August

Here it is August and I am wondering where the summer has gone to. It seems to fly by here, especially since the schools do not get out until late June. AND this year it has been so cold! Every night we are using quilts to cover up with, (50's) and the days have been only low 70's. This means that a FUN part of the summer, that the girls and I look forward to, has been lost. That is: swimming in the swimming pool.

The pool is not a fancy in-ground pool, though for the amount of work we have put into it we sometimes think we could have dug out our own pool, over the years. But, it is a very nice above ground pool and we have had tons of fun over the years playing mermaids, (yes, even if we are adults we do this with Karis), exercising, floating, and listening to blaring music. Yet, this summer we have had one week that we could swim without freezing out! Today we are supposed to hit 80 and with the solar blanket, maybe, just maybe, we can get in, that is if our colds are any better.

Arrrgh--today's morning was spent searching for the lowest prices on textbooks for Karly's semester at Biola. It paid off, I purchased 4 classes of books for less than the amount of one book full price (thanks, Amazon sellers). I am still waiting for my fall quarter schedule to be posted--The King's is late on getting this up, but it will not begin until September.

Today is filled with babies, babies, babies, while Kellen prepares details for this upcoming nationwide tour (too complicated to explain here) that he is leaving on in September, performing and doing background work for other bands. Both Ellianna and Quinn Renee are teething so that means runny noses and general whining--regardless of what the medical community says. My own babies always became sick when cutting a new tooth. But I still think I will go somewhere with the kids and maybe Karly (permitted she doesn't whine also--a common thing at her young age of 20). I need to make use of these last days of summer.

So, I will enjoy the many plants in my backyard, the breezes with the cool ocean air, the kids, the music, the watermelon, strawberries, and corn--all too soon it fades.

The "Up All NIght"

I once wanted to own a bookstore/coffeehouse that also had a small stage area for bands and musicians to play on weekends, until all hours. I wanted to call it "The Up All Night". It never happened...but here I am wide awake and still up at almost 3 a.m.
This happens more often than not--forever, all my life. It's me. AND I am not having worry, stress, or any such thing.

My house is a full house right now. Kellen and Heather are in the moving process, so they are here for a few days with the babies. That is okay---I like people in my house. The babies are so precious and Karis loves having them here, she feels more like a big sister than an aunt to them.

The pool has been magnificent, even if it is an above ground (though a very good one,-- have had this pool for 8 years and still sturdy, sturdier this year because we did new ground work as it had settled over the years). The new solar blanket is the best ever and it has warmed the water so well that even though today it was only in the 70's, the water was great. Karis and her friend swam off and on all day.

I am enjoying just being outdoors, even if not super active. My plants give me such a rush of enjoyment. I grew all of them from tiny pieces, some from the 99 cent store, seriously. They are HUGE now. one palm is at least 10 feet tall, and the banana trees are towering, the hibiscus is blooming, the cactus is massive, the angel trumpets are unbelievable big trunks, full on trees now (brought cuttings back several years ago from my aunt's in TN)---we have cut them back several times---and they smell so wonderful I can get intoxicated from it almost, yet they only put out scent at night. One side looks like a jungle I love it---I have 2 tiny apples on this small tree I planted last year. The rubber tree and yucca are both far taller than I am... and the grapevine needs more trellis or an arbor or something...all of this and a tiny rectangle of a yard with a cement block fence, California suburb style, good for me.

On another NOTE:
I was saddened by the actions of someone today, apparently someone that is hurting and felt the need to prove it by doing a silly thing towards me. Ahhhh I should be used to this in ministry by now, but it can hurt, if one allows it to, especially when a friendship has been involved. I must let these things just roll off of me...life is far too short to ever get bitter and hold it there.

Okay---back to the up all night---I would still like to do this---like I have the time with my life and school and ministry...but I would love that. Books are my thing, nighttime is my domain, and coffee and music, hello????

Oh lastly---I have the MOST awesome tires on my truck (Durango). Who knew I would ever get excited over tires, I never have before. But these tires are BF Goodrich Baja---they are just phenomenal and I am so very grateful that I was able to get them. Besides, NOW if I ever want to do off road racing with my 4 x 4 I can (like that is going to take place!!!!)

God is good.

Summer June Gloom in July

It is June Gloom in July. I love the weather but do want it to warm up while we have a few weeks to play in the pool. Karis and I have such fun playing Mermaids. We are always princess mermaids and swim and perform dances and have music blaring.

Speaking of fun--Ellianna spent the night with me again last night. She slept in the bed with Karis, or I should say hogged Karis's bed. Karis--did not know what to think, but then Karis does the same thing when she sleeps with me. They both came running in here to my bed this morning.

Karis went to a Girl Scout project that she is working on this summer...

Ellianna and I went to a favorite: Costco (how boring must I be?????). I bought groceries and looked at the bathing suits for Ellianna (all too big size 4 and up), and she literally gorged on sample tables. She always does. She loves the sample tables. Before she could even eat solids, she would wake up at the sample tables and cry and I would get her a bottle...She plays with the little cups and spoons and forks and stabs me with them while I wheel her in the cart and then rubs my arm like "I'm sorry WaWa --her current name for me--but this is soooo much fun I'm going to stab you again". She talks all the time and finally she conked out in the car, too much Costco excitement! She cried and was angry when I took her home because she had not been able to play outside on the jungle gym stuff with Kiki (Karis). She jabbered about Kiki with big crocodile tears...So I couldn't hardly stand to take her home...

Later went to Thursday Bible study--very good 1 Corinthians 7. Karis went to Pioneer Club and it is soooo fun this summer for the kids with Summer FunFest outside. Tonight they learned about the God's power in times of need and such---the object lesson was an explosion of God's power and they all had bottles of soda and mentos and made them literally into volcanic explosions! I think next week they are doing searches for God's treasure scavenger hunt.

Small church--growing, seeing new people--a different kind of excitement we haven't experienced---reorganized youth ministry getting off the ground---Now, if I could just get saved with all of this going on!!!!!!!!!!!!

Summer---it's not gloomy really---and I like the overcast days---just wanna swim!

Well, I feel like summer is officially here, for me, since my school work is finished for a few weeks. Of course, it is 59 degrees here tonight--and we are having June gloom this year in July, overcast most of the day, cooler, etc.

It's strange, when you are a kid and your year is divided into 2 semesters of school and summer break, you view summer as a magical time, lazy days, movies, swimming, friends. I don't think I ever outgrew that, except the lazy day thing. I have had kids spaced over a 16 year span--so there has always been a younger one around, still is, besides 2 granddaughters. It's fun going to summer free movies, having summer grilled foods, watermelon, watching the kids play on the play yard stuff in the yard, and hopefully swimming (when it warms up or I break down and get a heater of some kind).

School for the kids will not begin here in SoCal until September, so Summer, here we come!!!!

A new Endeavor --leave the coffee

I have thought about blogging for years but until today, never made an active move to do anything about it. Besides, who would read it? Perhaps only me, but...here goes

First, why do I have the photo on my page of Underground? Well, I could not find a decent picture of myself, and why do I need one of myself anyway? I adore England, and find London to be exhilarating, and this blog is definitely NOT mainstream anything.

I'll be writing about days, southern California, maybe some politics, definitely some theology, opinions, probably my family. I am not a prolific writer and I won't take the time to make this of essay quality. This should be FUN!

So today I will write about, well, today. Having access to any kind of cuisine in the world here in Los Angeles, I was treated to Peruvian today, by my husband. We like this little restaurant, El Pollo Inka. This particular one has a decor that is pleasant: heavy wood and beautiful stained glass. The food is great, though I always get chaufa de polla which is basically a chicken and rice dish.

Funny thing, I realized on the drive there I was thinking "oh I will get chaufa and a Coke." You must realize that I very much like Coke (a cola). BUT I am fasting Coke during a 21 day fast my church is involved in. Now, this might seem a bit absurd, but I truly sensed that I was to fast Coke, just Coke. Let me go to an aside and say that I am not referring to this Coke fast to boast fasting lest anyone be offended...

For me, everything, everything, everything tastes better with Coke. Realizing this, I still never acknowledged how absolutely consumed I was with my Coke (definitely NOT Pepsi). After over a week without it, I have suffered headaches, craving, and desiring to go out and get a Coke. I would swing by a particular place on any errands, just to get the huge Coke with the crushed ice and in the large styrofoam cup so that it would last for hours. It was like my day had planned and subconscious plans around consuming Coke. To think of it, it reminds me of my young days when I smoked...a good smoke after a meal, a good smoke during conversation...you get the picture.

The lunch date brought all of this to my realization...though it is comical. I am sure I will drink Coke again, but hopefully never as obsessed, because it was an obsession. I once went on a TV month long fast about 25 years ago and I have never been consumed with it since then, I don't even know the regular shows but I do watch a documentary, British mystery or movie once in awhile.

All of this written---I'm holding tightly to my coffee.