We continue driving and talking about what we will do on our day together. Martin is happy to discuss his plans and we converse and sing for the rest of the drive to daycare. I go to work as I do every day.
But my heart stays in a grubby little hand.
Friday, October 12, 2007
My First Blog!
Blogging - I've always wanted to do it...but I finally am starting.
My world - the little smiling boy on the left. What a beautiful ray of sunlight in my world that has been challenging for almost two years.
It has been almost two years since Nana has been in Ghana, West Africa. What a whirlwind of time. So many things happened - Martin turned 1, then 2, started walking, talking, running, conversing...life keeps marching on to a quick beat. I can barely keep time. I get used to things going along and there is more change. God has been teaching me about trusting Him. Sometimes I'm really good at it, but lately I've not been so good. Life is a continual journey - sometimes the valleys are so deep that you can't see past yourself. Right now we're in a valley, but God will bring us through and reunite our little family.
We're moving - AGAIN. This is the fourth time in two years. Not loving change, I am reeling from the thought of moving our belongings. But they are just belongings. I look so forward to putting down roots with my family. Where that will be is anybody's guess.
Welcome to our little world. I'm going to keep updates on this blog.
Love, Naomi
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