Free Time

I teach a weekly Writing Class in our home to a small group of girls.  After we are finished skyping with 2 students in Arizona...these LA girls are free to spend their afternoons pretty much however they please.  I don't really get involved.

Free Time.

Sometime last Autumn...Zion found pumpkins at the .99 Cent Store and bought a whole bunch to decorate with her friends.

We usually keep a bucket of chalk around...and picnics are easy.

The girls are ALWAYS dressing up (wealthy Beverly Hills girls here) ...hanging in the closet/club...or buying .99 Cent Store ingredients so they can play Chopped.

They do "make-up."

Sometimes I find them dancing.

Last week...they put on a play..Sleeping Beauty.

Flora...Fauna...and Merryweather with Aurora.

Oceanside Week-End

Time with the Schoenbachs.....

and.....time with the Taylors.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.  Proverbs 17:17

Psalm 22:28

When your son signs a contract to travel to Europe right now and you are the sort of person who follows CURRENT EVENTS.

Then you remind yourself that He's got the whole world in HIS hands.  And you even say it out loud so that you can hear yourself saying it. 


Psalm 22:28 For the kingdom [is] the LORD'S: and he [is] the governor among the nations.

I would like to document here my overwhelming thankfulness towards and complete trust in the Lord.  

I traveled a lot as a kid...and young adult.  Europe...Asia...Australia...all over America...and it provided me a beautiful education and enriched my life in ways I have a hard time articulating.  Experiencing other cultures is fuel to my soul ...giving me flight and  something which grounds me at the same time.

As home-educators...my prayer early on was that our kids would be blessed with travel opportunities as I truly believe the Lord uses travel to open eyes and hearts.

He has answered that specific prayer for the boys with a "Yes."  

Braverijah is packing.

Halloween

October 31, 2016

It's Halloween again.  Long story short....Brad and I did Halloween growing up.  After salvation....we didn't see Halloween in the same way.   We didn't raise the kids doing Halloween.  When our boys hit their late teens.... they started dressing up with friends and going out to parties.  Our girls have dabbled in Harvest Parties...dressing up...getting candy.  I don't remember a time after Braverijah and Mcabe were 6 and 4 that  any of our kids trick or treated.

Still don't like Halloween.  Still have an opposition in my spirit towards it.

This is the first year since moving to LA that our girls aren't even mentioning dressing up.  (We aren't involved with a church that has an event planned this year.) Our boys went to a costume party Saturday night.  I have no idea what they are doing tonight.

This article came across by FB feed this morning.

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Previous Halloween"ish"  posts...

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When you have the spiritual gift of discernment...you have this ability to identify things as either "of the Lord" or "not of the Lord"...and usually...instantaneously.

For me...celebrating Halloween is not of the Lord. 

As a family...we have navigated this conviction in various ways over the years.   Early on ...soon after Brad's and my salvation...we tried the dressing up as Biblical characters route.

Stupid.

We have ignored the yearly event altogether... focusing on Reformation Day instead.  One year we watched Luther as a family.  Just borrowed it from the library...so we'll watch it again sometime this week...I suppose.  
 here

here

here

This is always good.

We have gone to church "Harvest Festivals."

Eh.  Depending on the church.  Depending on the atmosphere.

We have thrown Costume Parties.

Fun.  

(btw....I much prefer when any festivities occur on a day/night other than October 31st.)

Last night we attended a Game Night at a friend's home.  Some people dressed up.  Others did not.  There was a snack table...hot cider on the stove and a prayer time.  We prayed for Hollywood...for the lost in Hollywood.

A fun time.  Also, a somewhat somber time.

All in all...my thoughts about Halloween have not swayed or shifted in any way since becoming a Christian.

I do not think celebrating Halloween is of the Lord. 

It's a dark night.

I am beyond confident that the Lord is victorious over darkness.  Jesus is risen from the dead.  He has conquered death.  The enemy is a dog on a leash.

I simply do not think celebrating Halloween is honoring to the Lord.

We did dress up for this "Game Night" at our Christian friend' home.  Again...I really wish it wasn't on Halloween Night.  Felt sorta yukkkkkky. 

Probably won't do it again.

 

Celebrating...that's what we need to define.  And also....rejecting legalism and walking boldly and confidently and humbly in conviction.

Those the part we are learning to navigate year after year.

LA County Fair

Jemima likes The LA County Fair more than Disneyland because in her words..."You get to be with all the real LA people...ethnicity's...social groups...etc...enjoying crazy, insane, sketchy rides together."

The guy in front of us on line for that SWING RIDE...the one where you go way up in the air and twirl around at great speed with your feet dangling...apologized to her in advance for all the swearing he was about to do.  She nodded in understanding and gave him the "go ahead."

Red Carpet Fashion Dreams

Brad's at the computer.  I'm on the bed...crocheting.  Zion is next to me watching an online tutorial on how to make ribbon hair barrettes.  Jemima is digging through my closet...looking for something to wear.  

Jemima:  When Dad does his big movie and we get to go to the Oscars...I know what red carpet dress I want.  I've been dreaming of it.

At this point...Brad turns from his work and almost breaks down.  Seriously...he is close to tears.  He and I have eye contact.  What a sweet thought.  What a sweet encouragement. So much hope. 

Jemima:  It's a cross between Aundrey Hepburn's in Funny Face...wait.....(she googles).....  no Sabrina!  So gorgeous!!!! 

Jemima:  And Jennifer Lawrence's.... I don't know what year...wait... (she googles.)

Me:  The one she fell in?

Jemima:  Yeah.

Me:  The white one?

Jemima:  Yeah.  So classic.  So beautiful!!!!!

Then ...for the next five minutes...Jemima and Zion go on to discuss 50's fashion.  Cinched wastes...silhouettes...skirt lengths...etc.

Zion:  Remember in Call The Midwife...that outfit she wore when she went to the bar...with the cute sweater that went to here (points to high waste)  and the pants?   The black high wasted pants.  It was the late 40's early 50's outfit.

Me/Jemima:  The cigarette pants.

Zion: Yeah.


I am not sure where all this would fall on an academic record...but it should fall in there somewhere.  

LA exploration

 Our friend, Lacy invited us down to the Cooper Design Space...to her showroom to pick out some footwear.  She said,  "Bring large totes." I took that to mean..."Bring.... a....... large tote" ...so I showed up with that orange one below....

She sent us on our way with this  ^ HUGE box of sneakers!

What an enormous surprise and a blessing beyond belief.  Generous people make my life.  I swear...there is nothing like it.  Generosity.

Jemima has been busy busy busy...working on new designs.  Her workroom was in need of fabric...so since we were only a few blocks away from where all the fantastic fabric is found...we went shopping for new fabric.  LOVE LOVE LOVE what she chose...although we have come to the realization that I am way more into patterns...especially anything tribal or ethnic looking...than she is.  

After our fabric shopping expedition we were hungry soooooo.... we headed over to ...

Grand Central Market  which is a pretty cool place.  Basically it's a food court smack in the center of downtown with lots of food options to choose from.

 And lots of interesting things to see and people to meet.   This guy...Kiki stopped me cuz he liked my poncho.  It reminded him of his tribe in New Mexico. 

10 minutes later...I passed Kiki on the street.  He was hanging with his pals drinking.  Sharing a passed around 40 oz bottle.

One thing about LA is that there are homeless people EVERYWHERE.  Literally everywhere.  I'm not sure how I'm feeling about it.  It's sorta like I am numb.  Like paralyzed. 

What the heCk?????

This is not okay.

Being numb is not okay.

It's not apathy that I am feeling.  It's different than that.  It's a numbness.

Not okay at all. 

And my word...the spiritual darkness we encounter at practically every turn.  So so so so dark.   This store literally almost made me ill.

A heightened sensitivity to things not of the Lord lately....I find myself experiencing.

And just across the street....I had no idea this beautiful building was within reach.  What a gorgeous space.  The Bradbury Building. 

Farewell Summer 2014

The "official start" to the new academic year begins on Tuesday.  Three days spent in Newport was a great way to end the summer season.  

Relaxed, Refreshed and as Ready as I'll ever be.  

 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.     Proverbs 19:20
(So enormously thankful for friends who speak truth & model humility & grace to our kids.)

The Lord sent me a little love note...in the form of a seaweed heart.  He is so romantic like that.  Always pursuing my heart and reminding me of his unfailing love. 

 "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that gives value to survival."     C.S. Lewis

"The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are."    C.S. Lewis

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!    Ecclesiastes 4:9-10


The Lord has seen fit to deliver me a season of heartbreak.  Maybe heartbreak isn't the correct word...maybe it's more like heart-sickness. Hard times are hard...especially when wounds arrive from unexpected places. 

This girl has been a constant.  Discerning and wise and empathetic.    I am thankful for her friendship.   I know it's a gift.