Who? What?

Ok, so, I just had THE most random reunion at my front door at 10:30 at night... Janae and I were sitting watching a stupid movie (The House Bunny... I do NOT recommend this film... it's pretty stupid) when we heard a knock at our front door. While we accept company any time, we usually have some warning, especially when it is after 9pm. So we were a little surprised and dare I say freaked out when we heard the quiet knock at the door. We looked at each other for a couple of minutes trying to figure out what to do. I peaked out the front window to try and get an idea of who was knocking at the door... When I couldn't figure it out, we heard another faint knock. So, what do we do when we are freaked out and don't know what to do??? We go run to wake up mommy.

"Mom, someone is knocking at the door... what do we do?"
"Turn the lights on for them and answer it."

So I turned on the lights and cracked open the door to find a very attractive young boy (and by young I mean High School) in board shorts and bare feet. "Is this the Andrews house?" he asked.
"Yes," I answered hesitently
"Does Grandma Linda live here?"
"Not anymore. She lives in Ventura."
"Well... I don't know if you remember me... You know Ray?"
By this time, my mom had come to the door. "Kelly? Oh My Gosh, I just saw your mom at the mall today. Come in come in."

Kelly used to be my cousin about 10 years ago. His mom was married to my uncle for a couple of years and I haven't seen him since before the divorce (about 10 years ago). My mom and him chatted for a bit. Apparently he had taken his girlfriend up to the Hot Springs (his car got broken into, but that's not why he came over) and on his way back to Ventura, he decided to come and visit Grandma Linda because "she was a really nice lady." While they were chatting, Janae got this eurica look in her eye. "Do you work at Skating Plus?"
"Yes," he answered
"Oh my gosh! Do you remember me?" So... a couple weeks ago, Janae went to Skating Plus with some friends for her friend's birthday. All of the girls were obsessed with one guy that worked there. Janae even asked him to skate with her friend for her birhtday. His name was Kelly and it was our cousin (well... kinda cousin...).

After catching him up on the happenings of his step brothers and sisters and step cousins, we invited him to come back when everyone is actually awake. And off he went to drop off his girlfriend who was waiting in the car.

Well, just some randomness I wanted to share with you. Things have been busy and crazy. A lot of bad, sad, good, and fun things have been going on. I have some pictures of the good and fun. A wonderful trip to Disneyland along with a day of Christmas Caroling. Enjoy! And Merry Christmas!

Do Everything In Love

Like I said a couple of posts ago, (Final Assignment) I finished my final assignment for my digital photography class. It is all over! Before deciding to go with the feet portrait, I was playing around with grids and overlays and stuff on Photoshop and well, that up there is what I came up with. I really liked the colors in it and the overlay of the grid...

Yesterday was my first day back at work from Thanksgiving break. And while I wasn't totally stoked to go into work, I have to say that I was excited to see my kids again. When I got there, I just felt an overwhelming amount of love and compassion for these kids who spend all year away from their families. Sure the elementary annoy my with their silly arguing about who lined up first and "you touched my bed." Sure the middle schoolers who think they are the coolest kids in the world break my heart with their disrespect and eagerness to find acceptance from anyone who will show them the slightest bit of compassion. Thursday at Aces, the leaders went into the kitchen and we chatted about the evening and why we come to help at youth group; We go to love teens. Then it came to me, how awesome is it to have a job where I am getting paid to love kids? It sucks not going to church and not being able to serve like I feel I should. It sucks being tired after a long weekend of crazy kids doing crazy things. But I get to love kids which makes it all so worth my time.

Anyway, this all just kinda came to me right now as I was looking at the overlay on that grid up there. The words on it just reminded me of why I am here every weekend.

Spread Love everywhere you go.
Do everything in Love. 1 Corinthians 16:14
Love is the water of life... drink deeply.
Love is the fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand.
Let us always meet each other with a smile, for a smile is the beginning of love.
If you judge someone, you have no time to Love them.

Song For The Road

A couple of blogs ago, I wrote about going to see Ingrid Michaelson on Election Day. I had mentioned that I really liked the opening bands (which seems to be kinds rare to have good opening bands). One in particular was a guy named David Ford. I have been listening to him a lot the last couple of days and I came across one song that he played that night that I really like. The lyrics are super poetic and really pretty. I like several of his songs but be careful with the explicit lyrics (they don't bother me, but some people seem to hate them...).

Anyway, the song is called Song For The Road and I really like it...

well the day cast down
lengthy shadows on unfamiliar towns
and i drove 300 miles from the place i call home
and i tipped my hat to the angel of the north
and the sun, it set fire to the heavens
on the hills over sheffield tonight
and i will sail over this countryside with new friends and old
we are nowhere but man, we’re alright

so you can keep your belief in whatever
and i’ll wear my cynicism like a tattoo
and while poets try to engineer definitions of love
oh you know that all i can think of is you
and i just can’t wait to see you on sunday
far from the traffic and the smoke and the noise
but for this evening i will play back every message that you sent
so i can sleep to the sound of your voice

now i don’t lightly use words like forever
but i will love you ‘til the end of today
and in the morning when i remember everything that you are
well i know i’ll fall for you over again
now i know someday this all will be over
and it’s hard to say what most will i miss
just give me one way to spend my last moments alive
and i choose this, i choose this, i choose this
i choose this, i choose this, i choose this
i choose this, i choose this, yeah i choose…
this

Family Time

Traditionally, the day after Thanksgiving marks the opening of the Holiday Season. We actually waited until Saturday this year to decorate the house. We actually got to make some tamales too which is my favorite thing to do during the holidays (I am going to try and make more in a couple of weeks...). Decorating is normally a pretty annoying part of my holidays. I know that's not what the holidays are about so it kinda pisses me off, but this year was nice. It was fun to hang with the fam for the day which made the decorating almost painless. I took some photos, but the lighting was kinda rough so they aren't that great...