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!

Sayin' goodbye to 2008

Christmas Evening {december}

Last date night of the year

Thanksgiving Day

Coronado beach buddies

{October} Welcome Harvest

{September}

with our first pumpkin patch visit at Victoria's Garden

Summer ended with a BANG as we

spontaneously joined

the last Summer Nights Fireworks celebration.

First fishing experience! long awaited :)

{August}

Lots of healing happened in our family.
Here's the older one with a cast to help the recovery of a sprained elbow {summer}
Gina's failed root canal healed without dental treatment. The little one's ear tube surgery relieved

chronic fluid behind the ears and hearing loss. Pete completely recovered from abdominal surgery.

The little one turned 2 {June}

SOOO happy to have his request-banana crumb muffins- and blissful to be sung to!

earned an orange-white belt in martial arts

{May}

The little un's *first* swim class was in the Spring The Butterflies & Orchids celebration {March} Fun to see who the butterflies land on each year-the oldest one and Lola this time

We rode the gondola up to the top of Mammoth at 11053 feet to

celebrate the marriage of friends {February}

Here we are on the balcony building a snowman the snow was stacked 14 feet on the side of the road

Our first 2008 picture: Valentines Date Night with the Omega group at Church

Ten on Tuesday

1. It's been on my heart to post about the "winks from God" throughout the 2008 year, and share how you've touched our lives. i hope to get to that soon.
2. praise today! the scheduler at work (bless her heart) returned after a 2 week vacation, and already filled in some appts i just made available...
3. so now, we'll be able to pay cash for the dental work this month :)
4. my supervisor brought a smile to my heart today.
5. She walked into the office right in the middle of an individual evaluation appointment with a concerned look on her face. The team needed immediate coverage for a coworker who is going out on medical leave again (cancer history). of course, it's instinct to want to help a loyal coworker! we looked at my computerized schedule and i was already booked for this week and next.
6. i offered her the afternoon of the oldest son's dental extractions (if it went well). [i'm thinking of this ill coworker, whom i donated my hair in honor of in 2006, and with whom i've had the priviledge to pray, and to be mentored to "be still"].
7. My supervisor's immediate response was: "No! you are not available ;) the mom in you will want to be there all day." she smiled her gentle smile and walked out"
8. whew!
9. she was right,
10. that IS what i would want that day. thanks for stopping me in my tracks.