Stylin' Saturday Bruises

Forehead bruises and funky hair. Jordis is down with that. You should be too.

School Pics

Here are Elijah's school pics.

Preschool 2007

Preschool 2008

Kindergarten 2009

The days go by slow, but the years go by fast. Elijah, I love your guts.

Childhood Actress - Growing Pains

I booked the part of Cheryl Murray on "Growing Pains" within a month of landing the part on "The Wonder Years." Two of a my favorite shows. "On Growing Pains" I was to play opposite Ben (Jeremy Miller) and Luke (Leonardi DiCaprio). I knew Jeremy from charity events. We both were very involved with Athletes and Entertainers for Kids. One year he was their national teen spokesperson and I took on that role the following year. Here is a photo of us at an AEFK event.

Leo had guest starred on "The New Lassie" although I didn't have any scenes with him. In fact, I think that might have been an episode I was written out of because I was sick. I can't remember if I actually met him when he was on Lassie, but we ended up in the same acting class so I knew him before I got the part on "Growing Pains."

We rehearsed for three days and the taped the show on the fourth day - in front of a live studio audience. I only had one brief scene with Kirk Cameron (Who I had previously kind of stalked in - my hopes to marry him. And I say "kind of" only because I was really an innocent, teeny bopper and not some whack job. Really, I promise. You know you would have done the same if you had his address is 1988.). By this point (a whopping three years later), I had fallen out of love with him. Not for anything he had done in the (nonexistent) relationship. I had just moved on. I had a real boyfriend from my hometown and I was over Kirk. He had moved on as well and was dating Chelsea Noble. The women he really married. Nevertheless, it was cool to work with him and meet him. I was truly living out my childhood dreams.

I was excited about Kirk's faith and suggested to he and Chelsea that we should say a little prayer before we taped the show. I think they were a little taken aback. First, I was only sixteen years old. Second, how many actors on their show had initiated that before? My guess is zero. I don't remember what was said in the prayer or if we had much conversation surrounding it, but we all prayed together in Kirk's trailer before we did the show.

On a side note, I did not ask him if he ever gotten my handwritten letter that I had given his dad. At this point, I was mortified that I had even done that. But I did notice that he was wearing the green friendship bracelet that I had made him. Kidding, kidding.

And as I recall, my guardians (the couple I lived with while I was down there) did say something to Kirk regarding my previous crush on him. I remember being really embarrassed because I think they said something about my marriage plans. But I've healed from all things Kirk related and am now able to talk about it. So I can help others.

This is the only photo I have from my "Growing Pains" experience. A polaroid taken by the wardrobe department.

Our imovie is glitchy so right now I can't upload more scenes from the "Growing Pains" episode. When my superstar techie husband fixes it I will post stuff. For now -- here is the clip from a scene with Leonardo that I posted a few months ago.

Glitter and Crafts

Remind me to never use glitter while crafting again. (Sorry Jenny.) My house is like a magical fairyland. Glitter is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

Homeschool

I don't homeschool my kids, but maybe I should. Because I teach them a lot of things. And they do a great job of taking it out and applying it in real life situations.

For example, in the car yesterday Elijah and I had a conversation about Asian hair. I don't remember how the subject came up, but I told him that Asians have dark hair. Then we talked specifically about some friends, "You know so and so who is chinese? What color is his hair? You know so and so who is Korean, what color is her hair?" Then I told him that our friend Daniel was coming over that night and he is Korean and he has dark hair. Then Elijah asked me if Grandpa was Chinese. I had to explain that not everyone who has dark hair is Asian. Lydia and Jordis were in the car too, but did not participate in the conversation. I later learned that Lydia was soaking it all in.

That night Daniel (Korean) and his wife Jessica (white, but with brown hair) were over for dinner. Jessica threw Lydia up in the air and caught her. Lydia laughed and then said to Jessica, "You're like Chinese!"

Your First Gift - Clean Water

I know I am not blogging this week so once again, this is just a dream. And it's timely. I guess I picked a bad week to "go dark," huh?

From water4christmas.com (italics from me)

Every day, 4500 mothers bury their children due to contaminated water. They are forced to sustain their families with a diabolical liquid that contains both life and death. This lack of clean water is the leading cause of death in underdeveloped nations. And it just doesn't have to be!

Before you go buy a bunch of junk that no one needs, stop. Think outside of your comfortable life and think about how awesome it is to have a glass of water when you are thirsty. And then think about drawing that water from a muddy creek where cows just pooped. And then think about your kids bathing in that water before bed. And think about your kids coming out of their rooms for the ninth time asking for their "last drinks!" And you hand them a glass of cloudy, bacteria infested, cow poop water and send them back to bed. How can we live in a world where people DIE from lack of clean drinking water? So lame. Ten bucks can make a difference.

And today, November 13th, we are buying water. Clean, life-saving water.

$10 will provide one person in Africa clean water for 10 years. It will literally change and possibly save someone's life. A mother. A child. A brother. A grandfather.

We are rallying together for a cause. Clean water. One day. $10. Asking everyone to let this be their first gift. Let water, let life be their first gift of the season.

Click here to donate.

Faith in Hollywood

Yesterday I said my blog was going dark for a week. Technically it still is. You are not reading this right now. It's a dream. In your dream you go to Sarah Mae's blog Like A Warm Cup of Coffee where you will find my guest post about my time in Hollywood and my faith.

Why the photo of the crazy static hair? Because weird things happen in your dreams.

Standing Firm in Crisis

Most of us have been in a crisis. Some are in one right now. A big one. One that makes it hard to get out of bed - ever. Want some encouragement? Check out this this podcast.

The first few minutes Debbie Alsdorf share a little story. Then I check in with people about the spending fast before I get into the message. And don't bail before it is over! Kim Dunne shares a testimony at the end that is utterly amazing. She is the kind of person I would like to follow around all day. She is upbeat, kind, HILARIOUS, peaceful, friendly, faithful, thoughtful. You would never know she has kidney cancer and breast cancer - that cannot be treated. Or that she cannot take any meds (i.e. chemo/radiation, advil, etc) and cannot have surgery. And that's just a taste of her story...

And that's your assignment for the week. Because this blog's going dark. See you next week.