Photo of the Day

No words needed.

We Heart Our Family

This post is a bit of a teaser: I have tons more pictures of our fabulous trip including Markus' Graduation, many afternoons on the beach with my gorgeous nieces and family, and lots of Jaxon footage.....

It was hard to say goodbye to our Jeromin relatives--it's been a year since I saw the girls last and we probably won't see any of our sibs-in-law until Christmas when there will be double of us with all the upcoming babies! We were really sad to leave, but spending yesterday with our church family at a Memorial Day Pig Roast helped us remember that family is more than flesh and blood, that we have a family here who noticed that we were gone, who welcomed us home with open arms, and with whom we will spend eternity. We miss our parents and our siblings like crazy but we're so grateful for the extended family God provides through His church.

Blog Break & Career Change

I just finished packing us up for a trip to the Carolinas where we will witness Markus' graduation from Greenville Seminary. After that we'll spend a week at the Outer Banks, undoubtedly one of my favorite beaches in the country.

Today also marks the end of my last out-of-home job for perhaps many years. I have always wanted this, but still, after 10 years of working either on-the-side or full time it feels strange. Based on the last six months, where I've had more time at home, I think the homemaking full-time thing will be the biggest challenge yet, especially when Heidi gets here, not to mention the others we hope God will send us.

It's sort of a weird time to go on vacation. Our church is shaken right now with various trials and we hate to leave her. At the same time, we entrust her to the Father's care and ask that our readers keep her in their prayers, not just our little church in New Mexico, but His Body, His Bride, His Universal Church. Pray for peace, not the false peace of ignoring problems, but the Peace that Passes Understanding, which can only come from His Prevailing Truth.

Heidi's A-OK!

We were a little nervous today, as Summer wasn't feeling Heidi's all too common kicks to the spleen. In all seriousness, she had been much quieter than normal, rarely moving.

Husband thought that a special song might wake her up... which I think might become her theme song! Erika might have heard this one before. My parents also have it on vinyl. It's the old folk-tune, Heidi.

We bought a copy off of iTunes, cranked up the speakers and sure enough, it woke Heidi up! She was kicking and dancing again!

Here's a cut of the tune, put to the opening credits to a German cartoon about another little Heidi:



Enjoy!

Life in New Mexico: Goatlings at McDonalds

I forgot that one of my blogging goals is to make known to the world the delightful weirdnesses of my current habitat. I know the correct word for a goatling is a kid, but I'm having a kid, and don't want the two confused. I would hate for some clumsy nurse to trade my kid with the goat kids at the hospital.

Anyway, the other day I was driving by McDonalds and saw two girls in the parking lot with a goatling on a leash. At first I thought it was a puppy, so slowed down to have a look, determine the breed, etc. but the thing was clearly hoofie and bleaty. It wasn't even like there was the usual paraphanelia that accompanies farm animals: trailers, carts, loose straw, little feeding distributors requiring quarters, etc. But that's life in New Mexico!

Yay for Husband!

Even now, Husband finishes his LAST CLASS EVER!!!! in Ph.D. land. Now he's like, ABD.

Another Gorgeous Deer Art Sighting

Alena Hennessy has made some beautiful deer prints. Heidi likey.

Four Stars for the Illusionist

I resisted this movie at first because it reminded me too much of Job from arrested development: "Illusions, Michael!" I thought it would be about two magicians playing tricks on each other--anyone remember Disney's Sword in the Stone?

We were beautifully surprised.

First of all, the film soundtrack is by Philip Glass, one of the greatest and most challenging composers of our time. Truman Show & Koyaanisqatsi were part of my introduction to his work in addition to a creativity class I took in college: our assignment was to sneak into the college library armed with paints and canvas, check out the CD of a modern composer, and paint what we heard in the listening booth without getting caught. I chose Philip Glass. I don't think I need to tell ya'll that it was one of the few classes I got an A+ in. But that's beside the point. Basically, even if a movie is terrible, if Mr. Glass wrote the soundtrack you will not have wasted your time.

Secondly, the photography was breathtaking. It was a combination of old family photographs you find in trunk, vintage-silent-film, with a pinch of CD cover design from the grunge 90s. You really can't describe good photography without the pictures, so you'll have to take my word on it.

Thirdly, the plot was surprisingly strong: part Black Forest, part 19th century opera, part tragedy, all comedy. There were moments when things lagged, especially the love-dialogue--but that's forgivable since love-dialogue is probably the hardest thing to write when trying to be serious. There is a scene that could have been entirely deleted without hurting the film--would have made it more family-friendly if you know what I mean, but over all we both thought it was great. We were completely surprised at the ending.

Even if the story had been terrible, I was so mesmirized by the gorgeousness of this film I don't think I would have minded much.

Thanks to Cody for recommending it: I should add that throughout the film, husband kept saying: "No wonder, Cody liked it, it has history!" or "No wonder Cody liked it, it has mystery!" Ooh, that could be a song.

Anyway, this girl needs to run errands and practice her piano and exercise her bad dog. If anyone has comments about the Illusionist--please don't give away the ending!

Always Something There to Remind Me

That a little girl lives in here. When I forget or fall asleep she kicks and punches me awake. When I fall into the monotonous tasks of my work she makes me laugh at the computer screen with a sprawling twist against my ribcage. My shoulders shrug in church and I want to say: "did anyone else feel that?" Husband can see her now, with the patience of a whalewatcher--the times she surfaces against my skin and makes waves waving to us.