Chinese Wedding

I am the coordinator for weddings at our church so basically I make sure the bride/groom/ friends can get into the church when they need to.

Sometimes I decorate the stage and sometimes they want to do it themselves. I help with set up and tear down of the decorations and make sure the sanctuary and any other rooms they've used are back to normal once they leave.

Today I coordinated a Chinese wedding at our church and it was interesting.

Traditionally the Chinese couple who are getting married will wake up at dawn and will get ready.

The bride wears red.

The groom wears a tux with a shirt that look like its crawling out of the jacket and up his neck.

Then a few of the men go to the bride's house, kidnap her and take her to another place where she plays games with her friends.

There is a tea ceremony with each set of parents and then they get married in the church.

After the wedding there is a reception (Chinese food of course) followed by a banquet later on in the evening. The festivities continue way into the night.

Today the bride arrived an hour before the ceremony in a stunning traditional red Chinese dress with a bouquet of red roses. She changed into her wedding dress (white) and her makeup matched her dress. She looked like a geisha - aren't geisha's Japanese? The makeup looked worse than stage makeup but I guess that's what they do. The groom changed into what looked like a Chinese military outfit and he had on white shoes that reminded me of pixie boots - you know the kind with the pointed toe that goes up in the front. They were pretty cool actually...they just needed a bell on the tip of the toe.

I had to laugh during the ceremony because as soon as the bride began her slow wedding step down the aisle with her father, all the cameras and camera phones came out and everyone took photos. It was like Paris Hilton had entered the building...over 50 flashes going off as she went down the aisle.

There was an official photographer but 2 other guys decided they were going to take photos too so they were up on the stage, dashing around, trying to get the best picture of the bride and groom. The official photographer was getting cheezed off and tried to wave them off the stage a few times.

Then there was some guy in tacky jeans and a scruffy T-shirt standing directly behind the bride and groom who videotaped the ceremony. There was yet another guy who was videotaping and walked around, up and down the aisle, at the back of the stage and across the front of the church, filming everyone including the bride and groom. It was so weird.

The entire ceremony was in Chinese and fortunately the order of service was in English but even then there were some surprise moments for Warren (who was doing sound) when odd people got up to talk at the microphone. He was on his toes throughout the ceremony.

After the ceremony the photographer took 1.5 hours to get the photos done on the stage. He took about 10 shots per pose and man, were there poses. The bride at the piano with him leaning on it watching her; him sitting at the piano with her (I have no idea if she actually can play), posing with the ring bearers cushion, posing with the candles, posing with the drapes that were on the stage, a posing kiss, her looking dreamily into his eyes, etc.

The boys had to come with us to the church and they were fantastic throughout the day. I let them watch a movie in a classroom during the wedding ceremony and they helped Warren and I clean the wax off the candelabras before we put them away. So they are now watching Indiana Jones and tomorrow we're taking them to the pool. The poor kids have been to the church 6 days this week so we're bunking church (playing hooky) and tomorrow is our Sabbath...we're going to REST!

Alone On The Trail

I like to run alone for a few reasons and one of them is that I don't have to talk. Talking equates to gasping on my part because the person I run with is usually faster than I am.

Also, its hard to squeeze a fart out quietly when you're with others.

But another reason is that I like to listen to my iPod while running. I usually have upbeat songs going which helps me keep my rhythm of a fairly decent running pace. I've enjoyed running with other people but if I could choose, I'd run alone.

Farmer's Highline Canal Trail (aka my trail)

During the week I run shorter runs around the neighborhood. Above is the trail that I run on when I have to run my long runs which happens to be every Saturday morning. Its a lovely trail with old trees flanking each side of it.

This is how my Saturdays usually start:

1. My alarm goes off at 5:30 am and I jump out of bed before any thoughts of going back to sleep enter my brain.

2. I change into my running gear (laid out the night before) and then eat a tortilla spread with peanut butter plus a banana in my car on the way to the trail. (Both are for easy digestion and a source of carbs which I'll need during the run).

3. I drive to the trail all the time wishing I was still in bed.

4. I grab my camelbak after locking the car in the trail's parking lot. I look like a packhorse by the time I start running because I have a camelbak on my back with my water supply and a belt with a pouch that stores my car keys, tissues (in case I need to go behind a bush), hard candies to suck on (for glycogen) and my cell phone in case I can't make it back to the car for some reason. Then I've got my headphones on with my iPod clipped to my sleeve or shorts.

The trail is very quiet at 5:45 am and I enjoy the time to myself. As the morning wears on, more runners emerge onto the trail and we salute with a weak raising of the hand as we pass each other.

Sometimes I pray for people I know when I run.

Sometimes I pray that I will make it through the next mile!!

I also think a lot during my runs. I plan out the renovations that I'd like for our house, I think about vacations, I think about people and their lives, etc. Its a good time to reflect and be alone.

When I get to the halfway mark on my 2.5 hr run, I start to talk to myself back to the car. It goes something like this...

- "You're halfway through it. Keep going. You're a horse returning to its stable"

- "You're doing great, only 4 miles to go"

- "If you need to walk, you can but try and make it to the next tree before you walk"

- "you don't have to go to the toilet again - you can hold it in until you get home"

- "OK, now you only have 2 miles to go. See, you can do it"

- "Just 1 more mile - its nothing - its easy - you're nearly done"

- "Wahoo, you've done it. Its over"

...and then I congratulate myself over and over for not dying on the trail when I get back to the car.

Running alone has its benefits, especially when I'm shuffling along, convincing myself that I'm actually running when I could be mistaken for a geriatric who has escaped from the nearby Littleton Hospital. There's no one I know on the trail to see how bad I am at running except of course the cute runner who happens to be starting out just as I'm ending my 12 miles. She looks magnificent as she passes me with a friendly "good morning" and a smile while I am red-faced, sweaty and wheezing like an old geezer. That's when I want to do the guy-thing by covering one of my nostrils and shooting snot out of the other one, right onto her running shoes as she goes by.

(I've tried this - not to another runner - and somehow I can't get it the shooting-snot-thing right. It ends up trickling down my face! Maybe I should use the tissues from my pouch! Now there's a concept).

6 weeks down, 11 weeks to go.

Happy Father's Day Plus 1 Day

We have a tradition that's developed over the years where we celebrate the day after an event and its called "plus one day". For example, we sing "happy birthday plus one day" to the person who has just celebrated his/her birthday the day before.

So today is the day after Father's Day and therefore its "Happy Father's Day Plus One Day" and the boys wanted to make something for Warren.

I found some cookie dough in my cupboard and baked a large 'gingerbread man' which the boys decorated for Warren. Of course they ate more of the frosting and icing than they should have!

Its meant to look like him, with bok-baard (goatee) and all but Warren never wears a tie and he wouldn't be seen dead in a rainbow spotted pair of pants. The cute thing is, Warren the Sugar Cookie Man has a peach colored heart on his shirt. (It said 'kiss me' on it and the boys declared that was gross so they turned it over so they words didn't show).

Happy Father's Day Plus One Day!!!

Happy Father's Day: Father To My Boys

Warren is a great dad to our boys. He connects with his kids whenever he can. He works hard to be the provider for our family but has time for the boys, never missing (wherever possible) important events with them. He is so proud of them and doesn't miss a chance to encourage and affirm them.

Things I love to see:

1. The boys' excited faces when Warren gets home from work (whenever they aren't engrossed in a TV program).

2. Their 'play fighting' games which generates a lot of laughter and squeals from the kids.

3. Warren shouting (encouraging??) from the sidelines at the kids' soccer games (even though I go deaf in the process).

4. Their Sunday afternoon ritual of watching a 'boy movie' together in the basement while I read and sleep upstairs.

5. Finding all 3 boys asleep on the floor of the basement during a 'boy movie'.

6. Warren spending 1-on-1 time with each boy even if its 5 mins on the sofa.

7. The boys' faces when Warren tells them about his army stories.

8. The excitement and questions from the boys when Warren changed jobs and went to work for Kong.

9. The tickling fights they have at night.

10. Wandering off with Cullen when we're at the park (both Warren and Cullen are loners).

11. Playing frisbee with the 2 of them at the dog park.

12. Warren's excitement at showing the boys wildlife (even if its mangy Coloradan elk).

13. When Cullen falls asleep while lying on top of Warren.

14. Warren playing on the trampoline with the kids and doing serious kung-fu moves.

15. Attending parent-teacher conferences with me at Jordan's school.

16. Attending Cullen's graduation at preschool.

17. Shoulder and piggyback rides for the boys.

18. Carrying the boys to bed after they fell asleep in the car from a late night out.

19. Coloring one of the kids' menus at restaurants when we go to eat out as a family.

20. Making sledding runs for the kids in the backyard.

21. Taking the boys sledding down a hill in our neighborhood.

22. Carefully choosing & wrapping Christmas gifts for each boy.

23. Building the Lego toys that the boys got as gifts.

24. Sending text messages on my phone to the boys when he's out of town on business.

25. Praying for his boys and striving to be the best Dad he can be for them.

Happy Father's Day, Wals.

You're an AWESOME Dad!

Happy Father's Day - My Father

My Dad is my hero.

He is totally African even though his parents were British. Africa is in his veins. He loves Africa and not only ministers to Africans (he's a retired pastor and now a missionary) but also prays for Africa.

My Dad is funny too. A very wicked sense of humor with a little bit of boyishness thrown in. He's fashion conscious but dresses appropriately for his age.

Although my Dad is truly African, I that believe deep down that he would love to be a Jew. After all, he already has the nose!! He once said that Christ-believing Jews have the best of both worlds - they are Jewish and have that heritage steeped in their blood - but they also have Christ. I believe he's right!

Here are 30 of my Dad-memories:

1. Standing outside the small Jewish synagogue that was right next to our house in Johannesburg, listening to the Rabbi preach to his congregation.

2. Doing a 'jig' with just a towel around his waist in our East London house when the towel slipped off (don't worry Dad, I don't remember seeing anything!!).

3. Capsizing the kayak he tried to navigate in the ocean at Plettenberg Bay (with me crying on the beach while watching him).

4. Taking me (and each of the kids) to many birthday lunches at the Spur restaurant.

5. Being The Plumber in a skit at church camps (and I was The Parrot..."Who's there?")

6. Being the sammie (Indian guy) in a skit at church camps ("statue?") with a bad black afro wig on his balding head.

7. While preaching, emphasizing that he has 3 points to his sermon (while holding up 4 fingers).

8. His abysmal snoring that would get so bad, he'd wake himself up.

9. Leading trips to Israel and glowing each time he got home.

10. Getting malaria while visiting another country in Africa and nearly dying.

11. His motorbike accident where he nearly tore off the bumper of the car (with his ankle) that he went flying over.

12. Turning on the sprinkler under the ladder my boyfriend was on while he tried to romance me through my bedroom window.

13. His horrible migraines when he'd go white in the face, throw up and spend the rest of the day in a darkened bedroom.

14. The passing of his Mom and how it saddened him.

15. Teaching me cool Zulu phrases and words.

16. The gigantic burger he got as a gift from one of the churches he pastored at (it was easily 2 feet in diameter). My Dad loves burgers!

17. Refusing to do the Sex Chapter with Warren and I during our pre-marital counseling.

18. Walking me down the aisle when I got married.

19. Getting an elephant G-string as a gift at his 60th birthday dinner while at a fancy restaurant. (I wonder who bought that for him??!?!?!)

20. Eating popcorn and drinking Coke while watching the Springboks (SA rugby team) and shouting at the TV as if they could hear him.

21. Painting- I have 2 of his artwork and looking forward to the elephant painting he's promised to paint for me.

22. When he got so upset after my cat Plank sprayed pee onto the watercolor painting he'd just finished.

23. When he had to wring a baby bird's neck after it fell out of a tree in Cape Town and chimed "ding dong" as he did it (Sharlene was NOT impressed).

24. Teaching me to drive in the VW bug (I nearly killed a few business men as I went around the corner of a busy road in Cape Town - all we saw were legs, arms and briefcases).

25. The seriousness he had over each 'calling' he had to a new church - praying and seeking God to lead and guide him.

26. Hearing him cry when we phoned him a few minutes after Jordan was born.

27. His love of Africa.

28. His devotions and mini-sermons on Radio Pulpit.

29. Rubbing the dish towel and hanky whenever he was at his desk or when he drove his car (a habit that he still has today).

30. His passion for the lost (which is still there)!

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Love you lots 'n lots like Jelly Tots.