This is getting kind of silly, now.

Is it necessary to stick in the part about us not drinking alcohol, really? I'm not going to get ex-communicated if I have a margarita at the Mexican restaurant next door. Seriously, people. They treat us as if we're some sort of temperance group.

In The Paper Again

Our church made the paper again this morning:

Tale of Two Downtowns

I later read on Facebook from our pastor that the reporter had taken him completely out of context. "He did, however, take my quote out of context. I emailed him about this. What I did say is that it seems like Hepworth is desiring to make, for a lack of a better word, a "red light district" out of Downtown and not that it is. But such is the confusion out of a long night and long interview."

I find it interesting that one of the tattoo guys is behind us. Wish I could give him my business to thank him.

Photos

Tell me this isn't the cutest thing you've ever seen.

Photographer in training. Yes, the camera's backwards. That's just how he rolls.

Victory In Christ

An interesting thing happened last night.

I haven't said much of what's been going on, because of it's sensitive nature and some of the negative attention we've been getting, but our church (Magic Valley Bible Church) has been looking into purchasing the old Cain's building in Downtown Twin Falls. In order to do this, we had to go before the Planning & Zoning Committee and request a Special Use Permit. The first time we did this, the committee shot us down, but we later found out that it was botched because they didn't give us a chance for rebuttal. It was quite the deal, as it made the local newspaper and even talk radio. Soon after, we were called back and we met again last night, but this time we were more than prepared. We had letters and signatures from neighboring businesses in our support, the law on our side, and pictures (taken by some fantastic photographers :) ) of the empty and decaying buildings downtown, including the Cain's building, which has been empty since August 2008. Downtown is withering away. There's nothing there but pubs, tattoo shops, and a hookah bar. Many businesses are leaving the area due to these unsavory neighbors and I can't say that I blame them, but that aside, these once-beautiful buildings are literally just rotting away - the building in question especially. But it's PERFECT for us and despite the amount of work it will take to restore it, we're more than willing, able, and eager to do whatever it takes to make this building our church home.

I didn't get to go to the first P&Z Meeting, but I went to last night's to support my church family. The majority of the room was filled with our group, but there was some opposition. Some interesting ones: The co-chairman for Downtown Alive (a group trying to revitalize Downtown) said he'd much rather have bars and we just "didn't fit" into his "plan" for Downtown (interestingly enough, he also wanted to kick the thrift stores out of Downtown because they "didn't fit" - which makes ZERO sense to me), a random guy got up to say that he had much more exciting and imaginative ideas for the building...when he had the money to buy it (the owner of the building then got up to say that he had no idea who this guy was or didn't know anything about his offer - the guy quickly left after that), and one of the P&Z Committee Members said that the only thing that could help Downtown would be a couple of bulldozers. It was an interesting thing to watch, really and despite this minor opposition, the committee voted in our favor, just barely, 5-4. I was on pins and needles the whole time! Now, there is a 15-day period for someone to appeal against us, which would then take us before the City Council. I'm hesitant to really start celebrating, but if anything, by God's grace, we had a minor victory.

These people, speaking of our church family, never cease to amaze me. When they come together for a cause, they don't do it half-heartedly. They go all the way. Together. For God's glory. I'm proud to be apart of that and I have no doubts that we'll be able to do something marvelous in Christ's name. There was definitely some spiritual warfare going on in this situation, but God was gracious and stood by us all the way and together, again with His strength and grace, we will make that building beautiful again, with our own two hands.

Watch and see what the body of Christ can do.

Here's the article that was posted in today's Times News.

Matt's Photobook

Click here to view this photo book larger

I put together this photobook from Shutterfly of Matt's trip to California for him for Father's Day. Thanks to Groupon, all I had to pay was $18.14 ($10 Groupon + S/H) rather than the $40.26 it would have cost. Good deal!

So, by now you're probably thinking, "You just blew your secret, dummy!" He already knows about it. We've learned just to start telling each other about our gift ideas so we know if it's a good idea or not. It just makes things easier. It'll be fun to see how this turned out. It was fun to make!

Easter Photo

Easter. Terrible picture. The boys were starting to meltdown. Rob is shocked by the flash. Drew's miffed in general. A do-over is in the works, but here we are, together, nonetheless.

The Boys

Finally got them to sit still together long enough! The first one may just be my favorite of them ever.

That's My King!

Blessed Resurrection Day!

"He is not here, for he has risen..." -Matthew 28:6

Thief

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” - Luke 23:39-43

This Is The Stuff

I can so relate to this song right now. He's using lots of little irritants to scrub me perfect as of late.

Projects

I thought I'd show the reason for my lack of "real" blogging lately. It's my other love - no, not photography. Crocheting. I'm a shameless yarn addict, now. More often than not, I'm usually found in my favorite chair, counting under my breath, lost in a project. Really, it helps me unwind and have some "me" time, while doing something I truly enjoy. Anyhow, here's a few of my projects that I've finished and what I'm currently working on. If you're on Ravelry, which is my new favorite site, you can find me here.

I made this adorable lamb for my dear friend, Becky, for her birthday. She named her Dotty and she is now the mascot for her blog.

Two little monsters for my two little monsters. :)

This was a commission job for a high school friend. It was a gift for her friend who was having a baby.

I've actually used this pattern for this simple, but lovely scalloped shawl quite a few times, but kept forgetting to take a picture of them before I gave them away. This one was made for Kathy, my step-mom, for a late/early Christmas gift.

This little guy was tough to part with. I made him as a gift for a church friend, who's having a baby in June. Soon after I posted this monkey's picture on Facebook, another friend requested twelve of them - and he wasn't joking. Really need to get on that. That's a lot of monkeys.

My Kindle needed a home, so I made this girly-looking pocket for it. Also, it's so Matt and I wouldn't get ours mixed up. My own design, even. Simple and it works perfect.

Just finished these tonight. Twin bunnies for twin babies due to a young couple from our church in a few weeks.

This is what I'm currently working on - another ripple afghan, but with a cleaner wave to it. The colors were a happy accident. I would have never chosen them in a million years, but they seem to work and they're starting to grow on me. This will grace our couch - if it ever gets finished.

Can you tell I really like amigurumi? It's almost become an expected gift whenever someone has a baby it seems, but I'm always happy to oblige. Perhaps I should start making them ahead of time. :)

If anyone's interested in any of these patterns, please email me.

A Toddler's Ambition

While I'm laying in bed, trying to buy some time to lay there just a little bit longer after a really rough night, Rob comes bouncing into my room. He starts rummaging around my nightstand and finally spots a Popular Photography Magazine sitting there. I let him look at it, knowing it will buy me just a little more time.

He starts flipping through it and has to give me a play-by-play of everything that strikes his fancy. "Oh! Look, Mama! Toys! Mama! Zebra!" I give him half-lucid "mmhmms" and he's satisfied. He disappears from the room, only to return in a ball of excitement. "Oh, Mama! Look at the camfras (cameras)! Look, Mama!" He starts jabbing his chubby little index finger at thumbnails of "camfras" for sale. "Look! Blue camfras, pink camfras, black camfras, gray camfras, and...oh, Mama!" He stops at this lime green atrocity. "Oh, Mama! A GREEN camfra! I want that one!" Jab, jab. I chuckle, but find he's quite serious. "We have to find money and buy that green camfra, Mama!" At this point, I'm worrying that I may have accidentally taught my son some sort of materialism, since we're always talking about camera gear and when we're going to buy it. "But we don't have that kind of money, baby, " I tell him. "That camera is $189.99. We don't have that." His eyes droop for a moment, and then, as if a miniature lightening bolt had struck his little brain, they grew large again and he was gone out the door.

I heard him pound around the living room for quite some time, in desperate search of something, muttering something to himself. Finally, he returns, one small, shiny dime in his hand. "Here's some money, Mama! Now we can buy it!" He then places the meager dime on top of the picture of the camera, as if he was staking a claim. I laughed, "But baby, that's only a dime. That camera's worth a lot more than a dime, I'm afraid." He looks at me confused, and then says, pointing at the dime on the page, "But Mama, it's right there. I found the money. Let's go buy it!"

Let me just tell you, if you haven't done this before - trying to explain the value of things and how money works to a two-and-a-half-year-old isn't easy. Especially when that two-and-a-half-year-old is completely convinced that his shiny dime is more than enough to cover the cost of a $189.99 camera. Finally, I directed his attention to his birthday and told him that we'll see what he gets. Time for a kiddie cam already? Of course, that makes this photog-mom's heart jump for joy, but, of course, he'll only be three. But never too early to start, right?

This story was just too cute not to share and I hope you enjoyed it as much I enjoyed watching it unfold in front of me. I'm sorry I don't share more of these tidbits, but finding the time or creative energy to write is difficult - and most of the tidbits I have to share involve Rob's thoughts on bodily functions and the toilet.

Again, I will get to Drew's birthday post...eventually. I've been rather drained lately and my enthusiasm for blogging has diminished considerably over the past month or so; aside from posting pictures and quick updates. I try to do what's most important first and by the time I'm done with that, my energy and pizazz is gone. I know things will get easier with time, or so I'm told, but right now, it's still pretty hectic. Off to go see what Drew's into...now.

Grandma & Grandpa Come To Visit

I'm SO behind on updating. I'll get to Drew's birthday (which was a week ago - yikes!) another time. Just wanted to post this adorable picture of my dad and step-mom with the boys. They came to visit us last Saturday and we (sadly) said goodbye to them tonight. They'll be taking off early tomorrow morning to head home to North Idaho. We'll miss them terribly, as usual. It's always such a blessed time when they are here. We always have so much fun just being together and they love their grandsons to pieces - usually shown by spoiling them rotten! This time was no different. Drew made off like a thief for his birthday and Rob definitely wasn't forgotten, either. We were even were surprised by a Kindle yesterday, after my dad decided he wanted one. So, we were all spoiled rotten by Grandma and Grandpa this trip!

I love my folks so much. I really wish they didn't live so far away, but I'm so thankful they're eager and willing to come see us when they can. Every visit just gets better and better.