3 out of 4 Weddings this summer

"Every Human Longs for love. The possibility that God is Love is almost an overwhelming prospect." ~ Erwin McManus - Soul Cravings

Love is indeed a beautiful thing, and marriage is often a public display to celebrate that union and desire to commit two people together who have fallen in love. This last year has indeed been a year where I have been trying to understand what God's true LOVE is for me. I didn't understand it for the most part other than head knowledge, yet being, going, and being a part of weddings provided me a glimpse into that window. Since this journey, going to weddings this year has been a whole different view and enjoyment for me. 

One thing that I have admired in the last few weddings i have attended is that people's recent desire to have their friends and family to commit to walk with them through the journey. So Beautiful. Marriage is an extension of friendship, from what I can tell and ultimately brings beauty to family, and displays on earth Christ love for the church. Which Christ Love for the church in itself is such a long conversation, I will spare you and stay away from that for now other than I agree. wink. 

This Year there have only been a few weddings (and I am blessed to only attend this year, because I have been feeling like the Girl in 27 Dresses, so the relief is all mine) but they have all been thus far unique and true to each couples personalities. We laughed smiled and I enjoyed each moment. My prayer in general is that God will Bless there unions and will allow them all to continue to see HIM more, as they learn really who each other really are. I do not know from experience but only from what people tell me, that the first year of marriage is hard, and as they walk through together it can make or break the marriage. My prayer for these four is that this first year makes it for them!

1. Dave and Meg Lockwood, 

Meg seems to hold her beautiful heart out for all to embrace and love. And Wow Dave is married....hard to believe my dear friend walked down the isle...There is hope for us all Wink! Anyone who will choreograph a dance with Dave is amazing...I only wrote a song ha ha!  

2. Jacob and Jordan Tracy. 

I have always enjoyed this couple. Their carefree spirit for freedom in life and style as they approach all that is before them. With Bluegrass in the background I was blessed by this wedding, to the setting of winery, to the fantastic music selection! I have known them for a while, and have seen their kind hearts as I am now a new closer friend due to their friendship to one of their Groomsman whom I am fond of.

3. Shiba and Samir: She is indeed like another little sister as she is one of my best friends little sister. What a beautiful cultural wedding, the Indian culture is deep in tradition, and surrounded by family. Even though the weather was hotter than hot...it was worth the heat to witness the entrance on the white horse and the 5 plus times we where served Indian food that I had the change to fill my place with Indian (Dot not feather) Cuisine : ) yummy!

4. Gator and Tuesday Meyer STILL TO COME : ) 

We are going to Catalina, and we get to play mini golf tourney!! What more can you ask for! I just love them!

time with friends

I love spending time with friends while I am off : )

Today we went to the park, played in the sand, and had deep talks over coffee while kids napped. All makes happiness!

Last night I enjoyed the college ministry where Roxanne and Chafer are a part of leading. What a beautiful space to worship and invite people into. I was blessed by the different element where people where welcome to worship in freedom. 

Catching up my blog, months may & june

Well since I have been really busy in the last two months on this week of vacation I plan on catching up my blog on the past happenings : ) the wallpaper post happened on June 1st. yeah much has happened since...and much has happened in the month before. 

LIFE HAS BEEN CRAZY.

So sit back and bear with me and I'll fill you in on life.  WAIT THERE IS MUCH TO TELL. HA HA nothing but random details, alas fun. Then we will be back to normal life again : ) well that's the plan

wallpaper and cherubs and home improvement

So a few weeks ago we began a project on a house they call Bob. Well honestly I should say I just work on random things while they do all the hard work...lets be honest here.

Priority ONE: Cherubs removed. COMPLETE

 

Seriously why? Cherubs?? Honestly!? I am constantly in awe of the way people do things. I realize that art and decorations are truly in the eye of the beholder but wow. When I walked into the room it was indeed hard for me to not laugh at the fantastic cherub border and rose wallpaper. So I turned it into a joke, on how Pherf should leave it just as is on his walls, he didn't agree. Lets put it this way, he smiled and said nothing...to kind to tell me I was crazy, maybe that's why I like him. I know there was no way he would think of keeping it, and could anyone blame him?!?!?!

The boy is moving in with his best friend and there are some home improvements that are in need before anyone can move in. So being the nice person I am I helped take wallpaper down!! This was a first for me, on a Saturday but I believe that it can be labeled as a "Friday firsts" because its is still something I have never done before. I actually really enjoyed this.

I suppose wallpaper seems to me to be something that was a quick fix, as we have also just this last week spent time painting, and final coats to finish the room to remove even the thought of Cherubs. The simplicity and the ability to decorate off a base color has so many more opportunity's but wallpaper...seems limited, I mean you can only do so much with Cherubs!!??

My point...and yes I have one. simple is better, it allows more freedom farther along. Wallpaper is stupid, and no one in there right minds should use or create it anymore. As for fixing up a fixer upper: I need to watch more home improvement shows cuz I don't know how to do anything! ha ha! Alas, even with not really knowing, the progress makes me happy and the finished makes me feel accomplished. Truly I love the idea of progress, I love to see things develop. Trust me this house is developing... from the first day when I was sneezing from the cat hair from the renter to now...even though its still in process...I LOVE IT. I know I am crazy, and I am documenting the progress of "bob" Isaac's house will be lovely all around. indeed.

Priority Two: Paint COMPLETE

Priority Three: REMOVE NASTY CARPET, replace with nice comfy CLEAN Stuff: COMPLETE

Priority Four: hot tub. pending

Priority Five: Move the best friends in. pending

Priority: Way to many to list: PENDING

The summer has begun.

indeed. 

Even though the fires keep raging, we decided to have a bonfire while our dear friend visited. What a time to relax, laugh and enjoy! We all have such busy lives, and much going on, but to pause after a much busy week for all, was a pleasant breath of fresh air. I almost would say its been the most carefree we have all been in a while. 

 

Its is indeed only the beginning.

Currently I have a week off. Day one equals: fantastic, as I spent most of it thinking that I needed to be somewhere. I was grateful that I was able to ignore phone calls, and even take a nap in the middle of the day. Gasp! I have not done that in a long time I woke up smiled and thought wow, I think I like being on vacation! Not to mention I was able to watch a movie with my dear friends! Kung Fu Panda. ohh my I laughed much, and enjoyed it much, I doubted the goodness of it, however the tall house mate gave me hope, hope that came through, fantastic. 

We have finished VBA, the college kids are returning, and finally the graduations have finished. What more can I ask for. I suppose if I wanted to I would ask the Northern California would stop burning. Actually our friend Isaac received a call during our bonfire, and he is off fighting them...so I am praying. 

As for the next few days of vacation. I plan to catch up on friends, life, and the pile of book that seem so distant to me. I cannot wait.

Vacation Bible Adventure

makes me happy

makes me tired...yet sleep is hard for me right now as many thoughts spin in my head.

so much that today i sat in my office and stared at the wall and with out thinking, mind you I was all by myself, said as I sat lacking only the words to sigh and say, "So Tired" 

and that is me so tired...and so much on my mind to makes this thing go smoothly. indeed and undertaking, however an undertaking well worth it.

This year it seems streamlined, yet not perfect. We have around 35 student leader, and 15 to 20 Adult Helpers (One that is my mom.fun.). How Amazing is that! Not only do we have help but we have help that is ready and willing to do what needs to get done. So Even though between Todd and I we much to pay attention to, with a team as great as this we don't have much to complain about.

Blessed but Pray that we get rest and our joy continues, since there seems like we don't have much time to spare or rest. eek 

eye lids falling...I must seize the day and begin sleep!!

Ode to my Seniors Class of 2008

(L - R) Back Row: Melinda, Colin, Daniel, Sierra, Chris, Timmy, Katherine, Emily, Marz, Ben, Abbi, Ryan. Front Row: Jane, Lyndsie, Lindsey, Trevor, & Todd (my boss). Not Pictured: Sarah &, Shayln

Ohh this class. 

I am lost for words in how lovely they truly are. three years ago I met most of these kiddos. 

They have led me through a gamete of emotions, and they have touched my heart in many ways. I have watched them grow through laughter and tears, and I am not sure who has learned more from who. What I do know is that these students understand what it means to be true friends...even when life is tough. I have watched them journey through trials that most friends don't deal with until they are older. My hopes and prayers go with them in this transitional time. Ekk THEY ARE or HAVE GRADUATED!! T

Don't Worry I am safe.

Hello friends yes its seems again that the news in your far away cities is report that Santa Cruz is burning Down. However, there is still a fire burning in Bonny Doon CA, which is still very close it is being called the Martin Fire as it started near Martin road. As far as I know the fire is headed south for the most part. My house is East of the Fire, and my work is South East of the Fire. Click on the link above to see the news report from the people that know what they are talking about.

There are many trees and many of my students, as well as people from our church, have been evacuated. Through the tears on through the phone of my student who's home was evacuated  before she even knew about the fire, through tears she said,  "I'm just scared, because I don't know what's going to happen!" And that's the heart of many here. Right now.

 So though I am not worried...there is great Fear in the Bonny Doon to the coast, and the next few days there are graduations all over from UCSC to Santa Cruz High, to Scott's Valley High, to mission hill...point is much is going on and the fires are just in the way. 

This is a picture around 6 ish tonight in the parking lot of my church on high street. Looks cool.

hope Venessa

My long time friend Venessa is fulfilling her life long dream to go to Africa.

Read her Blog...its new

Help fund her trip by looking on her Etsy sight where she is selling BEAUTIFUL clothing and Jewelry. 

When people have dreams to go to places they have never been its one thing. However the thing that I love about Venessa going to Africa is that she going to serve...she is going to serve along side of a girl named Gracie (You should also go look at her Blog: O Africa) I borrowed one of my favorite of the beautiful pictures of the children that are in her orphanage, I would put more words to how amazing it is but I cannot put words to the beauty that it is this opportunity. 

All I can say is pray when you have a chance make a purchase. 

Two things...

Two things keep me awake tonight. 

ONE:

At about 2 this afternoon my grandmother was admitted to the Hospital with a blood sugar level that to my knowledge was just a large number. The reality of that large number that until about 10 tonight did I realize that, the large number was actually something that could have been fatal. My boyfriend said to his knowledge he

 didn't think that the number was a good thing, so he got a hold or a friend of ours who is a paramedic, he said that on calls, in all his shifts he has never seen someone with that high of a reading. This of course did not set my heart at ease being so far away...and having too many things on the calender to just jump in my car and be there. Trust me that's all I want to do. Yet I know that while she is in the hospital they are monitoring her and her high blood sugar is dropping. It basically still scares the crap out of me. I wish I had a happy answer but sometimes it just sucks. So I am praying and thinking about how amazing my grandma is (even though I don't speak much Spanish and she doesn't speak much English) how much fun i had the last time my mom brought them to my house in Mount Hermon. How they love drinking coffee and sitting in my house. Lovely image. lovely. 

TWO: 

pictured Left to Right (Alisa, Isaac, Melissa, Me, Manuel, Angela, and Dave. (missing Frankie & Jessie))

Not to mention that recently we have found our long lost cousin who do to age should be in this photo above sitting between me and melissa or between melissa and Isaac not sure. Yes indeed its possible that there is one more Solis out there that we have not been able to claim. We as kids all met him in brief encounters, encounters long enough for us to know, and then he was gone. I believe the last time we saw him was when we where about 5-8 years old. My grandma carries a picture of him in her wallet. My cousins Isaac and Angela found him..and sent him messages of all places on my space. At first he didn't want to talk to them...at first he thought they where lies but can you blame him. We are a tight family, and due to choices of his parents we have only heard from him now 24 years or so later. wow. So If grandma is better he plans on coming to a baby shower to one of my younger cousins...not yet born to be pictured above. Its just crazy and yet another reason why I want to be in my car and to the valley as we speak. humph.

the next 3 weeks uhh maybe 4

life.

the next three weeks.

there is much to be done. 

i am already tired.

yet I am excited about what is to come.

example today we had back to back meetings all important all. Yet in between on of them that ended on time and our next was starting late. I said ooh good i have a chance to use the restroom. My hope is that I will have time to stop and breath (or pee wink) in these weeks.  truth is...I am not stressed yet. But I know that with everything I will be worried about giving people enough of my time, which is impossible, as I only have so much to give. These next few weeks I will only be able to give truly small pieces of my time, which kills me as a quaility time, and valuing people kind of person. So if I miss returning your call, seem like I was only there for a moment, I am sorry its not my intent. 

If you call after 7 pm. My phone will be on silent its my way of not having service and having a small piece of sanity in the night hours. 

In those night hours where my cell phone is on silent,

             I may be able to finish project's I have started in the day.

In those night hours when my cell phone is on silent, 

             I may find sanity in the stillness.

In those night hours when my cell phone is on silent, 

       I may actually get to call people that I haven't had the chance to.

In those night hours when my cell phone is on silent,

             I may get to finally finish cleaning my room instead of creating pathways like I did in HS

In those night hours when my cell phone is on silent, 

             I am going to try my hardest not to worry that I missed a call

In those night hours when my cell phone is on silent, 

             I will rest well with a happy heart.

That's my hope and my plan...