Miss M's Heart

This post from Miss M's Tumblr (like a blog) today is written about her experience at lunch at her Jr. High this afternoon. She told me the story over dinner and I listened, teary-eyed. I am SO glad she wrote it out. I couldn't be more impressed with the heart and character of our kids! (There is NO WAY I would've done that at 14... my unspoken motto was "every man for himself".)

"Today at lunch i was doing what i did every other day, just standing around. But today as i was standing around i head the “popular group” laughing really loud, i turned to look at the bench where they always sit. As i do so i notice they are all looking at this one kid who had just thrown a trash can to the ground, and now the trash was spilled all over the place. The kid started digging through the trash on the ground. Meanwhile the popular group is all still laughing at him.

So i turn to my friend and i said “lets go see what hes doing.”

Now normally i would have just looked, noticed, and gone back to my conversation. But something about the way they were laughing at him made my heart get all angry and furious and i felt bad for the kid.

So my friend and i walk over to him and ask whats going on. He then started to tell us how he threw out his retainer. He sounded so distressed. He was worried about his parents getting mad. And even more mad cause he had done this once before already.

I looked at the popular kids (still laughing) and back at this very upset seventh grader and then i got down on my knees and started digging through the milky gross trash. It was the grossest thing i have done it a while. And i sat there and did it for about 15 minuets. He finally stood up and said “its no use.” then he walked away.

We never found his retainer. And i bet he didnt think twice about the fact that me and my friend had walked over and helped him. But all i know is that on the way to the bathroom to wash our hands, my friend looked at me and said, “wow i feel really good right now.” I silently said a little thank you to God. and finished washing my hands.

We didnt find his retainer. We didnt shove the popular kids in the trash can…even though they deserved it. We really did nothing but tried to help him.

For the rest of the day every time me and my friend looked at each other we just smiled. It felt so good to do a little thing like that. No point at all to do it. But just because he looked like he needed it.

I have been on mission trips, i have volunteered at church events, i have served God in a lot of ways. But today was the weirdest thing. I felt better than i ever had felt on a mission trip and dont know why. It was refreshing to think that i could serve God in little ways around my school for people who might not think much of it. Of course it felt awesome to just defy the popular kids and show them that laughing was not what was needed, this kid just wanted to find his retainer. But in the end it wasnt about defying the popular kids. It was about glorifying God in the little actions throughout my day. And today i feel like i did that very well."

*sigh*... humbled and blessed.

From the Archives 1

This was Mis M in her 80's costume from summer church camp in 2007.

Adorable.

In Living Color 2

You may (or may not) recall that a little more than a year ago I said I was sick of BROWN and that I wanted to add some COLOR to our home.

The process has begun (slowly - but surely). We have some GREEN and some orange and some yellow! I will update as we change other things (like the wall color, for example. and one day I would love WHITE kitchen cabinets).

I also want to put in our inspirations to show where we are KIND OF heading... but there are a couple different directions we could go, so stay tuned.

sofa, carpet, table, pillows

different angle

mantel

New dining booth, table chairs... although the table is not working because of the legs (we need a pedestal). See below for other items we are considering.

Entry hall credenza, bought from "estate sale"...

and FAB mirror sculpture to go above it

Little phone, paper, pens station (obviously, the cabinets behind it need SERIOUS help, but that is not a cheap fix, )

"New" credenza under TV

Below are some of the items I am craving (or at least considering):

Backsplash for kitchen

ball clock (different colors or maybe wood)

Fun fun fun wall clock!

Possible dining table styles:

Saarinen style tulip dining table

or Eames style dining table

What about going a whole different direction with SOME of the pieces?

What about a little retro diner in the eating area???

I also really like this lamp.

And what do you do about WINDOW COVERINGS??? I am at a complete loss! A ot of websites are saying cafe curtains and barkcloth and pinch pleats but I am SOOOO unsure about color and pattern... Hmmmmmm.

Like I said, stay tuned...

Grampie is 65!

We celebrated Grampie's bday one day early (TAX DAY) at the office with what else but his favorite - El Pollo Loco!... and don't forget Jill's famous carrot cake (mmmmmmmmmm).

He had QUITE a turn out to celebrate him.

What a BLESSING he is to so many people!

WE LOVE YOU GRAMPIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We will celebrated as a FAMILY the following Sunday at G&G's house.

Happy Easter 2010

It was a full weekend celebrating the resurrection of our LORD with the family! We did our traditional Saturday morning egg hunt, baskets, and brunch at Grampie & Grammie's.

Gone are the days of little bright-eyed and bushy tailed kids squirming to stay in their rooms until 7:00AM because they are SO eager for candy and gifts... now, we head down after teens & young adults (and Dad!) have awoken from their slumber... so it was closer to 10:30.

Also a little untraditional, Dad had an appliance call with Lando prior do being able to come down (they couldn't turn it down, I mean, it WAS, after all a whirlpool dryer, not heating! - Sheesh!).

We did not do money eggs this year. (Lando was disappointed and thought that in honor of Jesus having risen, he deserved a "cash prize" - we all got a good laugh out of that one!). Drew and I DID however, do an interpretive dance (I'll have to secure a photo or two from Elle).

Hunting

Finding Jade & Elle's clever hiding spots!

Deevs wasn't fooled!

Miss M

Must be a remnant $1 egg from LAST year!

Instead of money eggs, we got everyone a pair of TOM'S Shoes for their baskets!

Trying on TOMS.

Father/Son bonding on the Sport Court

Late in the afternoon most of the kids took off. Drew had band practice back up in LA, Deevs & Miss M went to exchange their TOMS for different sizes & styles, and Lando went to play volleyball with friends.

Mom, Dad, Grammie, Grampie, Elle, and Jade stayed at G&G's and watched "Sherlock Holmes" which was certainly enjoyable!

EASTER SUNDAY

We arrived at Angel's stadium by 7:45AM to serve at the 30th Anniversary Saddleback service.

We were "Section Hosts". Lando & Jade did one section... they did a GREAT job welcoming, greeting, and engaging their guests! And seemed to have a fun time doing it!

Deevs and Dad had a section. They were at the FAR end, alone and their section was small and slow to fill up which was discouraging at first, but revved up right before the service started.We had LOTS of prizes to give away. This was not as fulfilling as it may seem. People were not grateful recipients, but kind of (dare I say it?) - Greedy. They wanted more and more and more. If I could advise the planning team for next year, it would be no gifts unless everyone gets the same gifts in their bag... it was chaos!

We still had a GREAT time serving as a family! I PRAY a lot of people came to Christ as a result of the efforts of this special day to share with them God's love for them and all Christ did for them on the cross!

As soon as service started, we were allowed to go back to our seats for the rest of the service.

After the service was over, the Jonas brothers sang 3 songs. We were NOT that far away, but they looked so TINY on that HUGE field!

After the service, we were tired & hungry, but happy!We were going to maybe go OUT to brunch, but we ended up coming home & BBQing, watching TV, resting...
and experiencing a LARGE earthquake! It was not that big here, but just a short way into Mexico, it was pretty large at 7.2... but I guess it was pretty deep which - they are saying - made it not FEEL as strong. It lasted a really long time... it felt like it just kept going & going. Wow! That was some unexpected excitement for the afternoon!

All in all, it was a lovely Easter weekend. We are SO grateful to be able to celebrate that our Savior ROSE and is Risen (indeed!) with each other. I couldn't IMAGINE a more pleasurable way to spend 2 days.

Thank you God for such ABUNDANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Closet in Process

Our Master Closet is finally beginning. I know it will be a long process since D is doing it while trying to run a business and do appliance repair calls, but it has BEGUN! Today Lando & Dad took out the big, old window and framed it in and are putting on the ___________ (I have no idea what it's called, but it is like chicken wire over black paper or something).

Sad to lose a big window (even though it was ancient and needed to be replaced) and all the sunlight that went with it, but we do not need a whole wall of our closet to be a huge window... we need shelves and drawers and hanging space.

outside views

from inside

macro view from inside

Great start, men!!!

Still a lot more to do:

* Dry wall over old window area

*Wire for electrical so both the new closet and new storage areas have lights & switches

* Divide the room in half with a new wall which will separate the new closet from the new walk in pantry/storage/laundry kind of area.

* Bust an opening (doorway) through our master bedroom wall into closet (frame it in?)

* Fix the gap in the flooring where there was previously wall.

* Design what closet space will look like

* Put in all the shelving, drawers and hanging bars for which we designed the scheme

And that is just the closet (and only what I know about it... I am probably over-simplifying it!)... then onto the storage/pantry area.

EXCITING!

Cyclist Deevs

Deevs sold a Lens on craigs list and using that and his (months early) bday money, purchased a used bike he found online.

Here he is getting ready to ride to church (7-8 miles, think?).

Lando has been super into bikes lately and now Deevs is too.

I don't have photos of Lando yet (I wish I had gotten some of him & his friend Jake working the whole weekend in the garage, fixing & painting!)

I am happy for their new hobby and interest but I am also worried... I get nervous when they are out riding that they will get hit by a car or crash and have a head injury. I am a stickler for helmets, but grown and nearly grown boys don't always listen to their mamas :(

Maybe I will spank them both soundly and put them to bed!