Archives for February 2014

As many of you know (because we saw you!!!) we did a lot of traveling over the holidays. A lot. It was fun, crazy, exciting, exhausting, beautiful and insane. On the front end, I had no idea how we would get it all done. While it seemed like a wonderful idea during the early planning stages, as we got closer to departure, the practicality became a bit overwhelming. Picture our return flight (I’ve got to get better at photo-journaling, but I trust you’ll get the word picture). We returned with and checked 2 large suitcases, 1 large box, 1 expanded roller carry-on, 3 car seats,  a stroller frame and a pack and play (thank goodness for Southwest’s 2 free bag policy!). We carried on a duffle, a small roller bag, an adult backpack, a kid backpack, a diaper bag, 2 infants and a toddler. Yeah. Craziness.

Over 2 1/2 weeks, we took 3 children – 7 month old twins and a 3 year old –  on 4 flights (that’s a first for me – #23) covering almost 5000 miles. We rented a minivan (that’s also a first, so I’ll call that #24) and took our first family of 5 road trip, driving almost 1000 miles (and that is #25). On the back end, I am amazed and grateful that we did it all and would not trade the experience.  Even with all of the activity it was a refreshing and encouraging time with friends and family after such a challenging year. I am so glad we pushed through and even more grateful for those who prayed for us every little step of the way. Several of the next few posts will be a few things I’d never done that occurred during the trip. Almost there…

Although this was Enoch’s 7th flight, it was the 1st in which he was able to articulate his emotions. He was so excited.  As we took off he exclaimed “I LOOOOVE THIS!!” Issa (above) and Bella’s first flight!

Yes, that is a look of relief that we made it. One thing we learned is each row has 4 oxygen masks. We are a family of 5, so we were not able to sit together.  So two fortunate individuals got a chance to sit with our family. Seriously, the kids did great. Ask the flight attendants who played with them and gave Enoch a bag of goodies to thank him as we left.

Enoch in the back of the minivan with Granna and his Tennessee cousins.

Many of you may know that Reggie and I love many things about the people and culture of the continent of Africa. Reggie served in missions in Cape Town, South Africa for a year, and I have done several short term trips to Cape Town and Ghana (West Africa). Both of us have fond memories of our times there, and developed relationships with people that we still maintain long distance. Years later, we can recall the beauty of the places, the love and care of the people, and the richness of the culture. Occasionally, we will hear someone with an distinct African accent, or catch a day that feels like South African weather – and just smile, reminiscing.

So, we were very excited to find a small cafe in Berkeley (that wonderful melting pot!!) called Suya African Caribbean Grill serving West African and Caribbean inspired food (Jamaican food is one of my favorites). The food did not disappoint. De-licious. Since we were starving, we decided to stick with what we knew, so we had the jerk chicken skewers, plantains, grilled corn, sweet potato chips and roasted potatoes. All good. All of it.  We have already scoped out what we will get on the next visit, Suya chicken and empanadas will definitely be on the list.

photo http://artandentertainme.blogspot.com

I will say, it is small (and was crowded, which was a good sign), so a lot of people ordered take-out, but seating is available. And the “music” isn’t what we expected, since usually when businesses advertise music, it is live. This wasn’t, just a system playing. But, we went for the food (which was also decently priced- a plus!!) and not the music, so we got over it quickly. Can’t wait to return.

#21 is something I have wanted to do for decades, at least since watching the movie, Ghost (1990) – create in clay using a pottery wheel. Fortunately, Groupon had a deal for Create in Clay. a pottery studio in Emeryville, CA. So, my fellow explorer, Ann (affectionately known as “Enoch’s best friend”) and I headed to Create in Clay for a 3 hour pottery class (we also explored Cheese Board and Philz together from posts #18&19).

Creating pottery was many things I expected – messy, fun and therapeutic. However, I did not expect the level of technique, precision and patience involved. Clay is both forgiving and not. While wet, it is pliable, able to be molded into a variety of shapes, corrected and rearranged. However, there is a point when certain errors cannot be corrected. The clay is “spoiled” (such as when it is thinned too much), in which case an entirely different piece evolves in order to salvage the work. And, it is not a quick process. Once a piece is completed, it still has to be fired up, and it takes a few weeks for it to dry before it can glazed. This experience definitely shed new light on biblical passages I’ve read about people being clay in the Potter’s (God’s) hands.

At the wheel

Semi-finished products. More pics to come once glazing is completed

I know I posted this pic on Facebook. But, this is #20. My first mother-son Starbucks date with Enoch. Great conversation. Funny jokes. And cute. This date is second only to dates with my boo.
Enoch was very excited to drink “coffee” – I still can’t convince him that it is hot chocolate. If it is in a mug at home – it’s hot cocoa. If it’s in a Starbucks cup, its coffee. Makes sense to me.

Perfect gentleman – like his daddy

 He has since become a little bit of a regular (once a month). I love this shot of him in deep conversation with his dad and our friend Chris (who played and sang in our wedding almost 7 years ago! 7!!!).

photo: Christina Diaz

The familiar saying “less is more” comes to mind with Cheese Board Collective, particularly the pizzeria. They serve one thing – pizza – no wings, calzones, pasta (although they have added salads) And they only serve one kind daily. All pizzas are vegetarian (with some creative toppings for pizza- butternut squash!), made fresh (often with seasonal ingredients), and created with unique cheeses found at the Cheese Board (the cheese store and bakery that started it all.) And inexpensive – $2.50+ tax for a decent sized slice, $4.00 for a salad .

Weekly menus are created and posted online to show what is offered each day. Here is a sample from this week. Don’t knock it until you try it. Arugula and lemon on a pizza may not sound appealing. Trust me. It’s good. Really good. And I love that I got to experiment, try a new restaurant, a different cheese, and unique combination on a pizza, with minimal risk (less that $3). Can’t beat it.

While waiting in line, we listened to live music and then headed over to check out the Cheese Board cheese store and bakery. I mean, we had to. We were there.

WEDNESDAY 2/12
Roma tomatoes, onions, mozzarella and aged asiago, garlic olive oil, fresh herbs.
THURSDAY 2/13
Cremini mushrooms, onions, mozzarella cheese, topped with arugula in a lemon vinaigrette and shaved Manouri cheese
FRIDAY 2/14
Zucchini, onions, mozzarella and feta cheese, basil pesto.
SATURDAY 2/15
Roasted butternut squash and parsnips, baby kale, mozzarella and Comte cheeses, breadcrumbs, balsamic reduction and Italian parsley

Photo: http://somethingwittyaboutcupcakes.files.wordpress.com

I am not a coffee snob or connoisseur. I cannot tell you which bean has what tones or the difference between nutty and fruity and chocolate-y. But, I know good coffee. And I know what I like. And I like 
Philz. No. I love it. What’s not to like about a fun homegrown coffee shop with a culture like this?

Our Culture

They welcome you, ask your preferences, make recommendations based upon those preferences, brew your coffee – one cup at a time – then proceed to “doctor it up” according to your liking – all based upon what you say you like. 

Yeah.
I love Philz.

On March 3, Reggie and I will celebrate 7 years of marriage. I am an internal processor and introspective. So, I have already started quietly reflecting. There are a number of things I have evaluated and re-evaluated. Questions I asked and answered. Lessons and challenges revisited. The night/morning this was written, I was in such a state of mind. Exactly where am I? What have I accomplished? What have I learned? How have I grown? How has my life been impacted by our marriage? How has Reggie made me a better woman? How have I..?

Notice something? Yeah. These questions about our marriage are all about me.

Me. I. The anti-marriage focus.

The interesting thing is, the passage that came to mind to combat this train of thought (or path towards destruction, if you will…) was not your traditional marriage passage. We have attended marriage conferences and seminars (Weekend to Remember, Love and Respect, Art of Marriage). We have read relationship books and attended both pre-marital and marital classes (DNA of Relationships, Five Love Languages, etc). We answered 101 questions before we got engaged (yes, that is really a pre-engagement book). We participated in pre-marital counseling and took assessments.

In most (if not all), this familiar passage in Ephesians is addressed “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord… Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church…” (Ephesians 5:22-33). And, this passage in Genesis and Ephesians, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will be one flesh.“(Genesis 2:24).
So, I sort of expected to be rebuked with one of those.

No.

This is the passage that God brought to mind:

Kim, in your marriage “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ (which you’ve had), if any comfort from his love (which you have), if any fellowship with his Spirit (which you have), if any tenderness and compassion (which you have), then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider <your husband> as better than <yourself>. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of <the other>”*. (Philippians 2:1-4)

Ouch.

*italics are added for my emphasis

The day we went to Freight and Salvage I decided to hang around Berkeley for a little while with the children. Since I was alone, I needed a manageable, double-wide stroller friendly destination. Fortunately, we were within walking distance, so I decided to head over to Berkeley’s Ecology Center Farmers Market. While it is a lot smaller than San Fran’s Ferry Building market, there is still quite a bit of diversity in offerings. It is an open air market located next to a park, so on a nice day, you will find musicians, people relaxing (or dialoguing) on the lawn, children playing… It just feels like Berkeley.

Another element of Berkeley (along with other places in Northern California) is that there is a significant homeless population. As the kids and I walked from the theatre to the market, we encountered a homeless gentleman. He very politely complimented me on the kids, I thanked him, he asked a few questions (like whether I have my hands full, want them to go to college, etc.), said “Hi” to Enoch, we exchanged a few friendly words and I told him have a nice day and went on my way.  But, as I walked away, he called out, “You. You’re going to be alright with those kids. You’re going with God. You will be fine.” 
Now. I didn’t mention “Jesus” or “God”. And, if you don’t know anything about this area, it is one of the least Bible-minded cities in the country, 97 out of 100 according to this study, so “God” isn’t a common topic of conversation. So I took notice. And was encouraged.

However, what I didn’t notice was that there was a man who had witnessed the entire interaction. He walked up to me afterwards (by this time we were at the market) and thanked me for treating the man with dignity and kindness. He said it was refreshing and encouraging, looked at the kids and smiled (almost knowingly). As we finished talking, the first man walked past, and pointing at us announced to several people standing around, “Those are my friends.” And both walked away.

And I cried.

“Do not neglect to <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(A)”>show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(B)”>entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2

I love Berkeley. Eclectic. Unique. Earthy. Quintessential melting pot. It’s the antithesis of the “big box” cookie-cutter culture. I just love the place. And, even though it is smaller than San Francisco, it has so much to offer. So, it is fitting that I include a few Berkeley activities (besides our birthing story which occurred at a hospital there).

#16 – Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse

Located in an old theatre, Freight & Salvage is described on their website as “a nonprofit community arts organization dedicated to promoting public awareness and understanding of traditional music—music that is rooted in and expressive of the great variety of regional, ethnic, and social cultures of peoples throughout the world.” Jazz. Blues, Country. Classical. You name it, they offer it.

The Saturday that we visited was an open house held during their monthly kids series, called the Patchwork Series. Featured was a very energetic Trinidadian musician and storyteller, Asheba (playing Reggae, calypso, etc. for kids) and Alphabet Rockers, a kid friendly hip hop and soul music party crew. Enoch’s favorite part was the instrument petting zoo held afterwards. 
Oh. And it was free. Yeah. I love Berkeley.

Enoch at the instrument petting zoo.

No, really. I am. I love to write. I have for as long as I can remember. Somewhere around here there is I a book I “authored and illustrated” as a child. I created a cover for it and everything- with corduroy fabric and iron-on rainbow letters (look I said I’m about to be 40!!). Over the years, some writings have made it to school papers, contests, etc. and I’ve done things for churches/ministries I’ve served. But, as much as I have enjoyed writing, I don’t know that I psychologically considered myself a writer, until now. And, I love Bible studies. So, I am really excited to have had an opportunity to write a few lessons for a Sunday school curriculum for UMI, Urban Ministries, Inc – an African American Christian Publishing company based out of the Chicago area. So, now, because of 2 things – #14 – they will be published and #15- I earned a check 🙂 – I can honestly, gratefully, and excitedly say, finally, before I turn 40 – I am a writer!!!

Lest I lead you to believe only San Francisco has things to do, my next few posts will be about activities in the East Bay.  #12 and #13 visits to the Oakland Zoo – a regular visit and a special holiday (Christmas) event called Zoolights.

#12 – Oakland Zoo
Enoch loves animals – actually, he loves to growl and roar, so by default, he loves animals (and dinosaurs). So, a trip to the zoo was bound to come soon. Even though San Francisco and Oakland both have zoos, several locals recommended Oakland’s.  And, it helped that there was a Travelzoo deal at the time. So #12 is our first trip to Oakland Zoo, a 100 acre zoo that includes animals from the rainforest and African Savannah and a rides area (with a train, kiddie roller coaster, cars, and more…)

#13 – Zoolights
From the day after Thanksgiving until early January, Oakland Zoo has a special nighttime exhibit called Zoolights. It’s a festival of lights with “colorfully lit animal themed structures”,  some of them set to Christmas music and movie scenes. It’s cute.  Definitely fun for kids to be in the zoo at night. Don’t worry, none of the animal exhibits are available except the reptile house and The Outback. The Outback exhibit is accessible via the train, so visitors can search for wallaroos at night. For more kiddie thrills, the rides section was open and Santa was available for pictures (although Enoch wanted no parts of him).

Here are a few pics from our time.

The kids with Big Daddy and Me-mo Mickels

It took Enoch a minute, but he finally warmed up to the idea of petting a goat.

Like father, like son

ZooLights