Ghoul Times in Blaine.

Polyester Man and Happy the Dwarf.

Aaron and I. We were still bored at this point, then chaos broke loose and everyone and their uncle showed up. I don't know what I was, which is how it usually turns out for me on Halloween.
Order Here.
Eat this.
Ian and his Tele-Evangelist Used Car Salesman Grandfather.

Piece of Cake.

If any of y'all have recipes, or ideas, for our cafe, (REALLY! ANYTHING!) we'd love to hear it. We are at the point where we need to expand, but need to figure out which direction to take. Grilled sandwiches? Pastries? Shots of Tequila?

"A Walk With Mommy" by Ian

Hi! My name is Ian.I like going for walks with my Mom.
But I'd rather be carried.

I love Lucy, my cousin. We play piano together.

I know what a tree is.

I found a new thing. Its called a puddle.

But sometimes I trip on rocks when I get excited about more puddles.

Mom thinks I look like Dorf here.

I like throwing rocks into puddles.

.I sat down in the puddle. Mommy said it was time to go.

Bye!

"A Glorified Thought on Two Cars as they Pass, one leaving Bellingham at 62 mph and the other leaving Edmonds at 76 mph"

Our stories merge
Like the birth of the suns rays as they break
over the soft evergreens.
Your enchanting journey crosses
with mine, as opposite as we are,
for one glance, and somehow connect
two lives that never would have met.

Two moments, one the eyes and
the second, the wind as
our destinies meet only for one brief glance
Matter we will not in this greater journey,
but somehow this passing draws us closer
to whatever drives us all.

As low as things may get here on earth, its nice to have an eternal perspective. I'm glad I believe and know what is right. After just under a week of questioning and a few complications with my pregnancy, I finally got confirmation. I miscarried. But its nice to know that although I am flawed and imperfect, there's someone who IS perfect and IS good.

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord blessed be Your Name

Bzz.

Setting: Blackberry House
Date/Time: September 27/2:45pm

I have just arrived in the coffeeshop after putting Ian down for a nap (we live upstairs) to make myself a quick drink before practice. The conversation that ensued went a little something like this:

"It DIED!" our employee Jaclyn proclaimed.
"What died." I asked, distracted by my Vanilla Steamer.
"The Bee! Aaron, the bee died!"
"Haha." Aaron chuckles. "Honey, did I tell you we froze a bee?"
"No."
"We tied a string to it, taped it to the side of the kitchen island, and made it fly. It wasn't too happy."
"I'm glad you're using your time wisely." I said, as I walked out the door.

And now, for your viewing enjoyment, a bee on a leash, and our not so bzzy OWNER and employee enjoying a slow day at our shop.

**Anyone know how to get a video on a blog without it taking FOREVER then stopping altogether???**

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:11-13

I never really realized it, but I think this is by far my favorite verse ever. Especially the last part. There is no better promise than a God who is there when you search for Him.

A Moment in Time

Stealing this from Becky, who stole from Ellen. :)

10 Years Ago
I was sixteen, somehow enjoying one of the last of my undeniably awkward early teen years. I was a sophomore at Meadowdale High School, beginning my journey as a competitive soccer player. I LOVED youth group at Sunrise Christian Fellowship. A few close friends through that were Bridget, Scooty, and Nate. I think I somehow managed to have very high self-esteem, despite my braces, unplucked eyebrows, unstyled hair, and tendency to wear soccer shorts at all times. No wonder I didn't have a boyfriend until the later years of high school. :) It was fortunately the year that despite the lack of any romance, found SO much fulfillment in my friendships, my youth group and how it fully inspired me in my faith, and my knack for making other girls look silly on the soccer field. I think I made a few guys look silly, too. (Bragg bragg). At the end of sophomore year, I got my braces off. If wasn't till a year later I started plucking my eyebrows, and had many comments afterward from women telling me "Kelly, I love how you are growing up to be such a great young woman of God." I still can't quite figure out how plucking my eyebrows makes me a strong woman of God.

20 Years Ago
Six years old, top of my kindergarten class. I remember being SO proud that my teacher would ask me to read books to the class during story time. They even sent me to first grade occasionally for some "advanced" reading. Oddly enough, another one of my awkward phases which I call "Patch Girl." No, not cabbage patch. Eye patch. They diagnosed me with a Left Lazy Eye when I was five. Prescription: eye patch. Only not just any eye patch. My mom would cut out construction paper ovals, and color on them. For Easter, I would have a very colorful Easter egg, for Christmas it was a tree... you get the point. Fortunately, my Mom let me not wear my glasses in my school picture, which resulted in squinty eyes in the picture because I was so used to glasses. Or because I was smiling so hard that I didn't have my glasses off. (This was also the year of the "almost mullet." AFter which I cut my hair short for some reason, and THEN grew my hair long by FIFTH GRADE! Why did it take me so long??!!)

30 Years Ago
I was -4. My brother was enjoying being a single child, my Mom was starting to deal with cancer, and my Dad was working hard like usual. Fortunately, my Mom got better, and my Dad's not working as hard now. Aside from that, I don't have much more to say about this time in my life.

Ian's sure going to be a good big brother...

....in June

Ode to Ian

Oh Ian, how you've grown

Size is relative, after being born a small toddler.

But now your brain and your smiles match your future pro-footballness.

We've survived the blow-overs, spit-ups,

diaper rash and snot.

Burp rags and bum cream stowed away for a rainy day,

only to now learn the tantrum.

Arms turn to jello, face becomes wrinkly, and somehow

Can't manage to keep a firm grip

on your 28 pound frame.

Your once calm, soothing demeanor with your

bright eyes, soft skin, delicate hands,

now replaced by peanutbutter hands and "mrr mee, oooh" as you wriggle out of mine.

Thank God you sleep so much, my child

As I sit here, blogging, at 9:30am,

You, the 14 month old ball of fury and whine,

breathe deep in your crib next door.

Binkies strewn about, as if

a tornado has landed in Blaine

and only hit your room.

Victory. ish.

Woohoo! Our Blaine Varsity team, after being defeated time and again throughout the middle of the season, lost again, but only lost 1-0! ... to the reigning first place team!!! Woohoo! AND they even kept them scoreless until close to the end of the game!

Ahh. My job is done here. Er. 4 more games. Then possibly post-season. I celebrated with an ice cream sandwich. Shouldn't have done that. Well, a fat Kelly is a happy Kelly.

Sick Day.

102.3, 101.2, 100.2... and we're not talking about radio stations.

Autumn.

I love Autumn! I love the cozy days, vibrant colors, the smell of the air, the contentment everyone emanates, just because its fall. Its that feel-good, hot chocolate, sappy movie, heaps of blankets, Red Safari Spice Rooibos tea, heater blasting, excuse for staying inside, time of year. I love it. Ian, Aaron and I are ALL sick, but somehow I am still happy, cozy, loving this time of the year. Aaron let me sleep in this morning because I had a fever last night. It was SOOO nice to sleep in.

Lazy Mornings

This is the picture of how I get to start my day. With my 14 month old warm-milk addict. Sometimes I wish my whole day could just continue like this picture.

My Motivation

It comes from Colossians 3:23. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward."

I guess once I learned that verse, it has influenced every corner of my life. I know there are moments and phases where I just can't give anymore, but at least I am trying!

That's why I am SO perplexed when I come across people who just DON'T give it all. Whether its for God, or for themselves, or whoever. Can't they be motivated about SOMETHING?

I'm a coach... actually, an ASSISTANT coach. I just want my players to ALWAYS do their best, even if it means they STILL can't beat the top team in the league. All I care about is that they perform to the best of their ability, and be satisfied knowing they didn't let down.

So I guess the question is... how do you motivate a moody group of teenage girls to try hard all the time, and do SOMETHING as if ANYTHING mattered?