I straight up caught him, the "potter", drinking out of...(gasp) STYROFOAM!

Augh!!!!!!!

Freedom to Restore

"There is a proverb, 'As you have made your bed, so you must lie on it,' which is a lie. If I have made my bed uncomfortable, please God I will make it again."
~G.K. Chesterton "What's Wrong with the World"


What an awesome quote. Posted on Andrea's blog at flourishingmother. By God's grace, we are able to repent and learn and try again, with His guidance and wisdom, and despite our own falling short.

I went out to Dad's workshop - I'd heard great things about his diligent work there. He pointed me towards a beautiful white piece with stained glass windows and began to tell me of his particular concern. And, in efforts to spread the good Word to the community of local birds, this, his first church plant, is almost ready... he's finishing the steeple now.

Family Play

Sometimes when I go home, I feel like I'm watching a play. Everything is so exciting and dramatic. I love to hear all of the stories and see mom tell them in such an animated and funny way. And the way dad rolls in with his cowboy hat and boot with his pant leg tucked in it. Court, and her latest prank on me. These photos are so that.

Yaaaah summer!!

Dad came home Friday night with a new boat. I can't wait until summer. Bring on the sunshine and the ski-bob!!

Message From a Neighbor.

I have a friendly neighbor that lives next door, and yesterday when I went over to pay her son for keeping my yard, she told me that in Sunday school she was studying about sinners and Jesus Christ. And, how sinners loved Jesus and He loves them too. I proceeded to self-examine. And, this poem comes to mind now. The last four lines are an awesome mantra.

"Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening"
- Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Past Time for an Elyza pic!!

April Fools 2008

This year was definitely awesome. More pics to come...

Smart People Have Messy Desks.

I was just digging through the piles at work, and realized how messy my desk is. It's a good thing! Because, turns out, creative people have messy desks, it reflects their mind. As, thoughts are not so organized.

Wordless Wednesday

Horton Hears A Who

I was just speaking recently with someone about the simplicity of messages found in children's books. And, this film based on Dr. Seuss' simple yet profound book, is by far the best I've seen this year. It is full of great things to ponder, as well as some Christian principles like faith, sacredness, persistence in doing what's right. It's a great movie. So, even if you don't have kids to take to it, it's a good one to take yourself.

Check here for more awesomeness:

samclarkstudio.blogspot.com

Faces In Places.

Check this awesome site:


http://facesinplaces.blogspot.com/

Today, A Very Curious Box With My Name On It.

It Was A Cat Brain Scan Hat.

Now I Can Talk To Buddy!

Sweet! The Instructions.

I finally meet Elyza!

Ever feel like this?

This is a painting from my college professor over at thehauptgallery.com.
He is just as amazing at teaching as painting. He taught me the art of 30 minute sessions. Paint (or whatever your doing) for 30 minutes at a time. Then walk away and leave the room. Come back and paint for 30 more, continue to work in this way. I use the rule of 30 minutes in a lot of what I do and have found that when I am deep into a project for a long time without the break, most of what I've done becomes over-thought, over-worked, and usually wasted time.

Elyza's Funny

Bucket List.

My friend Andrea over at flourishingmother.com inspired me start a bucket list. Some items have been floating around in there for a while, and I actually accomplished them already. So here goes the beginings:

1) Meet Mose Alison (accomplished)
2) Illustrate a meaningful children's book
3) Play in a band
4) Give away a possession that I think I can't live without
5) Stay in a cabin in the Alps for 3 days with my family
6) Learn how and write a short story (s)
7) Meet a guy I like at least half as much as my dad
8) Adopt a dog
9) Be most successful at loving others
10) Become an expert listener
11) Shave my head
12) Get a masters degree in theology/counseling
13) Have many more creative/intellectual moments with my mother, a very very creative/intuitive person
14) Open a jazz/coffee bar like the Baked Potato in California and live upstairs from it like my friend Ezra's place (http://www.myspace.com/sevenstudioz) and it be an open venue for things like Bible study, philosophical discussions, educational political talks, book readings etc.
15)

sweet angel eyes©

sketch for Elyza.

How about the cutest baby you've ever seen!

A Surprise in Nanchang-from Coco & J

This morning (Tuesday) we flew from Beijing to Nanchang which was about a two hour (turbulent) flight. We arrived in Nanchang around 2 p.m. We boarded the bus to take us to our hotel and the guide introduced himself, and told us that we'd be staying in a 5 -star hotel. But wait, it gets even better. He said, "and in 2 hours you will get your babies!" Wait, what?! Did you say that we are getting our babies today and in 2 hours...not tomorrow morning?!?! Yes, he did. All seven families screamed with excitement. And I believe there wasn't a dry eye. It was such an amazing surprise!



So we got to our hotel and had 30 minutes to grab our things and compose ourselves. We drove 10 minutes during rush hour to the Adoption Center where the babies were. When we arrived, there were about 10 babies and toddlers awaiting their new families! I scanned the room for Elyza and then I knew when I saw her. We both did. Jay began filming and then we were all asked to sit so that we could "formally" begin the receiving ceremony. They called our name and handed us a very calm and curious baby Bo Qian. Our hearts melted.


We got back to the hotel and began to undress her from the bundle of clothing that she wore (it's 30 degrees here). She had on 6 layers! She cried, so we gave her a bottle and put on a fresh diaper. She took the bottle for a bit and then finally, shook her head no, stuck her fingers in her mouth and fell fast asleep. She was exhausted, apparently, because she has been asleep for 4 hours now, since about 5:30 p.m. It was a long day for the little ones, I imagine, as they had to travel 4 hours on a bus to Nanchang from Poyang.
We are so in love with this baby girl. We feel like we've always known her. She is so beautiful! We can't wait to really get to know her personality over the next few days. Well, I best get some sleep because most likely she'll be waking up for that dinner bottle that she missed.

Bella.

This is the best film of the year. Please go see it.

Gotta Love Itunes.

Browsing through the "Just For You" on Itunes, a feature which suggests albums based on previous purchases. And, they were so right! I love these albums especially...check them out!

Introducing Elyza Bo Qian

DOB: June 24, 2007
Province: Jiangxi, Poyang SWI

About her:
A deep sleeper
laughs aloud
fond of listening to music!
has a ready smile
sometimes obstinate
fond of playing with toys

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Courtney & Jay (the new parents):

We have a daughter!!!
Here is what we know so far...
Name: Bo Qian
DOB: June 24, 2007 YES, SHE IS 6 MONTHS OLD!!!
Province: Jiangxi Province, Poyange SWI (Poyang Lake is the largest fresh-water lake in China)
Weight: 11 pounds, 58 cm length (TINY)
We'll have pictures and more info tomorrow afternoon.
Check back!

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Cor. 9:15

My friend just told me that Bo Qian means "Precious Beginning".

Imagery.

I love to drink a cup of coffee in the morning. My favorite thing is to watch the cream cloud and fold in from the edges of the cup. Sometimes, I think I can see something in it. Like an image of a sasquatch. But it's so fast, it's difficult to identify. Or sometimes it's an image of the sun, so I turn my face really quickly so I won't go blind. This morning I didn't have a round cup, so it was a little harder to see, but, I think it was this:

An image (from google images) from the movie Koyaanisqatsi, which is a Hopi Indian word meaning "life out of balance." It is a really great film that is worth watching.

Stopped in for a photo at Jubilee!

If you don't already have it.

This album rocks! Your tree and garland will be happy as you swing around them in gladness to this amazing music. And you will smile. All year long. Don't think you are the weird one out when you feel an urge to slip it on for a few happy tunes this spring either. It's the Sufjan Stevens Christmas album. It's so good!

Christmas Past.

I found this file while looking for photos...one of my favorites. Click the images to read. It's pretty funny. My Christmas card from '05, the year I was homeless for half of it. Katrina had left no available apartments in Jackson. I was living with friends. It was fun, but a tough 6 months. I hope I never forget the feeling I had when I got the home I have now. All the fun of fixing it up (THANK YOU!!! Mom and Dad!) , and how my sister and I had prayed for the right price, and God made it available in all of His perfection (THANK YOU!!! Father!). I went from living, literally on friends' couches to having an entire house. It was/is great.

I really miss my Sony.

I had a sweet Sony camera, and then, it quit. First, lines formed across the screen and across photos. Then one day, the screen was black. Don't leave your camera in the car. Or it will surely go. I left it in the car, during the hot summer and the cold winter. I did not know.

Holiday Message From Buddy.

gfhhhhhhhhhhhhioppppppppppppppppppppppp

This Ain't Aunt Edina's Green Bean.

So you won't have to pucker up this year when she comes at you with those hot pink lips and coffee breath, waving her heaping spoon at you, to see if you want another serving of her frightening concoction. Since you lied and told her you liked them so well that you had already finished them from your plate before you even got to sit down. This year you'll have your own. "Right back at ya Edina!" with a smile you'll say. This recipe kicks and it's so easy. I got it from the Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook.

MAKE AHEAD

prep: 42 minutes :: cook: 12 minutes :: chill: 1 hour

3/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 pounds green beans
1 small purple onion, thinly sliced
1 (4-ounce) package feta cheese, crumbled
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted

• Whisk together first 5 ingredients.
• Trim stem end of green beans, snap into thirds, and steam until crisp-tender (10 minutes). Immediately plunge into cold water to stop cooking process. Drain. Pat dry.
• Combine beans, onion, and cheese. Toss. Cover. Chill.
• Pour oil mixture over bean mixture and chill 1 hour before serving.
• Toss in walnuts just before serving.

Christmas Time's a Comin'!

And, I can't wait! You'll even catch me in June jammin' to these great Christmas tunes. Here is a "best of" list. For your Thanksgiving road trip or just to help you get your Christmas spirit flowing early! All available on iTunes:

Amen : : Take 6
Blue Christmas : : Elvis Presley
Christmas Time's a Comin' : : Del McCoury, Doc Watson & Mac Wiseman
Christmas Wrapping : : The Waitresses
The First Noel : : Yellowjackets
Good Morning Blues : : Ella Fitzgerald
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas : : Hem
Last Christmas : : Wham! (for nostalgia only)
Merry Christmas, Baby : : Christina Aguilera Featuring Dr. John
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer : : Billy May
Santa Claus : : Sonny Boy Williamson
Santa Claus Is Back In Town : : Jonny Lang
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town : : Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers
Silent Night : : Emmylou Harris
Snoopy's Christmas : : The Clumsy Lovers
Soulful Christmas : : James Brown (loves ya!)
The Little Drummer Boy : : Etta James
This Christmas : : Donny Hathaway
What You Want for Christmas : : 69 Boyz, K-Nock & Quad City DJ's
White Christmas : : Diana Krall

Virginia Taylor.

I found a photo album when I lived in Nashville from the early 1900's. It belongs to Virginia Taylor, who was 6 and 1/2 in 1935, and lived on 2112 Irving Ave. S, in Minneapolis Minnesota. The book is full of family photographs, friends from Camp Lake Hubert, her counselor, Constance Lane, Connie the nurse, the cabin she stayed in. Fishing with her father, cousin, Bill and Rex the dog on East Twin Lake, Susan's cottage there. It goes on and on. Each photo with a description, and list of where and who.
About a month ago I decided to google (sorry purists, I know "Google" is a proper noun, not a verb) the address, and see if there was still a home there. And, there was. I sent the current resident a letter, asking if she knew Virginia Taylor or her relatives. Yesterday, I got a letter back from her, and she was very curious too, and asked if her house, which she described to me was in any of the photos. I looked when I got home, and I did find several photos of family members, including Tippy, the dog posed on the front porch of the house. Perhaps I shall return them.

image: photobooth.net

Everybody Wang Jung Tonight.

Some synchronicity for a Monday: As mentioned in an earlier post, my sister and I are pretty consistently on the same thought wave, though it's frequency and significance varies. But, this one was pretty fun, so I thought I'd share:
We found out late last week that she and Jay would not get the early adoption referral they had hoped for, so I bought her a book, Parenting from the Inside Out, to read, in hopes that it would help pass the time as well as help prepare them for Elyza. Saturday, I went to the post office to mail it to her. And, tonight, I had a voicemail from her thanking me and telling me that just yesterday, her friend Cochet, had called to tell her about this great teacher at her child's school. She as a parent as well as her child had learned a lot from the teacher, and she recommended Courtney check out her book. Her name is Mary Hartzell but that she could not remember the name of the book that she had written. Today, after opening her package from me, she saw the name Mary Hartzell on the book and after doing a double take on who the package was from, called to hip me to this latest. hahahahah. Dang, quit stalking my mind, yo. hahhahha, just kidding. Hope ya'll enjoy the book.

"When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’ve first begun."

Usually, I can hardly sing this part, especially when it gets to the part about, "no less days...than when we first begun." This is the final verse of Amazing Grace, and my most favorite.
A few weeks ago, a lady I know, told me that her daughter was getting married at the end of October. Somewhere on the coast, I think she said. I've heard that it rains and showers frequently on the coast. And, after almost a full week of heavy rains here, it came to mind, that it could possibly rain at her daughter's wedding. I don't know her daughter, but I suspected there was only a small chance that she would prefer rain at her wedding, and felt several urges throughout the 3 days prior to it, to pray for beautiful weather. Not that the music would be great. Or the guests would all be able to attend. Or that the priest would say the right things. Though I hope all these things were true as well, it was only an urge to pray for this, nothing else, but that the weather would be perfect for her/them.
I didn't think about it after that, until I saw the lady again a few days ago, and of what I can remember of our brief conversation about the wedding, she didn't talk about the music, or the guests, or the priest. She talked about the weather! She said briefly that she was glad to be barefoot on the sand, something about dolphins in the ocean behind them, and went on and on, saying three times how beautiful the weather was.
I can't tell you how much my heart smiles, that our Father in Heaven would reveal His love for us in so many ways great and small. And, I can't wait until we can praise Him in the never ending daylight.