Can it be? Is it true?

Today I submitted the last assignment of this summer quarter. With that submission came immeasurable freedom! It's amazing how much I can do now without having the reminder of an unfinished homework assignment whispering in my ear.

Really, I get to plunge myself fully into this wedding planning stuff. I think it's fun. Who knows if that will last? Maybe it will be fun until the last few weeks, when the time is near with some projects still unfinished.

Something I've been blessed by [and Ivory more than me, I'm sure] is the amount of generosity that people have extended toward our family for this wedding! The Crealocks offered their time and resources immediately, which might be a "given" for some people [parents of the groom and all], but it came as a genuine surprise and blessing to me. Also, a friend of the family [really, the mother-in-law of Ivory's best friend] almost begged [not really - I jest] to host a bridal shower for Ivory. AND, a lady and longtime friend from our church immediately said she would organize a bridal shower at church for Ivory.

Whew! Thank you, Lord! Community is amazing, and it extends beyond what we sometimes realize.

Set a Fire

I'm holding on to see if I'll make it this month with $10 leftover to buy that CD. For now, it's youtube videos for me.

Here's one I listened to over and over again yesterday:

Progress

After we thought we had looked at every possible bridesmaid dress available to us through the Internet, Ivory and I happened upon The Dress: black, white, and affordable! [I won't post the picture, because it's fun to keep secrets. :P]

As difficult it was to come to terms with the fact that my sister will be leaving, now that I have, it's so fun and such a privilege to get to help plan for her and Jared's big day. It's a first for her, and it's a first for me. It's a first for Jared and his family, too. And, although Armando has already been married, it's the first time our family has been on the planning side of a wedding. Firsts are just as exciting and adventurous as they are difficult and scary.

Now, before I go spending hours browsing for shoes to wear to the wedding, I have a final to study for and four assignments to complete.

P.S. Check this out!

Wedding Planning

It's unreal that my sister is at that Point in her life.

You know the Point, right?

It's the Point dramatized in every culture, every form of media.
And it's the Point fantasized by every girl.

ENGAGEMENT!

And I get to be a part of this!
I get to be a brain that helps her think through plans, and hands and feet that help to execute them.
It's unreal.

Lately, we've been web-shopping for bridesmaid dresses [AH!] It's not only fun, but also a lesson in tastes and in submission to our Dad. ["Dad, what do you think of this dress?" "No." "Ohhh...okay..."] AND, it can be frustrating. I've not gotten to the point yet where I'm in the depths of despair, but the chances of finding a dress that Ivory loves, I agree with, and my dad sanctions seem pretty darn minimal. BUT, God has proven Himself faithful in issues like this time and again. There is the Dress, somewhere, that honors Him and flatters us. I'm excited to find it!

Of course, we're doing all of this somewhat prematurely. The date has not been set, and neither has the wedding party. :) Hehe..woops.

My day has just been made!

I'm so stoked that this album is now available on iTunes!

I've been holding off on buying it because of the hassle of paying to have the album shipped to me from Argentina!

The band is Toma Tu Lugar, led by Marcos Brunet. Brunet's vision is to see the church take its place as true worshippers, in the church and out, so that God can take His rightful place over our nations. Hence their name, "Toma Tu Lugar," which literally translates into "Take Your Place."

And the band is adequately aligned with their vision. They are primarily a team of worshippers. All of their songs are recorded live, from worship conferences they are invited to all over Argentina and [sometimes] surrounding countries. It's prophetic worship that SO invites any listener to become a participator, to enter into a time of total adoration of our God.

If you are at all interested in Spanish worship music, this album is a MUST. Just search "Toma Tu Lugar" on iTunes.

Oh, and their first album is also now on iTunes:

I own this 2-disc album, and it's a keeper.

Check them out on facebook, twitter, youtube, or myspace.

OR, just check them out here, at their website, where you can preview tracks and read about their vision.

It's official!

Jared & Ivory

Lost and Found

You know the feeling when you put on a jacket you haven't worn in a year, stick your hand in the pocket, and find a $20 bill?

That's something like how Ivory and I felt when we discovered an undeveloped roll of film.

What could be on it?

When was it from?

Ivory took the film to be developed, and here are some of the treasures that were on it:

An almost-forgotten visit from a friend:

"Batdorf Espresso" in Leavenworth. We shot the picture while shopping, two or three years ago, to show to Ellie.

And shots from a girls' day hike behind our house, probably at least two years ago:

The Hiding Place

I know this book is by no means new. It is likely that you have already read it, maybe even more than once. It was written in the 70s, I think, and the story it tells took place decades earlier, amid the horrors of the Holocaust, during World War II. But, as I have heard before, although the book is old, it holds timeless truths.

Just to share one insight I gained from Corrie's story:

The fleas!

There is a part in the story where Corrie and her sister Betsy find themselves in Ravensbruck, a German extermination camp, and they are introduced to their new living quarters. The first sight of them appalls Corrie. It's a room, made to house 400 people, but now accommodating 1,400 on large, long bunks. The mattresses smell of urine, and they are crawling with fleas. Corrie is driven to despair, but Betsy reminds her that their weapon is gratefulness. Together, they begin thanking God for everything they can think of -- for leading them to Ravensbruck, for all the women they can reach out to, for the Bible they have managed to sneak past all of the guards, "and for the fleas," says Betsy.

James Brown's depiction of women's sleeping quarters in Ravensbruck

 "The fleas!" Corrie is astonished. But Betsy insists that they are to give thanks for everything, in any circumstance. So Corrie thanks God for the fleas, but she is sure she could never be grateful for them.

As Corrie and Betsy get established in the extermination camp, they notice that they have almost no supervision in their living quarters, so they are free to hold Bible readings and worship sessions that bring life to the women around them. They later discover that the reason they were unsupervised is because the guards wanted to keep their distance...because of the fleas!

This was an impressing way to see that, indeed, isn't every detail of our lives in God's plan?

This book is definitely going under "Dahlia's Picks." I highly recommend it.

Family camping trip a success!

My family's recent trip to the ocean was gratifying and relaxing, exactly what we were all hoping for it to be.

I am taking a break from unpacking and cleaning my room to post some pictures, because, perhaps you would like to see some?

Our adventures at the ocean make for a long story, which I can tell you in person if you're interested enough to hear it.

Suffice it to say that my grandpa's Pacific Beach house, where we had planned on living during our stay, needed some work done that prevented us from staying there at all. The picture below shows a portion of the yard behind the house. This may give you a taste of what condition the house (not only the yard) was in.

So, we hopscotched from hotel to hotel. In fact, for each of the three nights we were there, we stayed in a different hotel. The proof is in the pictures.

Hotel #1 [3 beds, a fold-out couch, and a full-sized kitchen]:

Hotel #2 [only 2 beds this time, and a kitchenette]:

Hotel #3 [Our favorite - two beds, a futon, and a full-sized kitchen. It was just a 1-minute walk from the bach, and -oh- the decorations were all sand-dollar themed! So cute!]:

We spent a large chunk of our time doing two things:

1. Sleeping:

2. Eating:

 And sleeping:

 And eating:

And sleeping:

And eating!

Other than that, we did get to see the beach and spend some quality family time together. Here are some [probably random] of my favorite photos:



We missed Ivory. She couldn't go, because she was working all weekend. If not for that, it would have been the perfect family vacation, ups and downs and all.

To the beach!

Oliver woke up this morning and, from the top of the stairs, wailed, "We forgot to go to the beach!"

It amuses me how he thinks everyone is as carefree as him, that we don't plan things or live off of schedules. What a cutey.

I'm looking forward to this family camping trip! [It won't be REAL camping, if you are one of those who seems to think camping has to include tents, firepits, and kum-ba-yah. Actually, I am one of those. But we're staying in my grandpa's beach house. Call us high-class.]

Happy 4th of July weekend to you all!

A worthy budget incentive

I know I must keep a budget.

I try to keep a budget.

The last couple of months, though, I have spent "free" money too early in the month, rendering myself helpless by the end of the month for that unexpected car break-down, or the day[s] when I forgot my lunch and had to run to Safeway for Chinese. And I'm left thinking - gosh! If only I hadn't bought that coffee. If only I had asked God before spending those $5.

SO, I'm turning to an incentive. [Call it a bribe if you must.]

This month [July], if I have managed to save at least $10 in the "unplanned expenses" category by July 30th, I will buy this CD:

Music is my weakness. Especially music that I know I can hear God in and worship with. So this is some major incentive.

I'll let you know how well I steward my finances in July. If you think of it, pray. :)

Just a question

Why is it mostly women who blog?

The inspiration in Inception

I had heard of this movie from several different people, so I wanted to watch it.

When my sister came home from watching it with a lopsided expression on her face, I should have known better. Generally, we have very similar tastes in movies.

But, last night, I watched it anyway.

I think I have the lopsided expression on my face right now.

It's not that I didn't like the movie. It was certainly entertaining, suspenseful, puzzling, and satisfying.

But - hmm... what to say?

I was left wondering, was this worth my time?

And I never like ending a movie with that question.

So I question you. If you've seen it, was it worth your time?

Beautiful!

This morning, Ivory was fixing up in the bathroom, and Oliver was looking for her.

"Ar-vreee! Ar-vreee!" he called. "Oh!" he said, when he saw her. "You look BEAUTIFUL!"

Ivory laughed. "You do, too!"

"NOOO! I'm not beautiful!" Oliver protested. "I'm just handsome."

Haha! That's the spirit!

Pearl in the Sand: Check!

Author: Tessa Afshar

Recommended Audience: Women over 20 (some intimate scenes with her husband, but nothing graphic)

Brief Synopsis: At just 15 years old, Rahab is sold into prostitution by her father, the man she loves most. Years later, she hears of the Israelites and of their God, who brings both judgment and mercy. She longs for this God and, when she spots two Hebrews come to spy on Jericho, she takes her opportunity to learn more about this God and to secure her safety when the Israelites destroy Jericho. Rahab goes on to join the Israelites out of both her need and her hunger for their Lord. She also marries Salmone, a leader of the tribe of Judah.

But how can one who was a prostitute cope with marriage to a single man?

When she has trained her heart to be cold, how can she accept both her husband's and God's love?

When she has been trampled on, as a pearl in the sand beneatch careless heels, is there anything left of her to love?

My Review: Wow. More than anything, this is a story of relationships. I've been inspired to fight for my relationships, even to the point of annoying or irritating the person I love, so all sin is exposed and all isues are resolved.

It's also a story of miracles. God proves Himself faithful to both the large Israelite nation at large and the lone individual's heart. I have been inspired to see God in everything, even in an unanswered prayer. He is forever working miracles.

And then there's the Hebrew wedding. It SO reflects Christ and the church. To give you an idea, there is a scene where Salmone meets with Rahab's parents to ask for permission to marry her and to agree on the bridal price. As he leaves, he tells Rahab [and this will not be verbatim]: "I go to prepare a place for you. I will return for you." Sound familiar?

In a way, I think that every woman is Rahab, so, more than anything, this story is a journey for each of us to take with the Lord, taking Rahab's revelations as our own and believing God's words to her to be for us.

If you get the chance and your local library carries it, I would definitely recommend this book for all us ladies.

"He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities."

Psalm 103:10

"...as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you."

Isaiah 62:5

Mission Accomplished

Buy yours now - only $10!

Recetas
del

Corazon

- A bilingual cookbook -

Our youth group TODAY finished a project that has spanned several months now: a church cookbook! AH! It's finished!

And, just to celebrate, I made one of the recipes for dinner tonight: sopes!

I didn't snap a photo, so a google image will have to do:

Next week: Albondigas, my favorite!

Thinning

One of Oliver's many funnies happened today.

"Where are you going?" he asked my dad.

"I'm going to work."

"What are you doing in the work?"

"We're thinning the fruit."

Now, my dad has a wonderful Mexican accent, so then Oliver asks:

"What's teening?"

HAHAHA! My mom and I got a good laugh out of that one.

The gardening begins

We abandoned the former gardening site in favor of creating a NEW one, designed by muah!

So my dad gave me some options, and I decided on the peanut style:

My mom and I will begin planting the flowers tomorrow! (God help me!)