A dear man and friend...

If you have not been following the Mark Lamberth story go here...  He was a great guy and friend.  I love his wife and my heart breaks for her as her husband has gone to be with Jesus tonight.  A rough story.  Read it and pray with us.

BJs and Old Navy

I went out with the girls tonight for my birthday. Cristi, Nicolle, Shannon, Christina, Holly, and Ashley came out for the festivities and I had such a wonderful time. I miss Annette, Alyssa and Emily though. We always did the BJs and Old Navy thing together and though my evening was supreme with such great girls around me, I missed these girls. Two babies came along (KJ Hughes and Audrey Rodrigo) and I commented that it was so appropriate that babies were at MY birthday. I love babies (I am finally going to start my doula training in March 09) and I got to hold them both for quite a while since Gwyn was not there to be jealous! All my girls seem to be starting their families and I am finishing. I feel so old and mentorly. It is weird, but good. I love my girls and their babies!!!

BTW: I started work again for the year and man, am I overwhelmed. Did you ever get stressed in college on syllabus day? I always went back to my dorm and had a panic attack about how I was going to possibly going to get it all done. That is how I feel right now! Syllabus day as an adult! How can I balance the crazy work expectations this year with mommying, homeschooling, ministry, art, housekeeping and marriage? Hmmm...I am sure it will balance out cause it always does but I have had more than one outburst of emotion at the girls and Adam about it and I don't want to be that way to the ones I love! Pray for me. I have tightness in my chest just writing about it.

My beautiful friend Adrianne

This is Adrianne and Sunshine. Sunshine is a new addition to the Ashley family and is helping them heal a bit from their recent loss of their lovely three year old daughter Karissa. Karrissa suffered from epilepsy and went home to be with Jesus about a month ago. Crazy hard. Crazy grief for this mama. But this couple, Mark and Adrianne, have shown incredible beauty and grace and faith beyond what most would even dream possible in this situation. They aren't afraid to cry and let it out and scream that this sucks, but they don't stay there. They have a hope in their future and what God has for them. They are finding ways to move through this. They are amazing. Adam and I really feel called to help people through this time of grieving as pastor and pastor wife. Adam calls it his sweet spot. We feel most comfortable supporting and listening and just being with them. We love them as dear friends and I have learned so much from these classy people on how to deal with loss and trust in a future. They are true beauty in Christ.

My friends the Foors

This is an old picture because I have not blogged for months, but I figure I will catch you all up. We try to see the Foors at least once or twice a month and our families love each other. We just mesh. Have you ever met a match like that? The husbands have been best friends for years. The wives became best friends when they were married in and the kids just get along (or not) like siblings. We parent in similar fashions. We have like childhood experiences. We both work in ministry and understand those pressures. We both love music and the arts. We have like values for marriage, finances, feminity, masculinity, everything. We just click. I feel so relaxed in their presence. We can vacation with them and feel refreshed. I can talk to Aaron and Adam can talk to Em. I have that feeling of being home when I am with them. They are truly our garden friends and I cherish days like this one when our busy lives and schedules come together for a day of fun at Disneyland or some other activity. We recently got to see them twice in one week and I pined for the days when we were all in Riverside together. I am glad they are only and hour and half away, but I wish they were closer. I am so thankful God has provided such friendships for me to lean on. Words just can't express. (too bad they don't read blogs-this got kinda sappy!)

Saw the...

We stopped by the Rodrigos today. I miss having Holly in our extra room...or even them just down the street. I miss our more frequent chats. It was lovely to see them for the few minutes we had together. They seem to be adjusting to parenthood well and Audrey is getting so big and aware. Babies are one of my favorite things I think.

My mom and brother dropped by and Gwyn had such a good time playing with them. She was all smiles! She showed off all of her tricks like patty cake and standing up on furniture. And I registered my little brother to vote-my good deed for the day. I was just trying to get another Obama voter out there!!!

Time spent with old friends

My lovely Emily came to town. The kids are all growing so fast-look at Allison in the swing, and that is Gwyneth in the back with Stacey. I miss when I sat with the girls at the park every Wednesday morning chatting and breaking up fights or crying fits between the kids-I mean watching them play serenely on the playground. It was a delightful day...even though I was avoiding the house cause Adam had the flu and I was making him hold up in the front room, run the house-fan for fresh air and Lysol everything. The kids and I are on airborne-cause we have not had the flu this season and I INTEND to keep it that way. We'll see.

Shoutout to Grove Homeschool Group

Does anyone remember Kryn Burton? I love her. She influenced me so much in my femininity and mothering when she lived her. I miss her. But, I always thought she lived on the edge of normalcy. Now I realize I do too. When did that happen. I always feel normal-but I don't think I am when I try to look at me from the outside. Weird?

Anyway-I am realizing that homeschooling is on the edge of normalcy. I am watching all of my friends send their kindergartners off to public school and I am not. Who will she play with when they are at school all day? Other homeschoolers. Where do I find them? At the Grove Homeschool group! I love them. We went to the Riverside Philharmonic with them, we had a Valentine Day party with them and we went to Living Desert this Monday.

We saw a Cheetah out and about, giraffes, zebra, ostriches...we are doing a report on Meerkats...and a butterfly landed on Aggie! But best of all are the wonderful friendships we are forming. And we can all hang out on the edge of normalcy together!

Family update...life keeps of rolling by

I have been caught up with life and work, so here is a family update for all the fam out there...

Gwyn is eating fingerfood now...she never wants our help anymore. She crawls all over the house and is the cutest thing ever. We have even left her with my Mom at our house for a couple two hour dates. It is amazing how fast you can get in and out of the car with no baby!

We started homeschooling after the holiday break and whenever we do piano Gwyn crawls under the bench and puts her head against the piano...another musician on our hands? She loves rhythm.

We had dinner at Taco Station with Mark, Angie and Nolan Lamberth. It was so nice to catch up with such sincere friends. And only Nolan could entice Agatha into a cowgirl dress up instead of a princess-but it is still pink!

We went to the snow in Running Springs with the Foors. I love Emily. No one else would pay admission with me just to be a part of the fun when really we each went down the slope only 3 times and spent the rest of the time nursing, rocking and appeasing our infants who where not excited about the cold, wet snow that reflected bright light in their eyes. Ahhh, infancy!

Aggie had a blast riding with Haley and Noah. I miss the five families-with out of town moves and starting school our old tradition of Snow Day has been reduced to two instead of five.

Adam taking his turn with Gwyn so I could hit the slopes. We took her down twice. She was not impressed.

I threw Holly Rodrigo a baby shower. She is due on Feb 22 and looks amazing. She has gained the perfect amount-of course- and is glowing. We "went green" and played games like "change the cloth diaper" and "think of 10 ways to go green with baby". We even ate off our compostable "paper" products made from corn and sugar cane. It was fun and I got to catch up with old friends like Keri Quesada who came with her 3 week old baby and wore zip up jeans...at three weeks. Can we say WEIGHT LOSS ENVY?

We had dinner with the Reids...who we love and whose daughters are clones of ours. Can you even find Aggie in this picture? Bryan and Cristi are so laid back-the girls made a sleeping bag clubhouse in their master bedroom walk in closet all night. I love them!

Aggie had her ballet/tap/gymnastics show day at The Little Gym. She is doing so well. But, more than anything I noticed her empathy. She was so concerned about any kids who got hurt or were too shy and ran to their parents. So much so that when I caught her eye I had to redirect her to do the steps again. I love how much she cares.

Katie and Hannah came with a flower for Aggie. They made her day. She adores the Boone girls, so do I. Thanks Stacey. We got you on email, when is the blog coming?

Lots of friends and family playdates and visits in the last couple weeks. I got my hair cut...I had work meetings on my own (Adam took Gwyn)...the garage still has no door or window...the christmas lights are down this year (thanks Scott Ellis)...I finished the old set of Learning Records and now have another set to write...life keeps on rolling by...

I love this quote I found on my favorite new friend's site.

No sorrowful tears, no beating of the breast
For a safe repose has taken me.
I dance ring dances with the blessed saints
In the beautiful fields of the righteous.
- Ancient Christian tomb inscription

Beautiful, isn't it?

A new Cel Arts Assistant in my future

Isn't she cute? This is Christina Ellis and she is going to take on the task of coming to work full time in the Cel Arts Department. I am looking forward to working with her through my (now limited, but growing as my girls do) participation as pastor's wife in our ministry. I am soooo excited because she has aways been one of my visual artists that I call for great work to display. This means that she can take my dream of a Visual Arts Gallery and make it an ongoing reality since I cannot devote the attention this needs while raising my family, balancing a job (and this semester 12 units for my credential CLAD certificate), and being an artist myself. She is organized which my husband greatly needs AND musical so she can chart things and stuff I cannot even begin to understand. I am so excited and can't wait to have her on staff. She is going to come on right before our Christmas Production...good times for her cause productions are a bit crazy! But our Post-Christmas Cel Arts Staff party will have a fun new member with Scott and Christina. Fun.

The heartbreak of your child...

I told my daughter today that another of her close friends was moving away-and pretty far this time. It was horrible to witness the heartbreak. It came up in a story we were reading and I thought-OK now is the time. As I told her I could see the realization on her face and then this low wail started to come. It got so loud I had to close the hotel window and just let her cry it out and tell me how bad it hurt. She said, "If he moves how can I ever marry him?" and "Now only one of the five familes is left with us." and "My heart is hurting so much because it is broken." It was gutwrenching because I feel the same emotions. I just held her and comforted. I told her things like "We will visit." and "He will be back to see his grandparents." But, it is hard to watch your child deal with these times of loss of such young friendships. Harder even than I expected.

Friends to miss

This is Sofia Lance and my little girl Gwyneth. Gwynie is just learning to sit up and thinks Sofia is so cool. She reaches out to her and I know wants to be like her already (Sofia is 5 months the senior). Zeke (their four year old) is the apple of my four year old's eye. She is quite the princess and he loves trucks, but they play together so nicely when it is just the two of them. She already has him picked out as her prince and plans to marry him after they date when they are older (at my request :) But they are going to Redding in January. I know we will see them because they are a part of a group of garden friends that get together every year and they also have family in town that will draw them back occasionally. But still I am sad. I love their mommy. My husband and their daddy have quite a history and friendship. Our hearts will yearn for their presence. I cry whenever I think of the fact that they won't grow up together like I thought they would. And now I am faced with the prospect of telling this news to my very aware four year old. Yucky. But at least a friend pointed out that maybe now they can get married instead of growing up like brother and sister... :)

Amber came to town

A good friend of mine, Amber Parmer, came to town for the morning. It is always good to catch up with her because she is so relaxed and easy going. Our times together are always just a half of a day once or twice a year, but they are like no time has passed between. She was my maid of honor and I her matron (good times to be called a matron). We have known each other since we braved a very testosterone heavy architecture class freshman year in high school and been great friends since. She has always been the giver, coming to live with me while I planned my wedding, coming to visit me with my kids and I hope that when she needs, she will call and I will go. I hope I will go even when she doesn't need or call. I need to be a friend like her. She is awesome and faithful and beautiful and extremely smart (engineer for water in her city) and free (studied in Germany for fun). I love when she visits!

Celebrating New Life

I met this wee baby today. She is breathtaking. Allison looks just like Haley and has the most dainty, long fingers and huge Aaron Foor feet! She is so small that I can hold her in one hand and even Newborn things are huge, but she is healthy and nursing away. New lives are just amazing. The beauty of God's creation and the gift He gave to women to bear children is just overwhelming. Their smell, their fragility, their soft cuddles...I love the miracle of it all. I walked into the Foor home and it just smelled like birth-I love that smell. I never ask to hold other's babies because I know they need their parent's touch most, but of course I got to hold this one and she was so precious! Em is beautiful and strong and feminine. She is well and resting with her new family of five!

New baby is here!

Baby Allison Katherine Rose Foor is here!!! Emily is amazing and beautiful and made it through over 48 hours of induced labor! Baby and Mom are nursing in the birthing room as I write and the baby is so healthy they haven't even weighed her yet. Aaron is excited and tired. Everyone came through and the Foors are now a family of five. I can't wait to meet her. I can't wait to hug Em. I can't wait to celebrate this new life.

Edit: I found out Sunday that she weighs 5bs14oz. Tiny and sweet. I will meet her tomorrow.

dinner with new neighbors

We had dinner with the lovely Dunlaps this evening at the Cheesecake Factory (can they have bigger plates or more things on the menu, please?). It was so nice (the company, not the mass amounts of food). They love Riverside, love the history, love the neighborhood, are in education, know people we know, love kids, never give me bad vibe about lugging my infant around everywhere, are organic, karen is quirky, steve adores her, they are "members of the green party" (as someone called me today as I changed a flushable g diaper), spend their time off bettering their home, love the outdoors, go running, are artistic, love music, love God, love pop culture, quote the same movies as us, have honest hearts, cling to their crazy kid side (by still going to late night rock shows), are recovering rock stars...can I list anything else we have in common or that I love about them? Awesome that we are neighbors now. I am so excited.

Lauren, My favorite Creative Arts Coordinator

Lauren is leaving. Me and my girls (and my husband's department) will miss her terribly. She was the best Creative Arts Coordinator that we almost had. I know life is calling her onward, but I hope God sends us someone who can fill her shoes. She is going to do amazing things for arts somewhere. But, I have to admit I still wish it were here. I will miss the trust I could put in her as a pastor's wife that my husband's ministry details would always be done on time to the best degree. I will miss how well we could work together and communicate. I will miss all the lunches and shopping trips I had planned after I exit this stage of life of infancy confinement. I will miss that Adam and I could ask her to do anything and she always considered our word interchangeable. I will miss how she viewed femininity and women in ministry. I will miss the example she would have been to my girls. I will miss her beauty. I will miss her. I will miss you Lauren. Come and visit us, please.

Taco Station with Friends

We have eaten dinner with friends two nights in a row! And for a couple of introverts that is a record! Last night we had the Dunlaps over for fish after their workday. It was lovely to chat and eat together-they are wonderful, sincere people and a great addition to the neighborhood. Tonight we walked to Taco Station with the Diazes and their girls (Agatha loves them!). It was a great time. I am enjoying connecting with friends! Did you know Taco Station was the original Shell Gas Station in Riverside...I love Riverside history.

New friends, good friends

Have you ever met those people that you just click with right off? Bryan and Cristy are that! We have hung at a cast party, gone to Panera after church and had them over for dinner (which was amazing-my husband is an awesome cook...yes girls, he does all the cooking, I am infinately blessed I know) and I already feel so comfortable. They are so fun and relaxed, and their girls are perfect matches for ours (very fancy) But, they clean up before they leave, they are weight watchers, they watch shows we watch, they have interests similar to ours, they are just sparkly (once again a Firefly reference). I even let them hold my baby, and if you know me, you know that is a great sign of trust. We had the most wonderful evening of eating on the back patio, letting the girls play and chatting freely. Connecting feels good.