pollenbasket

A Look Back

2008-12-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

This was one of my very first posts a couple of years ago. I recently found this picture and just had to post it again! (I know that recycling posts is totally cheating - but I've been a wee bit busy)

Enjoy:

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So I am up to my eyeballs in work today and the kids have been driving me BONKERS. It’s like they know when I’m stressed and just want to see what it’ll take to make me snap. Well, today it took Calvin smacking his sister on the back with a toy. I told him I was throwing his toy away because obviously, he was using if for evil and not good. He can no longer be trusted with said toy.

Well he had an absolute hissy fit. Stormed up to his room crying, screaming, stomping and wailing like a total Nancy. He was up there for a good 30-40 minutes frothing away. After a while he quietly tip-toes downstairs to deliver me a note written on his MagnaDoodle. I guess I'm just so glad he is expressing himself - it should cut down on the therapy bills later. Right?

This Christmas

2008-11-18T20:02:00.000-08:00

(thanks Stephanie)

Who says if it's free it must be crap?

2008-10-13T18:04:00.000-07:00

I love JJ Heller's music. Her other CD's are The Pretty and The Plain and Only Love Remains which are in constant play on the 'ole iPod. So I have high hopes for her new one...

WHICH IS FREE UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST!

You are welcome :)

Livi's 6th Birthday!

2008-08-21T08:13:00.001-07:00

Shaken back into reality...

2008-07-30T08:05:00.001-07:00

Seismic activity is analyzed on a computer screen at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California July 29, 2008, after a magnitude 5.4 earthquake in Southern California.

Just getting back from vacation we had a little 'rattler'... Welcome back to Cali!

(And we were thrilled that Megan was able to experience one before she heads back to tornados)

What a difference...

2008-07-07T21:20:00.000-07:00

This little girl was such a thin, tiny little thing when she came to Three Angels. She was light as a feather and so timid - her personality seemed to mimic her physical state, like she was shrunken. This is Taina last May:

This past trip I noticed a remarkable difference. Her skin was clear and her eyes were bright. She had lost that red tint to her hair (a sign of malnutrition). In fact, it looked like she had grown much more hair altogether. Her personality had also grown - she was engaging and cheerful. And she has a family - I think her knowing that has been a tremendous factor in her metamorphosis. Taina in June '08:

Couldn't Just Leave It Alone...

2008-04-24T15:18:00.000-07:00

Obviously I am slowing down on my blog posting. I'm just really busy lately with Three Angels admin stuff and wanting to spend more time with my own kids. (I was telling a friend the other day that I need an Intern...) So I'm going to take a break for awhile.

But I certainly couldn't leave my last post as the one everyone looks at while they visit my page waiting and pining and yearning for my next post...

So I'll leave these pictures of my dorky children for your viewing pleasure:

You are welcome.

Please Pray for Peace

2008-04-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: All the children at the Orphanage and School are just fine. The house manager says it is business as usual.

I received an email today from the headmaster at the Three Angels school stating that he had to shut the school down early because of local unrest in the streets. I don't know any more information than that. Please pray the peace comes quickly and that God's protection is on the children at Three Angels.

I posted a little while ago that our food costs in Haiti where rising and rising and we aren't the only ones feeling the financial strain. Many people also have read that article about children having to eat dirt cakes.

This is all very real. Please help.

Below is the AP Story on the rioting in Haiti:

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Hungry Haitians stormed the presidential palace Tuesday to demand the resignation of President Rene Preval over soaring food prices, and U.N. peacekeepers chased them away with rubber bullets and tear gas.

Food prices, which have risen 40 percent on average since mid-2007, are causing unrest around the world. But nowhere do they pose a greater threat to democracy than in Haiti, one of the world's poorest countries where in the best of times most people struggle to fill their bellies.

"I think we have made progress in stabilizing the country, but that progress is extremely fragile, highly reversible, and made even more fragile by the current socio-economic environment," U.N. envoy Hedi Annabi said Tuesday after briefing the Security Council.

For months, Haitians have compared their hunger pains to "eating Clorox" because of the burning feeling in their stomachs. The most desperate have come to depend on a traditional hunger palliative of cookies made of dirt, vegetable oil and salt. Read more

Easter Weekend

2008-03-25T12:42:00.001-07:00

A short little slide-show of our weekend in Paso Robles. The kids had a great time, well, just being kids. (Digging dirt holes, playing with chickens, planting sunflowers, hanging out with cousins and grandparents, etc.)

Becker's Boobie Bonanza

2008-03-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

One of my husband's co-workers, the famous and fabulous Jodi Becker, invited me to be a part of the Susan G. Komen's Breast Cancer 5K. This amazing lady put together a KFI team that ended up raising over $10,000! We had a great time at the Pasadena Rose Bowl and it was ALL about the Ta-Tas.

Here are some pictures of the big day!

Jodi Becker, Producer Michelle Kube, Me.

Jodi made some 'boobie flags' for us to wear...

Team KFI! To read more about our big day check out Jodi's blog.

Red Tape = Broken Budgets = Hungry Bellies

2008-03-07T07:53:00.000-08:00

Tons of Food Rotting in Haitian Ports

No wonder food has been so expensive lately. Please consider making a donation to Three Angels Children's Relief to help us as we wait out this problem.

Ships are seen at the port in Port-au-Prince, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2008. While millions of Haitians go hungry, containers full of food are stacking up in the nation's ports because of government red tape leaving tons of beans, rice and other staples to rot under a sweltering sun or be devoured by vermin.The backup of containers containing food and other supplies at this impoverished country's ports is so severe that lawmakers are complaining and it is being felt 600 miles away in Miami, where overseas cargo traffic to Haiti has ground almost to a standstill.(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (AP)

What I'm Reading Now.

2008-03-06T13:52:00.000-08:00

I'm a huge Mark Driscoll fan (Mars Hill Church in Seattle) and thankfully people know that. So lately I have received a couple of different copies of his latest book from friends and my husband. Maybe that is indicating a problem... hmmm...

Anyway, it's called "Vintage Jesus". I had listened to his whole sermon series by the same name and it looks like he put it all in print. Who says theology has to be boring? I think this is a great sermon series for the new Christian and the Lifer who needs a gut check.

The Mars Hill website is awesome and chock-a-block full of great resources. I've blogged about his secondary website The Resurgence, which is also excellent. Driscoll typically teaches expositionally (check out his series on the book of Ruth - Awesome!), but he will sometimes take a departure and do one like this.

Here is the official description:
Roughly two thousand years ago, Jesus was born in a dumpy, rural, hick town, not unlike those today where guys change their own oil, think pro wrestling is real, find women who chew tobacco sexy, and eat a lot of Hot Pockets with their uncle-daddy. Jesus' mom was a poor, unwed teenage girl who was often mocked for claiming she conceived via the Holy Spirit. Most people thought she concocted the crazy story to cover the fact she was knocking boots with some guy in the backseat of a car at the prom. Jesus was adopted by a simple carpenter named Joseph and spent the first thirty years of his life in obscurity, swinging a hammer with his dad.

In Vintage Jesus, one of America's most influential young pastors teams up with a seasoned theologian to lead you on a hilarious theological journey chasing Jesus through Scripture and pop culture. The authors provide timeless answers to twelve timely questions about the most important man who has ever lived. Each chapter concludes with answers to common questions about each subject.

Chapter 1 Is Jesus the Only God?
Chapter 2 How Human Was Jesus?
Chapter 3 How Did People Know Jesus Was Coming?
Chapter 4 Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?
Chapter 5 Why Did Jesus' Mom Need to Be a Virgin?
Chapter 6 What Did Jesus Accomplish on the Cross?
Chapter 7 Did Jesus Rise from Death?
Chapter 8 Where Is Jesus Today?
Chapter 9 Why Should We Worship Jesus?
Chapter 10 What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviors?
Chapter 11 What Difference Has Jesus Made in History?
Chapter 12 What Will Jesus Do upon His Return?

These questions are answered with insights from people such as Jesus himself, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Luther King Jr., Hugh Hefner, Jack Bauer, Fidel Castro, Oprah, Kanye West, Gandhi, Homer Simpson, Mike Tyson, Gil Grissom, and Madonna, along with some demons and a porn star. There have been seventeen thousand books written about Jesus, but none is like Vintage Jesus.

Thanks Megan for the 'Vintage Jesus' bumper stickers. I am now an official groupie.

the many faces of livi

2008-03-02T18:44:00.000-08:00

She is now officially at the age where it is purt-near impossible to get her to smile naturally at the camera. I think Calvin hit this stage at about the same time and I haven't had a decent picture of him since Kindergarten.

I'm a little late with these pics but they are from Liv's Valentines Day party at school.

The latest TA Slideshow

2008-02-29T17:24:00.000-08:00

I already posted this on our Angel House blog but wanted to throw it up here as well for my family peeps:

My Little Magnet

2008-02-29T17:15:00.000-08:00

That is how I feel about Bethany. Her quiet little way of worming into my heart every time I see that smile is something I crave.

God has something so special for her and I cannot wait to see how her story develops.

Shopping Day!

2008-02-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

My friend Leah, her son Jacob and I went down to 'The Valley' to the teaching supply store and got all stocked up for our trip down to Three Angels this week. It was so much fun picking out all kinds of learning resources for these kids! A huge thank you to those that pitched in to help buy these awesome items! This is SUCH a huge step up from only being able to use dry textbooks and a chalkboard - the teachers will be so excited!

We were able to purchase writing boards, math games, fraction manipulatives, fact family boards, a complete microscope kit, prepared slides, anatomy puzzles, reproducible workbooks, stamps, maps, compasses, french vocabulary flash cards and dictionaries, see & solve games, learning workbooks, science games, pencils, arts & crafts projects, alphabet and handwriting teaching tools... and much more!

Thank you for being a part of blessing these kids and supporting their education. Don't forget to consider becoming a school sponsor! We still need 298 more people willing to donate $27 / month to send a child to school at Three Angels.

We Heart Cookies

2008-02-14T06:51:00.002-08:00

The kids and I made Valentines Day cookies yesterday and had lots of fun decorating them.

Note to self: Do not turn mixer on when there are 3 cups of sifted powdered sugar in the bowl...

Happy VD everyone!

February Trip to Three Angels

2008-01-27T09:02:00.000-08:00

My next trip to Three Angels in Haiti will be on February 21st. I am hoping to get some instructional materials for our teachers there. Last October, thanks to the generosity of people like you, I was able to bring down anatomy forms, geometry manipulatives and a ton of classroom basics like paper, pencils, tape, scissors, etc. The teachers and the students were so excited to know that people in the US cared about them enough to be so generous!

I believe it is incredibly encouraging to our teachers to get some actual teaching materials that are simply not available in Haiti or beyond our budget. Imagine teaching in a partitioned classroom with only a chalkboard, a few shared textbooks, pencil and paper. I would LOVE to bless them with some of the following items:

French Bibles
Math centers (anything except for money)
Science Kits - $149 each
Learning Centers - Science - $varies
Activity Tubs - Science
Fact Family Math Boards
Fractions Math Boards
Math workbooks (we can photocopy pages)
Globe & geography tools - (world maps , not US)
GIFT CARDS to Lakeshore Learning, Amazon, Staples, etc.

If you would like to procure and send any of these items please email me and I can give you my mailing address! (shannon@threeangelshaiti.org)

Some things to remember:

I will need your gifts by February 20th.
We have 335 students in Preschool - 6th grade.
Materials should not be dependent upon language (our kids speak Creole and are learning French)

What a Waste

2008-01-25T12:37:00.000-08:00

Okay, I ain't no tree-huggin', granola eatin', birken-wearin', patchouli-smellin' greenie. (with long arm-pit hair to complete the stereotype) But over the last 6 months or so I have been trying to cut down on the massive amounts of junk mail I get. It drives me nuts. Not only is it a complete waste, I do not need to have temptation delivered to my mailbox.

I invite you to join me via Catalog Choice in declining receipt of unwanted catalogs and advertisements. Just enter your mailing info and then select the merchants you don't want to get stuff from. They do all the work for you after that. I'll admit it, the hardest ones for me to select were Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware...

Not all of the catalogs I get are on the website yet but it looks like more and more are added each month. I'm still waiting for World Vision to be listed - they send me stuff every month! But that is a whole other post...

Blessing us.

2008-01-25T08:43:00.000-08:00

This is a long one but well worth the read, especially at the end. It has caused me to question what kind of blessing I expect. This letter was sent by a missionary working in Kenya.

Dear friends,

I cannot express what it means to know that people are standing with me in prayer as Kenya continues to walk this difficult journey of political unrest. For me, the issue I am really praying about is the idea of calm vs. peace. Like so much of the world, Kenya is used to living in calm but not peace. I do not want to simply return to the "calm" where we put up with one another (although it feels much nicer). There are deep issues of hatred between tribes that unless/until they are addressed will continue to resurface. In the midst of this evil, I believe that God is trying to reveal His heart for this place, for His people. There is a deep cleansing that needs to occur. So, we continue to pray. I wanted to share these reflections from an experience I had this past week...

Like so many other Friday’s, I went to the HIV/AIDS clinic this morning to treat patients. Like any other day, people walked to the clinic or were carried on the back of bicycles. They waited in the open air corridors of the clinic to be treated.

One man arrived critically ill and desperately needed to be referred to a larger hospital just one hour away; but unlike other days, there was no vehicle to take him. The road towards town contains blockades as the post-election violence continues. So, the possibility of extending treatment or even relief to this dying man seemed impossible. Rachel, the Health Practitioner I was working with, unwilling to give up asked if I would go on a walk with her. I agreed, and we walked a few hundred meters up a large hill to the police station to request them to escort this man to the hospital. As we were walking, a group of women, displaced from their homes, greeted us. They explained that it had really been raining upon them over the past few days, and they asked her for her white lab coat. She responded that she still needed it for work.

I was not prepared for the sights I was about to see. A mere ten miles from my village I entered a refugee camp. As I reached the top of the hill, I was greeted by a lady who I used to eat in her little restaurant. With tears in her eyes, she said: “welcome to our refugee camp.” I looked into the faces of hungry and dirty children. They were playing in the middle of their refuge amongst 20,000 others who had been chased as their homes were burned to the ground. I recognized others I have treated as patients at the HIV clinic. A deep sadness entered my heart. Tears filled my eyes, and I feared if I allowed them to flow they might not ever stop. I talked with a little girl, and she asked me where I was from. I told her that I lived in Kipkaren; and she simply replied, “me too”. The only difference is that her home is no longer. She is struggling, along with 300,000 others who have been displaced within their own homeland, to survive. It is hard to imagine the kind of politics, the tribal hatred that could lead to this injustice.

After arrangements had been made with the police for transporting our patient, we started back down the hill. A little girl, maybe six years old, was carrying water on her head as she climbed the hill. Her name, Upendo (which means love in Kiswahili), struck me. She represents all that we have been called to do as followers of Christ.

Overwhelmed by the devastation of this land, I remembered these instructions that say: “Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and the needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9).

And then it began to rain. It was not a light, gentle drizzle but a big rain. For a moment, in a small way, I felt their struggles. This may seem obvious; but without a shelter to enter, it is cold and wet when it rains. Without food to eat, hunger is felt. Without peace, there is no rest. As we walked through the rain, Rachel said: “now I know why they needed my coat.” I am convinced, although uncomfortable, there are times we need to know. I recently came across this prayer that has challenged, once again, my view of what it means to be blessed.

May God bless you with discomfort

At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejections, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them
And to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
To bring justice and kindness to all.

So, I am opening my mouth on behalf of those without a voice. God has shown us what is good and what is required. We are to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him. May God lead our hearts to love more fully and to follow Him wherever He leads.

May God bless you... With love, Juli

Still nothing.

2008-01-22T13:48:00.000-08:00

I have nothing to say when others say it all so much better.

Cool like That

2008-01-08T15:47:00.000-08:00

I haven't had anything original to say lately. This chick does however...

Pull my finger

2007-12-11T21:06:00.000-08:00

Some of you are going to be soooo offended. But in this family farts are funny.

Invite an 8 year old boy to watch this with you and witness him lose his ever-lovin' mind.

Merry Christmas and Happy Dutch Ovens.

Can I make them MORE weird?

2007-12-10T15:36:00.000-08:00

This is an open solicitation on your thoughts about homeschooling. No, I haven't been drinking (yet).

Amazing.

2007-12-10T08:59:00.000-08:00

The Pentatonic Scale - the great equalizer. It is a musical scale with five pitches per octave as compared to the major scale which is made up of seven distinct notes.

I love learning new things, especially when God is revealed in the knowledge

Thanks Megan!

Using ALL my fingers...

2007-12-06T20:21:00.000-08:00

Today is our 10 year wedding anniversary. I spent some of the day thinking about what I would do differently knowing what I know now. I wouldn't use that caterer who only spoke Latvian. I wouldn't have penciled in my already dark eyebrows. I would rethink the dress and definitely the shoes. I would have asked my brother to not bring that date. I would not have had that spare cooler stocked with beer under the groomsmen's table. I would've known that I shouldn't hire the guy with the navy limo. I would have paid more for the pictures and less for the flowers. I wouldn't hire an ex-boyfriend to be the DJ.

But one thing I would never ever change was the man I married. God is good. He has spared me from myself and blessed me with Gary as a partner in this life. It would take me forever to list his attributes and all that he is to me, and we have PLANS tonight... but for fits and giggles I thought I would leave you all with some pictures - 10 years later:

Yeah baby - it still fits (AND I'm bloated)!

She wanted to wear the 'leg thing' but she settled for the veil...

Sniffing Glue

2007-12-02T08:02:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's only Elmer's School Glue, but it can make little girls sooooo happy.

Livi and her friend Gracie (Leah's daughter) spent Saturday together and we started in on some Christmas crafts. The foam angels are a wee bit dopey, but the Christmas Trees with button ornaments were a hit.

All that was needed was a pre-cut tree from Michael's (50 cents), some green paint, brown paint, lots of buttons and, of course, the Elmer's glue.

Didn't you just love doing stuff like this when you were 5? Let me know if you have any good easy craft ideas. (Um, and I don't sew or do scrapbooking, so I do mean EASY!)

It's the last day of November and...

2007-11-30T18:30:00.000-08:00

We got elfed!

Happy Turkey Day

2007-11-22T17:31:00.000-08:00

Our demonstration of what NOT to do after your big meal...

I am so very thankful for my little turkies. Actually I meant turkeys. That would be the proper plural. (Leah...)

Just Desserts

2007-11-15T14:12:00.000-08:00

So a few days ago Gary had sent me a news article about the most expensive dessert in the world. It costs $25,000. Plus tip.

Ridiculous on so many levels - I won't even go there (gluttony, materialism, how many students sponsorships that would be...). But what I did find as gut-busting funny was that 3 days later I came across this follow up item:

Popular NYC Eatery Shut Down For Rodents
NEW YORK - While serendipity may be the art of finding pleasant things by chance, what health inspectors found at celebrated eatery Serendipity 3 was not very agreeable.

Officials closed the restaurant Wednesday night after it failed its second inspection in a month. An inspector spotted a live mouse and mouse droppings, fruit flies, house flies and more than 100 live cockroaches.

"Both inspections revealed rodent and fly infestation and conditions conducive to pest infestation, including stagnant water in the basement," the department said.

People stand in line for hours outside the Manhattan restaurant, known for its extravagant and expensive desserts. Its $25,000 Frrrozen Haute Chocolate features top-grade cocoa, edible gold and shavings of a luxury truffle and was declared the most expensive dessert in the world by Guinness World Records. The eatery also offers a $1,000 sundae named Golden Opulence requiring 48-hour advance notice.

Calculating the Risks

2007-11-10T10:44:00.001-08:00

Would you fight and work for something if you thought you wouldn't win?

I highly recommend this latest post from the Livesay Tribe - missionaries in Haiti. It has a great song by Sara Groves too.

"The concept of fighting ONLY when you think you can win is one of the things that strikes us --- if everyone only did what seemed like a probable win ... well, that would rule out a whole heck of a lot of things -- it is worth losing over and over again because sometime in some small way there will be victory ---and even if the victories are few and far between ... it is worth it."

16 down

2007-11-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

314 to go.

Three Angels Christian Academy needs School Sponsors. The commitment is $27 a month. Everything is automatic and done online. Couldn't be easier. I can send you a brochure if you would like or you can visit the website to learn more.

To make it interesting - what else costs $27? I'll start:

A movie date with my husband with small popcorn . (Tickets are $10.50 out here people!)
LEGO Star Wars Naboo N-1 Starfighter with Vulture Droid (that is Calvin's entry)
A pedicure with tip but without the sandpaper treatment for my calluses.
"You on a Diet" book that I really need to read.
A case and a half of Celebration Ale (that is Gary's entry)
This REALLY cute sweater at The Gap. Okay - actually that is 2 months worth...
7.8 Gallons of gas - have you SEEN the prices lately!

Your turn!

Big day in the Hoffmann House

2007-11-03T17:49:00.000-07:00

Today my daughter read her first book all by herself. I am bloated with pride!

The Obligatory

2007-10-31T21:06:00.000-07:00

...Halloween post:

(guess which one is Cal's)

Throwin' a bone to the G-force out there

2007-10-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

I must apologize to the Grandparents for not posting more pictures of my own children lately. Here are some recent ones to tide you over!

Oh yeah, and one of Gary that I found in his parent's old house!

Who does he look like???

New Favorite

2007-10-26T08:48:00.000-07:00

The following quote by Theodore Roosevelt was posted as a response to an article written about the Indiana families adopting through Three Angels Children's Relief. I wanted to highlight it here for my partners in crime.

When the doubters, the nay-sayers, the complainers and the 'why-aren't-you-doing-this' comments start weighing heavily, just come back and read this doozy:

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

Not sure it is entirely theologically sound, but it sure seems to make sense!

Dress for Success

2007-10-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

Since our church is focused on Living on Mission within our own community and culture, I though it would be helpful to post these guidelines written by our favorite Missionaries in Haiti, Angela and Carsen. I'll be embracing this wisdom as I tackle the front lines at the Valencia Mall.

"How to Dress Like A Missionary"

Please wear a long skirt.
If a long skirt is not available, you may consider wearing a dress underneath your tee shirt.
Please wear a conservative top - keep your straps under wraps.
Sandals are acceptable. However, as you never know what terrain you may come across, you may be more comfortable in tennis shoes.
To keep your hair cool and off your neck, you may consider the french braid, a simple but elegant hair-do. A bun high on the head is an acceptable alternative.
To identify yourself as a Christian a cross necklace can help bridge the language barrier.
Carrying a bible may also be useful in case of emergency conversion issues.
Please see attached photo for further explanation!

Well...

2007-10-22T15:34:00.000-07:00

What would YOU pack if you had to fit everything you wanted to own in the back of a minivan?

(yes - I won't forget the children...)

Waiting to be evacuated as I type this.

Gary did a live report from our roof for KFI. I kinda think that's pimping out our peril for the sake of good radio...

Fierce Fires

2007-10-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of the Malibu Presbyterian Church than burned to the ground yesterday. Indeed, it does feel like the end times around Southern California. The sun was blood red yesterday from all the smoke and haze. School was canceled today. Homes have been evacuated. The winds are gusting up to 70 mph which is spreading hot ash and embers resulting in more fires. There is NO humidity and it will be almost 100 degrees today. It is hot as H-E-double hockey sticks.

In Malibu the old Castle on the hill has burned down as well - but I love this quote I read in the LA Times today:

The castle belonged to Lilly Lawrence, the daughter of a former Iranian oil minister. She said she was able to gather a few things before the fire engulfed her home, including some jewelry and memorabilia that included Elvis Presley's Army fatigues.

She didn't seem too worried about losing most of her belongings in the fire.

"My parents taught me not to allow my possessions to posses me," Lawrence told KABC-TV. "So, that's the story. The house is a house."

She was able to say that about her castle - I hope I would be able to say that about my condo!

Please pray for our firefighters - they are all working on no sleep and with zero percent containment at this point. Please pray that these crazy warm winds die down. Please pray for safety. I can't imagine this air is good for the elderly or asthmatic... it hurts to breathe.

MORE PHOTOS

A Question for All you Lurkers

2007-10-16T20:40:00.000-07:00

First, a little background:

My friend, we will call her Madame L, recently joined me on a trip to Three Angels and sent me this email a few days after we returned:

"How do you do it? How do you switch gears when you come home to 16 loads of laundry and, in my case, 4 whining kids who all of the sudden seem so darn ungrateful? My son actually told me today that he was starving to death, very dramatically I should add. It had been a whole 5 hours since he had eaten, and he has probably told me the same thing a hundred times before, but I wanted to throw him across the room this time. Instead, I gave him a short lecture on what starving to death actually might look like. Thinking about it, I realized how little the kids at the orphanage actually demanded. No one asked for juice every 5 minutes; they settled for a cup of water. No one complained about the food...I get to hear, "chicken again...I don't want chicken." All they asked for was a little attention and physical touch. As you can see, I'm having a little difficulty switching gears myself."

Sidenote: Honestly, I don't do it very well. The first week back is hard. I pretty much cry every day. Mostly from the overall stress and the overwhelming task lists, but there is usually one or two 'clinchers' every trip. This time I cried over a family that dissolved before my eyes and wondered how God was going to work it out. And I cried over a 2 year old girl that I held who didn't weigh more than 15 pounds. But hey, usually by day 4 I can pull it together enough to leave the house. (I just tell people I contracted pink-eye)

The transition back into suburbia isn't helped when my children seem extra ungrateful and churlish. My son, like Madame L's, often tells me he is STARVING! "Mom, we are out of Golden Grahams and I'm so hungry I can't stand it. I'm starving!" Seriously?!

Which brings me back to the original question I wanted to pose:

Is it unwise for me to show my almost-8-year-old son what starving really looks like? Too traumatic? Inappropriate? Will he be calling Dr. Phil when he is 17 and manorexic? I was thinking of printing out the following picture and laminating it to be used as a placemat for a certain redhead I know.

(and this was one of the more tame pictures)

Feedback?

Eye of the Needle

2007-10-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

These are just some of the pictures from my last trip. I am so thankful to be able to share this experience - it can be difficult to explain to those who haven't been there. The people of Haiti have had an incredible impact on my perspective. I'm sure my friends will agree that you can never see things the same way again. Thanks for coming with me!

Hey please, just believe in me
Don't lose your hope so easily
Because passing through the eye of a needle
Isn't as easy as it sounds
For those like me

Nothing short of miracles
Can save a small and dying world
That offers no apologies
To lay their hopes and dreams asleep
But pray the Lord their goal to keep
But I still got a soul in me

-brandi carlile

A follow-up.

2007-10-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

This is a little glimpse of what I mean:

A word on Three Angels and our employees.

2007-10-11T16:42:00.001-07:00

There may be cultural differences and things we don't understand or that are frustrating. But these children are cared for by women who sing hymns and pray with the children. They work long hours for little pay. They have hard lives that many of us can't even begin to comprehend. How many times have I 'needed a break' from my own children after just a few hours of hyperactivity or bickering (and I only have 2 to deal with).

Are there things that could be improved? Yup. Is this a young organization with many things to learn? Uh-huh. Would I want my own child to be raised in this environment? Nope.

But do I understand how things are at other orphanages in developing countries? Absolutely. And I rest in the fact that we will improve, we will mature and we are providing the best possible Christian home we can. We are working within the constraints of a Haitian culture and an incredibly small budget and minimal manpower.

I praise God for our employees and the people who are willing to encourage and assist. I pray for protection against those who choose to tear down and criticize. I have heard that if you are not helping you are hurting. I like that saying.

Thank you to Leah who gave all of our nannies little gift bags of hand lotion and lip gloss. I pray that the love and attention people bring down for our children is also given to the people who take care of them day in and day out.

Fun with You-You

2007-10-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

Our newest little girl has discovered the joy of living with You-You.

I dare you to find another who loves as she does. The individual attention she gives is invaluable. She prays for the children, she tends to them, does homework with them, lovingly disciplines. She shows them who Christ is every single day.

Skidmarks

2007-10-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

... can be found somewhere other than the freeway if you know what I mean.

If you think this is bad you should see the other guy!

Gary totaled our trusty little Civic today driving home from work. Amazingly, he and the 3 other people involved were not hurt at all. We are thanking God for protecting him. For the non-SoCal crowd, going 65 and being spun backwards and sideways across lanes of I-5 usually does NOT turn out well in LA. Gary has covered stories of wrecks like these.

We are also very curious as to how God will work it out so we can afford to buy another car! Jehovah Jireh baby!

In Memoriam

2007-09-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

Today there was a death in the family.

Before any of you rain all over me for idolatry or gripping too tightly to material things... please let me explain.

I loved my mP3 player. Truly. She may not have been the prettiest Pink shiny iPod or have all the latest features like video or high-capacity play. In fact, she was humbly selected from the refurbished bin on Amazon in the under $50 crowd.

She was knicked from many drops, the indicators were on the blink. I had to dig a fingernail into the side to advance the tracks. The display was almost unreadable from the scratches. She even had a slight odor to her that smelled suspiciously like my socks and a soldering iron.

But she was a gem. She was my friend and I will miss her.

She let me sweat all over her as she was lovingly clipped to the inner-waistband of my running shorts. Other than my husband and my OBGYN, nobody has been that close to me.

We covered miles and miles together. She was instrumental in my spiritual growth as I loaded hours and hours of sermons and lessons onto her trusty digital back. She was a mule - burdened by my music and my learning and never complaining. All she asked of me was to be wiped clean now and then and to be given a new battery every month.

She had seen more than 5 pairs of running shoes and countless earbuds come and go like fickle friends. She had witnessed my hysterical laughter at stuff my husband had snuck on her when I wasn't looking. She kept my secrets that I muttered aloud to God on the back trails when we were alone. She witnessed me cry as I let the stress come and over-take me in our private moments. She was spectator to my embarrassment as I was caught unaware warbling loudly and off-key to Coldplay.

Alas, I am in mourning. We cannot afford the indulgence of an iPod right now. Even another discount player is currently an expense we cannot justify in light of those who need more than us. Besides, there was a history, and a smell, that will be difficult to replace. So unless the mP3 Fairy arrives on my birthday (10/10), there will be a deep and lonely void.

May she be taken to a better place. With less sweaty B.O. and less jostling from a mildly-overpronating runner. May she be forever loaded with the messages of God's word and worship to Him. Amen.

I saw, I know, I can't deny it

2007-09-13T15:55:00.001-07:00

Thank you to the Livesay Tribe

Picture Day

2007-09-12T11:45:00.002-07:00

Those people at Lifetouch have a real racket going on... we have about 2 or 3 different picture days throughout the school year. UGH!

You can purchase 'picture packages' that range from the $13 "Mommy doesn't love Me" group (1 5x7 and 2 2x3s, no wallets) to the ridiculous $77 "Narcissist-in-Training" package (36 pounds of prints and keychains and bookmarks and magnets).

I told my kids they can dress how they want for the photo shoot. Livi chose a lovely little dress with big black kinder-kickin' boots. She also requested 'church' hair.

Calvin opted for regular attire but said his accessory was going to be the infamous eye-cross. Hope they don't stick like that....

Perhaps I should pay the extra $6.50 for 'retouching'...

Word of the Week

2007-09-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

log·or·rhe·a /ˌlɔgəˈriə, ˌlɒgə-/ Pronunciation[law-guh-ree-uh, log-uh-]
1. pathologically incoherent, repetitious speech.
2. incessant or compulsive talkativeness; wearisome volubility.
—Related forms

log·or·rhe·ic, adjective

How I wish I had audio of my daughter this afternoon. She is in a very logorrheic phase and I am quite certain she has completely lost her ability to quiet her mouth. Whether singing, singing backwards, singing nonsense, practicing her southern accent (our babysitter is from Alabama and she loves to mimic her) or simply saying a word 15 different ways - the girl cannot quit. Today her favorite thing to repeat was 'Autobiography'. If I timed it correctly it went on for 8 solid minutes.

I have been told to be thankful, because there will come a day when she will walk in from school, not utter a word and retreat to her room until food is served.

But my ears throb, and I dare say one eardrum may be bleeding. Perhaps the main reason I like the word logorrhea so much is that it sounds like diarrhea. Grandpa's favorite expression was "That girl's got a wicked case of diarrhea of the mouth."

It is almost an Onomatopoeia (that is our next word class)

logorrhea diarrhea logorrhea diarrhea logorrhea diarrhea logorrhea diarrhea

Haitian Song

2007-08-24T21:36:00.000-07:00

Check out this gorgeous footage from Karen Kramer's documentary "Haitian Song."

This rural Haiti is far echo from the Port au Prince of today. But the beautiful hard-working, hard-living people remain. That such a spirit of joy can be found in the midst is a gift from God.

The song on the video is "Haiti" by Arcade Fire.

When I think I'm doing just fine thank you

2007-08-23T08:57:00.001-07:00

Too often I forget just how pervasive my sin is, especially in light of the perfection of who God is. The following has helped me to remember how the curse has permeated every area of my life. Sorry to bring the room down today, but I challenge you to read this without thinking of how it applies to someone else, but how it applies to us each individually... for ALL have sinned and fall short.

Holy and righteous God, we confess that like Isaiah, we are a people of unclean lips. But it is not only unclean lips we possess. We are people with unclean hands and unclean hearts. We have broken your law times without number, and are guilty of pride, unbelief, self-centeredness and idolatry. Affect our hearts with the severity of our sin and the glory of your righteousness as we now acknowledge our sins in your holy presence.

We have had other gods before you
We have worshipped and served the creature rather than the creator.
We have sought satisfaction in this world's pleasures rather than in You.
We have loved to praise our own glory more than yours.

We have taken your name in vain.
We have prayed religious prayers to impress others.
We have uttered your name countless times without reverence or love.
We have listened to others use your name in vain without grieving.

We have murdered in our hearts.
We have often destroyed our neighbor with our tongues.
We have been quick to uncharitably judge others.
We have considered revenge when we were sinned against.

We have committed adultery with our eyes.
We have loved temptation rather than fighting it.
We have lusted after unlawful and immoral pleasures.
We have justified our lusts by using the world as our standard.

We have stolen what is not ours and coveted what belongs to others.
Our lives overflow with discontent, ungratefulness, and envy.
We have complained in the midst of Your abundant provision.
We have sought to exalt ourselves through owning more.

We have lied to You and to others.
We have told distorted truths, half-truths, and untruths.
We have despised the truth to make ourselves look better.
Even in our confession, we look for ways to hide our guilt.

O God, we have sinned against your mercy times without number. We are ashamed to lift up our faces before you, for our iniquities have gone over our heads. If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? How shall we answer you? We lay our hands on our mouths. We have no answer to your righteous wrath and just judgment.

We have no answer. But God Himself has mercifully provided one for us.

I wish I could remember who to credit this to, but it has been tucked in my notebook and well worn. I guess I can add the sin of plagiarism to the list...

First Day of Kindergarten and 3rd Grade

2007-08-15T08:45:00.001-07:00

It could have gone better, it could have gone way worse...

Happy Birthday Liv!

2007-08-14T07:48:00.000-07:00

One of my specific prayers for my children has been that they are surrounded by good friends who help them down the right path. God is good.

My daughter is 5 today and it almost breaks my heart. We weren't so sure about her when she first arrived. Livi seemed to just cry... a LOT. But we have since made up. She is hilarious and we love her immensley.

I am testing the waters here first.

2007-08-12T21:02:00.000-07:00

I really, really, really want to post the following on the Three Angels website. Yet I am conflicted as to whether or not it would be considered too... snarky? ungrateful? cantankerous?

Your input is appreciated. Just not your Holiday Sweaters.

Things Three Angels does NOT need:
Fleece jackets, earmuffs, mittens, sweaters, thick footie sleepers, plush (i.e. disease bearing) animals or toys of any kind, video games and toys requiring batteries.

Thank you for your consideration.

(I'm a bit miffed that you cannot see their foreheads dripping with sweat. Okay - we actually 'staged' that - we misted them with water to try and get the effect of how HOT it is there. But note that You You had to bribe them with red vines to put those sweaters on!)

I dare you not to laugh.

2007-08-01T10:19:00.001-07:00

Another completely random post...

Funny when a baby does it. Scary when that is me after the end of a hard day.

A Gouda will do Ya

2007-07-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

I don't know what is wrong with me.

I love cheese.

No. I mean I really love it. I'm eating it all the time. Right now, I think if I could I would dip my body into a tub of it.

And then I just spent 5 minutes thinking of how my sanctification resembles the cheese process.

Something is terribly wrong.

Maybe I need to pee on a stick. (you ladies know what i mean...)

Stress does funny things to me.

The Incredible Disappearing Boy

2007-07-25T21:32:00.001-07:00

I have made a heartbreaking observation.

My son is invisible to others.

When he was a baby and a toddler, people would often stop us and remark on his hair or how cute he was or how articulate he seemed to be. It truly seemed like we couldn't go anywhere without being stopped and gushed upon. But now that he is 7, almost 8, he barely registers on other's consciousness unless he is being naughty or obnoxious.

Then I realized that this seems to be true of almost all other young boys I see. No wonder they fall into trouble. They are in the gap and the shadows.

Babies are cute. Toddlers are funny. But after that... what happens? Doesn't it seem like they don't register until they are teenagers and 'look like trouble'?

Because my son is so entirely competent I forget how much he still really needs me. He doesn't need me to make his breakfast or tie his shoes or wipe his rear. He can spend hours on his own reading or creating a new Lego masterpiece. But he does still need me and his dad to listen to him, to hear what he has to say. Doesn't he? He does still need to know that this world sees him and that he matters and can have an impact. Right?

So do me a little favor... the next time you see a 7 year old boy in the grocery store, please stop and remark at what a smart/funny/ _____ boy he must be. Look him right in his blue marble eyes. Let him know he is not invisible.

Our Weekend

2007-07-22T22:06:00.000-07:00

Gary's parents have a wonderful place in Paso Robles that we get to escape to every now and then. Cal and Livi love running through the corn, swinging from the big oaks, digging in the dirt and shooting dad's old BB gun. They also had fun kite flying, sleeping outside and getting really dirty! It is only made better when their cousins can join them!

Being home is going to seem a little boring this week in comparison...

Whispering Truth

2007-07-22T15:59:00.000-07:00

This poem is from a wonderful blog I discovered this afternoon: Ev eryday Miracle - her writing is rich and fantastic. I'm posting this for all of my friends who are, or have, adopted their own sweet, brown baby girls in every shade and size...

You are heroes to me.

Beads, Braids, and Truth - by Sherri Gragg

Sweet, brown baby girls of every shade and size,
Wrapped safely in cocoon and nest of home.
Mommies know it can not last,
One day they will explore all alone.

Baby girls can’t stay forever.
The big, wide world will call,
And time’s bittersweet work will change,
Sweet brown girls one and all.

A caterpillar does not stay,
Always snuggled in cocoon,
She emerges as a butterfly,
Changed all too soon.

The smallest bird of soft down and bright eye,
Will one day spread her wings,
Leaving behind safe shelter,
Finding her song to sing.

And baby girls must fly as well,
Into the world they must go.
So, Mommies, while they can,
Whisper truth while they braid, bead, and bow.

I'm a total snot - I know....

2007-07-19T11:28:00.001-07:00

I apologize in advance to those of you who love the American Girl dolls...

I had sent this picture to a friend of mine once and then Kristina had inspired me with her post about how hard it was to find black baby-dolls.

AG Doll and Accessories = $102.00

Well-loved black baby doll hand-carried down to Haiti by one of our generous parents = $Priceless

Psalm 13:1-2

2007-07-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

If we are being honest - being a Christian is a lonely prospect some days. This post by InternetMonk blew me away. How did he know?!?!

To read the full text (and it is worth it) click here.

"I miss you, God.

It’s like you’re not around.

I see your world. I’m with your people. I’m surrounded by books about you. I read about you and talk about you. I teach others about you.

But I miss you.

I believe you’re there. I believe the Bible. I believe in Jesus. I don’t doubt your existence at all.

I miss you.

You. Not your people, or songs about you or books about you. I miss you.

I don’t miss all the theology in the books, the blogs and the lectures. I don’t miss the points of all the sermons. Or the answers to questions.

I have all those. Far more than I need, to be honest. But when David says, “Why are you hiding from me?” I know exactly what he is talking about.

I’m missing you, God.

...keep reading

Three Angels Christian Academy

2007-07-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

Alrighty, I've been working on trying to get our Student Sponsorship program up and running and put together this little video today to promote it. And being a bit more honest, I would rather mess around on my computer than do paperwork right now...

Here is a sneak peak:

If you would like to make a donation in the meantime however just let me know!
shannon@threeangelshaiti.org

Hold me to it...

2007-07-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

I'm usually pretty thankful for my lot in life - I enjoy what God has given me (FAR beyond what I deserve fer sure!)

However, today I caught myself mitching and boaning. Nothing major, just the everyday frustrations of being the family chef, dishwasher, waitress and bum-wiper. It just seems as if I'm trudging through quicksand. The moment I get the kitchen clean from breakfast, my counters are littered again with PB&J crusts. Oy! The second I've folded all the towels it seems somebody is out of clean underwear. Geez!

This is especially embarrassing to admit because I have witnessed how the majority of the world tackles their daily chores. I realize that we live in Disneyland compared to 85% of others.

And here resides more proof that there is something broken inside of me. I should be rejoicing to be able to serve the family God has given me in such luxury. Praise Him that my washer/dryer run at night while I sleep and I wake to my automatic coffee maker's daily brew! Yippee-for-me that my stove can whip up Mac n' Cheese and my sink always has hot water at the ready to clean the pot.

Sadly, the best I could do this morning was roll my eyes and let out an exasperated sigh as I had to unload the dishwasher AGAIN. Anyone who reads this has full permission to thwack me on the side of the head if you ever hear me gripe. That is accountability baby!

My Kitchen

Our Kitchen in Haiti

My Laundry Closet

How it gets done in Haiti

Attack of the Slip n' Slide

2007-07-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

It was 105 degrees yesterday so I figured it was time to educate my children in the ways of the Slip n' Slide...

I love that Livi is all about the performance and short on words. My son on the other hand... has very specific, detailed descriptions about his planifications...

Why Do We Have Orphans If We Have Christians?

2007-06-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

Many of you are aware of my affinity for TheResurgence.com - which is a repository of solid biblical teaching and 'Missional Living' resources. I have personally found it to be one the most gratifying sites on the web - it is a one stop shop for personal growth in Christ. Fantastic communicators like Anthony Bradley, godly sage men like John Piper and provocative (the good kind) modern fundamentalists (the good kind) like Mark Driscol are just some of the contributors.

Anthony Bradley recently posted an article on Christians and Adoptions and why if there is the former there should not be the latter. It is a very concise and compelling appraisal of how we 'Christians' can look directly at scripture and still ignore the word of God.

While I certainly know of some cute orphans, not every family will be called to adopt.

One point he doesn't touch on, probably because the article would no longer be concise, is that even if adoption is not the specific call for your family, there are other ways to help the fatherless.

We can provide an education and give them a future beyond their poverty and prevent them from facing having to give up their own children. We can provide basic nourishment and medical care. We can assist and financially support families who have felt called to adopt.

It is uncomfortable. It often does not feel natural. But it is commanded. By our adoptive Father.

Three Angels Children's Relief

2007-05-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

My mommy turned 60 this past Monday.
I love her.
So do my dorky kids.

Our New Web Site

2007-05-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

I want to take a post to express my deep gratitude for the magical web-tastic stylings of Mr. Thane Townsend and his company, YourDigitalInk.

Thane donated his talents and oodles of his time to Three Angels and we couldn't be happier! Even though he is busy with his (paying) corporate clients this was one of the fastest site designs I've ever experienced. Check it out!

He did such a great job of really listening to what we needed, and what we didn't. He gave excellent input and was able to design something that we immediately loved. He has also designed some printed material AND provided us with the print services. So if you are ever in the market for work like this please keep him in mind!

Now I just have to get to work on editing and updating the content - ARGH. Aren't pictures of our cute kids enough?

PS - He also designed Copperhill's RAD new website. Yes, that's right, I said 'rad'.

I better watch out...

2006-11-04T17:59:00.000-08:00

So I am up to my eyeballs in work today and the kids have been driving me BONKERS. It’s like they know when I’m stressed and just want to see what it’ll take to make me snap. Well, today it took Calvin smacking his sister on the back with a toy. I told him I was throwing his toy away because obviously, he was using if for evil and not good. He can no longer be trusted with said toy.

Well he had an absolute hissy fit. Stormed up to his room crying, screaming, stomping and wailing like a total Nancy. He was up there for a good 30-40 minutes frothing away. After a while he quietly tip-toes downstairs to deliver me a note written on his MagnaDoodle. I guess I'm just so glad he is expressing himself - it should cut down on the therapy bills later. Right?

2006-09-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

Well the first post is always the hardest. Oooohh the pressure to be insightful or witty or worth anyone's time!

I will simply start by sharing my little treasures. I found this 'photo flicker' on PictureTrail - it is fairly simple to navigate and I highly recommend it! I am also a huge fan of Shutterfly to upload and share my photos.

2006-08-27T16:32:00.000-07:00

pol'len bas'ket, n. (in bees) a smooth area on the hind tibia of each leg fringed with long hairs and serving to transport pollen.

This space is not pretending to offer any major new insights on faith, parenthood, love or friendship.

Instead, the goal is to collect and disseminate a fertilizing element; to collaborate and humbly gather grains of truth, wisdom and encouragement.