only in Riverside...and a little bit more

Well the weekend is over and Monday is upon us once again. I wish that I could say verily or heartily that I am excited to see him; but alas, I would prefer to soak up the weekendness for a little while longer. It was a lovely weekend (minus the great ant invasion and the headache – we’ll name him Carlten – that is continuing to plague me as we speak) – Megan and I drove out to Riverside for the Undergraduate Commencement Exercises (aka graduation) at California Baptist University – our Alma Mater. When we pulled off the exit (good ol’ Adams St.), we immediately pit stopped @ Starbucks to pick up a caffeinated beverage because if we know ANYTHING it is that graduation is long, boring, and seriously hot! With our iced teas in hand, we parked @ Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church and J-walked (yes, we’re crazy illegal like that!) across the street to the front lawn where graduation was already underway. The student speaker referenced his journey with cancer and the amazing support system he had through his CBU friends – my heart swelled with pride – and I looked lovingly at Megan sitting next to me – we have that same blessing. The commencement address was actually rather impressive and even almost inspiring. It was SO MUCH BETTER than the Emerald City speech that we listened to at my Master’s graduation just over a year ago. CBU stepped it up! After graduation Gan and I stopped and refilled our Starbucks iced-teas and then headed to the Riverside Plaza to have lunch @ Chipotle and relive as many of our college memories as possible. After lunch we took a short jaunt down I-15 to Lake Elsinore for a spur of the moment Gap Outlet shopping trip. WORTH EVERY MOMENT OF THE DRIVE! I scored! Gan got a cardi! We then refilled our Starbucks beverages a final time and hopped on the 91 towards the Beach Cities and home. When I got to my house, sweet Rhonda Parker (my small group leader and dear friend) was already there waiting for me with the movie, the blindside, in hand. We watched together. I cried. The ants mulled around the kitchen in search of another sliced orange just waiting on the counter to be devoured. There were none to be found. In fact, there was nothing to be found but simple green and death. After the movie I cleaned up the ant mess and pondered my ever-growing desire to adopt a child and love him/her as my own. Sunday I went to church and was overwhelmed with tears as we welcomed many many of the junior high students into heaven and the family as they publically professed their faith in baptism. It was as close to heaven as I think I’ve tasted on earth – and the joy that was shining on the faces of the congregation can only be compared to angels. It was glorious. After church we blessed the new building on campus with sharpies writing prayers and scriptures throughout the space that will very soon be part of our ministries here @ Ev. Free. That joyous event was followed by lunch @ Nordy’s Café with the MacKenzie family where I listened to Rachel’s stories of adventuring in Europe for the past 3 months. JEALOUS! After lunch I went home to rest for a bit and then enjoyed dinner with Jenny Jackson and Rock Harbor Fullerton with she and Rach. I didn’t get home until almost 10 and I was ready to collapse into the bed – but the weekend was blessed – and the Lord was richly present throughout it – and those are the BEST kinds of weekends! Now if we could just kick Carlten to the curb I would be a very happy camper!
There are some things you can ONLY see in Riverside... like the color of THIS hair...
or the ridiculous split ends on this mohawk
or the Oscar Mayer weiner car???