Up at the crack of dawn this morning (4:30) - Sam was calling for us - he'd had a nightmare about spiders and was pretty shaken. Jason and I hung out with him a bit while he settled and went to sleep (at 5:30).
This gave me the chance to write in my journal, pray, and read my Bible. After which I went jogging (4 miles). Good quality quiet time to put me in a good frame of mind for the day.
A good frame of mind in which to go into a church-related meeting this morning with Dave and another couple to talk about involvement in a cell group. While we were at the Bagel Shop Jason's Grandma came in! It was a fun surprise to see and talk with her.

some verses I read this morning from II Corinthians 3 -

'our adequacy is from God....the Spirit gives life....having such a hope we use great boldness in our speech....where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty....we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.'

We saw Katherine Dines at Pottery Barn Kids at our nearby mall. We redeemed the kids' Summer Reading prize coupons for free lemonades at Hot Dog on a Stick. Since we were late for the first show, we went back for the second show Katherine did. Then walked the mall a bit visiting the kids' favorite stores. We went outside to play in the sand. They have a great area for the kids - sand toys and all with a nearby water fountain/pool area (not for playing in). But the kiddos had good fun in the sand. Then we had free lunch at Chick-fil-a down the street (another summer reading prize). I just had a drink both places. So it was a cheap day (under $5). The kids played in the play area at the restaurant as well. By the time we got home they were happy to chill out and relax for awhile. A quiet couple of hours in which I read from Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Already I enjoy her style and humor.

We got a letter in the mail today for HSC Back to School Night. It's 'only' three weeks away and I see that's going to fly by. Before we know it we'll be in the school year!

In a bit of a funk the last couple days over missing Woodsong, family, friends, $ woes, .... obsessing a little, keeping busy and out of the house is a good distraction. Trying to be 'present'. Reading a 'devotional thought' the other day on that old verse that's mentioned over and over about not worrying about tomorrow, today had enough troubles of it's own - true that. Putting that into action, altogether another thing. It's something I think I do pretty well at times - enjoying today for what it is, but here I am again bogged down. Maybe writing about it will give me an accountability for snapping out of it.

Sam, the fireman...he joined in the fun of dress-up with the girls today. If you click through you see the girls and some of the fun they had showing off their 'dress-up' outfits. Mellany came for the tea party. We had her over most of the day. The girls had so much fun playing dress up, Polly Pockets, 'family' and 'school', and making necklaces and maracas. I had some fun one-on-one time with Sam playing games and such. What began as a hot sunny day ended rainy and cooler. Lovin it after days of 95+ degree weather!

Zoe's last dance class for the month...more pictures if you click through.

The girls are finished with their summer dance classes. It's been a fun opportunity for them. They love it SO!

We have a little get together planned for tomorrow. A tea party - Rebecca's ever so excited about it. Iced 'garden pearls' (a mint rose tea) which is really tasty sweetened, and blueberry scones. A few friends were invited. I'm not sure that all are as excited about the prospect of a tea party as my girls are. Course, they don't know tea parties like we have (been a part of).

Currently reading 'All New People' by Anne Lamott with 'Eat, Pray, Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert waiting on the shelf.

There was an article in the Columbian today on ways to save money.

This here is my favorite...

Of all the cheapskates who have ever lived, I think my dad is the biggest. His most recent attempt to save money is to run around the house turning off any lights that “do not seem to be in use.” Every time he finds a light that is on that doesn’t seem to be in use, he gleefully yells “Superfluous light!” and flicks it off.

It is my dad’s definition of “not in use” that makes him the cheapskate. If a window is open when it’s light outside, the light is not needed. If there is a candle lit in the room, there is no need for light.

Sometimes he even turns lights off without a reason. My family will be sitting in a room talking and with a holler of “Superfluous light!” be plunged into utter darkness. My dad’s excuse: “We don’t need a light on to talk to each other.”

— Elaine Thatcher,
Vancouver

beginning stretches

Rebecca's final dance class this evening (a few other pictures if you click through)

To drink in...this weekend I drank in the quiet and coolness of the morning when I woke up at 5:30 am yesterday and sat out on my front porch to finish 'Sense & Sensiblity' and to write, pray, and read the Bible.
...Worship and prayer Saturday night at Jacob's Well, Jason led a time of prayer and worship and we prayed that God would break our hearts for our city (a theme/focus for the next four weeks).
...Friendship and food/drink when we went to 3 Margaritas with friends after church last night.
...The view of the mountains as we drove to Village. This morning Jason taught and lead worship there.
...More of nature and family time when we picnicked at Borah Gulch in Sylvan Lake State Park and hiked Mayflower Gulch Trail.
...God's faithfulness and grace - to guide our path and give us blessings that we wouldn't have expected or asked for.

[this picture above is at Borah Gulch - lots more pictures if you click on the picture]

Mmm...thunder showers are yummy!

A quiet day today - the kiddos did some painting, watched some tv, Sam napped. I read from Sense & Sensibility which seems to be coming a bit easier and more entertaining than Emma. Just finished some games with the kiddos - Hi Ho Cherry-o and Cooties. We got a monster-sized gift basket of Starbucks/Tazo treats from Jason's mom today. Afternoon 'zen' tea with roca cookies and almond roca was tasty.

Last night we took the family to see 'Alvin & the Chipmunks' at the Thornton Rec Fields. It's a fun movie. A local credit union sponsors these free Movies in the Park in Thornton and Broomfield over the summer. This weekend it's 'The Wizard of Oz' at the Broomfield Commons Park. Not quite as cozy as 'Napoleon Dynamite' in Esther Short Park (Vancouver)but it was a good time.

And tonight while Jason was practicing with Brian here at the house, I took the kids to see 'Cinderella II' at the library. We ran into more home connection (school) friends there. (the second time this week)

(hrm...I feel very suburban tonight.)

Had a good time with the Mo-s last night. Our kids hung out together - even though it was a mix of high schoolers, middle schoolers and elementary and preschool monkeys. Conversation was fun. Enjoying this new friendship.

This morning Jason was off early to Lowry. The kids and I had banana bread for breakfast. Hung out a bit. Then walked to our neighborhood pool and swam most the morning. Only one or two others were there the 1.5 hours we were there. We had the shallow end to ourselves. Zoe was a fish in her floaties and life jacket (her choice) - she loved the water. Rebecca is fairly confident on her own and can touch bottom. Sam wore floaties and hung on a 'noodle' a lot of the time - and me; but by the end of our swim time he was kicking around a little on his own in the floaties and noodle. I got a little sun on my arms.

We got in by the kindness of someone who went in at the same time as we did - still don't have a key for this pool. Our fob is actually for the other pool and I think we traded away a perfectly functional key for this piece of plastic. The best part is calling the management company didn't get it worked out - they don't give out keys to this pool, and the number they gave me for who they thought is in charge of this pool didn't pan out either, they don't manage this part of the development. SO...still need to figure out how to get a key to the pool closest to our house.

Both of my youngers are napping after our morning exercise. I finished reading The Maytrees by Annie Dillard. Lazy, relaxing summer days.

Since no homeschooling...

We were up early this morning! I talked to my mom on the phone for a little over an hour. I made banana bread. Cleaned the house (with some help from the kiddos). And puttered around the internet some. Summer is glorious! A little too warm for my taste at times, but glorious all the same.

Today wrapped up this week's drives to Boulder for dance classes. Feeling a little more comfy - I think the girls are. Yesterday while Rebecca was in class we bought a new (black) Mr. Coffee pot (our old carafe broke - my fault). The black matches most of the rest of our kitchen appliances. Very nice! And I got a new photo album to put our Woodsong 2004 pictures which I put together last night. Today while Zoe was in class the kids and I went to The Cup and got cold drinks, then back to get Zoe. (My first time driving to and from and around Boulder on my own - I only got turned around once, on Pearl getting on the Foothills Parkway. But it was quickly solved and we were on our way.)

I'm tired and little over-caffeinated. Drinking decaf most of the time makes me more sensitive to caffeine in my system I think. Tonight we have dinner at Nancy and Perry's house.

Yesterday it really clicked for Sam that for each book he read he could color a caterpillar in his Summer Reading Program log. So we spent a good chunk of the afternoon reading 15 books; after each he colored a caterpillar and asked to do another until we were finished. He's never had the attention span for sitting for stories with me that long. I had fun sharing the time with him and seeing his joy in it. He was excited to go show his dad the paper when he was done too and that he gets to go get his prizes now.

So this morning, as our summer break is finally here - I took the kids to pick up our pool key fob at the management office. We have a pool for our subdivision just a block or so away from our house. Then to the library to collect prizes for Sam (his final 2) and the girls (stickers for their 'extended reading program' certificate). We ran into friends from home connection. Zoe and Sam enjoyed some computer time. And they both chose to get off the computer without being told or fighting. It was beautiful (and different than the last few times we've been to the library, where there was protest).

Rebecca finished a book this afternoon - and me too. I finished 'The Living' by Annie Dillard. It's a story about several families in the Puget Sound during the late 1800's - the life and death and struggles. Interesting character sketches. And fun for me to hear mentioned places like Anacortes, Orcas Island, the San Juan Islands which we love so much.

Working in the nursery at church is beginning to feel a lot more comfortable (5 weeks, one each month). I'm getting to know the babies a little more and feel more at ease to talk, play and read with them. They're more comfortable because I'm more comfortable...snowballs into a positive experience for all involved. (Of course, it helps if it's a smaller crowd, 4 last night is all) I've had a good time with more when there's a second adult in the room. At any rate, good times last night. Followed by a fun dinner out with a good-sized group from church.

This morning we all slept in a tad. I went jogging (3 miles). We had some breakfast and coffee. Then drove down to Tennyson (in the city). We stopped at the park and let the kiddos play for some time. The kids had fun playing with one little girl there, and Jason chatted with her dad. Then we meandered up the street through all the little shops and back the other side to our car. It's ever so comfy there. And it's wild how much it's changed in the past year we've been here. New shops, others closed. An 'up and coming area' - not quite as fancy as Highland Square; but charming in it's own right and that's what we love about it.

We've (read: Jason) - has had some interesting connections this week, two to be exact that encourage our hopes and visions. More prayers and resolve just to put ourselves in a place to make connections (ie, beginning to build relationships in that community). And then seeing what grows out of that. It's very exciting! It doesn't stop us from connecting with our church community, or the community surrounding it that. It'll be cool to see how God merges those things in the weeks, months, years ahead.

The last few days....

The girls and I crammed three days of school into two so that we're now done with this homeschooling year!!!

Wednesday night, I met with Nancy to chat and also to discuss children's ministry.

Jason and I celebrated our 10th anniversary in Boulder without kiddos. Our friends, Dan and Kacey, took on six kids for 4 hours! We'll have to reciprocate one day very soon. It was nice to enjoy a date - having dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, walking at bit on the Pearl Street Mall, and coffee on the road from The Cup.

Today I've enjoyed getting the house cleaned up after making blueberry scones and coffee for breakfast. Tonight is my first time being 'coffee picker-upper' for the service. I also work in the nursery tonight.

he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus ~ Phil 1:6

Not the love of large rocks...but the town.

Some fun happenings of the last few days: having Brian and Ali over for dinner on Sunday. Even though we sort of mucked dinner by starting the pulled pork too late. It was a good time.

Yesterday there was school (only 4 days left!). Then the drive to Boulder for Rebecca's dance class. While she was dancing the other two kiddos, Jason and I went to The Cup for coffee/hot cocoa. Then picked up Rebecca (so excited about all she'd learned and done!) and went to dinner at Wahoo's Fish Tacos (you should hear Sam say it, it's awesome and oh so cute). Stopped by the Louisville Library to pick up a book for homeschool with Rebecca. Also: I started walking/jogging again yesterday (after a month off) - with 3 miles in 43 minutes. It felt good to be out there again.

Today - we had homeschool again (which I just finished with Rebecca this evening). Late this afternoon we took Zoe to dance class in Boulder. Then to coffee again at The Cup where they were serving as a 'guest espresso' some 49th Parallel brand coffee (of Vancouver B.C. which was served at the cafe formerly known as "Paradise" in Vancouver, WA just before we moved here). Then home for a "leftovers" dinner night. It's good to do that every now and then to clear out the fridge before things start to go bad. Makes prepping easier too; and saves money.

It's been fun to hang out in Boulder some the last couple days. Though it's more a 'friend' kind of love, not the head over heels 'lets get married and live together forever' kind of love we have for a certain part of Denver. ;)

Maybe one day I'll get more introspective in this space again - about raising kids and about church planting. It's much easier for me just to write about the happenings of the day.

Tomorrow Rebecca starts a 3 week dance class; Zoe begins Tuesday. So today we visited Once Upon A Child and the shoe store to buy leotards(for both girls), tights(for both), and ballet shoes(for Rebecca). Taking a year + break from dance classes they've grown out of most their things. OUAC was a good place to find cheap, cute leotards for them. So now they're all set. I think I'm as excited as they are that they get to take dance again. It's been a fantastic weekend. Relaxing and fun. Feeling at home. The kids and I dropped Jason at a meeting yesterday afternoon - then went to play at a park in Thornton and on a whim called Jason's grandma and stopped in to hang out for a bit before heading to church. At church last night, Jason spoke on friendship (another study in our Proverbs series). To led worship. Lots of socializing on either side of the service. Tear down and clean up. Then home for dinner.

More pictures while I'm at it...Today was a quiet(ish) day. Cleaned house, did a little school with Rebecca, baked some cookies, grilled some dogs, decorated the cookies, then went to the Broomfield Fireworks. The coolest thing...walking to the fireworks and not having to fight traffic or a terribly large crowd really. We sat just up on a 'hill' off the sports fields, listened to some music (Funkiphino), enjoyed the warm evening, and had great seats for the fireworks. We also caught some of the Northglenn/Webster Lake fireworks show just under and further away from our show, and even a tad bit of the Westminster fireworks to the south (our right). You can see so far here!

We celebrated the 4th a day early with a 'block party' with some friends from our church. There were nearly 100 people there - the kids running free, adults socializing...fireworks when it got dark. It was a really good time. Beginning to feel like our extended family. LOVE these people!

(click through the picture and up to the gallery for more fun pictures)

Something about this video turned me into a crying mess....

According to The Big Read, the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books on their list.

The instructions:
Look at the list and bold those you have read.
Italicize those you intend to read.
Underline the books you LOVE.
Reprint this list in your own blog.

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6. The Bible
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (started once)
8. 1984 - George Orwell
9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
( Read more... )

New journal style - if you visit often you'll see I change it monthly. This style is somewhat summery and fun.

We had no internet or cable tv yesterday - a blessing and a curse. Blessing, less the distraction from school work yesterday. Curse - I couldn't check my email/lj/facebook for 24+ hours!!! And I didn't know which books were due at the library yesterday, which caused me to gather fines. Yay! More books bought for the library! Blessing, a family walk to the park in the evening. Curse, not being able to watch 'Wipeout' and laughoutloud at other people's expense.;)

Seven more days left of school for the girls. And I think we've caught the momentum towards finishing that we need. We're in the homestretch now and Rebecca is finishing up her work in 'record time' each day. Zoe and I made a really good find in a poetry book we read the other day: 'Tea Party Today' by Eileen Spinelli - fun poems and suggestions, great artwork.

Before we lost our internet connection yesterday, I signed the girls up for a three-week summer dance class at Boulder Ballet. It'll be fun for them to take dance, even for 3 weeks again. They've missed it the last year. Also, it gives us a chance to check things out - how it feels to drive to Boulder twice weekly and how we mesh with the atmosphere.