The Baby

Sorry I haven't written for a while. I've been busy at work and it's better that I don't use company time to blog. And we've been going places and seeing people most evenings, so we get home and it's time to go to bed. I'll make a more concerted effort to keep you updated. So, on with the news...
M Joy. We found out a couple of weeks ago that we are having a girl. It's so much better knowing, and even if there was a mistake, which we highly doubt, it's nice to call her by her name, even using the pronoun her instead of it. C has been feeling her move around for quite some time now, but I couldn't feel her moving inside C. Well, about a week ago I felt her kick for the first time. It's quite amazing. Now I can watch C's belly bounce whenever she throws an elbow or a knee or foot. M and C are both growing faster now. It's amazing how many people at church don't know. This lady we do nursery with every month didn't know until today, and that's really only because C has only recently started wearing maternity shirts that show off that magnificent tummy. It's wonderful to be able to see her body grow and how beautiful she looks. Matt LeBlanc, known to most people as Joey on Friends, said of his wife that "A pregnant woman is a beautiful thing." And I say Amen. Just watching her interact with M is fun to see. I can't wait till I can see her. She won't be short on love.
Also, God continues to provide so substantially for M and us, even though we're still four months away. A mother of one of her former students who has already given us several furniture items, let C loose on a few Rubbermaids full of baby clothes. It was like Christmas! I came home and she was beaming, not able to wait to show me everything she'd gotten, including a few cute outfits. And I apologize, but the cute meter is about to be overloaded, because everything is so tiny and cute. I used to tease C that "Inanimate objects can't be cute." Part of me was trying to play devil's advocate to her overutilization of the 'c' word. But there are these little purple suede shoes that can't even be three inches long. And everything's little too. Sorry, but that's the way it is with infants.
And hey, she's quite the outdoorswoman already. She went on her first camping trip this weekend. She did well, and even kicked a little bit for our friends to see. She's our little circus monkey. Instead of jumping through hoops, she's kicking on command. Just wait for C to relax a few minutes, and she wakes up as if cued by an invisible Inky Mendez.
Well, I must be off to bed. Busy week ahead and I need my rest. Good night.

A Long Way To Go

I mentioned as a concluding thought on my Oct 17th post how every decision has a price tag. My pricetag is integrity. I've made some poor decisions lately, namely bad-mouthing some folks on this site--this material has been subsequently deleted. A person told me a few months ago that I needed to work on my people skills, and I thought I had been doing better until it was brought to my attention how I have affected those people. I let him down and I have let Christians down because I have acted in a manner unworthy of the Gospel. I know I wouldn't want to be a Christian if I had to deal with me. I have made it a burden for these to be around me. So I have a heavy heart. I need to work to restore those relationships, if they can be restored. I have acted foolishly even though these have dealt with me only with kindness. Although I would like it, I don't expect their forgiveness. I have been insensitive to them and have condescended to them at times, which should never be done. The same person who told me of my problem mentioned that I should deal with everyone as though they were my wife. Sage advice. If I were to treat C like I have these, it would be a rocky marriage at best.
The old axiom rings true about if you don't have anything good to say, then don't say it. But it goes far beyond not saying anything. Rather, I should lift them up and sincerely thank them for their kindness. I know I can't make up for this. Only my actions and words will be able to express my feelings. So, if they ever read this, I apologize. As mature as I am compared to five years ago, I am still a two-year-old compared to Christ, and even to these I have offended.
Thank you for the second and third chances, even though I don't deserve them.
R