Moorpark Civil War Re-enactment Today

Penny and Lydia
Daniel and Aaron looking on

Daniel and Aaron looking at the battlefiled

Mr. Lincoln with the kids--wouldn't be complete without him!
Aaron, Daniel
Mandy and Aaron
Penny and Daniel and Grandma
Mandy and Judi and Lydia and Aaron
Spotsylvania Battle at Richmond
My brothers and sister Judi are Civil War buffs, and so it stands to reason we would be drawn into it from time to time. My sister is a great seamstress and made some really pretty (and authentic) dresses for my grand-daughter Penny, her daughter Mandy and her daughter Mandy, and for herself. Today we dressed up and went to the Tierra Rejada Ranch in Moorpark and watched two battle re-enactments, Spotsylvania and Sayler's Creek. My grandson Daniel and Judi's grandson Aaron really liked it and had to hold their ears for the noise. It's amazing to see such huge crowds that do this. It was a really fun experience.

Halloween's Past and Present

Freddy's Family with Uncle Bob & Aunt Judy
Jonathan being greeted by Grammy
Emily
Penny
Freddy's Daniel
Annie's Garrett and Emily, Freddy's Penny
Annie's little Garrett Elmo
Twins scary masks
Come in my pretty...

Bob and I were chatting about Halloween's past and how we would dress. It's different today! Parents purchase all manner of paraphernalia to get the costumes just right. Bob and I, and our siblings, would make our costumes...sometimes out of paper grocery sacks. Usually my brothers were Indians, or hobos, or cowboys, and my sister was often a gypsy. I remember being done up as a black mammy, complete with face paint, lipstick, a rayon 50's navy blue dress with white polka dots, and a red bandana tied around my head and shiny gold hoop earings. And as unbelievable as that may sound, I wasn't the only one dressed that way at the school carnival parade. Later, we would raid Dad's closet and put on a white dress shirt and a tie, blue jeans, and I would dress like a "teenager" of the 50's... that may not seem so unusual, except that it WAS the fifties, and that IS how teenagers dressed then! Then we'd take our paper grocery sacks and head out to the sidewalks and with THRONGS of kids go door to door, WITHOUT our parents. Our older brother and sister would head out and not stay with us... then when we got home (LATE, because you couldn't trick or treat until it turned dark outside), our candy would all be spilled out on the living room floor and the older siblings would take their favorite candy from us. We didn't mind--and we got it all eaten in just a few days. Oh how I wish there had been pictures taken!

There were many neighbors who did the most amazing haunted houses, and we would be terrified to go up to the door. Some neighborhood Halloween parties took place as well and they included bobbing for apples, noisemakers, candy, and apple cider. Later in the 70's and 80's Fred would always have our youth groups put on "Un-Haunted" houses, and Harvest parties to be sure we think of Fall as a time of bounty, harvest, and God's supply. During our early Colorado years, we went on lots of hay rides, and soon after starting at Arizona Bible College, we hiked out in the desert one Halloween with our fellow students and sat along a brick wall that was a ruin...it was very scary, complete with one student getting bit by a white tarantula and she had to be taken to the hospital!

This year, I look at how Halloween is celebrated with our kids--it's clearly different than when we were young, but the basics are the same--little kids dress up in costumes and go trick or treating. I couldn't help but wish I could have seen Isaac's kids in their little Alaska community doing their thing (I'll post their pictures when I get them...) but we had so much fun with Annie's and Freddy's families coming over for the traditional chili soup supper and then heading out for the various stops they have to make to visit grandparents and families and friends on both sides of their families.

One of the stops is to Uncle Bob and Aunt Judy's for the scary stories Aunt Judy tells and then Uncle Bob always disappears and then comes out at the appropriate point in the story dressed to SCARE! I decided to dress up as the wicked queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and show up at Bob and Judy's and ring the doorbell. It was a blast and fun to completely surprise everyone. Here are some of the photos...

In it Together...

I had such a nice evening last night--I was invited to join 8 women to welcome two new youth pastor's wives to our church...it was a lovely pot luck dinner at the children's director's gorgeous home out in Simi Valley. Each woman shared how God had led them, how they met their husbands, and what their passion is--for the Lord, for their lives. I was struck how although we each have our own very unique story--a common thread runs through all of our lives--a story of a JOURNEY and of a sure CALLING. I love to tell the story of God's call on my life. I would never have responded to His call had it not been that I fell in love with a young man headed for the ministry. And to this very day, he is serving the Lord, all out, full on, sold out, and to the finish. The first 25 years were so different than these last 16. The first, I was working right along beside him and the churches we served got "two for the price of one!" These recent years I have been working at a career, but not for myself, rather so that he is free to serve in the unique field that he is in. His stories are amazing, heart-breaking, and often miraculous. And I am there for him to come home to and to know that all is well--we're in it together, and we're in it to the finish.

Whoopie!

Anyone who has known me for very long know that I used to be a skinny person. Until about 45 years old, which was a long time ago now. Not being skinny was somewhat of a shock to me. Never having had to think about what I ate or exercize before, I did nothing about the "new me." To make a long story short, five weeks ago I decided it was time to change. I said my goal was to strengthen my core, not to lose weight. Well a complete reversal in habits has proven to me that you can teach an old dog new tricks--although I had serious doubt that would be possible for me, not to mention the added motivation of aging rapidly, deteriorating joints, various kinds of arthitis, AND, on top of it all, having become "pre-diabetic."

Today I had an experience I thought I would share with my blogging family. Keep in mind, to date, I'm very diligently building up my "core," and I've been eating right for the first time in my life.

Falling off the wagon--Whoopie!

So today I decide I'm going to not eat bkfst at home (I usually eat yogurt, granola and fruit, or fruit and an egg) but to stop at my favorite Corner Bakery on the way in and splurge on the cold oatmeal w/yogurt and chopped apples cup that I like and then have some mocha coffee with non fat milk and no whip as an extra splurge. When I got there they had these new cookies called "Whoopies." There are two kinds: chocolate with a vanilla frosting in between two layers of cookie, and pumpkin with a vanilla looking frosting in between. It was the pumpkin that got me. I HAD to buy one and thought I'd share it with my colleagues when I got in to work, but just have a tiny little taste, just in case it was something I'd need to make for the holidays--you know, for practical reasons. Needless to say, I had downed it before my oatmeal takeout was ready. It was the most yummy thing I've put in my face in months. Of course, I have absolutely no clue as to how far back that thing will set me on my new weight loss and body-building/shaping kick I'm on. I'll know more about that tomorrow when I meet with BRIDGETT, the six-foot perfect specimen of health and bone thin fitness person. Oy.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

My Dad turned 87 today. In typical Wallace Family style, we gathered about 35 family members together and gave him gifts and angel food cake with strawberries and cream. There was lots of talking, laughter, reminiscing, story-telling, children running and playing, looking at old photos, and cheers for the latest triumph of one or another. All because of one man, and the love he gave to his extended family, his beloved wife, children, and grandchildren over so many, many years.

Recently I've been sorting through mountains of their old photos. I was struck by how amazingly handsome a man he was, and still is in so many ways. My brother Bob and I were looking a batch of old tree job pictures--not only was he handsome, he was strong. There are photos of him 60, 80, 120 feet in the air suspended by ropes, spurs and massive chain saws swinging behind him. Amazing to see him braced in an enormous eucalyptus tree sawing through branches five times his girth, at just the right angle, tying ropes to the log so it could be brought down without taking him with it or injuring anyone on the ground. The City of Los Angeles called him a "tree surgeon"... and it is obvious when looking at the photos what kind of skill, as well as bravery, it took.

That was my dad. Skilled and brave.

I recently read through a journal I wrote years ago about my own life, a history of events and thoughts, beliefs, and values. Woven throughout are things I've learned from my dad and my feelings about him. He gave me so much...what I think about and do today originated with him. The greatest gift he gave to me was his unconditional and sacrificial love for me. He truly was, and is, the "Jesus with skin on" that I needed as a child. He opened the door for my own beliefs and a knowledge that God as my Father in Heaven loves me, no matter how far I may stray from Him. Like my earthly daddy, His door is always open to welcome me home. He didn't have to tell me, he demonstrated it. And I knew it.

Today my dad isn't so strong anymore and he's not remembering everything. Now I open his door with a key. But when I unlock the door of my childhood home and come in, I hear those sweet words that will forever ring in my ears, "Well hello Sweetheart! How's my little dolly today? Doesn't she look like a million bucks Mama?"

Summer Vacation!

Cheri, Becky, Nita
Isaac reunited with his girls
Happy Birthday Jolie!
Lego Capital! Emmy, Jonathan, Daniel
Legoland Ride
Legoland!
Baby Tess
Penny & Phia
Stairsteps
Grandma & Jolie Ruth
Sophia
Phia, Emmy, Jolie at church
All swim!
The last three weeks went by amazingly fast! Katie and the girls arrived from Alaska on the 28th and stayed for two weeks. It was so wonderful to watch all the kids playing together as we gathered for various family activities. We just missed Isaac who stayed behind to get started in the new school year in Thorne Bay. During the two weeks Fred had surgery on his eyes--for drooping eyelids--it was pretty horrendous as far as how bruised and stitched up he was! He was a patient "patient" while the healing took placed and he stayed home for two weeks just going back to work this past Tuesday. I took two weeks off beginning August 24 and we managed to hit Legoland with all the mommies and all the kids, I stole a little time away to visit with our dear friend Lisa Norr from our San Diego years who was vacationing down in Carlsbad, and I took one day to take the oldest four little grand-daughters to Disneyland. Then on Thursday night before Katie and the girls headed back home, we had a small scale birthday party for little Jolie Ruth who turns "2" on September 28. I flew back up to Ketchikan with Katie and the girls and got to see their family reunite with Isaac who took a float plane over and then helped the family head home on the ferry last Saturday afternoon. I then flew down to Portland and spent two days at the coast with good friends Cheri Green and Anita and Gene Inzer. It was so beautiful. When I got home late Monday night, I was sick with a cold and there were fires everywhere...the air is thick with smoke and it is so tragic. I was glad to be home and have enjoyed the last couple of days recuperating and catching up with personal business and spending time with Fred who is doing really well. God is so good and I am thankful for family and friends and His blessing on our lives.

39th Anniversary

Today is our 39th wedding anniversary. Fred and I met in September of 1968. It was ALMOST love at first sight. After just a few weeks of dating, we both KNEW each was "the one." In the spring we were engaged. In the summer we were apart, I in Michigan working at Little Harbor Club for my dad's cousin "Mr. Fulton" and Fred in Phoenix working for Mrs. Stanley at the stationary store. We missed each other desperately and we have hundreds of letters to prove it. During that summer of '69 Fred bought his first car and I watched a man walk on the moon on a small black and white TV in Little Harbor, Michigan. That fall we began to prepare for marriage and we had a lovely summer wedding at my home church, Christ Community in Canoga Park, California. My twin brother in his Air Force uniform and my Daddy walked me down the aisle and my sister Judi worked her fingers to the bone to make my wedding beautiful. Our honeymoon was spent driving to the first church Fred would serve in Denver, Colorado. We had our firstborn, Freddy, while in Colorado in September of 1971 and since then have served churches in Costa Mesa, Lakeside, and Anaheim, CA, and then Oregon for 7 years, and then we made our last move to Winnetka in 1993 when Fred became the hospital chaplain at Kaiser Woodland Hills.

Our lives have been lived to the fullest, our marriage, while not perfect, has been God's perfect choice for us both. We are humbled by such amazing love and blessings. There are not words to describe how we feel about our children and grandchildren. Freddy, Isaac, Annie, their spouses are our kids, and their children--all eight of them, are so special to us.

When I think of 39 years, it feels like I could author volumes of books--at least one devoted to the life of a pastor's wife, one on marriage, one on parenting, and one on being a child of God...! But today I will think on my husband and how blessed I am to have lived 39 years with a man who loves me more today than yesterday, and more than I could have ever imagined. He never forgets, he always supports, and he always serves. Just this morning he gave me the most beautiful card and wrote the most touching sentiments he's ever given me. Sometimes having someone so loving and devoted who never forgets our special days is easy to take for granted. Today's card just moved me so deeply. All that I can add is to say how grateful I am to the Lord who alone has done this. "...so underserved, yet He gave to prove His love for me..."

Happy anniversary Honey!