Year-End Recap 2010: March

In March, I actually ended up spending a lot of time not working. The first weekend I spent accompanying the youth to Acquire the Fire for the second year in a row, eagerly anticipating Saturday’s Thousand Foot Krutch concert.   

As we prepared to enjoy the experience, I looked at one of my 13-year-olds and said, “I just realized I’ve been listening to these guys since you were in diapers. Wowww.” 

Ultimately, though it was a fantastic concert, I felt it was out of place. Here we are, gathered together to ”Acquire the Fire,” to be filled with a passion for worshiping God above all else, bawling our eyes out as actors portray scenarios of inspirational devotion… and then we’re moshing to “Rawkfist.” But I digress.   

Beyond taking time off for ATF, I ended up sick for a week and a half, during which time I took the opportunity to find common ground with my high school girls by watching all three seasons of Hannah Montana back to back (followed promptly by Hannah Montana the Movie). I won’t tell you whether or not Daniel joined me, but suffice to say, Lily is his favorite character by far!   

March 3rd: Glorious rain!

March 4th: Glorious sun

In the midst of this childish pastime, I couldn’t help but feel rather grown-up at receiving my first real jury summons (which really only amounted to standing by the fire exit for a while, witting on the floor for even longer, and finally being dismissed to go home and take a nap to recuperate)!   

A well-deserved sense of accomplishment resulted from spending a day writing an article on the history of a friend’s shop downtown, then seeing it published shortly thereafter! We also celebrated Isaac’s birthday at this shop, putting him in touch with the owner, who soon incorporated Isaac into his staff of interns. It’s been wonderful to watch his growth as an employee there.

 Playing disc golf before Isaac's party

 Spending time with loved ones over "froyo" pie!

Year-End Recap 2010: February

 A windy day downtown; Lauren Stokes performing at Gottschalk's Music Center

February saw us downtown a lot.  Having befriended a few of the owners at our favorite local shops, we were drawn to spend much of our time patronizing, conversing and gaming with them.   

 Frozen yogurt shop owner Alex Lu-Pon and his sister, "Tiny"

One shop, which sells comic books, included us in their plans for a Grand Opening that month, wherein I impersonated a comic book character who happened to have been brought into the limelight by a nationally celebrated local artist, while Daniel photographed the event. 

 

 Rushing in to save the day,

 

making friends...

 

 ...and enemies along the way!

 

 (A few months later, one of his shots ended up in an ad for the comic shop!)   

February felt like the true first month of the year, as Daniel and I settled into the new year by breaking from much of our previous ministry to re-evaluate our place in the family of God, and I got a chance to make good on my resolution to find more opportunities to write when I got interested in the subject of water conservation.   

Utilizing contacts I had made downtown, I feverishly pursued research on the subject until I had so much information at my disposal I realized I would have to back off and narrow my focus if I ever hoped to finish the article I had planned…  and then I got busy with work.

Year-End Recap 2010: January

It’s New Year’s Eve and I’m hanging out at Lauren Petiti’s house with Daniel, my brother Isaac and a more recent addition to the group, Darlene Washington. I’m sitting in the armchair reading last year’s calendar while the others goof around on the couch, bonding over games yet unplayed. Laughter rings out as imaginations run wild, but for once in my life, I remain undistracted, intent on chronicling the year just passed.

January was a traitor to the year 2010, indignantly clinging to the ways of the year before: youth ministry figured prominently in our schedule each week – I even got to take time off work to lend a hand at the youth retreat. We wrote letters to God and I wrestled in my spirit with various issues that I had been putting off thinking about up till then.  Hooray for spare time… Lord knows I certainly don’t allow myself much of it!  

Wrestling

January was the month I spent one or more days a week commuting to fill in for a friend at the Modesto Sears Optical. I love the adventure of finding ways to fit in somewhere new – that’s why I still do temp work for Cornerstone Staffing Solutions – but the thing I love most about working in Modesto is getting to stock up at Trader Joe’s! For this reason, I jump at the chance to “sub” at the Modesto store whenever I can. 

 Whoa...

 Enjoying a snack from TJ's while working in Modesto

I also jump at the chance to host loved ones – especially my Orange County in-laws who promised at Christmas to make a trip to Merced bearing gifts from several generous folks who wanted us to inherit their gorgeous furniture. What a blessing it is to walk into a room and be reminded of friends and family every time we use the things that we’ve received from them.  And what a blessing to have it hand-delivered by the Kessener Three and Miss Ronda!  We thoroughly enjoyed introducing them to the delightful shops on Main Street, downtown.

 

 Fun, food and good fellowship with family

Stay tuned for more from the Year-End Recap 2010!