Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
disneyland, newport beach, and sarah markley
lots of pictures and fun in this post.
last week our family traveled to so. cal. (that is southern california for you non-californians).
our christmas gift to the kids this year was disneyland.
at disneyland tinkerbelle can fly! it is after all "where all your dreams come true."
even the dream of a white christmas comes true in disneyland.
we were privileged to get to spend the weekend at a family friend's beach house on newport beach. it was wonderful to wake up each morning to the sight of their "big back yard," the pacific ocean. apparently in newport beach santa does not travel by reindeer and sleigh, but by surf board and roller blades.
and since we were in so. cal. i could not miss the opportunity to finally meet blog friend sarah markley! this was my first (in person) blog friend meeting.
isn't sarah BEAUTIFUL!
not only did i get to meet sarah, but her wonderful family. 
husband-chad, daughters- hope and naomi, and her parents- al and hannah. (btw- sarah, i agree with chad, you should post an abc's of chad, or at least post all the titles for the abc's of chad).
sarah and i hugged immediately, and then both looked at each other as if to make sure the other was real. before meeting sarah i thought she was beautiful, because of what comes from her heart and spills into every word she writes on her blog. seeing sarah in person only made her more beautiful.
it was good to just be with each other- to share our lives, to watch kids play, to share words, laughter, wonder, and to share time for a little while.
but it wasn't enough.
as we said good bye, it occurred to me that i will miss sarah. tangible sarah.
i thought about how blogging is interesting, crazy, and wonderful! and i thought about how i miss each of you. i would love to sit and visit with each of you- to see your faces, hear your voices, to hear all your stories.
for me blogging isn't enough. it is the appetizer of this friendship meal. i look forward to the day we will finish our appetizers, share the main course, and finally have our chocolate chip ice cream.
last week our family traveled to so. cal. (that is southern california for you non-californians).
our christmas gift to the kids this year was disneyland.
at disneyland tinkerbelle can fly! it is after all "where all your dreams come true."
even the dream of a white christmas comes true in disneyland.
we were privileged to get to spend the weekend at a family friend's beach house on newport beach. it was wonderful to wake up each morning to the sight of their "big back yard," the pacific ocean. apparently in newport beach santa does not travel by reindeer and sleigh, but by surf board and roller blades.
and since we were in so. cal. i could not miss the opportunity to finally meet blog friend sarah markley! this was my first (in person) blog friend meeting.isn't sarah BEAUTIFUL!
not only did i get to meet sarah, but her wonderful family. 
husband-chad, daughters- hope and naomi, and her parents- al and hannah. (btw- sarah, i agree with chad, you should post an abc's of chad, or at least post all the titles for the abc's of chad).sarah and i hugged immediately, and then both looked at each other as if to make sure the other was real. before meeting sarah i thought she was beautiful, because of what comes from her heart and spills into every word she writes on her blog. seeing sarah in person only made her more beautiful.
it was good to just be with each other- to share our lives, to watch kids play, to share words, laughter, wonder, and to share time for a little while.
but it wasn't enough.
as we said good bye, it occurred to me that i will miss sarah. tangible sarah.
i thought about how blogging is interesting, crazy, and wonderful! and i thought about how i miss each of you. i would love to sit and visit with each of you- to see your faces, hear your voices, to hear all your stories.
for me blogging isn't enough. it is the appetizer of this friendship meal. i look forward to the day we will finish our appetizers, share the main course, and finally have our chocolate chip ice cream.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Merry Christmas
My prayer for you this Christmas and New Year-
"Let us love Him! Let us love Him! He made us, and He is near.
He did not make things and then walk away.
He remains intimately involved and all things have their being in Him.
See Him.
There He is, where truth is loved.
He can be found within the very heart, even if the heart strays from him.
Wrap your arms around Him who made you and hold tight."
St. Augustine
My prayer for you this Christmas and New Year- "Let us love Him! Let us love Him! He made us, and He is near.
He did not make things and then walk away.
He remains intimately involved and all things have their being in Him.
See Him.
There He is, where truth is loved.
He can be found within the very heart, even if the heart strays from him.
Wrap your arms around Him who made you and hold tight."
St. Augustine
Thursday, December 18, 2008
surprise from my nieghbor in idaho!
look at this fun surprise package of goodies i received in the mail!
it came from my "neighbor" kristen. she lives just a few miles away...in idaho!
doesn't it look like i elfed myself in this picture? my head looks really big!
the package was filled with the yummy treats to eat, M.E. goodies for me, hot cocoa and marshmallows (you thought of everything), a family christmas card, and the sweetest note!! 
kristen, i too wish i could sit with you , share a cup of hot cocoa, and good conversation, while the kids dance and play together around us.
it came from my "neighbor" kristen. she lives just a few miles away...in idaho!
doesn't it look like i elfed myself in this picture? my head looks really big!
the package was filled with the yummy treats to eat, M.E. goodies for me, hot cocoa and marshmallows (you thought of everything), a family christmas card, and the sweetest note!! 
kristen, i too wish i could sit with you , share a cup of hot cocoa, and good conversation, while the kids dance and play together around us.Wednesday, December 17, 2008
FREE COCOA!
This Tuesday we set up our annual Free Hot Chocolate table. This was our 5th year giving away free cocoa to the community. It was cold, buurrrr. Perfect weather for hot cocoa.
A new edition this year was the Sierra Singers, from our church. They joined us, and sang Christmas carols as we gave out cocoa.
It was such a blessing to see people get their free cocoa loaded with marshmallows, whipped cream, and a candy cane, and then to watch them enjoy beautiful carols that speak the truth of Christmas. 
It is my prayer that each person we come in contact with will one day receive the free gift of life which was given to us in Jesus that first Christmas.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
the cookies that saved christmas
i am not a baker, and i don't love to cook. i blame it on my mom (hi mom), she never allowed us in the kitchen while she was cooking. she did allow us in the kitchen to clean it. i am a great kitchen cleaner.
i was a little overwhelmed when i had 2 cookie exchanges to bake for this weekend. agghhhhh! but then, i found this! sarah, over at the blog short stop is making cookies every day during advent. and she is sharing her easy, delicious recipes!
i made the caramel meltaways, gingersnap cookies, and the peppermint cracker candy.
these cookies were a big hit.
thank you sarah for the cookies that saved christmas!
now onto other random things...
i have a starbuck's name. you know how the barista asks your name, to write it on your cup, then calls it when your drink is ready. well, i tell them my name is rachel. however, sometimes i forget that i told them my name is rachel, and my drink just sits for a while waiting for rachel to pick it up.
so here is the reason my starbuck's name is rachel- a few years ago i was with a high school friend at a starbucks outside our home town, there we ran into a guy from high school. he remembered my friend's name, but he forgot mine, thought it was rachel. i was shocked! because i think i am pretty unforgettable :-)
and another random thing (watch out bethanne, i could get use to this)... "irregardless," do you think it is a word? i don't think it is a word. but a lot of people like to argue about whether it is a word ot not. at least a lot of people i am around like to argue about whether it is a word or not.
(hi people!)
hmmm, what other random thing can i talk about?? GUESS WHO I GET TO MEET NEXT WEEK!!!!! SARAH MARKLEY! i am SO EXCITED! what if i act weird and quirky. i act weird and quirky when i am nervous and excited.
a little more randomness... so we're going to southern california next week, and there is always one reason i do not like to go to so. cal. CLOTHES! i live in the mountains people. it is totally acceptable to wear keen sandals with wool socks here in the mountains. i don't do it, but you would not be frowned upon if you did. here in the mountains you could wear the same clothes for a week, no one would care. in the mountains people who wear over sized sunglasses and carry dressed up little dogs in tote bags are laughed at. we like our dogs big, wearing the coats God gave them.
btw- it is totally acceptable to wear your apron like this in the mountains.
i do not have the so.cal. glow (tan). i am pasty white! it's 35 degrees here today (okay, for some of you that is not cold). is it warm there? do i have to pull out the summer clothes? summer clothes and cookie exchange season do not go well together.
see, it is already starting! i am getting quirky and weird because i am going to meet sarah!
i am also on a bit of a sugar high (mmm, those cookies are good).
i hope sarah likes me "irregardless" of my quirky nevousness. if it doesn't seem to be going well, i can always introduce her to rachel!
i was a little overwhelmed when i had 2 cookie exchanges to bake for this weekend. agghhhhh! but then, i found this! sarah, over at the blog short stop is making cookies every day during advent. and she is sharing her easy, delicious recipes!
i made the caramel meltaways, gingersnap cookies, and the peppermint cracker candy.
these cookies were a big hit.
thank you sarah for the cookies that saved christmas!
now onto other random things...
i have a starbuck's name. you know how the barista asks your name, to write it on your cup, then calls it when your drink is ready. well, i tell them my name is rachel. however, sometimes i forget that i told them my name is rachel, and my drink just sits for a while waiting for rachel to pick it up.
so here is the reason my starbuck's name is rachel- a few years ago i was with a high school friend at a starbucks outside our home town, there we ran into a guy from high school. he remembered my friend's name, but he forgot mine, thought it was rachel. i was shocked! because i think i am pretty unforgettable :-)
and another random thing (watch out bethanne, i could get use to this)... "irregardless," do you think it is a word? i don't think it is a word. but a lot of people like to argue about whether it is a word ot not. at least a lot of people i am around like to argue about whether it is a word or not.
(hi people!)
hmmm, what other random thing can i talk about?? GUESS WHO I GET TO MEET NEXT WEEK!!!!! SARAH MARKLEY! i am SO EXCITED! what if i act weird and quirky. i act weird and quirky when i am nervous and excited.
a little more randomness... so we're going to southern california next week, and there is always one reason i do not like to go to so. cal. CLOTHES! i live in the mountains people. it is totally acceptable to wear keen sandals with wool socks here in the mountains. i don't do it, but you would not be frowned upon if you did. here in the mountains you could wear the same clothes for a week, no one would care. in the mountains people who wear over sized sunglasses and carry dressed up little dogs in tote bags are laughed at. we like our dogs big, wearing the coats God gave them.
btw- it is totally acceptable to wear your apron like this in the mountains.i do not have the so.cal. glow (tan). i am pasty white! it's 35 degrees here today (okay, for some of you that is not cold). is it warm there? do i have to pull out the summer clothes? summer clothes and cookie exchange season do not go well together.
see, it is already starting! i am getting quirky and weird because i am going to meet sarah!
i am also on a bit of a sugar high (mmm, those cookies are good).
i hope sarah likes me "irregardless" of my quirky nevousness. if it doesn't seem to be going well, i can always introduce her to rachel!
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