It’s a joy to introduce you to sweet Cynthia who unknowingly forever altered my view of “sugar and spice and everything nice!”

It was just four days from the start of the new school year for the kids. My husband planned a special trip to an amusement park with my son, so I planned a trip to the Mall of America for some fun at Nickelodeon Universe with my baby daughter, older daughter, and my daughter’s friend. Before we even left the house, the girls had determined it was crucial they wear their matching dresses. Purple dresses, energy, and all, we enjoyed a whole day at the mall – rides, lunch in the food court, a little shopping (we picked up some purple boots so they could be matching from head to toe, of course), rides, poses with characters, a snack, rides, a few bathroom breaks, and more rides!

Then we met Cynthia. We were eating dinner in the food court and she approached our table. As she quietly cleaned up the mess on the floor around us, she so sweetly complimented the girls on their matching dresses. “You girls are all dressed up so pretty!” Cynthia said. She noted their boots, and my daughter told Cynthia the whole story about how she had just bought the boots today in the mall. The girls smiled and giggled a bit, all cute and sweet.

Then Cynthia said “You girls sure are sugar and spice and everything nice, and make sure you keep it that way, alright?” As Cynthia walked away, one of the girls said playfully but assuredly “no way!” Both girls started giggling, looking towards Cynthia who was already at a distance.

As I watched Cynthia, thinking what a nice and sweet woman she was, what a delightful blessing she had been to me and the girls, already sensing I might want to blog about this interaction, I realized the girls were getting a little out of hand with their chocolate chip cookies. And suddenly, the sugar and nice had become a lot more spice!

Even the baby knew there was fun to be had!

Yes, she was somewhere under all of that love!

It wasn’t until after the cookie incident I realized that in those moments, I let all of the sugar and nice in me just wash away. I let the girls be girls. I let them be silly, I let them be goofy, I let them be themselves, and it was fun. I didn’t worry about what all of the people thought at the tables around us, I didn’t worry if they thought I was a perfect mom or not. The girls proved they have a little spice in them, and I did too by letting the girls just be. It was good, and it maybe even necessary to fully live in that moment.

How often am I just too sugary, too nice?  I worry about making a good impression, I worry about things being perfect, I let things get to me, I want to do it right, I don’t want anyone to think bad things about me or my children, I want to raise my children right and live right! My heart wants to do it all just right, but my brain knows that meeting all of those criteria and living up to those standards is impossible. Things will never be perfect and often there are no clear answers. Sometimes, perhaps most of the time, others’ impressions of me really don’t matter. Not everybody is going to like me, understand me, or agree with me. And my children? Well, there is no set formula, and I can help re-package their little lives in sugar and nice over and over again, but they will still make mistakes and fail, just like me. In fact, it’s only by the grace of God that any of us make anything of ourselves. Our lives are not a direct result of doing or performing in some particular way, some prepackaged sugary and nice way of living, do it this way and you’ll get this result.

In fact, it is when we step out of the box and add a little spice to our lives, that we fully live.

Reflecting on that moment with the girls, I wonder if it is all a matter of the heart. If I trust that God made me in His image, then I am free to be ALL He created me to be, the sugar, the nice, AND the spice. While I of course want to parent responsibly and develop human beings to the very best of my ability, I also want to entrust them to God and free my children to be ALL they were created to be, not just the prepackaged sugar and nice box of unattainable perfection.

Thank you Cynthia, for being an angel in that moment. You helped me realize that sugar and spice and everything nice isn’t just about the sugar and nice. Sometimes it’s about the spice too.

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4:4

Amy

September is Blog Month at Compassion International. As a Compassion Blogger, my goal is to share my heart for children in poverty and encourage others to change lives through child sponsorship. This is week number three of Blog Month. As of Monday, 1,515 children in poverty had been sponsored this month! 1,593 sponsorships are left to meet Compassion’s goal of 3,108 children sponsored in just 30 days. Together, we can change the lives of children.

If you feel called to sponsor a child through Compassion International, click here.

It was an odd week of anxiety and inspiration for me. Late Tuesday night, in the midst of swirling thoughts related to stress and anxiety I was experiencing about things done, things undone, and things that needed to be changed, I had inspiration for a blog series titled “Meet Me At This Moment.” I have a plethora of thoughts going on in my brain at any moment in time, and I thought it might be interesting to share glimpses of those thoughts with my readers! I have also been getting acquainted with a wonderful group of bloggers that meet on Twitter every Thursday night and write a blog post for Five Minute Friday centered around a single topic, all in just five minutes. I need a regular outlet for processing and expressing my thoughts, and also need to work on writing (and living) without editing myself so much, so I thought Five Minute Friday and Meet Me At This Moment would be a perfect pairing!

So…here goes the start of what I’m hoping will be a new series on this blog, Meet Me At This Moment on Five Minute Friday. In the words of Lisa-Jo Baker, creator of Five Minute Friday, “We write for five minutes flat,” this is “Unscripted. Unedited. Real.” The word of the week is WIDE.

(And if you’re wondering how all of this ties in with Compassion International, just be patient, you will see!)

READY, SET, GO…

My life is way too wide at this moment. Too much stuff, too much to do, too much on my plate. Why am I to lead a life of wide? Three children to love, clothe, feed, educate, support. A husband to love, a marriage to nurture. A private practice that will balloon out way too wide if I let it. Always keeping things under control. The wideness will not stop. Dishes everywhere, crumbs, spots on the floor, laundry spewing, clothes unfolded, beds unmade, finger marks all over the fridge, water stains on the walls of the kitchen, remnants of fast food in the car, this show and that show to watch, books piled up everywhere, unread or partly read. A blog I so desperately want to use to widen my reach, open wide my thoughts and my feelings, open wide the stories of so many awesome people God has placed in my path.

Yet, the anxiety is wide. My thoughts race as I try to grasp it all, grasp any of it. I am torn this way and that, which thing to do first, will it all ever get done, will I ever have time to do it all? Should I even be doing it all? Which of it is worthy, which of it is not?

Then it is all put in perspective. I’m making macaroni and cheese and apples and caramel dip and milk and salad and tomatoes for my children, and my husband is gone on a three day business trip and I’m trying to participate in a tweet chat with the Compassion Bloggers. Here I am in my stress, moving this way and that way, my anxiety of this first world, preparing what is really a banquet feast for my children. All of my stresses really a blessing, I’m on my smart phone with an unbelievable group of people and all for Compassion International. What is the purpose, what is the point? We are all gathered to work together for children in poverty, children in need, families in need? What is the purpose, the point? I have a voice, the children do not. All the excess, the wide expanse that is my life, is all so narrow for someone else. For the little child in poverty, life is narrowed, the wide life completely unknown. All the wide open and available, if only the resources available. I can be that voice, in my wideness, I can provide for someone in the narrow. Even if it is just my voice. My wide expanse of a life can be narrowed to make someone else’s life wider.

STOP. (Well, good for my first try. I wrote for 8 minutes!)

If you would like to sponsor a child through Compassion, click here!!

On a related note, Compassion is having a Pinterest contest this week! The contest runs through Monday, September 23rd, so you still have three days to participate! Every contest entry gives you a chance to win a $25 or $100 gift for your sponsored child! Here is the rundown. If you want full details, click here.

1. Create a Pinterest board titled “My Sponsored Child.”
2. On the board you create:

• pin the image in this post and associate the following link with the pin:
  compassion.com/my-sponsored-child.
• pin any one of the following and tag this second pin with #mysponsoredchild.
  • A photo of you and your sponsored child together.
  • A photo of you with a letter from your sponsored child.
  • A photo of you holding a photo of your sponsored child.
• pin anything else you want that is relevant to your sponsored child or Compassion.

Once you have created your board, share the URL with Compassion International, along with your contact information, using the form at the end of this blog post.

You will receive one contest entry for every repin your “Pin It for My Sponsored Child” pin receives.

You can also enter the contest by sponsoring a child via compassion.com/my-sponsored-child during the contest period. You will receive 30 contest entries for each child you sponsor.

Amy

 

It is a privilege to introduce you to Christopher, who is in my opinion, the best swimming instructor I’ve met!

My children recently completed another round of swimming lessons at Foss Swim School. Having grown up in a household with two master public school teachers, owning a private practice as a speech-language pathologist, and defaulting to perfectionistic personality traits, I’ve discovered that I have high expectations of my childrens’ teachers. Most of the time, a dose of reality and a little grace helps me remember these are just people doing their best, but once in a while a teacher comes along that rocks my world and exceeds every expectation I have.

So it took about two minutes of observing Christopher with my son the first day of swimming lessons to realize he was going to be the best swimming instructor my children have had (seven years of lessons for two children, instructors too many to count)! I started watching closely and realized that whether he knows it or not, Christopher has swim instruction down to a science. The beauty is that his methods are not robotic in any way. Christopher’s instruction is so natural, so clearly reflects who he is, that he couldn’t possibly instruct differently if he tried!

I decided to write down everything Christopher did so I could see exactly what it was I valued so much about his instruction.

I captured the essence of Christopher’s excellence over the course of eight swimming lessons, which resulted in the following 25 observations…

• Quickly learns the name of each child in the group.
• Uses an authoritative vocal quality to obtain and maintain control of children during class.
• Observable energy and enthusiasm for swimming.
• Spends time teaching each stroke prior to letting the children try it.
• Demonstrates each stroke prior to having the children try, reminds the children to “watch me” before demonstrating.
• Sometimes asks children to attempt the stroke outside of the pool prior to entrance into the water.

 

• Incorporates proper etiquette, “remember guys, girls go first!”
• Allows children to try first and corrects only when necessary.
• Determines very quickly which parent goes with each child, and is not afraid to engage parents during class with on-the-spot feedback specific to their child.
• Effortlessly blends gestures with verbal instruction. For example, demonstrates a stroke while verbalizing “breathe tuck fly, breathe tuck fly, breathe tuck fly.” Gestures for one child to start swimming while he verbalizes to another child already swimming “kick, kick, kick, breathe tuck fly.”
• Effortlessly blends physical prompts with verbal instruction. For example, while verbalizing “straight leg,” “stomach up” he provides physical assistance to help the children achieve proper form.
• Keeps a quick pace and flow during class, naming students to indicate it’s their turn. “Ashlyn GO, Corey GO, Savannah GO” and points the direction they are to go.
• Provide targets for the children. For example, he holds his hand up to indicate where children should kick, how far they should reach their arms up.
• Not afraid to physically assist children into proper position for each stroke. If necessary, he gets them into proper position and moves them through a few strokes in slow motion; this is a practice I have very rarely seen swim instructors use.

• Provides children with verbal praise, high fives, encouragement, and detailed feedback. For example, “That was a really hard arm movement and a really tough kick, great try!”
• Keeps a close eye on all children in the class, even when engaging one-on-one with a child. Notices when children are off task and redirects immediately.
• Uses repetition to enhance learning. For example, “1 2 3 and down, 1 2 3 breath and down.”
• Integrates age appropriate metaphors to teach strokes. For example, refers to pizza and pushing cell phone buttons when cueing proper hand position.
• Introduces physical props (e.g., noodle) only when necessary, if children are unable to master a skill on their own.

• Indicates to the children how much time remains of the lesson, or how many laps to completion. For example, “four minutes left” or “last time.”
• Assigns and demonstrates homework.
• Greets and touches base with parents after each lesson.
• Acknowledges siblings.
• Makes a final contact with each student before leaving, smiles and jokes as appropriate.
• Demonstrates a fondness for each child and makes each one feel special.

After my son’s first lesson with Christopher, I went into the hallway and noticed a wall of swim instructors’ photographs and bios. Christopher was in the center, highlighted as one of the Fab Five. “This group goes above and beyond the call of duty.” Doesn’t that describe Christopher perfectly?

September is Blog Month at Compassion International. As a Compassion Blogger, my goal is to share my heart for children in poverty and encourage others to change lives through child sponsorship. This is week number two of Blog Month. Last week, 837 children were sponsored! 2,271 sponsorships are left to meet Compassion’s goal of 3,108 children sponsored in just 30 days. Together, we can change the lives of children.

If you feel called to sponsor a child through Compassion International, click here for more information.

 

Dear God, Heavenly Father:

All of humankind is reflected in your beautiful creation.

Every single one imperfect, but all together perfect in you.

You work one at a time, delicate lives hanging in your promise.

The wild, it comes, but your plans are already underway.

We are blown by the wind, this way and that.

Dead and alive among us.

Old remnants of beauty wait for your joyful return.

We can’t help but hear your whisper.

We need our dried up days, our dried up hearts to be softened by you.

Our hands reach out, you are the roots, we are the branches.

There are pricks, there are pokes, yet all is so beautiful. Sometimes we don’t know what we need, Lord.

You cover all wrong.

We lie, broken nothingness from the battle, awaiting your glory.

Borders and boundaries restrict, fire destroys and ash remains. You know no borders and promise beauty for ashes.

Some push and pull and grow up in spite of earthly limitations, only because of you.

Sometimes as one, standing alone for what’s right, knowing your light is needed.

Even the rugged, the worn down bend in the way of your light and grace.

The colorful, unafraid to stand alone, hope amidst chameleon green and brown.

The quiet ones, bowed down waiting on you.

The straight and narrow ones, all in a row, working to fill the cracks in your name.

The ones full of fruit, bearing witness to your Spirit.

The little ones, delicate dancing beauty freed in your presence.

The nails, bent down this way and that way, remind us of your sacrifice.

Arms lifted high, our lives sing a song of surrender to you.

All filled with imperfection, we gather others imperfect, surrogates for you, and you bundle us up tight in your perfect grace. The imperfect are perfected in you.

In all of this, we await your glory, loving in your name.

Lord, come and be in the middle of our brokenness, our ruggedness, our worn down lives. The pricks and pokes and weeds, the imperfections everywhere, the wildness and brokenness, the loneliness and all these remnants.

Take our hearts and mold us to be like you.

Show us the way.

Lead us to the precious little ones, delicate buds lifting high, reaching across all hopeful, waiting.

All connected, all one in you.

Sponsor a child through Compassion International, and change a life.

To find out more about child sponsorship, click here.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3-10

Amy

Today, it is my duty and delight to introduce you to precious children who are so patiently waiting for a sponsor through Compassion International.

A few weeks ago, I shared with you my journey to child sponsorship through Compassion International. I believe God placed in me a heart for child sponsorship since I was a child. Now that I have finally taken the leap of faith and answered that call on my life, I am no longer willing to stand by silently, just hoping, just assuming the rest of the children will be taken care of by someone else.

The care of children in need should not be assumed. The health and well being of children is not something we should leave in the hands of that nebulous, unnamed someone else. The care of children around the world is my duty, my delight. Our duty, our delight. Deep in my heart, deep in my soul I know I can do something, I want to do something, I must do something. In fact, I believe God calls each one of us to do something.

The children of Compassion did not choose where they were born, nor the set of circumstances they face every day. They are hungry and need clean water, they love and want to be loved, care and want to be cared for, they have desires and longings and will thrive given the right opportunities, and were created in God’s image just like you and me.

I will no longer sit back and let these children go unnoticed. I commit to acting as an advocate for the children, so they have hope of a future beyond their circumstances.

As a Compassion Blogger, I stand up on behalf of the children, revealing their faces, telling their stories, humbly but boldly voicing their needs.

I challenge you not to get lost in the sea of photographs, feeling hopeless or overwhelmed, but to look into the face of each precious child and simply ask yourself if you feel called to sponsorship.

There are thousands of children waiting for a sponsor. It is my prayer that if you feel a call on your heart to sponsor a child, you will take that leap of faith sooner than I did. There are parents hoping and praying, children who have been waiting months for a sponsor, children whose life line is child sponsorship.

 

 

Children waiting for a sponsor, like beautiful little Fatoumata Cisse. Fatoumata lives in Burkina Faso. She is five-years-old and has been waiting for a sponsor for 403 days. She lives in an AIDS-affected area and lives in an area with higher risk of exploitation and abuse. Fatoumata is not presently attending school.

If you feel called to sponsor Fatoumata Cisse or prefer to search Compassion’s database of children waiting for a sponsor, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

Children waiting for a sponsor, like sweet Makendy Terasmon from Haiti. Makendy is seven-years-old and has been waiting for a sponsor for 281 days. Makendy’s duties at home include carrying water and gathering firewood. The Compassion website states “He is also in primary school where his performance is above average.”

If you feel called to sponsor Makendy Terasmon or would like to search Compassion’s database of children waiting for a sponsor, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

Children waiting for a sponsor, like little Jenelleden Daylosan from the Philippines. Jenelleden is four-years-old and has been waiting for a sponsor for 310 days. She lives with her aunt and uncle and there are four children in the family.

If you feel called to sponsor Jenelleden Daylosan or would prefer to search Compassion’s database of children waiting for a sponsor, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children waiting for a sponsor, like Sachin Vital Kodape from India. Sachin is nine-years-old and has been waiting for a sponsor for 241 days. According to the Compassion website, Sachin’s duties include carrying water, cleaning, and buying or selling in the market.

If you feel called to sponsor Sachin Vital Kodape or prefer to search Compassion’s database of children waiting for a sponsor, click here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children waiting for a sponsor, like precious Vivian Asamoah from Ghana. Vivian is four-years-old and has been waiting for a sponsor for 371 days. There are six children in Vivian’s family. She helps by running errands, and running is her favorite activity.

If you feel called to sponsor Vivian Asamoah or would like to search Compassion’s database of children waiting for a sponsor, click here.

 

 

 

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:35-40. 

Amy

*Photographs and information about the children used with permission from Compassion International.