Lessons learned at the dog park...

how to meet and greet other dogs...

how to submit when the other dog is bigger than you...

hopefully a few things not to do...

but most importantly, the best places to hide!

Unity Candle?

In most weddings I've attended there has been a point in the service where the bride and the groom each take a candle (sometimes brought up by the mothers) and light one larger candle to signify their union. I always assumed that everyone did this and didn't give its origin or process much thought...

Until we were planning our wedding. There was much discussion on whether or not we would blow out our candles or leave them lit to say that we were still individuals even though we were coming together. It was important to Brian that we leave them lit, but then in the ceremony he forgot and blew his out. So if you watch our video you will see me pause and then blow mine out too.

Recently, Brian came home from work to tell me his co-worker believes that he and his wife invented the unity candle. If you search wikipedia it lists his story as the origin so it must be true. :) Here is a link to his blog that tells the entire story.

In the same week, we attended our good friends Steve and Brittany's wedding. They were the first couple I've seen that did not do a unity candle. Instead they had two vases of colored sand (brought up by their moms) which they poured into a larger vase. I think the intention was for the sand to mix, but Steve poured at a different rate than Brittany and ended up dumping the bulk of his on the top. To make up for the lack of mixture, he put his index finger in the vase and gave it a little twirl. It made me smile.

Congratulations Steve and Brittany!

Today, Brian was privileged to be a groomsman in his childhood friend, Steve Bentley's wedding. The dogs and I played on the beach while the wedding party took pictures. It turned out to be a great day for an outdoor wedding.

Celebrating Life: A birth, a death, and milestones in between...

It has been a full week for us. Mother's Day with the Gracey's on Saturday and the Rush's on Sunday. My birthday on Tuesday. My mom's birthday on Wednesday, Our good friends, Eric and Emily Frazier, had their baby girl, Keely Wynne on Thursday. I got to visit them twice in the hospital; once on Thursday by myself, and once with Brian on Friday. Friday was also my grandma and my cousin's birthdays. Several friends celebrated birthdays this week, and more next; all at different stages of life. Friday my sister called to say that my great-grandma passed away. It was strange to be experiencing both extremes of life standing in the hospital holding baby Keely and thinking about memories of my great-grandma, in the midst of a week of birthday celebration. I'm not sure what I think about it all right now. I probably will have more thoughts after the memorial service, which will be held on my great-grandma's birthday, June 4th. It will be my first funeral. I'm lucky. But most of all I just keep thinking "Celebrate every stage of life."

Introducing...

Keely Wynne Frazier! Our good friends, Eric and Emily Frazier had their baby girl on Thursday, May 17th. Everybody is healthy and happy. They were our first non-family members that we got to visit in the hospital, meeting Keely on her very first day. We look forward to watching her grow up!

Conspiracy!

Tonight, I am spending the evening with the pups while Brian is at his childhood friend, Steve Bentley's bachelor party. Otis is still learning that he needs to let me know he needs to go outside. Luckily, we replaced our carpet with laminate this winter so it is easy to clean up. Well, tonight he had an accident on the floor. After quickly doing an initial clean, I went into the other room to get the special pet mess cleaner. On the way back, I slipped on a stray piece of dog food falling on my bum and sending the spray bottle flying. When it landed the top popped off and it proceeded to roll across the floor relieving itself of it contents. I might be imaging it but I think I saw smirks on both dogs faces!

I Got In!

Today I was accepted to Azusa Pacific University's Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program.

Teaching high school art for a year has confirmed my love for teaching but I long for deeper conversations and students who crave learning. The MFA will enable me to teach college in the future and develop my practice now.

The program begins in less than two months, on July 5. I go for three weeks every July and one weekend each January for four years. So we won't have to move. I just get a nice California vacation every 6 months.

About APU: Azusa Pacific is a comprehensive, Christian, evangelical university which lies 26 miles northeast of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley. The university offers more than 50 areas of undergraduate study, 21 master’s degrees, and 5 doctorates to a total student population of more than 8,100. For the fifth consecutive year, Azusa Pacific University secured a place among the Top 25 of U.S.News & World Report’s 2006 America’s Best Colleges Western Universities-Master’s classification.

Little brothers...*sigh*- Trudy

Otis Rush!

We brought home a brother for Trudy today! His name is Otis Rush...

<--No, not this Otis Rush...







This one!

We're Mourning...

The Vancouver Canucks lost tonight in the second overtime after a valiant effort, especially by goal tender Roberto Luongo. Unfortunately, a mistake on his part cost them the game and now he has to live with it for almost 5 months! But we're still fans!