Fishing Is For Me

Our older son has been looking forward to this fishing date since early January. Our friend Seante has a love for fishing and all things nature. We are so appreciative that he chose to spend a Saturday, with two energetic boys, a toddler and a 5 year old, sharing his time, his talents, and his treasures. As he teaches the boys the basics initially, Seante casts the fishing line for the boys... and teaches them to practice patience and being still, as we wait..

The new fisherman asked, "Can I try?", and Seante gave a lesson in casting the line. Here is his 4th or 5th "go" at it. Seante's encouraging words can be heard in the background. This was SO exciting for me as a mom, to see the learning and development of a skill happen!! It really touches my heart.

Here, toward the end of the day, Seante has blessed our boy by sharing a variety of fishing hooks and lures, "First I throwded the orange hook, then the yellow hook, and then the green hook, and the orange hook again, and then a blue fish, a yellow fish, and then a red and white fish, and a gold bird".

Seante soon asked, "Gina, can you handle being with him as he fishes?", I said "Sure, he's doing it on his own". And later, as we parted with good byes, Seante blessed the boys and our family with a first fishing pole (that he said he'll share with his younger brother!) and the younger one with a first fishing lure.

You know, God really answers prayers. Seante's heart, of loving others, is divinely matched by that of his wife, Amy. I'm so glad for their presence in our lives.

Memories at the Museum

Our older son missed the last week of school because of a cough, and just when ready to get a break from the cabin fever...the younger one's cough started for the President's week vacation.

We were glad that he was fine for our weekend plans to hang with the Price family.

Here the cousins lounge on a 200 year old bed with some children's books in the FamilyRoom

Squeeze in for a picture just as we arrive at the museum.
Garden beauty
Reflections in the rear-view mirrors
Tubular! Check out these vibrant connections.

Tracing "creatures" at the Light table - Artists in the making

The Family Room was the kids favorite activity along with water fountains, yet

they are most fond of the time together.

Boardwalk Bicycling

The boys' cousin planned a special day: cycling, ocean breezes, cool crisp air, and the seashore. what a delight to the senses.

As the official photographer, I laid down and enjoyed this view of the sky, the palms and the sand... while everyone biked.

Nico was an encourager to our older son...rooting him on whenever possible. Nico picks up that habit from his dad.

Here's the entourage before the caravan to the next beach town began (our little one is already strapped in the yellow bike trailer)....

Auntie towing the littlest one, with my brother-in-love as rear guard

The boys excited to get moving!
This one is enjoying!
Cruising together

Check it!

Drummin' to the BEAT!

the Young

the Younger

and the Youngest

Five on Valentine's Friday

We are looking forward, as a family, to tomorrow! It means:
1. Remembering who loves you more than anyone else. yes, He does!
2. Heart shaped pancakes for breakfast.
3. Wearing red.
4. Eating red throughout the day: apples, grapes, spaghetti with marinara/meat sauce, you get the idea :)
5. Making momentos: Heart-shaped cut out construction paper valentines we decorate and exchange with each other each year.

For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him

is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
~ Psalm 103:11, NLT

Happy Birthday Lolo!

You are loved as you are! We miss you!

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.