Hannah loves to be like daddy.
She loves to put shaving cream and daddy will "shave" it off her face.

Hannah loves to "help" mommy put chapstick on her lips.
She loves to put it on herself too.

Here is our Santa baby eating before she sees "mama" and "pampa" or Grandma and Grandpa. She loves her cereal!

I've been saying this for a while: Don't waste your time with Left Behind!

Exhibit A: See above screenshot. This is a scene from the new "Left Behind:Eternal Forces" video game, which I will never play, let alone buy. Apparently the "good guys" (Christians) learn skills and power up at Mission Training and at churches/cathedrals and become more spiritual by praying. The "bad guys" can be killed in self-defense but you lose spirituality points and then must pray to get your spirituality back up. Wow. Exactly what Jesus did.

Exhibit B: Go to this blog and read a helpful q & a session with someone who has actually played the game and from whom I borrowed the above screenshot.

It's really funny (in a sad, strange way) and really, really sad that this game exists. I can just imagine youth groups having "Left Behind:Eternal Forces" tournaments on video-projector screens across America. Makes me shudder and reach for my box of Testa-Mints.

Here is our Christmas Picture 2006. We are not going to send out pictures until Grace is born. We thought it would be better to have a full family picture when Grace is born in March. We will send it over email too.

Here is Clint and Hannah as cowboy/girl. She loves to wear daddy's cowboy hat, so mommy decided to buy her one earlier today. Now she keeps making daddy wear his hat so mommy can take more pictures. She loves to be like daddy.

So, I am at the end of my schooling career. After 5 and ½ years with taking two spring semesters off, I am officially done with Southwestern College. My last final was Tuesday afternoon. Now I am recuperating from the last semester I just finished. I am only taking two classes online at Rio Salado, but they should be easy enough that I shouldn’t have to do too much. I am trying to get them done before my due date, but my final for one of the classes in March 3, 2007 and I am due March 10^th, so that will be interesting.

This will also be the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I will be done officially with school next fall, but I will be graduating from college (finally) in May. I am student teaching in the Fall at Larkspur Elementary for 4^th grade. That will be interesting because I don’t know a lot about 4^th grade material. Oh, side note: if anyone is wanting a full-time job of taking care of two children, let me know. I am so excited and ready to be done with school. I will also be a mother of two children under the age of 3. That will be new, exciting, but scary at the same time. Both Clint and I are getting more excited about having another baby, but having two children comes more responsibility and stress. We know that God will provide for our needs, whether it is financially or the littlest stuff like our sanity with two children in the house. I am now 27 week pregnant (for those who don’t know in those terms, I am 6 months and 1 week or just about). I have about 14 weeks left, but that’s if Grace is full-term and she is born on her due date, which I highly doubt. I also saw the doctor today and it’s always interesting to have to go to the doctor and try to keep a 2 year old entertained. I had to take the Glucose test and it was nasty and I HATE needles. Oh, wait, I want a tattoo, how can I have a tattoo and not like needles at the same time. Well……I guess we’ll see when we get to that part of my life.

The hard thing about this time of year is trying not to get sick. Everyone I know has the same symptoms as I do. Even my OBGYN has the cold symptoms. What stinks even more is the fact that both Hannah and I are sick. I can’t take anything that is strong enough to get rid of this and Hannah is so grumpy, she is hard to take care of. Hannah will get medicine at night and she will sleep through the night, but I am the opposite. I try to take something at night and it keeps me up. I was up like 3 times last night, not being able to get back to sleep right away each time. That makes it hard for me and for Hannah because we both don’t feel good and we are both tired and cranky. But enough with that, there is still so much to be thankful for.

We are going to a new church right now. We needed a change and it’s been really good for all of us. Hannah loves the nursery/toddler room. She is building with blocks every time we come to pick her up. Clint and I really are enjoying the music and the message the pastor has taught on each Sunday. And then at night we are going to a young adults class and they have a good message each time and it’s nice to be around more people our age.

God has really blessed us this year. I think about all of the new things we have learned by being parents and the challenges being a parent can bring to our walk with God and to our marriage. But through it all, we seem to always go back to God and His Word. We know that life will be challenging, but we are definitely not in it alone. If you are ever discouraged, read any of the Apostle’s writings in the New Testament and they were constantly being persecuted for their beliefs and yet rejoiced in everything.

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9

My point in all of this is that there will always be trials in your life. That’s a part of being human. The way you look at them is the important thing. There will always be an ending of a part of your life and a beginning of something new. It’s scary, but exciting. Don’t be afraid to talk to God about what you are feeling because that is what He is there for. He is our Father who wants only what is best; even-though we think we know what is best for us. Be strong in your trials and rejoice, thanking God and asking for help in the mist of them as well.

Well, this is my soapbox, sorry guys. I went on a tangent, but I think it needed to be said. And yes, I need to take my own advice. I hope you can take this to heart and not just read it and forget about what is being said. Well, everyone have a wonderful Christmas holiday break.

Hannah getting ready for "Winter" in Phoenix, because it's like 50 degrees here :)

***Disclaimer: If you’re a good little fundamentalist, begin picking up choice stones to throw now. Better yet, go read John 8:7b, 1 Corinthians 9:22b, and Luke 10:27.***

Why have we, as followers of Christ, allowed “Christian” to mean “second-rate” instead of merely “different?”

“Christian” has become a sub-culture. Examples abound: “Christian” music, “Christian” radio, “Christian” books, and “Christian” stores. This is nothing new. The Christian sub-culture has been around for a long time but has, in the last 25-30 years, become very pronounced. And the quality and purpose have become worse and worse until most things “Christian” have become second-rate. The music is largely “cookie cutter,” the movies are generally pathetic, and other art forms are almost non-existent. Dancing is still out, although it’s all over the Old Testament. I cannot think of one “Christian” painter other than Thomas Kinkade, whose work is all over the “Christian” bookstores.

When did verses like Luke 10:27 become “’Love the Lord your God with most of your heart and with some of your soul and with little of your strength and with hardly any of your mind’ and Love your Christian neighbor as yourself?” When was creative thought banned from the mainstream of Christian life? When was it demoted to the fringes of “Christian” society? Why aren’t we loving God with ALL OUR MINDS?

To clarify, I don’t outright object to having “Christian” music, etc. The problems come when “Christians” forget to turn on their brains. Jesus (Remember Him? Radical, liberal type who hung out with whores?) told us to love God with ALL our mind(s). That covers anything that comes out of your head, including, but not limited to: thoughts, music, ideas, art, screenplays, sermons, words in a conversation, recipes, and ranting essays. Making music that sounds like somebody (everybody) else is not using ALL your mind. Making a movie or writing a screenplay that preaches to the choir is not using ALL your mind. Not recognizing dance or visual art as worship is not using ALL your mind. Saying that God hates “fags” is not using your brain at all and means you did not read the New Testament at all. (See www.godhatesfags.com and prepare to puke.)

There is a point buried here somewhere.

God did not call us to make mediocre music, produce happy movies, sell t-shirts with lame slogans, and jump on the “bracelet-with-a-message” bandwagon. He called us to be Ambassadors. He called us to be creative, thought-provoking weirdos who aren’t afraid to leave the Christian ghetto. People who claim to follow Jesus should actually do it. Read the Gospels and make a list of the places He went, who he interacted with and what He said to them, and what the results of His interactions were. Now compare that list to the modus operandi of most modern, Western Christians. Shocking difference, isn’t it?

Why am I writing this? Because last night Bethany and I watched Woman, Thou Art Loosed and it is the only “Christian” movie I would ever recommend to anyone. And “Christians” largely ignored it because it shows real life. It doesn’t have a happy, “inspirational” ending. I never cry in movies, but both of us were wiping away tears at the end of this one. The reality and the spirituality of the film hits you right between the eyes, if you aren’t afraid to watch an R-rated movie. It seems that we forget that life is R-rated. For that matter, the Bible is R-rated; it’s full of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Woman, Thou Art Loosed actually had an impact on me and no other “Christian” movie has ever done that.

To look into this problem further (and I hope you will), read Michael Spencer’s essay on “Christian” movies at http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/riffs-112006-why-bad-christian-movies-succeed-and-better-movies-never-will and read the lyrics of Derek Webb (www.derekwebb.com). Derek addresses many different problems within Western Christianity and the Christian sub-culture.

Here it is! My new tattoo, done yesterday by Cameron at Sacred Skin here in Phoenix. (www.sacredskinstudios.com) It's on the inside of my left forearm and if you haven't studied Hebrew lately, it says "She'ma Yisrael. Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad."
"Hear, O Israel. The Lord is our God, the Lord is One."

Hannah helps with chores. She can already multi-task: fold laundry and read about the "Five Little Ducks" at the same time.

This was just too weird/ funny not to post.
From cnn.com:

SIERRA VISTA, Arizona (AP) -- A grandmother found with a trunk full of marijuana was convicted of drug running in what prosecutors said was an attempt to earn cash for a bingo habit.
State troopers found 10 bundles of pot totaling 214 pounds hidden in Leticia Villareal Garcia's car trunk last year when they stopped her outside Bisbee, in far southeastern Arizona.
Villareal, 61, told jurors before they convicted her Thursday that her only regular income was a $275 monthly welfare check, but she frequently played bingo and occasionally won thousands of dollars.
Prosecutor Doyle Johnstun said the game was Villareal's undoing.
"People who play bingo almost every night of the week end up losing in the long run," Johnstun told jurors. "The underlying issue is that she's got a bingo problem, which explains why an otherwise nice person might get sucked into something like this."
Jurors rejected Villareal's argument that she'd been tricked into carrying the drugs.
Villareal faces three to 12 years in state prison when she is sentenced December 18.


Cochise County: the gambling Granny smuggler capital of Arizona!

Curtis Joseph (Cujo) gets ready for the second period against New Jersey. After a rough start to the season, he has found his game again and was solid last night, allowing 1 goal in 15 shots.

Hannah having fun at the fountains by Glendale Arena.

So, we went to our first hockey game of the season last night. The Coyotes played the New Jersey Devils at Glendale Arena. (I hate, hate, hate calling it Jobing.com Arena. Absolutely ridiculous.) We are going to see the 'Yotes play Calgary on December 16, but I was trying to find another game to go to before we get too close to Gracie's due date. On the Coyotes radio broadcasts there were ads for stubhub.com, where you can allegedly get tickets from season ticket holders who can't make it to a game. So I went to the site early last week to see what kind of prices there were. I found lower level tickets (section 102, row X) for only $40 per! Seriously, that's "Prices slashed, everything must go!" type of price. On ticketmaster, $40 tix are upper level. I quickly called Mama and got the go-ahead to order 2 tickets.
The area around Glendale Arena is being developed as the Westgate Center (or something like that) and is allegedly going to be quite a development project. They are putting up a couple hotels right now, as well as a theatre and a shopping center. The fountain above is right by the arena. The streams of water kind of moved in time to different songs, so that was cool. Hannah got a big kick out of it.
The Devils' goalie, Martin Brodeur, has the most wins of any goalie in the NHL right now and is generally one of the best in the league. So, being the faithful fan that I am, I was sure the 'Yotes were doomed. Fortunately, I had forgotten that when Hannah is at a game, the Coyotes win. Seriously, she is 3 for 3 now. A 1.00 win percentage. It was great. The Coyotes had goals from Derek Morris (on a sweet pass from Jeremy Roenick), Dave Scatchard (a redirect on a shot by Ed Jovanovski I believe), and Owen Nolan (slid right under Brodeur's shoulder as he went down to stack the pads). Cujo let in only 1 goal, scored by John Madden.
The Devils played like the Coyotes have been most of the season. They couldn't keep the puck out of their zone and did not put much pressure on the offensive zone. The Coyotes however, only allowed 15 shots all game and for the most part kept NJ out of their end. They put good pressure on Brodeur, with the 3 goals coming in 27 shots (two were top corner, glove side). They played 3 solid periods and looked good throughout the game. It was also Shane Doan's first game back from a back injury, and it was Mike Ricci's first game all season. He had a neck surgery in the off-season and played two games in the minors over the weekend to get back into the swing of things. It was his first time in the minors in his entire 14-year career.
We, as usual, had a lot of fun. Can't wait to go again next month!

Now Grace is being posted. I am 22 weeks pregnant (5 1/2 months) with Grace Gillian Isaak. However, I really don't look that big in real life, I just had to take the picture with one hand.
(Images may appear bigger than in real life). Hannah is growing too. She is 21 months old. She will be 2 on February 1st. Hannah loves to talk to my belly. And Gracie loves to move when I am ready to go to sleep. Hannah points to my belly and says "baby, baby, baby" all the time now and gives kisses to Gracie.

A recent picture of The Flames.

(not pictured: Pilot Light Gracie)

Because Halloween is such a controversial subject in conservative Christianity, and because my views clash with many in this group, I would like to skip Halloween entirely. But it's impossible. Even the most disinterested Christian is going to be bombarded by messages about how evil 10/31 is, and about all of the atrocities that allegedly happen on that night. Some of these scare tactics have historical basis, but many are just silly. Eggs, toilet paper, and silly costumes are no more satanic than the black cat we used to have. And Halloween isn't the only "holiday" with sinister origins. I don't know the exact history, but I've been told that Jesus did not invent the Christmas Tree. *gasp* Nor was He actually born in December. *gasp, gasp* Nor were there necessarily 3 wise men. *triple gasp!!!* But that's a completely different subject that I may get into at another time.
Michael Spencer, a Christian thinker/teacher/blogger whom I highly respect, has posted on his site a Toast proposed by The Great Pumpkin of Peanuts fame. Here is an excerpt:
"The world of the imagination has always been essential to human beings, but they've never known just what to do with it. Sometimes they want to live there entirely, and others times they avoid it completely. They reward those who create it in books and music, and yet they fear these artists of the imagination as well, even doing them great harm. Throughout history, the imagination has been denounced as well as celebrated. Each one of us knows about those times when we were welcome to bring happiness, and also about those times when we were blamed for all kinds of evil that we did not create, in fact, could not create because of what we are."
"Particularly painful for many of us are the escalating attacks of religious people on the realm of the imagination. We have suffered from those who see the imagination as a gateway of evil, rather than a canvas on which human nature itself paints the picture. We have been blamed for violence and even death, things we would not even know were it not for human beings investing us with those actions in their own minds. It is as if some religious people actually believe that we exist- that we are real and were somehow a threat to them."
You can read the entire Toast at http://www.internetmonk.com/articles/P/pumpkin.html. It may do you good.

So, we're jumping on this bandwagon too. We're good at that. And like Travis said (thoughtsofanisaak.blogspot.com), it's a whole lot easier to post on this public diary than it is to send an email to 50 different addresses.

Keep fit and have fun.