Some Words about Time

Yesterday, Felicity and I had a late lunch by the river. I sat eating my gyro and she stood pointing out the squirrels and birds, enacting a slow dance towards the animals and back to me.

“Squiwell,” she said.

“Burd,” she said.

Time stretched forever.

How is that time can both stretch forever so that the moments pass one sleepy point at a time, and yet they go so fast? —my last post was in September. Felicity is now twenty months old. Her words are coming, rapidly and more distinct.

Words hold power.

Today, we woke up to discover our water heater broke. I used my words to upbraid a poor, home warranty customer service representative for telling me, “Hot water is a convenience. We will not fix it until Monday. It’s not an emergency.” With righteous anger, I detailed how this action showed they only want profit. How dare they deny me, my favorite modern convenience? In a moment, thirty minutes had passed in heated conversation, but the water in our house remains cool. She just did her job—and I wasted time.

My words will teach Felicity to use words and I want to teach her to fill her time with words worthy of the moment.

More than modeling, I too have a commitment as a Christ-follower to be more like him in the words I choose.

Lord sanctify my moments. Redeem my time.

Comments

The Adventure Begins Very Early on the Morning of July 15th

Note: In-N-Out is the first place I go when I arrive back in California. The California chain tastes like coming home. My day had been planned. I was going to walk with friends. Have coffee with my mom and a phone date in the evening. Followed by my husband asking, “what should we have for dinner.” And me responding “In-n-Out.” I’ll admit it I did exercise in hopes of expediting the labor process, but as I had been told, “babies will come when they will.” So I laid my plans: Plan A the aforementioned walk etc. and Plan B— Have a baby. When my mom arrived, full of more energy than I’m used to her having (a contrast with my labored lack of energy), it was apparent that Plan B was in effect. We were most definitely not going to coffee. I was going to have a baby. Labor… it’s not fun. Epidurals… they are a wonderful invention. It was late evening. I’d hoped they’d let me push on the 14 th . The history nerd in me was caught by the idea of having a baby on Bastille D...

The Bicycle Onsie is too Small!!

The fabric stretched around Felicity’s little feet and nestled her in a perfect fit. It was the first time I’d put Felicity in a onesie with feet. Up until then, she wore t-shirt onesies that snapped around her diaper. They were light and perfect for the hot summer days. But when nighttime came, Felicity liked to be cuddled and the footsie onsie was the perfect solution. Up until now, all Felicity’s clothes flopped and folded around Felicity’s tiny, baby body. She swam in the extra fabric. This onsie was snug and it fit like it was made for her. She’d wave her little legs and arms and the white fabric with little bicycles printed across its surface stretched with her. I loved putting her into it. Then something happened. It didn’t take long…maybe a couple of weeks. The bicycle onesie was washed following a diaper explosion and the cotton cloth shrunk. But just a little. Felicity’s cheeks and limbs became rounder and her eyes wider. She watched the ceiling fan and figured o...

Baby. You Want to Eat Now?

Felicity, age four days old, wearing a headband and looking oh so cute made her first trip to church. Naturally, Nathan and I went too. Stepping inside and settling down in the chairs at the back, Felicity decided it was time to eat. Now. Yes, I had a beautiful nursing shawl. Yes, I’d decided to nurse. Yes, I didn’t want to stay in the house for the entirety of her first year. But really, she wanted food now? In public? There are certain milestones in a person’s life: going to kindergarten, buying a car, graduating college, a first kiss, the lead part in a musical… and, if you are a mom, the first nurse in public. I’m not usually the type to become easily embarrassed, but Felicity and I weren’t good at nursing yet. Nursing is like learning a team sport. Both parties are clumsy. They need to sync with each other while simultaneously learning a new skill. For the baby, she has to make her little lips actually suck. It helps if it’s the right place. For the mom, it’s a...

MuellerMommyAdventures

Search This Blog