What A Good Girl

Usually on Sunday's we wake up, get dressed, have breakfast, then we head out for Sunday School or for Worship. Daddy parks the truck and then he goes in one direction and CJ and Mommy go in another. We will not usually meet up again until the sermon is complete and Daddy is dressed back into what he wore to church. So today was a different kind of day for us both. Daddy needed a Sunday off from his home church so the Johnson's of Old Bridge visited another church today. What was odd was that Daddy sat with Mommy and CJ today.

On any other Sunday I am looking out of the pulpit to see what CJ is doing. Most of the time I do not have to look much because I would hear her without a problem. It was cool to sit with them both today. To hear the word as a family, read the scripture as a family and sing the songs as a family. I will admit the feeling was fulfilling. I received (from God) a new ritual to add to our mornings and that is to read scripture before we head out as well. I know we are sometimes pressed but I think it will be a great way to start the day along with our morning prayer. CJ behaved well too. We were in a different church, different people, different sound, and different movements. CJ took it all in stride and was well behaved. She did not make too much noise either. I was really proud of her. Sometimes as a preacher I worry about her conduct in church. I know she is young but their have been a few times when I was on edge a little bit worrying about how she would act. I have become less worried over the last nine months though.

So you know all good days must come to an end. On the ride home CJ decided to cry for a half hour straight. I did all I could to block the noise out. She really has to learn sooner than later that she will have to ride in that back seat alone sometimes. Daddy kept driving and was about ten minutes away from home before Mommy asked him to stop so she could get in the backseat with her. Daddy did not like it but he went along with it.

So now my ladies are sleep and I am stroking away at the keys keeping up with my journal entries. It is now int he still of the night where i am able to sit and think about how blessed I am to have both CJ and Mommy in my life. I thank God for sending the blessing of Shatema my way and through her CJ being created. I am am so grateful that I was the recipient of these oh so precious gifts of love. So as I pray, pray with me. We know that prayer changes things, people, and situations!

Nautical Dreams

Over the past ten years Daddy has had an affection for sailing. He does not own a boat, has never been sailing, but he has been on a cruise. He is fascinated by the attire of those who frequent the waters. He even has invested in deck shoes and polo shirts to be prepared for the day he sets sail.

Well today C.J. was ready for her Daddy to have his yacht. She wore a sailor girl outfit complete with a tam. She looked so cute in her blue capris, trimmed with white and her bows were placed correctly. If she could have, she would have said "Come on Daddy, let's go out for a few hours and relax on the waves."

Today did not start off well for C.J. and Daddy. She did not want to listen and I had to get a little stern with her. At the church function today she spilled an entire cup of juice on the floor that I was drinking. I looked at her and just shook my head. By the end of the Baby Dedication we attended today, she was all over me. She did not want to be with anyone but her Daddy. I guess it was to make up for earlier, and you all know I accepted her apology.

So as we all get ready to get to bed you all please keep us in prayer. We do not want another morning like today. I know and you know that prayer changes things, people, and situations.

A Scene

Today when we went to pick C.J. up from the sitter, things did not go as normal. Yes, she stared me down. Yes, everyone started to say goodbye. Yes, she was smiling and laughing. Yes, she did not want to be in the car seat. What was different was that one of the other kid's mothers was there to pick him up and the sitter's family was having company. Mommy needed to use the latrine so I was left with C.J. Suddenly C.J. started to whine and cry in hysteria. I looked at her and said, "Really, C.J.?" One of the guests said she may be hot, but I knew it was just that my Princess wanted attention. Since Daddy never really wants to hear her crying like that (and the sitter said she never heard her like that), I decided to pick her up and instantly she stopped and smiled.

Now folks I do not like scenes. If she were a little older, when she got out to that truck, she would have received an earful. The scene at the sitter was only the beginning of the madness. When we arrived home C.J. wanted to bother Daddy. She was determined to have her way. She is intent on shutting the computer off when I am on it. She continuously journeys around the house looking for stuff to get into. When she is asked to stop she looks up and then smiles as if that should excuse her behavior. Today Daddy did not let up and this was the first time she looked up at me. Her eyes were just like a puppy and her mouth dropped and the crying with tears commenced. About twenty-five percent of me was proud that I had stood up to her. The other seventy-five percent was crushed. I had never scolded her in such a way to hurt her feelings, but that is what needed to happen. Of course I picked her up and coddled her afterward. I know it was wrong but you all know C.J. is my Princess. She wanted to stay with me too. So I gather she understood I was not pleased with her and she wanted to change that.

So today we had scenes and intervention. It was an interesting four hour evening. So tonight please pray that we continue to grow in a healthy way. We know that prayer changes things, people, and situations.

Stand Up!

Ludacris wrote a rap where he said the words, "STAND UP!" a whole lot of times. Well tonight when I put C.J. to sleep, it happened. She has been inching closer and closer each day. Tonight she did it perfectly. When I responded to her whining and crying, I looked in the room and C.J. was standing up in her crib peacock proud. Mommy was very excited, but Daddy was a little upset. Only because if she had leaned just an inch, she would have fallen out. Mommy celebrated the milestone, and C.J. too, with her cunning smile. Daddy, on the other hand, was too worried about the mishap that was just missed to enjoy the moment.

Afterward Daddy decided to rock C.J. to sleep. So against the doctor's and Mommy's desire, Daddy took her out of the crib and laid with her on the couch. She continued to fight her sleep. As per the babysitter's report, C.J. did not sleep all day long. Daddy thought she would fall right asleep, but C.J. had other plans. She squirmed and fussed before she could no longer throw jabs at the Sleepyman. He had knocked her out and she settled right on her Daddy's rib cage.

So tonight C.J. finally stood up! Now Daddy really has to figure out how to lower the crib, and we have to be a lot more careful when she is left to sleep. We do not want her to get so crafty and get out somehow. So pray for Daddy and C.J. that they can enjoy milestones together. We know that prayer can make that happen because prayer changes things, people, and situations!

All For Nothing

We knew today would be a long one, and it was. Last night C.J.'s bag was packed for tonight. I let Mommy know that I needed her to travel up north with me, and I prepared myself for the back and forth driving. The upsetting thing about the entire situation was that it was all for nothing. The reason we had to get ready a day early is because Wednesday nights are supposed to be Bible Study at the church. Tonight, however, when Daddy arrived, he found only the Pastor. That means the two preachers in the church were present and no one else. We both could have been doing something else. Daddy had been off of work since noon, and could have picked C.J. and Mommy up and headed directly home. We did some quick church planning and headed home.

Daddy felt bad for dragging Mommy and C.J. out. C.J. will soon realize that when you are a servant of the Lord, Daddy will do some things which will make C.J. have to sacrifice time on different occasions. It's a tedious job but I was chosen to do it. So today, our interaction, as with many days, was spent traveling and in that case, C.J. was asleep. No time to get into much trouble, lol. So continue to keep us in prayer as we will do the same for you. We all know that prayer changes things, people, and situations.

Simplicity

Today was normal but abnormal for C.J. and I. It started with the morning routine. Daddy decided to stay home from work today. He simply needed a day without a commute, without the office, and without what reminds him daily to get motivated. All he wanted to do was sleep late and watch Maury and that he did. So instead of bathing C.J. and getting her prepared, Mommy did all of that this morning and Daddy appreciated it.

Since Daddy was home he asked Mommy to get off work a little early. he decided that he wanted to cook dinner tonight so he went and picked up the groceries. Once he was done he swung by Mommy's job, picked her up, and then it was off to get C.J. C.J. was finishing up her food when we arrived, and as usual stared me down. We came home without incident and then hung out for the rest of the evening.

That is about it tonight. She still is moving all over the place. She gets loud and she genuinely likes to have a good time. I thank God for her presence daily! You all keep praying because whatever you may be going through, prayer changes things, people, and situations!

Step By Step, Day By Day!

Today I am a bit confused. I think it is because I am about to include a weird phrase to help explain C.J.'s day. The main reason is that tonight Buzz Aldrin will be the guest host on Monday night RAW. I know it is a shame but the more I try to pry myself away from wrestling, I still find myself glued to the tube more often than not on a Monday night. As soon as football season or I get my butt back in grad classes, that will end. So let me set the stage for you as I listen to my Princess whine in dramatic fashion.

OK, so now that she is done, I will get back to business. Today I arrived at the babysitter to pick up C.J. and noticed Mommy was not there. So the babysitter's daughter had C.J., and as soon as I walked in, as always, C.J. looked up and her eyes lit up. She began to bounce (as she does a lot) as if she wanted to get down so she was let down. I looked down upon her said, "What are you going to do, walk over here?" Low and behold still holding onto the hands of the sitter's daughter she began to take a step. So I knelt down and took hold of her hands and assisted her as she completed her trek to Daddy. It was, "One small step for C.J., one giant leap for mankind." (Borrowed from Astronaut Neil Armstrong's first words from the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969) Lately it seems like she is more and more focused on taking steps or pulling herself up. Now we all know that once C.J. sets her mind to something, much like her Daddy, she lets nothing stand in her way. OK, it may sound cheesy but I have to add the Perfect Strangers theme song lyrics here. They are so necessary.

Perfect Strangers Theme Lyrics

("Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now" by Jesse Frederocl and Bennett Salvay

Sometimes the world looks perfect,
Nothing to rearrange.
Sometimes you get a feeling
Like you need some kind of change.
No matter what the odds are this time,
Nothing's going to stand in my way.
This flame in my heart,
And a long lost friend
Gives every dark street a light at the end.

Standing tall, on the wings of my dream.
Rise and fall, on the wings of my dream.

The rain and thunder
The wind and haze
I'm bound for better days.
It's my life and my dream,
Nothing's going to stop me now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdFhmRdBtno (view it at your leisure)

I am glad that C.J. has already embedded self-determination into her mental set. Once you have that, you are building a solid foundation for yourself. So there is my "Walk on the Moon" moment for the day. C.J. is asleep and now I will get ready to watch the "Lake Show" (Lakers) beat up on the Suns. C.J. will miss Game One, but I will have her ready for Game Two. Before I go, let me remind you to always pray. We all know that prayer changes things, people, and situations.