Answers...

I don't want to make light of the previous blog...summer is the most stressful and busy time for a youth minister...and his family. Please keep us in your prayers as we are about to embark on the rush of summer...and that we will be able to find still small moments in the midst of a demanding calendar full of important events. It is kind of bittersweet...because as far as the lives of teens, summer is ripe with many opportunities for building a relationship with God, which is very rewarding to watch and be a part of, but while God blesses all those relationships, sometimes the family relationship goes without because of it. Thank God that at least Liam & I can go with Jeb to camp and to Ecuador and all...otherwise we just would have to be content never seeing him these summer months!


When the tide comes in at Delano, it looks like this...ahhhh...isn't that a little token from God!!!

I'm looking for all the answers

Does anyone out there have all the answers! If not I'm sure one of you has taken more than your fair share because I seem to not have any answers lately.

I hope that no one finds out too.

I think I'm pretty close to drowning. My head is barely above the water. I'm about to call out, "Save me!" but I can't because that would mean I can't do it on my own.

So that is in a nutshell how I feel a majority of the time. Especially right before summer starts. Thanks for listening.
Jeb

Workout Videos

I know at least every girl has tried them. Jeb used to make fun of workout videos until I finally convinced him to try it himself and he realized that they are actually hard. One fine day he came home to me doing Tae Bo Advanced and he joined in and since then he has been forever silenced on ridiculing workout videos. Tae Bo isn't any easy thing. Chelan and I made it through all of TaeBo Advanced once in college with no breaks (including the 10 minute bonus workout for your glutes & abs) and we had sweat pouring down us and when we would kick and punch, sweat would fly through the air...liters of gnasty, well-earned sweat. It's a great mixture of cardio work out and strength training! On the side, another bonus to Tae Bo is that he is spiritual in his workouts. He is always telling you to get strength from your higher power and push yourself. I think he is a Christian. While Tae Bo is the best actual workout, I think my favorite one to watch for entertainment would be Richard Simmons! There is one Richard video where it starts out in a diner and there are some big people eating french fries and hamburgers and fried chicken and then all of a sudden, a little Richard Simmons pops up out of one of their ice cream sundaes and starts talking to them! You got to admit...his red fro, short shorts, and shaved legs are pretty awesome!!! Not to mention his voice.

So if you were thinking about working out today and it is raining, like it has been here in Bellevue all week, but you still want to get that bikini bod for summer...I recommend TaeBo Advanced.

MONDAY DATE DAY AT CHILES

Mondays are days off for youth ministers...sweet huh! But the devil doesnt take a day off! Somebody once said, "if someone tells you that you shouldnt take a day off because the devil doesn't take a day off just tell em, " Well I guess I know who your role model is now!"

Well as God as my role model I have a day of rest and relaxation. This particular Monday, Pris and I went to Chiles. I expected to eat my fill with no interuptions especially not from Priscilla.

That didnt last long because Priscilla literally pulled out a list of things to talk about. "Oh great!" I thought. "We have to communicate!" As I looked over the list I noticed what the two girls and 1 guy behind me were talking about. I almost asked Priscilla if we could just talk with them because their story's of their love life were way more interesting than Subjects 1-5 on Priscilla's "communication" list.

After entertaining the first 3 conversation pieces I looked up and saw an older couple with two young kids like 5 and 8. I thought, "how sweet, lunch with grandma and grandpa." That thought lasted fora good 5 seconds after they sat down. When the waiter came he asked them what they wanted. After going through gandma, grandpa and the 5 year old he asked the 8 year old what he would like. Grandma said, "no he doesnt get anything he's being punished."

As we continued to eat our meal I thought, "for sure someone will share their meal with that young boy." But that didnt happen. Things got worse. The eight year olds brother told on him that he had bitten him at school. Grandma at this point loses it and say's, "Is that true did you bite your brother at school!" The little boy nodded his head yes and grandma said, "you go sit over there I don't even want you to sit with us!" So the boy cried and sat at the booth next to them. Then his brother tells his grandma, "he bit me 2 times!" "What!!!!! Come here!" Grandma grabs him by the shoulder "Did you bite your brother 2 times?" He shook his head yes with tears flowing down his heys. Then Grandma said, " You are going to be in so much trouble when you get home. Your mother is going to be soooo mad at you ! Now go sit down over there, I am so disgusted with you!"

At this point Priscilla and I ask for our check. It was time to leave due to a loss of appetite. We never really finished talking about Priscilla's list.

I wanted to write this blog to do the kid some justice.

To the Grandma at Chili's.......grow up.....!!!!!!!! No wonder the kid is violent. it's obviously generational! Your not going to keep him out of jail (as you mentioned to him during you lecture on why you were disciplining him) by yelling at him and humiliating him in front of everybody in the resteraunt. Your more likely to create a pyscho that way.

Priscilla and I talked about what we saw and we chose not to intervine in this situation because we didn't know the circumstances. The kid for sure does need discipline if he is biting and hitting but come on, at Chiles?

The most amazing circus

We went to Cirque du Soleil's Varekai this weekend. This was our first encounter with it. We have wanted to go there for like 5 years...pretty much ever since we saw the big yellow and blue circus tent set up under the Marcum Bridge in Portland! Well we finally made it! We had to pay a pretty penny to get the worst seats in the tent...but all I have to say is that even though there was a huge pole blocking part of the stage and obstructing our view the entire time...it still was the coolest circus/show/musical/dance I have ever seen.

These people are so athletic, so gymnastic in a dance-like way, so talented with the most colorful and original costumes!

The balancing, the dance, the music, the colors, all appeal to your visual senses. They flew through the air, not like an acrobatic trapezist, but it's like they are telling a story through dance while they fly through the air. A beautiful, fun, vibrant story with a happy ending!

The only people I can make fun of, while they were still incredible were these guys. I call them "booty spinners". One guy sits his hiny on another man's feet and spin away in a back-flip fashion.

I do

I just wanted to write a nice sappy post to my handsome hubby today for all the world to see! We said "I do" 4 years ago today and I love him more than ever! This morning we had breakfast together to celebrate our actual anniversary even though we're doing the majority of our celebrating tomorrow once we take Liam to the babysitter! It was funny though because we sat there eating our breakfast and I asked him his favorite memory in the last 4 years and we could hardly think of anything...we both went totally blank. It's not like we don't have favorite memories in 4 years...it's just that we can probably count on one hand in the past year how many memories we have had without Liam...who is probably the best memory in 4 years...but he doesn't count because this is our day and we're focusing on us. Anyways, because of the blankness, I am going to give you the top 10 things I love about Jeb:

#10: His toes can bend backwards to a 90 degree angle

#9: His dream car is a 1980ish Trans Am with a Firehawk on it (like in Smokey and the Bandit)

#8: He loves cheese (it is a main food group to Jeb)

#7: His favorite book is Calvin & Hobbes

#6: He wears a fanny pack proudly when we go hiking

#5: He loves Star Wars

#4: He is funny and makes me laugh all the time!!!

#3: He wears polo shirts with "Bellevue c of C" embroidered on them and thinks they are cool

#2: He can do a mean Michael Jackson impersonation to "Beat It"

#1: He's HOT!!! (I knew you all knew that without me even saying it!)

Velveeta + Rotelli = Crazy Delicious!!

I probably shouldn't even be writing this right now. There are some members on the Bristow side of the family who hold this delicious secret more dearly than the Davinci Code! But something inside me whispers..."tell the world Jeb, tell the world!"

Most people dont realize the art form in cooking this cheese dip. Many want to slap a block of Velveeta in the microwave and pour some picante sause from New York City on it and call it Queso. But the Bristow family secret will not revert to calling an american processed cheese a hispanic name, oh no, this dip in it's purest american form is CHEESE DIP Sucker!

This last weekend my cousins, Brandon, Jonathan, Jesse & Blain came up to see me. I cant think of a greater way to say, "your home" than to make a bowl of cheese dip for them. Ok so I bought the supplies and they made it for me, but that's beside the point.

We've seen sunshine!!!...or should we say "sonshine"
We arrived home today after spending this past week at Pepperdine University for their annual lectureship. It was an awesome time there of seeing old friends and feeling spiritually nourished and encouraged and uplifted. It may sound cheesy, but when the 8,000 or so people are in the same room worshipping, I felt like I was experiencing a little bit of heaven and I kept having to fight back tears because it gave my soul such a sweet feeling. I love that people can lay their differences of opinion aside for a few days and just love eachother and be united. It was so beautiful!

Some highlights of the trip were:

Liam going on his first plane ride and doing absolutely wonderful except a couple ear-piercing shrieks! This is good news because we are trying to go to Ecuador this summer, and I actually think we could make it through 12 hours of traveling because he was so calm and easygoing!

Eating in Malibu - while we were there Beth (Jeb's sister) and I ran to the grocery store to buy a couple of things and came back to Jeb, who we had left with 3 kids, with water dumped all over him and food all over the table, chairs, and floor. He managed to keep his spirits up despite all the food and water everywhere. Afterwards someone told me he did such a good job, and I think she reminded me of Catherine Zeta Jones. You see, I wanted to see a celebrity on this trip, and because I wanted to see one so badly, I am going to convince myself that that was Catherine Zeta Jones, but I just didn't realize it until now.

Walking down the Hollywood walk of fame. We walked in the same place the stars walked! Woo Hoo! We took some pictures of all the hand and foot prints out front of the chinese theatre and everything. Here is me with Marilyn Monroe!!!

Having Beth, James, Maddie and Landon come along with us! This was exciting because we don't get to see them often since they live a decent distance away. One of the most memorable things we did was go to the American Girl Place. Jeb says, "What has America come to? There is actually a place that exists where you can pay money to bring your DOLL to the salon!!! Have we rejected reality to the point where our dolls appearance actually requires a store to get the right look? I pay $12 to get my hair cut short...with actual clippers and scissors and I feel like I've been ripped off. But this particular dolls hair was brushed with a toothbrush and parted with a pen and braided and rubberbanded all for the low low price of $25. Again, my question, what has America come to?"

Then of course, how can I forget the warm sunshine. As I write this we have been home now for just a couple of hours and it is typical Northwest weather, cold and overcast. and I miss the southern California sun! I got sunburned while I was there and wore a tank top and flip flops every day! I agree with John Denver because sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy too.

Liam having fun in the sun.