Grandpa

Warren J. Boring was a great man. He was my grandfather and he passed away a year ago today. On that day, I felt like a part of me had disappeared and left a hole. After his memorial service, however, I felt a great peace and knew that the part of him in me would never disappear.

Grandpa was always very concerned with our well being, making sure we had a good breakfast every day and exercised. He also encouraged us to do well in our studies and give our all at what we did. He always made us feel very important. He went out of his way to make us happy. He was the most physically fit man I knew and worked out every day in his garage until he was in his eighties. He was the wrestling coach at CSULB and did amazing things for the sport.

I really can’t express in words how wonderful he was. I think you can see that warmth and compassion and amazing peace that he possessed in his eyes. So, here’s a little slideshow. My brother, Brian, performed this song at his memorial service.

Beach Day

(This is Joe’s post from chengblog.com)

On the way to Christmas in Phoenix, we spent a few days in San Diego for a little pre-vacation, just the four of us. On the first two days we hit SeaWorld and Legoland, and on the third day we just puttered around looking for good places to take pictures.

In Coronado, we hit the jackpot. Deserted beach, photography gold.

Microloan Cards for Christmas

I am selling microloans again this year. They are $25 each (although you are allowed to give more). This is the front and back of the card and they are sized to fit in a greeting card envelope (3.5” x 7”). For more detailed information, see our Eastside Women of Purpose blog.

If you have someone on your gift list and you have no idea what to buy them…this is perfect. In fact, if anyone doesn’t know what to get me…this is what I want. :) I will gladly sacrifice a random gift item destined for my upper shelf (just kidding, Jon…I LOVE those bowls I’ve never used…heh), for a woman, who feels trapped, to be given the opportunity for more.

This honestly gets me all choked up. Women get training and start their own businesses with only a $100 loan. When their business grows, they hire from the brothels, which gets more young women out and able to gain the self confidence to stand on their own feet. It’s awesome. Then they repay the loan which gets another woman out.

If you want one, comment on this post with your contact info or send me an email (or tell me when you see me cause I usually have them in my purse). Or better yet…click on the “Buy Now” button on my sidebar and I’ll send you one! Unfortunately there is $1 fee for doing this. (Note: you don’t need a paypal account, just click “continue” near the bottom of the payment screen).

Joe interviews Noah

STOP Shopping!

This makes me so happy. I think my church is awesome for doing this. If you are on my gift list, you are in luck, cause people are going to be freed from slavery (literally), people in developing countries will receive clean water, and relief will be given to help fight the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time: HIV/AIDS. A gift will be given in your name to help the oppressed, diseased, hungry, enslaved, orphaned, widowed…the list goes on. Now…can you really compare that to a random sweater or gift card?

Now watch the video, it’s pretty fun…

A Dinosaur and Spiderman

 

Ollie got to wear the dinosaur costume that Noah wore 2 years ago. Check it out. When Noah was his age he was actually scared to wear it. Ollie didn’t want to take it off! I think he may have worn it for 3 days straight. He loved running around the house yelling “Raaaawr!” I finally had to hide it.

My friend, Heather, had a Halloween party. This is probably the only time you will ever see Joe in a costume. If you can’t guess…he is Remy and I am Colette from Ratatouille. Ollie cracks me up in these pictures.

 

Heather and I share the same love/hate for Martha Stewart. We found all this awesome Halloween stuff in the October issue and it was all over. Had to be done. Heather made that house and actually poured windows using melted sugar. Isn’t it cool how the light passes through. Cool….but crazy! Darn you, Martha!

I had an Azalea bush that died on me. (no surprise) So, I spray painted it and we hung the favors off of it. We also made ghosts from fondant, marshmallow bones, and skeleton cookies. All Martha creations. She really makes me crazy.

 

Halloween night we went to our church for a some candy, bouncy houses, airplane rides and all kinds of crazy activities. Lots of fun….but whoa, sensory overload! Good thing Amah and Yeh Yeh came with us.

 

Ollie was a fan of the popcorn, face painting and balloon animals. Daddy was a good sport.

Noah just liked to show off his Spiderman muscles. He’ll sing the theme song if you ask him. Although, instead of “spins a web, any size” he sings “spins a wrench, any size.” heh. (He’s also a fan of Handy Manny.)

Noah also enjoyed the balloons and face painting. I wasn’t with him when he got his face painted. But when he saw it in the mirror at home he instantly broke into tears. My perfectionist child was upset that the mouth wasn’t exactly how he envisioned it. I’m sure my Mom would laugh at this since she had to put up with much worse from me at that age. Sorry Mom. I understand now. :) I guess I had it coming.

Brief, but cute, conversation

Mommy:  My head hurts.

Noah:  Oh. Well…MY head doesn’t hurt.

Mommy:  (pause…thinking, that’s not very nice) Well, that’s good.

Noah: Hey! Do you want to borrow MY head?

Ah…the simple mind of a child. I couldn’t stop laughing. He looked at me with a completely straight face. I love that he would lend me his head if he could.