Wazup? 
Staying in touch with the crafty side
It is easy for me to put off silly little projects like this because really who has time to make a fall pillowcase when no one has clean underwear? But I have found that when I make time to do these little things...I don't know...it just makes me happy. And hopefully it makes them happy too. And it usually relieves a little stress...for a minute, until I realize all I have neglected to do it. We were in JoAnn fabrics back in the fall and the kids asked for fall pillowcases. Seemed like an easy request. You just sew two rectangles together, right? I let them pick out the fabric and this was the result.
Wazup?
Wazup?
Oh, Mexico
Sad to say this is the only picture I snapped from our cross the border run last month. We went down for an afternoon to see some friends who live in Tijuana (TJ if you are cool). It was disconcerting. Much more 3rd world country-ish than I expected. Granted, we just stayed in the border area, but there were potholes bigger than Joseph and wild dogs. And it was loud and extremely dirty. Oddly, there were abandoned shoes everywhere...guess a lot of people are in a hurry down there. But we had a lovely time with our friends, eating (what I hope was beef) tacos and just wandering around.
We actually walked over the border - quicker. But this was a mile or so from where we parked.
Ella Cinderella
This seems like so long ago now...but it has only been a few weeks since Ella passed away. Aside from Ridley and a few earth worms...and some slugs that somehow ended up smeared on my bathroom towels...aside from all those, Ella Cinderella was Olivia's first, very own pet. She and Mike found the grasshopper in Frank and Irma's yard. Olivia immediately found him a "cave" (aka - cage) see video - and gathered all the necessities: grass, coke bottle top of water, and toys. Toys? That's right. Toys. (also see video)
Olivia handled and cared for Ella every day. She wanted to take her everywhere we went, convinced that she (Ella) did not like being left alone. (I think there might have been a little projection going on there.) She changed her water and gave her fresh grass. There were a few mornings (she check on her every morning) when Olivia would come in the house and say something like, "Silly Ella, she is still asleep." And I just knew she had kicked the bucket. But she survived...for two weeks! A grasshopper, in a box for two weeks! Granted she only had about 3/4 of an antennae on one side and 1/4 on the other and one of her front paws was half missing (too much handling I think), but she lived on.
One day Olivia said she knew tricks and that she played with the toys. I smiled and said, "Really? That's great." Not believing her. When she said, "Watch this" and dipped the hopper into the cave and said, "Get your toy" and raised the durn bug up with a wooden painted heart in its...hands...legs?? I dropped my draw. Sure enough. She did tricks.
Olivia handled and cared for Ella every day. She wanted to take her everywhere we went, convinced that she (Ella) did not like being left alone. (I think there might have been a little projection going on there.) She changed her water and gave her fresh grass. There were a few mornings (she check on her every morning) when Olivia would come in the house and say something like, "Silly Ella, she is still asleep." And I just knew she had kicked the bucket. But she survived...for two weeks! A grasshopper, in a box for two weeks! Granted she only had about 3/4 of an antennae on one side and 1/4 on the other and one of her front paws was half missing (too much handling I think), but she lived on.
One day Olivia said she knew tricks and that she played with the toys. I smiled and said, "Really? That's great." Not believing her. When she said, "Watch this" and dipped the hopper into the cave and said, "Get your toy" and raised the durn bug up with a wooden painted heart in its...hands...legs?? I dropped my draw. Sure enough. She did tricks.One night we returned to find Ella on her side, not to raise again. I was worried about how Olivia would respond. She got really quiet and let Mike carry her to bed, but then never looked back. The bug sat in the cave on the porch for a couple weeks until Joseph finally tossed the bug into the garden. Said she needed some new grass. Don't think he gets death yet.
I'm not sure what to think about Olivia's mourning. Trying not to imagine her responding to our deaths that way...or Joseph either...he might just toss us out in the front yard for some fresh grass. But she was quite the grasshopper trainer. Made us proud.
Ella Cinderella
October Something 2010 - October Something 2010.
R.I.P.
Second Annual Last Minute Costume Mayhem
Well, we did it again. Last year was such a "success" (see Joseph below: the hand-me-down zebra), we decided to come up with Olivia's costume the day of. Don't get me wrong (those of you who know us won't), we had plenty of time. Olivia said months ago that she wanted to be a macaw. In fact a pattern has emerged - whatever major theme we are using for school influences her costume choice. Last year it was zoo - thus the zebra. This year we are studying birds. So, as much as I do not enjoy going to Wal-Mart (despite my southern roots where Wal-Mart is the Sax of the South), here I was again armed with a request and a...oops, no credit card. On the way to Wal-Mart I have to admit I had a skip in my step, energized by last year's success. But as I drove all the way back home to get my credit card I was murmuring something like, "Whose dumb idea was this? Why in the world would we wait until the last minute?! Why does this always happen?!" Always? I am such an exaggerater when I am frustrated.
Mike was the hero this year. The wings made the outfit. And Joseph wore the zebra well. And Baby G...well you'll see. Below is sweet Lou from across the street. Proud to say his dad made his costume too! An airplane. Looked awesome. Only problem was it weighed about 50 pounds and Lou only made a couple of houses before they had to carry it for him. Very cute. We love Lou...and his parents. They are subleasing August's house while they are in Germany. They are from South Carolina. It is nice to have a shared accent on the street.
Lou being stalked by a macaw. (You would never know it from the back, but Leigh Ann was pregnant. Now Lou has a baby brother Bert. Cute.)
The best part of trick or treating this year was Joseph running back after every house yelling, "Ta da!" and holding up the loot from that house. Every house he did that.
This is Lu Lu. (Lot a Lou's around here). Her full name is Lunette. She is Frank and Irma's (next door) great granddaughter (one of them anyway, they have a million). She is the cutest chunky monkey you ever saw...especially with that pencil thin.
We had the best time this year. We went with Frank and Irma's grand kids and their kids. Lana (below) is Olivia's age and they have become fast friends. Lana lives in Palmdale and only visits every few months, but they are joined at the hip when she is here.
You can blow this up and see the pumpkin O and Joe created with Mike.
You can blow this up too - this line of people went down our walk to the side walk and down to Frank and Irma's. It was crazy. Once, when walking back from taking a few pictures, I passed two old ladies coming down the steps with trick or treat bags! No lie. I don't even think they were dressed up. I don't remember now. But one of them was holding on the railing and I thought I might need to help her. No shame for candy around here.
So there it is. We'll see what happens next year...
Lou being stalked by a macaw. (You would never know it from the back, but Leigh Ann was pregnant. Now Lou has a baby brother Bert. Cute.)
The best part of trick or treating this year was Joseph running back after every house yelling, "Ta da!" and holding up the loot from that house. Every house he did that. 
This is Lu Lu. (Lot a Lou's around here). Her full name is Lunette. She is Frank and Irma's (next door) great granddaughter (one of them anyway, they have a million). She is the cutest chunky monkey you ever saw...especially with that pencil thin.
We had the best time this year. We went with Frank and Irma's grand kids and their kids. Lana (below) is Olivia's age and they have become fast friends. Lana lives in Palmdale and only visits every few months, but they are joined at the hip when she is here. 
You can blow this up and see the pumpkin O and Joe created with Mike. 
You can blow this up too - this line of people went down our walk to the side walk and down to Frank and Irma's. It was crazy. Once, when walking back from taking a few pictures, I passed two old ladies coming down the steps with trick or treat bags! No lie. I don't even think they were dressed up. I don't remember now. But one of them was holding on the railing and I thought I might need to help her. No shame for candy around here.
So there it is. We'll see what happens next year...Ordination Day
Worth the wait? I think so. Worth the work? Ask Mike, but I am pretty sure he would say yes. A sanctifying process for sure...for all of us. This probably isn't the best place to post details, but for those of you who prayed for us and encouraged us - you know how the Lord worked. It was good. Like our wedding, we were really able to enjoy this day and the week leading up to it. Mike planned the service and, also like our wedding, it was truly representative of him. He involved many men of many different personalities and gifts, who knew him in various contexts. They really honored Mike in their prayers, charges, and commentary on the process and how he navigated his way through it. They were right. I saw it. God certainly spent the last year pruning his servant - growing humility and patience and wisdom. We are thankful. And now that I think of it...a bit nervous...because a pattern is emerging...God teaching us through stripping us of the things we are most confident in at the time.
Day of - one of the highlights was having the Kays join us for the celebration. Tim is one of our pastors from Atlanta and he preached the sermon from Ezekiel - God's rebuke of the unfaithful shepherds and his call to be a faithful shepherd. Above - the placemat making, bulletin folding party. Below - supper before the service. Would you believe that 10 people ate dinner and got ready and got out the door ON TIME? And we just have one bathroom!
Grace Lutheran Church is where Harbor's Uptown site meets on Sunday evenings. They let us use their sanctuary for the service. This is the dessert table in the fellowship hall.
These are the LOVELY flowers that Amy Veerman had delivered for the reception. They were perfect - fall-ish and beautiful. (Amy, that was one of the short ones. The best part was these huge maroonish green leaves that they wrapped around the inside of the vase. So pretty. One lady commented, "Those weren't just thrown together.") Not a great picture - they were more vibrant than this shows.
One day, weeks before the service, Olivia was cutting and gluing paper and made this little placemat. I loved it. So I asked her and the Kay girls to make a bunch more to put on the tables at the reception. I thought they were fun and colorful and Olivia loved having somthing she made there.
Chad practicing. I think Mike enjoyed picking the music best. We did two traditional hymns - Come Thou Fount and Holy, Holy, Holy. These have been some of the first hymns we taught our kids - so they could sing along. Chad also played two of his tunes that have become particularly special to us. You can listen to them at soundandshape.com. Click on the sound and shape radio link in the upper right corner - Isaiah 12 and Awake, Awake are the second two songs. (By the way, that's my lady like girl in the pink tights in the back. Apparently she needs the charm school my mother sent me to.)
Kay cuties. Maggie (far right) was the age Greta is now when I first met her.
Who invited Oliver?
The fun continued as the Kays stayed the night and we messed around on Saturday - including a little In and Out burger and the seals in La Jolla.
This was right before an aggressive sea gull came and snatched Joseph's burger away. Committed murder in my heart toward that sea gull. Poor Buddy.
"I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!" Ps. 27:13
Day of - one of the highlights was having the Kays join us for the celebration. Tim is one of our pastors from Atlanta and he preached the sermon from Ezekiel - God's rebuke of the unfaithful shepherds and his call to be a faithful shepherd. Above - the placemat making, bulletin folding party. Below - supper before the service. Would you believe that 10 people ate dinner and got ready and got out the door ON TIME? And we just have one bathroom!
Grace Lutheran Church is where Harbor's Uptown site meets on Sunday evenings. They let us use their sanctuary for the service. This is the dessert table in the fellowship hall.
These are the LOVELY flowers that Amy Veerman had delivered for the reception. They were perfect - fall-ish and beautiful. (Amy, that was one of the short ones. The best part was these huge maroonish green leaves that they wrapped around the inside of the vase. So pretty. One lady commented, "Those weren't just thrown together.") Not a great picture - they were more vibrant than this shows.
One day, weeks before the service, Olivia was cutting and gluing paper and made this little placemat. I loved it. So I asked her and the Kay girls to make a bunch more to put on the tables at the reception. I thought they were fun and colorful and Olivia loved having somthing she made there.
Chad practicing. I think Mike enjoyed picking the music best. We did two traditional hymns - Come Thou Fount and Holy, Holy, Holy. These have been some of the first hymns we taught our kids - so they could sing along. Chad also played two of his tunes that have become particularly special to us. You can listen to them at soundandshape.com. Click on the sound and shape radio link in the upper right corner - Isaiah 12 and Awake, Awake are the second two songs. (By the way, that's my lady like girl in the pink tights in the back. Apparently she needs the charm school my mother sent me to.)
Kay cuties. Maggie (far right) was the age Greta is now when I first met her.
Who invited Oliver?
The fun continued as the Kays stayed the night and we messed around on Saturday - including a little In and Out burger and the seals in La Jolla.
This was right before an aggressive sea gull came and snatched Joseph's burger away. Committed murder in my heart toward that sea gull. Poor Buddy.
"I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!" Ps. 27:13We have had an eyeful lately.
Filler
The next thing to post is Mike's ordination, but I don't have time to sit down and sort through all that - the pictures and the thoughts. So here is a bit of filler...
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