Every week with Mission Discovery is unique and full of blessing...but there are some weeks that stay with you and this was one of them...

As I think I've mentioned before, Mission Discovery is a non-denominational Christian ministry tha facilitates churches in serving the poor. Each week brings a groups together of different Christian backgrounds to worship together. This past week we had one private Chrisitan school from Tennessee (mainly white), Antioch church from Sacramento, California and Mt. Olivet church from Portland, Oregon...the last two being primarily black churches.

Getting to spend time with these groups together was a reminder of how amazing the body of Christ is when they work together...each with their different preferences of music, clothing, and communication communication style...but one common purpose...honoring the name of Christ and reminding the poor that God has not forgotten them. They had so much to share and even came up with the idea of having a ribbon cutting ceremony for the family on dedication day. Antioch and Mt. Olivet were awesome. They hung with Caleb in worship, singing songs they didn't know...by the end they knew them all and two of the girls helped Caleb sing a song on stage.



We were also blessed to meet a lady named Ana...she was born without legs. We had the privilege of building a house for her. She has amazing courage and strength and actually got recommended for a house when she came into the DIF office (Mexican social service) looking for work. She said that she never imagined that she could have all of this when she received her home. I shared with her 1 Corinthians 2:9 ..."That God is able to do and give more than we ask or imagine." The mayor of Tecate attended the dedication of her house. It was very powerful.





Adding to the greatness, was money that my parents had sent to donate to a family in need...and sure enough I met Ana and knew exactly where the money was going. A group is coming in next week to a pour cement ramp and driveway so Ana can drive and come right up to her home and wheel herself inside. That task is impossible right now with the dirt road. So the money will go to build the driveway.

So, what I learned is...there is so much growth and joy that comes from spending time with people that are so different than I am...in race, education, SES, and language...I love it. I must admit...it saddens me to be heading back to my white suburban town...but I am going to make a conscious effort to get to know people do not look like me, talk like me, or dress like me...it keeps life interesting and it's good for the soul. Check out my Tecate album for more pics.

So July was very crazy....every Monday & Tuesday in Dallas and scattered everywhere else in between...

July 1-8 Destin, Florida
July 11-15 Austin, Texas
July 18-22 Tecate, Mexico
July 25-29 Tecate, Mexico

I figured it out and by the time the summer is over I will have been on an airplane 12 times. Crazy! IT is always sad, no matter how exhausted you are, to say good bye to Mission Discovery for the summer. Every summer we are reminded of the simplicity of life, the goodness of God, richly receive the encouragement of close friends, and have a million good stories to share...Go to my album to see pictures from our last 2 weeks in Tecate, Mexico.

Last two summer trips:

August 4-10 Destin, Florida
August 11-13 Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
August 14- Back to work.

Caleb and I would love to hang out and catch up when things calm down. He has not been at home since June 10th. He's a little excited to get back in his own bed. So it's adios verano and hopefully adios to Caleb's beard.

Every Thursday is Beach Day in the world of Mission Discovery. Today we were at Rosarito Beach in Baja Mexico. Caleb, Cam, Eric, and I were enjoing watching the ocean, chatting, reading books...now, you get to see a unique stuff in Mexico, especially in the tourist town of Rosarito. Five year olds are haggling you to make deal or buy their Chicle, old women are begging for money, animals performing stunts, the vendors try to catch you with their slogans like:

"Good price for you pretty lady."
"Almost free."
And our personal favorite: "You speak English? Let's talk about it."

There is no shortage of the interesting people interactions that you can have, but this one was the strangest. Keep in mind, as you are on the beach someone comes up to you once a minute wanting you to buy there treasures...but this man was different. He was probably sixty years old, had one tooth, and carried a wrapped bottle of 100 proof something and a branch of leaves. He comes up to us, takes a swig, and just stars blowing on his leaf producing the most gut wrenching sound imaginable...like fingernails on a chalkboard or a high pitched dog yelping for help. He played it like it was a harmonica. We thought, this is novel, he is going to irritate us into giving him money...that would be a first.

In between his leaf blowing her would speak to us about his life (in Spanish of course) and then take a swig of the drink and play more...typically people want money or food in return...but I really think he was just telling his story and enjoying his small stage. We picked up about every 1/10 words in his monolgue. As I write my heart does break for him...but at the moment I was so irritated. I though I was going to die of annoyance and everytime he played a leaf I wanted to poke my eardrums out...

I suppose the point is that God wanted me to receive something from this man...perhaps it was patience or understanding or compassion or love....but all I wanted to do was read my book. Thankfully, Cam gave him his undivided attention and enjoyed the experience. Just like all the other vendors, he was selling something, maybe it was his story...but it seemed all he wanted was time.

I was at DFW this morning about to depart on my last trip to the west coast this summer when I noticed a group of four guys...one was wearing a "Batman" shirt, the other a "Children of Men" shirt and a Spiderman tattoo,etc...there is only one place they could be heading to...still I went ahead and asked the obvious question.

"Are you guys going to Comicon?"
"Yes" they replied in unison.

I laughed inside... watching these sweet nerds read Hary Potter (no slam on Harry Potter..I love the movies and intend on reading the enitre series) and discussing which seminar they would first attend. No offense to nerds, I married one after all.

Most of us Texas folk have never heard of "The Con." But, for the few that have...you know that there is weekend a the end of July where the magical powers of the world of fantasy descend upon San Diego. For the seasoned nerds " The Con" is short for Comicon: Celebrating the Popular Arts, a Comic convention extravaganza...where the world of Spiderman, Batman, Superman, Star Wars, BattleStar Galactica, and many more collide with the world of real world in San Diego. Caleb and I learned about "The Con" from being in Tecate every year and July. We fly into San Diego airport and typically try to get a hotel room, but to no avail because "The Con" is in full swing.

We actually were contemplating buying a one day pass to observe the madness of "The Con" but have will have to miss it this year again. We were really most looking forward to a parade on Saturday night in which the attendees dress up as their favorite fantasy world characters. Caleb wanted to be Obi Wan with his huge beard and I guess I could have gone as Pad Mei...okay, we are nerds...bigger nerds than I thought...perhaps I have been judging a little too harshly and need to shut up now.

For those of you who sadly will not make it out to San Diego for "The Con" you should rent "Trekkies" or "Galaxy Quest" to get a taste of the madness. You will not be disappointed!

The LAX airport is crazy. If I can give any piece of advice for traveling it is to avoid this aiport at all costs. The lines for checking baggage are insanely long. One thing they do have right is security. The have so many X-ray machines so it is impossible to miss your flight due to a long line at security. You can see 100 different airlines going to the corners of the world and there is no shortage of Starbucks.

Also, I saw the paparazzi chase Victoria Beckham while she sported her "I'm too cool face" and Val Kilmer was on my flight to Albuquerque. That was weird. He was 2 rows in fornt of me wearing an "Unstoppable" baseball cap which I can only assume is his next bad movie. He wore some Croc hybrids that he propped up the entire time. But, Iceman is aging well, I must say...but I think it's time for the highlights to go.

In summary, avoid LAX, but if you have to go there you may just get to see some celebs play it cool and that can add to your personal entertainment on a long trip home.

I look happy in this picture which seems wrong...perhaps I can attempt to expain. I finally got the chance to go visit my grandmother's grave since the funeral on February 16th, 2007. I was a little nervous about it because I knew it would be emotional, but mostly excited as it marked some kind of small step in closure and processing grief. My mom bought beautiful flowers at Trader Joes and arranged them into boquets that we laid on her aunt & uncle's grave as well as her grandparents' (Aina, whom I was named after- a little weird to see my name on a gravestone), and then finally my sweet Nana.

People process loss in such different ways...there is not a right or wrong way, there is only your way. Some people have to see their loved one after they pass, some hold on to the ashes, some can't even make it to the funeral...for me I think...the greatest comfort and sense of closure comes with relishing in the wonderful memories and making sure that nothing goes left unsaid...and of course the peace that comes from faith. I do not have to see someone's body after they die (although, I confess it was a blessing to see my Nana at peace the night she passed)...but, by seeing a dead person there is no doubt that we have a living soul that goes on after we pass.

Caleb and I are thinking cremation at this point if we were to die. I think it's the cheapest route and we both feel we don't need to visit a particular spot to remember each other. Hmmm...I just realized that this is getting really morbid, but it's true...Life is but a vapor.

I love California... (when I say California I can hear the theme music from the O.C...you know that "California" song by Phantom Planet. I promise I don't and have not watched that show... not that there is anything wrong with that ). From the moment I stepped onto the jet bridge in San Diego and could feel the temperature change between Texas and this wonderful place, I began to count the ways I loved this state.

1. The weather...you can't beat it anywhere. It is cool in the mornings and evening and warms up to 75 degrees during the day.
2. In N' Out Burger. Possible the best fast food restaurant ever (other than Chick-Fil-A).
3. The ocean...just drive up Pacfic Coast Highway and you will know exactly what I am talking about.
4. The Governator...they even sell these T-shirts at the airport and they make me laugh every time I see them.
5. Disneyland. Enough said.
6. San Diego Zoo.
7. Amazing landscape...mountains, desert, ocean.
8. Diverse people, no one looks the same.
9. Good coffee shops on every corner.
10. My beloved extended family lives there.

My Buddhist friends would not be pleased. I was sitting in my window seat and a little bug was flying around. I tried to shoo him away but there was no hope. I decided to smush it on the window. His tiny carcass was staring at me the entire 2 and half hours to San Diego. I felt bad looking at the little wings and florescent guts smeared about...and a thought occurred to me...it was nothing for me to kill that bug, very inconsequential, perhaps I had a minute sense of guilt. It seems shallow using such a degrading metaphor but I will at the hope that what I am learning will somehow touch someone else too...

I have been reading about AIDS in Africa and the unimaginable number of people dying over there. Does their death matter to me? More importantly, does it matter to God? There are so many...so many orphans. Do I feel anything knowing that people are hurting and dying over there? Or do I tell myself that I cannot make a difference so my heart be calloused so I do not suffer from guilt? Are they just little bugs to me, so inconsequential that I should feel no sense of duty or calling...

From 32,000 feet we are like little bugs milling about the earth. When we die or even when we live does it really matter to God? It is difficult to fathom the heart of God, the depth of His love...that it is so big that He can care for all of us little bugs and that He desires for us to feel something for those in pain. What can I do Lord? What can I contribute? God thank you for teaching me lessons through the thoughtless tiny things I do...like crushing a bug on an airplane window...you really dumb it down for me.

I was joining in the cattle call of Southwest Airlines...I typically fly American in homage to my loving parents...however, that did not work out for this trip to San Diego (or Saint Diego for you Anchorman lovers). The cattle call of Southwest in interesting. People anxiously line up according to there letter (A,B or C). I was in the A group so therefore I got to get on board with the first group of Southwest patrons. The B and C group look so dejected knowing that they are not likely to get a window seat and will end up squeezing in between two others more fortunate to be in the A group. I made my way toward the back of the plane, even though I was in the A group the front window seats were taken. If you fly to San Diego you must have a window seat on the right side of the plane facing front so that you are able to see the breath-taking view of San Diego and the ocean as you land...if you haven't been there you literally feel like you are about to do a water landing. It is magnificent.

All this to say, the cattle call worked for me today. I had the perfect seat, the perfect view, and the perfect company to my left (a teenager reading US magazine who slept most of the time as opposed to the man who sat by me from Dallas to Austin who spent most of the flight reading his newspaper over me while I crouched near the window...personal space...hello!). Anyway, for you Type A predictable, safe, and organized people...Southwest is not for you. You should fly American or any other carrier that assign seats. For you fun, spontaneous folk...enjoy Southwest and the rush of finding the perfect seat. I am typically Type A in most areas, but when it comes to traveling I have been formally trained on flexibility (the life of stand-by child) and thus, I can tolerate the mystery of where I will sit.

I get to be reunited with my husband tomorrow. I can't wait. It has only been 10 days so it feels a little unnecessary to be so excited. I am very blessed to spend as much time with Caleb as I do...while we are apart there are a few songs that I listen to that remind me of him...they are songs that I could not write and thankful Chris Martin and the Coldplay band did...they are my love songs to my loved one. They are "Green Eyes" off the Rush of Blood to the Head album and "Til Kingdom Come" off the X &Y album. If you haven't gotten on the Coldplay train, it's not too late! In fact, the other day I prayed Godspeed to their next album. My how it ministers to me...

An excerpt from "Til Kingdom Come"

Steal my heart and hold my tongue
I feel my time,
My time has come
Let me in
Unlock the door
I never felt this way before

And the wheels just keep on turning
The drummer begins to drum
I don't know which way I'm going
I don't know which way I've come

Hold my head inside your hands
I need someone who understands
I need someone, someone who hears
For you I've waited all these years
For you I'd wait till kingdom come
Until my day, my day's done
And say you'll come and set me free
Just say you'll wait, you'll wait for me...

Okay, Caleb is out of town and now I have some growing up to do. I was taking our car to get an oil change at Volkswagen and feeling only a little apprehensive that
I would get overcharged or they would try to sell me on something I didn't need. I knew that the charge was supposed to $64 for the synthetic oil (oil changes about every 6000 miles on a VW). When I got the bill it was for $32 dollars. I told the cashier it was not the right price, that they had undercharged me. She thanked me for pointed it out talking about what an honest person I was, that I was one of the few good people left...I was feeling sick inside. I really just wanted to make sure that I didn't get the cheap oil change and thus get in trouble with Caleb. As they continued to praise me for my virtuosity, I just thought about what a terrible person I was for not saying the truth, I am not nice, I just didn't want to get screwed into having the cheaper oil change. I guess it isn't that bad...the manager said that he told the shop guys of my undying honesty and they all fell on the floor laughing. I think God was laughing at me too.

Our pastor, Pete Briscoe, just finished up an amazing series called "Turning a Kind Eye." It was an overview of on political issues addressing the environment, human rights (genocide in Darfur), the war, abortion, gay marriage, and AIDS. These are really difficult issues...I fear that as Christians we tend to oversimplify the complexity of these topics. Pete did an amazing job of sharing what he finds the Bible says about these issues rather than ascribing to any political party idealogy. Caleb and I learned so much and feel like we did get a glimpse of God's heart on these controversial topics. You can download the sermons free from iTunes by clicking here and going to podcast. I challenge you to listen, search, and discover why you believe what you do about these issues.

My current favorite nail polish and accomplice to Ella's first mani and pedi. It's a little goth but I love it! It will go perfect with her black "Fight the Good Fight" shirt that Caleb bought for her. Tinyrockstar.com is where it's at!

In progress.

The results...we are so hot.

I finally made it to Austin to see my little niece Ella (and Diana & Scott of course). It had been five weeks since we had seen them last! Ella has changed so much and is crazy as ever! A few more visits to the time out chair than I last remember. Here are some pics from our special time. Diana and Scott went to the movies and Ella and I made brownies at home. In hind sight I probably should have fed her dinner first because she ate so much chocolate their wasn't very much room left for dinner. Oh, well...that's what aunts are for!

Before.

After.

We were visiting my parents church in Destin a couple of week ago. The pastor was having a time in the service for the children's message. All the sweet children were sitting at the alter learning about how God parted the red sea and how God is our protector. Then there was a skit to illustrate the story. The children went through a "London Bridge" type structure made by two adults in the congregation. Two other adults were the "enemy" trying to prevent the children from going under the bridge. The Superhero (God) dressed in a cape fought off the enemy. The "enemy" was wearing camouflage and then I noticed that one of the men had a hook. I immediately shouted, "Oh my gosh he's got a hook!" I truly thought it was part of his costume. Sadly, I was mistaken...he really had a hook in place of his hand. Caleb whispered, "Aina..." and just shook his head at me...but I know he thought it was part of the costume too.

As our vacation in Destin comes to an end... I'd like to thank a few people...first, my parents who generously open up their 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo to us and help us to have an awesome vacation. I would also like to thank the makers of Hearos, the best earplugs I have ever had. You see, we have been vacationing with 7 other people (who I love and adore) in the same condo...some of the people who stay here have thier voices permanently set on high. Caleb and I have strategically placed our Hearos in so that when they talk it is a little softer on our ears.

Here are a few farewell pics from our vacation. Next stop for me....Austin, Texas. Next stop for Caleb....San Diego, California.

Grayton Beach, FL

Today is Diana's birthday! Hooray! This is a picture of her birthday from last year (Dad and baby Ella have the same look on their face). Every year we celebrate Diana's birthday in Destin. We go to Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers and eat ice cream cake. It is sad...they are in Austin this year. We may still carry on our tradition in her honor. We will Skype later and watch her open her gifts...thank God for technology!

Happy Independence Day! We celebrated by singing karaoke and watching fireworks! Yes, we actually sang 2 songs together...Landslide (Dixie Chicks version) and Complicated by Avril Lavigne. Can you believe that? We are crazy...Check out the Photo Album. Love, Aina & Caleb

This is the Sante that hails from Breckenridge, Colorado. We were joking that if Caleb ever needs a job he can be the first mate on the Sante with his long hippie hair and beard. The Captain on the Sante is a modern day Captain Jack Sparrow...notice the bike (Captain Jack's transportation on the mainland). Don't be mad Caleb...we all need something to fall back on...Arrrrr.

I almost lost my rings...wedding band, engagement ring, and my great grandmother's ring (whom I was named after). I was cleaning the kitchen and put my rings in my jean pocket. Then my jeans needed to be washed so I put them in the wash forgetting about my rings. I still did not realize that they were missing until I was moving the wet clothes out of the washing machine and my wedding band fell out banging on the tile floor. I nervously sorted through the wet clothes as quickly as I could...my great grandmother's ring appeared. I started praying because my engagement ring had not yet appeared...even after all the clothes were out. I put my head in the front load washer and there was my ring...Thank you Lord. I immediately went to confess to my mom and Caleb what had happened.

Caleb and I finally had time to go on a date just the two of us...this is not so easy since he is with Mission Discovery all summer and then we come to Destin to be with my family. We took the day and went to Seaside, Florida (where the Truman Show was filmed). We are at our favorite restaurant "The Red Bar" and listened to a great bluegrass/folk band called Dread Clampitt. They are amazing musicians and did a wicked rendition of "Walk the Line" while Caleb dreamed about playing a bowed instrument . Then we headed to the beach to swim (why we look like drowned rats) and read our books. It was a beautiful thing.

This is my brother Eddie (from New York) getting down with his bad self at AJ's in Destin, FL. I promise you have never seen anyone dance like Eddie. I mean, who break dances to the Macarena? Help us make him an internet phenomenon!