Bird's Eye View

My plan was to take the whole family to Jamaica in July 2020. It was a sure thing. We’d miss Christmas 2019 in Jamaica so that we could save some more to celebrate love with our friends plus have a real vacation, south coast and all. God had other plans. My 2019 miracle was being in Jamaica for Christmas (my last Christmas there was 2015!). But then there was Corona…which God knew would happen. Now any plans for traveling in July are up in the air. My July 2020 plans were not God’s plans. But He was gracious enough to let me see my family in advance. My plan was to have a family. I didn’t have a number in mind, but it wasn’t just two children. I ask myself; how does anyone know when their family is complete? I’m not sure. I knew I wanted children. Judah came along. He was awesome, and I knew I wasn’t done. I was ready for more of that awesomeness, and he would do well with a sibling. In came Ez, 2 years later. But when it was time to bless Ezra with a sibling, seems God had anoth...

Part 1 of a 3 part series. (Find Part 2 here and Part 3 here ) In February 2017, at a Missions Conference at Abundant Life Assembly, I heard about the Logos coming to Barbados. In February! And since my life wasn’t going exactly as planned, November was far enough away that I could set my eyes on it whenever I felt disappointed. If I couldn’t do one thing, at least I would be able to ‘dip my feet’ in the waters of cross-cultural missions again. I invited Paul Wheatley, the regional director of OM, to share at WYcliffe Club (WC) in May. James and Althea also came and their testimonies were powerful and inviting. Three of us from WC became DEEP volunteers onboard! At the end of August, I got my first e-mail with information on how to apply. I was stoked! I got my reference in from my Pastor then lined up an interview with Haruka from Japan. She was always available to talk on whatsapp if I had any questions, and she was always so warm. I didn’t feel like an outsider. She made it ...

Have you ever had to take the bus with 2 babies? Do you know that those children come with equipment? Like a stroller to get to and from the bus stop. Or a super-sized diaper bag, cause if something goes wrong in town, there’s no jumping into a car and driving home. Have you ever been kicked off a ZR with expletives being hurled at you because you had all that stuff taking up more space than the driver would like? Or being forced to pay for an underage child because he fell asleep on a seat that an adult should occupy even though the bus still had space? Have you ever tried to push a stroller with one hand and hold a baby and an umbrella with another because the rain started right as you got off the bus?  Have you ever had to change a baby on your lap at the bus stop with passing cars staring, while watching the toddler so he doesn’t run off into the traffic? Why didn’t I go to the restroom close by with the changing station? Because I had been at that bus stop, in the sun...

I look around the room and notice the other children sitting still. One little girl is at the table next to ours so Judah asks to go sit over there. I allow him to, but neither she nor the adults seem interested in a conversation so he doesn’t stay long. Another little boy that just came in is sitting quietly on his mother’s lap. He looks a little younger than Judah, but still old enough for comparison. It could be possible that he’s just not warmed up to the new setting yet. We did arrive on time (aka way too early in Bajan time) so Judah and Ezra already had a good run around the room and worked up quite a sweat. When I first arrived, I wondered how the evening would go with so many tables…just sitting expected? But here were these other children sitting. Was my child missing out on being forced to sit still all day at school? I really wouldn’t want that for him, but it did cross my mind. Was he normal? What about ADHD?   During dinner, I notice the ‘quiet boy’ is sta...

In becoming a parent, I knew it was my responsibility (and not the church’s) to train my child and teach him about the Lord. I did the usual books, Google searches and talking to people. I found many great suggestions, but it was difficult to find a step by step practical guide. So I thought I’d share what I’ve pieced together so far. Year by Year The Voddie Baucham sermon 'The importance of Biblically disciplining children' got me excited with his breakdown by age. In summary, for the first 3 years, you are focusing on obedience, so that you can prepare the children to learn from you. Then, secondly, whenever they begin to talk they will be learning the facts of the Faith. This is done through memorizing Scripture, catechisms and songs. And thirdly, when the children are about 12 years old, true discipleship begins as you are able to walk with your children through life experiences. We have been able to start the first two phases with Judah (he turns 4 later...

It's 9:30am. Judah is down for his morning nap. At 9 am, he walked away from where he was playing and tried to climb into my lap. He was tired and I normally put him to sleep by putting him up on my shoulder while sitting in the rocking chair, so it was logical for him to try to get up to me when he was sleepy. Though this isn't the usual thing (I normally chase him down and take him with me to the rocking chair), it isn't surprising. I have a schedule for Judah, but he came up with him. I know his naptime is 9am only because I see him behaving sleepy or, like this morning, he comes to me wanting rest.  He is 14 months old now, and I often wonder if I should keep trying to sleep train him, so that instead of falling asleep in my arms, he'll fall asleep in the crib.  When I was a teenager, imagining what it would be like to be a mother, there were two things I really wanted to experience: feeling a baby kick in my tummy and having a baby fall asleep in my arms.  But ...

Daddy (Mario) went to a Missions conference for 5 days and left me to experience the joys of being a single mother to a newborn. There was no joy. But there were lessons learnt. Like icing your eyes makes the swelling go down really quickly, before you are seen and have to explain why you look like you’ve been beaten to a pulp. Anyhow. Apart from the practical lessons of dealing with a newborn alone, I learnt a lot about myself and about God. Some questions remain unanswered for the time being, but that’s Ok. One of the lessons that stood out was about neglecting God while trying to do things for Him. Here’s how it played out: Judah needs his mummy for everything. He needs his mummy when he’s hungry, he needs his mummy when he’s tired, he needs his mummy when he has a dirty diaper, and he needs his mummy just to hold him to feel comforted and safe. So the only time his mummy gets to have a bathroom break is when he is asleep. But there are so many other things to do during ...