My Blog

Happy Tabor Day

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:55:32 -0800

Party in the foothills! We did a birthday party for Tay’s 7th at a Children’s Museum in Oakhurst. Such a great place! Kids had a great time... the cake fairy came through once again... I actually think the grown-ups had as much fun as the kids.

A Chocolate Week With a Golden Center

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:06:23 -0800

Our Tabor turned 7 today. Such a great day, such a great boy. We always talk about how he is so like Grandpa H. His warm, disarming, kind, compassionate, big idea ways are as similar as his long, lanky frame and big, dark eyes to his grandpa’s. But even cooler than watching the miracle of genetics created and passed through generations is the characteristics becoming owned by the little one who possesses them.

Tabor is growing into such a beautiful little man. We are exceedingly proud and so today, though it was a really run-of-the-mill Wednesday, we partied like rock stars. Doughnuts for breakfast and new Star Wars ships to fuel the imagination. Saturday will celebration in earnest... pictures to follow.

Advent

Sun, 6 Dec 2009 11:11:56 -0800

You may find yourself here because I pushed our blog address on you through our Christmas card. I just figured this would be an easy way (and a tad more “green”) to do a Christmas letter. Plus, the added benefit is that I capture a new section of audience to share our all-year-round photos and thoughts with... mwahahaha, my evil plan has worked marvelously.

Advent is a word that has come to bear great meaning in the lives of the Sands over the last few years. 2009 is no different. To most, Advent connotes the coming of Christmas, which we savor every last drop of each year. Advent, though, in definition, is expecting, waiting, wanting what is yet to come. Advent in 2009 has meant:

Jeff:
Waiting and watching to see how his role and responsibilities working with the local community through his larger organization, California Charter Schools Association take shape.
Hoping for positive change in our community as he networks with various amazing people and organizations.
Watching the seeds of his guidance and instruction as a father begin to sprout and take shape in the form of these fantastic small people growing among us.

Corrie:
Watching her role change, NOT expecting more babies to come, which is a new thing in the last 9 years.
Anticipating the change in jobs from church to a charter school and then shifting into that new role and all of the accompanying adjustments.
Hoping to be granted wisdom and new sorts of energy to navigate the stages the kids are growing into.

Elanor (8 1/2):
Anticipated 3rd grade with a mixture of joy and anxiety, to be met with a wonderful teacher who is perfectly suited to teach her.
We are watching this lovely pre-woman unfold before us with a foundation made of determination, honesty, intelligence, organization sprinkled with steel.
Hoping for Ella that she will continue to seek justice and peace in concert while submitting to the Lord for all that she needs.

Tabor (6 3/4):
Waited for 1st grade to begin with a characteristically happy-go-lucky attitude. Now, anxiously waits for Saturdays to break the structure of the week.
We have watched this compassionate, warm, pied-piper charm those around him and lead effortlessly (we call him miniature ‘H’ because he is freakishly similar to my dad).
Hoping for Tay that he will grow with equal measure in sensitivity and self-discipline as he runs with abandon to the arms of the Lord.

Quinn (4):
Anticipated Cubbies (the preschool portion of AWANA at church midweek) with delight.
We have watched this always observant baby transform into an articulate and comedic person this year.
Hoping for Quinny that he will grow with balance into wisdom and wit as a leader, always looking to the Lord for direction.

Imogen (2 1/2):
We have all anticipated this little one joining the ranks of “the kids,” and boy, has she ever. She anticipates being included in EVERY activity or privilege that the others enjoy.
We have watched this little sprite spring into her very secure, unapologetically poised personality.
Hoping for Gigi that she will grow to be as gracious as her great-grandmother Evelyn whom she resembles so closely, as she pursues care for others wholeheartedly under the care of Jesus.

In the eternal framework that we believe we operate in, we are constantly weaving on the giant loom of life, a picture for our children of what was meant and is gifted to us within that first and glorious Advent season. Jesus, for all of the disgusting veneers our world and human nature has veiled him with, is truly the pearl that we all were designed to find. His life embodies, life, hope, health, peace, and a wholeness each of us has yet to experience. We pray that all of you would enjoy 2010 with a sense of ‘advent’. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Sands!

Hey, Hey We’re the Monkeys

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 14:14:35 -0800

We L-O-V-E going to the Central Coast. Mom and Dad Spees have made that possible so often that we are just downright spoiled. This Thanksgiving, we reflected about the time that we have spent on this little edge of the land, and we were overwhelmed by how grateful we are for the privilege to visit.

We mark time by these trips:

Sleeping under the Christmas tree we dragged over on top of our car
Taking our first “family picture” as newly expectant parents
Introducing each of our little ones to the joys and traditions of fun at this restful place
Walking toward the Rock in the ever-changing light and color
Barricading the stairs and hauling porta-cribs to keep babies safe and sleeping soundly
Sitting, Crawling, Walking, Running, Bike riding, Boogie boarding
Nesting into the larger family structure for sweet little windows of time

Unspeakably grateful...

4 Years of Fun

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:01:55 -0800

This little boy is unfolding before us. His surprising wit and disarming charm are treasures that we have seen emerge in this last year. How we love this sweet one and can’t even believe he is already four.

So, the birthday celebration was a blast, punctuated by a fabulous cake by our cake fairy Cindy. Much silliness ensued.

My favorite part about this stage we are in is the peeks that we get into Quinn’s thought processes as his language has emerged. The latest thought he shared was part of a longer conversation that has been happening over time. The concept of ‘heart’ has marked this fall for Quinn. He has had lots to say about how he loves our hearts and that he never wants our hearts to die. He has most recently been talking about God being in his heart, a joy to our hearts, to be sure. This particular week he asked, “Mama, who is in God’s heart?” I am so grateful to be able to say to Quinn, and anyone else who is curious, “You are.” Best. Gift. Ever.

You Are Not a Jedi Yet

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:04:58 -0700

This year we got to spend the rare Saturday Halloween (with a team of Jedis) at the coast. I went online to find activities for kids and it turns out Pismo hosts an AWESOME and FREE event for families. The photos tell it best. They provided pumpkins and decorating stations, bounce houses, basketball, fire engines, a climbing wall and lots more. The day was wrapped up by trick-or-treating through the stores which landed everyone in a sugar coma that carried us right through daylight savings time.

Controversy

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:59:49 -0700

Two things to be sure of, art and the church both have polarizing effects on the masses. Last weekend in our neighborhood we witnessed both parties at work again. This mural was commissioned by a church that had good intentions of finding a connection with the Tower District (the arts district in Fresno, anchored by the Tower Theater). At near completion, dissension stirred among neighbors who lived nearby. The church that originally initiated the birth of the mural then quickly moved to have it painted over as the controversy became public.

For a little background, Fresno has been born again (pun intended) as of late in the art department. Murals, in particular, have become a widely used public medium to express art. We even have an area downtown labeled ‘The Mural District’ for the prolific work by artists on the walls once marked with the territorial art form employed to boundary gang members in the community. The murals are mostly not benign scenic landscapes, or wildlife, rather representative of the minds of artists and urban life, which centers around people. As it turns out, people and the subject matter that they produce, are not always crowd pleasers.

So the ‘Lost Mural’, as we imagine it being called after it gets washed over into oblivion, hangs in the balance. The church did not paint over it, yet. Turns out the neighbors aren’t the only ones who have an opinion about the art. We took our little herd over to see the art before it went away last Saturday. When we arrived, lots of people were gathered. The artists who crafted the piece had a rudimentary PA system on the sidewalk, and in their best efforts to overcome the introverted nature that drew them to paint in the first place, they each stood in front of the mural and unfolded the thoughts behind their contributed segment. It was fascinating to listen, and felt like a privilege to hear what passions inspired the art that poured out larger than life onto the wall. Particularly poignant was the testimony from the artist that was one of a farm worker’s twelve children. I valued his perspective through paint about California’s current water issues and how the environment and people are affected.

While depth and intensity of emotion activated in people by this medium has been rather bipolar, it has started conversations… real conversations … all over town. For this, I think the big ‘c’ Church should be proud of any real conversations it starts, instead of shrinking from the opportunity to engage in order to be polite and not offend. Looking into another person’s face and talking about real things and really listening creates space.

In the interest of space, I hope the mural survives.

Does Anyone See a Theme?

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:50:03 -0700

So, I was doing my 99th task today of undoing something I had already done to fit the need of the day, and I thought, “I must be expected to be learning something from all the doing and undoing”. I once heard that if you want to drive a man (woman, in this case) mad, make him move a pile of stones from one side of a field to the other and back again. While I see purpose, I sometimes feel these little, irritating tasks (done in love, of course) are my pile of stones.

My kids have gone through Cubbies, a program at church that is the preschool level of AWANA. They learn the Bible through memory exercises, get to have community and snacks, and a generally great time. Ella went, and wore a vest, and then Tabor went, and wore the same vest, and now Quinn is in and tonight he dons the recycled vest.

I am ALL for recycling. The part that is killing me is not the saving, storing, or even washing of said vest. I could not, by any stretch of the imagination, be classified as a seamstress. I have sewn, purely to save money, not out of love for the craft. My LEAST favorite thing to sew is a patch. Naturally the Cubbies vest requires LOTS of small, tedious patches to be sewn on, (you have probably realized where the pile of stones comes in now...) and ripped back off when the next Cubby is ready for a naked vest.

So, naked it is, which is what we would all be if I were responsible for sewing our actual clothes. While I don’t enjoy the sew/rip cycle, it is so worth it to make a little Cubby happy one more time...

Over the Hills and Through the Woods...

Sat, 5 Sep 2009 10:31:58 -0700

We ventured up to Oakdale to visit Grandma Kathy and Peter and take in the annual hot air balloon fest in Ripon (I know, who has heard of Ripon?). Last year we had a great time, and our eyes got to feast on the eye candy of the balloons at dawn.

So, we went to Grandma’s house the night before, checked out her backyard at dusk, and prepared to get up for dawn patrol. We got up, ate some obligatory cinnamon rolls (you know, fuel for the journey), and set out to find some amazing balloons.

Balloons showed up... along with the wind. One test balloon was tried out and the operators quickly determined the wind was problematic. RATS!

However, we did get to see some great jets fly over and go back to Grandma’s house for some serious play, planting and discovery in the “secret garden” behind the waterfall.

Crush

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:53:42 -0700

This was fun... especially for a city-girl-wannabe-organic-farmer married to someone who actually grew up farming. Our friends Chris and Meegan live down the street from one of the finest winemakers in the Valley. His wine is so yummy that you would never guess that he grows his own grapes right in his backyard, and that he invites yahoos like us to help with the harvest. But, that is all true.

We were part of a privileged few who got to visit the Carlson’s (pictured above) home where they fed us delicious dinner and wine after clipping grapes off vines for a little bit. It was priceless.

We later got to watch the “crush” as they ran the grapes through a machine to seperate the fruit from the stems. What a blast!