Thought

There is comfort in being understood.  

Dilemma

I purchased our family Christmas letterhead yesterday.  I happened upon a deal and had the sense about me to pick it up, even though Christmas seems at least six months away.  I was proud of myself for actually considering this a good idea, despite the mental calendar snafu.

I keep a file of our past Christmas cards, and so I took it out to refresh my memory as I consider what our letter will look like this year.  And there it was.  Last year's photo of our family huddled together in front of our fireplace.  UGH!!!  Stop me in my tracks emotion!  How can it be that such a place, the home in which we spent ten years making memories, looks so familiar and yet feels so very far from normal?!  I found it amazing as I looked at this picture that none of us had any idea of what life would look like today.  How different things can be without any warning.  Normal is ever evolving - changing.  Such is life.  

  

So, here's my problem:  It's fair to say it's going to take some time before I get to those boxes and boxes of photos that forever call to me.  They have always called to me, and I have always had my reasons for not answering, so I thought.  I guess I'm not ready to get into those boxes for fear of stirring up too much feeling.  Not just yet. 

  

When I get down about feeling down lately, I tell myself this IS normal. Better said, buck up and get on with it Tracy!!!  And thankfully, with His help, I shift my thoughts to all the new blessings in my life.  

And relish the old.  Those pictures are waiting!

A Must See

We went out last night with our life group from church.   Not only was it our goal to spend time together, we went specifically to see the movie "Fire Proof".   Please, if you have the time and it's still playing in your area, go see this movie!  I am highly recommending it!!!  The story line was so realistic and pertinent to what so many of us face daily, and the message was solid!!!  I usually don't remember movies (or much, for that matter), but this is one I am not going to forget.  

Good friends, good food, an impacting message.... what a great night.  

Package

Fall came today..... in a little box.  

My brother sent it..... full of leaves, 

       in all the vibrant colors of a Midwest autumn.

He didn't want me to miss out.  

It's the kind of gift that truly is all about the thought.  

I now have a sweet sampling of fall, and a swelling heart of gratitude. 

Little brothers aren't so bad after all.  

Grace: (noun) Unmerited Favor

God's abundant grace is our amazing gift, and is evident in so many ways..... 

 

Life long friendships and new ones, too.  Mercy - new every morning. Peace in the midst of a struggle.  Ears to hear His still small voice. Health. Embracing a challenge.  The gift of a new day.  Being surrounded by others who truly want to know Him better.  Forgiveness.  Freedom. Direction from the ultimate parent.  Conversations in prayer.  Being known better than I know myself.  The gift of time.  A thoughtful card or message.  A kind word. Encouragement. Victory. Growth.  The glory of creation.  Unconditional love.  Hope.  Salvation.

Surely, I don't deserve it, 

and in response to His goodness and mercy,

 as an act of praise to Him in gratitude, 

I can extend the same to those around me.

Corruption

Sometimes I don't make the bed.

What's most noteworthy of this fact, is that my own unmade bed no longer bothers me.  

Does this new attitude indicate degeneration, or am I just growing up?

Priceless

Visit the Mission

Lunch at the winery

Friday night football, Go Crusaders!

Keeping warm at the game

Saturday morning at the Farmer's Market

Losing your newly purchased photos

Throwing the football at the park

Grilling out

Making pie together

Playing the pig game

Five Crowns

Going to church

Puppies!

A hike in the plateau

Horse back riding

Watching boys be boys on dirt bikes

Swimming

Playing golf

Relaxing together

Shopping for the Roach boys

Lunch dates

White Lime yogurt treats

Misc. repair jobs 

Coffee at Starbucks

A week together:     PRICELESS!!!   

Love you Mom and Dad!!

Surprise Visit

There came a knock at the door.   I was intrigued by Halle's response when I asked her who it was.   Her tone was unsure, and the look on her face quite puzzled.  To be honest, my mind was unable to grasp her response. Not until I took a look for myself did I believe.  There, at our front door, were friends from Ohio, unannounced...... how wonderful!!   The Wilken's were "in the neighborhood" for the weekend... a quick-trip-perk when you work for the airlines, and on the way to the southern part of the state, they programmed what Brenda could remember of our address into the GPS. With a little help from the mail lady, they found us!!  We spent the afternoon together getting caught up.  A most delightful surprise!!  So glad for the time and your wonderful memory, Brenda!!

The old guys took on the youngsters in a close game of b-ball.  

In the end, the final score, 11 to 10..... Dad's were victorious.  

These four ran around the yard with gleeful screams in a game of tag.  

However, no one was interested in a dip in the pool afterward.   

They had decided that frozen toes at the height of the day wasn't a 

condition likely to improve after the sun went down.  

Go Rays!!!

Congratulations Dad!!!  We're rooting for you!!

Homecoming 2008

  It was an exciting weekend for Zach... his first ever high school Homecoming Dance.  

I'm slowly getting the details, but I am confident he had a great time.   The theme was a Medieval Masquerade, and all the students were required to wear a mask.  There were disco lights, Korean dance moves, chocolate fondue and a cool punch fountain.    

Here the guys tie up and get ready to head to the dance.  

Bill had the privilege of dropping Zach off.  I thought it best, 

as I probably would have had to fight the temptation to hang around.  

Not cool!

"A Knight to Remember"

Hours Away

It's amazing to me that my friend Lynne is already doing tomorrow.  

She's one of the first to likely see, and usually post a comment here.  

Or is she.  

While she may be checking the blog at let's say 7 a.m., someone else could be doing the same thing at say 7 p.m. the evening before... 

which doesn't necessarily make her the first, technically. 

Can you follow this?  

Don't try.  

Just know that Shanghai is far away, 

and that makes the time difference tricky!   

Absence of Fall

So, I'm missing Autumn.  

Until just recently, there's been no obvious change in the season.  Some leaves are falling, but because of the consistent warm temperatures and lack of moisture, they do so without the amazing transformation I so love. Remember your science lesson about chlorophyll?  

By all rights, it isn't really October here.  In no way does it even remotely look October-ish.  And this, you see, has created some challenges... mostly for my mental calendar.  I nearly forgot my mother-in-law's birthday on October 5.  There were plenty of distractions... there always are... that is, after all, why I must keep my face in the calendar.  But this forgetfulness was propelled by something else, or... the lack of something else.  And I'm afraid, you see, that Thanksgiving and then Christmas, and so on, will sneak up on me in the same way (I can no longer excuse it as poor planning, although this remains an issue!).  

Here's a question:  Is it possible that no obvious change in the season may actually make a year seem longer... yes?  I think not.  Non the less, I'm told with time I will be able to distinguish a shift in the seasons.  For now, it's still summer... in October.  I'm betting this won't bother me so much in the middle of winter. 

I find myself playing games in which I attempt to fool my little mind... autumn (as I knew it) captured as a figment of my imagination.  For example, at the market I am drawn to bouquets sold with sprigs of colorful leaves (and just where did they come from?).  I bought a princess pumpkin and companion for our hearth, and I have pumpkin scented candles on the counter in the kitchen.  The recent shift of weather, however small it may seem, also helps me pretend. Occasionally, coastal fog brings cool, moist temperatures and casts a grey hew over the horizon. I like this.  Santa Ana winds arrived for the first time last week, and while their gusts reminded me of a powerful Midwest winter storm, the blowing leaves and cool temperatures created a familiar sense and smell of fall.   My favorite time of day - hands down, and perhaps the best trip for my mind, is evening, as the temperature drops, when the shadows darken the desert, and the moon casts an October-ish glow.  This coupled with my favorite sweatshirt, and... I have Autumn!!  O.K.  So, the weather is changing, be it ever so less than obvious.  

Now, here's the dichotomy... isn't it funny that I now want a change?!  We humans are so very fickle.  Relinquishing my interpretation of the seasons is like an old habit dying hard.  No, I do not miss raking leaves.  But I would love a jump in the pile!!

Too many thoughts, not enough time.

I'm coming, I promise!  I've got much to blog about, and no time to do it. For one thing, my camera has pics that I need to make hard copies of so I can send them to my parents.  I'm currently working between the lap top and our family computer, and someone (I won't mention who) uploaded pics last time to the wrong computer.  Now my sequence is out of order. Gotta fix that!  And then, the long list of things that has been patiently waiting for my attention since we moved in (such as...... a new driver's license, voter registration - !!!!!! I have just a few days left, medical bills, etc.etc.etc.), just goes to show that I'm not the organized self I once was!! It certainly proves that I have good reason NOT to be blogging!  And yet, the rambling continues.

A.M. Quote

On a chilly, fog-filled morning.......

Halle:  "I love bed".

And I agree.  

To me, the only thing better than bed itself, 

is a snuggle in it with someone I love.  

Witness

Pastor John MacArthur once said, 

"You are the only Bible that some people ever read".

Puppies

One of the fun things we did with my parents this past week was to go puppy shopping!  We are looking for a Boxer baby girl, and while we were at the Farmer's Market I noticed a couple of brothers from this litter.  I chased down the owners and got the contact for the breeder, and we set off Sunday after church to take a look at the rest of the family.  Six ADORABLE eleven-week-old pups came clumsily running toward us, like something from the 101 Dalmatians movie.  As you will notice, the kids had a miserable time, as the pups pounced and licked and chewed them up. We did not come home with one yet (can you believe that?!), but hopefully this sweetie or one like her, will be ours soon.  

Mission

It's been wonderful to have my parents.  We have done so many fun things together and it has been great to share what fills our days here. They arrived last Wednesday, and it's hard to imagine that the time has gone as fast as it has!!  One of the first experiences we shared last week was a fourth grade field trip to a local mission.  The gardens were beautiful and we learned amazing things about life as it was there, many years ago. My Dad said it set the tone for our week together........ wonderful!!!

A girl and her Grandparents.  So glad to have shared the fun!!

Bedtime Conversation

"My confidence comes from who I am in Christ."  If only it were easy to explain;  if only it were easier to understand.  Especially when you are nine and nothing is sensible..... when you can't reason with your feelings...... when you are filled with emotion and so desperately want to fit in.  

She'll get it someday.  After she has walked through a few of life's little hurdles.  The hurdles that He allows so that He can walk right beside us and hold our hands while we stumble through.  

I know my God will make good on His promises for these great kids of His. He has for me, and His faithfulness amazes me.