Do Not Worry

Matthew 6: 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

I'm leaning on this scripture today. God wants our family to put into practice complete trust in His provision.

These days we hear a lot about the country's economic downturn, job loss, and staff reduction in hours. I've been expecting for the past year that it would happen to me (I am a per diem employee - not guaranteed hours), as I witnessed this affect my employer when the dot.com's flopped in 2000 (all the per diems were let go for about a year). Well... yesterday "the writing was on the wall" that my hours are being down shifted starting next week. I only work one 10-hour day a week, yet we've trimmed our spending so that we count on every bit of those earnings.

I am excited to see what God has in store for our family and how He will reveal His plan in the coming weeks and months.

Faith Walk

We are enjoying the boys' devotionals. In today's activity, "Faith Walk", a leader guides the blindfolded person by hand through an obstacle course. We walk without seeing where we are going. Trusting our leader to show the way. The blindfolded young-ins were more confidently following their leader.

whereas the adults cautiously followed. isn't that the truth?
This reminded us that even though we can't see God, He is always there. He will lead us in the right path if we listen for His voice in our hearts and in His Word. We may not alway know His whole plan. But we know that if we obey what God tells us, we will find His blessing in the end. We ask God to help us follow Him, no matter where He leads.
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Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer. ~ Psalm 4:1, NLT

This morning, this verse was an encouragement to both myself and my husband when we read it, just wanted to share it :) Have a great day!

Grandparents Daily Dose: Day 7

Photos of the day for the grandparents. love you guys.

thanks for "hanging out" with us for a week on the blog.
see you again soon!

just playing around before bedtime: evening was cool enough for robes
the little one is usually holding drumsticks or maracas or something

Grandparents daily dose: day 6 of 7

The younger one and I had a chance to go on a "hike" together. He noticed red berries on the tall trees, took in deep breaths of the fresh morning air,
and especially wanted to get a ride on mom's shoulders.

"They didn't even take out my teeth!"

Those words were spoken in excitement as we departed from the dentist office this morning :) off we went to use the gift coupon Dr. Mike gave us for an ice cream...

When we arrived at the ice cream store, he said, "Hey, my teeth are missing!"

and later said, "It didn't even hurt when they took my teeth out!"

Grandparents Daily Dose: day 5 of 7

Pictures of the Day (#5) for the grandparents. Love you grandma. Love you lolo & lola.

they want to know: "do you like the bear(d)s"

The boys were bubbling over with joy to play in a bubble bath

A Mom's favorite: Never let go

this is one of my favorite songs that the kids sing. they've grown tired of singing it for me, so i'm glad it's on video :)

Grandparents Daily Dose: 4 of 7

daily dose #4, photo a day, for the grandparents,

Love you Grandma. love you Lolo & Lola

enjoying the strawberries from the neighborhood farmer's market

have safe travels lolo and lola & enjoy!

thanks for a sweet visit grandma

Grandma Playdate

What a beautiful day for the park Grandma's here for a visit, and each of the boys were blessed with alone time with her today, and the 3 of them had a "movie night"date last night
The older one says"Grandma, thank you for coming over. I liked playing at the park with you and I loved that you spent the night here."

the little one and grandma pose here, yet their playdate was in the backyard,

the highlight was driving on the wooden truck in the back yard.

The little one 'drove' them to disneyland and lake poway.

climbing the double ladder

the little one's message to grandma: "thank you for guitar and drum."

Here's the older ones picnic spot for their playdate

Day 3 of 7: Grandparents Daily dose

love you, grandma. love you lolo & lola

Day 2 of 7: Grandparents Daily Dose

Daily Dose #2, a photo a day, for the grandparents

(everyone else, bear with us)

love you grandma. love you lolo & lola

Tunnel Vision Two are better than one..for if one falls down,

the other can help him up.

A rope of three strands is not easily broken.

from Ecc. 4:9-10;12b

wishing you safe travels lolo and lola

thanks for a special date today grandma

Grandparents Daily Dose: day 1 of 7

Here's the first of a week long daily dose of pics for the grandparents
(everyone else please bear with us, & these pre-scheduled posts).
love you grandma. love you lolo and lola.

This was my first attempt at making ribs. The ribs were part of the "manna from heaven" that i told you about

on Jan 10 in the post A Surprise For Us.

These were fun to eat and photograph
Hope the pictures are not too graphic -
make you want to consider going vegetarian?

The older one says about the leftovers "Save them. I love them. I want to eat them again. We love them so much that we want to eat them when grandma comes."

Six on Saturday

"Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established." Proverbs 4: 25-26.
1. Thank you for prayer. what a blessing. "We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character" Romans 5:3-4.
2. Last thursday we found out that Pete's request for Sundays as a regular day off was honored :) starts in february, for the upcoming year.
3. My parents travel to Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore very soon. I'm so glad they are enjoying retirement. Have fun you two. Know that we miss you, love you & pray for your safe travels.
4. I'm excited to see what is in store for us in 2009. With the combination of #2 and #3, we will be able to have a regular family day and the temptation of sacrificing the family day to earn income will be gone.
5. Pete and I had it on our hearts to be more intentional about our family time. We hope to do an easy activity together before dinner time especially on nights we don't have plans. We are using a boys' devotional book we received as a gift last year.
Last night was the first night. "Seed the Need: Getting a taste of the joy that comes from taking care of others. Helping feed the birds near our house".

Making a pine cone bird feeder.6. We've been getting back to a 'regular routine' in the new year...the wonderful opportunities for Christmas celebrations have passed. so we are back to everyday life.

making "snow globes"

we chuckle when the kids finish a water bottle and want to save it to create something

Cycling around the local park

Blessed with a gift of Sea World passes, one of the first things we did was head over there! The weather was still nice and cool

Running errands together, the boys wanted a picture of them "exploring God's creation" said the older one..

Passing time popping "bubbles" on the bubble wrap...in the Sprint store,

while mom takes care of stuff

Blogging has really increased the number of pictures I take. I look at this post, and am amazed at how fast time flies. the boys are growing. Our life is like a vapor-goes so fast. I truly feel blessed.

A Call

i'm calling out for prayer :)

I felt a desire share my journey through this valley with you. Since Monday night I had felt weary. Today, I found solace in scripture. If you feel called, please pray through any of these scriptures for any one you feel led to do so. It seems selfish to ask you to only pray for me! maybe it will bring comfort to someone, as it did me.

My needs: I want to keep my eyes on the Lord and what He wants, not on the circumstances or situation. I am weary. I need to trust in the Lord.

The answers in scripture: Pete and I looked some up this morning, and these spoke to me. Reading these will run you through my emotions this morning.

• Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
• Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. Psalm 107:6
• Hear me and Answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught. Psalm 55:2
• He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Psalm 107:29
• For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9
• Teach me to do your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10
• He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40 29-31
• The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. Lamentations 3: 25.
• Come to me all you who are weary and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
• Cast all your cares on Him, for he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7.
• Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all ways tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace for help in time of need. Hebrews 4: 14-16.

Surprise for us

They said, "God Provides" as they smiled and gave us hugs and walked out the door.

[Flashback to one hour earlier]

It was December 30th, and I received a call..."When will you be home?" I answered and they said "we'll be there". It was an unexpected visit, yet all four of us would be home and we were looking forward to company of this dear couple. The kids got really excited - jumping up and down- as they anticipated the arrival of our guests.

DING DONG!

In they came with two boxes, not saying a word about them.
Okay.
We continued to chat.
What did you do today?
Went to the comissary. Ran some errands.
So it finally came up. someone asked, what's in those boxes?
The response, "make sure to give your mom and dad the styrofoam cooler inside, they've been wanting them".
"No problem" and Pete and I took a look inside.

[The pictures speak for themselves]

They said that it's good to start the New Year off with a full pantry!
A full pantry? that's an understatement.. this completely packed the freezer full of meats.
7 pounds of chicken, 5 pounds of pork, ground beef, roast, ribs and more

chili dog fixins, fruit, veggies, staples (rice, potato, onion), canned goods, pasta meals
They said, "God Provides" as they smiled and gave us hugs and walked out the door.
I was left with a heart touched deep by this immense giving...full of gratitude.

Five On Friday:Epiphany

1. We celebrated the 12th day of Christmas, Epiphany, the Three Wise Men's arrival to visit Jesus this week.
2. As part of the celebration, the boys also wanted to finish a "manger" art project we received as a gift.

3. The tradition is that with the nativity set, the wise men (who have been on one side of the mantel) finally reach the stable so we move the figures there. We listen to our Adorenaments Music since the 1st day of Christmas and hang the Adorenaments on the tree. Put to fun music are Names of Jesus. The Adorements are ornaments that depict 12 scripture names for Jesus: The Lion of Judah, The door, Living Water, Bread of Life, Savior, Lamb of God. It's a wonderful extension of Christmas time and draw out the celebration as long as we can. http://www.familylife.com/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=dnJHKLNnFoG&b=3584679&ct=4639289

4. The music brings me peace.

5. The older son suggested we include a pillow fight as part of our celebration!