Coffee & Lunch with Elaine {4th Street Market}

The day after rain, thunder, and lightning, (I LOVE the morning after the rain!) my friend Elaine and I met up at the 4th Street Market in downtown Santa Ana.  She is the co-founder of E2Beauty so she does make up and skin care at her salon.  Don't you love her blue hair?!  She introduces me to the coolest little places to eat and hang out.  On this day, we split a massive breakfast burrito at the food court, had some ice-cream and caught up.  We talked about forgiveness and not letting bitterness imprison us.

4th Street Market makes it a mission to revitalize their community and act as a cultural hub.  It is artist-friendly as they host events for live music, poetry and other art forms.  Mmmm, sounds like something I’d want to support. I could just sit in one of the comfy couches and work here for hours!  

Who Am I Without

This was my first Commissioning - an giant event of Salvationists - where I was not working as the Territorial Creative Arts Director.  I was not a point person to any group this time.  I was not running around rehearsing groups or coordinating events this time.

Instead, I just rehearsed and sang with the Western Territory Staff Songsters as an unassuming member.  Not in charge.  Just a member.  

As a mom, it was nice not to have the stress that I would have had if I had been working, but it was.... well, different.... not being an "important" person and not being in charge of an event.

Whether I am a stay at home mom or an "important" working professional that people turn to, my value as a human does not change.  Silvie Paladino, the AMAZING guest vocalist of the weekend shared a story of when she had to do a minor surgery on her vocal chords.  As a vocalist who has sung all her life and whose voice directly effects her livelihood and sense of being, it must have been absolutely terrifying to face the possibility of loosing the thing that made her who she is.

She asked herself, "Who am I without my voice?"  But she found comfort in knowing that she is the child of a King of Kings and that she's in his hands.

This story stuck with me this weekend.  By all means, I CHOSE to be a stay a home mom.  I didn't have to undergo surgery, but I could identify with the line "Who am I without .... ?"

Who am I without others coming to me for help?  Who am I without the authority to impact a group of people?  (Who says I can't do this now?!)

I just have a little baby I have to keep out of drawers, keep clean, and feed upon demand.  

It's not the most glamorous scenario, but this is a season of my life I will cherish and I want to enjoy.  While there are many others who can do what I did in the office, I am the only mom that Ezzy will have.  

Even without my old job, I can still be a dreamer, a voice for the voiceless, an encourager, a joybringer, a wife, a mom and yes, a child and image bearer of the King.

Gypsy Den Cafe

If you want a cool place to hang out, Gypsy Den Cafe is the place to be.  We hung out at the Santa Ana location for a few hours in the afternoon.  A combination of deep jewel colors, vintage furniture and mix & match aged deco creates an aesthetically inviting little corner.  The food is pretty good too.  So be ready to be taken away to another land, by the roaming spirit of gypsies.

Hanging out with the Wikles

We had lunch with the Wikles.  They have 4 kids... 4 WONDERFUL kids.  And now with one of our own, I appreciated the immense work and love that goes into raising little munchkins.  There is a lot of coordination and teamwork that goes into executing even a simple meal.  

In the end, my soul and stomach were satisfied after sharing a meal and fellowship with good friends. 

Happy Two Years

For our second anniversary, we ended up having Korean BBQ for lunch and doing an impromptu photoshoot at the Great Park because we missed the dollar theater show time.  Keeping our celebrations simple.  :)  This private man's willingness to be photographed shows his support for my desire to grow as a photographer.  That's love.  

Simple Yet Meaningful

"I want to live a life that's simple yet meaningful."  

This was written in my high school yearbook's random quotes section by an anonymous classmate.  Maybe I still remember it after all these years because this is how I've always wanted to live my life.

Simple: For me, this means living a life that's not dictated by materialistic desires to keep up with the Jonses or Pinterest.  As someone who appreciates art, craftsmanship and beauty, simplicity turns out to be a balancing act.  Simplicity doesn't have to be drab nor does beauty have to equal excessive luxury.  A large part of it has to do with my heart.  Where are my treasures?  Is there room in my life for the things that matter?

Meaningful: I think we find meaning when we connect with other people and live in community.  Only Connect.  I want to serve and walk alongside others, from my own family to people in completely different cultural categories, as they experience their full creative and created potential.  Learning, growing & building memories together.  Doing life together.  Working through the mess together.   

Surfboards

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My husband stores his babies in the board rack he designed and built himself.  I was pretty impressed when I saw this.  I never thought I'd marry a surfer - much less a Korean surfing pastor.  I didn't think they (Korean surfing pastors) existed.  But I love that he has a hobby that keeps him active, creative, sane and relaxed.  It's his sanctuary.  

I tried it with him 3 times.  It seems like a lot of work.  90% is prepping, paddling against the incoming waves and sitting around to catch the right wave.  10% of the time is spent actually riding waves.  (There's a life lesson for ya!)  Yet, he still loves it and gets up early in the morning to catch a few waves.  

There must be something magical about walking on water that I have yet to experience.