Everyday Living

I thought of Marty for some reason while I was reading my sister's blog. Hmmh. I like Marty. Anyway, while I was thinking about Marty I was thinking about people who might be reading this blog who are really bored with the past few entries. Let's be honest: I would be. Sorry for the lack of enthuasim in the more recent posts. My life is really that exciting.

In light of the current circumstances, this post is to familiarize yourself a little bit more with my daily life. Let's start with some of the basic questions:

1. Do you live with the family?
No. Yes. Well, kind-of. They live in Stevenson Ranch right now, but just purchased a house in Circle J Ranch (about 10 minutes in the opposite direction). They are remodeling and adding onto the new house, and it won't be finished until Spring '08. The new house also has a guest/pool house on the property (3 acres total), and that's where I live. I'm not sure on the exact square footage of the place, but it's plenty of room. At least 1/2 the size of my parent's house in Sacramento. I live there with two girls I just graduated with from Master's: Brynne Edwards and Kate Montana. Kate is credentialing at Master's for this year, and Brynne is the assistant volleyball coach. We have a blast together. :) We'll live there until the main new house is done, and then I'll move in with the rest of the family.

2. What is your daily schedule like?
Depends on the day.
Mondays are laundry and grocery shopping days. Usually that includes 8-10 loads of laundry and at least 3 different grocery stores. After school I make tacos (every Monday night is taco night) and then I take Claire to dance at 6:15 and am off after that.

Tuesdays are pretty laid-back until the afternoon and evening. I sometimes have the youngest during the day, Abby. At 2pm Olivia comes home from Kindergarten & I start homework with her. Then I meet the rest of the fam at the new house with soccer gear. Ryan and Olivia have soccer practice at the new house in the backyard. After Olivia's practice I take the kids home and start dinner. Ryan goes straight to football practice after his soccer practice. After dinner I start homework with the other kids and bathe those who still need help bathing. Lastly, I take Claire to tumbling at 6:15 and am off after that.

Wednesdays are different. All the sheets get changed on the beds, which takes 2 loads of laundry. The rest of the day just depends on what is happening that week. Sometimes I have almost the entire morning/afternoon off, and sometimes I'm here all during that time. I start dinner and try to have most of it cleaned off before I leave at 5pm for church.

Thursdays are laundry day again, but that's really the only big thing that happens. Ryan has football practice in the evening, and I usually accompany the younger ones to the playset on the other side of the park.

Fridays are my "hallelujah" days. (Of course!) The morning school run occurs, I come back to pick up the house for the weekend, and then peace out! Sometimes there are random errands to run, but I'm generally off by lunchtime. It's fabulous!

The weekends are nice. I miss the dynamics of the kid's weekends and watching them play all their sports, but time away from them is always appreciated, too. :) Sometimes I'll go out to the beach house, spend the night and wake up early to catch some nice surf on Saturday morning. Sometimes I sleep in and take advantage of time with friends in the area, having Master's friends over to do laundry or something. Or sometimes I end up working (like today...it's the weekend girl's birthday, so she's off).

3. Do you like living back in LA?
Yes! I really really like it. My favorite part is being back at church. Plus many of my friends are in this area now. I enjoy being close to Master's still and taking advantage of all the fabulous people there. There are some things I do miss about Sacramento, like the slower pace of life and my family. But I talk to them often and visit home every couple of months.

4. What do you plan on doing after you're done with this family?
Well, I'm pursuing graduate work while I am working with them, and there is always the possibility of finishing that after I'm done here. Other than that, I am planning on pursuing the mission field full-time after I'm done here. Time will tell. :)

I hope that's helpful!!

Today the a/c guys came to fix the downstairs a/c. They were nice, and we dialouged a bit:

a/c: This is a busy house!
me: It sure is.
a/c: They're really into sports, huh?
me: Yea. Sports practically run their lives.
a/c: I could tell by all the stuff they have.
me: Yes. They go to a lot of charity auctions and get their sports memorabilia from there.
a/c: Oh. I like the GB Packer's one downstairs.
me: My favorite is Shaq's shoe just sitting on the office desk.
a/c: (chuckles) Are you a part of the family.
me: No.
a/c: Oh like a nanny or something?
me: Yes, I just get to love them.
a/c: What? (I was in the other room hanging up laundry.)
me: I just get to love them.

That's all. I'm just here to love them. And I do. :)

Refreshed Perspectives

So I work for this family that has a knowledge of God but no belief. Okay, to be fair, I think they believe in some sort of God. But as far as we know, they do not believe in the God of the Bible as He has presented Himself. This was one of the biggest reasons that I decided to take this job with them. If my God can somehow use me to bring them to salvation, then I'm all there.

As time goes on with them, I have learned the importance of being a good witness for Christ. I know this is rather cliche, but the cliche has become a vast reality in my life. These parents send their children to a Christian Academy and also to CCD (Catholic doctrine school every Monday evening). However, they themselves do not believe and barely practice what these institutions endorse. That's where I come in.

I rarely work during the evenings; usually I'm off whenever dinner is done and through with. However, last week the parents had a social engagement in the middle of the week that involved attending a charity dinner and silent auction. (They have a lot of money. Yea verily, they donate to many a charity.) Since they were going to be out late, I spent the night at this house with them. In the morning the mom was telling me about the fundraiser and the purpose of the organization they were supporting. I refrain from referencing it's name because I do not personally endorse all that they hold to. It's a "Christian" organization in north Hollywood that takes delinquents off the street and helps them change their life around. I had never heard of it until now, and the mom was telling me how I would like it because it's "religious" and "spiritual." Hmmh. It is run by a father-son duo, and she told me that the father is a big televangelist. That's when the warning signs started.

She proceeded to tell me about how the father is old (about 80-something), but she can very clearly tell that he has had a face-lift performed. She was really supportive of the whole organization, but couldn't understand why a Christian man who represents the Lord would have a face lift. It didn't make sense to her. Me either. She also mentioned that nothing is known about the man's wife. Apparently, the son's wife is cute and spunky and quite involved in the organization as well. But my boss was really curious about why nothing is ever said about the father's wife--did she die? Or divorce? Or have an affair? The possibilities are endless.

Let's not pretend--none of us are without sin. And having been in a unique environment that this is, the Lord has definitely graciously exposed areas of sin in my own life. I am challenged to think through how I will deal with this sin in the presence of nonbelievers. Especially ones that know what a Christian--or someone identified with the Lord--is supposed to do about their sin. I know that I'm not one to allow others to see my sin, but I also know that if I don't let this family see my sin and how the Lord's grace trumps it, then I fail Christ.

It's a beautiful story--God's grace in our lives. And I think that we want others to be able to witness this beautiful story in our lives. I have been challenged to put my feet to my faith in this situation. It's hard to let others see you fail. But the mercy that accompanies it is far greater than my own comfort or reputation.

Coastal Traveling

One of my favorite places in all of California is the San Luis Obispo area. Good thing that my oldest (as in longest time) friends all live there. Driving to SLO is never a hindrance for me, especially coming up from LA because the drive to Ventura and through Santa Barbara is absolutely beautiful.

Yesterday afternoon I left LA and met up with my friend from high school, Naomi in down town SLO. After walking around and chatting for a while I drove up to Atascadero to spend some time with recently-engaged friend Jenn. We had dinner with her fiancee after a long talk between just the two of us girls. It was fabulous! It's been so long since Jenn and I have had some quality time together, and it was great being able to catch up with her.

After dinner with Jenn & the boy I drove down to Morro Bay to spend the night with Naomi. We were pretty tired by 10pm (no more late-nights dorm life here), and as soon as we stepped in her practically beachfront house she had the great idea of going down to the water. We drove down to the cove area and just laid on the sand looking up at the amazing atmosphere. There was a huge cloud looming over Morro Rock and the moonlight cast an awesome light upon it. It was one of those God moments. Everything was at peace, and there was no need for words. Those times are so few and far between, and it's hard to pull yourself from them!

In the morning we had planned on going surfing, but the surf wasn't any good so we walked around some more instead. After a couple of final hours with Naomi I headed back down to SLO to have lunch with Shannon. I got to see Shan's little house in the middle of SLO and it was so precious! It made me want to move in and live indefinitely in SLO. I felt that way a lot during this particular visit. Shan and I had a relatively fast lunch, but it was good to spend at least some time with her.

Then on my way back to LA this afternoon I stopped at the beach house in Oxnard to use the facilities and visit with Lacey. She was out at the water when I was there, so I didn't end up seeing her. Maybe when she comes back through here tomorrow.

This entry has no significance, really, and it's a bummer that I forgot my camera at home. Otherwise I might have some fun pictures to post, at least.

I was thankful for a couple of days to go and visit these girls in my life and thankful for their friendship. It was a sweet time of slowing down and enjoying the surroundings. Naomi invited me to live with her next year, but the situation I'm in doesn't quite allow for it. I would move to SLO yesterday if that's what the Lord wanted. It would be fabulous. :) But for now, He has me somewhere else.

Purple Grapes or Green Grapes?

Sara doesn't like grapes. They make her stomach hurt.
Claire only likes purple grapes.
Ryan likes both kinds of grapes.
Olivia likes purple grapes, but only if they "pop" in the mouth.
Abby only likes green grapes ("geen dapes, beez").

Yea verily, I purchase both purple and green grapes.

This is just a little memory game that I play with myself when I make dinner plans.
Life has been busy--but SO good!-since work started with this family. It's hard to believe that I have been with them for one month now. Last night Todd (the dad) asked if it was what I was expecting. I told him yes, and chuckled. He laughed back and replied, "I guess you knew what you were getting yourself into."

Well, kind-of. In Kara's last months I spent a lot of time with her during the day. She taught me how to make the family recipe for Spaghetti sauce, what grocery shopping is like (involving at least 3 stores), and all the particulars of household organization. I was a little overwhelmed at first, but now I have learned that it's all a learning process.

I wish I could write more, but on Fridays I get 1/2 days (yay!) and it's time to go.
Hopefully this has provided a little taste of the new season of my life!