"I want to be a ballerina"

    According to her preschool teachers, Iris would like to be a ballerina when she grows up.  She completed 9 months of ballet and has tried tap (only part of 4 weeks). She did well as a flower in the Spring Ballet performance because she didn't freeze nor cry on stage.  Also, she made an adorable flower. It's so fun to see how Iris is making friends with a few ballet class members.  She even wanted to invite a girl (Sparrow) from the ballet/tap class to our house that she had only danced with a few times.
  Other friends include Alexis, Serena, and Amalie. 

Watch Miss Stephanie!

Miss Marilyn taught tap dancing

Iris enjoys dancing because she often lifts her leg up and dances on her tiptoes at home.  She hasn't quite gotten the skipping practice, and she still bends her knees to touch her toes, but she loves to move and twirl like a ballerina.  So, how much do we buy into the trappings of the ballet world?  This is the hard call as parents to choose programs and activities that open children up to new things, but not exhaust them with performing and being in "class" all the time.  Taking a musical instrument, attending a Bible class, getting into swimming or gymnastics all are programs that I'd like Iris to try.  But how much is too much?

I know we need to take cues from our children and be sure to allow for free play time.  Therefore, I continue to pray about each thing I sign Iris up for.  She's going to a dance camp that features French language next month.  Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a popular summertime activity, too.  Then, we're going on our real camping vacation up to WA state.  There are so many choices, and it's tiring making all these decisions.  However, it's worthwhile to see Iris learning, smiling and generally being a 4 1/2 year-old.  Lately, she's been fascinated and wanting to play-act being pregnant and having a baby because several moms that we know had recently or will have babies soon.  This makes me wonder how much to tell her now about that and what NOT to tell her.  I just pray that she will make choices with her body and life that are God-honoring and God-fearing.  More importantly, she'll have a real heart to follow Jesus.  First step:  have her praying and reading the Bible. 

Memorable Memorial Day weekend

 We spent two nights in the cool shade of redwood trees in Gualala.  Iris did great on her first campout in our new tent.  The weekend was great fun, thanks to joining with three other families with children close to Iris's age-8 adults and 7 children.  Iris walked a long way to the beach, where she had fun playing house. We took turns kayaking because one family brought two kayaks to row along the river.

Daddy, what is Jiffy Pop?

Campfires were fun and necessary for s'mores and Jiffy popcorn.  We were responsible for one dinner, and then didn't have to cook for the rest of the weekend because each family took a turn.  It was a great time of sharing stories, parenting woes, and camping stuff that we needed.  We were thankful that Iris slept all through the night. 

Welcome to my beach house.

It was windy by the coast, but Iris was determined to build her house.

Iris flying a kite (not ours, though)

Kayaking and building forts along the river

Dad explaining how canons fire

On the way home, we stopped by Fort Ross, where there was special Russian orthodox ceremony and BBQ going on.   The weather was beautiful and the food smelled great.  Iris enjoyed going through the different buildings, so that Daddy could explain how people fought 200 years ago.





 We were all truly blessed by God's creation, covering of grace, and fellowship of friends, young and old.  I thought often of Psalm 104:4-5   

How many are your works, Lord!
    In wisdom you made them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.

There is the sea, vast and spacious,
    teeming with creatures beyond number—
    living things both large and small.

Preschool draws to a close

    Iris is graduating from Preschool!??  18 of her friends sang at a Preschool graduation tonight.  What a special time for these little people!  There was a wonderful movie presentation of the children that teacher (Miss Ketti) put together. Over the past two and a half years, I have loved seeing each class of preschoolers greet one another with hugs and play with each other.  For example, Walter (see photo below) was one of the first friends to greet me (the mom) when Iris started at the preschool, and she was still in diapers.  I'll always remember the way he, and other preschoolers, address me as Iris' mom.  Iris has attended a few birthday parties of preschool friends from this graduating "butterfly" class, including Emily's awesome pool party.  It's hard to believe that most of them are going to enter Kindergarten. Because of her fall birthdate, Iris will be going to a newly reinstated "transitional Kindergarten" that is like the old-style Kindergarten (without the nap) of 10-15 years ago.  She'll have two years of Kindergarten.  The question now is, "In which school?"  The choice is not clear yet, but we'll be deciding soon.  It's great to have school choice, but the decision is tough sometimes.  It's even greater that I believe in a God who has better plans for Iris that I could imagine.


As our friends and relatives with children are attending high school and college graduations, we are just beginning the journey into academia with Iris.  The main thing is that we trust God in all the details.  Please pray for us!

Easter Monday

Spring. Bunnies. New life. Chocolate. Colored eggs. Going to church. Easter.  What's missing?  The message of the cross and the hope in the resurrection of Christ Jesus! 

We spent Holy Saturday with my family and some relatives.  The Chinese food was delicious, rich and plentiful.  On Easter, I helped with Sunday School, and Daddy and Iris came to worship service after that.  For Easter dinner, we enjoyed a potluck dinner with friends from church, as well as a visiting missionary couple who live and teach in Colombia.  Iris was thrilled to eat and play with two older "jie-jie" from church.  The fellowship and gastronomical satisfaction couldn't be beat.  The memorable part of the day for me was the profile of faith given by a godly woman whom I admire at my church.  She spoke of past suffering that became her personal Easter story of death and new hope in life with Christ.  So, where am I going with this? 

On Good Friday a dear older church friend (Ruth) died suddenly.  She had been ill and I wanted to send her an Easter card or at least visit.  Now, she has gone onto be with Jesus and her husband who went to heaven several years ago.  I'm sad that I won't get to see her in her earthly body, nor talk to her about faith in Jesus, life, and families.  Yet, I'm so thankful that God brought us together in friendship and in the pursuit of the One who died and rose again to bring salvation to the world.  Grief turns to Joy.  That is the gospel, as well as the Easter message.  Sadness and suffering makes the coming through all the more joyous and sweet.  For me, these are reminders that awaken my soul, mind and heart to the love of Christ and the promise of eternity with God.  Hallelujah!  


This morning, I opened up my daily e-devotional based on writer Henri Nouwen.  Here's what I read:

Meditation for Easter Monday

The cross is the main symbol of our faith, and it invites us to find hope where we see pain and to reaffirm the resurrection where we see death. The call to be grateful is a call to trust that every moment of our life can be claimed as the way of the cross that leads to new life. Can we be grateful for everything that has happened in our life - not just the good things but for all that has brought us to today?

In the world's eyes, there is an enormous distinction between good times and bad, between sorrow and joy. But in the eyes of God, they are never separated. Our ministry is to help people gradually let go of their resentment and discover that right in the middle of suffering there is blessing. Where there is pain, there is healing. Where there is mourning, there is dancing. Where there is poverty, there is the Kingdom of God.


An excerpt from THE HENRI NOUWEN SPIRITUALITY SERIES, A Spirituality of Living by Henri J.M. Nouwen. Copyright © 2011 The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Published by Upper Room Books. Used with the kind permission of The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust.


Collect the Henri Nouwen Spirituality Series


IF you are suffering, ruminating over offenses, or unable to let go of anger, I pray that you'll be encouraged this day and the years to come as you seek the Creator God who loves you.