The Bird

The countdown for cooking the bird is almost finished! Just a few hours away!

Wish good luck to this thanksgiving first-time cook!

I hope everyone has a happy, hearty, healthy holiday full of friends, family and love!


Happy Thanksgiving!

Pray for Ethiopia

Ethiopia- my parents in-law are just landing....


From November 19th through November 29th they will be doing mission work- evangelism as well as wheelchair distribution to the outcasts of the Ethiopian culture. People who are disabled or have birth deformities/defects are thrown out of their families, cast out of the village communities and pretty much left to die. They are despised and looked down upon. A team including Daniel's parents are going out and giving wheelchairs to those who need them and sharing the good news of Jesus- the gospel- real hope and love. I'm so excited to hear what God is doing over there.

here is a video of wheelchair distribution in Uganda. It shows the same type of chairs that the Ethiopia team will give out.



I'm bummed I couldn't find the e3 partners mission video of a previous wheel chair mission trip. I'm going to inquire as to how to get that video and I plan on posting it ASAP.

Abstract Fall Decor

I just finished up my art project for the week. I was asked to design a 'fall themed' centerpiece for a Salad Supper Event for the wives of the seminarian husbands.

So, Fall decor = traditional, pumpkins, harvest, colorful leaves etc etc...

Don't get me wrong, I love all that stuff, our apartment has a Autumn vibe for sure.

It's just, well, I love modern/contemporary design and creating something original. So, my centerpiece is a little outside the box- even a little abstract I'd say.

With a few friends of mine the other day, we went to Griffith Park to go 'Branch-Hunting' HA HA, we were quite successful! We gathered up a bunch of the most mangled looking branches we could find, stuffed our trunk, and drove home for the next step!..... Spraypaint!

I have found that if you gather pretty much any kind of tree branch and spray paint it white... INSTANT BIRCH! haha, It's a great little cheat if you don't live where birch trees grow AKA the desert!!

After I was done drowning the branches in white- I took orange spray paint and sprayed only half of each branch. After all the branches were dry I stuck them in a tall cylinder vase. I had already spray painted the pine cones gold that I placed at the bottom of the vase.

All done! I think it's pretty cool. It's definitely not your typical traditional fall decor, but it was fun creating something new!
Once we get to the event tomorrow, I will place orange runners in a "X' over a linen tablecloth. (it's a square table.)

I think I am going to do something similar for Christmas time for our place, but just leave the branches white like birch and fill the bottom of the vase with moss, natural pine cones, and little pine branches. I can't wait!!

I heart decorating.

Stomach Flu

So, I am sitting here with the stomach flu! But, I wanted to take a quick minute and praise God for my wife! Though I'm sick, groggy, and achy...she hasn't left my side all afternoon! I can't imagine if I were still living with a house full of guys! There would probably be a few old pizza boxes housing stale slices, loudness, INSANITY for the sick guy, and with all do respect: grossness. Instead I have a beautiful wife, a soft voice to keep me company, a gentle touch, and a servants heart to cherish me! I am amazed at the grace and providence of God for Vanessa! I vividly remember the night I got down on my knees to ask God for a wife. At the same time, I had an intense hope that Vanessa would start coming over to hang out because she hadn't come over for a while (we always had people over). Then, God brought her to my neighborhood! She moved just a couple of blocks down the road! I had already had my eye on her for a while, but this time I fell for her as fast as the flick of a switch! I am so blessed! So, I want all the world to know how much I love my wife so I am starting with our blog viewers.


Peach, the word is out because we know the drive through guy at the Temecula Jack in the Box knows...hehe!! Did I just drop a "hehe?" that doesn't seem very manly. That goes to show that Vanessa even brings the "hehe's" out of me. AND I LOVE IT!!!! I lOVE MY BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Can't wait till you come home with the movies!

Posted by Daniel

An Early Thanksgiving

"So once in every year we throng
Upon a day apart,
To praise the Lord with feast and song
In thankfulness of heart."
~Arthur Guiterman, The First Thanksgiving

Saturday- Thanksgiving Day came early this year. Daniel and I celebrated with the family this past weekend.
( Bert and Carol-Daniel's parents- will be in Ethiopia over real Thanksgiving)

What a great time for friends and family and kiddos to gather together and reflect upon the past year's blessings. There's no better way to connect with those closest to you than over amazingly delicious food. What a fantastic tradition, a day of old and kept freedoms, and exchanged words of love and thankfulness around the table time and time again.... it never gets old... it's my favorite holiday!

Daniel's parents have a tradtion at the table. Once everyone has their food piled high on their plates, someone starts... they say what they are thankful for, this goes around the whole table, it's really cool to hear everyone's thoughts and praises to God for His many blessings in their lives.

I wish I could fly to Massachusetts to celebrate Thanksgiving with my side of the family. I miss them so much. This is the off year, Christmas is here in San Diego as well. :(
Well, my heart's there- thats for sure. MISS YOU MOM!

It was a joyous time- eating, laughing, music, embarrassing family movies, and who could forget the intense hand ball competition- kids VS Uncle Daniel.... the kiddos whooped Uncle Daniel's butt! hahaha, that was fun to watch!!

Sunday- We went to our old church Grace Church. It was so so so good to see friends- to catch up. We love that church so much and miss everyone there!

Out to lunch after with friends Jason and Allegra- love you guys!

Daniel and I are going back down to San Diego the week of Thanksgiving to stay at his parents house, Allegra and I are planning on cooking up a turkey! woohoo! This should be very interesting because I'm a virgin thanksgiving cook! AHHHHHHHHH, it's pretty much my nightmare... 10 dishes all coming out hott plus a 20lb bird!

Ok ok, someday it will be like that- this year, it's just 4 of us! And well, we took a vote, if everyone has their mashed potatos everyone will be happy! PHEW! :)
--It'll be a ton of fun, I can't wait to EAT AGAIN!

That's all folks... until next time!

THINK_ 'What are you thankful for this year?'

Spurgeon

A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. Charles H. Spurgeon

Las Vegas Anniversary Weekend

LAS VEGAS, there's nowhere like it in the whole entire world. 

Daniel and I booked a weekend stay at The Mirage on The Strip. 

What a gorgeous place, our room was super hip! 

SLOT MACHINES EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding dinggggg, you lose!

bad cycle.

We won four dollars and ten cents! bringin' home the big bucks! cha ching!! $$$$$

We left around 3:30 and four hours later we cruised into the city of lights! lights lights everywhere! 

Friday night, Halloween- pretty much relaxed, walked around the Strip, took pictures, saw some really really crazy Halloween costumes, toured all the big name hotels, watched people throw away money, watched the water show at The Bellagio went to bed around 4AM?

Saturday- slept in! ( sigh, that was great) 

we pretty just hung around the hotel, looking at shops and what not... oh yea, we made reservations at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant!

Later, we went to eat! We had a window table with an amazing view of The Bellagio Hotel and water show! I ordered the Swordfish and Daniel got the Rack of Lamb, exquisite food. and to top off the dinner we dove into a chocolate souffle! my taste buds and tum were very happy. After dinner we went over to Treasure Island to find the end of the line waiting impatiently to find seats for Cirque du Soliel! What a show!!! If you haven't heard of this show, google it. It's crazy! The stunts these people do, you can't believe your eyes!!!! The visual, auditory elements really create an out-of-this- world atmosphere that can't be described by using merely words. You have to experience it for yourself!!! 

The show ended- we went upstairs to play a few slot machines just for kicks! haha, we weren't expecting any wins, but we at least walked away with $4.10, we didn't have before! haha. slot machines, I don't understand them, I don't understand how people can become addicted to them... are they really addicted to losing money? I mean, if you have a desire to gamble at least play against the human element, like poker or blackjack, not SLOTS! The bottom line is though, gambling is a scheme of selfish casino presidents and personnel- to take advantage of peoples weakness with the biggest temptation ever, money, getting cash fast! It breaks my heart really.

Hit the pillow around 3AM- wake up- check out- hit the road around 3 and waved good bye to the craziest city in the US. 

check!  

crossed out on our list of 'Must Dos!'

It was fun.... 

On to the next adventure....  :)