Mariposa Kisses (aka Dianne's Blog)

Nature takes our eyes off of our worries. It also amazes our senses. But, sometimes we miss it because we don't pause to see it. If you love birds, it's time to sit out on your front porch, fill up the hummingbird feeder with nectar, and watch these majestic creatures zoom around. Hummingbirds can flap their wings 12-90 times per second.

They can fly at about 34 miles per hour, even though they are among the smallest of birds. They can even fly backwards, but you'd miss that if you didn't stop to watch for a minute or two. Hummingbirds can eat up to five times their own body weight in nectar each day and also eat small insects and spiders (they're on the Atkins diet, obviously). They actually spend about 75% of their day just chilling out and digesting all of that protein and sugar.

Next stop is a beautiful rainbow. Do you even look for these majestic arcs anymore? Here's Wikipedia's technical description: "A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon that causes a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the Sun shines onto droplets of moisture in the Earth's atmosphere." Sounds pretty hi-tech, doesn't it? Though rainbows are most commonly formed by the rain, they can also be caused by mist, spray, and dew.

I love rainbow hunting in the afternoon while watering my lawn. They're all over the place if you take the time to look for them. If you're a night-owl, you might even catch a glimpse of a moonbow, which is a lunar or nighttime rainbow. If you're a beach bum, keep you eyes peeled for a spraybow which is created from the spray in the waves. If you're open-minded, you might even spot a double rainbow. While kayaking in Maui, I was blessed to glimpse the most amazing one against the verdant moss-covered mountains.

Do you anticipate a beautiful butterfly crossing your path? Some people actually observe them as a hobby. These beautiful insects morph from an egg to a larva (caterpillar) to a pupa (chrysalis) to an adult butterfly. Most people think they live just about a week, but some can actually live up to a year. Caterpillars mainly eat leaves while some dine on insects as well. Some even form symbiotic relationships with ants, where the ants offer some protection and the caterpillar provides honeydew secretions.

Butterfly caterpillars have three pairs of true legs (from the thoracic segments) and up to six pairs of prolegs (from the abdominal segments). Certain caterpillars can actually inflate their head to look like a small snake and some can even emit smelly chemicals for self-defense. After the pupal transformation, the adult butterfly has six pairs of legs, but then quickly loses one pair (less shoes to buy). At first the wings have to unfold and then the butterfly must inflate them with blood and let them dry for up to three hours (better find a good hiding spot).

Ladybugs are pretty cool too. One might land on your shoulder for a quick break from his flying, but would you even notice it? These small insects are actually part of the beetle family and can be yellow, orange, or red with black spots. Some can even be mistaken because they are solid black, brown, or grey (without any spots). Most ladybugs are considered friendly bugs because they chomp on garden-intruding aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, and mites. Ladybugs have been a beloved bug by children around the world, making appearances in a variety of popular stories and songs. They have taken on a variety of names ranging from lady-bird, lady-cow, may-bug, golden-knop, and golden-bug.

Check out Wikipedia.org for other fun and interesting facts about nature. And remember to look for some of these cool creatures while you're out and about. Slow down to observe or you'll miss out on lots of amazing stuff.

Labels: butterflies, hummingbirds, ladybugs, nature, rainbows

Praying for the soil? You might think this sounds absurd or even a bit archaic. After all, this is the age where everyone buys their food in a package from the grocery store; she doesn't grow it herself. So, you might find it puzzling that I pray for the dirt in my backyard, but it's just a part of my love for gardening. For me, it's therapeutic and relaxing. I even love watering the browning edges of the grass when I'm lucky enough to capture a rainbow hiding in the edge of the water's curve.

So, back to the dirt thing. I have asked God to bless my soil before I plant about four to six grape vines along with five to ten more fruit trees and about twenty to thirty rose bushes. While I know that science plays a huge role in the well-being of my gardens, I also believe that God honors my prayers. Several months ago, I covered my apple, pear, apricot, lemon, and mandarin orange trees in prayer. The result was that God blessed my trees through this dry summer season. Even as one tree evidenced signs of death, I covered it in prayer and it bounced back into play.

As I pray for the dirt, it reminds me of how I'm asking God to prepare the ground for what's to come. Just like when I prayed for each of our three kids before they were born, I have also prayed for the soil for my gardens over the years. Once the plants and trees are placed in the ground for my newest garden, I will tend and care for them. Over time, the right conditions will allow them to blossom and to bloom. But it will also take lots of sweaty commitment and dirty fingernails as well.

This is what happens with our kids too. We pray for them before they're even conceived and then once they're born, we continue to cover them with prayer, love, and service. We feed them, nurture them, protect them, and teach them. Just like our garden, they too need the proper conditions to blossom: patience, love, and forgiveness. Just as we prune back our bushes, trees, and vines, we also guide our kids' paths with loving discipline. We pull them away from detrimental influences and require obedience for their safety. As we train our kids to make good choices while they are young, we prepare them to thrive once they are out on their own as mature adults.

I'm certain that gardening is easier than parenthood; however, a rose never hugs me back and a fruit tree never laughs at one of my silly jokes. Both give me joy but my kids give me the most fulfillment. As I see the sparkle in their eyes when they learn something new, I'm energized and encouraged. When one of my kids chooses the right thing over the easy one, I'm incredibly proud of him or her. Raising kids is exhausting even on a good day, but it is certainly rewarding. We have to wait for our trees to bear fruit and similarly must hang in there as we wait for our kids to flourish in beauty as well.

Labels: children, gardens, parents

Any idol worship going on in your household lately? Not that old fashioned Ninevite kind of idol worship, right? But, what about the more modern stuff: money, lust, power, appearances, busyness, etc. These ones don't sound quite so bad, but here's the spin on it, if you cling to these modern day idols, you're still missing out on God's best.

Are your eyes transfixed principally on finances and the fleeting promises of this world such as beauty, success, and ease? Watch out then because you'll miss out on God's grace. Jonah 2:8 says, "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." But, you're thinking, "What's wrong with a bit of fun and relaxation? I can still have God's grace if I seek those things."

The truth is that those pursuits aren't bad, but when they're the focus of your life, rather than God, then they're considered idols. And once you know you've got idols in your life (which we all do), then it's time to clean house. Get rid of them because you're sinning if you hang on to them instead of onto God.

Are you seeking the easiest way or God's way? Are you searching for the quick fix for your life or God's best plan? Is there a short-cut that you're considering just because you're tired of feeling tired? Make sure your idol isn't the pursuit of plain old American "happiness" because you just might be missing out on a huge bowl of grace that God's trying to bless you with.

When we seek idols, we're not as willing to wait. We don't feel like we can take the harder path and we frequently give up on our own lives and even on our faith. Our idol can easily become that longing for an answer or a solution. But, if your eyes are on the answer or the worry rather than on God, then your eyes are out of focus. Remember to fix your eyes upon the Lord. Worship Him, not the stuff. Worship Him, not the idols all around you.

Even though Jonah idolized himself, thinking he was pretty darn self-righteous, God worked on his heart. Jonah thought he was too good to warn those sinful Ninevites about God's wrath, so he pursued his own will and fled to Tarshish instead of going to Nineveh. Then, Jonah got thrown overboard into the sea and ultimately eaten up by a huge fish. God slowed him down and got his attention.

After prioritizing and getting his ducks in a row, Jonah realized he was totally in the wrong. God willingly gave Jonah a second chance. In His mercy, "...the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land." You too can dump your idols overboard and get things right with God. He'll take care of you just like he took care of Jonah. Hopefully it won't involve fish-puke, but whatever the case, it will be worth it.

Labels: fish puke, idols, Jonah

Sometimes it feels like there's no hope. Thankfully, feelings can be misleading. There is always hope because God is good and He loves you. He has your best interest in mind, even when unfair things happen. When people mistreat you and take advantage of you, the Lord sees it all and intends to carry out His justice in the end. When you have said and done all you can, you need to let go and rest in HIM.

Here are some verses of encouragement and hope:

Psalm 84:11 says, "For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless."

Psalm 85:1 says, "You showed favor to your land, O Lord; you restored the fortunes of Jacob."

Psalm 86:5-7 says, "You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me."

Psalm 89:5-6 says, "The heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?"

Labels: encouragement, hope, the Lord

Rethink your quiet time. When it comes to spending time with God, most Christians envision their Bible and journal, along with a cute pen and a floral mug filled with coffee. But, that's not what it has to look like. It can be something a little bit less traditional and still provide growth and meaning.

Rethink your vision of God. If you picture Him as a schoolmaster holding a ruler out to hit your hands, you might assume that he's holding an egg timer while you meet with Him to worship. The truth is, if you believe in Him and walk with Him, then He is with you throughout the entire day. He loves you and accepts your offering no matter how big or small.

You can pray from anywhere. He's not just with you in your organized little study spot. He's with you while you sleep, while you're cleaning your house, and as you taxi your kids around town. You need to remember that God accepts you where you're at. When you pray while washing dishes, He takes your offering as a sweet aroma. When you pray over your kids as you fold their laundry, He listens. As you lift up your financial needs while updating your checkbook, he hears those concerns too.

Mix it up a little. You can worship God just by listening to some encouraging Christian music. That's what I was doing when I became inspired to walk downstairs to write this post. After a long night and a super sick kiddo, I didn't have the energy to read a book let alone murmur out a long list of prayer requests, so I just decided to put on some praise music. WOW! It not only energized my tired spirit, but it reminded me of my identity in Christ and of how I'm not alone. It's pretty cool that great music can center our hearts on the Lord.

Sometimes, you just feel too discouraged to worship God. If your prayer life is taking a hit because you feel bummed out, don't stop praying, just start to thank the Lord. You could even use your daily commute as a time to express thankfulness for your life: your hands, your kids, your spouse, your house, your breath, your brain, etc. As you thank God, peace floods your heart. Disappointments fade. Your eyes are opened to who God is. You remember that He is all that you need for this day.

Serve others. Sometimes, a service project doesn't seem like worship. But, it worked for me and my kids awhile back. We made some care bundles and drove all around our city looking for homeless people. When we found someone in need, we gave him or her a lunch and a drink, along with a rain poncho to stay dry from the rain. We included an encouraging Bible verse to remind that person that God still cares. When you get out there to serve, your eyes see what Jesus sees. It inevitably leads to worship!

Include your kids. Of course you can pray before meals, but why not involve your kids in a time of prayer on the way to school? This is a time where you can pray for their teachers and their friends, along with the staff workers and other parents. Show your kids you care about their lives and that God does too. You could also venture out on a nature walk and ask the kids to point out the cool stuff God has created. Share a basic verse from the Psalms about how God is the Creator of everything.

Labels: kids, moms, quiet time

Being a worry-freak is hard work, especially as a first-time parent. You’re already sleep-deprived and exhausted from all the food preparation, dirty laundry, and all the poopy diapers. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but why do first time parents stress out so much? Do you think the worrying really makes a difference?

You buy all the safety gear and have it in place before little Gracie even makes it home from the hospital. From socket covers to toilet locks, you're ready for battle. You research the best stroller, the safest car-seat, and the toughest car. Who cares if you have to get a second mortgage to finance it all? You won't need the baby gates for several months, but you purchase a few for good measure just in case they’re sold out when she does her first roly-poly roll. You've even painted her perfect pink room with organic paint, in case she decides to munch on it down the road.

Once she's landed on planet Earth, you begin to worry about everything from A to Z. Every germ cries out for a sanitizer wipe and even clean looking carpet becomes a feared enemy. Once she starts to toddle, you stress about all the germ-infested playground equipment at the park and the play-sets at the mall. Every sneeze or cough from a passerby provides a spooky tingle down your spine. You know you need to get out and socialize, but you feel obsessive compulsive about your ability to make it to normal social events because she might just get a cold or something worse, like the rainbow colored measles. At night, you hear every single noise through that magical box as you sprint like a cheetah to ensure that she’s not choking on her pediatric approved binky. You lie awake thinking, “Did I actually turn the stove off?"

Here's the thing about parenthood, you’re not actually in control. As a professional worrier, I’ve had to learn to trust God for my three kids over the years. After our son almost fell through my mom's two-story flight of stairs, I thanked God for sparing him. During our recent vacation, he almost drowned and we thanked God for alerting us in time. After our middle child ate the leg off of a glass starfish, we thanked God for protecting her body. When this same daughter went missing after pick-up from her preschool last year, God stepped in again. When our third child had difficulty breathing as a one-day old, we thanked God for getting her through the night. When she got bronchitis and pneumonia as a two-year-old, God came through again.

Do your best as a parent and remember that God is holding your little prince or angel even more carefully than you are. You can take a deep breath because He’s holding you as well. The upshot of all the crazy stories is that you’ll have a really funny rehearsal dinner some day when your baby gets married.

Labels: parenthood, worry

I'm a California gal. Born and raised here, it's my favorite state. Though I went to the Midwest for undergraduate studies, I was back here for grad-school. It's like a magnet pulls you back and even if you try to leave, your heart can't stay away for too long. It resides here as a permanent resident. Though you might traverse the state's geography from its breathtaking coastline to its mountainous interior, you discover its beauty everywhere you go.

Here are a few examples of my California-isms. First, I don't own a hairdryer. What else is all that warm wind for anyways? I certainly don't love allergy season or all of those horrific fires, but the coastal breeze that shoots all the way out to the desert is one-of-a-kind and I love it. The air-dried look keeps it real and makes you feel like you're eternally young.

Second, I own at least ten pairs of flip-flops or sandals. Basically that's all I wear, except when I go to the gym where I force myself to wear tennis shoes. Flip flops may not be orthopedically approved, but they are the coziest and everyone knows it. I've got two pairs of red ones, blue ones with little beads on them, black ones with little red lobsters on them, plain black Roxy ones (which have gone missing recently come to think of it), two pairs of brown ones, one pair of earthy green ones (though they're a bit too small), and my list goes on. The ones I wear almost every day are my comfy black leather sandals that slip right on and that go with everything, from dressy to casual.

Third, even though I hate sharks (only for their ability to eat me; in truth they are majestic creatures), I became a surfer when I moved back to San Diego for grad school. The ocean drew me to herself. After work, I'd take walks along her shore. I'd surf until 9 PM (the main time for sharks to feed) during the summer. I'd study on her sandy surface, soothing the arduous task of reading hundreds of Spanish-American literary texts. I'd dine on her edge with a Filibertos Mexican burrito with lots of guacamole and a large Coke. Those were the days.

What makes you a California gal? If you're not from here, you know you wish you were. What do you love about our golden state (hint, we know it's not our booming economy)?

Labels: California, flip flops, sharks, wind

1. You're alive.
2. You can read.
3. You had breakfast.
4. You have good friends.
5. You have a loving spouse.
6. You have kids who love you.
7. You have hands to type with.
8. You have a warm bed to sleep in.
9. You have a dog who never gets mad at you.
10. God has an awesome plan for your day today!

Labels: kids, parents, smile

1.Kiss your kids.
2.Hug your kids.
3.Salute a soldier.
4.Paint with your kids.
5.Compliment a friend.
6.Buy a teacher a coffee.
7.Water your plants gently.
8.Share a toy with a neighbor.
9.Pop some popcorn for a snack.
10.Listen to some good jazz music.
11.Tell your spouse you love him or her.
12.Drink some extra water for good health.
13.Admire a flower for more than five seconds.
14.Email your parents and tell them you love them.
15.Thank a police officer for his or her awesome service.

Labels: parents, today

I was recently cleaning my shower. While scrubbing various spots of shower scum, I felt like I was undertaking the nastiest job in the house. It feels even worse than cleaning the toilets because the residue is so stubborn. You put all of your weight into the creepy trails by using all of your strength with a seemingly effective cleaning agent, and still, there's some crud left on the surface. You're like, what is this stuff made of? Why doesn't it all disappear, ever? You get some of it, but portions of it never fade away. Then, the full-blown blob returns in full force the following week to frustrate you again. I'm convinced that moldy shower scum is from the devil.

Certain character flaws are like this as well. For me, my recurring struggle is with patience. Even though I try and try and try to be patient, it seems that impatience and frustration frequently rear their ugly heads instead. Even though I pray and center myself on God's truths in the morning, it's so hard to keep up the loving routine all day long. After the tenth or hundredth act of disobedience by one of my kids, I'm like a Jekyll and Hyde character. I still love them and they know it, but I look and sound like The Creature From the Black Lagoon.

Wouldn't it be nice in those instances if you could flee the choas and teleport to a peaceful island instead? Since we can't do that, we have to find ways to deal with our persistent character flaws. First, we have to admit that we can't be perfect. No matter how hard I try to keep a calm voice and administer my requests patiently, I know that I won't be able to keep my cool all the time. Even though we aim for self improvement, by admitting that we're going to fail on a daily basis, we minimize our feelings of defeat and discouragement. This helps by hearing another mom at the park who yells at her kid impatiently, and you realize, "Oh my gosh, I'm not crazy, I'm just a mom with three young kids."

Second, we have to set realistic goals for the day. One thing I've started doing is limiting my number of stops while out with my little ones in tow. I realize that my kids can't handle more than two stops without freaking out. So, if we've returned our video and stopped at the grocery store, it's pretty much time to go home. This can be disappointing because I still might need to pick up a new leash from Petco, but the point is, it will be less stressful to postpone it until the evening when I can go by myself.

A third way to minimize our flaws is to evaluate where our kids are at on a daily basis. Are they tired, sick, stressed out, or starving? Sometimes just addressing why our kids are acting so crazy helps us to respond less dramatically. Like, if you know your daughter is so tired that she can't even control herself anymore, it gives you the much-needed patience to deal with her disobedience. Also, if you can see that your son is so hungry he wants to eat his own hand off, you can put up with his incessant questioning, "Are we almost to McDonald's?" When you know your toddler isn't feeling well, it helps you to deal with her constant whining or non-stop requests to be held throughout the day. It doesn't eliminate the frustrations or the temptation to lose your cool, but it gives you a more reasonable perspective.

Of course you could do better, but you're not as bad as you think. It's good that we even care to improve. That's one way we know we're in love with our kids. We don't just want to be good parents, we want to be amazing parents. So, accept your limitations while you continue along the self-improvement journey. Remember to evaluate some of the practical stuff as well. By observing and applying a common sense approach for what everyone can handle for the day, the whole family feels less stressed and more patient as well.

Labels: family, kids, parents, patience

Sometimes, you just need a little touch from nature to get through the long week. It seems like an unexpected bill shows up every afternoon, or a new sickness, or a random household item that needs fixing. It's a rogue pair of eyeglasses gone missing, a busted kid's shoe, or a garage door that breaks unexpectedly. It also seems like there's enough drama at any given moment to power a small city. The kids seem to enjoy testing my (already questionable) sanity on a daily basis. No-one's quite adjusted to the new back-to-school schedule yet, so crankiness pops up earlier as well. But, yesterday, the perfect thing happened.

It rained. I couldn't believe it. I'd seen the foreboding thunder-heads out to the east. I'd even prayed, "Oh, please help it rain!" But, being in Southern California in the middle of summer, it seemed like overly-optimistic thinking. My oldest son told me that he also shot up an enthusiastic petition for rain, which was sweet because he doesn't even like the rain. A little bit later, I looked outside and saw that my patio was wet. I assumed the hose had been left on. But, when I stepped outside to water my fruit trees, to my wondering eyes, what should appear, but some awesome and steady raindrops. Not only rain, but thunder as well. It felt like I was standing in the middle of a fun Midwestern storm, which took me back to the freshly cut grass smell of Illinois, where I studied as an undergrad.

What a treat. It's funny how such a small and short-lived rain storm could lighten the load that had burdened me earlier in the day. Sometimes, we just need a little break from the stresses that entangle our hearts and minds. For me, this rain storm was a much needed respite from my internal stresses within. I picked up my two school-aged kids and we twirled and sang in the rain. Since it was so warm out, they hopped into their swimsuits and we played outside until the rain stopped. It was refreshing to the thirsty landscape in our area and also satisfying to my soul.

While we can't make it rain, although I've done my fair share of rain dances over the years, we can certainly implement small measures to minimize our daily pressures and responsibilities. A vanilla ice cream cone helps me to feel like a kid again and for only 69 cents at McDonald's right now, it's hard to pass up. A quick phone call with a long distance friend lifts some of the weight as well. It reminds you of your past and your youth and keeps you focused on where you're headed too. Sometimes sharing quality time with my kids at the kitchen table with a fun craft makes me feel more relaxed as well. While I could be doing hundreds of other tasks, it instantly takes me to what's really important...my family. All the other stuff gets done eventually.

I don't know what you're going through today and if you love or hate the rain. But, I hope you got some joy out of our recent rainfall. If you missed it, you could always shut your eyes and run through the sprinklers. For a thunder reenactment, you could download some thunder tunes from iTunes. If that doesn't lower your stress, try the ice cream regimen or that overdue phone call with a buddy. If all else fails, break out the old magazines, scissors, and some glue to create a memorable collage with your little ones. Today's masterpiece contains pictures that represent me: an avocado, a topiary vine, trail mix, azaleas, a dog, wine, violets, red roses, orange juice, a tomato bush, berry pie, and hydrangeas.

What do you do for a break from it all? What pictures fill your own personal collage? Share your thoughts here.

Labels: encouragement, motherhood, rest

Sometimes, life just doesn't seem to be working out. You give it your all, and it still doesn't seem like you're making a difference. But, when you walk with the Lord, it makes a huge impact. God's word is an anchor for our souls, even when we feel like we're drowning...even when we can't see the path through the fog.

Here are a few reminders from God's word about hanging on, even when you feel like letting go. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope." Also, King David shares his hope from Psalm 38:15 which says, "For I hope in You, O LORD; You will answer, O Lord my God."

Sometimes, God works in ways that we can not see. During those times, we need to shut our eyes and allow Him to lead us. We look to the right and to the left and up and down, thinking that we will be able to find the answer. But, God wants to lead us and direct our steps in His timing, not in ours. That means we might not be able to find the solution right away. But, as we seek His will and not our own, we will be able to see through His eyes. He will push away the fog and make things clear.

Labels: encouragement, faith