Cherish the Treasure

"Lifelong companion, I give myself to you. This sacred vow I make to you does not contain an "if" although I'm unaware that trials lie ahead. I will love you and pray with you, and through it all, I'll stay with you" serenaded Chaz & Tito San to us 13 years ago today.

We smiled and laughed watching our wedding video recap of the ceremony and reception. Touching moments plus lots of fun!

Yesterday, we enjoyed talking and walking together by the open water, sunshine, and a seaside snack then headed to our favorite place for mexican food... and had a chance to laugh at our funnest memories, memorable dates & favorite places: the love in and around us on our wedding day, barrel rolls in a biplane, sunset hot air balloon ride, dining at Harmony of 5th with live big band music (ala Desi Arnez), kayaking with dolphins, enjoying the miracle of life together as parents.

The day ended with the music, dance and song of "Child Soldier No More" by http://www.restoretour.com/. It was a moving, dramatic performance. We welcomed our actual anniversary day with renewing our wedding vows, which I write here for us to find easy later:

I, Pete, take you, Gina, as my wedded wife. With deepest joy, I receive you into my life that together we may be one. As is Christ to His body, the church, so I will be to you a loving and faithful husband. Always will I perform my headship over you even as Christ does over me, knowing that His Lordship is one of the holiest desired for my lif. I promise you my deepest love, my fullest devotion, my tenderest care. I promise I will live first unto God rather than others or even you. I promis that I will lead our lives into a life of faith and hope in Christ Jesus. Ever honoring God's guidance by His Spirit through the Word, And so throughout life, no matter what may lie ahead of us, I pledge to you my life as a loving and faithful husband.

I, Gina, take you Pete, as my wedded husband. With deepest joy I come into a new chapter of my life with you. As you have pledged to me your life and love, so I too happily give you my life, and in confidence submit myself to your headship as to the Lord. As is the church in her relationship to Christ, so I will be to you. Pete, I will live first unto our God and then unto you, loving you, submitting to you, caring for you, and ever seeking to please you. God has prepared me for you and so I will ever strengthen, help, comfort, and encourage you. Therefore, throughout life, no matter what may be ahead of us, I pledge to you my life as a loving and faithful wife.

From a Seed to a Pumpkin to a Lantern

This was a pretty pumpkin farm where we stopped to have a picnic Our shady lunch spot next to a rock that's great for climbing

These kids are trying to hide behind the big pumpkins - too big! A wagon ride might help weary feet, yet its already too warm outside. So we took a break, then returned fora tractor-pulled hay ride: that dropped us off at the

Let's find our way thru the cornstalks

These tired legs could use a lift:

Our navigator runs ahead to seek and find a way out:

Success! Good bye corn stalks. Hello pumpkin patch Walking amongst the pumpkin plants and vines exploring for pumpkins:

and learning a tidbit about the pumpkin life cycle:

This flower will fall off and be replaced by a pumpkin:

A half orange half green pumpkin attached to the vine, not ripe enough yet:

Back home cleaning out the mushy gushies just like God cleans out our sins.

Toasted pumpkin seeds (almost burnt!)

The kids agreed on 4 teeth and triangle eyes/nose.

Final "take" of the jack-o-lantern = surprise hug!

Apple Harvest!

I was so thankful to be pickin' apples. Pete was blessed by the cool crisp morning air and the gentle breeze that swept the mountainside. The first apples found were out of the kids' reach: So, we came up with an easy way to add at least 60 inches to their height. Carrying them on our shoulders brought them right to the tops! Our younger son said the shoulder-ride was his favorite part of pickin'.Aha! discovered low laying apples on this row of trees:and found itty bitty baby apples too! aren't these cute? My favorite was racing together down the aisles of trees! My next desire was a "posed" picture. Negative. Nope. So, we get what we get.Uncensored love.How God must love us! We are the apple of His eye. That phrase is used in the Bible to refer to God focusing His love, attention, and protection on those who follow Him. [fr. gospel.com]

Deuteronomy 32:10-11: In a desert land He found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; He guarded him as the apple of His eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest an hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions.

The words love, attention, and protection stir up images of parents and children. Better yet, visions of our Abba Father and we, His adopted children.

Stopped off for some apple crumb pie on the way out.

And tradition has it that the kids get an old fashioned candy stick too!