He is Risen

Our pre-Easter week was a wreck, much like this airplane we found in our front yard on Easter Sunday morning.

Plane--wings sheared off--crashes on front lawn of suburban home!!

But Easter came, bright with the news that He is risen!!

We went to Danny's and Jacob's church for Easter service, and we were blessed to hear them sing an introductory hymn with their friends.



At home, we had our family over for a celebration.  Easter Sunday was also Danny's birthday, and Dad's birthday was a few days prior.  So, a triple celebration was in order!

The table is ready for the feast.

My brother Jeff and Dad hanging out in the family room.

Fernando manned the grill, as usual.

I posed with Char, my sister-in-law.

Char's "beer-butt" chicken, as we call it!

While waiting for the feast...

We had to get their ages on the cake somehow!

The 5 was a wax candle; the other numbers were plastic.  Hey, it worked!

My older brother Matt with Char.

I couldn't get Joseph to smile.

Mom and I with a few photobombers thrown in.

Jeff and I.

The birthday boys and I.

Back to life,
Christine

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January

Fernando traveled a lot the rest of January, so here is my personal January, in mobile phone pictures (sadly, I hardly touched my camera the rest of the month).

January 12.  Riding home from Dad's and Mom's house in Danny's car, I felt a sniffle and realized--bloody nose!  It was a spectacular gusher, and I managed to get blood everywhere except not on my clothes!

January 13.  I was missing Fernando, so took a selfie to text to him.

And then I made some popcorn, using a smaller bowl that I thought would work.  It didn't.

January 17.  We walked--yes, walked--to Chick-Fil-A for a free lunch!

January 21.  Thomas' car had died this past week, so this Saturday, we decided to get it towed to Laurel BMW (yes, he bought a BMW!) so that he could get it repaired under warranty (his used car got a 60-day warranty!).  I took a photo of me lounging on the stoop to our back yard patio.  What a beautiful afternoon!

We ended up calling Westmont Towing, and got Charlie on the phone...

Charlie:  I'm streaking toward you as we speak!

Me:  (In my head)  Is he naked??

Thomas:  Hey, the flatbed tow truck is here!

Me:  Is the driver naked?

We shared this back-and-forth with Charlie, who was extremely extroverted and friendly, showed Thomas around his car, and got everything set.  When he asked if someone was going to accompany him in his truck to the dealership, Thomas jumped right on it, and into his truck.  The two of them had a blast!

After we got everything taken care of at the dealership, we were walking back to the Suburban, which I drove (and Dad rode in), when my mobile phone rang.

I answered, and a voice:  Hi, this is Charlie the Streaker!

What a riot!

January 24.  I met sweet Sarah for breakfast at Honey Jam Cafe, and we spent the morning talking, drinking coffee, eating, drinking coffee, and talking.  I was w-i-r-e-d the rest of the day!

January 27.  I took a mobile phone photo of a scrapbook page of little Jake, whose birthday was today.  Isn't he just the cutest, sweetest baby you ever saw?

January 28.  I actually cooked!  I made berry banana baked oatmeal for breakfast.

That was my January in photos.  Nothing special, mostly without Fernando, just my ordinary life this month.


Back to life,
Christine

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Happy Birthday!

Today is my best friend's birthday. She listens with her whole heart, and shares from it, too. I don't need to ask, "Know what I mean?" because she does. She gets me. She encourages me, supports me, and loves me like a sister. Her friendship is a treasured gift from God. Happy birthday, Tressey!

Back to life,
Christine

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The Kid Turns 20

May 26.

Hey, Thomas.

Today, at 6:11am, you turned 20 years old.  But you know that.  I just wanted to let you know how much I love you.  Most of the time I don't get you--must be that right-brained thing you inherited from your father--but that's part of your charm.

My goofy little guy, always getting in your brothers' faces, always bugging them, always wanting to be with them.  You were always getting into mischief, too, probably thinking in your cute little head how interesting and exciting it might be to try ___ (sledding down the stairs in your new Christmas sled, flicking the deadbolt on the door and escaping toward the four-lane road across the field, running at breakneck speed down the driveway stopping just at the curb next to the street--and giving both your mom and the driver of the fire truck near heart attacks...).

But you managed to survive childhood unscathed.  You didn't get my lecture about the danger of scissors, only remembering that you got a Popsicle at the end of the emergency room ordeal, complete with stitches and bandage.  ("Now, Thomas, what happens when you play with scissors?"  "Um, I get a Popsicle?")

You not only survived childhood, but you made it into those hormonal teen years, making me wonder if you'd be chatty and animated during our car rides to/from math club, or if you'd be quietly silent, just sharing the ride with me.

You surprise me a lot, too, with your tender heart that you don't generally show to others, with your wry humor that makes me roll my eyes after I realize you're humorously baiting me.  You're pretty special, I hope you know.

I'm so thankful that the Lord allowed us to have those few years together, those last few years of high school when it was just you and I together, figuring out our "new" relationship and how things worked between the two of us.  We emerged from those high school years with a very special relationship, and I'm forever grateful to God that He blessed us in so many ways!

I see you continuing to grow, especially at tech school, spreading your wings as time ticks on.  I see more than you know, and I'm betting it won't be too much longer now.  I know that my time with you is short, and I'm cherishing it all I can.

Love you, kiddo!

Mom



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Birthday Week -- Bubble Tea

Toward the end of my official birthday week, Sarah (adult daughter of one of my church friends) invited me over to teach me how to make bubble tea.  Sarah and her sisters all pitched in, and I watched, asked questions, and learned how to make this Taiwanese tea-based drink.

Cooking up the boba (black tapioca balls) on the stovetop.

Sarah made the tea earlier, and once the boba were done (was done?  Is boba plural??) she mixed it all up and served it in glasses with fat straws (the tapioca balls are large!).

What a fun afternoon!


Back to life,
Christine

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More 50th Birthday Week Fun

The picture says it all.  I wanted Fernando to take me shooting with my Dad.  So he did.

We had so much fun!  Dad took to the range pretty quickly, and was an amazing shot with both a Glock 19 and our 22 rifle.  He tried the S&W revolver but didn't like it as much as I do (love that gun!)

Looking back, here's a phone picture Fernando took of me from my very first time shooting a handgun (revolver) at the shooting range.

What fun!


Back to life,
Christine

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A Sweet Gift

The day after one's birthday is always hard, especially if one has stayed up late, then has to get up to take one's son to the train station at 6:00am.  Sigh.

But, when I stumbled downstairs to grab my purse and a car key this morning, I saw this sitting on the counter...

Danny had made tea for me--organic Irish Breakfast tea, in my Polish pottery mug, filled up nice and high, with an inverted saucer over the top to keep it hot.

A sweet morning gift from a precious son.


Back to life,
Christine

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My Actual Birthday

Lots of birthday posts here lately!  I have only one birthday, but this 50th birthday continued for a week!  I'm hoping it'll last longer than that--not because of gifts or anything, mind you, but because it's a new era, a new season in my life.  And, I want to take advantage of the time I now have, and live it to the fullest.  Life, and that more abundantly.

Today is Monday, and it was a fine day for a birthday.  It was still warm outside, and one of the things I decided to do was to hop on over to Goodwill with my 25% off to see what I could find.  My mom came with me, too!

I discovered a set of blue glasses, and decided for $8-9 I would replace the mishmash of glasses in my kitchen cabinet with them.  I also found a pretty, brand-new fall/spring top with beading around the neckline for a few dollars.

While Mom and I stood in line, someone came walking up to me--my "sister" Tressey!!  She had been at my house to wish me a happy birthday in person, and the guys told her where I was.  We chatted in the store, through the checkout line, then out into the parking lot before hugs were exchanged and Mom and I went home.  When I walked into the kitchen, I saw what Tressey had dropped off:

After dinner, we had CAKE, the second cake Becki made for me.  We brought it home on her well-used jelly roll pan, but that cake is ure pretty!

I asked my guys, and my parents, to sing to me, and they did.

Danny sang quite elaborately, too!

What a fun birthday!  Here are the glasses I bought...

And the top...

I am blessed.


Back to life,
Christine

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The Day Between Days

The Day Between Days.  Or, the day after our anniversary, and the day before my birthday.  That's what today was, and it was a special one!

First, we went to Grace Church, the home church of our friends the B. family, where other friends attend as well.  It was a beautiful service--so refreshing to worship the Lord and study the Word together.  My friend Becki baked me a cake!!  Chocolate with chocolate frosting, as I had "requested" in a past conversation.

I spent the day with these sisters!

After church, Pamela said they had a family commitment, Karen and her family left, and our family followed Becki back to her home.  We talked about going to El Zarape, a local Mexican restaurant.  We had eaten there once before and the food was delicious, so I wanted to go back for my birthday.

Becki's family decided to go with us, so we followed them there, then walked into the restaurant.  I kept following them to a back room, then I was ushered in and---SURPRISE!  I have no pictures of it, but they were forwarded to me.  If you see videos below, I've updated this post.  :)

Everyone was stuffed, to say the least--great food, lots of great friends...  My parents came, too!  Since they decided to come home early from the lake (instead of staying through the beginning of October), they made the drive out west to surprise me for my birthday.  *big grin*

Back at the Becki's home, we chatted and lingered, until we really had to be getting home.  Becki presented me with another whole chocolate cake with chocolate frosting!  I guess we'd have to eat it throughout the week--oh, my.  I really would be getting a birthday week!

My day between days was extra special this year, and I'm so thankful I got to spend it with extra-special friends and family.


Back to life,
Christine

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Reflections on 50

Fifty is almost here.  Since my town is as old as I will be in a few days, I borrowed one of their celebratory signs down the street from home, and gave Fernando a photography lesson to capture the joy of a rather huge milestone.

It's funny how I feel 18 in my heart, though my body obviously doesn't cooperate with that much younger and invincible age.  I'm determined to have fun with this new stage of life, because it's either celebrate with enthusiasm or mope like Eeyore--and who wants to live the entire second half of her life like a gloomy donkey?  Not I.

I decided, unilaterally of course, that I deserved an entire birthday week.  So today, to start things off, since Fernando was free during the day, we parked on the side of the road near one of the "50" signs and had some fun.  It took just a little bit to decide that I didn't care what other people thought as they drove by looking at the crazy lady making weird faces in front of the big 50.  I decided it's time to stop caring what others think; that's not meant in the sense that I don't put others first--it's meant that I am going to live my life out as the Holy Spirit directs, without worrying about the judgment of others because it doesn't measure up to their personal standards.  For those of you who are thinking, Oh my goodness, she's wearing jeans! I say, You may not have the freedom to do so; I do.  And I love you in the Lord.

It wasn't until I turned 30 that I was comfortable with who I am.  I'm still trying to figure it out.  I don't fit the traditional female mold, I've tried to be that ideal woman, but now I'm just being me, quirky personality and all.  I will be a little crazy at times.  And I'll also be sweet and kind, because I have a tender heart toward others.

But, I'll also stick out my tongue at you--playfully, of course, because I'm having fun and I want you to have fun, too.

A personal photo shoot is hard work, involving teaching Fernando how to compose the image the way I want, then getting set up and hoping I look okay and he's focusing properly, and trying to hold my smile while he counts, oh so slowly, "One...  Two...  Three..." and finally the shutter snaps.  "Count faster, honey!"  But we got some great shots, I think. 

At the end of the day, the guys got me my favorite treat:  Ooey Gooey Concrete from Andy's.

I think I'll have a very special year.


Back to life,
Christine

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