Retreats! Protests! ...and Scones!

Hello, old friend Blog! It's been a while. I've just been so absorbed in October and all its autumn-y offerings (pumpkin scones! Thank you Starbucks!) that I just haven't sat down to write! Now I have a bit of a stockpile, and that's good for both of us. 

So Parker is in escrow on a house. And it is the loveliest little home. It's cozy, attractive, and amiable- just like a Parker house should be. I've decided I'm going to name it the Love Shack. I wish I could name it Brick House...but it isn't made of brick. Ha. It's south of Betteravia (like Parker wanted), it has a nice kitchen (like I wanted), and an absolutely wonderful backyard. It has two apple trees, a big olive tree in the center of the yard, and lots of shade. Flowers and gnomes also abound, but Parker intends to use the gnomes for target practice if they're still inhabiting the backyard when he arrives (Michael Shaw, intervene!). I don't want to see them go, because the gnomes were what told me that this house was the One. But never mind. The house is great. (If by any chance Parker doesn't get this house- darn real estate market/mayor- you may kindly disregard this paragraph.)

Also in October was the Women's Retreat in Montecito. Yeah, where Oprah lives. I was definitely the youngest person there, but I was not disappointed at all. The ladies at our church can be gracious, hilarious, and great teachers, even if they don't realize it. For the first time, I got to know these women a bit more; what their personal struggles are, what their lives are apart from Sunday mornings. The speakers and workshops were insightful and relevant about what God has for all women and how we can and need to include Him in everything we do. And when it was time for games at the end of the day...wow. I can tell you I laughed until I cried every time we played games, probably multiple times. I'm going to try and get more people to go next time- it was awesome. 

Right now I am a busy bee- I have a personal assistant job, a nanny job, and a tutoring job at the moment. My Santa Barbara Police Dispatcher is a week from tomorrow, and I'm excited to say the least. I think I'd be a good dispatcher. I'm praying about it lots, because it's a big job.

Today I saw a protest on the corner of Betteravia and Miller. It was a group of old people protesting our current presidential administration. So I stopped and talked with them for a while, and one lady broke down- she was that upset. She said she wished young people would open up their eyes and realize where this country is going. It was definitely some food for thought.

Well, I have more to write but it'll have to wait a little while longer. Until then!

~VL~