The Hansons made it to Oman!

We love you from Texas.

Keep your blog updated / Let's skype soon!

I'm away at the Tree House with my parents. The vivid colors and crisp air are just what I needed to relax / write my final paper for the semester. We went hiking through the trees and it dawned on me :: I am just like my father. Most of my friends would say "of course!" But I guess it's just really hitting home to me. Makes me laugh. Or feel more understood.

Photo by my dear friend, Andrew Ryan Shepherd

newest read

just finished reading this book...

i would recommend it!

the library is so jolly {as zog would say}

on to my next read, a gift from scott's mom:

the Office is a joy for me during the week - or really, any day!

Bright and early in the morning, Woods will be saying .. "I DO DECLARE ... yadi yadi yada"... A joy.

-----------------------

Andy:

I'm a little worried that I may have asked out Naughty Nelly instead of Erin. Which would be whole lot less appealing, because Naughty Nelly says yes to everyone. And she might be a murderer.

--------

Dwight Schrute:	Michael, what is the meaning of this email that everyone got?
Michael Scott:	You'll have to be more specific, Dwight. I get like eight e-mails a day. --------- Kevin: Michael, did you just throw-up in there? Michael Scott: Nah. Just poopin'. You know how I be. Kevin: It smells like throw-up in here. Michael Scott: Crazy world. Lot of smells. (copy and pasting isn't working apparently)

avant garden

i got the job!

i start this wednesday!

part time job #4, i love it!

After the Ending..

Better late than never ... I just realized Mr. Carrabba

is back...Their new cd came out 6 days ago.

It takes me back to college days and all those concerts.

Rolling Stones gave Dashboard Confessional's new cd

After the Ending pretty high reviews. Lindsay and Scott are just

as excited about his DC's new cd.

AH...me.so.happy.

We must convince Woods to mix up a new track on her piano,

just like she did with Hand's Down.

a laptop

I helped a coworker remove two kids due to serious medical neglect, yesterday. The year old is organic failure to thrive, and feeds through a tube in his belly. He eats through his belly because he could choke when swallowing. We walk into the apartment and of course the babe is sucking on a bottle. I had the mother show me how to care for him. I paid close attention because I had an hour and a half drive down 35 south with this babe. I was so nervous. His ten year old brother rode with me, and the other two boys rode with the other caseworker.

Anyways, I told the ten year old he could eat anywhere he wanted, order whatever he wanted, and do whatever he wanted while we drove to the foster home. He's adorable. I asked him to bring his most favorite things [assuming it would be a blankie like his adult caseworker would choose] and he grabbed his violin. What a sweet boy. He had his uniform on from school, and wears glasses. He's Hispanic, so we listened to some radio station that was in complete Spanish. I tried to get him to talk to me about how he felt, or get him to ask me questions.

He seemed pretty happy. No tears. I thought it would be challenging for me, as I have only remove wee ones who I can explain to them why they can't stay with their parents. I've removed two older teens, but they didn't like their mom, so that was easy. He was okay though. [I'm sure he'll feel the weight of it some day soon].

Anyways, in the car, his brother was crying, so he asked if he could sit in the back with him. But of course he could, so we pulled over. His brother immediately stopped crying. Towards the end of the drive he said to me, "Do I get a present for being such a good boy?" I looked at him in my rear view mirror, and said "Well, what present would you want? I don't know if I can get you something today, but maybe someday soon. But what is it?" He said "a laptop." I giggled, because he was so sincere, as if it was very feasible. I said "Why a laptop?" He said "I don't know I've always liked them. They are great to use. My dad laughs at me when I ask for it." My own father called right after that conversation, so I had the little boy tell him what he asked me. My dad encouraged him to continue to ask for it, as he knows the good stuff to ask for! I hung up, and realized I would like to take him home with me. So we proceeded to talk about everything we passed by, because he was soooooo curious.

[wish I could buy him a laptop]

The Civil Wars

My oh, so very talented and dear friend, Shaun Menary introduced me to The Civil Wars a few months ago. Anyways, I love them. Tonight, I heard their voices singing in the background of Grey's Anatomy. I knew instantly it was them, and was SO proud of them!

Their my space is here. Watch the "Poison and Wine" music video. Ugh, so good. And then, watch all the rest.

Hey, you can download their cd for free! Check on the right side of their myspace.

calla lilies

i had calla lilies in my wedding bouquet and i think they are just gorgeous. i saw these images and had to share them...

images found at Lucky Me!

the Office

The Office .... only gets better.

Andy is my favorite...

Andy:

You give me a gift? Bam! Thank You note. You invite me somewhere? Pow! RSVP. You do me a favor? Wham! Favor returned. Do not test my politeness.

---------------------------

Michael Scott:

As I watched Pam's big strong hand coming toward my face I saw my entire life flash before my eyes. And guess what? I have four kids. And I have a hover car and a hover house. And my wife is a runner and it shows. And Pam and Jim are my best friends and our kids play together. And... I'm happy and I'm rich and I never die. That doesn't sound like much, but it's enough for me.

--------------------------

Ryan:	Hey, quick question. [closes the door] Are you scared?
Michael Scott:	Never. About what? A little. What are you talking about?
Ryan:	We heard about the punch.
Michael Scott:	What punch?
Kelly:	Pam. She's gonna punch the crap out of your face after work.
Michael Scott:	I'm pretty sure we said slap.
Kelly:	No. It's a punch. And Pam has that crazy pregnancy strength now.
Ryan:	I'm getting concerned that you don't seem to understand what's going to happen. Do you?
Michael Scott:	[pauses] I... umm... I'm good.
Ryan:	Alright. See you there.

Lindsay + Scott

Lindsay came over yesterday. She constantly encourages me and I love her for that. I am sure you are all blessed by how much she serves others. The smallest things that we overlook, Lindsay is there to offer help, or just get up and get the job/task done ... to make someone's load a little lighter. She's one of a kind. I have to say, she and Scott, make a strong pair. Scott is right up there with her. He's always there to hold me when I'm crying about cases, a broken heart, bring me gifts, or to listen when I need someone to listen to. And he never makes me feel crazy!

I love you both. You are constant, consistent and steadfast in friendships with me. Thank you!

- mason jennings -

Lauren and Matt Larsen gave me Mason Jenning's CD "Use Your Voice" for my 22? 23? birthday. I say Matt also because I am pretty positive he helped her pick it out, but I also faintly remember him being tuned on to M. Jennings at that time.

Anyways, I was lusting [like Lindsay referred to] at my new patagonia catalogue. I feel like I get one in the mail every other week, and repeatedly think, if only you beautiful R2 or R4 were on sale, I would buy you. Not that I have any purpose to wear it here in Dallas, but I still want.... My pops, Tom turned all his girls on to patagonia when we were tots, therefore my closet is full - and I have no need of another fleece/fleece pant [Right, Trent?]

Anyways, there was a written diddy on Mason Jennings in the catalogue. He basically heads out to Patagonia in South America [dreamy] and attempts to be inspired to write some tunes. His new cd came out in September 2009 - called Blood of Man. You can find his info here.

i can relate...

in the words of Rob Bell :

Lust is always built on a lie. And so for you and me to be free from lust, we have to begin by understanding the lie and where it comes from and why it came to be so alluring.

The word lust in the Greek language is the word epithumia. It's actually two words in Greek: the word epi, which means "in", and the word thumos, which refers to "the mind".

In the mind.

Think about the head space we give to things and people we want. It's easy for our thoughts to be dominated by a craving. We're in a meeting, we're taking a walk, we're studying, we're doing our jobs around the house, and the whole time our brain is miles away, trying to figure out how to get it.

It takes hold of us.
We are not free.
Lust is slavery.

If I want something to the point that I can't conceive of being content without it, then it owns me.

One writer in the Scriptures puts it like this: "I have the right to do anything'- but I will not be mastered by anything."

The last part is great, isn't it? "I will not be mastered by anything."

We are free to do anything we want. But because I can doesn't mean I should. There is a massive distance between "can" and "best."

We're addictive creatures. We try things, we experiment, we explore, and certain things hook us. They get their tentacles in us, and we can't get away from them. What started out as freedom can quickly become slavery. Often freedom is seen as the ability to do whatever you want. But freedom isn't being able to have whatever we crave. Freedom is going without whatever we crave and being fine with it.

I just booked my ticket for a weekend rondevu in the city where i was born, windy-city- Chicago.

These photogs are from a weekend in May 2008. I was there for different circumstances, but this time ... should be of a different agenda! Can't wait ...

Traveling is my most guilty pleasure - or expensive pleasure, that is.

just applied to work here....i'm praying it works out!!

Avant Garden

Veto. Privacy.

just kidding. people cant request to read/follow if it's private. also, it only allows 100 people.

that really limits our popular selves.

Updates!

We made our blog private. Nerdy that you had to receive an email, but we though it best. Ya know ... sometimes we bare our souls. Sometimes we blog about pretty things. But we like you and want you to have access.

Love,

Blogger A and Blogger L

T C UUUUUUU !!!

GREAT news on the horned frog front! not only are the Olivier's coming back in town for the TCU game next weekend, but ESPN Game Day coming to the TCU vs. Utah game!!!

Aaaand, Nike chose 12 NCAA teams to design a new, custom uniform for and TCU is one of them! They will wear the new uniform at the TCU vs. Utah game next weekend!

Theeeeen, Mark, Anne, Scott and I are going to Austin, staying with the Mulloys, where Scott and Anne will be sworn in at the Supreme Court as offical attorneys!

Next weekend is going to be gooooood.

little cutie

l i f e

i love babysitting life! sorry, i don't know how to turn the video...i don't have a cool imac.

::: hk :::

just for clarification {@trenthorner, @melaniefrazier, @scottschardt, @abbydecicco, @brittany tavenner, @ryanharms} my father has confirmed that my mother was related to Helen Keller. Helen Keller was my mom's grandmother's cousin.

Both Scott and Anne passed the Texas Bar !!!!!!!

Going {out} to dinner tonight to c e l e b r a t e !

I am SO proud and SO happy! Yeah Schardts, Yeah Oliviers!!!

[bon ee-VAIR]

Whether documenting for work, feeling liberated driving home from class after a long day of work, or reading quietly in my room, Bon Iver hits home.

Hello talent.

Hello entertainment.

Hello traveling.

Hello accents.

Hello gents.

Music is provoking.

Provoking to see the world.

Provoking to make a change.

Provoking to give love.

Provoking to receive love.

Provoking to be still.

Provoking to just listen.

Provoking to share life.

Provoking to contemplate life.

Thank you for making music, Bon Iver.

Behind the scenes with them here

Live concert here

Myspace with them here

B & W

Love this post from Elements of Style.

homelessness.

Just educating myself. You should too! Don't you see homelessness all over Dallas? This is quite interesting. I found it here.

Dear Citizens of Metropolitan Dallas:

There are a number of frequently asked questions about the status of homelessness in Dallas. The 2009 Homeless Count and Census helps provide some answers:

(1.) Given the state of the economy are there more homeless in the Dallas area?

The actual number went down this year. The number of homeless persons counted in Dallas decreased from 5,869 in 2008 to 5,675 in 2009. However we learned that the number of people who reported that they became homeless because of unemployment increased from 51% in 2008 to 65% in 2009. We are of course concerned that the economic downturn does put Dallas and most American communities at risk for increased homelessness.

(2.) How is Dallas doing towards our goal of ending chronic homelessness?

The number of chronically homeless people counted was only slightly down this year (611 in 2008 compared with 601 in 2009). When we compare the number of chronically homeless individuals in 2004 to those in 2009, however, the number has dropped by almost 50% in the last 5 years.

( 3.) Are there still many homeless people sleeping outdoors in Dallas?

Yes; and just one would be too many. We counted 145 people sleeping outdoors this year; down 21% from last year before the Bridge opened. Five years ago we counted 358 persons sleeping outdoors.

(4.) Is Childhood Homelessness on the rise?

Yes. Since 2007, the number of homeless children has increased by over 15% (1,139 in 2007 compared with 1,319 in 2009.) This is consistent with the trend nationally; women and children are the fastest growing population of homeless individuals. This year MDHA is working on a strategic plan to better identify the services gaps which have contributed to this disturbing trend.

(5.) What is working well?

Public and privately funded homeless services providers and other health and human service agencies are increasingly better organized and working collaboratively to help people recover from homelessness. We have many terrific agencies in Dallas, including those working in partnership at the Bridge, that play a key role in enabling people to move towards permanent housing.

(6.) What more can Dallas do to end homelessness?

We need to evidence more commitment to developing permanent housing with services attached for people who are homeless and need extra help because of disabilities. We consistently see that the more permanent supportive housing units we develop in Dallas, the fewer chronically homelessness individuals we count.

As a community we need to support and welcome the addition of new housing with state of the art services for our citizens who need our support the most. And creating additional affordable housing for low income people in Metropolitan Dallas and a better funded system of mental health and substance abuse services will help prevent the tragedy of homelessness in the first place.

(7.) Is the Homeless Count accurate?

Yes, it is a valid count that identifies trends, progress and setbacks. The census is a point in time count but can’t count every homeless person throughout the year. Each year during one night in the fourth week of January, Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance conducts a count & survey of the homeless population. We strive to keep the structure and process of the count exactly the same every year so that our results are as consistent as possible. This information is used to monitor our progress as a community in preventing and ending homelessness. The process also provides us the opportunity to hear what large numbers of homeless persons wish to tell us about themselves and their needs.

The Count is conducted both indoors and outdoors. The indoor counting and interviews are conducted by each local homeless program facility (emergency shelters, transitional housing, permanent Supportive Housing) as well as other locations including hospitals and treatment programs.

The outdoor count is carried out by over 100 community volunteers and agency professionals who are accompanied by Police Officers. Along with the count, a structured interview or survey is conducted with each homeless person who consents to participate. The interview is administered by agency staff or trained community volunteers. The sample size of homeless persons who share information with us exceeds 50% of the total population counted (58% this year). Given the large sample size, we are able to draw some conclusions about our homeless neighbors and their needs. So the Count is an important way for us to gather information that can help provide solutions.

Thanks for taking the time to read this report. We have come a long way over the last five years as the numbers reflect. Because of the economic downturn, risks to our continuing progress have increased. However, we truly believe that an informed and caring public will continue to create the solutions and political will needed to end homelessness in Metropolitan Dallas.

Sincerely,

Michael M. Faenza President & CEO Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance

today...

today i am reading the book of Luke. making banana nut bread with chocolate chips. and making and old pair of shoes a new exciting pair to wear.

happy tuesday.

One of the better CPS articles..

Blame game in boy's death ignores difficult, thankless job facing Child Protective Services

07:46 AM CDT on Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Given his mother's woeful inadequacies, it probably would have taken a village to raise Darrell Singleton – capable relatives, watchful neighbors, family friends ready to step in and help out.

Darrell did not have a village. All he had was CPS, and that wasn't enough.

The toddler, a sunny-faced kid as cute as a Huggies ad, slowly roasted to death last month in his mother's truck. Unable to make day care arrangements, she had purposely stashed him there while she went to work.

Darrell's death was not exactly a shining hour for Texas Child Protective Services. Caseworkers knew the mother, Keashia Matthews, had a history of neglecting her children.

As our reporters have documented, CPS knew she had lost custody of two older children in another state and that she had left Darrell and his sisters unsupervised in the past. Their own records show they knew she had a history of violence and erratic behavior.

The agency is the safety net of last resort for Texas' most endangered children, and it failed Darrell – as it has at least three other children in recent months. Like Darrell, they died on CPS' watch, while caseworkers were supposed to be overseeing their safety.

The evidence strongly suggests that child-welfare workers could, and should, have done more to protect these children.

That said, I think those of us who are quick to blame Texas CPS workers for leaving kids in danger or, conversely, for callously "breaking up families," need to take a hard look at what we are asking the agency to do.

We are asking a corps of government social workers to address a cultural paradox. We want them to make sure no child is ever harmed, yet we don't want any interference with adult rights and liberties.

We want CPS to bird-dog the after-the-fact consequences of a culture in which perfect strangers may bawl you out for smoking, but where there's some sort of antiquated bigotry implied in suggesting out loud that immature, irresponsible people should not be parents.

We not only lack the political will to teach young people how to prevent pregnancy, we don't even bother telling them that having babies should be a serious and deliberate choice, not a biological function as inevitable as catching a cold.

Americans, to a large extent, are free to make their own mistakes. Men are free to have sex with as many willing partners as they can find and to casually opt in or out of the lives of the resulting children. Women are free to have babies without bothering to get married or to let men they don't really know very well move into their homes.

The children, of course, are not free. Some are cherished and well cared for, but others are as trapped and helpless as a goldfish in a scummy bowl.

Which leaves us with beleaguered CPS caseworkers, often young, overworked, poorly paid and (initially) idealistic – ripe candidates for burnout.

"I don't know what the answer is. I wish I did," said Paige McDaniel, president of Community Partners of Dallas, a nonprofit group that provides support and resources to Dallas County CPS caseworkers.

"The statistic is that 60 percent of new caseworkers leave within six months. It's that kind of job."

The bureaucracy's sense of being overwhelmed and under siege, of being constantly second-guessed by a critical public, has sometimes led to a circle-the-wagons defensiveness. For reporters, it can be tough prying information from CPS; the vague invocation of "confidentiality" often feels like a smoke screen for departmental screw-ups.

But we should keep in mind that caseworkers are taking on a job that most of us wouldn't do for a million dollars.

They're dealing with parents who often regard them as the enemy, who will sometimes lie, hide or leave town to keep CPS from "taking the kids away." They're trying, within a suffocating framework of legal rules and political imperatives, and before an ever-judgmental public, to make life-and-death predictions.

In Darrell's case, they got it wrong. That's not good, but it doesn't make them monsters.

"What we finally have to realize," McDaniel said, "is that the mother killed that child.

"It was not CPS.

obtained here through the Dallas Morning News

to post or not to post...

Sitting here at my window, I watch people go by. Watch them walk their dogs, walk down the street, either casually or on a mission. because we live in a fallen world, where man is sinful, i know they have pain, just as i do.

so i sit here, crying for my pain. and theirs. praying for them, that they may know christ and his hope, peace, truth. its the only thing that makes me feel better.

c.s. lewis says, "the reason for the difference is only too plain. you never know how much you really believe something until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. it is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. but suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. wouldn't you then first discover how much you really trusted it?"

jack and scott have fun together :)