Timber! Tree Service (Fort Worth)

Grand ol' 2013 will include tips garnered from the remodel of 2012. These may not be the most popular or most fun posts, but--hey--when a tree falls in your yard, you'll thank me.

And that's where our relationship began with Timber! Tree Service LCC (Urban Forestry and Land Management).

Back in . . . oh, I don't even remember. Maybe 2008, a tree tumbled from heavy winds. Our neighbors hired Nathan, the owner at Timber!, to take care of the tree. We were so impressed.

When tree trimming needs cropped up, we called Timber! When a tree had to be removed for the remodel, we called Timber! When we needed to nurture and older tree through the strain of the digging and sawing of the remodel, we called Timber! And when we plant a new tree in the fall, we are calling Timber!

Here's why:

• Nathan knows his stuff. He's been loving trees since childhood. And he has all the certificates and arborist credentials to impress. 
• Nathan cares about the environment. Anything he does--trimming, pruning, removal--he does with utmost care for the tree and its surrounding environment. He's not the hack it and whack it guy. Any tree items removed from your land are taken to a recycling center for compost and mulch. Your tree lives on. :-)
• Nathan is professional. Period. So nice with a great work ethic. His whole team is courteous.
• Nathan cares about safety--yours, his, and his staff. He takes great precautions to keep everyone and everything safe.
• Timber! charges a fair price. And who doesn't love that?

So, if you need trimming, stump grinding, tree removal, CALL TIMBER! Here's the contact info: 817-637-5715 or e-mail at timbertexas@gmail.com

Easter 2013 with the Youree Three

Thanks to my participation in the study of Luke at my church this year, I was essentially a basket case this Easter. Since September, my women's study group at church has been studying Luke chapter by chapter. We came to the crucifixion and resurrection just in time for Easter. Add in a Seder Feast we attended, and I was tearing up at the mention of a candy egg. Ah, so refreshing for my heart and mind to actually be focused on the meaning of Easter--and its implications for the world!

While Anna doesn't understand the intricacies of Easter, she does know to wave a palm branch and say, "Hosanna, Hosanna" and that Jesus is alive. She also mastered the art of hunting plastic eggs stuffed with treats. Over and over and over and over. 

We celebrated Resurrection Sunday at our church and brunched with good friends at--where else--Hot Damn Tamales. I mean, isn't that the go-to Easter brunch spot? Actually, it was dee-lish. I'd so go again. Yum.

To top off the Easter post, here's a pic or two of God's gift to us:

Anna Is Not a Handbag: Learning to Handle Difficult Adoption Discourse

As Anna and I were walking into a store, a white lady about my age came out of the store, apparently running to the car to get her wallet.

She said, "Oh, look at the cute, little black girl. I've got one just like her at home."

I let out a that's-not-funny "oh" and went inside.

We only made 10 steps into the store before the lady came inside with her wallet. She, of course, felt compelled to talk to us again.

She said, "Is yours adopted? Mine's from Ethiopia."

The only thing I said was, "My daughter was born in Dallas."

And that was it.

But I fumed about it for days. The nerve. My daughter is NOT a handbag, and no, you do not have "one just like her" at home.

I'm calm now, though. I've reflected.

Occasionally, we encounter people who say, well, stupid stuff. Most of the time, it is innocent. I mean, we've all had words come out the wrong way or have said something insensitive unknowingly. I am sure this lady was frazzled because her wallet wasn't in her purse when she went to check out. I am sure she was pleasantly surprised to see another family that looked like hers and couldn't resist talking to us. I pray she replayed our conversation and felt mortified by her choice of words.

The saddest part to me of this whole interchange with this lady above is that she is an adoptive mom. She of all the people in the world should be championing for more positive discourse regarding adoption, know to use words that edify our children.

Children who joined their family through adoption are not accessories or novelties. They are not charities or a good deed. Yes, we look different from some but not different from all. We function, we love the same. My daughter is my daughter. She is my family. Period.

This episode did prompt me to consider more how I will respond in the future, especially when Anna is present. I pray God to guide us to use words that uplift the bonds of family and the beauty of adoption, all while encouraging and loving our sweet angel girl.

Naked in the Crib

Nope, not the title of a new VH1 show. It's my life.

I had plans today to post some Easter pics and a recap of our celebration. Is it awful that post was booted because of poop?

Let me explain.

Remember, I waved the potty-training white flag. We are not working on such achievements at present. So, it was a surprise when Anna Zane produced a surprise in the bathtub last night. Just use your imagination. But that, my friends, was nothing. Nothing.

As Bryan was going to bed, he noticed Anna Zane was sleeping on the opposite side of the crib; so we couldn't see her very well in the monitor. That's my disclaimer.

Imagine my surprise when I walked into Anna's room this morning to find her sitting on her pillow in same said corner, pointing to a small pile of poo in her crib. Imagine my surprise.

Quickly, it became clear she was not wearing pants or a diaper. She also looked horrified about her present situation. She patted the bed and said, "Bed wet."

I asked: "Where's your diaper?" It was nowhere to be found . . . until I lifted her balled up blankets. (See, when we lay down Anna at night, we put the blankets over her. Comfy, cozy goes the routine. And once we shut the door, she "adjusts" things by balling up her blankets beside her.) Since the diaper was under the blankets, I feared the worst. Did she?

Oh yes, she did. The diaper was completely dry. My best guess is that she took off her pants and diaper last night after Bryan laid her down. She SLEPT ALL NIGHT IN HER CRIB WITHOUT A DIAPER, PANTS, NOTHING.

And the reason why she was sitting bare-bottomed on her pillow? Because every.inch.of.her.crib. was doused in urine . . . like through the mattress pad and everything.

Imagine my surprise.

I wasn't angry, and I didn't reprimand her. Honestly, she seemed so mortified that I didn't really "mention it" again. It's a great story, though; one to be repeated many times as she gets older, no doubt. (I can see it now. She's 13 and giving me attitude. I'll say, "Oh no, young lady, I have cleaned up your mess when you peed all night. No ma'am, don't tell me that I'm ruining your life.)

Oh, and be thankful I didn't post pictures.

Anna Zane . . . Anna Zane.

Anna-isms #2

Anna can count to 10. It sounds like this:

• One
• Two 
• Free
• Whore
• Hive
• Cess
• Seven
• Eight 
• Nine
• Ten

After being rather flatulent in the bathtub, Anna looked straight at me--as serious as serious can be--and said, "I got gas."

She's taken to the toddler habit of saying no all.the.time. We've had some "discussions" about when it's okay to say no and when it is disrespectful and unkind. The conversation goes like this:

Me: You need to obey. Anna, is not kind to tell mom "no." 

Anna: No!

Me: (in a sterner voice) Do not say "no" to mom.

Anna: (in a high-pitched voice) Yes. Yes. Yes.

And if those stories didn't make you smile, this will:

Potty Training: Waving the White Flag

Where do I even begin?

Last Tuesday, which feels like eons ago, Anna Zane proudly put on her new Elmo underwear. And every 30 minutes to 1 hour, the ol' buzzer would go off: "Pee pee in the potty. Cha cha cha." Yes, I sang that.

It was all fun and games.

And numerous accidents.

In summary, after three days, she peed once in the potty.

We had some fabulous company for the weekend so we eased up a bit on the routine.

Back at it on Monday-Thursday. Peed three times in four days.

She was frustrated. I was frustrated. This isn't the way it's supposed to be.

So, the panties are back in the drawer, and we're tabling the topic for at least a month.

And as I posted on my Facebook wall: When the Bible speaks of sanctification of the saints, it means potty training.

That's all I'm going to say about that.

If God Would Only Help

My apologies to Pastor Jordan for the following post. His sermon on Sunday settled in my soul; quite frankly, I can't stop thinking about it.

Our congregation is studying Judges (that most docile of Bible books, ahem). Sunday's sermon focused on Judges 6, which is the beginnings of Gideon's story.

The gist goes like this:

• Israel does evil, forgets/rejects God through idolatry.
• God allows the Midianites to defeat Israelites and inhabit the land
• Jews cry to God for help.

And what do you think God does?

He sends a prophet (preacher) to remind them of who He is, what He has done for them. 

That's all. No lightning from the sky. No burning fire to consume the enemy. No fix. Just some words. (And to read those words, check out Judges 6:7-10.)

And in chorus with many--dare I say, all--of humanity, we utter the words: If God would only help.

What the pastor said next resonated well.

We often want relief from whatever plagues us; but God often wants to rehearse His salvation. God is not in context of our problem. Quite the opposite. Our problem is in context of God. What good is it if God remedies the situation but leaves your heart where it is? God is all about redeeming your soul.

We want to escape our problems, but God may want us to interpret them. We want out, but God may want us to stay where we are so that we can understand the depth of our depravity, our idolatry against Him. We need Jesus more than we need immediate relief. We need sanctification more than we need relief. 

God says "I am with you." Is that enough? Your answer to that reveals a lot about your heart, your faith in God and the work of Christ.

So how are you viewing God in your circumstance? What don't you believe about Him that's causing you to despair? To fear? To doubt? To be anxious? Angry? Annoyed?

If only God would help? Friend, He already has.