Two posts in a row! Yay for me! This one may seem a little self-serving and narcissistic because it's about, well, myself. Yesterday was my birthday, and I really like birthdays. My parents always made a big deal about them (and still do), so I always enjoy waking up on April 20th wondering what the day has in store. So I thought I'd share with you, as many of you reading this called, texted, or emailed that you hoped I'd have a great day [Facebooking counts...].
The day started with my gift from Matt.
Check it out! I have totally jumped on the D-SLR bandwagon and am LOVING it! It was a complete surprise, which is kind of hard with me. If you drop a single hint, I will figure it out (but I'll act like it's a surprise - is that bad?). But Matt dropped no hints and I had no idea.
I had much of the day to myself to clean (cleaning with an empty home is a gift itself) and play with my camera. Here are a few things it can do:
Check out that action shot! I don't know what to do with myself.
The day ended at my favorite restaurant, Agave, with some of my favorite people.
Carrie and Brenda! Loved laughing and indulging with you crazy girls!
And of course Brenda's sweet Jo...
Matt had another surprise in store...this super awesome birthday cake.
Now, this better not show up on Cake Wrecks. It makes perfect sense.
It was a wonderful, quiet day (and happened to be our 1 year celebration of Matt getting laid off). I loved 32 and am looking forward to what 33 holds...
We're in the middle of a rough night at the Rife household. Well, just between Holly and me actually. Matt's out with a friend and Anna is snoozing soundly. Ever since Matt and I returned from a 4 day trip with his work, Holly has been Miss Sensitive. Shyer than normal around others and experiencing a LOT of separation anxiety when we're apart. So when I put her to bed tonight, she asked if I can walk her into her classroom tomorrow (instead of dropping her off in the car line). She didn't like my answer. And she's been bawling her tearful protest for the last hour. Loudly. In my defense, I'm not heartless, just trying not to start a really inconvenient - I mean bad - habit.
In my effort to keep my blood pressure from boiling and my patience from tanking, I thought I'd remind myself of some happy recent memories. Ah, the way we were.
Holly, checking out the dolphins at Sea World a few weeks ago.
Shamu show, "Believe." As in, believe you can tame a wild animal. I wonder what their theme will be now? (Sorry, I had to.)
Fun silliness at Magic Kingdom! Yes, she's wearing a Tinkerbell costume. Don't laugh. All the girls are doing it.
Holly and her prince.
Tea cups! I think I went a little fast for her.
Here are her brief thoughts on the tea cups...The house is quiet now, and my little exercise in patience succeeded. But now I reeeeally want to go on another vacation...
It's messy, it's dangerous (licking the spoon of raw-egg filled cookie dough is living on the edge!), and it's so much fun! Holly and I are always looking for an excuse to break out the rolling pins. Wish we could deliver cookies to you, wherever you are, but alas we can't. Unless you live in either St. Simons, GA or Orlando.
We're heading out tomorrow for our first official family vacation.
Mickey and Shamu, here we come!
Did you know that Saturday was National Pie Day? I did, thanks to my friend Dori. She was in town for the weekend, so we decided to celebrate this most important day with...pie. Chocolate chip cookie pie, a la Bakerella.
Happy Pie Day to you and yours.
It's been a long week. Nothing in particular, but the combination of lots of heavy (but good) conversation, the continuing suffering in Haiti, and not a whole lot of time with Matt (which means LOTS of time with Holly and Anna! You get my point here?) has me a little weary. I was so thankful when my friend Candace gave me a gentle reminder to stop and see the beauty all around me.
And yesterday, there was a lot of beauty to be found. And joy. I have to share three things that made my heart sing yesterday:
First - the image of this little Haitian boy being rescued. Joy! Thank you God.
Second - Anna Grace Chaney and her friend Aidan had a lemonAID stand for Haiti.
Third, Passion is a movement to make Jesus famous among college students worldwide. Those of us who have worked with or followed Passion are very familiar with Ashley's story (hers is the second post, titled "Ashley's Home"). Today, I read this post from the Passion blog. Wow.
God is working all around us. In the midst of the pain and suffering in Haiti, He works. In the lives of children learning to love the least of these, He works. In the lives of those who don't know Him, He is working. He is relentlessly pursuing us, His children.
Joy indeed!
