Escondido

Escondido is brilliant. Every Tuesday afternoon they close a section of Grand Avenue and have a little farmer's market. It is no Pike Place, but it is pretty cool. It is too hot to eat anything but salad, so it's perfect.

Our apartment has a large patio with yard. This means: 27 square feet of patio and a little strip of dirt. But... mint is growing randomly in the dirt, so that's cool.

Yesterday we went to a winery! I am shocked that Escondido has one, but it does. And it's pretty cute. Not fancy like Northern CA ones, but a nice eye-break from the chain stores of Escondido.

P.S. - Ken joined Costco! Can you believe it?

Phew!

Finally! We are moved in to the Grand Rose Apartments in sunny, HOT Escondido, California. Pictures coming soon. It's great to be neighbors with Bethy once again.

But for now, here's one of our friend Ben Hardesty and his fiance (his FEE-ansee?!) Amy. Wedding date: August 13. Registered at Bed Bath & Beyond and Kaufman's if anyone wants to send a gift. :)

Ken in Guest Suite

Here is Ken modeling our apartment in Ralph & Ai's house... otherwise known as the Guest Suite.
If you would like to make reservations to stay there after we move out, please let me know.

In the Woods

Welp, on Friday, Ken and I got back from a week at this lovely place. It was most refreshing. The weather was perfect, and not a mosquito in sight.
We also enjoyed daily encouraging sermons by Pastor Bill Shishko from Franklin Square OPC in New York City. After these encouraging sermons we did other encouraging things like taste wine, go bowling and ride rollercoasters. It was the second best vacation I have ever taken.

I got glasses and suddenly have become a vegetarian and do not wear makeup. 

Walk For Life... DONE.

Well folks, another Walk for Life is over. Thanks to all who supported Ken and me financially or morally. :)

And now for my next project... finding and hiring my replacement!

Jake and Ken at the Walk for Life! 

Here are Precious #4, #2, and #3 at Cracker Barrell in Tiftonia (the Cigna Chain Gang reunion). [otherwise known as Emily, Daphne and Christie] 

I Got A Job!

You are reading the blog of the newest staff member of Westminster Theological Seminary. I owe great thanks to Pastor Erickson to pulling some strings for me. :) Also to my mom for teaching me how to be a great administrative assistant!

I'm going to be the assistant to the president of the seminary, Dr. Godfrey. I'll start sometime in July (that has yet to be determined.)

All we need now is a place to live! :S :)

Our dear little graduate. We are so proud of her! 

Here are some random friends at graduation. I think the fashion awards go to Monica for her daring yet conservative Ralph Lauren capris, and of course to Julianne for her amazing talent to pull off halter tops and those huge hoop earrings that Ken won't let me wear. 

Pam, Michelle, Stephen, Ken, Buzzy, and Susie at the Crepe Vine after Bible Study (I was the photographer) 

Get a Thesaurus

Bruce said to me, "You haven't posted in like forever." Which made me think... Is anyone else paying attention to Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes? I know, Mom, you don't care. And I don't either... well, just a little. It is sort of interesting.

Anyway, Katie Holmes is reported as saying to one source: "Tom is the most amazing man." And then to another source: "Tom is the most incredible man. He's amazing."

And do you know what they said about her? Get a Thesaurus!

I think that's a little harsh. People ask her the same question day after day. I can sympathize. Does a day go by when I do not hear, "So, when are you guys moving? Do you have a place yet? Do you have a job yet?" Which is fine. But - after a while I do feel like a parrot.

My conclusion: lay off of Katie Holmes, folks. Anyway, how would you like to be Tom Cruise's wife #3? Yuck! And that's my deep thought of the day. Thank you.

Covenant College 50th Commencement

Last weekend Ken and I were back on Lookout Mountain. We flew east to see our dear little Tami graduate, which she did (Omedeto!).

Highlights included staying at the Mehne's comfortable hotel, having breakfast at Cracker Barrel with the Cigna gang, eating at various Chattanooga establishments with various important people, getting a tour of Andy Montgomery's wicked-cool St. Elmo house, and of course, worshipping at Cornerstone Church on Sunday with all of our old friends, plus Elder Scott & Joyce, Dennis & Karen Fullalove, and some other SF-peeps.

Lydia and Bruce - you were seriously missed by not a few people. Basically, all of the Loft and Damien say hi. Oh, and Lyd, did you know that you are in Charissa's wedding? :)

Just like anywhere I visit, I wanted to just move to the Noog the entire time I was there. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. It felt so homey!! But then I remembered how I feel about SF, not to mention how I always love Washington so much whenever I am there. So... whatever.

P.S. - I don't put recipes on my blog. ;) But if you want a good cookie, check out Martha Stewart's Lime Flowers. They are soo good. You can probably find them on www.marthastewartliving.com ... let me know if you can't find it and want the recipe and I will type it out for you.

Farewell, Pastor Bob

Our dear Pastor Bob Y. Eckardt has announced that it is time for his family to relocate to Dayton, Ohio, where he'll be serving as pastor of Redeemer OPC. Cornerstone just got the news, so no search has started for a new pastor. The church is in the Lord's hands... we shall see where it goes from here.

Andy Montgomery said, "Too bad Ken isn't finished with seminary already." Naturally I was complimented, and agreed... it is too bad. Wouldn't that be fun?! But then I started to hyperventilate. Can you imagine? Ken, the pastor of an established congregation with elders old enough to be his father?

Grief Counseling

I recently picked up Ken's copy of Jay Adams' classic pastoral counseling book, "Shepherding God's Flock," and read the section on grief counseling. Adams sees grieving people as ministry opportunities. I agree - it is important for pastors to minister to people who are grieving, especially since it is something that everyone will experience. We won't all get married, or have children, etc. ... but grief necessarily is something that we all go through.

Today I talked with a friend who is still grieving over the loss of her father several years after his death, mostly because she still has issues with him that she needs to forgive. I suppose forgiving someone who is dead is mostly for your own benefit - to eliminate bitterness which can eat away at your soul. My friend is certainly struggling; she cannot mention the subject without tears.

I wonder if Ken and I will be able to counsel people who are mourning the loss of a loved one - or even more complicated situations like this one. (By the way, incidentally - according to Jay Adams, the "Pastor's Wife" is not an office, and should not be treated as such. Thank you. How liberating.)

now i am going blog/picture crazy. here are connie, aaron and me at the APC. (aaron is a volunteer who is paid in candy, coins and small bills) 

My Most of My Church (back row L-R: me, Ray, Ralph, Chester, Stephen, Aldo, Eric, Nick, Chuy, Eduardo, Jonah, Bryan, Ju Jin, Bruce, Doree, Gertrude, Julie, Liza, Liliana. front row L-R: Rita, JT, Imma, Dave, Rachel, Dorothy, Susan, Helen, Buzzy, Pam, Michelle, Suzy, Alta, Danny, Scott. Not pictured: BARB, Ken, Pastor Mac, Donna, and a few others...) 

Fire Drill

Yesterday at my work we had a fire drill. Normally this would be fine, a good idea, etc. However: my work consists of 3 employees. The fire drill was complete with an announcement over the loudspeaker (what on earth?) and a "role-play" (i.e.: run over to the donut shop and stay there for 5 minutes until the "fire" is put out).
I would like to pose the question - is this really necessary? I think not.

Finally

Hi folks, Kermit thee frog here, reporting live from San Francisco, and excited to say that I have finally got a blog. Thanks to little sister Moisie for your selfless help to the technologically impaired.
OK, let's see if this thing works.