We had a great time in San Antonio (“We” as in: Sam, Tammy, Ruthie, Kyla and Shani). We got there the day after Christmas and they were having a big Christmas party. Hurrah! So of course we joined in.

The following day was spent recovering and settling into this quaint little cabin at the back of the Fiesta home’s large property. There were some days we just laid around taking it easy, but when we weren’t just lazing around we:

- Got together with the others in the home for drinks and a movie or two
- Went to “America’s Original Kiddie Park” which Kyla absolutely loved
- Strolled around the wilderness-like property enjoying the peace and quiet
- Went to Houston for “the” New Year’s Party
- Visited with friends and reli’s on New Years Day in Houston
- Ate out at Starbucks (with our Starbucks Christmas gift cards) Tee hee!
- A little basketball game or two
- A little more fellowship and shooting the breeze
- A crazy going away party…(insert imagination here)

A couple things that deserve special note: Ruthie was our bestest “travelling buddy” ever. Thanks for coming with us — though technically you didn’t have a choice (insert evil laughter)! Kyla loved the outdoors, the armadillo, and getting throughly dirty. Thanks again all you Fiesta folk, we liked the cabin and loved your company. (Now that the cheese is finished with…onto the PICTURES.)

It’s been a long time since I posted anything here, every time I think about posting I don’t know where to start, so much has been happening. I just can’t put it off any longer though, so here goes.

- We had a wonderful 10 days of vacation right after Christmas in San Antonio, (thanks to all of you there who put us up, and whose company we enjoyed.) There were many quiet moments, some hectic driving, fun parties, no schedules, and a special occasion style diet.

- Once we arrived home from our vacation it was full speed ahead, packing up most of our house, and finishing up business in preparation for our team’s multi stage move to California, and this on top of tending to all the usual ministries and projects which keep us very busy year round. Never a dull moment.

- Last week was packed with packing, Friday was spent packing the largest moving truck we could find. Towards the end of the day we realized that one truck wasn’t going to be enough, so Darren got on the phone to see if we could get another truck and Saturday was spent packing truck #2. The first stage of our team’s move left very early Sunday morning.

The next stage of the plan is for Tammy, Shani, Kyla and I to follow in our faithful little Toyota around the end of January. We may end up leaving Dallas 1 year to the day since we came. We sent all our furniture, and most of our clothes and other belongings on ahead so I’m siting on the floor in the office where my desk once was typing this. We’ve been talking about moving for almost a year, and now it’s finally here. Hurray! I’m going to miss the friendliness of the Texans and I’ll have to get out of the habit of saying ya’ll.

Pictures should be posted soon of our fun times over Christmas and vacation, along with any video clips I have the time to convert.

Last week we had a Christmas party here at our home. Ours is a pretty lonely area when it comes to other Family homes, but there’s nothing like the promise of food, fellowship, and fun to get folks to make the time to come and visit. For Tammy and I it was fun to see some of our neighbors, but of course we’ll be moving back to California soon, (late January) so it was sort of a ‘hi’ …. ‘bye’ type situation. But nonetheless fun.

Here’s a few photos:

Yeah, that funny looking guy with Tammy is her husband

The two sisters

Me being a fool (for a praise activity)

We actually had quite a crowd in our house…

…and people stood around talking..who would’a thunk?

Shani started laughing at around 2 months, it’s so adorable, here’s a little clip of Kyla and Shani laughing together.

Tammy cut her hair yesterday, and I have one word to say: fabulous! That’s the word that fits her hair the best in my opinion. She had talked about cutting it, prayed about cutting it, decided to cut it, and then she did. To tell you the truth it looks waaaaay better than I ever thought it would look. BTW, Tammy decided to donate her beautiful hair instead of trying to sell it, so not only did she get an awesome new haircut for free, but her hair will be used in a wig for cancer paitents.

Now, you didn’t think we would have let such a momentous occasion pass without fully documenting the process with photos did you? So without further ado, here they are.

Chop, Chop

Are you sure about this?

Fabulous!

Kyla’s Reaction — (click for video)

1. Spam evolves
2. If you can’t lick ‘em join ‘em (free grammar classes, of course)
3. Our crumbling justice system (was it ever just?)
4. American Opulence (the way I see it)

It’s just way too easy to get comfy here in our good ol’ US of A. Everywhere, all around you, even in the air, it’s there. The spirit calls out, it whispers on the wind “You need more THINGS!” it’s never said flat out like that, but it’s not very hard to begin thinking that way. Staying on guard against this materialistic spirit is one of the hardest things for me about being in the states. That and the feelings of complacency and everything will continue as it has.

I don’t watch television, not even the news, (too much obvious spin), my movie watching levels are much lower and more wholesome than any of my pre-renewal standards. And yet it still creeps in. One thing that does help, is reading the news, all the death, destruction, decadent evil, and unabashed selfishness evident in the headlines is enough to wake me up. Thank God for that!

Once every year or so I have to take a little time, reflect on what I truly value, and how much I have strayed from my ideals. I took a time like this recently, and with the Lord’s help found that I had strayed quite a bit. When it comes down to it, I’m either living for my own happiness or the happiness of the Lord and others. I know which I want to live for, and which will make me happy.

All that to say, remember your simple memory verses. Review them regularly (you may already if you have small children.) For me the simple concepts of “God is Love”, “In everything give thanks”, “God shall supply all your needs” and many others help me to see the forest for the trees.

One of my favorite mortal authors once wrote: Brevity is the soul of wit. — I heartily agree.

This story illustrates how corporate America is taking over the job of big brother. How far will it go? Nobody really knows…Gattaca certainly comes to my mind.