Clouds

Ever experience a moment so raw in its intensity that you just knew you had been touched by the divine? Sounds pretty wierd, I know, but I think I may have just experienced such a moment.

I was sitting in my office, with the door shut to prevent anyone from bothering me. "You're my ministry hero John" - "Shut up Jimminy Cricket."

The reason I had to be so impersonal is I'm in the middle of my last Masters course and have a huge Book Review due today on a book I just finished reading, uh, 13 minutes ago. Besides the Review I have a pile of other readings and assignments due as well plus I am still working full time. On top of that we leave for Disneyland in 3 days so I have to have all this stuff done plus get all packed and organized for the trip. Crap, I haven't even got any American money yet.
So. . . I had shut my door, refused to answer the phone in the hopes that by Saturday I could actually enjoy the land of the Mick.

As I tried to work a cloud of defeatism began to set in. You know the one, your passion fizzles , your heart pounds your head swims and if left uncontrolled paralysis sets in and before you know it, you've become useless.

Well I was in the early stages of this when Peter opened the door to my office, waltzed in and began to speak in his broken English. I must admit I was a tad annoyed because;

A. Did he not see that my door was shut?

B. Did he really not knock?

C. Does he really not know how busy I am?

Before I could be a Jerk I was hugging Peter and welcoming him in. Peter is a 34 yr old Sudanese refugee .

I got talking to Peter and here is where that moment comes in. Peter began to tell me how he had to be at the airport at 3:00am this Saturday morning so he could catch his 5:45am flight to the Sudan. Yes the Sudan. Peter was going home to see his grandmother, siblings and parents. Peter went on to explain that once he arrived he would have to walk the rest of the way because there are no automobiles in the part of Sudan where he grew up. When I asked him how far he had to walk he said "36hrs" without even blinking. And then he said it again, probably because of the way I was looking at him. I was about to respond when he told me that it had been 20 years since he'd seen his family "so I'm pretty excited" he said.

On a day where a blog is the last thing I have time for, I just had to tell you - My cloud is gone.

John

The Goodwin

A guy from my past has re-emerged. His hair is curly so you might think he's girly.
But he's not.

He's a Goodwin.

John

P.S. Congratulate him on his sweet Deal. (the joke will never get old Leah)

honeymooners

John and I were the recipients of the world's greatest gift- one night and one day of free babysitting. Of course you understand that we love our kids, but let me just clarify... one night and one day of free babysitting. We had our airmiles movie tickets- pretty much the only thing airmiles seem to be good for, so we went to Children of Men. Now I wish there was a way for me to express just how amazing this movie is, but I don't see any flashing, confetti spewing button on my key board, so just take my plain old word for it. Amazing movie. We hung out at Mcnally Robinson the next day, ate lunch, and spent the afternoon at the museum. Sometimes we do these things with the kids, but when it's just two adults it's a completely different experience altogether. Less Stop running! Don't break that! and more Was that a nice cool breeze that swirled by, or just my refreshed personality?

So, thanks to Darcy and Hope for the weekend- we owe you one!

Ang

chamois

So, I painted our walls what was supposed to be a soft tan (I know. Boring.), but to my shock and horror it looked more pukey, pea soupy, yellow- green as I painted it on. This is the great injustice of wall colour- it never turns out like you envision and then people mock you. Well, you'll be relieved to know that it has since cured to what my friend Hope calls deerskin (believe me, a definate improvement from pea soup). I prefer to call it chamois. Basically the same thing, but much more elegant. And if anybody knows John and I, they know we're elegant. Nothing but formalities at the Close residence.

What I'm trying to say is that our renos are almost done.

I've also been enjoying all the blog talk on baptism and hell. I mean, who wouldn't? I think next time we should discuss capital punishment or celebrity couples and their tiny hairless dogs. Really, I do love reading all the different view points represented, because there was a time not long ago (back when I was knee high to a grasshopper...) when these discussions would have been unthinkable. In my own experience I've found it very eye opening to look into some historical, cultural backgrounds (while trying to disengage from 200 hundred year old rhetoric taught by well meaning, unwavering Sunday school teachers). It was, and is sometimes still, very hard for me to read the Bible with fresh eyes. Without those voices saying "Well, clearly this passage is talking about salvation" or "Of course that passage is about hell, it says destruction". But I find it very encouraging that we live in a time when we are seeking truth with enough eagerness to challenge the things that have gone unchallenged for a couple centuries.

So thanks for the discussion.

Ang

It does a body good

Brother Jordan is back. If you desire an intellectual work out or if you like controversy then go see what the brotha is up to.

Jordan: It does a body good.

John

Who's the best?

8 years ago and change I began down the road of higher edukashun. For two years I poured myself into my studies while at the same working as the campus minister for Western Christian College. Blair, Jeremy, Kris, Kamara, Benj - you all should remember. Tim and J- I think you guys were just finishing or had already left. And Trav. My good buddy Trav. Travis was in the same program I was in, taking many of the same classes I was and he was my driving buddy on our trips to Memphis. Man, those were good times, fun times, the best times. Two buddies on a road trip, what could be better? Hey Trav, remember what we did to stay awake that time? Shhh. Remember the shine in the ditch?

For those of you intriged, the shine turned out to be a flipped van and the van's contents were spread everywhere including the family who was riding in it. It turned out we were first on the scene, I'll never forget that scene. Especially the wailing parents and kid trying desperatly to breathe through his crushed chest. The feeling of helplessness I felt at that moment was among the worst things I've ever felt. The next thing I remember many others had gathered, including the road blockers, and an hour later the ambulance finally showed up and air lifted them out of there. Apparently this whole tragedy could have been avoided if the driver hadn't decided to sleep and drive . This all took place about 3am and I remember Trav and I had been falling asleep as well. Needless to say, the rest of the drive was much more. . .wakeful.

I also remember C C's pizza. Every night after an intense day of Graduate school Trav and I along with our fellow GS buddies would head to the local pizza joint where you could get all the pizza you wanted for 2.99. Man, oh to be able to eat like that again, I think our average was 10-12 slices per visit. As we stuffed ourselves we'd study. . .the mammoth screen and watch the NBA playoffs. Other memories include getting reemed out by some white dude in the bad part of town. Apparently our presence in that area was in grave danger and so he had advised us to vacate the premises just as soon as we had finished picking out our favorite slurpee flavor. We complied but I've always wondered why it was ok that he was there. Perhaps the reason included the fact that we didn't have crack to sell and he did. Who knows. Good times that Graduate school. And great times with Travis. Man I miss that guy.

Anyways, the point of this post was to announce that I am finally finishing that Masters degree I started all those years ago and hope to be done by December of this year. I am doing my Final Paper on the topic of "Homelessness in Calgary and how the Church should respond." Before I get to that paper I have to take a penalty course because I have taken so long to finish what I started. The course begins this week and is on Congregational ministry.

So, there you have it. I'm officially a student again.

But it won't be the same without Travis. He's the best.

John

what to do, what to do...

Kids seem to have a few things going for them, namely no bills and all play. But also, they know themselves better than most adults ever will. We were talking to our Sunday school teacher who was laughing (or crying, I can't remember) at Alexa's inability to keep focused during class time, so she tried giving her some crayons and paper thinking that she would never have the attention span to stick with it. Well, apparently that's the only thing that keeps little Lex's attention, which didn't surprise me because she always says she wants to be an artist. This will probably evolve into other interests and eventually lead into what she decides to do as an adult, I just hope that all our kids can know themselves as well then as they do now. I don't think I do, and I know many of my friends wouldn't know what to do with themselves if they had a spare moment to do whatever they wanted (c'mon, guys- chores and TV doesn't count). I think about the next couple years when we look into schooling options for the kids, which means job options for me, and it's kind of scary. I feel like the little kid that's trying to decide if she wants to be a ballerina or an astronaut when she grows up, although I've ruled out all things ballet (collective sigh of relief- I heard it). I'm 30, so I should know what I want to do with my life, but I really, really don't. I've basically got it narrowed down to anything that doesn't involve cheerfully wishing hundreds of shoppers a nice day as I hand out yellow happy face stickers. Plus I can't imagine myself in the corporate world at all. Or cleaning up after people. Or giving rehearsed sales pitches. Someone said I look like a librarian (which I did not take as a compliment) and I do love books, but everyone at the library that I've come across seems to be stressed out or bitter. Of course this could be because of our late returns and accidentally forgetting our library card on occassion. Shoot. Well, back to the drawing board of life for me.

Ang

I wish I was Catholic

I felt like writing. The only problem is I have no idea what I will type about. I thought about doing a reflective "these are a few of my favorite things about 2006" type post but Tim and Jeremy already jumped on and rode that cliche wagon. I already wrote about Saddam, Canada didn't play today, the Oilers are sucking harder then a 3month old on a pacifier two sizes too big - and besides if I did write anything it would surely be laced with thees and thous. The family's great, Hugo's good, my holidays have been great and gone by fast, wow times flies, yada yada - gees, I really shoulda thought this through. But I felt like writing. Nick understands. Besides someone's gotta make up for all you slackers - especially Blair and Kamara - anyone know if in fact they are. . .still alive? Oh yeh, I guess Kamara's alive, after all there was that delightful comment about how Ang and I don't rok but still, she ain't writing and in blog world, that means your dead. So there Kamara, best be writing before you decompose any more. Happy New zing, I mean year to you to.

I suppose I could write about my New Year's Eve plans. Wow, I'm desperate.
Well, there will be no drinking, no tipsying, no haggling the elders to be my DD once again because this year our party will be dryer then the sense of humor in this sentence. We're teaming up with our good friends - Hope and Darcy Pawlak to put on a big shindig at the Church. Btw - I didn't link them because they do not have a blog. Yes, that's right folks, we have some blog groupies on our hands so beware. You may not see them, you certainly won't read them, but they can see you. In fact, they are looking at you right now. "Your on the computer aren't you?" asks Hope. "Yyyyyes" your shaky voice responds. Told ya.

Anyways, we're putting on a party at the church, for the church, because of the church. It should be fun. After all, what's more fun then missing the battle of Alberta and drinking water out of the church fountain - aka "the place that's rather convenient to spit your gum." Oh I'm kidding of course, I'm excited, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be more excited if I was Catholic. Scroll to the P.S. now if you don't understand this joke.

I'm excited about 2007. 2006 was the most challenging year in my life as well as the life of many friends of ours. I don't know what it was about this year but man, it was a doozy.
So, I'm hopeful that 2007 will bring new things and better times.

Plus I really really hope I can figure out this Flickr thing. I'd like to be able to post it on my side bar, like Benj and Jeremy sept I can't figure it out. So perhaps someone could give me a hand. Like Benj or Jeremy. Or smart alecky Kamara.

Happy New Year!

John

P.S. If I was Catholic, there'd be wine in the church fridge.

No man is a failure who has friends

And just like that Christmas is over for another year. The kids bounded into our room shortly after 7am mst. announcing that Santa indeed had come and there were crumbs on the plate and presents under the tree to prove it. The most shocking part of the previous sentence was the 7am bit. That's definetly the latest they've ever slept in on Christmas, which don't get me wrong - I'm lovin it - but still, they're GROWING UP which is sad in its own way.
Everyone loved their presents - the girls got fairy stuff, doll stuff etc - which they loved and Ethan got a remote controlled truck, and a sophisticated marble tower among other things. Ang got the usual from me - jammies, chocolate, shows etc. -if it ain't broke don't fix it, right?
As for me, the kids really surprised me this year. For starters they made me an Oilers collage on an old ratty piece of cardboard that they had fished out of the recycling. My favorite part of the collage is a large picture of Iginla, which at first confused me but then I saw the word "Boo" written in crayon along with a big pointing arrow and I knew my kids had done good. The specialist present I recieved this year came from Maddison. She filled out a "My Dad and me" book which is basically just what it sounds like except it also makes you cry. Apparently.
So that's that. All the presents are opened and the kids are intensly playing with their new toys. This was Hugo's first Christmas so even he is enjoying chewing on his new. . .wrapping paper. As I type, Angie's helping Ethan put together one of those complicated left brain scientific kind of things - I tried for an hour and got to step 6 - out of 30. Ang "left brain" Close graciously suggested I "start breakfast or something" while she took over and I think they're just finishing. I used to get mad at how much sucked at stuff like that but I've finally come to accept that I am who I am and plus -by playing the fool I get out of a lot. Shhhhh though. Don't want Ang to catch on.

Last night we watched "It's a Wonderful Life" for the umpteenth time and yes, we cried for the umpteenth time. Its that good. Maxim can shove it as far as I'm concerned. Anyways, the movie ends with a quote that I wish to share with you:

"No man is a failure who has friends."

Thanks for being the secret to my success! I love you all!

Have a great Winter Solstice and a Happy New annual time.

Politically Correct John

P.S. We've been trying to post pictures but blogger's being a bugger. Try again later. Speaking of later, I was supposed to make breakfast, yikes. Mmmm sausage.

Coxes

Our bestest best friends, Brian and Charla, are now fellow bloggers.

Atta boy. Atta girl.

John

Do I know you?

You know that wierd feeling you get when you run into someone you haven't seen since you lived on Vancouver Island 12 years ago? That was my feeling the other day when an old friend walked into Subway and my brain was saying sure looks like him, but be reasonable, he doesn't belong here. Of course I was way too chicken to say hi (stinking shyness), ignoring John and the kids' encouragements. Maddie said I will regret it forever, which may be stretching things a little bit, but I do regret it. Life is wierd. People are wierd. We put up so many walls (I'm the queen of walls, if you're wondering). I would love to be one of those people that could just bounce up and say hi, remember me? Angie Close...um Ellis? Minus the bouncing part- that could get annoying. And the umming- that's not smooth. I would like to have done it with confidance and grace, but instead I slinked off as my family mocked me. By the way, families are supposed to support and encourage, not mock.
So, I guesse I should learn my lesson, which is take chances even if you feel like an idiot.
And also don't even try to eat a foot long once you hit 30.

Ang

Todd

Todd has entered the blogging world.

Go check him out, but careful, he's married.

Oh yeah, Todd's an old buddy from high school.

John

Dave Turner's a Heretic

Dave Turner's a heretic. Obviously. Anyone who raises the question of whether or not truth can be found outside of Christianity must be. Dave shared how the Life of Pi made him think - which is frightening because thinking leads to thoughts which leads to conclusions which leads to choices which may or may not lead to converting to Confucianism. Take a quick glance at the history of Christianity and it'll show that much of it involves Christian leaders killing those who don't agree, or worse, think free. Think about it for a second. I mean, consider it for a second. Jesus died in 30 a.d. give or take 3.14 years and people began to speak of the way of him shortly after that. Hence the NT. Fast forward 300 years and Constantine decides that maybe these Christians aren't so bad after all. Next thing you know the Super Power of the day becomes Christian. The same faith of its leader who they killed only 300 years earlier. Talk about moody. A few days after the big conversion all the heretic's are rounded up and either killed or "inspired" to convert. Pretty soon the world begins to warm up to this new found faith. "Yeh, Christianity is super cool." - 4th century Roman with a blade on his throat. At the same time, the bible comes out which of course legitimizes butchering those who don't agree. Or does it? Hmm, must read again. Anyways, the next 1100 years involves Christians of the Catholic brand dominating the world, killing those who don't agree, especially those pesky Muslims. Its much easier to hate a cousin then a unknown peaceful man from Tibet. At the same time the Catholic Christians are even butchering those other guys, Protestants, heretics, free thinkers. That is until a guy named Luther says that's enough. There is no way you have a monopoly on truth. Here's 95 things I suggest you think about. Suprisingly Luther lived a few years after mainly because most of the world said, wait a second, he's right, we don't have to be told what to believe. We can pursue God on our own. So began the Protestant Reformation, that big boring thing we all slept through in Bible College. It turns out its not boring at all though, but the beginning of humans thinking free and seeking God for God's sake. If that's isn't awesome a few decades later the Printing Press was born and pretty soon bibles were in the hands of nearly everyone, those who could read anyways, which was very few. Meanwhile the Papacy kept its stranglehold on people's minds and truth by refusing to translate the bible into English thus forcing people to listen and nod to Latinspeak for the better part of 300 years. In fact it wasn't until 1965 that Catholic powers said - ok fine, we'll translate it into English, but you gotta calm down. Seriously. Your anger is unchristian.

Back up 200 years and you'll find that people become enlightened. In fact, they were so enligthened they called this time, The age of Enlightenment. During this time people were free to work out their faith except for one thing. . .they must do it this way - literally and factually. (by the way, this way of biblical interpretation is only 200 years old, which you know, is interesting.) This created a whole new kind of domination system. One that said "where the bible speaks, we speak, where the bible is silent, we're silent." In other words, interpret the bible this way. This in turn created a back door oppression, one that still kept people from thinking for themselves and having their own relationship with God. If you're told what to think are you really thinking? So, the good news was people weren't getting butchered anymore but the bad news was their thoughts were still held captive. They were enlightened yet their minds were dark.

But that was then, where are we now?

Well, we're living in an age of Pluralism. Which means, we are no longer just a Christian nation but a Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, etc. nation as well. Some see that as progression. And it is. But there are still more progressions that must come.

I believe we have far to go in our faith, in our quest for who Jesus really was and what he really said. And what that means for us today. I believe we have far to go in our quest for truth. I no longer believe truth can only be found within the 66 books of the bible. This does not mean I no longer believe in truth or the truth in the bible, I believe in it more then ever. I just don't believe the other 3 billion people in the world are Satan's children destined for eternity in hell. I see many of them seeking God, seeking truth, seeking to be a person of goodness with the same or even more passion then me. Have they come to the same conclusions as me? No. Does that mean they're wrong? Not necessarily. Truth can be tricky and appear in the strangest of places and who am I to say only I know where those places are.

Marcus Borg posed a question that I've been chewing on for some time now. "Does it make sense that the creator of the whole universe would be known in only one religious tradition, which fortunately, just happens to be our own."

No, it doesn't make sense. Christianity has had the Monopoly on truth for the past 2000 years but consequently it has also had the monopoly on blood shed, which, to be honest, I find those two things to be strange bed fellows.

So, what are you saying John?

Truth is everywhere. God is too big to be contained in a book or a system of theology which is why he doesn't invite his creation into a religion, he invites us into a relationship. If we pursue that instead of the former perhaps we'll find something More. And that More will change our lives.

WHAT JOHN IS NOT SAYING

- Believe whatever you want
- Christianity is no longer true
- The Bible is no longer our guide
- Catholics are evil. In fact, I feel quite the opposite.
- All religions are the same so fill free to belong to whoever you want
- Rage against authority
- Dave Turner's a Heretic

John

Wierdness

So I'm standing outside a few minutes ago, in the sub zero temperatures with snow cascading all around me when my a voice out of nowhere says - "Quite the snow fall we're having." Now normally I'm all for chatting it up with my neighbor friend but not when I'm in my underwear imploring my dog to go poop. Luckily my underwear is not as high as my fence. Anymore.

If that isn't wierd enough I started a conversation with my neighbor, why I don't know, remember, in my underwear, but as we talked I asked the neighbor what it was that he hauled in his trailer. He has like a 30ft trailer that he leaves parked in front of my house 7 days a week and I'm always wondering what he uses it for. He said "Oh, well we haul lots of stuff. For instance right now I'm hauling a air filtration system to be used in a Marajuana Grow Op."

The punchline never did come.

My neighbor just wished me a good night then strolled back across the street and the next thing I knew I was still outside, in my briefs, wondering what just happened.

At least Hugo pooped.


John

A Shell

This Fall, Ang and I watched two close friends say goodbye to their mother. She was only 55. I have yet to watch a loved one die but seeing our friends do it so beautifully gave me hope that when the time comes, perhaps I will too.

Two weeks before Kellock died I found myself sitting on her bed, listening to her as she explained how she wasn't afraid to die and how she could feel God calling her home.
She could feel God. . .
As I continued to listen I couldn't help but notice her frail body. The Cancer had reduced her body to something like a shell yet. . .she could feel God. And it showed.

Since Kellock's passing I haven't been able to shake that image. Her physical shell. Her spiritual center.

The difficult thing for me has been the recognition that I'm often the opposite. I'm young, healthy and vibrant yet my centre is. . .unwell. I'm still struggling to feel God. Maybe that's why I read so much. Perhaps I'll feel God there. Feel God. What does that even mean? I long for that. Whatever it means. I hate feeling restless, discontent, frustrated. I'm sick of swivel head, always looking for the next thing. Why can't I just stop trying to create my life and instead embrace what God has already created. . .and called good.

The best thing about Kellock was she didn't wait to feel God till she was 55. She learned to feel him many years earlier. That's what I want.

God willing I'll live another 50-60 years. That's too long to go without feeling God. That's much to long to live a shellish life.

*This is the point of the blog where the Pastor wraps everything up with an offering from the Psalms or a winsome ancedote. Sorry folks, today, I got nothing.

John

another day

So, yesterday was a day to remember. I'm not a superstitious girl (I don't think I can even spell it right), but I was starting to feel that it might be best for the world if I remained locked in my room, out of reach of breakable objects. It all started with our phone not working- at all. Our only phone. Won't be fixed until Friday. Fine. I get the kids ready for school but can't find the backpacks or lunch containers. Or lunch meat for sandwhiches (John....?) Well, that's fine, too. Nothing out of the ordinary. So, I'm late. Get stuck in construction on the way there and back. Ram into a construction sign 2 minutes from my house and shatter side mirror. Accidentally cut some guy off in the confusion, got the classic courtesy finger. Come home to make spice tea and drop cannister on tile floor- half an hour of cleaning up glass slivers. Finish that to find Hugo chewing on my razor- ouch! Dogs must have some kind of miracle rubber tongue or something, cause he's fine. My razor is not. That was all before 10 am. But after that things took on a more peaceful feel as Lex and I made a very tasty carrot cake, if I do say so myself, and, for the first time, roasted lamb (let me just say yum). As for having no phone? It's not so bad. I can say with great gladness that no one tried to sell me insurance I already have or offer to clean carpets that I don't. I'm sorry to say I can't find an up side to having to pay for another van repair- unless it's a greater appreciation of mirrors or something.

And today- I just got a parcel from our good friends in Brandon (thanks Brian and Charla!), which is fun in itself, but opened it to find three books that I am very excited to read. The Catcher in the Rye (it's been a long time, little book), Go Ask Alice, and the Liar's Club. It struck me that this might be a fun idea- some kind of book exchange or book something (I don't want to say club, because that makes so many people cringe, but that's basically what I mean. We could call it not-a-book-club-by-any-stretch). I would like this, and here's to hoping that someone, somewhere would agree. Or at least prefer it to something like Chinese water torture. No, that's not a threat. I'm totally unfamiliar with the ways of torture and it would signifigantly damage the dynamic of the book club, I mean book something.

Ang

Bill Pan

I just finished my first Bible Study with Bill Pan. I met Pan last Friday when we both arrived at the church at the exact same time. Pan had just come here from China, 2 days previous, and with broken english asked if he could learn about Christianity. Apparently he had just moved into the neighborhood and had seen the Church when he was out walking one day. Pan and I spent the next hour trying to talk and by the end we had managed to understand each other enough to make a plan to study John's Gospel every Friday from 11am - whenever. I also learned Bill is 20, and he wants me to call him Bill because its easier, ha, and that he is beginning at the U of C in January. If you were to ask Bill what his present religion is he would smile and say "I'm just myself." There is beauty in that answer.

The study went very well today. I felt emotional at times as Bill discovered things like "Jesus can see God and came to help us see God too." Bill admitted that sometimes he struggles with belief in God because of Science. Bill is just about to begin a career in Mathematics. Another cool discovery was explaining to him about Moses. When I finished the Moses in the basket story his face lighted up and he explained to me how Moses' birth was similar to the Buddah's. I think that's cool.

Life is good when you're talking Jesus with Pan.

I bet Jay, Shannon and Harm know exactly what I mean.

John

KO

My buddy ol pal Kris Olson has just joined the blogging fray.

Check him out. Its time you got KO ed.

Ha. I love how cheesy that sounds. Ha.

John

P.S. Ha

looking up

Well, things are looking up. I'm mostly through with hacking like a 90 year old smoker thanks to the miracle of antibiotics (just doing my part to create that unstoppable super bug!). Our van should be ready tomorrow, so we can laugh and nudge eachother knowingly at all the fond memories of being stranded on Calgary's busiest intersections (that's right, 4 times) and relive all those moments of who should we call? no, we called them yesterday. but so and so lives too far away. are we needy friends? yeah, pretty much. NEEDY. Also, although I'm not thrilled that we had to pour embarrassingly large amounts of money into our van, the timing was what saved us as we had just remortgaged to finish our basement. A second bathroom would be a thing of beauty for this mom who hasn't had a shower without a steady stream of I have to pee! ...or worse. But another beautiful thing is having a running vehicle. Is beautiful a strong word? Trust me, it's not.
So, theme chant for the week: Hoorah for vans! Who needs basements! Goodbye bronchial infections!
It'll catch on....
Ang

more kids

Maddie going to the Sikh festival with our neighbours.

Ethan and John spending the night at the Zorn's ranch.

Alexa and Rusty sleeping.