14 Years and Counting

On June 21st, Steve and I celebrated 14 years of marriage.  There was not a whole lot of hoopla to celebrate the actual anniversary but thanks to the very generous heart of a good friend, Steve and I got to go out for dinner and a movie last night while she watched our kids.   It was so nice to have some real conversations over dinner.  As we do every year on our anniversary, we asked one another this question: "On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate our marriage right now and why?"  It always stimulates a good discussion and thankfully, we are always within one point of each other's score (When things are going well...we both know. And when things need to improve...we both know!).    

This year, I gave us a 6.  Steve gave us a 5.  These numbers did not surprise either one of us.  Our main complaints: no time with one another and no fun in our lives.  The past three years have been hard.  Sometimes it feels like we are walking through fire.  Our days are very long and filled with lots of hard work, lots of studying, and lots of attending to the needs of demanding children.  There are many days when Steve and I only get to spend a few minutes talking to one another before we are on to the next thing (or collapsed and asleep).

We know this is only a season (which is coming to an end in about a month - thank goodness).  But we also know that when studying for the Bar is OVER, we have some work to do to invest in one another and get those numbers back up.  

On the positive side, we still love each other!  And we still like each other!  And even though it feels like are walking through fire at times, we know that we will walk out the other end alive (and together).

For a little fun, here's a look back at three of the major things that have shaped our marriage over the past 14 years.  If we can survive the band (paradigm) and all the traveling/nuttiness that went along with that, having twins while also caring for a highly spirited two-year-old, and navigating the insanity of law school with three young kids, is there any mountain that we can't climb together?

P.S.  Pray for us!  We know that Year 15 will bring some relief in terms of time with one another, but we already know that it will also have its challenges (as we grieve a divorce in our extended family, seek a job for Steve, start to pay down some of our school loans/debt, and continue to learn how to parent and make good choices for our family in this community...).  We know God is big enough to handle all of that - and more - but we need to fix our eyes on Him, who is the very source of our love for one another.  Thanks for being part of our journey!

Thank You U2...

For coming to Oakland a year later than originally planned so we didn't have to sell our tickets when we were unexpectedly in DC last summer!

For letting superfans like Erik and Todd (and Susannah who was in the front row again!) purchase General Admission tickets so that we can be close to you when you're playing. (and thank you, Erik, for letting Steve and I buy two of those said tickets from you)

For having a cool stage with a fun, moveable catwalk that went directly over my head every now and then, giving me a glimpse of Bono's molars when he sang

For having the coolest guitarist ever

'nuff said

For putting on an amazing performance

For being just what the doctor ordered two days after "Kids at Heart."  What a great way to blow off some steam.  Really good times!

Bridge of Life

David Lindner, pastor of Bridge of Life Church, wrote the below document and read it to us at a recent leadership meeting.  It sums up Bridge of Life beautifully.  So, if you're one of my friends who has recently asked me, "How's Bridge of Life going?" here's a great answer to that question:

Imagine

Imagine a single mom trying to get by in this economy, caring for her kids, putting food on the table, and becoming all that God has made her to be, using the best of herself to serve others. 

Imagine a family juggling education, kids’ activities and odd jobs, battling depression and poverty, dealing with mental illness, yet leading others to experience freedom and joy in Christ’s love.

Imagine a lonely sick man, getting older, sicker, and lonelier each year, battling bitterness and the crushing weight of decades of legalism, yet clinging to God’s word and awakening to his grace.

Imagine a couple finding freedom from drug addiction and homelessness, beginning to grow in grace as the gospel penetrates their hearts and moves them to serve God and others radically out of their poverty.

Imagine a young couple, highly educated and skilled, starting a family, burning the candle at both ends to follow God’s call to serve in the kind of neighborhood they have been taught to avoid.

Imagine a lost soul, living in the woods, dulling the pain of lost family and lost hope with alcohol, but finally finding a place where a human touch helps him begin to feel God’s grace in his bones.

Now imagine each of these families multiplied by a couple dozen, and a few dozen more people of many other types, sharing life together, deeply, against all odds, across all barriers, so much so that each of them has family and friends that are taken aback by some of the people with whom they spend time.

Imagine a couple hundred of these interesting people getting together in small groups during the week to pray, study the Bible, share food and life, spend themselves in selfless service with others, working for justice in their neighborhood and the world.

Imagine them inviting their friends to a weekly celebration they call worship, where they cry out in praise to their King with reckless abandon, gather around God’s word to receive and spread His gospel of grace and share how it shapes their life stories, and the whole event is prayerfully designed to best meet the felt and the deeper needs of diverse visitors who ordinarily would not feel welcomed or comfortable in a church.

Yes, you are imagining church.  Our church.  Bridge of Life.

Can you see it?

It may be difficult to see it when we start in singing with 10 tired voices. 

It may be difficult to see when we have a few young kids craving excitement trapped in a sad beige dungeon and told to “ssshhhh!”

It may be difficult to see past the smell.  You know, the smell…

It may be difficult to see when some of our leaders have never learned to answer messages or prioritize well.

It may be difficult to see with an A.D.D. pastor who can’t remember things and has been known to have trouble leading his way out of a paper bag. 

It may be difficult to see, and we may have a ways to go, but I can see it!

Can you?  Describe it.  What do you see in the years to come?"""

I Gotta Feeling

That this kid really likes the sta-age.

A few months ago, Jonah came home from school and said, "MOM.  There's this thing at my school where I can get up on the stage and everyone can clap for me!"

"Okay, Jonah, I guess that means you want to be in the Talent Show?"

His mind was made-up and that was that. 

During the last week of school, Jonah performed - all by himself - in his school's talent show.  A dance routine to "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas.   

Jonah especially loved that eleven friends and family came to watch him perform, including his "girlfriend" Isabelle, who not only came all the way to see him perform, but also brought him a gift!  (Thanks to Isabelle's mommy DeAnna for taking these pictures!)

Below is a little clip of the second half of the dance.  Enjoy!

Kids at Heart Slide Show

Here's the slide show we showed last night at Kids at Heart during the Award Ceremony.  Thank you so much to everyone who came and made it a very fun night!  More pics of the event coming soon...