"Girl, you huge!"

makes me think of Eleanor

My Sister Mellie

Yesterday I went to work in my house shoes! I was on the freeway when I realized. So Melissa came and brought them to me!!

The behind-the-scenes we DIDN'T SEE

preparing a wedding. Hearing Melissa and Jessica practicing their songs, Tim coming over with his ukalaialai, testing the mics in our backyard. In fact, our neighbors started bringing gifts (beautiful cards and fruit from their trees), because they heard the songs and new there was an upcoming wedding in our family!

The wedding is over! And I enjoyed it more than any other wedding, because it was OUR party, WE put it on! Lol. Relatives came from Germany, and they are still here. We are having a good time with them.







Chris cut all the wood pieces and Elona painted them

It was so beautiful and so relaxed - we could truly mingle with our guests . . . and it was especially wonderful because it was our party, we put it on.

It was at a public arboretum and we couldn't set up till 2 hours before the wedding, so Melissa prepared everything ahead of time. She organized all the decorations in labeled boxes, took photos and mapped out a plan of where everything should go diving the work among our relatives who would be coming from Germany. Before they even arrived, each cousin had already been assigned a specific task, carefully written in German with Ellen's help.

The bridal party (which included Melissa, Jessica and me) took pictures before the wedding, so we were not available to help or answer any questions. All they had were the written instructions Melissa had prepared.

Aunt Maria said it was fun. Trying to follow written instructions was like doing a puzzle, she said. Because the work was divided by name, each person felt responsible for his task and the place was decorated and 25 tables were set in less than 2 hours! Gabi said the time pressure made it exciting.

Things really are funner when you are part of it. Even watching the bridal couple drive off in their car was funner when I saw how one of the groomsmen collaborated with us to decorate it.

Things not to say

My sisters and I played "Things not to say" last night, and here are some of my favorites:

Things not to say in line at a grocery store:
Ooooo baby I got gas!
OMG, look at all the cookies in her cart. -n
This robbery will be like taking candy from a baby. -j
Something smells like a stale french fry. -e
Das stinkt! [Mel used to say that thinking no one would understand]



What not to say right before you walk down the aisle:
Dang! That best man is lookin HOTT! -e
I forgot to brush my teeth.
Laxatives are to calm upset stomachs, right Dad? -j
I shouldn't have eaten those beans...
Where's Derek?



What not to say on a first date:
Are you a virgin -n
I am praying to get married this year -n
Oopsie I made a poopsie.
Let's arm wrestle
How much money do you make?


What not to text when feeling desperate:

I'm feeling desperate -e

Want to marry me? -m

I haven't heard from you in an hour. Is everything okay? -n

I'm a good dancer! -m

It's okay that you've rejected my calls for the past month but I just went to Victoria Secret -j

Call me when you get to boys night -e

When you say "later" does that mean today, in a few days, or at some unknown time in the hazy distant future which basically means never. - n

I'm free from 6am to 11pm so let me know if I can give you a ride to your friends house or whatever! -j

My New Resolution

Last week I went West Coast Swing dancing and met a guy who told me Jordan Frisbee (gazillion-time US Open WCS champion, THE most famous WCS dancer in the word) was going to be in town next week and he had scheduled a private lesson with him. He said Jordan told him to bring a partner and asked if I wanted to be it. Of course I said yes!

Yesterday was the lesson. And I was inspired way beyond dancing. Not only was it wonderful to receive correction from a great instructor, but we were treated so respectfully, given undivided attention. Jordan seemed so cool. He was, for that hour, focused on his student. He was there for his student’s benefit. That’s why he was cool. I want to be like that for my girls at work. Undistracted.

Since the God of the universe gives me personal attention and correction, I am determining in my heart to speak positively and gratefully from now on.

Elona and Chris 4 years ago

This is one of my favorite photos. Elona and Chris were both in Mexico, with separate groups. They had talked of meeting up for a day, but neither had a cell phone. Yet they DID meet, almost randomly, on the street!

A Gentlemen's Evening and a Girls' Day at the Spa

Last night Ingrid and I sat in on Jerry Root's C.S. Lewis class. After class Jerry told Ingrid and me that they were going to smoke pipes at David Horner's house. "It's not men-only. You're welcome to come," he said.

So we went! The other students came prepared, dressed in ties and sweater vests, bringing a professor's blend of tobacco. I recognized several of them from my Biola days. One thing was quickly obvious - this was usually a men's event. We were the only girls. (Ingrid is Jerry's personal friend, so that's probably why we got that personal invitation.) Talbot professors were there, including David's son-in-law Dave, and Doug Geivett. And one guy who offered me his extra pipe, I later learned was Peggy Daley's son!

We sat in a half-circle around a fire pit in Dr. Horner's backyard, with the pool on the other side of the fire. More and more guys came, so we kept scooting our chairs back to enlarge the circle, and soon mine was under a tree. Ingrid and I had told each other we'd only stay for 10 minutes, to let the men have some men time. But we soon felt like flies on the wall, unnoticed in the dark, and we lost track of time as we listened to intelligent men casually talk about what they are working on, as far as research and such. Sitting under that tree, watching the others pensively puff their pipes by the moonlit pool - it was wonderful!

Then this morning I had an equally relaxing (though much more feminine) experience with my mom and sisters at the spa. We got body scrubs that left our skin feeling soft and new. I highly recommend them! They scrub off the top layer of your skin, and it feels really good.

Mother's Day

After church we went to frolic in our local jungle

Sunrise Service a few weeks ago (Resurrection Sunday)

Mark reading Scripture






David and Laura leading worship

Today I was with the Juniors Cottage

and while we were watching TV, I took a paper and started drawing MOM in big block letters. A 7-year-old saw this and asked what I was doing. I told him I'm making a card for Mother's Day, and said he could have the one I started. He finished it by writing, "Mami, please get out of jail because I miss you, and I miss you because I love you. And I miss daddy too. I have lots of toys and a Lego iron man."

Mom and Dad (1981-1992)

1981, Germany






1982, California Redwoods






1983, Dad's office





1986, celebrating Dad's Master’s of Arts in Missions (from the School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University)



1992, Germany (Onkel Jascha's wedding)

The easiest way to live is without compromise.

Sermon Notes from Judges Chapter 1

Israel's victories were all from God:

"I [the Lord] have given the land into his hand" (1:2)

"As I [Israel's defeated enemy] have done [mutilated people] God has repaid me" (1:7)

"the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hands" (1:4)

"the Lord was with them (1:19,22)

Because the Israelites made covenants with the Canaanites and inhabitants of the land and did not tear down their alters, the inhabitants lived among them and became thorns in their sides and a snare to them (2:3).

When we compromise our loyalty to God alone, it will corrupt us and lead to anguish, regret, depression. Compromise is like inviting a virus that will reprogram our desires. Sever easy connections to evil. There is no substitute for obedience.

Caleb's daughter Achsah may seem greedy, but she was not. She was the ideal woman, pursuing God's blessing. She urged her husband to ask for land, and she took initiative to provide for her descendants. For those who trust God and obey, God blesses overflowing beyond their own life.

Mom and Dad - Middle Years

1992, Mammoth


1994, Russia (on the train)


1998, with our dog Pepsi



1998, at Artemov's wedding


2000, Big Bear

The weather was so hot, I wore shorts to work.

They weren't super short - longer than my fingertips when I stand (the standard test in high school) - but I got so much attention from them! As soon as I walked in the door my coworkers Maria and Wendy were looking at me funny. Maria later said, "Natalie, I have never seen you in shorts." At the dining hall, I noticed Dwayne look down at my legs in surprise. Ellen smiled and said, "Look at you Natalie! Shorts!"

In the evening we set up bleachers in the gym and had a big-screen movie night for all our age groups. I was working with the Intermediate Boys (ages 10-13), but when I saw my girls I went over to say hi. They said, "Natalie you have nice legs! Do you play soccer?" They had asked me to let my hair down a couple days ago (I normally braid it), and now they said, "Natalie when we saw your hair down we were like, 'She's hot! She should wear a red dress.' And now with your legs, you should definitely wear a red dress." A red dress? They are so cute!

I went back to the Intermediate Boys, and sat on the bleacher next to the them since theirs was full. Just then the high school boys came in and sat by me, smiling openly at me. I noticed their staff glance at my legs and I was suddenly worried. Am I dressed immodestly? Especially around those boys, the last thing I want to be is immodest.

We were watching a documentary about Bethany Hamilton (the Soul Surfer), so I was relieved to see a nice Christian girl in beach clothes the rest of the evening. It made me feel more comfortable!

When I got home I looked at myself in the mirror. Just a normal girl in a normal pair of shorts. In high school no one looked twice at this.

Mom and Dad (2005-2011)

Thanksgiving 2005, after car accident






Christmas 2005






2010







2010, celebrating Dad's Ph.D. in Biblical Studies (from the International Theological Seminary)



December 24, 2010



2011, Germany

I was sitting on the floor with our 3-year-olds when....

one boy told me to close my eyes, and then threw himself into my arms. He told me to close my eyes again, and this time he threw a toy hard at my mouth. "Hey be gentle," I said. "That made my tooth bleed." Seeing this, another boy came quickly to inspect my mouth then said, "Close your eyes!" At which point he then, very gently, hugged me. "Now look," he said softly. I opened my eyes to see his little face smiling up at me. "You're amazing," he said sweetly.

Dress Shopping

Poems in progress (unfinished)

I’M A BELIEVER
You are in control, I can't manipulate you
Can't pull you off course, the path is not new
You know it so well, you know what to do

I can't explain you, I can’t box you in
I can't hide from you, you know where I've been
I can just trust you . . . with all abandon

People make fun of us, they laugh and mock
But they’re not my audience, they’re empty talk
YOU are my audience, I’m in your lock
Forever I’m yours - you are my steady rock


I WANNA BEAR FRUIT!
I wanna bear fruit!
I know I have seeds
But I wanna make sure
The fruit grows to maturity (Lk 8:14)
If I hold fast the word (1 Cor 15:2, Lk 8:15)
It won't be in vain

YOU CLEANED UP MY MESS
You fixed my mistakes
You paid my debts
You went all out
You did it for free,
Yet it cost me my life
You want total commitment, you want total trust
You changed my identity
I am not the old me

You died for me
and I died with You

There is nothing to replace Ed's Bible study,

and I won't. But now I found one on Thursdays with people in their 20s & 30s who are still single =)


BIBLE STUDY NOTES

Rom 3:21-5
Substitution - You died for me, you paid my debts

Rom 6-8
Identification - I died with You, I was buried with you, raised with you. I did it with you. I live with you\

Rom 6:5 Our UNION with Christ.
Change of identity
Gal 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ

Every believer HAS died, not that he ought to die, but that his death is an accomplished fact through the identification with Christ.

He who has died is freed from sin.

Rom 6
Beginning of Sanctification
Justification by faith brings sanctification. True faith is total commitment.
The Gospel not only takes care of sins, but it also takes care of the old man and the body of sin.

My mom brought back some cool pictures from Germany,

including this one with our great-grandmother! You can see her dried apples in the sun. She was always drying apples.

Melissa made the lovebirds a sign =)

According to wiki, 10% of mallard ducks are monogamous for life.

My parents are in Germany, celebrating their 30th anniversary and starting a new chapter in their lives!

They sent us flowers, in honor of Elona and Chris' engagement




Melissa made the arrangements

You Are My Home

You are my home, and I’m your home too
You’re inside me, and I’m inside you
If we stay close, I'll yield something new
If we're apart, there's nothing I'll do



"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. He who lives in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing."
-Jesus (John 15:4,5)

Your Voice

Your voice stills me, never rushes m
Your voice is honey, sweet and pure

Your voice assures me, never scares me
Your voice tells me I am secure

Your voice is real and full of passion
And heard by those whom you ensure

Your voice is strong, and without error
And all you say, you will procure

Your voice speaks truth everlasting
When you say your love will endure

I'm Your Beloved

I'm your beloved, the apple of your eye
You saw me first, I didn’t have to try*
Free to be me, in your arms I relax
For when I’m with you, there's nothing I lack
In your love I am calm and secure
Knowing your feelings will always endure
No one on earth can love me like you
Your love is eternal, it's real and it's true




You said:
“I will be with you always, even to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
* “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” John 15:16
"I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have pulled you to me, with unfailing kindness." Jeremiah 31:3

Elona and Chris are engaged!

Finding Strength

Sometimes my work is so hard I want to quit
I'm at my breaking point, not kidding, this is legit
I'm not Type A like my colleagues, I'm not as tough
Lately I wonder if I am even good enough
I say "Lord bless me that I might bless them"
Then with fresh eyes I see a child . . . and love again

"I think Lylak is a Christian."

- Mom

With the Christian radio and frequent Bible reading around here, Mom thinks Lylak is under Christian influence, lol! It's true - our home is a holy place. Mom's world extends to her women's ministries and her women friends. Sometimes her innocence is surprising . . . like the other day when Ira was over.

Ira: "Everyone needs to deal with their own BS."

Mom: "What's that?"

Dad, who was sitting at the computer, looked over and smiled. She's so cute.

"The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning."

- Ecclesiastes 7:4


Last night our teen girls tried to start a riot. We almost lost control of the house. We called for assistance, and our coworkers from the neighboring houses came to help. As we were all crowded in there, I looked at my coworkers and thought, "Wow. They are so cool."

When times are easy, they are funny and we laugh a lot. But when times are hard, they are rock solid, and I feel so close to them.

And that's a secular environment. Imagine how deep this goes with GOD.

Melissa and Lylak, having an alfresco lunch

My mom wore a beautiful scarf today.

During the church service I whispered to my dad, "Isn't she pretty?" He glanced at her, but didn't even look at her clothes. "You only looked at her eyes!"

"They say it all," he said.

"Continue being happy."

- my coworker Mike's new year's resolution

In celebration of Christ, the 7 of us each wrote 3 things we are thankful for,

folded up the little papers, and then took turns reading them one by one -- each
time guessing who wrote it. Interestingly, Melissa was the one who wrote spiritual things like "I am thankful for the comfort Jesus provides" while the rest of us wrote things like "airplanes."


In the evening, we went to Peter and Anya Warkentin's for dessert. Later we all lay by the Christmas tree and I told a Christmas story. It started out sad, and my mom commented that Christmas stories usually start out sad.










Dad's awesome Tabasco pants were a gift from Chris.




























Lylak too, of course

My Uncle Willi told me he would pray for me. "But not for a fitting super husband," he said. "I will pray for more Jesus in you."

Then he gave me Scripture to meditate on - including this famous one.


Over-dramatic accents just help me memorize, and giggling is what happens when I'm with my sisters. But this Scripture really convicts me and inspires me at the same time. It has become my prayer.

Quotes from Martin Luther about marriage and sex

"Your body demands and requires it; God wants and wills it."

"If my marriage will strengthen him [Bishop Albrecht to marry], I am ready. I believe in marriage."

"No natural man should slip out of the noose of marriage."

In his treatise “Against the So-Called Spiritual Estate of the Pope and the Bishops”: "A man cannot exist without a wife. [It is] as deeply implanted in our nature as eating and drinking. Whoever wants to repudiate this and fight what nature will and must do acts the same as one who disavows that nature is nature, that fire burns, that water is wet, and that a person eats, drinks, and sleeps."

"The irresistible will to live reveals itself in the sexual drive. It is the living God himself who moves a person’s body and soul in this direction, and it is God who supplies the gift for it. This discovery on my part emerged from the same spirit as that of Copernicus, and is scarcely less important."

Biem Desch

Dad acting like a lady

We took our kids to the animal shelter.

One little dog had such sad eyes. "He misses his family," said our little girl.

Lylak's Shoes

Lylak