A View from the Snow

Two weeks ago our Jr. High Group from church went to the snow. Oh did they have snow (you know that big storm 2 weeks ago....) Joey had a blast - was exhausted and sore for a couple days afterward - he is all smiles, though.

Worth the Read

I want to link you to living proof live's blog for an open letter Beth Moore posted this morning to her daughter Melissa. Melissa is getting married in a week and Beth posts some of her thoughts on this Saturday before the day of change....She very appropriately closed the comments field and allows the post to stand alone. Take the time to read it.....you will be blessed...grab a kleenex.

Saturday, Sunshine, and Surf

This is what a free saturday actually looks like.......

breakfast in Cayucos

stumbled onto a surfing contest. look at the wind on the waves...

otters 15 feet away from us in Morro Bay...

it just doesn't get any better than this!

Ponder Forgiveness

In some teaching I did recently in bible study, I used a quote from Corrie Ten Boom in the homework the gals did prior to the lecture. Here it is...

……"Corrie ten Boom told of not being able to forget a wrong that had been done to her. She had forgiven the person, but she kept rehashing the incident and so couldn't sleep. Finally Corrie cried out to God for help in putting the problem to rest. "His help came in the form of a kindly Lutheran pastor," Corrie wrote, "to whom I confessed my failure after two sleepless weeks." "Up in the church tower," he said, nodding out the window, "is a bell which is rung by pulling on a rope. But you know what? After the sexton lets go of the rope, the bell keeps on swinging. First ding, then dong. Slower and slower until there's a final dong and it stops. I believe the same thing is true of forgiveness. When we forgive, we take our hand off the rope. But if we've been tugging at our grievances for a long time, we mustn't be surprised if the old angry thoughts keep coming for a while. They're just the ding-dongs of the old bell slowing down." "And so it proved to be. There were a few more midnight reverberations, a couple of dings when the subject came up in my conversations, but the force -- which was my willingness in the matter -- had gone out of them. They came less and less often and at the last stopped altogether: we can trust God not only above our emotions, but also above our thoughts."

It is a good one to ponder and remember...

100th Day of School

In Kindergarten they make a huge deal of the 100th day of school (as they should). It is a week long celebration culminating in many activities involving the number 100. Kindergartner's are amazed by the number 100 (or a gazillion, or 300 triple million). We should take a lesson from kindergartners.

For those Needing a Visual...

A few of you just didn't believe the weather conditions of my last post. A friend just emailed these to me...

We are sitting on the ground because the 40 mph winds made it impossible to sit in chairs, note the snow on the mountains in the background, yes, this is how we watch soccer....

check out this wind shot....look at the girls ponie tales. they are flying straight out, not because they are running, but due to the wind. Amazing...

Why?

(this is a pic from the BBC News...)

Lancaster California: Why? For soccer, why else?
Saturday Morning: Temperatures in the high teens with 25 mile an hour winds
Sunday Morning: Temps a bit warmer but 40-50 mph sustained winds
Take Aways: No one should be outdoors let alone playing soccer in this type of weather (they wouldn't let the girls wear beanies!!! go figure), 10 year old girls are my heroes (so young yet so strong), 5 year old girls can not stand up in 50 mph wind, the Lord parted the skies to allow us to drive home, I'm glad the season is over. Go Fire....

They Call It Today's Daily Talk

My daughter's have started a daily habit that I hope lasts a lifetime. I have noticed that my youngest tells me most everything, but doesn't talk about relational school issues (ie) friends with me (unless I really pry). She does talk with her older sister about these issues and many other topics....Emma sits sideways on the comfy chair in the living room or they snuggle on one of their beds and partake in what they call 'Today's Daily Talk'. I was observing this recently (really, I wasn't eavesdropping....). I was struck by how important it was to the youngest one to interact in this way. I was equally drawn to how patient the older one was in sharing and listening to her sister. I am thankful for this budding relationship.....I hope their daily talks last a lifetime.

50 it is!

Happy Birthday, honey!

Sea Otters, Sunrises and Soccer

Spent the weekend in Los Angeles. Left in the wee hours of the morning Saturday which blessed us with an amazing sunrise, saw several otters frolicking in the surf, and watched a lot of soccer. Three losses for the girls....not bad, though. These teams are the elite in the nation. We played the nation's number 1 team to a 1-0 loss, played the number one team in Southern Cal to a 1-0 loss as well. All in prep for State Cup which starts in two weeks...I'm about soccered out! I'm wanting more time by the ocean (I was envious of the otters - well, not totally considering where they are on the food chain and what eats them!), I'm wanting some more sunrises (but I see those most days). Trying to stay in soccer viewing shape (you would be amazed at how fatiguing it is.)

What Does Church Breathe?

OK you Grace Church 'ites'. I'm calling you by name in this post. I have a question for you? Do you think our church breathes hope into a hopeless world? Question #2 - if you look closely at yourself - what does your behavior indicate? I know....weird thoughts today.

A Little More Wedding...

The official wedding pics aren't available, but the photographer put several on his blog. They are great! This man and wife team of photography have a great eye.....for fun go to the link and look at a few pics on their blog. The post is entitled Jenna and Ryan (January 11 post) www.johnnystaffordphotography.blogspot.com

No, she doesn't look like my 10 year old in this one.....

A dip for the kiss....awesome!

Balloons...

"Several years ago, I conducted a wedding ceremony on a Saturday afternoon in June. The bride wore a white summer dress, the groom a white linen shirt. They insisted onthe simplest ceremony possible. It was held in a park in a grove of trees. Their family and friends stood in a circle, with the three of us in the middle. I began with a welcome, they exchanged vows and rings, I pronounced them husband and wife, they kissed, everybody clapped.

...They were then each handed a cluster of helium balloons on strings. The balloons, I told everybody, were symbols...As a picture of starting over, together, they wanted their first act as a married couple to be letting the balloons go.

They walked out of the grove of trees into an adjoining field. Just the two of them, holding hands, standing knee-high grass, exchanging words that only they could hear. Then they raised the balloons above their heads and let them go. We all stood there, watching those balloons float away until they drifted from sight." Rob Bell, Sex God.

I'm thinking of holding a balloon party....any takers?

It's True

True confessions of what my desk looks like when I am writing bible study homework and preparing to lecture. I need more book space.....4 commentaries, three bible dictionaries, three resource books and three versions of His Word. It is just easier to leave it all out.

"I Choose Us"

The wedding day came and went....a few pics to remember it by. The banner on this post came from the words at the end of my niece's and husband's vows to each other...

They clean up well...

Do we get to dance yet?

I'm dreaming tonight.....someday my prince will come, too.

Cousins they are. They could be sisters!

Sis and the bride...

Creamy roses.....

Yes, it was this pretty!

The happy couple...

"So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." Matthew 19:6

The Valley of Vision

I received a gift entitled, The Valley of Vision a Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions...this is the only time I am going to post on it (you will have to buy it for yourself...!) Amazing book....

This is the opening.....

The Valley of Vision

Lord, High and Holy, Meek and Lowly,
Thou has brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
they joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty,
thy glory in my valley.

A Look Inside

It is 5' tall....it is really amazing. It is a Knex roller coaster. I can't believe he put it together.

The inner workings of Knex

Elena putting out reindeer food on the front lawn...

Cookies for Santa and stockings all hung...

Two versions of Advent in our home...

7 lbs. 4 oz. 20" long....Willow....

She is here....only a day after her due date....the newest member of the West, Taylor family. My nephew and his wife welcomed a baby girl today. Willow Taylor....she looks a lot like here mama!

The Proud Grandpa....(are you really old enough to be a grandpa??!!)

A Little Pre-Christmas Fun in School

My daughter's kindergarten teacher has a tradition of having the children (along with the parents) build candy houses. Today was the long awaited day....

The finished product.

The incredible and incomparable Julie Brown.

She is smiling, but inwardly worried he is going to eat the candy!

Whom Shall I Send

"Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven." Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:6-7


(sunrise from my office window...)