This is the new table... I really like it, except for the flowers. I figured they would come off via Magic Eraser, but no. This table is, to put it in car dealer vernacular, pre-owned. So it has some chips and scuffs and scratches... I toyed with the idea of sanding and re-staining, but really... we paid 60 bucks for a table and 5 chairs. Good enough.
It's actually very soothing to me to be able to sit at the table, all 5 of us in one place. We've only been able to do that at restaurants before... feels very family-ish.
Thank you, Jesus and Craigslist.

In other news, we are considering getting a scleral shell for R2. Wot's this? you say... make 'im a turtle and such? Uh, no. It's a mix between a false eye and a contact lens. A shell that fits over the disfigured eye, that is painted to match his good eye. We actually meet the ocularist next Wednesday. This is something I've wanted to do for a long time, but it brings up issues... like, how traumatic is the process... weeks of wearing a "conformer" to shape the eyelid, and then putting in the lens and having to take it out at night and clean it... for someone who might not even comprehend all this.

Gut-level though, I want this for him. I HATE it when kids are scared of him at the playground, or say mean things. And that happens a lot. He doesn't seem to be aware of it, but surely at some point he will... and Toby will, soon.

And he's such a handsome kid. I would love him to look whole. So is this about me? I hope not. We'll meet the doc, talk about it... learn the pros and cons and see if this works for us. I hope it does.

Today, we dropped off the MOG at the house o' prayer and went our merry way... we went to the hospital and picked out R2's new glasses... (they'll be here in a week), we went to the Golden Arches, to the car wash, to walmart, to pick up the MOG, to the park and now finally home. I was attempting to kill 4 hours whilst we fogged our house... there are far too many living things here.

Home now, and it smells like Hiroshima in here. Hopefully all bug-kind is killed dead. I am currently a little poisoned myself.

It was a sweltering 81 degrees here today, folks. Break out the antiperspirant.

Father's Day Sunday... acknowledge the fathers in your life, whether they be biological or spiritual or whateva...

That's all I got, my brain is fogged. Happy weekend.

Spent a lot of hours at the ophthalmologist today... she was like a movie doctor... flowing wavy blonde hair and the sparkling blue eyes and so on... a sight for sore eyes. (sorry) Anyways, R2 will be getting glasses again, with a little prescription but mostly to protect his good eye.
Now we're off to pick up a table I bought on Craigslist. YAY!!

No time to be witty today. Maybe tomorrow.

Isn't this a good picture of us? We're growing up so fast... ;)

Took us about 14 hours yesterday, McDonald's TWICE, and 4 poopy diapers. But we made it. We got home around 10:30... stepped out of the van into spiderwebs... in our garage. YUCK. One of us was freaking out more than the others, and it wasn't the traditional role of more-freaked-out-by-insects gender. I will leave it at that. We fought our way through with the spazzy cobweb hand movements, and moved in. We also discovered carpenter ants stinkin up the place. ONE of us was too spazzy to sleep because "something is biting me" so we changed the sheets and ONE of us attempted to thump an ant away, only to have it boomerang back multiple times. Another one of us picked up the ant, squished it and threw it away. I'm just sayin.

After the terror and pestilence by night, it was great to sleep in our bed. Toby woke up once a little scared, but he must have figured it out because he went back to sleep.

Now I have spent the morning cleaning and squishing ants as a warning to all the other ants. The MOG did something very important that took a long time that looked like checking his email, and now he is mowing the grass. It is of jungle proportions. Toby really wants to go out there, but nooooo... we steer clear of tall grass, we Texans.

The plan is, post-lawn-care, to go to Cici's and then grocery shop. YAY!

we are off! Blogging from the iPhone...

Sunday, Jacob walsh got married, which was very fun since he is a Radiant and also, I have known him since he was a wee mite.
Then last night was the birthday party, which was a grand Yablonski event.
Today, we drive for 12 hours, glory. So far we've thrown back a couple yogurt parfaits and hash browns and such. Now, I will desert you for John Grisham. Nothing personal.

Richy's twitter reads: "5 preaching "engagements," 2 weddings, 3 radiant events, 1 unexpected funeral (as most are) 1 short vacation. Texas, that's a wrap."

It was a very eventful 2 weeks. I'm tired, which is bad news, since tomorrow after a 12 hour drive,  we're back to the Land of No Babysitters. I am looking forward to getting back to KC, though. I miss my house. Oh, and it's 115 degrees in the shade here. No bueno. We are planning on moving back next year, so I will have to kill my inner wuss and remember how to sweat.

Tonight we're having a birthday bash for R2 and Anila... YAY party!! 

a breath

of fresh air

a song

I didn't expect

a celebration

every day

a depth

hidden, and growing

a joy 

to behold

Happy birthday, big boy.

Today is Richy's 9th birthday, and I should put some thought into a post about him. But we're about to jet out of here, so I'll just give you a little taste of the beach pictures. It was a blast. Unfortunately, I am now a bright-ish coral color from the knees down and on the old shoulders. Thank God I'm not a bikini type. That would be quite a bit much more skin for frying. More tomorrow on the beach trip.

If the question is why are we some kind of mutant retro family, the answer is, I don't know. I never realized we looked like that.

I sit today with the ocean at my back, and a man-made waterfall in front of me. Thank you Jesus for Priceline... we got a killer deal on our room, and man!! THIS is a vacation.
It's always a little funny to me when we get to stay in a nicer place.. our typical fare is Comfort Inn, often on reward points. But occasionally a host church puts us in a Marriott or something. I feel like such an imposter... like I should just fess up to the desk clerk... "I didn't pay for this room!" or "I'm actually broke! I don't deserve to take my Walmart swimsuit into your pool!" I don't, though. I just play it cool. Even when the valet pulls open my door and I didn't know he was there and he just scared the life outta me... play it cool. Maybe no one will know... :)

So, to update you on the weekend and such. When I left you, my imp was smirking. I can't help it, or I don't want to. Some things are just a bit funny. Like in worship, I'm all reverent and God is there and I can feel his presence. STILL, when the lady with the angel wings flits by, or the guy with the giant crown, I get it. And one part of me thrills and acknowledges it as true worship. That part is fully tuned in. The other part of me is smirking. I think my dad made me this way.
Seriously, though, when Leah dances with her dance company, nothing can compare.

I had my three at the conference with me. They had a great time, except that one part when I dragged a limp, screaming Toby off the stage by one arm. Thank you, thank you. I'll be appearing at Walmart all week.

Then Sunday, the MOG preached at Freedom Fellowship, and either his preaching is getting really good, or I'm getting saved. I listened to the whole message, and I am usually too antsy to sit still very long. Then Sunday night Radiant played at the same church and I got to sing with them quite a bit. I LOVED Sunday night. It was so good! Rock and roll, of course, and God came and was meeting with people... beautiful.
And I was wearing Brynn, as I usually do... she sang and kicked her little feet and she was a big hit. The boys were out in the audience with VKG and about 1/3 of the cousins. They (not VKG, but the littles) danced wildly and ran a bit and shrieked a bit and had a gooooooood time.

So we'll be here in Galveston for one more night, and then tomorrow VKG and a contingent of wee Clarks will meet us here for a day at the beach. I am so excited to see what Toby and Bean think. I know what R2 thinks... he is captivated by the waves. He will be out there, watching the water roll over his feet and flapping his hands until we drag him out.

I blog today from the iPhone en route to Galveston for a little r&r. Hopefully our hotel will have wifi so I can update on a great weekend of ministry with pix. If not, you'll just have to make do with these mini blogs. I hate trying to type on the phone.

But yeah, it was a beautiful weekend with lots of radiant musica. And multiple occurences of Mexican food. Me love you long time, Mexican food. Especially FREE Mexican food.