Bear Valley Springs

Everyone has been SO kind and friendly at Crean Lutheran High- we are having a great time getting to know the staff and faculty. A few weeks ago the Instrumental Director and his wife, Matt and Kimberly, invited us over for dinner and we had a fabulous time.  Turns out that Matt, Kimberly and I were all at Azusa Pacific University at the same time, though we never met.  They invited us up to their family cabin with several other faculty members this past weekend.  So we all hopped in the car Friday evening and drove the three hours (with a mandatory stop at In-And-Out) to Bear Valley Springs.  

We had the best time, eating, laughing, playing games, going for hikes, and being refreshed by our brothers and sisters in Christ.  What a blessing good friends are!

Something New

Ever have to pinch yourself because something was too good to be true?  

Ever have to stop about ten times a day to whisper an incredulous "thank you" to the Lord for something SO unexpected?

We've had many blessings in our short time together as husband and wife-  Norm's salvation, our awesome honeymoon, a very special bible study group, and add to it now, a wonderful new job for me!

This year I'll be teaching at Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine.  I was offered a Full-time Fine Arts position  and I'm now teaching High School Choir and Drama.  Yea!!!!  Who would have thought that this was possible when all other schools are cutting back their fine arts programs...

I've spent many hours reading through music and plays, trying to find choir dresses, meeting with colleagues to discuss the best way to begin a Parent Booster Organization, and generally getting more and more excited.  And school hasn't even started yet!

I will miss working with young children.  Singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" everyday was pretty cool :-) And, nerd that I am, I enjoyed my work in crafting the perfect pedagogical techniques for elementary-aged students.  I will especially miss the many special families that I leave behind, but one of the great things about Crean is that I will have the opportunity to re-connect with several students who sang with me in elementary school and now will sing with me at Crean!

Thank you Lord for your blessing and abundant provision.  

First Anniversary

"We" just turned one.  

July 25th was our first anniversary and we celebrated by going out to dinner at Lucques on Melrose Avenue in LA. 

We had such a lovely time- the food was amazing, the atmosphere was warm and intimate, and the diamonds on the lady next to us were breathtaking.  Both of us woke up the next morning still full from the night before.  We ate outside on the patio and enjoyed each other's company (and the heating lamp).  

On Sunday, our actual anniversary, we slept in, walked down to Second Street for coffee, and did absolutely nothing else the rest of the day.  Nice!


Thank you Lord for a wonderful year of marriage to my best friend.

Like a Good Neighbor...

I had noticed the hose out in front was leaking every time I watered the garden. It seemed to be getting worse, but I'm no plumber.  Tony went out to water the other day and the the hose broke off completely! 

Water started pouring out - gallons and gallons- and we started running around looking for the water main.  Our neighbor in the back house heard the commotion and brought his girlfriend out- then all four of us started running around looking for the water main. It was slightly ridiculous. 

We searched the garages, under the house, tried for 15 minutes to turn it off at the street, called Roto Rooter who said "we'll have to call you back," tried the landlady who, we later found out, was on a cruise.  Needless to say the front yard was a lake by the time Tony finally found it buried in the front garden 45 minutes later.  The water had stopped flowing in the front, but there was none in any of the duplex units.  

Our neighbor across the street is a plumber (who wasn't at home when we needed him!) but later on that night was persuaded to cross the street and plug the broken pipe so we could have water that night.  He came over the next day and replaced the missing parts and voila!  We had a working hose again. 

I made a "Thank You Neighbor" cake (Funfetti with Rainbow Chip icing) and brought it around to all the gracious neighbors who saved us from flooding the neighborhood.  

Thank you neighbors!

A New Friend

I walked into the kitchen yesterday and found this visitor on the wall. Tony was gone so I had to take care of him myself. Yuck!

Bicycle! Bicycle!

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike

We rescued this poor lonely bicycle from Mom and Dad's garage and Tony fixed him all up Memorial weekend.  I introduced him to the neighborhood and took him down to the beach.  All he need's is a basket and I can take him to the grocery store.  Yea!

A Bit of Home

Mom had this beautiful blue iris right out the back door.  I loved sitting at the breakfast table and watching it grow and blossom.  I've never been a big fan of irises but this one was gorgeous- it looked like a waterfall.

After Tony and I got married she gave me a cutting for our own garden.  We planted it in a nice sunny spot and waited 10 months for it to grow.  Boy was it worth it!  

It's been blooming for several weeks now- what a precious piece of home.