The New Year

Instead of doing New Year's Resolutions, I only have 2 things that involve goals after the new year. I got this crazy idea that I am going to nix the sweets in January. I have a sweet tooth, so I figure I can handle a month without my beloved goodies. I've been preparing by gorging on the Christmas sweets. You know, gotta be prepared. My exceptions are Lucy's birthday, and if my dear friend chooses a birthdy shin-dig for her 30th.

My second is a list of things I'd like to do before I turn 40. I finally reached a place in my life where the list includes just things I want to do, not things I feel like I should want to do. You know, like read the Brothers Karamazov. (I would kind of like to read that some day, but it sounds like a chore just now. I'll stick with slow speeds like Little House on the Prairie.) Some things included are: take a few oboe lessons, just to see what it's like; go see the Nutcracker; take a cooking class. I have a few items related to my spiritual growth. I'm hoping that this will be a fluid list that will adjust as I grow older.

So there you go. No over-the-top resolutions, like, "Lose 15 pounds" or "Read the whole Bible in 2 months." I'll let you know how it goes.

End of the Season

Well, it's official. I lost at the semi-finals. It stinks that I lost on a technicality, too. One of my guys wasn't playing, and they're supposed to tell you when your guy is out, but it must've been too late to tell me. I got no points from him, and Reggie Bush, who scored something like 20 points last week scored only 2 this week. So there it is. But the cool thing is I beat one of the guys two weeks in a row. He was expecting to sweep me and I totally blew him out of the water. That feels nice. Ah, butt kicking.

I mentioned that I was to sing in the women's choir at church on the 12th, but didn't update due to some family fun in the E.R. (no worries, everyone is fine!). The evening really was amazing, and the program that was put together was really a worship service. It was loosely based on "Lessons and Carols" which is done every year at Cambridge on Christmas morning. The lessons are read, followed (logically) by the carols. There were some amazing moments, and I felt so privileged to be singing with some really fine musicians. My whole Bible Study group was there, which touched me deeply.

Well, end of this week it's off to do the Central Valley Loop. Lots of driving this year, as we do Fresno, San Luis Obispo, San Jose, and possibly Tracy. Ugh. I love seeing the people. We're so fortunate that we both love both families, but we wonder sometimes why we live so far away. Poor Jennifer can't come at all, as she will be working on Christmas Eve and Christmas.

I've finished my home-made hot chocolate topped with my home-made marshmallows, and it's off to bed for me. I can tell by my bland writing that I'm tired. =)

Mean Mommy

I think she'll laugh when she's 20.

I mean really. Who thought of that??

I was baking today with baking chocolate. Long ingrained instinct inspired me to lick up that little glob on the side of the bowl where I'd melted it. It brought the question up yet again... How the heck did someone figure out that we should eat this stuff?? I mean, when you think of all the process chocolate has to go through you can't help but wonder how people originally figured that out. Coffee, too. Okay, let's eat the inside bean, but let's soak it, and dry it out, and then put it over fire, and then grind it up, and then put some water in it, then strain it all out. Huh? For reals, someone just figured that out one day??

I was listening to one of my favorite chefs on NPR, the editor of Cook's Illustrated, Christopher Kimball. He was talking about tricks to get Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners finished without so much stress by preparing things early. I loved what he said... "About 80% of what we do is make bad food." I thought that was a great reminder. That's life. We make so many mistakes so that we can learn from them, and even help others learn from them too. So to celebrate, I made some bloody-good chocolate crinkles for the church Christmas program tomorrow night. More on the Christmas program later. I'm singing in a women's choir for the program, so I'll give the update on that tomorrow.

Pork Noodle Slop

Well, I am 0 for dozens on the Chinese food. I seem to have some sort of anti-Chinese food curse. It keeps looking do-able, and keeps coming out yucky. Ah well. I am undaunted. I am thinking of asking te owner of our Chinese restaurant in Selma (I have yet to find as god a place here) to teach me their Pork Noodle Soup. It is etting to be a challenge with me. But I will make good chinese one day. Oh yes. It will be done. And now to get a lick of leftover frosting from Steve's birthday cake! Happy Borthday!!

Menu for the first week of December

Monday - Morrocan Beef patties w/ cous cous and zucchini. I got a solid 4!
Tuesday - Chicken/Thanksgiving dinner! Apple crisp for dessert!
Wednesday - Chicken Enchilladas w/ yelow Mexican rice. Great with wheat tortillas, believe it or not!
Thursday - My attempt at Chinese Pork Noodles
Friday - Birthday Steak for Steve!

Poor Lucy is up. I think she's teething. I think I might actually give in and feed her, since it's alread 4:15, and we've been up for an hour. She doesn't usually do this anymore, so I"m feeling like maybe I can just feed the poor kid (since we'd be up soon for it anyway). Comfort food, you know.

Someone tried to evangelize to me today. I was early to the park, and was pushing Lucy in the swing, and this lady next to me obviously tried to sing Jesus-y songs. Then as we talked a little about the kids (her grandkids), she said I ought to come on Tuesdays because a bunch of moms come ad sing Bible songs. I said, "I've actualy been wanting to get involved in my own church group on Tuesdays, but Lucy's naps were so unpredictable. She asked where I went to churc, and then mentioned she didn't go to church anymore. Her husband isn't a Christian, her kids are grown, so she didn't see the point. I told her a little about what I liked in our church, and said if she was thinking about coming sometime, she was very welcome to come. So who was doing the evangelizing? I'm not exactly sure.

O Magnum Mysterium

I was listening to "O Magnum Mysterium" by Morton Lauridsen tonight (yes, click and listen to it... it is so beautiful!). Probably the most beautiful Christmas piece ever written in my opinion. Concurrently I was working on some communication with a person who consistently gets under my skin, and I was struggling with my two selves as I replied. My one self wants to be nasty in reply, as the original communication was passive agressive and unfair. My other self knows better and is desparately struggling to deny myself the "pleasure" of being nasty. After all, I was justified, wasn't I? I haven't won the battle yet, but I'm at least witholding a reply until I can get my instincts under control. So I'm listening to this amazing music about how Christ came as a human, this amazing mystery! I'm marveling at the beauty of God becoming man, and it just strikes me that God became man to save me from the reply I really want to send to this person. I grew up in a Christian home, and I was always one of the "good kids." I never even got a detention for heaven's sake (I got called in a few times to get talked to about my snotty attitude, but that's a story for another day.)! So I've often fallen into the trap of being numb to my sin. And even now, I am not really pained by what I know is sin, but rather I'm proud of myself for calling it what it is. But I know that Christ came to save me from the consequenses of that mess, and that any improvement in my character that I want to be proud of is really of the Spirit, whose coming was made possible by God-became-man.

O Magnum Mysterium

O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum
jacentem in praesepio.

Beata virgo cujus viscera
meruent partare Dominum Christum.
Alleluia.

Translation:
O great mystery and admirable [wonderful] sacrament
That animals see the Lord born
Lying in a manger.

Blessed virgin whose womb
Was worthy to bear Lord Christ.
Allelujah.

Jokes?

I mean good jokes. Anyone have any? My brother has to tell one at their Christmas party...sounds like torture to me! I gave him a good story by storyteller Kevin Kling, which I think he is going to paraphrase, but I can't help thinking there's a perfect joke out there for him. Short with a sweet sting of a punchline. You get tears of laughter from me, I bake you cookies.

Menu for Fall

We had rain today, so it actually felt like Fall. Sadly, it was just in the morning, and it's gone now.

Here's the menu for this week:

*Spicy Pulled Pork Crispy Flour Tacos with iceberg lettuce and sauteéd red pepper, julienned zucchini and mushrooms.

*Fish Po-Boys with garlic aoli and iceberg lettuce on crusty rolls.

*Chicken wrapped in Prociuto with mashed potatoes and Bruxels Sprouts (Eric, I only bought enough for Steve and I, so no worries.)

*Baked Potatoes with Beef Stroganoff and sauteéd broccoli

*Giamelli pasta with shrimp and pesto

*Some kind of pork loin dish. Not sure just what yet.

The big finale... either Monday or Tuesday... CHP-timed Thanksgiving Chicken Dinner with stuffing, roasted on a bed of new potatoes, served with green beans. Apple cobbler for dessert. To celebrate Thanksgiving with Jennifer, and to celebrate a year for her in the CHP. I think we'll also celebrate the arrival of the little holiday burrito, AKA, Ava Marie Van Brasch, our new niece. Then we'll also celebrate the purchase of Jamie and Shannon's first home. So just celebrations all around!

Coming soon:
Chinese Pork Noodle Soup (Eric's fav, if I can pull it off)
Lentil Soup again, maybe with pork
Paella?

And KUDOS, by the way to my husband! He has been working on a gift for my birthday since August, and due to odd circumstances, it FINALLY arrived last week! He managed to completely surprise me by getting my birthday GIANT COOKIE snuck into the house at my parent's place, and gave me a (don't worry, completely legal) recording of the Aug. 26th Dave Matthews concert!! Let me tell you, my husband is probably the most thoughtful gift giver I know! I'm in charge of timliness in our family, but when he's on, he's ON!

Well, off to bed with me. Always a 1/2 hour to hour late these days.

The Eve of Orange and Brown

When I was a kid, I absolutely hated orange and brown, as they were the remnants of the 70's. We're talking plaid orange and brown suits, etc. So it is no surprise that it's taken me 20+ years to come back around to loving the orange and the brown. Thanksgiving is the Orange and Brown holiday. It has so much potential for class, but we throw in all the ugly fake pilgrims and such to make it chintzy. Same with Christmas. I mean, what's with the gigantic snow globe?

I had a busy, but enjoyable evening. I was decked out in my apron rolling out a pie crust, listening to Harry Connick, Jr., thinking that I love the new, adult side of the holidays. I like making the pumpkin pie. I can't say I love all the clean-up of the holidays. The dishes seem endless. But the smell of my own, triumphant pie is balmy.

Here's what we did with Steve's half day.

This week's menu

Yesterday - Spicy Country Ribs (thanks to Real Simple) with roasted squash and sweet potatoes
Today - Mac and Cheese, grown-up style
Tomorrow - Meatloaf (Dad, it's actually good, I promise. No brown sugary stuff. Even Bud likes it.)
Wednesday - Thai shrimp and Noodles
Thursday - Um, I don't know, we'll think of something.

Kidding. Mom's making the whole bit. Turkey, stuffing, green beans, Aunt Cindy's bringing rolls and pecan pie, Grandpa's wife, Evelyn, is bringing lemon pie, and I'm bringing Grandma Larson's Secret Recipe Pumpkin Pie. One of the two best compliments I ever got from Steve was that I made pumpkin pie as good as his mom. HIGH PRAISE!!

I know we often take this week to think of what we're thankful for, and I am glad that God has prompted me to do this a lot all through the year. There has been a lot of change in our lives this year, some of which has been a bit shocking to the system (like sleep deprivation), and God has been working on true thankfulness in my heart. I see it in the way that I don't miss the little things as much as I thought I would. I don't really miss my salon shampoo or the Bath and Body Works splurges. I don't mind being more of a homebody, or the fact that it takes me 10 times as long to do anything (like simply getting out of the car). I don't mind that my left shoulder invariably has something sticking to it (Lucy has developed a new habit of wiping her face on my shoulder when I hold her. Nice.) So while it seems so obvious to say this, the thing I'm most thankful for this year is my Lucy. My heart nearly bursts with it. The work is so daily, and often seems so drudging. But her soft, sweet smelling skin, her beautiful blue eyes, her two little bottom teeth, and her little personality that is starting to emerge are just more than I can say. I know you all know what I mean, regardless of whether you have a kid or not. You know what it's like to love someone so much it can't be explained.

I'm thankful, too, that God has given us plenty to live on, and a safety net, too. He's given us this wonderful house. He has built a strong, wonderful relationship in my marriage that just gets better every year. He has given us close relationships with our families. I'm so thankful that we are always glad to spend time with either of our families. I know that is not a given, and I count my blessings every time we spend time with family. He has given us amazing friends that most people wish all their lives to have.

I'm thankful for chocolate. I'm thankful for good knives. I'm thankful for fuzzy carpet. I'm thankful for new quilts. I'm thankful for new shoes to come. I'm thankful for running (no really!). I'm thankful for good tunes, both old and new, for cozy slippers, for Parisian Taupe, for Tivo.

Enough from me. I want to know what you all are thankful for!

Oh, and cheesy as it sounds, I'm actually really thankful for your comments. There are many of you that I miss and don't get to see nearly often enough, and I like knowing that you are reading!

Lily Mei Hua Clark

I have been following the progress of our youth pastor and his wife as they travel to China to pick up their new daughter. Betsy headed up the committee that I was on for the church event, and then left only 4 days later for China. They will actually see her for the first time tomorrow, or really tonight. I have been thinking a lot about what they are going through. I've been struck more by the similarities with my situation than the differences. They are told that the babies will likely not be in good moods whe they get them. Lucy wasnt exactly all that happy about her new situation, either. Other things I feel in common are the overwhelming feeling of the hugeness of taking care of this baby, the strangeness of getting to know and bonding with the baby, and the sheer delight of bringing that little one into your family. Here is the website for little Lilly Mei.

Oh, and...

Forgot to say my mom is re-framing the lilac painting (a Terrie Sorensen original), and I am painting the frame silver on the purple crocus painting (a Sari Wall original). One of these days we are going to also paint the walls some kind of moss or taupe.

Birthday presents keep coming

My birthday was over a month ago, but the presents seem to keep trickling in. My mom was here for a few days and bought my previously agreed upon gift, which was a quilt for my bed. We re-arranged my room, and I really wish you could see from these pictures how much nicer it looks.

The first 3 are before




These are after.

Christmas Cookies

Hard to talk about Christmas Cookies when it's 75 degrees out...

But I would love to know what kind people like the best. I was thinking about doing a baking day with a friend this year. I like sugar cookies the best, and Steve's mom's peanutbutter blossoms are super yum, too (peanut butter cookie with a Hershey's kiss in the middle). I hate anything with nuts, so I won't make them. But I'd love to know what else people like.

Food

Why is it that I normally get 1-2 comments, but when I write about food I get gobs of comments?

We had take-out Chinese food tonight. Discuss.

But seriously, folks, let's talk turkey. I'm coming to discover that there are tons of folks out there that hate turkey, and only eat it because it's traditional. The other thing I'm learning is that those people think that no one else likes turkey either, and that we all eat it out of obligation. I was shocked and dismayed, as turkey dinner is one of my favorites all year! I love the turkey, the stuffing, rolls, mashed potatoes, green beans... oh, yum, yum! I will admit, I don't care for the pecan pie, and pumpkin pie isn't my favorite. However, I like to make lemon meringue for my family, which is pretty yummy, and I"m thinking of attempting a berry pie. But of course, I need to make pumpkin pie for my husband--it's his favorite.

Speaking of pie, it's very strange that I should have become a pie maker. My mom never made pies, we always bought them. But one year it was the Earles' turn for Thanksgiving, and the Earle seniors were in New Zealand, so it fell to me to make Mom Earle's Pumpkin Pie. Talk about pressure! But guess what... Steve said it was just as good as his mom's! That's high praise!

Okay, now I'm hungry... bummer!

The big weekend

I've been working for several months on an event for my church. It's a huge dinner at Biola under a big tent. No, there won't be an alter call or any singing of "I Surrender All." Thanksgiving Turkey for about 400 people, as well as a big church-ish service to follow as a kick-off to our building campaign. During the planning stages I've had screw-ups from the Biola Conference Services Coordinator, misunderstandings with the caterer, communication fog with some of the church folks... plenty of challenges. But the really great thing, as I think I may have said before, is the way God has clearly been working on my character through this. It's been good to be guided and learn not to get indignant about things. So the weekend starts tomorrow with flower arranging in the morning, gluing leaves Friday night, set-up Saturday. Oh, and my parents are coming down to babysit! Sweet! Plus, Mom is staying until Wednesday so we can play!

This week's Menu

First, News and Notes:
* November the 6th, and it is 95 degrees outside. Um, yeah.

* Lucy went down awake last night, and as I left, she smiled at me and said, "Ba, ba, ba," which I'm pretty sure meant, "Goodnight, Mommy." She slept all night! Napping is going well, too! Praise God!

* I am 80% done with my Christmas shopping (including the 8 birthdays between Nov. 7 and Jan 2), and have wrapped a bunch of it already, too. I stink at wrapping. Ah well!

Okay, the Menu--
I've always told my husband, and now my brother, that it's important to me that you tell the truth about a meal. If we try something new and you tell me you like it, I'll make it again. If you were lying, you'll pay for your lie over and over again! The deal is, you tell the truth kindly, and I won't be offended if you don't like something. And I won't make it again.

Here's the ranking system given by my family:
5-In my top 10 favorite meals
4-Really good! Make it again!
3-Yeah, that wasn't bad
2-I'll eat it, but don't make it again
1-I'm getting a quesadilla.

Menu (last week into this week):
* Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage and Apples - 3.5
* Stuffed Zucchini and Baked Chicken - 4
* Linguini Marvini with chicken and broccoli - 4
* Spicy Country Ribs with biscuits and green beans - 4.5
* Chili w/ Fritos & corn bread - 3
* BBQ'd terriyaki chicken (made w/ pineapple juice and soy sauce) - 4
* Slow cooker chicken w/ bacon & Mushrooms, served w/ Asparagus (tonight's meal)
* Turkey quesadillas (made w/ all kinds of veggies) - 4
* Tuna and shells (sometime this week... new meal)
* Rigatoni Bolonaise (new recipe, probably tomorrow) w/ salad and garlic bread

Let's Vote Already!

Ugh. I will be so glad when the election is over. I am so tired of the political chatter, but more tired of all the junk that flows into my house. The mail, but especially the phone calls are just starting to feel invasive. I mean really. You think I'm going to make up my mind based on a recording of Arnold or Pete Wilson? At least they seem to know I am conservative. I swear, though, if one more call wakes me up from a much needed nap (you know it's needed because of the time this post is date-stamped), I think I'll lose it.

Second thought... I am buying Christmas presents already, and it is supposed to get close to 90 degrees this week. I ask you, is this right?? I can't bear to bring out my Christmas music until I need to get a little snuggly in my slippers.

Follow up

Well, my particular thanks to my dear friends for the encouragement. While we're not out of the woods, last night wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. We started at bedtime, and it was really, really horrible. It is heart-wrenching when your kid is screaming their lungs out and reaching up for you, and you just leave them there. But she only cried that hard at bedtime, and only for an hour. Then up at 12:00, and not nearly the intense crying, she stayed laying down, and it only took 30 min. I feel empowered now! Oh, and she still loves me, by the way. =) I figure this is good training for when I have to say no about even more important stuff, like running into the street or dating someone from the mid-west. (Just kidding.)

Follow up

Well, my particular thanks to my dear friends for the encouragement. While we're not out of the woods, last night wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. We started at bedtime, and it was really, really horrible. It is heart-wrenching when your kid is screaming their lungs out and reaching up for you, and you just leave them there. But she only cried that hard at bedtime, and only for an hour. Then up at 12:00, and not nearly the intense crying, she stayed laying down, and it only took 30 min. I feel empowered now! Oh, and she still loves me, by the way. =) I figure this is good training for when I have to say no about even more important stuff, like running into the street or dating someone from the mid-west. (Just kidding.)

Commitment moves

I don't often like making commitments. The ones that are really important are easy. Steve was a no-brainer... I never even had to think twice about that. But things like taking a job, quitting a job, that kind of stuff is hard. You wonder if you're making a mistake. Well, tonight we are making a commitment move for at least a week. Sounds like not such a big deal until I play you the sounds that I have committed to hearing for a week.

You've heard of the "cry it out" method of getting your kid to sleep through the night, but I've decided it needs to be renamed to "scream it out." It is one of the hardest things I've ever done, and I have no idea how long it will take, both in hours per night and in how many days. Or even IF it will work. So much research and so many people say that it will indeed work, and it just doesn't seem right that she should be used to nursing back to sleep. I've done a bunch of reading, and I thought I would side with the "softer" arguments... the people who say you should just nurse your kid for as long as they'll nurse. But as I read, I just couldn't agree with some of their fundamental arguments. I've talked to friends, family, read some books, talked to the doctor (who has kids), and I think this is the right way to go.

And as I wrote that, the crying stopped. Sniffling will continue for hours (she has an amazing ability to sniffle in her sleep for hours), but our first go only took just over an hour.

But I'll be up at midnight to try again.

Oh yeah

This is from the Drudge page... my favorite news in ages! Why is there no news that I like to read, by the way? I LOVE NPR, but the philosophies behind it are just too far off. I need a conservative viewpoint with the class, the thoroughness, the pace, the style of NPR. Bugs the heck out of me.

Random thoughts of the day:
* Man I love the voice of the lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket, Glen Phillip. Yummy voice. I like the lead from Cake, too. Why aren't those guys Christians? Them and Dave Matthews? Actually the Toad guy is a reformed Judaist.

* Chocolate is so yummy.

* Best meal lately: Stuffed zucchini. I'm super proud of it. People should eat things that are stuffed on Halloween.

* It was 75 degrees on Nov. 1. Love So Cal.

Bedtime.

'Ween

We had a fun little "holiday" this week. Steve was at the UCLA game, or should I say, the defeat, so I went to our friends' party on Saturday with Lucy and the Bud. We had a grand time, and Eric had a fantastic pumpkin. I will try to remember to grab a picture and post it. Here's one of Lucy. She's a Hershey's Kiss, and I'm supposed to be a candy corn.



Then tonight I fed candy to the neighborhood kids. We don't get all that many, so I don't really mind. The things I mind, of course, are the people that are way too old and don't even bother to dress up, as well as the moms who collect candy for their children who are too young for candy. But I like seeing the dozen princesses and assorted others. Like Bud, I don't like the gory costumes, but my fav's of the night were Wonder Woman, the Rock Star Girl, complete with head-mounted mic, and the Swat officer.

Other things on the mind lately are the church event I've been working on. Thankfully yesterday was a fantastic meeting that allayed much of my anxiety on the subject. I have some constructive criticism to pass on to both the church and Biola about how they handle events, but I think I'm finally at a place where I can do so without being snotty. This has really been an opportunity for me to allow God to work on my attitude. I have a really deep seeded need to be right, and to justify myself, and it's been very clear to me that I need to check my heart.

The other worrisome thing has been Lucy's sleeping. The doctor is really encouraging us to help her start sleeping through the night, which is going to mean some hellish nights for awhile. We won't start making her cry it out just yet, but we have to start with getting her back into a better bedtime routine. It sounds so simple, but it is totally exhausting. I don't think she's abnormal, but I do know she gives us a harder time than some.

Okay, off to bed with me.

Crawling and Glass Licking

We have developmental progress! Lucy kind of just got up and started crawling one day. Pretty sweet, but keeps me on my toes. The new obsession with pulling herself up has also led to her new and exciting occupation of glass licking, seen here.



By the way, my birthday went fine. I celebrated with the folks on the day by going to the Big Fresno Fair, and Lucy got to gawk at the pigs. She was beside herself, she was so excited. Both my folks were sick that evening, so it was a bit of a slow evening, but it was just delicious to be home for a week with them. So yeah, I'm 30 for reals now. The first of the big scary ages. =)

The Valley

Making fun of the Valley is a bit like making fun of your own kid. You have to have a deep knowledge and affection for it. An outsider can only contribute thoughtless disdain... someone else making fun of your kid. I am also sometimes forgetful that the child him or herself might not understand that the ribbing is done in love, and that we ought to be careful around whom we joke. I forget that the Valley has to be made up of people who aren't quite aware that they are the Valley. I joke about the fact that the Valley is made up of people who know everything about everyone, yet if I were to make the joke to certain people, they wouldn't understand the joke. My parents get it. They've been "outside" so they know why it's amusing. My friend Heidi gets it, and wryly yet gladly admits that she makes up the composite Valley. I joke about the attributes and detriments of the Valley, and forget that some are so loyal they wouldn't know you were even joking. For example, a friend's parents who have something to say about the weather in any place you mention--Seattle is too rainy, the coast is too cool, etc.--but when asked about the heat say, "That's what makes the fruit sweet." I think I can go no further on the subject. By now you understand this post or you don't. If you don't get it, you're either not from the Valley, or you are the Valley. If you get it, you'll smile along with me and know that we love our Valley, faults and all.

Birthday Week has begun

We got to my parents' house on Thursday night and had a horrible night with Lucy, but at least we expected it this time. She's settled in now, and doing great. Yesterday Steve's folks and brother and sister-in-law came for the day to hang out and see Lucy. We had a ball! We took them out to the farm and picked apples and pomegranates and persimmons. Steve also got to deliver his long delayed toast to the newlyweds, having missed his chance on the boat due to sea-sickness.

Steve left for Texas and thankfully arrived safely. Lucy and I will keep in touch via video chat when we get the chance. He's lucky he's gone, because if he were at home I would not be speaking to him. He beat me soundly in Fantasy Football this week, and I'm not sure I quite forgive him. I know his password... Maybe next week I should sabotage his team! =)

The rest of the week is already packed. Coffee with high school girlfriends, a pedicure (a surprise from the now-forgiven husband), and visiting. The big fun will be at the Fresno Fair on Wednesday. I haven't been there in yeeeears! Probably early high school. I remember seeing some 80's family band there when I was in Jr. High. I've forgotten who that was, but when I remember I will have to post because those who remember the 80's will get a kick out of it. There were, like, 7 brothers and sisters or something. Anyway, my agenda at the fair is to get Fair Cinnamon Rolls, see the art, check out the animals for Lucy, and just enjoy being with my folks. As I think about it, I suppose that it is fitting that my mother looked out of her hospital window 30 years ago after my birth and saw the ferris wheel from the Big Fresno Fair. Talk about going back to your roots!

On another quick note, I am realizing I am slowing down a bit with the blogging. I find that I'm a bit uninspired, and my writing seems a little drowsy and bland to me. You may find that I take a hiatus for a bit. I will try to email you dear friends more. I think that may be the trouble... the audience is sort of ambiguous, like I don't quite know who all is reading. At any rate, we'll see. Maybe I'm too old for this, you know since I'm turning 30 and all. =)

Comfort Food

This week's menu:

Sunday Night Dessert for Bible Study:
Molten Chocolate Cakes with vanilla ice cream

Monday:
Linguini with Clam Sauce
Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower with olive oil, salt and pepper

Tuesday:
Barley Lenti Soup with Bacon (Thank you Susan!)
Apples
Corn Bread

Wednesday:
Clam Chowder
Cobb Salad
Sour Dough Bread

Thursday:
Meatloaf
Twice Baked Potatoes
Roasted Butternut Squash

I love cooking!!

Gardening

This is why I am the family's least committed gardener. This isn't even the bad arm (accidentally deleted that picture.)

More dreaming...

I don't think I really expounded properly on the things I'd love to do for others. I would love to send care packages to "our" missionaries. They'd be stuffed with fun things, like maple syrup and brown sugar and Nyquil, but also stuffed with resources for their ministries. Computers, books, audio lectures. Things for the people they minister to that would really reach them, such as firewood for my friends in Bosnia. Baby clothes and "accessories" for my missionary friends. Little luxury items that they crave but would never ask for. We'd go visit them, not just to help with whatever they needed, but also to just give them some company from home. I'd give them money enough for a nice vacation away and some evenings out. Trips to Disneyland while they're home on furlough. A nice car, computer and cell phone while they were home. Oh, and I'd have "mother-in-law" house for people to stay in that needed a place to crash in between things. Wouldn't that just be fun to do that for people?

Oh, and I didn't mention that my husband would get to get his PhD.

This is just too fun! Like I said, it doesn't make me discontent with my life, it is just fun to dream.

Dreaming

I am really, really satisfied and content with my life It is a wonderful life, and I'm so, so grateful for it. I am thankful that I can stay home with Lucy, we have all that we really need and don't worry where our medicine and meals come from. We don't worry about heat or clothing or gas for the car (well, we are all worried about that!). So don't get me wrong when you read the following. It isn't discontent, but fun dreaming.

So the question I ask myself is what kinds of things I would do if I had unlimited funds. First, I would squirrel away money for retirement and to take care of us in later years. I'd also make sure all my children are provided for in education and a start in their adult lives. Then the fun stuff...

I would love to give money to people and organizations in creative ways or to really needed purposes. For Biola and Immanuel High School, I'd make sure money went to their endowments, and also to Talbot and IHS scholarship programs. I'd also give money to the housing program for Biola and to the benefits program for Immanuel. I would love to give money for projects that people dream about doing but can't do. I wouldn't want people to know I was loaded, because I wouldn't want them to solicit me and try to convince me to do what they wanted me to. There are other non-profits I'd give to. I'd also want to find out, just by stealth, things that people around me really wanted and give it to them without them knowing how they got it.

For me... I would pay off our mortgage and pay to have a ton of projects (kitchen, bathrooms, add onto bedroom, windows, redo front yard) done on our house. Or else, we'd get a new house somewhere with sidewalks. And I'd have to buy houses all around me for my friends to live in.

I'd have a personal shopper who would pick out great clothes for me--not flashy, but great fits with a bit of style--and toss out stuff I didn't want anymore.

I'd get a babysitter more often, and hire a personal trainer and work out more.

I'd make really yummy dinners for our friends... things with expensive ingredients like really, really good meat.

TRAVEL! Austria and Switzerland, Norway, England and Denmark again, somewhere in Africa, New Zealand, Banff, Alaska, Colorado, Australia... First class tickets to everywhere. Maybe private plane! Flown by my sister-in-law!

Grand piano.

Mini Cooper, 64 1/2 Mustang, and pay someone to fix the Land Cruiser up. And the Z.

Flat panel TV so it wasn't taking up space.

New couches.

Cleaning service.

Okay, that's enough for now. =)

29b

Yes, in less than a month it actually happens. I turn 30. I've been talking about it so much I don't think I believed it could actually happen. But as things will be as they are to be, I suppose it will happen. I like Kristen's interpretation of 30... 29b (no not a bra size... that would be awesome!). I thought I'd tell you my plan for Birthday Month Extravaganza. I never expect people to make my birthdays for me--that is just setting people up to misinterpret your expectations--so I like to make my own fun. Here's the plan:

In honor of the big day, my husband is flying to Texas for a conference. Poor guy, he offered to stay home, but the way I figure it, it doesn't make sense. Everyone else is going to this conference, and I think he should go. Plus, what would we do? He'd be at work all day, and then we'd do the bedtime routine with Lucy and then maybe eat some cake? Or go out at the end of the day? I'd hate for him to miss it all just for one day. So instead we will celebrate before or after he goes, and I will spend the week with my parents, which I LOVE!

Mom will make THE cake. I can't say it's my favorite favorite, but I do love it's delectable yummminess that is certain to mark my chubby tummy forever. It is a yellow cake with holes poked in it, sweetened condensed milk poured all over it and Cool Whip on top. I'm telling you, it's really to die for. It used to come with coconut (see Susan's blog for discussion of this topic), but when we realized only one of us liked coconut, we nixed it. I am proposing some kind of candy topping this year... gotta think about it. We will probably also have steaks and Dad's sauteed mushrooms (one cup wine for the mushrooms, one for the cook). I think I will request a margarita, too. Olé!

Then I think we (Steve and I) will find a place to stay on the beach, just for fun. If anyone knows of any amazing deals, let me know! Thank goodness for the off season!

Theeeeen, I get a Girls' Night Out with the Bible Study girls. I'm insisting I get a Midori Sour or some such nonsense, and something amazing and Chocolate. Still deciding between Cheesecake Factory and Claim Jumper.

Theeeeeeen, my in-laws are going to Palm Springs and have invited the family, so we will get a lovely week with them, which I suspect will include dinner and some shopping. Yay!

Theeeeeeeen, my mom comes down sometime, and we get to redo my room! Yay! New quilt for the bed, new shams, new skirt. So excited!!!

Okay, 'nuff from me. Just thought you'd like to know. =)

Fall!

I hate to do any sort of ode to Fall, as I am certain there are plenty out there more polished, more moving, more humorous and generally better written than mine. But I think the outpouring of my soul demands vent, so here's my humble ode. Yesterday was the first time I felt it. I saw the imperceptible shadow that just looks like Fall. I felt that twinge in the breeze that feels like Fall on your skin. I heard the shouts of students at night that sounds like Fall. Football is on, John Madden is like a guest in our home, and I just await Howie and the boys on Sunday. The sun is going down earlier, the shadows are falling at new angles. I made chicken pot pie the other day. I think the thing that excites me most is the air, though. It is still warm, but there is an overtone that says summer's fury is expiring.

I've discovered that I just hate summer. Now that I am out of school and pay my own electric bill, summer feels like a burden, something you get through. I feel shut in, and I get tired of the little hairs constantly tickling my face from the fans, not to mention the noise of the fans and the a/c.

But Fall is on the way, and before I know it I can put on an evening sweater and drink my ritual hot chocolate.

Oh yeah... Fall means birthday! More to come on the 30th birthday extravaganza!

Ghost Poopie

These lovely, low fat dessert cookies are called "kisses"or meringues. Basically egg whites and sugar, they taste a lot like marshmallows. So my dear husband has decided they look like ghost poop, and has turned many of our visitors off to my baking. Ah well. More for me! But here's the thing? How doe he know what ghost poop looks like? Ask me one day how he knows what alien frogs sound like.

Bringing things out of the garage

I pulled out a few pictures that were in the garage and finally put them up. I also got a few wreaths and put them up, too. It's nice to get some mileage out of stuff you already have. =) You can't really see the pictures, but you can see the placement. The one over the fireplace is a black and white of Mt. Whitney from the Lone Pine side.

Solitaire

Why is this the only reward for successfully completing a hand of Solitaire? It is terribly unsatisfying. Maybe I am a little too entitled... I've come to expect parades and bells and whistles for the littlest things. I have been reading Little House on the Prairie and listening to Little women, and they were satisfied in the improvement of their character as a just reward. Maybe I ought to draw a lesson. =)

Dave

Steve and I properly celebrated our 5th anniversary last night. Our actual anniversary was spent passing a colicky newborn back and forth while the other one ate. But this was my gift... to go see Dave Matthews in concert! It was such a great concert, and my heart just beats faster to hear great musicians. They were really tight and really creative. I love that there was no visible directed downbeat, but they just hit it and off they went. There were these HUGE black winds and brass guys that were just amazing. They did all kinds of saxophones and clarinets, as well as a soprano trumpet (not a coronet, but a high trumpet).

The venue was beautiful. Easy to get in and out, too. We bought a VIP parking ticket ahead of time, which ended up being fantastic. It was listed on-line for $52, and I found it at a local broker for $10, which was the price of regular parking. Sweet! It was a gorgeous night, perfect temperature to be outside. We almost should have come earlier to hang out in the little park at the base of the theater, it was just super cool.


The funny "Oh that's right" moments were remembering that people like to smoke pot at concerts. The crazy part was that it was the 50-somethings that were smoking. I expected it to be the 20-somethings, so it was kind of, well, you know. The other sad thing was that Trojan reps were at the exits handing out samples. Um. Yeah. Whata world we live in.

But all in all, it was a fantastic night, and I'm just bummed we didn't stay longer. We weren't sure how long our babysitter was okay staying, so I didn't want to push it. So to sum up: fun was had by all.

At home with my girls

Made it home safely with Lucy today, and she was a little angel all afternoon and evening with a minimum of fussing. It was nice to get home, hot though it is. We cleaned and cleaned to take care of all the junk that I brought back with me. The boys did a pretty good job taking care of things while I was gone. It is wonderful to see my dear Love again, though it almost seemed like no time had passed.

On tap this week: working on events for church (I'm on a committee to plan two events for church), cleaning out my computer so I can organize my brand new computer!, and getting ready for the Dave Matthews concert!! Hoo-yah!

At home

This week has been so restorative for me. I miss my husband, but I love the chance to be with my family in an unhurried way, taking all morning in our pajamas, swimming in the afternoon, and "going visiting" (like good Scandinavians). I have help with Lucy, and the nieces adore her. I can mull over topics with my family as they come up or enjoy down time. It is just like a little vacation.

I had coffee with my two best friends from high school yesterday while Mom babysat. We had a wonderful time together, and we always seem to pick up where we left off. My mom mused that we used to moan over the little trifles of high school, and now that we are grown up we are talking about such big real life things. I am so thankful that all of us still love the Lord and are healthy and happy people. I think you don't find that all that often.

I left my husband

Poor man is eating on his own, batchin' it for a few days. I'm at my parents' house while my sister is visiting from Seattle. I miss my husband, but somehow there's something fun for me about being "home." I feel like a kid, even though I brought my own kid. I sleep in my old bed, I read my old diaries from high school for laughs, look at my old yearbooks, that kind of thing. I'm sadly nostalgic. The other thing I like is that normally when Steve and I come together, we're here for 2 days and gone again, whereas now I get to be here for almost a week and not feel rushed. Last night my dad rubbed my back and my mom made me a margarita. Oh yeah. Of course, that was sort of to counteract the effects of my baby screaming from Shafter to Selma (about an hour for those of you not familiar with the good ol' San Joaquin).

Oh yeah

You have to love that crazy dress I made. I made both of these dresses, but the Spring one is really hideous. But aren't we all so cute? Is it really stinkin' 12 years since those pictures?? Oh my. So that means it's 12 years ago now that I was getting packed up and ready to come down to Biola for the first time. Oh my, oh my.

Letters to my daughters

I found a website that I'm enjoying. We have some dear friends from camp at Catalina--the directors, actually--that do ministry to families and couples. I just checked out their website and discovered that they are publishing a series of letters called "Letters to my Daughters," written to their girls about choosing a spouse. While I have some small differences of opinion on a few items, they are generally right on, and it is fun to read them. It's especially nice being on this side of choosing a spouse, especially feeling so confident that I made the best possible choice I could have made. Anyway, I recommend taking a look at them... they're really good. Here's the link.

In other news, I'm relieved that Lucy took a bottle tonight. We will do a bottle every night now to get her used to it. I have beenr eally stressed about it, because I really need to know that I can get away now and then. Plus, there's the Dave Matthews concert coming up!

Up late, darn it

I hate being a night owl. Can't sleep right now, and have all this energy. Happens about once a month. I hate it because I know I'll pay for it tomorrow. What am I thinking about? Not much. Things like...

Should I go ahead and buy this quilt in the sage? Or do I wait and make it a birthday gift? Do I "spend" my birthday gift on this when it affects Steve too, or do I use my "earnings" from selling off little things, like books?


Should I look at Kohl's first for a shirt, or should I just go ahead and buy this one from Old Navy for the Dave Matthews concert?


And should I buy this jacket to go with it?


Also thinking about what an enjoyable time it was at Bible Study talking about John 2:1-25. I had done a little "homework," which always makes it interesting. I came home and finished the rest of that section in the commentary and was very much blessed. It was the Cana wedding and the cleansing of the temple. It's amazing how many poor sermons I've heard on those two passages, and this wonderful commentator gently but firmly separates the misconceptions from the real emphasis of the text. For example, this passage is simply not about whether or not it's right for Christians to drink. It's about Jesus taking the opportunity to use a sign to point to who he is. He uses ritual stone vessels, typically used for ceremonial washing, and fills them with new wine, indicating that he is the fulfillment of the old rituals. Sounds a little far-fetched the way I say it, but when you read John as a whole, it makes complete sense. Anyway, it is so exciting to read the Bible and realize I am indeed starting to learn something after all these years.

Thinking about how awesome the "homemade" Trader Joe's tortillas are. I'm starving, having only had a brownie for dinner. Yeah, yeah...

Planning out my week. Steve is still on Jury Duty tomorrow, and I am thinking he will get on this jury. At the very least, I think he will have to go in on Tuesday as well. Blech. That means we are without a car here at home. I have plenty of back-up, and I can easily walk to the grocery store and Starbucks. Thinkin' about picking up some decaf espresso roast so I can start making Americanos in the morning for myself. I just learned how to use Steve's espresso machine, and I think I want to start back into my coffee habit. With the new curio,
my teacups are finally out of the garage, so I can have a little coffee break in the morning in a nice teacup. That is if Lucy will allow it. By the way, the curio was Grandma's, brought here by M&D Earle from Nebraska. I love it! I still have some arranging to do, and possibly some teacups and teapots to get rid of, and a couple to bring back. I need my style consultants to help me figure out where to put stuff.

Okay, okay, this is ridiculous. Go to bed, Jenny!

A date!

Okay, not exactly, but it was nice. We three met Eric at Heroes in Fullerton and had dinner together. It was a loud, peanuts on the floor place, so Lucy could be as loud as she liked. Actually, she was so excited by all the eye candy that she was pretty quiet. We had nice conversation, and Steve had a beer that came with a life raft and a straw. Okay, not quite, but I got to drive home. =) It was so nice to get out all together and have a nice meal. Steve is STILL doing jury duty, and they are still questioning the jury after 2 days. They haven't dismissed a soul yet. The thing I LOVE is that La Mirada is 19.8 miles away from Compton. 20 is the cut-off. Not our house, but the city of La Mirada. We live toward the east edge, by the way. It takes him an hour to get there. Our gas. Our car. I hate the judicial system. At any rate, after a bit of a rough morning for me and a lousy day for Steve, it was lovely to eat fantastic curly fries and drink a Shirley Temple out of a mug the size of a bathtub.

The Liberry

I walked down to the Library (Liberry, according to Emma) to order Harry Potter on CD and pick up "Little House on the Prairie." I like this whole "back to Children's books" thing. The reading is fast, it's in manageable chunks, the stories are fantastic (the classics and the Newberry books), and they are generally just happy books. I like that Laura gets new mittens and a peppermint candy in her stocking and she is just ecstatic. Good lessons. I also like that her parents say, "Laura!" and she stops being naughty immediately.

At the Liberry there was a display case about it being Breastfeeding Awareness month. There were all these lovely out of context quotes pinned up. My favorite was something like this: "A newborn baby has only three needs: the warmth of his mother's arms, food from his mother's breast, and the knowledge that his mother loves him. He gets all three when he is breastfed." Um, I seem to remember my baby needing a HELL of a lot more!! (Forgive me... getting the cursing out of my system before Lucy can parrot.) I mean... did the guy that wrote that forget about the pooping and the sleeping and the screaming? I chuckle. =)

I also found out I owed 75 cents for an overdue book. I look in my wallet... surely people carry around that much. I have 72 cents. You gotta be kidding me! Luckily the guy smiled and said they could get a nickel from me next time around. Big money at the Liberry, eh?

Oh, and the air conditioning works!!! So what did I do? Promptly turned it off after the test run and sweat through the afternoon because I couldn't bear to watch the meter turn around and around and around. =) Unlike my next-door neighbor, whose LOUD a/c runs 24/7/360. No kidding. Like those (relatively) freezing days in February where I was cuddled up next to the heater, her a/c was running. I know it's not a fan, because you don't need a condenser for a fan. I think she does it because her ex-husband must be paying her electric bill. That's my latest theory anyway.

Teen Girl Squad

A friend recently posted on her blog about how blessed she was to have had a good high school experience. The more I talk to people the more I find out that it really is pretty unique to have had good high school years. I had great friends, lots of fun stuff to keep me busy, and no real temptations or regrets. Small regrets, of course, mainly derived from things I said which betrayed my still developing character, but nothing so horrendous that it ruined the whole experience for me. I went back for my reunion a few years ago, and I honestly had a wonderful time.

A couple of great memories...
The slumber party that got crashed by "our" boys
The bagel poem that became code for who we had a crush on (did we really think it was that clever?)
Walking every inch of the brand new Walmart the day it opened. Yes, folks, I'm from a small town.
Four girls taking one guy to Sadie Hawkins to spite "our" boys who had left us in the lurch for Christmas banquet...
Counseling at Science Camp...

ah, the fun.

Places

I sigh heavily as I admit this--I do not love La Mirada. I love so much and so many that are in and around La Mirada, but many of the things I love are not here. I love beautiful places to walk, oceans and trees that turn in the Fall. I love waves and mountains and pine trees and quiet. I love going out of a city before going into a new one. I do not love strip malls, crowds, traffic, crumbling concrete and houses built with plaster board and stucco. I do not love living so far from my family. But I do love the updates we've made to our house to make it ours. I love having a pool. Most of all I love our friends--the kind you don't just make anywhere (as friends of ours who have moved have told us). I love the amazing preaching at our church and the dedication to practicing the Word there. I love that there are 2 Targets within 3 miles of me, and I love that my backyard opens onto the Biola campus. How do you ever weigh all these things together? My heart rejoices and aches over it all.

6 month old!

Where did six months go?? Actually, the question really is, where did 4 months go. Those first two months seemed like an eternity, but the last 4 have really flown. I can hardly believe I've been finished with my Biola job for more than 6 months now, too. I thought I would get stir crazy at home, but I have really enjoyed it. I have fun with Lucy, too, and it's been rewarding most days. I will admit, I'm a little stir crazy with the a/c guys still here, but they will be done eventually. Plus, Jesus is a kick and Julio is a doll. I just want to pinch their cheeks, they're so cute and friendly. Jesus keeps asking if I want to send Lucy up into the ducts, since she fits better than the rest of us. =)

By the way, she weighed in at 17 pounds and measured 27 inches. That's 90th percentile for height and 75th for weight. Hard to believe she gained 10 pounds and 7 inches in only 6 months!

more from above

Now the guys are in the attic, putting in the ducting. So when I walk around my house I can hear them talking up there. Jesus? Is that you? Maybe my Spanish teacher was right! Spanish really is "la lengua de Dios!"

Jesus keeps it cool

I was about to go batty with all this heat. Anyone local, or really most of you don't need to be told about the soaring temperatures and unbelievable humidity. This being my first summer home, I got to experience the heat all day long. I think that's the thing--it feels personal, like it's really only happening to you or something. I also hate that the forecast always starts about 8 dgrees lower in the morning, but "updates" by 2:00. Like, "No, really, we thought it was going to be 88 today! We just changed our minds by 2:00." People, let's live in reality land if you please.

So Jesus is in my house putting in air conditioning. I'll bet that looks a bit sacriligous, now, doesn't it? That is, unless you are one who grew up with friends named "Chewy." Hay-zues is doing a great job, and should finish the air conditioning by next week. We had the asbestos abated, which makes me feel better, and will be a mark in the "good" column when we eventually sell the house (if ever!). We will also have someone come in and spray insulation after the ducts are in so that we can a.) keep the house cooler initially, and b.) keep the air conditioning more efficient. It all appeals to my sense of organization. =)

In other news, Lucy watched her first Baby Einstein, and it was a riot. She kicked her legs and squeeled the whole time. Precious!! I realized that this is how God must feel when we are really and truly enjoying the things he designed us to enjoy. Not the things ill-gotten or done in excess, but real, pure joy.

Oh, I had a strage dream last night. I dreamt that I was in the mid-West to accept some kind of award, and got to talking with Mary Pipher, author and mother of friend Zeke. I told her, "Yeah, I think I would have been a Buddist if I wasn't a Christian." She was pretty interested, and tried to convince me to become a Buddist, but I told her I just don't think that we can count on ourselves to create our own salvation. We're just not that good. Anyway, strange dream!

Updates

A couple of pictures to illustrate the last month.
Today: New fan put up in the dining area. Problem? We got it up, and it sucks. Not literally... but it doesn't blow. Or whatever.


Curio: This came from Grandma Doris. I still don't know how I'm going to arrange stuff in the curio, but I'm excited to get my poor teacups out of storage.



The grave-site. Gotta tell the story! We drove 4 hours out to Ottumwa, Iowa to bury Grandma (and four back afterwards). We had a nice but informal graveside time, and after we closed the undertaker asked if we wanted to see the casket lowered. We were pretty casual, so we all said, "Sure, why not?" One of the little cousins said, "How does it work, Grandma?" She says, "Well, you're about to find out." Silence all around. "Does she drop down, or do they put the whole thing in?" Every single one of us had to fight not to laugh out loud. Talk about tears flowing! It was the perfect little thing, though... laughter through tears. =)


Here's Lucy with Papa's hankercheif for a head covering and a flower from Grandma Do's fueneral arrangement.

Home again!

More to come... but just for fun, the driving stats (general, not exact).
La Mirada to Fresno: 4 hours
Fresno to Omaha: 4 hours
(airport driving total - 1 hour)
Omaha to Ottumwa and back (same day) 8 hours
Omaha to Central City - 2.5 hours
... and back - 2.5 hours
Omaha to Fresno - 4 hours
(airport driving total-1 hour)
Fresno to San Jose - 2.5 hours
and back - 2.5 hours
Fresno to La Mirada - 6 hours (traffic)

Grand total travel time: 37 hours in a week. Blech

Glad to be home.

Whirlwind

It's been quite the week, trying to get plane tickets and get stuff together to go out to Nebraska, as well as preparing to help host a baby shower. We're going to be doing something like 22 hours of driving over the next week, not to mention 8 hours of flying. Yikes! I have a feeling Lucy will be a champ, though.

So with all this going on, I gave my toe a good crack on the footstool. I think I might have a little hairline fracture, but either way it is a lovely bruise! I can get around on it fine, but have to be careful. Lovely, lovely!

Doris Hazel (Sloop) Larson

b. May 8, 1912, d. July 5, 2006

Steve's grandmother, Doris Larsen was an amazing woman and a dear woman of God. She lived a good life, working hard through the depression, raising two daughters who love the Lord, and reaching out to so many. She is survived by Joy and her husband Mart, their 5 children, and their 13 grandchildren, and by Jane, her husband Roger, their four children, and three grandchildren.

Grandma Do died today at 3:30 p.m. Central Time in Omaha, Nebraska, surrounded by her daughters, who sang her through her passing. I think she hung on until Jane could get there to be with her. (Joy lives locally.) There really is a lot of joy in her passing, sad as we are.

I couldn't help but pause today as I got the news of her death at age 94, the tragic death of my brother-in-law's boss at age 40, then the news of a dear friend's engagement, and a visit to see baby Sarah who is 3 weeks old. It was a moment where I couldn't help but think, "God is near."

Monkey Business

"The Ryan in his natural habitat." The Ryan crouches inconspicuously under a citrus tree, consuming his recently scavanged sustainence. He nibbles away, scratching occasionally at the flies and mosquitoes, but generally remains non-plussed. His diet consists mainly of fast-food. Scientists are baffled at how the Ryan can maintain such a slender physique on such a diet, but Nature has many well-kept secrets. The Female Ryan, unlike much of the animal kingdom, is known for being attractive, but much like the rest of the animal kingdom, is significantly smaller. She does not join the Ryan under his tree, but opts for the nest when consuming meals. The Ryan is most closely resembles the homosapian, but has the ability to crouch with knees in the air, and can unhook his jaw like a snake.


*(For regular FerFerFly readers, the Ryan is my little brother's good friend who often comes to our house. We like to poke him in the ribs whenever we can. Can't help it when a guy can sit like that comfortably for hours!)

Babies, Babies everywhere!

Here is the son of one of the dear friends that I had the privilege of being pregnant with. Little Timothy Lamar is just a doll! We just cracked up when I got there... I said, "Wow, look at all that hair!" She said, "Wow, look at her little bald, fuzzy head!" =) Timothy is on my list of "approved boys to choose from." I want good in-laws, but don't believe in arranged marriages, so I figure I'll just give Lucy a list. =) Just kidding.

We had a wonderful, wonderful time walking on the beach and just catching up. The last time we had seen each other was my shower, only about 10 days before Lucy was born, so we were both pregnant. It was so great to get out of the 100 degree weather, too, and go to the beautiful beach. We live so close to the beach, and we don't go nearly often enough. After today, I think I'm going to need to make it a habit. Pull out the 30spf! Aside-- I had no idea baby sunscreen smelled so much better than regular stuff! I think I'm going with the Coppertone from now on! And by the way, does it seem weird to anyone that the Coppertone baby has a tan line, when this stuff is supposed to be impenetrable?

Here they are doing "tummy time" together.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

They say the greatest gift you can give your kids is to have a healthy marriage. They're right. To grow up knowing without a doubt that my parents loved each other was the most secure thing in the world, like knowing your house will not fall down in a thunder storm. It taught me to love my own husband deeply, too. My parents were novices at their faith and at building a healthy family, but they always sought out people and resources to help them. They always knew they were on the same team.

Here they are at their wedding. So cute! Now 21 seems like they are practically babies!


Grandparenting is one of their greatest joys! I am so grateful that my kids and my nieces will grow up so tight with their grandparents. I love that they will see God not just in our lives, but in theirs, too.






Now that they are empty nesters, they are having more fun together than ever! What a great reward for all the years of tough parenting work.


Happy 36th anniversary,Mom and Dad!!