Those of you who know Jackson, know that he has been waiting on pins and needles to FINALLY get to see Wall-E. He has been watching the trailers on the computer with his daddy, again and again. We heard that it was going to be at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood and that they would have a stage show before hand featuring Buzz Lightyear, The Incredibles, Monsters Inc. (all Jackson’s favorites) and more, and that sealed the deal! We went on Saturday and had a terrific time.
Jackson & his daddy In Front of the El Capitan
Bubbles on Hollywood Blvd.
Posing by the poster
Having dinner at the Disney Soda Fountain, next door to the theater (Yes, that’s a Mickey Mouse grilled cheese)
Last weekend we had a great time camping at Dogwood campground in Lake Arrowhead with our fellowship class from church. There was something like 10 families and around 23 kids! Let’s just say there was a lot of dirt and marshmallows involved…
On the way up… Jackson and his buddy Edward
Boys and their sticks! (We had been there less than 30 minutes and there was already some form of dirt on Jackson’s forehead…)
The view on our Saturday morning hike:
My boys on the hike
At Lake Gregory on Saturday afternoon, the boys rented a paddle board
We had an enjoyable Father’s day relaxing at home together as a family and celebrating Jim and what a great husband/father he is. Jackson asked if we could have “family playdough time”, and we obliged. For your viewing pleasure, we have posted the end result. (In case you’re wondering, the small black pile under the crab was my attempt at caviar.) Hope all of you Fathers had a wonderful Father’s day!
Last night we were privlidged to go on a triple date with some friends. First we went to an Italian restaurant near Hollywood. It had singing waiters and great food! Then we went to the Griffith Observatory. Jim and I hadn’t been since it was reburbished and reopened. I had forgotten how large and amazing it is.
Dinner at Miceli’s
Hollywood & Highland
Almost sunset…
On the steps
View from the top
Cityscape
Planet models
“When I consider your heavens, the works of you fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” Psalm 8:3-4
Orange Roughy was on sale this week, and since it is one of my favorites I couldn’t resist. I found a new recipe and it was actually quite yummy. It paired well with wild rice and brussels sprouts (although I realize our love of brussels sprouts is not widely shared).
MEDITERANEAN ORANGE ROUGHY
INGREDIENTS
1 teaspoon olive oil
3 green onions, chopped
1 cup dry white wine
1 (14.5 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with liquid, chopped
4 (4 ounce) fillets orange roughy
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pinch dried thyme, crushed
1 pinch dried rosemary, crushed
1/4 cup sliced black olives, drained
1/2 pound crumbled feta cheese
DIRECTIONS
Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Stir in green onions, and cook until tender, 5 to 10 minutes.
Mix white wine and tomatoes with the green onions, and bring to a boil. Place orange roughy fillets in the white wine mixture. Season with basil, pepper, thyme, and rosemary. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until fish is easily flaked with a fork. Remove fish fillets from skillet.
Sprinkle fish fillets with black olives and feta cheese.
On Sunday, we returned from spending a week in Arizona for my brother’s wedding. It was a great time to be with family (although I wish I could have spent more time talking with you all…). We are so happy for Brock and his new wife Renee.
I recently got my hands on a lot of great music, and have been listening to it and reflecting quite a bit lately. I thought it would be fun to post some of the more exceptional lyrics every once in a while.
This song literally stopped me in my tracks. If it would have been around when I was getting married, I would have had it sung at my wedding!!! The lyrics are so poignant.
My brother Brock and his fiance Renee are getting married a week from today. My prayer for them is that this is what love would be to them…
Love Is Not A Fight by Warren Barfield
Love is not a place
To come and go as we please
It’s a house we enter in
And then commit to never leave
Lock the door behind you
Throw away the key
We’ll work it out together
Let it bring us to our knees
Love is a shelter in the raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
If we try to leave, may God send His angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it’s something worth fighting for
To some, love is a word
That they can fall into
But when they’re falling out
Keeping that word is hard to do
Love will come to save us
If we’ll only call
He will ask nothing of us
But demand we give our all
Love is a shelter in the raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
If we try to leave, may God send His angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it’s something worth fighting for
I will fight for you
Would you fight for me?
It’s worth fighting for
Here is a link to an article that Warren wrote about his inspiration for the song. The video is below too.
I have been posting very sparsely lately because my late laptop succumbed to a slow death. Because of that, I had been confined to posting from our older model (dinosaur) desktop. I didn’t realize how much more efficient I was with a laptop, until it was gone. I could get work done in the backyard watching Jackson or in the living room when he wanted me there with him. The best, was being able to multi-task by doing travel work/posting to the blog/keeping in touch with friends while watching a movie at night (especially if it was a movie chosen by one of the male members of my household).
Anyway, I would like to introduce you to my new accomplice, the Fujitsu Lifebook S6510. It was ordered on Mother’s Day and finally arrived yesterday. When shopping for a laptop, the things that were most important to me were size (I liked the smaller, lightweight versions) and ruggedness/durability since I often travel with my laptop and tend to be pretty rough on it. This was the only model I found that was both thin and lightweight, but also rugged (complete with shock-mounted hard drive and spill-resistant keyboard).
I’m hoping this is the start of a great (and long) relationship!
