Three Word Thursday - SHE DID IT!

 SHE DID IT!!!

Cameras and Clubbers

Tonight was AWANA. It's that event that comes in the middle of each and every week where beforehand I try to present a cheery face to the kids about going. Really, by Wednesday night, I just want to eat dinner, get the kitchen cleaned up, and sit down for a bit.  And probably watch some dumb TV show. However,  it's also that event that comes in the middle of each and every week where once I'm there, I LOVE IT! Do you know what I mean?

Anyhow, tonight  I was tipped off by Thomas's leader (the amazing Mr. Quentin) that Thomas would receive  the prestigeous award of "3rd GRADE BOYS CLUBBER OF THE MONTH". And, he wanted to know, did I have a camera ready?

Yes. And no. I had a camera in my phone, but it takes THE WORST pictures. I really mean it. The. Worst. Here's the proof:

I clicked the stupid phone camera a good 2 seconds before this image. All I got was this delayed reaction to Thomas receiving his award. It was a gigantic pixi stick AND I MISSED IT. Lordy. I wanted to see him receiving said pixi stick and shaking Mr. Hallman's hand and smiling widely with pride. It wasn't meant to be. If it was "Three Word Thursday" I think I'd use this with Phone Cameras Suck as the title. The green AWANA shirt looks teal blue, the award is a blur and Thomas's face looks like that face you try to see when you look at the moon on a clear night.

After laughing a bit at myself and the really horrible picture I got of the exciting moment, the Blessed Nora Fuller exclaims, "Why, I have my camera, right here in my purse!" and she proceeds to whip out the cuttest little camera you ever did see and snaps pictures RIGHT THERE like it's no big deal. Wow. I guess that's what happens when you've raised your children and become a grandparent. You are always prepared with a good camera that fits in your purse.

Lookie...

Me and my proud Thomas. Oh, and the Pixi Stick.

Nick and Thomas... buddies who received the same award on the same evening. They even got the same awesome reward of a Pixi Stick. Does life get any better?

What do you think? Do you have a phone with a camera that actually takes decent pictures indoors? I get a new phone this summer, so tell me about yours!

Three Word Thursday... Trio of Fun

Trio of Fun!

(This "Three Word Thursday" is a day late. It's Friday. I know. That's why I'm also allowed to write a little bit more since it's not officially a Thursday post. Check out the eye colors in these kids, brown, green and blue. I love it! Also, this was taken in the fall, just before Thomas got his braces on. I'll have to post another photo soon to show off his progress. No more gappy front teeth.)

Peace in the midst of anguish

I don't usually go into much personal stuff on this blog, but today I can't refuse. Yesterday I learned that my friend's husband left this earth for heaven. Long story short, he had side effects from cancer treatment that he couldn't survive. He beat the cancer, but not the side effects of treatment. Go google "bleomycin side effects" and you'll see "lung toxicity" show up again and again. The severity of this side effect is wide ranging and sadly, Tom had the extreme bad end of it.

His wife was faced with an agonizing decision each day for these past 3 weeks: continue the life support or... not. My prayer was that this decision be made abundantly clear to her. God is good how he pulled the details and events together. After 3 weeks of ups and downs, of hope vs reality, the decision was clear and life support was removed.

Through the process, it was amazing to see the Body of Christ in action. Praying. Ministering. Loving on each other. It was God at work, to be sure, at a time when we really needed to see and feel His presence. To know that the promise is true that He will never leave us.

I've had the Chris Tomlin song "I Will Rise" running through my mind as I think about how it is to leave this life for an eternal one in heaven. Specifically, I think of how this must have been for Tom. These are the words that have been stuck in my mind and heart:

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead


There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise


And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"


And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

Yes, I think of Tom, rising as his name was called. Feeling no more sorry, no more pain. Worshipping God in a way so pure we can't imagine it on this side of heaven. Angels rejoiced as they saw that the price Jesus paid long ago, bought Tom's entrance into heaven.

I know Tom is now with Jesus, breathing EASY!  I know Tom was received into the arms of Jesus. That said, I also know that cancer really sucks. And this whole thing sucks. My heart is sad and I ache for his family and those who will miss him deeply. But on we go, moving forward. God will provide grace and mercy and blessings as needed, because he is faithful.

Three Word Thursday... Now We're Talking!

NOW WE'RE TALKING!

Picture this...

After a night of snow (which somewhere in the dark hours turned to rain), our schools were 2 hours late start today. Yippie! This is what it looked like at our house:

(imagine a picture here of Amanda sleeping in her bed, arm wrapped around her body pillow)

(imagine a picture here of Emily curled into a ball, sleeping soundly, cat firmly planted at her feet)

(imagine a picture here of Thomas up and dressed, scrambling his own eggs for breakfast. That's my boy!)

As you can see, I didn't have the forethought to actually break out the camera and take pictures of our sloth-like morning. But I think you get the idea anyway.

And just so you DO have a fun picture to look at, here is a little something to remind you that rainy, cloudy skies WILL go away, summer is coming, and you WILL need sunglasses once again.

Annie and shades

Picasso in Seattle

Tickets to the Picasso at the Seattle Art Museum. They were a present for Jack from SANTA. I'm not sure if Mr. Picasso would have been on the naughty or nice list though, because he was quite the Lady's Man, flitting from one woman to another. Often, he didn't bother ending one relationship before starting the next. What a winner.

In spite of his less-than-admirable ways in romance, he lived an amazing life. His paintings reflected his own life experiences including street scenes, carnivals, and of course, women. A few of my favorites from the exhibit are below.



Portrait of Dora Maar, 1937
I like this painting because of how it shows Dora in profile and front face at the same time. So cleverly done and breaking all the "rules" of how portraits are done.

Dora was a real-life beauty.

Portrait of Olga in an Armchair, Fall 1918
It was interesting to see Picasso's classical style paintings. Absolutely beautiful. 

Sacré-Coeur, Winter 1909–10

The Acrobat, January 30, 1918
This piece was HUGE, taking up the whole wall. Wouldn't you like a print of this in your living room?

The Matador, 1970

Death of Casagemas 1901
Strangly, this was one of my favorites. It is an oil painting of his friend who had commited suicide over the grief of his lover declining a marriage proposal. It was smaller than I expected, maybe 15x12" and the oil was very thickly applied. In classic Picasso fashion, soon after his friend's death he started a romance with the woman who had rejected Casagemas.

Of course, no cameras are allowed in the exhibit, so these are the only pictures of us at the museum.



This is the kids, all making their faces look "Picasso-ish"



A little Picasso trivia for you, just in case you ever need it for playing Jeopardy or Wits and Wagers.

Full Name

Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Maria de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santisima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso

Birth Date
October 25, 1881

Birth Place
Malaga, Spain

Age at Death
91 (died April 8, 1973)

Number of artworks created
Estimated up to 50,000 (yup, he could crank it out!)