Hands of God

Now this one will get a little deep :)  But, I recently went on a training weekend for massage, and if you know anything about massage therapists, you probably know they are mostly on the spiritual, earthy, end of the spectrum.  And that's good!  I am not too openly spiritual, but I do have a side to me that is...so this weekend was a good fit, because we mostly did training all day, but began each day with a Japanese exercise, or meditation, or another form of meditation or centering. 

On Sunday, in particular, I was missing church for this training and I appreciated the extra group meditations we did.  There was one, especially, that caught us all (or MOST of us) by surprise, emotionally.  I HATE crying in front of people, but it happened.  Partly because I was watching others become emotional, and I am nothing if not a social crier.  But also partly because the meditation conjured up some very personal images and thoughts. 

The whole guided reading was about hands in your life.  Very fitting for student massage therapists!  We use our hands for so much, and not too many people stop and think about how personal hands are.

Through the reading, there was mention of the perfection of a baby's hand.  The little dimples in the knuckles.
An old person's hands, and all the experiences those hands have seen.
Your spouse's hands
Your parents' hands

And it asked if you ever thought you held God's hand?  You DID.  You held God's hand when you held your baby's hand, your parent's hand, your husband's hand and your ailing grandparent's hand. 

This struck me because I couldn't stop thinking of Aden's little tiny pink fist when I held him for the first time, after such pain and emotion, a tiny little miracle grasping my finger for dear life.  Literally.
I always remember that.  I always, to this day, kiss the little dimples on both kids' knuckles.  Their little fingers are so precious and perfect! Untouched by pain, unmarred by hardship.  Only loved and cherished, carefree and happy.  Innocent.  I am, every day, holding God's hand. 

So we must remember to treat it with care.

Then I think of my grandma's hands, at the end of her life.  So wrinkled and marred...but kissed by each memory they made, each experience lived, each child born, each hardship overcome.  Kissed by the man who loved her for 40 years.
 
I also think of the man who loves ME.  Those hands have held mine, they've held them warm and strong while promising our lives to each other.
They've held mine while I have cried.  While I've been sick.  They've literally supported me when my back was out.  They've never shown anger or physical pain.  Never disrespect, only love and tenderness and safety.  They've taken punishment while I have delivered my children and squeezed them in pain.  Then they've held that very life, and stroked their cheeks and their hair, and held their tiny hands.

Then my parents.  Life God guiding us all, our parents guide us through life.  You may remember, as far back as you can, looking up at your joined hands while walking with your parent, or other family members who raised you.  The unfailing love, solid strength and tenderness they held.  They aptly removed splinters, secured band-aids, wiped tears, yanked those stubborn teeth....(ouch)
For a moment, their hands weren't being kissed as much, but doing the kissing.  They were caring for others, just as others cared for them as they grew. 

And then, the one that brought the hammer down....Micah's hands.  That boy I loved in high school who died SO young.  We were with him for a few days, while the machines kept his heart alive.  So young, so precious...so loved by many.  His hands, I will never forget.  They were scraped, blistered, with dirt under and around the nails.  So harsh and dirty and I think about how those people who were with him didn't kiss those hands.  They didn't care for them, didn't cherish them.  Signs of struggle and pain in his last hours.  They were God's hands, and they weren't protected and loved.  I remember holding them and thinking how familiar his hands were, how I remembered holding his hands, clean and healthy, just weeks before he went to training.  And here I was, finally getting to hold hid hands again after several weeks of being apart, and he was so close, yet so far away.

We don't think, nearly enough, about how getting to shake someone's hand is a privilege.  It's an honor that you got to touch that person.  You got you leave your mark, and become a memory forever attached to their hands.  We were all made in God's image, and we were all made from each other. 

I can only leave you with a phrase I have tried to model my career(s) around:
Whatsoever you do for the least of My people, that you do unto Me.

Boy Scouts: We’re keeping policy banning gays

Boy Scouts: We’re keeping policy banning gays

As a mother of a 3 year old boy, who I'd hoped would follow in a long line of footsteps and join the Boy Scouts, I am saddened by the antiquated school of thought that is making it so that Mom, who happens to by gay can't participate in her son's troop. 

Nevermind that she is obviously a GREAT mom for devoting time and energy to the betterment of her son's extracurricular life and social and personal development.  Nevermind that it's not the boy's fault he doesn't have a "Dad"...he has two Moms, and probably still has better parents than many kids who have a Male and Female parent.  I know many men and women who should be a leader to one child, let alone 15...yet, they'd be ushered in since they aren't gay/lesbian.

What are we trying to teach our young boys?  To exclude others if we find they are different from us? 
What message are we trying to send??  I certainly don't want MY son to feel:
A) he's different/unwanted/not good enough if he's gay
B) that somone else is unworthy of being a friend and/or leader if they are gay

THIS IS BULLYING.  Why don't people GET this, STILL???  This is 2012--it should be a plain-as-day no-brainer that we should be teaching these boys acceptance and tolerance, not bullying and exclusion and judgement.

I hate to say it, but Aden may not be doing BSA if this policy holds...and that would be a big disappointment to his Dada and to Aden, who are both looking forward to Pinewood Derby someday.  :(

Serious Post--Gotta Finally Say It.

OK, People of the emailing world.


I have to say it, because I have been thinking it for years.  I have sat by idly for too long, reading email after email of political and religious bashing.  Everything from bashing our Commander-in-Chief, to bashing things they don't understand, like reliigion, but will gladly forward onto the next soft-minded, impressionable person.


If this is harsh, I am sorry.  I have NO personal hard feelings for people who email this stuff, but hard feelings about the emails themselves and the fact that I didn't ASK to have this stuff pushed under my nose each day--worse than the television media does.  I have talked w ith my husband about this, and he's told me to just delete the emails, or ask that they take me off their email list.  He's right, but only partially.  I felt that was the passive way to avoid this, or fight it.  It's easy to just say "I don't want to see this anymore"...out of sight, out of mind, right?  Well, I'd rather take an active stance.  My mom always said I had spunk and that it made her proud, so I am gonna stick with that.  I speak my mind and if it offends, well, that probably means you are one of the people sending these emails.


The first bit of anger I have is for the emails about our President of the United States.


I don't care WHO you vote for, WHAT you believe in, WHERE you are from--our President is our President.  If you believe in Democracy, you can't say "he's not MY president, I didn't vote for him"...guess what?  Your country did, and that's how Democracy works...he IS indeed your president.  People poked fun at, and picked apart George Bush...Sr. and Jr.  The did the same for Bill Clinton, and for Reagan, for Kennedy and for Lincoln, and Washington.  They will always do it.  But it's WRONG.  You may not agree with things they do, with things they stand for, but do you spread emails around about your neighbor who put a hideous garden gnome in their yard, or put an opposing political sign out?  Do you forward an email to everyone you know when your friend comes out and stands up for gay rights?  Or has a same-sex wedding ceremony??  NO.  They are your loved ones and we all recognize we have differing views, but that it isn't what defines who they are to us.  We love them FOR their uniqueness.  So why would you bash your president? 


Don't we have troops overseas to PROTECT our country and our name, our reputation and what we stand for?  So why are we doing their work for them by spreading hate and distaste for the man who rules our people??  Why wouldn't we be more respectful of the man who represents our people?  Show some respect!  For the record, I am Republican...there are MANY things I don't agree with when it comes to our current President's policies.  However, there is one key word in that last sentence that demands that I still show respect to him and his family.  President.


The second bit of anger I have is for the emails about Islam.


This one touches home for me, as I have family who are Islamic.  All I have to say is this:  DON'T GENERALIZE WHEN IT COMES TO RELIGION.  Not every Muslim kills their wife.  Not every Muslim bombs someone and says it's for religious reasons...ONLY THE RADICALS who most Muslims DON'T agree with!!  Have you forgotten that there are "Christians" who protest fallen soldiers' funerals?  Have you forgotten that there are "Christians" who burn the Quran?  Have you forgotten there are "Christians" who persecute gays, lesbians, soldiers, other religions, etc???  All in the  name of being true to the bible...have they actually read it by the way?  Most people forget that there are many people of other religions that hurt people worldwide in the name of their beliefs...it's not just some radical Muslims.  Don't generalize.  It's hurts people--hurts families who are honest, loving, pious people who love their God and love their family and friends and others of other religions too.  Think about who might be hurt by emails and JOKES and pictures that you think are funny and "make you think" and are the "essence of what America is about"...not all Americans feel that way, and many are angered by the mean, sad emails that hurt so many people's feelings.


Why are we spreading hate and meanness??  why are we promoting bullying through what you may think are harmless, funny emails??  On behalf of the Muslims I know and love, and on behalf of our President...if I may be so bold to speak for them...STOP SPREADING TOXIC THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS. 


Love people, smile, be accepting, be tolerant, and be patient.  What would Jesus do?  NOT what you are doing.  He'd hug the first Muslim he came across and say "I love you, brother".  And then he'd break bread and pour a glass of wine and celebrate that we are all brothers, and all come from the same God and all have our own thoughts and beliefs and feelings.
Go back to playing minesweeper and solitaire on your computer and leave people the hell alone.  Unless it's to spread something GOOD.


Love, and Peace to ALL,
Ericka Machuca

  

Sigh...I'm bored and impatient. Color me NOT surprised.

So, I'm sitting here in bed, watching Signs...love that movie...anyway--thinkin about massage school and my career choices ahead of me.  I am totally impatient for school to hurry up and go!  I want to be fully certified and to be able to rent out a cute space and see some clients--NOW.  However, I have to be patient--that doesn't come easy to me.  I also know that by the time I am graduated and licensed, we'll only have another 6 or so months left before we move to a new base.  :(  That should be a sad face, but also a happy face...or a mixed face.  I can't wait to get to where I'll be, both in my career and my future home.  Ok, so this post is pretty pointless, except for me to vent.

Sufficiently vented, thank you.  Anyone want a free massage?  I need to practice!

After 3 years, I am back...with a minivan :)

Hello! After 3 years, I am resurrecting this blog. :) As I predicted, I became very busy after Aden was born...then I became WAY busier after Avery, our daughter arrived! Now they are 3 and 16 months and they are the light of my life. I am still a stay-at-home mom and also now, a student of medical massage. :) I am so happy! It's like I was always supposed to be there, and I thoroughly enjoy each class--even my Anatomy & Physiology classes!

Our newest addition, now, is one that I never expected...I hated them forever, and swore we'd never do it. Swore I wouldn't stoop so low. I hate minivans. We got a minivan.

However, it's a big, sexy, blue minivan that only the COOLEST mom in the world could rock...well, I'm not her. But I think I do a pretty damn good job of pulling it off! It's really great and is super convenient! It's the Swiss Army knife of vehicles, and that's what makes it so appealing...it does everything but wipe my kids' bums.

Here is a pic of the Blue Beauty herself...my new 2012 Chrysler Town & Country.

Well, friends, that's it for now...keep your eyes peeled for a blue streak on the roads and honk to say hi! ;)

BIG UPDATE...Finally, right??

So, I was telling our friend Kelly today about this blog, and shamefully admitted how far behind I have been in posting things!

I'm sorry! Apparently, I am even too tired to get online. Wow.

So, here is a brief recap of what has been going on for the last 2 months:

Not much.

Ok, well, a little!

We have had a couple of great family visits, especially since I have been unable to travel...thanks to my parents and also John's Aunt Rose and cousins Christie, Steve and Lisa! We had a great visit with both families. Thank you for visiting us!! (and talking to the belly a lot!)

Here are some pics of these visits:

This is Mom and Dad...Grandma is hard at work on a really amazing blanket for Baby Aden! (Dad is the yarn-holder) The hubby walking a mile in my shoes! Aunt Rose, if that starts kicking, we have a problem! A truely heinous picture of me. Note to self: throw in the towel on this particular shirt. And don't let John take pictures of me anymore while sitting below my double chins. (yikes) A totally precious picture of John's cousin Steve and his lovely lovely bride-to-be, Lisa! Aunt Rose and Cousin Christie (the most beautiful girl ever!) getting ready to bowl...we had such a fun time with you guys!!

I found out that following Monday, when I called my OB's office to try to see if I could change my appointment that I had been caught. The tech was like, "ok, before I do that, how heavy was your bowling ball the other day?" I was blank for a minute and said, 'what do you mean?' She was like, "I saw you bowling the other day! You aren't supposed to be lifting weight like that!" I swore to her it was only an 8 Lb ball...I think she still prob. told on me. haha!

In other news......

We have officially closed on our first house!!!

Home Sweet Home. (Dayton, Ohio) The Living Room

The Dining Room (stairs to basement on the other side of that far wall)

The Kitchen...we will be painting this prob. a light sage green, and adding hardware to the cabinetry and possibly redoing the floors in a different wood laminate.

The Yard...kind of a crappy picture, but our yard is pretty big, with a tree line all the way along the back...one of our first big projects is building a nice big deck on the back of the house...can't wait!! (we have some better pics, but I am posting sooo many pics as it is!)

The Master Bedroom (obviously, these are all the seller's things still in the house at the time)

The Double-door Entry into the Master Bathroom

The Full Basement--planning on finishing this, complete with wet bar, in the fist 1-2 years after we get there. It all depends on our time available to do all the things we plan to do...We'd like it completed in the first couple years, though.

Ok, so there are some other things that have been going on...but let me get to bed, because this took entirely too much time tonight!

I will update the rest tomorrow or so. Good night, everyone!!

3/4 of the way there!

So, there aren't too many updates. BUT, I have been told, again, that I need to post something new.

Right now, I am 29 weeks pregnant! That number seems so far along! Sometimes, I feel like last week was only week 18. But man, when the holidays got near, and past, suddenly 8 weeks had come and gone.

I DO have a new picture to show you all, for those of you who don't have facebook or myspace! I will post all of my belly pictures for you to flip through and watch my belly grow!

John and I will also be getting some maternity-type pictures taken, as well as possibly getting a 3D ultrasound. (now that I am unemployed, we can't exactly go blowing all our money!)

As far as the house-hunt goes, John will be making a trip back to Dayton during the second half of Feb. to look at the rest of the houses we've found online. Hopefully, if all goes according to our wishes, John will be able to make on offer on a house that week! I told him he needs to get me a nest quickly! Momma bird needs a home for her hatchling!

Also, on the job front for both of us:

I am FINISHED. No more DFCS. No more stress!!

John is in his last week of handing over his executive officer job to the new guy! In addition to that, he just won an award for Company Grade Officer of the year for his whole wing! This is a huge honor! There are about 40 or so other CGO's in his wing that could have won. This is going to be a great resume-builder and also shows him that all of his LOOONG hours, and sacrifices he's made haven't gone unnoticed. He's done a great job as exec for his group these last 16-17 months, and he so deserves this recognition, and changing jobs!

Other than this, there isn't too much to fill you all in on. Baby is doing well--getting huge and kicking me all the time! We have 11 weeks to go...keep praying that all continues to go well. Thanks!

Hope all is well with everyone, and that your Winter is treating you kindly. I know us southerners can't complain!