Five Months

Danali-

You turned 5 months old on Monday, but your mommy has been so busy, she hasn't had time to write until now. You are a beautiful baby! You still don't have much any hair, but your great grandma insists you are "all girl" You are a lot more fun now. You rarely cry unless you're hungry or tired. You spend half the week with one grandma and half the week with the other. You are so loved!

You were baptized last Sunday. Your Godfather, Ramon, came up from San Diego to be a part of it and your aunt Shelly came down from Seattle to be your Godmother. It was a fun day and you behaved so well! You fell asleep just before they were going to baptize you. When they poured water on you, you cried as if to complain they woke you up and then you fell right back to sleep.

Everyone gets surprised about how big you are. You are easily over 20 pounds and wearing clothes for 9 month-olds already. You love music and you really love going outside. Sometimes if you do get into one of your crying fits, just going outside calms you down. You do really well being passed from person to person and it makes everyone want to hold you that much more. You seem to love games and attention and if you're ever left alone too long, you definitely let us know.

Your grammy took you to get your 4 month shots recently (we got a little behind) and she said you smiled at the nurses just before, cried when they gave you the shots and then smiled at them again before leaving. Your great grandma insists you are the smiliest baby she's ever known and very smart.

Your papi gets frustrated with you sometimes because you'll get fussy with him and then I'll take you and you'll calm down. He asks "what is the difference being with me or being with your mom?" He just doesn't know, does he, but we do...

I love you so much- more and more every day. In some ways I can't believe you're only 5 months old because I can't really remember or imagine our lives without you as a part of everything we do and think about.

I can't wait to see how you continue to grow and how your personality develops!

All my love,
your mama

Being Called

There is nothing like feeling really called to be where you're at in life. I still remember when I was selected to be peer minister of social justice my last year in college at Western and how I felt so called to it. I knew it's what God wanted of me- I felt God's presence in my life and my work- I was in a good place.

I have been wondering lately what God is calling me to or what He is ultimately preparing me for. I seem to have this idea that all my experiences are leading up to some "perfect career" or "final plan" and I've been wondering how it's all going to come together- my degree in Spanish, my masters in International Education, my experience at Saint Martin's, my bilingual/bicultural home life, my desire to be there for my family, my passion for social justice- how is it all going to come together? What is the "perfect" most satisfying place for me?

And recently I've been thinking maybe life isn't a perfect math equation where 2 +3 +4 +1 = 10. Maybe it's not about the "Sum" but rather about being called to being where we are in any given moment.

Me teaching right now doesn't necessarily mean this is where God will want me for the next decade or even the next several years, but it is where He wants me/can use me right now. I need to let God work through me in teaching these particular classes, with these particular students, this particular quarter. I need to let God work through me in my family, with my friends, with all those that are in my life right now, whatever I happen to be doing today.

Regardless of where the future takes me, God has called me to the present. Maybe I need to let go of what the "ultimate" vision for my life is and just try to focus on how God can use me today and let the rest unfold...