Handy Husband

One of the things that has been neat about moving to Valley Center is the opportunity Gunnar has had to get in touch with his handy side. In the years since we have been married he has learned a lot of new handyman skills and put them to use around our house and yard. One of the latest projects has been a fence in the front yard. I love it because it brings separation to the front yard part and the side of the street part. Plus, it is cute and looks kind of rustic.

One Tuesday morning Grace helped him put it in.
Elizabeth pitched in with encouraging smiles.
Of course there were brakes for refueling.
And countless distractions.
Bu in the end, our front yard was left with a great new fence.

Easter Cards

In the years since we have been married, I have (or at least have tried) to sent out Easter Cards. There are so many good reasons to send out Easter Cards (vs. Christmas cards) and it is something I enjoy doing. It has been fun, as Grace grows, to have her help in the card making process. This year, I was able to talk her into (and bribe her for the second half) decorating all the cards herself. I hope the recipients enjoyed them, becuase it was so hard for me to send them, I wanted to keep all of them, they were so cute.

I did make sure to take a picture of all the cards, so I can remember them all. I think if you click on the picture it will get bigger. I think my all time favorite (if I had to pick) is third from the top in the very left hand (the short row). It is a ballerina dancing under storm clouds next to a building flying an American flag. Grace also helped mail each card. Thankfully the post office was empty becuase it took us a while.
Aside from the adorable cards, this was our official Easter family picture this year. Probably one of my favorites. It was handy becuase there were a bunch of people at our house jumping like monkey's behind my sister (who took the picture). It always helps to have a chorus of jumping monkeys to get a smile in a picture.
Oh, and if you didn't get a card, please don't take it personally. Due to Grace making the cards, we cut the list down a lot shorter than other years. Aside from that, with the blog and facebook, there are plenty of other good ways to stalk us anyways. :)

Daffodils

Some dear friends of ours were in town visiting and they stayed in a cute cabin on Palomar Mt. We had a great time hanging out with them. All around the cabin were beautiful daffodils that they lady who rented out the cabin had told the kids they were free to pick. So pick they did! It was every little girls dream.

Here are a few pictures of Grace and sweet Patience.

JR's Final Resting Place

JR's family decided to scatter his ashes as sea. There was some discussion about the logistics until it was decided. The guys (Gunnar, John's brother Mike, their closest high school buddy, Bay, and two other close long time friends of JR) would paddle out on their surf boards 200 yards (or however far they legally need to be to scatter ashes, I forget the exact number) in order to scatter the ashes. A few others stayed on the beach.
It had been over 5 years since Gunnar had surfed, and at least 10 or more since they had all surfed together. Back in the day, 20 years ago, these guys surfed together all the time. In fact, I think it was one of their main pass times. Of course, back then they weren't joined by Mike's two daughters.
John and Gayle used to spend a lot of time beach camping right up the road from where we were. Gayle told me stories how she would pack tons of extra food becuase no sooner would they get there but the water polo guys (that would be Gunnar) would show up and she would end up feeding a bunch of hungry teenage boys. It was heart breaking to watch them watch their boys paddle out for the last time.


The water was really choppy and it was taking a while for them all to get out. At one point the life gaurd (who knew why we were there) swam out and helped one of the guys get past the breaking waves. It was really nice of him, and it added a little much needed comic relief.

Mike waved to us to let us know the ashes had been scattered.

So we waited for them to come back in. The waves were not all that great, but Gunnar was able to catch one in.
He beat them back by a while, so we stood around chatting waiting for the other guys.
Next Bay made it back.And finally, Mike.

Beachside Memorial

As most of you know, Gunnar recently lost a dear friend of his. You can read his thoughts and memories of John by clicking here. They had decided to have a beach side memorial service/goodbye sunset to celebrate his life.

It was a cold overcast day, which was unusual, as all week had been sunny and warm. There was a good group of people gathered at the beach by the time we got there (we had gone to the wrong place originally so we were running late at this point). There were still a decent amount of people getting there, but you get an idea of the turn out.
As we were walking up, and we saw his parents and all the friends there to remember John, the tears Gunnar hadn't shared all week started to flow. Grace asked him a question and he couldn't get an answer out. I had been concerned all week for Gunnar, as he cries when he does funerals of people he hasn't met, and I knew this was going to be really hard on him. But at that moment, I started to really worry for him. He was literally supposed to start the service in 2 min! I started praying in my heart for him, and we were separated by the crowd, as I was getting the kids set up with the other kids that were there and what not.

In what seemed like just a minute, Gunnar got up and started the service. I immediately noticed his contenance was a lot better. He was choked up but able to talk and project his voice. A lot of what he shared is similar to what is on his blog post.

Unknown to me, once we were separated, Gunnar had run into a pastor friend of his. He had asked this friend to pray for him, and the pastor and his wife had laid hands and prayed on his before he started. I know Gunnar was so thankful, and as he got up to speak, I could tell something had changed. I know it was God helping him!
Mike (the brother) had gotten there early and set up the flowers and surf boards. It was a very appropriate way to remember a guy who loved to surf and enjoy the outdoors.I am not sure if this is the correct place to brag a bit, but Gunnar did amazing. Like I said, I had been really worried for him, as it is hard to be not only a pastor but a friend. He was able to speak from the heart, clearly and eloquently. I think he had everyone crying and laughing at different times during his speaking. Unlike so many funerals, he was able to give such a personal touch that was very sweet. I know many hearts were touch by what he said.
The logistics to speaking to a group that large at the beach are tricky, but on shear mechanics he did great. Thankfully, his SEAL Instructor background came in handy.
Another thing that was a little unusual about this event is that it was in many ways two of Gunnar's worlds colliding. Many of the people that were there he had partied with in the past and many did not know that he was a Christian, let alone a pastor. For the most part these days, everywhere Gunnar goes, people know and respect the fact that he is a pastor (and a good one at that). I think sharing from the Bible and God's answer to those hard questions we face at funerals is always hard, but even more so in a crowed where most people remember you as a partier! I was so proud of my husbands faithfulness to God's word and sharing the gospel clearly.
When Gunnar was done speaking, John's dad (also named John) got up and shared a few words. He is a gracious man, and I feel for the pain that he and his wife are going through. I can't even imagine.
All in all, I know Gunnar is glad to have this over although I know he was so glad for the opportunity to help. I am so proud of him and the brave, godly man that he is and for his ceaseless unselfishness in helping those around him.

The Tiny Ballerina Pianist

One of Gunnar's gifts is the ability to be a great gift giver. He has the ability to figure out what someone would like and then has the decisiveness to buy it for them. I am terrible at this, so we make a perfect pair. I never ceased to be amazed at his ability to find the perfect gift (you can just ask my brother Michael about the keg of root beer).

Yesterday he had another one of his strokes of genius and he came home with a tutu for Elizabeth. He thought she might enjoy being able to pretend to be a ballerina and dance around with Grace. She LOVED it. Her little expressive face lit up and she was so excited to put it on. She pranced around on her tippy-toes in the livingroom. Grace of course had to don her ballet outfit and join her. They were so cute dancing together.

This picture of her chubby little legs makes me want to immediately drop everything and go knit some tiny legwarmers.
After a while of dancing, Elizabeth decided she would rather play the piano while Grace danced. With the light from the open door shining in on her, Elizabeth looked straight out of a painting sitting there at the piano. Sometimes I have to do a double take, with those blond ringlets and angelic cheeks, I think a porcelain doll has appeared in my house. Oh course, about that time, she pulls out a pen and marks up the couch or throws something in the toilet, and the moment passes. :)
Such the perfect little performer.
Like her mama, she thinks she is SOO funny sometimes.
She decided to try to play a little by ear. :) Either that, or it was getting close to nap time and she was ready for her nap.