A Grateful Heart

Truly the best things in life are free and noticing them becomes a necessity when life throws you curveballs. Sacrificing any sort of resource for your family is never a choice made for a hero worship or a parade in the center of town, but rather a storing up for the future sort of choice. A harvest of love, respect, and change await those ready to lay down their lives as they lay up treasures in heaven. There are so many reasons not to and yet the path less chosen influences each day with a sweet savor. A fragrance rising from an obedient heart open to the miraculous possibilities brokeness can bring. This obedience, the choices, the path, the doing without brings me my "best life" possible. I see the fruit now in little ways, stronger marriage, children who feel loved, family curiosity, and life changing decisions are made. I may not be in the seat of the honored or stand in the way of the glamorous, but my backseat driving accomplishes one thing, it pleases Him.

The Waiting Room

I've been meaning to mention this to you, it just seemed so hiliarious at the time. I had an entire dialogue with myself in a waiting room that looks like Avonlea's tea parlor. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the time being toddler-less, sitting back in a Pottery Barn chair usually browsing through their magazine or any other one that is available, but my recent time there (similar to some sort of sentence) inspired the following piece of irony. I suppose you can say that this is my disclaimer.

~the shere irony of waiting in a room surrounded by hormones, for the appearance of one person, "the name-caller".~

You would almost liken it to waiting in line for take-out at lunchtime; everyone has their game face on with the "I got here first look in there eyes". Some more discreetly than others, I always sport the "given-in and taking a nap look". The whole scene reminds me of the "soup guy" from Senfield. Everyone is on edge waiting for their name to be called and "Lord have mercy" if you have the same name as someone else. I have started to bring my own pregnancy tailgating supplies, pillow and refreshments hehe j/k. Each of us have our own reasons to wait for an hour to be proded and poked. One, we get to hear our little one's heartbeat (no sound is sweeter to a momma), two, sometimes it is for a sneak peek at the little guy/gal (which truly is the best reason I think), and three, the routine (you gotta do what you gotta do).

I hate to say, this week I actually starting feeling guilty for enjoying this waiting room drama, but you have to experience it for yourself to really get tickled. What happens when you put pregnant women in a room and ask them to wait for an hour? Let your imagination take over... some of the most humorous for people watchers like myself is the duo, trio, or family occasion participants.
-Duo: These participants usually consist of the anxious spouse and the calm spouse, the blissful parents, and/or the ride and the patient.
-Trio: The happy couple with baby number one, toddler/little one number one, and/or any combo of family.
-Family occasion: This is perhaps my favorite of waiting room combinations, the excitement is truly contagious. It is usually for the gender viewing or the first sonogram.. Ahhh grandbaby heaven..
I don't just watch to pass the time, I also love to hear/share stories, cry with those that cry and laugh with those that laugh :).
All in all I love all my friends at the waiting room and any enjoyment I get from watching and talking with them is merely for my own sanity (You'll find me there one weekly to bi-weekly schedule) hehe.

The Zoo

We headed toward the Jacksonville Zoo early this morning with high expectations. Josiah has many new found loves and they are all animals. Seeing as the majority of the communication we have daily may sound like noise or animal noise, we thought it quite appropriate to introduce him to the real thing. Startled by the actual sizes of the animals, Josiah was entranced by the creatures we observed. Taking on the role of a true safari guide, Josiah lead the way with his "light-up" shoes and frolicking pace. Truly an animal lover, he talked to, clapped for, petted, and fed the animals that we saw. His favorites were the goat, giraffe, cheetahs, spider monkeys, fish, and the various birds (able to chase).

The human company was also grand, we were joined by Grandad, Aunts Hosanna, Jubalee, and Melody, as well as Melody's boyfriend, Bruce. We all got a taste of childhood as we experienced the zoo anew through Josiah's excited eyes, suprised faces, and gleeful responses to each new exhibit.

At the end of our venture, Zach bought Josiah a little memory book to keep his zoo pictures in. My heart began to feel warm as I thought of all the nights, Josiah and I will look at the animals from the zoo before drifting off to sleep.

Josiah and Daddy: Two of a Kind :P

Prego Blues

So.. my second lil J is on his way..but Christmas tried to come early this year...Knocking me off my feet (literally). As Zach puts it, Joshua hit the Emergency Escape button three months too soon and I ended up feeling a bit under the weather.

For those who have never had contractions.. I'll let you in on a little secret.. no it does not feel like your period cramps.. try again Doctors. I wasn't worried this time when I started feeling a little pain, but when I couldn't walk around the house it was time to call the doctor.

Zach and I spent a few hours in the hospital waiting for drugs to kick in and me to stop being a "drama queen" (yes, honey I am one). Joshua on the other hand thankfully is fine and kicking, I am beginning to think he could land a career as a superstar soccer player..maybe for Brazil? hehe

Thanks to all who have prayed, waited for our cell phones to work, and prayed some more.
Love,
The lady in waiting (thank goodness)

To life L'chei-im, le'chayim!

well in case you haven't heard, my husband is possibly the sweetest most giving person in the world and a true gem if you know what I mean :). Only God could chose such a man.. you should be so lucky! hehe I love sounding Yiddish.. anyhew.. My husband recently celebrated our last three years together by getting me a fantastic anniversary present (the last one for quite some time I'm sure :P), a new ring.

After the glamour, awe, and splendor waned a tad bit, I started to realize that this new ring (yes, honey it is the same ring only better) had yet no memories attatched to it. So I approached my husband with this idea, which I think baffled him at first (what girl doesn't want a bigger diamond?) and then he challenged my thinking. Being the poetic man that he is, he persuaded (not really that hard to do) me by stating, "this diamond is a celebration of how our love has grown over these last three years". I don't think I could possibly hold anymore love in my heart that what I felt in that moment, I was smitten :).

Don't think for a moment that I am not grateful for this beautiful addition to my ring finger. But rather I carry it with a rising confidence, that I am truly loved and that love grows each day.

Ode to the Year of the King

King Josiah has had a birthday.. his first of many and probably the most memorable for me.
Blues Clues.. Blues Clues.. first clue: tons of relative and friends, second clue: tons of presents, and third clue: a big cupcake! What do you have? Josiah's birthday party! All in all Josiah was partied-out and the guests went out with a smile :). Sucessful in any mother's eyes. Just making the birthday cake made me a bit teary and when he pinched off the icing, he melted my heart.

Josiah and I have had alot of adventures this year. We spent the first three months together as a duo in Danforth Apartments. Then I was transported back to my Kindergarten position and Daddy took over. Zach doing an incredible job as Mr. Mom, retired for the summer and Mommy camp begun. These last few months have been filled with memories that I will hold in my heart for the rest of my life. 9months, 10months, 11months, 12.. we went swimming, rode airplanes, ate ice cream, read books, cuddled, and sang songs.

As we sang Happy Birthday.. I thought about all the nights I wished I could spend my days with this little man. And here I am at-home with him dreaming of our newest adventure.. brotherhood :)

Brazilian Nutshells

Here at the Bridges' residence we are either traveling, visting friends, or changing diapers as it might seem this summer. Truly we are a juggling team at best. Yet, we find ourselves blessed in our circle of family of friends each day as they participate in our growing three to four ring circus.
We began the summer by leaving our son, Josiah for the first time with the "grandmas" while my husband, Zach and I ventured to the rather warm country of Brazil, me being 4 months pregnant with the next Bridges boy, Joshua.
In Brazil, we encoutered some of the most horrendous living conditions and our hearts were torn. Mine was especially drawn to the young girls who served as surrogate or biological mothers to endless hungry and in need of a bath children. As a young mother myself, the eyes of these young girls told their story. They were not only in need of physical comforts but of those that only our precious Lord can provide. It was seemingly impossible that our time there would be of benefit to these people, but in our hearts were ready for anything.
Zach and I had the privilege of working with the Missionary whom pronounced us man and wife almost three years ago. Mark Shubert has been working in the favelas/ghettos of Brazil for about 5 years and has made aware and inspired the surrounding communities to lend a hand to those less fortunate than even our poorest of poor.
I don't have pictures to show, but let my words paint a picture that lingers in our minds. Trash, filth, stench, and I am sure plenty of bacteria, this is the fabric of their lives. These communities/favelas/ghettos, build with it, live in, and on it. The only modern coveniences they have are access to a electric line and city plumbing. The rest, well it lies in the hands of drug lords and prostitution rings. In this setting, what would restore the family moral, work ethic, and community spirit? Well, sometimes the best way to solve a problem is from the inside out.
We ventured with a team of 20 alongside our missionary friend, we brought plenty of bandages (food, toys, clothes, essentials), but we also brought something that transcends even the hungriest of bellies. We brought a love that sustains and transforms even the hardest of hearts, the love of Jesus. Resistance is a small price to pay for a message that you find life changing.
We faced opposing forces with some of the community members, they protested our help and refused to listen along the way. But for the true prisioners of the favelas, the women, teenagers, and children seemed to congregate by the hundreds.
The days that we spend painting faces, passing out hot dogs, reading Bible stories, and singing songs will echo in my mind for many years to come. The work there will continue. Mark Shubert and the gang will continue to provide jobs, bring food, teach the Bible and bring God's love to the people in these communities.
It is the faces emptiness that I will not forget, faces that have no hope, and how they shone when surrounded by love and encouragement. Hope, one of our basest of needs lies in the very corners of our heart waiting to be drawn out. Even though situation may not allow, others around us can cause that light within to shine, if only we, the others, would take the time.