Wednesday, August 30, 2006

stuff that's changed since the last time i was in college: part 1


1. my name is the first called (last name starts with a 'B' now)
2. I have to remember to turn off my cell phone
3. the lecture is interrupted by gunshots outside our window
4. I am the oldest person in the class. Possibly including the professors.
5. I can't go to a concert, get to bed at 3 a.m., get up at 6 a.m., and still function.
6. there is something called The Chicago Manual Style term paper.
7. the Henry Madden Library is kaput.
8. one book costs $72.00.
9. my professor emailed my syllabus to me.
10. I have (thanks to Brad) really cool baskets on my bike.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

tonight



We got to talk to Mel. And see her much loved and greatly missed face.

It was kind of wierd. Seeing her head sitting there on our coffee table in a box.

But it was really nice, too. And it's one of the reasons we love technology. Always and forever.

Thank you Cory.

And thank you Brad. For the lamp.

tomorrow















at the Hollywood Bowl. Yesss.........

Saturday, August 26, 2006

overheard at the campus bookstore

small child sitting on floor:
"Mommy I'm thirsty."

woman in tight shirt:
"Would you just shut-up? Nobody ever died of thirst."

college-age child of woman:
"Jesus. Can this be over?"

Thursday, August 24, 2006

uncommon love

Today I became very angry at one of my board members. I got so angry that even as I knew I should pray about it--and for her--I just couldn't muster up the motivation to do so.

About an hour later--iPod plugged into my head--I resumed my mad obsessive cleaning and organizing of my house. I believe this relentless drive is attributed to an attempt to get efficiently prepared for being busy in school starting next week.

I'm also thinking God is using it as an opportunity to tell me stuff via podcasts, sermons, and stories.

As I pulled archaic, long-lost, and dust-smothered items from behind beds and under dressers, I listened to a story about a young Indian girl who was a friend of the man who was speaking. His series is entitled Uncommon Love. At age 14 this young friend of his was raped by four men. This assault was ultimately the cause of her death.

As the last man finished with her, she looked up at him and saw that he had sores covering one side of his face. She reached out, touched him, and prayed for him.

He was instantly healed.

This young girl's attacker is now a believer, living for Jesus.

I sat down on the side of my bed, assorted items clutched in my hands, and realized in a deep place that I have a lot to learn about love.

headlines and quote for the day

Today's Headlines:

Off Duty Police Officer Beaten

Four Found Dead in Jeep

Couple Plead Guilty to Faking Sextuplet's Birth

Rapes Point to Deepening Crisis in Darfur

Movie Rights offered by Family of John Mark Karr

Ex-husband's Acid Drenched Remains Found in Storage Unit

Rectal Bleeding is Not Normal

Quote for the Day

me (while pouring coffee):
"Good grief. Why do I read the news, anyway? I'd be better off just reading Pinablog."
Brad (while strapping on bike helmet):
"There's more to life than Pinablog."

me:
"Unfortunately."

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

skipping town



Going away for a few days.
Gotta do it.
I might be going just the teeniest bit
CRAZY.

Monday, August 14, 2006

johnny. not joaquin. johnny.

Yesterday Emily and I drove down to Long Beach to pick up Sarah, who had flown in from New York.

Due to random crashes, fires, and late night tar-laying, we were on the road for 15 hours (minus a long walk on the beach and a pit-stop at In-N-Out).

Which meant we had a lot of time together. We talked, laughed, argued, cried....on the sand with the surf pulling at our legs, and in the car with the sun burning through the windows on the grapevine, where we were going exactly 7 mph for a very long time. (Mel-- I thought of you and felt your pain.)

Due to an unfortunate--or perhaps divinely orchestrated --series of events Sarah ended up staying the night here (she had intended to stay at her dad's house, where she will be living for the next 6 months).

And so this morning before I drove her to her first day of school (note the picture) Emily, Sarah, and I sat on the porch together, all snuggled up on the little flowered sofa, and prayed. It was a lovely and most unexpected gift.

Aimee joined us for lunch at JavaWava (highly recommended), and it was wonderful. Live music, veggie wraps, all three of my girls together.....Yesssss.

I see God answering prayers and moving in hearts. Thank you to all of you who have been praying.

We wait. We watch. We believe.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

At last.... Shaddie's heritage is revealed


Okay, so clearly all of you who know Shaddie realize what a great dog he is. I mean, come on...how could you not?

But what none of us have known is the history of Shaddie's bloodline. His heritage. From whence his father's fathers come.

All of this now comes to light in this latest discovery. Check out this web site, and you too shall know the truth.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006


Emily (a.k.a. Puddin) is at camp this week. She gets to be a kid. No heavy responsibilites or burdens from Dakota House kids. Just a happy camper. Yessssss.........

Monday, August 07, 2006

things fall apart

Here is the list of things that have broken at our house in the last month:
toaster oven
microwave
not 1 but 2 DVD players
brakes on my car
house air-conditioning (in the heat spell, naturally)
lawn mower
coffee maker (yes...THAT one)
flat tires on BOTH vehicles (in the same day)
my eyes
the blender
I'm not kidding, either.

summit adventure



Thank you Jesus. Thank you Summit Adventure, Kelli, Corinna, Leslie, and Meggie. It was wonderful.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006



Off to Summit for a little adventure.
Thank you, Jesus, for setting this up.
Life with You is never boring.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

from the Random Memories department

All four of my kids talk in their sleep. Apparently I do too. Nate actually goes through motions while talking in his sleep, which provides for much entertainment in the evenings. Especially when you consider he often falls asleep on the couch hours before we all head off to bed. He's been known to pull out some excellent Ninja moves, paint the wall in the hallway, and walk around in a circle speaking nonsense before settling back in the same spot he just left.

In my opinion, all of this pales, however, beside the memory I have of Aimee.

One night when Aimee was about 8 years old, while in a deep sleep, she bolted to a sitting position, opened her eyes wide, looked straight at me, and said, "Don't kill George Jetson!!"

It really doesn't get any better than that.

quote for today

Pain is the price of admission to a new and better life.