Merry Christmas 2008!

This isn't the card we decided on, but I like it so much that I want to have it on my blog. : )

Sweet Seventeen

Time sure gets away. I remember K's 5th birthday party like it was yesterday. Today, we celebrated her 17th!
Because we were living in London on her Sweet Sixteen birthday, she called this her Sweet Seventeen birthday. Do you recognize the birthday tiara? She still has it!
Happy Sweet Seventeen!!!

The Gettysburg Address' 145th Anniversary

The Gettysburg Address

One of the greatest, shortest, and most quoted speeches in American history
Recorded here by Jeff Daniels
Originally delivered by
President Abraham Lincoln
at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
on November 19, 1863

In Support of Cindy Rushton

Dear Friends,

Hurt, disappointed, heart-broken, betrayed, all these words apply to what I'm feeling today. I don't want to name-names but please know that some of those I've promoted on Talk-a-Latte, in my ezines, and on my websites have decided that it's time we part company. Not because this is what my heart desires. We have explored all possible remedies including personal interaction to no avail.

It's hard to send this to all of you, my dear friends. I cherish and work hard to be worthy of your confidence and the trust you give me with your relationship. We have committed to come alongside of you during your life journey. We work hard to bring you the very best websites, articles, audios, books, seminars, and personal mom-to-mom time. You have probably noticed my commitment to bring you the best guest writers and speakers. Many of you will not know what I'm talking about, but for those of you who do, I am asking for your prayers right now.

Without taking any more of your time away, I am writing this email to apologize to those who have been affected by this situation. I will not speak ill of anyone or wish them harm. I only want you, my treasured friends, to understand how hard it has been for me to be made aware of the actions of some I have called friend. I was completely unaware of the actions and plans going on behind my back. I will never be forced or manipulated, even by threats to go elsewhere, to ban our supporters from certain speaker workshops. Our commitment to all of you comes before anything or anyone else. We demand that those who step behind MY mic be honorable and trustworthy. You place great trust in us. We will never betray that trust, regardless of the cost.

My business has been built on integrity and the Lord's leading. Please know that some I have sponsored and promoted are now going off on their own, using the exact same software and ad copy and using my name. If what you hear is not found in Talk-A-Latte, Mom-to-Mom Radio Show, our ezines, in our books and audios OR on my websites then please know it is not from me. Just because someone uses the same software, same ad copy in an email or talks kindly about me does not mean that I endorse that person or the use of my client list.

I would never sell or exploit my mailing list, but that is what has happened. Not from me but those who were my guests.

Know that a new season is coming to Rushton Family Ministries and Talk-A-Latte. We have an amazing year ahead. Get ready for the abundant overflow!

With much love,
Cindy

See Us Online!

CindyRushton.com
CindysDesktop
MomtoMomRadioShow
Writers-Nook
Playmasters
Talk-a-Latte
UltimateHomeschoolExpo

Rushton Family Ministries, 1225 Christy Lane, Tuscumbia, AL 35674, USA

Jano is in America!

Two locations to hear Jano on Sunday, November 16:

Jano - The Life Of Riley Available On iTunes

11:00am
Horizon Christian Fellowship
5331 Mt. Alifan Drive
San Diego, California CA 92111
http://www.horizonsd.org/

6pm
North Coast Calvary Chapel
1330 Poinsettia Lane
Carlsbad, California CA 92011
(760) 929-0029
http://www.northcoastcalvary.org/

Presidential Denial

That's what I'm in. I'm so incredibly grateful I know to trust in God and his wisdom in the presidential outcome. I'm still in denial though. I need to be here for a while until the shock settles in . . .

Vote!

I'm not Catholic, but this is a good piece. If we're not following the ways of God, then we're following the ways of man. Do not allow yourself to be deceived. Man can be very convincing.

At the end of this piece, it says to vote your conscience ~ Better yet, vote for Biblical values.

Vote for life.

Barack Obama's America: being human just isn't enough to warrant care and protection

Children are not our future

Sukkot - The Season of Our Rejoicing

Are you ready kids!?! (Are we ready Holly?)

My long time friend, Jim Rickard, invited us to Sukkot in Pasadena yesterday. I'd never been to Sukkot, so I was really excited ~ even more excited that Holly and her kids came with us!

In brief, Sukkot commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters. The timing of this celebration and the Bible study I'm doing on the Tabernacle is incredibly fulfilling. I can't wait to participate in more Jewish celebrations! It's so freeing how the Jewish culture celebrates in dance. I've gotta get me some!

To top it off, I got to see Jim and Judy who I haven't seen in years. Now we're all friends on facebook so we can keep up with each other's lives. If you'd like to see more pics I took last night, become my friend on facebook. : )
(The pictures aren't good quality, but the celebration was!)

Hey! I need a pic of Jim and Judy!!!

Jano in California!

If you're in the area, you'd be crazy to miss Jano ~ We're not crazy!

8 Nov 2008 19:00
The Warehouse (Sacramento, California)

9 Nov 2008 10:30
The Warehouse (Sacramento, California)

9 Nov 2008 18:00
Calvary Chapel San Jose (San Jose, California)

12 Nov 2008 19:00
Harvest Christian Fellowship (Riverside, California)

16 Nov 2008 11:00
Horizon Christian Fellowship (San Diego, California)

16 Nov 2008 18:00
North Coast Calvary Chapel (Carlsbad, California)

One Year Ago Today

"Do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things that are not seen are eternal."
II Corinthians 4:18

I can't believe it's been a year since God took Brent home to be with Him.

My heart is heavy for my sweet friend, Edie, and her precious kids; yet unexplainably happy that Brent is with Jesus.


If you're reading this blog, please pray for Edie, her kids, and everyone who loves/loved Brent and his family.

HARVEY MILK DAY VETO

Harvey Milk Day Veto

BILL NUMBER: AB 2567
VETOED DATE: 09/30/2008

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 2567 without my signature.

I respect the author's intent to designate May 22nd as "Harvey Milk Day" and a day of special significance for California public schools and educational institutions to honor Harvey Milk as an important community leader and public official in the city and county of San Francisco. However, I believe his contributions should continue to be recognized at the local level by those who were most impacted by his contributions.

For this reason, I am unable to sign this bill.

Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger

Wacky Patterns Night at Youth Group

That's my boy ~ There's a place for tie-dye in everyone's life!
(Yes, those are Elmo socks.)



Aaaaa! I just got back from Youth Group and M's Youth Leader, Rocky, put M's picture up on the huge screen! It was LARGER THAN LIFE! That guy is crazy.

Thank you Starbucks!

What a yummy treat for all us teachers everywhere!

FREE Starbucks Coffee for Homeschool Teachers

FREE Starbucks Coffee for Homeschool Teachers

This coming Monday, September 29, homeschool teachers will be able to pick up a complimentary tall size (12 fl. oz.) cup of Pike Place Roast from Starbucks.

This promotion is part of Starbucks “Great Start for Great Teachers” promotion, and is now open to all teachers.
HSLDA intervened when we were alerted that homeschool parents were not included in the promotion.
We are pleased that Starbucks is recognizing the contribution of homeschool parents by extending their program to us.
In order to pick up your free cup of Pike Place Roast you will need to present evidence that you are a homeschooler.

Any one item on the following list should be accepted by Starbucks:

* Home School Legal Defense Association membership card.
* Membership card from a state homeschooling organization.
* Notification from a school district or state government recognizing compliance with compulsory attendance.
* Paperwork submitted showing intent to establish a homeschool program.
* Paperwork showing the establishment of a private school.

If you don’t have one of the items on this list be creative and try to provide other proof of homeschooling.
Please note: the final decision about whether to accept proof of homeschooling resides with Starbucks.

I know where I'll be on Monday!

Take Action!

Click here to voice your opinion. Faith without works is dead. (James 2:26)

Toothless!

C lost her top teeth and her smile is the cutest thing ever!

What's a Cicada?

I met my first cicada twenty years ago. Whilst in Palm Desert this week, I heard cicadas singing in the trees, so I looked them up on the internet to show them to my kids. It was so interesting that I wanted to put them on my blog. There's lots of info on cicadas, including this link: Answers to Cicada Questions.
Here's a good clip: Return of the 17 Year Cicadas

You can hear the Cicadas in this one: Singing Cicadas

Here's a pic of the cicadas seen and heard in Palm Desert. I took it with my little pocket digital, so it's not all that clear. This pic has been cropped as tight as I thought I could, making sure the cicada was identifiable. : )

Fabric Dyeing

I did some fabric dyeing over the past three days, but nothing too creative. I simply (over a boiling pot of water with scalded fingers) changed the color of a few tops. In boiling water, I dipped and soaked my pre-dampened shirts in dissolved Rit dye, one cup of dissolved salt, and one tablespoon of laundry soap (according to package directions). I stirred them each for twenty minutes (package said to do it for thirty), then I hung them to dry in hopes of getting them to be darker towards the bottom (looks cool and slims the hips). To my surprise, the salt crystallized as my shirts dried. The salt then dropped off here and there as the wind blew, and the droplets of salt dyed everything it touched! I didn't realized this until later in the evening when the night air became moist and dissolved the dyed salt. By this time, I'd hung my shirts inside because they were "dry".

But wait - there's more! Before I discovered this phenomenon, I had heat set the tops in my dryer. When I opened the dryer door, the dryer walls were the same color as my shirts! A-a-a-a-a! Several cleaning, bleaching, rinsing, back aching, scrubbing hours later, the dryer walls were finally close to normal again. I ran the dryer with a damp white towel to see if it picked up anything like the previous towels had ~ nope, clean as ever.

All in all, my shirts turned out great, but I sure miss my old washing machine that didn't change color when I dyed fabric. Dying over boiling water is time consuming, exhausting, and sweaty.
Wa! Wa! Wa! Get me a tissue.

Photo Project Inspiration

You've got to visit Wulf's Flicker Page and look up "fiftytwo". He accomplished week 52 with his self-portrait project and it's fab! You can also click on Wulf under my People I Like to Visit list.

Taking a needed break . . .

. . . to enjoy my kids and organize school.

See you in September. (Did you sing this line like I did as I typed it?)
: )

A Day at the Beach ~ Foggy, yet Fab!

Ahhh, these are a few of my favorite things:
sound of seagulls, breaking waves, childrens' laughter;
scent of the ocean, salty breeze, sunscreened skin;
feel of sand between my toes, wet sand dripping from my fingers, sandy hugs from my little ones;
taste of salty lips, fresh fruit, humus and wheat thins;
sight of endless turquoise water, dolphins surfing, children squealing in sheer delight...
God is alive and making Himself known!

Aunt Natalie's 75th Birthday Celebration Weekend

I got to go on a girls' weekend and hang out with my Aunt Natalie and her girls (my cousins) Christi, Gale, and Julie. It's always great to be with them and get caught up. This weekend was super special because we celebrated Aunt Natalie's 75th birthday, her opening art show at Santa Barbara's Soho, and whale watching where we got to see several Blue Whales!

As soon as I upload some pictures, I'll post a few.

Ahhh, time to nap. Oh, ya. I have kids to tend to...

******************

A few days later:

I'm thanking God my Aunt Natalie saved my pics to her computer because when I got home, my SD card was empty! A big SHOUT OUT to Don for finding them too!!!

******************

Friday
Celebrations began with my Aunt Natalie's art show opening, showcasing her acrylic paintings (silk painting is no longer her #1 medium). Here's a pic of "the other photographer", Don - everyone's hero. Below is a picture of the atmosphere - too bad you can't hear the music and taste the food! Lastly, a pic of the "Wilson Family"; left to right, back row: Shane and Rod; front row: Julie, Gale, (Ed couldn't come), Kelly, (my crew couldn't come), Natalie, Sarah, Jim, and Christi.

Saturday
After camping out with the girls at Aunt Natalie's, we set up for her big 75th Birthday Party! Here's a pic of the outside where most of us hung out, the inside where the food overflowed and the jazz never ended, Aunt Natalie's best friend, Peggy, and our favorite person and birthday girl, Natalie as she's being sung to!


Tons
of
food!
Great
Friends!
Awesome
Family!
Perfect
Weather!
Jazz!
Jazz!
Jazz!





Don't leave this page until you've seen Natalie's work!




Sunday
Guess what we did today?!? We went whale watching and saw 75' BLUE WHALES! The winds were 30 knots (I'm not sure what that means exactly, but I can tell you that it was incredibly rough and lots of adventurers were hanging over the side of the boat), and the weather quickly changed from cheerful and sunny to dark and gloomy. Who cares?!? We saw BLUE WHALES!!!
On our way out to sea, sea lions talked to us, dolphins swam with us, and we got really wet. The last pic is of a blue whale, but I'm hoping to get a better picture soon. Don, our hero, found my lost pics on Aunt Natalie's computer and she's sending them to me soon. If she can get the movie to transfer, I'll be able to post dolphins swimming along side our boat!
Okay! You try and take pics thirty miles out to sea with the boat tossing you back and forth, left and right, onto stranger's laps, and nearly overboard ~ Oh, ya! And the waves were thrashing up against the boat getting us all wet ~ even completely drenching several by surprise! I was so excited to see whales that I didn't care if the salt water broke my little camera. No, I didn't take my "serious" camera. I never would have got the pics I got because I wouldn't have risked the wetness.
Was this an awesome birthday celebration weekend or what!?!

Ben's dad died

K's classmate, Ben, lost his dad two weeks ago. We don't know how he died, but they all went to Texas to spend time with their family. Ben's mom, Christine, asked us to pray for her kids: "Please feel free to add Ben, Ariel, and Stephen to your prayers; that with the loss of their earthly father, they would keep their eyes on their Heavenly Father for comfort and strength through this difficult time. Also, please pray in light of Ben completing his high school education and making plans for his future that this could not be used by the enemy to attack in any way, in Jesus Precious Name! Agape, Christine"

Maranatha! Dove

I was asked why I like this particular design of a dove. Well, I began following Jesus as a young gal whilst attending Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa on Saturday nights. Then, when Greg Laurie began teaching at Calvary Chapel Riverside, I began attending both, then finally rested at home at CCR. That was back when we'd meet in downtown Riverside and in a tent on the same property CCR, now Harvest Christian Fellowship, presently gathers. God has lead Greg through so much in his years with Him.

Here's a quote from Chuck Smith when I looked up info on the dove, "The dove was designed by Kerney Erickson and it is a symbol of the Holy Spirit descending upon the church. Taken from the baptism of Jesus when the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended and lighted upon Him."

I know it as the Maranatha! dove which symbolizes Jesus' return. It's a symbol of life, comfort, peace, hope, and so much more. I had it embroidered on my letterman's jacket, created it on our wedding rings, use it on most published materials, etc. It symbolizes my roots in Christianity and hope for the future.

Lord, if . . . John Collins on Grief

"Lord, if you had been here . . . "

These are the words of Mary and Martha at the death of their brother Lazarus in John 11.

There, at that moment in time, when death was cruel and vile and heartless, they stood before what seemed an unbreakable valley of darkness. They wrestled with grief, and the grief was unbearable and unbeatable because grief can never be beaten, only experienced.

And so when Jesus came to them, they said it, "Lord, if . . . "

They both said it, at different times, but to His face. We get the sense that they most likely had said it among themselves, too.

"Lord, if . . . if you had only done this or that . . . "

It is the perfectly human response of a heart that is broken because hopes have been dashed and their world shattered. Someone they loved has been taken away. Life as they knew it was now different. They stood on the cliff of that dark valley and peered into the blackness and thought, "Lord, if . . . "

This morning, as I write this, my pastor and his wife stand on that cliff. They are suffering the loss of their eldest son, who was taken from this earth quickly and tragically Thursday. They are battling the unmerciful giant called grief and, like Mary and Martha and every human soul who has waged that battle, they are losing.

It is painful to watch for the end is not near, and with every merciless blow they cry out, "Lord, if . . . "

I have been in that ring before, but only as a young man of 16. My father had died of cancer. The last night of his life, I left the hospital with the words, "I'll be back to watch the World Series game with you tomorrow."

There was no tomorrow. I had missed those precious last hours with him. And I grieved, "Lord, if I had only stayed with him . . . "

"Lord, if . . . " is the cry of every forsaken moment, every unsaid word, every failure to perfectly love the ones we love and now can only remember.

"Lord, if . . . " is how we ask God, "Why?", when we know He won't answer, when we are unsatisfied and frustrated by "seeing through a glass darkly."

"Lord, if . . . " echoes in the darkness and, like all echoes, it returns with no answer. The price of life and love is death and separation. As C.S. Lewis once said, "That's part of the deal."

So where is Jesus? We ask, "Lord, if I must drink this cup of grief, where are you?" To that, we have an answer in Psalms 139:8–12:
"If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are both alike to you." (NLT)
For Mary and Martha, the darkness and grief for Lazarus was temporary. Jesus allowed it so that His power over death could be made known at the resurrection of Lazarus.

Jesus was there, orchestrating His plan. Out of the darkness of that tomb came a foreshadowing of his own resurrection, which would give light and hope to all the world now that death was defeated.

Where was Jesus? He was there in the darkness of that tomb. And before raising Lazarus, He was with Mary and Martha, weeping with them!

Where is Jesus? He is forever in the midst of our darkness, in the black caverns of our life. He sees the grieving widow. He sees the grieving father and mother. He sees our pastor and his wife and He visits them in their grief. He knows the pain of the journey.

Isaiah said, "He is a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3 NKJV). It is comforting to know that our sorrows are His sorrows and that He knows the aching sense of loss and grief. God never promised to remove our grief, only to give it purpose.

Mary and Martha were united with Jesus in sadness, the grief of loss. And Jesus entered into that grief.

How sweet and comforting to know our God is with us in our moments of desperation. He is the King who bears the full, blunt force of our "Lord, ifs . . . " and then sits next to us with a loving arm around our shoulder and weeps.

It is in these moments with Jesus that we come to know that the darkness only hides His face. One day, when the darkness is gone, His face will be the light of heaven.

My heart breaks for Greg and Cathe. I have come to know Jesus through Greg's faithful teaching of the Word of God. I watch and wince at every blow of grief, but I am confident there are blessings in the buffeting and grateful that Jesus is with them.

(John Collins is Administrative Pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship.)

Christopher Laurie died today, July 24th, 2008

Please pray for the Laurie family.

Pastor Greg Laurie was my pastor as a youth and through my college years. My roots as a Christian are deep in the Harvest Christian family (Calvary Chapel Riverside was what it was called when I was a kid). Christopher, one of Pastor Greg and Cathe's sons, died in a car accident today in Riverside. He, his wife Brittany, his daughter Stella, and his daughter-to-be (due this November) have been living in Huntington Beach, California. Chris was 33 and served as the art director at Harvest for the past three years.

Strangely, this is today's devotion from Pastor Greg:
"Many people are surprised to find that the Christian life is not a playground, but a battleground. The day that you decide to follow Jesus Christ, you begin to face opposition from the devil. He doesn't want you to grow spiritually. He doesn't want you to move forward. So he will use every trick up his sleeve to try and pull you back.

We must recognize that to follow Christ means there is a price to pay. We may lose some friends. We may have to give up a few things. It may be difficult at times. But certainly, it is worth it."

It goes without saying how very much he will be missed, how stunned the Calvary Chapel family is, and how many of us are crying at the feet of Jesus.

Evie's Poolside Celebration

My mom (Sharon), My Godfather (Bob), and Me:It was great to be with so many people who loved Evie throughout her 86 years of life. It was especially wonderful to see, touch, listen to, and be with my godfather, Bob ~ or "Nate" as he's known by so many. Katy's hugs were full of love, warmth, and appreciation for everyone and every story they shared about her mom. We shared endearing memory after memory about our loved Evie and how she touched each one of our lives in a special and personal way.

Oh, how I wish I had all my belongings unpacked so I could share a picture or two of my Evie. I'd love to share pictures of her kids and their families too, but those are still packed away in boxes, awaiting their discovery.

Jim looked the same as always (why do some men never age or change?), his wife Christie was gorgeous and delightful as usual, and their baby girl (okay, so she's in her 20's now), Claire, lit up as she talked about Evie.

Bob and Evie's second son, John, was hard to find with his facial hair (that would have driven my Gigi nuts), but his blondness gave him away. I saw his wife, Gloria, right away and couldn't wait to tell her how proud Evie always spoke of her as a mom of two (now 22 and 26) and wife to John. I hadn't see their kids, Kimberly and Robert, since they were babies, so to see them all grown up was quite a shock!

My favorite (sorry guys) is Katy. Maybe because I know her better, or because I spent more time with her when I was young, but most likely because she has always reminded me of her mom, my godmother. Their facial expressions, voice, vocal inflections, interest in others, and so much more make me think of them more as sisters than mother and daughter. Evie was very artistic and the reason I pursued art as a young girl. When I lived with my Gigi, she gave me a gift of art classes that Katy was teaching so I'd paint some pieces of furniture for her. That's when I learned I could make money doing what I loved to do ~ art! Katy did it, Evie did it, and my Aunt Natalie did it. I wanted it too! Enough of me.

Two others I really wanted to see were there too, Snets and Clive. I got to know Snets over the last year because of some business related to my Gigi, so it was fun to meet him in person and his wife, (I need to remember her name...). Snets and Bob have been best friends since USC fraternity days. I was also hoping Clive would be there (Katy's first husband) and he was! We got to visit and hear stories, and meet his wife, (darn, I need to be better with names). Bob tells us how they loved Clive so much, so they figured out a way to keep him in the family. Christie has a best friend who they hooked up with Clive when they were both available. That was it! All in the family. : )

There's so much more I could share, but it's personal and I find warmth and comfort in keeping some things between Evie and me. I hope I see her in Heaven. XO
Claire, Bob, and Christie are arm in arm as Katy shares letters from several who loved her mom, Evelyn:

My Godmother, Evie: March 4, 1924 - July 8, 2008

One of the dearest people I ever knew was my godmother, Evie. I just received word that we will no longer be warmed by her presence. She was an inspirational artist in several mediums and my reason for pursuing art since I was young.

A close friend of Bob and Evie's (Robert Snetsinger) told me that Evie died of liver cancer. It was only a matter of a few weeks between her diagnosis and her death. "She had been sleeping more and more and getting steadily weaker. When they got her to the doctor she was diagnosed with liver cancer. Bob advised me of the diagnosis that day, as well as the treatment they were instituting - chemo and radiation which, at first, appeared to be working. Jim was helping out because Evie had become so weak. Unfortunately, she just got steadily weaker and died... She was increasingly weak, but apparently not in pain." Thank you "Snets" for your encouraging news, knowing Evie was not in pain. She was 84.

My godfather, Bob, continues to paint and is teaching art classes whilst in his 80's. I'm looking forward to seeing him next week.

This is a portion of the letter Bob sent me. This part was also printed in an Orange County newspaper:

Evelyn Cline Moodey
1924 – 2008

Evelyn Cline Moodey was born and raised in San Bernardino. She was a direct descendant of America’s historical figures Captain William Bradford and also of Miles Standish, who came to North America on the Mayflower. Her ancestors were among the first to venture west. As a teenager her great grandfather walked behind a wagon train from Illinois to Walla Walla, Washington in the mid 1800’s.

She married Robert Nathan Moodey, grandson of R. D. McCook, founder and president of American National Bank. After gaining her bachelor’s degree from University of California Berkeley she returned to San Bernardino where she entered into partnership with Jane Lounsbury forming a business in Interior Design. She was a member of The Assistance League and Chairman of The Festival of the Arts.

Evelyn and her husband moved to Newport Beach in 1970 where she again became involved in Interior Design. She was an early member of The Newport Harbor Art Museum and later became a docent. Evelyn joined the real estate firm of Howard Lawson where she had a successful career for ten years. In her later years she started her last business called Special Finishes and didn’t retire until age 80.

Evelyn’s passion was her family and friends, she and her husband of 61 years, also enjoyed sailing; they sailed the coast of Mexico, the Caribbean, Lesser Antilles, and Puget Sound. She also loved travel; with her daughter she hiked Machu Picchu and sailed the Galapagos Islands. She enjoyed two safaris with family and friends, one in South Africa and one in Kenya, she and her husband also traveled extensively through Mexico and toured Europe.

She will be missed by her husband, Robert Nathan Moodey and their three children; John Claire Moodey and his wife Gloria Dundee Moodey of Yucaipa, James Thayer Moodey and his wife Christie Nitteberg Moodey of Anaheim Hills, and Katy Leakey and her husband Philip Leakey of Kenya Africa and her three grandchildren, Robert Nathan Moodey II, Claire M. Moodey, and Kimberly Lynette Moodey.

Evelyn wishes anyone wanting to contribute make donations to: “Godparents Youth Organization”, 6230 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. The family invites friends and relatives to celebrate Evelyn’s life at a pool side gathering near their home, 336 Otero, Newport Beach, CA on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 from 2:00pm to 4:30pm.

Praying for Sheila, part 2

Sheila's test results from yesterday came out negative for Lyme Disease. The lyme specialist put her on an antibiotic as a challenge to bring out the lyme if it's hiding. Lyme can hide inside cells, so in three weeks, she hopes to know more with another blood test.

We're joining her in prayer that she doesn't have MS, but that she has Lyme Disease. The symptoms are very similar.

Better yet, let's pray for complete healing!!!

Jihi's Dad Left Us Today

Jihi received a call at 2:11am this morning that her dad passed away. She's thanking God that he's with Him now, but it's incredibly difficult (as most of you know) when you lose someone you love dearly.

She is asking for prayer for
* Her mom who has two cancer masses in her liver - no treatment desired
* Her cousin in Texas who finished her second round of chemo for breast cancer

It's important to pray for those who've requested prayer. Please, let's not forget all those in need of support.

Praying for Sheila

Sheila goes in for specialized testing tomorrow in Santa Monica. We're all hoping her symptoms are Lyme disease related and not the MS diagnosis she received earlier this year. The doctor she will be seeing is able to test her in ways CA doctors are not. It's like CA doesn't want to admit they have a Lyme problem. Please PRAY! She is now zooming around in a motorized cart with a numb right leg. She is not getting better.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Update to March 27 entry re: legality of homeschooling

Permission is given to reprint this document or distribute it by email in its entirety without alteration.
Roy Hanson's HELP Tree
Private and Home Educators of California
P.O. Box 730
Lincoln, CA 95648-0730
Fax: (916) 415-9470
contact@pheofca.org

Update in the Rachel L case:

The juvenile court has dismissed the "L family" case, which means that it terminated jurisdiction over the two youngest children. The case is still pending before the appellate court at this time and we will update you with news of any of their future actions. Because there are two different courts involved, there has been some confusion about exactly what the new decision means.

The L family has been before the juvenile court in an action related to alleged abuse or negligence of their youngest two children for two years. At the juvenile court level, the judge had refused to order the children to attend a different school because he ruled that the parents have a constitutional right to homeschool. Juvenile court actions are "closed," so the proceedings of that court were unknown to the public until last February 28, when the appellate court, Third District, issued a ruling on a writ that had been filed in the case. In that writ, the appellate court had been asked to order the L children to attend a school where they would be in regular contact with mandated child abuse reporters, so that the children's safety could be monitored.

The appellate court responded to the writ with their now infamous ruling, in which they basically stated that homeschooling in California is illegal unless the parent has a valid California teaching credential. The appellate court later agreed to a rehearing on the matter, and that rehearing took place on June 23, 2008. The appellate court now has 90 days from June 23rd in which to issue its new ruling.So what does yesterday's decision in the juvenile court mean? First, it means that a motion can be made to the appellate court, asking them to drop the homeschool issue completely since the matter for the L family is now moot. Mootness results when a court's decision will have no binding effect upon a party and here, the appellate court's decision would have no effect on the L family since the juvenile court has terminated its jurisdiction.

However, it is important to understand that the appellate court can grant such a motion or deny it, choosing to issue a decision instead. The appellate court could do this, for example, if it wants to go on record regarding the legality of homeschooling.

Therefore, we ask that you join us first in giving thanksgiving to God for His mercy to the L family in yesterday's tremendous victory. Second, we ask for you to join us in fervent prayer, asking for God to lead the appellate court to now drop the matter.

Regardless of how the court rules, we remain committed to monitoring this issue and keeping you updated. At this point no laws have changed regarding homeschooling and we continue to work to preserve our current level of freedom to homeschool.

(To read additional and more detailed information about the In re Rachel L case, please visit www.pheofca.org. Also visit www.hslda.org for the current status of this case.)

Tamie's Service

Tamie's service is today. Douglas Mortuary is very small, but anyone who wants to come is welcome. The service begins at 3pm in El Segundo.

Erin Passed Her State Boards!

My amazingly awesome friend (more like my sister) just passed her NCLEX exam which makes her an official R.N. ~ WAY TO GO ER!!! Not only is she now an R.N., but she became a grandma this year too. She and her hubby, Layne, packed their lives near Idywild and moved to Petaluma five days ago. (Well, Layne will join her when his Sheriff transfer is complete.) Her son, Chris, is in the Coast Guard and her son-in-love, Scott, is in the Navy. Scott and Marlene's baby, Maddi, is the scrumptious baby you see!

Memorial for Lisa

Lisa's memorial service was beautiful, touching, tearjerking, heartwarming, bittersweet, and so much more. She was deeply loved and she touched so many lives during her short time on this earth. She lived the second half of her life for Jesus and honored Him 'til her last breath. Her legacy lives on with her husband and children. Robin began his words at Lisa's memorial service admitting, "I'm crushed." It was wonderful to hear again how incredible Lisa was and how she blessed her husband and her family 24/7. Their sweet son (and Malakai's friend) spoke with love and admiration of his mom too. We got to hear from her best friend, only sister, and only brother through his sister (he broke three toes yesterday, so he couldn't come).
Lisa was a beautiful woman and I miss her very much...

Tamie is with Jesus

10:15pm Thursday, June 26
"Tamie Hall was set free from this world and is now in God's presence."
This news came from Cathi Unruh about a vivacious friend who battled cancer and lived in pain too long. God chose to bring her home with Him where she's now cancer free and living charismatically again!

They're Married!

Are they gorgeous or what?!?
Jackie and Trevor got married today in a sweet little church, pastored by Jackie's Uncle Kevin.

Their ceremony was sweet and intimate ~ wonderful to see them both up so close! Once the celebration got started, the 102 degree weather wasn't so noticeable anymore (well, except when I was running around the outside of the building to capture pics from "behind" the stage - like the unity candle shot above).
For now, their plan to move out of state is on hold. Trevor will stay with his EMT job and Jackie as her hostess-with-the-mostess.

I love you kids!

EdieBug!

Yipee! I got to spend time with my sweet friend whilst she was visiting here from her homeland. I'm continually amazed how quickly time flies, and seeing her smacks me in the face with the passing of time. We used to spend hours and days on end together, but God picked her and her precious family up and placed them in a new land seven years ago. Seven years ago?!? How can that be?

I wish I had a picture of us then to show you then and now, including how many kids we had then and how many we have now! God brought us together again and I'm having a hard time letting go! Friends are the family you pick, and I pick the two of you! I love family reunions. : ) Look out BugFamily! I see a road trip in our future!!!

Here we are after a refreshing walk at the beach ~ much needed after our yummy dinner:

Lisa is with Jesus

Sweet Lisa, everyone's friend, was in the hospital on life support from April 23rd - June 12th. On Thursday, June 12th, she left the hospital to be with her family. Four am Friday morning, her husband, Robin, realized she went home to be with Jesus. The wave of pain throughout the South Bay is undescribable. Robin and his two kids (J and H) need our prayers and our support.


*********************************************************************************

This father & son relationship reminds me of Lisa and Robin's relationship. Lisa was an amazing woman who rose early every morning and accomplished everything she was capable of accomplishing from her wheelchair, including home schooling their two kids. Robin was always at her side, helping her every step of the way.

His son asked, "Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?"

The father who, despite having a heart condition, replied, "Yes". They went on to complete the marathon together.

Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together.

One day, the son asked his father, "Dad, let's join the Ironman together." To which, his father said, "Yes, let's do it."

If you don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island .

Father and son went on to complete the Ironman together:

Ouch! Keep praying for Julie.

Julie's right ankle is not healing well at all. Her doctor told her she can walk without her black boot, but the wound on her skin is the strangest thing I've ever seen. I kept telling her that it just doesn't look right. I mean, it's deep, shallow, swollen, puffy, flat, and black as black can be. The wound itself looks dead, and her ankle is still incredibly swollen.

Please keep her in your prayers. While you're at it, pray for Glen too. He need strength in helping Julie through this.

So many pics - no way to see them, part II

Still no way to upload pics to my blog, no time for my feet in the sand and the ocean's breeze on my face, continuous unpacking of boxes and wondering why we have so much stuff.

We do have couch frames, but our cushions are ruined. We put cushions from another couch on them and will make due. We're simply excited to have a place to sit! We were without a couch for five months in London, 'til our neighbors moved and gave us theirs. : )

We talked a bit about "going without" today at Bible study. There are hidden treasures when we experience a need or a desire for something we're used to having or we'd like to have. It builds character - good character. We have lots of stuff we'd like to give away.

Still wondering where our teapot is . . .

Ouch! Pray for Julie.

Julie (Dave's mom) sprained her ankles last Sunday and she's now wearing a very bulky, black boot. Her ankle isn't healing very quickly, but we're all hopeful!

His Majesty Cheshire "Star" Johnson July 4, 2006 - May 23, 2008

One of the most amazing, loving, playful cats lost his life today. I'm finding it extremely difficult to type this reality through my flood of tears.

Cheshire had many fans. He was well known for his regal ways and command of the house. Even those who didn't like cats loved Chesh. He would have been two years young this July. He was a prime example of a British Shorthair and he used to greet us at the door when we came home. There's no one to love on us now.

Why he decided to cross the street is beyond us. Three days earlier, we saw him sitting at the top of our front lawn, looking Westward. The very next day, Wednesday, we got him a new reflective collar and an updated tag. We've never seen him do this before. Cheshie is an indoor cat, but at times he begged to play with our other cat, Caley, and roll around in the grass with her.

It was extremely hot that week, so we had a few windows open to cool off the house. We did this regularly, but Chester never seemed interested in jumping out the window. He was a real home-body. He loved to be loved and to be with us in the house. He would sit for hours on the sill of an open window, basking in the sun.

I don't know if we'll ever know why he decided to cross the street on Thursday, but he did. A neighbor called us to let us know she saw him. Dave and I walked over to make sure it was him. He'd been missing all night, so we didn't really doubt it, but we sure hoped it wasn't him. It was.

Dave picked him up while I looked toward the ocean. I didn't want this scene to linger in my mind for years to come. I had too many incredible moments with him and I wanted those memories in my vision, not this.

We drove Cheshire's body to the vet where he lived for two weeks while we fixed up our house before moving in. Everyone there loved Cheshie. While he was with them, they let him roam free and love on everyone. He even cuddled with a litter of kittens who'd lost their mommy. He was awesome. They gently took him from Dave's arms.

Now, we need to tell our kids, his previous owner, and his daughter . . .

First Showing of Prince Caspian!

Dave, Larry, and I saw Prince Caspian at the El Capitan Theatre for the first public showing at midnight! It was totally awesome and unreal to see Dave's work on the big screen. Very impressive for his first film! After the film, we took several unknown roads to find our way home (lots of road work goes on at 3am). We finally got home around 4am for a quick 2 hour nap before we left again with our family at 7am to meet up with our morning group.
At 10am the next morning, we met up with his family (Glen, Julie, and Sue), co-workers (John, Pat, and William), and friends (Gene, William's family, and Karen, Pat's honey).
Dave counted fourteen shots of his in Prince Caspian. : ) How cool is that?!? We've both searched the internet for shots of his tree, but nothing yet. It appears toward the end of the film and is the main focus for the return to England. You can't miss it!
More later, gotta keep unpacking...

Dave's Tree!

We saw Dave's tree on a Prince Caspian trailer just now! Keep your eyes open ~ when you see a large tree twisting to create an opening in its center, that's Dave's tree! It's how one gets from Narnia back to England.

Attitude is Altitude

I'd like to share an inspirational story of a baby born without arms or legs. His name is Nick Vujicic and he's now a grown man. LIsten to his story and be inspired!

So may pics - no way to see them

I have so many pics, but no way to get them from my camera to iPhoto. We have yet to find our cords in the midst of our unpacking. We have yet to find a lot of things!

I'm missing the simpler life we led in our sweet little neighborhood in London. I'm missing it a lot. I got thrown into making lots of time critical decisions as soon as I woke up our first morning back. Making so many important decisions with Dave still in London made it even more challenging. Spending our first three weeks with Glen and Julie was truly a gift!

Buried somewhere under all the challenges, trials, and confusion is my dream day of simply sitting on the sand enjoying the ocean's breeze and warmth of the sun ~ after lathering sunblock all over my face of course. : )

I'm encouraged knowing God has allowed this crud to enter my life to polish me and make me a better person for Him. I just hope I can put a smile on His face.

I miss being with my kids too. My time is not my own these days, so they're all along for the ride whilst I fulfill my job of getting our house in order so we can finish moving in. We're all looking forward to waking up peacefully tomorrow morning, knowing our workers aren't hanging out in our driveway waiting for the clock to strike 7am. I think the first thing I'll do is wake up and stay in my pj's whilst I have a private breakfast with my kids. : ) We may even get to enjoy a cuppa tea!

I wonder where our teapot is...

Cancer free!

Edie's dear sweet Daddy is cancer free!
Go here to read about the exciting news.

House repairs and improvements

In addition to the needed work on our house, we decided to take care of a few other things that make sense to accomplish before we move in.

Week 1, Monday - Saturday: We repaired, patched, and painted the interior (minus the kitchen). Everything is yummy, but now the tile in the larger bathroom doesn't coordinate with the new color on the walls ~ hmmm, what to do? My favorite new things are the beams in the dining area. I asked the guys to grind them down so we could see the wood ~ something I've wanted to do since we moved in five years ago. They did an awesome job and now they look like the white paint was painted on, then rubbed off the surface ~ gorgeous! I love seeing wood grain.

Week 2, Monday - Saturday: Two days later, we had the floors repaired, sanded, and refinished in a gorgeous new color. Junior, our floor guy, placed twelve samples of stain on the floors so we could choose which one we liked best. Both Dave and I agreed that the floor liked only one stain the best, so we went with it. Good decision ~ the floors are gorgeous!

Weeks 3 & 4, Monday - Friday and Monday - Friday: Wow! Our house was in bad shape. The prep guys did an awesome job preparing our house for paint. I realized we couldn't move in yet with all the fumes from the primer, so we stayed two more days at Glen and Julie's. In the meantime, I submitted my color choices to the Art Jury for approval. I got an over-the-counter approval for the trim and stucco, but the beams and door needed further consultation. I miss Redondo for this reason, and so many others. Redondo encourages freedom of expression and would never think of giving permission for a color. Alas, we no longer live in Redondo. God has placed us here and His reasons are good ~ whatever they are!

Week 5, Monday: Finishing touches on the interior and we should be done with paint. Next, the yard. I don't even know where to begin on the yard. Oh, yes. The fence literally fell down while we were gone, so we need to take care of that too. Did I mention the pond in our driveway? We need to repair the driveway too. Too bad we don't live in the country! All of this wouldn't matter and we could go on with our happy, casual lives. : )

Today, we've begun the cleaning, sanding, and sealing process of our wood furniture so we can bring it in the house. We haven't gotten through to everything yet, so we don't know the condition of what's placed deep inside. So far, mold is only on the pieces that were moved, in our absence, to lay flat on the garage floor ~ not a good idea.

That's all I have time for. Back to work...

We have internet!

De ja vu ~ Whilst in London, we went without internet for quite a while and now we've experienced it again. As of today, we have internet again and can access the world outside the walls of our house. I can't wait to get back in touch with everyone. We have a new phone number too, so email me for it. (NO! I'm not going to post it for the entire world.)

So, my dear sweet friend agreed with my "cutie pie" comment of Jon Bon Jovi, but added "maybe only to those who grew up in the 80s." Hey! I'm not that old ~ Am I?

Speaking of comments on my blog, anyone have any thoughts on what the song "Hallelujah" means? I researched it and found all kinds of interpretations. I've always liked the song, but never known the lyric/s until recently. Now, I'm questioning it...

Hallelujah

Tonight, I went to hear Peter Knutson in concert where he sang this song. He recorded it on his CD, but I don't know how to get it on my blog.

Enjoy this version from cutie pie, Jon Bon Jovi, though (as most do) he changed the lyric/s:

No High like the Most High

Our first Sunday back in the States, my friend, Pam, told me she and some others were planning to drive to San Diego to hear/see Beth Moore ~ no stinkin' way! She invited me to join them, so of course I did; I'm not crazy! Whilst there (England is still with me a bit), one of the songs we sang was "Lord, You Are Good" and a week later, I can't get it out of my head. Actually, I constantly think of our girls' weekend and how amazing God is. I added Israel Houghton's YouTube singing "Lord, You are Good" at the end of today's blog.

Beth shared her Psalm 139 insights with all 9,000 of us. I love hearing of God's Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Omnipotence ~ especially from Beth's personal perspective. The focus this weekend was on YAWEH, our relationship with Him; He wants us to know Him and He wants us to be known.

There's nothin' like hanging with sistas and sharin' life in Jesus to refresh and fill my soul! I was in a wonderful place, personally, when Dave came home. Yipee! We're all together again!!!

Remembering how cool London was

It's so incredibly hot here in sunny California. I sure miss the cool weather in London. I remember my friend, Jane, telling me it shouldn't be snowing in London on Easter Sunday. Well, California shouldn't be in the 90's in April. What happened to April showers?

Dave came home to us last Saturday! It's so good to all be together again. Look for Prince Caspian in CA May 16th!

I'll blog more soon, but wanted to let everyone know we're fine, just busy re-adapting to our busy lives. We're having some work done on our house and will be able to move in by the 21st. House warming gifts are welcome. : ) I'm hungry for friendship and fellowship.

Being back at King's Harbor Church has been wonderful and a bit sad at the same time. I really miss my church family at Calvary Chapel Westminster. I'm so happy to have photos to remember them by. I just wish I could hug them all one more time, especially baby Grace!

My favorite song these past two weeks is God is good - all the time - all the time - God is good. I'll see if I can find it and put it on my blog. : ) I've been searching the internet, but all I can find is a country song with the same lyrics. Anyone out there know where the gospel version is?

April 17th: I found it! I was singing it again today, when K asked me, "Isn't it 'You' are good, not 'God' is good?" Woo! Hoo! She was so right on; the YouTube clip is above. : )

We're back in the good 'ol USA

We got back Tuesday afternoon/evening and are staying at Dave's parents to get back into the time swing ~ and have a bit of pampering from Glen and Julie. : )

Toms is doing well!

Tom emailed me and wrote, "Yeah! It went off without a hitch and they sent me home. They found small blockages in my small arteries, but nothing major; not sure why I'm having such persistent chest pains..."

Maria added, "It went super well. He doesn't have to do anything different, just take his meds. He was still a bit groggy 'cuz they knocked him out, which is what he wanted; not to feel any of it. So he's gonna take it easy for a few days ~ all is well."

Please pray for Tom's chest pains and that he will comfortable once again.

Thanks everyone!

Please pray for Tom!

Tom Martin goes in this Monday for an angiogram.
About eight years ago, he had a minor stroke (anything minor about a stroke?) during the same angiogram procedure. His sister, Suzanne, took a job at the hospital so she'll be there for him, and his other sister, Kathy, is staying for the week to help too. In addition to how the Holy Spirit leads you, please pray for a pain free, incident free process.

Petition Granted for Home School Re-hearing!

Court of Appeal Grants Petition for Re-hearing

On March 25, the California Court of Appeal granted a motion for rehearing in the 'In re Rachel L.' case--the controversial decision which purported to ban all homeschooling in that state unless the parents held a teaching license qualifying them to teach in public schools.

The automatic effect of granting this motion is that the prior opinion is vacated and is no longer binding on any one, including the parties in the case.

The Court of Appeal has solicited a number of public school establishment organizations to submit amicus briefs including the
California Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department of Education, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and three California teacher unions. The court also granted permission to Sunland Christian School to file an amicus brief. The order also indicates that it will consider amicus applications from other groups.

Home School Legal Defense Association will seek permission to file such an amicus brief and will coordinate efforts with a number of organizations interesting in filing briefs to support the right of parents to homeschool their children in California.

"This is a great first step," said Michael Farris, chairman of HSLDA. "We are very glad that this case will be reheard and that this opinion has been vacated, but there is no guarantee as to what the ultimate outcome will be. This case remains our top priority," he added.

Finally added pics...

I got a message from a friend saying he was looking forward to seeing my pics of Hyde Park, so they're finally up!
Thanks for the reminder, Wulf!

SNOW!

We had snow for three days! Well, it hasn't been snowing three days straight, but it has snowed off and on for the past three days. It's so beautiful and the flakes are so large and fluffy. Here are a few additional pics from Easter taken before and after church. Before we left, Chloe wouldn't come inside until she'd caught a snowflake on her tongue. After church, we walked to Buckingham Palace, around the fountain out front of B.P., and around St. James Park. Everyone but me had had enough of the cold, so we walked back to the train station and went home for some hot cocoa and biscuits.

Easter Sunday

We've grown to love these incredibly, wonderful people in the short time we've lived here in London. Jano's debut album is almost ready for distribution, Gloria and Alwyn have a new grand daughter (Grace was born to Esther and Tom on March 5th!), and we are stronger Christians for knowing them. Jan, Gloria, and Alwyn join their team in Israel the day after Easter, so this is our last Sunday to see them. I can't even begin to describe how deeply they have touched my heart and inspired my walk with Jesus. Yes, I'm incredibly sad.

If you have questions about the truth of Jesus or you need encouragement in His resurrection, please listen to Alwyn's
Easter Sunday teaching from yesterday.

One of the many things I was caught numb with is how eleven of His disciples denied and abandoned Jesus while He was alive, but after His resurrection, each and every one of them devoted the rest of their lives to tell everyone they could find about Him. They didn't just "preach it", but each one endured continuous torturing, ridicule, mocking, and horrible deaths because they verbalized JESUS IS GOD! I would hope I would not deny Jesus if I were dragged behind a horse tied to a rope, sawn in pieces with a wooden sword whilst still alive, skinned alive before hung on a cross - hanging still alive, or demand to be hung upside down because I'm not worthy to be crucified in the same way Jesus was crucified.

It is very powerful to consider why these men would not admit Jesus was God whilst He was alive, but would endure horrible lives after His death because as much as they'd like to deny Jesus is God, they could no longer. Even Jesus' half-brother admitted Jesus is God. He stopped being concerned how the rest of the world viewed him and told everyone how he was wrong and his half-brother was telling the truth all along.

Why would all eleven men live the rest of their lives in torture for something they made up? a lie? a joke?
They wouldn't.
They didn't.

I just came from a friend of a friend of a friend's blog and had to add it to my own!
"In Michigan, the landscape is covered with a clean white snow in March on Easter weekend! I was thinking of the verse in Isaiah where it says, "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow." I am in awe of a creator who can remove that unremovable stain of sin. A senior citizen of the Kingdom, Jacki"

Isn't that so brilliant!?! The fact that it snowed on Easter Sunday has even more meaning for me now. Thanks Jacki!

Neighbor Artist

I met a wonderful gal yesterday right here in my own neighborhood. I had just taken a picture of the entry next door, when I noticed her. I sure wish I could remember her name. I was so taken by her relaxed pose, sitting there with the sun on her face and creating something artistic. The scene was magnetic. I had to say, "Ello!" I even got so "forward" as to ask to see what she was creating. She showed me the beginnings of her piece and I was so envious! I told her so. Then, I got even more "forward" and asked if I could take her picture. This kind of intrusion just isn't done in London, but she was so inspiring that I had to share a piece of her inspiration! Not only that, she was incredibly warm and kind. As we talked, I learned that she teaches art classes and that she hopes to live in Maine one day. I can totally see her in Maine, continuously producing incredibly inspiring works of art. I also learned that we are surrounded by art classes and that I could have been taking them as I lived here, but alas, we are moving in ten days.

I hope to see her again. Who knows? Maybe I'll see her in Maine.

***She wrote me and her name is Maryclare!***

Tombstone Walls

The air was crisp and the sun was warm. It was a gorgeous day to walk around these church grounds (though the very intricate soul of my shoe found some poo).

I'm not sure why the walls around this Greenwich church property are lined with tombstones, but they are. Even the school playground is lined with tombstones.










The last pic is a row of houses looking over the church grounds. Hmmm. I'm not sure what I think about dwelling in a house with a view of tombstones. Some of the tombstones are still readable. I wish I'd take a picture of the entire stone shown above. Sarah, the wife of Joshua, died when she was only 44 years of age in the year 1790. Interestingly, most of the readable tombstones show ages much younger, like in the twenties and thirties.