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. :)

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.

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