Summer Lovin' Sun

I like being tan. Sun kissed. Dark. Bronze.
Smelling of Coppertone and banana boat. That is the aroma of summer. A blend of coconut and pineapple. The smell of the beach.
The wind, the surf, the waves.

I love summer because I get to tan in the summer.

I have said before here, that my favorite thing is to be on a beach, drink in hand, turning every 30 minutes.

Heaven. Paradise. Sigh.

Now, I understand that many people are like, "Oh my gosh, don't tan or be in the sun! The UVB and UVA and whatever else is BAD. Very bad. Tanning is just as bad as being burned."

I understand that. I do.

But...I like to tan.

Let's be honest. Tan fat looks better than non-tan fat. It's true. You can find that in books. Complete fact.

But, because of the ozone scare and whatnot I am very careful about my sunbathing habits.

Obviously these habits will not work for everyone, however, they do work for me. Unfortunately I was not blessed with my father's cinnamon skin, but came in between his and my mothers creamy/Ivory skin. And that's ok. My Latino style permits some grace when it comes to being tan considering that my skin has a slight bronzy pigment. I would consider it very pale, but most say I am crazy. Well...yeah.

So...Here are my crazy rules for being in the sun, whether at a beach, pool, pond, whatever. Again these are my rules so...

1. Always wear a make up with an SPF. And if you are in/near water, be sure to put on atleast 25 on your face and NECK! Your face and neck are the first things to wrinkle and look old and the sun will do that faster so...prioritize.
2. Put at least SPF 15 on your boobs. After nursing, boobs sag so don't add wrinkles to the effect.
3. Put atleast SPF 15 onto your shoulders. Shoulders also can wrinkle easily and since they are just out there they can burn more easily as well.
4. Put atleast SPF 4 on the rest of your body. SPF 4 works for me. I don't burn except for the parts listed above and so the desire is to tan and there you go. I like using tanning oil, but be sure you reapply each time you take a swim.
5. Be sure you reapply on all parts during the heat of the day, from 1-4. Those are the burning hours.
6. Don't forget to slather on lotion on ears and feet.
7. Put lemon juice in your hair. It will bring our your natural highlights. But be sure to reapply after each swim.
8. Once you come in, use that Green Aloe Vera stuff. I don't know why but it cools you off and aloe vera is suppose to be good for you so...
9. Once inside also be sure not to forget to lather up in some mosturizing lotion. This should be an every day routine, especially on your hands, neck, chest, face and feet.
10. Enjoy your sun kissed, look like you lost a few pounds, bronzed new look.

I hope either some or maybe all of these suggestions helped. I know there are many of us out there that hate the sun and are plagued to sit under a huge umbrella in a wide brimmed hat wearing SPF 85, and I am sorry. I insist that you go and order/make a pina colada. As for the rest of you...Happy sun bathing!

Bring on the Bronze.

For more things that work go to Works for me Wednesday.

Heart Exam

I want to talk a little about my heart.
And, I want to let you in as to where it has been lately.

I have talked about how early in the year I was in a very deep pit. I was depressed, lonely, sad, angry and bitter...plus some.

For many reasons, which at the end of the day matter little in the whole scheme of life, I was in a bad place. Maybe I was tugged into this pit some, but mostly, I think I allowed myself to go into it because I now see that my heart had been broken and abused.

I thought I had put my life in God's hands, but in reality, I had only placed some things in his hands. But other things I wanted or needed the control. I didn't want to give it up. And when stuff didn't go the way I planned, it hurt my heart. And without any thought or my being aware of what was going on, I allowed my heart to become broken, bitter, angry and hard.

I see that now. After months. Months of crying. Months of praying. Months of almost despair. Months of not even knowing what was wrong with me.

I had a heart condition. And only God could fix it. The catch - I had to let him fix it.

In the beginning, when the hurts began, when life got hard, instead of praying for myself or for those being affected, I shut down.

My head said, "forget this. I am going to protect me and my husband and my kid. Nothing else matters. No one else matters."

And I thought, that's not a bad thing. Of course, I am called to shield my child and husband as much as I can according to the wisdom and discernment I have been given by God. But to do this out of fear or anger or bitterness was sin.

The snare was set and I went for it, not knowing what I was getting myself into.

In that trap, I fell hard. Believe me that as soon as the thoughts left my mind, I was berated with loneliness, fear, doubt, resentment.

Who are we kidding? I can't protect my family alone. I couldn't even protect them from me. From the sad person that I became. The angry person that I became. The guilty person that I became.

Sin enveloped my mind.
My heart was polluted with evil.
It needed major repair.

But my God is so Good.
He cleanses and purifies.
My heart went through some fire, but came out so much more refined.

Proverbs says the heart is the well spring of life. Everything comes out of the heart. Life comes out of the heart. But when our hearts are filled with bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, resentment, envy, despair, fear, guilt...the list can go on, but when it is filled with those things, that is what comes through our lives.

We can fight it. We can put up walls. We can deny it.
Those are all easy to do. Those are easy outs. We need no courage. We need no strength.

By doing so, however, our life is no longer a well spring but it becomes a small stream. A trickle. Maybe even a drop.

When our hearts are bitter, our lives are not sweet.
When our hearts are angry, our lives are hard.
When our hearts are unforgiving, our lives are without mercy and grace.
When our hearts are resentful, our lives are lonely.
When our hearts are envious, our lives are lacking.
When our hearts are in despair, we are without hope.
When our hearts are fearful, we do not trust.
When our hearts are filled with guilt, our lives are full of sorrow.

My greatest desire is that I will guard my heart from such things. That theses sins will not enter in and devour my life again. No matter how I am hurt or what life has in store, I pray that I will continuously examine my heart. That God will continue to purge it of these ills.

And if your life is merely a stream or trickle, I pray that you will examine your heart. Ask your father to show you what is polluting your heart and that you will not just pray about it, but act. Fix it. Ask Him to purge it. Refine it. Ask for your well spring of life to be restored to overflowing.

"Father I come before you humbly as one who is constantly needing to be purged. To be refined. Jesus I ask that you continue to refine me until you see your reflection in me. Father show me what is plugging up my well spring. Show me what I must do to have a life that is full of glory, that is abundant and blessed. Open my eyes to the sins that are damaging my heart. And give me the courage to forgive, to love, to encourage, to trust. Thank you for loving me so much that you are continually refining my heart so that I will be a woman who not only looks like you, but has your wisdom, discernment, grace and love."

The funny things he says...

The other day I talked about how my crazy kid was talking a bunch, non stop, all the time, whether I understand him or not.

It's funny because though most times I completely know what he is saying there are the times when he says something and waits for a response and then looks at me as if to say, "Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?"

Either way we have entered into a very precious time. The time where"kids say the darndest things." I'm loving it. Every night my husband and I relay to each other the things he says and does and its just very sweet.

He is consistently putting a smile on my face by the things he says.

For example, yesterday I had to get to church early for Praise and Worship practice. His father was making him breakfast and I was in my room doing my hair.

I had been in my closet for about 15 minutes just starring at the display of clothes that all do not fit.

I was a little sad and very frustrated. So I proceeded to put on the same denim skirt that I had worn three times last week and a black top.

Earrings were in my lobes, necklace, rings and bracelets were all on. And of course, pretty shoes.

I looked in the mirror and thought, "this is as good as it's gonna get."

I walked out of the room and kissed my husband when beautiful kid walks in the kitchen and says, "Wow mama, you pretty." But the best part was what he said next.

Now, please be aware that I have no idea where or how or why he said this or where he picked this up. I really don't know.

So after, "Wow mama, you pretty," he asks, "You go dancing?"

Dancing? I wish! Why dancing? I don't know. I mean, yes my husband and I dance in the kitchen often, but usually I am in a t-shirt and shorts.

I don't know how his little mind thinks, but I was sure greatful for it.

I think maybe I will wear that denim skirt a few more times.

News Flash

Ok...so here is what has occurred in our daily happening in the past few weeks that I thought you may just want to know about.

1. We had a garage sale this past saturday and did pretty well. The best part is we got rid of lots of stuff that was overwhelming our garage. It's amazing what people buy, but even more crazy as to what they don't buy. For example, I was trying to sell one of those three panel screened frame things, you know the ones they sell for like $100. It's not that I don't like it, I love it, but we just don't have room and it was handed down to us and it is a honey color instead of the cherry color. Well, anywho, I was trying to sell it for $25 and no one wanted it. Instead they buy the ugly green chairs for $10. The good thing is most of my shoes and clothes sold and we came out richer and with fewer boxes in our home.

2. Crazy kid has begun talking up a storm. Well, he's been a talker from the begining but now he speaks in full on phrases and sentences. Of course sometimes he says stuff and I'm still like, "huh?" But for the most part I understand him. Crazy husband still has a hard time. I am going to need to start writing down the funny things he says and post them so you can roll your eyes and sweetly smile as I continue to believe that my kid is the cutest/funniest/smartest/sweetest kid ever.

3. Big Harrah...I have been feeling...better. Some. Not so green. More of light green. Not always. But mostly. The end is near. I hope. I pray. I believe. It turns out that last week when I had that really bad day, a few days later I had another really bad day. And then, a bright light shone upon my head. Or was it a light bulb? Well, either way it occurred to me that on those days I ate eggs. And then I came to find that most days I felt bad I ate eggs for breakfast. Hmmm...So my hypothesis is that eggs = sick as a dog. I stopped eating eggs. Feeling better. Here I was trying to get some kind of protein in me and my body was like, "What the heck!" So no more eggs for me.

4. We are going on vacation. Vacating. Get away. Far, far away. So long, farewell, Alv...whatever. My greatest NEED was met. My hubs, being the sweet, good to me and very smart man that he is said "I know you need to get away so lets take a trip. Book it!" Yea. So in exactly one month we will be beach hopping all along the Floridian Coast. Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Springs. Sunny Florida here we come. Bring on the beautiful, sun kissed tan and virgin pina coladas!

5. Beautiful baby is growing. I can tell because nothing fits. NOTHING. I am in the horrible awkward stage where I don't necessarily look pregnant just fat. I need to get one of those t-shirts that says "Not fat. Pregnant." Maybe I should just get a sign. I know it's just my own self conciousness (yeah right) but every where I go I just want to make the announcement- "Ladies and Gentlemen, please know that my stomach is not usually this bulgy/big/fat. I am pregnant. Wait a few more weeks and you will be able to see that I am telling the truth. I would stick it in if I could, but I can't. I'm trying to...see...but, yeah it ain't going in. Thank you. Oh, and when you can finally see that it is not fat, but in fact a baby...please don't touch it unless I can touch yours. Thank you."

Good times...

The yummiest/ easiest meal you'll ever make

Ok...this is the yummiest and easiest meal you will ever make.

We call it Rotel Chicken. We love it, it's easy and mmmmgood.

1. Get some chicken (breast or whole, whatever you got.)
2. Put the chicken in the crock pot.
3. Get a can of rotel, open it, drain it some (about half) and put it in the crock pot.
4. Close the crock pot.
5. Make some corn.
6. Buy some tortillas (homeade flour tortillas are best but you can use corn or whatever).
7. Buy sour cream (optional) and cheese (optional)
8. Wait 4-6 hours depending on the setting.

Inside your crockpot you will find a very tender, very moist, very yum chicken. Sometimes it can be a bit spicy depending on the rotel, but never too bad. It's easy and super yum.

If you want, add some guacamole or even just slices of avacado with salt and lime juice.

This works for me when I don't want to "cook"...which is basically every day!

See what works for others here.

If only...

This is my problem...




This is what I greatly desire...




Unfortunately, none of this get done unless I get off the couch!
Oh, to be Mary Poppins...

For more wordlessness, click here.

Change my heart

I reacted.
He hurt me and I threw out my hand.
I wasn't thinking.
I felt dreadful.
Talk about Mommy Dearest.
Before you know it my child is going to write a tell all book about how I neglected him by placing him infront of a TV all day and spanked him.

In my defense it was as close to the cute tushie as possible, but somehow ended up in the lower back area. It wasn't hard, but I was remorseful.

Now let me state here that I am a believer in spanking. We give "Pow-pow" in our home and we are advocates for the cause.

I know lots of books and teaching go against spanking, but I believe a good spanking and no nagging afterwards is a good form of discipline.

No, we do not just "hit." We have a system and spanking is only one form of our disicplining. We give one warning and then explain that he is going to receive "pow-pow." We bring him close, cup our hand and spank. Most times, if I just tap his little rear he will be upset. I then explain that he must obey the first time when he is asked to do or stop doing something.

Most of the time, after a spanking he is upset and so he goes off into a corner or another room with Bie and tete in hand. In a few minutes, sometimes seconds, he comes back and apologizes. "I sowy mom." I tell him it's ok but we need to obey and we need to pray and ask Jesus to change his heart.

Sometimes he says no. He can be very strong willed and is not ready to do things you ask. He eventually will come and sit with me and we pray.

Most of the time, he does it right away.

This time, I forgot the steps, warning and all. As soon as I did so, I got down on his level and quickly apologized and held him.

"Baby, mama was wrong for spanking so fast, but you can not hit mama like that (he had been running around and into the couch and as if a light went off in his head, he came and ran into me. Large head into my hip.) You must be careful when you play. I am sorry that I did not give you a warning but you really hurt mama."

He replies, "is ok mama. Jjus change mamas heart. AAAAmen."

"Dear Lord, change my heart. Keep changing it. Every day. Continuously. Even if I am defiant or being strong willed. Help me to be patient and not lose myself. Help me to forgive as easily as my son forgives. And to forget as he does. Father, grant me the wisdom to raise my child to be a man after your own heart. That you will take his precious prayers and change his heart so that he will grow to be like you. So he will surpass all that I am at a young age."