Jemima got a vintage dress form under the tree this year. Today, she pulled out some of her fabric scraps and various pieces to re-construct.

pudges09

If you've been visiting for a while....you know that it's about time for a new video from my men.
PAUSE my Music Player first...

God With Us

CHRISTmas caroling.

We're driving in the car w/the radio on.... listening to music when Galilee says, "Hey...that's what Politan says!"

"Huh?...What does Pastor Politan say?"...I ask.

"That my name is written on His hand."

___________________

I often wonder if my kids are paying attention during sermons. I am convinced that there are many times when they are not. And, I am also convinced that there are those times when they are.

Oh, to see beyond the fidgeting and the and what appears to be blank stares at the ceiling.

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas

Really, really, really good...English accents aside.

I am so drawn to this time period. It must have something to do w/ my family folklore.

Inglorious Basterds

I am gonna go ahead and say that this is a Must See Film for those of you who can handle Quentin Tarantino style wartime violence and things that go with it. The actors are brilliant...especially, Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa. Diane Kruger is flawless as Bridget von Hammersmark. And, Melanie Laurent is quite beautiful as Shoshanna Drefys..a Jewish girl who gets to change the course of history.

Mike Meyers took me by surprise. And how many times I laughed out loud... did also.

The opening farm scene is flawlessly executed...much much tension...and the closing theatre scene is off the charts insane.

____________________________

Seems like a contradiction to some...I know. A home-educating, Christ following mother...watching and recommending a film like this.

Clearly defined lines drawn between good and evil....

...I have no problem with it.

That got me to thinking...if given the opportunity, would I have put an end to Hitler's life?

That got me to thinking about Deitrich Bonhoeffer and how much I stand behind his (and others) plot to do so.

And that got me to thinking more.....about how the enemy of our souls is really crafty and how he tempts us to get ourselves worked up into tizzies about all sorts of things we shouldn't be having problems with while at the same time distracting us from the things we should be troubled by.

This film is brilliant.

I am so not the dog lover...or even liker. I must admit though...I cried and cried at the end of this film. Super cute. Good for kids. Good for adults. A simple...sweet story.

I think it is so fascinating...the ebbs and flows of our lives.

For me...this is a "visual period."

Images. Photos. Colors.... textures...emotions....layers. Expressed visually.

And it's funny how it all works itself out....this creative process. I feel like writing again....for a visual medium....the silver screen.

I guess my deep thoughts to accompany these images are...

"Life passes by very quickly. Where did the years go? Where are the years taking us?"

Sometimes, some of us adoptive moms get together w/the kids for a playdate. I love these gatherings for a few reasons. First and foremost....we have fun together (the grown-ups do.) Also, the kids have fun together. I really love that adoption is so "normal" in our circle.

Out of the 13 kids in the photos can you tell which 3 are bio?

For a time...Zion was the sole bio kid. She was so sad to have been not adopted. I love that her sisters had to comfort her in the car on the ride home from the park...explaining tenderly to her wounded heart that she was just as special as they were and that the Lord had a plan for her life that just happened to not include adoption.

It's Beginning to Look Like CHRISTmas

Looks like Anthropologie, right?

$2.99 @ Savers.

Braverijah Sage in Mexico. Whatever went on during this trip...seems to have been life changing. We are hearing much about it. In spurts. Over time. As the memories come.

I can't wait to see the shot Bria got through his lens as another team member got this shot through theirs.

The Avett Brothers

Loving them.

Click PAUSE on my Music Player.

Mcabe did such a wonderful job as my second shooter. He's got a FANTASTIC eye and a way with people that immediately puts them at ease.

Proud Mama....I am.


These are two of my favorite Mcabe moments of the nite.

Cedars of Lebanon

Kellan Lutz Attached to 'Cedars of Lebanon'

Posted using ShareThis

It's time to pray peoples. Hardcore prayers coveted.

And, over at cinemablend.com

More Press

and

More

One of my kids e-mailed me their Writing assignment to print out. Along with the assignment came this note......

"and mom i'm sorry for cheating on my math homework. i was lazy and didn't want to figure it out :(

i thought no one would figure it out."

Oh, Lord. Please expose all of it...whatever needs to be exposed...in all five of them...and in me, Lord. Thank you for doing it little by little though. You are gracious. You are gentle. You are faithful.

UPDATE:

I am so smart. I figured out where the question came from.

We were at the park mingling with our group. Next to us...was another group. A large group celebrating a child's birthday. Maybe 40 people. All speaking spanish....having what looked to be a wonderful time.

At a certain point...a pinata was raised and all the kids at the birthday party took turns swinging at it...blindfolded and helped by adults.

In my experience....pinatas come in all shapes and sizes. Kermit the Frog...Sponge Bob...Teen Age Mutant Ninja Turtles...etc.

This pinata... that all the kids at the party were swinging at.... was different though. It was a princess pinata. The princess was very pretty and had long golden hair. The children were swinging bats at a beautiful blond princess pinata.

I though it was strange...a bit off but I never mentioned anything to anyone. Someone in our group commented on the oddness of the scene taking place a few feet away. Just then, an adorable little blindfolded spanish speaking boy was abusing the beautiful blond princess pinata as an older spanish speaking man was cheering him on.

I can only imagine what was going through Zion's mind.

Aside from beating the beautiful blond princess with a stick while laughing and pulling her limb from limb so as to get at all her candy...this family seemed like a really sweet bunch.

Odd pinata choice.

_________________________

Zion blows me away when she is just being Zion.

Recently, we are standing around doing nothing much with a whole bunch of people whom we do not know..... when she gives me the "Mom, come here" look. Her cute little 6 year old head motions kinda sorta subtly (kinda sorta obviously) for me to come closer.

My first thought...she must have to go to the bathroom.

Nope.

She whispers in my ear....in the sweetest, most docile, confused voice possible "Why are Mexicans not allowed across America's border again?"

I pause. Did I just hear her right? What could possible have brought this question up now? In this setting?

I look around.

We are surrounded by a variety of faces...shades...ethnicities. There is a Native American looking guy (I think????) who might pass for Mexican???????

"What, Zion?

"Mexican people...why aren't they allowed to come over America's borders?"

She is waiting for my response. Patiently.

Why are you asking?"...I ask.

She shrugs her shoulders. "No reason. It's just one of my questions."

"One of your questions?"

Yeah, you know....like how did people make tools before there were tools?"

All I could do was laugh and tell her we'd talk about it later. I gave her a kiss and sent her off to play...silently thanking the Lord for this deep thinking, sensitive, and articulate daughter.

Our family has spent much time in Mexico. All sorts of different places in Mexico. We have crossed many borders over the years. Back and forth...in and out.

Bradley and Mcabe have recently travelled to Costa Rica and Tijuana and Bria is currently in Puerto Penasco doing some missions work....maybe all these journeys have her mind going?????

She accompanied me on a walk-thru for the Quinceanera I shot this week-end. We talked a little bit about the traditions and significance of this cultural event in a young girl's life. She heard it told that many multi-generational family members would be coming all the way from Mexico to help celebrate this very special birthday.

I'm wondering if in her mind she thought they would all be breaking the law by attending?????

And, if her mother was turning a blind eye and calling their "questionable activity" a good thing?????
_____________________________________

When we get some quiet time...I make sure that Zion understands to the best of her ability the enormous illegal immigration problem we face as a nation and that not all Mexican folks cross our borders illegally...and that not all illegal immigrants are from Mexico.

"Ohhhhh. Nooooooow I get it. That makes sense," is her response.

_____________________________________
Lou Dobbs was up for discussion this week. And...our television...if it's not tuned into the Food Network or Project Runway...well then it's probably turned to Fox News.


We talked politics around the dinner table growing up. And we talked about ethics, morality, and all sorts of social issues.

I'm pretty sure it contributed to who I am today (good or/& bad...depending on how you look at it.)

JJ Heller

JJ Heller is really really super cute. And her music is special.



As someone who is inspired by & motivated visually....it's not always easy posting "imperfect" images. But, I must tell you....that nite was pretty close to perfect.

Intimate & spontaneous. What you see is what you get.

No time to change my lens and a flash would've been intrusive.

I told Zion we were going to snap some photos on our way to the library...so she was to get dressed.

I love this kid's sense of style. She has got it going on...if not always conventional in her choices...she is always interesting and somehow wonderful.



The new library is pretty fabulous to look at as well.

PAUSE my Music Player first.

I guess many people have already seen this...but I did today for the first time. I LOVE this little girl. She SO thinks like me. I am convinced that we are kindred spirits.

Starlight Dancers

We participated in our first holiday party of the season. Weird....considering it's still summerish here in the Sonoran Dessert.

The girls greeted & escorted 150 ladies invited to a community craft nite/outreach event.

And then....they praised the Lord through dance.




Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Oh, Lord....sometimes...all I can do...when all else fails...

....is to cling to this passage.

Help me to choose this truth first. Before all else fails.

Happy B-Day Galilee & Daddy

Okay....someone's been playing with my camera settings....because things are lookin' a lil' fuzzy around here.

We have a 14 year old and a 43 year old in the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Bria and Mcabe took the girls to a movie. It's nice having teen-agers.

Funky Hat Skate Party

We show up at 10 a.m. ready to hit the ice...when we are informed that we are two hours early. PANIC! I call one mom who helps me call all the other moms/1 dad...and as a group we pull it together...postponing the party for a few hours. What a bunch of troopers I am surrounded by. Nobody blinked an eye at the inconvenience but instead...showed up at noon w/bells on.

Thank you, Friends for loving me even when I mess up.

Diggity

Braverijah's latest short.