June Dred Update

celebrating life

Baby robins
Baby Amelia

Baby Lucy

The Tempest

Montana Shakespeare in the Park

Father, dear

Dred-ed take 2!

I decided to try a different approach to loading photos.

We seperated her hair into even sections.

With the lock powder and comb we set to work, back combing and teasing.

This was one of the first days. Reid thought they were awesome! Couldn't take his eyes off her!

Then we waxed them, and rubbed them. I need to take some new shots, because they are locking up really nicely. We are a little over a week into this journey and she is still in love with them. She just put her first "bead" in yesterday. Its a rock she found on a beach years ago the the tide had worn a hole through. It's pretty awesome!
I have two favorite stories so far.

Minda went to visit our local Bible college. She and Cassia toured one afternoon just after we had finished her dreds. Minda loves to dress 'colorfully'. She wears her Korean bird whistle always, and this day she added beaded earrings by reJeneration, a tie-dyed wrap skirt in earthtones and embroidery, and a head scarf that she didn't wrap her dreds in but just used as a long, flowing headband. Cassia is describing her siblings to the lady who is giving them the tour. "Tofer is musically gifted, and is also really good at sports. I enjoy music too. and Malinda is our artsy one. She creates things and draws and paints..."

The whole time that Cassia is saying this about Min, the lady has turned to Minda and is slowly going head to toe and back again with her eyes and nodding her head. Then she says, "Yah. Yah. I can see that about you, you sorta ooooze creativity." :oD

Moments later they were continuing their tour and met the administrator and president of the college. The administrator was 1st. Seeing Malinda he said, "Wow! I like your hair." (it looked a lot like it did in the photo with Reid) Minda thanked him and they continued to talk until the president came up and introduced himself. As he shook hands with Minda he simply told her his name and she told him hers and his eyes were glued to 'the hair'... the administrator pipes in with, "Yah, but he doesn't like your hair." and the president, sputtering, says, "Hey! Hey now, yes I do! Stop teasing me..." and then proceeds to tell Minda how he heard when Bob Marley died they found a new species of insect in his dreds... :oD

What is so funny to me is that in every other arena of Bozeman she doesn't stick out at a bit.

At The Co-op the day after we did them, when they were stilla mass of fluff and looking like a rats nest, one of the guys commented that they were going to be amazing and they looked great! HA HA!

I'll post more photos as they baby dreds mature. They already look more at home on her head. She has washed them twice and we rub and palm roll them whenever we feel like it. By Joel's wedding in October she is going to have great lookin' Locks!

Dred-ed!

Minda and I both have been wanting dreds for several years. She, however is young and can pull off anything outrageous and make it look cute. After graduation, she ordered a kit of organic wax & powder and a comb & we went to work!

(STILL WON"T LET ME LOAD PHOTOS!!!! GRRRRRRRRRR!)

Summer Reading

Earlier this year I read Chasing Francis, by Ian Morgan Cron. The overall heart/message of this book really resonated with my spirit, strongly parallelling what we were going through (and continue to walk through) at the time. Cron pulled several other authors into his story, most of which I had read, but not for a very long time and the quotes sparked a desire to reread them. I picked up one of them, Thomas Merton, on our way to Washington in March. I had read Merton, but never New Seeds of Contemplation. It's stirring me and I am loving it. I have ordered several of the others for summer and can't wait to begin them in earnest. And 3 others that are right up my alley - - all about relationship/ community!!
What is on your nightstand this summer???

Glancing back over my shoulder

How did Sunday come so soon??
What a strange, busy week. Driver's tests, new jobs, beginning of Ultimate frisbee league, new hairstyles, snow and a golf tournament. (+ all the friends dropping in and us dropping by their places...)

As you know, from below posts, both Cassia and Tof are licensed to drive.

We popped over Tuesday to see Matt, Sara, Bella & 4 day old Lucy. She is absolutely precious. We sat for hours and listened to her newborn song of hums, and sighs. She made us laugh with her stretching, pouting faces. Bella showed us some Yoga moves, before running off (in snowboots, 2 coats, and 2 layers of clothings as well! - did I mention the crazy weather?) with Nana to fly a kite.

Minda began nannying several little ones (2.5 yrs, 1 yr., 4 months), & Tofer has been doing some part time landscaping while also putting in applications at several establishments.

The guys joined the local Ultimate Frisbee league and I got to see my husband in a Hawaiian shirt for the first time ever! (They are team 'Aloha'!) It was a FREEZING, blustery evening, but they came home with a win and smiles! (the girls stayed home and watched 7 Brides for 7 Brothers)

Minda also began the journey of dredlocks this week. She ordered a kit for Elements of Earth - a comb, lock peppa, and wax. She's excited!

The weather has been absolutely crazy! We have had no real 'summer' weather since last Sunday! Wind, rain, thunderstorms, more wind and then, yesterday, it snowed! Thank you, Jesus for a warm, cozy home!

J played again this year in the Young Life golf tournament. When he played last year they had amazingly hot weather and beautiful blue skies. This year they played in high winds and, at the final holes, in rain. To add to the fun, they came in dead last! Dead last, for a good cause. :o) He loves this group of guys, so it didn't matter (too much) that it was hack golf - he had a great time!

It's Official - 2!

2 new drivers now abide in the J Paul home! Cassia can legally slide behind the wheel alone! Now for insurance and titles and licensing of vehicles ...

It's Definitely Spring!

We have been welcoming babies like crazy since we got back to Bozeman, and have several more due over the summer!! Here are a few snapshots of the new life blossoming around us!

Hudson William

Lucy MaeSandhill Cranes in the pasture

It's Official!

His assessor reminded him of Grama Judy! :o) She went out with a look of, "Off to put my life in the hands of another teenage boy...", and returned beaming. Whispered I had a nice boy. :o) I did, but he's a man now. 18 and licensed! Watch out world!

I'm Back

I would love to write a post about all that has happened since the last time I posted, but I think that would be way too long. So how about just some *highlights*?

In March we moved out of our home of 2 years on the Bridgers to a home God miraculously provided in Bear Canyon on the other side of the valley.

We didn't stay much longer than to unpack necessities before we drove over the mountains to Washington and into Mom & Dad's lives for the next month +.So as to not get behind on school, my mom gladly had us down to her place each morning. We left all our books there and just picked up each day where we had left off.

J. continued to seek God's plan for a new job and began filling out 20+ questionaires for Acts 29.

A29 is a church planting network that has had great success with the churches they have begun and pastors they have approved for lead planters. We had begun this process even before we moved from Washington, but put it on the back burner when we got the call to Bozeman.

In the meantime, Shaun, Anna, & Conner came up twice from Portland to be with us; Mom, Dad, J. and I went on a Rattlesnake Hills wine tour; Friends, Peter, Naomi and Kalen Moore (and Peter's brother, John) stopped in on their way through from Yakima; A day was whiled away in Leavenworth and Blackbird Island; We got together with oodles of friends at their homes & at Starbucks - (ahhhhh, Washington...); had meetings with elders to seek wisdom and find their hearts toward us one of love and excitement for our future; attended an MFI regional; and learned to knit!

At the end of April, J had finalized all the steps in A29 up to the assessment. Tyler (co-ordinater/director) called Wed. afternoon to tell us our appointment was set for Thurs. at 8 AM!! We packed quickly, made hotel reservations, and headed out!

J. and I hadn't had any time away (for anything other than a conference) for 3 years or more. We decided to do the assessment and then stay on San Juan for 2.5 days before driving back to Moses Lake.

It was beautiful. There is nothing, NOTHING like western Washington when the sun is happy and the wind is breathless.

We got the news on San Juan that we had been approved to be lead planters! Our next step would be to return to Bozeman and gather a core team of 40 adults. We already knew we had 4. One couple had approached us about this possibility, & another couple had come in on the prospect while we were in ML.

Sunday, our church family in ML prayed over us, layed hands on us, and commissioned us to be sent out to Bozeman.

God has done some miraculous things since we arrived home. Seeing Him working is truely amazing. We find ourselves at a loss for words often, but I never seem to be at a loss of tears. My heart is overwhelmed by His love.

This past Wednesday was the pay-off of the last 18 years of homeschooling. The kids officially graduated from Highschool!!! Onward into the big, wide world with hearts filled to the fullest with God! So blessed that their delight is in Him. I'll keep you posted on what happens next, but for now they are job hunting and getting drivers licenses, and want to be a part of this plant with their dad!

We had a big gathering at the house Friday to celebrate the Grads, Tofer turning 18, and our arrival home. 60+ people ended up coming out for hotdogs, bratwursts, ultimate frisbee, and fellowship. It was fabulous!

Across the valley, in a pool of water, surrounded by family, our dear friends had their baby while we were all partying. Lucia Mae (Lucy) Janssen arrived to be a little sister to Bella. I love you Sara (& Matt) - Can't wait to hold her and hear Bella chatter on about all her wonders! Hugs, sweet mama.

That about wraps it up. Please keep us in your prayers, hearts, & thoughts as we have a long road ahead and need God to be the One opening the doors and leading the way. I'll be updating a bit more regularly now - Promise!