Hot Summer Days

It's gonna be in the 90s tomorrow and Saturday, so it's a good thing Olivia has a baby pool at "Po-and-Nanni's" as she calls them, all one word.

She's also an expert bubble blower.

And to see a video to prove it, well, click play

Six Years Old

My nephew, Griffin, had a kickin' Dinosaur-in-the-park-with-homemade-cupcakes party on Saturday to ring in his 6th year. I think he had a good time.












Thanks to Jessica Valle for the photos. You can see more here: www.flickr.com/photos/jvalle

A Gooooooood Vacation

A trip to Lynden to visit Grandpa was the highlight of our week. Pictured above: Joel and Olivia in my dads backyard. His lawn is as green and soft as a golf course. We walked barefoot and fed the ducks. We slept well until 4:45 am when the frogs started "ribbiting" (croaking?) and the ducks started quacking. The window was stuck open and we couldn't close it. Waking up in Lynden is like waking up on a farm. :-)
Olivia enjoyed watering the "fluuus" (flowers) and running at the City Park. And I was shocked at how well she did in the car for the hour-and-a-half drive.

It was a good trip. Well, that's tied with the start of the Olympics. Joel and I are huge Olympics fans. We love the stories behind each athlete - we get so emotionally invested! My favorite part is watching the reactions of the parents in the stands. They are so proud!
And speaking of proud mama's, as I'm typing this, I'm looking at pictures of my friend Angie's new baby girl. She was born on 8/8/08 - she hit the birthday jackpot. That was another highlight of the vacation: getting the text that said "She's here!" There is nothing like the anticipation of heading to the hospital to meet a newborn baby. I practically skipped down the hallway of the maternity ward to meet this new girl: Zoe Ella Burke. Welcome to the world, little love.

www.onethousandwordsphotography.com

Behind The Scenes

Ever finally met someone face-to-face when you'd previously only corresponded by phone? It's always interesting to meet someone when you know their voice only.

"I thought you'd be taller."
"I thought you'd be shorter."
"I thought you'd be blonde/brunette/etc."

How does one respond to these statements? "Um, thank you?" or "I'm sorry to disappoint you?"

Enter radio.

So, much like a high-school yearbook, here's some pictures we recently took (thank you, Ben!) so you can match the face to the voice.

This is my favorite of Scott.

Beautiful Sam.

And here they are together: Morning Friends Scott & Sam

Matt Case joins you in the middle of your day

Matt hard at work

Tom Pettijohn

Sarah Taylor

When I give Tom "The Look" in the afternoon.

Miss Martha Hadley (7pm - Midnight)

Larry Lomax holds down the Spirt Music Countdown
Saturday Mornings at 10, Sundays at Noon

Photography by www.benblood.com

Reflecting Gods Glory

They say it was a photographic mistake, the picture above.

But from what I read of Jim Housers Blog, I think it was meant to be.

Jim Houser is the manager for Steven Curtis Chapman. Jim has been doing a beautiful job of keeping us updated on the Chapman family as we all wonder how they are doing after the loss of their youngest daughter, Maria.

I check Jim's blog frequently, just to know how I can continue to pray for this family - and how these prayers are being answered. Today I read this entry, and I was so encouraged.

It feels like we've strung a few hopeful days in a row together here. I almost don't want to say it out loud... but it's the truth. There are still tears, but there are some smiles too. And the counseling appointments continue, progress it seems is being made. And tick tock... time is passing.

The Good Morning America and People Magazine interviews are now behind us... and though they were HARD, I'm feeling so sure that these have been God honoring and correct choices He led us to. In my opinion, Good Morning America came at just the right moment in time for Will I think. One of the stories I heard that day, I had not heard before. If it isn't told on the final piece, I'll share it here.

Regarding GMA and the piece they are doing, to have a 5 or 6 minute piece is very unusual. In a morning show setting like this, 3 minutes or shorter is the norm. To have this length is really unusual. We're thankful. Some of you have asked, so let me say this... In any correspondence you might decide to send to the show, I think our tone would be that we're grateful for the extended segment, that we're grateful for the trouble they went to to make the Chapmans comfortable, and that if possible additional content on a future date or in some other area of ABC media would be so exciting and compelling. I can't say enough about Robin Roberts and the producer Janice. I'm very confident the piece will be all we're hoping.

Circle your calendar and pray for August 5th and August 7th, the 5th when it looks like Good Morning America will air and the 7th when the family will be on with Larry King Live. Pray that the Chapmans' story of faith through this will point to our Savior and will bump into people that would not normally hear or see. Pray that God will continue to redeem this loss. Pray for courage and God to give each of them words to speak while Live! with Larry. And then People Magazine... hitting newsstands that next day on the 8th and in waiting rooms (i always read it at Super Cuts) for weeks and weeks to come. Who knows who will see it and where that will go? Asking God to go before us and be all over it in His plan in His timing with His providence. I suspect He's writing quite a story here and I am trusting we will all see someday.

The photo (above) here was taken by our lighting director, Cannonball a few shows back. I chuckled when I saw it. The camera lens was tricked by the lights in this shot and makes Steven look a bit like I picture Moses must have appeared after He had just encountered God on the mountain, bright white from God's glory passing by. Though it's a photographic mistake, the picture does exhibit what I know Steven strives for... reflecting God's glory. Lets continue to pray for it to be so... and we're grateful you are! and that you are walking alongside this family holding them up on this journey through the valley.

Steven Curtis Chapman will be in town on Saturday, September 20th at the Puyallup Fair along with Michael W Smith. Tickets are available now. I, for one, am counting down the days to show my support for this man and his family.

My First Boat Ride

This weekend, we decided to take Olivia on my parents boat. I was nervous because I didn't know if it would be bliss or a disaster. Would she be afraid of the water and the noise? Would she fight over having to wear a baby-life-jacket? Would she hold still long enough for me to slather her in SPF 50?

Sunscreen? Check. Cutest Life jacket ever? Check.

Did she enjoy the boat? YES! She was thrilled!

We can't wait to go again!

Mama Funny

When she laughs this hard, she gets the hiccups.