Playdate

On Sunday afternoon, we invited two friends from school to come over and play. Nicolas and Riley had been begging me for weeks to set-up a playdate with their buddy Jaelyn.  Meanwhile Jonah had been having a couple of really rough days (weeks?) socially so it seemed like a good time for him to invite someone over as well.  He chose Michael.   

Bey blades, XBOX, and the trampoline made for some big smiles and a really fun afternoon.  For Jonah, especially, it was an important step in continuing to adjust to life in Oakland.

How I got them to stop jumping long enough to snap a photo, I have no idea! 

On another note, if you are wondering about an update from my last post, there's no news to share yet.  The board did decide to offer the position to the candidate.  The candidate is taking the week to pray and decide.  We'll know more next week.  Keep praying!  I'll share lots more about that when it's time.    
 

Big, Big Day

In the morning, I'll be making my weekly trek up to Sacramento to work at The GreenHouse.  As usual, it will be a really long day, jam-packed with meetings and zooming from one thing to the next.  By tomorrow night I'll be wiped out, driving back to Oakland with an empty stomach from having skipped a meal or two, yet with a very full heart from time spent with my loved ones.

While it seems like all of my days up there lately are "big days," tomorrow seems like it will be a particularly big, big day.

See, tomorrow night is our monthly board meeting.  And at that meeting, our Executive Director Search Committee is going to make a recommendation to move forward on a candidate for my position (a candidate that we all really love). 

Of course, we still have to vote tomorrow night.  And then make an offer.  And then that person needs to decide whether or not to accept.   So, I may be jumping the gun. 

But I sense that my time as Executive Director of the GreenHouse is nearly up.

And while I am doing so.much.better with all of this than I was one year ago, six months ago, two months ago, I can still feel them.  The tears.  They are right there.  I can feel them welling up even as I type this.

They were there earlier today, too, while typing an email to someone on our staff about something totally unrelated.  They sneak up on me at unexpected times.

So while I am filled with the peace and grace of Jesus throughout this process, I am also aware that the grieving has only just begun.

I would appreciate your prayers tomorrow and in the coming weeks and months.
XOXO 

Monterey Bay

 

 

 

 

 

 

December Was...

YiaYia's birthday lunch & snuggles with our cousin

Steve's work party in SF - a date night with dressing up!

Celebrating a very special friend with pedis and great conversation

Selecting just the right tree..

...from the oh-so-scenic Home Depot

Serving alongside women I love at the Melvin's Hope Christmas Store

Acting out the story of Christ's birth, as a donkey....

...and wise kings

Singing shoulder-to-shoulder with diverse groups of people at The GreenHouse

Relaxing in the evenings by our pretty tree

 Taking care of the class pet over the break (Jake the White Tree Frog)

Christmas Eve service at First Pres Berkeley with Grandpa

Opening matching jammies on Christmas Eve






Poses with favorite gifts
 (a stuffed penguin?! this from the kid who last year wanted a talking parrot and a "shaking-booty santa")

A trip to the Zoo with friends

Building new LEGO sets

Feeling proud of completed projects

Giving away $30,000 worth of UGG boots to the cutest kids on the planet

What a lot of fun we had!    

Family Photos

It takes a certain level of patience to photograph a family like mine.  Take three little boys very close in age, add in some hyperactivity, throw in a dash of moodiness, and there you have our family on picture day.  Fortunately, my talented friend DeAnna has oodles of patience and can handle anything the boys try to throw at her (potty humor and all!).  She says we're not her most difficult family to photograph (I asked) but I bet we are right there at the top of the list. Regardless, she once again did a miraculous job of capturing our family at this stage in our lives.

We took most of the pictures at Mills College, which is not far from our house and one of our favorite outdoor spaces in Oakland.  On warmer days, we love to go there to run around, kick soccer balls, collect sticks, and meet-up with friends.  It's like a little Oasis in an urban desert.   

Thank you DeAnna for driving all the way to Oakland to visit with us and take our pictures.  We love you and we're so grateful that you have documented pieces of our story for the past six years!      

(And yes, my Christmas cards went out in the mail after Christmas this year.  But you all eventually got one, right?)