Father's Day

I like to do special things for Josh for Father's Day.  He's very sentimental and loves being a dad and really cherishes the Daddy things.

This year I followed followed the trend and did some photos of the girls, specifically with a D-A-D set of photos in there.   It's not easy to get 3 people to look at the camera and smile all at the same time.  Let alone do it with a 2 year old in there who is very stubborn.  And then add to that a teenager who just wants to go hang out with her friends.  But they cooperated long enough to get some cute shots. 

I framed an individual shot of each girl, plus 2 group shots, plus a collage frame with the D-A-D photos.

June Update

It's been a bit since I've posted a personal update on the family and what's going on with us.

The girls are getting old enough to do a lot more out of the house activities.  Parks, hiking, bike rides, etc.

We've made a couple trips to a local street fair called First Wednesday (takes place on the First Wednesday of the month in the summer). Here the girls enjoy playing the games, dancing to the church band, and just hanging out and enjoying the people watching.

We've spent time outside riding our bikes, really enjoying that we live on a quiet cul-de-sac.

We watched Josh's band, Northern Static, play at a local wine bar patio (outside = family friendly).

We all played together at our church's Open Mic Night (but no photos since we were all performing....).

It's been an exciting few months in our house and will continue to be exciting and fun and busy throughout the summer.

Pray for Oakland

Watching/listening/reading the news can be depressing.  This year has been especially depressing.  It seems like every other day we're hearing about a new shooting in the area.  San Jose went through a rough period earlier in the year.  Now Oakland seems to be going through a similar rough spot.

The city of Oakland has had struggles as of late.  In 2004, the number of police officers per 10,000 people was lower in Oakland than in many other major US Cities.  Eighteen in Oakland, versus 29 in San Francisco, 23 in LA, 45 in Chicago, 44 in New York.  WOW!!  Nearly half as many police officers per capita than these other large cities.  Since then, the police force has been cut even more.  As of June 1, 2013, Oakland employed 635 officers, while they need 1,100 to adequately patrol the city.  (http://www.orpn.org/staffing.htm)

If the current homicide rate continues, Oakland will have 115 homicides this year.  http://www.cityrating.com/crime-statistics/california/oakland.html

While that doesn't seem like many when you look at Chicago (over 500 in 2012), Oakland is home to only about 400,000 people.  In 2012, Oakland was 7 on the list of America's deadliest cities, with a rate of 33.1 murders for every 100,000 citizens (http://www.policymic.com/articles/22686/america-s-10-deadliest-cities-2012). 

 But this year and last year aren't anomalies.  This is the norm.  We can say, "at least we aren't Flint or Detroit, MI," sure.  But is that really what we want?  No.  We want the violent crime to cease.  We want the children who live in and go to school in Oakland to not be afraid to walk down the street, or for the single mom to not be afraid of her little children being home alone (because she can't afford after school care).

It is accepted that most of the homicides that happen are gang related shootings.  That's actually scarier than targeted crime to me. Because it means I can be driving down 880 on my way through to Berkeley and get caught in the crossfire of a gang shooting.  

When I first moved to California I lived in a very small city adjacent to Oakland.  I either drove or took the bus through the heart of Oakland daily.  I walked from the bus stop to my job - about 12 blocks.  I had to walk through downtown Oakland carrying $60-$100 in tips almost nightly.  I was very aware of the dangers of the city.  One day I heard a story of a shooting at a gas station.  But the bullet traveled into the house next door and struck a young person.  That gas station was across the street of the church I attended.  

I heard a story once that inspired me and has really stuck with me recently.  I believe God is nudging me.

As I understand it, back in the early 2000s, Oakland's crime rate was astronomical.  I think it might have been 2002 or 2003.  I think the homicide rate was the highest in the nation for either a period of time or for the year.  But I don't have any data to support that; it's based on my memory of events.  At any rate, a group of pastors in Oakland decided they needed to do something.  So for a period of time, I think 40 days, they fasted from sunrise to sunset.  That meant no food during that time.  It meant not making up for it by gourging at bedtime.  It meant praying during mealtimes.  It meant praying when hunger pangs struck.  It meant sacrificing comfort and satisfaction for prayer.  The subject of those prayers was Oakland.  For the safety of the citizens.  For the police force.  For the families of the victims.  For the businesses in the city.

Here is what I believe God is nudging me to do.

Even thought I don't live next door to Oakland anymore and it's rare that I travel to that area, this is very close to me because I lived near it and because this is my first real experience as an adult.  I believe God is nudging me to pray.  

To pray for Oakland.  

Five days a week for the 40 days (from tomorrow through July 31), I'm going to pray for Oakland.  Each day I'll pray something specific.  

Monday: pray for the victims of the crimes (2 Thes 3:2, "And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith." http://bible.us/111/2th.3.2.niv)

Tuesday: pray for the businesses and residents in the city (Psalm 5:2 Hear my cry for help,

my King and my God,

for to you I pray" - http://bible.us/111/psa.5.2.niv)

Wednesday: pray for the police force

Thursday: pray for the perpetrators of the crimes (OUCH .. who wants to do that?  Jesus calls us to in Matthew 5:44, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you - " http://bible.us/111/mat.5.44.niv)

Friday: pray for city unity and strength and peace

I invite you to pray with me.  I'd love it if you could pray for Oakland or San Jose.  But pray for your own city.  Pray for a city/region that's near/dear to you.

I've embedded a calendar I've created. Feel free to add this calendar to yours or follow along here if you want reminders of what/when to pray.

 

https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=jtolbuoj2meu4a9lhfatqgsgvk%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Los_Angeles

EFF -- OH -- YOU -- ARE .....

Oh my goodness.  FOUR years old.  

Four years ago today you came into this world.  You had to make a dramatic entrance cause nothing is simple/easy for you.  You have turned my world upside down and I am so happy for that.

You are so smart.  Every day you tell me something new that you know and I have no idea where you are learning these things.  You obviously pay attention to the world around you and pick up on everything that happens.

You are caring and loving.  You love your sisters and brother.  You really look after your little sister and make sure that she's OK.  and you totally look up to your big sister and want to do whatever she does.  And you miss your big brother.  You tell me almost every day how much you miss him.  You were over the moon when you got to talk to him the other day.

We went up to Mount Diablo the other day and you surprised both your dad and me with your hiking/climbing skills.  You were diligent in avoiding poison oak ("Green is Mean") and you were quick to hike up the hills and find the next way to go.  You knew when to sit and slide down a rock instead of walk.  and you were great at finding foot holes to get up the rock.

You love church and God and Jesus.

You love to dance and sing and play the drums and the piano.

Your favorite shows are My Little Pony and Strawberry Shortcake.  

Just like a typical little girl you are totally into Barbies and Princesses - and I think that's fantastic.  Cause you also know that you can be anything you want when you grow up and you can be a strong woman and a girly-girl at the same time.

You are totally on the verge of reading.  You're able to sound out all the letters and are putting them together in word form.  You even know some words already.

You color "like a boss."  Your art skills are shocking me daily.  I love seeing what you do at daycare every day and bring home.

I love you Audrey Grace and I'm so happy and proud to be your mama.  God gave me a great little girl for a daughter and I hope I honor Him by raising you right.

Happy Birthday Audrey Grace!!!!

Memorization Monday - 4/8/13

Welcome to Memorization Monday.

Please join me in memorizing scripture. Every Monday I'll post my new memory verse.  You can memorize this one with me, or post your own verse from your own scripture reading.  Share with me in the comments what verse you're learning this week.

This week's verse comes from yesterday's sermon.  

Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

http://bible.us/111/rom.5.1.niv

I liked this verse for the word justified.  Justified, here, means made completely new as if our sin never happened.  Our faith in Christ erased our sin completely as if we never sinned in the beginning.  Consequently we have full access to God anytime we want.

If you join me, please add my link button found at the bottom.

<a href="http://christinescontemplations.blogspot.com/search/label/memorizationmonday/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyvCAu30-V2TDyGFDv8zQNU_qW7LSn6PbRvP5r2N1wvdMIl7H4ZAWebIH923BdQdu-N-Gl6PKYV_mHjWRVBa72QWUbyfazFAuyREs3tbrS6WkGtDASvA2F8tuyDow6rJj7N_og75hlJY/s200/MM-Monday.jpg" width="200" />

40 Verses in 40 Days - a recap

I did it.  I completed my journey of memorizing 40 verses in 40 days.

There were days I had to carve out time to memorize the verse because I was busy.

There were days the verse came easy.

There were days I didn't get the verse memorized.  So I had to do it the next day.

There were days I had so much free time while waiting and standing in line that I could've memorized 2 or 3 verses but instead reviewed.

There were days I didn't have time to review my verses.

But I read my bible daily

I found a verse every day.  Some days they were verses on a list I've been wanting to memorize.  Or part of the chapter I memorized.  Some days they were right out of my reading.  The week leading up to Easter I followed the Holy Week devotions that our pastor created and all my verses were from there.

This was an interesting journey/project.  I learned some new verses that are neat.  I have some new encouraging verses in my head.  I have some new "this is my faith" verses.  And those are great reasons to memorize scripture.  ABSOLUTELY!!!  But mostly, because I added a new verse EVERY DAY and had to review previous verses, it kept me so wrapped up in God's word that my sanity was totally kept in check. I felt calmer about things that should have had me outraged.  I felt closer to God.  And that ... my friend ... was the point of this.

They say it takes 21 times to make a habit.  I did this 40 days.  When I woke up Monday morning and finished reading my bible I felt something missing when I didn't pick a memory verse.

I will continue.  I LOVE it.  I really do.

I think I'm going to work on memorizing 2-3 a week.  Daily was a bit more than I could handle.  But weekly just isn't enough to keep me interested and working on it.

Watch for the return of Memorization Monday.

If You're Happy and You Know It...

If you're happy and you know it clap your hands...

 

If you're happy and you know it stomp your feet

If you're happy and you know it shout Hooray!

If you're happy and you know then your face will surely show it...

 

 

If you're happy and you know it clap your hands....

Muir Beach

Due to Josh's band schedule, I get a lot of time with the girls just the 3 of us.  I take advantage of this time to get out of the house and go do something.  Usually I stay local and go to parks or local entertainment places.  But this weekend I wanted to do something different.  Right after Josh left for his gig, I packed the girls in the car and we went for a drive to the beach.  I chose one of the few beaches that I know without having to go through the city or have to consult a GPS.  And one that wouldn't be super busy.

I grossly underestimated how long it would take to get there.  I thought it would be just about an hour.  Turns out it was an hour and a half and we weren't even to the beach I wanted to go to.  But we were at A beach, so that's OK.  It was already getting late and I wanted them to play some before it got too cold.

Mom fail - I didn't bring a change of clothes.  Or walking shoes.  Or jackets.  I did bring snacks, but left them in the car.  I did bring a change of diapers.  but also left those in the car.  and no sand toys.  And it was too cold to play in the water.  But nothing stops a 2 and 3 year old from playing in the sand and being goofy.  We went for a hike up the hill, but wearing only flip flops they struggled.  It was steep.  I got some exercise picking Annie up, putting her down, picking her up, putting her down.  And going up the hill carrying her on my shoulders ("Uppy head," she says).

It was a great change of scenery and fresh air.  I was hoping to get some photos of the sunset, but it was overcast and hazy and there wasn't going to be one.  And it was cold, so we left earlier.  The girls were covered in sand.  So they took off their pants and shoes and we used baby wipes to clean feet and hands.  And because it was nearly bedtime and traffic was really bad leaving the beach, we had to get dinner at Burger King.  

We had a good time.

The girls were agreeable enough to pose for some photos for me in front of the water.  That was nice.  And they were cooperative and did what I asked, too.

Audrey's rock collection - it stretched 2 full logs

Placing her flag

Surf's Up

Surf's Up

Sisters

Smile .... 

Smile!!!  :D

Collage of all their shots

The full photoset can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/biochemtine/sets/72157632907181453/with/8527069614/

40 verses Update

We are ten days into Lent, so I thought I'd post a quick update.

I am not posting an update in hopes of getting a pat on the back.  I am looking for accountability, and posting this will give me that accountability.  More likely to stick to a goal if it's out in the world and people know about it.

My verses for the first 10 days of Lent and why I chose them.

Psalm 62:1: a good reminder I don't need to stress when I have God.  My soul finds rest in Him.

Psalm 66:1-2: it's always good to sing and shout for joy

Titus 2:11-12: God's Grace teaches us and helps us live godly lives.  It's not my doing, but His.

Galatians 3:14: I get the same blessing as promised to Abraham, which includes the Spirit. 

Psalm 139:1*

Psalm 139:2*

Psalm 139:3*

2 John 1:6, 9: It's all about LOVE.  And vs. 9 is a prayer for my kids.  That I would raise them so they continue in the teaching of Christ.

Psalm 139:4*

Galatians 2:20-21: Grace.  It's all about Grace.  It's not about how good I be, but about God's gift of grace.  Otherwise Christ died in vain.

*When I was in college I memorized Psalm 139.  It became my life "verse."  It has so much meat to it and it's a great passage when feeling alone in a desert place or like I've fallen too far from God.  Over the years I've forgotten it.  I knew the gist of it and that's really what's important.  But I liked being able to recite the whole thing.  So I'm re-memorizing it during this Lent season.

Mommy and Me Monday

My mommy is in town and was trying to get pictures of her grandbabies.  Annie wasn't cooperating, so I stepped in and held Annie to get her in the photo.

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?