Super Family

Tonight we attended a Halloween costume party as a family. We decided to go as super heroes this year...a whole family of them! A good time was had by all. The boys really got into their very "serious superhero character" stuff when it was time to take the picture. Apparently, Batman and Robin were not the smiley types! But Supergirl...she's a charmer! The kids were very excited about our "family theme" and all in all we had a very fun time getting all dressed up and being the heroes of the night!

Just Playing Around

What can I say? I have a new lens and I cannot resist playing with it to see just what it will do! I am loving it! I love being able to get as tight as I want and still have more available to me. I love the clarity of this new lens with the vibration reduction. And I love just playing with it! And I just love my baby girl who is so sweet and so gorgeous and so cooperative with her mommy. She's my very best girl!

A is for Angel...

F is for....

Faraway Friends. Tonight I got to do some instant messaging with my dear friend in London. It was a trying day today for me on so many levels. And it was wonderful to see her log on to her computer and get to talk with her....almost as if she was here. Almost! I sit here tonight with a big smile on my face and my heart feeling ever so much lighter because I have shared my burdens and struggles with her and she understood them...and as always...had wonderful insight and advice for me. This time since she moved away has been a real challenge for both of us. I know she has struggled mightily being in a new country, new friends, new schools, new roads...and I have struggled mightily without her to be my walking partner and the voice on the other end of the phone as we simultaneously scrubbed our toilets and cleaned our houses! I have missed her presence at our weekly bible study and I have missed her smiling face dropping by my house! I think the last few months have been a real trial for both of us and we miss each other desperately! I give her a hard time about coming home, without fail, every time I talk to her. I am so eager to see her smiling face again and share deep conversations over pumpkin lattes! Anyway. Tonight I got to talk with my dear, dear friend. And I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off of my shoulders and shared and that new insight was breathed into me and that God just really, really blessed me with that short bit of conversation. I miss her so terribly. I am blessed with wonderful, wonderful friends here...don't get me wrong. God has seen to it that I am loved and loved much. I don't doubt that for a second. But this girl is special. She's a firecracker like myself. Sort of like a weird twin! We DO look an AWFUL lot alike! We love the same things and love the same, awesome, wonderful God. And we just seem to click in this crazy world. I love her dearly and I cannot wait until she is closer than an instant message. I want her back here....almost in my own backyard. But in the meantime, the Lord blessed me tonight. He woke my dear friend up early (she's so faithful that way)...and brought her to log on to her computer and we were able to spill out our hearts and touch base and lift each other up. And I am going to bed with a smile on my face tonight. The very first one I think...all day long! Thank you Lord for the wonderful gift of friendship and those special people that you plant in our lives!

H is for...

headache because that was the main theme of this particular day. The day started with the usual rush. Get the crow bar...pry oldest child out of bed. Shout and scream, plead and beg until oldest is out the door on time successfully to catch the bus. Then VERY QUICKLY try to clean up wave of total mess and destruction that always seems to follow oldest child. Jump into shower. Have briefest of conversations with hubby...went something like this..."Do I need to pack you a lunch, or can you be trusted to make a good food decision regarding your cholesterol intakes today?" Hubby decides he can handle it...I get showered...think to myself, "Hmmm, Mother Nature should be here today or tomorrow...might explain the headache that is starting up on THIS, the FOURTH day in a ROW!" Finish shower. Get dressed. Rush other two kids to school. Wait 20 minutes with littlest kid in the car because middle kid had to be at school early for orchestra and littlest can't be on campus yet...SO convenient my Wednesdays are!!! Then THROW youngest child through the gates at school the SECOND that they open...RUSH home at top speed to get ready for bible study crowd who should start descending on house in say...3 minutes, tops. Only to find Mother Nature indeed has taken this body BY STORM...nice. Very lovely. Great timing. So...now changing clothes on top of trying to make coffee, put out orange juice, slice pudding cake, put out muffins, napkins, etc. Jumping around half naked...oh...and now the doorbell starts to ring. Everyone is arriving. The next few minutes go something like this...."Hello, I am so glad you are here...come right in. Make yourself comfortable." Get one thing done and put out...doorbell rings again. Run to the front door. Start over again...."So glad you are here. Come in...yada yada yada..." Put one more thing out...Run again to the door. Cramping like crazy now. But alas...no time for feeling sorry for myself. Finally, group is under way and we make it through the study. Then, ina blink it is over and I am LATE and RUNNING to my eye doctor to see what the heck is the matter with the eyeglasses I got three weeks ago. Can't see a danged thing with them. What a pain. Turns out that my eyes can't take the material they made my lenses out of. Uggggh. 3 to 5 BUSINESS days without them...which means NEXT WEEK before I can see again. Very, very convenient. Headache is about a thousand times worse at this point. But we must press on. Run through McDonalds drive through on the way back to school and order a salad...Yay me! It sucked though...McDonalds salads? Not impressive. But I ate it. Head throbbing now mightily as I walk into school for my volunteer time. Thinking that it seemed like SUCH a good idea on parent orientation night...NOT so good in real time...but onward just the same. Get sent to the workroom to cut about a million one inch by one inch little squares. So that was fun. Head throbbing...can't see without my glasses, using brutally sharp paper cutter...oh...and some other poor mom gets sent to the work room to sharpen pencils on the electric pencil sharpener. GRIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNND. GGGGRRRRRRRRIIIIINNNNND. Lucky me. My head was just feeling so special right then. Then I got a short reprieve from square cutting and got sent to art class. Now...how special is that? Spent a lovely and crazy long hour in art class with funky art teacher (earring in her nose, crazy big tattoo on her shoulder,another on her ankle (that's all I can see) and annoying nasal voice like Fran Drescher....not QUITE as bad...but bad enough). After a way fun hour of Aborignal art technique I returned very loud kindegarten class to their teacher and got to go back to the work room for MORE little one inch square cutting and special me....there was yet ANOTHER volunteer there...doing what???? You got it. Pencil sharpening! GGGRRRIIIIIIINDDDDD! Oh yes. There is nothing like being right up there at total migraine level and being hit with every loud and annoying sound on the face of the planet in one short afternoon. I crawled out of the school and managed to drive us home. I took drugs and went almost straight to bed. Made a pit stop to clean up the huge mess I ran out on after bible study so I could get to the eye doctor on time. And then I crashed. All children were banished to total silence for a time. Thankfully, the phone did not ring and there was peace in the home for a bit while I closed my eyes and tried to just float away from the heachache from hell. And after a time...I did. It was successful. The nausea subsided. I could open my eyes with less pain and I could function as a human again. At that point I got up....got homework done and dinner started. The menu tonight? Lean Flat Iron Steak, grilled eggplant, garlic bread and salads. Nothing too fancy...but heart healthy and reasonably yummy. Chris was excited to see red meat on his plate...even the lean stuff. I reminded him not to get too attached. I don't know yet what is for dinner tomorrow night...but I'm sure it is likely to be met with that same forlorn look of longing and a sigh of resolve...the same one I have received the past 3 nights. I am thinking tomorrow's menu just might include tofu. I can't imagine how that's going to go over with poor Max. I have too much headache leftover still to think about that tonight! Nothing like before...but headache just the same. It has been a very long day here in the desert. So very long. But God is good and the moon is up, the night is cool, and my bed is ever so deep and inviting! I have to go there now and rest up, for tomorrow is a new day...with new adventures!

Cholesterol Blues

So Chris had his physical this morning...and the news was NOT all good. his cholesterol was like WAY up. So up...that the doctor said it is TIME to take action and that if he was 40 he would be put on medication straight away. However..we're a young and frisky 36 so we get to avoid that...for now. So I, being the good wife, set out to research high cholesterol and what that means and what types of diet changes we are going to need to make. And can I just tell you...that my life sucks today?! There are so many no no's on that list. I am just sitting here sad...and already hungry! Now mind you...MY cholesterol is EXCELLENT. Outstanding I believe the doctor said. However...what kind of wife would I be if I did not whole heartedly support my husband while he basically gives up every good and yummy thing on the face of the planet. And so we will be joining together in this quest to improve his health and keep him around on this planet for a good long time! And so...we will be saying goodbye to (sniff, sob)...tortilla chips at the Mexican place, refried beans and sour cream. Cream cheese wontons and eggrolls at the chinese place, along with the fried rice, egg drop soup AND the soy sauce. Then there's the ribeye steaks we love when we camp (that one's really going to hurt!), all potatoes except the plain ones (minus the butter and sour cream mind you). Oh...and let's not forget the calamari and any and all cream sauces at the Italian place. That's the list for now. Or at least...that was the point at which I got just really, really depressed at and could not research any farther! Four of the meals that I have planned over the next...let's see FOUR days don't make the cholesterol cut. BUMMER!!! So this is certainly a dilemma for the day. I have to tell you the greatest part of this challenge for me...the cooking. I don't like to do it anyway. Like...AT ALL. And I realize now that this is a WHOLE new cooking ball game for me. I am just so depressed. I need to go take a picture of something. Maybe then I will feel better!

Playing in the Park

We played in the park today. Clara...she just played. And me...well I have a brand new lens on the end of my camera today...so I played too! I have been making a definite and concentrated effort to work on my outside photography per request of a couple of dear friends. I have to say...I think it's coming along. I feel like it's getting better. Granted...my practice has not ALL been on actual people...there have been some nice bugs involved in the learning process! But today was real flesh and blood people...or person rather...and I like these of my baby girl. I like them a LOT!

So I was wrong...

Six hours post run I am in PAIN. My left hip flexor is SCREAMING at me and it pretty much hurts to take each and every step. Yep. Ouch! So...I am going to just be quiet and still the rest of this day and see if by ANY chance it will just go away. I do NOT want to be on the injured list...yet again. Hmmmm. Seven miles did not even make me blink. Eight was great while it was happening. But something is happening between the 7 and 8 mile marker and my hip is MOST unappreciative. Grrrrrrrrrr! Now I am cranky!

Back on Track!!!

I ran 8 miles today! Hooray! I am finally feeling like I just might have my old groove back. Nothing hurt. Nothing strained. Nothing pulled. At no point did I feel like I might just die. It was a nice, steady pace right to the end. I even felt great when it was all over...all said and done. And that is a good sign for sure! I've only had my running shoes about three weeks now since the whole toe thing. I've logged many miles on them I am glad to say. My best estimate is about 35 miles. Maybe 40. I haven't done the best job of keeping up with it. I've just been so glad to be able to run each time I haven't thought much about recording it! It's been a wonderful stress relief for sure...and I am hoping it will soon help to release these extra five pounds that have found their way onto my hips and seem so doggone crazy about and attached to me! We'll see! It's so good to be back on track again! So, so good!

Grasshopper

What can I say? I am into bugs here lately...and Arizona has some BIG ones! This fellow was hanging out just above my garage this afternoon. Thought he was cool enough...and close enough to grab my camera for. He was fun! I know he doesn't bite...but he SURE does not stand as still and nice for me as the praying mantis did. He made me nervous the whole time I was snapping these with all of his nervous little movements! It was enough for me to know I'd better stick with babies! Babies don't make my skin crawl and I never feel like I might throw my camera down and run away from them! Still...the big bugs here do really make for some fun and most excellent photography practice!

My Ben

I did some pictures of Ben tonight. My camera was out...running some test shots for Christmas shoots (I am already getting appointments for those...yay!). Everyone was being cooperative...and I decided to do some of our Ben with his violin since that is his musical instrument of choice at this time in his life. He asked for some of those with the same cowboy hat that Maxwell wore with his guitar picture so I plopped it on him and shot away. I have to say...there are a few that I just love. Chris? Well...he hates ALL the ones I love because he is wearing the hat. He thinks it is too much like Max and he needs to be an individual. I told him that like it or not...our boys are very, very close and they influence each other VERY greatly. And I thought it was just fine that Ben admired Max's picture enough to want one himself. I really like some of these. Chris just doesn't. He says they are NOT my canvas. Of course...he is dead wrong. I love these pictures. I love that they have very much the same feel of Maxwell's pictures. I love thinking of how awesome they will look hanging side by side...different boys, different instruments...but same warm, casual feel. I love how much our boys favor one another...so alike...yet so very different. There's a storm ahead on this one folks...just so you know. But I know a great picture when I see one...and I am rather fond of the ones I am posting here tonight for you! Enjoy!

San Diego Favorites

Sunshine and Shorelines

Our family just got back from a short vacation getaway to San Diego. We camped at South Carlsbad Beach State Park...our campsite overlooked the beautiful Pacific Ocean. We went to sleep each night to the lullaby of the waves crashing beneath us. And awoke each morning to seagulls and sweet sea air. It was a wonderful, magical three days for us there. Just to get away from all of the stress and schedules. To see my children BE children and watch them play for hours on end in the sand and surf. My hubby kicked back and napped in his hammock right there on the beach...and I was in paradise with more wonderful things to snap with my camera than I could have hoped for. I was blessed with smile after smile, beautiful sunsets, cooperative wildlife, and the pure enjoyment of just watching my sweet family frolic in it all for a few short days. They all played hard and long...and then slept hard and long. It really was a most awesome trip. Two thumbs up for camping there! We can't wait to go back again! Of course...it wouldn't be MY blog if I didn't flood it with some of my favorite moments from the trip! So here they are! Enjoy!

A New Subject

So the last couple of weeks have been just slammed for me with picture appointments...plus 3 different shoots at the hospitals for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. I have spent this last week crawling up out of a very deep and endless seeming hole of work! I finally got the last pictures and slideshows out in the mail to families yesterday and took a nice deep breath and just enjoyed a sense of accomplishment. This morning...there was a giant praying mantis on our screen door. And I thought it would be fun to capture him...you know...something different for a change. Not that screaming, wriggling toddlers aren't great. But I have to say...this guy was awesomely cooperative. He held still. Did not yell or tell me no one time. He even looked so sweetly directly into my camera with the nicest tilt of his powerful little head. And I snapped away. And this was my finished product. If you click on the picture, you can see it really big on yuor screen. Go ahead...try it! The details you can see are SO COOL! Isn't he just lovely? Of course...Chris is yelling at me "You know they bite, right?" Well, he didn't bite me! So that's a plus. When I think about it...plenty of the babies and children I shoot also bite! Anyway. After the last couple of weeks I'm thinking about leaving the world of baby photography and just doing BUGS! Nah...just kidding. But it is tempting sometimes! Anyway...this was my new subject. Something SO totally different for me...but most DEFINITELY outdoors...this one is for you Mandy! And most definitely fun! Have a great week! We're skipping out of the desert for a few days! Off to San Diego for a few days of sand and sun...and whales and what not!

I Baptize Thee...

Sunday afternoon I took pictures for UMC's very first Pediatric Memorial Service. It was just incredible to see all of the families who have said goodbye to their sweet children at UMC come together to remember them in such a special service. There was a memorial tree that the parents all decorated a butterfly ornament for and hung for their children which was later lit in the service. And there was a beautiful dove release. Once the service was over, I was asked to go up to the NICU for a session. It was time for a very young couple to say goodbye to their sweet angel. I never really know exactly what I am walking in to when I head in for these sessions. I often don't know if baby is still with us or not, or how the parents are handling this...if baby will be able to be held or not...or if mom and dad even want to. Every session is a new journey for me. This session was for a beautiful little girl...born at just 23 weeks gestation. Much, much too small to survive in this world. And after much angst, her parents had decided to pull her life support and let her go into the arms of Jesus. I met them there in the NICU. The little mom, at only 19 years of age, was just overcome with tears and emotion as the NICU staff explained the process to her and got her settled and ready to hold her little girl. The hospital chaplain came up to be with the family and baptized the baby there as mom held her and wept over her. And then she slipped away...ever so quietly. The tubes were all removed and we saw her beautiful little face for the first time...free of tubes...and free of the suffering of this life. It was an experience that I have never before been a part of. And I was humble beyond belief to be able to witness this and to share this family's pain of letting this little angel go. It is starting to all sink in for me tonight...I am starting to digest it all. I know that this tiny one is tonight, being cuddled in the arms of Jesus himself...I am hoping that this mom and dad somehow know that too...and take some comfort in it. And I am thankful that I have never encountered anything like this in my own life. That I never had to say goodbye to any of my own. That I never had to look into their little faces and make that decision for them. I am left pondering this photography gift and talent...wondering if all along, this was the reason it was given? Capturing these images...it changes one's heart and soul forever...in ways I never could have imagined. God is doing a work here. In me...in my heart...in my family...and in each of these families that cross my lens. I am thankful for the new person that I am every time I leave a session...for the things that I take away with me...and the images that I am able to leave behind. God is so good. Even in the midst of such sadness...God is so good.

No Difibrillators Here!

So, I have been on a bit of a church quest here lately. Trying to find a church that really, really feels like home...without a doubt, where we are supposed to be. It has been a rather interesting journey so far. Last week I visited a church and they were preaching about having a disaster plan and what that meant for their church. I really expected to hear about getting right with God and making sure that we are ready to go when He calls us home. However...what I heard was how the church needed to budget money to buy defibrillators for the congregation there. Yes...that was the sermon. Not surprising, seeing as how the entire congregation was about 75 years old. Not surprising, but a bit disappointing! So this week we visited another church. My prayer was that I would hear (and recall) the Word of God in a way that really stuck with me and that the congregation would be somewhat younger than 75. God truly does have a sense of humor! In case you were wondering...He certainly does and I witnessed it first hand this morning. When we arrived there were several large screens up front and very quickly the service got underway. I noticed right off the bat that the music was a bit fast. Well...not so much the music...but more, the words. Like...there were just way too many words crammed into each score of music. WAY too many. So we only caught about every 15th word or so. Frustrating...but oh well. Then, on the third song, low and behold, the disco light came on and started spinning. That's right. The disco light. Chris and I exchanged quite a look at this point...we are hearing this music (it's like music on speed!) and taking this all in and now the lights are spinning for a totally like 70's, sort of Stayin Alive moment. It was so absurd that I just burst out laughing. Taking in the whole scene...the pastor also doubles as the lead drummer...who happens to have a very strong resemblance to a porcupine. He talks VERY fast by the way (which explains the music...which is ALL written by him personally!). One of the guitarist looks like the Dooby Brothers with his black hat and dark sunglasses. The other looks like Cowboy Bob with his hat and gigantic belt buckle. And everyone is rocking out to this totally fast worded music under the spinning disco light. Praise Jesus...what a scene it was! I really, really was chuckling at it all by this point. This was definitely NOT the defibrillator crowd! The message was fine. NOt overly deep. Scripturally rich, yes. But in the words of our Gigi (who went with us), we all got it the first time! The message was a bit simplistic to say the least. But thanks to the disco lights and the doobie brothers I am certain I will remember it for many moons to come. Needless to say...we will not be calling this one home. But we all shared a good chuckle and a more than a little bit interesting adventure today! WOW. Like...who knew? I have grown up in the Presbyterian church my whole life and never once...not one time have I encountered a disco light in the Sunday worship service. I might get one for my kitchen...kind of...you know...groove it up a bit. Thank you Lord for your wonderful sense of humor and leading me to this service that helps to put all the other many churches and services into perspective for me!

And Just a few More (aren't smiles just great?!)

And More Smiles

Playground Smiles

Snapped these while we were between races at Max's cross country meet today. I just LOVE their sweet, bright smiles! These days are moving so fast for us now. I want to remember these laughs and smiles forever!

Cross Country Draws to a Close

This afternoon was the final Cross Country meet for Max's school. The race was held at Columbus Park...the route was 1.85 miles long. Max ran it in 16:48! The boys team placed second overall and earned a great big trophy for the school! This was a fun season for Max and I know the running did him a lot of good! Here are some pictures from his big day!

Brain Dead Mondays

I have to tell ya...Mondays are just not really my day! I just can't seem to get my neurons firing quite fast enough to be high functioning on those days! It's just too hard to get back into the crazy swing that we call life after having a weekend of brain chill. And I have to say that this weekend was unusually generous in the area of brain chill! Thus, this particular Monday seemed SO much tougher! I managed okay...for the most part. Got lots of little piddly stuff done. Lots of catch up. Still not in the mood to work on that baby from Friday night...not sure why I just can't get myself fired up on that one...but anyway. Day went fairly okay...until I looked up and it was five minutes past the time I needed to walk out the door to drop off the kids to get to a surprise party for a friend. So we hightailed it on out of here. I dropped off the kids, picked up the husband (whom I had passed in all of his Evil Kinevil glory on the way home)...and headed out to where the party was. Only...where the party was was NOT where I was. It was at the OTHER location, clear across town. Now...I SHOULD have known that. I SHOULD have noticed on the invitation which location it was...but I missed that. And so...here we were at the totally wrong place on the totally wrong side of town. But hey...that's cool. But that was right when and where my total aversion to the other side of town TOTALLY kicked in and I made the split second decision that we simply were NOT going to go any further. Just like that. Chris looked at me...knew immediately that it was wise not to argue...and suggested that we just make it a date instead. So after some debate...we decided to head over to La Encantada and eat at Blanco, about which we have heard SO much. So that's what we did. My thoughts on Blanco? It's loud...the food is just so so...their outfits are just stupid that they wear...did I mention that it was LOUD?!!! All in all...I can't say that I recommend the place. I have no desire to go back...ever. I'm just going to wait till Mary gets back and then we're going to Mi Nidito. And I mean...LOTS! October is SUCH a nice month for coming back, no?! Anyway...nice night with hubby...even though it was totally not what it started out to be. Back home. As I tuck kids into bed Max produces one very, VERY gross set of p.e. uniform....I think it's been two weeks since it was washed since he kept on forgetting to bring it home! And so now...I get to stay up extra late tonight doing laundry so that he can have his uniform clean for class tomorrow. I think that sums up my Monday. Tuesday is a new and better day...I hope!

Another Week Gone By

I have been 36 for exactly one week now. So far, so good. It's been a busy week, but then...aren't they all?! I already blogged about my Monday last week...my birthday! Tuesday brought pump class, body flow class, orchestra practice for Ben and parent conferences at Painted Sky for both Ben and Clara. The news was all good! No surprises. I have bright kids...they don't always apply themselves (mostly Ben)...but it's all there and they are doing rather well this school year. Wednesday, brought more Orchestra practice for Ben, my first run since I broke my toe, and a trip to the eye doctor for me. As for my run...it was awesome. I managed five miles right out of the chute. No pain in the toe...no problems! Then I headed to the eye doctor for a little check up. Sure enough, my prescription had changed a bit (I suspected that it had!) and so I have new glasses in the works as I type this! There was one little disturbing side note to that visit...the doctor informed me that in the next 3 or 4 years I will probably need BIFOCALS! And I'm like..."Um...excuse me? WHAT did you say?" Followed by immediate thoughts of "We'll just see about that!". So...I think that was like...my first old lady hit. My parents have bifocals...at least my mom does. I think she was pretty old before she got them. I'm quite certain it wasn't when she was in her 30's! Oh well. Aging is such joy. Moving on to Thursday...Thursday is my pump class, immediately followed by my flow class. Then after a super quick shower and lunch it was time to pick up Ben and Clara. They had early release ALL week due to parent conferences. Then...the best part of the week...my new DESK was delivered! HALLELUJAH! I have work space now! I have been using the world's teeniest and most disfunctional desk ever for quite some time. My small flat monitor sat on it, along with my keyboard, a tiny skinny lamp and a picture frame. And the entire surface was covered. No room for a sheet of paper or anything left over. Working at it was quite a challenge. I always ended up having to pull a chair over to me to put papers on...or to drop papers all around me on the floor..or make little balancing stacks on the arm of the couch right behind me. But now...I have a BIG, beautiful computer armoire...so I can close the doors on my creative disaster! And I have PLENTY of workspace and a keyboard at an awesome height now. It's lovlier than I can even tell you! Friday was just Friday. I had a picture appointment. It was early release again...Max had a meet at Los Mesquites and did not get back until 7:30 that night. Ben slept over at a friends house. I ran again...just 4 miles on Friday as my butt was screaming sore and not really appreciating every step I trudged forward! Oh...and I got a call from Northwest hosptal Women's center to come and do a session...so I headed out at 10:15 Friday night to do that. This session was for a 16 year old couple, baby was 31 weeks with Trisomy 18. I'm not sure if baby survived delivery, but she was no longer living when I arrived. The young parents seemed pretty shell shocked. I now have a couple hundred pictures to edit and photoshop and then assemble into a slideshow. So that's a task for this week for sure. Saturday was my Bodyjam class and then Bodyflow (have I mentioned that I just LOVE that Bodyflow class?!!). Then we hit the house hard...me cleaning...Chris with outside projects. It was a VERY productive day for sure! After all of that...we didn't know what to do with ourselves. So we ended up picking up sandwches at Quizno's and heading over to the park for a picnic and playing. The kids just loved it and had a fantastic time. Then we made a quick home depot and target stop and scootled on home. And then...it was Sunday. Sundays are the ONLY day I ever have even the slightest twinge of homesickness for Florida. And it isn't for Florida so much...not the state...not the people...but our church there. Oh, I miss it more than words can say. We have been in the desert now for almost three years and still really feel that element missing in our lives. We found a nice enough church. The people are amazing and so kind and so nice and just altogether awesome. But the preaching is just not doing it for me. Iam looking for something in it that I just don't find here. I want a sermon with strong scriptural backing. I want to know where that scripture came from, who it was written to...what it means. And THEN...I want to know what that means for my own self today. How can I take that information into today with me? I guess what I really want is something to chew on through the week. Not just a general message. Sometimes it seems like pastors here are afraid to really dig deep and get to the meat of the matters in scripture. I just want a sermon that will prick at my brain over the next few days following that sermmon...one that makes me look at my life and my heart and my walk with the Lord and pushes me to get myself back on track. I want to LEARN something I didn't know. See things differently. I don't want to just hear a scripture and someone's general thoughts on it. I still remember sermons from 3 and 4 years ago from Olive...and I have trouble recalling sermons from the past two weeks here...let alone years. I thought we might move along to a little plant church that is starting out this way...but I don't know that that is the answer for us either. I am just going to keep praying about it...but as my friend pointed out...this might be my wilderness time as far as my church and spiritual life is concerned. Maybe so. Maybe not. I visited yet another church yesterday. It sucked. That's all I have to say about that. And so...my Sunday saga will continue I guess. More than ever, yesterday I was missing our church back at home. Oh to have just one more Sunday there! But oh well.

And so ...we are back to Monday again. Back to the grind, back to the schedules, back to the errands...back to life as we know it! Time sure flies when you are so completely overscheduled that you don't know which end is up! Thus is life! On a VERY bright note...our Beth Moore bible study starts this week! 9 ladies this go round! Many of them brand new to our little group. God is so good and has blessed this little study of ours. We are all so excited and ready to dig into the word with Beth! We are doing Believing God this time around! Have a great week!

Happy Birthday to Me!

I am 36 years old today! And a wonderful day it has been for sure! For starters, I got a bright and early phone call at 6:00 a.m. from my dearest friend Mary in London! It was wonderful to hear her bright and cheery voice on the other end of the line and to share a few minutes of much needed catch up and conversation! THEN, I got treated to pumpkin lattes and pumpkin cream cheese muffins by my dear friend Angelica at Starbucks this morning! Thank you SO much for that yummy treat! THEN I went and bought.... dah tah da...RUNNING SHOES!!!! Yep...it has FINALLY been six weeks since the whole nasty little toe meets up with the hitch incident...and so I finally get to run again. HALLELUJAH!!!!!! Really...HALLELUJAH! THEN...(the treats just go on and on, don't they?!)...THEN Jim and Jackie called and took me out for a birthday lunch of yummy Mexican food (my favorite!). And now...well, now I am sitting here blogging about all of this with a great big smile on my face and a very full tummy and just a sense of total and complete satisfaction with my life. I mean...how awesome can a life be? God has been so amazingly good to me. I have been reflecting on my last 36 years and thought about all the paths my life COULD have taken and all the pits I COULD have fallen into and all the different ways my life COULD have turned out....but for the grace of God. It is awesome how He has just held my hand and walked me through these paths of life and kept my feet where they needed to be. He has blessed me again and again and again. I am living EXACTLY the life I wished for growing up and being EXACTLY who I wanted to be when I grew up. How AWESOME IS that? I never dreamed of being a corporate big shot or wildly succesful or rich or anything remotely like that. I dreamed of being a wife and a mom...a mom who got to stay home with her babies and raise them up...and I have been able to do just that. I prayed for that and was given EXACTLY that. What more could a person hope for. Never in a million years did I imagine a talent like photography...never! Yet...here it has been given to me and I am awed at how that has developed over this past year. It is just mind boggling. God is so, so, SO good to me and to my family. I am just blessed to bits this morning! And so...even though I am another year older...a few hairs grayer...a good six pounds heavier (and a very stubborn six pounds they are!)...I have never been happier in my life. I have a husband who makes me feel like the most special person in the world. I never doubt for a second how much he loves me. I have three beautiful and healthy children who are just awesome and smart and showing new and neat talents each and every day! I have a job that is so totally fun and awesome (I mean...really...what other job do you know of where precious babies just smile at you for an hour at a time?!). And I am just reveling in the countless blessings of my life on this...the first day of my 36th year on this earth. So Happy Birthday to Me! What more could a girl ask for?! Life is so, so good here in the desert!

Faking Fall

I played with a new fall set in my studio tonight. Clara was very cooperative and so sweet to help me out a bit. I DO so love that girl of mine! While I was out Thursday, I gathered up hay bales and pumpkins and sunflowers and lots of fall leaves. (Note to self...those hay bales are MESSSSSSSYYYYY!) Not that you'd find fall leaves around here! Anyway. I put together a nice little fall set. Or I liked it at least! And my favorite part? The leaves. I basically created a connecticut or vermont feel with my leaves...I just HAD to bring in some fall. I think these 103 degree days are getting to me and I am now urging fall to arrive! And there is no real "fall" here. The leaves don't change colors. Hardly anything even has leaves! And there is no real drastic drop in temperature...though I am fully aware that it WILL indeed cool off here soon! So I just created fall for myself in there tonight...and I have to say...I liked it! Isn't that girl of mine just the cutest thing ever?!

Chris' Adventures in the land of Gobble

I just got this e-mail from my dear husband who is off on, yet another work adventure. This time, to Istanbul, Turkey. Now...when I traveled abroad with him last year, he tended to make me nervous in his adventursomeness (is that a word?). Believe me...there were a few tense moments traveling with him in France and Italy with our three small children. At one point, I swore I would NEVER travel anywhere with him again...EVER! Anyway. I got this from him this morning...and it was just too funny not to share...and just so much like my Chris! So...on his behalf...I am posting his entry here with Chris as my guest blogger! Enjoy!

Got taken for a ride.

I was picked up at the Grand Bazaar at eleven in the morning and the driver offerred to drive me to the airport after checking out of the hotel. He asked me the flight time and since it was 4 hours until taking off he suggested a "slightly" longer but more scenic route. Though a tingling sensation told me otherwise, I agreed to his proposal.

The driver's name was Umit which rhymes with Zoom It and he quickly decided that he and I are very good friends. At one point he stopped the car and asked me to sit in the front seat so we could talk more freely. He told me that Ramadan had started on Wednesday and it means that he cannot eat or smoke in daylight hours. I asked him if he could drink and he replied that he is Islamic and he is not allowed to drink alcohol but can drink water. He asked me if I drink and I told him that yes I drink and my favorite is red wine. He said that he likes white wine better but that his favorite is Raki (90 proof local stuff). I raised my eyebrow and he put his finger to his lips and said "shhh". Then he rolled down the window and lit up a cigarette. Umit informed me that there are 3000 mosques in Istanbul. Each time we passed one he averted his eyes and lowered his cigarette below the windowsill. Umit also repeatedly asked me to recall his name which I could not decide was because he wanted to be sure to that I permanently imprint our friendship in my mind or if "Umit" is Turkish for something completely hilarious but totally inappropriate.

For the first half hour we hugged the shoreline of the Bosphorous in what I am pretty sure is the opposite direction from the airport. I pointed this out to him but he did not think it was a big problem since we are great friends and all that and commented that I had "plenty time - no problem". I remember reading somewhere that the Mediterranean translation of "no problem" means the complete opposite. I asked him to stop at an ATM because I was concerned I did have enough cash to cover the fare. After completing the transaction he asked me how much money I took out. Then he good-heartedly slapped my leg and told me that since it is Ramadan I should give him a good tip.

An hour and a half after leaving the hotel we arrived at the airport.
The fare on the meter was 116YTL ($90) which is about twice what it should have been if not for the detour around the Bosphorous to the Black Sea. But then he pushed a button and the fare changed to 180YTL ($130). I called BS on that and he told me that since I was given a city tour that a flat fee was applied to the total. We argued about this for a minute but of course I got nowhere.

To make things worse he had convienently pulled the taxi past the terminal drop-off zone so that I could not flag the police. Finally, he asked for his good tip. I told him that the best tip I have is to take the bus when in Istanbul. Then I grabbed my stuff and dodged all the incoming traffic back to the terminal.

By the way the taxi number was 34 TBU 16. I wonder if it was the same as Trevor's magician buddy (who turned a 100YTL bill into a 1YTL bill in front of his eyes) or if all of the drivers in Istanbul are so friendly.

At least I got a receipt for my experience.

Chris Roberts

Back to School

Here are some fun pictures I did of Clara celebrating back to school. I think she is just SO cute!

My Love Language

Today is Labor Day. And so far it has been wonderful! Of course, it is only 9:30 a.m...but still, it's been great to this point. It started nice and early at 5:30 a.m. when we had to get up and take Max to cross country practice. They run at 6:30. I had planned to take him and walk behind his group (since I still have two weeks and 3 days before I can run again!)...But when the alarm went off at 5:30, Chris announced that he wanted to take him and run with his group. So he headed off with Max and I got up and got moving a bit. I decided to seize the cooler morning temperatures and as soon as Clara was stirring I grabbed her up and headed out the door with her in the jog stroller (breakfast onboard) and little Oscar in tow. We struck out on one of my most favorite routes...and were off to Stone Canyon. We kept a pretty decent pace, considering it was my very first exercise like that in over three weeks since the toe-meets-the-hitch-in-a-most-unfortunate-way incident. Once we reached Stone Canyon, we stopped for a brief couple of minutes so Oscar could have a drink of water, me too, and then we headed back out the way we came. Now. Oscar was doing pretty well, considering this was his first walk of any length. He was starting to slow down, but was still holding his own. Well, before we knew it we were making the turn onto Vistoso Highlands Dr. Almost the home stretch. As we headed down the road, suddenly, there was a car pulling over to the side of the road...and lo and behold...it was my Chris and Max...just heading back from cross country practice. And they had...Pumpkin Spice Latte for me!!!! Yes. The ultimate treat. This time of year is absolutely, HANDS DOWN, my favorite time of year. Why? Not because it is any bit cooler. Not because the leaves are changing. Not because there is any rain. No...it's my favorite time of year because it is the start of Pumpkin season. Pumpkin lattes and pumpkin cheesecake. Pumpkin muffins and pumpkin yogurt. Yum! And so pulls up my dashingly wonderful husband with none other than my favorite drink ever in his hand. And my heart just melted (the rest of me was pretty much already melted from the heat and my walk)...that man SO knows my love language. And pumpkin lattes are my love language all the way! At this point, I threw poor little tired Oscar into the car with Chris. Clara also declared that she was hot and headed home with Dad...so that left me...alone...hot, steaming Starbucks in hand, empty jog stroller, Jesus just a blasting in my iPod. I can't tell you the strange looks I got the rest of the walk home. Everyone seemed to have a "Hey...you forgot your baby." look on their faces! I didn't care. I looked like an idiot in 100 degree weather with hot Starbucks and that empty stroller...but it was just fantastic and I felt so utterly loved and special all the way home!