Angles Game and More BBQ pics

So, a couple of weeks ago, I went to an Angels game with Brandon, Eric and Lisa. It was a lot of fun. I was going to post about it earlier, but I've been waiting on pictures from someone...you know who you are.



Here we are: Having fun. Way to go Eric taking a good pciture! :)

Brandon also gave me a couple of shots from the BBQ in September. Good times, I thought you might like to see a couple more shots of Flo and Marge because we were hot!



Pictures:
Roxanne Skit in full effect and my backside view. No padding folks. :) Yeah right!

More to come soon... lots going on and lots to talk about! :)

Love as Kids See It

Ardie passed this on to me and I thought others should be able to see it. :)

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?"

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:
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"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."

Rebecca- age 8
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"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."

Billy - age 4
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"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."

Karl - age 5
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"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."

Chrissy - age 6
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"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

Terri - age 4
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"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."

Danny - age 7
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"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing,you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"

Emily - age 8
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"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
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"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."

Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)
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"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."

Noelle - age 7
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"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

Tommy - age 6
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"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."

Cindy - age 8
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"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."

Clare - age 6
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"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."

Elaine-age 5
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"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."

Chris - age 7
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"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."

Mary Ann - age 4
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"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."

Lauren - age 4
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"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image)

Karen - age 7
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"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."

Mark - age 6
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"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

Jessica - age 8
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And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.
The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.
Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"

Goober

And the award for biggest goober, starring in his own life, goes to:



Sean Potter


Cas-sometimes, you just have to wonder about this one.

Baby Jonah

This past Wednesday, September 27, I witnessed a miracle...the miracle of life. Sue and Scott McClain (my bosses) had their baby boy-Jonah Bradford McClain. I had the priviledge of being in the room for the delivery and it is something that I will never forget. Here are some pictures of the cutest baby!!! I know everyone always says that about babies, but I seriously think that Jonah is ADORABLE!!!



















Every child born into the world is a new thought of God, an ever-fresh and radiant possibility. -Kate Douglas Wiggin

Young Life BBQ

Well, I promised that I would post some pictures from the BBQ and here they are! :)

Jamie and I were "Flo and Marge" two southern ladies bringing a glimpse, a touch, a look, a window, if y'all will to the area where Scott (my boss) was reared.



Here we are, doing our thing!


All of our lovely volunteers doing a YL skit called "Roxanne" where the women put a marshmellow in the guys mouth every time Sting says the name Roxanne. It's hilarious.


After that skit was over, they auctioned me off to jump in the pool. Yeah, my DAD payed $300 ... the bidding started at $10. :)


Me in the pool. IT WAS COLD!!!! And I lost my wig!

My Mom spoke at the event. She is awesome!


Overall, it was an incredible event and we raised a lot of money for Young Life. It was great.

Blessings.

Farewell to Crocodile Hunter

As expected, there was one empty seat at Irwin's personal stadium - the one set aside for the late and hugely popular "Crocodile Hunter" himself. On the stage sat Irwin's widow, American-born Terri, and their two children, Bindi, 8, and Bob, 2 - all dressed in Irwin's favored khaki outfit. It was their first public appearance since Irwin's death.

"Please do not grieve for Steve, he's at peace now," said Steve's father, Bob Irwin. "Grieve for the animals. They have lost the best friend they ever had, and so have I."

Later, Bindi Irwin told the crowd at the ceremony that she had the "best daddy in the world."

"I will miss him every day," she said.

Flags on the Sydney Harbor Bridge flew Wednesday at half-staff, and giant television screens were set up in Irwin's home state of Queensland for people to watch the service. Three of Australia's main television networks carried the hour-long ceremony, which was made available to U.S. and international networks and which family officials said could be watched by as many as 300 million people.

One of Irwin's favorite Australian country singers, John Williamson, sang one of the naturalist's favorite songs, "True Blue."

At the end of the ceremony, Irwin's utility vechicle, packed with camping gear and his favorite surfboard, was driven from the stadium - through an honor guard of Australia Zoo employees - to an encore singing of "True Blue."

After the truck left the stadium, a group of employees spelled out Irwin's catchword "Crikey" in yellow flowers on the ground.

Doing What You Love

I am a very blessed person. I have a great job! I think it was Albert Einstein who said, "Pick a job that you love and you'll never work a day in your life." Wise words from a wise man.
All that to say, work is going very well. I've been officially on staff for a little over two months now. This Saturday we are having a pretty big fundraiser. Kind of excited about it. My friend Jami West and I are doing a "walk-on" which means that we get to be some crazy characters and come out and have some fun with the audience. I won't spoil the surprise, but rest assured, there will be some pictures of the event on this site!

Via, Veritas, Vita
Semper Eadem

WOW

Came across this article today. All I can say is, what is airline travel coming to when you have to win an argument about paper.

J.K. Rowling Challenges Airport Security
Sep 14, 9:17 AM EST


The Associated Press

LONDON -- British author J.K. Rowling says she won an argument with airport security officials in New York to carry the manuscript of the final "Harry Potter" book as carryon baggage.

Had security agents not relented, she said on her Web site, she might not have flown, she said in a posting dated Wednesday.

"I don't know what I would have done if they hadn't — sailed home probably," she wrote.

The author had participated in a book reading for charity on Aug. 1 with fellow writers Stephen King and John Irving. Security was drastically tightened after Aug. 10 when British police said they had intercepted a plot to blow up U.S.-bound airliners.

"The heightened security restrictions on the airlines made the journey back from New York interesting, as I refused to be parted from the manuscript of book seven.

"A large part of it is handwritten and there was no copy of anything I had done while in the U.S."

Eventually, she added, "They let me take it on, thankfully, bound up in elastic bands."

Rowling said she was still considering two possible titles for the last of the boy wizard's adventures.

"I was quite happy with one of them until the other one struck me while I was taking a shower in New York," she wrote.

"They would both be appropriate, so I think I'll have to wait until I'm further into the book to decide which one works best."

What's New?

It's been awhile since I've posted anything, yikes! Things have been busy and since I've left AmeriCorps, I haven't felt the need to update my blog as regularly. Not that my life isn't interesting, I just see people more often. However, for those who do not have that privledge, here's some stuff that's been going on with me:

Work is going really well. It's almost been two months since I started and it's hard for me to imagine that. I have an awesome job. I feel so blessed and I couldn't imagine doing anything else right now.

FUNNY STORY! I went to get my hair cut last Friday...My hair stylist, Ermanno, is so awesome which is why I drive to San Clemente to get my hair done. Anyways, first off, he said my hair cut was too conservative and that I needed to spice it up. He said some other things about my hair cut, but they don't need repeating. The really funny part was that he mentioned that he met my Dad. Here's how the conversation unfolded:

Ermanno: I met your Father at the store.
Me: Oh, really?
Ermanno: Yes, he was with your Mother. Is he your Father or your Step Father?
Me: He's my Dad.
Ermanno: He's a good looking guy. I mean, I'm straight, but I just call it like it is.

I was DYING. What was even better was telling the story to my parents. We all had a good laugh.

Let's see, what else has been going on in my life? Oh yes, I finally finished my AmeriCorps scrapbook. Now, I realize that isn't hot news to many of you, but it has been looming over my head since the beginning of July and I just finished it this past weekend. I really like it. I do have to add some more pictures, but then I'll be done. Good times!!!

In closing, I recently bought Casting Crowns CD Lifesong. I have pretty much been listening exclusively to it since the purchase. All of the songs are pretty powerful, but I especially like the chorus of the song In Me:

Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind, You shine Your light on me
Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I'll stand on Your truth, and I'll fight with Your strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

Birthdays and Flooring

My Mom turned 50 (!!!!) at the end of August. Yeah, I know this is a late post. CRAZY! Both of my parents are now 50 and I'm not going to lie, it kinda freaks me out. Just a little. :) Anyways, we had a really fun celebration: beach party on the Saturday before (26th) and a fancy dinner with all of her siblings (minus Aunt Cris because she's currently in Atlanta) and with Nana at Duanne's at the Mission Inn. And, we had our favorite waiter, BOGART!! Love him!


Mom and Her Siblings! A Pretty motley looking crew if I've ever seen one. :)


My Amazingly good looking parents...can you believe they are both 50? They sure don't look it!


Nana and her two pingitos...she knows how much we love her!

In other news, I recently helped out my Uncle Chris with a little flooring in his Master Bathroom. Man it felt good to hold a hammer in my hands again. I can't believe how much I miss it. It was a mini AmeriDay for me. AND, to top it all off, the floor turned out great!


The Amazing toilet room... you can't really appreciate it unless you know how hard those angles are to cut. It took FOREVER and we almost ran out of wood!!

Don't hit me! I didn't do it!!! Just Kidding, Uncle and Niece hard at Work

The rest of the bathroom...not too shabby, huh? I'd say it looks pretty darn good.