Wish

You know what I wish I could shoot?

A real, authentic, traditional, no holds bar, Hindu wedding.

Oh, the vibrant colours.

I would have a field day.

Now...THIS is a Fantastic Engagement Story and SHOOT

Cheyenne Schultz Photography

I have decided that this year for my birthday I am going to have a Princess and the Frog birthday party with everything Princess and the Frog. Cake, plates, napkins, balloons, and have a dress code of green. And even ask for a Princess and the Frog doll.

My guy friends probably won't want to come....but I'll probably end up doing a joint party with S.A. again. So that'll take care of the boys, but this, THIS party will happen.

Stuck In My Head

Such a cute song!

Merry Christmas

[We] who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
[we] who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on us has light shined...
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and His name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end.
On the throne of David and over His kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

ISAIAH 9:2, 6-7

CRAP! I Just Ate My Prince?!

The Scene: Dinner at one of my aunties after spending the afternoon watching The Princess and the Frog. My auntie waltzes in with a stack of pizzas, one of which is BBQ chicken by special request... mine.

Auntie L.H.: "Guess what Shell, they had BBQ chicken. What my baby niece wants my baby niece gets."

Me perking up at the opportunity: "How about Prince Charming?"

Auntie L.H.: "Except that."

Me: "I guess I'll just have to start kissing frogs."

[Amphibians that is, not creepy humans. Too bad that we already had Kermit and his friends for dinner a few nights ago. That is exactly why the princess in the Princess and the Frog would never be Chinese. She'd eat him before he ever got his kiss.]

Auntie L.H.: "No, you just need to start hitting up more bars. That's where I met my Prince Charming."

[Please note: that my auntie is one of the sweetest non-sketchy women out there, but she actually did meet my uncle at a bar. He happens to be a very godly man. A great husband and father. Good-looking too.]

Me: "I'm going to quote you on that!"

Auntie L.H.: "Don't tell your mom I said that."

Cousin S.S.: "Just stay away from the New Mexico [something] toads."

California Sun

I'll Tell You When You're Older

I am going to invest in a shotgun...for my [yet to be born] baby boy(s) because apparently little girls growing up these days are getting predatory too.
[EDIT: In retrospect, I realize I'm going to become one of those dreaded mom-in-laws. Before they get married anyways. I'm ok with that.]

Yesterday I found out that my ten year old cousin got asked out by a little girl.
On the phone.

My brain exploded.
[Apparently another parent of tween sons banned phone calls from girls because the little girls were pursuing like no tomorrow.]

WHAT?! EXCUSE ME?! My precious 'lil cousin!
There are so many things wrong with this picture that I don't even know where to start.

Like the fact that ten year old girls are asking boys out? Dude, I couldn't even make eye contact with my crushes until university much less utter something more coherent than "hi". I'm still working on coherency, but I digress.

I attempted an intervention.

Keyword: attempted.

How do you explain to a boy of ten that...
he doesn't want a girl who is forward like that?
[She had chutzpah in asking, I'll give her that, but it also means other things as well...]
he shouldn't settle for her just because she asked him out?
he should pursue and persevere for the girl he likes...eventually?
[Because TEN is way too young.]
he wants a girl with character and that personality doesn't equal character?
he wants a girl who loves Jesus too?

I tried, and he asked "why?"
And I said, ask me again in six years, and I'll tell you.

But time is of the essence. I have influence now. How to wield it?

[And poor little girl. What influence does she have in her life that's made her so forward? I can only imagine the boy drama to come. Groan.]

And They're Up!!!

The family shots are in:

Chance James Photography

I like. A lot.

:)

Beloved

I am in Arizona, and a part of me already doesn't want to leave. It's like this every time. Here's to hoping there's no tears on the 26th.

Words of Comfort

Dad: S. do you have a headache?

[I was sprawled out in shotgun with a grimace on my face.]

Me: Noooo....I'm just queasy. I want to ralph again.

Mom: That's ok, even if you do, you have nothing left in your stomach.

[The night before was spent kneeling on ice cold tile floors retching into Mr. Toilet $20 worth of the best sushi you can get on this continent.]

There you go pragmatic words of comfort.

I Feel Validated...

by my dog.

For someone, she only sees twice a year, Sesame still trusts and loves me.

[Awwww...]

Of all of our pets, she's the least pleasing to the crowds. With wolfish ears and a dark stocky build, she's pretty intimidating to newbies at our house whereas Sugar's the dumb blonde that likes everyone. The [smarter] guard dog of the home, Sesame's wary of strangers. So it's pretty amazing to me that she still recognizes me and not only that, wants me to pet her belly. (If you've ever read White Fang or Call of the Wild, you'll know that showing the belly is a big sign of trust and submission.)

Then today when we were at the dog park for the first time with bigger dogs, she would hide behind me expecting me to protect her. Ahh...so much for the intimidation factor, but it felt sweet to be "in" with her.

Pet Peeve

"Christmas" songs, where the singer [usually, a girl] whines, I mean, sings about how all she wants for Christmas is some guy.

GAG.

It makes me want to hurt them.

Stuck In My Head

and in my heart. I want my wedding to be a fun one.

Quality Time With My Mom

CONTEXT: Lunch at my favourite sushi place and I just complained about my mom nagging me.

Mum: "Just you wait and see, if you don't end up nagging your kids, then my name isn't Zhou (Her maiden name)."

Me: Pause. "But your name isn't Zhou." (Her name is Jacobs now.)

Mum: Silence. Then she starts back peddling.

Me: 1 Mom: 0

CONTEXT: Working at Starbucks. I'm on my laptop. She's doing a cross stitch. There is a hyper little boy looking over her shoulders and peppering her with questions.

Mum: He's so annoying.

Me: But you want grandkids. This is good practice.

Mum: They won't be like this.

Me: You never know.

Me: 2 Mom: 0

Hehehehehe....

Mother and Daughter

I've always resisted taking pictures with my mom. I don't know why. But no more. This is the photographer that's going to do our mother and daughter shoot.

Chance James Photography.

Best Christmas present ever. She loves the sentimental stuff. And you can't over water pictures. My dad killed my birthday present to my mom when she went to China. BOO! That was an expensive pot of plant, man.

I hate the green-eyed monster within. Hate it. Go away.

There are moments in my life where I think, "WOW, this is like a scene from a bad movie."

Five Good Things Travelling Edition

1. Free Wi-Fi
2. Getting a row all to myself
3. Live music in the airport
4. Good conversation with the person next to me
5. Getting to the destination

Savor It Now

There have been multiple times this past week while cuddling with someone else's baby or playing with somebody's toddler, where I've thought, "Ok, Lord I'm ready to be a mummy. I want to have a little bundle of joy reach for me and call me, 'mama'. Yup, Lord, any day now......any day."

And then, I get home, and I'm bumming around doing my 'single ladies' thang. Running my show. Living it up.

Then God's like, "savor it now, instead of wishing it away."

Five Good Things

1. Bollywood Songs
Because anything that can bring a cheshire cat smile to my face during the gloom of winter deserves to be on this list.

2. Bubble Baths
With French Vanilla Toasted Almond bubbles.

3. A Slow Morning
Nothing like a slow morning to rejuvenate me. Bumming around in PJs, cooking breakfast, dancing.

4. Inspiration
Hits you at the most random times.

5. Community
Mhmm...

An Open Blog Post to the World or Rather...

In the case of the unfortunate individual who may be mistakenly assigned as L.L's roommate at Winter Conference.

Please note:

That you might suddenly find your luggage in a different room from which you had settled into because...

I am the type of best friend who will get L.L. in some form or fashion, with or without consent, consciously or unconsciously to give me her room key, go inside, pack your luggage, move it into MY room, and move my stuff into yours with or without your knowledge and or consent.

That is all.

Next Summer

This is what I may be looking forward to next summer...

my birthplace:



and this...

one of my dream vacation spots:



Airfare and accomodations: FREE. Courtesy of family, friends, and aeroplan.

It's a Slow Process

At this point I am averaging two new words per Bollywood movie. And that's not even learning how to say them. Just being able to understand it. So at this rate.....I'll be conversationally fluent hearing wise...WHEN? Hahaha.

Man, I feel sorry for those that have to learn a new language as adults. I'm glad I learned 2.5 as a kid when I did.

Stuck In My Head

Courtesy of Mr. K.M., Miley's number one fan.