the end

326 posts....

I loved my hopes fulfilled blog.

but....I find my self over here

I Heart Saturday AND....better than a hallelujah

(photo brian took on the path where I run)

major sickness

work deadlines

regrets

tons of unfinished housework

the cooking, the cleaning

the grocery stores

over-priced gasoline

taxes

sometimes I feel like it will never stop pushing me down

but in the midst I have run

not like run away - but really run

it feels good to breathe hard and have physical pain and push

during the running I have the ipod

on the ipod is amy grant's new single

it is my new all-time favorite amy song

it captures my head

it declares all I have to give

which is not much

but He knows

here is the song if you want to listen

to share the chatter

she talks, and talks, and talks and then talks some more...

just thinking that part of my job is to be there for her to share all she needs to chatter

so I will keep listening and smile as she goes on and on....

I Heart Saturday AND.....not UN-packing

Packed last night for a Spring Break trip.

We were off to Central California. I could not wait.

Matt got a sore throat.

Matt got a fever.

We made it as far as Pasadena.

Turned around.

Packing is better than unpacking.

I Heart Saturday AND.....avila beach

soon I will be running along this beach....

staying at this cute mex-boutique hotel....

sitting on this bed with my laptop...

watching this news channel...

and hopefully getting lots of work done so that I can enjoy these guys the rest of the week...

highway 99

sure signs....

that you are...

on...

highway 99

hello buttercup

When I was a student a Westmont College in Santa Barbara I had two great jobs. WAYyy back in 1987 when you went to chapel you had to handWRITE your student ID number on a blue card. My job was to input the student ID numbers into a computer. I got maybe $25 per week. Money for Penguins Frozen Yogurt.

I also worked at a little church. The First Christian Church in Santa Barbara. A historic little church in the center of downtown. Cool old pews and stained-glass windows.

The ad asked for a student at the college to teach the children's church every Sunday. The church consisted of mostly older folks but of course there were a few young families with kids. They would pay $250 per month.

I took on the job. They said that one of the couples from the church would pick me up at Westmont early Sunday morning to bring me to the church. I remember waiting outside the front of Clark dorm area until this ADORABLE elderly couple pulled up.

When they pulled up, I got in the car and they were very lovely and friendly. When we got to the church they really took me under their wing. They began to introduce me to the other families in the church.

My maiden name is Butterfield.

Somehow they thought my last name was Buttercup.

They started telling everyone that was my name. I did not correct them.

It all happened so fast.

All the way back to campus they talked all about what an unusual last name I had. How they had never met a Buttercup before, and on and on.

I said not a word.

So, for the rest of the year I was Paula Buttercup.

I was driving around downtown Santa Barbara this past month and I drove past this cafe.




Paradise Cafe is where a sweet elderly couple and Princess Buttercup ate after church on Sundays during the school year of 1987-1988.
They always treated. It still makes me smile.

I Heart Saturday AND....nate

Matt took this picture playing with the self-timer on his new camera January 2010.

So, here you are Nate, two days before turning 16 years old.

See how much you are loved.

You make me laugh. A lot.

You have so many interests that are developing and talents that are growing.

I can only pray that your intelligence, humor, your tenderheartedness as a lover of music and art...

will show you more of Him

and be used for Big God things -

things that are unseen here.

'Cause nothing else matters.

It is a blessing to have you in my life.

So here's to the day that we can listen to music loud while you drive and you will not lose your concentration.

another wonderful birthday

January is my family's month for birthdays!
You may have a dad that does not tell you outloud how much he loves you and is proud of you.

I do.

When I think of my dad I think of...

- Enjoying Angels baseball! He taught me to keep score....I always had so much fun

- Sport stats - he knows them all!

- He had a great work schedule when I was playing highschool sports and he was always there!

- He is crazy about my mom and treats her like a queen! As my mom said the other day "they are joined at the hip"...so sweet.

- He loves vacations!

- He is a major GIVER....in time, thoughts, ideas, listening, material things...you name it.

- He gives me green olives....'cause he knows I like 'em

- He really digs is grandkids!

- He loves a good story and he loves remembering the many from his own past 64 years from childhood, his parents, us as kids, lessons learned, his travels and now tales of his simple days with awesome grandkids.

I love you more dad!

the little things

This week, one of my dearest friends bought me this...


This week I am going back here and get to be with my bosom friend - the one I can share my heart and soul with....


Five-star, food, fun and fellowship and all on company money...another unexpected GIFT that He knew I really needed!

Mom's birthday

Earlier today we celebrated! French cafe and shopping...my mom is the BEST!

















I posted this picture last year on my moms' birthday. That is when she told me she really kinda hates this picture. Seriously? I love that it is candid and she just looks cool with her long brown hair. So hairspray and everything.

Plus, my brother and I are just cute and serious which is rare even today.....

Well, I am posting it again. So there.

I am taking her to birthday breakfast this morning and will capture her current beautiful self.

Love you mom and I am SO VERY Thankful for y o u!!!

I Heart Saturday AND .....winter cherry tomatoes

still enjoying these from my little potted plant..

also heart honey bringing out his camera more so I can enjoy some lovely photography from Abstract Vision.net

things I want to do next year

Besides not still shopping on December 21 - next year I would love to use a few of these ideas

...I am really liking burlap right now, plus these little "fake" presents hook on with ornament hooks right onto the burlap - it looks so pretty

in the backyard I would love to set these on the table - ooh I still might, they look wintery

I could totally see one of these above Bria's bed - they are very easy to make









links to these ideas and more :)

the lettered cottage

the inspired room

just a girl

'cause he grabbed my heart tonight

looking through old photos tonight and this kid of mine grabbed my heart. It is not just his cool dark eyes, but I am telling you, if you know him, you quickly see his sweet spirit.

I dig him. Big time.

So does his little sister and his big brother.

rainy day

Early bundling in jammy pants to take big brother to school. A rare site for this Southern California mommy.

I Heart Saturday AND......you can't silence my love

(late edition)

To be honest...I am overwhelmed and not hearting anything right now. Well, that is not entirely true. While I am struggling with a bad attitude, marriage conflicts, work dead-lines and homeschool issues - I love and need the help that music gives. Listening all week to the new Switchfoot CD and, yes, it is no news that I am a very big fan of Jon Foreman, but really, this album is great.

"hello hurricane, you're not enough - you can't silence my love...

Everything I have I count as loss

Everything I have is stripped away

But before I started buildingI counted up these costs

Ain't nothing left for you to take away"

I Heart Saturday AND....when the girl cracks me up

she saw the chair and decided she should pretend she was getting interviewed....

'tis the season for shopping silly fun!

I Heart Saturday AND.......sip daily

I kept eyeing this cardboard calendar at Starbucks and when they finally went on clearance for $3.99, I got me one...and one for a friend! The coffee picture at the top changes too! Good thing there is a picture of just plain black coffee since that is pretty much all I drink. Bria picked this whip with carmel 'cause it looks "fallish".

Oh, unfortunately though I have found that I REALLY DIG the pumpkin latte with double shot of espresso and only one pump of pumpkin....mmmm ooh its kinda perfect.

oh bother!

Sometimes I feel stuck. (Mental obvious note to 40 year old self: Stuck doing the wrong thing is not as good as stuck doing the right thing.)

When school first started I was making it a priority to read and pray first thing in the morning, work with the kids diligently on their school and when they were on their breaks I would get to my list of work calls or spreadsheet edits.

My afternoons were spent picking up my highschooler and once home I made it a point to run/walk for an hour and read a chapter of a fiction book before starting on dinner. Sounds good. Was good. Lasted about two weeks.

Then I began missing the early morning wake up with God time. It was not the first thing to go. It was the run/walk and the fiction book that went first. The working at home and homeschooling thing gets a little smudgy here and there but I am used to that. What happens is that all that did not happen during the day gets pushed to the night. Then there is facebook time killer. The nights get later. Then I am in a hole - too much honey. I sleep it off.

Referring to Bible reading and prayer, John Piper says: “I earnestly recommend that it be in the early morning, unless there are some extenuating circumstances. Entering the day without a serious meeting with God, over his Word and in prayer, is like entering the battle without tending to your weapons. The human heart does not replenish itself with sleep. The body does, but not the heart. We replenish our hearts not with sleep, but with the Word of God and prayer.”

The great thing about falling or messing up a well laid plan? You can get back up again. The days I stick to the plan are a gift. They even prepare me for the unexpected.

So, this is me. Getting pulled out of the hole and back on track. No more waking up too late. Less oh bothers.

it is only november!

Yet I am completely OUT of college ruled paper and No One can FIND a pencil. My teacher RED pens are GONE. Everyone's Yellow Highlighters - where are you? Playing house with the black socks and the guitar picks I am sure!