This is Grant. He is one of the best people I've ever met and I'm missing him a lot today. Grant's not any typical fella. He's an astounding cook, He's a rockstar, He's unbelievably humble, He's extremely encouraging, He could hold his own at our "girl's nights", and if voices could be food his would be "bud-der" (butter, it's the "elixir of life" as Grant would say)
Grant moved away from us recently and left a big hole in his place. As terrible as that sounds, we couldn't be happier that he left! (ok, ok we could be happier:/)
BUT! Grant left because he found love in Washington! And if anyone deserves love.. it's Grant. Even if that means going far far away.... I'm so excited for these two!
Here are some pictures of Grant's last Sunday leading worship at our church. Miss you and love you Grant!
To be childlike. That's something that I really want to work on this year. Sometimes I feel myself slipping into the kind of person that I don't want to be. An adult. I'm tired. I'm busy. I overbook myself. I'm enjoying quiet too much. I don't want to get dirty. I worry about money too much. I don't want to get sunburned. I'm getting way too serious. And if goals were records sold, I would have a Grammy by now.
Though none of these things are necessarily bad.. it's just not what I want to define me. I never want to lose my sense of wonder. I want to get my hands dirty. Pick leaves out of my hair. Scrape my knees. Roll in the grass. Jump, scream, and dance like no one's around to think I'm crazy. Live fully. Live lovingly. Live graciously. Live faithfully. Live in Him, until the day I'm called home.
Brett and I had our first married Love Day! We were busy all day Sunday so we celebrated Friday and Saturday night. We went to Disneyland on Friday night! Saturday, after work, I came out to a decorated car with a heart balloon inside. When I got home Brett was finishing up his special chicken parmesan. After dinner we jumped in the car and went downtown to catch a ferry to Coronado where we got ICE CREAM and walked around:D We took the ferry back to our car and decided to go see a movie. We saw Dear John and we, err... I mean, "I" cried my eyes out. Brett just got "misty". Anyway, I made a little video of the lurve festivities.... annnd in the making of the video I also learned how much of a giggler I am. Teeheehee, enjoy!
The guests had arrived and began to take their seats among the trees. A rich warm breeze set the leaves dancing as the flowers took turns releasing their scent and kissing the noses of their loved ones. The processional begins. She is sitting hidden away in a cluster of trees waiting for her cue. She had expected to be nervous. She was moments away from walking down the aisle and living out everything that they had planned for and dreamed of. The rest of her life began here and she couldn't help but notice the peace that filled her body. It was His peace. As she prayed in thankfulness and soaked up the moment she was shaken back to reality.. It was time.
They were driving down the dirt road. All had stood and 200 pairs of eyes were directed her way. She stepped out of the baby blue bug into the warm air and took the arms of her Dads. The violin began to play and they started making their way down the aisle. Each step felt like ten. As she floated, she gazed at the sea of teary smiling faces excited to witness and support this new union. She could feel the summer grass and rose petals on her polished toes. Her eyes fell to her feet and it all became even more real. She looked up, her eyes met his and she tried her best to keep it together. Over four years of dreaming, learning, loving, and growing was coming to a close and a new chapter of their life together was about to begin. For a moment, time stands still and everything fades away. The people, the flowers, the sound of leaves blowing in the wind above her.. it all fades away.
She looks to the man on her left arm, suddenly she's a little girl again giggling with him at his desk and memorizing the quadratic formula. Her gaze shifts to the woman in the front row with tears in her eyes, she blinks, she's now at the kitchen counter with her. She's spilling all the details of her grade school day as her mother patiently nods and smiles coyly at the innocence of her daughters chatter. Next, she looks up at the man on her right arm, her mind goes to her teenage years, life is getting more complicated but He's always reminding her of the simplicity of it all. Always her encourager. Always believing in her with complete confidence.
She looks down the aisle again and her eyes meet his. Her mind goes back to April 2005. She's approaching her 18th birthday and She's just started seriously dating a boy from school. He's funny and charming. Days passed by like pages of a storybook filled with colorful scenes of romantic dates, hot air balloon rides, dancing, and drive in theaters. The pages were quickly turning into chapters. Some chapters were full of smiles and some were of full of tears, the story was getting sweeter. Somewhere in the second half of chapter three she found herself in front of a beautiful castle on a crisp winter night. His eyes met hers and he got on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage.
She was just a few steps away from the altar now. Her Fathers hugged her and kissed her cheeks. She gave eyes and smiles to her Mom, who was still smiling coyly at the innocence of her bride daughter. She turned to her groom and the ceremony began.
Their greatest wish for this day was that The One who brought them together would be put first and be glorified. They spent time in prayer and their friends led them in worship. They took communion with all of their guests in remembrance of The One who saved them and sustained them. After coming before God in thanks, praise, and remembrance they began their vows to each other. They exchanged their rings of promise and sealed it with a kiss.
They were married! She was introduced as Mrs. Pepin for the first time and it felt wonderful. They turned and faced their guests. He leaned over and asked for her hand. She closed her eyes again, envisioning a time many years later, their hair had silvered and there were lines painted across both of their faces. Age had taken its toll on their bodies and many happy years together had passed. They knew time together was short and as they laid together they exchanged promises. Knowing their journey on earth was coming to a close he asked for her hand…and just like their whole lives they went together, hand in hand.
Her mind came back to the moment. He was still holding out his hand waiting to escape away with his new bride. She placed hers in his and they made their way down the aisle. She locked eyes with him and smiled coyly at the excitement of this new chapter they were about to begin and for the chapters that had yet to be lived. The leaves danced and everyone cheered as they walked through the rich warm air hand in hand.
A few weeks ago we got an envelope in the mail. It looked like just another piece of junk mail but I continued to open it anyway. I started flipping through the papers and some green caught my eye. I figured it was fake. I investigated further and it was real! It's only $2 but hey.. that's a burrito! I'll take it! More marketing companies should start including cash in their junk mail. I'm going to start paying more attention to those envelopes I normally throw straight in the trash!
