funny, Boys

So I know I've bragged on our fabulous neighbor before..."Thomas this...Thomas that."

It seriously makes me wanna cry at how the Lord has protected our relationships...even though we have this glaring elephant in the room difference of thought in regards to one particular sore thumb issue that would be an enormous insurmountable wall to some. 

For instance...he and Allan have a giant rainbow palm tree in their back yard.

And Brad and I fly a Gadsden flag in our front yard.

He is seriously the best though.  Thomas is.   I get these messages from time to time about contests for faith based screenplay competitions.  Once, he pointed us to a seminar for Actors for Christ...or something like that.  Totally not us...but it's so cute that he tried. 

He saw my post over on fb...trying to get in front of Candace Cameron Bure and I get this in my inbox...

...then...and this has nothing to do with him trying to find us work...but it's cute so I'm including it...

I get a call to come over and takes photos of his blooming garden.
While there...Allan comes out and asks...

"Are you here to take photos of my latest project?"

"No.  The flowers.  But what's your latest project????  I wanna see."

Allan opens the garage revealing the man cave/storage area/crafting space...and he shows me a beautiful quilt that he's just finished.

As I am admiring the colors...I ask if they have any signifigance?  What's the story with the colors??????  Purple, yellow, and green....

Thomas goes on to explain how it's an "Abortion Quilt."  You know...all about abortion.

I'm thinking..."Abortion Quilt?"  Purple...yellow...green?????  I don't get it???  Huh?  What does it mean????? 

They start laughing.

At me.

It's not an "Abortion Quilt" at all.  The colors don't mean anything.  They are just pretty.

HA HA funny, Boys.   Real funny.  Trying to get me all worked up and hot & bothered. 

That's what I like about these two...we laugh.  Often.  But we also share deep, pain filled, sorrowful sighs.  Cuz sometimes life is very difficult and times are sad.  


Then...Thomas is back to the job hunt on our behalf...

Ram Brave

When you are holding your breath waiting for the Lord's will to be done...for months and months alongside your friends.

We are humans...so of course we are tempted to hold our breath...to stop breathing while we wait for our GOOD and RIGHTEOUS and COMPASSIONATE and TRUSTWORTHY Lord to answer with a "yes" or a "no"  or a "not yet"  in His perfect timing.

When in the last 72 hours you are eating like a pig while holding your breath.  And you countdown...hour by hour.

What an honor to live life with others.  What an enormous blessing.  To share in sorrows and to share in joys.  To share in disappointments & failures and to share in victories.  To strive alongside one another towards a common goal.  To wait patiently alongside one another for answers...for comfort...for healing.  I do not think life would be worth living if it were not for living life in this way. 

We are all celebrating the birth of a baby boy over here today.  His name is Ram Brave and his arrival has been MUCH anticipated and  MUCH prayed over.


Because of all of our yelping and hollaring and celebratory dancing...our neighbors showed up...knocking at our door last night...excited themselves for the good news.  The look of anticipation on their faces as they stood on the porch...

Is it a job?  Did Brad book an acting gig?  Cedars?  

It's so what they were thinking.  I love that they ran over here and needed to hear in person.

We got to tell them that the baby is Jeni and Neal's.  He is Ram Brave.  It's official.

SUCH better news.  By far.

What a joy to share in  a baby being added to the circle of fellowship and then to know that others are rushing over to share in your joy...even if it's not the joy they anticipated.  Then them sharing in the actual joy.

Living life togehter.

This morning we got the best wake-up call.

Redeeming Love / Chapters 23-27

Okay...so....life sometimes happens in the middle of all we are trying to accomplish on a day to day basis....and our plans for this or that must take a backseat.

Hence the recent silence in regards to the Book Club.

Sorry.  Back on track.

A few thoughts....

This story has really touched Galilee.  Like really.  I love that!

Like really love it. 

Jemima has a good question...If the Lord warns us against being unequally yoked...why did He tell Michael Hosea to marry Angel?  We would love to hear your thoughts.

Mama had worked to keep Alex Stafford's love alive.  Angel wondered now if it hadn't been those very efforts that served to drive him away.  Mama had been so hungry for his love. 

1.  Scripture tells us that the Lord is jealous for us.  Have you ever been the object of someone's focus...so much so that you feel as if they are placing you before the Lord?  If so...describe some of what that made you feel.

Have you ever put someone on the throne of your heart?

How could she, of all the women, be so loved by a man like this?  Oh God, if you are there listening, why did you do this to him? 

2.  Have you ever felt so low about yourself that you have wondered why the Lord is putting others through the ordeal of sticking by you? 

Angel only saw Michael and worshiped him. 

* Thought on this...too much pressure.  No human can stand being worshiped.  Maybe for a while they can...but ultimately being on the throne will cause disdain.  No?  Even when people appear to enjoy being worshiped...do you think they really do?

3.  Michael and Miriam!!!!!  I do not remember it ever occurring to me that the way they interact  is dangerously inappropriate.    Whoa!  Private walks together and Angel is not brought in on what's being discussed!!!!  Discuss.

Read Chapters 28-32  March 28th

 

Gabba Gallery

So....since we've got a budding street artist in our home....Bradley and I decided to spend our Date Nite at.....


The Gabba Gallery. 

First thing we thought?  How cool is it that the gallery chose to support a local church by acquiring their lot for the evening?

Right when you walked in...in the first room was the piece by Plastic Jesus we've all heard so much about.

Thrashbird told Bradley that he and Teacher love our son's work and that when they were out and about one night putting up a piece they saw one of his that needed a fix.  They were gonna stop to do it but ran out of paste. 

Thrashbird is extremely nice.  Like one of the nicest most friendly and approachable guys I've ever encountered.  He said Brad and our boy can go out with him anytime.

A mentor's heart and  hands on education.  I love that!

This lady in the coat...with the suitcase....if she's not made of money she wants everyone to think she is. 

I'm dying to know if she bought a piece.  And if so...which one. 

Cute Photos of Zion

 

 

The Hollywood Manager

When your husband asks you if you own a gold chain he can wear.  For an audition.

The Little Prince

 

This precious child cried herself to sleep last night.  Belly cried into her pillow.

"Why did the snake bite the Little Prince?"  

"Why is he so evil?"

 "I'm so sad."

"Why did the Little Prince follow the snake"'

"Why did the Little Prince let the snake bite him?"

"Why did he even go near him?"

"Why did he even talk to the snake?  We're not supposed to talk directly to Satan!"

High discernment and excellent communication skills.  This kid.  She breaks my heart and gives it hope all at the same time.  

Things we need to talk about today:

The Little Prince was perceptive. He had insight and special knowledge.  He saw the elephant in the hat. He saw through the adults and their strange ideas.  He was wise.  He led the pilot to life giving water.  He was a caregiver.  He was innocent.  He chose to be bitten.  He sacrificed himself.  He lived on. 

Also though....

Was the author a believer?  Did Antoine De Saint-Exupery intend this story to be a Christian allegory?   Can it be read that way?  

Or is it to be viewed through a humanistic mindset.

Well, who knows???????

The story has obviously touched many people over many years and seems to perplex them all on some level.  

Man oh man...when you are the parents of a child who asks a lot of really good questions and feels things very deeply.  It is an honor to help her navigate life.  It is humbling. 

Redeeming Love - Chapters 18-22

"I don't plan on preaching at you, but I don't plan on giving up what I believe, either.  Not to make you comfortable.  Not for anything."

*1  Have you ever been in a situation where someone asks you to compromise your faith to make them more comfortable?  

*2  Have you ever been the one asking?

"Actually,  I fled.  I was fifteen, and she was more of a temptation than I could handle."  

*3  Michael knew being near the slave girl offered to him by his father was too much for him to handle.  He was aware of his weakness.  Take a moment to think about this.  Do any of your own weaknesses come to mind?  Situations you know would be difficult to navigate due to your weaknesses?  What snare might catch you?

Angel touched the smooth pink cheek-and suddenly she saw Duke's enraged face swimming before her eyes.

Then rain started again, and with it came her old ghosts. 

*We have no idea what battles people are fighting behind the scenes.  In their inner lives.  Just a thought.

At every turn, the girl undermined Angel's determination to remain aloof.  

*4  Have you ever had a Miriam in your life?  If so...describe some of the feelings you felt while she/he/ pursued you.

*5 Have you ever been a Miriam to someone who was trying to run and hide?  

Angel was disturbed that hey would go to so much work on her behalf.  The less they did, the less she would owe."

Expecting others to work for you and this ^...both rooted in pride.  Just a thought.


 Right from the first, Duke had bought her a wardrobe full of frilly frocks and white lace pinafores and filled her dresser drawers with satin ribbons and bows.  Most of her clothes had been made in Paris.

*6  Isn't that just like the enemy of our souls...to make beautiful things ugly?  To distort things.  Can you relate?  Has something lovely been soiled for you?  Do you believe the Lord can renew that?  Set it right?

"How could he still look at her with anything but loathing after all she had done?  How could he love her?"

*7  Ever felt this way?  Ever been the Michael in a situation?

"You know, sometimes you can hurt  yourself more by trying to keep yourself from being hurt!"

"She's afraid of being hurt."

"She's hurting herself now."

*8  This is one of the most difficult things to watch.  Have you ever lived it?  

She wondered now if Michael wasn't the answer to all things for her.  

Idols must be torn down.  Even when our idols are relationships.  Just a thought.

"He asked me to forgive him, and I told him he could rot in hell."

"He shot himself three days later."

Unforgiveness eats us alive.  Just a thought. 

Michael stood like a soldier going into battle.  "I can't have children."

Do you think there is ANYTHING Angel could have said that would have swayed Michael away from her?  

Mama had worked to keep Alex Stafford's love alive.  She had tried everything to please him and keep his passion alive.  Angel wondered now if it hadn't been those very efforts that served to drive him away.  Mama had been so hungry for his love.  Her entire life had revolved around Alex Stafford's coming to the small cottage.  Her happiness depended solely on him.  It had been an obsession. 

The way I see it...Angel left because she was afraid she would turn out to be just like her mother ...which would eventually... turn Michael into Alex Stafford. 

Whatever her motives for leaving...the Lord in His wisdom was using her time away from Michael... working behind the scenes......protecting her from idol worship. 





Chapters 23-27  / Friday March 7th

Our Walk in the Rain

Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.    Psalms 147:8

Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Rain#sthash.8cHGXo7v.dpuf

Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Rain#sthash.8cHGXo7v.dpuf

Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Rain#sthash.8cHGXo7v.dpuf

and they're off

When your sons take off for 3 mos.

The boys / Dead Rabbit...were hired to shoot B camera on a reality series.

What I love most about this...

...Mcabe not finding his identity in acting work.  He called his agents and said, "Gotta take this job.  The pay is good and the experience will be great.  I'll call you when I'm back in town."

What I love & hate equally....they will most likely be doing things like going up in helicopters and such.

At least they will be with US army helicopter pilots. 

And look who they bumped into at the Charlotte airport...

Russia's Dogs

When we walked into a Russian orphanage we smelled bad things.  Things like urine and layers of dirt.  We heard bad things.  Things like impatient footsteps rushing down long dimly lit hallways and hostile tones and cries.  We saw bad things.  Things like peeling paint, rust stains, water damage, an industrial kitchen...decayed and unfathomable, grey everything, kids...all with shaved heads, sores and scabs on sallow faces.  We saw distended abdomens and children drooling.  And children rocking.  And a frightened & severely malnourished child performing.  Performing for the strangers who came to take her away.  From that place.  The same kid who had rickets in her bones and parasites in her feces.  The one who weighed 28 pounds at the age of four and a half and didn't walk till she was three.  The one who carries multiple physical scars from God knows what. The one who decided right on the spot...It's better to run from this hell hole clinging for dear life to this woman and this man who I have never laid eyes upon...the ones who don't speak my language...than to stay and rot.

Dogs?

That's nice, people.  Whatever lets you sleep at night.

#iamsorry

Mcabe stumbled upon the #iamsorry exhibit right after it opened and went in.

He told me he thought I should go.  It felt as if I should.  So I did.


Day One

I arrived at 11:30 a.m.  Brad came to wait with me.  We waited in line till 6:00 p.m. but I did not make it in.  Almost...but not quite.  There were maybe 1/2 dozen people ahead of me when all were sent home.

Before I left...I told the security guard he would see me in the morning.  He suggested I arrive by 10:00 a.m. 

photo credit: unknown

Day Two

I arrived at  9:30 a.m.  Galilee came to wait with me.  At 4:30 p.m. I contemplated moving my car again (every 2 hours) but I didn't.  At 5:30 I thought to myself..."I most likely have a ticket on my wind shield so there's no point in moving it now." Not wanting to risk being absent if I were ever to get on deck ...I counted the cost of staying (maybe I didn't have a ticket yet) and chose to stand firm.   We waited in line till 6:00 p.m. but I did not make it in.  Almost...but not quite.  Again...there were maybe 1/2 dozen people ahead of me when all were sent home.

I waved farewell to the security guard, Ken.  "Till tomorrow.  Have a good night."  

A $68 ticket was waiting for me.

Day Three

I arrived at 4:47 a.m.

 I was #13 in line.

Brad and Zion arrived with Valentine's flowers for me.  We prayed together right before I entered.

Photo Credit:  Rodrigo Vargas Design



I got in at 2:45 p.m. Over the next 15 minutes I said what I came to say to Shia.   And then I went home.

  

What an honor.  For such a time as this.   

Redeeming Love 11-17

"In the middle of the journey of our life, I came to myself in a dark wood. "

1*  I am so intrigued by the fact that Dante went from the plural to the singular in this quote.   Can't stop thinking about it.  Thoughts?

"You can wear them or walk barefoot.  Your choice.  But you are going with me. "

2*  Why do we fight against what's good for us?

As I read the passage where Michael takes Angel to see the sunrise...I was struck by her fear.  She had a very real physical reaction to the situation.  It made me stop and think about those around me who sometimes have what I feel to be irrational reactions to things.  It reminded me to be mindful and sensitive.

"It's got to be my way or not at all."

Michael's response to Angel's fear reminded me that ...whatever is in the way...is the way.

This thought is reiterated by Angel when she says..."No matter how hard you try, you can't escape the truth."

He couldn't seem to hear the still small voice anymore.

3* Think about the perfect picture of a loving earthly father.  If we could not hear him anymore...hear his instructions...why would that be?  

4* Would those reasons be true about the Lord? 

It was going to be open warfare from here on out.  Well, so be it.  Anything was better than apathy.

My thoughts on this are...apathy is the enemy.

"That way is home.  One mile downhill, fire and food and me.  But you'd better understand something right now.  If you come back, we're picking up where we left off last night, and we're still playing by my rules."  He left her standing in the road.

Yep.  Submission. 

A woman is either a wall or a door, beloved. 

5*  I've been both.  Have you ever repented for being a wall?

"I know what I am.  I never pretended to be anything else.  Not once.  Not ever!"

I love and totally respect Angel's authenticity.

He had to go and get her back.  She was his wife.  Until death do us part. 

6*  Yep.  When we know obedience will bring pain.  When we trust that it is for our good & His glory.  Did the Lord meet you there?     

The mind is it's own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.

So true.  And, what we think...we do.  We need our minds to be renewed. 

Let's read Chapters 18-22 by Friday...the 21st.

Franklin Canyon

We know some stuff about AZ's various native cultures...but we don't know anything about the Tongva Indians who used to live here in the LA basin in huts like the one above.  I'm thinking it's time to learn about them and write some reports about what we discover.   Stay tuned :)

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So the kids are admiring the turtles sunning on the branch in the above left shot.  They have sticks in their hands...cuz they were walking around the duck pond with with sticks that they gathered along the way.

Two ladies pass by.  One makes a point of stopping to instruct the kids not to hit the turtles with the sticks.

Jeni, Cate and I are standing there with our kids.

"They aren't hitting the turtles with sticks."  I tell the lady.

Even so...she thinks she needs to instruct the kids...our kids... AGAIN not to...cuz turtles are sensitive and they shouldn't be hit with sticks.

"There are no turtles being hit with sticks here...Thank you."  I reassure her.

The turtle loving busy body lady walks away reluctantly...and unconvinced.  15 steps later she plops down to FEED THE DUCKS!!!!!!!!  Processed bread nevertheless...right next to a sign that tells visitors NOT TO FEED THE DUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I swear to almighty God it took all my strength no to walk over to where she was feeding the ducks and ask her if she was feeding the ducks that aren't supposed to be fed according to the sign that says DON'T FEED THE DUCKS!!!!!!!!!

btw...Zion is a mini me.  If I had given her permission...she would have said all of the above to the out of her mind hypocritical turtle loving duck hating lady.  She asked if she could.

Hawkeye

So we were driving down a pretty tree lined street in North Hollywood...when with my hawkeye...I notice this beauty sitting on the curb.  Just waiting for someone like me to claim it.

Say "hello" to our new shoe storage thingie next time you're over.  We keep it by the front door.

Inside the shoe storage thingie were four vases.  Two were ordinary flower shop sort of vases...totally functional...but nothing great.  These two however...are heavy and quite nice.

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As I was surveying a local thrift store with my hawkeye...I noticed a very interesting gallon sized zip lock bag.  Inside were all these serving/cooking utensils and all these NEW sets of chopstix.  I like high quality wood kitchen things...and we like eating with chopstix...and the whole shabang was marked $2.99 so it was a no brainer!!!!!  Ran them through the diswasher and now we are using them.

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I've been wanting one of these glass drink dispenser thingies for a while now...especially since infused water is all the rage these days and I like anything that brings more possibilities for hospitality into our home...but I never find myself wanting to go into my wallet to buy one when I see one at Costco...or Target...or wherever.

Last Saturday...I got 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  At a neighbor's Yard Sale.  She's is elderly and having some health issues.  Best $20 I could have spent.

 

Jehovah - Jireh - The Lord will provide