Customer Service

Task oriented, that I am very much. My husband is a good balance for me because he is so the "fun" laid back guy. He is also a great balance for my little ones because where I am focused to get them through a task, from teeth brushing, through meal eating, all the way to getting ready for bed smoothly and efficiently. He simply makes it fun! Talk about God knowing what He does when He pairs us people up! When I have a task at hand, I am a woman with a mission, be it cleaning the toilet or preparing a meal, I go at it with everything I have.

When I did my orientation for the interpreting job, I was inundated with how much importance this company puts on their customer service. One of the tips the trainer gave us was to have a big sign somewhere in our work station to remind us to "smile". She said it was amazing how much a smile could do for a voice over the phone. Thus, this very serious, task oriented girl did that very thing. Every single phone call, after looking at the sign with my greeting on one end of the wall, my eyes would immediately move to the other end of my wall where a big happy face with the word SMILE written on it was displayed every-single-call-every-single-time.

All of my little notes and reminders for the job have come down from the wall, except for the smile sign. I have been gently nudged by the Holy Spirit about my customer service practices at home... very seriously I have been considering these past few days to post more of these signs all over the place, namely the kitchen and bathroom where my cleaning tasks have the potential to get me brow furrowed. My little people are my customers of sorts! Some days I feel like this disgruntled woman (if you picture this the way I do you will surely get a good laugh!), sleeves up to her elbows, hands covered in some kind of grime, treading through towards the kitchen while two little girls hug each one of my legs and a little baby hangs on for dear life to my back, stopping at nothing and eyes fixed on the sink full of dirty dishes that needs to be tackled!

So lately, I have been trying to remind myself simply to smile. When I smile I have to stop and think... I have to remember the goodness of the One who gave them to me. I have to remember that they have not been given to me per se but entrusted and I am but an ambassador, a mere representative of who He is... and just about right now, I am so relieved that He IS with me every step of the way. He does not expect me to do this on my own, and I am reminded that His mercy is everlasting and is new every morning! Remember to smile!

A journey

Like most anyone who begins this journey, I began full of enthusiasm. There was this whole new dimension of life that awaited me and I was more than eager to embrace it with everything in me. The waiting could not have taken any longer and the arrival of my sweet firstborn was nothing like I anticipated. However, contrary to my belief after who-knows-how-many-hours of labor, instead of dying upon her birth I was overtaken by a new energy. Suddenly I was filled with a new passion that I had no idea where it came from. Through tear blurred eyes we made vows and promises. For hours and hours I did not want to be bothered by the mundane of life, I just wanted to relish in this newness of life. I was a mother. She was my daughter.

This honey moon began and I loved every minute of it. Tired, frazzled and inundated with unspeakable (and some really ridiculous) fears, I knew I had been born for this. A whole lifetime of waiting and it was finally here. I could do this forever. Night time became "our time", sweet praises would fill the air as my babe nursed. Scripture would be read out loud so as to minister to the soul, both young and old, other nights prayer would fill the room. It was idyllic. We break ground together, she leads me through a path of discovery as I follow her need for guidance and we both learn to live. As I follow I lead, and as I lead I learn, and as I learn I teach her.

Then came the news of another gift and it was joyfully and longingly awaited. My second born came on a rain-stormed day as strong and determined as the weather we drove through to get to the hospital. This tiny little person exuded intensity through every little pore of her wrinkly skin. Nights were the complete opposite of the romantic and fluid sessions that carried me through the first time around. In every breath she gained new strength to make her will known and she still does. Breaking every mold, challenging every expectation, my tiny bundle of energy pushes this mom´s every single button, every single day.

Heartbreak followed with the loss of a soul we never met. He brought me joy and faith. We learned to mourn. I learned to surrender my heart and trust. He taught me to hope.

A new joy rose when my third born came. Another different wait, another different season. He brought a new beautiful balance between the idyllic romance and the awakening challenge. This little man is full of joy and there is peace in mothering him. There are no sweet all-nighters filled with worship and prayer. There are no frazzled sleepless nights. There is snuggling and cuddling and slobbery kisses that I wish would never end. His happy smile can pull me out of the funks of life and push me into a state of lightheartedness.

I do not know what new things will face me as I continue the journey. I do not know if they are so different from each other or I simply have changed with each one of them. However, as I look back, and as I look ahead I know... I was born for this, I could do this forever.

Bones

"Mom, why is it hard here on my knees? and here on my legs? why is it hard everywhere?"
I look at her and try to figure out what she is talking about... one look at her little hands going up and down her leg, pushing at every touch tells me clearly what she means. So I answer,
"Because those are your bones."
"Bones? Here?"
"Yes, right there."
"And on my knees too?"
"Yes, sweetie, everywhere. There are bones all over your body that are covered with muscles, and then with skin."
Still pressing on her legs, "Why, Mommy?"
"Why", I think... I know why, bones are our structure, they hold us up mainly... how do I explain it to her satisfactorily, though...
"Well, sweetie, bones help us stand straight, they hold us up... why don't you let me finish nursing the baby and we'll go look at some pictures on the computer, ok?"
Satisfied she waits and I think of how to illustrate it. At the same time I wonder afresh at the wisdom and creativity of the Creator. To give us a spine that would allow us to stand straight; to make joints to connect bone with bone and allow mobility; to envelope each bone with such complexity of tissue. How amazing that being the Supreme and immense God He is He'd go into the minute detail of working down to a cellular level! And once again, I marvel at My Creator!

98 years

If we could only read what the little tired eyes have to say, how much history they have witnessed, how much life they have seen happen. This restless spirit thirsty of learning, thirsty of the world and full of poetry.

Ninety-eight years stored in that feeble mind that now chooses to navigate within than to stay without... after all, all those years of memories seem much more interesting to visit than the today where the body is trapped by years of decay...

She won´t remember the phone call, but I still have to make it. I call in the midst of her little party. Before putting her on the line I am warned of her confusion... I giggle... this should be fun:

Me: Hi, Mamita, How are you?
Her: What? Oh, Hi Dear! They tell me it´s your birthday today!
Me: No, Mamita, it is yours, that´s why I´m calling...
Her: Mine!? Figures! How old do you think I am!
Me: Well, I think you´re turning 98...
Her: Yeah, I wouldn´t know because there was no party this time. When can we see you?
Me: Oh, Mamita, it´s going to be a while, I don´t know when I can see you again.
Her: Oh, but the good thing is that you´re not that far, right?
Me: Yes I am very far, Mamita. I am calling you from New York.
Her: Ohhhh, well (getting into poetry mode) the good thing is to at least talk on the phone with those who have shown you some love through your life...
Me: Yes, Mamita, I love you and hope... (she interrupts...)
Her: (to someone else in the room) I am telling her and she is not talking to me (gives the phone away)

And so, my conversation ends. In the end, I couldn´t tell her how much she means to me. She is there physically, but her mind is so gone.

So, today I honor and remember that brilliant-but-almost-absent-mind wrapped in the feeble body... Happy birthday, Mamita, though you may not remember it always, you are loved and your legacy reaches much futher than you ever thought possible or dreamed to reach yourself!

A month's worth of pictures

In one month, well one week really, we managed to get two "shiners"... Little Ben sported one

Elena, the other one.

"Tio Jonafan" came for a visit

Little girls had cups of tea...

and I am now getting to scatter pretty things around my new space...

I will post more pictures later.