Invasion!

other than lumber... grass fed Angus cattle is our big industry. Apparently the snow and wind took out a fence last night... We have had 3 new residents on our block. I am sure the whole town is filled with these black beauties. It is very disturbing to hear the cows get trapped in our side yard and make all their loud noises. I tried to take a picture... but inadequate lighting at 11 pm and a black cow... doesn't make for a good picture.

If it wasn't stealing... I SOOO wanted to politely escort one into my back yard. I sure can't afford grass fed Angus.

Because I am...

I acknowledge I am a dark and angry person... I like music that is dark and angry... it releases the dark and angry inside and makes me happy... yeah I am weird.

Yeah... I took a video of snow

15 mins of snow

So it started snowing... here is the first 15 mins... I will post another later... yes it is September.

I am baking (Chocolate muffins) for the first time since the fire. My 3 year old runs around yelling, "There is chocolate in the house!" She is smelling around saying, "maybe under the white couch", "Maybe under the pink couch", "Nope, it's gone"

Given by a friend.

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:5)

Amie - determined!

Amie is sitting on the kitchen floor with her baggie of cereal... one piece fell to her right. She strains to reach it... with her left hand. She refuses to set down the baggie in her right hand. She also favors her left hand. It takes many tries... and included her toppling over, but her left hand was successful.

Loss

Habakkuk 3: 17-19

17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

Because ...

So I can't go to many training programs for church planters because I have children... We want church planters to plant healthy churches. And to plant healthy churches, church planters need to have healthy families... so ask me to separate myself from my children for 2-3 days and leave them.

Here is another Hathor comment on that:

My first lactivism

I have recently found out that nursing mom's are not welcome at a Minister's Wives Retreat. So now I am remembering some of my favorite lactivist websites!

"The List"

This list is of things we lost in the fire. Let us now if you are willing to get us some of these things.

UPDATED 9/18

Items in red have been received.
Addresses: PO Box 908, 420 Elm St. Westwood, CA 96137

Use the PO box for USPS and 420 Elm St for UPS.

Things for the Girls
1. Bedding and Beds (2 twins and 1 crib) We still need crib sheets
2. Books (We have recieved plenty of books)
3. Clothing Storrage
4. Halloween Costumes
5. Snow Pants
6. "Dress-up" clothes
7. Amie clothes size 24 months
8. Cloth diapers (All Sizes)
9. Christmas Dresses
10. Weighted Blanket

Things for Jason
1. King sized bed and bedding
2. Dress clothes
3. Papa Chair
4. Clothing storrage
5. New laptop

Things for Jenn
1. Clothing
2. Camera

Things for the house
1. Towels - Bath, Hand, Washcloth and kitchen
2. Paper products (Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Computer Paper)
3. Couch or love seat

9/7/07

This has been the longest day of my life! I was awakened at 12:30 am by the smoke alarm. My husband and I ran upstairs to discover smoke coming from the attic door. We grabbed the children, threw them in the car, called 911 and ran back in to get clothes for me and our computer (can't lose the digital pictures) When we were trying to run out, I tried to turn on the lights in the front of the house, because we still had power to the back of the house. It was clear that the power was not available because our back up battery for the computer was beeping. So we assume something happened with the electrical wires that go to the front of the house and caused a fire in the attic.

Because I watch "This Old House" regularly, I knew of the dangers that lie in my "Old House" The wood shingles were not replaced, but covered with a metal roof... causing a huge fuel source to now have protection from the fire hoses, insulation to build heat and a reflector to point the fire down at the house. Also, houses of my style (Craftsman) often used a different way of putting together load bearing walls, making the homes as durable as the Victorians but creating air pockets from the walls to the attic and between the floors. So this makes a fire in the downstairs "wick" instantly up the walls, or a fire in the attic or second floor force hot air into the wall space "Candling" down like a wick into the walls and setting the whole house on fire.

This added up to our second floor being completely devastated, our ceiling of the first floor being torn through and the entire north wall of the home (almost 100 feet long) being charred from the inside out.

When I looked back at the house, I saw the attic was already engulfed, and the firefighters added air to the attic to vent it, I knew the structure was gone. I assumed that we lost everything. I took the kids over to Jason and Becky's home and when they were settled I planned on going to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Jason and I went at around 3 am. When we returned, almost all of our belongings were thrown out the windows and stacked neatly in three places. We have been able to store the many things the wonderful firefighters saved.

We lost all things upstairs ( I will post a list later) and all our beds, bedding and couches. We have most of our clothes (Firefighters took the other computer and the dressers out first) and many of the kids toys that were downstairs in the TV room. My little brother Isaac called to make sure our Nintendo Game cube made it out. We just haven't plugged it in to try it yet!

While we have tons of offerings for used things, we will post a list of things we would appreciate be new in order to weed out thrift store and garage sale dropout donations. We have already received a few donations that make my eye twitch.

But for those who cannot donate new things to our cause, feel free to send bubbles, bubble bath, a baggies of balloons, dollar store sunglasses, fingernail polish and sidewalk chalk... you know, stuff that would make my girls feel happy.

Also, please pray for us while we search for a new home. We are looking at any and all possibilities for rental and purchase in Westwood. We are very passionate about fixing up the parsonage the correct way and not the cheap (Hey I think my uncle Earl can do that) way. Currently we are staying with Becky and Jason and in total that makes 11 people and 1 bathroom. I currently am unable to sleep because of the pain in my throat from the smoke... our home and the wildfires 4 miles away. If I am not upright to swallow regularly, I cough until I am upright. So sleep and healing prayers for me please.

I am going to buy some throat coat tea tomorrow and see if that helps... But as for now (4:16 am) I will prop myself up on the love seat and see if I can doze off for a while.

Pray for the Fires #2

Here is the press release...
Note: this fire is 4 miles from us.

Moonlight Fire Update

A fire on private land in a remote area near north central Plumas National Forest started on Monday, September 3, at 1424 hours. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No communities are currently threatened. The size of the fire is approximately 300 acres and growing. The fire is burning in a northeast direction along the Plumas and Lassen National Forest boundaries.

Currently, there are engines, air tankers, helicopters and hand crews on scene. Additional fire fighting resources, including a Type 1 Team, are arriving to assist local firefighters.

The Moonlight Fire will actively burn through the night with acreage increases expected.

A road block is being placed in the Diamond Mountain-North Arm Road area. Residents will be allowed access. Hwy 36 is open.

Information will be updated periodically. Please check www.inciweb.org.

I am so tired...

I am so tired of 12 year olds selling me wrinkle cream!

I never said not to...

I never said not to fly paper airplanes in church... So during the end of the service... Maggie had made 6 paper airplanes, passed them to the other girls her age... and while Maggie was flying her 4 around the room the other girls were having second thoughts. Can you teach a kid how to have "second thoughts"?

Did I mention I hate triangles?

I hate triangles! I can't deal with them... I always assemble them wrong... off center or what ever! So these 4 blocks took as long as the rest of the blocks for a queen/full sized quilt! GRRR! But it is done! I need to find my setting fabric... but that is SOOO much easier! You can click on the picture to see a detailed version. The blocks on the left have a square on point in the center.