Recreation

The hidden benefits of early literacy intervention

by admin on March 30, 2011 · 2 comments

For the last month my company, Intersection, has been working with Think Together on a strategy to introduce people to the amazing stories that are coming out of the relationships they have with the clients they serve. Its been really fun to hear how lives have been changed through programs that are often not designed to have the types of impacts they seem to have.

Check out Betty’s story on their blog today. It is really amazing and I am excited that my team got to help share it.

“My husband has noticed a big change in me,” she says with a smile. “I’m not nagging him as much and we don’t fight nearly as much as we did, especially not in front of the kids.”

It’s truly a heart warming story of how early literacy intervention changed an entire family.

Micah’s Birthday 2011

by admin on January 6, 2011 · 0 comments

Every year on the actual day of our boys birthday we take them over to Irvine Park to ride the train, go on a pony ride and run around.

Slide show after the break.

Micah and me riding the “neighs”

by admin on December 30, 2010 · 0 comments

Lots of fun.

Dear nerds, I need your help…

by admin on November 13, 2010 · 2 comments

*updated*

I know about 95% of you will have no idea what any of this means. Thats ok. This wasn’t meant for you then (;

About six months ago my netbook power supply started going crazy. Then eventually it died. I should have stopped using it when it was screwy, but it was my primary computer and I could not afford to replace it right away. It has a 32gb *mini* pci-express ssd. I mostly use cloud storage options but did have a few graphics and pictures stored on locally that I had not yet backed up. I finally got a new computer but do not have any devices around that have a *mini* pci-express port.

I am hoping that one of you out there might know what this post means, and have a solution. I need to get the data off the old drive and onto a usb stick or something.

Message received

by admin on October 22, 2010 · 4 comments

At Laundry Love Santa Ana on Thursday, there was a woman who said some disparaging things about “the people who started this thing.” Being one of “those people” I took this a bit personal. I was a little angry and a little hurt that someone would question my motives or accuse me of being unfair. Intellectually, I understand that she was not entirely well and that she has a reputation for starting fights for fun, but I still could hear what she was saying (;

Five things happened within 24 hours that made me realize I should not let that situation impact me the way it did…

One guy from Civic Center told me a bit of his story, especially as it relates to violence directed towards those experiencing homelessness. He is a veteran and just got approved for his pension after over a year living on the streets. He smiled from ear to ear as he described the tiny studio apartment he was moving into the first of the month. He also told me that it was things like Laundry Love Santa Ana, that made the awful things bearable.
Another friend who is homeless shared (to nearly everyone multiple times, he was so excited) that he was into his third month of being clean. Such a huge accomplishment and such an amazing opportunity to walk with him through this difficult time.
A brand new volunteer told me that anytime there is something good happening, there will be opposition to it. So I guess that means we are on the right track!
A volunteer asked me for relationship advice. This may seem out of place here, but from early on, the thing that I have been most excited about Laundry Love Santa Ana is the intersection point it has become. A community of so many different people from so many different backgrounds. And as communities grow, people start reaching out to each other. The fact that this guy felt he could talk to me about his relationship, when we met through Laundry Love, means that something real is happening at the laundromat.
I went for a late night diaper run to CVS by my house about two miles from the laundromat. There was a guy out front asking for money. I didn’t have any cash on me, but asked if he minded change. Had some coins in my car. After giving him like 40 cents in pennies I told him about Laundry Love Santa Ana. His face lit up. He and his wife appeared to live in their car. He showed me his trunk with was VERY full of dirty clothes. He gave me a firm handshake and thanked me. Not sure he even remembered the change at that point, the thought of someone helping him with laundry was just overwhelming.

I am a slow learner, I am stubborn and I have a short attention span, so learning a lesson takes some clear butt whooping, which evidently I got. Ever have something slammed in your face so blatantly?

Update: Car Accident

by admin on February 27, 2010 · 2 comments

We are waiting to hear back from the body shop on how long it will take. Our insurance covers $1200 for rental cars, so we should be good. Will keep all informed of any major issues. It looks like we are in good shape for the time being. Thanks to all who have called, emailed, texted, facebooked, twittered and otherwise gotten in touch with us regarding your care and concern. We very much appreciate and value each and every one of you.

Micah shows no signs of even knowing he was in an accident. Tiny bit of bruising around his seatbelt visible if you really look. Shannon still have a decent iPod shaped bruise on her hip and a small seatbelt bruise.

I think the worst part of everything is we ended up with a minivan and now its raining. I miss 4 wheel drive and I look like a soccer mom driving it (especially when I wear my juicy couture pajamas).

Cheesy sermon videos and some alternatives

by admin on February 4, 2009 · 2 comments

Between having a toddler and a brand new baby, I have been neglecting my blog quite a bit lately. I apologize to all of you for this, and have been bringing back a few of my most popular posts from the archives to tide you over until things calm down a teeny bit around here.
Check out these “parody” videos being sold for almost $100 to churches. I put parody in quotes because parody implies wit, humor and smarts. These cheesy imitations of the great Mac commercials with Justin Long and that other guy who was in that movie with Tina Faye and Amy Poehler are not only really poorly produced (not every church has lots of money to invest in multi media, I know) but the acting is really bad and the scripts not that funny. A couple clever puns but by and large a scam looking to pawn some crummy “christian” movie off on some poor unsuspecting pastor hoping to be relevant.

Now I know someone out there is going to know the organization who put these together. Maybe you thought they were amazing. That’s fine. You spend the money on them. And maybe I am being overly critical but organizations that claim to be helping churches and churches themselves should be held to a higher standard. Their motives may be great, but good intentions are not enough. My point is that creativity and innovation should be hallmarks of the Church as we follow the God who invented the duck billed platypus. We need not steal someone else’s idea. We don’t always have to reinvent the wheel though. That being said. . .

Save your parishioner’s some money. Record the actual Mac commercials. Then use those clips to highlight any of the following for a sermon series.

1. Evangelism.

Mac could be represented as Athens. Windows is Jerusalem. A series on Acts17.(Updated: I specifically was thinking of the commercial where Mac talks about making movies and PC talks about spreadsheets. Some would not work because the point you should, I think, be making is that Paul’s methods were equal but specially suited to the circumstance.)

A little more topically Mac can be seen as kind of an ancient future type faith. One that maintains the time less truths of the faith but expresses them in a way that people today can get. With Windows being the stuffy “we’ve always done it that way” type.

Mac could be Paul and Windows Peter. Make sure to reference 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 to drive home the point as well as Galatians 2:11-21 (of course).

2. Doctrine

I have to be careful on this one so I don’t get my mailbox flooded with the DIE HERETIC emails again, but I would take one of three approaches on this one.

a. Correct Doctrine is Mac. Heresy (or for the ecumenical, Error)is Windows.

b. Those Focused on strong commitment to doctrines and statements of faith are Mac. Those who would cast aside doctrine on the altar of relevance are Windows.

C. Those who believe that Truth can be bigger than our intramural squabbles and thus agree to disagree for the sake of community and to spend our resources doing the work of the Kingdom are Mac. Insert your least favorite famous Christian figurehead as Windows.

I am sure there are plenty of people way smarter than me who have even better ideas.