Packing Begins

This morning my mom and I got up early and went to church. Today the service was at Pinecrest Lake in the outdoors ampetheatre. Amazing to worship God with mountains, forest and lake in the background. The most interesting part of attending church here is the kids. Today I watched my pastor's kids (Jonah, Jadon, Gabriel and Amariah) swimming out to the ropes, rowing boats, getting baptised, reading the lyrics in the program, and talking. Two out of four of these children, I can remember the day they were born, the other two were only 2 and 4 when I met them. They make me feel old.

Today I came home and pulled out my backpack and suitcase and started putting things in:

clothes mostly summerish stuff (until my mom checked the weather in Oxford next week)
clothes, mostly winterish stuff
books
art
pictures
pajamas
paintbrushes/pensils/pastels
the random change in Euros and pounds I still have from previous trips
scarves
necklaces
shoes
a roll of toilet paper

Thats pretty much what I have so far. Im gunna try and squeeze in Jessi's feather down parka and my quilt. They said not to bring bedding, but who doesn't want a quilt in England? Its cold here today, already 59 degrees and its only about 6:00. My parents are talking about turning on the heater or building a fire tonight. Crazy.

Starry Night

This evening as I was leaving my Grandparents house (they live about 5 miles away, when I was growing up they were just around the block. I used to "run away" to their house). I noticed it was a bit chilly outside. I got home and looked at the temperature, 60 degrees. I wish Southern California would drop down that low.

As I drove home on our anything-but-straight mountain roads I looked up and could see a thousand stars peeking out from behind the pine trees. I parked the car and from the top of my driveway I can see the milky way, truely breathtaking. I think the stars are my favorite part of living here. On a summer night pulling to the side of the road and laying on the hood of the car is a favorite pastime. In the winter getting bundled up and going for a walk on a crisp night to look at the stars is incredible as well. I have been truely blessed to have grown up so surrounded by beauty.

Home...Well, One of Them.

There are a few things I love about this particular home. First, is that we sleep with all the windows and doors open, because at night it gets nice and cool. Last night while I was reading I found my ears straining to hear some sort of noise...anything, besides the faint music of crickets in the distance. Sometimes its so quiet that I can hear the sound of a car (as in one car) half a mile up the canyon on the highway. This morning I woke up to sunshine coming through the trees and the sound that wind makes when it blows high up in the trees up and down the canyon. Then I felt it on my face as it came through my window. Right now, in August, its about 80 degrees outside with a wonderful breeze that has lasted since this morning.

More things that I like about this place, I can read a book from start to finish with no interruption. Our sweet German Shepeard/Black Lab mix lays around with me all day but will also happily accompany if I decide to go on a hike or to the lake. A quilt is easily sewn together and finished and spending time with my family is one of my favorite things to do.

A Lot of Pressure

So this evening I watched the kids. Their parents just needed a night out, and honestly, I don't blame them. Anyway, Rebekah was helping me put my stuff into the car and the dialogue went like this.

R: Who's your husband?
A: I don't have one silly!
R: Well why not?
A: Who would be my husband Bekah?
R: Well I dont know you have to pick!
A: (Laughter) What would he look like?
R: Like, he would be like a prince!
A: What else?
R: Brown hair like you..he would look like you, sorta.
A: Oh ya?
R: Ya and what color do you like? Like, he could be a purple husband!
A: Purple sounds great! (Laughter)
R: And if you find a purple husband...or green, he could be green too,
then you just tell me.
A: And then what would you do?
R: I would tell him to kiss you!

Oh man...that girl.

the next june carter

Rebekah wrote a song today. Well, she sang it and I wrote it down while she played the guitar.


Make a wish
To be a fish
Have you seen a fish?
To be a friend
And you know
How I feel
As you sing your wish!

Fish we are best friends
And you know how
I feel and thats
How you know my wish!

Fish and you and sharkey too
swimming in the deap blue sea,
swimming in the deap blue sea!!

friendly neighbor

So we live in a beautiful appartment complex. And for the most part the people are nice, but the feline community is over the top. It helps that our appartment is located directly beside an enormous bird cage, with lots of little ones inside. But beside that there is a beautiful tabby cat that comes around every so often and just, well, invites herself in for a visit.

She usually waits till we come outside, then butters us up a little and after that proceeds to let herself into our appartment, say hi to everyone around, explore all the rooms, take a nap in the living room and then, she goes on her way and lets herself out. I'm writing this because she just walked out of my bedroom and is currently exploring the bathroom. Shes wonderfully sweet and friendly, and honestly, it feels like we share a pet with some other random family.

Well, she just walked back in my room, and since I have company I should probably go.

who needs amusement parks?

Today on the way home from swim lessons we took a quick side trip to Ikea. Everytime I walk into that place I realize that I forgot how amazing it is. This time I experienced it with the added bonus of my two favorite people with me. The pictures kinda say it all, but we had fun.

The chairs close, and then have spinning capabilities. So here's me, two giggleing kids inside, spinning them around and around. Everyone that walked by was laughing..good times. People also kept stopping us to say "oh my gosh where did you get those shirts!? I have to have some of those!" :)

We got our picture frames and then made our way to the checkout. It was mostly me running and jumping onto the back of the cart they were in. We were playing in the huge isles where they store the furniture..those are some great isles.

canvas

This weekend Newport Mesa Church is having an event called Canvas. Aparently there is going to be a whole art show and food and everything. Cristina and I are going to have some wall/table space and I am super excited. I'm working on developing some of our El Salvador pictures and she's going to have some of her necklaces there. 50% of the profit from the necklaces will go back to ENLACE and 90% of the profit from the pictures will go to them as well. If youre in the area you should go check it out. It will be the first time any of my art is on display! This saturday, 3-10, NMC.

El Salvador

sisterly love

While we were making snickerdoodles this morning Rebekah looks at me and says "I don't like Caleb when he makes a mess. Maybe, maybe we could give him to somebody. Like, we could sell him to Ophelia!"(their neighbor) Whats the movie where the little girl takes her brother out to the sidewalk and puts a "For Sale" sign on him?