Tanya's engaged!!!! Finally

Tom proposed to Tanya on Saturday night - he drug his feet a bit over the past month but he came through with an absolutely beautiful ring (aparently that was the reason for the feet dragging). Good job Tom on the ring and congrats. I approve of the ring and you. (as if you needed that).

Plan Progress and random thoughts . . .

I hit the 10 pound mark this morning - it's coming off slow but at least it's coming off.

Random thought: Any Trader Joe's shoppers out there? Are you one of the freaky environmentalist TJ shoppers that brings their own cloth bags? Well I made an observation this week while shopping there. In the parking lot I watched two different people - with cloth bags I might add - that plopped their shopping carts on an island instead of walking the extra 2o feet or so to put them in their place. They care about the environment but lack common courtesy? Then once inside - I observed several people pass up a slow older woman who obviously needed help reaching the salad dressing. One man shoved my cart aside so he could get the very yogurt that I was picking up - rude. This is puzzling to me - but then again it was the Trader Joe's at Ocean Ranch so I shouldn't be too shocked. Doesn't say much for place I choose to live.

I sound like a man!

Just about every year after jr. high camp I loose my voice. Usually it comes back in a few days. However, this year my case of laryngitis has hung on a bit longer. It's been a week since camp and my voice still sounds like a man. yuck! Speaking multiple times this week and leading games on wednesday probably wasn't the smartest idea. : (

my day at the park

I decided I needed a day alone with God after a tiring and draining weekend at camp. So I walked to Pines Park which is about a mile from my house and spent the afternoon reading my Bible, talking to God, listening to God, watching squirels play, and enjoying the amazing place in which I live. There's just something about seeing, hearing, smelling the ocean that is nessessary and healing. I began to think about how blessed I've been to live where I live for the past 2 years - where I am in walking distance from the ocean and how much I take that for granted. I know I won't live on Gomez forever in fact my time there is drawing to a close and that thought made my day at the park priceless. I watched a little boy and his father play in the waves - as each set came in the boy would run from the crashing waves but the father never let go of his son's hand. At one point, he had a hold of both hands and swung his little boy around and around just like I remember doing as a kid. It struck me how that picture related to my life and my fear of what's to come in the next year. I was blown away by this simple illustration of a child's need to hold on to the father's hand. Trusting God is so hard for me and that lesson was much needed. Thanks God for the lesson and for hanging out with me.

Jr. Highers and their moms

Mark took his group to Pondo this weekend also and it was really fun to hang out at camp again with Mark. As most of you know, my friend Mark and I met at jr. high summer camp (we were counselors) 15 years ago. So our friendship began as camp friends. We used to have a saying (and he won't remember this because like my brother - he remembers nothing) - we like jr. highers but not their moms. Too many close encounters with strange, overprotective, bazaar moms. But this weekend I have to say that a couple of jr. high moms came to my rescue. Never in all the years of doing ministry have I had so many logistical problems with transportation. First of all - transporting 28 people without church vans is difficult and add too it my fear of driving a 15 passenger van down the mountain (because of a windy drive from hell last year). But it's not just 28 people - it's all their winter "gear" nessessary and unnessessary. If it wasn't for those moms we would not have made it there or back - so thanks! (not that any of them read this). It was a good weekend but I missed Aaron and Brady terribly.

I got to snowboard on saturday with one of my jr. high girls - Carly (she's the one squinting in the picture). I had so much fun - she ripped it up - she's a good little snowboarder.

Sushi @ Mikan and JH camp this weekend!

I had sushi @ Mikan with the OPT (friends from my program team @ Pondo) on Monday night and it was sooooooo good. I really miss them and the dynamite roll. (we missed you Aaron). It was a beautiful day like I have never seen (especially through redlands). This weekend I'm headed to Pondo for JH camp - which should be fun (pray I don't rip all my hair out). I can't wait to be "home" and see some friends.