Crashing California

Today was "Black Friday" here (which is basically the US version of boxing day, before Christmas) Stores open @ midnight, there's shopping pandemonium, and traffic is horrendous. But here is how I spent my day: I spent the whole afternoon making Turkey Noodle Soup (thanks to my mother-in-laws prompting) which turned out Reeeeely well =) But I did not stay home ALL day (c'mon now...) I did step out in the a.m. and walked to a little boutique in Carslbad Village called "Rags" and scored some really great deals, including a Sweater Dress, a FANTASTIC scarf and two pairs of shoes, one of which is pictured here -- a cool $5.99 plus tax =) Tomorrow I hope to spend the morning playing guitar and worship tunes ... and an afternoon coffee with a girlfriend from work. I wish ALL weekends were long ones sometimes, but then, i guess they wouldn't feel so special ;) Till Next Blog ~ love, a.

(Our FIRST Turkey!!) I used to think American Thanksgiving wasn't really too big of a deal. I mean, everyone ELSE thinks it's huge (it's quite literally, the biggest holiday beside Christmas here), but since we're the "imports" Thanksgiving felt over-rated. It seemed to be the day that everyone else celebrated their families, and invited us along, since we had none here. And then would commence the feast and celebration, while I would generally feel isolated, kind of alone and I'll admit, a slight bit bitter and skeptical about the "biggy-deal-ness" of this holiday. I looked up the history of American thanksgiving the other day, since, now that we live (probably pretty much for good) I should really figure out what the hullabaloo is: ~~~ (the following taken from :http://www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/feast/) The English colonists we call Pilgrims celebrated days of thanksgiving as part of their religion. But these were days of praye...

(This photo taken by Andy McElroy, we were at Andy and Laura's last week to celebrate little Mira's second birthday party) Even though, by the numbers on the Calendar we've missed the date, by the day, we're right on schedule. It's been three years since Jay and I packed our car up with a handful of possession and drove, and drove and drove, all the way down here, to the most Southern of Southern California. The most southern tip of the America states -- and stayed! As Jay and I talked about the big move over coffee this morning, it's one of those moments where you just really can't believe you did what you did -- but I'm glad that we did =) I guess my feeling today is sort of like when you celebrate your wedding anniversary, or think of a really old, really good friend. You know you've known them for a set amount of time, but when you think on it, it seems like you've always known them. I feel like, in some ways, I've always been here. May...

wow, is it just me, or did like 2 weeks FLY by?? eeks ... Ok, quick update on our Pastors little boy, Little Chris has been diagnosed with a very rare type of Cancer, so rare in fact that there's only been 50 reported cases since 1978 in the U.S. They have been treating him with chemotherapy and each day has new challenges but he is still being treated and being prayed for in ICU. We continue to hold the family in prayer and our church (the people who make up the body) continue to bless me with their open hearts. I've gone through ups and downs with pretty much everything else the last while. Work (JC) has been busy and steady ... had a bit of drama last week, my beloved supervisor literally "took" one of my bigger jobs away from me (and it was almost complete), in the name of "just having everything on her computer" since they are doing a series of these manuals, which I created the blueprint for, but which my Super is now working overtime on to get done ....

And here I am. So much has happened in one week, it seems rather surreal. I'll try to share that which is most consuming in life at the moment and hope that nothing important falls through the cracks. I admit, sometimes it is hard to share what's been going on in life though this blog, because my fingers (as I type) and the thoughts that comes sometimes don't keep up with one another, or forget things too ... I'll try my best. As most of you know, Jay and I have been helping to lead worship @ the North Oceanside Church plant now for just over one month (this weekend will be week 5). Church plants are very interesting, because it seems to me that churches themselves can have personalities ... some are more charismatic, others hospitable, others warriors, others lukewarm, It really depends prob. on leadership and how the actual members of the church sow into each other and into their communities. (I guess that's a whole other blog) So, our little church has been b...

at first it's a whisper a shimmer a shadow tinges of deep magenta soak the cloak of dark that's held the earth's side in sleep then unassuming slowly waking unlike each morning before dawn stretches her pink and orange fingers of light across the sky bathing everything in an unearthy soft silky glow and I at my window take a moment from my morning from the day and the thoughts that now race unbridled never seeming to cease the busy-ness which has become my life -- is forced to sit in the corner and appreciate God's good gift that everyday is a new day and this beauty that I see before me is His handy-work a refection of His light, His life is greatness and my smallness and as the morning fades from pink to yellow to frozen blue hues and the rush and clutter come running back in like a broken damn that could only hold onto this precious moment for a short few moments I will try to carry this in my heart ~ for this day, till the sun sets my eyes close and I wake tomorrow ...

Indirectly ofcourse -- check out the below link -- the interview with Valerie features my design work in the background -- the "Surviving the Holidays" logo on the banner =) pretty nice, I got my autographed copy of the booklet today too ... which I admit is a bit anti-climatic ... http://www.people.com/people/ if you scroll down, it's the "people TV" section. Just wanted to share ;) more of a blog coming later this week ~ love, a.