365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY #40

APRIL 28TH 2011

BELIZE OR BUST

Jennie: (May 2010) Hey Victoria, I'm going on a short term mission trip to Haiti in August, think you can come?

Me: Oh yea sure, and maybe a monkey will shoot out of my....well..... nose.

This seemed to be the most ridiculous question I have ever been asked.

I'm not a Missionary.

Who would watch the kids?

We have no money for this.

Would I have to stop shaving my armpits and get a pair of Birkenstocks?

Couldn't even remember at the moment where Haiti was.

Why would anyone want to risk getting sick or a disease or something.

What on Earth do I have to offer some strangers who don't even speak my language.

ME: Jennie, have you been drinking?

Jennie: No, but I'm definitely going, I think it will be awesome. Just pray about, we have time.

Our conversation was still on my brain when I get home. Wash, dishes, checking on kids, picking up after kids, raiding the fridge for snacks. All of these duties have me walking past my HUGE wipey marker prayer board. Finally after ten or so trips past, I stop long enough to scribble Haiti in red on the bottom left corner. I'm hesitate to see it officially on "The Board" but it's too late. The freaky scent of the dry erase marker has already left the room.

Vanished from the air, straight to my heart.

I stop for a minute, homework folders could wait. I stop to pray. Not about the money or childcare but I pray that Baby Daddy wouldn't think I had been drinking all afternoon, when I eventually in a few days brought up the subject.

Well, as GOD would have it. He opened up ALL the doors.

Baby Daddy was caught off guard but OK with it.

The cost of my trip was paid, donated anonymously.

My sister and her crew offered, well agreed happily to watch the kids.
My passport arrives in the nick of time, just days before leaving.

At this point a NO BRAINER

Haiti or Bust

Let's roll

I've written a few posts about my first Mission trip. Haiti was actually the reason this blog was started. Way to much stuff laid heavy on my brain and heart upon returning. My $2.99 clearance journal never left my side, a constant companion. A faithful listener. I look at it now, sitting on top of the family printer as I type. My heart beats faster as I get a glimpse of the cheesy flower printed cover. Memories still so fresh. Only fifty or so scribbled on, worn out pages. This special notebook safely contains the words, emotions and experiences which have changed my life forever.

They were long sad weeks before I came out of my reverse culture shock funk. Where on earth did the happy-go-lucky Victoria go? I eventually did get my smile back but have yet to find the old me. Honestly, I'm not looking for her. If I had to take a guess she is probably walking around the Haiti airport. Eyes as wide as saucers, mouth on the ground. Oh man, we ain't in Kansas anymore.

Post Haiti me wants to be challenged. Not with easy stuff like laundry and car lines. Hard stuff. Challenges of the heart. Meaningful, life changing stuff.

Fast forward a few months. I find myself sitting in a Church meeting, a meeting about a Mission trip to Belize. A family trip. Whoa. Crazy pre Haiti thoughts fill my brain. Not even really sure why I went.

This trip is for the 'Hug a tree' type people

This trip would be too hard to work out.

This trip with kids? Too dangerous.

This trip also comes with tarantulas.
Nope, not for me.

Yeah sure I will pray about it BUT I already know the answer.
I mean, GOD knows the answer. He knows the next challenge in store for me.

He's got a game plan. He's got game.

The kids are excited about the idea. I leave the big fat hairy spider details out of it.

Nine year old Delaney is totally stoked. She asks me almost every morning.

So, Mom. What did GOD say? Are we going to Belize?
I smile and take a deep breathe. Well honey, that's not exactly how it works. I mumble a few in- concise sentences. She doesn't seem to notice I'm not exactly sure how it works either.

Pray, Listen, React.

Sounds easy enough.

Take charge, organized, almost sort of at times bossy Delaney gets a plan together.

Selling goodie bags at away soccer games.

Exchanging Birthday gift cards for cash.

Planning lemonade sales and writing a letter to mail to friends and family.

On a Mission before the Mission trip.

Hasn't complained once about the work involved.

Six year old team mate Drexel lends his special skills. Spitting and the interest of licking anything disgusting, including envelopes.


I wanna be realistic and straight up. I explain to the kids. We will mail, pray and wait. People will give if they can. Let's not be disappointed.
A few days later I hear a very exuberant chant.
God's doing it! God's doing it!
Delaney runs into the kitchen, waving a check above her head. A little out of breathe from sprinting all the way inside from the mailbox.
What? What? What? Doing what?





It's a $100 Mom! $100 dollars and a note, they are proud of me. They said they would never have enough guts to go on a Mission trip at nine years old.
Post Haiti me is much much mushier. I cry a lot more, at times I least expect it. Not stopping to wipe my soapy hands, or my tears I grab her and tell her.....


YES babes HE is doing it and I too am proud of you. Not really positive about everything I was doing at age nine. Let's see, I had an unattractive awkward bowl hair cut, bad handwriting and NO knowledge what so ever of a world that existed outside of my little 3rd grade bubble.


I think Delaney wants challenges too!
Gonna take her to the store tomorrow, to pick out a journal of her choice. To take with us to Belize. Maybe, just maybe a journal and a trip that will change her life.


A copy of Delaney's Letter

Hello Everyone!

Hi, my name is Delaney Grace Zybko. I am nine years old and I am in the third grade. I am hoping to go on my first Mission trip, to Belize. It's a small country in Central America.

I think it would be AWESOME to go because I want to help the kids learn more about the Bible, God and Jesus! Some of them have don't even know about God or His love. I have already earned $56 dollars and saved my Birthday money, all that is going toward my plane ticket. My goal is $700. Over Spring Break I plan on having lemonade stands and bake sales.

If you could help me get there by donating any amount I would be so so so GRATEFUL!

Matthew 28:18-20 THE GREAT COMMISSION

Love Your Friend:

Delaney

By the way, my Mommy is coming too!

365 DAYS OF RANDOM TEAM ZYBKO

DAY #39

"Green Thumb? NOT!"

I love Spring time

The colors that pop against the perfect sky

I love flowers

I have no allergies

and

I also have

NO

knowledge of gardening

what so ever.....period

I wish I like to fiddle around the yard.

PLANTING, WEEDING, and PRUNING

Kinda like I wish I liked seafood.

To watch someone eat crabs legs, it's like an art, really. So passionate about getting that tiny bit of meat they can barely look up from their plate.

A special way to crack, dip, suck and toss!

RINSE, LATHER and REPEAT!

No thanks, too much trouble.

Can you please pass the basket of hush puppies and honey butter?
Refill of sweet tea? Oh yes ma'am, thank you.

As I drive to and from my daily travels I witness the same kinda ART with neighbors and their flower beds. Even when I blare my big ole van horn, they don't look up. It seems as if they can't even hear me shout "Hey" as I whirl by.

I don't take offense.

I understand they are submerged in a special invite only, green thumb world.

A world where I don't hold a ticket.

No worries here, I stick to house plants.

I walk into Lowe's and ask where I can find the easiest type of house plant.

I'm pretty sure in the gardening world 'easiest' is actually translated by

green 'thumbers'

as

HE WHO KNOWS NOTHING

I have one trick to keeping my house plants alive.

I MOVE THEM

GIVE THEM NEW SCENERY

DIFFERENT LIGHT

A NEW WAY TO LOOK AT THE WORLD AROUND THEM

A sure sign to this lady when it's time for a plant road trip is

brown, crackly, dead leaves

and

NO newness

NO difference in appearanceat all

I simply change the plants perspective

and VIOLA!

It grows new leaves

It comes alive

By now you have probably realized this post is not about my gardening skills or lack there of.

With our upcoming move hanging over my head I think about my $5 house plants.

If they can do it, so can I

Yep, I'm pretty simple these days

Change is good

Change is growth

BUT

Change is hard

I hear my thoughts out loud

I sound a tidy tad like a 3rd grader

BUT my friends are here.....

BUT I love this house......

BUT I know where all the shortcuts are in town.....

BUT everyone at Don Jose' knows my name

and

my special chicken 'kay-sa-dill-ah' order

I'm good here

I'm comfortable here

Oh my stars

I have become my dusty ole on sale Christmas Cactus

The one that never ever blooms during Christmas time

GOD has provided a job elsewhere

I need to get over it.

I need to change my perspective

Get out of my 'cozy' zone

SO

I can grow and bloom

Just at the right time.

365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY #38

"ALMOST" WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Just for the record I have not failed my blogging mission!

At least this is what I tell myself.

Always look for the small print, been told this all my life. Well I suppose this should apply to goals and challenges we create for ourselves, not just in cell phone contracts.

I TOLD MYSELF I WOULD BLOG 365 DAYS

Not in a row Victoria, not in a row. You never said in a row, for sure. I never heard you tell anyone it would be 365 consecutive days!

So here at I am on day #38 with fun pictures of what's going on with Team Zybko and not enough time to create a super, duper meaningful, inspiration post about them. Takes me WAY longer to complete a post I'm happy and content with then I ever thought. If I sign my name to it, I want it to be just right. PERFECT. I read, reread, spell check and spell check again.

I seriously have never considered myself a "perfectionist" I'm not. If you know me well you might be laughing. I'm much, much better at being imperfect. I can really survive in that kinda world. That's why it surprises me I fret about making each post PERFECT.

Well, enough talk and words on wordless Wednesday.....I'm off to the dentist where I really and truly can't talk for....hhhmmm 20 minutes. Going to have my gold crown put back on, I ate a Sugar Daddy on Friday....fill in the blanks of that story and the captions for pictures below.

365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY #37

FOOD SHOPPING IS A WORKOUT

I've been a member of Sam's club a while. I'm thinking since the day they opened here in Florence, ten or eleven years ago. So long the black and white fuzzy picture on my business status card is almost completely scratched off. Do I own a business? Oh, don't you worry about that, I have my connections and my ways. And of course now the ability to go there at 7:00 in the morning, M-F.

This particular Monday morning I hit the ground running. After dropping the kids off at school, I arrive at the almost empty Sam's parking lot.

I think.....

"This will be breeze, not crowded at all"

I raise my card and greet Betty as I slide in the side door for special members only. Just Delilah and I. We are on a mission. I'm motivated by the thought of this trip sucking-up most of my morning. No way, I've got better things to do. Like blog or something.

I squeeze 'juicy' girl into the front compartment of the cart.

"I'm too big Mommy, I'm too big"

In my heart I know this, but it's so much easier and faster with out a three year old under foot.

I promise her a capri sun if she would just bend her leg backwards a little more. Oh shoot, the other foot is caught, stalling the process, I'm burning day light, burning daylight...gotta move out. My strong coffee is doing it's job. I'm a little jittery but in a good, productive kinda way

"Mommy, it still hurts, I can't move, I'm stuck"

I move the cart forward anyway, whispering in her ear to keep her voice down. I reassure her the pain will go away soon. Sound bad? Well maybe not parenting 101 but my Dad was a Marine. I've got history people.....history. Love you Daddy....Siemper Fi all the way!

We roll around the first corner on two wheels, I see the light! This trip will shatter all previous records. In the distance stands a gi-normous super duper large plastic container of cheese balls. These will come in handy in about 20 minutes. They get tossed in the cart, right next to the numbed leg pre-schooler.

Fruit

Milk

Bread

Cheese

Eggs

Juice

Veggies

Chicken

Meat

All the basics...and then some.

I am making record time for sure.

I know this will horrify most of you

BUT

I don't really waste time with prices. Sam's doesn't take coupons which I stink at anyway. We eat the same stuff and I hardly ever shop anywhere else to compare pennies. Not worth the price of my sanity of another stop. I did consider store hoppin' and coupon cutting a few years ago. You remember when the price of milk went up to $5 a gallon? Yikes. I would day dream about buying a cow. At the time we were a 2 gallon a day family, cow maintenance might have been cheaper. Now with gas prices so high I'm pretty much dancing at the gym for travel expenses around town.

What can you do?

Says the old man behind me in line.

I purposely choose my checker outer lady, Ms. Darlene. She is fast with a good 'bed side manner'. Always sweet when talking to the kids. She has the patience of JOB when they ask her a million questions. Some days even letting them scan an item or two on the cool 'laser beam thingy'. Delilah helps me push my pin numbers on the credit card machine......nothing happens.

Oh no!

I say a quick prayer that my debit card goes through.

The bill is $502....so I ask GOD again.

Please, please, please let there be enough money to cover this.

Still nothing.

Darlene asks me to put my pin # in again, the buttons may have gotten stuck. I put La La down so I can really concentrate, sweat is forming on the tip of my nose. I'm beginning to panic, just a little. I have already opened several items. I mean we actually ate breakfast as we shopped. Remember the tub of cheese balls?

What would happen if my card was declined? Would they make me put away carts outside or stock the shelves before I could leave?

Breathe.... breathe.....breathe.

I wipe away the slimy orange residue from the key pad. I smile big, that's what made them stick.

Cheese balls

I release my breath as I hear the magic noise of a two foot long receipt being printing.

APPROVED

I look up at the warehouse ceiling....Thank you God, I owe you big!

I pull into my driveway at home. This food shopping mission is only half done.

Out of the van and put away.

Some say this part is worse than store shopping part. Not for me, I love Mom 'challenges'.

I grab my baking timer and give myself a goal.

20 minutes....tops.

Oh ya, I can totally do this.

UNLOAD AND PUT AWAY!

Apparently my morning Java was laced with something cause that is such a seriously un-realistic goal. I'm rolling my eyes at myself as I type. 20 minutes? Crazy talk.

The 3 year was only gonna get in the way so I set her up with a show on TV. Yep, chapter two on parenting, right after nutritional breakfast ideas...coming soon.

1,2,3.....GO!

Every trip in and out brings a new challenge. I'm hoping over bikes not put away correctly in the garage. Tripping over straps of stuffed soccer bags. I know I should stop and clear a path, cut my losses on the clock but this seems

'more funner' this way!

It's Spring time, birds are chirping and trees are bloomin. My hands are full, I can't possibly close the door behind me every time. Cute little birdies are trying to rescue crumbs and fly in the house. Game over if one of those little suckers makes it in the house. No problem, I learn to work the handle with my new pink Nikes.

JUST DO IT

The pile on my table gets bigger as the back of the van gets emptied out. I go to check the timer, see how I was doing but I can't find seem to locate it. I stop to take pictures from every angle. Coming of my coffee high, I'm out of breath and sweating trough my shelf bra tank. I rub my head....where did I put that timer....think think think. I admit defeat as I hear it screaming at me from another room. Twenty minutes of cardio, not bad. No music, no gym....just straight up life. I check on Delilah, she's fine. Mickey Mouse Play House is home schooling her at the moment. I plug my IPOD up and start cutting up the fruits and veggies. Gotta have these on hand, for the kids to make good choices, ya know. And to balance the cheese ball choices already made.

What can you do?

Says this worn out Mom from the kitchen.

365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY #36

03/30/11

"OH, YOU HAVE YOUR HANDS FULL"

I took this picture as a joke but after seeing it full screen, it's now one of my favorites. Not super clear or in focus, setting on camera was off for sure. Oh well, those details aren't important.The main idea and 'characters' of the picture are very clear and most definitely the right setting.

I feel as if I'm looking in the mirror when I look at this picture.

OK, stop laughing people. I am in a realistic bubble here as I type at my computer, I swear. I do realize I am not five foot ten with long blond hair impersonating a Workout Barbie. My kids are messier, a little denser and have bigger Zybko heads for sure.

What I mean is, her hands are full. Full of children and full of love.

The drop off transition from our weekly play dates are sometimes tricky and at times lengthy. My kids unbuckle as I put the van in park, 'ninja style' they totally slip under the radar, not even closing the door behind them. They LOVE Ms. Jennie and her 'gaggle of girls'. (You too Mr. Brian) Kids are smart and quick, they fully take advantage of me as I catch up with my BFF.

We talk about the days adventures:

Behavior of the kids

Flowers picked for Momma

Scrapped knees

Picnic lunch menu

Bike races

Special slushy treats

Kind words spoken

Kind words not spoken

Secrets told

Funny made up stories

Back to my point. The old me used to get a little defensive when people would comment in public

"Oh, I see you have your hands full"

It seems as if it always coincided with the kids not listening, the baby running straight out into the parking lot after loosing grip on her sweaty hand, or maybe, just maybe one of them being caught pounding the other one on the arm behind my back.

What I heard was.....

"This woman can't handle her kids"

I used to get irritated with strangers who felt it necessary to state the obvious.

Yes of course my hands are full....duh.

My irritation stemmed from hearing the truth out load.

I am usually out-numbered.

And I do at times 'appear' to have lost control of the herd of little ones.

OK, seriously lost control.

Even after years of being a 'Momma Duck' I'm still learning.

I get things wrong all the time.

I say the wrong things.

I pack the wrong things in the wrong kids lunch.

The list goes on.....and....on.

I know there is no exact formula or right way to how this parenting thing goes.

Each kid is different. What I do know is, I'm trying my best.

My hands are full!

My life is full!

My heart is full!

365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY #35

03/24/11

WHAT DO KIDS DREAM ABOUT?

It took me forever to give up film. My first BIG GIRL camera, a Nikon N65 made me feel like a grown up. Could barley hold down my excitement as I marched into Sam's to get them developed. My chest lifted as I proudly held the black containers with the 'tough to open' grey lids. I was certain each roll I dropped off would have the next 'Christmas' photo in it.

Well, millions of dollars and blurry pictures later some really super smart people invented digital technology. Oh my stars, you can see the picture right there on your camera? No waiting? Do you have to shake it like a Polaroid picture?

ME CAVE WOMAN

ME NO UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS
ME NO WANT ONE

I refused with both feet firmly planted. Baby daddy constantly assuring me I would get the hang of the computer part of it. Stick drive, flash drive, memory stick, chippy this chippy that...it was all like George Jetson futuristic lingo to me. I'm a computer spaz, I admit this openly.

I remember laughing at my Mom back in the 80's.

Vicky, can you program the VCR? I don't know what channel it should be on.
Mom, really? How hard is this?

Sorry about the rudeness Mom and thanks to my teenagers who still do ALL my I TUNES stuff.

That's a learning goal for next year, Jan 2012 for sure.

I mourned the day my Nikon died, refusing to make that awesome sound when I pushed down gently on it's magic buttons. A noise and feel a digital camera just doesn't make.

To make a long story......longer, We found a cheap Nikon N70 body on EBay and used my same generic lens.

Life hasn't been the same since. No going back. Remember when you only took ONE shot of something? Keeping your fingers crossed it would TURN out? Couldn't retake it cause you only had a 12 exposure roll. Good Times, Good times. I have a huge box of negatives in a closet somewhere, under safe watch next to the first cell I ever owned, which weighed in at about 22 and a half pounds.

ME CAVE WOMAN LIKE DIGITAL NOW

On the flip side of digital. I take too many pictures of everything, all the time. While cruising through my removable disc, yeah I just said that, I've come along way baby. I found 2 gazillion pictures of the kids sleeping. Really? How many angles do I need to capture this peaceful moment? I haven't had a picture printed out in what seems like forever. I do miss sending relatives hand cropped,sharpied with love on the back captions, along with a note in the mail. BTW, my Mom has come a long way too, she is the coolest TEXTING Grandma I know!

365 DAYS OF RANDOM TEAM ZYBKO

DAY #33

03/23/11

THESE ARE THE DAYS, I KNOW

I LOVE MY BUSY SCHEDULE, I REALLY DO

THIS THE GOOD STUFF PEOPLE

LIKE

THE MIDDLE PART OF MY CREAM FILLED DOUGHNUT

PURE JOY AND LOVE

CAN'T FIND A THING WORTH COMPLAINING ABOUT

EXCEPT

WEEKS ARE FLYING BY

JUST LIKE MY FAVORITE FRIED JUNK FOOD

GONE TOO FAST

GETTING PAPER CUTS AS

I FLIP CALENDAR PAGES

I'M RIDING ON TWO WHEELS AROUND MOST CORNERS



FISH TAILING TO GET PLACES ON TIME

I'M SERIOUSLY IN THE WEEDS, 100% OF EVERYDAY

MY HEAD IS CONSTANTLY SPINNING

Last week was an especially wonderful week. Diane home for Spring break and a surprise mid week visit from Baby Daddy. High School Soccer season in full swing and extra classes to teach at the gym. 3 hour weekly World Mission study class. Volunteering at school, coaching soccer and teaching CCD. All good stuff....perfect! So blessed I have the ability, strength and wisdom(at times) for the

'Good Stuff'.

Blah blah blah about a packed life, most of us live this way.

I don't want an award I promise. I just don't know where to cut and trim to ensure I don't eventually don't go postal. I'm a good listener, I think that is fair to say. I really LOVE people, y'all fascinate me. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about listening to GOD.

As much as I don't want it admit it, I am getting older. Kinda scary and exciting the 'changes' I'm going through.

I'm thinking like a mid-life puberty not mid life crisis.

Cause there is no crisis,

Just a ton of unexpected changes going on.

I'm learning to listen GOD

What does he want from me?

How is he going to use me to bring him glory?

This takes effort and work to obey.

It's super hard for me.

I think to myself,

If it's easy for me ...well then I probably didn't hear him right.

I won't lie and say I welcome the wrinkles on my once smooth face or the grey hairs that are invading my head of brown hair.

BUT

In exchange for all the superficial beauty stuff

GOD is softening my heart, like fresh play-dough from a newly opened plastic tub.

He is opening my eyes and my life to new experiences.

What a beautiful place! I'm good here, in this new spiritual season.

I lay awake last night, my knee is killing from class. I can't get up for Tylenol, not from the pain but not wanting to disturb the 3 babies who have fallen asleep in my bed. I'm surrounded by legs and arms. What a treat to hear them breathing, right next to me. My mind wanders to all the 'house cleaning stuff' I didn't finish today. I push the dirty toilet, wash and inch thick dust out of my head.

Who cares? I'm certain GOD doesn't.

I decide to recite JOHN 17 instead, the chapter I'm working on memorizing.

I quickly find this to be a better use of brain power. The perfect way to end an over packed fun-filled beautiful day.

JOHN 17:5

I have brought you glory on earth by completely the work you gave me to do.

I know I'm no where near the finish line but I'm working on it.

I can actually feel my insides being squished and re-shaped.

Lucky for me I love the smell of play-dough.

365 DAYS OF RANDOM TEAM ZYBKO

DAY #30

03/06/11

ALL BY MYSELF MOM

Mom, can I take pictures with your camera Mom?

Sure, let me show you how to use it.

No, I got it Mom. By myself.

No really Drex, Let me change the settings so it's just right.

Mom, I can do it, really, all by myself.

I constantly bite my tongue with my kids. Thinking to myself in situations like this one.

NEMO, YOU CAN'T DO IT. YOU JUST CAN'T DO IT!

But they can do it, maybe not perfect or the way I would do it. It's OK....breathe, breathe, let go of the control thing Victoria. Let them do it their way. A learning lesson and good for their confidence I know. It's super hard for me not to rush the kids or squash them by constantly correct their way. So today is DREXEL day blog! I very much wanted to retake some with a flash or switch out the blurry ones. And yes, perhaps I have hit rock bottom, as the last posted picture is of a toilet.

Hee hee hee ho ho.

I'm breathing and letting go people. Can you hear me?

Hee hee hee ho ho.

Yes Grandma, blogs are a good idea. This is good stuff, bathroom pictures.

Aren't you proud of me?

written by Photographed by Drexel:

THE GOODEST POWER RANGER IN THE WORLD

THE SECOND BESTEST POWER RANGER IN THE WORLD

THE NICEST MONSTER IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD

I'M IN THE ARMY, MY NAME IS DIANE

FAMILY OF SUPER HEROS

THE DARK GIANT

THE DARK GIANTS HOUSE

AND YES MOM, you gotta put this one in THE DARK GIANTS TOILET

365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

03/09/11

DAY # 33

(Happy Birthday Te-Taw)

We get prepared and ready for

soccer season

swimsuit season

gardening season

football season

We even protect and prep various pipes and engines for a cold winter season.

That's fine and dandy......but

How and what do we do to prepare for the very special season of LENT?

It's here.....It's Ash Wednesday....already.

I am excited to be filling in and teaching for our 4th grade CCD class tonight. As I sit here and prepare for the lesson, my heart begins to race......feeling a little nervous. How do I teach and convey a message that I in fact am still learning myself......way into my 30's? How do I personally prepare for Lent? Hmmmm....how honest do I need to be here? Well let's just say I have over the years given up various foods during Lent. Never, ever making my agreement with God last until Easter. I stink, I know! So this year, I'm not given up some sort of junk food for Lent. I end up flipping it ALL around putting the focus on ME and MY love for sweets and fried goodies instead of than MY love for GOD. This year I'm diving in, head first. I want to focus on bringing Glory to God.

I want to be a "Glory Bearer"

I am taking a class called PERSPECTIVES about World Mission Work on Monday nights. I sit and soak up all the material covered. At times I am completely overwhelmed and feel totally in over my head. No problem though, I am into challenging my heart and soul these days. I scoot in late with my friend, rushing from having just taught at the gym.

We sit in the back and shovel our dinner in as quietly as we can. 2 and 1/2 hours of guest speakers, prayer and thought. I can't write down the information fast enough yet, other times I'm so moved I can't write at all.

This week the Missionary, Mr. John spoke about being a glory bearer. Within minutes of him talking he asked us to flip to JOHN Chapter 17 Twenty six powerful verses typed in red, words spoken by Jesus himself. I look over at my sweaty apple eating Bible memorizing BFF. I see it in her eyes, I know she also wants to challenge her heart. We decide to to memorize it. I'm positive it will help keep us focused. Preparation for the CELEBRATION of Jesus and his Resurrection can totally be personal, I know this, and get this. For me, I'm working on being more vocal, even if it's just typed on this blog, it's a start for this Catholic girl. Do me a favor, check back with me in forty days, I would love to recite 26 beautiful verses to you, from memory. I have an idea, let's meet at McDonald's. They have the BEST fries! Just saying......

365 RANDOM DAYS OF TEAM ZYBKO

DAY #29

03/05/11

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DELANEY GRACE!

I could have sworn I bought a new #9 candle. Just recently, to be ready for Delaney's big day. No biggie, I'm sure I'll find it before Drexel needs it. For now it's math time to = 9. Delaney is a chip off the old sugar block so I guarantee she was more focused on the yummy icing than any lit accessory.

The younger kids were SO patient while the tantalizing sweet cake lay before their eyes.

Can I have a swipe Mom?

Can I have a swipe Mom?

Can I have a swipe Mom?

Oh my stars kids. Is it THAT hard to sit within inches of a Freeman's Bakery cake with a lick? Well, heck yeah it is, I already tried some myself.

SO

While the Birthday girl had her head turned,

I whisper sure, go ahead......but do it quickly.

Eyes as big as saucers, I am now up for Mother of the Year award. If only these two knew how to write an essay, I'd be a shoe-in.

It's late evening already. Where did the 'Birthday' day go? It came and went with out a ton of fan fare, balloons, hoopla or gifts. It was mostly a regular Saturday in the middle of soccer season, filled with mostly soccer.

Duh.....

I should have seen the writing on wall nine years ago, of course this how her Birthday would be celebrated. Lucky for me Delaney was born on a Tuesday afternoon, giving me plenty of time to adjust before coaching the boys game that Saturday.

I was only a tidy tad rusty with the whole Boobie-ing on the go thing. I caught back on quick, totally second nature by the end of the first half. Most people had no clue she was having breakfast under my sweatshirt as I cheered and paced on the sidelines.

Big brother treated her to breakfast at Burger King. Wearing her paper crown proudly she met us at Drexel's game. A quick visit from her favorite soccer Mom Deb and her grown babies, her day was shaping up fast. Already in her blue and white uniform she shuffles back and forth, anxious to warm up with her team. Before we scoot to the older boys game Daddy presents her with a birthday gift.

New cleats.
Perfect timing Daddy, thanks. I love them!

With just siblings around that HUGE cake it was a LITTLE strange.

New and different but OK. I'm learning to roll with this new season we are in.

Everything doesn't need to be BIG, LOUD and CHAOTIC to be GOOD.

Riding a min dirt bike, playing with her BFF til dark and her favorite taco dinner. Delaney's 9th Birthday may not be remembered forever. More than likely this day won't be retained in her memory bank. No Chuck-e-Cheese ticket counter excitement or late night sleepover madness.

Simple, sweet and apparently just the right 'size' for her. I look over at my new nine year old, snuggled in her blankie, legs kicked up comfortably on the oversized couch. She has fallen asleep watching "Good Luck Charlie" in the family room....in her dirty soccer uniform.

I'm pretty sure, for Delaney, that's the icing on her day.

Don't worry Diane, I will eat your piece. It won't go to waste.