Already failing (10.30)

Well, I'm already failing at my resolve to post a little note each day!

Yesterday, I mailed my "vote by mail" ballot. I am a registered voter in the State of California, in Los Angeles County. LA County has over 4.2 million registered voters... seriously. I heard on the news that we have more registered voters than 13 states. Yes, you read that right. There are 13 states, each with fewer registered voters than my county.

Anyway, in Cali I am a "permanent voter by mail." Now, I love going to the polling place, so this was a tough decision for me - feeling like I'm a part of something larger by waiting in line and voting in a booth is something I love, so I debated back and forth about this decision. But ultimately, I realized that if I voted by mail, I would see two major benefits:
1) I would be more likely to vote in every election: because even in the elections with just a few measures on the ballot, I'll get a ballot in the mail.
2) I would be more likely to vote in an informed way: because I could sit in privacy and quiet, reading the voter's guide while considering my votes - versus forgetting what I had read on the way to the polls, after inevitably leaving my sample ballot at home, or versus being influenced by signs and supporters/detractors on the way to the polls.

So, my votes for and against a number of issues has been cast. Ultimately, I hope that I voted my conscience, not influenced by fear-mongering and name-calling; I hope that I voted in a way that is pleasing to my Lord; and I hope that I voted in a way I can be proud of, regardless of the results on November 4th.

(Next post... why I don't like to brand myself by candidate or issue)

I still think Mark Harmon looks good...

Well, I do, and so I just thought I should say so! He's my older man crush. I was talking to a friend of mine at church today who does makeup professionally, and she was telling me about how handsome she thinks Richard Gere is (she did his makeup for a shoot a few years ago). That made me think of Mark Harmon, who is currently on NCIS - I just think he is adorable! But if the truth be told, everyone on that show is pretty darn good looking.

I haven't updated in a couple week - that's how I know that school has really started. Its hard to reply to emails, blog, and talk on the phone - OH, and read books. But I have a few minutes tonight and wanted to do a quick update.

My friend Alexis inspired me to try and do a small update every day (she is doing it once per day through October). I'm going to try it... we'll see.

This weekend was a whirlwind. Yen Ling, who is part of our first year cohort organized a potluck for us this weekend. It was the first opportunity for us to get together socially and get to know each other better. About half of us were able to make it, and it was really fun. I enjoyed meeting spouses and getting to know more about my classmates. Hopefully next time, more will be able to make it!

Saturday I studied all day with a friend, Amy. She and I met in stats class, the one time our section met before it was cancelled. We hit it off and I think we're going to be good friends. It was good to study with her, and have a chance to visit and get to know each other better, too. Saturday evening I had dinner and coffee with Ophella, who is in the Master's of Student Affairs program. She is closer to my age than a lot of our classmates and it was fun to talk about the transition from working full time to being a student and then what she is thinking about doing when she graduates in the spring.

Today I had a super day at church. I've decided that I'm going to stay Bel Air Presbyterian. I just like the people, and I really enjoy the music, so I decided to stay! It was nice to see a few friends there today. Afterward, I enjoyed my time at home, picking up, cooking, and doing a little homework. All in all, a great weekend, and a great sabbath!

In other news, my friends the Fergasons had a busy weekend with all the older kids performing in a Piano recital on Friday, and Andi performing in Walk/Trot and Costume class (her first time for both) in a Horse Show on Saturday. That was the only reason it was a bummer to live in Cali this weekend, rather than be in Texas!

Well, stay tuned... you might see an update tomorrow!
Rebecca and her husband, Pisey (George Fox grads)

L-R: Dave, Sylvia and Yen Ling

L-R: Chelsea, me, Dave and Sylvia

Mom's B-Day Present

For my mom's birthday, I created a scrapbook for her of our trip to Lake Tahoe. It is similar to the scrapbook I made for my grama, after we returned from Tahoe and my grampa passed away. I forgot to get pics of grama's album before I gave it to her, but I wanted to share it with you all, so instead I took pics of mom's and waited and waited until her birthday before I could finally post them.

It was cathartic for me to make grama's album right after grampa passed away, It had been less than a week and looking through those pictures was good, but hard. I was surprised that the feeling was the same when I was making the ablum for mom. Some of the photos made me chuckle, some made me cry. Even now, as I think about the week in Tahoe, I still just as often get teary as smile.

I sure miss him.

I'm glad mom liked the album, and I hope that it will be a comfort to all of us!

Mom's Birthday!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today is my mom's 59th birthday. Sadly, I am not in Phoenix to celebrate with her and the family. I am here in LA, working on homework.

But I wanted to write a quick word about my mom in honor of her birthday!

My mom is one of my best friends. When I call her (almost daily) she always sounds excited to hear my voice. She offers great advice (even when I am not ready for a "fix-it"), and is also willing to let me try my own way. She wanted to find a way to serve God, so she started a Recipe Ministry (where she sends out a weekly email with a recipe, a brief note and a bible verse) that now has almost 100 people on it! She is a caring wife, who cooks meals and offers encouragement - and she loves to be with my dad - she always talks about how funny he is (which is true) and sometimes I'll come into a room where she is cracking up at something my dad said. She is a faithful daughter, who has opened her home to her parents for holidays and doctor visits. She loves to play games and can often be found playing Texas Hold'Em online. She likes Action movies and Sci-Fi, and will indulge me and my dad by watching the occasional Romantic Comedy. And she even sent me a care package full of magazines and gift cards when I called home, desperate for magazines to read and something to do!

My mom is pretty much the greatest mom ever! (OK, you can argue the point... but I love her and think she's tops!!)

As a side note: one thing I love about my parents is that they complement each other so well. They are each other's best friend, and they are both really great. I am grateful for them!!

Handbag Planet.... a designer handbag could be yours... FREE!

Hi Friends,

Sarah Mudd turned me onto the site "Handbag Planet". They are launching this online handbag store on October 15th, but in the meantime, they are going to give away free handbags - one per hour for twenty four hours on the 15th.

All you have to give them is your first name and an email address, and then you can even PICK which of the 24 bags you want to be entered to win! The photo above is the one I entered for - isn't it cute?! Well, there are a lot to choose from - so pick a different one and give me a chance to win this one! :)

Anyway, check out www.handbagplanet.com and enter to win!! :)