Good Ol' Fashion Halloween

Kyle just left the house with Katie and William. In about 5 minutes they will be in our friends' neighborhood doing Halloween the good ol' fashion way...

Going door to door and using pillowcases as their loot bags.

Good luck my children... come home and show me your treasures. We'll spill it on the floor in the living room and ooh and aah over the "best ones" and talk about Ms. O'Reilly's home that nobody dared approach lest you be gone forever - never to see your parents again.

Happy Halloween.

the Prize

After discussing with you all last night my predicament with the Halloween costume drama, I spoke with Kyle. We were both beginning to weigh the ease and excitement it would bring versus the cost to just go to Costco and pay 19.99 for a Barbie in the Diamond Castle dress... we had just about come to a decision that that's what we would do when I realized I didn't want to. As small as it may seem to the observing eye, I knew that God could - and would - show Himself if I just gave the controls over to him and let him drive the Schei Train on its way to Halloween... of all holidays to give over to Him.

Following Bible Study this morning Katie and I held hands on our way out to the car. It even FELT like Halloween - the leaves were vibrant reds, oranges and yellows and the air was cold and brisk. I smiled to myself as I realized what was about to be revealed to her. She skipped and hopped assuming nothing more (and understandably so) than a wonderful play date with her friend, Ava. She was going to be spending the afternoon there enjoying hours full of laughter and dress up. She couldn't wait! (*Please see picture of she and Ava - usually seen dressed up like this...)

I looked down at her and said, 'so Daddy and I talked last night...' and immediately her big eyes shot up at me with expectation on her face. But it wasn't an expectation that she would get what she wants but instead it was an excitement that there was SOME sort of resolve and she was anxious to hear what it was... she grinned and raised her eyebrows, silently leading me to continue... I do believe she was also holding her breath.

'... well, you and I are going to go pick up Ben at April's. Then we will go to Other Mothers and see if they have a beautiful dress that you'd want to buy and you could wear it for Halloween. IF they don't have something that you like than we will go to Costco and buy the Barbie in the Diamond Castle dress. Oh, and we need to look for Spiderman stuff for William!' Katie had more questions to ask as to how expensive things were at Other Mothers and if Daddy and I had talked about things being expensive and if God said it was okay to buy something expensive... she was very curious. I discussed with her that Daddy and I had talked and told each other that we just want she and William to be excited about the 'pretend' part of Halloween WHATEVER it is they choose to be! She smiled and said 'okay Mom...' as she skipped the rest of the way to the car. I prayed that God would work over the next 45 minutes.

We were not more than 3 minutes out of the parking lot when Katie regurgitated the plan of action back to me so that she could make sure she understood. After a minute or so of looking out the window she looked back at me and caught my eye in the rear view mirror...

"Mom... I don't think I want to be Barbie in the Diamond Castle actually..." Okay... God what are you doing here... "I want to be a ballerina..." that's easy and inexpensive... "Yeah, they have those down-sleeve (long sleeved) ballerina outfits at Other Mothers and there soooo soft and sooo beautiful and I think I can just wear one of those for Halloween..." this is absolutely fantastic... "Mom... could I get one of those things that goes around and goes up and down when I bounce?"

"Oh... a tutu?!"

"Yeah! A tutu..."

"Yes, lets see what they have, ok?!"

"Okay, Mom."

Well, to make a long story short... not only did she find the perfect ballerina outfit (with a tutu attached), she also found real ballerina tights for under her outfit AND Sam had Spiderman gloves that made the "web shooting noise" and a Spiderman mask... she also pulled out size 3T Spiderman pajamas that were perfect for the ensemble.

I spent $20.55 when the original, and not so wonderful, outcome would have been twice that.

God is so good. Even in the small things. Katie learned a valuable lesson that so many children in our culture don't learn anymore -- we are not "entitled" to anything... and yet she got to experience the joy of receiving a gift, that she and I have discussed with great detail is, from God Himself.

Halloreally?!

You bought what costume? And it cost you how much? For your child who is how old?

Where have the days gone of Mom sewing my brothers' and my California Raisin costumes from purple waterproof material at Joanne's?! What about the AWESOME green martian costume I wore one year in elementary school -- my parents couldn't even get me into the front seat of their '86 gold Ford Escort! I was made of a LARGE, odd-shaped box and vacuum-type tubing painted green covering my arms and legs... my face was painted green and my hair was molded to my head with green guck. I was a witch one year and in 5th grade I was Cinderella -- oh, there was no Disney store. Yeah, Cinderella manifested herself from my FAVORITE pink and white party dress (Stephanie Sanders and I begged for party dresses - hers was purple). Mom (once again) pinned up the outer layer of the gown every 10 inches, or so, creating a somewhat "ballroom affect" and ordained it with bows! I felt GORGEOUS! I roller skated like a beauty queen that night in hopes that Cory Richards would notice me. He had a beautiful dark brown mullet and was really good at soccer... I always watched him during recess.

Katie wants to be "Barbie and the Diamond Castle" Barbie this year. She's spoken of it for weeks now and it has been quite the process. First it was so matter of fact as to what she was going to be and I had never even heard of it before! Then as we discussed it she was aware of the possibility that that may not happen. I wasn't trying to teach her a lesson at this point in the game as much as I was appalled at the fact that Costco wanted me to pay 29.99 for dress-up dress! Do kids not know how to play with sashes and heels and make up anymore?! I NEVER had dress up clothes except what Mom handed down to me... we have pictures of those days.

Just this evening as I drove our babysitter home, she explained to me Katie and hers discussion regarding Halloween. Katie mentioned to Emily that she is going to be "Barbie and the Diamond Castle" Barbie but Mom and Dad have to talk about it first because its really 'spensive' (expensive)... she gets it. At least in her elementary terms she gets it. Now Kyle and I are at a crossroads. The last two weeks of not letting her buy the costume even at sale price has become a wonderful lesson for her and she gets that things come at a price -- a price that is sometimes "too high" for Mom and Dad.

If I take her to Costco tomorrow to buy the dress at sale price will it be the best thing? I don't know... Moms around the world are saying, 'oh go for it!' but there are such detriments to these moments with our children when there could be such wonderful reward when it comes to their hearts and understanding what it means to bring GLORY TO GOD on a daily basis! I don't want to forget the joys and imaginations of childhood but I DO want to remember the importance of saying no to the world's way of finding those "joys" and instead rooting my children's excitement in the character of Christ!

We'll see what the evening brings as I sit on all I have discussed with you... I'm sure clarity will come. He always brings it when I ask Him to.

A McDonald's Day

Following breakfast this morning I swept my floor. This may come as no surprise to you all as I do have a 7 month old, 2 year old and 4 year old partying in this crib the better part of 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

But it does come as a surprise to me. Beads getting strewn across the floor while Katie and William wolf down a couple bowls of Mac N Cheese is an ordinary event in our house -- yet the logic just isn't there. Somehow what happens is that William, while eating his Mac N Cheese, reaches into his dirty jeans pocket, pulls out Katie's broken beaded necklace, holds it by the tail and in slow motion watches as every bead falls clattering to the floor with no limits as to how far they will bounce...

See? What I don't understand is that the mere presence of my children is not unlike a scene going from black and white to colorful in a smooth rolling fashion from left to right... they appear and somehow create their own capitol of crap in whatever state their in!

Today, as I told my dear friend Rachel on the phone, was a day that I didn't want to sweep twice. Most days I will sweep twice... but not today. So today we made a couple of stops before rounding the drive thru at McDonalds and headed on to school almost 30 minutes early. I took my camera as I knew I'd have some time to capture a few wonderful moments on this sunny, Fall, McDonalds Day.

More new camera tricks...

Here are some more shots that I took this morning using my new knowledge of (1)"depth of field" and (2) manipulating exposure... The first photo was an aperature of f/22 with the camera automatically adjusting the correct exposure.








The second photo I increased my aperature to f/4 and achieved this blurried background with the camera automatically adjusting to its recommended exposure.









The third photo I kept the aperature set to f/4 but dropped the exposure to achieve more of an "early evening light" to the kitchen...


The fourth photo I kept the aperature set to f/4 and again dropped the exposure even more so to create a more dramatic "evening light" - if it weren't for the daylight glare on the china cups I may have sold you...

I LOVE this stuff... thanks for reading. Or maybe you skimmed - fair enough.

Cool new camera tricks...

Please excuse the fact that the focal point of this picture was my fungis foot (currently being treated - ok, lazily being treated, but none the less, its been diagnosed and the prognosis is good) but its the background that has been my evening's homework. I was reading and learning about "depth of field" in my pictures.

For this exercise my camera was set in Manual mode so that I could manipulate the aperature/f-stop/diaphragm as I took the picture. My intent was to create a greater focus on my subject and blur the background to the extent that I wanted. With a smaller aperature - diaphragm set at 1/22, or f/22, in the top photo the depth of field was greater - meaning that the background had greater detail and detracted from my fungis foot. In the lower photo I opened up my aperature to 1/4, or f/4, and the background was much more blurred!

I know its exciting to you.

Joys with my kids...

Yesterday evening as I prepped for a friend of mine's baby shower I allowed the kids to take part in the festivities by pulling apart all the cloves of garlic and throw them in the roasting dish... the clean up seemed so small in comparison to the fun they had figuring out what garlic was and how it "works", for lack of better words.






































This afternoon I quickly put Katie and William to bed following the baby shower here at our house. Come to find out that instead of playing blocks - which I allowed them to do instead of napping - they set up a store -- not unlike Other Mothers here in Everett. For those of you unfamiliar, Other Mothers is a consignment store that we frequent and there was nothing sweeter than buying clothes at Katie's store, and in turn, discovering Katie's understanding of what happens during a transaction.

Favorite Birthday Card...

Yesterday was my 30th birthday and I received so many wonderful cards and gifts from people - thank you everyone for making me feel so cherished!

My favorite birthday card was from my friend, Christelle:

With an adorable little frog on the front...
On the inside it read: "We may not be tadpoles anymore but at least we haven't croaked."

I smiled and laughed... loved it.

Capturing William

In an attempt to play with one's senses I thought it'd be cute to capture my children looking "body-less"... thank you, Katie, for your cooperation... can't say much for Will's ability to not be a nut, let alone comprehend what I was trying to do. He has much more of a "simba/pouncing" look to him. The first picture was his face as I was desperately trying to explain to him what I wanted him to do... but obviously he was much more interested in making everybody laugh.

"I AM has sent you..." Exodus 3:14

Moses was surprised in the least at the command God had given him - "so now, Go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." I'm sure Moses had the fleeting thought, if not a full thought, of explaining to God the enormity of this request. I'm sure he could have listed the number of ways it could go wrong or the number of doors that would slam in his face; he could list the people by name who would look at him like he was an idiot and scoff at his request; he could think through the protective measures Pharaoh had taken to keep the Israelites from escaping and the amount of authority it would take to veto Pharaoh in his attempt to oppress the Israelites.

****

Chad Lusk - a depiction of handsome meets mountain man. He and his wife, Kathy, have lived at the base of beautiful Mt. Emily since I can remember... memories of that beautiful place include the following:

- watching terrified as bats flew past outside while sleeping on the floor of the Master bedroom in a sleeping bag (don't remember why I was sleeping there or what the visit entailed)
- playing hide-and-seek on their beautiful acreage at the same time the green river killer had a media presence. I remember Matt (Chad's son) trying to freak me out a little while hiding out behind the barn... I was sure he'd be my "knight in shining armor" and not let anything happen to me - oh, little girl crushes...
- the loft overlooking the living room
- Amy and Clay's beautiful wedding reception on the deck overlooking the valley
- during that reception Kathy was mortified to find out that the pig Chad had decided to bury and cook wasn't completely "done" and therefore he found the best solution to be butchering it himself, finishing it on the BBQ and serving it to the guests...
- he "totaled" more Mercedes than I can count... at least it seems that way
- pack rats filled his Mercedes with dog food during one winter -- the engine, the pipes, etc.
- at a young age, Matt and my brother, Geoff, were awoken by a bear going through the garbage as they slept out back on the trampoline -- I believe Geoff about peed his pants while standing motionless as Matt tore off for the safety of the house
- Liberty, their golden retriever, and the other dog... a black lab whose name I can't remember!
- Mimi - the "smoosh-faced" cat that Kathy adored. We acquired many-a-pictures of that feline throughout the first months of them owning it
- ordering pizza only to find out that the "pepper" atop the pizza was actually dead fruit flies falling from the dining room lights above... we had devoured the pizza...
- the crawl space between Matt and Amy's room
- the hikes up Mt. Emily
- the 1/2 mile long driveway -- not to mention the 1/2 mile long driveway with walls of snow on either side...
- the sound of the ATV back and forth outside - I can still hear it as I sit here typing... it was one of those sounds that when I hear it to this day I think of the Lusks still!
- the smell of the inside of the barn
- and oh so many more memories...

Chad was recently diagnosed with brain cancer after experiencing a stroke this past spring. Since that time he has been given a 0% chance of recovery due to the inoperable growth in his brain and his prognosis has been undefined. During the last few months he has experienced highs and lows but thanks to Chef Kathy at his side he's not in want of fantastic organic meals or supremely healthy shakes... (or so I hear from my Dad who has had the pleasure of experiencing this cuisine while staying with Chad and Kathy at their home in La Grand.)

Monday night, October 6th, Chad came down with pneumonia - an infection of the lungs. Pneumonia is the "most common fatal infection acquired by already hospitalized patients" and Chad was in no better shape. His immune system was compromised by the aggressively growing cancer and he quickly became debilitated due to its effect on his system. Tuesday afternoon, October 7th, the doctors gave him a prognosis of 24 - 48 hours and it was more likely the lesser of the two. Family made their way to his side from all over the country in expectation that these would be their final moments talking with Chad and expressing their gratitude for the man that he's always been to his wife, to his children and their spouses and to his grandchildren... and beyond that into the lives of his friends'.

Tuesday night when my Dad arrived at the Lusk home, Chad was barely conscious. He was able to squeeze my Dad's hand in an effort to signal his awareness of my Dad's presence and words. His lungs were filled with mucus and fluids and it was becoming an even shorter prognosis rather quickly. Would he even make it through the night?

LESSONS IN PRAYER

As I drove home from a friend's home late Tuesday evening I began weeping. I thought of everyone surrounding his bedside at that moment praying and asking God for His hand of protection, of healing, of sovereignty, of comfort... and what would it be like to witness the air in the room shift as God began healing Chad at that very moment right in front of everyone. I thought about the glory that God would receive and I believed that it could be done if God's will was such. God stirred my heart to stop simply praying the words, "your will be done..." but instead interjecting the desires of my heart into that prayer. I felt as though he was chastising me to pray the words my heart was longing to pray... those words were this: "God, I pray you heal Chad and bring him to full restoration of health." I have been praying those words ever since that night -- day in and day out.

THE DAY DAWNS

Chad is awake at 5:30am, October 8th, speaking a word here and there... he's beginning to smile and drink fluids on his own! The hospice nurse mentions that in her 28 years of practice she has witnessed the spike of energy before the impending last breaths of life which are usually only hours away. But as the day progressed and Chad continued his escapade of speaking words, laughing and drinking fluids, the nurse became less familiar with the scene at hand.

God was at work.

He is a God who makes the ordinary things extraordinary. The ordinary day was now an extraordinary moment in the eyes of everyone around. Night fell and Chad had not slipped back into his previous state of unhealthy but instead left people to search their hearts and pray in ways they've never experienced before... in the least, I'm speaking for myself.



****

In Exodus 3, Moses practically interrogates God at the scene of the burning bush. Who am I, God? Who do I tell them you are, if in fact I do go? What if they do not believe me? What should I do I am not very eloquent in speech and am slow of tongue? PLEASE SEND SOMEONE ELSE!

As I've studied Moses during these last few days I have become reminded of God's authority and power to bring about freedom and restoration for His people. He can do anything that he wants to do and it is expected that we pray in such a way that we are not swayed by our finite understanding and therefore limiting our requests of the God to whom we're speaking! I sensed an anger burning towards me as I sheepishly asked God for "His will to be done" with Chad although my heart was burning with other desires and requests. It was not the simple prayer of Him completing His will in the situation that angered Him but yet my lack of belief and fear of disappointment. Like my Mom mentioned on the phone - the same God who led His people out of Egypt and brought his people to the Promised Land is the same God that resides over the Lusk house right now and listens to the prayers of His people as they beg for healing.

ANOTHER DAY DAWNS

Today, October 9th, Chad is putting full sentences together, sitting up in bed, asking for a shower and desiring more to eat than just applesauce. I imagine his family is walking around shaking their head and chuckling as they praise the God who is Sovereign and learning a lesson in endurance as they continue to pray for the healing of a man so deeply loved...

All Glory to God.

Basil plant...

Just the other day at Trader Joe's I bought myself (and my family) a basil plant - $3.29 for a basil plant... I LOVE basil. I will eat a salad o' basil -- in fact, my dearest friend Jenny makes a basil salad with wonderful toppings and a fantastic family recipe of caesar dressing that is to die for and if it weren't for those evenings of eating the remainder of that salad I wouldn't have the unquenchable (if not unhealthy) desire for basil leaves that I do today.

As I write this I have made a Wild Harvest box of baby romaines extend well beyond its intended "servings per container" due to my basil plant... and am about to sop up the rest of my homemade caesar dressing by plucking the immature leaves from the stem and shoveling the soup into my mouth... going to bed fully satisfied (ok, only partially satisfied because I ALWAYS have a bowl of cereal prior to laying my head on the pillow) and wreaking of garlic and mayo... God bless Kyle for sleeping through the in and outs of my breathing.

In an excitement to find another wonderful recipe allowing me to harvest my newly purchased basil plant (I thought originally, prior to purchasing this specimen, that I wouldn't be able to "keep up with it" but who am I kidding... it can't keep up with me!) I found a delectable recipe - Lobster, Corn, Zucchini and Basil Salad. The recipe calls for a mere 12 x 1.5lb. lobsters... that would be equivalent to approximately $273.48 of lobster. I'm planning on making it for our next small group... let me think: Christelle, Chenin, Jeremy, Rachel, Kyle, myself, Corrie, Micah, Grant and Cristin... and the kids (2 lobsters total). Yep, that about sums it up.

The perfect dinner.