How many kids do I have?

Last night I was cleaning up the kitchen and when I got to the table, this is what I found...



Please count thirteen...yes, that's thirteen cups and a water bottle. All from my three children. In one day. That's 4.6 cups per child... or did someone have a party and forget to tell me?

God is the Sun...

I woke up early again this morning (5:30), this time before the sun had even come up. I could hear Chad downstairs getting ready to leave for work and I realized that I forgot to make his lunch last night. I stumbled down stairs in my just awake state to make his lunch and kiss him goodbye. After he left, I wandered back up stairs to fall back into bed for a while. But, out my open windows I could, again, see that the sunrise was going to be beautiful (isn't is always!) As much as I was tempted to climb back under the covers I felt the Lord drawing me outside to share the sunrise with Him. As I sat there with my camera waiting to catch the sun coming up over the mountains, I was reminded of some things I already know, but somehow seem to forget in the day-to-day of my life.

GOD is the sun in my life. There may be darkness, dark days, dark moments, but He is always there, always coming back (not to imply that He ever left me) to shine new light on my circumstances. He wants to reveal all the hidden cracks and areas where the sin and lies like to hide. I realized as I watched the sky light up before I could even see the sun, that He only needs to be near and I can already see so much of what is around me. His presence lights up a situation before I even take it to him and lay it at His feet.









And you know how in movies, sometimes there is that scene, sometimes cheesy, sometimes touching, where two different characters are at opposite ends of the earth, but they are both seeing the same moon and are thinking of each other? Well, this morning I had that same thought about the sun... Whether it's me and the girls at home, or Chad at work, or my dad in New Zealand, or Andrew in Afghanistan, or the Rissers in Seattle, or Nichole in Modesto, or Jenny in Puerto Rico, the same sun comes up on us all every morning. The same God is watching over and guiding and loving us all. And though He so very obviously has different plans for each and every one of us, He has the same plan as well...to shine His light into our lives, that we may reflect it on others.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.
Psalm 113:3

Our summer vacation so far...

A hike on the Santa Rosa Plateau,

Dinner with Jordy before he moved to Martha's Vinyard,

The Del Mar Fair (with Meg's friend Makenna),

A weekend with the Proms...The Wild Animal Park,

the beach in Oceanside,

(Em's friend Katarina, and the Prom boys, Keanu and Niko)

Nichole and Van Seng Prom

lots of trampoline,

and Rock Band,

more time at the beach,

swimming at the Johnson's

and a fun sleepover at Mimi's house!

A Message to Jillian and Brooklin

Living Room Sleepover

Emily was out of town this weekend on the Junior High Girls Weekend Getaway. They went to Palm Springs, stayed in a really nice hotel and went to a waterpark and swam and went to the mall. She had so much fun.

In her absence, Megan and Abbey decided to have a Living Room Sleepover. They set this whole thing up and watched The Secret Garden on the laptop computer. (Notice the ongoing construction project paraphernalia in the background. Em wasn't the only one in luxurious accommodations! :))



When I asked them to smile for me I noticed something special happening...


Ahhh...Sisterhood!

The Early Bird...

I woke up yesterday and this was my view from my bedroom window. I've been leaving the windows open at night so that we not only get the great breeze, but also so that I don't sleep in too long in the morning. The early bird not only gets the worm, but he gets the magnificent sunrises too!

Tagged...

My mom "tagged" me on her blog. I've never been tagged before... so, here goes...

What was I doing 10 years ago: Well, I was a stay-at-home mom of two very small little girls. I spent my days at parks and playgroups and trying to keep toys in the toybox.

What are 5 things on my to-do list for today: Finish the laundry, do some errands, scrapbook, watch The Christmas Shoes that came from Blockbuster online this weekend, figure out what I'm going to be cooking for dinner this week.

Snacks that I enjoy: Ruffles with french onion dip, sliced apples with cheddar cheese, spinach dip with crackers or sourdough bread

Things that I would do if I were a billionare: All the standard stuff...I would help my family pay off bills, pay off my own, go on vacation. I would take some time to really think about what to do after that.

Places I have lived: All in CA: La Habra, La Mirada, Fallbrook, Modesto, Murrieta

Jobs I have had: receptionist, my high school ag dept., sales associate at Leewards (craft store), accounts receivable, Asst. Mgr. (retail), teacher's Aide and substitute school secretary.