The Wonder of It All

Yesterday as I was driving, I saw the most beautiful sky. It was bright blue and, with the timing of the sunset, there were giant red stripes screaming across it. I can tell you why the light makes those gorgeous mix of colors, but I'll spare you. Someone once said that explaining those awe-inspiring moments takes the wonder away. I spent all night thinking about that. Did I think sunsets were less spectacular after I learned about wavelengths? Did I admire the blue of the ocean less once I was taught light refraction? Did I have less reverence for the hand of God in his creation of the human body with thorough explanation of the ATP cycle?

If you've spent any time in Dr. Tro's chemistry class, you would hate to go toe-to-toe with him over any of these questions. He will tell you that he became a chemist in order to better understand God and his magnificent wonders. Studying science at Westmont was one of the best things I did for my brain and my soul. It made me find harmony in two worlds that often battle, and for that I am thankful.

I only have more reverence for a God who can put colors like this together, make the vast ocean appear blue, AND invent the ATP Cycle.

The Verdict is In...

Our blog is Cool Like Hammer Pants. Yes, you heard right...hammer pants. Just in case you got suddenly jealous, don't worry. You can be cool in hammer pants, thanks to this nifty little pattern:

Thanks to everyone who voted...here are the results:

As you can see, "Cool Like Hammer Pants" edged out "Awesome" and "Rad" nearly two to one, and left "Outstanding" and "Just Lovely" in the dust. Thanks for confirming what we knew was true. Be on the lookout for new polls, and exercise your right to vote!

Sappy Saturdays, Installment #1: Homecoming

Sappy Saturdays means reminiscing and remembering, and because of that, probably laughing. In honor of Madera High's homecoming game last night, you'll get to relive MY Senior Year Homecoming...lucky you! (By the way, in case you were wondering...Madera lost last night to Clovis High 21-14, but Anthony had some great hits on Defense and some completions on Offense.)

Facts about October 8, 1999:

#1 Song: Heartbreaker by Mariah Carey
New York Times Best Sellers: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K Rowling and Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
Game Score: Madera finally gets smart and plays someone they can beat! Win over McLane 34-7
Homecoming King and Queen: Lorena Villafan and Rey Garcia
According to my high school yearbook, my plans were to "go to college in Southern California and meet Chloe in Pismo every summer. I'll learn to surf with Alli and Becki; we'll be surfing chicks. I'll meet my Prince Charming and we'll get married. After a while, we'll have a couple of kids and live happily ever after. Sometime in my life, Joseph will be right."



So I don't have my senior picture, but I do have a photo of what I might have looked like (look left). Personally, I seemed to be ahead of the times, because my Orange Can Bang Days came before the year 2000.

And because it isn't horrifying enough to look at pictures of myself in high school, I went further back. AND since I rarely subject myself to this kind of humiliation and endure it alone, I have fixed up some pictures of Ryan, too (surprise, honey!).

1950's: Men once wore bowties to school, and women cooked from scratch. Everyone say "Awwwww."











1960's: The decade where "we would rather look perfect than sleep." Glad those are over.












1970's: Some bitchin' times, man.











1980's: Proof that the Farrah Fuacet Feathering technique is not just for the ladies.












1990's: Because who doesn't need a reminder that mullets and perms were once popular?

For humor's sake, go Yearbook Yourself!

Spirit Fingers

Like any other Friday evening in the fall, we are packing up our blankets, foam fingers, and air horns (not really) and following the Madera High School football team to their playing location.

Destination tonight? Lee DaSilva Field, MHS Home, for the annual Homecoming Game.

Stats on our favorite player:

Name: Anthony Mindt
Number: 5
Position: Quarterback, Defensive Linebacker, Tight End
Year: Junior
Height/Weight: 6'2" / 183 lbs.
Future Goals: History Teacher or Athletic Trainer
GPA: 4.2

Little Anthony (not so little, as you can see, but 10 years my minor, so I can still call him that) has many, many years owed to him as a fan. Between my sister and me, we made sure Anthony spent every waking minute at a softball field, soccer field, volleyball court, or golf course. So, remembering that, we show up to every game (okay...most games) with some 'fwends' (a term Anthony coined when he was 4) and cheer him on.

Madera will be playing Clovis High, and we'll be rooting for Madera, the underdogs! So get out your spirit fingers and root for the boys in blue!

Go Madera!

Off to Asilomar

Lopez Family blog will be temporarily dormant while Kim attends a conference at Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, CA.

I'll be back Friday with a recharged battery and the memory of fresh salt air!

Welcome!

I'm guessing if you're checking out this blog, you are (1) a family or friend who received an email inviting you to frequently visit our site, or (2) kind of a creepy/inquisitive person who is blog-stalking. Either way, we're glad you found us! Please feel free to look around, click on links, and please, please, please leave comments (at the bottom of each post)!

Also, if I can kindly direct your attention to the right, I'd like to point out a few things:
-Subscribe Via Email will notify you (not more than once a day) when a new post is added. This neat little tool will keep you from frequently checking our site, only to be sadly let down by the lack of new posts. See? Very cool.
-Our Favorites is a little slide show of our favorite pictures. They're very cute, and we'll try to keep changing them. Sorry about the small size, but there is no way that we know of to make them larger.
-A Poll! I know...we want your opinions. This first one might be a little weighted, but we wanted to kick our egos into high gear for our Blog Kickoff.

Again, thanks for visiting. Add us to your Favorites (up at the top on your Toolbar), and check back often. And...for goodness sake, leave us some comments, so we don't lose momentum and stop posting. That would be such a shame.

Fall Fun!

This weekend we had the complete pleasure of visiting our dear friends Lindsey and Nate in their lovely town of Sacramento. A short 2-hour drive provided us lots of entertainment (thanks, Emily), healthy conversation with adults (we lack this sometimes), and just plain ol' good times.

Some of our highlights:

• Ryan and Nate's first golf date (bonus...Glen joined them and brought cookies!)

• Broken Bowl (thanks for trying to help, Emily, but next time please don't slam Mommy with a pillow while I am carrying your cereal)

• Visiting Bishop's Pumpkin Farm and letting Emily pick a pumpkin and get filthy dirty.



• Sleeping in until 7:30 and waking up both mornings to Emily saying, "Mommy...poop. Mom...poop," and then letting Ryan get up and change her.



• Sampling another tasty dish to add to our "We-Stole-This-Recipe-From-Lindsey...Again" collection (Chili-Cheese Black Bean Enchiladas, in case you were wondering). I swear, if it weren't for your recommendations, Linds, we wouldn't eat!



• Enjoying Peppermint Hot Chocolate while walking to McKinley park to let Emily play on the really cool old-school playground.

This simple weekend getaway was just what we needed: good times with good friends. Thanks Linds and Nate! We'll see you in January for some snow action, and we'll have a Crate & Barrel Bowl in hand.

We're Multiplying!

We aren't exactly doubling in size, but we are increasing! We're expecting another precious baby next year! Our official due date is April 1st, but in my 'medical opinion, no woman should have to be due on April Fool's day. So, after consulting with our kind physician, we've altered the date by a day: March 31st. If you have your pregnancy calendar handy, it would tell you that as of October 14th, I was 4 months along...and only 6 more to go. So keep us in your prayers and we'll keep you in the know!

We are still introducing this news to Emily. When we showed her the pictures, she looked a little confused as she compared her plastic baby doll to this 'thing' we called Baby. Now, her reaction whenever we mention the word 'Baby' is "I BABY!" Okay, okay, you can be the baby for a few more months!

From the Birthday Girl

Dear Birthday Party Attendees (and those who could not make it),


Thank you very much for coming to my birthday party. I did have a wonderful time visiting with you all! The day started around 3ish. Daddy,

Mommy, and I headed over to Mimi and Papa's house for the festivities. Mom dressed me in a cute little outfit, but I just wasn't feeling the 'clothes' thing, so I decided my Birthday Suit would be more fitting. I had a good time playing ball with Uncle Anthony and feeling 'free.'

After I was a little wore out, I refueled with some fine Italian cuisine (Mom calls it pizza) and ate my first meal off the Traditional Mindt "You Are Special" plate. Mom also let me have juice for dinner, which was quite a treat.


And at last...presents. That glorious stack of colored boxes taunted me all afternoon, but finally it was time. I got books, toys, clothes, art stuff, and lots more! The picture here is of my new Cabbage Patch Doll named Leigh Eula (we're thinking of doing an official name change, for the sake of embarassment when Leigh starts school) and stroller. Thank you so much for spoiling me, and for bearing with me while my attention shifted to one shiny thing to another.


As if opening tons of presents wasn't enough, we moved on to cake and ice cream, which I decided I would like to have for dinner tomorrow night. What a tasty way to end an evening!


Mom and Dad will try to tell you that when I went home I had a 'meltdown.' I prefer to think of it as an dramatic display of emotion. It was a good day, but I was glad when my head hit the pillow.



Thanks again! See you this time next year!

Love, Emily

Happy Birthday to our Little Monkey

Dear Sweetest Darling,

Two years ago, you changed our life. You came into our simple world and showed us God's most special work. We learned what it was like to sleep less, love more, and do lots of laundry. We're so glad we were able to cherish special moments with you like taking walks, smelling the flowers, baking brownies, and building houses.

Two years ago, you were a sweet little baby, just learning how the world works. You shook rattles, coo'ed, and finally smiled! Some time during these past years, you grew into a little girl. What an amazing transformation, and we can't wait to see what you'll be in another two years. I know you'll continue to show us how to love more deeply, have more patience, and enjoy life's little treasures.

Today, we celebrate you, and thank you for making our life even more complete. We are looking forward to watching you grow, discover, and become our big girl.

Happy Birthday, little one!

Love, Mommy and Daddy