Words of Mine

2011-02-21T15:34:00.000-08:00

A Wonderful Wedding Day

2011-02-12T08:37:00.000-08:00

On January 15, 2011 I became Mrs. Haury! Here are some of the people who made our wedding day absolutely perfect:

First of all, I want to thank my lovely mom, Brenda, of Organized By Choice. She attended to all the details of our wedding day. Throughout our engagement mom kept a running "to do" list and helped me contact vendors, find good deals and order all the essentials. It was a blessing to have her hard work, creativity, and support.

And thanks to my daddy for giving me away! I love you both very much.

We had so much fun taking pictures with Chance James Photography. He took formal church shots, artistic photos downtown, and lots of candid pictures throughout the day! I can't wait to see the pictures.

Shea Sumlin from The Well Community Church performed our wedding ceremony. It was so meaningful to have the focus totally on what Christ has done in our lives and how our relationship can glorify Him. I appreciated Shea's words and prayer for us.

Our beautiful floral arrangements and wedding decor were the work of Roshel, a wedding planner and florist who does weddings in Yosemite National Park and throughout the Central Valley (Addy Rose). Roshel is my new cousin too! She managed to get me colorful flowers in January--purples and oranges that made everything pop! Roshel used her artistic flair to make our wedding unique and beautiful!

Wedding cake by Heather Spaulding. I have such a talented sister in law. The cake was so beautiful and delicious too!

Reception entertainment by the bridal party. They surprised us with a show!

Off to start our life of luxury in the Seville!

2010-05-27T22:59:00.000-07:00

Stickers in My Pocket

2010-05-27T18:25:00.001-07:00

I have a new strategy for eliciting good behavior in the classroom. I carry stickers in my pocket. If I see a child sharing, saying kind words, helping clean up, etc. I recognize his or her behavior with a thank you and a sticker. This incentive helps the children think about the consequences for their actions--good or bad. They really wanted stickers today! They listened, worked together, shared, and even told me that I was the best teacher in the whole world (several times). Before lunch, the children shared about their sticker experiences. I asked them how they felt when they made a good choice. "Happy!" I wanted them to realize that there's satisfaction in doing the right thing, even without stickers. I didn't put any children in "time out" this morning! I feel much happier when I focus more on positive reinforcement than negative consequences. We'll see how this strategy works tomorrow with a larger group. I may need to buy more stickers! I wish I would've started this months ago...

Here are some of the examples of how the sticker strategy works... Cole usually has a hard time using good manners at the table. Today I noticed him sitting nicely while he ate snack. I commented on his behavior and gave him a sticker. He looked proud. When it was time to clean up after centers, I saw Ajeetesh pushing chairs in at the tables. I let him know that I appreciated his help and gave him a sticker. Noah got a sticker for standing in line quietly during graduation practice. I gave Kyra and Delilah stickers when they worked together to put markers away. Some of the children were more obvious in their efforts to get a sticker. "Look how I'm sitting," Samuel said after Cole got his sticker at snack. Gabrielle kept telling me that I was the best teacher--I didn't know 4 year olds knew how to kiss up!

The sticker strategy also helped me remember the children's good deeds when their parents came to pick them up. Usually I'm at a loss for a positive word about each child, because my mind is exhausted and I can't remember. Today, I recalled the instances when I handed out stickers and let the parents know I was proud of their children. This sticker strategy will come in handy next year for sure! At least I have two weeks to test it.

2009-12-30T12:03:00.000-08:00

2009-12-30T12:02:00.001-08:00

2009-12-30T12:02:00.000-08:00

2009-12-30T12:01:00.000-08:00

2009-12-19T07:44:00.000-08:00

One more day!

2009-08-15T23:10:00.001-07:00

Apple Blossom Classroom

2009-08-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

you call THAT a macchiato?

2009-08-03T11:11:00.000-07:00

After taking my plastic bottles to a recycling place and receiving a whopping $1.25, I decided to treat myself to coffee here in the Ranchos. I wanted to support the local business because I can't imagine they stay very busy. I scanned the menu and thought I'd stick with my usual, an iced caramel macchiato. I watched as the girl working squirted syrup into my cup and then went to the fridge and started pouring a dark substance in. She didn't make her way over to the espresso machine, so I curiously asked, "is your espresso cold?" "Yes," she answered. ick! That can't be fresh, I thought. Espresso shots "die" quickly if they aren't mixed with milk or foam right away. I continued to watch as she poured milk over the cold espresso and added ice and caramel on top. That's interesting, I thought. The nature of a macchiato is for the syrup, milk and ice to go in first and then the shots of espresso (usually hot) get poured on top along with caramel drizzle. It's quite a beautiful drink and tastes delicious. This one, not so much. I guess I've become somewhat of a Barista snob after working at Starbucks.

More Good News

2009-07-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got a call from my new boss asking if I would like to teach the full day instead of team teaching this year. "Heck yes!" I said. Not really, but that's what I was thinking. This is a great opportunity to gain experience in a classroom and learn from other teachers. I was kind of nervous about team teaching--having to coordinate decorating and activities with another teacher. So I'm on my own! I decided to drop one of my classes for the fall, because it might be too much. I spent some time in one of the summer school classes at Bluff View this week and it took about 5 minutes to fall in love with the kids. Natalie constantly wanted to "read" to me (holding the book like a teacher and looking at pictures to tell the story.) She even licks her finger when she turns the page, like Mrs. Barkley! One day on the playground, I was sitting with a group of kids in my class, and a 5-year-old boy from another class ran up and said, "I want to tell you something--you're pretty." Then he ran away. They start young, huh? I started a game of "red light, green light" on the playground, helped kids with a giant solar system puzzle and practiced opposites. While doing the solar system puzzle, Collin pointed at a bright spot next to Venus and said, "this hits the earth and that's how we come alive." I learn so much from four year olds!

preschool on the news

2009-07-23T15:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was observing at Bluff View and one of the reporters from ABC 30 did a presentation for the preschoolers. Here's a preview of where I'll be working in a couple weeks...

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=6926903

KSEE 24 interview Wednesday, July 22nd

2009-07-19T18:05:00.000-07:00

Join Brenda again on "Central Valley Today" Wednesday, July 22nd, at 11:00 AM on KSEE 24. She'll be sharing tips on organizing your recipes and resources!

http://www.ksee24.com/programming/cvt/51417982.html

organizedbychoice.com

Bluff View Private Preschool

2009-07-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

Last month I applied to Bluff View Private Preschool and found out they only had part-time positions available. I decided to stay at Starbucks, finish school and then pursue a full-time teaching job. Bluff View had a position open up this week and Allyson contacted me to see if I was still interested. I met with her and the founder today and they offered me a full-time "team" teaching position. I will teach in the morning and be a classroom aide in the afternoon, while finishing up my child development classes this fall. I'm so thrilled! You should see this school. It's only three years old--filled with wonderful resources and play areas for children's learning and development. There are special teachers that come in during the week to teach the children sign language and Spanish (I'll learn too!). They even have a little two-car train and take the kids for rides around a park adjacent to the school. I met some of the teachers and they seem dedicated to working together for everyone's success. I'm looking forward to the structure and organization at Bluff View. It's just so amazing how fast everything happened. No more 4:30 a.m. shifts at Starbucks! Yay!

Megan and Kacey Tie the Knot

2009-07-12T21:41:00.000-07:00

Megan and Kacey's wedding was perfect--beautiful bride, beaming groom, bright flowers and delicious food (lots of it!).

i love tuesday nights

2009-07-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

When I arrived at the reading program tonight, Kalia and Gorgia were already hard at work reading books and writing about them. The twins come from a Hmong family of 15 children. They are going into junior high this year and have delightful personalities. I am amazed at their discipline and motivation to get work done on Tuesday nights. I imagine they excel at school, too. A few weeks ago, Tia, Kalia's older sister, asked if I would consider mentoring Kalia. I guess the three of them had mentors but Kalia's recently moved away. If I lived in Fresno, it would be so much easier to make a weekly commitment to hang out with Kalia. I told her we could meet at least once a month and she gave me her phone number. She seemed excited; I am too!

I spent most of the evening with Tyrisha, Tyra and Tyrone. Tyrisha read a story to me and complained of not being able to see well without her glasses. I was glad to hear that she has some. In the book she read, the main character described his neighborhood. It was a good opportunity to ask her about her neighborhood and home life. She moved into the Susan B. Anthony neighborhood a year ago--from the "west side." She lives with her mom, brother and sister. I asked what they do during the summer. "Well, my mom doesn't have a car so we can't go too many places. She's going to get one at the end of the summer and then we can go to the lake." They mostly hang out at home and swim, she said. Tyra, the youngest, was quieter than her older sister. Tyrone seemed like a smart kid.

Little Leslie lives next door to Brian and Kim's house, where we have the reading program. She's 3 years old and doesn't speak English yet. Leslie doesn't realize that not everyone understands Spanish, so she rattles on about a mile a minute. Tonight I heard the word "jugo," and thought maybe she was talking about juice. She started heading back to her house and I followed to find that she asked "Papi" for some juice. I was right!

Although these children are very different from my kids in Philly, spending time with them reminds me of the person I became during Mission Year. I want to continue my "mission life" here in Fresno, or wherever I go. It's been really exciting to meet people at the Well who share my passion for inner city ministry. Brian and Kim recently bought a house downtown and host the reading program on Tuesday nights. Brian helps run the thrift store, which is moving into a huge new building. There's a whole group of folks moving to downtown Fresno...maybe in a few months I can join them!

Tribute to the King of Pop

2009-07-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

I didn't grow up listening to Michael Jackson's music. I am familiar with songs like "Thriller" and "Black or White," but couldn't sing or dance to many others. In college, I had the opportunity to see Jackson perform live at the Pasadena Convention Center. My friend's dad worked for NBC and they were recording a concert, so we got in free. It was cool to see him moonwalk on the stage, but I can't remember what song he performed. A true Michael Jackson fan would have appreciated the experience more than I did, I'm sure. Until Jackson's recent death, I didn't know the story of his childhood. It saddened me to hear how his dad forced the Jackson 5 to rehearse day and night and deprived Michael of a normal childhood. From the TV specials I've seen lately, it's no wonder Michael was an instant hit. His voice, smile, the way he moved--even as a child--was brilliant. He definitely earned the title "King of Pop."

It was a tragedy that Jackson died before his upcoming tour. His comeback would've brightened many people's lives, and maybe even provided so he could pay off his debt. My heart breaks for Jackson's children, who are not only mourning his loss, but caught in the crossfire between the Jackson's and their alleged mother, Debbie Rowe. I learned on the news tonight that Rowe received $8 million in the settlement giving Jackson custody of the children. No doubt she's interested in whatever money they inherit from his passing. If she hasn't been present in their life since getting her $8 million, why is she all of the sudden so interested in them now?

When Jackson passed away last week I was skeptical of the all the media hype. I thought it was ridiculous that fans at Riverpark in Fresno would be crying about his death. But I guess if I grew up with a musical legend like Michael Jackson, he may have touched my life in the same way.

Really?!

2009-06-22T14:26:00.001-07:00

Today I logged into my online class and read the intro from the professor. I was appalled by her poor grammar. She has a Ph.D from USC and spelled "your", "you", three or four times. She tends to add spaces between words, add extra periods and forgets to close her parenthesis. I have a hard time focusing on what she's saying because it's written so poorly. I'm already looking forward to filling out my class evaluation!

Unveiled Faces

2009-06-21T10:32:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 3:16-18

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

what's new with me...

2009-06-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

School

Next week I'm starting an online class--the first of the four I need to qualify to teach preschool in CA. I will finish my child development courses at Madera Center in the fall. I'm looking forward to preparing for a career as a teacher. I think it will be a good fit for me. Hopefully I'll be able to make a living, too. This week I emailed the director of a preschool that I saw while driving around Fresno and she said I should come in and fill out an application on Monday. I was encouraged by her response.

Work

I started working at Starbucks in May. After a couple weeks of feeling nervous on the way to work and dreaming about making drinks at night, I am enjoying my job. Waking up between 3:30 a.m. - 5:30 a.m. for work definitely takes some getting used to. I typically work in the mornings, so I make it home for "Ellen" and "Oprah." :) The mornings pass quickly at Starbucks, especially when I'm taking orders in the drive-thru. My co-workers are pretty cool--I'm one of the oldest people at our store.

I also received my permit to substitute teach in Madera County and plan to sub a few days a week starting this fall.

Church

Last month I started attending The Well Community Church. They host a reading program for kids downtown, which I'm helping with during the summer. On Tuesday I read with 7th grade twins who have 13 brothers and sisters. The girls were very sweet and fun to talk to. After chatting with them, I thought, "junior high kids aren't so bad...." I look forward to seeing them next week. On Wednesday nights I play volleyball at Woodward Park with people from The Well. I wish I could play volleyball everyday...it's so fun. This Sunday I'm helping with the "walkers" Sunday school class, which means I'll probably be changing diapers. I'll miss the 4 years olds.... I'm sure the 2s will entertain me, though. It's been great to make some new friends at church and reconnect with old friends. I hope to find community there.

That's what's new with me!

UCSB Graduation

2009-06-18T17:33:00.000-07:00

I'm so proud of my "little" brother! He graduated from UCSB on Saturday. Chase stood out from the rest of the graduates in his neon sunglasses. During graduation, Aunt Kathy thought of a fun game. All the family members put a dollar in and bet on how long it would take to read all the graduates' names. Dad won...sometimes it pays to be pessimisstic! It was a long, hot graduation, I'm glad I didn't have to wear a black robe. The lady who read Chase's name pronounced "McElroy" "Mc Lee Roy" even though I had written "Mac il roy" on his card. Oh well. No one ever gets it right. It was a lovely weekend in Santa Barbara.

This Latte's on Me!

2009-05-28T12:49:00.000-07:00

I was struck by the generosity of Starbucks customers this morning while working in the drive-thru. Three people offered to pay for the cars behind them. I thought that was pretty cool. Two of them actually knew the people they were paying for, but one guy just wanted to do something nice for a stranger. The people who received free drinks were genuinely blessed. There's something about generosity that touches me and lifts my spirits. I had a great morning at work, even though I woke up at 4 a.m.!

Hinds' Feet on High Places

2009-05-17T15:30:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this passage from a book I'm reading. It gives a picture of our journey with Jesus through life. The main character's name is Much-Afraid and she is making her way to the "high places" with the Shepherd. In this part of the book, Much-Afraid has just arrived at a place in her journey where the terrain seems impossible to go through, so she calls on the Shepherd for help. She's wondering why he would ask her to do such a "preposterous" thing, since she's so scared and weak.

The Shepherd laughed too. "I love doing preposterous things," he replied. "Why, I don't know anything more exhilarating and delightful than turning weakness into strength, and fear into faith, and that which has been marred into perfection. If there is one thing more than another which I should enjoy doing at this moment it is turning a jellyfish into a mountain goat. That is My special work," he added with the light of great joy in His face. Transforming things--to take Much-Afraid, for instance, and to transform her into--"He broke off and then went on laughingly. "Well, we shall see later on what she finds herself transformed into."

It was a really extraordinary scene. In a place where just a little while before all had been fear and despair were the Shepherd and Much-Afraid, sitting on the rocks at the foot of the impassable precipice, laughing together as though at the greatest joke in the world.

"Come now, little jellyfish," said the Shepherd, do you believe that I can change you into a mountain goat and get you to the top of the precipice?"

"Yes," replied Much-Afraid.

"Will you let me do it?"

"Yes," she answered. "If you want to do such a crazy and preposterous thing you certainly may."

"Plenty" of Money to Spend Locally

2009-04-26T20:49:00.000-07:00

He is Risen!

2009-04-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

My family attended Rock Harbor's Easter service and then ate a delicious lunch at Rachel's house in HB (Huntington Beach).

Laudine

2009-04-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

I went on a mission trip to Haiti almost six years ago and shortly after that started sponsoring a Haitian girl through Compassion International. Her name is Laudine. I got a letter from Laudine yesterday and tried to picture her life as I read. She talked about singing Jingle Bells at Christmas and recovering from the hurricane that swept through Haiti last fall. Sounds a lot like life for some people in the U.S....but in extreme poverty. It bugs me that I don't remember to write or pray for her more often. For a few years now I've wanted to visit Laudine, but Compassion didn't provide opportunities to go to Haiti for safety reasons. I just checked their web site and saw that there are two trips to Haiti planned for 2010--one in March and one in November. I'm going to try to make this happen. I want to experience life with Laudine, even if it's just a few days, so that I can learn more about her. I want her simle and voice imprinted on my heart. Then I'll be better at encouraging and supporting her through life. She's such a precious girl!

San Juan Capistrano Mission

2009-04-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

What a perfect day to visit the San Juan Capistrano Mission!

Cash Price

2008-12-03T21:06:00.000-08:00

Gas prices are falling...or are they? More and more gas stations are posting lower "cash" prices on their big signs. Then, when you pay with a credit card, it's 10 cents more than the sign says. The credit card price is on a smaller sign only visible when you're 10 feet in front of it. I've mainly noticed this in California, not so much in MN. Minnesotans must be more honest. I hate when I think I'm getting a good deal and then I get ripped off. Raising the credit prices is pretty genius... who wants to walk into a dirty gas station to pay with cash? It's so much more convenient to pay outside. Even with the dishonest display of gas prices, I'm thankful that it's under $2--credit or cash. If prices get back up to $4.50/gallon, I might have to start paying with cash.

Won't you be my neighbor?

2008-11-08T13:57:00.000-08:00

During our yard sale today, I was struck by the camaraderie among the neighbors on my parents' block. Linda from next door saw us getting ready for the sale and came over. People started showing up and we weren't quite set up, so Linda helped us unpack boxes and bags. We told her she could take something from our driveway full of treasures for FREE. What a deal... Dad was doing yard work this morning and struck up a conversation with Linda's husband, Doug. They talked for quite a while. Later on, Doug helped us load up our leftover junk when Kenny, a former neighbor, was collecting stuff to sell.
My parents have lived in this neighborhood for about 26 years. They know most of their neighbors. We grew up playing with the kids on the block. Every Christmas mom prepared either homemade ornaments or baked goodies to deliver to our neighbors. These initial efforts to make contact with people were no doubt uncomfortable, but now the interaction seems free and easy. My parents are good neighbors. They don't mind kids riding bikes in their driveway or playing ball in the yard. My mom attended a funeral for a neighbor's loved one to show support.
I hope that I can follow my parents example when I settle in a neighborhood.

Live and Learn

2008-11-06T23:27:00.000-08:00

I have lived a lot of places in the past four years--Azusa, Lake Forest, Carlsbad, Philly, Fresno, Pasadena, St. Paul. My experiences in these places taught me valuable lessons.
Azusa...to be a learner and develop my passions and abilities.
Lake Forest...I have a desperate need for community in my life.
Carlsbad...I meet God at the ocean.
Philly...Poor people are close to God's heart. Just ask Mae.
Fresno...Do not despair. This too shall pass.
Pasadena...Finding community is so sweet. AND, I'd rather work with kids than sit at a desk all day.
St Paul...Finding the courage to take risks is scary, but worthwhile. AND, I love teaching preschool.

So here I am back in Fresno wondering what lessons lie ahead. Very little about the last four years resemble what I EXPECTED my life to look like; strangely, that doesn't bother me one bit.

everything I ever wanted to do with my life

2007-08-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

sign language interpreting
missionary
preschool teacher
massage therapist
work with kids
writer
editor
singer
English teacher
news anchor
PR person
be a mom
broadway

2007-08-02T11:26:00.001-07:00

who i am

2007-07-26T14:00:00.001-07:00

I feel like I'm becoming the person I want to be...still figuring this out. It's just a feeling right now and I'm working on putting words to it.

i know, I'm a slacker

2007-07-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

Without having the internet at home, it's hard to be faithful in writing blogs. Plus, I keep forgetting that I have one. hehe

So, I signed up for a gym membership this week and I really want to keep it up. I'm working on strengthening my back so that I don't have such terrible pain all the time. I had my first personal training session last night and the girl turned out to be a Christian. She actually knows one of my roommates from Mission Year. Small world, huh? I tend to think that when things like that happen God is in the middle of it. I really enjoyed talking with her and was encouraged by her heart for missions. It reminded of where my heart has been, maybe not lately, but at some points in my life. Or just certain days. My heart tends to be all over the place...

Anyway, when I was on the elyptical next to a bunch of sweaty people in this room with no windows, I thought, "Man, I really prefer my walks outside to this." But there are things at the gym that are helpful to building up muscle. And they have yoga classes, which would be great for me. I was thinking about possibly jogging from my house to the gym, but it's kinda far. And all uphill on the way back (in the snow)! I wish I lived in Old Town, that would be so convenient. I could walk to the gym, grocery store, work, the gas station. Oh wait! Why would I want to walk to the gas station. ha!

Three more days to get a full refund for the membership. hmmm...Oh, I forgot to mention that my work covers $135 per year. So if I stay at RRC for three years, then it's the same as paying $10/month. Not bad, huh? Ok, I just need to be fine with my decision. Really!

Imagine...

2007-06-20T17:47:00.001-07:00

Yesterday as I was leaving my neighbor's house, the kids ran outside to watch me walk home. Emmanuel gasped and pointed across the street. I followed his gaze. Sun rays were shining through the trees, illuminating little bugs that hovered in the air. "Look! It's magic," the mesmerized six year old said. His older sister chimed in, "What is it?"

We had just seen a preview for Peter Pan on one of their Disney DVDs, so I decided to jump on the imagination train. "Maybe it's Tinkerbell," I said. "Hi Tinkerbell!" the kids shouted loudly, waving across the street.

Fire in Philly

2007-06-20T17:31:00.000-07:00

Today a fire in north Philly destroyed The Simple Way, where I helped with the afterschool program during Mission Year. If you go to thesimpleway.org, there is more info and pics about it. This really makes my heart hurt, because the people in this community have so little already. Now the little they did have is gone. AND the people at The Simple Way worked so hard to restore their house and be a beacon of love and hope in their community and now they have to start over. BUT I'm sure God will continue to bring restoration and transformation here, as everyone pulls together during this tragic time. Please pray for the neighborhood. And if God puts it on your heart to give, there is a link on the web site listed above to donate to the rebuilding fund.

I want to go to Philly...

2007-05-02T22:20:00.000-07:00

Pasadena has a spectacular City Hall building, but it was under construction when I first moved here. I've been admiring it from a distance, looking beyond the green fencing and construction equipment. Tonight I walked to City Hall after choir rehearsal and found the sidewalk open. Lights shined on the the rotunda making it pink, blue, white and brilliant against the night sky. I couldn't wait to climb the steps of one of the corner towers. I had been here before. I remembered when my friend fell as she ran down the steps. She was fine and we had a good laugh. Tonight I made a new memory. When I reached the top of the steps, I gazed at the rotunda, marveling at man's creation. Then I turned to the city below me and saw a dark, reddish-pink full moon climbing higher in the sky. God just had to outdo the rotunda-builder!! I sang as I drank in the beauty all around me.

Gotta Dance!

2007-04-24T16:40:00.000-07:00

So, I've been wanting to get involved in acting/singing/dancing again and I just found out the Mosaic church offers free dance classes. It's a ministry at the church...isn't that rad? I'm totally going to the beginners hip hop class May 8! Good thing it's for beginners...haha

saltines

2007-04-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

I was munching on saltines at work today and thought, "why don't they make these crackers smaller so they fit perfectly in your mouth?" When you bite into saltines, they get crumbs everywhere. It could be more my problem than the crackers. Maybe I'm just really messy or my mouth is too small.

Crave

2007-04-21T01:31:00.000-07:00

Tonight I was inspired to ponder my "cravings." At Mosaic church, artists of all kinds shared their talents and challenged us to look deeper at what we crave, namely, intimacy, meaning and destiny.

When I got home I thought it would be fun to look back at my journal entries from over the years and think more about my desires then and now. I was going to just pick out certain words to described what I craved, but I came across some passages that I wanted to share. They capture moments of joy, as well as lessons and trials from my junior high days. These may only be interesting to me, just like my 8th grade graduation video, but maybe it will cause you to remember jr. high and laugh a little. :)

Sept. 17, 1995 Jr. High trip to Yosemite:

I think that on a rock, looking up at Nevada Falls would be the perfect place to write or sing a praise song to God. Alone there, with the song of the birds, and rhythm of the waterfall echoing off the mountain, you’d just be able to sense God’s presence there with you.

Oct. 24, 1995 Locker II Locker city-wide youth event:

I believe that I will be able to feel God’s presence there, working in the hearts of each life of those who don’t know him and causing growth in the lives of those who do. Satan will be hiding his face I the depths of hell while this powerful event is taking place in Fresno.

Nov. 2, 1995

The leaves are beginning to change from green to golden, and I am enjoying the beginning of fall to its fullest…I’m so very glad God created seasons…Oh listen! The frogs are talking to one another. And now the birds are responding. I’m sitting on our blue porch swing, watching the sun fall into place, bidding a perfect fall day goodnight.

Nov. 22, 1995
“Let us come before him with Thanksgiving, and extol him with music and song.” Psalm 95:2

Dec. 3, 1995

We just bought a new (or old) van. It’s an ’84 Dodge Grand Caravan, but looks brand new…It’s in great condition, has rear air conditioning, and we all love it! It’s silvery gray with two gray stripes on the side, and 72,000 miles. We bought it for $8500. Sometimes I can’t believe that it’s ours. Really our own van!

Dec. 26, 1995 Christmas at the McElroy's

For breakfast the next morning we had the usual—McElroy French toast. Then Melissa and I put our old shoes on and walked inside the empty canal. We had a good time slipping down the muddy sides as we struggled to get up onto the bank.

We went to see “Tom and Huck” in the afternoon. It was sure a good movie starring Jonathon Taylor Thomas. He is so fine! Melissa and I both wished we could’ve played the part of Becky Thatcher, the girl Tom was in love with. She even got a quick kiss from him and held his hand!

Jan. 21, 1996 A neighbor's tragic death:

It was about 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday January 16. I was trying to sleep with the cat walking all over my bed, when all of the sudden I heard three loud bangs. I opened my eyes wide, wondering if someone was going to shoot at my window, and whether or not I should lay down on the floor. But then dad walked out of his room, to my relief, and said that a transformer had blown up and the power had gone out. Everything seemed fine around our place, and we didn’t really think of the cause of the transformer blowing up. However, while I was doing chores on Friday afternoon Bev Walsh, our neighbor, came over with some bad news. Mike Hoffman had hit the telephone pole, probably drifting off to sleep at that time of night. He evidently was walking around after the accident, but the next day was in the hospital on life support. From what I understand, he was having problems with his heart and also broke his leg and arm. He survived the surgery, but passed away either this morning or last night. We got a message to call the Hoffman’s this morning and mom called to find this devastating news. We will attend the funeral service on Wednesday.

April 26, 1996 First encounter with homelessness (note my attitude toward them):

From Redondo Beach we went to Santa Monica and walked along the pier. Several times I noticed homeless men rummaging through garbage cans, drinking the remains of a coke, eating a single chip that someone more fortunate than them had thrown away. But of course, it was probably one of their wrong decisions that caused their life to end up this way.

Feb. 16, 1997

Katie’s b-day party: …Girl talk, truth or dare and junk food eating went on through the night. Ryan was having James L., C.J. and Mark spend the night. They TPed Katie’s yard, banged on the windows and ran off about 2:30 a.m. This meant war. TP plans were made, but Katie didn’t want to sneak out because Heather’s mom would get mad…I was almost asleep when I heard the girls all scream that the guys were back, so we ran outside. It was now raining. The guys had TPed extreme-and it was soggy from the rain. Amanda and I ran after the TP Kings. Then cars started coming and we thought it might be police. The six of us ran into a nearby field and lay down in the weeds. It wasn’t police after all, and we were all laughing hard. Back at Katie’s house, we called Ryan’s mom and told her what happened. She tracked the boys down and made them clean up the toilet paper. We watched them work with satisfaction.

The Feeding of the 3,000

2007-04-06T15:12:00.000-07:00

Little Avril's curls bounced as she ran up to the Easter bunny and gave him a big hug. She smiled widely and took the Easter basket handed to her by the volunteer at LA Rescue Mission. I asked Avril's mom if I could take a picture of her four children with the Easter bunny. She agreed. The kids were adorable--LIFE cereal box material! I hated the thought of them sleeping on the streets at night. Who knows what those kids have gone through in their short lives.

Several thousand men, women and children came to the LA Rescue Mission today to receive a meal, Easter baskets and brand new Etnies tennis shoes. They also had the opportunity to get their feet washed and massaged by volunteers. And of course people were there to pray with them and talk about Easter.

My job was to direct media to the check-in table. I stood by the gate and chatted with some of the security guards. I met two guys named Robert. The first Robert had recently entered the men's program at the Mission and was working really hard to stay "clean."

"It was hard growing up with parents that didn't want me," he shared. "People always told me that I was ugly and no good and I grew up believing that. I think that's the reason I turned to drugs and alcohol."

Robert accepted Christ when he was 20 but didn't have anyone to guide or counsel him. Soon drugs and alcohol consumed his life. Since coming to the Mission he has been in counseling and Bible study; he dreams of going to college and taking a Church History class.

"People around here can't say that there isn't help available to them," he said pointing to the many transients on the other side of the gate. They just need to be willing to give up their destructive lifestyles.

Now Robert works at the Mission checking in homeless people's bags. They can leave their bags in a safe place during the day and return for them at night. He looks forward to completing the program and reuniting with his 8-year-old son.

The second Robert had a similar story of falling into the trap of addiction.

"I had my 'God encounter' outside a liquor store one morning. I saw several old men waiting outside for the store to open, shaking because they needed a drink. I saw my future before my eyes and thought, 'If I live to be that old, I'm going to be just like those old men,'" Robert said.
He decided he didn't want that.

After many failed attempts at rehab and years of living on the streets, Robert finally managed to make it through the Mission's program. Now he's been clean for eight years and he's getting married this summer to a woman who also works at the Mission. He proudly showed me her picture in his wallet. She's beautiful. While we were talking he pointed her out to me across the way where she was helping with the event. He blew her kisses and she smiled back.

It was a humbling day at the Mission. I have so much to be thankful for.

work, play and the office

2007-04-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

At work today I sat through a couple meetings and felt completely lost. Everything they talked about was over my head and I didn't know how I would ever become an expert in this. We had sheets of numbers in front of us, which made me even more overwhelmed. At least no one expects me to "get this" yet.

The thing is, after work, I joined some people from my small group at a park where they were helping with an Easter egg hunt for some afterschool kids. Talking with the kids, watching them laugh and play--this fulfills me. It's too bad most of these afterschool programs happen during the day while I'm at work. I met some guys who live in community and run the Metro Kidz program through Lake Ave. church. Just like what we did in Philly...

After the egg hunt Missy, Rob, their son Levi, Jen and I went and grabbed some pizza. Rob and Missy lead my small group. They've welcomed me into their community and I feel so blessed to have friends like them. I went over to one of their neighbor's houses to watch The Office tonight. It was great...except things are rocky between Jim and Pam. Jim's hair looked so weird tonight...
Sometimes I talk about The Office like it's real life. One time I saw this T-shirt that said, "Where's my Jim Halpert?" Good question...

Generosity

2007-04-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday as I walked into the 99 cent store a man stood by the door asking for donations to a certain charity. He had a white suit and a white can for money. I watched a woman walk out with her children. She kept walking past the man, but one of the little girls stopped, dug some change out of her pockets and put it in the can. "I didn't need that money anyway," she said as she continued walking with her mom.

This little girl's generosity spoke volumes to me, especially during a week when the finances are tight. Car trouble (again). She reminded me to keep giving back.

Also, at work today I was editing one of our donor letters and it talked about God's gracious provision in times of great need. I can trust Him. I just have a hard time remembering to trust him.

Eavesdropping

2007-03-29T20:50:00.000-07:00

My cubicle at work is in a high traffic area so I can pretty much hear everyones' conversations around me. Sometimes I wish people would shut their office doors so I couldn't hear them--they have conference calls, meetings, personal discussions right there in earshot. So I learn a lot about the company and the personalities of my coworkers. I've noticed a certain quality in most of the leadership that I definitely lack. They aren't afraid to oppose others' ideas and they dive head-first into conflict. And usually resolve it in a well-mannered, healthy way. It occurred to me that I am not a strong-willed woman, I have a very passive personality and I'm terrified of conflict. I don't even like listening to them discuss (argue) with firm voices. That's usually when I put my headphones on.

I wonder if this is just the way I'm wired of if it's something that I'll gain as I continue to work in this environment. I tend to feel like the weak one and take other people's opinions too personally. I just want everyone to be happy... Ahhh! The curse of the people-pleaser.

Tuesday Tutoring

2007-03-27T20:10:00.000-07:00

Tonight after work I walked across the street to Emmanuel and Carla's house. They were kicking a soccer ball in the front yard and started talking excitedly when I came up. "Watch me, watch me" they both yelled, fighting over the ball. "Are you going to help us with our homework again?" Carla asked. Last Tuesday Jill and I spent some time tutoring them, and I had promised to return this week. Their mother greeted me as I entered the house. The kids found their homework packets and pencils and got right to work. Oh wait, no they didn't. They are both super smart but have difficulty focusing. I think they just like having someone around who will listen to them. Carla surprises me with her knowledge of random facts about the solar system, gravity, and English. "The suffix 'able' means 'to make able,'" she explained to me tonight. "Like in the word 'breakable' it means to make able to break." She dropped a plastic Easter egg on the floor to demonstrate. "But the English language is tricky because table doesn't mean 'to make able to t.'" She laughed at this silly thought.

Trying to get Emmanuel to listen or focus is practically impossible. It's obvious that he wants to be the boss and his parents don't have very much control over what he does. So after trying to get him interested in subtraction and rhyming words, I just let him do his thing until he was ready to work again. I think Emmanuel has some learning disabilities but underneath it all he's really intelligent.

At one point tonight Carla said, "When I grow up I'm going to go to my neighbor's house and tutor the kids. If they try to give me money, I will say, no keep your money." I think she would make a great tutor because she knows her stuff and definitely likes to explain things. Hopefully she'll have patience too! I wish I had more...

After completing several worksheets with the kids we had a little Easter egg hunt in the living room. Their mom had made some delicious gorditas and salsa and sent some home with me. I wish I spoke Spanish so I could communicate better with her. She's a very sweet woman...
I had Spanish words and phrases running through my head but I didn't know how to put them together. Maybe I'll have to commit to learning some Spanish every time I go over there!

Amazing Grace

2007-03-23T23:21:00.000-07:00

Tonight I watched Amazing Grace, the story of William Wilberforce's peaceful fight to abolish the slave trade. In his 20s William stood before Parliment and fervently addressed the injustice of men, women and children being shipped and sold. People saw the Africans as "less than human," chaining them and stowing them away in boxes like cargo on a ship. "People?" asked one member of Parliment, referring to the humanity of the slaves. Wilberforce's support group constantly challenged him to persevere and more than 15 years later Parliment passed a bill to end the slave trade.
Last week at church Steve Chalke spoke on modern-day slavery--children sold by their parents into prostitution or child labor. Chocolate that I buy at Target (if it's on sale) may come from cocoa fields in Africa where children work instead of going to school. Chalke told stories of 8 year olds being sold into prostitution for $20. We don't hear these stories everyday, and if we do, it's sometimes hard to change our lifestyles to help "stop the traffik." But there are ways to get involved. If you're interested, please visit stopthetraffik.org. I am going to try to limit my chocolate purchases to fair trade and also watch where I shop for clothes. If you want to jump on board and help keep me accountable, I would love it!