Catch Up

When I started this blog in January of '07, my intention was to take a picture of my kids each day to see how they change and grow and to take a picture of something that reflects who I am and what I do. I've done several variations on that and I enjoy looking back on the year and being able to see and remember what happened instead of drawing a blank like I have in years past when trying to recall what happened and when it happened and even if anything significant happened. (BIG run-on, entirely confusing sentence!) Lately my life has become somewhat routine (get up, check e-mail, educate my kids, straighten house, go to work, come home, play a game, watch TV, go to sleep) which is good AND bad. I'm enjoying the relative calm (before the storm) but there just isn't as much to blog about. I've already come to the conclusion that my blog "is what it is". I'm not looking for a large audience (I love the three people who check it everyday- you know who you are!), I'm not trying to be smarter or funnier or hipper than other blogs that I read, so I'm pretty comfortable doing what I'm doing. Maybe I'll go back to posting quick, daily photos, but maybe not! In the meantime, this is what the last week looked like starting with yesterday (Thursday) and going all the way back to last Wednesday!!

We've had a ton of snow lately which I've really been enjoying. It's been a long time since it has snowed like this. I could do without the freezing temperatures, but this is the first winter in a long time that I've reveled in the winter weather instead of longing for Spring.

This was our science experiment yesterday, straight out of Exploring Creation With Physical Science, which we love and highly reccomend:
The experiment demonstrates how the water cycle works. We boiled salt water and waited for it to "rain":

We waited and waited. . .

. . . and waited. . .

We got a little tired of waiting so we each wandered off to do other things. BIG mistake. It wasn't long before the bag of ice slid off the lid it was resting on and hit the burner, catching fire and threatening to burn down the kitchen. Fortunately I heard the "clunk" as it fell and put the fire out pretty quickly. . . my only regret was that I didn't take a picture first!!! Oh well, here's the melted bag. . .

Wednesday classes at church were canceled due to the weather but we die-hard quizzers met for a couple of hours anyway. These guys really know their stuff:

An experiment earlier in the week proved to be much less dangerous. This glass contains syrup, colored water and vegtable oil. It was an experiment about density and, as we dropped in a variety of items, we were able to tell if they were more or less dense than each of the three liquids:

Very interesting.

On Sunday, we hired the three boys to help us move things from one of our buildings to the next. (We have been reorganizing things since we rented out half of one of our buildings this month. It's been a huge amount of work, but it will be worth it in the end.) The boys did a fabulous job!!

Apparently I didn't take a single picture between Thursday and Sunday, therefore I have no idea what I did . . . We celebrated Rob's 40th birthday on Thursday and my mom and dad wrote a song and sang it to Rob. It was pretty funny!! I was really hoping other people would be around but no such luck!

The four of us went to Sizzler to celebrate Rob's inevitable demise and I couldn't get these two to smile nicely to save my life. (Zach also lost his wallet this night with a $50 bill in it. I'm pretty sure we won't be seeing that again. . . )

Zach took pictures at youth group Wednesday night:

. . . And we made cute litte snowmen in Kid's Club. . .

(yes, that's a hair extension clipped in Gloria's hair- not my idea):

And, finally, I love this picture of Snowfie all curled up on Rob's butt. She has no idea that he isn't a cat person. Luckily, she isn't really a cat.

Remembering

Yesterday was Shawn's last Sunday behind the pulpit at BFC. I'm still in denial about the McConaughey's move to Newberg so I only shed a few, easily concealed tears but his sermon stuck with me all day.

He talked about Moses and the promised land and the importance of remembering the past in order to go forward into the future. (He put it much more succinctly than that, but that's how I'll sum it up!) At one point, he asked us to remember our past at BFC and to think about people and moments that changed who we are today (again, I'm summing up). I found myself reflecting on this quite a bit during the service and then off and on all day. There have been many, many people and circumstances during the last 14 years that have shaped who I am today. Some of these memories aren't great but God has definitely used all of these experiences to draw me closer to Him. I have more memories-good and bad-than I can write about here, but I'll try to sum it up as best I can. Our very first Sunday at BFC was on Mother's Day, 1994. Rob and I were looking for a church after about 7 years of self-exile (mine) from organized religion and my parents were attending there while resting up after their own good-ministry-gone-bad experience. I remember my mom handing Rob a bulletin that had a snippet about Saturday Men's Basketball and I knew we had found our church. I also remember Rob jumping in to the "church experience" with both feet while I hung back just a little bit. Every Sunday Rob would practically drag me up to the second pew from the front, next to the aisle, and he would hang on every word of the new pastor. Before long, he and Gary were fast friends and they were discussing ways for us to be involved, especially with the music. I remember not quite being ready to fully participate. I grew up in the church and had had my share of bad experiences and I just wasn't willing to be "real" yet. I didn't want people to know who we really were. At the time, I was working at Garcia's Mexican Restaurant as a part-time food server, part-time bartender. I hadn't read a book by a Christian author since my days at NNC and the only contemporary Christian singer I knew of that was still popular was Amy Grant. And she wasn't that popular anymore. I felt like a fraud and I was sure everyone would find out. Rob became a Christian just a few weeks after we began attending and he was on fire. Most of my memories of that first year are of me trying to fit in by being someone I wasn't. I knew the lingo (Christian-ese) and I had the "right" kind of upbringing, so I put on my Sunday smile each week and soaked up the attention the new pastor gave us because of our participation in the music, and hoped no one would notice how out of place I felt. Zach and Rob were very happy and accepted but I was on the outside looking in. I don't remember when it happened, exactly, but I did make friends and I even learned some new choruses like "As the Deer" (seriously!). I read a few Chuck Swindoll books, joined a ladies Bible Study, quit my job as a bartender and BFC gradually grew to feel like home to me. The next few years were some of the best and some of the worst of my entire life. I have serious authority figure issues so my heart and mind were thrown into complete and utter confusion by the pastor of the church during this time. One day he would be loving, encouraging and serving and the next, rude, self-serving and angry. Since Rob and I were very involved during this time, we were far too close to the fire. By this time, I was wearing my heart on my sleeve and it was beaten to a pulp. God used this time and these experiences to draw me to Him. I searched the Bible everyday to try to understand what was happening. I journaled and prayed and cried out to God to show me what to do. I remember so many good things happening in the midst of the confusion- I began some incredible, life-long friendships, we poured our hearts into creating music and leading worship, and Zach gave his young heart to Jesus. AND in the spring of 1998, I got pregnant with Gloria. It's difficult to look back and remember 1998. It was a hard year all the way around. Gloria was born in December and the church was rocked by a nasty split in February of 1999. (I still connect Gloria's birth with the split since so much of her early months were a blur because of the emotional and spiritual turmoil.) We lost so much during that time that still has not been recovered. For better or worse, this pastor had been Rob's first mentor as a new Christian and it left a pretty bad after taste for both of us. It wasn't long after the split before the church people rallied and we pulled ourselves up by our boot straps. Stories were shared as we dusted each other off and the shaky healing began. This was about the time that Gregg and Shawn rode in on their white horses to save the day. We were a crushed and hurting congregation. We were angry and confused and many of us were not ready to trust another pastor. And yet, we did. Slowly but surely, with God's help, Gregg and Shawn patched us up and began to teach us about the unconditional love of imperfect people who were listening to God and loving regardless of the cost. I remember that my heart was pretty cold when they first came in the summer of 1999 but it gradually began to melt as these two families reached out to help. By the time the Koskela's were called back to Newberg in 2002, we were a (mostly) healthy congregation and I had learned an awful lot about God's love and how to trust Him completely. Gil and Louise stepped in to fill the big gap that Gregg left behind and, although it was incredibly difficult to say good-bye to Gregg, Elaine and the girls (and the new baby!!) I trusted now that God had a plan and that we would be OK. And we have been OK. Shawn and Gil have been a great team and the church has overcome some great obstacles under their leadership. The split is rarely mentioned anymore and there are very few "triggers" that take me back to that tumultuous time. In fact, I hadn't thought much about it at all until Shawn asked us to remember- thanks Shawn- on Sunday but I'm glad I took the time to take this trip down memory lane. It has reminded me that God always has a plan. His plan is not a contingency plan but absolutely PLAN A. It has reminded me that God uses a variety of people to reveal himself in amazing ways. He took good AND bad experiences and taught me about himself and his love in a way that no human author could do. People are imperfect- all of them. Churches are imperfect- all of them. Pastors (and all authority figures!) are imperfect- all of them. I am imperfect- all of me, all the time. And amazingly enough, God uses people and churches and pastors and even ME to draw us to Him. So remembering these past experiences has helped me to feel good about the future. I will miss the McConaughey's more than I can say but they have been a huge part of the preparation for me, personally, and for BFC as we continue to move forward. Shawn has shown us, through his life and ministry, that we will be OK when he leaves. His last sermon wasn't one of sadness and of dwelling on the past, but one of joy and of looking to the future. I appreciate his take on moving forward. So, Shawn, if you managed to stay with me for this long, thank-you. Thank-you for being real and for giving us a little shove into the future. I will, however, remain in denial until I see the tail lights of your moving truck sometime this summer! :)

Rob's 40!!

I met Rob shortly after his 18th birthday so I've had 22 years to watch him transform into the amazing man that he is today. Happy birthday, Rob, I love you!!

A Roller Coaster Ride

During the summer of 2006 our family went to Lagoon for a short but fun family vacation. One of the roller coasters there reminded me very much of my life:

There were quick, unpredictable turns, slow ascents and breathtaking drops, and you never knew if the next turn would leave you facing forwards, backwards or upside down. I have often felt backwards and upside down in this business that we are in because it is not familiar territory to me. I've learned many things over the last few years that I would never have intentionally learned left to my own devices and there are still many, many holes in my knowledge, or lack thereof, in this crazy business that I co-own. If we were starting back at square one tomorrow, knowing now what I didn't know then, I don't think I would have the courage to take that first step. I've survived the last four summers mainly because I've been on this wild ride that seemingly holds me in through sheer inertia. (I sometimes have to remind Rob, "You're in this business because you love it. I'm in this business because I love you.") The roller coaster has been coasting along this winter as if it's pausing to let riders off and on. I guess you could say I've even gotten off myself and taken a little breather. Lately I've started to feel like we're slowly creeping back up the steepest part of the track and, before I've properly braced myself, we'll be racing down the other side, hitting a sharp turn that will spin me backward and we'll be rocketing upside down through another loop-de-loop. I hope I can hang on. . .

(www.coastergallery.com)

A Fleet of Trucks

In anticipation of several large upcoming shows, we purchased another box truck. This one is about 20 years newer than the one we've been using for the last 4 years and, hopefully, it will prove just as reliable. (Rob loves his trusty old 1969 box truck and is still planning to use it around town!)

Shortly after we bought it, I was struck with a funny thought- we now own a fleet of trucks. HA! I looked up the definition on Dictionary.com and it only took a little wind out of my sails:

FLEET:
a large group of ships, airplanes, trucks, etc., operated by a single company or under the same ownership: He owns a fleet of cabs.

So, it's not a large group, but it's a good start!!!

Monday at the Movies

Pretty?? In Pink

Pink is really not my color. When I made the deal with the quiz team, I should have offered to pierce my nose because it would have been easier and more attractive. I had made an appointment way back in December to have my hair cut and highlighted on Saturday and Mechelle warned me that putting any type of gel or dye on top of the highlights would cause a permanent stain. She added a few modest pink highlights to the new blond ones that would wash out in a couple of weeks and would allow me to say I had dyed my hair pink. From the look on Zach's face when I got home, I knew it wouldn't be enough so I spent the day Saturday trying to find an acceptable solution that would satisfy the kids and not leave me permanently pink. I purchased a long, blond hair extension, some glue to attach it with, a couple of bright pink pony tails and a bottle of bright pink hair spray. I tried all sorts of combinations but couldn't find a satisfactory solution. On Sunday morning, I finally bit the bullet and just sprayed my hair. It wasn't pretty. I brought the spray with me to church in case the kids wanted to join me in my pinkishness but Lori decided my pink was too wimpy and really let me have it. Amazingly enough, when Lori was through with me, there was still enough pink left in the bottle that each of the quizzers got a shot of pink, too. I knew I'd have to make explanations early in the service, so I had the kids join me up front. I was reminded again of how well they did and how proud I am of them. The pink was worth it.

Yikes!

In spite of the silly-ness, worship as a whole was very meaningful for me. I was struck by a very real sense of belonging with this community of believers. It had nothing to do with the pink hair and everything to do with the acceptance and authenticity of the people around me that is displayed time and again. I enjoy coming to church and being in the company of my "family". After church, the quiz team decided we should go to Wendy's and spend the prize they received at the quiz meet. All of the parents came along and we had a great time. We really should do this more often.

Just for the record, the pink spray washed out on the first try on Sunday afternoon!

Gloria morphing into Amanda Bynes

%1

Jessica "Rob" Simpson

I wasted an entire evening and it's all Gregg's fault. He posted a "face recognition" site on his blog and I finally had the opportunity to check it out today- it's addictive. And hilarious. The best part is that Rob resembles Jessica Simpson!!

Gloria's Celebrity Look Alikes

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Zach's Celebrity Look Alike

Tanya's Celebrity Look Alikes

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Rob's Celebrity Look-Alikes

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Happy Birthday, Megan!

Megan turned 9 years old on January 18!! Here is a picture of Megan and Gloria when they were about 6 and 7 months old with Kristin and Kathy Fulkerson at the fountain in front of Edwards Theater:

She's growing into a beautiful young lady:

The girls all went ice skating for Megan's party on Saturday and had a great time. There were a few bumps and bruises but they all survived!

Game Crazy

When I was growing up, I liked to play games so much that if I couldn't convince someone to play a game with me, I'd play it by myself. Monopoly was my game of choice and I would set up a four player game and take each player's turn without actually favoring one over the other until one of me won the game. I could do this for hours. It's a miracle I ever found a boyfriend, much less a husband. Zach has inherited this trait from me and hopefully it won't affect his future marital status. He takes it a step further, however, and mixes LOTR Risk and Star Wars Risk together to see if A Galaxy Far, Far Away can conquer Middle Earth. Or not. So, the other night, he was just setting up the games when we got home from the Covington concert and he asked if I wanted to play. I was too tired so I declined but, out of nowhere, Rob said, "Sure". Rob has never wanted to play Risk with us. In fact, Rob mocks us for playing Risk. It was too good to pass up so I played anyway. We started to play LOTR Risk at 9:30 p.m., Zach battled my last hobbit out of The Shire around 1 a.m. and Rob became the new ruler of Middle Earth at 3:00 a.m. I guess he won't be mocking us anymore.

Emma

Emma is the best dog- EVER. I've always known she was a good dog. She's patient, loving, obedient and smart. She's a good listener and very loyal. She comes when she's called (usually), she can shake with both hands, give a high-five and "speak" on command. She never has accidents in the house and she always lets Lucy, who is still just a pup, have first dibs on everything. But tonight, she really proved her goodness. She sat perfectly still for about 15 minutes while Gloria painted each and every one of her long black nails.

I think she might even have liked it!

American Idol's Bucky Covington

In our line of work, you never know when you wake up what the day will hold. On Monday night, Rob received a phone call and was given the opportunity to run sound for two concerts on Tuesday for Bucky Covington, an American Idol contender a couple of seasons ago. I tend to wait until the last couple of episodes to watch Idol so I haven't exactly followed this man's career, but I am familiar with one of his songs that plays on the radio. The first concert was in Vale, Oregon at the local high school and the second was a listener appreciation event in Boise.

I've been opting out of shows lately since we have several good, qualified people who want to help with events, so all I had to do was show up in the evening and enjoy.

It was a very laid-back, acoustic set with plenty of audience feed back. I was impressed with Bucky's ability to entertain the crowd. He's very personable and put on a good show.

So, even though I don't have benefits like insurance and paid vacations, I do have this: