Happy Graduation, Eli!

I think it's time I tell the world how brilliant my husband is.

He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee, where he received his Bachelor's in History.

He graduated with all As (and I think one A-) from Westminster Theological Seminary, where he received his Masters of Divinity (and this program is no typical two year masters...most people do it full-time in four years, while Eli completed his in three).

And most recently, he finished his coursework at Belmont University, where he received his second Masters Degree, which is a Masters of Arts in Teaching, and he also obtained all As.

I think this degree has been the sweetest one yet because our children are old enough to realize that "daddy completing school" is a really significant event.  It's so significant, that we had our own little graduation ceremony in our front yard, complete with Eli and me humming "Pomp and Circumstance" while they paraded around in Eli's cap and hood.

Thank you, Eli, for modeling by example the importance of pursuing educational excellence for our children!  Congratulations!  We are so proud of you.

Family Fishing Day!

Eli LOVES fishing.

I mean, he absolutely loves to go out and fish all day long.  He watches fishing on TV, he talks about fishing with the boys, any gift that I have given to him in the last year has to do with fishing.  I've known this man for 13 years, and he has never woken up early to do anything, and a few days ago, he woke up at 5AM to meet my cousin and my uncle so that they could go out on the boat...to fish!

Well, what better way to spend a day as a family, then to have a (drumroll, please)...Family Fishing Day!  (I know what you are thinking...Wow, did Carmen actually go fishing with them?  I mean, she is a part of the family.  Did they leave her out?  Did she touch any fish?)

Yes, I am a part of the family, so I went fishing.  Someone has to think about packing snacks, packing hand sanitizer, making sure that Reese doesn't fall in, making sure that the boys actually use the hand sanitizer, packing the sunscreen, the bug spray, the water with lemon zest....and, did I mention the hand sanitizer?

It turned out to be a great day for fishing, and we even got to spend some rare one-on-one time with each child.  While Reese and Eli were fishing, Emmanuel and I explored the mill and went for a hike.  Both boys ended up catching one fish each, and Eli caught some, too!  The fish that Emmanuel caught was tiny, and I convinced him to throw the fish back in so that it could go on a playdate with his friends.  

Both boys had fun "fishing," but they mostly played in the water (I did think to myself...hmm...couldn't we play in the water at home), and hugging on their dad (another thing that we could do at home); but there is something about seeing their dad "in the fishing zone" that gets them all excited.  And, seeing the smiles on their excited, little, dirty fishing faces is more than good enough for me.

A Big Cardboard Box

There is a book that we read often to our boys.  It is simply called, "Little Boy."  The book follows around a little boy as he has adventures with his friends, spends time with his dad, and uses his imagination to do all sorts of fun things.  Every section ends with the phrase...Little Boy, so much depends on...your big cardboard box.  The little boy uses the cardboard box as a pirate ship, as a tower, as a fort...and the list goes on.

Well, we don't really keep cardboard boxes around.  I like to think that I am a green minimalist, so we recycle, and I don't keep a whole lot of excess around.  When we lived in Baltimore, recycling was easy.  It was single-stream (everything in the same container) and they picked it up from your curb.  Here in our Bellevue community of Nashville, we actually have to sort it ourselves and physically take it to the recycling center.  So, needless to say, the recycling builds up much more than I want it to.

After purchasing a new lawn mower (long story...Eli mowed lawns last summer since he was off from teaching, and well, our little used mower had mowed one too many lawns...), we had this huge cardboard box in our garage just crying out for little boys to play with it.

And, so, they did.

It was a pirate ship.

It was a rocket, a swimming pool, a bed...you name it...they imagined it!

And, then, it was demolished (and taken promptly to the recycling center.)

Every once in a while, we will create art projects out of our cardboard boxes or the boys will jump in a box and break it into pieces (that's the fun part).   And, for their birthday, I'm going to try my hardest to put a HUGE cardboard box to good, fun use (more about that to come...)

Little boys, so much depends on your big cardboard box!

Baby Change Diaper Foster?

So, we haven't really revealed the name of our daughter, yet.

So when people ask me, I tell them the name that Emmanuel came up with:  Baby Change Diaper.

This has made some members of my extended family very upset, namely James IV (who is 12) and Michael (who is 10).

They took it upon themselves to give me a list of why that name was not acceptable for their baby girl cousin:

Aunt Carmen, she will be embarrassed once she hits Middle School, maybe people will be nice to her in Elementary School, but they will tear her up in Middle School. 


Aunt Carmen, that's just not a good name.  Nothing about it is cool. 


It's too long. 


It doesn't make sense. 


We don't like it, and we can't believe that you would name our family member that! 

Wow, these pre-teens have some strong opinions, don't you think?  The truth is that upon discovering that we were having a little girl, we pulled a name out of our hat that we have thought about for a long time.  It has really powerful biblical and personal meaning.  We think it is the perfect name for this little girl.

But, for now, it's fun to have Emmanuel and Reese (I definitely can't leave him out) take ownership in talking to and about their baby sister.

And, even though we have a name for her, something tells me they might still call her Baby Change Diaper and that's perfectly fine with me.

Another Round of "Firsts"

Three has been an interesting age.

You have to pay for things for your child (no more free admissions!)  In most cases, your child is more verbal than at age two, and thinks that he can have an "adult conversation" (for example, Emmanuel listens to EVERY WORD that I say on the phone...even spelling things out doesn't work well these days...he always figures it out!)  And, there are typically a new round of "firsts" that your "no-longer-toddler" is able to participate in.

Emmanuel's round of firsts have included:

1.  A ride on a school bus!  This was very exciting for Emmanuel and Reese because they are fascinated with transportation.  We almost always watch for the school bus to pick up the big kids in the morning.  One of our favorite librarians has his crayons in a crayon school bus that both the boys get so excited over...so when they had the chance to ride on a REAL bus, they were thrilled!  We took this ride with my sister-in-law's group on the way to the circus.

2.  Dancing on stage with members of the Nashville Ballet (while Reese was running on stage!)

3.  Playing a violin at the Country Music Hall of Fame

4.  First "real" Superbowl Party where he watched about 5 minutes of the game 

5.  First time at the skating rink--this didn't last long either...ended with a big fall, but he and Reese got to go in the ticket booth for their cousin...so that made all the difference!

Can I just say that this year has gone by amazingly fast!  It seems like as my children age, the time goes faster and faster.  With tears in my eyes, I asked a friend of mine whose boys are 6 and 3 if there was anyway to slow down the time.  I can't seem to take enough pictures and write enough blogs and do whatever I possibly can to record these memories.  She looked at me and simply said, "Enjoy your children."

So, one moment at a time...I am enjoying my children.  

Trayvon Martin

(This was written about a month ago...I was pretty sure that I published it, but went to the blog this morning and realized it wasn't showing up! So, it's dated now, but happy reading!)

There is a bit of an activist in me.

Maybe it's because my dad was fierce.  Maybe it's because he was involved in the civil rights movement.  Maybe it's because he has vivid memories of the night Martin Luther King Jr. died that haunted him...

or...maybe it's because I grew up learning about and admiring Martin Luther King, Jr. whose very life was given for the pursuit of justice and who is credited with saying, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

or perhaps...it's because I am madly in love with Jesus Christ, who is very clear about taking care of the oppressed, the poor, the widow...those who are unable to defend themselves.

Maybe, just maybe these are the reasons that there is a spirit of activism that lies deep within.

And, maybe I care so much about Trayvon Martin bcause I am raising two boys (who wear hoodies all the time, by the way)...maybe I care so much because my boys are part African-American (and let's face it, society will perceive them as black men).  Maybe I care so much because it could have been them...or my 12-year-old nephew...or my next door neighbor's son.

Regardless of why I care...what's important is that I DO care, and I think that most people should be concerned...involved....outraged.  Unfortunately, I have been surprised at the silence of people around me.  It's as though their lips are stapled shut in fear that people will get the wrong impression of them.

We attended the rally for Trayvon in Nashville and joined other people who are concerned...who want to show Trayvon's family support...who want to teach their sons and their daughters that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

As it began to rain, I was reminded of another significant event that Eli and I took Emmanuel to and had to brave the elements to do so.  We attended the Inauguration of President Barack Obama...Emmanuel was a few days shy of 6 months old...and it was FREEZING.  I remember that people thought we were crazy to take an infant in that weather...in those large crowds...but we wanted Emmanuel to be aware of the significance that was happening in our country (which, whether or not you agree with Obama...I think it is safe to say that his presidency is signficant for our country...not just for Black people...but for our whole country)...it will be something that we will remember for the rest of our lives and we will remind him about it as he grows into a man.

So, a little rain or freezing weather won't stop us from fighting for what is right...because there's a little bit of activism in us that writhes in pain when there is an injustice and shouts hallelujah when there is progress.

For now...we wait in pain with Trayvon's family, in joyful hope that the sovereign God we serve will make all things new and right in His way.

and for the little baby, mama...

We have been doing Easter prayers everyday with the boys during the Lenten season (I promise to write more about this as time permits), so last night, after talking about the meaning of Good Friday, I said to Emmanuel and Reese....

"Jesus died on the cross for a little boy named Reesie...and a little boy named Emmanuel...a big girl named Carmen...and big boy named Eli...and everybody else in the whole wide world!"

Emmanuel looked at me with those huge chocolate eyes and said, "Mama...Jesus died for the little baby in your tummy, too!"  Holding back tears, I hugged his neck and I said, yes, sweet angel, Jesus died for the little baby in my tummy, too.  

Amen.