the harrisons

2006-01-19T21:05:00.000-08:00

Being a parent. A lot of time it is counting the minutes until they're in bed. I hate to say it, but sometimes it is so rountine and SO much work. It is such a lesson in selflessness. Leisure time is so few are far between...sometimes we get paralyzed when we have an unexpected block of time. Do I sleep? Clean? Pay bills? Maybe just sit in front of the tv or read a magazine. (Or check out everyone's latest blogs and the status of "My Ebay."

Okay...so tonight was different. I had my first glimpse of me wanting to hang out with Ryan as much and he wanted to hang out with me. Scott was home sick in bed all day...a complete anomaly. I put Mallory down (which reminds me...the great new chair you see her in below...the coolest Christmas present...the "Laugh & Learn" chair...RECALLED! Evidently it can strangle the child if they position their head just right in between the chair and the small side table with lamp. Lovely.)

Anyway, Kayti went in and crashed with Scott after she realized Ryan and I were watching "Killer Night" on the Discovery Channel. First, a show on killer ants, then one on killer bees.

Okay, so we don't have to worry about the ants...they live in Tanzania, Africa and can consume and entire horse, elephant or human...but they are far away. So they are consuming other humans. But the "africanized killer bees" are all over Southern California and Mexico. As if we needed another thing to worry our mother heads about. Not the point though. Are you thinking "Kirsti...get to the point!"?

So as an inquisitive young 5-year-old...here is a sampling of the questions I got tonight (the number of which almost rival the amount of killer ants in a colony...20 million).

Mama...
Can an ant really eat a horse?
What do tarantulas eat?
Would a rattlesnake beat a killer ant?
Are those ants eating a stink bug?
Once Daddy got us in the house when there was bees.
Are you afraid of tarantulas?
Are you itching?
Can an ant climb a tree? Even a "coconut tree?" What about a rain forest tree?
Are there killer ants here?
Do we live in North America?
What are they doing with those be wings?
What is a microscope? Is it like goggles?
What is that guy wearing?
What is a scientist?
Is that the queen bee?
What is venom?
What does ______ mean? x 50

Wow. It is amazing to watch his intellect unfold. He learned to read today. It was the first day he put sounds together to read words. One day he can't read and the next he can. Beautiful.

I looked at him and just savored the moment. I am in love with my sweet spirited, gentle, curious son.

All the way home he kept saying, "Mom, I can't wait to make Daddy laugh when we get home." A couple of "rock out songs" later (including YMCA, Say a Little Prayer for You, If You Want to Be Happy [...for the rest of your life never make a pretty woman your wife], and BarlowGirl's There is No One Like You) and he is explaining to me that his talent is singing.

Couldn't we all be so comfortable and unself-concious enough to enjoy life like a 5 year old?

And I bet the best is still to come. Thanks, God, for a little bit of heaven on earth.

2006-01-17T22:17:00.000-08:00

Santa's helpers

2006-01-17T22:13:00.001-08:00

A vanity and a chandelier (oh...and velvet pink curtains...did I go overboard??)

2006-01-17T22:13:00.000-08:00

Room at first glance (With Yammi and Papa in the background)

2006-01-17T22:11:00.001-08:00

Kayt's new pink room

2006-01-17T22:11:00.000-08:00

Kayti, Ryan & Mallory with my cousins Alanna & Jake

2006-01-17T22:09:00.000-08:00

Mallory loves chairs...so here is the perfect Christmas gift...an educational learning chair that sings to her when she sits on it. What will they think of next?

2006-01-16T09:48:00.000-08:00

It is 2006 now. We are still reveling in the togetherness as each milestone comes and goes.

It is a long weekend and we have family in town (Scott's cousin Angie and her new husband Matt.) We also have a house full of kids...Ryan's best friend Scottie and his sister Brooke spent last night and today with us.

Big projects/happenings of late:

redecorating kayti's room for christmas...a pink and black parisian room with a chandelier! (pictures will follow).

scott working on ryan's "Hummer" bed, complete with a play house underneath, real tires, a DVD holder and a gun turret on top.

scott continuing to speak at churches as he is invited.

great friends, the hendersons, came out to visit from St. Louis (two parents, two kids and two dogs).

a new semester starting at sdcc (meaning that kirsti has worked over time the last few weeks).

getting to hang out with new friends at skyline.

mallory newest word "spoon" that is said in a LOW voice that sounds like "spone."

8 teeth for mallory in two weeks...it is about time at 17 months!

i need to write a family letter, but for now this is my update.

2006-01-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

Scott and Mallory

2005-09-19T20:49:00.000-07:00

We just returned from vacation. We are grateful for a week together with family on a Carribean Cruise.

We are walking step-by-step, praying that God will lead. Please pray with us about God's plan for what Scott will do for work.

We have a couple of dates set for Scott to speak. Here is a preliminary overview. More details will follow.

9/25 LaVerne Community Church (morning service)
10/16 Nazarene Church in Lake Elsinore area (Sunday school)
11/20 Canyon Breeze Church (in Glendora area) (morning service)

2005-08-31T20:35:00.000-07:00

We are two weeks into "normal" life now. Well, what is normal? Hopefully it will never be the same. We are changed people. Changed for good.

I have been working way more hours than I will be, making up for lost time and I came back the day New Student Orientation started. It was an awesome time that I had planned and prayed for for months. I miss the family, and am constantly grateful that Scott is by our side.

Kayti started first grade this week. Ryan starts Kindergarten next week. Mallory called Scott "Daddy" the first day he was home. They have become fast friends.

THIS SUNDAY at Skyline Wesleyan Church, we will be celebrating Scott's homecoming and all are invited. It is at 3:00 PM in the Plaza Tent. Friends are hosting a time of refreshments and visiting. Scott will share reflections with you about the journey. There is a link on this blog where you can go to get directions. We hope you can join us.

2005-08-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

We continue to thank God for His goodness. We have had great talks, and battled Satan's attacks both alone and together. It feels like the battle keeps raging, and we will not sucumb to temptation to focus only horizontally on each other. Both of us are used to connecting vertically through him. This is the way we must continue.

Thanks for all of your amazing posts. They have blessed us mightily. To hear from friends from Brazil, St. Louis, Mexico...ones we know intimately from past connections and ones who are intimately connected with us now through the Lord--who we look forward to knowing. Bless you all.

We are packing up soon to head down to real life. Pray with us for the transition. There will be challenges, but we are ready to cross over knowing that God continues to be with us and he will give us what we need when we need it. It will be an amazing gift to live side-by-side.

Don't hesitate to call, or to email us with your # and we'll call you.

2005-08-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

You all are so good to us. Thank you for your comments. We are so blessed by your care and support.

We got to sleep in and have breakfast. Scott got a haircut and we got to watch the movie "The Notebook." He had read the book in jail. If you have seen that movie, you will know that I cried my eyes out thanking God that I get to grow old with my husband. Thanks to you jurors and thank be to God that we are together. We are still in shock.

We will go home on Thursday...the kids already know Daddy is coming home. Daddy is BETTER than penny racers!

Let the glory of the Lord rise among us. Let nobody mistake that this was God working. All of the glory goes to Him.

I am filled with bliss!!

2005-08-15T15:32:00.000-07:00

We have a verdict. NOT GUILTY. Praise the Lord. It is a miracle. We give him all the glory.

2005-08-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

Okay faithful prayer warriors...we have another specific for you. The jury has a very tricky question and our jusge is on vacation. Our attorney is on the way up to RC now and I will meet him in the courtroom. I believe he will argue about how the court answers the question. This will be critical in how the jury decides the verdict. Oh Lord, we know you know. Please go before us now. I am going to shower and head over.

2005-08-14T17:17:00.000-07:00

I have arrived in Rancho Cucamonga and checked into the hotel again. I will head out soon to go visit my sweet husband.

Please pray again for Ryan, my 4-year old. He is so sensitive. It was another tearful goodbye (less though, with the promise I will set out on a search to find some penny racers for him). When he was playing this afternoon with his cars, he spoke the word, "prophetic" clear as day. I said "what?" He said, "nothing." I am not sure if he heard it at church, but it took me by surprise.

Mallory took 5 steps in a row this afternoon, between my mom and I. What a treat! She is teething heavy and awoke every hour last night.

Kayti is starting to ask hard questions about when IS daddy coming home. And she stated to my parents that she is tired of all this. Tell me about it!!

Thanks to so many for your prayers, time, provision, and encouragement. Thanks to my mom and dad and my aunts Elizabeth and Liz. They are on the front lines with me. Thanks to the Heavenly Father for every good and perfect gift.

2005-08-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry to take so long to get this updated. We are adjourned for the weekend. The jury will continue deliberations at 9 AM Monday morning. Although they have requested several readbacks, they have not heard them all yet. They like the court reporter to leave the room after each testimony is read so they may discuss it. It sounds like they are being thorough.

When I returned home, I had three letters waiting from Scott. Here is an interesting excerpt from one:

Oh, this afternoon while I was sitting at a table in the day room, Mike stopped by to talk. I didn't see him approach because I had my head down and I was trying to finish my letter to Kayti. The only way I knew he was there is that the table moved slightly. I turned and looked at him and his eyes were misty. Mike is 50-something, a real estate agent, and established in the community. His issue is with drugs--they have a hold on him too tightly. He's been here 30 days and has been clear thinking for a couple of weeks. So back to my story. He looks me in the eye, serious expression on his face and says, "Scott, I've been thinking a lot about your situation (case going to jury next week) and want you to know that I am praying for you. I sincerely hope those jurors see the man I see." He then stood up and shook my hand as I thanked him. Man, what a shocker! I would never had predicted that in a million years. Mike is a nice guy and all, but he's never mentioned prayer in all the conversations we've had. He's reserved and plays things real close to the vest. His comments meant a lot to me.

So I am working on laundry today, repacking, trying to figure out who will watch the kids this week and playing with these little guys. They are growing SO much, expecially Mallory. Kayti lost her first tooth today and Mallory took her first step on her own (that I have seen, at least).

I leave again tomorrow to visit Scott and then anticipate the verdict.

2005-08-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

The jury has requested read backs of two additional witnesses this morning. Good! More discrepancies!! The word we have is to "Be still and know that I am God." Last night as I was sharing a word that Winifred Garlow sent via Toshi with Scott at the jail, a sister in Christ put her hand on my shoulder and said "Be still and know that I am God." Amazing.

We'll go into the courtroom today at 3:30 to hear the judge explain to Scott that because she is going on vacation again next week, another judge will be taking over during deliberations next week.

At 1:30 today, my dad and I will go to the final sentencing of Scott's friend who is receiving a confirmation of his death penalty sentence. His name is Johnny Morales. His parents told him that he is already dead to them. Scott has worked with him for 8+ months to the point where Morales knows he is alive in Christ and plans to make use of the 15-25 years he has left before being put to death by the State of California to be an instrument in God's hands. He cannot change the past, but he is choosing a hope and a future. Praise be to God!

2005-08-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

The attorney says the best we can hope for is a hung jury. Then we read the words of the Lord that have come through email and blog today and people have been told that the victory has begun and that God's glory will be revealed. When we can't quite have that confidence ourselves God is speaking to his people on our behalf. Praise you Lord for your faithfulness and your people. We could not do this without you. - Chris

2005-08-11T14:30:00.000-07:00

The jury has asked for several read-backs today. I have spent all day in bed. The weariness is catching up with me. A spiritual battle is raging. Thanks for your care!

2005-08-09T16:28:00.000-07:00

Just got another call from the attorney. The jury asked for two more read-backs. It seems like they are making progress in the right direction.

2005-08-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

The latest news...the jury came back after two hours of being together and ask for a key piece of evidence to be read back that we were hoping they would notice. It is really one that points to reasonable doubt. Praying!

2005-08-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

Our Story

The following video clips are taken from an interview that was done for Skyline Church. We wanted to be able to share these with many of the people who have been praying for us. Please leave us any comments after you view the blog.

The Interview: Short Version

The Interview: Full Version