Rubiks Cube Bros

A few years ago, Deevs was on a Rubik's Cube kick. He got one for Christmas then went online and learned algorithms to solve it and was quite a pro at it. Then over time, his passion faded and he kind of forgot a little (not entirely).

He got a new one this past Christmas and his love resurfaced a little, but not much. Then something happened a couple weeks ago where he found his cube again and has been timing himself solving it. Then he found ANOTHER one and has been timing himself solving two!

Then Jade came over and - their brains work very similarly in many ways - Deevs was delighted to not only share the formulas, but also to let Jade borrow one!

Maybe now they can RACE? ;)

2 of our genius kids.

Deevs teaching Jade how to solve the Rubik's cube.

More TOMS shoes

J&S's TOMS story was just featured on shoedish.com.

Screen shot.

... a fun ride

TOMS Shoes - A TOMS Love Story

I sent an email to TOMS shoes telling them about how Jade & Sara met and how TOMS played a contributing role. They were tickled enough by the story that they featured them on their blog and in their blast marketing email. And it looks like it might have generated other interest as well (stay tuned).

The email blast

The TOMS blog website

The blog post

tell us your TOMS love story!

February 3rd, 2010 by admin

A few weeks ago, an amazing story fell in to our inbox about a couple who met because of TOMS. Not only did the two TOMS fans fall passionately in love with one another, they are now engaged to be married and plan for their entire bridal party will wear TOMS! See the Mother of the Groom’s story below…

When we were in Virginia on vacation this past summer (from our home in CA) our delightful, 22 year old bearded, tattooed web designer son and our family were eating burgers at little retro diner in Williamsburg.

We were approached by a (brave!) girl “My friend wanted me to give you her number” is what she told our son. Yes, this cute and stylish 20 year old thought our son was cute… but what clinched it was that he was wearing TOMS! Because he was fashionable AND socially conscious she could NOT let this opportunity pass by!

He called her. They dated cross-country (interrupted briefly by his 6 week trip to help orphans in Kenya). They are now planning their Virginia wedding and they want everyone in the wedding party (bride, groom, attendants, flower girls – parents???) to wear TOMS!

Stacie
(mother of the groom)

The happy couple rowing in Central Park, “Sara came to visit and a TOMS love story had begun..”

Although this is a beautiful and incredible story, we’re convinced there’s more like them… So tell us- did wearing TOMS land you an awesome relationship? Do your friends label you and your honey the “TOMS couple”? Would you dump your boyfriend if he stopped wearing TOMS? Post a comment below and tell us your TOMS love story!

See Jordan & Sara’s engagement photos after the jump!

The post generated a lot of comments. Here is one I didn't think would hurt their feelings - haha! (It says "They are clearly models and this is a publicity stunt, but if it sells you more shoes then go for it " ) SEE BELOW.

Engaged!!!!!!!!!!

Jade did not join us in Mammoth this year because he had other plans... BIG plans!

He wanted to surprise Sara with a New Year's Eve proposal (he had convinced her he was not going to be able to propose yet because he was too broke).

This is how he planned it - we have to hear the details about if it is actually how it happened - The countdown to midnight would happen, then he would kiss her for "Happy New Years" and then he would drop to his knee and ask her to marry him. (And if all went as planned, she would say YES!)

Apparently she DID indeed say YES and was so happy & excited, she dropped to HER knees too (adorable!).

There is supposed to be video too... if I can ever get my hands on it, I will post it here as well.

So happy!

Awwwwww!

Happy & crying

Congratulation cake

Blowing out the candles as an engaged couple

The ring.

(Blurry, but all we have right now... more coming :)

We all knew for a couple weeks and we were having the hardest time keeping a secret (just like Kristen Wiig as "Sue" in this SNL skit. Watch it and ENJOY thinking of our suffering through it!!! - hahaha!).

November Bdays '09 - minus Jade

For the November birthdays, we went to see Drew (29) picked lasagna as the dinner and Miss M (14) picked apple pie as the dessert. We missed have Jade (22) there... he was celebrating in Kenya.

The two birthday celebrants

We didn't all get their memo...

Cutting the birthday pie

FULL from yummy lasagna dinner!!!!!!

Grampie assuming the position :)

Mmmmmmmm... banana cream pie

Birthday wishes

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jade is HOME!

Jade arrived back in the good ole US of A today at 6:30AM (our time) via Nairobi, Dubai, and Atlanta.

Hopefully we will get more details & photos later... for now, here are a few.

Jade with Justus, Johnstone & another friend.

After the Prayer Day, Jade & his team stopped in town to order 14 orders of chicken and chips {chips cuckoo} for their dinner party...with the 7 boys that live at the Oasis Centre. They joked about the tiny hut being Cleophas' night club "Omega Two" {a play on the dance club in town "Omega One"}
After an impromptu Sunday dance party, {which Alice says "really means, once Jade and I were done listening to "Single Ladies" on repeat"}, they went inside to teach these smaller kids to play Uno. Alice noted that Mattel had some creative geniuses because Uno requires "little-to-no shared language or skill". She said it was so great to watch all ten of their opponents learn to shuffle through their stack of 7 {small hands, they couldn't hold them all} to find a 7 or a yellow.

Jade shaking "his Isaya" as Alice would say

Rael, Sarah, Irene, Kamau and Jade

Finally, lest we forget that Missionary work is NOT all fun and exotic travel and Uno and dancing and hugging precious children you are in a third world country with PLENTY of dangers lurking nearby:

This is a photo of a dead black mamba that a child found in the bushes. He killed it before it could kill anyone. {Highlights of the wikipedia page: this snake has been claimed to move at up to 19.5 km/h (12 mph), It can strike up to 12 times in a row. A single bite from a black mamba injects enough venom to kill anywhere from 20–40 grown men. Can live in bushes and small trees and also in houses.}

EEK!!!!!!!!! Scares a Mama! (Glad I didn't see that photo 'til they got home!)

Praise God for the fun & exotic travels & Uno & dancing & love & hugging precious children and for their safe return!!!

Goodbye Jade

Jade is off to Africa.

Check out his blog at http://jordan.maslyn.us/kenya/.

We went out to a "farewell" dinner at Flamingos.

Grampie was out of town and Ellen was at a concert, so it was a small celebratory crowd.

Miss M had her 8th grade health project baby, Deliah, with her and Deliah had a meltdown in the middle of the restaurant... this caused her 8th grade 'Mommy' to have a bit of a meltdown too. We recovered fairly quickly though and had a fine dinner.

"Uncle" Jade kissing Deliah

Jade & Grammie

Jade, Miss M, and baby Deliah

Jade & licensed driver Deevs

Jade & Mom

Jade & Dad

Goodbye Jade.

We will be praying for you: that God's will be done in your life and in your trip!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Mother's Day 2009 started with a shower and a note under the door from Miss M (ahhh... Mothers are grateful for daughters!!!).

Followed by gifts from Dear Hubby (thanks Babe) and a beautiful handmade card from Miss M (did I mention mothers are grateful for daughters???)

A new hot pink ipod nano?  (To replace to one stolen out of car on driveway grrrrrr!!!)  

And all the accessories!

Lunch with the Fam at Islands... celebrating Mom!  (Thanks Grampie!)
And one more SURPRISE gift from Tiffany & Co.

THANKS BABE!!!
High five-ing the surprise.
With the new "S" necklace.
The Moms.
D's Mother's Day gift to himself?

A tattoo "wedding ring".

I got an "S" necklace and he got an "S" tattoo.  (Just marking my territory...)

xoxo

Kenya Believe It?

Please pray for Jade.

He has been called to go on a long short-term mission (or a short long-term mission, depending on how you look at it) to Kenya.

He is stepping out in faith believing that 'where God guides, God provides' and trusting that he will be able to make all the details come together to go.

He has already started a blog.

Go to it here and sign up to FOLLOW it (and get notified every time he updates it).

Pray for wisdom for him.

Pray for God's guidance for him in all the preparation & decisions.

Pray for provision (of money, insurance, housing, travel, etc.).

Pray for discernment.

Pray for health & safety (yes, even starting now).

Pray for travel details.

Pray in advance for all the people he will be serving.

Pray for the relationships he will make.

Pray for his Spiritual discipline and diligence (now and while there).

Pray to see if the Lord is leading you to support him financially, prayerfully, and/or emotionally.  (Your support letter will be coming SOON!)

Oh, and um... pray for his PARENTS (who love having him on the same CONTINENT)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Would you trust this guy on a mission trip?

(hahaha!!!)

Fun with Friends

Em's birthday dinner (18 - woo hoo!) was a FUN event for all (hopefully most of all Em!!!).

BROTHERS!!!!!! (Lando & Jade)

Jade & Yazz

Em & Lando

So many GREAT young adults.

SOOOO exciting to see what God has in store for each of them...