Rain thunder and dark skies

So on Thursday it started to rain...

So Yesterday it continued to raining. For the most part it has not stopped. 

I know last was Halloween,  but the rain made me happy last night because it meant that all the crazies where NOT out causing trouble for the boy in his patrol car. Although The Boys feeling was different on that, even though he wanted rain because he knows how crazy things get around here and the holidays, I don't think he expected last night: 

Me: "so How did last night go?" the Boy "Man Last night was Boring, we couldn't even find anyone doing anything wrong" ha ha ha! I may have been too happy about this. 

 

So Today being Saturday its still raining here!

So I ponder does this really mean I have to start wearing shoes???

So, yesterday I wore flip flops and slip on's  I think in protest of winter coming. 

So today maybe I will where shoes. Ehhh I'm going to a movie theater... Who Needs REAL SHOES???

Truly, I love the rain. Here in Santa Cruz I think it rains just enough for you to love it and not hate it. 

update on life: Part 2:The Boy meets Familia

So as we drove home from Don't forget the lyrics, my mom was on the phone with my aunt, and then it rang and again and she was on the phone with my uncle and so on and so on. Knowing my family I didn't think much of it. You see there Saturday night there was a birthday party for like number 28Th great grandchild, and sadly the boy and I had to leave town early, thus missing the birthday party. Yet the word was out: MELINDA WAS BRINGING THE BOY. So those phone calls where about having early dinner with us at the house. Picture the family dinner in fools rush in, yeah but we traded the mariachis for the wii : ) Which led to my crash course on who my family was, names stories and relation to us. Comical to say the least. Lets just say the boy had a few questions.

The Mexican Stats:

1 grandma

2 aunts

2 uncles

3 cousins

5 great grandchildren

My three Mexicans

1 brother in law

Total Mexicans/Relatives in the house = 17 + Pherf & I + 1 visiting Indian = 20 people : )

So he met my FAMILIA! Yeah above is not all of us pictured but alas we never get everyone : ) Those where just the people that where there early to meet the Boy, and visit with me. He said as we left, "I'm glad I got to meet ALL of your family" to which I laughed and said, "ohh that's not all of them" Shoot how did Tad do it? So far, the Boy still loves me and i suppose understands my love of throwing big parties, and loving big groups of people who I love, as well as faces to my family that I love so much. We took a girl photo missing my tia Ysidra, and one of the newest great grandchildren Mia (Barron found his way in the photo in my cousin's arms). 

 

update on life: part 1

So I realize it has been quite the time since I have updated. So I am going back in time some to talk about the fantastic things that has been my life. 

After the time I spent in the middle of my vacation cleaning up the objects strewn across my old office floor (due to the burglery) it was time to get out of town for a few days. For me I was excited and looking forward to the trip. The Boy I believe was excited... yet in the same breath unsure of what to expect in the days to come. & could you blame him. 

We climbed in the car and off we went to my PARENTS house.  EEK! Yeah Following is a brief recap and some pictures on what happened on our trip.

DAY ONE: The Boy Meets the Friends

(Dinner Party with Friends)

Such a lovely time. Small simple. We arrive 30 minutes late (classic) which we had kept them updated on our travel staus that we would be late since we where arriving late into town. Unknown to us our host thought I said I would be there 2 hours earlier, so that's when everyone arrived ha ha oops. where we thought they where all just waiting 15 minutes or so. We had are really good time. My dear friend toward the end of the night and I quote, "Wow this must really suck that your girlfriend just brang you to a dinner with all of her friends watching you, wow, I'm so sorry" eek. to which we laughed. I suppose its just hard when you live in a town away from your close friends.

We also saw Bryce and Kelly at the market place which led to seeing: Van & Gay (Jeremy's Parents), Kristen C her mom and grandma, & Jeff & Tracy & the kids, to name a few. 

**I took no pictures. Not sure why?***

HOME:

The  whole weekend honestly hanging out with my family was really good. The boy was able to see us in our element, at our 'finest' , at our goofy time, late at night and in the morning. Shoot even Goliath liked the Boy : ) Probably both of our favorate times. 

DFTL Taping: 

Famous people: Meat Loaf and his daughter, & ooh Wayne Brady touched Pherf.

From the Car ride, to a walk through the studio, to actually watching the show, to dinner after, our time was Seriously fun.

My Brother is the Game Producer for "Don't Forget the Lyrics"

so it felt like we received the celebrity treatment. VIP Passes, free food, & we got to kick people out of there seats wow. I have to be honest I was worried when Meatloaf requested and hour more to practice than time was allotted however After the first 10 minutes or so, his star power was back. The Show was amazing. There was a time I was laughing so hard at him, I felt like something 

was close to me like a high school student in my personal bubble, and Low and behold I turned to my right and a HUGE camera was in my face.

 I am a little worried about what will make it on the show as i turned like a deer in headlights as soon as I saw the camera. eek. I was glad that even though my brother was working, that we where able to spend time with him as well, and I miss him so that made me happy.  Look for us on TV Very soon cuz we are famous.

ODE to my Camera...

Hello friends.

It seems that indeed it has been a long time since my last post. As noted in an old post, "NEW POST<>

& now... I give you: THE POINT OF THIS POST.

Last friday the boy and I where about to be off to watch a plan in San fran. We already had a full day of breakfast with good friends and my favorite friday location (Harbor Cafe), taking a car to the shop, Go Cart racing (which I fear should be another post with much more of a 

story), In&Out, and finally a rushed getting ready to go to the City. 

So as I wandered into the living room... as if all video cameras where on me... The camera which captures so much of my life. hit the floor and died. So there it sit no

w near the dead plants, its in good company.

so today I am buying a new one. TRAGIC.  

Grand theft in the midst of Vacation

Seriously What on EARTH are people thinking.

Good news is our Santa Cruz Police Agency's are fantastic...the Boy was leaving his patrol car as it happened. 

So Last night 3 lovely Smart and intelligent people bro

ke into our offices. Breaking and

 destroying Doors, their frames, and so much more. They took computers, printers, petty cash, and our Senior pastors LARGE EAGLE statue??? WHY? Not only did they take things but they opened all Drawers, Cabinets, boxes, and threw them ALL over our office floors. Did I mention they stole One of the Church Suburbans (which was actually where they stored all of our stuff.) with the key carefully locked away...oh wait they broke that open too. 

A Police Officer this morning summed it up best when he stood next to One of our Deacons, and our Financial Secretary as Finger prints, as well as a perfect foot mark on one of the doors they kicked in said, 

"You can steal from Businesses

 You can steal from Offices

 But you can't Mess with God"

                  ~Santa Cruz Police Officer~

I suppose that it is just life where things like this just happen. The great thing is we indeed are getting everything back as the three where arrested last night before they had a chance to separate the loot. We are waiting on the Doors to be repaired, to hear back from the police, and to hear how the Grand Thief Auto & Burglary,

 destruction of property, and Destruction of religious property & vandalism charges go for our new three friends. I am mostly Sad, and Confused as to why? Its not like any of the property was really worth much. in fact they would have made more money if they took the doors instead of breaking them ha ha! But seriously...such is life. 

vacation.

Vacation...

This week I am on Vacation...

YEAH. 

the end. 

Spiritual Direction

Reason and Thoughts on Choosing a Spiritual Director... 

This is something that I have thought about since my friend Mitch in YFC started talking about his new spiritual director 4 years ago at a Student Led Ministry team Retreat, I was at in so cal. Since then it has always been something on my mind and I thought to myself off and on through the years, why not?

They seem to many to be something that is strange, but most often foreign. I will have to say that this has been something that I have pushed away as something that is for "other people" and not me. However, as we walk through ministry, (now entering my 6 th year of Full Time Youth Ministry, wow) if we do not take time to invest in our own relationship with Christ, how can we expect that we will continue living healthy personally, as well as having a healthy ministry. We cannot. 

I have over the last year been attending once a month spiritual retreats from Eagles Wings actually led by my pastor and his wife which have indeed brought me life. So much life that I believe it has prompted me to take the next step. Also I am planning on attending a Spiritual Retreat Weekend with Jayne Price, through Mount Hermon...cuz sometimes you need so life breathed into ya. It starts on Halloween and its for the weekend, and I am excited because Jayne is amazing and she has told me wonderful things about it. 

So I write here that I am looking into finding finally a spiritual director. Pray for me and guidance, as well as an openness. If you are in ministry or have been a christian for a while its something that I would encourage. Because I have waited way too long...it would be a shame if you did too. So I sit resting in his presence and taking in all that he has in front of me as gifts & beauty. 

PS. I don't think I am lost spiritually just paying attention to the fact that MY walk is so important that I need to pay attention to it. So please don't call for fear that I am loosing it... just know I value your prayers. Know that I am excited to see What God is beginning to do in me yet once again.