Days With My Father

My friend Sherry posted this from her blog yesterday and I loved it so much I wanted to share it with you. As Sherry said, "It's a fabulous photo essay about a son's love for his aging father."

I.E. 66ers

As has become the tradition, we rounded up our friends and headed to San Bernardino to celebrate Kevin's birthday with the IE 66ers. Twenty-five of us overtook section 205 of Arrowhead Credit Union Park last Tuesday, April 21. The guys yell at the players and the girls chat to get caught up. A fun time by all.

Kevin always seems to be eating.

Birthday in LA

For Kevin's birthday we went out to Sherman Oaks to have dinner with our friends Colin and Ashley. Kevin's birthday is the eighteenth and Colin's is the twenty-second, so we try to get together around that time.

Colin and Ashley took us to this amazing Greek restaurant down the street from their apartment. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was even more amazing. I felt like I was in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Our server (who we called Nic), was the son of the owner, a round man with dark eyes that almost disappeared when he smiled. Dad, the owner, came by our table after we sat down to welcome us. He teased us to let him know if our server was doing a good job. He joked that he would be let go if we were satisfied. Kevin joked back making a slashing motion at his neck. Dad corrected Kevin by twisting his hands together and told us he would wring his neck "like a chicken". I laughed as I remembered one of my favorite lines from the movie, "Toula, eat something. I could break you like a chicken." There was live Greek music, and the servers danced in a line waiving their napkins around.

After dinner we walked down the block to a little comedy club. It was quite the hole in the wall. each hour an company of about 6 players did their improv skits. It's like an amateur version of "Who's Line is it Anyway." We announced it was Kevin's birthday and he was pulled up on stage. Here are some pictures from my phone of the group mimicking Kevin's every move.

The comedy was fun, and a good change up for about the price of a movie. The food was great, the entertainment was hilarious, and the company was most enjoyable.

Keith Urban Concert

A couple of weeks ago my friend Megan offered me her extra ticket to see Keith Urban at the House of Blues on Sunset. She and her boyfriend each received two free tickets when the upgraded their phones with Verizon. They also got to do a meet-and-greet with Keith and get their picture taken. Because of the picture op, they were the first ones to enter the venue and save their place. So when Brittany and I (with the extra tickets) made it inside, Meagan and Tim had saved places right next to the stage for us. Needless to say, they small venue was one the best concerts I had ever been to. There wasn't a person in front of me! We had a great time. I seriously could have touched Keith Urban (I didn't because I think those girls are ridiculous). What an amazing gift -thanks Megan!

Puppy Love

It's been a while since I have shown you pictures of our little tiny puppies so I thought I would pass along the joy.

This last picture is of the boys with their friend Phantom. They crashed like little kids after playing rough!

Melted Chocolate Bars

Melted Chocolate Bars has been the consensus for the color of my recently painted walls. The actual color is Terrazzo, but Melted Chocolate sounds sweeter. After being here almost a year, I have finally added some color. And, I might add, I hate painting. The prepping was a pain. Then it almost felt like it wasn't worth it when I had to touch up the corners; stupid textured walls. It took almost three coats because of the texture on the walls; it was difficult to see the patches I had missed. I am even more grateful to our friend that painted our house when we first bought it. I might even hire out to paint an accent wall next time! I still have some work to do; curtains, additional decorations, now lighting. But, alas, I love the new color. My house feels warmer and more homey (not homely).

Twenty-Eight

Kevin's 28th birthday is on Saturday, the 18th, and I am already excited. We have simply plans with friends, nothing fancy. But we will spend it with friends, and for that, I am looking forward to the weekend. As I was looking through old pictures last night, I found some from an Angles game Kevin and I went to last year. As we got ready to go into the park I began snapping pictures of my husband. I have always though he was handsome. Even from the first time I saw him in the eight o'clock history class in 2001. His hair was big, and little crazy, but he was cute. Even now in these cheesy sunglasses I bought him, I find him so attractive. And he's all mine!

Just Different

This has been a very unique Easter for me. A first in many ways. My family came down to visit and stay with me during my brother's spring break. So last Saturday, my mother, brother, and their dog, Abby, picked up my grandmother and Sparky in Bakersfield and headed down to my house. Then my dad flew in on Tuesday night after teaching his class at the seminary. So most of the week we had six people, two dogs, and the occasional 9 month old. Our house was quite full! But about a year ago, God blessed us with a very nice house that accommodates the crowd quite comfortably. My family always earn their keep while I go to work. My brother looked after the dogs all week cleaning up their mess almost every day. My grandmother cleaned my kitchen and polished all my silver. My mother did my laundry. Dad always does odd jobs around the house. And everyone made wonderful food all week. It was like having live in help for the week.

But on Friday, everyone left, it was quiet, and Kevin and I began to prepare our hearts and minds for Good Friday. Our church doesn't have a building, and we are still trying to find unique ways to bring our "body" together. Most small groups met together on Friday night to watch the DVD the Sandals staff had put together. The point was to remember how tragic Jesus death was to those who lived through it. Everything crumbled for the followers. Everything they had put their hope and faith in seemed lost. God gave his son to earth, knowing he would die. We were asked to put ourselves in the shoes of Joseph or Aramathia to try to feel what he may have been feeling.

Throughout the DVD, we were asked to remember what grief was like. Having really only experienced grief once, I remembered my friend Guin. It was like I was reliving that week once again. Getting the phone call from Guin's grandma at work. The shock. The disbelief. I couldn't believe she was really gone. Feeling numb. The anger at Guin. The anger and guilt of not doing more, not being a better friend. Bethany and I even joked that she had gotten caught up in something dangerous and was actually in a witness protection program out in Phoenix. But even with the closed casket, we knew. She was gone. I've said it before; it doesn't get better, just different.

Then I tried to turn those feelings to identify with the disciples. They had spent every day with Christ. And even though he told them he would die and return on the third day, they didn't understand. How stupid they probably felt on Saturday. Thinking they had been fooled. Their faith completely shaken, not even know what to believe or where to turn.

Then there was Sunday. When Christ returns, raised from the dead. When the stone was rolled away, not so Christ could come out, but to show he was not there. The living was not among the dead. But his death was real. And he was then, and is still, alive. I have seen many funerals, and like Guin, they did not come back to life. We try to make funerals a happy time; remembering the good times, and celebrating when our family and friends are with Christ, but funerals are still sad. It is a loss. But today is a true celebration. Christ is alive. He is risen from the dead. It marks the beginning of a new time. Where we can come to God directly. Where a sacrifice has been made on our behalf. We are no longer tied to the old law. We have a new covenant.

Today in church, we all pulled confetti poppers indicating a true celebration. It was cheesy, but it made me smile. It was a good celebration.

Toy Story Love

Kevin and I are really enjoying our Disneyland passes. Me more than him. But if I buy the guy a corn dog and a coke, he is happy.

Toy Story Mania is probably our favorite attraction. It really is a lot of fun, as long as the line is not ridiculous.

Kevin always beats me though. Usually by quite a bit. I try to tell him it is because I didn't fry my brain on video games as a child, but we both know that wouldn't matter. I'm not even good at the Online Toy Story Mania. We have a good time when we go. This last time I won the Beaver. I laughed and laughed.


So after Kevin gloats about winning, I took him over to the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.

I am much better at this game and haven't lost to him yet. Although, he may have figured out my secret when we got stuck on the ride the last time. I'm sure he'll have another chance to beat me next time.

Plain White T's

Apparently The Plain White T's have been around for a while, I just had no idea who they were. I don't follow music much, I simply listen to whatever is on the radio. But this song is being played more and more, and I absolutely love it! It has the accoustical sound similar to what I think would sound like the Beatles or even the Wonders!




One, two

One, two, three, four

Give me more lovin' then I've ever had

Make it all better when I'm feelin' sad

Tell me that I'm special

Even when I know I'm not



Make me feel good when I hurt so bad

Barely gettin' mad

I'm so glad I found you

I love bein' around you

You make it easy



It's as easy as one, two

One, two, three, four



There's only one thing to do

Three words for you

(I love you)

I love you

There's only one way to say

Those three words

That's what I'll do

(I love you)

I love you



Give me more lovin' from the very start

Piece me back together when I fall apart

Tell me things

You never even tell your closest friends



Make me feel good when I hurt so bad

Best that I've had

I'm so glad I found you

I love bein' around you



You make it easy

It's as easy as one, two

One, two, three, four



There's only one thing to do

Three words for you

(I love you)

I love you



There's only one way to say

Those three words

That's what I'll do

(I love you)

I love you

(I love you)

I love you



You make it easy

It's as easy as one, two

One, two, three, four



There's only one thing to do

Three words for you

(I love you)

I love you

American Soldier

The NBC Nightly News has been doing a spot every night called Making A Difference. Last night they section was Restoring Hope to a Fallen Soldiers Family. It recognized Grateful Nation Montana; an organization formed for the specific purpose of facilitating college educations for the children of soldiers killed while on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. The family NBC recognized last night was a soldier's wife, 24 years old, with two small children. It was a beautiful story that still has me crying. He was so young, and the children are so young, they may not actually have memories of their father. It broke my heart. It was very nice to see organizations like Grateful Nation Montana. Working in Financial Aid, I know that the government has also taken steps to look out for these children as well.

The reporter mentioned that Montana has the highest soldier death rate of any state in the union. I started my google search to find out why and discovered Montana has the highest recruiting rates in the nation. Natives of the state claim it has to do with the deep values rooted in the people of the state. However, the higher the enlistment, the higher the death rate. The ironic flip side (I think it's ironic) is that D.C. has the lowest recruiting rate.

However, as I read other articles, I began to find more and more articles about soldiers returning with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or major depression resulting from combat. Last year, the Army reported 143 suicides, the highest number since the Army began keeping records in 1980. Close to 150 suicides in the Army alone! Again, tears streamed from my eyes. Soldiers actually come home from combat alive only to be facing their own mental war and decide they can no longer fight it. How awful. I'm crying again just as I think about it. I found an article in the Great Fall Tribune about a bill on its way through Congress that would provide support to identify mental stress and help soldiers overcome it. It reflected on the neglect we as a nation gave our soldiers after the Vietnam Conflict/War, hoping to prevent the same from happening to this current generation.

As I read on I saw Montana stepped up to the plate again. Currently, states have different mental health assessment procedures for returning combat troops. Some soldiers are asked to fill out questionnaires self-identifying their problems, while others receive face-to-face counseling. Only Montana conducts face-to-face screenings for the full two years after deployment, then adds a mental health component to the physical exam given each soldier each year.

Montana also identified the importance of keeping soldiers together after they return home as a unique sort of support group. In some states, soldiers returning from combat are given the first 90 days off, but Guard in Montana has begun bringing soldiers and their families together in civilian clothes at a convention center where they can socialize together, but also attend seminars on such things as marriage enrichment, anger management, personal finance, and learning how to drive as civilians again. I had never even thought about teaching soldiers how to be a civilian again.

Go Montana! I hope the program is successful and shows the rest of the country what can be done to support our returning soldiers.