New Article

Zazzy has created his own indefinite article, squashing English and Francais together to create “en” as in en ferry, en pancake, en train, etc…  So of course, to prolong the fun we’ve all joined in as well. We hope that you are having en nice time reading about it.

In other Zazzy linguistic news, we were on I-5 South on a clear day and coming round a bend in the road, suddenly there loomed Mt. Rainier larger than life. “Ooooh! Look! Look!” cried Zazzy, “It’s Mount Reindeer!” Be looking for an antlered mountain on our Christmas card.

When Loulou was small she called my brother and his wife Auntie Janet and Auntie Chip. “Auntie Chip” stuck for a long time because we all liked the moniker, even though Auntie Chip himself wasn’t too pleased. Then Zazzy evened things up with his own version: Uncle Chip and Uncle Janet. But now he’s growing up and correcting himself. When I called them that when they arrived the other evening, Zazzy looked at me scandalously and said, “NO! Auntie Janet and UNCLE Chip!” It’s rather sad. I love toddler talk.

My Personal Army

I want to share Mr. Pete-za's cool birthday Lego creation. There I am at the head of my own personal army of 40 Lego guys, ready to do my bidding, including some Power Miners, Mars Mission astronauts, a couple basketball players and a few Indiana Joneses. I could take over the world!

So forty, so good

Well, I feel I ought to report from the other side of forty. So far, things are not too shabby at all! The tally in the past couple weeks: one surprise party put on my sneaky, wonderful husband which surprised me most by how many people came over on a Wednesday night, on the first week of school; one weekend getaway in a fancy hotel (thanks to his company and including 3 hours of conversation in the car each way); two weeks of serious on-task schooling for all; one sprint triathlon completed where I cut down on last year’s time by a full 29 seconds; and one slumber party of girlfriends where for one night we got to be 13 all over again, with less angst and more giggling. So my forties have been super busy and a lot of fun! And now I feel fairly justified in not doing much else for the rest of the year.

On the Eve of 40

On the Eve of 40 I find myself incredibly grateful for 40 wonderful years, never knowing one without my Heavenly Father’s steadfast love and care. I am also grateful for Eternity, because here, around the halfway point, I reflect that there is so much still to learn, so much still to do, so many people I would like to have better conversations with, so much of God’s goodness that I have only begun to understand. What I cannot get to in this life will have to be completed in the Life to come.

A little discouraged sometimes, maybe, because I am so far from the person I thought I would be by now. I thought by now I’d be more deliberate about things, that I wouldn’t take so long to make up my mind, that I would be writing more, that I would have a menu plan and be a better dresser. Still dealing with the same stupid sins that I have forever. And nothing interesting either….just the usual suspects: procrastination, laziness, selfishness. All the problems that for 40 years I’ve attributed to circumstances around me, I find are largely attributed to the fact that I am, well,….me.

And praise God that He is God! He is redeeming this sinful girl (or do I have to say “woman” now that I’m 40?) and remaking me into what He actually intended. When He is done with me, then I guess I will be done. Literally! And I’ll be with Him! In the meantime, what a life! He’s given me what I’ve always wanted: His love and forgiveness, the love of my family around me, meaningful work and creative outlets. Friends to walk through life with, and His creation to learn about along the way.

I need to take off my sandals. I am on holy ground.