You are my Sunshine, my only Sunshine

Today was a beautiful spring day. Josiah is actually doing better already...yah God! It's definitely still there but his comfort level has improved greatly. So we took the boys for a family run this afternoon and then Seth took all the boys for a walk around the block. This time "the boys" included our increasingly overweight pooch, Kenzie. I can only describe the scene as vintage. Barefoot boys, family dog, radio flyer....totally classic....

ding, ding, ding....ROUND 50

I have to say, we have had quite a nice lull in the "attack department". The winter season was brutal on our health and when spring came, so did our hope. Well, today I took Josiah to the doctor's because he has developed in the last couple of days a very deep cough. It's that kind that causes very labored breathing, which in turn makes me want to hyper-ventillate. The poor little guy has a wheezing thing which we have to treat with 4 breathing treatments a day. He also has the beginnings of an ear infection and pneumonia. I have to say, he's such a trooper because rarely has he complained about the whole business. If it was me, I would be in bed moaning and groaning!
But here's the deal- We are standing on God's Word and His promises. We are going to persevere through this mess that the enemy is throwing at us because the Lord desires the best for us. He gives us hope and strength. And that, my friends, is more valuable to me than all the money in the world!

PB and....Hair??

From about the age of 2, Eli has been fascinated by the world of chewing gum. We actually did not let him have his first piece until he was 3 and because he ended up swallowing it, it was a long time before he was given another piece. Now that he is 4 1/2, he has mastered the concept of chewing and not swallowing.
This morning, Seth and I were sitting at the kitchen table when we heard a pitiful voice crying up the stairs "Dad, can you please come down here?" Eli was clearly upset so both Seth and I raced downstairs to see what was wrong. One look at him explained everything. On the side of his head, a chunk of hair spiked unnaturally straight up in the air. Holding it there? Yep, you guessed it...a piece of chewing gum. Apparently, Seth had generously given Eli a piece of gum to accompany movie-time. And apparently, Eli was not content to keep it in his mouth.
See, I have never understood this concept of finding out what gum will do in the hair. This was a brand new experience for me, as well...grabbing the jar of peanut butter and rubbing it through my son's hair. Now I can say that it works. Not from a "tips" page on the internet but from actual, real-life experience.


Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to wash my hands for the 4th time to get rid of the aroma of peanut butter...

My Baby Loves Me

Lately, I have come across some old friends that have recently been married or are engaged to be married very soon. I guess we are at the "acceptable" age when people get married. Ones who have completed college and have made the choice to either continue schooling or pursue a career.
We are also at that age where we are hearing a little bit of divorce. Couples who got married shortly after we did and decided that it just would not work anymore.
The other night, Seth and I had a wonderful date night. For all of those without children, please know that date nights are few and far between so when we have one, it is definitely worth noting. I sat there looking at this man who I began dating before we even graduated high school. I have been building a relationship with this one person on a highly personal level for eleven years now! In August, it will be our 9 year wedding anniversary.
I say all this because there have been times where we didn't know if we were going to make it, before marriage and after. I believe it is a true act of God for anyone to be married for over a year. There is so much giving that has to be done in order for it to work and I am by no means, by nature, a very giving person.
To go back to our date the other night, I sat there across the table from Seth and wondered "How in the world can I still be attracted to this man? In fact, even more attracted than when we first began dating." I think I have come up with a one word answer for this one- GOD. Because He is the One who wants us to succeed. Not that He wants anyone to not succeed in marriage, but I think it's because we have allowed Him to give us the strength to keep going. I look at my parents who have been married for 28 years and I look at Seth's parents who have been married for over 35 years and I am so encouraged. It really can be done. The junk that comes against you in life doesn't diminish as life goes on. I just know I wouldn't want to walk through it with anyone else.

So is it true that you begin to look like each other after so many years? If that's the case, then I have a little something to fear...let's not even mention the body hair!

ALOHA

WISH GRANTED!

Through the genius of Adam, my brother-in-law, I was somehow transported to the place of my dreams. Thank you, dear brother, thank you...

The Birthday Boy

One year ago, on April 19th we met the most amazing person. His name is Josiah Daniel and he happens to be our son. Let me tell you about this little guy. He (along with God) decided to come a bit early...5 weeks early to be exact. He only weighed 4lbs and had to directly go to the NICU. He spent 2 weeks there, where he ended up surprising the doctors and nurses by how quickly he grew. I remember one afternoon I walked into his room at the hospital and the doctor greeted me with the announcement that "It is official. Josiah is the biggest eater in this room". Now this didn't surprise me, being a Macchi boy and all!
After we brought him home, there were a few tough moments because we still had to take him to this specialist and that specialist so they could give the final okay on his health. He, thankfully, passed with flying colors.
It is interesting being a parent of a "preemie". There are the constant comments of how tiny your baby is. So you begin to take a preemptive approach and tell everyone who might glance in the direction of your baby "He's a preemie".
After 6 months, when all the guilt and the what-could-I-have-done-to-prevent-this thoughts had been worked through, I noticed I had a great sense of pride in Josiah. He really is a little fighter. His body is the one that had to learn how to do all the things we take for granted in full term babies, even the simple task of eating. He had to be fed through a tube the first few weeks of his life. To go from that to eating on his own was a huge accomplishment. And now I see him responding to the world around him...to his big brother, his dog, his grandparents, and us his parents...God is so amazing!
What joy this little man has brought into our lives. God has blessed us beyond our imagination with our 2 sons. So Josiah, as we celebrate this day in which you are completely oblivious, know that we love you. May this next year be one of health and harmless discovery!

And this is called...

Wishful Thinking

I could pretend that I was in some tropical paradise...maybe photoshop some palm trees and teal blue water in here...but I choose not to. I will just tell you that I am in Raymore, Missouri on a beautiful Easter Day.

Now where is that 48th egg?

Thankfully the eggs were plastic and the boys actually found all 48 of them. This was their annual Easter egg hunt at Grammy and Papa's house. This year made more fun by Nana and Grandad being there as well. Here are some pictures of the occasion....

Easter thoughts

I've been sitting here for at least 30 minutes trying to type down what I have in my heart but it doesn't seem to be working. There are so many "churchy" terms that accompany Easter and I am trying to avoid every single one of them. I feel I have to be honest-quite a few years have gone by and Easter has passed without much thought of the death and life of my best friend. The last few years, though, have been growing in intensity, this weekend no exception. I woke up Friday morning heavy with thought of what Jesus endured for the joy set before Him, which was ME and YOU. I'm sorry but this is just way too amazing to comprehend. I'm going to bed tonight with some "the-night-before-Christmas-when-you're-8-years-old" excitement because tomorrow we have the privelege of celebrating the coming back to life part of the story.
Lately I have had this thing in my heart that has been nudging me to not forget "the message". At first, I thought it was the message that drew us here to Kansas City. The idea that it is possible to live a life in pursuit of intimacy with the Bridegroom King. The message that completely changed my shame-filled "christianized" heart. I finally was able to look Him in the face because He said it was the one thing that I should always seek to do.
But I think "the message" that I have been praying would not fade and would be refreshed goes even deeper to the one of the cross. Without it, I would not be sitting here. Period. I am ever thankful for what my best Friend endured. I am ever thankful for the privelege of celebrating His LIFE.
Happy Easter to all of you. May this "message" grow stronger in our hearts that we might endure for the joy set before us!

Sweet things come in small packages

There is some very exciting news in the Macchi family. There is going to be a new baby come October. My little niece Gia is going to be a big sister! Congratulations Adam and Leya! May this pregnancy be healthy and may this new baby bring you double the joy....we love you!! And Gia, make sure you don't ask Daddy for any hammers when new baby comes home....

Get down, get down

I have a little something to confess. Well, this isn't the confession yet, but we Macchis listen to music much of the time. It's nice to have something going on in the background of our lives. It's what we enjoy. We have a great set-up in our kitchen where we can hook our laptops up to our speaker system and listen to the internet radio. The usual station is either "The Coffeehouse" or "Cool as Folk". Catchy, don't you think? Both play really great music. Oh, and a lot of the time we are streaming in IHOP. So that's cool, too.
Confession- last night I had an itch to listen to something a little different so I picked "Booty Time". Just typing that out makes me giggle. What better way to stir-fry vegetables than to shake your booty while you do it. And the hilarious thing, it wasn't only me. I looked over and Eli was on the couch bobbing his head up and down to the beat. It didn't take him long to make it into the kitchen where he was choreographing his own moves. The little guy is pretty smooth! Josiah, the little music man, had a few moves himself in his highchair. He's got a great tummy-bobbing dance going on right now.
The moral of the story (if there is a moral)- every once in a while, it's good to reach out of the little box that you're living in. Who knows, you might just have some fun while you're doing it!

Hoppin' down the bunny trail

So today I participated in Eli's class Easter party. There is nothing that makes me feel more like a "Mom" than standing there awkwardly with the other moms commenting on our own children and their behavior. But I do have to admit, it was fun. The kids were so cute, standing outside with their crayon-decorated paper bags, ready to hunt for Easter eggs.
I had a memory moment this afternoon. You know those moments where you want to stamp it forever in your mind and heart because you know that life will not be the same tomorrow or next year or the next? As I walked into the classroom, Eli saw me and immediately ran to give me a big hug. As he sat down with the rest of the class, I saw him turn to his little friend and heard him say "That's my mom". He said it with such innocence and even a little bit of pride. I just have this feeling that in 10 years or so, it's not going to be like that. I am going to walk in his classroom and see him shift uncomfortably in his chair, giving me a sidelong glance that will scream "Mooooom, you're so embarrassing!" And I will know that this is the normal way of things. So I'm just going to have to remember this day and remember his sweet little voice.
Hopefully this blog will be around in 10 years or so because with the way things are going these days, I'm going to need all the help I can get in the "memory department"....=)

Sleepless in KC

Not as romantic as Seattle but true nonetheless. It is now 1:20am and I am sitting out in my living room with a hot cup of tea trying to lull my brain to sleep. I have a feeling that being on the computer will backfire my plan but whaddya gonna do? Every once in a while, I go through these periods where it is almost impossible for me to fall asleep. Usually, I resort to my stockpile of Benadryl or Tylenol PM to help things along but I don't feel like doing that tonight.
Anyway, just wanted to say how grateful I am for my life. I feel blessed tonight for so many things. My marriage, my children, my family, and my friends. By the world's or should I say "America's" standards, we are not anywhere near wealthy but tonight, that is exactly how I feel...wealthy. So that's all I wanted to say tonight. Now, if I could just get to sleep...

Introductions

I just realized today that I have never introduced my beautiful, intelligent, super-sweet little niece. So, friends, here she is... Ms. Gianna Kristin Macchi, also known by family members as GiGi.

Well howdy there, pardner

Today was officially cowboy and cowgirl day at Eli's preschool. I sent Seth out with Eli to find something that would work, thinking he would come back with a cute little hat or something. Well, minus the hat, Eli walked into school in the full get-up- cowboy boots and a belt adorned with a buckle that has a picture of a cowboy riding a bull. All I have to say is "Yeehaw"...I think his Bonanza-lovin' Grammy will be proud.

Yet another challenge

Since moving here to Kansas City, our lives have been one lesson after another. While I totally appreciate it because I know it's for something bigger than what we can see, there are times where my little "rubber band" just longs to go back to the normal, relaxed circle shape.
This new challenge isn't exactly something that we are facing head on yet but there are some whispers of more stretching. And it's this- living in community. Seth and I have never really had to do this yet in our Christian walk, not in the way that I believe that we are all called to do. We've never even lived in an apartment complex, just to give you an example of how far away from people we have always been. We have put a very high value on our privacy, letting in one or two close friends but that's pretty much about it. I've had this nagging thought for quite some time now that maybe we haven't done it the right way. Maybe community begins with us reaching out and truly accepting all who come our way. Maybe while talking about "God's heart", we have missed some great opportunities to knowing Him better by getting to know His people better.
Yeah, I think I've nailed quite a bit on the head here. But moving here and living in semi-isolation has opened our eyes to this need in our lives. The Lord has used this time to heal some things in our hearts so now we are ready to take some risks. First the healing, now the learning.
So Macchi commune, here we come. Let's grow our own fruits and vegetables. Let's feed the homeless from the back of our horse and buggy. Let's all parent each other's children. Y'all think I'm kidding, don't you?

A day at the park

On Saturday, it was a beautiful spring day so what else could we do but have a picnic in the park? There isn't much of a story to go along with it so I'll just post some of the pictures for you.

He that overcometh...

"...we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end......we shall never surrender." Winston Churchill

To all who have knowledge of my almost two year struggle to find something to cover my gigantic bedroom window- I have finally done it!! To all who do not know- this window has been the thorn in our side since we moved in. It was such a pretty feature before we moved, the nice big decorative window that let in so much light. Uggh! As soon as the sun peeked its head over the horizon, our room was flooded with in-the-middle-of-the-afternoon sunlight. You find out how creative you can be with the bed covers when there is that much brightness at 6:30am.
In our quest to find a reasonable solution to this problem, we hit a wall with every idea. There are blinds manufactured for these kind of half-moon windows...if you're willing to cough up $800 for it! We had thought about the wall o'curtain idea before but we seriously thought it wouldn't work because of how the high ceiling comes to a point over the window. Later on, I looked into this particular idea but after it was all said and done, the curtains would have cost a good $300-$400. I became very stubborn about the whole thing and decided that even that was way too much.
And then, just a month ago, I stumbled upon "extra long length" curtains at bedbathandbeyond.com. Bless you, bless you, bless you Bed Bath and Beyond! You have put a smile on mine and Seth's face when we are not forced to wake up at the crack of dawn because of your miraculous curtains and their very reasonable price.
So, to put an end to this saga, I also found a new quilt set (shown in picture) that I really like and soon we will paint the walls a lovely teal blue to go with the dark brown drapes. Our room will finally be finito!