Saturday, June 30, 2007

A Little Of This And A Little Of That

Starting Thursday we began ripping tile off the kitchen countertops. As of tonight (Sat) Josh and Desi have pulled up all the old flooring and it's down to the origional floors. We're deciding if we want to re-finish or tile. If we re-finish, we need someone to come repair some holes and pull up some bad boards. Here's a pic where our front door is behind me. Notice the many layers of flooring! Here's our kitchen sink and yuckkie tiles. I found little bugs under the tiles to the left of the sink! Sooooo gross! This room is empty now (save the cupboards on the wall).
The next three pics Micah took of Levi on his birthday. They are amazing.


Opening gifts with the help of siblings of course!

The snake cake...yum!


I'll post more pics as I have time. We'll be staying at my parents for awhile since our house is a mess! Thanks to the great-grandparents for the gifts for Levi. He loves his new toothbrush and toothpaste from Nana, new piggy bank toy and car toy from the Nelsons, new jammies and cups from the Garvey's and a new farm animals fridge toy from the Gillis'. Des and Jan will be out Monday to help us with the kitchen adventure. We look forward to spending a wonderful week with them!
~Rose

Thursday, June 28, 2007

MISTRIAL!!!!!!!

So, yesterday I arrived at the courthouse right at 8am. I was the 10th person to get the the jury room. Once all 13 of us were there we buzzed the judge's chambers. Then we waited. And we waited. And we waited. An hour went by. Another half hour. At this point I have read my book, used the bathroom, drank water, eaten a few bits of beef jerky, played poker and backgammon on my cell phone, text messaged Desi and talked a bit with some fellow jurors. 10 minutes later the judge comes in and tells us that he and the lawyers had been discussing the case. The D.A. had changed their charge against the defendant Monday so the laws that applied to the case had changed and therefore the judge called a mis-trial. YIPPEEEE! He said that it's not over, just over for us and we were free to go! You might imagine how happy we were!

I had decided on Monday to pray and seek God's will and that I'd just have a good attitude through it all. So I chose to trust that this was what God had for me and it probably meant our plans for kitchen re-modeling had to be post-poned. Bummer, but I figured it was God's plan. He really gave me faith to just trust and enjoy each day. So, all's well that end's well and Desi and I removed the tile from one countertop last night. We'll continue with demo over the next few days. We'll remove the tile from the countertops and the disgusting floor from the kitchen. I'll take pics and post updates as I can. Thanks for all who prayed regarding this jury duty service! I am so thankful it's over!

Here's some info I pulled from Wikipedia about trials if you're interested.
~Rose

Criminal trial

A criminal trial is designed to resolve accusations brought by the government against a person accused of a crime. In common law systems, most criminal defendants are entitled to a trial held before a jury. Because the state is attempting to use its power to deprive the accused of life, liberty, or property, criminal defendants are afforded greater leeway to defend themselves than parties to a civil suit.

Mistrials

A judge may cancel a trial prior to the return of a verdict; legal parlance designates this as a mistrial.

A judge may declare a mistrial due to:

  • The court determining that it lacks jurisdiction over a case,
  • Evidence being admitted improperly,
  • Misconduct by a party, juror, or an outside actor, if it prevents due process,
  • A hung jury which cannot reach a verdict with the required degree of unanimity
  • Disqualification of a juror after the jury is impanelled, if no alternate juror is available and the litigants do not agree to proceed with the remaining jurors.

A declaration of a mistrial generally means that the court must hold a retrial on the same subject.

An important exception occurs in criminal cases in the United States. If the court erroneously declares a mistrial, or if prosecutorial misconduct goaded the defendant into moving for a mistrial, then the US Constitution's protection against double jeopardy bars any retrial; so the prosecution must be terminated.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Happy 1st Birthday Levi!

Levi turned 1 today! We had my parents over for dinner, cake and presents. Levi loved the gifts and especially the cake. I had to take him directly to the bathtub to wash him off! I cannot believe he is one already! He is such a JOY in my life. Yes, he slows the family down a bit, but I am thankful for that. All too soon I know he'll be grown up and gone!

He is not walking yet. That will come when he's ready. He is pulling up on everything and every once in awhile stands without holding onto anything. He loves to "brush his teeth" and throw balls. He can spot a dog across the street and point it out with gestures. He has stopped nursing and doesn't ask for it. His appetite is huge and his favorite food is bananas and organic animal crackers from Costco. He goes to bed very easily and still takes one long nap every day. I'll post pics from tonight soon. The cake pics are too cute. I have to be at the courthouse at 8am (usually am still in jammies at that time) so it'll be a few days!
~Rose

Here We Go!

Well, I was chosen for the jury. There are 13 of us and the trial started tonight. Sigh.
I am excited and enjoy the peace however I worry a bit about Desi and the kids. Thankfully my mom has agreed to come to the house for a few hours Wed and Thur to help Desi and give him a break. They leave for vacation Friday. I doubt the case will be over by Friday (though I pray it is)! Pray for Desi to have patience and peace with the kids and that they would be good for him :) Pray for me to have wisdom and enjoy the process. It is very interesting so far.
I'll blog tons more about it once the trial is over!
~Rose

Monday, June 25, 2007

Chalk Art and Jury Duty

This weekend has been HORRIBLY HOT :( Every June there is a chalk art festival called La Pizza Del Arte downtown and we have gone the past three years. It always seems to be sweltering during this festival...those poor artists! The city closes off a few blocks and for two days there is food and these wonderful pieces of art on the street. It was too hot to take the kids out, so I rode the scooter down to check it out Sunday afternoon. I snapped a few shots to share with you. Enjoy!




So, this morning I had jury duty. Now I have postponed and postponed jury duty for years now, and now I don't have a good excuse to not go. Thankfully I rode the scooter and parked it right at the door for free! I arrive at 8:25 and after waiting in line to go through screening (like at the airport) we filed upstairs to the 4th floor. Thankfully I had a book and actually enjoyed reading in some peace and quiet! After awhile they call my number and I am put into a group for courtroom 13. There are a TON of us. After filling out a questionaire we have an hour to kill. More reading. Back in the courtroom. About 15-20 people are dismissed. About 40 or so names are called...these people are requested to stay and need to be questioned in private. The rest of us are free to go till 3:30. I went home and enjoyed lunch and the kids for a few hours. Back at the courtroom. I read for two more hours while the continue to questions jurors privately. There are about 35-40 of us left and it's 5pm. They judge lets us go and we are suppsed to come back tomorrow at 1pm at which time the lawers will select a jury. This is a criminal case in which the accused has 5 counts against him (all sexually related to girls under 15yrs old). Since this is a criminal case they need 12 jurors and one alternate. We'll see what happends tomorrow. I've enjoyed the peace and quite and it's been somewhat interesting.
~Rose

OUCH!


So, Saturday evening Desi got a phone call from Micah (who had planned on coming up to Thornton to meet us for dinner). Micah was on his motorcycle on 18th St in the left lane (one way street). A car on his right suddenly turned to the left and even though he tried to get out of the way, he was hit and flew off his motorcycle. Thankfully he was wearing a really good helmet, but unfortunately he was in shorts and a t-shirt. Amazingly after getting checked out at the hospital, he had no broken bones! His road rash is pretty bad and he has one stich in an ankle and 3 in his foot. We picked him up Saturday evening and have "nursed and loved" him the past two days. He is pretty much pain free unless he has to walk and will have to take a few days off work. Pray for quick healing and that the gal's (that hit him) insurance will pay for everything. It could have been so much worse and we are thankful that he's doing well today. What a sobering reminder that life is a vapor....we are not promised tomorrow so let's make the most of each day we are given and make sure the people we love and care about know that we love and care about them!
~Rose

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Indoor Fun With Bubbles and Underwear

It was quite hot a few days ago and the kids were restless once more. I put some Bob Marley on and got out bubbles. I used the fan to blow the bubbles and the kids loved it. Micah grabbed the camera and took a few pics. Here are some of my favorites.


Owen and Emma had dissapeared upstairs. We heard all sorts of giggling and this is why: What is more funny to a 3 and 4 year old than underwear on your head?!
~Rose

Friday, June 22, 2007

More Pics From Our Time With The Schaffners

We were invited down to Parker to swim and have dinner with Schaffner family. Their daughter Courtney and her husband bought a very nice house in south east Parker with a neighborhood swimming pool. I think we swam till 7 pm! It was lovely.



























The kids enjoyed gifts of new smelly (good smells) bubbles, books and cool paper animal cups and bowls. The cat door proved to be quite entertaining as they went in and out, around and around, over and over again. Ryan tried to get out...too small for a grown man!

We enjoyed an amazing dinner of fried rice, chicken veggie egg rolls, cream cheese won tons, fruit cabobs and other delicious treats. Thanks to Jeanie, Courtney and Heather for the most deliscious meal we've had in a long time! Being with great friends made it taste even better I think!

This clever table is a piece of plywood cut in half lengthwise sitting on cinderblocks with paper tablecloth on top. It was just lovely to eat on the grass outside. If we had grass, I'd eat like this all summer!
Owen played ball with Ryan till it got dark. We all had just the most lovely time and are thankful for good friends who even though we don't see very often, we pick up right where we left off. What a gift to have good friends to fellowship with! Thanks again to the Wiley's and Schaffners!










~Rose

The Fear of the Lord

I've been thinking about the "fear of the Lord" lately. Last week I did a scripture search on that phrase and jotted down all the benefits to fearing the Lord. It was really interesting. I am still mulling over what that looks like for me personally, but I know it involves trusting Him daily to be all that I need and to not look to other people, things or feelings to fill me. My thought life has been a battlefield lately and it's amazing how turning to prayer and the scripture really fills me. I came across this devotional this morning and was encouraged. My favorite part is the last two sentences. Boy do I sometimes miss living while I live and I hate wasted time...Lord, help me and those reading to redeem the precious time You have given us and daily live in holy reverence of Your amazing majesty all the while reminding ourselves that we are sons and daughters of the ONE TRUE KING!!!! May Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven!
~Rose

Faith's Checkbook by C.H. Spurgeon
Friday June 22, 2007

He with Us; We with Him

The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. (Proverbs 10:27)

There is no doubt about it. The fear of the Lord leads to virtuous habits, and these prevent that waste of life which comes of sin and vice. The holy rest which springs out of faith in the Lord Jesus also greatly helps a man when he is ill. Every physician rejoices to have a patient whose mind is fully at ease. Worry kills, but confidence in God is like healing medicine.

We have therefore all the arrangements for long life, and if it be really for our good, we shall see a good old age and come to our graves as shocks of corn in their season. Let us not be overcome with sudden expectation of death the moment we have a finger-ache, but let us rather expect that we may have to work on through a considerable length of days.

And what if we should soon be called to the higher sphere? Certainly there would be nothing to deplore in such a summons but everything to rejoice in. Living or dying we are the Lord's. If we live, Jesus will be with us; if we die, we shall be with Jesus.

The truest lengthening of life is to live while we live, wasting no time but using every hour for the highest ends. So be it this day.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Botanic Gardens With Grandma Kate

The Denver Botanic Gardens has about 9 free days a year. The gigantic bugs were only here till the end of the month and Grandma Kate wanted to see them. Thankfully there was a free day on Monday!Looks like he is in the middle of some lush garden...not Denver!

Some shots that I like:


Each large bug had a sign with info about the bug. This was a damsel fly.



We sat here for a rest and to watch the dragonflies zooming over the water lilys.

On the way out we spotted these venus fly traps and had a blast tickling the inside with a twig to watch it close. The kids kept exclaiming...ooooohhhhh and wow! It was quite fun!

~Rose

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Friends and City Park Jazz (Sort of)

One of our favorite families is in town this week. They are visiting their daughter and son in law who live in Parker. On Sunday, the Schaffners came to our little house church and hung out all day with us. We just LOVE hanging with them! Despite the heat, we enjoyed a bit of outdoor time. Heather is one of the best when it comes to playing with our kids!
We got burritos for dinner and brought them to City Park for the free summer jazz concert. Micah, Jason, Steve and Amanda joined us. We decided to sit far back from the stage so the boys could toss the frisbee around. We ended up so far back we could barely hear the music...oh well! The guys played two games of "Box" with the frisbee and came back to the blanket all sweaty!

Levi loves being outside...

The kids found this little stream and it was perfect for wading in and jumping over.


Steve brought his new binoculars and kindly let our kids use them.

It ended up being quite possibly the most fabulous evening I have ever spent in a park. Friends, family, food, music (when the wind blew our way) and great fellowship!

We were getting ready to leave and noticed a few people had set up a slack line. They practice their balance on this line strung between two trees in order to train for mountian climbing. Lily was letting kids try and my little girls just had to get up and give it a go. Hope was a natural...very balanced and graceful.

Emma did pretty well too...with daddy's help of course!

Of all the fun things that summer brings, Sunday nights in City Park are my favorite. There is nothing more relaxing, peaceful or enjoyable...especially when we get to share the time with friends and family!
~Rose