Halloween in Cali

This was my second Halloween in California. The first was 7 years ago in Melrose. It was only a few months after I left home, only one month after 9/11 and I was enjoying the adventure of my new-found freedom. Some girlfriends and I went to downtown Los Angeles to a nice dinner, went to a ritzy mall and then on to a "Freak Show".

I remember the dinner was delicious and expensive. The waiter was cute and one of my friends flirted with him mercilessly as she flashed her fake ID for a glass of wine. We didn't buy a thing at the mall, but we wondered if L.A. would be attacked by terrorists - because it was Halloween (hm...not sure the reasoning of that one). The Freak Show was actually terrifying (I looked up pictures on flickr to accompany this post and i could not get myself to post any of them - they were all too vulgar and awful). One of the major streets was blocked off completely and there were huge stages on both sides of the street with live music. Between both stages, the street was packed with people...well, freaks. Everyone was dressed for Halloween (except us) and intoxicated (except us). I was absolutely terrified as i witnessed people enjoying themselves within the freedom and craziness that being disguised and drunk allows. I think we stayed for 15 or 20 minutes until one of my friends got groped and i insisted we leave. That night i was exposed to a world i didn't know existed, and went home praising God for his redemption in my life.

This Halloween. The contrast - HA! I spent the entire day working at our convention. Then i went out to dinner to P.F. Chang's with a friend and colleague of mine. I was still dressed in a suit and tie (not really, but very formal business attire). The town was pretty quit except at each street corner there were people in costumes carrying signs and screaming chants about "no on 8" and "yes on 7". I got to the hotel early and watched "Lipstick Jungle" on NBC before i went to bed.

My life has changed so much in 7 years. Even when i look back on my former self, it's like thinking of an old friend - was that really me? But one thing that remains the same in my life then and my life now is NOT California (THANK YOU GOD), but that i am in desperate need of God's amazing grace. And that I continue to live a life of joy and freedom because of the redemption of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful.

I voted

This post is not to sway your vote for the dude that i voted for. I trust that you will vote for whomever you see represents you best, as i have. And that is your business, and i respect your freedom. I have been talking with friends lately and have been devastated to find that many of you are not voting.

VOTE

Not because it is your DUTY (it is), but because it is your PRIVILEGE.

Sacramento

Hey faithful readers whom i dearly love - i'm leaving today for Sacramento to do ACSI work and will be back late Saturday night. I'll bring you back something nice...

YAY!!!

Today was my last day at the doctor! They took one last X-ray of my ankle and the doctor said that it looks amazing and that i don't ever have to come back. Horray!

I have been walking without the boot now for a week and i started driving last week also. i love the freedom and landon loves dinner on the table! I am so so grateful. Dr. G told me that i still won't be running for another 8 weeks (bummer), i didn't even ask about winter sports - not many people know much about those around here anyway. I've been so amazed at how quickly my body has been healing this whole time. I am continually amazed at God's creativity and brilliance in how he has created our bodies!

Thanks to everyone for your continual thoughts and prayers for my ankle. I am so happy to say that i am very well.

I finally start back at Starbucks next Monday. I still get to keep my handicap parking sticker through December. yahaha.

Trick or Treat

Today Landon and i had the joy of little "spider man"s "thomas the train"s, monsters and "hannah montana"s hopping up to our door step. For those of you who have had the joy of visiting us, you know that our doorbell plays christmas carols. Some of the older kids recognize the irony in that.

I guess around here every year the Village of Gurnee designates the Sunday before halloween from 1-4pm for trick-or-treating because Friday nights are too dangerous, with darkness setting in early, and all the hooligans running about (did you hear?). Last year we forgot about this, as we did this year - or rather, we were never informed. Duvick scared all the little kiddies away until Landon got home with the Laffy Taffys from Walgreens. We put the dog inside, and the children flocked to our doorstep. I just loved it.

Duvick loved being so close to children, as he was able to put his face up to the screen door and experience the laughter and beauty of the kids. It was fun!

HAIR: A year ago i cut my hair and donated it. I've never cut off this much before, and ever since my husband has met me i have had long hair. This was a hard thing for both of us to deal with - the short hair. but we survived, remarkably.

Right before I cut my hair


The hair cut!


Most recent picture of me with sweet friends at ACSI Convention in South Bend, IN


I was convinced that my hair would be grown back by May - that's what i told my husband, anyway. Woopsie, it's been a whole year and my hair has only grown how many inches? I'm such a liar. Well, i haven't cut it at all since last October and i'm hoping it will grow more quickly in this coming year. I remember my girlfriend Brittlee told me during my freshman year of college that gelatin encouraged hair growth. This cracks me up, but i've never forgotten this and if it is true, it gives me a very valid reason to eat many many gummy worms!

i originally thought that my long hair made me look immature - and i thought the shorter length made me look more professional when i traveled around to conventions last fall. but, now i don't really know or care. i just know that Landon likes my hair as long as i can tolerate it. and i like it better longer than shorter. but when it's really long it gets to a point that it is unstylable. it has reached this point several times in the last 4 years - where even pony tails don't lift the hair off of my neck and back.

when we were in kenya i didn't cut my hair at all and by the end of our year there, my hair was VERY long. well, and it was very gross because it was always being whipped around in the dusty wind, and daily had little sticky fingers in it. mmm.. though my hair is now much healthier and grateful for the freedom, i would take damaged hair and snotty orphan fingers over healthy hair any day.

Dear Diary...

I've been journaling since i was 7. My first diary was tiny with lined paper, keyed lock, covered in balloons. I used to capture my days in a simple list of things that i did and began every entry with "Dear Diary". I'm not sure what got me into journal writing - that first diary was probably some silly birthday present that most kids never touch but for me hid my most private treasures: "dear diary, today i went to grama's, piano lesins, soccer praktis, playd barbies, and ate cake. Love, Hannah Lacy". pretty intense stuff right there.

I've compiled MANY journals throughout the 18 years since then. Some have been unique: letters to my future husband, paintings, a book of blessings, prayers, letters to people (alive and dead) that had left me and i missed terribly. For some reason i've kept every one. Landon had read some of them in an attempt in knowing me better before he thought to propose. i let him read them - can you believe that? And what's even more unbelievable is that after reading these thousands of pages worth of my daily mundane life (and deepest secrets), he decided it would be best to marry me. Ha! He's great.

As a Christian, journal writing has been a beautiful discipline and joy in my life. I have been able to meet God within those pages in such a deep and unique way - so different than anywhere else. One of my favorite things about journal writing is reading what i've written years before. It's been amazing going through old journals and seeing how God was working in my life. He is always cultivating in me to be a woman of remembrance. After we got back from kenya, i realized that LONG before i had entertained the thought of being a missionary in africa, i had recorded in my journal dreams that i had where africans were telling me how i needed to bring Landon to africa - and quick. How amazing! I have also seen so many answered prayers. Reading old journals, I am amazed at the strength that God had given me to endure some of the challenges in my life and i learn from my once child-like faith. In my journals i paste birthday cards that i have received, autumn leaves, flower petals, ticket stubs, guitar picks, or whatever else that was a treasure to me at that time (and remotely flat).

I am so grateful that i can look back through my life and see God's hand in each day. Even in conversations and dreams and challenges that i struggled through at the time - he knew the greater picture - he was always carefully and lovingly working. I trust that though i have entered a season of my life where i am sometimes tired, lonely, and confused, God is with me and molding me despite my sometimes crummy attitude and selfishness.

Our God is truly an awesome God!

Last October i was frantic, hopping from one ACSI convention to the next and working at 4am all of the days in between. I was being pulled in every direction except where i really wanted to be - home. I would sit in airports and it never failed that my departing gate was right next to a gate going to Denver. Once i finally arrived to Chicago O'Hare, i would take the shuttle to the car lot and drive North on a dark and busy highway beside the Chicago sky line. And when i finally drove into our gravel drive and turned off the ignition, i would look at the clock and realize i had to be at starbucks in 5 hours. And i would just sit there and cry and cry and hope that Landon was too busy studying to notice that i was home.

Somehow i have been tremendously blessed through my broken ankle in many ways these past few months. Though i am traveling 10 days this month to conventions around the country, i am not cramming them in between 4am mornings and sleepless nights. And when i come home to Gurnee, i actually feel like i'm coming home. My mind is not constantly in the mountains (not constantly).

If you have read this far, thank you. Maybe you want to share where you were last October? I know many of you didn't have those precious babies at your boobies last year - i bet that makes life a whole lot different!

New Songs

oh yeah, and i updated my play list. lots of new songs on there - i don't know about you but i was getting sick of the old ones. I still left some on there - ones i know landon likes (he reads my blog the most!) and ones that i just couldn't part with yet. but lots of new, fantastic songs. take a listen.

Expelled - no intelligence allowed

Last night Landon and i rented Expelled from Red Box. It was great. You should rent it - it's only a dollar at red box!

Fall fun

As you know, i've been dabilitatingly stuck in my house for days. wait, no, months. I've been anticipating fall, but not yet experiencing it save the drizzly mornings outside of my window and watching my neighbors' leaves being tossed across my front lawn. Yesterday was the first day of fall for me, and i am still glowing over it!



Landon and i went to church. I brought a home-made almond roca latte (oh, by the way: Landon was pretty upset about my bringing coffee to church - is there a rule against this? I'm pretty sure my parents brought coffee with them everywhere before 12noon throughout my childhood - including church!).

When we got home i tended my "garden" (enter Landon's laughter here), where i did fall garden stuff like trimming everything back, emptying flower pots, pulling weeds. I did not plant anything, since we're getting up and out of here next summer.



Then i tended to caramels. Every year Landon's family meets together in the "mountains" of beautiful North Carolina to enjoy each other. We missed this celebration this year, so i brought some family tradition in his aunt's caramel recipe. This is the third time i've made it, and i think it's my best batch! But after it cools, it took me a few hours to sit down and cut it into tiny squares and squeeze each one between wax paper. But i got to listen to a new CD that i got at the convention - the ANNIE MOSES BAND is awesome!

Landon closed all of our storm windows. Now we are officially protected for the winter - closed into our little old house, safe and snug. No windy blizzard is going to make it through here.


Now - the best thing ever - Landon and Duvi and I went for a walk! I haven't been able to go on a walk for a very long time. My crutches hurt me within the first 15 minutes, the roll-about didnt' work on trails, and i've still been to sensitive to walk on anything except a flat surface. until yesterday! Landon was sweet to hold my hand and walk slowly. I finally got to experience my favorite thing about living here! We walked beside a lake with geese and ducks swimming around. Landon threw Duvick some retrieves and i got to watch my beautiful puppy in his greatest talent! We even got to walk into the woods a little bit and i got to stand underneath towering trees beneath a beautiful yellow canopy of leaves! and i got to touch the bark and smell the trunks of these massive trees. I loved it. It was a beautiful evening and the perfect day!