Sunday

Taking a day off of the travelogue...

Today we went to church, and sometimes I feel so alone while in the midst of so many people.  Some of the same people as always just say, "Hi Karen, how are you?"  And one person in particular said that today, and I almost just laughed, thinking, "If you only knew."  Do they know that some days I can hardly make it through the day, and all of the things our family is going through right now?  But do they really know?  I doubt it.

But today was the potluck that I initiated for our Foundations class.  And it was great!  Everyone liked it.  It went very smoothly and there was tons of fabulous food!!  So glad I listened to God instead of wallowing in self-pity that I didn't go to a small church where they still had potlucks :)  haha...  what a concept.

I made those amazing Salted Carmel Butter Bars, that Paula made last week.  Also, barbecued meatballs, a salad and a yummy cheesy cauliflower casserole.  

Also, during the service we sang a song that really resonated with me this morning, given my feeling like no one really was listening to how I am, or cared.  Here are the words:

He Knows My Name - Tommy Walker

I have a Maker

He formed my heart

Before even time began

My life was in his hands

I have a Father

He calls me His own

He'll never leave me

No matter where I go

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And He hears me when I call

Now, I am going to try to post a mosaic I made on flickr today.  Really this is just an experiment.  One of my favorite bloggers does this a lot, and it is so fun to look at what she finds, so here is my attempt.

1. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yummy_mummyscakes/5661743038/">cream and pale pink gerbera quilted wedding cake</a>, 2. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24241129@N05/5988068678/">Pink Roses and Eyelet Lace Vintage Feedsack</a>, 3. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24241129@N05/5571870249/in/set-72157604375388092/">Vintage Kitchen Print Fabric - Pink Aqua</a>, 4. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/18889340@N00/5617469031/in/pool-1079927@N25/">Pink Roses in Vintage Vase</a>, 5. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephanies_cottage/3394454946/">shabby cottage chic,pink aqua victorian couple 1</a>, 6. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giginbigred/5196093763/">campy cupcakes mixed media acrylic watercolor on wood</a>, 7. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/budthecat/35614686/">pink car</a>, 8. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leesiebella/526970062/">Pink and Aqua Pillowcase Tote</a>, 9. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leesiebella/570552731/">Jenny's Collage Sneak Peek Number 4</a>, 10. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/illusiveswan/3729998666/">Mermaid Cottage & Bay Breeze Gazebo</a>, 11. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29828567@N04/3006165033/">Sweet Ones~Collage Tag</a>, 12. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29828567@N04/6157228824/">Craft Studio Space-New Farmhouse Table workspace</a>, 13. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29828567@N04/6156687187/in/photostream/">Harvest Moon calling card invite</a>14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

Well I think I did something wrong there!!  Oh well, it's late now, I will figure it out later.  

Sleep well!!

Church, Potluck and Talent Show

We got up leisurely on Sunday, since their church starts at 11:30!!  Eric and Paula are part of the congregation at Third Way in St. Paul.

http://www.thirdwaychurch.org/

They meet in the library at Hamline Methodist Church.  They had been hosting a conference for the weekend, with about 20 or so people from other intentional communities around the country.  So their meeting was a bit more crowded than normal.  This was my third time to visit.  It is a super friendly and comfortable congregation.  Very young, and urban/hipster.  I don't know if that is how they would describe themselves, but I mean in it the very most complimentary way!!

After the service, there was a potluck....Yay!!!!  There was really good food.  I particularly loved a salad that had feta cheese crumbles and poppy seed dressing and lots of other yummy stuff.  After we ate, they had prepared a "talent" show.  Pretty funny.  For instance, one couple --the wife is the daughter of Greg Boyd :) -- did a handstand contest.  One of the younger girls, Zola, who is in 6th grade and a big fan of 1D, was joined by 2 other 20-something girls, and they lip-synced and danced to HoeDown ThrowDown.  It was really cute.

During this whole time, incidentally, Avery was WIDE awake, and very happy and friendly.  However, a nap would have probably been a good thing.  So then we went home, about 3pm, and even then Avery didn't sleep.  We played some more Timeline, and Avery finally fell asleep right about when we were about to go back to church.  Eric and Paula's small group were in charge of fixing the dinner for the participants of the conference.  So Eric and I went to help Karna (Anna Pitrone's cousin, crazy, huh?).

We ate with them, and it was very enjoyable.  Very interesting people.  There was a man there who really reminded all of us of my dad.  He told a story about growing green beans and reminded Eric of picking beans in Grandpa's garden :)  He wrote a book:

The Intentional Christian Community Handbook: For Idealists, Hypocrites, and Wannabe Disciples of Jesus 

David Janzen graduated from Bethel College and studied at Harvard Divinity School. In 1971, he and his wife helped found New Creation Fellowship, a Christian intentional community in Newton KS. In 1984, they moved to Reba Place Fellowship in Evanston IL, where David now runs an affordable housing ministry.

Cleaned up, went home, played more games, went to bed.

Foxfield Fourth of July

Here's life in a small town.  We have our own Fourth of July parade, and Annika and Ted were both in it today.  Our town is 1 mile square, and sandwiched in between larger suburban areas of the greater Denver area.  But we try to maintain a rural environment.

So everyone lined up at 10am, and my parents and Ted's mom and I went up to watch the festivities.  

 Boy Scout Color Guard led off the parade.  I wish there had been some great parade marching music.  We all stood up and they saluted us.  My dad had his Korea War Veteran ballcap on.  Lots of people told him thanks for his service.  He loved it.  I am pretty sure my sister gave him that hat, so thanks, sis!

 Following next was the lawn tractors.  There's Annika, and Ted is escorting her on his RED roller blades, haha.   That dad in front of them is pretty styling with that big wig ;)

 There's Annika, with her itty bitty tractor following behind...

 She is so ready to drive.  Driving the tractor on the street, getting too close to driving for this mama.

 I LOVE that all these families had worked on little floats and were enjoying the 4th together.  I think there were more people in the parade than there were watching.  

 Everyone was throwing out candy and beads, even to those of us with no kids with us.  So Dad was busy the whole time picking up stuff...  I scored some tootsie rolls and tootsie roll pops!  WooHoo...

 One of the political floats.  T-Bone is running for Sheriff.  They are promising block parties every week and no more coyotes.  They have my vote!!

 Next were all the cars.  Old cars, cool cars, cruizin in Foxfield!!

 GTO!!!

Then the horses.  Oh, and we had a family with their goat, with a cute little red, white and blue coat on, watching the parade next to us.

Pretty horses!!  

Then we all congregated at "The Parade House" for an awesome barbecue.  Hamburgers and hot dogs, and tables full of salads, chips, desserts!!!  

 Ted even let us practice our face painting on him.  What a Dad!!!

 Mormor, Grandpa, Grandmawanna, and Ted, enjoying the shade and the food.

The Food Barn!

So that's how we do the Fourth here in Foxfield.  Tonight, we are going to church, for the first annual Fourth of July Festival at MHC.  Annika and I are going to do face painting, and there will be bouncy houses, etc., and Chick-fil-A dinner and we are going to watch the fireworks from Highlands Ranch.  I am sure it will be a huge success, our first big community outdoor event at our new church campus.  

Happy Fourth of July to you all. 

Thank you, Lord, for giving us this amazing country, for guiding our Founding Fathers 235 years ago in establishing this country, and for the freedom we still enjoy, freedom to worship and freedom to live our lives and raise our families according to your ways!