Journal Excerpts from 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
This month in a nutshell: Melissa and her Brazilian friend, Melissa herself, Eddy making music with us, people over, Christmas in white Germany, furry rodents!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
At Hannah's bridal shower, we discovered a gift most of us had never heard of before: Sex music. (Except I don't think it would take too much to get in the mood at this stage in life.)
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
During dancing last night, I did my first lift! I didn't even see it coming. Then he asked me if I wanted to do a flip!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
This morning our little 8-year-old was running around our facility in hysteria. When she tried to climb the fence, we took her down and escorted her back to the house. (An escort is a type of walking restraint.) She was so scared during the escort, that she wrapped her legs around my leg and urinated.
February 14
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
I've been swimming in the ocean this week. It's MARCH and the beach is packed.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Among our clients, we have the most dangerous species on earth: young men with nothing to lose.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Uncle Jascha's house/store, our cousin Jackie, Inee's roller skating party and Danielle's wedding
Journaling in the form of a collage is my latest thing. Jessica just came back from Germany with stories about Jackie and Uncle Jascha's new store.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Yesterday I saw Teri and another girl at a grocery store parking lot. They were smiling and wearing bright summer tops and their hair was flying in the breeze as they hurried to the store. I wanted to run out of my car and call out "Teri, wait!" and shop together with them. But I was too slow in getting my purse and shopping list together.
Once in the store, I saw the other girl and recognized that it was Kristen! She told me she's getting stuff for her wedding tomorrow. (Which is now today. Kristen is married today!)
Sunday, August 3, 2008
During worship today, we sang, "Your beloved needs you now." I love how we can be so passionate and vulnerable with God. One day, I hope to be that passionate and vulnerable with a man.
Random family picture
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
My dad had me proofread a letter contesting a traffic citation. I laughed so hard I couldn't talk. Here is what he wrote:
I was perplexed when the officer told me that I was speeding. There must have been a sincere error. First, he said that while driving he noticed that my face was "up-tied," [uptight] then he checked the speed while driving in the opposite direction, and then turned around to follow the car. I am sorry, if my face looked "up-tied" and might have given the officer a wrong message. My face might have been "up-tied" from wondering about the speed of the car which passed me.
....What was quite surprising to both of us (my wife and myself) was the comment about my "up-tied face." Even if I would have speeded, which I am convinced that I was not, how would it be possible to check the speed while driving in the opposite direction after seeing another's face through the windshield? I trust that this citation will be dropped.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
As much as my coworker and I tried to redirect the conversation, all the girls wanted to talk about were their crushes. One 10-year-old has a safe crush at least. Peter Pan.
"I saw him at the parade, " she told us. "He was so hot in those leggings. "
My coworker changed the topic again, but the girl still had her chin in her hand, and with a dreamy look repeated, "Those leggings were so tight, you can't even imagine."
!!!
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Whenever we pass a house for sale, Mary (my 82-year-old landlady/housemate)says, "Why don't you buy a house? Boys are looking for a woman with a house."
That's Mary's dating advice. :-)
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Butterfly chrysalis
Last night the pupa still looked green to me, so I set in on my nightstand, wondering if it was a dud. When I opened my eyes this morning, my heart almost stopped short at what I saw. There, flexing its wings, was a brilliant monarch butterfly.
We already knew it's a male, based on the chrysalis. (Brian's an expert.) So my next question is: "Will he find a mate?" Brian assured me that he would.
"But how will he find her?"
"They'll just visually see each other."
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Mary and I saw the redwood Herter mirror (15 x 10 ft) at the LA art museum yesterday. As we looked at ourselves in that enormous mirror, we felt pretty.
Friday, October 10, 2008
We're still swimming in the ocean and it's October!
After a day at the beach
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Last year, Dad announced that the holidays will no longer be a major family event for us, until the grandkids come. So I'll be spending every holiday this year with my colleagues and kids at work. They're the best entertainment anyway.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
I just got a voicemail from Mom saying, "What's this I hear about you saying that your dad said we're not celebrating holidays together anymore? We're actually planning Christmas around your schedule. And we're even having an extra Thanksgiving with you." I could hear Dad in the background, agreeing that he'd never said that.
And I so clearly remember him saying it! There was nothing mean about it. It was just like, "Hey girls, you're free to do whatever you wish, and your mom and I are free as well. You don't have to stay close to home anymore."
Nevertheless, we're having Christmas together this year.
Friday, November 14, 2008
"She said no again." I turned to see it was Hermon talking to Steve. "I've been trying to dance with her for over a year."
He wasn't even talking about my favorite dancer, who was dancing in a corner, surrounded by men. Like in a birthday dance, they were cutting in in the middle of the song, so that she was dancing with several guys in the course of each song.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Mary is getting ready to move in with her son, and I'm moving in with Anya, Hilary and Jacklyn. So we are both slowly going through all our stuff. Neither of us is in a rush, and we frequently stop to reminisce over certain items. She's come across some recordings of her late husband, which she listens to with a faraway look. I've come across some dear letters from my best friend in college.
Mary and I have lived together in this house for 3 and a half years. One day I'll look back on this time and think, "those days with Mary..."
Monday, November 17, 2008
Siggi sagte mir vor kurzem: "Du bist jetzt im gutem alter mutti zu werden."
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Melissa prepared a candlelit goodbye dinner for our family (they left for Germany) on our deck. She blew up 100 creme balloons, so it was like we were in the clouds.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Yesterday I had a workout with an Olympic trainer -- my very own housemate, Anya. (Misty May is one of her clients!) It felt so good to know I was doing a SERIOUS workout.
Monday, December 08, 2008
One of our boys had an emotional breakdown on a field trip today. And I was shift leader.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
I've gotten an insider's glimpse into a whole new world since I moved in with these girls. All three are semi-professional soccer players. Hilary and Jacklyn's boyfriends are soccer coaches, and everyone they bring to the house is an athlete. Anya trains the U.S. men's volleyball team and gets asked out by NBA players. Yesterday we were talking about going to a rodeo and someone knew the top roper. It is so fun to be single when you're around people like this! They're not only athletes, but passionate Christians also.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Hilary's boyfriend gave me some cooking tips that have made a world of difference. Simple things really. Like, "Taste the food."
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Ingrid, home for the holidays
Ingrid is back for Christmas. In fact, she is sleeping in my room as I write this. Last night, as we lay in bed, she told me of her boat course in the Gulf Islands, and how new worlds opened up to her as she rowed under billions of stars and swam in bioluminescence. I felt enchanted just hearing about it.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Before caroling at the convalescent home, we all ate at the Hofmann's. There were about 40 of us, and we all fit so easily into their huge house. Ingrid and I felt very welcomed, but also a bit foreign to these wealthy, stylish people. It reminded us of the time we visited a church in Bel Air.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
During worship this morning, Charissa led us in a RAP! That was so much fun!
This month in a nutshell: Melissa and her Brazilian friend, Melissa herself, Eddy making music with us, people over, Christmas in white Germany, furry rodents!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
At Hannah's bridal shower, we discovered a gift most of us had never heard of before: Sex music. (Except I don't think it would take too much to get in the mood at this stage in life.)
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
During dancing last night, I did my first lift! I didn't even see it coming. Then he asked me if I wanted to do a flip!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
This morning our little 8-year-old was running around our facility in hysteria. When she tried to climb the fence, we took her down and escorted her back to the house. (An escort is a type of walking restraint.) She was so scared during the escort, that she wrapped her legs around my leg and urinated.
February 14
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
I've been swimming in the ocean this week. It's MARCH and the beach is packed.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Among our clients, we have the most dangerous species on earth: young men with nothing to lose.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Uncle Jascha's house/store, our cousin Jackie, Inee's roller skating party and Danielle's wedding
Journaling in the form of a collage is my latest thing. Jessica just came back from Germany with stories about Jackie and Uncle Jascha's new store.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Yesterday I saw Teri and another girl at a grocery store parking lot. They were smiling and wearing bright summer tops and their hair was flying in the breeze as they hurried to the store. I wanted to run out of my car and call out "Teri, wait!" and shop together with them. But I was too slow in getting my purse and shopping list together.
Once in the store, I saw the other girl and recognized that it was Kristen! She told me she's getting stuff for her wedding tomorrow. (Which is now today. Kristen is married today!)
Sunday, August 3, 2008
During worship today, we sang, "Your beloved needs you now." I love how we can be so passionate and vulnerable with God. One day, I hope to be that passionate and vulnerable with a man.
Random family picture
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
My dad had me proofread a letter contesting a traffic citation. I laughed so hard I couldn't talk. Here is what he wrote:
I was perplexed when the officer told me that I was speeding. There must have been a sincere error. First, he said that while driving he noticed that my face was "up-tied," [uptight] then he checked the speed while driving in the opposite direction, and then turned around to follow the car. I am sorry, if my face looked "up-tied" and might have given the officer a wrong message. My face might have been "up-tied" from wondering about the speed of the car which passed me.
....What was quite surprising to both of us (my wife and myself) was the comment about my "up-tied face." Even if I would have speeded, which I am convinced that I was not, how would it be possible to check the speed while driving in the opposite direction after seeing another's face through the windshield? I trust that this citation will be dropped.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Abigail, Nathan and Rachel's daughter
Thursday, August 28, 2008
As much as my coworker and I tried to redirect the conversation, all the girls wanted to talk about were their crushes. One 10-year-old has a safe crush at least. Peter Pan.
"I saw him at the parade, " she told us. "He was so hot in those leggings. "
My coworker changed the topic again, but the girl still had her chin in her hand, and with a dreamy look repeated, "Those leggings were so tight, you can't even imagine."
!!!
Random family picture
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Whenever we pass a house for sale, Mary (my 82-year-old landlady/housemate)says, "Why don't you buy a house? Boys are looking for a woman with a house."
That's Mary's dating advice. :-)
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Butterfly chrysalis
Last night the pupa still looked green to me, so I set in on my nightstand, wondering if it was a dud. When I opened my eyes this morning, my heart almost stopped short at what I saw. There, flexing its wings, was a brilliant monarch butterfly.
We already knew it's a male, based on the chrysalis. (Brian's an expert.) So my next question is: "Will he find a mate?" Brian assured me that he would.
"But how will he find her?"
"They'll just visually see each other."
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Mary and I saw the redwood Herter mirror (15 x 10 ft) at the LA art museum yesterday. As we looked at ourselves in that enormous mirror, we felt pretty.
Friday, October 10, 2008
We're still swimming in the ocean and it's October!
After a day at the beachSaturday, October 25, 2008
Last year, Dad announced that the holidays will no longer be a major family event for us, until the grandkids come. So I'll be spending every holiday this year with my colleagues and kids at work. They're the best entertainment anyway.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
I just got a voicemail from Mom saying, "What's this I hear about you saying that your dad said we're not celebrating holidays together anymore? We're actually planning Christmas around your schedule. And we're even having an extra Thanksgiving with you." I could hear Dad in the background, agreeing that he'd never said that.
And I so clearly remember him saying it! There was nothing mean about it. It was just like, "Hey girls, you're free to do whatever you wish, and your mom and I are free as well. You don't have to stay close to home anymore."
Nevertheless, we're having Christmas together this year.
Friday, November 14, 2008
"She said no again." I turned to see it was Hermon talking to Steve. "I've been trying to dance with her for over a year."
He wasn't even talking about my favorite dancer, who was dancing in a corner, surrounded by men. Like in a birthday dance, they were cutting in in the middle of the song, so that she was dancing with several guys in the course of each song.
Mary and Mom
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Mary is getting ready to move in with her son, and I'm moving in with Anya, Hilary and Jacklyn. So we are both slowly going through all our stuff. Neither of us is in a rush, and we frequently stop to reminisce over certain items. She's come across some recordings of her late husband, which she listens to with a faraway look. I've come across some dear letters from my best friend in college.
Mary and I have lived together in this house for 3 and a half years. One day I'll look back on this time and think, "those days with Mary..."
Monday, November 17, 2008
Siggi sagte mir vor kurzem: "Du bist jetzt im gutem alter mutti zu werden."
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Melissa prepared a candlelit goodbye dinner for our family (they left for Germany) on our deck. She blew up 100 creme balloons, so it was like we were in the clouds.Friday, December 05, 2008
Yesterday I had a workout with an Olympic trainer -- my very own housemate, Anya. (Misty May is one of her clients!) It felt so good to know I was doing a SERIOUS workout.
Monday, December 08, 2008
One of our boys had an emotional breakdown on a field trip today. And I was shift leader.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Anya and her friends took me country-western dancing last night.
I've gotten an insider's glimpse into a whole new world since I moved in with these girls. All three are semi-professional soccer players. Hilary and Jacklyn's boyfriends are soccer coaches, and everyone they bring to the house is an athlete. Anya trains the U.S. men's volleyball team and gets asked out by NBA players. Yesterday we were talking about going to a rodeo and someone knew the top roper. It is so fun to be single when you're around people like this! They're not only athletes, but passionate Christians also.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Hilary's boyfriend gave me some cooking tips that have made a world of difference. Simple things really. Like, "Taste the food."
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Ingrid, home for the holidays
Ingrid is back for Christmas. In fact, she is sleeping in my room as I write this. Last night, as we lay in bed, she told me of her boat course in the Gulf Islands, and how new worlds opened up to her as she rowed under billions of stars and swam in bioluminescence. I felt enchanted just hearing about it.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Before caroling at the convalescent home, we all ate at the Hofmann's. There were about 40 of us, and we all fit so easily into their huge house. Ingrid and I felt very welcomed, but also a bit foreign to these wealthy, stylish people. It reminded us of the time we visited a church in Bel Air.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
During worship this morning, Charissa led us in a RAP! That was so much fun!
posted by Natalie at 1:53 PM
2 Comments:
Thanks, Natalie, my great little niece, for all these Belize postings here in your blog! You know that I also enjoyed being there with you and all the others. En wan etj nu soo opp Enjlish les, woo seea die daut aules jefolle haft, en woo du daut aules mett DIENE Oge sittst -- dan sie etj bejeistat, seea bejeistat :-) DANKSCHEEN, leewe Nicht! SCHEEN, daut DU doabie wescht!!! Yes, Natalie, you have added a real great PLUS to our Plautdietsch-Studienreise!!!
Oh, what a lovely report! I'm SO happy that you took this trip! It sounds like so much fun, and so interesting!
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