Pictures from the Fires

Since the week is slower than most I am catching up on all the posts that should have been done over the past several weeks. The fires that happened in our area left the area looking much like the surface of the moon. Thankfully, rain is on its way and we should start seeing little shoots in some areas. The first fire in the beginning of October was closer to us than the one we were just evacuated for. There were several times where we had a small block party with our neighbors while we watched the large water dropping planes and smaller helicopters fly over our homes and flood the burning areas with fire retardant or water. Harrison wished that one of the helicopters would drop a load of water on us. Explaining that the perceived amount is much less than the actual amount that would most likely hurt you if it landed on your head he changed his mind.

PSP Homeschool Fair

This year our PSP Homeschool group decided to have a fair. The event was quite a hit. Most of the children participated by submitting something to at least one of the following categories: Baked Goods, Hanging Art, Model Art, Science, History, and Table Decorations.

Both Harrison and Chandler entered something in every category but Science and History. The weeks prior to the fair were spent creating, practicing, and fine tuning the submissions. For Model Art they both entered items they built from Legos. Harrison built many vehicles that are from the Star Wars series, while Chandler built a garden scene. They both won first place in their divisions.

For the Baked Goods category Chandler made a Lemon Meringue Pie and Harrison made a Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake. About 3 weeks before, Chandler got to practice by making one as our evening dessert. She can proudly say that the pie for the fair she made all by herself - Mommy just read off the ingredients, turned on the oven, and supervised the process so she wouldn't burn herself. After the pie was finished Chandler decided that "Eggs are harder to separate than it looks".

Harrison made the cheesecake the day before the fair all by himself. On the morning of the fair we pulled it out of the spring form pan and it was perfect! While in transport it slid from his lap and landed against the front seat. It was now less than perfect. We had a wonderful conversation about God still being in control and that even though he would most likely not even place in the ribbons we knew how great a job he did and that the Lord knew too. The important thing is that even in a difficult or frustrating time we still have a good attitude and a thankful heart. When we got to school we worked on fixing the cheesecake as much as possible.

Remembering that the Lord knows all outcomes it was such a blessing to see them both win 1st for their pie and cheesecake. It was such an encouragement for Harrison to win even after all that had happened to his cake.

For the Table Decorations Harrison wanted to center his theme around dragons. After discussing the wish to paint mom's plates we decided on a different approach. He cut out small round discs of paper and drew his dragons on those, then placed them under the clear, glass plates. He used all his dragons for the centerpiece, and tall red glasses with black napkins. He even found a piece of rough, red paper that he tore to look like a dragon's scale. Proudly, he place first in that too.

Chandler chose to have a candy theme for her table settings. Using felt and pens she created napkins with lollipops on them. For her napkin rings she used ring pops. They were tooo cute. For her centerpiece she and mommy created a candy topiary out of lots of lollipops and other candies all glued to a foam ball and mounted (rather precariously) on a wooden dowel in a pot. She placed 2nd for her entry and received the reserved champion Director's Award too. After the fair was over we passed out all the candy.

For the final category they entered paintings in the Hanging Art. They both painted Pokemon characters. They did a wonderful job and worked hard all week perfecting the strokes and filling in the gaps. Chandler placed 2nd.

During the fair the kids got to walk around the exhibits and look at them all. Harrison's favorite entry was a friends diorama on World War II which received 2nd place. Chandler's favorite was a picture of a Killer Whale.

Smoke and Goggles

It is such a comfort to know that God is in control of all things - even evacs and the verse about making plans but the Lord directing took on a new meaning. Yesterday morning began earlier than expected with a 4:30 wake up siren and loud speaker notice that we must leave our comfortable beds and brave the wind and now extremely smoke and ash filled elements outside to look for safer establishments. We got the kids up, told them to get dressed and use the bathroom. While they did this, Tom & I went throughout the house gathering those things that we would need, or have difficulty replacing should the house burn. I found it amazing that in reality there was very little that we really did take (picture albums, hard drive with pictures, important papers & passports, bibles, a few clothes). While in the midst of this the kids came to us to say they were ready. I told them to both go grab a few things, including their bibles, that they would want to take with them to Grammy and Papa's home - figuring that a box of toys would be included in the grab. (this comes into play later...)

During our loading of the truck I noticed that our precious neighbor across the street was casually standing on her front porch, in her bathrobe, smoking a cigarette. I waved. She waved back and said "Are you going on a vacation? Why are you packing?". Quickly running across the street, I told her that there was an evacuation and that we were told to get out. "Oh, then I should go get dressed then. But are you sure? I don't see any fire, just smell a little bit of smoke." (at this point the air was thick, it was difficult to breathe, our eyes are watering, and we couldn't see the mountain behind her home) We left her to finish what we were doing.

After loading up the kids we drove to my parents home where we were greeted by my family and some special friends we haven't seen in a long time. We had a lovely early breakfast while we watched the fire sweeping across the mountains, hungrily devouring whatever lay in its path.

Well, you can only watch the same silly news commentators blither on about subjects they know little about before you realize that the day is going to be pointless and completely wasted if you continue watching. Since my family did have house guests who they were entertaining (we do know that we would have been welcomed to join them), and we have no control over the events that were happening (our house would either burn to the ground or be safe), we decided to take the opportunity to visit Disneyland. Since I hadn't taken the passes for myself and the kids out of my purse, we figured that the cost for 'replacing' Tom's pass was a small price to pay for a day of fun as a family. As we got ready for our change in plans I worked at repacking the truck in an orderly fashion and pull out clothes that didn't reek of smoke. While doing so I came across the objects that the kids had chosen to take with them. Harrison had his current book he was reading and his bible. Okay, good choice, knowing that Grammy's house has lots of toys...including legos. Chandler's choice was a bit more humorous. She had chosen her quilt that Grammy made (ahhh), and.....[drum roll]....... her pink pair of swim goggles. Don't ask, we don't know.

Our day at Disneyland began with a stop at In-N-Out for lunch. After arriving at the park we went to guest services to replace the pass. The attendant asked what happened to it. Tom told her that it was left behind when we had to evacuate our home because of the fire. She then gave us the new pass without charging us the replacement fee. Isn't God GOOD! We were prepared to pay the fee and yet HE gave us our family day without extra costs. He is the one we know moved the heart of the woman - because we didn't ask her.

We spent the day riding the rides, browsing through shops, and watching the characters. The park was empty for a Saturday because by the time we got down there the Anaheim Fire had started and heavy smoke was in the air and ash was falling on heads creating the appearance that it was 'Dandruff Disorder Day' at Disneyland. Thankfully, most of the rides are indoors so it wasn't really a problem. We concluded our long day with dinner at Elephant Bar before driving home. By that point, the mandatory evac had been lifted and we are safely back in our home that now needs a thorough cleaning of all the fine, gritty soot that our house is now encased in.

I marvel at how the Lord controls the events of this world allowing some areas to crumble and others to remain. God did a great thing when He created fire. It is amazing to watch and to use as a glimpse of what wrath can look like if we ignore the calls of our Savior.

Halloween

Yes, I know that we are a tad late in posting these - but life has been a bit busy here...
For Halloween Chandler went as a 'Chinese lady'. She wanted to tape her eyes back but we told her that may offend some who saw her so we did her up in makeup instead.
Harrison went as a dementor from Harry Potter. ...unless you read the books you wont understand what that is. Needless to say, this year was a: create your own costume out of what we already have.

Oh fickle people

While reading through a friend's facebook page I cam across this piece. I must say I agree with it. How is it that we, as a nation, have become so shallow and crass? I know that the answer is with no God leading a people they can go even lower so it shouldn't be a surprise.
As light, we are called to pray for our leaders, respect them, and honor them. In light of the recent election we need to rise above the behavior of those who 'didn't win' in the past and be an example of godliness and decorum to a lost world. We should behave so that no one can bring a charge against us. Yes, we can disagree, but no we may not behave like 2nd graders who don't get their way, stomping off and pouting because the other kid got the ball. We shouldn't be poor loosers.

What I do find interesting is who wrote the article...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122584386627599251.html

Thankful

At 7:30 every weekday morning I hear a child crying as he is placed in the car to go to day care. At first I thought that it was just the typical child not used to being taken out so early in the morning, and the typical detachment issues that would quickly go away as the year progressed. This has been happening every morning now for over 1 year and I have been saddened that he must leave the comfort of his home and his mother so that the boat, new BMW, and new Mercedes can remain parked in their driveway.

At the same time it reminds me how thankful I am to be able to remain at home with our children and how thankful I am that Tom works hard to keep it that way. Without his dedication to our family and our children's lives I may have done the same as the mother across the street. The situation also reminds me to be faithful in the duties that God has given me, to remain content with the objects and blessings that He has bestowed upon our family not wishing for more, and in the light of eternity the souls of my children and the ministry our home can have is far greater than the new items that will eventually burn.