"Dora Cards"

I don't think I have ever heard my 2 1/2 year-old say, "I want" so many times in her life! She found a Nickelodeon brochure for toys, games, etc. There is Dora stuff all over it, practically screaming, "If you don't own me, you are worthless!" So, of course, Sage points to all the items she does not have, only reminded by us, her parents who are trying to instill some sense of gratitude in their toddler daughter, the toys that she actually does have. So what do you do when you can't have the toys in the catalog? Yep! Cut them out. Ryan cut out the Dora Castle and all of its components (probably cost extra too). I decided to give them a little longer play-life and glued them onto cardboard. The little "Dora Cards" go everywhere. They live in a paper cup, talk to each other, go in the castle, and, wouldn't you know it, GET LOST! We lost Dora riding in her horse carriage yesterday only to find Aspen walking around with it, chewing on it with much delight. Sage loves the "toys" but keeps asking if we can get the real ones. Ryan finally told her she might be able to get them when she is 4. Now we hear, "When I am 4, I am going to get the Dora toys." Ryan decided to hide the catalog, but didn't tell me he was going to hide it, and left me with Sage asking all day, "Mom, where is my magazine?" He gave it back to her. What is life without wants and desires? We just need to continue to educate as best we can. But I will say that I have been very quick to turn the tube off when the commercials come on (on TIVO anyway). No need to feed the desires any more than necessary.

Quick Release Knots

I haven't ridden (for real) in a very very long time. I stopped riding horses when I was in Jr. High and in the 15 years that have followed I can count on one hand how many times I have mounted a horse and ridden. So, I was a bit surprised when I went to tie Nino up to brush him and prepare him to ride, that my hands remembered how to tie a quick release knot. It is all coming back. Very slowly, but it's there. We got to ride Nino in a local arena here in town today. It was beyond fun. But more than anything, I most loved my trail ride with Sage. Cut away into the small mountain surrounding the arena is a short trail. Sage and I "climbed" the mountain and then ducked our way through overgrown trees, all the while, chit chatting about everything under the sun. It was priceless. Here are some pictures from our fun day.

Farewell to BBC, Hello Nino

Ryan and I took the kids out on Monday to spend some birthday money. We headed toward the outlets to our favorite store, Balboa Beach Company. We unloaded the kids and made our way to the store only to discover that the store had been closed down; the owner was ready to retire. What?! We were in disbelief, probably still are. Where else can I find really cute $4 shirts? It's weird when your go-to store disappears! We will have to improvise. Hey, at least Ross has not shut down.
On the flip-side, Martha bought a new horse, Nino. And get this -- we can ride him!! Okay, so most of you don't know, but just two weeks ago we had 4 horses, but only 1 rideable one, (at least rideable for Sage). Now we have 4 horses again (sold one, got a new one), with 2 rideable ones. And this horse wants to stand and look pretty more than anything : ) We even saddled him up tonight and Ryan, Darren and I walked him around. We were acting like 2 yr. olds -- all gitty and excited! This is a fun new adventure. So, adios BBC, hola Nino! (I don't think Ryan would quite agree it is an equal trade, but with his new cowboy hat, it might come close!)

Acquired Taste

I have to admit that I tried the Endangered Species chocolate (Milk Chocolate with Rice Crisp) again today and it is actually really tasty. Dangerously tasty. All of the organic ingredients must require a day to acquire the taste. I am way too used to the highly processed, over-sugared Hershey Kisses. Stepping in a tastier and more humane direction.

Bittersweet

Ryan and I fasted from chocolate for lent. We did this because some 40% of the cocoa beans used to produce chocolate (Hershey, M&M/Mars, etc) come from the Ivory Coast of Africa, where there are over 12,000 children who have been forced into slavery. Haven't a clue as to how the words "slave" and "chocolate" are linked? Go to a few of these articles ....

• 'Slavery' behind Easter Chocolate
• Chocolate & Slavery
• Chocolate and Child Slavery: Unfulfilled Promises of the Cocoa Industry

We took the 40 days to contemplate and decide what our responsibility is to this issue. We concluded that we would only buy "fair trade," chocolate. That is, chocolate produced without the labor of enslaved kids. Trader Joe's actually carries a really good Milk Chocolate bar which is fair trade. And a local market in town carries many of the Endangered Species chocolate bars, which I haven't really taken to, but you might. I found a great website which lists those chocolate producing companies which are "fair trade." Here is the link:
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/coffee/retailers.html

Really, when it comes down to it, how much chocolate do I really need to eat anyway? And I know fair trade purchases aren't the most convenient or cheap, but it's the right decision, for us, anyway.
p.s. I started this blog with the intention of posting some fun Easter pictures of the girls, but somehow that just doesn't seem to fit with this whole slavery-kid theme. So, you'll have to wait for the pics. Sorry!

Was lost but now I'm found

I have always loved the lyrics and melody to "Amazing Grace." And I have always sung the verse, "I was lost, but now am found," with fervor, conviction and joy. But I don't think it was until just recently that I fully understood the concept of being lost and then found.
You see, Auntie Holly bought Sage this really (really, really, really!) cute Roxy jean-jacket for no other reason than Holly being an extremely giving person and a sucker for cute girl apparel. She bought it for Sage about a year ago and it was a bit big and Sage wasn't really into jackets. But recently Sage had taken to the jacket and it was chilly enough for a month or so for her to wear it, so she did. And then just a couple of weeks ago I went in search for the jacket for Sage to wear and it was no where to be found. After calling all of the grandparents and searching every bag, corner and toy box in our house, I had almost given up. When I thought of the lost jacket I felt sad. It was a really nice jacket and Ryan and I would never spend the money to replace it (unless it was like 90% off the sale price or something). A few days past and I continued to share my agony at loosing the jacket with Ryan. Then he and Sage went camping at a local lake. While at the lake they were rummaging around the truck to find something and lo and behold what do you think they found? The jacket! Ryan called me immediately. He said, "Guess what I found?" I couldn't believe it, "No way, you found the jacket?" "Yup," he replied. Relief and joy came over me.
And as I sang this ever so familiar song on Easter Sunday I could sing it with a better understanding, having lost something and then found it just a day ago. Except it's not a thing that has been lost and found but myself; a soul, a heart, a mind. And I can't even imagine the joy God feels when another lost soul has been "found." Much more joy then that of finding a jean jacket, I am sure.

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

John New­ton, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­i­ver, 1779)

Community Week

This has been a great week. Tuesday a.m. my good friend Tracy stopped by with her kids to play. Then in the afternoon we had a "random stop-by" (i.e. stop by the house unannounced) by Cory. She stayed and chatted for a bit about her soon-to-be boyfriend and then Michaela came over shortly after that to hang out, eat dinner with us and watch a movie (The Prestige). Wednesday Jackie took me kayaking around the lake, and Wednesday night Darren and Kate brought Palazzio's down for dinner and then we went to Carrow's for dessert. Thursday a.m. I met up with Danielle and the girls for a play date in the park and Thursday night I got to go experience "the labyrinth," (our Good Friday service which consists of stations which walk you through Passion Week). Friday my dad came and picked up the girls and I got to go to work and then meet up at my dad's later on for dinner. And now it is Saturday and we had the church Easter egg hunt this afternoon and now the girls are taking their naps. Tomorrow is Easter and I will be up at 5:30 a.m. to go to the sunrise service that our church puts on. Oh! And Aspen got to try on her "new" (Sage's old) shoes that match Sage's new shoes ... I should be so lucky to be surrounded by so many loving people!