Category Archives: 2 Mi Familia

All things family-related. My husband and me, the children we made, the grandbebes that thrill us now. Our whole great big, loud, messy family. Love! *sigh…

Rocker-Bo’s Birthday!

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, Stuff I Actually Think,

Twenty-four years ago today, my one and only male-child-by-birth arrived.  Twenty-four years ago today, the baby whose birth caused me to both laugh and cry and kept me up all night long looking at him and loving him and breathing him in was born.  (See last year’s post here)

Today is Rocky’s birthday.

Happy Birthday, Rocky, intense and strong-willed man.  Happy Birthday, beautiful son I love, and most delightfully perplexing child of all.  Happy day to Jovan’s husband (I was raising you for her) and to Averi’s daddy (who knew you were so anointed for this role?).  You are strength and conviction, committed and true.  You are right and decided, responsible and thorough.  I love you so, admire your wholeheartedness and believe in you and the things God is calling you to like there is no tomorrow.

Before you came, I had such opinions about having a son.  I only wanted a son if he would be just like this or just like that, but I could never have imagined or dreamed you up.  Sure I’d have said, “Make sure he gets his father’s dimples,” and I am glad you have them.  But I’d never have asked that you be as stubborn or as opinionated as me, yet you are.  But you?  You were the perfect combination of orneriness and goodness, of determination and playfulness.  If ever my limits were stretched by your naughtiness or ceasless ability to argue (also inherited from me, I fear), they’d be expanded again as you cuddled next to me with your little mullet, blankie in hand and curl into my little brown baby boy again.

How could I help but bless you?  How could I not bless the day you were born?  I do bless it!

So, today, as we honor you and the blessed day of your birth, I am praying these things for you.  These are presents you cannot buy, but they are truly what I wish for you and what I will shake heaven’s gates to see you get.

  • I pray that you will be the man God intended when He created you for your wife and all your children to come.  You have been given such a place of honor as Jovan’s husband and Averi’s daddy.  You hold so much of the preciousness of their lives in your hands – you have the place of impact on their hearts like no other.  In these times, when Satan works to rip every marriage of covenant and to turn the hearts of children and their father’s away from one another, you’ll need to be the man.  You will need to stand strong and battle to guard the love and unity.  Be strong and courageous, Rock, and be the man you were created to be. 
  • I pray that your voice will be heard.  Sunday, as you led worship in The River, I was so impressed at how you communicate a song’s truth.  That is different than just singing it.  I know you know that.  It is what has set you apart and given you a place of leading people into God’s presence through worship.  But I know, oh how I know, there is more.  There is so much more.  There is an amazing power to communicate the deep truths of God, almost ready to be birthed.  You stand at the precipice, you defer to others more seasoned.  And that is OK for now, but know – the time to speak, the time to speak out with boldness – is coming.  Don’t let your youthfulness cause you consternation in this.  Live it.  Then speak it when He says to.  And for the ears of the people to hear, for the hearts to receive… 
  • I pray that you will ever remain boyish, adventuresome, and playful.  Among your greatest of charms is that you are still excited by a paintball outing, that you ask for “toys” for birthdays and at Christmas, and that game-nights at your house are the most popular gatherings in town (X-box and poker and whatever else).  I love that you work responsibly in ministry, are a loving husband and amazing daddy, yet still the little brother in the family, looking for ways to infuse fun into all our gatherings.  This is most evidenced by the fact that all dogs and nieces and nephews start running in happy circles when you arrive.  They know you are the one who truly “gets” them.
  • I pray you will receive the love and belief the people who know you best have in you.  I know you sometimes doubt yourself and are most critical of your shortcomings.  I defy Satan to cripple your life in that way.  I pray that God will bind the enemy on your behalf and you will always hear His voice saying, “Rocky-here is the way, walk in it…” 
  • I don’t pray that you will always be a “vocational” worship leader or a pastor, though you were born into a heritage of that calling and have been blessed to walk this path so young.  But I do pray you will always be a worshipper.  I pray that the song of the Lord will continue to grow in your heart until it cannot be contained and you are forced to pen the songs of heaven.  I pray that you will always minister to the Lord (with your song, your voice, your heart, your all), no matter where you are or what else you may ever do.  Worship Him, always, my sweet boy.  You were made to praise Him.

I love you, my Rock-man.  I am so full of anticipation about the life God is leading you in and watching closely as you become more like Jesus.  You are the Psalms 112 man-because that is what you always wanted, and that is God’s intent for you.  You are beautifully and wonderfully made – I know this very well.

Happy Birthday, o son I so adore…Love, Mom

NOTE TO SELF:  Worship time with Rocky.

pictured: Rocky and the fam a couple of weeks ago

Sweet Niece Elise – A Belated Happy Birthday!

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, 6 Looking Back // Memories!, Stuff I Actually Think, ,

I have 8 nephews and 2 nieces among my siblings.  For the most part, we’ve never lived in the same city, so they are just these far-off adorables you get to see growing up through Christmas card photos and the every-other-year family gatherings.  They are a pretty likeable bunch!

Until March, we have never lived closer than 13-20 hours from my sweet niece, Elise, the firstborn to my brother Joe and his wife, Robin.  But then she moved here following 2 years of leading missions trips with YWAM and what extra joy she has brought!

She turned 22 on the 22nd and it is fitting for she is at least 22 times happier and excited about life than most anyone else on the planet.  She has made us laugh at least 2200 times since she got here and she has been a happy encourager to all of us no less than 222 times.

We have a video of Elise when she was 9 years old, very happily describing the pretty outfit she has just purchased for church, just bubbling in anticipation of the moment she’ll be able to don it and model it for us all.  The very weekend she moved to Denver this year, on a Saturday afternoon, she bounded into the kitchen sharing excitedly, Look at this cute outfit I got for church today!! and  drew us all into the excitement of how cute she would be.  She never fails to pull us in by her exhuberance for living, where even small feats are opportunities to celebrate. 

Happy Birthday, sweet Elise Rachelle Moslander!  You are color and light and a world traveller with a big heart.  You have become the beautiful young woman I always knew you would be, but have surprised me by being such an amazing woman of faith and trust in God!  You are a faith woman, for sure!

May all your blessings come times 2 this year!…Aunt Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF:  Take good care of my sweet niece, Elise! 

The Parents

2 Mi Familia, Stuff I Actually Think, , ,

I am visiting the parents where they retired 4 months ago in Springfield, MO.

Springfield is…interesting.   I have never seen so many junk stores, resale shops and on-going home rummage sales in my life.   This could be an antiquer’s haven – or perhaps just the biggest pile of junk in the heartland!

They also have more eating establishments per capita than anywhere I have ever been and Dave’s goal is to eat at every single one.

We have seen 8032 churches (A of G “holy land”), 637 women wearing shorts who shold NOT have  been  and 214 mullets – yes, the Joe Dirt “do.”

We’ve hung some pictures on the wall, helped dad rebuild a shed, adjusted some doors and enjoyed the final days of summer as they have  slipped into fall.   The sunsets have been quiet and colorful, the days pleasant.   Mom is constantly trying to feed us and dad wants to give us unforgettable memories of fun times.   We just enjoy being near them.  

 

This is where I am…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: Still to do: Yahtzee with mom, talk time with dad

pictured: me and mom and the four of us just before church Sunday morning

Guin-Guin Day in the Garden

2 Mi Familia, 4 Home & Garden/Food & Seasons, , ,

Here is what we learned today, just Guini and I having a little time to ourselves: gardening trumps Play-Doh time.   We  harvested 3 different types of peppers,  4  varieties of tomatoes, some cukes, some zucchini and handfuls of green beans.   Oh – and some wayward okra that seeded itself this year.   We are choosing to ignore the field of garlic chives that is threatening to take over the entire backyard.  

     

Here is what else we learned:

  • Watering is fun no matter how wet you get.
  • That the corn has been left to “mature” a bit too long.   It is still tasty, but tough, so we’ll let the stalks turn brown now for front porch decor in a few weeks.
  • The chiles are slowing way down in production, but they are beauts!
  • Perhaps we should have staked the jalapenos?
  • We did NOT get the watermelon in soon enough and the baby fruit are dropping in the cool night air, so sadly, we shall not reap a harvest here.
  • Nonna doesn’t check the cukes as often as she should and she has let the green beans run wild.
  • Though we may have plucked the zucchini a bit too zealously, we can still enjoy every part.
  • And it is possible to garden in sparkly, pink shoes.

A day with Guini   (aka The Flower Girl) is a sweet, soft day…Jeanie (aka Nonna)

NOTE TO SELF: Check the bounty more often – this is what all the work and watering was for!

pictured: Guini with the second batch of garden goodies; Guini inspecting a zuch; Guini with her zucchini flower; and Guini discussing gardening and telling me she still likes flowers better than veggies.   Imagine that?   (Click on photos to enlarge)

Brother Joe

2 Mi Familia, Stuff I Actually Think, , , ,

Hey – check out a feature from today’s newspaper in Aberdeen, SD.   It’s all about my little brother, Joe who pastors there.   There is even an online clip of the building his congregation is renovating right now.  

They did a front page spread on him a few years ago with a big picture of the praying policeman.   Either Joe is just  super exciting or not much is going on in Aberdeen!   Ha!

I can’t fathom that gray hair when my hair  is still so naturally   “coffee” with dark red and honey streaks?

Joe

See the article here:

http://www.aberdeennews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080914/LIVING/809140334

Joe-it is time to get your own blog!

Love, your big sister…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF:   My favorite song from when I was 4?   “I’ve got the Joey, Joey, Joey, Joey down in my heart…”   Still do.

I’ve Been Around the Block a Few Times

2 Mi Familia, Stuff I Actually Think, , ,

 

I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck yesterday.   I’ve been, as they say, around the block a few times and here are a  some things I know:

  • If it is going to rain only one day this week-it will be the day they throw the Penny Saver in the driveway.
  • You spend a lot of years pursuing the Presence, thinking God is elusive and even at times withholding Himself because you’re in some kind of unconfessed sin or that you just are not measuring up.   Then you find out you had it all wrong: He has been pursuing YOU!
  • “One of the most time-consuming things is to have an enemy.”   So said E. B. White.
  • A scoured and polished kitchen sink will go looking for dirty dishes.
  • If some one says, “Smell this,”   don’t.
  • If some one begins a sentence with, “No offense, but…”, brace yourself,  they are about to offend.
  • If that boy is right for my daughter, God will tell me.   Believe it, girls.
  • People are way less enthusiastic about receiving my advice than I am  in giving  it.
  • The life you lead is the life you’ll someday leave – with your friends and family and specifically your children.   So make it a good one.   Live with the end in mind – leave the right legacy.
  • “From the cradle to the grave – clean underwear comes first.”   I read that in the comics once and it rings true.
  • There IS a peace that passes understanding!   That always surprises me.
  • And – there IS a right way to place the toilet paper roll – my way.

This is gold, people, pure gold!   Most of it is really, truly and actually stuff I think and say.   Ha!   I won’t  claim any of it is original, though, because everytime I think I am posting some super-original thing, I google it and find out some one else had it before me.   Bother.

Just wanting to share the wealth…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF:   Devote time to learning the secret to marrying fabulous shoes (think high-high heels)  AND pain-free feet.   This may be my ticket to wealth!

pictured: me in my cousin’s tree, age 4  – at their house where there was no indoor plumbing – YES!   I am that old; me more recently, a bit worn out from having circled the block so many times – with the 5 amazings; google image of proper toilet paper installation.

Happy Birthday, Tristan!

1 Christ is All, 2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, Stuff I Actually Think, , ,

Read Tristan’s birthday post from last year here.   I bawled when I wrote it and he may have sniffled a bit when he read it.   We’ll keep it cool this year.

Today Tristan, my first son-in-law ever, turns 28!

Happy Birthday, Tristan, superb son-in-law and waaaaay above average husband to my daughter, Stephanie.   Happy Birthday to you as we celebrate your life represented by faithfulness and trustworthiness in all you do.   Happy Day to a Hoosier who chose rightly to live in Colorado, for it set up a chain of events that made you one of us, a blessing we regularly praise God for!   Blessed and glorious Day of Remembrance for us all as we stop to honor you and the life you lead!

Tristan is a rare find.   Unassuming and humble, you might not notice genius in the room or divine the depth of talent and creativity, nor the well of of knowledge and intelligence if you were passing through a  space with him in it.   You  could be near and yet   miss the wry twinkle of a quiet, but wicked sense of humor, or fail to see the deep thoughtfulness about the powerful issues of the day in politics, religion, worldview.

No.    One might pass Tristan and see a kind person, a quiet man gently playing with his 3 children or engaged in a conversation with family or friends.   A person might say, “Doesn’t he play the drums?”   And not even realize that he is truly one of the best around, sought after by the best musicians, not only at drums, but at all instruments.   You might just see the best of him: an incredible and loving husband and devoted father, and still not get to see the rest of him.

But we, his family, are blessed.   We are blessed to see the giant of a man he is.   Tris is the big-brother of the fam, now.   He is some one we all trust and our go-to guy about anything and everything that ails us.   He knows our secrets, our faults and our failures, and yet, can be trusted with that information.   You cannot buy that kind of character or love.   He is a gift.   We are blessed.

 

So, today, Tristan, I bless you and I thank God for you.   These are the gifts I want you to open today and throughout this next year:

Grace to you, Tristan, and peace.   Be blessed with provision through your giftings and abilities, both the technological and the artistic-musician sides.   I pray that resources make themselves available and that your resourcefulness will become an even greater and valued comodity!

May you be preserved in blamelessness your whole life long.   May your beautiful wife bring you joy and your children, great delight.   May God hear all your prayers and your secret heart’s desires and answer   you in times of trouble.  

I pray that, while should it ever fall my lot –  I would defend you to the death, may the Lord be your defender and protector and  may He keep you safe on every side.  

I pray that you, planted firmly by living waters, will begin to see the fruitfulness of your faithfulness before God and that this next year will bring blessing on every side, provision, new opportunities and new open spaces.   I pray that we’ll see the explosion of the color of you all around,  for this new time and place and new year for you and you family.  

I am so pleased with you as my daughter’s husband and as the father of my 3 beautiful grandchildren.   They are the proof of the man you are.   I am so pleased to call you son, and thankful to your parents for sharing.   I am so blessed you were born to be a part of us.   I love you wholeheartedly, Tristan!

Happy Birthday, cherished one…Your very own (and hopefully not dreaded)  m-i-l   :)

NOTE TO SELF:   Make Tris a drum cake next year.

pictured: Tristan in the Hershey store in Times Square on a recent family vacation; Guini helping Tris open his presents yesterday; Tris and my other amazing son-in-law!

The Convivial Table

2 Mi Familia, 4 Home & Garden/Food & Seasons, 7 Keep Christmas, Stuff I Actually Think, , ,

“The convivial table is where it all begins,” I once read  with immediate agreement  and wish I could remember where and to whom it should be attributed.   Naturally I liked the word “convivial” because it denotes lively feasting and banqueting with loved ones, being in good company with lots of good food for all.

I was perusing an old issue of Architectural Digest   recently, a lovely magazine I try to pick up from the annual library clean-up sale,  when I  saw an ad for Electrolux appliances which said,

“In my kitchen: I preheat a memory.   I fold in old friends with new.   I bake a good laugh.”  

I enjoyed the clever marrying of cooking and baking terms to the meaning of life.   There’s an ad person with a poet’s heart, methinks.  

And isn’t the kitchen truly the lifeline of home and family?   Is this not where we experience unforgettable laughter and memory, the aromas of love and home-cooking?       Isn’t it in the kitchen we hear the music of the percolating coffee, the sizzle of the bacon, the the beep of the timer signifying the wait is over, the promise has arrived?     Is this not where we see the garden’s burst of  color  and taste of life itself?  

The convivial table is life-giving.   The convivial table is a place of gratefulness and feasting.   “The convivial table is where it all begins,” and the place we keep hoping to get back to and should visit often.

I my kitchen I…what?

Eat, drink and be merry with some people you love…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: Tomorrow the table will be laden with fish tacos and fruit pizza for Tristan’s birthday (hey it is his menu!), and with love for him and loud talk and laughter amongst all.

pictured: a table spread for Christmas cheer moments before the lively and much-loved guests arrived

 

 

Five Little Monkeys

2 Mi Familia, 4 Home & Garden/Food & Seasons, Stuff I Actually Think,

   

Gavin (5)  is in Kindergarten now.   He seems rather appalled at the lack of snacks and refreshments offered by his new teacher, as when he pre-schooled with me, each completed assignment signified it was time for a break and snack!   He also knows here, even if I put “special toys” away in the garage, he is free to find them and use them at will.   He has often reported of Kindergarten: “There’s a lot of toys there, but I can’t play with them.   It’s hard work.”

   

Guinivere (3)  came over with her siblings the other night at 8:30 pm while her parents went to see Death Cab for Cutie.   The others fell asleep at a reasonable little-kid time, while Guini danced and pranced about happily until 12:30 am.   Not only is she a nightowl – she is an exhuberant night owl, full of joyful and loud talk!

   

Gemma (1)  is such a petite and tiny thing, a person is sometimes surprised by how independent and  wry she is.   Even her orneriness is sweetened by the moments she runs up to me saying, “Hold me, hold me, hold me,” over and over as she reaches her skinny little arms around  my neck and comes in close.    And then she is off again like a flash.   She can almost finish a popsicle drip free!   At one!

   

Hunter (almost 4)  is King of the Corn.   He helped me till the ground in the little 4′ x 4′ square a few months back.   He  spread a little manure and he pushed the corn seeds in to the ground with his little finger.   Whenever he came over, he’d water his corn field and became very delighted to see the corn pop up and grow to his knees and then his shoulders and then over his head.   We have been getting corn for a couple of weeks.   I think he likes the idea of touching and watering and playing with corn more than the eating it, but he’ll learn.

     

Averi (6 1/2 months) came over one night a couple of weeks ago with her hair in little ponytail “sprouts.”   When Jovan took them out to get her in her jammies and all comfy for the night, at first her hair just stayed there – sprouted out.   Then it began to come down into these side poofs which made her look like Princess Leia.   Then for awhile she looked like Jim Carrey  as Ace Ventura, but it was finally decided she looked most like the Mayor from  Whoville.   Whatever – we love her hair!   AND she just got her first tooth a couple of days ago!

These are the 5 little monkeys who jump on my beds, my couches, off my counters, through my garden and into my heart.

Have I ever mentioned how happy I am to be a grandma?…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF:  Get a really good camera, for crying out loud.