Adam Ex Machina

1. Moved to Virginia
2. Made our home at Leya's Dad's house.
3. I got an amazing job at CBN working in the Digital Media Group as an Internet Developer and love it.
4. I went to San Francisco for the Web 2.0 Expo (heaven). Take away: The mobile web is the future. The desktop web is on its way out. Flash is dead or not? The debate rages! Everyone's angry at Steve Jobs.
5. Leya and the girls went to San Francisco, after I returned, to visit family for two weeks (we had roughly enough time to high-five each other).
6. After they returned, the folks from San Francisco headed out to Va Beach to hang with us for Nate's graduation and for general family frivolity. Much fun, not much sleep.
7. Things have settled down a bit and we're now on the lookout for a home.
8. We passed the year mark since my Mom's passing. I miss her so much. I've been listening to Aaron Copeland as his music reminds me so much of her. I imagine her riding horses with Jesus off into the sun that never sets. And Corral Nocturne from Rodeo is playing in the background!

At some point I'll go back and fill in the gap between January and April of 2010!

This has been a monumental week in the life of our oldest. Having just turned five she's graduated to more serious concerns. The following questions were explored:

Today you're three. Wow. It really is like people say: just like yesterday. Your birth was not hectic like Gigi's: it was planned. We got to the hospital early and Mommy was prepped for the c-section. You arrived right on time! In fact, upon arrival at the hospital Mommy began to get contractions. Which is really strange because your actual due-date was two weeks later. Less than a day after you were born you smiled at me. I know what a doctor would say, but I know you were smiling at me. That smile hasn't stopped making me smile. Sometimes it's a glow, sometimes it's mischievous but usually it's just you, being you - happy. Now, you can be feisty. In fact, when you were in Mommy's tummy she would complain that you would kick and tell me, "this one's a feisty one!" And stubborn - girl you just don't give up! But that's a good thing! And you know what, I love you that way. I can't wait to see the amazing things (and all the ordinary things) you'll do. I'm already proud of you. So, no matter what, whether you accomplish something that other people say is a big deal and a whole crowd is cheering you on or you only have me there to applaud, I'll think you're the best - because you're you. I love you, Bebe!

Visit the Atangan website for updates on Leya's mom, Nadira Atangan. And thank you for your continued prayers for her recovery.

Jesus Christ, you are my life, alleluia, alleluia. Jesus Christ, you are my life. You are my life, alleluia. Be our Way, our Truth, and our Life. Form us anew in how you died. We embrace the cross that you bore, and will arise in glory. 2. Holy fire, come dwell in each heart. Grant us the gifts your love imparts. Free our tongues to boldly proclaim "Jesus is Lord forever!" Break the yoke of violence and war. Open the hearts of rich to poor. Nations bound by terror and fear long to embrace your freedom. Senseless walls of hatred divide, vengeance destroys and fear misguides. Teach us mercy: hope for new life; for you alone are holy!

"Love is not consolation, it is light." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche I'd watch her restocking books at the students’ arrival, then checking new ones out as they left. Her joyful demeanor was the first thing I noticed. She had an infectious cheer and a beautiful smile. I could hear her laugh from the other side of the library. To hear that laugh still makes me smile. She was boisterous, often cheesy and, once you spent some time with her, thoughtful and introspective. We met in the computer lab of the library on campus and eventually began spending time with the same group of people. As evenings out with friends drew to a close we'd find ourselves pairing off, spending a little extra time together. We became great friends. We shared an inquisitiveness and creativity about everything: that was characteristic of all our conversations. In one moment we'd be talking about God and Kierkegaard and the merits of West Side Story or Casablanca the next. We spontaneously painted a picture together one afternoon and then played chess. I miss those times we had just to ourselves, randomly choosing to do what we'd like: going to a museum, walking next to the river in Norfolk, talking in the library parking lot until 4:00 a. m. Having kids and jobs and all the trappings of adult life makes those times seem so foreign. But those memories get sweeter the more I grow to love her. We never knew then how precious those days were. One late night as we were walking we crossed a bridge. We paused, as Leya was talking, to gaze out at the pond below. For emphasis, recounting some event of the day, she threw up her hand and it caught the side of her head, sending her glasses into the water. "Ah, my glasses!" "Oh, man," I replied. "Are you going to jump in and get them?" "No!" How chivalrous. "Oh! Oh, those were brand new!" We both laughed. Later that night we laid down on the bridge, side by side, gazing up at the stars, talking about who knows what. At some point our conversation paused and for a moment we just laid there silently. "I like you," I confessed. "I like you too," Leya replied with a smile. "No, I like you." "Ohhh." And so a friendship led to dating that led to an engagement that led to marriage. And eight years later I get to celebrate the vows I made to my best friend; the person who gives more to me than I could ever give back; who's loved me through my best and worst. She is my bride and the person I hold dearest to my heart. --- Happy anniversary, Leya. I love you.

I took a double take as we passed by the old house on Anderson Street. An amalgam of what I remembered stood before me, overtaken by new paneling, columns and windows. My mouth gaped open, I whispered, "Wow..." "They've completely remodeled it," said Leya. "Should I go talk to them?" "Yeah, why not?" I pulled in to the driveway and got out. Peering around the edge of the house I heard the front door creak and glanced back to see a woman approaching. "May I help you?" she asked. "Hi, my name is Adam. I grew up here." "Really?!"

I slowly surveyed the perimeter of the new old house. "Wow, this looks amazing." Glancing down toward the front door I noticed the old steps leading to the sidewalk had been replaced by a beautiful wrap around porch. The tiny footprints, once embedded in the cement, the feet of my brother and me when we were very little, were gone. I felt a lump in my throat.  "My name's Vicki. Would you like to look inside?" "Do you mind?" (A reflexive question; I always say things like that. Like thanking the waiter for bringing the bill.) "My kids are in the minivan." "They can come too." - - - - - Tentatively, I stepped inside.

Like passing through the wardrobe, I stepped in to another time and place. Flurries of childhood memories were suddenly projected on the space in front of me. Where there was once plush green and white modeled shag carpet lay the houses original distressed wood flooring, redone to a high polish. To my right stood the stairs, the same stairs my little brother and I used to climb to the top of and jump off. He was so good at that. I remember once landing on my back, gasping for air, with the wind knocked out of me. In front of me was the kitchen where one night, helping my Mom make popcorn the old fashioned way, I fell off my stool and landed on the oven. My Dad rushed out to the porch and grabbed a handful of aloe stems and applied them to my burned arm. He held me there while I cried.

Around the corner was the nook where the breakfast table once stood. Mom and I sat there every morning and she taught me how to read with Hooked on Phonics and McGuffey Readers. To the left was the narrow hallway to Mom and Dads bedroom. My brother and I used to tip toe our way down the stairs and over toward their bedroom to ensure they were asleep before heading back to the living room to partake in our Saturday morning cartoons. Around the corner, in the living room, stood the brick fireplace where we roasted chestnuts one winter night.  Up the stairs, to the right, in my room stood that giant window, stretching from ceiling to floor, that overlooked the back yard. On the adjacent wall was the little attic crawl space, with an entrance just big enough for a five year old. A sort of magic surrounded you as you entered that hiding place. 

I remember my brother and I gazing out at night through that great window at the giant oak, now gone (probably a victim of a hurricane). It was my passage way to many dreams of flight. Countless nights I would drift to sleep only to find myself standing at the edge of that window, rising softly in the air and magically passing through the glass. I would glide ever so gently. A hush of wind would pass by as I careened down the wall of the house veering slowly up before touching the ground. And off in to the back yard, past the big oak tree, I would feel the dewy grass beneath me as I flew. Only inches above the ground I would glide into the dark. But that was a long time ago. And now the house was being remade. I'm glad for that house. It had been neglected for so long. Finally, it was being restored for another family and their memories. I hope theirs will be as beautiful as mine. - - - - - [flickrset id="72157614656741605" thumbnail="square" overlay="true" size="large"]

Today I met up with the girls at Sweet Tomatoes for lunch. About half way through the little people began moving around like they were going to jump out of their skin. ADAM: They need naps when you get home. LEYA: Mmm hmm. GIGI: I'm not tired, Lana needs a nap. But I'm not tired. LANA: I need a nap. ADAM: (At Gigi) You are tired. I can see it in your eyes. GIGI: (Looking at me with eyes widening) I'm not tired. Look, I don't have tired eyes. I have hungry eyes.

Leya found a great deal on a set of twin beds on Craigslist. So, yesterday afternoon, we loaded everyone up and headed to Winter Garden to get the goods. After loading all the parts in our precious mini-van, I traveled back whilst the girls headed to Target to get some new covers. Once home, I disassembled Lana's old crib with the "princess tent" and Gigi's toddler bed; cleaned up the room and assembled the new beds. They look great and fit perfectly. The girls were overjoyed to finally have big girl beds. After getting everything set in the room we let them see "the surprise." They both jumped up and down with excitement. After much celebration, we read a book and they both, finally, went to sleep.