Mcabe Justus

Last year he told me he hated Halloween.  He always says he hates Halloween.

Tonight he said the exact same thing.  Then he texted me this photo.

I love him so much it hurts.

The Downward Spiral

5 years ago?  Maybe 6?  Could it be 7?

Bradley and I had already reached out to a handful of elders and pastors at our church regarding our growing concerns.   There were even a few impassioned behind closed doors elder meetings.  Not only were these men our elders...but our employers as well.  And some of them were our mentors/confidantes/friends.

Highly frustrating.  It was a stressful time.  Exasperating to say the least.

I remember shaking while dialing the phone number to Grace Community Church.  I was in the prayer garden waiting for Brad to be finished w/his work for the day...watching our kids run around on the lawn...and whoever was going to take the call was in another state and might very well think I was totally crazy.

The pastor on duty was so patient with me...with my tears and with my shaky voice...and with my ramblings.

I did my best to explain to him why I had a red flag about an elder/teacher in our church who was highly respected in the evangelical world...especially in academic/theological/seminary circles.  I went on and on and on about how a growing idol worship of this man was clouding the clear thinking of our church's leadership and how things were starting to change...for the worse... in our neck of the woods.

He listened.

And that's all.  I don't even know the name of the guy I spoke to.  I do not know if he brought my message to anyone over at GCC's leadership.  I do not know if he was like-minded or not.  I have no idea.

I do know that the Lord NEVER ceases to amaze me.

Be patient, Dear Ones.

HE does not tarry.

John MacArthur Jr.

Lots to ponder.  LOTS of pondering happening over here.

Acts 17:11

Harvest Festival

I did not help her.  Not one little bit.

Feeling melancholy cuz my baby girl isn't really a baby any longer.

and HER BROTHER IS 22!

Brave is 22

Costume Party Picnic

Random Stuff

The boys/Music Video Shoot

Brave/on the road.  He's in Canada right now.

Lately...every time I turn around...Jemima's got the camera in her hand.  Maybe she's gotten the bug too?????  I guess time will tell.

Zion's decided that she doesn't really mind if the world knows she still likes playing with dolls after all...so we pulled them out during a recent play date.  Her friends loved them and got super involved with dressing them...doing their hair...etc.  One thing led to another and Zion had a brilliant idea. Why not turn our disassembled bunk bed into a stage?!!!!!

She recruited Brad...who took some measurements and ran up the street to the Hardware store to buy a piece of plywood.   Now we have the skeleton of a runway.  Why do we need a runway you are wondering?

Cuz Zion and her friends are planning to put on a Toddlers & Tiaras Doll Beauty Pageant!!!!!!!
Photos to come.

And when we moved to LA...Zion had a dream of building a tree house.  Not many trees in AZ :)
We're renting the Cottage...so thoughts of having a tree house of our very own have been put on the backburner.  But the desire to have a space...a club...a special spot...never faded.

What to do?  What to do?  What TO DO?!!!?????????!!

It's the perfect spot to hang out...read...play backgammon...give manicures...play 500 Rummy.

Things might not always work out the way we imagined...but the Lord always does work them out. 

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11


"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
Isaiah 55:8

In Christ Alone

Sometimes...out of the corner of my eye... I catch Jemima signing during the worship set at church.  I knew of her decision to learn some songs all the way through....but I had no idea she is as far along in her ASL studies as she is.

Tonight she blew us away.

While we've been busy with life... our daughter has actually become quite fluent.

Russian Repair Man

What to do when the Russian Repair Man quotes you $235 to fix your fridge problem and your washing machine problem?

Haggle him all the way down to $150 and count it all joy.

Juke Box & Bones

The Summer Set dropped their latest video.

Produced by Dead Rabbit...aka our boys :)

What I love most about Brave and Mcabe hanging out with all these super cute...super talented...super fun friends is that they get to hang out with all these super cute super talented super fun friends.

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And Mcabe heading out for a Bones callback.  He went in for a fisherman a few weeks ago...but he was too young for the role. 

This guy is a highschool drug dealer whose into the punk scene.

This Week

Zion is the sweetest thing on earth as she struggles greatly with the realization that we are actually really living in L.A.

Not visiting L.A. but living here.   As in long term.  As in no end in sight.

She is literally heartsick for "home."  Painfully heartsick.

She does not want to let go...cuz in her mind she is leaving her childhood behind.
All the comforts of what was for an uncertain future w/ so many changes ahead.

I have had the great honor of helping her through this trial.  Lots of tears have been shed this week. Lots of cuddles.

Lots and lots of salty tears and kisses.

We do not know what the future holds but we do know who holds the future.

Photo Credit: Jemima


Woodley Park Archery

The staff is so incredibly friendly...like seriously joyful & passionate.  You can not only tell ...how much they love archery...but how much they want to pass the love of archery on to others.

There is nothing like unpaid volunteers serving the community.  Heart and soul.

It was so neat to bump into this familiar guy...who I knew I knew from somewhere...but couldn't place for the life of me.  I asked the instructor if they have a Home-School set up...lessons etc...when this guy overhears me. We strike up a conversation...and lo & behold...it winds up he and his wife were at the same FREE HOMESCHOOL BOWLING thingie w/ their kids that we just went to last week...two years ago.   We had talked briefly then...and now bumped into each other again at an Archery class.  Not only are they believers but they are New Yorkers & Jews!

It's cool when you know that there are no accidents and that the Lord has a purpose for every encounter.  And when that's the mindset of the people you bump into it's very cool.

We exchanged info.

___________________

The boys have been busy w/ Dead Rabbit work.  I've said it before and I'll say it again...one of the best things we've ever done is put cameras and editing bays into their hands at early ages.

Braverijah flew out last night.  He's due back just before Thanksgiving.

Fridays at Home

Don't think you can homeschool?

YES you can.  Of course you can!

Our Fridays are laid back.  Most of our days are...but Fridays are especially laid back.

Whatever lessons need to be done before the week-end are on the agenda.

&

There's Piano for Jemima.

How brilliant is this????!!!!!!!$&*%%!!!!  While David, a homeschool graduate is in the back teaching  our middle girl how to tickle the ivories...


...his mother is in the front room teaching a Spanish class to our eldest and youngest girls and Lizzy...our home-schooled friend.  Such a better use of time than her just sitting there waiting.  It couldn't be more perfect.  Spanish is her native language and she's a Spanish teacher for a private school.

Actually....today was the first day for SPANISH.  And it went really well!!!!!!  Yay!!!!!!!!!

I sat on the couch...listening in...while finishing up a little project.

Each Gregg kid is getting a crocheted blanket.  TaDa......Zion's is finished.

  After Piano & Spanish...the girls have Dance from 4-7.  Ballet/Tap/Jazz/Spanish.

That's it.

Our Fridays.

And you wanna know why the fed gvt. (as a system)  dislikes us homeschooling types?  

It's cuz we don't need them.

Sweet Sixteen

Love at first sight.

 

....and this one is awesome!

Birthday boys & girls get signs in our home.  It's a tradition.

I cannot imagine life without my Jemima Bakytgul.  I am especially burdened for her birth parents tonight...and ever so grateful that her birthmother chose life.  What a gift we have been given.  

Being Home

One good thing about Bradley being home w/ us during the days...is that he's home with us during the days.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

The Mindy Project

Someone just tweeted Mcabe asking if his episode aired tonight.

We missed it.

Enlisted

Mcabe and his Enlisted brothers.

I didn't step foot on the set so I have no idea what to expect.  Well, that's not 100% true.  I ran lines w/ Mcabe here at home so I have an idea of the story line and what his character is like etc....but it's going to be so much FUN to watch the episode when it airs.

3 gingers who give the town sheriff a run for his money.  YES!!!!!!!!!  Atta boy.