i had a lovely 33rd birthday thanks to my super familia. i didn't expect anything... just another day at work and then coming home. good enough for me. when i got in the house i was telling johnny and hils about my meetingful day at work (with cake and office supplies from co-workers) then i turned around to find flowers, a presy, and a homemade cake decorating the table. yay!
everyone worked hard to make a nice indian dinner and fabuloso carrot cake filled with all sorts of nuts, sugars, spices, and fruits topped with creamy, lemon zesty frosting. it was delicioso and a blessed surprise party.
the yellow box was filled with an adorable plaid dress from my mothership-- anthropologie, and tubbery hooked me up with a sweet massage which i had yesterday. i felt muy especial and am grateful for another year to know God's amazing grace.
my birthday sweetheart. he is hanging in there with many daily challenges. lately it's been multiple trips to the dentist to fix a crown which fell out, got replaced, fell out again, got replaced again, and now chipped this week. we'll be going back on tuesday. it's exasperating and discouraging. were it not for the prayers of many faithful family and friends we'd be overcome by all of this.
"had it not been the LORD (Yawehshua) who was on our side... then the raging waters would have swept over our soul...Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth." Psalm 124
Jesus is on our side and in His name lies our hope! thank you for praying.
...meanwhile fall is setting in. the aspens are turning golden and starting to toss their leaves about. the wind is sucking away what little moisture hides here leaving us with crackley lips and itchy skin marking the onset of another southwest winter. but still thriving is johnny's well-watered, favorite purple echinacea plant.
divine patterns are everywhere. can i have a blouse with this on it?
the juniper berries are getting plump and when squished they smell of gin. i wish i knew how to make a wreath out of these and other wildness i'm seeing lately. anybody know good sites/resources for wreathmaking/flower drying? do i need another project? why not!?
this is one of my favorite things about our adorable wally-- her exuberant lizard huntressing. enjoy!
she didn't get him, but we spent about 30 minutes out there together trying. her so cute! she's having leg/tail problems lately and it was a very stressful week for her and us. we are so blessed she's doing better today and thankful for time outside together.
more later...
i am still doing half of my old job as a civics coordinator which means i work with esl teachers to create activities and projects for new immigrants. i coordinate fieldtrips, presenters and stuff like that. last week we (well, not me) made a video called "workplace scenarios" where a class read scripts they had written based on their job situations. we trained the camera crew and they did awesome taking over directing and filming each other. and this week i'll be watching a presentation by my old class on an H1N1 guidebook they made for their civics project. it's tons of work, but pretty much fun. i need to work on streamlining the program now that i'm only available half-time. here's my old office.
and my new office. yay! windows!!! my other new part-time work is with a non-profit which is also part of our adult ed. department at the college. it's a literacy program and i provide training and support for volunteer tutors to work with low literacy students as well as esl students in workplaces. it's been a chaotic transition, but i'm happy for the change and mostly for a raise! praise God for that!
hi ho. hi ho. off i go!
my secretary! he's the best. we call it superbill sunday when we sit down with the files and try to reconcile with the insurance company etc. even though he feels crappy, he's still on top of the finances. i'm soooooo thankful! what a man.
