ABC's of Anna:
A. Attached or single? Attached! And thrilled about it. My hub's is the best!
B. Best friend? RJ. And so many great girlfriends! (Like you Linda I've never really labeled anyone as the "Best". Probably b/c they're all so great I could never pick.)
C. Cake or Pie? Cherry or blackberry pie with Bryer's vanilla bean icecream
D. Day of choice? Friday...I get the entire morning/afternoon to myself and I know RJ and I are probably going to do something fun that night
E. Essential items? In life - Bible, a positive attitude, family/friends. In my purse - sunglasses, lip gloss, wipes, kleenex, a novel
F. Favorite color(s)? pink, yellow, and burnt orange (but not together)
G. Gummy bears or worms? Chocolate-covered gummy bears
H. Hometown? Grass Valley! Actually I was on the border of Auburn and GV but would much rather say I'm from Grass Valley. Population 10,000 - yearly highlights - the Fair and Cornish Christmas
I. Favorite indulgence? Dana's chocolate chip cookies and New Moon beer.
J. January or July? July!! I LOVE summer. I really dislike winter.
K. Kids? Hopefully someday soon
L. Life isn't complete without? Jesus. And a huge supply of reading material
M. Marriage date? August 28, 2004 (RJ's birthday)
N. Number of brothers and sisters? 1 younger sister
O. Oranges or apples? Fugi apples
P. Phobias? big insects, birds (I feel you Jen on the bird hate. I can't stand the winged creatures (except Penguins, I guess b/c they can't fly), lighting on fire, being trapped in a small space
Q. Quotes- I love so many quotes. Here is a recent favorite: I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library. Jane Austen,
Pride and Prejudice
R. Reasons to smile? Our living room is almost done, it's beautiful outside, I only have one more hour of work, the ocean is warm right now, I get to see my family next week
S. Season of choice? SUMMER
T. Tag 5 people: Jessica G., Debra, Camille, Shelley and Jen Schlenker
U. Unknown fact about me? I have the craziest, most un-timely, unprodutive system for cleaning the house. I hate cleaning everything all in one spurt so I set up a work and reward system. I usually set a timer for 15 mintues and clean as much as I can. Once the timer goes off I set it for 7 minutes and until it goes off again I can do whatever I want - it just has to be fun. I usually read, or work on a craft project, etc. After 7 minutes the cycle starts again until the house is clean. It's really weird, I know.
V. Vacation of choice? Anywhere next to the beach. Vacation to me means spending as much time as possible doing nothing. Comfortable nothing - like lounging and drinking fruity drinks. RJ thinks of vacation as backpacking through the woods without a trail ,and then catching out dinner in a small, insect ladden, brush filled stream. We have interesting family discussions about vacation...
X. X-ray or ultrasound? Ultrasound. I've never had one but they sure sounds exciting.
Y. Your favorite food? Such a hard question....sushi, guacamole and chips, cheese of all kinds, veggie burritos, cut up veggies with blue cheese dressing, watermellon, cherries
Z. Zodiac sign? Scorpio. But Zodiac stuff is ridiculous. I can't stand it.
Linda Tagged Me
Saturday, July 26, 2008
A few weeks ago my best gals and I headed to Austin, Texas for a little vacay. Austin is somewhat of a random choice, but we just felt the need to let our inner cowgirl loose, eat some good BBQ, and find fun music. Here's a few pics - in no order whatsoever:
Sarah and I in San Antonio
Chair dancing - Anna
Being invited to dance on stage at a restaurant
Chair dancing - Kelly
Chair dancing - Sarah
The Bats. We took a boat ride on Colorado Lake (which looks alot more like a river than a lake) and watched hundreds of thousands of bats take off for night feeding.
Sarah and I in San Antonio
Chair dancing - Anna
Being invited to dance on stage at a restaurant
Chair dancing - Kelly
Chair dancing - Sarah
The first night out. Easting Tex-Mex.
The Bats. We took a boat ride on Colorado Lake (which looks alot more like a river than a lake) and watched hundreds of thousands of bats take off for night feeding. 
Barton Springs
Eating BBQ
Thanks girls for a great trip!!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
I found this article on Bryan Stupar's blog (He's the pastor of Calvary SLO where RJ and I attended before moving to Ventura) and thought I should repost it. It is so important to remember to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters who are overseas and truly battling for the Lord.
We are so blessed to live in the US. But it makes me wonder, how would I stand up in this situation? Far away from persecution it's so easy to say I would stand firm and not deny Christ, but if would my conviction hold if I was watching people beat my husband or hurt my children? I don't know. I hope so...I guess it's those moments you would cry out and rely on the Holy Spirit inside.
Officers seize Christians from their home, leaving ill 4-year-old girl unattended.
LOS ANGELES, June 25 (Compass Direct News) –
Security police officials in Tehran this month tortured a newly converted couple and threatened to put their 4-year-old daughter in an institution after arresting them for holding Bible studies and attending a house church.
A Christian source in Iran said that 28-year-old Tina Rad was charged with “activities against the holy religion of Islam” for reading the Bible with Muslims in her home in east Tehran and trying to convert them. Officials charged her husband, 31-year-old Makan Arya, with “activities against national security” after seizing the couple from their home on June 3, forcing them to leave their 4-year-old daughter ill and unattended.
Authorities kept them in an unknown jail for four days, which left them badly bruised from beatings, with Rad “very ill” and unable to walk, said the source. Rad was released on bail of US$30,000 bail, and her husband was freed on payment of US$20,000.
“The next time there may also be an apostasy charge, if you don’t stop with your Jesus,” a female security police officer told Rad during interrogation, according to the source. Under Iran’s strict Islamic laws, Muslims who convert from Islam to another religion can be executed.
A draft law before the Iranian parliament would make the death penalty mandatory for “apostates” who leave Islam.
“They went to a court hearing just for show,” the source said, “as secret police had already taken their signatures by force with a statement that they had not changed their religion.”
The charges, however, are still open, said the source, a close friend of the couple. The female security police official warned Rad that if she and her husband continued attending a house church and holding Bible studies, they could be imprisoned “for a very long time” and would lose their daughter, Odzhan Arya. An officer also told Rad that authorities could concoct a drug case against them, “and you will be punished as drug smugglers.”
A male security police official also threatened Rad, who along with her husband received Christ as savior about three months ago, the source said. “He told Tina during the interrogation that if she doesn’t cooperate and tell some names and addresses, she won’t see her daughter for a long time,” the source said. “They said, ‘Next time if we catch you, you are going to miss your whole family forever.’” An officer also told Arya that authorities could place his daughter “in a protected religious institution.”
The charge against Arya of “activities against national security” was based on his allowing Bible sessions with Muslims in his apartment and trying to go to the house church, the source said.
Confirmation from the couple’s denomination of their arrest and mistreatment was not immediately available.
Forced Statements
The couple was forced to sign a statement, the source said, that they wouldn’t go back to their house church and that they would have no contact with other Christians – and that if they did, “they will be punished by the law of Islam.”
The charges and forced statements seem to contravene the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party, giving it the force of law. Article 18 of the covenant stipulates that everyone shall have the right to adopt a religion or belief, as well as freedom individually or in community in public or private to manifest one’s religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
The couple would forfeit their bail and their freedom if secret religious police catch them engaged in Christian activities, they were told in the court before their release.
“They were tortured psychologically and physically,” the source said. “There are a lot of blue places on their bodies. Tina can’t walk well and is very ill, and her husband Makan is still very shocked.”
The couple was arrested after a relative of Arya informed security police of the couple’s Christian activities. According to the friend of the couple, officers confiscated their personal computer, satellite dish and television set, as well as all books, videos, CDs, DVDs and even a photo album.
“Tina is very sick, and because of the pain on the right side of her head from the torture, and the shock of the whole situation, she can’t leave the house and their daughter,” the source said. “She knows for sure that they are monitored in all their communications.”
Societal Hostilities
Following their arrest, the husband and wife also suffered at the hands of family and area Muslims. In order to make the bail payments, Arya obtained financial help from his father – on the condition that he promise to divorce his wife.
“So he did [promise], and now of course he refuses to divorce,” the source said. “So his father gave him an ultimatum. There is discrimination even in the family against them.”
After their release, the couple found the window of their clothing shop had been smashed.
“Almost the whole street knows about them, so imagine how difficult their business is,” said the source. “They want to change the shop and go somewhere else. Every day and night they get some calls from unknown people, and their life at this moment is under invisible and visible surveillance.”
On Monday (June 23) Arya received letters at both the clothing shop and his home stating that he must place evidence on his new window pane indicating his Islamic faith by displaying a statement and photos, or else he would have to buy a new window every day.
The source said Arya displayed a photo of Islamic leaders on the window, “but they want to go somewhere else.”
Arya went to area police asking for protection, the source said, “but they told him not to lie and to ‘go do something about it if you are a real believer of Islam.’”
We are so blessed to live in the US. But it makes me wonder, how would I stand up in this situation? Far away from persecution it's so easy to say I would stand firm and not deny Christ, but if would my conviction hold if I was watching people beat my husband or hurt my children? I don't know. I hope so...I guess it's those moments you would cry out and rely on the Holy Spirit inside.
Officers seize Christians from their home, leaving ill 4-year-old girl unattended.
LOS ANGELES, June 25 (Compass Direct News) –
Security police officials in Tehran this month tortured a newly converted couple and threatened to put their 4-year-old daughter in an institution after arresting them for holding Bible studies and attending a house church.
A Christian source in Iran said that 28-year-old Tina Rad was charged with “activities against the holy religion of Islam” for reading the Bible with Muslims in her home in east Tehran and trying to convert them. Officials charged her husband, 31-year-old Makan Arya, with “activities against national security” after seizing the couple from their home on June 3, forcing them to leave their 4-year-old daughter ill and unattended.
Authorities kept them in an unknown jail for four days, which left them badly bruised from beatings, with Rad “very ill” and unable to walk, said the source. Rad was released on bail of US$30,000 bail, and her husband was freed on payment of US$20,000.
“The next time there may also be an apostasy charge, if you don’t stop with your Jesus,” a female security police officer told Rad during interrogation, according to the source. Under Iran’s strict Islamic laws, Muslims who convert from Islam to another religion can be executed.
A draft law before the Iranian parliament would make the death penalty mandatory for “apostates” who leave Islam.
“They went to a court hearing just for show,” the source said, “as secret police had already taken their signatures by force with a statement that they had not changed their religion.”
The charges, however, are still open, said the source, a close friend of the couple. The female security police official warned Rad that if she and her husband continued attending a house church and holding Bible studies, they could be imprisoned “for a very long time” and would lose their daughter, Odzhan Arya. An officer also told Rad that authorities could concoct a drug case against them, “and you will be punished as drug smugglers.”
A male security police official also threatened Rad, who along with her husband received Christ as savior about three months ago, the source said. “He told Tina during the interrogation that if she doesn’t cooperate and tell some names and addresses, she won’t see her daughter for a long time,” the source said. “They said, ‘Next time if we catch you, you are going to miss your whole family forever.’” An officer also told Arya that authorities could place his daughter “in a protected religious institution.”
The charge against Arya of “activities against national security” was based on his allowing Bible sessions with Muslims in his apartment and trying to go to the house church, the source said.
Confirmation from the couple’s denomination of their arrest and mistreatment was not immediately available.
Forced Statements
The couple was forced to sign a statement, the source said, that they wouldn’t go back to their house church and that they would have no contact with other Christians – and that if they did, “they will be punished by the law of Islam.”
The charges and forced statements seem to contravene the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party, giving it the force of law. Article 18 of the covenant stipulates that everyone shall have the right to adopt a religion or belief, as well as freedom individually or in community in public or private to manifest one’s religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
The couple would forfeit their bail and their freedom if secret religious police catch them engaged in Christian activities, they were told in the court before their release.
“They were tortured psychologically and physically,” the source said. “There are a lot of blue places on their bodies. Tina can’t walk well and is very ill, and her husband Makan is still very shocked.”
The couple was arrested after a relative of Arya informed security police of the couple’s Christian activities. According to the friend of the couple, officers confiscated their personal computer, satellite dish and television set, as well as all books, videos, CDs, DVDs and even a photo album.
“Tina is very sick, and because of the pain on the right side of her head from the torture, and the shock of the whole situation, she can’t leave the house and their daughter,” the source said. “She knows for sure that they are monitored in all their communications.”
Societal Hostilities
Following their arrest, the husband and wife also suffered at the hands of family and area Muslims. In order to make the bail payments, Arya obtained financial help from his father – on the condition that he promise to divorce his wife.
“So he did [promise], and now of course he refuses to divorce,” the source said. “So his father gave him an ultimatum. There is discrimination even in the family against them.”
After their release, the couple found the window of their clothing shop had been smashed.
“Almost the whole street knows about them, so imagine how difficult their business is,” said the source. “They want to change the shop and go somewhere else. Every day and night they get some calls from unknown people, and their life at this moment is under invisible and visible surveillance.”
On Monday (June 23) Arya received letters at both the clothing shop and his home stating that he must place evidence on his new window pane indicating his Islamic faith by displaying a statement and photos, or else he would have to buy a new window every day.
The source said Arya displayed a photo of Islamic leaders on the window, “but they want to go somewhere else.”
Arya went to area police asking for protection, the source said, “but they told him not to lie and to ‘go do something about it if you are a real believer of Islam.’”
Thursday, July 10, 2008
I wasn't lying when I said I really wanted to try and dive into a non-fiction book. Just days after that public declaration I began reading John Eldredge's A Sacred Romance. I ready a few chapters but just couldn't get immersed. Thankfully RJ brought home a new Eldredge book Waking the Dead and I was hooked from the first chapter. He's a great writer and you can tell how passionate he is about his message. RJ wanted to read it to, so we were sharing the book...until he left it on an airplane. And i was only half-way through.
SO, I've had to pick up fiction again until I can find another copy of Waking.
The Girls - A suprisingly great read. I found this one on my favorite book trading website http://www.bookins.com/, and thought is sounded interesting. The story is an interweaving of two first-person narratives: Rose and Ruby, twins, who are conjoined at the head but have completely seperate bodies. Rose and Ruby are fictional characters, but Lori Lansens, the author, obviously did a lot of research before writing this book. I was obsessed with conjoined twins for days after finishing and spent countless hours doing research on the internet.
When I was about 10 years old my mom bought a copy of Life magazines with Abigail & Brittany Hensel on the cover, conjoined twins who share one body from the waist down (kinda of - each operates one of their two legs - but miraculously then can walk, run, jump, drive, etc. ). Anway, that magazines stayed in our downstairs bathroom for years and I must have read that article a billion times. I was fascinated! I love my sister but I couldn't image been side-by-side with her every moment or every day! After reading The Girls I looked up a bunch of current information on the Hensel twins and found that they are leading healthy, normal lives. They girls and their family seem to be Christians and their lives are an amazing testimony of living for Christ.
Night - (non-fiction!) - Beautiful, heart-wrenching, philosphical. A must-read for everyone. This book is staying in my library collection forever.
The story of a young Jewish man and his survival in a concentration camp.
Cocktails for Three - I think I've confessed in the past that I love the Shopoholic books. They're ridiculous and silly, but laugh-out-loud funny. The author of Shopoholic uses a pen-name- Sophie Kinsella - and I've read all her books. I was waiting for Sophie to come out with somethign new when I learned that she's actually written a few novels under her real name Madeleine Wickham. Excitedly I snatched up Cocktails only to find it lacking compared to her pen name books. (Maybe she is using two different publishing companies and she has a better editor at the Kinsella publisher??). Anyhoo, not really worth the time.
Wall-E - Not Pixar's funniest movie (although the short at the beginning is GREAT!), but a fantastic social commentary. Whie the story is cute and keeps you entertained what I really loved was the underlying messages. The movie was a warning against gross materialism, global warming, and a lazy, technology-dependent existence. In many ways Wall-E was more for adults than kids.
Sweeny Todd - Interesting. I have to say that I love Johnny Depp. The guy might be the best male actor of his generation. He always picks unique, interesting movies and you never see "Johnny" in any of his roles - he becomes the character so completely you loose all traces of the actor himself.
SO, I've had to pick up fiction again until I can find another copy of Waking.
The Girls - A suprisingly great read. I found this one on my favorite book trading website http://www.bookins.com/, and thought is sounded interesting. The story is an interweaving of two first-person narratives: Rose and Ruby, twins, who are conjoined at the head but have completely seperate bodies. Rose and Ruby are fictional characters, but Lori Lansens, the author, obviously did a lot of research before writing this book. I was obsessed with conjoined twins for days after finishing and spent countless hours doing research on the internet.
When I was about 10 years old my mom bought a copy of Life magazines with Abigail & Brittany Hensel on the cover, conjoined twins who share one body from the waist down (kinda of - each operates one of their two legs - but miraculously then can walk, run, jump, drive, etc. ). Anway, that magazines stayed in our downstairs bathroom for years and I must have read that article a billion times. I was fascinated! I love my sister but I couldn't image been side-by-side with her every moment or every day! After reading The Girls I looked up a bunch of current information on the Hensel twins and found that they are leading healthy, normal lives. They girls and their family seem to be Christians and their lives are an amazing testimony of living for Christ.
Night - (non-fiction!) - Beautiful, heart-wrenching, philosphical. A must-read for everyone. This book is staying in my library collection forever.
The story of a young Jewish man and his survival in a concentration camp.
Cocktails for Three - I think I've confessed in the past that I love the Shopoholic books. They're ridiculous and silly, but laugh-out-loud funny. The author of Shopoholic uses a pen-name- Sophie Kinsella - and I've read all her books. I was waiting for Sophie to come out with somethign new when I learned that she's actually written a few novels under her real name Madeleine Wickham. Excitedly I snatched up Cocktails only to find it lacking compared to her pen name books. (Maybe she is using two different publishing companies and she has a better editor at the Kinsella publisher??). Anyhoo, not really worth the time.
Wall-E - Not Pixar's funniest movie (although the short at the beginning is GREAT!), but a fantastic social commentary. Whie the story is cute and keeps you entertained what I really loved was the underlying messages. The movie was a warning against gross materialism, global warming, and a lazy, technology-dependent existence. In many ways Wall-E was more for adults than kids.
Sweeny Todd - Interesting. I have to say that I love Johnny Depp. The guy might be the best male actor of his generation. He always picks unique, interesting movies and you never see "Johnny" in any of his roles - he becomes the character so completely you loose all traces of the actor himself. I love musicals, but for the most part I have a difficult time with theater musicals made into movies. Phantom of the Opera belongs on stage - not on film (It does work for The Sound of Music - but that's about it.). The same with Sweeny Todd. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more on sage. That said, Johnny Depp sure can sing, which was suprising. AND so can Sasha Baron Cohen (aka Borat). Who knew?!
P.S. I Love You - Really cute, it actually caused me to tear up. However, the entire time I was completely distracted by how dang, yucky skinny Hilary Swank looked. Plus, someone must have thought that sickining skinny was attractive b/c she has half dressed the entire time.
December Boys - Horrible. The story line had huge potential, but it got completely ruined by a big black horse, some strang Virgin Mary appearances, and wierd narrative.
The Nanny Diaries - Another classic case of the movie not living up to the book. Scarlett Johansson was the wrong casting decision for this movie. She's two sexy looking to be a young, confused Manhattan nanny. While they did try to stay true to the book the funny materials didn't transfer well to film.
Across the Universe - Loved it! The soundtrack is awesome!! (But I do love the Beatles). The acting is great and the story line pretty solid. A few times the movie gets a bit long and there are a few too many songs, but I love the artistic direction of the film and the underlying themes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)