Saturday, September 16, 2006

I'd really like a redesign - maybe you'll be the other winner.

I just read a drawing for a free blog design. I'm stuck with a blogger template because I haven't found the time to figure out how to do anything else. It's on my list - #133 I think.

Here's the skinny from Bluebird Blogs.

Autumn is my favorite time of the year, and it's just right around the corner. To celebrate the beginning of the season, I'm having a contest for 2 lucky people to win a totally free, completely customized blog design from Bluebird Blogs.

Information on how to enter:
- Send an email with your name and blog address to bluebirdblogs@gmail.com.
- Entries will be accepted from 7:00pm EST on Thursday 9/14/06 until 11:59pm EST on Friday 9/22/06.

The winner will be announced here on Saturday, September 23rd, 2006. Good luck to everyone!

Friday, September 15, 2006

Baoon, baoon

Ever since Grom was big enough to sit upright in a grocery cart, he's been getting a balloon whenever we shop at Trader Joe's. He used to torture me the entire drive home by rubbing his hands (and teeth) over the tight inflated surface to make noises reminiscent of fingernails on a chalk board. How many kids know that sound now a days in the time of white boards? I used to try to be prepared for him to pop one while I was driving - scaring both of us. When we would get home, I'd make a big deal of letting it go. We'd watch it get smaller and smaller.

Now he's big enough to ask for himself. We get to the checker and he looks up at the balloons and then at his hero and says, "ello baoon peas" or "geen peas" while he points. It gets tied to his wrist and he has great fun with it while I finish my business.

As I push our way to the car, I hear a giggle, a "bye-bye baoon", and then look to see that he has released his treasure.

It reminds me of my treasures; the things I hold so tight. I need to release them, like Grom's balloon, to God. Release my cares as prayers. Release the people I love knowing that God loves them more. Release my stuff as useless in the sight of eternity.

I love how my Father uses my son to teach me about Him.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

10 years ago today...

I married Surferman.

It was a beautiful day.

As you can imagine, Surferman was not your typical tuxedoed groom. I wasn't the typical bride in white. We wanted something that suited us. There was a feeling of aloha in the air. The guests were encouraged to wear Hawaiian shirts and dresses. We gave each guest a lei at the door. The sanctuary was filled with green foliage. The bridesmaids and groomsmen wore dresses and shirts of the same batik Hawaiian print. Surferman's shirt was a different color of the same print. I wore a short lace and gauze dress, tuberrose in my hair and Birkenstocks with blue socks.

Family inflated balloons by the millions for the reception hall. We danced to tacky songs like the Macarena. No wedding cake - hot fudge sundaes with homemade ice cream instead.

It was a beautiful day.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Because of Jesus

I was blessed with the opportunity to attend a Pastor/Leadership Conference these past few days. I had the opportunity to worship, pray, fellowship and sit under some wonderful teaching. It was wonderful to reconnect with friends that I haven't had time to hang with and also to get to know people in the leadership of my church that I don't know very well yet. The location was beautiful and it was encouraging to meet people from all over California that are co-laboring in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Here are some nuggets -

You can't out give God.

The ends never justify the means.

The difference between what you believe and how you live should be continually narrowing.

A farmer can teach us a lot about ministry.

It was a good time and a good rest. But... I'm glad to be home with my guys.