Jonathan is a verb!

I now realize it's no accident that while our relational daughter's name is in the form of a noun "gift", our loving, seeking, always moving son's name is a verb, "God gives". 

Dorathea means "God-gift" or gift of God.  

Jonathan means "God gives".  A continual gift, prepetually in motion;

moving,

writing,

 riding,

 climbing (and getting stuck)

 bathing,

 playing,

and thankfully; sleeping.

 This is the little boy who I found chasing a cat across the street on the neighbors porch.  Scary! I shouldn't have been surprised that he could move out the back door, through the gate and across the yard so quickly.  This is after all the child who when I prayed for a scripture for him this came to mind;

‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD," Jerimiah 29:13

And an image from Wynken, Blyken,and Nod came into my head, so I put it to paper for him;

of a boy willing to sail the stars to find the moon.  Yes, Jonathan gift in motion, is a verb.  My favorite verbs to describe him; searching and finding.

Sweetness Kitty

While visiting my Dad one day I heard a forlorn meowing coming from behind the couch I was sitting on.  Then, "Mommy I'm a little lost kitty whose sad".  This Kitty began showing up more and more, begging to be petted and having to be corrected about cleaning herself with her tounge.  "I know that's what kitties do, but you are just pretending!"  I would soon be corrected when I called, "Dorathea", "No mommy, I'm Sweetness Kitty Dorathea Bella Keys!".  Dorathea's philosophy, if you can't have a kitty become a kitty.

Here she is in the pink and purple kitty costume she requested for Halloween.  Jonathan and Daddy are of course doggies.

hiking up the warm days

Breakthrough warm day yesterday

It was 50 degrees yesterday, despite the snow.

When the weather gets warm the Keys get hiking!

On the way there, the car slipped in the snow.  Ted being the expert driver that he is, the car stayed on the road and the kids didn't even wake up from their naps. 

Unfortunately, The paint can that happened to be in the back of the car (note never leave paint in the back of your car) spilled all over and we had a huge mess to clean up when we got to the trail.  I was ready to give up my hiking dreams.  But we overcame the mess with babywipes and brown paper bags and geared up to hike!

We went past Mountain Lake to hike the War Spur Trail.  When the path became snow logged I was dismayed again, but after some looks at the blue sky and muttered prayers of gratitude we turned around and hiked the other side of the loop trail this time letting Jonathan down from the pack.

Then the realization;   Jonathan is big enough to hike now on his own.  Hallelujah!

 The kids chased each other down the trail, and we got a good little hike in trying to keep up.  The sky was crystal clear blue above us, Dorathea collected acorn treasures below, and Jonathan is training to be a trail runner.  We hit another trail in our joy.  A meadowed portion of the Appalachian Trail.   We are truly blessed!

what Christmas brings

Dorathea and I watched Toy Story last week on the big screen. Perfect segway for clearing the house of toy clutter before Christmas.  "That little girl loved to play with her toys as much as you love yours" I tell D on the way home, "Wasn't it nice of Andy to give them away when he was done playing with them".

The next day I commission her to find her less loved toys to give away.  Toy destination;  The Christmas Store where parents can select free presents for thier little ones for Christmas.  I talk up Our trip to this very different store.  She chooses ten toys, even Green Grass a recent favorite to give away .  The next week we march my girl into the Christmas Store with a stuffed animal in hand.   She proudly gives it away to a volunteer and gets a grand tour of all the new and used toys and clothes.  I left the store with proud of my little philanthropist and with my house emptier of plastic.  Our hearts and home a little more ready for Christmas.

Meanwhile Ted was buying up green lego flats for his special Christmas present for the kids.  He studied online maps of the island of Sodor as I put together a dvd of pictures and videos of Dorathea for her special gift.  The night before Christmas we were up till midnight painting, sawing and drilling.  Christmas morning an old coffee table was topped with green lego grass and wooden Thomas tracks and bridges over a special water filled plastic tub.  Ted's baby teeth marks still graced the table legs if you looked closely.

 Our Christmas guests arrived before the kids woke up.  Annette, Karen, and I feasted on Crossiants with Nuttella and coffee.  They carefully poured out the stockings Dorathea and I had filled for them with Tolberone, Lotion, home aide Biscotti and Chocolate Covered Pretzels.  They had made thier way through fresh fluffy snow and thier cheaks were rosy.  We chattered about what the kids would think of the full mittens, tree, and table.

They do not dissapoint. Wows, and Yays galore.  The gifts circulate and so does the food.  Sausage Quiche and sparkling pomegranet juice make an appearence.  Then out comes the Coconut cake lit with candles and we sing happy birthday to the newborn king.

After we bask in the glory of the morning, Annette, Karen, Dorathea, and I go outside to sled.  We climb snowfilled evergreens and then make a snowwoman.  Dorathea contributes her own hat and we go inside.

Preperation for the dinner feast of Ham, mashed potatoes, salad, and rolls begins and soon the smell of sweet ham fills the house.  We worship first singing carols with guitar and hand drums then improvising our own newsongs, then Ted teaching the girls how to play ethnic drums, drum circle style.

The Christmas Kitchen is in full swing here. Biscotti is baked and wrapped, and now Chocolate coffee syrup is on the stovetop simmering.
Dorathea, "Mommy something smells Chocolatey.  What are you making?"  Me-"Good nose Dorathea, I'm making Chocolate syrup."  "Mmm, can I have some?".
Dorathea and i make a good team she runs the mixer and sprinkles the sprinkles, and licks the bowls.
I love Christmas, and hope everyone will love their made with love gifts!

the story of the day Jonathan was born

I get a little sentimental every year about this time.  In my mind I am rocking my days old little boy.  The story of how he came into the world;
I was really pregnant and at church up front with Ted, both of us being prayed for by Minnie Coleman, a visiting minister.  "I pray that their would be no Fear!" she said and I started laughing, and so did Ted.  I really needed that no fear prayer!  A song plays in the background;
"The more I seek you,The more I find youThe more I find you, the more I love youI wanna sit at your feetDrink from the cup in your hand.Lay back against you and breath, feel your heart beatThis love is so deep, it's more than I can stand.I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming" Kari Jobe

We went home and I took a long nap.  I had a vivid dream that I was back up at the front of the church this time being prayed for by all the ladies there as they lovingly encircled me.  Suddenly I said "5, 6, 5, 6, 88!, 99!, 88!, 99!".  What a funny dream I thought when I woke up.  Numbers are not really my thing, why would I dream about saying them.  An older friend called then and I asked him what he thought it could mean.


He said,  "4 deals with God's creative works or Earth Creation,  four is always used when referring to God's creation. 5 deals with grace and redemption - God's grace or life that's moved by the spirit.  8 means one who abounds in strength.   eight is also used in reference to fertility. It has also been used when referring to the Resurrection or new beginnings.  9 deals with judgment or the finality of things. It describes the perfect movement of God."  "And what about double numbers, like 88, 99?" I asked, "That means it is going to take place soon" He said.  About then I felt a contraction.  So the numbers moved from creation and grace to strength and new life that would be coming soon.   


Contractions came off and on through the night as I slept or tried to sleep in between.  At 4 am we called our friend Beth and had her come and stay with Dorathea (and at 7 take her to her friend Waide's house)  as we went to the hospital.  At the hospital I had some early back labor and my midwife sent me home after a few hours.  I struggled at home as the labor came on strong and finally went back to the hospital about 11:00am.  


At the hospital I meditated and listened to meditation cd for two hours and then when focusing became difficult I prayed and felt like god was saying to do whatever I needed to do to enjoy this miracle that was about to happen.  I new I was tired and at a turning point painwise.  I decided got an epidural.  As the pain subsided I had two duolas helping me, my husband encouraging me right in front of me and a great midwife and nurse all working together, what a great team. I felt very well taken care of!  


Pushing was easy and Jonathan was born into the world as I laughed at a joke the midwife told.  As I held my beautiful healthy boy in my arms I asked Ted what name he thought was right.  James?  "No, his name is Jonathan" Ted said.  "How do you know?' I asked.  "I heard God tell me just now"   Jonathan seemed just right for him.  And I had had more than one person tell me he would be filled with the spirit like John the Baptist.  Jonathan means "God gives" in Hebrew.

The nausea that plagued me for 9 months was gone, and the difficult time I had had at work (another long story) had melted into peace at home.  I held my little boy those first few days and the words echoed in my mind :

"The more I seek you,The more I find youThe more I find you, the more I love you

I wanna sit at your feetDrink from the cup in your hand.Lay back against you and breath, feel your heart beatThis love is so deep, it's more than I can stand.I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming"

As his breath rose and fell in the circle of my arms, I could feel bigger arms holding me as I in turn rose and fell against His chest.  Their had been nothing to fear, only my grace turning into my strength and this new life, the life of a child who is also a seeker.