Rice Field

Its early morning and I (Christiana) am the only one awake in my household of 4. Lately I’ve been sleeping in more because I’m up with Anika a few times through the night. I’ve missed my early mornings and today I couldn’t help but stay up.

Over the years, early mornings for me have been sweet times of Communing with God. There’s something about the newness, freshness and stillness of the morning that allows me to hear from God and anticipate His presence with me throughout the new day.

Today is trash day. I don’t know how it is in your neighborhood but here, on trash day, sounds on our street are different from any other day. Trash day is when the homeless community, those who spend their time here in Golden Hill and those who walk up the hill from down town, dig through our trash bins to find items to recycle. The lifting of trash bin tops, the clinking of bottles and cans…. its a sound I’ve grown to love.

These men and women who go through our trash every thursday are people of worth and value, created by God for purpose. I believe its true in my head but I’m not sure that I always believe its true in my heart. “God, give me your heart,” I prayed this morning as I watched out my window as the stream of homeless men and women passed by our home and dug through our trash.

Mornings are a wonderful time to reflect on yesterday and gain perspective for today.

Yesterday morning began at 6:30am. Anika and I met my Sister-in-law, Rebecca, to walk over to Crash Inc., a treatment home for women in drug and alcohol recovery. On Wednesdays, Rebecca and I go on morning walks with the residents of Crash Inc. Each morning we walk with a different girl to hear her story and get to know as many girls as we can.

Yesterday I walked with Shanae, a 26 year old girl struggling through the jungle of alcoholism that has torn her away from her 3 kids, her job and her basic health.

God is the God who SEES. He sees these beautiful women though they often feel invisible and worthless in our society.

I spent the rest of the morning at home with Naomi and Anika. Naomi has been sick so she’s extra clingy and mellow. Life with two little ones is especially a challenge when one of them is sick. When they both need you at the same time, its a balancing act that mother’s become experts at performing.

Colin came over for lunch to have some coaching time with Derek. Colin joined our community in January as an apprentice for the year.

I put Naomi down or a nap and headed out the door to meet my midwife for coffee.

Jana is the midwife who delivered Anika 4 weeks go. She was amazing, not just professionally but relationally and even spiritually. She wore a cross around her neck and had a warm and loving presence about her. I’ve been wanting to hear her story so I asked if I could take her to coffee. She accepted.

The miracle of birth is probably the most profound experience of God I’ve ever had. More and more I’m realizing that birth is not as much a medical procedure but more so a natural part of the cycle of life that God designed our female bodies to embrace, even in the midst of pain. And the rewards are truly indescribable.

Jana is catholic and lives by the birth center, less than 10 minutes from my house. Hopefully I was able to encourage her as I listened to her story, shared mine with her and affirmed her calling as a midwife.

Bri stopped by our house around 4:30 to drop off a book she had bought for us to donate to Generate Hope, an organization that helps to rescue and come alongside victims of sex trafficking here in San Diego. Bri and her husband are a part of NieuCommunities here as apprentices. It was good to spend an hour or so with her.

Right as Bri was leaving, Emily, our neighbor drove up. We stood in the driveway talking for another 30 minutes or so. Emily is due to have her first child in June. She lives alone but her boyfriend, the baby’s father, will move in with her soon.

Meanwhile, Derek spent the last part of the afternoon hanging out with Naomi and making guacamole for us to take to a Birthday party for one of the guys who live across the street.

On Sunday, Nick, our neighbor, called and invited us to his Birthday Party. So last night we went to a small gathering of some of his friends, his dad, his sister and the 4 of us. Nick is gay and lives with his partner and 3 other guys in a large blue house across the street. We’ve had Nick over for dinner and have had many interactions with all of them as neighbors but have never been in their home.

I know God was celebrating Nick’s life with us last night.

So that’s what a day in my life looks like. I wonder what today will hold….

After 2 full days of early labor, Anika Mae entered the world at 2:58am on 2/23, weighing in at 7lb 10oz and measuring 19 1/2″ long!

She’s absolutely amazing! We’re all 3 mesmerized by her.

Naomi’s adjustment as a big sister has seemed to be very smooth so far. Having Anika around is just a normal thing to her now. If we walk in the room without Anika, Naomi will ask, “where’s baby Anika?”…always wants to make sure she’s ok. Its pretty cute.