Whittier White House

Mammoth

2011-05-03T18:34:00.000-07:00

We stayed at our friends' condo April 29-May 1 in Mammoth with Alan, Karen, Abby and Sonya. Tim and the girls and I went up Thursday night after Lindsay got off work at 6 pm, so we didn’t arrive until after midnight. At 3:00 am the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was televised. The girls tried to stay up and watch it, but lost patience while watching all the dignitaries taking their seats. Friday we rented skis in the morning and discovered that the only lifts open were at the Main Lodge. There was enough snow to have the whole mountain open, since they had received the most amount of snow of any resort in the world this winter, but they evidently felt that there were not enough skiers to justify staffing the entire mountain. We were disappointed that we didn’t get to ski our favorite runs. So we headed to the main lodge to get half-day lift tickets and to explore new territory. Lift 10 soon became our favorite, offering long runs and a section titled “Easy Rider”. That was my favorite run. After 3 hours of skiing we headed back with tired legs and greeted the Nutchers who had arrived while we were out. We went in the spa across the street to try to easy the soreness in our bodies. The spa, however, was murky and had leaves floating around in it. We still sat in it for a short time just to let the hot water soothe our muscles. The rest of the evening was spent eating dinner, watching parts of the royal wedding, playing centipede, watching the Memphis/San Antonio NBA playoff game, and planning the next day.
Saturday Alan and Tim got out of the house early with Sonya and Abby to take them to ski school. Karen, Lindsay, Erin and I joined them at noon to hear reports of how the girls did with their ski teacher and to have lunch. Tim and Alan had explored some more of the mountain while the girls were in their lessons. After lunch, Alan and Karen took their girls skiing on the only lift they could go on, and the four of us skied on our own for an hour. Then we met up again and Lindsay and Erin skied with Abby and Sonya while Alan, Karen, Tim and I went out. After an hour of that, we met up once again and Lindsay and Erin went out with Tim and Alan, while Karen and I finished up with Sonya and Abby. Since we had two cars there, when Tim, Alan, Lindsay and Erin finished they just headed to their car. Karen, Sonya, Abby and I finished up and took the parking shuttle bus to our car and then back to the condo.
We rested and snacked before dinner. All the girls were inspired to do a magic show for us. Lindsay and Erin did their usual routine and we laughed and oohed and awed. Abby did a trick with a quarter. Then Sonya got inspired to do a trick with a coin and the towel that Lindsay used in her magic trick. Sonya put the quarter on the coffee table and said she was going to make it disappear. She put the towel over the quarter and then grabbed it up off the coffee table, and the quarter was gone (in the towel). We clapped and shouted. Sonya then said she would make the quarter re-appear and put the towel back over the coffee table and pulled the towel away, thinking the quarter would come back onto the table from the towel. However, the quarter did not reappear, having slipped out of the towel onto the carpeted floor. But Sonya’s face looked confused, not knowing where the quarter had gone, she said, “Wow, I really did make it disappear!” But the rest of us knew where it had gone, and laughed uncontrollably at Sonya’s puzzled look. She had out-tricked herself!
After dinner we tried the spa again. It was still murky, but the warm water felt good on our tired legs. Afterwords, we enjoyed Visalia strawberries with chocolate Angel food cake while we watched the movie “Up”.
Sunday we got around slowly and took our time eating breakfast and talking. We then packed up and headed toward Bishop a little after 10:00 am. We met up at Schat’s Bakery and bought sandwiches to eat at the park in Lone Pine, 60 miles down the road. We had our picnic at the park where it was a little windy and there was a nip to the air, but it was nice to sit in the sunshine. Abby and Sonya wanted to play on the playground equipment, so we left them as we headed back to Whittier.

Abby and Sonya learning to ski in their "pizza wedge" formation.

Playing centipede video game at the condo.

A different kind of summer

2010-07-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

When the girls were younger we had great summers together. We enjoyed the change of pace summer brought by not having to be out the door early every morning for school. But we had plenty of activities to do. For several summers (before they reached Jr High) I would put up a poster in the kitchen called "The Summer Challenge". It included ways for the girls to earn some money doing extra things around the house, and for reading books. They were always excited to see the poster come out and make their plans for what challenges they would accomplish over the course of the summer. Summer also included plenty of beach days, church camp, sleepovers, birthday celebrations, Colorado vacations, and a water park or two. As they got into high school, "The Summer Challenge" was pushed out by volleyball practices, summer league and hanging out with friends, with a family vacation squeezed in before volleyball "hell week" started in mid to late August. When they got their drivers license and some freedom, there was a bit of a sigh of relief from me. No more running them from place to place! And they enjoyed coming and going with consistent communication with us via cell phones.

But this summer has been different. Erin turned 18, Lindsay turned 21. Both young adults. No "Summer Challenge" poster needed. They have made their own challenges. Lindsay works 40 hours a week being responsible for overseeing 30-40 third through sixth graders during summer day camp, going various places throughout Southern California. She loves the challenge, one that I think I would run from! Erin decided her challenge would be to go on a missions trip for 7 weeks of her summer. Two of those weeks were spent in a hot and humid Florida Teen Missions Boot Camp being pushed beyond her limits and her comfort zone. The rest of her missions trip has been spent playing sports with kids in Bulgaria. Communication has been intermittent and brief. No cell phone, no email, just the good old fashioned hand-written letter, each of which we have treasured and saved.

Tim and I have continued on, even though we look at each other often and think there seems to be something missing. How come it's just the two of us? We had a high school reunion, spent time with both of our parents, had friends visit from out of state, been to the beach a few times, and even went to a summer league volleyball game that our daughters no longer play in.

I have found myself a bit melancholy about this different kind of summer. I've read, studied and prayed more than I usually have time to do. A small little book that I enjoyed reading was Henri Nouwen's "Out of Solitude". In it Nouwen says, "Joy and sadness kiss each other at every moment" of our lives. I have felt that way so much this summer. Such joy to see my children being used where they are and taking challenges. And yet such sorrow that I cannot be near them (especially Erin) and experience these challenges together with them. Sorrow that our relationships are changing, not in an unhealthy way, just changing. Nouwen says, "When you touch the hand of a returning friend, you already know that he will have to leave again. When you are moved by the quiet vastness of a sun-covered ocean, you miss the friend who cannot see the same. Joy and sadness are born at the same time, both arising from such deep places in your heart that you can't find words to capture your complex emotions." Yes, complex emotions indeed. My friends assure me it's just the "empty-nest" syndrome. I agree, but it doesn't make it any easier sometimes. It's natural, it's not out of the ordinary, just a part of life a healthy family needs to go through.

But expectations play a part in this too. My expectations are that my daughters continue to grow into healthy, active adults who have a contribution to make to society and to God's kingdom. But what I'm unclear about is what my role is now in making that happen. When they were younger, my role was more defined. But now the lines have gotten blurry, and each girl needs something different. I guess that is what this "empty-nest" season is about, figuring out our new roles. Henri Nouwen says it best when he said, "The paradox of expectation indeed is that those who believe in tomorrow can better live today, that those who expect joy to come out of sadness can discover the beginnings of a new life in the center of the old, that those who look forward to the returning Lord can discover Him already in their midst..Expectation brings joy to the center of our sadness and the loved one to the heart of our longings...Just as the love of a mother for her daughter can grow while she is waiting for her return, and just as lovers can rediscover each other during long periods of absence, so also our intimate relationship with God can become deeper and more mature while we wait patiently in expectation of His return."

Rarotonga, Cook Islands

2010-02-24T15:23:00.000-08:00

Tim in front of our Beach Bungalow. It is a nice place with a large front porch, living area with kitchenette and a large bedroom and bathroom.

This is "hermie" the hermit crab that hangs around our bungalow.
And what vacation pictures are complete without some sunset photos. I couldn't resist! It is too beautiful.

Final day in NZ

2010-02-24T15:17:00.000-08:00

Our last day in New Zealand we went to the Queenstown Park. It was a lovely area with lawn bowling, tennis, lots of trees, a frisbee golf course (with a much better view than the La Mirada course!), and a rose garden. It was a great day to just relax and take in the beauty. The picture below is from Queenstown Park looking across the lake to the golf course Tim played on and the Remarkables mountain range in the background.

Last Days in New Zealand

2010-02-19T22:51:00.000-08:00

On Thursday we took a tour bus ride to Milford Sound, a four hour drive one-way from Queenstown. It was raining heavily when we left Queenstown at 7:45 am. Milford Sound is on the west coast of the south island and was formed by glaciers. It rains there 200 days a year, so our chances of having a clear day were looking slim. But as we drove, the weather began to clear, and we stopped along with way to take pictures of the beautiful scenery. By the time we got to the sound at 1:15 pm, it was clearing with just a few clouds clinging around the mountain peaks. It was a breathtaking day. It had rained there in the morning, so there were so many waterfalls coming down all over the shear mountain walls.

We made it out to the Tasmin Sea at the mouth of the sound and then turned around. It was a good thing, because it was quite rough on the sea.
Along the way we saw seals sunning themselves on a rock and a pod of dolphins chasing a school of fish.

On Friday, we took a 30 minute steam ship ride from Queenstown to a sheep ranch called Walter Peak, which was just across the lake from Queenstown. It was a "postcard" day while we were there. It was absolutely beautiful and we enjoyed an outdoor BBQ lunch. We ate lunch with a couple from Australia and a lady from the UK.

We saw a sheep dog and sheep shearing demonstration at Walter Peak.

Days 8-10 New Zealand

2010-02-16T20:19:00.000-08:00

While in Rotorua we attended a Mauri (pronouced Mowry) cultural experience. The Mauri people were the first to arrive on New Zealand a couple of hundred years ago. No one knows exactly where they came from because they had no written language, but presumably they orginated somewhere in the Polynesian islands. They were (and still are to a certain extent) very tribal, but all speak the same language. The show they did for us showed us their welcoming ceremony, and then some of the games and songs they used to train the younger ones for battle and life in general. It was a good show, and very informative.
One of the women in the show.
The Mauri chief. If you can see it in this small picture, he is actually uncovered (naked) in the back, but has tatoos from just above his knees to his waist. Later he described the history and reasons for the tatoos. It was actually very interesting and tasteful although a little shocking at first.
Some of the young Mauri men in a canoe.
Our view of Lake Wakatipu from our hotel room in Queenstown. This lake is 22 miles long.
Another view from our room of the Remarkables mountain range in the background.
Queenstown with a small beach, trees, and the Remarkables mountain range in the background.

The evening sun on the Remarkables mountains, with the city and lake in the shadows.
We arrived in Queenstown around 4:30 pm local time and it was a gorgeous day, so we walked down to the pier area of the lake and looked into parasailing. I have always wanted to parasail but never had this great of an opportunity on a beautiful day with great scenery. So we got on the last trip of the day. It was spectacular!
Getting the harness on.
Taking off!

Landing back down on the boat. What a great ride!
The next day Tim got to golf. It was cloudy, but no rain. Not as nice of a day as when we arrived and went Parasailing, but he still had fun and was challenged by the course.

This is a par 3 and you have to hit over the tree to get to the green. A little intimadating!

Luge run in Queenstown. We tried the luge again, this time in Queenstown and NOT in the rain.
View of Queenstown and the Remarkables mountain range from the top of the Gondola.

Days 4-7 New Zealand

2010-02-13T20:04:00.000-08:00

Tim loves these "Caution" signs that we have seen all over New Zealand. The exclamation point, uh, makes a point!

We saw this vendor at a local farmers market in Rotorua. It made us laugh, but we didn't try them to see if they were authentic.

In Auckland, on our way back through from KeriKeri to Rotorua, we went up to the top of the Sky Tower, the highest building in the Southern Hemisphere. It was a clear evening and we had a nice 360 degree view of the city and harbor.

We ate dinner at this fish and chips restaurant on the water. Great fish and chips because they go out and catch the fish fresh every day. Yum! And great views too.

We visited a forest of Kauri trees, which used to cover most of the northern part of New Zealand. Now there are a few remaining groupings. In the early 1920s the British came and logged most of them to help build ships. They are huge trees, which is hard to capture in a photo.

We had the best blueberry pancakes at our bed and breakfast in Keri Keri. The picture of Wendy, our hostess, is not very flattering of her, but her pancakes were the best.

This is the view of Lake Rotorua from our hotel. There is a race horse track right next to the hotel, that is in the foreground. There aren't any horse races until Friday, so I guess we won't get to see that.

New Zealand the first three days

2010-02-10T15:21:00.000-08:00

We arrived early on Monday morning (Sunday morning in Calif.) and got a rental car and learned to drive on the left side of the road. So far so good. No close calls.

After exploring around Auckland for a while, we found a place near downtown Auckland with a fish and chips restaurant near the beach. We ordered our food and then went down to the beach to eat our first lunch in New Zealand on a bench overlooking the water!

We visited One Tree Hill Park just south of Auckland, and then checked into the hotel in Auckland to shower and rest. We explored a little of the downtown area and wharf area, had a simple dinner, then went to bed early since we had not gotten much sleep on the airplane the night before.

Tuesday, we headed out from Auckland to go to the "Northlands". Along the way we stopped at Sheep World and got to see and participate (that's me on the left!) in sheep shearing and to bottle feed the lambs.

We arrived in Kerikeri in mid-afternoon and found our bed and breakfast in a lovely area. It is surrounded by countryside, but still close to the small town. Our hosts, Wendy and Tony, are a very nice couple who just moved up here from Wellington five years ago. The room is very clean and comfortable. A great place to rest.

After settling in a bit, we drove to a nearby trail and hiked through thick woods to a small beach, then went back to town for a nice leisurely dinner.

Wednesday we woke fairly early, which has been easy for us because we are still kind of on California time, and had a great breakfast made by Wendy. Then we headed to the local airport to take a flying tour of northern New Zealand, and to visit a lighthouse that is on the very tip of the island.

The Kerikeri area has a lot of agriculture, and since it is summer here we have been enjoying fresh locally grown fruit and salads.

After landing in the north, we took a 40 minute van ride to the light house. We walked and explored around the area for a little while. At the very tip of the island just below the lighthouse is where the Pacific Ocean, and the sea that is between Australia and New Zealand meet. You could see the ripple of currents in the water.

On our way back from the lighthouse to the plane, we stopped at some giant sand dunes, had tea, and took a ride on the sand dunes in some little plastic toboggans. We returned to Kerikeri, viewing from the plane so much of the area that would be impossible to see by car. This area is called Bay of Islands because there are so many tiny islands in the nearby bay. They say that they call anything that sticks out of the water an "island", and there are several hundred of them in the bay.

In the evening Wed., we drove up to a place called Coopers Beach, about an hours drive north of Kerikeri, and had fish and chips at a restaurant that was literally on the water. Some great atmosphere. (I'll have a photo of that later.)

Thursday was some down time for me, and I did some shopping in the local town, while Tim went golfing.

Team Meeting

2009-10-04T18:05:00.000-07:00

On Wednesdays the team watches film and does weight lifting first, and then starts practice at 4:30. This Wed. Sept 30, Tim had put together a video camera set up that allows the camera to be extended on a pole so that the camera angle is looking down on the top of the net. From this angle it is easy to see if the blockers on penetrating over the net and where the position of their body is in relation to the net. Tim showed up to help set it up since they had never used it before, and to show Coach how to do it. The girls had come in to set up the net, but before they could do any more warmups, Coach had them sitting on the floor in a circle talking, in very serious tones. Tim did not need nor want to be involved in this team meeting so he went outside after he had hooked everything up. Over an hour later, they were still talking. I had showed up to meet Tim to go to dinner, but he was still hanging around outside, thinking that any minute they would end. Finally, after an hour and a half they started warming up and practiced 45 minutes later than usual. We left to go eat dinner and Erin went straight to youth group at church after practice. We were dying to know what had transpired at the team meeting. We kept spectulating of course about all they could be talking about. After the big loss to La Serna the week before there were still some raw feelings. We hoped and prayed they were getting it all worked out. When Erin finally arrived at home that night after church, she said it was mostly about drama from 2 of her teammates that she knew nothing about beforehand. Their insecurities were an eye opener to Erin and caused her to have compassion on them. But it was good to get it all out in the open and they had a good pratice after they had cleared the air. Whew. Who knew being part of a team would be so difficult and provide so many life lessons!?

Sept 29th Valley Christian Match

2009-10-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

Every year we play Valley Christian we are never quite sure what to expect. Will they be tough, or will they be a little easier than they were the year before? We beat them last year in fairly easy fashion, but you don't want to be over-confident and then be surprised. But once again Valley was not a match for our WC girls. WC won in 4, but the third game they lost because Coach had put in much of the 2nd string and they couldn't quite pull it out (24-26). At times there seems to be a big gap between 1st and 2nd string, but not always on the basis of ability, more in confidence. Erin had a respectable 8 kills and was pleased to have an easy win after such an emotional loss to La Serna the week before.

Sept 24th La Serna Match

2009-10-04T17:44:00.000-07:00

The WC girls showed they were fallible on this night. They lost in 4 games to La Serna. And it was heartbreaking for the team, mostly because they did not play their best. The passing was not the usual stellar passing they have become famous for, so consequently much of their offense was not run well or efficiently. To their credit, La Serna played well and did not let up. They also picked on our weakness at middle blocking and caused multiple hits to kareen off the blocks, unplayable from our side. If WC would have played their best it most likely would have gone 5 games, and perhaps they could have pulled out a win. But that didn't happen. Afterwards, Coach put a lot of blame not only on the passing, but on the captains. That really affected Erin. She played her heart out and felt she played to the best of her ability. She was not at all ashamed of her personal effort. But when Coach questioned it, it kind of crushed her. She kept asking, what more could I do? I did my very best! The team had the weekend off afterward, a much need rest and a time to reflect on not wanting to lose again. If there was a good time to lose, then perhaps this was it. Before heading into league play and eventually to playoffs, this is the time to get the kinks out, and figure out what needs to be done to get the girls to play to the best of their ability in every match. A team grows through adversity, and by God's grace, this may be the most adversity they face this season: the adversity of themselves.

Sept 22 Maranatha Match

2009-10-04T17:33:00.000-07:00

The Maranatha match turned out to be a personal highlight for Erin. WC won in 4 games, but Erin had a match high 16 kills, as well as a .465 hitting percentage for the night. She was on fire, and she kept getting set from her setter, Stephanie, so it made for a memorable night. Afterward Erin was kind of ho-hum about the whole match, and we (Tim, Lindsay and I) insisted that she played a great match. The next day before the team watched film of the game, Coach told Erin her hitting percentage and other stats. Tim and I had just delivered popsicles to all the volleyball teams that were practicing that day because it was another extremely hot day. Erin came running out of the team room, so excited to tell us her stats from the Maranatha game. I am so pleased that she is physically able to play without pain this year after seeing her play in pain most of last year. I only pray she can continue to play to the best of her ability and have a blast doing it.

Arcadia Tournament

2009-09-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

Saturday, Sept 19th we got up at 6:30 am in order to be at Arcadia High school by 7:45 am to get ready to play in the Arcadia high school varsity tournament. The first match started at 8:30 am against Bell Jeff high school. WC easily won in 2 games, with many of the second string getting some playing time. After the first match, Erin complained of being tired and not feeling well, just an overall weakness and tiredness. But she had to push through it. I kept praying God would give her a second wind. She ate and drank some water. The second match was against Diamond Ranch high school. Again we won easily in 2 games. The were off for 2 matches after that and rested and played card games. Some of the parents had brought two Scrabble boards and were playing at one table. We got to camp out under an open structure that housed 10-12 lunch tables at Arcadia high, which were next to the gym. It was great because it provided both shade and tables! The 3rd match of the day against Monrovia high school proved to be the biggest challenge in pool play. They had a great hitter who hit well from any position. But once again, although it was a bit more difficult and took more energy, they were able to win in 2 games. Afterward, Erin was shaky and weak, and felt like all the food in her stomach was just sitting there in a knot. We had to wait for all the other pool play to finish before we started playoff games, so she rested, and drank some Gatorade, and whimpered about not feeling good. She had brought along her overnight stuff because she was planning to go with Katie Hunter and a couple of the other seniors on the team to a Senior class campout at the beach that had started earlier in the weekend. But as the day wore on, she knew she wouldn't be able to make it to the campout. She was just too tired and not feeling 100%. Before the first playoff game, she finally told Coach Hunter that she wasn't feeling good, so in that game against Western Christian she only played front row, then Holly came in for her in the back row. We won fairly easily. Lindsay and I sat next to a lady who had coached Erin at Upward Basketball when she was in 6th grade. It was fun to reconnect with them. Their daughter is Erin's age and played on the Western Christian team. Soon after that match, WC played their second playoff game against El Rancho high school, and again won in easy fashion. So then we found ourselves in the championship game against the host school, Arcadia. By this time it was 5:30 pm, and it was a very hot day. The girls sat on the gym floor and drank water and gatorade and watched Arcadia finish up their playoff game against Monrovia high school. We were all a bit weary and wilting from the heat. After about 15 minutes, they started the championship best out of 3 match. The girls came out a little slow, making more than the usual unforced errors, so they lost the first game 18-25. But they regrouped, and decided they did not want to give up quite yet, and came back to win the second game. In the third game, they again had some unforced errors and had trouble passing on serve receive, so got down early 0-4 when Coach called a timeout. They proceeded to make up their lost ground and tie the game and then move into the lead. They were ahead with game point 14-11, when Arcadia made a short comeback of 2 straight points, before Stephanie set the middle, Rebecca, and got a kill for the victory. It was such a relief to have it done, and to have won the championship! Arcadia had a jungle-ball style of play that drove us all crazy. They didn't run an offense very much so it threw our defense off a little bit, until our girls started to adjust to Arcadia's unique junk ball style. WC continued to run their offense however, and justice was done when they were able to win because they played the game with integrity and strategy. We finally left the gym at 7 pm, exhausted and emotionally drained from a long, hot day of volleyball. When we got home, we turned on the air conditioner, ate a little bit, and went straight to bed. Yet another 12 hour day of volleyball in a long list of others.

Cal High game Sept 17th

2009-09-20T16:01:00.000-07:00

The match at Cal High on Sept 17th was somewhat uneventful. We expected to be able to handle them easily and we did. The first game was 25-10, with the starters playing the whole game. Into the second game the second string started coming in, but still won 25-15. In the third game the second string played the entire time, but had a but of a rough time holding on to the lead, but finally pulled it of 25-22. Erin had stayed home from school earlier in the week because she was tired and not feeling "normal". She rested and started feeling better later in the week. They had no match on Tuesday night this week because of Back to School night, so they got a bit of a break. But from now on, it's going to be every Tues and Thurs matches, with a late practice on Wednesdays because they will do leadership training and watching game video before practice at 4 pm. We will be getting to the heart of the season soon, starting league play at the beginning of October.

University Tournament

2009-09-13T17:22:00.001-07:00

September 11-12 found us at University High School in Irvine, CA for a two day tournament. There were 5 teams in each pool (4 pools) and so on Friday afternoon WC played one match, and then we returned early Saturday to start playing again. On Friday they played Elsinore high school, which is ranked 5th in CIF Division 2-A (WC is in Division 4-AA). The girls started slow but picked it up in game 1, eventually losing. Then won game two which was neck in neck, but then lost game three. So it was WCs official first loss of the season, but it was to a good team. On Saturday, the rest of the pool play was fairly uneventful, WC winning in two games to all they faced (Cypress high, Sunny Hills, and University High). Then in the afternoon playoffs began, in which each playoff was just one game to 25, not a match. WC had earned their way into the winners bracket by placing 2nd in their pool (Elsinore placed 1st). They were matched up against the 1st place finisher in another pool, which was Capistrano Valley high school, whom we later found out is ranked 8th in CIF Division 1-AA (the big girls!!). Coach did a good job preparing the girls to play Capo, because Capo was tall and intimidating physically. Our girls came out ready to fight and to show them what they had. Capo on the other hand, came out flat and not able to put many plays together. WC got up by 5 points early on, and never looked back. Capo struggled to get their act together, and their coach was yelling, calling time outs, putting in substitutes; anything to try and get his team to work the way he knew they could. But WC just kept the pressure on and eventually won the one-game playoff 25-18. The parents were elated that our girls could pull off a victory against such a good team. We had a short break, and then faced playoff game number 2 against Bishop Montgomery high school, who was ranked number 4 in CIF Division 2-AA. They were a good team, ready to play, while our girls came out flat. Our serve receive passing had all but disappeared and we got down early by 5, and never recovered. Bishop Montgomery won and went on to play in the chamionship game of the tournament. WC was supposed to play one more game for 3rd place, but Troy high school had already gone home, so by default, WC got the third place trophy. It was a great tournament in that WC got to play a lot of teams from bigger schools and prove that they could hang with them, and even beat them. It helps a team grow when they are challenged, and there was enough challenges in this tournament to make it worthwhile.

WC 3rd place University High School Tournament

Calvary Chapel Murrieta Rematch

2009-09-13T16:55:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, September 10th, WC officially opened the season with a rematch against Calvary Chapel Murrieta to whom they had lost to in the CIF finals game of the previous season. The girls were excited to see if they could come back and beat Murrieta after Murrieta had graduated 5 seniors, and WC only graduated 3 seniors. Little did we know before the match, that Murrieta had not only lost 5 seniors to graduation, but they also lost 5 returners that left the school due to financial hardships. Needless to say, with Murrieta's team not even close to the same team that WC played just over 9 months ago, WC easily won the match 25-15, 25-17, 25-19. The girls came out nervous, and Murrieta served first with their best server doing the honors. WC had trouble returning serve the first 4 points of the match, when they finally did get a good pass, Stephanie set Erin on the outside and she put down a great tip to give them the first point of the season. They all relaxed from there, and cruised to a victory that was sweet with relief, and a little revenge.

The gym was packed with spectators, only the likes of which we saw during playoffs last year. One section of bleachers were filled with loud, rowdy students who cheered and stood the entire time. There was a very small section of Murrieta fans, and 2/3s of the stands were family and friends of the players. Erin had a fan club of Dave Velasquez (who has helped get her neck and her shoulder back into great playing shape this year), the Sanborns, the Mers, and several high school friends. It was extremely hot in the gym that day, well over 100 degrees, so we all sweated it out together. As the match went on, and it became obvious WC was going to easily win, the cheering became less intense because we were all trying to conserve energy and stay cool, which was next to impossible anyway.

First newspaper article of the 2009 WC vball season

2009-09-09T14:08:00.000-07:00

Today the Whittier Daily News published an article about the Whittier Christian girls volleyball team. Check it out here. Go Heralds!

Surprise Visist

2009-09-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at 3 pm, my dad called and said he and mom were on there way to So Cal to pick up a bus for the bus company he works for. They found out about this trip at 11 am, took 30 minutes to pack and started driving, hoping to make it to the bus company in Los Alamitos before they closed at 5 pm. When they got to Pasadena, and were going 35 mph on the 210 freeway, they got a call that they could not pick up the bus that night because proof of insurance had not been figured out. So they came straight to Whittier Christian High School where Erin has playing her first volleyball match of her senior year. What a fun surprise, for them and for us! WC played Sunny Hills and won easily in 3 games. Another random thing that happened last night during warm ups of the junior varsity game, one of the WC girls hurt her knee and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. And so another vollleyball season is underway!

WC volleyball

2009-09-02T20:25:00.000-07:00

Today was picture day for the teams at Whittier Christian. I went to take some casual shots and head shots of the girls and teams for the program they will be selling this year. It was incredibly hot today, over 100 degrees inside the gym and outside. The girls did great considering they were sweating just standing there! Next week they will finally get to play their first matches and a tournament after a little over two weeks of practices.

The Beginning of the End. . .

2009-09-01T15:28:00.002-07:00

. . . the first of the lasts. However you want to say it, today our last daughter started her first day of her last year of high school. It is a day with mixed emotions: joy, pride, relief, disbelief. Time surely could not have traveled this fast. I distinctly remember a scared little 2-year-old Erin hugging her little purple stuffed Barney while seeing her older sister Lindsay off to Kindergarten. And just a few years later, Erin ran to be the first in line to go off with her new kindergarten teacher, unafraid because she had seen big sister do it and survive. Perhaps that is the advantage of being the second born: learning and watching what is just ahead for you. And Erin has done a good job of observing. She is ready for this Senior year of high school. She has been looking forward to it since her freshmen year, when sister Lindsay was a senior. Erin looks forward to having one fewer class than those lowly underclassmen, getting to go off campus for lunches, and leading her volleyball team to the goal of winning a CIF championship. Hopes are high, expectations higher, the whole year lays open before her. There is much to do in the nine months to come: homework, tests, college apps to send in, decisions to be made, practices, games, friends to hang out with, trips to take, and when it is all done, it will seem it just started.

Sabbath

2008-05-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a crazy few months. Days and weeks go by and I find myself wondering, "What have I been doing?" I make lists and check things off the list, but why does it still feel I haven't accomplished anything? Like I'm spinning my wheels?

I was refreshed today to re-read some thoughts on taking a Sabbath. It seems so simple, but so difficult to accomplish. What does a Sabbath look like for me? It's NOT leisure, for leisure to me is draining, unfulfilling and absent of anything sacred. I need to know, not just what to avoid, but what to pursue. What can I do to refresh my soul and what do I need to avoid that whithers it? So as I ponder these things I am reminded by Mark Buchanan in his book "The Rest of God" the reasons for Sabbath and what I need to be pursuing:

"Real Sabbath, the kind that empties and fills us, depends on complete confidence and trust, that is rooted in a deep conviction that God is good and God is sovereign. There's no rest for those who don't believe that. If God works all things together for good for those who love him and are called to his purposes, you can relax. If he doesn't, start worrying. If God can take any mess, any mishap, any wastage, any wreckage, any anything, and choreograph beauty and meaning from it, then you can take a day off. If he can't, get busy. Either God's always at work, watching the city, building the house, or you need to try harder. Either God is good and in control, or it all depends on you."

Thankfully it doesn't all depend on me. God's got it under control, it's when I mistakenly think that I have any form of control that I get weary.

And a final quote from Mark Buchanan about what it is I need to pursue:

"God is always speaking. . . but we're not always listening. We don't make the effort and so fail to go boldly into his throne room to receive what we need: a word that can pierce, and cut, and heal. Here's the paradox: If we don't listen, we never enter his rest. Yet if we don't enter his rest, we never listen."

Mother's Day 2008

2008-05-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

Erin and Lindsay - May 1994

Erin and Lindsay - May 2008

Great memories were made this Mother's Day 2008. On Saturday morning at 8:00 am my family took me to breakfast. I was amazed that my two teenage daughters would agree to go so early on a Saturday morning. But that is all I knew about the day, that we were going to breakfast and then we would do something else for the rest of the day. After yummy bagels and chai tea at Panera, we got in the car and Tim and the girls started reciting all the things they thought about doing on this mother's day. They included train rides to San Diego or Santa Barbara, and other fun outings, but they finally decided they wanted to re-live the many days we spent at Disneyland as a young family. We had so much fun going to all the rides that were the girls favorites, and they introduced us to the "Fast pass", which is a great addition to the Disney experience. Who doesn't want to "cut" in line? It had been at least 10 years since Tim and I had been to the magic kingdom. Although much of it was the same, we oohed and awhhed at the new additions, and reminisced about the things no longer there (the people movers, the sky buckets, etc). We walked until we could walk no more, then we got an ice cream and sat on a bench and people watched for a while. We got stuck on the Indiana Jones ride (who hasn't?), and had fun talking while we waited in lines. The record line wait for this day was 60 minutes for the Nemo/Submarine ride. It was a good ride, they improved it quite a bit, but we weren't convinced afterward it was worth a 60 minute wait (there are no fast passes for that ride). Over all it was a very fun and memorable day. I was so blessed to realize that my two teenage girls still like to hang around us and do silly things like go to Disneyland. What more could a mother ask for then to spend a day with her family at the happiest place on earth!

House painting

2008-04-06T16:37:00.001-07:00

Before and after, all in one shot!

Before

After (the sunshine helps too)

For a break, Erin got Grandma to help her wax the Jeep.

Dad, adding more and more caulking.

Abby "helping" her mom, Rachel

Great helpers, Erin, Ryan and Lindsay

Two windows done, many more to go!

It has been an exhausting week. It all started a couple of months ago with my Dad and Mom said they would like to help us paint the house. Tim took the week of Mar. 31-Apr. 4 off. Then Dad had some health problems in mid-March and we decided not to do the house painting. Fine with us, but Tim still had the week off, and we were going to do some other projects around the house. But then on Sunday of this week, Dad called and said they had no plans for the week and he was feeling much better, they could be here by Wednesday to start painting. We shifted gears quickly and off we went, prepping, making decisions about colors and plans for how we wanted to go about this project. Tim was the crew chief and worked very hard. But we had lots of helpers. Dad was the caulking king, going through at least 12 tubes of caulking. Mom wore out rollers and brushes. Erin, Lindsay and Ryan helped sporadically when schedules allowed, and Rachel, Nathan, and Abby from the back house pitched in too. It was a great team effort. So after 4 solid days of painting, we are halfway done with the house, not including the garage and back house. So there is plenty left to do. I'll have to add Advil to the shopping list. We ran out this weekend.

The hills are alive…

2008-03-17T16:11:00.000-07:00

New flowers are appearing weekly in the Whittier hills. Now the poppies and mustard are out in abundance. We want to enjoy this as much as possible right now, because in just a few weeks the "show" will be over and we'll have to look at brown ugly hills the rest of the summer.

There is a hummingbird in the middle of this bush. Can you find it?

Spring in Whittier

2008-02-16T14:25:00.000-08:00

Well, technically, the calendar says February, but tell that to the wildflowers in the Whittier hills. With all the rain we got in January and early February, the flowers have begun to make their appearance. Tim and I walked up through a trail off of Turnbull Canyon this morning. We were rewarded with this view before we turned around and headed back. It was a beautiful morning with a bright blue sky, thousands of birds singing, and little critters scampering about. Supposedly there was a sighting of a mountain lion or bobcat earlier in the week, but it didn't get us. We enjoyed the fresh morning air, conversation, and seeing one of our neighbors riding his mountain bike.

Erin's dream car

2008-02-11T16:04:00.001-08:00

We are now proud owners of a 2005 Jeep Liberty. Yes, Erin got her dream car. We bought it this weekend while she was at winter camp. On Sunday, Tim went to pick her up early from camp to take her to a volleyball tournament. The original plan was to pick her up from camp in the Jeep, but it would have put a couple hundred miles on it and we needed to keep the mileage below 36,000 to try and get in under the original manufacturers warranty when buying our extended warranty. (I know, it's a long story.) Anyway, Tim picked Erin up from camp in his van and went directly to the volleyball tournament. Lindsay and I came to the tournament later with the Jeep. After Erin's first match, we planned to have Lindsay tell Erin there were some chairs in the car that we needed to get, and she would ask Erin to go with her to the car and to tell her about winter camp. Erin fell for it without hesitation. So off they went to the car, and Tim and I were following discreetly behind them so we could see her reaction. Erin was chattering away, telling Lindsay all about winter camp, but when they walked past Tim's van, Erin kind of slowed down and started looking for my car. When she saw the Jeep, Lindsay hit the button to unlock it. Erin went crazy!! She jumped up and down and hugged Lindsay and screamed. It was quite a sight. Tim and I came running over to join in the celebration. She couldn't stop smiling, which was especially rewarding because she had just been on the verge of tears just a few minutes before because her team had lost the first match badly and the coach had given them quite a long talk. As she ran back to rejoin her team she was smiling and jumping up and down and showing them the new car keys. It didn't matter if they won or lost, no one could take the smile off her face. We made a great memory.

Lindsay's new look

2008-02-05T16:07:00.001-08:00

Lindsay is looking more and more like the college student that she is. She shocked us by getting her hair cut shorter than she has had it in a long time. How can we possibly have a daughter in college? It seems we were just that age.

THE Annika

2008-02-05T15:59:00.000-08:00

We had a great visit with Annika and her mom Sarah who visited from Minnesota. Annika was just a little over one year old when they left our little back house and moved to Minnesota to be near family. She is now 2 1/2 years old and quite the character. Mutual friends came to visit and play, and we got to go to their favorite restaurants (In n Out and a local Mexican restaurant). Their visit went by way to fast, but we loved being with them. And next time we see them they will have a new little brother or sister for Annika (this summer!).

45 and 23

2008-01-15T16:19:00.000-08:00

January brings my birthday (Jan 8th) and our wedding anniversary (Jan 12th). It was hard for me to admit I'm 45 this year. How can that be? I don't feel that old! This was the first year I wasn't that excited about celebrating. I think I'd like to stop having birthdays now. It won't stop me from getting older, but it will stop reminding me how old I am. Despite my lack of enthusiasm, we celebrated anyway. Shayleen had us over for dinner and fixed all my favorites; enchiladas, rice, beans, homemade salsa, guacamole and chips. With brownies and ice cream for dessert! My jeans fit a little snugger now! And I bought myself a birthday present: new everyday dishes. It was time to replace the 80's looking dishes we got as wedding gifts 23 years ago.

Then this last weekend Tim and I celebrated our anniversary by spending the night in Old town Pasadena and going to a very nice dinner. We did a little shopping and enjoyed just being together, without interruptions or distractions. On Sunday we drove up to the the back side of the San Gabriel mountains to a little known ski area called Mt. Waterman. There were several feet of snow there, and the solitary lift was running, but nobody was on it. There were a few cars pulled over in turnouts along the road so the passengers could play in the snow. From there we went down to Palmdale on the desert side of the mountain range, and then looped back around to the backside of Wrightwood, where there were TONS of people playing in the snow. We literally saw thousands of cars either parked on the side of the road, or slowly inching there way trying to get to the snow. For miles it was an endless stretch of cars. But when we pulled off into the small town of Wrightwood, there were a normal amount of people checking out the restaurants and coffee places. As we drove we dreamed and planned for things we would like to do in the future. (I know what you young ones are thinking, how much of a future is there for two 45 year olds who've been married 23 years? Plenty!) As we drove back down from the mountains we stopped at Vince's to top off the weekend of indulgence with spaghetti. I may never need to eat again!

And so, of my 45 years, I've been married 23 years. Not as clean of a ratio as last year when it was 44 and 22, but I'm looking forward all the same to more and more of my years spent with a man who loves me and I love in return.

Happy 2008!

2008-01-01T19:12:00.000-08:00

Lindsay and Erin with cousins Abigail and Sonya

Skiles side cousins: Lindsay, Danielle, Abigail, Sonya, John and Erin
We had dinner together and a small gift exchange. The kids had fun chasing each other, making the animated Santa Clause dance, and playing pool.

The "Skiles" side family all together.

Nerts!

We had a nice weekend in Turlock visiting Annette's side of the family. We got together with both the Skiles and Nutcher sides. We had a little bit smaller version of the Nerts tournament with the Nutcher cousins. But now that all of the next generation is in college and high school, we all play together. We made five tables of four players. Tim was the men's high scorer in the older generation, while Darcy won for the women. Trevor was the young men's high scorer (well, there are only two young men so it was kinda easy), and Courtney was high scorer for the young ladies (a slightly harder task with 7 girls competing). All in all it was a good weekend to see everyone and catch up.

We spent the rest of the new years weekend back in Whittier, doing some trimming in the yard, and watching football.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-26T13:09:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas from The Whittier White house. This is the kind of White Christmas we love, and is the envy of all those who think a white Christmas is with snow on the ground! On Christmas eve day for lunch we went to a favorite restaurant at the beach. We didn't even have our jackets on until we went out on the pier. It was a beautiful 70 degree day, and we enjoyed it! This is also one of the few times of the year that the ski is really blue in Southern California. Hope you had a great Christmas with family and friends, even if you didn't have 70 degree weather.

Lindsay's volleyball banquet

2007-12-19T20:24:00.000-08:00

Lindsay with Dad and Mom

Lindsay with roommate and teammate, Jessica

and boyfriend, Ryan

Isaiah and Abigail

2007-12-19T20:21:00.000-08:00

Isaiah Sanborn and Abigail Hamann at our house for a Christmas party.

Party Animals

2007-12-09T15:13:00.000-08:00

This has been the week of parties at the Whittier White House. It all started off last Sunday, 12/2, at the Elder/staff Christmas party at our church. There were about 50 elders and staff there with their spouses and we enjoyed a tri-tip dinner, a "I never" group game, and a white elephant gift exchange. I came away with a 6 inch engraved stick that said "Don't worry, be happy" on it, and Tim got a old book. On Wednesday we went to a volleyball banquet in Fullerton for Lindsay's Hope volleyball team. It was at an Itallian restaurant with the team and about 40 friends and family of the team. Lindsay didn't expect to get any awards, so she wasn't disappointed when she didn't get any. We talked with some of the parents that we had met during the season, and sat with Jessica's (Lindsay's roommate) family. Friday was the next gathering, this time at our house. We had the Sanborns and the Hamann's over for dinner and gift exchange. Rachel, Nathan and their 6 month old daughter Abigail live in our back cottage house. Mike and Shayleen Sanborn used to live in our back house, but now live in their own home in Whittier with their kids, Isaiah and Zoe. Since the families that live in our back house become a part of our family we always have them over for a Christmas get together. Mitch, Sarah and Annika Garrison now live in Minnesota, so they obviously couldn't come. But we pulled out all the stops this year. I went out and bought a 10 lb prime rib roast and made country potatoes, jello salad with marshmallows, and Shayleen brought salad and Rachel brought rolls. I also made chocolate mint brownies for dessert. We were stuffed. And had fun chasing the kids around and watching stupid cat videos on You Tube. Then finally, on Saturday night we went to the youth banquet at church. They served all-you-can-eat italian food and had different high school kids doing entertainment during dinner. Afterwards we went to Kurt and Sue Plubells home for dessert with others from our Sojourners fellowship group. It was low key, and I was drained, but I had good conversations with some of the ladies. So that's it for Christmas parties for us, and it's only December 9th. Just a few more gifts to buy, and then all that's left is to wait for Christmas day! Oh, and on Friday I took Erin down to the DMV and she passed her written test, so now she has her learners permit. And so it goes at the Whittier White House.

November 30, 1979

2007-11-30T13:21:00.000-08:00

On November 30, 1979 two young, thin high school juniors from Denair high school went on their first date to a Modesto Junior College basketball game and then to Rico's pizza afterwards. I don't remember who won, but I remember that almost everyone in the gym knew my date. In retrospect, we were probably quickly on the gossip grapevine in our churches that they saw Tim White with Annette Nutcher at the MJC game. That's good small town stuff. We had fun talking and getting to know each other, and then when he dropped me off at my house afterward, he winked at me. I floated into the house. No kiss required. It's funny that we have chosen to remember and celebrate this day over the last 28 years. Most people don't remember their first date with their spouse. But we feel blessed to have great memories and a long history together that has come to make us, our marriage and our relationships what they are today. We would have never imagined in November 1979 that we would be blessed the way we have been or will be.

Christmas shopping

2007-11-29T08:21:00.001-08:00

I have always found it interesting how Christmas brings out the worst in people. I was at a store yesterday to pick up just a few things, but the tension of the people standing in line was palatable. Maybe I am a little more objective having just returned from vacation and not in full "got-to-get-it-done" mode yet. But the fighting and juggling for a place in line at the register was almost rude. And then the poor clerk was hurried and unfriendly. People act like their time is more important than anyone else's and if they cut in line, or pass on the right at a busy intersection, they are aren't doing anything wrong. After all no one is more important than they are. It is sad. But it is also a good reminder for me to let Christ shine in me at Christmas time. Loving the unlovely does not come naturally, it has to be done with conscious and deliberate thought. I'm sure there will be times this season I will get caught off guard and my blood pressure will rise at someone being intolerably selfish or rude, but my goal is to keep it to a minimum. After all, Christmas is a time to celebrate Emmanuel, God with us. And that is most definitely the best news of all.

2007-11-28T21:18:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving vacation

2007-11-28T19:19:00.000-08:00

Our family began a tradition of taking vacations during the week of Thanksgiving five years ago when we went to London. Since then we have gone to Minnesota, Mexico, Hawaii, and most recently the Dominican Republic. Since Lindsay and Erin are both immersed in school volleyball teams from Sept to the beginning of November, we are all usually ready for some good ol' r&r. This year was no different. Upon the recommendation of some friends who had gone to the Majestic Colonial Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in August, we booked our trip through Costco travel in October, and we began the count down to vacation. As it turned out, we did indeed get plenty of rest and relaxation. Since the resort was all-inclusive, there was no need to leave. There were plenty of opportunities to take excursions, etc, but each time we asked the girls if they wanted to do something, they would slowly say, no, we just want to sit on the beach, or by the pool and read our books. So we obliged them, since it is what Tim and I wanted to do as well. We spent five days sleeping, eating, walking, basking, reading, playing card games, watching movies and then eating some more. If it wasn't for the 15 hours of travel to and from, and Lindsay's suitcase getting delayed at JFK airport in New York until the day before we left to come home, it was an ideal, relaxing vacation. So much so, we have all found it a little difficult to re-enter day to day life.