Sleeping Beauties - Christmas Day

Yukari

Vincent

Yuji

'Twas the Bite Before Christmas

when all through the house,

the scent of roast was stirring, far richer than grouse.

Christmas china was set 'cross our table with care,

in hopes that Vincent's chicken would soon be there.

When it came to the woman he wanted to marry ...

John went straight to the top.
Congrats Bean and Simpson!
We love you and are happy for you!!

Domo Arigatou

Many thanks to those who became Secret Santa's for foster kids this year! It means a lot to me to know that you guys have helped put a smile on these children's faces.

(And Special thanks to Paul and Mary - the only people that actually responded to my blog post!)

Santa for Foster Kids?

You wanna be one?
That is... sponsor a foster child by giving him/her a Christmas gift...
Each child has written a "Santa Wish List" and I'm looking for anybody who would like to be their Santa this year.

For those that are interested, shoot me an e-mail (or a comment) and I would love to help you out. This is not financially threatening as most kids just want toys or clothes - and we are only asking you to purchase ONE of the items on their list. Okay, so most of the teens want ipods and play station 2. And if you want to grant their wishes, be my guest! But realistically, there are plenty of kids who just want puzzles, Thomas the Train, black nail polish etc.

So, if you could help, I would love you...and so would the kids.
There are 100 more children in Walker County that need Santas! Yo!
This is a last minute attempt to help my co-social worker...and I would need to get her the gifts by December 6th.

Good Cop, Bad Cop

(photo from BBC News)

Bethany brought to my attention that Hello Kitty is in fact taking over Asia.
Sad, sad, sad... (and kinda funny.)

Instead of docking pay or revoking privileges,
Hello Kitty is now used for punishment.

Who would of thunk?

For Ben and Anna

(photo by: Andy Monty)

Come spread the love~
~From here to Ethiopia.
From a family of two to four.
yeah! yeah!

Back in the Game!

...in blogging and climbing.

We've been super busy all summer. As fall has come around, we are finally slowing down a bit and enjoying the out doors. The weather is perfect for climbing now - so with gear and all, Andy, John G., Simpson, Kristine and we took a trip to Sand Rock, AL.

...thanks to John for forwarding these pics so I can get back to blogging...and there are pictures of me on the rocks, but all you see is my butt sticking out, so I'll spare you all...

The True Shine Gang

So. I've been in denial but it's time to come to grips with the fact that my camera is gone a broke. It's been broken for two weeks now, but it was this weekend that I really felt my loss.

Brandt Sykes planned a True Shine Weekend for all his workers and their family out by a lake house in Spring City. There were so many Kodak moments to captures as we swam in the lake, did assortments of water sports, had ping pong tournaments, played card games and just having plain fun hanging around the big porch roasting smores. But alas, I don't have pictures to show people. However, my camera still takes videos, so I am able to show you a glimpse of our weekend and the beauty that surrounded us.



So pretty, huh? It's what we needed. So relaxing and rejuvenating. Good social time and good food. Thanks B Sykes!

Yukari is now 25 years and a day old! Yeah!

My baby sister turned a quarter of a century, as of September 11th. Yes, yes - 9/11. It's a date that the world will always remember. And it's a date I will never forget 'cuz 25 years ago I got a sister. My go-to person. When no body gets me, no one wants to fight with me, no one wants to shop with me, no one wants to laugh with me, no one wants to cry over chick-flicks with me: Kari has been there. 100%
She stood by my side, when I got married. She was there when Vincent proposed...the second time. She was one of 4 people to come see me walk for my M.S. Degree. She went jogging with me in the middle of the night so I can de-stress from writing my S.I.P. She has been there for all my significant events of my life...So, to my dear dear annoying sister...

I love you and happy happy birthday!!!

Quake

(image by BBC.com)
Some of you may have heard - Indonesia has experienced another earth quake measured at 7.9M off the coast of Sumatra. In 2004, they experienced an earth quake of 8.9 M (possibly up to 9.3), which lead to a Tsunami that killed over 220,000 people. This was one of the most devastating natural disasters in the world.

The reason why I bring this incident up in my blog is because my mother is currently in Jakarta for a business trip. I have gotten word that she is fine and I have read on the news that Indonesia has lifted their Tsunami watch. Thank God! But please continue to pray for her safety and also for those in Sumatra.

By looking at the image above, it may seem as if Jakarta (where my mother is) is far enough away from where the earthquake hit. However, if you look at the image below (from wiki), the quake was farther away in 2004, but by looking at the countries most affected by the Tsunami then (yellow), its great news that my mother is okay. Thank God, Thank God.

365 days ago...

...we got married!
(picture by Andy Montgomery)

A toast

Well, Ben and Bethany have been married for a little over 6 months now. But it was only this weekend when we finally got to celebrate their marriage with them. So much went on, I don't know where to begin. It's always great to have an excuse to see friend, be with friends, come together as friends to celebrate their joys in life.

I didn't really give much of toast at the dinner or the party, because as most of you know, I can't go through one without crying. So, here is my toast: Bethany, you have been a true friend, as you have seen me through the thick and the thin. You are interwoven in so many of my memories, good and the bad. Jeff Buckley, Outkast, Radio Head to Portishead - they all make me think of you. You have known me more than anyone out there and have still stuck around - which says a lot about you as a friend. And Ben, you are lucky to have found a person like her that will stick by your side as she has me. I am so so happy for both of you. It was a joy for me to see your relationship grow - from the first time Ben came over and brought over a tomato, you two reading the Narnia books, to Ben buying out Green Life's supply of cheese, to Ben's book bag being a fixture in our living room...such great memories. I hope to be apart of more. Congratulations you two. Cheers! I love you both.

And all that said, Bethany deserved to have a girls night out before her big 'bash' on Sunday. So, some of us girls met up at the Meeting Place for some cocktails. It was so fun, we have to do it more often. We need to get those 'mothers' out more often! :)

Somers No More

So, the month of August is jammed packed for Vincent and me. We kicked it off by driving down to Little Rock, Arkansas for Jill and James wedding with Kristine.

This weekend is the B&B reception! Lots of festivities to come. But in the midst of it all work is wearing on me, I got tons to do...so if you remember, keep me in your prayers.

Isaac's Baptism

This past Sunday Isaac Righter was baptized. Vincent and I, and several of our friends, were honored to stand beside his parents as they saw their son through this special event.

Happy Birthday Em!

Today is Emily's birthday!

So, last night I hung some candles on our tree...
(photo by Andy Montgomery)

...and we threw her a spaghetti party in our back yard.

Emily, I hope you have a great birthday!
I love you!!

P.S. Thanks to those who brought food and drinks!
More pictures on Flickr, and better pictures on April's Flikr...
(it's time I get a better camera :))

Blitzen Trapper

After a VERY long week of work, I de-stressed Friday night by going to see Marty Marquis and his band, Blitzen Trapper. It was a rockin' show, they blew me away...and it's exactly what I needed; a foot-stomping-body-moving music. Pitchfork has them under Best New Music, and if you haven't heard them yet, go pick up their new album.

Marty surprised me at how hard he rocked out. When people mention him, I always think a) 'oh, such a nice guy', b) he's a quite natured guy and c) everyone got him confused with Isaac Wardell. I would never have thought he's a rocker-outer...mmm...but he is. The last time I saw him, we were at Paul and Mary's wedding, everyone was dancin' and he just sat on the sidelines telling me about what he and his wife were up to. When he told me then about his band, I never thought it would be country-rock, mild mannered indie pop or jagged art-rock. I don't know what I expected...just not this:

(Sorry about the little 'blackness' in the middle of the clip. I was trying to get Meg, Andy and Paul in the crowd...and it just didn't work...)

Anyways, all that to say: Go check em' out (if you haven't). And Marty - it was good seeing you again and nice show, I had such a blast!

A week and a day ago...

...we had a party in our backyard...

... Meg rented a 24ft water slide...

...for Diesel's birthday!

And yes, we all had fun till someone got hurt.
That someone would be 'D', who broke
his hand doing a backward swan dive.

No worries, he's doing okay.
And we still had a great time...
...so check out the pictures on Flickr to see.

As April mentioned, it's funny we are old
enough to afford toys like a water slide.
It's funny we still think we are
young enough to play on a water slide.

Another Friend Makes Me Proud

Here we are at Kristine's art show couple of weeks ago. It was a full house.
Vincent's article on the AVA's Emerging Artist's Exhibit has also come out on the Pulse. So you if want to know more about Kristine's art and the other artists that participated in the show, read the article!

Ruth, My Hero

Ruth is absolutely my hero. This past Sunday she participated in Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon. Ruth swam 1.5K down the TN river, biked 40K on highway 27 and ran 10K down Riverside drive. She was AMAZING, I was so impressed! If I'm correct this is her third race and there are more to come.

This is Tommy: her number 1 fan

This triathlon was my very first one to go see. I was so proud of everyone that participated in the race. I just can't get over what a body is capable of. Craziness. I gotta go see more!

We were so proud of you Ruth!!!

Here below is a video of us cheering for Ruth as she crossed the finish line.
Yes, Ruth had the loudest and largest fan base there.
The announcer couldn't say her name 'cuz we were so loud...sorry dude.
What can we say, we love her.

(I wish I got her as she was coming down the road. But I was so busy screaming that I only got her running by.)

photo courtesy by Mitch the Kate