Blog Giveaway!!!

My friend Amy is having a giveaway on her blog... check it out!

Baby Car-Car

This picture was when we went to sing Christmas carols as a "family" lead by our friend Wendy Estorga at Finn's Coffee in Santa Cruz. (Matt's company, KI Custom Construction Inc. built Finn's!)

I can't believe over the last 7 months I've never blogged about this wonderful girl..........

So, we had a former Young Life kid (and friend) Carlyn Kay Whitaker, living with us from May - Jan. 16th. She was an amazing "housemate" and we enjoyed her company so much this year! Carlyn (or baby Car-Car as we often call her) is amazing woman! She is currently off adventuring in "Italia" at the Apicius International School of Hospitality in Florence, Italy. We're praying that she has a wonderful time abroad and learns lots at culinary school!

WE MISS YOU MANY TINES BABY CAR-CAR!!!!!!!!!!!! And yes, to everyone reading, I meant to write tines and not times! ;)

is Facebook contact work?

The Young Life website says the following about "contact work"...

Contact work is a simple principle modeled by Christ and "rediscovered" more than 60 years ago when a handful of men and women who were developing Young Life's methods began showing up at games, practices and local hangouts so they could get to know kids. Contact work is about building relationships and earning the trust and friendship of teenagers.

Contact work is also lifestyle, not just a technique. "You are there to care for people for the sake of Christ," says one veteran Young Life staff person. "These relationships are not accidental or coincidental. They are ordained by God."

Jesus spent His earthly ministry looking for and connecting with the lost and hurting. His life set the standard for how we should reach teenagers through the ministry of Young Life — up close and personal. Every leader will have their own techniques for doing contact work based on who they are and what their kids enjoy.


So my question is: if I just spent about a hour on facebook "talking" to 3 different kids, is that contact work?! :)

a new day...

January 20th 2009

Looking forward to seeing what will happen over the next 4 years.

9 stress factors

Can you guess which of these stress factors I wasn't closely involved in this year??

• not enough sleep
• trying to do too much
• serious illness or surgery
• new job
• divorce
• moving house
• excessive caffeine
• death of partner, relative, or close friend
• marriage

one year.

Once upon a time, (actually it was one year ago today) we had a HUGE Winter storm here in Santa Cruz. It just so happened that it was 6 days after we purchased our little cabin in the woods. During the storm a tree fell, not just any tree but a 200-300 foot Douglas Fir with a 4 1/2 foot base... Thankfully, very thankfully, it fell the other direction-- away from our little cabin in the woods and onto some power lines... we went 58 hours with out power (and showers!) but eventually the tree came down safely and was well with the world at 930 Lockhart again! :)

The End
p.s. the stump and logs are still in our yard-- anyone want them?!

Cambo

While I was in West Virginia for Thanksgiving/my Grandma's 90th birthday I was able to see CAMBERLY ELISABETH PEARSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Christmas" in Florida

I was able to spend some time with my awesome family while I was in town for Barbara's shower... here are some pictures from our time together.


I took Ella to Build-a-Bear for Christmas!


Ella & Aunt Heather with the Build-a-Bear dog that Ella named: "Princess Sparkles"


Cute siblings!


Isaac giving me a high five! :)


Grandma & Ella making a Gingerbread House!


Ella being silly with the GB House


Grandma & Ella with their completed Gingerbread house!


The final product! YUM!

Barb's Shower!

I was able to go home to Florida for one of my best friend's baby shower in mid December. I was so happy that I could be there to celebrate the soon to be life of "baby boy Drahl!" (Name to be reveled at birth!) Enjoy the pictures of the event!


All kinds of yummy food!


Me with my Florida besties: Barb & Krista


Barb with some of her hostesses!


Barbara had LOTS of presents to open!


The soon to be Mommy, Barbara & the soon to be Grandma, Jana!

A New Year... a new "no"

Here's the challenge & the goal:

No Coke (or soda) for one year... wish me luck! :)