Crashing California

We celebrated Jay's 37th Birthday on his REAL day, last Friday. It didn't occur to me to take any pictures on Friday night -- actually, that's sort of a lie, because it did cross my mind, but at the same time as I thought of it, I rebelled a little inside of myself, against all the Facebook and photo-sharing instant smiles and "look how much fun we're having" and I just thought, screw that, we're going to have fun, and simply REMEMBER our friends, hanging out and everything wonderful that Jay's 37th Birthday party was. We had, all together about 25 people over, to share food, friendship, and of course CAKE (and Momma H -- I DID make instant Jello cheesecake, no bake w/ canned cherry pie filling on top - though I doubt it's a good as you could have made it, it was Jay's little Birthday surprise ;) I didn't get him any presents, just the party and my "OK" on the motorcycle (which I think was, therapeutically, more for me than him!)...

and also, again, in a round-about-way ;) This time the Creative Recipes cookbook I designed this spring for JC made it into the newest Jason Alexander Commercial (see screen shot below) ... the Pocket Guide to Volumetrics also appears in the bottom left to the consultant (also designed by yours truly). Made my afternoon to see my little creation in the lime light =) Till Next Blog =) love a.

Every once in a while I get a glimpse, a small tender touch from the Lord, revealing a bit of His nature, His love, His gentle call to obedience or rest, upon my heart. Today I was working away at my little sterile green cubical in Corporate America -- which I've tried to "decorate" with various photos and other paraphernalia which is my life, so that when I look up from the white monitor light I can remind myself why I am here and what is important to really live for. I was listening to worship music, which is not uncommon for me. And an acapella version of this chorus came on through my little headphone: "What can wash Away my Sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh, Precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow. No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus." Of course, it occurred to me as I sat here that it's pretty strange, (very much more so for those who don't know Christ...

By specific request -- this is Jay's new toy -- or as I call it, the Steel Horse. Well, also lovingly called HarHar Huzil (the first Har, for Harley, and the second Har is well, just because it sounds cuter) Oh, and Huzil, for our last name :P It's a Harley Davidson Nightster. Till Next Blog ~ love a.

So, I have a confession to make. Last night we attended a "grief counseling" session at one of the associate pastors of our Generation Church Family's home. (In conjunction with the departure of Little Chris -- a bit of background to this, in preparation for the funeral and for the week and a bit after now, I have been feeling pretty down, but also (post funeral) pretty unemotional, and "empty". When worshipping and preparing I just feel automatic, and not completely dialed in, which was and is really starting to get to me, it's felt like a heaviness I cannot shake, but I figured it was normal, and on with everyday I went ... anyways, back to the blog) When I had first found out about it I was completely apprehensive, and didn't want to go. In fact I went so far as to voice to Jay that the person who should really be getting the counseling was the family, and prob. the church body, core people who had been with the plant from the begining. Afterall, th...

Deep Blue Sky I look up and wonder why looking down to see the sounds of heavy hearts cried dry laying dreams and life now done into a hole dirt dried by the sun and a box covered in flowers yellow petals plead innocent joy turned sudden distant seems no sense just longing hearts breaking heavy But up in the plains of that Blue Sky I know he fly's little hands held high worship for no more pain his little broken body whole once again How will we let go will we let ourselves embrace the new joy that comes with the mourning or let it turn inward callous our hearts into hard unchanging and blaming beings Let it not be so we need only some time given to know our hearts will soon mend we're not broken only bent and this is what our Saviour meant about sacrifice.

This weekend was the funeral for our Pastor's 16 month old son, "Little Chris". The funeral itself was actually (tho difficult and heavy emotionally) quite a bit more positive than I had embraced myself for. And it makes sense really. Being a Christian family, the Martinez's had asked that we wear bright colors, instead of Black, for this was a celebration of his little life, and also, sort of a releasing into eternity, was was entrusted for a brief time to them here on earth. It does makes sense in the mind. As Christ followers, the foundation of our faith is the promise from God, that because of Jesus' death on the cross (as a sacrifice for the atonement of our sin), His Son, we are reconciled to eternal life with Him. Death here on this earthy plain is not the end, rather, just the beginning of the rest of it all. There were many tears and some laughter too. There was an open mic time, and members of the family came and shared how LC had touched their lives in...