35 Reasons

...why I love my husband.  One for each year he celebrates today.  As told (primarily) through picture texts, sent from him to me.

35. His love for the little things.  Including this gargantuan-sized jug of Tapatio sent w/ "Booooooom" as the subject.  His excitement for stuff like this KILLS me.  And makes me want to kill him sometimes.  34. Nothing spells L-O-V-E more than clean (and folded) laundry.  Also, he has wonderfully realistic and domestically liberating expectations as to the cleanliness and organization of our home.  Until he can't find his dental floss.  Then the earth falls of its' axis.  33. His God-given leadership qualities, determination and drive.  Also, his passion for teaching God's Word and shepherding God's people.  This is my favorite picture ever, I think. 

32. He shops for our girls.  He bought those cute little purple Vans for Ashy last year.  And for KK, those skinny jeans and black converse.  31. His love for Chipotle that I definitely share.  Our baby has inherited it, too.  30. His passion for the game(s).  Football, baseball, hockey, golf, curling.  You name it and can play it, he loves it.  He dresses the girls in sports gear whenever he can.  And actually, I find security in his fanaticism.  His loyalty and devotion to teams  like the Giants and the Niners remind me that he will always stick around.  Even when I'm a loser. 

29. He always gives me his heart.  Artichoke and otherwise.  28. His passion for Jesus and serving His people.  This picture was taken while helping his mom rip up her carpet and replace it with hardwood floors.  And actually it's Kim and Kelly serving.  Which brings to mind another reason why I love him so much.  He has an amazing ability to move people to action and he only uses it for good.  27. He takes KK on ice cream dates.  He values his role as daddy and understands the lasting importance of spending quality time  with them.

26. Movie night at Kayla's school.  Speaking of Kayla's school, he has aspirations to be president of the PTA.  Look out, Sunnybrae.  25. He takes the safety of our children very seriously.  24. He loves Friday Night Lights, The Office, Whale Wars and Kitchen Nightmares almost as much as I do.  And Shark Week.

23. He is super helpful with the girls and loves getting them bathed and ready for bed.  And allows Ashy to wear Kayla's PJ's.  Which Ashy loves also.  22. He makes pizza from scratch.  21. He's a fun dad.  And allowed Ashlyn to wear her Halloween costume before even leaving the store.  And for most of the month, actually.

20. He is excited about ministering to our community and sharing Christ.  19. He watches with delight when Ashy swings a bat.  It's usually at her sister but he's not really concerned about that.  Definitely more interested in her form.  18. He takes artsy pictures.

17. He shares his bed.  And sometimes gets kicked out.  BAD summer habit.  We'll regulate when school starts.  16. He genuinely enjoys helping others.  Like his mom when she bought a new car earlier this month.  I think in his next life he will be a certified pre-owned car salesman.  He loves the whole process which I think is the weirdest thing EVER.  15. He loves Kobi.  The only other man in the house.

14. Our little Ashy at one of her many doctor's appointments this past year.  I love him because he constantly reminded me of God's plan and purpose through all of it.  And now, I can honestly say that I see this huge trial as a gift.  God is going to use it and her in big ways.  And I am thankful to my dear husband for continually reminding me of that fact.  13. He loves to take our babies to the zoo.  12. And to the beach.

11. And to movie dates with friends.  10. And to the snow.  9. And to Starbucks.

8. And to the park.  7. And to the pumpkin patch.  6. And to creepy, plush m&m factories.

5. He has discernment.  Todd Friel, pictured here, (and who spoke recently at a conference Dave attended) is the host of one of the more "legit" shows on Jesus TV.  Dave likes to watch late night Jesus TV and analyze its' theology.   I don't know why I love this but I do.  I have, however,  banned him from calling the hotlines to debate with the prayer warriors.  4. He listens to a Paul Washer sermon at least once a day.  3. He loves music.  And so does Ash.

2. The CityTeam housecat.  Sent with caption "Show to KK, please."  I love him because he's constantly thinking about his girls, even when he is not with them.  1. Daytime Skyline snow date while girls were in school.  He values our time together and invests in our relationship.  He is a true, living example of a biblical husband and father, who loves Jesus first and foremost, and I am blessed beyond belief to be married to him.

Happy Birthday, babe!  I love you and am thankful for all you do.

Our Oldest Friend

On Tuesday, our friend Danny turned old.  REAL old.  Like halfway-to-dead old.  The first of our close friends to hit the big 4-0.  We celebrated at a San Jose Giants game which, I have to say, was quite fun.  Not as fun as watching him hike over the hill WAY before us.  But still fun.  Let us know how it is on the other side, old man... ;)

Funny Face

Before school wrapped for the summer, Ashlyn and her teachers had been working on different emotions.  Even has a teeny, tiny baby, her face has always been very expressive.  These are a few of my favorites.  I apologize in advance for the see-food.  I had to bribe her with chicken nuggets.

First, we have "happy."

Next, "grumpy."

And, last but not least, "silly."

And yes, she is wearing Croakies.  I realize they are geeky and it's highly likely she will want to kill us when she's older.  But, you see, they prevent her hearing aids from taking another spin in the microwave.  Which prevent us from killing her.  So it's kind of  a life and death situation.  I think she'll understand.

Sunnybrae 5-Day Club

Last week, Hope hosted its' first annual 5-Day Bible Club at Sunnybrae Park in San Mateo.  And it was really wonderful.  Like most events during these early days of our church plant, it was very grass roots and simple.  And I think the simplicity is what made it so wonderful.

Claire, Camilla (Ashlyn loves her best because she thinks her name is Vanilla) and Jesse Sloan have been trained in Child Evangelism Fellowship and run clubs like these all over the Bay Area.  They, along with their parents have been an integral part of our church since they started attending in January.  And to say that they are gifted is a huge understatement.  They were able to teach over 40 little ones God's Word for an hour and a half, each day.  With little fluff and frills.  Amazing to see.  And such a blessing.

KK loved Club and asked about it every morning when she woke up.  She also emptied her piggy bank to help James, a CEF missionary currently living in the middle east purchase a car.  Ashlyn was more interested in the swings than Jesus.  I told her that Jesus loved her and she said that she loved Cheez-Its, too.  We've got a long road ahead.

"Call to Me and I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

Houston, We Have A Problem

And it's kind of a big one.  Two people are sleeping in our bed.

And it's the wrong two.

Our headboard, also a problem.  Isn't it the ugliest thing you've ever seen?  It's even worse live.

Breakfast of Champs

Trader Joe's Vanilla Meringues.  YUM.

Peter Pan-ic Attack

10:58, Wednesday evening.  Our house phone rings.  Which means one of two things.  It's another bill collector, trying to track down a financial failure who lived in our house before we did (Hello, Mr. Ayer.  If you're out there... PAY YOUR BILLS, PLEASE.) or someone is dead.  I don't believe bill collectors work at 10:58 in the evening so I feared the worst.  But then I remembered that Kayla was up at my parents for a sleepover.  And it was my mom on the line explaining that my dad was driving her home.

Apparently, they woke to the sound of her sobbing and found her in the corner of the guest room clutching a wedding picture of Dave and I, muttering some craziness about Tinkerbell and how she missed me and my waffles.  Now this behavior is odd, unlike her.  Especially while visiting my parents, who live in the land of endless Popsicles, all-you-can-watch cartoons and 9:30 bedtimes.  And they let her play kitchen with REAL ingredients.  She has had many overnights in the magical kingdom on Kings Lane and none have ended like this.

In order to properly make sense of this uncharacteristic melt-down, it is necessary to recap the events of the day.  We had gone up to the city to see Peter Pan at Ferry Park on the Embarcadero.  We attended a special "behind the scenes" pre-show.  Complete with an awesome gift and candy store.

We ate lunch at The Waterfront Restaurant, across the street.  Kayla's favorite.  She had sourdough bread and maraschino cherries.

Then back to Ferry Park for the actual performance that started later in the afternoon.

It was all AMAZING.  Really.  The tent and technology inside, brilliant.  12 projectors displayed digital graphics on the inside of the tent (think IMAX meets live theatre).  The support poles were on the outside of the tent so the actors were able to swing freely inside without getting clocked in the head.  And the London aerial scenes projected on the tent walls made the flying sequences incredible.  The costumes and props were the coolest.  Especially the crocodile on rollers made entirely of wooden hangers.

But it was also a bit dark.  Tinkerbell had dreads, some serious ink and wore combat boots.  And she hissed.  Captain Hook, who's freaky anyway, had blood on his sleeve and was eaten by the coat hanger croc at the end.  Definitely enough to send a 7 year old over the edge.

Or home from Nan and Pops during a sleepover.