There was this moment when I was about twelve. I said to my Grandma as she and I drove down a quiet road "I hope things are always like this." She was silent and just smiled a little, but drove on. I remember it sort of bothered me, not knowing then what I know now.

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Last year, on this night, I stood in a hospital room watching things change. Grandma knew that day fifteen years ago that this would happen eventually. That things never stay the same, and it could not always be "like this". That one day her time on Earth would be over, and we'd say goodbye to phone calls and hugs and dinners and card games. One day things would not be "like this" at all.

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However.

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It was not until I held her hand for the last time, whispered "I love you" for the last time, and had to finally let go of "this" that I finally thought about a truth I had always known but never understood. The truth, or the hope of Everlasting.

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The previously longed for aspects of Heaven, like seeing loved ones again, being with our savior, and never having another medical condition empty my savings (which will consequently be worthless anyway, hallelujah!) is all surrounded by the bigger truth, a more profound hope. The wonder of 'everlasting'.

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Someday "this" will never have to end. Someday "this" will be forever. Someday "this" will be better than we ever comprehended or experienced as we were together on Earth - and the new-and-improved "this" will be everlasting.

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Praise be to God.

This is my sister (and Harold). My non-blogging sister. She thinks blogging is sappy - or at least my blogging. And yet I will proceed to sap-a-blog for her because she worked for a good two hours on Sunday evening, as five loud children ran "hither-dither-and-yon" (as my Grandma says) to produce a life-size Harold (you know, from Harold and the Purple Crayon). All for the book birthday blowout coming this Saturday.
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Isn't she talented? Thank you sister! From the bottom of my lame, sappy heart. I owe you one, and since my main talent-of-late is updating a blog - I think this is your payment. Hope it met your expectations. But seriously, I do love you a lot!
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PS - Party invite images along with tutorials on how we made the party favors coming soon!

fall {engagement} party

quite lovely.

It's official - she's five

see more here

Five years.
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She now has five whole years of life under her belt.
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In five years she's gained size and strength and memories and knowledge and a little sadness and a few scars.
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I look back and think - Five years ago this same night I lay in a hospital bed laboring through hours of painful but rewarding contractions.
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I look forward and hope - God willing five years from now she will have gained more size and strength and memories and knowledge.
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Five years. Sigh.

J: [screaching as we walk down the cereal aisle] STOP! Mommy! Stop!!! Hannah-Tan-Tanna!!!

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Did I buy it? You know I did.

B's latest shoot -

a Handsome Baby named Sam

brand new and so very wide awake, adorable

see them all here

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PS - Did I ever mention that I love B and his mad photo skills?

The first time I laid eyes on her I knew she was gorgeous.
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Through the grainy black and white imaging I could see her gracefulness, she is always moving like a dancer even when running or walking or simply drawing a pretty picture. I could see how beautifully shaped her feet and nose and spine were, and are. Of course I couldn't hear the beautiful singing voice, or see the sparkling eyes, or feel the incredible compassion she has. They were there, too.

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But I could see a blessing beyond comprehension.

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And my blessing turns five on Saturday. Wow.

Your kid may speak 3 languages, but can he do this!?!

1. To Write Love on Her Arms t-shirt. TWLOHA is a group dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. A majority of their financial support comes from the sale of their t-shirts. Read about their vision, see the store, buy the t-shirt. $17.00
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2. Two Futures Project t-shirt. 2FP is a movement of American Christians for the abolition of nuclear weapons. The t-shirt reads 'disarm' and is sure to spark lots of conversation. Read about their vision, buy the t-shirt. $20.00
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3. 350.org t-shirt. 350.org is an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis. Read about their vision, see the store, buy the t-shirt. $18.99
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4. Made by Survivors bracelet. Made by Survivors is an international organization dedicated to fighting human trafficking and modern day slavery. Items sold in the store are made by survivors of slavery with the hope of eventually establishing a sustainable income. Read about their vision, buy the bracelet. $28.00
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5. Charity:Water water bottle. Charity:Water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. One in six people on the planet do not have access to safe drinking water, many women and children. 100% of the cost of the water bottle goes to fund freshwater wells. Read about their vision (watch the video while you're there), see the store. $40.00
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6. FEED bear and bag. FEED works to create good products that FEED the world. Because hunger and malnutrition kill more people than AIDS, malaria and TB combined, and tonight 400 million children around the world will go to bed hungry. Purchase of the bag will keep a child fed in school for a year. Purchase of the teddy bear will provide three nutritional supplements to hungry children. Read about their vision, see the store, buy the bag, buy the bear. $35 / $35
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7. Heifer International animal. Heifer works to end world hunger and poverty as well as care for the earth through a set of global initiatives in the areas of agroecology, animal well-being, gender equity, HIV-AIDS, microenterprise, urban agriculture and young people's initiatives. Heifer's online gift catalog offers a variety of animals you can gift to a family in a developing country. Read about their vision, see the online catalog, buy the heifer. $500.00
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8. Project Concern animal. Project Concern is a non-profit health and humanitarian aid organization dedicated to preventing disease, improving community health, and promoting sustainable development. Read about their vision, see the online catalog, buy the flock of hens. $50.00
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9. TOMS Shoes. TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. Read about their vision, see the store, buy the shoes. $54.00

I have to admit, if I owned those outfits I'd probably wear them pretty frequently, too.

I am really intrigued lately with the concept of interaction. Interaction with art. I heard about this interactive art display Emma Thompson is doing this week in NYC on NPR (listen here) to help people experience the suffering of a sex-trade victim. Intriguing.

This morning our church was filled with interactive displays on all sorts of amazing people who served Christ in their lives. The girls colored Noah's animals and glued them to his boat. They lit incense and learned about Zachariah. They crawled in a hole to see how Corrie ten Boom saved Jews during WWII. They wrote a prayer for slavery after learning about William Wilberforce. They took a rock from the Stephen display to remember his willingness to be stoned to death for Christ's truth. Intriguing.

I am really intrigued with the power of art. I think I might explore this more...there really might be something worth while in the sacred experience of interacting with art.

The latest shot my dad took over the mountains of Antarctica...

check out the NASA blog they're updating regularly.

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PS - I love my dad!

exhausting but memorable

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Bathroom stalls were meant to be shared. Alone they are quiet and lonesome little places, but when you bring along a companion (or two) you have the opportunity to discuss topics such as what the lady is doing in the stall next to you, where the curious smell might be coming from, or why on earth it would be necessary to have a trash can mounted to the wall. Additionally, bringing along companions allows for on-the-spot health experiments as they insist on touching every surface within reach to challenge the strength of their own immune system. And one musn't forget that companions in the stall strengthen your negotiating skills as you debate the merits and necessity of hand washing.