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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sole Mates

Jade & Sara's photo and story made yet another appearance.

This time on Elle.com (Elle Magazine's website).

Their 15 minutes of fame has been extended!

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.