In-N-Out

YAY!!! Another visitor. Actually, a return visitor. Heather's aunt brought her and her mom down to LA because she was getting ready to leave CA to go back to the TX heat. We met at the In-N-Out right there by the airport. Can you tell? I tried to show you by picture. The second was the best because I got the sign in like I wanted. But you can kind of see how close we were if you haven't been there before.
Had to get a Heather and me photo, of course.It was fun to see her this time and not have to rush from one place to the other. Got a chance to just relax, eat and talk, and then off she went. Have a safe flight, Heath.

He's the Hand on My Shoulder

My Child by David Bowman

He's the hand on my shoulder
When I need to know someone cares
He's the hand on my shoulder
Assuring me that He's always there.

He's the voice in the silence
That sounds so sweet and so clear
He's the voice in the silence
Telling me that He's always near.

So I don't ever have to worry
When things aren't going quite so smooth
Just as long as I put my trust in Him
He will always see me through.

He's the light in the darkness
Shining through to show me the way
He's the light in the darkness
Guiding me each step of the way.
BJ Thomas © 1991

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAN

We had a very beautiful, nice day in Long Beach with Gregg and Liz. We went to First Baptist of Lakewood Church (1bl) and then went to Gladstone's on the boardwalk where you can see the Queen Mary and lots of fun stores. A couple of views from our table outside at Gladstone's. They have the BEST clam chowder and we figured it's because they put a whole cube of butter in the bowl with the chowder. Just melts in your mouth. MMMMmmmm. Dan looking towards the Queen Mary.
Dan and Liz - I had to force them to do this. :) Not really.
Of course, we had to have our own pic taken.
Heading back to our car, I heard a lot of birds singing up a storm and noticed the pipes were dwelling places for sparrows and their kids (notice the nests around the pipes?).
On our way home we heard a loud POP and weren't sure what it was, but all of a sudden the van just turned off by itself. We were able to start it up again and pull into a parking lot and Dan discovered the serpentine belt popped off. AAA to the rescue!!! The van is now in the driveway ready to be fixed tomorrow.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAN. (there are just a couple more pics on my facebook page.)

Another Visitor

Lisa came by train on Friday. I picked her up from the station after getting through all that LA traffic. We stopped for lunch at Taco Bell before we got to the house. After Dan got home, she took us to dinner at CPK and then we went hunting for a Baskin-Robbins. One of her traditions is to have Baseball Nut ice cream from B-R when it came out for the summer. And, lo and behold, THEY HAD BASEBALL NUT!!! Lisa was like a kid. I got Pralines 'n' Cream and we finished them up. I took her to LAX the next morning by way of Starbucks and she was off to her conference in San Antonio. Fun to see her and catch up. I love this part of my life in Redondo Beach.

Me and Daddy

Wow! With most of my scrapbooks and pictures still in storage somewhere, I am SO happy to at least find two favorite pictures of me and my daddy. He's been gone 26 years (2 months after Liz was born), and I still miss him, but so many wonderful memories.

Shag hairdo, short dress, taupe tights, and I'm sure I'm wearing my brown clogs.

January 27, 1979...what a day!!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU DADS OUT THERE!

LAKERS ARE CHAMPS!!!

Since it takes too long to upload photos here, check out my facebook page with my photo album:

http://www.facebook.com/MamaMote?ref=name#/album.php?aid=271706&id=659810532

April 27, 1983

So, I'm a little late with this, but I still wanted to post something for Elizabeth's birthday. So here we go. She was born in Columbus, Montana at Stillwater Community Hospital. We chose this small hospital down the road rather than the hospital in the middle of Billings because it was quiet and there were no other babies. When we visited the hospital in town, there were about 8 babies that had been born and it was SOOOOO noisy. I knew this wasn't the place for me. It took the same amount of time to get downtown on surface streets as it did to go down the freeway to Columbus. It was great. First contraction: 1:08 am (and Dan and the doc said "go back to sleep"). She was born at 11:08 am (good thing I didn't go back to sleep - I COULDN'T).

We visit SLO with Elizabeth and the first thing Edna says (she was on the phone when we arrived), "My granddaughter is here, good-bye." And she grabs her out of my arms and doesn't even acknowledge me and Dan. Love you, Edna.
With her favorite bear - that I HANDMADE. We lost it soon after - don't know what ever happened to it. And then thinking of what to write.
Fun times with Grandpa. He loved his grandkids so much. And they all miss him still. I think the pictures speak for themselves.

Just a couple of fun pictures with her sister. She liked to entertain Danielle.
Our little grad of 2001. Notice on her letterman jacket: Philippians 4:13. She got the spirit award because she went to every game, dressed to the hilt in Tiger gear (including ears), cheering her teams on. I can't find the picture with her in her gear, but the picture of her with the Tiger was cool (McLain's Photography). And then she graduates and has a shared graduation party with her best friend, Sheryl (since they were itty bitty).
And then she finds the man of her dreams. Here's a fun moment with her dad. Then she's under two arches: Ken and Gregg and the PURPLE balloons. And the rest is history.
It is so nice to be able to live near them now. She is finishing her Master's at Long Beach State University - Speech and Language Pathology. And Gregg continues to work as an architect and, I believe, applying for his license. Very proud of these two.

It was hard finding pictures since they are all packed, but then I don't know how you figure out how many or what pictures you post to celebrate 26 years of life. So, even though I said happy birthday ON her birthday, here is an official Happy Birthday Blog. Love you, Liz.

Hospitality doesn't take much...

especially when you don't have much. Since we moved to Redondo Beach, I have been wanting to take to heart, hospitality. Sue Donaldson has been such an inspiration in this simple act of sharing and fellowship, that I really wanted to step out of my comfort zone and start using our house - as little as it is - as a place for people to come and feel loved and relax.

We have had a few opportunities already, and I'm not even finished getting our place all in order and I'm in pain from hurting my ribs in a fall in Oregon. The Petersons were heading out to Australia and wanted to return their rental car early so they wouldn't have to pay for another day. We picked them up at the car rental place, came home, set up our two beach chairs and office chairs (had a small couch) and sat a chatted a little and they freshened up. We then drove down to Manhattan Beach (2 miles away), walked on the pier and had dinner. Then we dropped them off at the airport. According to Josiah's facebook page, THEY MADE IT!! Yay!Then we had another friend, Debby, drop by as she was heading back to Bakersfield. Had a nice chat and caught up with her and what she was doing and then she left after a couple of hours.
And THEN, Rachel was heading out of LAX to Ethiopia and wasn't sure how she was going to get there...if she was going to come the night before or just try to get a ride VERY early in the morning. So, I let her know she was welcome to stay with us and I would drive her to the airport. So, her sister, Rose, drove her down from Santa Barbara, I made dinner - let me stress that...I MADE DINNER (for those of you who know me, I don't like to cook really, but I'll cook for others - weird) - and then Rose drove back to SB. Rachel slept on our air mattress in the small living room and this morning at 5:15 I drove her to the airport. (Sorry, Rachel, this was the only picture I had. You, too, Danielle...just couldn't resist.)I'm finding how simple it is to welcome people into your home, especially when you don't think about the things you DON'T have. Think about what you DO have and improvise if you have to. Why did it take me all these years to really feel comfortable with doing this? I don't have to have a big kitchen, family room, several bedrooms, chairs, etc., to try and help others out or just have people over for fellowship. I just have to be willing and open to the possibilities.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9

Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13

I don't see anywhere in these verses that says you have to practice hospitality IF you have a big house or IF you feel like it or IF you have enough furniture. JUST DO IT!!! A friend said we should open a bed and breakfast...Dan said it would be more like a "couch and snack."

SO, anyway...if you are going to be flying out of LAX and have some time to spare, you are welcome to come by and hang out before your flight or you can spend the night, too. We'll find a nook or cranny to fit you in and get you to the airport. And even if you aren't going to the airport, but are in the area, call or drop by. We'd love to see you.