Move over Rachael Ray

This week we've had quite a bit to do in the kitchen. With everything going on at church, I've been a mad woman, baking cookies and desserts. Last night we had to make some things for our family for the week and Zoe was my helper.

First up was some muffins. They are her breakfast of choice right now. If you know Zoe, getting her to eat anything in the morning can be a challenge, so if she's into something we make it. I sat her on the counter and we began our muffin making.

She poured the oil in all by herself. Then some water. Then she stirred. I grabbed one egg while she was stirring thinking that she was distracted. She immediately dropped her spoon and grabbed the other egg. I figured since these were her muffins, we could risk an egg shell fiasco.

To my surprise, she was perfect. No egg shells, nothing. I was completely impressed and congratulated her for a bit too long. I got her look. The one that says, "I'm no longer related to you if you keep doing that."

After we got the muffins in the oven, we moved onto sandwiches for daddy's lunch today. She laid the cheese, turkey and lettuce on the sandwiches like she's a Subway sandwich artist.

I had no idea she was ready for culinary school. Move over Rachael, a new chef's in town.

Peacock

Our weekend was insanely busy. I don’t think I sat down until I started writing this, well after the weekend was over.

Saturday we had the memorial service for Bill. My mom coordinates the family dinner. Typically there are 10-15 family members. Bill had 50. My mom enlisted the help of me and my sister. It was totally chaotic, but a true blessing. To be able to do something for the family in a time of loss is what being a part of a church family is about.

I would say there was close to 400 people at the service. It was great seeing people who have left our church and fellowship with them. Of course it’s not for a reason we would all like, but for a moment is was the church of my youth. There is a familiarity with that I can’t describe.

The moment that was the most touching of the whole thing was watching Zoe. They had piped a video feed into the basement for overflow purposes. We got to enjoy the service while cleaning up from the dinner and getting the cookies and drinks ready for the fellowship time following the service. Zoe was wonderful. She did want to run around a bit, but she was content playing with her stickers and climbing on and off and on and off chairs.

After about 40 minutes we went into the other room where the dinner had taken place. Usually Zoe is there with my mom for all the funeral services and family dinners. She knows the routine. She pushed a cart into the dinner room and started to pick up forks and cups and place them on the cart. Her job was part of the clean-up crew. She silently went to each table, collecting the things that were left.

She then went into the kitchen and grabbed two boxes of sugar packets off the counter, brought them into the room and then, with grandma’s help, they got the drink condiments off the tables for Zoe to sort.

My mom used to say that there were moments as a parent where her feathers puffed up because she was as proud as a peacock. To see my 2 year old serving, without being asked to, made my feathers puff up.

She's a beige person

On Sunday morning all the kids from VBS were to get on stage and sing a song. The 2 and 3 year olds had eggs they would shake while the older kids sang.

We practiced shaking the eggs in nursery before going on stage and all the kids were ready.

That is until they actually got on stage. A few of the kids did great. Zoe didn't really like being on stage. She gave Grandma her egg and stood there.

About 3 seconds later, the alligator tears began.

She climbed down the stairs, hugged on Grandma and then got her nerves of steel back. She climbed back up the stairs, took an egg and sat there.

Watching the TV monitor with the words on it.

I think she was waiting for the Wiggles.

We did some wiggling

One of Zoe's favorite morning shows used to be The Wiggles. She loves to sing and dance, so it was a natural fit for her. They are dubbed "your child's first rock band."

Unfortunately they left Disney and signed a deal with Sprout. That's a channel we don't have. The Wiggles have been off our radar for a bit.

Until we found out they were coming to town. I bought Zoe a Wiggles DVD and we haven't stopped watching it since.

She loves Wags the Dog, all the dance moves and Sam, the yellow Wiggle.

Imagine her delight when we went to the Opera House to see Sam, Wags and all the rest of the Wiggles in person.

I think her eyes grew about 2 feet each.

We got third row tickets and this is our pose for most of the show.

She was enthralled. Until Sam came off stage and waved to her personally. She kept yelling "it's Sam. It's Sam!"

All she could do was smile and wave back. She was absolutely speechless. Because she's like her mother, that's a rarity.

The Wiggles show was awesome. It contained humor for the parents (they rib each other constantly) and 90 minutes of pure energy for the kiddos.

About two-thirds of the way through, Wags the Dog came out to dance. Immediately Zoe sat up and made sure all of us knew it was Wags!

In person! Then he sang some song about scratching his fleas. He sure knows how to win our girl's heart.

I loved how much energy they had, how they spoke to kids and interacted with them. It truly was a great time. They even encouraged parents to take pictures. They speak to the blogging/scrapbooking crowd too.

Thank you Wiggles for making Spokane a stop on your tour. It made our whole weekend.

Keep dancing Bill

I've gone to the same church my whole life. It is a place where many of my memories come from. Most of my childhood was spent there in some form of youth program or service function.

I met lifelong friends there. Learned about salvation and was baptized there. I met N at youth group in our old gym. We were married 11 years later in the sanctuary.

Many of the people in our church have watched me grow, celebrated each milestone with me and have mentored me in some way either through their actions and their teaching.

Two people come to mind almost immediately: Bill and Adelin. I can remember many hugs from both of them, but also just the way they were as a couple. You knew their love continued to grow and deepen as they grew older. They were the couple I wanted my marriage to be like.

At my bridal shower, Adelin gave the devotional. She was an Air Force wife and knew all too well the life N and I were about to enter into. I'll never forget her words, "the first year is the hardest." At the time I thought she didn't know what she was talking about. As we entered into our first year of marriage, her words stuck with me.

During our reception we did a couples dance. The DJ would ask couples to leave the dance floor if they hadn't been married longer than 5, 10, 15 years, etc. This went on until Bill, Adelin, Neil and I were the only ones left. It was the longest marriage the newlyweds on the floor together.

It is one of my treasured memories from that day, being able to share that dance with Bill & Adelin.

I learned this morning that Bill is with Jesus. He has been fighting illness for awhile, but this morning the Lord called him home.

I'm so blessed to have had the priviledge to know Bill as part of my church family. He was there with me through most of my life. His spirit, personality, love for his wife and Lord have imprinted on my soul. He was a mentor to me in many spoken and unspoken ways.

Keep the dance floor open Bill. We'll get another dance someday.

We have a virus

Our poor computer is infected with some virus. After days of N trying to exercise the demon virus from our computer, we've got a professional working on it.

I'm going to be silent for a few days while the master computer whiz does his thing.

Vacation Bible Alternative School

This week is VBS at our church. Zoe gets to attend because Grandma works in her class. Typically the 2-3 year old class is only for VBS workers children and grandchildren. Grandma likes to get Zoe involved in things, so she volunteers for VBS in Zoe's class.

At pre-registration on Sunday, Zoe's class was the biggest. There were going to be thirteen 2-3 year olds out of 27 kids total.

My mom was gearing up for a busy day.

I don't think she was prepared for what happened. During the first hour of play time and then snacks Zoe did great.

Then they asked her to sit on the floor and listen to a story. She wanted to play with the blocks. That's when the crying started.

Fortunately for Zoe, another little boy, Gabe had started his meltdown about 15 minutes before her.

They went with Grandma to the nursery for the last 90 minutes of class. She and Gabe were the VBS drop-outs on Monday.

Fortunately for her reputation (and Gabe's) both of them made it through VBS on Tuesday. She came home with a cute giraffe standing in some dirt in a cup with stickers, many stickers on the outside.

We'll see how today goes. Hopefully she makes it through today. If she does then she'll learn the song they are singing at church on Sunday. On the stage.

Then we can put the whole Monday drop-out behind us.

That is until she sees all the strangers staring at her.