doctorine? theology? ok?

{knowledge.puffs.up.but.love.builds.up. 1 corinthians 8.1}

i went {into} yesterday's night and had some sort of preconceived {idea/doctrine/theology} on actual doctrine compiled with a disorganized tainted view formed by a legalistic church that shunned me out of pure rumor. {not that i blame.} just learned more of a relationship with God rather than focusing my every part of faith on the shalls and shall nots. possibly the grace-filled God teaching me BIG lessons  so prior to 12hours ago i was on the opposite side of this {human-made} spectrum possibly and just as far from ideas of grace.love.hope as i was before. thinking that doctrine was {man.made&not Jesus.}? absolutely. now?doctrine and theology ok? yes. BUT only if it is in {one accord} with the teachings of Jesus {word for word} and is love. yes still grasping onto my latest perspective onto the relationship rather than religion BUT also holding accountability for my faith and actually know WHY i believe in the salvation Jesus brings through grace. {knowledge.puffs.up.but.love.builds.up.} i want my worldview to be inspired.created fully with the {knowledgeANDlove} of Jesus. {working on now and far from finished.} BUT i am seeking answers and asking questions. {interesting:i would have considered someone like me far from God and lacking religion a year ago. judgmental?: absolutely.}

.A. Bit. Detailed. Itinerary.

Thursday May 5th       

{“You’re leaving on a jet plane…Don’t know when you’ll be back again...”}

4.35pm: THE Auntie Danielle and THE Miss Maddie DUO are LEAVING from {on FLIGHT 4642 via Delta} Portland to Salt Lake City {I think Utah?} I’m sure with matching luggage to those travel outfits that yes are comfy but very fabulous of course… and also I’m sure 45 mins behind schedule. {Don’t say I didn’t give you a head’s up} At around 7.24pm you will both be arriving in the {extremely COLD} city where you have to walk what seems like MILES outdoors to the terminal {note to you: bring a matching jacket to those amazing fabulous {and matching} travel outfits.} Alrighty… girls LISTEN: So after you enter the warmth of the indoors after the FREEZING COLD {Utah?} MILE~long walk: you are going to be looking for: A BOARD THAT SAYS DEPATURES!: Look for DELTA FLIGHT 814 to LOS ANGELES {should be leaving around 8.10pm} : There is going to be a GATE NUMBER! : GO TO THAT CORRESPONDING GATE NUMBER 20mins BEFORE THE DEPARTURE TIME {Again its 8.10pm} {Wow I’m beginning to sound like my mother} And if you did the math I’m sure you’re thinking that’s not a whole lot of time to walk the MILE~long freezing cold stretch, find that sign that says: DEPARTURES, and walk to that gate. {MORAL OF MY RANTING: SKIP THE GIFTSHOPS&GO POTTY ON THE PLANE!} BOARD THE PLANE WHEN THEY TELL YOU TO. Ok if you followed these overly annoying redundant steps… So you should be on the flight and get into LA around 9.11pm. WE WILL MEET YOU AT BAGGAGE CLAIM {Look above you there is a sign with arrows to the spot ;)} AND WE WILL GREET YOU WITH A LITTLE MUNCHKIN {VERY} EXCITED TO SEE HIS AUNITE AND “GIRL~CRUSH”     

INTHEMEANTIME…

7.05pm: Mom officially leaving from Medford to LA {on FLIGHT 325 via AllegiantAir}: I’m sure mom arriving to the airport 2 hours before you’re even supposed to be there “just to be safe!” ;) And once she’s on the plane I’m sure she’ll have her {new} iPad 2 in hand {with a double martini in the other} with one of those horrific BrookStone travel neck pillows {and wouldn’t be surprised if she had a matching travel {cheetah} snuggie to go with} With a quiet game of solo scrabble and the soft sound of Kenny G. in the background “Ahh traveling” you will be quietly thinking {Notice how easy these super simple instructions are for mom’s… That’s because I know she has a more detailed itinerary already for this itinerary} We’ll meet you at BAGGAGE CLAIM… MOM: YOU KNOW HOW TO GET THERE! ;)

9.30pm hopefully: WE ARE ALL TOGETHER NOW AT BAGGAGE CLAIM {BAGS IN HAND~IMSUREMOMWILLHAVEACART} AND OFF to ALAMO! For a “practical” {and mom~approved} MID~SIZE!

I’m sure 2.5hours later… WE ARRRIVE AT THE SUPER luxurious Jamaica BAY INN {PULLING UP TO VALLET AND GREETED WITH A CUTE LITTLE GIFT {shh…it’s a surprise!}

Oh and then a good night sleep after hot tub, bed jumping and pillow fights… See you in the morning!

Friday May 6th   

{Famous Hollywood sign, a fabulous clothing store named DASH and a cupcake!}

We have a super fun packed day ahead {with lots of options} but to do that we have to: GET UP AND GET GOING EARLY!!!

8.00am {no exceptions} everyone is at our exquisite complimentary breakfast TOGETHER {Hopefully with Aunt Lisa.Taylor.Jordan} sipping mimosas {and virgin mimosas: AKA ORANGE JUICE} All deciding and talking about our options for the day {which are on the following page}

9.00am checked out with bags in car and leaving hotel and off to our crazy amazing and unpredictable adventures of our choice {oxymoron?}

Have a late dinner anywhere and head to San Diego around 7.00pm

Arrive at the Hyatt MissionBay and have a good night sleep after waterslides, {bar}, bed jumping and pillowfights… See you in the morning again! 

Saturday May 7th 

{Gorgeous&sunny San Diego with BIG whale named Shamu…and maybe a dolphin!}

Again 8.00am {no exceptions} everyone is at our exquisite complimentary breakfast at THE RED MARLIN {together} sipping mimosas {and virgin mimosas: AKA ORANGE JUICE} All deciding and talking about our options for the day {which are the following and a bit fewer than yesterday’s :}

Things to do today:

Take the Hyatt ferry to SeaWorld

SeaWorld SanDiego {free with hotel stay: $20 meal card}

Beach

Pool&Water Slides @hotel

Downtown Gaslamp Dinner

Sailing

Heavenly CupCake

Using auntie Danielle’s discount card @Anthro&Urban

Things to do today in Los Angeles:

Marina del Rey                                        

Vintage Boardwalk Bike Riding {$15 all day/per person}

Sailing {Have no idea}

Hiking {Free}

Calabasas                                        

DASH Clothing boutique {Depends}

Hollywood

Hollywood sign {Free}

Hollywood Blvd. Star Walk {Free}

Chinese Theater {Free}

Madame {something’s} Wax Museum {$25.00}

StarHome Searching {Free}

Universal Studios {$69.99/person and get 2011 for free}

Santa Monica

Santa Monica Pier {Pay to Park}

StarHome Searching {Free}

Downtown

LA Flower Market {Free}

Fashion District {Free}

Walt Disney Concert Hall {Free}

Tar Pits {Have no idea: says “affordable”}

Malibu

StarHome Searching {Free}

Beach {Pay to Park}

Beverly Hills

StarHome Searching {Free}

Rodeo Drive {Depends}

Sprinkles Cupcakes {$2.5}

Sherman Oaks

InvenTORI: Tori spellings {new} Boutique {Depends}

Universal City

InDoor SkyDiving (1000 Universal City Plaza Box 217) {$60/per person}

Sunday May 8th- Mother’s Day             

And one more time at 8.00am everyone is at our exquisite complimentary 2011 Mother’s Day breakfast at THE RED MARLIN {together} sipping mimosas {and virgin mimosas: AKA ORANGE JUICE} All chatting about our fabulous Mother’s Day weekend together and loving on our amazing mamas.

10.00am Sadly saying our sappy goodbyes and heading home on our Los Angeles.

1.00pm Off to ALAMO! To return our “practical” {and mom~approved} MID~SIZE!

2.00pm LAX Check-in WITH A LITTLE MUNCHKIN {should be interesting}:

4.24pm: THE Auntie Danielle and THE Miss Maddie DUO are LEAVING from {on FLIGHT 2004 via Delta} Los Angeles to Salt Lake City {I think Utah?} I know with matching luggage to those travel outfits that yes are comfy but very fabulous of course… but on time this time because mom is guiding your every step to your gate trying to keep up with anxious yelling toddler. BOARD THE PLANE WHEN THEY TELL YOU TO At around 7.13pm you will both be arriving in the {extremely COLD} city where you have to walk what seems like MILES outdoors to the other terminal {note to you: bring a matching jacket to those amazing fabulous {and matching} travel outfits.} Alrighty… girls LISTEN: So after you enter the warmth of the indoors after the FREEZING COLD {Utah?} MILE~long walk: you are going to be looking for: A BOARD THAT SAYS DEPATURES!: Look for DELTA FLIGHT 2352 to PORTLAND {should be leaving around 8.00pm} : There is going to be a GATE NUMBER! : GO TO THAT CORRESPONDING GATE NUMBER 20mins BEFORE THE DEPARTURE TIME {Again its 8.00pm} {Wow I’m beginning to sound like my mother again} And if you did the math I’m sure you’re thinking that’s not a whole lot of time to walk the MILE~long freezing cold stretch, find that sign that says: DEPARTURES, and walk to that gate. {MORAL OF MY RANTING: SKIP THE GIFTSHOPS&GO POTTY ON THE PLANE!} Ok if you followed these overly annoying redundant steps… So you should be on the flight and get into P~Town around 8.54pm.  And off to home you go! Thanks for a super amazing mini vaca!                                               

INTHEMEANTIME…

4.30pm: Mom officially leaving from LA to Medford {on FLIGHT 324 via AllegiantAir}: I know now mom arriving to the airport 2 hours before you’re even supposed to be there “just to be safe!” ;) But this flight will be MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST. Oh yes she will have her {new} iPad 2 in hand {but now with a chocolate milk in the other} and now that horrific BrookStone travel neck pillow will have been thrown for the umpteenth time followed with what seems like the millionth overly apologetic look to the {eye roll and annoyed mumble} from the: {couple that has dogs for children because of  the very example of  you on that plane}  And now that quiet game of scrabble with that soft background of Kenny G. will be replaced with the screeching sounds of  {WonderPets and Angry Birds} “Argh!!!  TRAVELING!!!!”  -You will be screaming! {Notice how easy these super simple instructions are for mom’s… That’s because I know if I gave her anymore on her plate right now she would:simply kill me} And off to home you go! Thank you for a super amazing Mother’s Day! I love you so much!

the heart of a parent.

here i am: a Jesus loving 22 year old female and a mother: to the strongest willed little toddler i know. he teaches me to see true joy in this sometimes scary.fear-filled world. the pure fact that he can praise our amazing God for giving him buzz lightyear and .deeply. pray for a restful night sleep for a plastic action figure is more inspiring than any "grown up" lesson on how.to.pray. the fact he knows that if he cries out for simply.anything... he will get it. the result of me violating every parenting book.rule.judgment? yes. but also the heart that God.ourparent has for us. yes. He will protect us from us hurting ourselves. but what if we cried out for everything  that comes our way in life? not because we want the new best toy.the "if only i had... {you fill in your blank}... but bc we want our God to be the center of our desires.our heart to God-filled and full.{no spaces}. i am admitting that my heart will break when.if my little one finally realizes he can do it all by himself. when he wont need me. so... i treasure{need to treasure}the fact that he.asks.me. and although that slightly whiny voice can pinch a nerve from moment.to.moment.. what if it stopped? and those words were replaced with confidence. "mom, i dont need you anymore." {there's that feeling of brokenness in my heart again} i think of God's promises.statements.etc. about how He cries when we cry. He even collects {all} of them in a tear filled jar. how He protects us. how He wants to fulfill our desires...that He Himself put in our heart purposefully. how even though it breaks His heart when we mess up... He still loves us deeply. and although we may have to have consequences for that mess up...He still forgives us if we ask for it. sound like that umpteen timed time-out yesterday for your little one? He wants to teach.show us how we can prevent that "naughty spot" next time for ourselves. He doesnt want us to live on that hard-wooden bench. He wants us to listen with our hearts to what He can show us. those precious moments in the wooden rocker with a storybook and your little one wrapped snuggly in your arms.teaching them about upcoming life struggles depicted softly with children's stories with old mother hubburd and jack and jill.learning the "easy way".prevention... rather than treating symptoms. so easy... then they fall fast asleep.{so precious}. is God like our parent? yes. He says He's our Father. and not an "earthly one" many of us reference negatively. no. He's similar to the one across the street throwing a baseball to his son that we wished were our own. now He is yours... only better.much better.and one that doesn't have an ounce of disappointment or unfilled promises. and He has a heart especially for...his children.us. He designed.created.and made us wonderfully in His {really perfect} image and He knows us {inside and out}. with all of hurts.flaws.and scars going through life has brought... but still loves us.deeply.very deeply.