I've been remiss lately...

way too busy lately... and too blue for some reason. the weight of the world is on my shoulders sometimes. that, and the fact that the kids are driving me to drink! :op

Here are the kids at "Crave the Wave" with Ben - they love it (and Ben too!) They're here with Sabrina Faire and some friends they brought, Eddie and Andrew.



Here's Chris Gniffke... he's SO awesome... here is a pastor that totally cares about these kids and their hearts and their walk with God. Actually all of our pastors are like that- we really are blessed at our church to have such great people...



Here's Paris' birthday celebration!! The first is her with her friend Lindsay and then below is Paris and Ashley, our cousin:

Lately...

SO many things going on lately... Tom & the boys are at camp (!) all this week so it's Daisy & me... alone for 6 days. wow!


I'm taking over for Tom at the shop... it's a big job- I admire him for what he has to go through every day and never complains about it.


I went with my Uncle Jerry and my cousin to go get the new Harry Potty book... here's a picture of her - what a cutie-pie:

They started selling the books at midnight last Friday but by 1:30 am our part of the line had not yet moved... so we decided to call it a night. I went and got the book at Costco the next day for a few $$ less, so it's all good.
My girl stayed with me last night... we got to have coffee and bagels this morning and stayed in our jammies reading until noon... totally cool.
But for now we're off to work!

That reminds me...

The new logo for our new series of sermons at Calvary:

reminds me of this site:

The Visual Dictionary

I've talked about them before on this blog... they're an interesting site if you like cool visual images... I'm kind of weird that way.

If you click the link that says "Find User" my name on it is "Brookie" (don't laugh... it's what my family called me...) :o)

It's my girl's 20th birthday today!!!

Can't wait to post the party pics here!

Happy Birthday, Sweet pea!!!!

THIS is quite a song...

It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in trying to fade into the faces
The girls teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body...
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way...
A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road
Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ

Jesus is the way

I'm sure all of you know it... it just killed me today, hearing it.
It's SO true.
We ARE the church, we are His hands and arms on earth...

How has God used you today?
Have you allowed Him to? Or for that matter, been available for Him to do so...
of course, I'm directing this at myself mainly... :ol

WOW! This is COOL.

You really need to check out this link:
Flickrvision
It shows you what photos are being uploaded to Flickr all around the world. It's really cool. I wish there was some way I could connect it to my blog so that it showed up on the side... does anyone have any idea how to to do that??

Happy 4th of July!!!

or is it.....???

Yes, that's my guy... very sad because I thought I was buying fireworks at Ralph's... when in actuality I was buying a big truck load of

POPPERS.

oh my... how was I to know this???? They looked like fireworks to ME....

Matt said "but MOOOMMMMM, the 4th of July is the ONLY time that we are allowed to blow stuff up!!!"

Oh well... sooorrrree-eeee Matt, pardon me for interfering with your pyrotechnic tendensies. :oD

We had a GREAT time though - we still honoured the "Kid's Make Dinner" Wednesday; they made some fantastic food, even making up their own recipes this time.

There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure.
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890 - 1969)

How was YOUR 4th????

Calvary Church | VBS - Register

Calvary Church VBS - Register
Yeah!! Calvary is SO techno savvy now; they've got e-reg for VBS!! Cool... you HAVE to sign your kids up if you haven't yet! It's the coolest week of the year.
(click the title above to get linked to registration)
Oh... by the way, VBS is the week of August 6th. See you there!!

What A Wedding!!!!

Here are Jesse & Doug - they just got married tonight - this was so much fun! We felt SO priveledged just to be part of it!!!

I've never seen a "First Dance" quite like that before... it totally ROCKED. Don't you think so, too?? (you MUST click that link!! You'll Love it!!)

What was your favorite part of the wedding?? (There were SO many great things...)

Click Here For A Good Deal!

Hey Tustin-ites... I saw this and thought I'd share it with y'all... it's good until August 30th so you could print it out each time you went.
I wonder if it will be a nice theatre with clean bathrooms... like my downtown disney.... what is it with me and that theatre?? :o)

Fun Fun

We saw this movie last weekend at Downtown Disney, which you may know by now is my fav movie theatre.

Loved the movie; totally cute.

I can't remember there being anything inappropriate in it except the two main human characters do kiss, but it's innocent.

It comes out this Friday.... maybe you should go see it at the new theatre opening in the Tustin Legacy area; they're giving out small popcorns to every ticket holder.

You've Got To Read This Book

This one:

wow.

It's not just about Veggie Tales.

It's not just about the fall of Big Idea.

It's an incredible tale about life and lessons learned; suffice to say there were some tears when I finished the book.

Also, just think about how funny Veggie Tales was- Phil Vischer wrote those and he wrote this book- the book is pretty funny.

It's a great, quick summer read- READ IT! :o)

WHAT????

So, I don't know if you've heard, but Trent Lott said the other day:
'Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem'

WHAT??? And this is from a Republican Senator.
This is talk radio, who defended him when he made some stupid comments back in 2002.
Who defends the right to actually have more than one view point in America. (Since all that is spouted from the majority in government as well as the media is liberal nonsense)

And here's this guy, saying this.
One million illegal immigrants marching and protesting are called 'activists'.
One million minorities marching and protesting are called 'activists'.
But 10 million talk-show listeners calling and e-mailing their elected representatives are called 'a problem that needs to be dealt with'.

Where are our brave republican leaders????
Why aren't they screaming about this? Why aren't they yelling about FREE SPEECH? Why aren't they yelling about our current legislation not being enforced? We have great laws on the books; why spin your wheels trying to pass new legislation when there are already measures in place that could deal with the current crisis??

Why would ANYONE believe that you will implement this new legislation when you have ignored the old?

I KNOW the political game has to be played but this is getting beyond the point of no return.
It's a certainty that Republicans cannot win the Presidency in '08 but what about all of the seats?
The RNC and the Republican Party of Orange County, a Board on which I served for many years, is SILENT.

What about our freedom of speech? Especially as legal citizens. Is it wrong for us to voice our disapproval of what is going on?

We have lost the courage of our convictions, not only as a party, but as a nation. The convictions upon which this great nation was founded. We no longer have the back bone to fight for what is right. But, actually, I don't want to say "we".
I want SO badly to stand up and scream. I want to yell until someone hears me.

But that doesn't win elections. So, I'm at a loss. I've wanted, since I was a little girl, to be a public servant of some sort. I fall short though, in so many ways. I'm so imperfect and not nearly as quick witted as many.

I just have to keep giving this one to God. I just love this country SO much it makes my heart hurt.
This is a tough one for me... what are your opinions on what the Senator said?

Dear Miss Miles....

This is a letter my funny little son, Matt wrote to his teacher; it's totally a crack up - you should read it all the way to the end.

"Dear Miss Miles,
I think that there shouldn't be any homework next week because it sucks time out of our afternoons. The afternoons these days are only 32% of our days, the other 68% being sucked up by school. Of course, if you give us homework, the percent of our time to play would be decreased. If that happened, we wouldn't do better in school. Of course, that's obviously bad for the both of us.
Another reason is that kids need their free time. Otherwise, well, they just wouldn't be kids anymore. They'd be more like captured animals. Kids would lose their "let's play" spirit and it would be replaced with a "I'm bored" spirit. We wouldn't play, be happy or find anything fun.
Another reason is because the day would go like this: get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, go to school, be at school until 2:15, go home, do homework, go to bed. Did you see any free time in there? I sure didn't. If the homework part was deleted, we would get 5 hours and 30 minutes of play time! I don't see anything wrong with that!
Another reason is that kids would have time to get something nice for his/her teacher. doesn't that sound great? Flowers, candy, fruit and anything you can think of! Awesome, huh? You'll need another desk to keep all of that stuff on!
Look, I know you say homework is important but can't it wait, just for a week? Think it over. You know where I am.
- Matt

is it just Me??

Ok, I'm a Pirates of the Caribbean fan... I'm a big Disney fan... I'm a Johnny Depp fan, even a what's-his-name-who-plays-the-other-boy-in-the-movie fan - but I've got to tell you... I was sitting there in the movie the other day going, "huh???"

Huge head-shaking. Couldn't understand so many of the edits. At all.

Was it just me? Is it because I'm nearing my mid-fourties? (although let's not push it, I'm only 42...) Is that what happens? You can't hear anything although you start mumbling about 'that new music' being too loud and suddenly you can't get basic plot lines?

dude... sup with that? (see, i'm trying to sound young... i hope you noticed that)

We went with our friends, the Luecks, and Kathy was falling askleep through the whole thing - could stand it as much as I could... but meanwhile my 19 year old daughter thought it was the best pirates yet... so i ask you: is it just me or was it confusing to you too??? :op

could you resist this pound puppy....?

DAISY!!! Can you believe what a cutie she is?? Our new little puppy. (One year old) We got her from the pound. She is a little wire terrier...

she's kind and sweet and happy... and she's piddling all over the place. yuck.

Linda, can I borrow that book we were talking about?? pleeeaaaasseee.... the carpet cleaners come Saturday; she can't piddle anywhere after that!!

We made up a corny song about her... ask me to sing it for you the next time I see you. :o)

life is moving at the most incredible pace right now... it's only when i stop - take a breath and just lay my worries and burdens at His feet, that I can get through all of this "stuff"... thanks for the kind words, Judi... I appreciate you reminding me about that.

My life can truly only be properly powered by God; on my own strength I am nothing. AMEN to THAT!!

Jaslene!

Yeah! Jaslene won America's Next Top Model! She so cute and funny - I'm glad she won. The Russian girl was "interesting"... I didn't quite understand some of the things she did sometimes...

Also, can you believe???? Blake and Jordan??? wow... I was hoping for Blake in the finale!! I love Melinda and I thought it would be such a fun show with the two of them, but this should be good too. He's just so original and talented and fun to watch.

yes, it was a t.v. night after Wednesday night church... ;o) we are doing the Crown ministries class, I think I told you. It's really good.

But the BEST news of all is that we will be getting a NEW PUPPY THURSDAY!!!!! YEAH!!!

Daisy.... little Daisy-Doo, Dippity-Doo, whatever you want to call her, I'm just so excited we're getting her!! I took a great picture, I just don't have the cord to download the photo to my computer, can you believe it?? Tom has it somewhere... I'm dying here... I want her home so bad.... we've got a dog dish sitting there in the kitchen waiting for her... she's a little one year old wire terrier. Can't wait to post pictures here! HAPPY HAPPY DAY>>>>>> :o)

More Mother's Day Pics for Church

Above, the *famous* Judi Singer & her son Cooper (thanks Jude!)

Below, the beautiful Janet Zwirner & her daughter!

I must have sent about 26 photos to Tammy at church! Hopefully I didn't turn in too many of them! eek!

I love this one! It is my beautiful friend Cindy Marano and her son Nathaniel. Thanks SO much you guys for taking the time out of your day to pose for me! You Rock.

I hope they're usable for what they want to do!

a commission...i'm SO excited

alright, i was asked to take pictures for the Mother's Day service at church! (can you hear me shreaking for joy??! :oD

Some will be behind the words of a special song that my friend melody Ronk wrote, so those will be transparent and soft.

The others will be sepia tone but not transparent.

I'm really excited because I love photography, have done it for SO long but when you have kids, things that you love just get pushed aside... it's inevitable, you know?

Anyway, I'm posting a few of the first ones here. The top one is a cute little mom & son I happened upon as I was leaving church Sunday- don't know them, do you? anyway, she let me take their picture- thanks! The second one is Bea & grace Wakeling although as I was shooting their picture I had no idea that they were that "Bea & Grace Wakeling"... so sily of me... I should have at least recognized Grace from her many video appearances on Eric's blog... the next photo is Tom & his mom from last summer.

This next photo is from church camp! In going through some of my shots I came upon this and thought the world might be able to finally handle this one. Of course, Tom reminds me of Chris Farley in the "Chipendales" skit... but he's my guy and he's awesome...

Discernment...

Have you ever noticed that when you fill out a blog comment or something similar, most ask you for "word verification"?? It seems really simple. Wavy letters, crooked numbers, no big deal.

But you can read it.

Although you and I know that computers are amazing! They can build mini-micro machines, find out if your debit card is authorized in 2 seconds flat, but it takes a human to read squiggly letters.

It's discernment. It's taking what we know and applying it to this instance. I can download the bible to my cell phone, my son can blow on the screen of his DS and create a virtual bubble (wow) and we can be full-on techno-geeks but God's Word was meant for Us. Our human minds. We are the only ones who can look at the text on the pages and use discernment, with the aid of the Holy Spirit of course, to know what He is trying to say to us. Whales can't, dogs can't, monkeys can't.

It's SO simple. Isn't it wild how we are so fearfully and wonderfully made?

It seems computers really started to grow & develop in the 60's, and actually, so did I, but my brain - your brain - was designed by God, perfect. 1000 years ago, brains were the same as now. 2000 years ago... and all the way back to the time of Adam, our human minds were made for discernment. They didn't need to be perfected. They don't freeze and need to be re-booted. Well, mine sort of does. Tom can totally attest to that. But imagine if Adam did not have a fully functional brain - when God walked with Adam... what would they have been able to talk about?? Cavemen-schmavmen... hooey.

It's just some thoughts I've been having lately... what do you think?

Las Chicas MOOEY Locas de La Quinto-Part Deaux

Ok, so I just had to finish up with the posting of the pictures... what crazy, beautiful women... what a great chance to get away and just - BE - , you know?

Loveable Linda... photographic evidence that you danced on the couch!! :o) Go Go!!

Sweet Joanie...



our beautiful, beautiful friend Sherry...


Linda & I snuggling up at dinner... :o)