21 posts from September 2006

It's really quite an unusual thing that we live in a place where we can go church "shopping." In most of the world, you're pretty limited and in many places you won't find any open, free-for-anyone-to-come-in-to fellowships. 

Do you like surprises?

I love them. Can't get enough of them! The best thing is when I learn something new and then surprise myself with success. That's always a surprise.

It’s sad, but true: Deidrich’s coffee has sold their storefront operations to Starbuck’s Coffee. They will still sell over the internet, but the stores will begin to sport the familiar SBUX logo.

Deidrich’s makes the best cafe mocha ever. Unlike SB, they use real chocolate, ground. SB uses some kind of syrup. Deidrich’s coffee drinks pack a real caffeine wallop and rely on the flavor of the coffee (or tea) itself rather than sugar and other additives. Plus their beans are just much better, well-roasted and don’t turn bitter in a couple of days like SB’s. Martin Deitrich started roasting the beans by hand in his garage, shipped green from his family’s South American plantation. The close attention to the process was never left behind even when they went corporate.

Sure, I can still buy the beans but no more mochas for me. I will have to hunt down ingredients and recipes instead, I suppose. Maybe their stores will just swap out equipment and logos; maybe SB will leave the ambiance untouched. I remember back in our BC (before children) days, JM and I would head down in the Miata to the Deidrich’s by the Mission SJC, grab a couple of coffees and maybe breakfast at the omelet and waffle buffet then walk around the Mission area. It just won’t feel the same when they change over.

How many pets have you owned in your lifetime? Tell us about them.
Submitted by jennajellopy.vox.com.

We've had many, many animals we kept as pets in our home. We had two turtles, many fancy goldfish, fire-bellied newts, cats (Popcorn, Cherry, Pepsi, Mamacat, Charlie), dogs (Spot, Fudgie, Mark, Floppy, Nappie, Nani, Koko, Nikki, Launcelot),  geese (Martin, Gary), ducks (Featherlie and Choochoo), hamster (Gretta), rabbits (no names), lovebirds (no names), macaw (given to our grandparents), pigeons, guinea pigs (no names either!). We once rescued a baby hummingbird and tried to keep her but she got an injury and died a week later.

Let's make a list.  What are 20 things in your life that you're grateful for?  Inspired by wyndslash.vox.com.

1. Salvation!
   "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God..." Eph. 2:8
2. The bible
   How awesome to have God's word to read. I need to learn it and live it better!
   
3. Abilities and talents
   Anything good that I do is because God has allowed it. He's kept me in one piece which is great considering how much of a monkey I was as a child!
4. An awesome husband
   He loves me, he loves me, he loves me. He loves our kids and wants the best for all of us. I love him!
   
5. An awesome pair of sons
   They are so much fun and so interesting! They're such a precious gift and I love to watch them grow and learn.
6. A great family
   Most of my family is also saved and it is great to to be around them.
7. Great friends
   I have been blessed with people who are real and aren't afraid to be true friends (it's quite a commitment to be one, after all!)
8. A great home
   Even though we're fixing it up to sell, it's a great home and it's been really good to know you're right where God intended for you to be even if for just a season.
9. An awesome church
   Ocean Hills Church has been an adventure for me and a venture in faith as well. I went in hesitantly, but am so blessed to be there and to be able to serve such a wonderful church body.
10. A sound mind
    Stop your sniggering! I can still add 2+2 and there's something to be said for that ;)
11. Humor
    I love to laugh. I especially love to read things that make me laugh. If you hear me laughing, assume I'm laughing with you and not at you.
12. Eyes that work
    80% of what our brain takes in is visual input. I don't know how I would deal with the loss of my sight. Probably one day at a time, but still...I love my eyes.
    
13. Ears that work
    How else would I enjoy music? Hear my kids with belly laughs so deep they almost turn blue? Listen to my husband say he loves me?
    
14. A working car
    This is Southern California, where the car is king. Even though we hardly drive anywhere, at least the kids and I have the freedom to leave the house if we want to.
15. A safe place to live
    While I realize that things can change at the drop of a hat or the turn of a phrase, it's nice to know that our family has so many people responsible for our protection.
16. Food
    I am amazed at the creativity that people apply to food. I am so glad I am not in a situation where I have to go scrounging for food. I can afford to get creative with it and my kids can (though they shouldn't) leave leftovers.
17. My parents
    They need their own spot on the list. It's been a while since they've gone to their real Home, and I am still often reminded of them on a daily basis. Yes, I do say things that remind me of my mother. Thankfully, more often positive than negative. I am reminded of my dad when my youngest squints into the sunlight. I remember them when my kids fight and remember how they used to deal with it. They gave us so much and yet tried their best to keep us "real".
    
18. Chocolate
    I'm sorry, but I don't mean to place this here in a cavalier manner, but I am truly thankful for chocolate. I am going to express that gratitude by consuming a brownie.
19. Seymour Chwatz, the Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Arts & Crafts movements
    Seymour's illustrations and graphic design in the Electric Company Magazine where the original impetus for my desire to work in graphic design. The many children's books in our home library that were published during those time periods of art history also served as inspiration.
20. Trader Joe's
    They made the unscented lotion that I wear. Though it's unscented, I give it the credit for the number of butterflies that have come to sit on me. It's not an astounding amount by any means, but I love butterflies and think it's cool to have that happen.
    

What TV show(s) will you be watching this season? Why? 
Submitted by ducnly.vox.com.

This is always tentative. Let's see...since we have a DVR we have quite a few things we record regularly: American Idol (heh), Amazing Race (which isn't recording right now because they change the name each season), Go Diego Go, Sesame Street, Sponge Bob Square Pants, Zooboomafoo, Knitty Gritty, Good Eats. We have been renting DVDs of 24 and are half way through season three.

What's the last thing you crafted, constructed or created yourself?

Magknits' Blossom

2 comments

What's your favorite vacation destination?

If I could have any vacation? Hmm...you know what? I'm so all over the place with this one. I would love to go on a tour of those cities that Paul visited during his missionary journeys. They did that at church at the beginning of the year and the stories and photos that came back with the travelers were great. I would also love to spend time hiking in northern California or Oregon. I know I would also really enjoy just walking through NYC and its boroughs. 

What's up?

Working on the house, knitting and felting cats, web work, mommy fun, church fun. S'all.

So you got the invite for Vox yet? I'm curious.

Sorry I missed you on IM, yeah, you're missed also. Read down below and you know we need a bit of prayer support around here.

How are the girls doing with full-immersion Spanish? Muy bien o mal? Mi Espanol is muy malo pero mi gusto estudiar. I've been watching Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go to help me out. Ayuda me! Ayuda me!