Speaking of…

Mindy, Emmeline, and Purple Snowflakes

Posted Via iPhone

My boss is an Italian plumber.

The Swell Season

Mindy and I saw The Swell Season in concert last night with Elise, Olive, and Francis at Crystal Ballroom.  Wow.  I mean, wow.  The two-and-a-half hour gig was one long highlight (worth standing the whole time for) but being ten feet away from the band and Glen Hansard taking the stage literally unplugged for Say It To Me Now (think “that scene” in Once–we might as well’ve been passers-by on a street in Dublin) especially stood out.

They didn’t play my favorite song off of Strict Joy, Feeling The Pull, or Love That Conquers, a song that sounds like a Simon & Garfunkel/The Beatles lovechild, but Hansard covered Van Morrison’s song Astral Weeks and I thought his guitar was going to breakup on re-entry.

Seeing them live we were better able to grasp how robust their music is.  The harmonies on I Have Loved You Wrong were pristine and I already thought High Horses was driving but I didn’t feel it pound in my chest until last night.

Marketa Irglova’s effortless vocals are on my mind, on my mind, on my mind…

And, although The Frames are nineteen years tight, I like to think that the crowd singing along added.  Nicely done, Portland.

Emmeline Does Her Own Stunts

Oh. And…

If you’re Joshua (almost four) it’s not “trick-or-treat,” it’s just “sugar-treat.”

I stole this photo off of Jill’s blog.

Halloween

We had a blast Halloween-ing with the Foleys.  Said blast included trick-or-treating in Fairview Village (the Peacock Lane of Halloween), dinner, brews, dessert, and even more goodies via piñata (think El Día de los Muertos)! 

Here are our pirates, cat, and “fighter-fighter…”      

For more pics, just click!

Yesterday, we observed a Durias Halloween tradition by viewing E.T.  A matinee, of course, for it’s a bit creepy.

22nd Annual Apple Tasting Event

More pictures here.

Colorado Springs Trip

I just got back from Compassion’s National Advocates Conference with Mindy, Emmeline, and over 400 others and I can’t say enough about how rich this experience was. God met us. We were among heroes. Relationships with friends deepened and new friendships flourished. All of you make us laugh and are safe enough to cry with. Thank you for adding to our life. The Father is especially fond of you.

About half of our staff are located at Compassion’s Global Ministry Center in Colorado Springs.  The other half work all over the U.S.  And they look good…

Click here for more pictures.

Et al.

Emmeline’s bored.

Photo by Jon Brawley’s iPhone.  Jealous.