Celebrations of late!

Celebration 1,

A Birthday party for my friend Jessica.

She is tall, beautiful, kind, good at almost everything she attempts, and in spite of her 25 years she will laugh harder than anyone when it comes to bathroom humor!

Tess & I were able to use our outside patio area for most of the evening, since our living space is small & our friends are many.


The weather was cool, but comfortable, and we were able to linger over our meal before moving inside to avoid the raindrops that blessed our gathering.

Don't we squeeze into small spaces nicely?


Celebration 2,

Jude's 2nd Birthday Bash at the Beach!

Which beach? you may ask.

Well, not the first one I went to that day, I may respond.

For some reason I was picturing Avila beach when in fact the party was at Cayucos.

So I arrived an hour-ish late to find this delicious fun...


He picked out the "boo" cupcake, and then proceeded to gobble it.

Once gobbled, he then asked for another "boo" cupcake.

I approve.

Obsessed with food.

Obsessed with blue food.

Maybe it is in our genes.

Eli is beginning to show signs of carrying the "blue" genes...

Eli's "blue steel" gaze...


Eli modelling my sun glasses...


Tim & Jude spent a lot of birthday time playing in & near the water...


we tried to keep Jude warm enough & yet "free" to play...


I think he would say it was a success!

Celebration 3,

Grandpa's 90th Birthday was celebrated with friends visiting & hymn singing


Grandpa really seemed to enjoy it, and sang along even when he decided to close his eyes...

Celebration 4,

The idea of fall has arrived before the weather, but we celebrated in little ways anyways.

Jack Creek Farms is always a fun place to enjoy pumpkins, tractors & animals.

Jude spent a lot of time exploring the tractor...


He also took his time picking out pumpkins, and pumpkins, and more pumpkins.

Some of my favorite "pumpkins" were part of

Celebration 5,

Jina & Andrew's wedding gathered a bunch of fun worker bees.


We painted & planned & pumped up our kicks.

Mumsy folded a bazillion origami lilies & figured out how to transport them to the wedding without getting them irrevocably tangled.


The celebrations continued with a few bridal showers,

including a Bunny themed one in honor of Jina


I decorated my place with colorful bunting with fun sayings like
"Hoppy Marriage" & "We Heart Bunny".

One of Jina's surprises was an enlarged photo of Jina that I transformed into a bunny & taped to the bathroom mirror and then added a "thought bubble" that said "I love Mr. Bun-to-be (sigh)".

My shirt also was part of the decor...


If you look close, you can see two pins that say "I" and "heart".

Some of the things we gathered & created in preparation for the wedding were mustaches for the dress up photo booth.


Laura, Tess & I had fun with the 'staches even after the wedding.


After all the wedding festivities I was able to head up to Fresno
& see the Wilkins & catch up with some of the ladies from my old church.

Smeedekins & me

Monster & me

Honduras 2011

Through a series of some surprising & exciting events, I found myself a part of the 2011 Honduras Team.

Initially, I struggled with feeling like my stepping in at the "last minute" was saving the day. Thankfully, God was not under any delusion as to who who really steps in, orchestrates, and saves.

Once I stopped thinking of my own fabulousness (sigh), I was able to see how God had been working on my heart since last year's trip & preparing me to go.

There is nothing like some good ego deflating to prepare oneself for adventure & hard work.

Our team consisted of 3 adults & 5 highschoolers.


Dan K, Dan H, MHR Dan K, Brianna F, me, Kellen H (our fearless leader), Jon K, & Bobby D.

We worked hard doing construction...


playing with the kids, comparing musical influences with the locals...


helping with a medical clinic, practicing English & learning Spanish in return...


and serving the local missionaries
(notice the commanding way that Mike Pettengill just sits)...


I was especially blessed to get to reconnect with some of the precious kids I met the year before.

Here are some of my "tagger-ons" Samuel, Oneda, and Carolina...


Another special treat was getting tons of time with some of the craziest and most creative and athletic teens I have had the pleasure of knowing...

We became obsessed with this little footballer monkey that was made out of coconut husks that Dan Katches (the kid) bought as his souvenir. There were a whole series of photos taken of the adventures of this strange little creature.


Who says boys don't play with dolls?

I am glad for the chance to go again to a country that is finding it's way into my heart.

Grateful & open to a third trip.


I heart Honduras!