Rhonda's Ramblings

Vacation Part 5 - Bellingham, WA cont.

2010-11-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Before we started our road trip to Washington, we searched for family friendly things to do along the way.

One of the things we came across and put on the possible list of things to do was a hedge maze in Skagit County (where the tulip festival is every April).

We considered visiting on our way to Bellingham from Medford, but there was a HUGE accident that closed down Interstate 5 in Chehalis and added quite a few hours to our trip.

Then we considered going on our way back to Seattle from Bellingham but we didn't want to limit our time with our friends so we decided to see if they wanted to join us.

It turns out, it was located right by Tyler's work and we were going to have to go near there to pick him up anyways. The only bummer was that he didn't get off work in time to join us.

We had so much fun.

And as a bonus, we all got a basket of berries with our admission to the maze.

YUMMMMMM!!!!

(I love this picture!)

That evening we had dinner in.

Watched a movie.

And just enjoyed spending time together.

On Sunday, we spent the morning sharing in worship with our friends' new church family.
Came home for lunch and some lazy Sunday afternoon time...

Then we headed back to Fair Haven to experience "the bookstore".
(If you know Tyler and Dusti, you know what I'm talking about.
If you don't - this is one of their favorite place to spend their Sunday afternoons)

My kids LOVE books.
Bookstores are Merritt's favorite kind of store.
And Molly LOVED reading to anyone who would listen.
Really - she didn't even need someone to listen.
(Now I understand how they can spend hours here.)

After the bookstore, we grabbed some dinner before heading to our next destination.
Our friends suggested a family friendly pizza place with DE-LICIOUS food.
And to pass the time while waiting for our food, they bring the kids a ball of pizza dough to play with - or eat - or....

Tyler, Dusti, Micah, Asher, Eden,
We had an amazing time with you.
We miss you immensely and wish we lived close enough to do this more often.

xoxo

Vacation Part 4 - Bellingham, WA

2010-10-31T16:27:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Bellingham!
While we were there I told our friends that I wish there was a real floo network between Hanford and Fair Haven (If you don't know what the floo network is, that tells me you've never read Harry Potter.)

We specifically went there to visit some friends who moved there last year.
I was so grateful we had a few days to visit with them.
We even got to worship with them on Sunday morning at their new church.
When it was time to get in the car and make our way to our next destination, it was hard to say goodbye.
And tears were shed.
Our kids had so much fun together.

I took A LOT of pictures.
If pictures bore you, it's time for you to say goodbye, because I had a hard time narrowing down what to post here and so there are A LOT of pictures in this post. (I did put them into photo collages to make the post a little smaller.)

On Saturday we went into Fair Haven, walked down the boardwalk, picked flowers, ate berries (that were still a little too sour), drank coffee, played - a lot, caught crabs, climbed trees, had fish & chips and the best soft serve ice cream we've ever eaten...

Mason and Micah had so much fun together...

As did Asher and Molly...

Notice how windy it was?
It actually started raining on us while we were getting lunch.
It was such nice August day for us.

After spending the morning and early afternoon in Fair Haven, we headed off to our next destination - The Berry Farm Hedge Maze and picking up Tyler from work.
I'll post the rest of our adventures in Bellingham tomorrow.

What do you do when it's too hot and humid to step away from the AC?

2010-10-04T21:52:00.000-07:00

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day in Hanford, CA
Especially after the past couple of weeks that made it seem like we lived in Florida instead of CA.

The days have been no fun for anyone.
It's too hot to go out and play and the kids are going stir crazy inside.
My genius husband worked past the heat though and got the kids playing outside.

I was trying to get some work done at the computer and heard LOTS of laughing and screaming coming from the backyard. When I went to check out the fun this is what I found at the back door...

And this is what I found in the backyard...

I actually drove through snow today on my way to Irvine for a workshop that I'm attending tomorrow.
I hope summer is actually done.
I'm grateful it feels like fall today.

Vacation Part 3 - Medford, OR

2010-10-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

I only have a few minutes, but I wanted to share our short stop in Medford, OR.

While searching for a hotel to stay in between Angels Camp, CA and Bellingham, WA, Bruce's cousin suggested we check out the Super 8 Motel in Medford. She said it would be a fun place for the kids to stay. When Bruce mentioned it to me I had flashbacks of my mom looking for a Motel 6 when we traveled, because it was cheap and usually clean. Now Super 8 Motel is not usually the place with the GREAT FUN FOR KIDS reputation. In fact, it usually has the same reputation as the Motel 6 we looked for when I was a kid - CHEAP AND USUALLY CLEAN.
But the suggestion came from a family member who lives somewhat close to Medford, so we checked it out. And the kids are still grateful to Marianne for the suggestion.

Check it out...

Oh yes, and look who learned to swim this year...

We got up early and hit the road, even though the kids begged for the pool "just ONE more time?"
We had to get driving so we could reach Bellingham and these FABULOUS friends...

There's so much more to share, but that's for another post.

Vacation part 2 - Gold Country cont.

2010-10-01T01:30:00.000-07:00

There were so many things to do and places to see around Angels Camp.
We gave the kids some options and these are the places we ended up...

Jamestown - Railtown 1897 State Historic Park

I wish we had been here on a weekend so we could've ridden the train.
It would have made the visit more exciting for the kids.
There are definitely some historic trains in Jamestown, but not historic for Gold Rush reasons.
They're historic because of how many movies and TV shows have been filmed here.
This is where the Petticoat Junction was.
This is where the Ingalls family caught the train when they left their little house on the prairie and went to the big city.
Movies such as Unforgiven and Back to the Future III were filmed here.
It was fun to see some of the sets and props that are used.
All that being said, I wish we had gone to Columbia first so we could have spent more time there and less time here.

Columbia
The same day we visited Jamestown, we went to Columbia to pan for gold.
(Something Merritt REALLY wanted to do.)

What a fun experience that was, but by the time we were done panning for gold, the city was shutting down for the evening. This is a place we will definitely come back to explore more of.
(Hopefully the summer before Mason studies CA history.)
This little city has not burned down or shut down since the gold rush days AND they've worked very hard to preserve it. We missed getting a stagecoach ride but that is something we will definitely do the next time around.

Mercer Caverns
The Gold country is full of different caverns. The Mercer Caverns came highly recommended so we decided to check them out. This was definitely a highlight for the whole family. I was surprised at how well the kids did with listening to the guide (who was GREAT) and not touching (a VERY stressed rule.)

We were all pretty amazed at how they toured these caverns in the late 1800's by candlelight and rope - 16 stories underground.

Tomorrow we'll head to Oregon and Bellingham, WA

Vacation Part 1 - Gold country

2010-09-30T01:30:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am FINALLY getting to share our vacation with you.
This vacation started because my family was having a reunion in Seattle.
Because we had to drive, we took it slow and made it a fun AND learning experience for the kids.
Merritt had just finished studying CA history so we decided to make a few stops in a couple of the historic gold rush cities on the way. And then some GREAT friends offered us their timeshare for a couple of days right in the middle of the historic area - Angels Camp.
So right after our worship gathering on Sunday, we piled in the car and started driving.

Our first stop (only about 3 1/2 hours away) - Angels Camp (the home of Mark Twain's famous Jumping Frog Jubilee)

The kids were excited to be out of the car and officially on vacation.
And they LOVED the time share we stayed in.
Especially the rec room and pool - and the cable TV, which we don't have at home.

And they LOVED the yogurt shop in town...

We need one of these in Hanford!

Tomorrow I'll share about some of the sites we visited in Gold country.

A Month?

2010-09-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

I just looked at my last post and realized it has almost been a whole month since I posted.
Sorry.

At the beginning of this month we had a lot of computer trouble that took me about 2 weeks to get figured out. We are up and running again with a new external hard drive, which I am still organizing.
I feel like I've been cleaning and organizing my computer all month.
And really, I have.

My plan today was to finally get my vacation pictures up here and play a bit of catch up, but alas, the pictures are on Bruce's computer. (See why I've been organizing? I need everything in one place so I can find it when I need it.)
I will get them off of his computer and onto the new hard drive that is now networked
and then onto this blog tomorrow.
Promise.

I'd do it tonight, but I'm off to worship practice and my prayer meeting.
Hope you have a great evening!!!

New Friends

2010-09-02T20:32:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago we were in Lakewood for the wedding of some friends.
Bruce and I were photographing the wedding and because of unforseen circumstances, Molly ended up going with us. (You can read more about it here)

There were so many great friends there that we hadn't seen in a long time, and that we didn't have near enough time to catch up with. One of those friends had a daughter shortly before Molly was born and they've never met, but guess who was at the wedding?
YES. Molly finally got to meet and play with Emma.
They had a great time playing together. I wish we could have play dates more often.

And speaking of play dates...
After the reception was over, there was another reception at the beach over a bonfire.
The friends we were staying with offered to keep Molly while we went, which of course we jumped all over.
But in the midst of that, Molly made some more great new friends.
She LOVED her play date with Mark.

Thanks again Mark and Holly.
And I'm looking forward to your visit Jenny. (yes, I'm going to hold you to it!)

Malachi

2010-08-19T00:36:00.000-07:00

I know... I need to post some vacation pictures.
In all honesty, I just barely got them all off of my camera and I don't have time to get them ready for my blog yet, because I have a newborn shoot tomorrow before we get ready to leave town for a wedding we are photographing on Friday.

I DID want to share this special guy with you though...

Malachi was born 2 days after we got home from vacation.
We didn't think we were going to make it home in time for his arrival because his mom was having lots of contractions on and off before we left town and we were gone for 2 weeks.
So the joke around here now is that he was waiting for us.
But really, he was actually born on his due date and right on time.

These were taken just a little while after his arrival into this world.
There is so much poking and prodding, weighing and measuring, cleaning and fussing with by the nurses right after birth.

He sure is adored.
I think mom and dad will be in this position a lot in the weeks to come as they just marvel over this new gift to their family.

And somebody's a big sister now...

Congratulations dear friends.
Thank you for letting us be there to capture these moments for you.
We love you!!!

Cielo

2010-08-11T17:53:00.000-07:00

Hi friends.
I know it's been a long time since I've posted here.
For those of you who didn't know, we took a 2 week vacation all the way to Bellingham, WA and back with LOTS of stops in between.
I promise, I'll post lots of pictures soon.
It's been so nice to have a break from everything and just rest.

In case you haven't followed Bruce's blog, the winning name for the doll was Ruby.
Bruce has been posting her adventures here if you want to read them.

We got home from our vacation at 2:30 in the morning on Sunday, my good friend, Emily, had her baby on Tuesday and the boys started school today.
The business has definitely resumed!

While we were in Washington, we got to worship with our friends, the Joneses, at their new church.
They had a guest worship leader (who I was familiar with from Saddleback Worship conferences years back), and one of the songs He led us in has stuck with me. I don't exactly have the words to share why. I have sat here writing and rewriting this sentence trying to express what singing this song last Sunday (and as I've listened to it since then) did for my spirit. It was one of those moments where I could sense the presence of the Holy Spirit so strongly and couldn't stop the tears from streaming.
I had to come home and buy it and I can't wait to lead Epic in worship with it.
In the meantime, I'll share a video of Phil Wickham leading Saddleback Community Church in worship with it.
(I posted the lyrics below the song in case you don't have time for the video.)

Cielo
I'm walking through the bright white gates
Breathing in and out Your grace
All around me melodies rise
That echo with the joy inside
So I start to sing

But I can't sing loud enough
I can't sing loud enough
When I'm singing for You my God
I can't sing loud enough
I can't sing loud enough
When I'm singing for You my God

With a thunder roll and a brilliant light
Your glory boasts and the heavens shine
Saints and angels stand in awe
Captured by the beauty of it all
So I fall to my knees

But I can't bow low enough
I can't bow low enough
At the vision of You my God
I can't bow low enough
I can't bow low enough
At the vision of You my God

I can't hold it all inside
I'm reaching for the one
Who brought me out of death and into life

And I can't lift my hands high enough
Lift my hands high enough
When I'm reaching for You my God
I can't lift my hands high enough
Lift my hands high enough
When I'm reaching for You my God

Phil Wickham
© 2009 Seems Like Music | Phil Wickham Music (Admin. by Simpleville Music, Inc.) | (Admin. by Simpleville Music, Inc.)

More of You God and less of me

2010-07-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

The other day I had a friend tell me that she was struggling with sensing God and was struggling with how to get out of the slump.

Don't we all go through seasons like that?
I know I do, but I am starting to realize how my pattern works.
Something happens either physically, emotionally or spiritually that causes me to seek God and lean on Him. I spend QUALITY time with Him MORE than once a day. Eventually, I am at a place where I am sensing His presence everywhere I turn around. I start to get comfortable and start spending less QUALITY time with Him in my day and before I know it, I haven't picked up my Bible just to meet Him in over a week.

And sometimes that week turns into a month.

And then I struggle to find God again because I'm so caught up in ME.

I read this devotion from Charles Spurgeon the other day and wanted to share it with you. I urge you to read it more than once or maybe even read it out loud to yourself.

“The ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven wellfavoured and fat kine” Genesis 41:4

Pharaoh’s dream has too often been my waking experience. My days of sloth have ruinously destroyed all that I had achieved in times of zealous industry; my seasons of coldness have frozen all the genial glow of my periods of fervency and enthusiasm; and my fits of worldliness have thrown me back from my advances in the divine life. I had need to beware of lean prayers, lean praises, lean duties and lean experiences, for these will eat up the fat of my comfort and peace. If I neglect prayer for never so short a time, I lose all the spirituality to which I had attained; if I draw no fresh supplies from heaven, the old corn in my granary is soon consumed by the famine which rages in my soul. When the caterpillars of indifference, the cankerworms of worldliness, and the palmerworms of self-indulgence, lay my heart completely desolate, and make my soul to languish, all my former fruitfulness and growth in grace avails me nothing whatever. How anxious should I be to have no lean-fleshed days, no ill-favoured hours! If every day I journeyed towards the goal of my desires I should soon reach it, but backsliding leaves me still far off from the prize of my high calling, and robs me of the advances which I had so laboriously made. The only way in which all my days can be as the “fat kine” is to feed them in the right meadow, to spend them with the Lord in His service, in His company, in His fear, and in His way. Why should not every year be richer than the past, in love, and usefulness, and joy? I am nearer the celestial hills, I have had more experience of my Lord, and should be more like Him. O Lord, keep far from me the curse of leanness of soul; let me not have to cry, “My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me!”, but may I be well-fed and nourished in thy house, that I may praise thy name.

More of You God and less of me.

Name Our Doll Contest

2010-07-11T23:33:00.000-07:00

Update: Bruce's blog is being stubborn and many are having trouble leaving comments there, so you can post your entry here too. So much for trying to keep everything organized in one place.

Name our Doll Contest

In two weeks from today, our family will embark upon our summer adventure as we drive to Seattle for a family reunion. Whenever we take long driving trips, we try to make it fun for the kids. This time will be no different. We have lots of fun planned, making several stops to see the sites and visit some friends. We thought it would be fun to take this pretty little doll along for the trip and see what pictures she might pose for as we travel and as she meets new friends. You can read more about her and her future on Bruce's blog.
Before we leave though, we need a name for our doll. And we want you to help us choose. Simply post a comment on Bruce's blog with your suggestion. We will have our life group vote on the names on Tuesday, July 20 - the last time we all get together before we leave. The name with the most votes will win. It will be the name she carries with her throughout our family trip, on our blogs, and will remain with her as she is sold for our missions fund-raising.

There is a prize involved for the person who first suggests the winning name... a $10 iTunes gift card.
(If more than one person suggests the same winning name, the first person who suggested that name will be the winner.) And your name suggestion must be posted on Bruce's blog to be counted.

All right, go here to make your suggestion and be entered to win the $10 iTunes gift card.

Happy Independence Day

2010-07-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

My father died when I was 7 years old.
So for many years Father's Day was a reminder that I didn't have a father.
But then I got married and Bruce and I had children of our own.
And now Father's Day is a reminder that I am married to an amazing man
who is an amazing father.

Happy Father's Day Bruce.
We LOVE you!!!

Destiny

2010-06-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Destiny used to live next door to me.
I miss seeing her smile every day.
But at least the time she and her family spent as our neighbors was time spent building friendship that didn't end with their move.
And last week I was privileged to see her graduate from Jr. High.

Destiny, we are so very proud of you.

You are a beautiful young lady with great things ahead of you.

Thank you for choosing to include us in your life!

xoxo

What a week - part 3

2010-06-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Part 1
Part 2

In a perfect world my children would have slept until at least 8am, my husband would have had no appointments for the day and instead would have swept my children away so that I could sleep for many, many hours on Monday. But, really, who lives in a perfect world?
Instead, my Monday started at 6:30 am with Mason needing me. I don't even remember why, because my brain was too tired to engage. (At least I was able to get in bed by 10pm on Sunday.)
Molly was up by 7am wanting me to hold her.
(At least she was content with me holding her while laying in my bed.)
Bruce was nowhere to be found (at least in the house), because he was being dilligent about going to the gym and had left the house before Mason was whispering in my ear, "Mom? Are you awake?"
So I eventually got out of bed, got the kids some cereal and found my way to the chair so Molly could "hold me".
Bruce got home, took a shower and was off for the rest of the morning with appointments.
We had 2 cars for the day because Bruce's brother was in Washington DC with his family and let us borrow their car for the week, so really, there was no rush for Bruce to be home (besides me wanting sleep.)
Then I got a call from one of my friends wondering if we were still going to swim today.
Oh yeah, it's Monday and school is out, which means our summer activities have begun.
(I actually remembered this part. I just thought my Monday girls were out of town.)
Yes, we may as well swim because my kids are already stir crazy - and it's only the FIRST day of summer vacation. I had promised them new goggles, because we were down to 0 usable pairs.
I had a car and there was still 2 hours until we would meet at the pool, so off to Target we went.
It didn't take long to pick out goggles since we already know, from years past, which style just don't work that well. And we already knew that we WOULD NOT be spending $17 on a pair of goggles.
So really it was about color and size.
Molly was the easiest - PINK (and the least expensive youth pair available)
Mason was the next easiest - red or blue and which youth size fits best. Size found - check. No red ones available in his size and preferred style, so blue it is - check.
Merritt was a little bit more complicated. He fit some of the large youth styles and most of the adult styles too, so there was a little more to choose from for him.
And then, while I was helping him choose which style was the most comfortable, I heard a large thud.
All my instincts kicked in as I spun around to see which kid and what the damage was.
And as I said Mason, I could see the fear on his face.
The crying was a pretty delayed reaction. I think we saw the blood first as he put his hand to his head where he had slammed down into the side of the shopping cart as he was trying to climb in the back of it.
I don't know if I have ever gotten all 3 kids out of the toy section of Target and up to the front of the store so quickly. I was defiinitely running on adrenaline. (Remember how tired I was?)
I could actually think clearly enough to go get some gauze pads and anti-bacterial wound cleaner to see if we would need to make a trip to the doctor. (I had to get a travel pack of wet-wipes too to clean up all the blood. Thank God they everything was all on the same aisle.)
Once I could actually see the wound, I realized he would probably be fine with some steri-strips or butterfly bandages (neither of which is sold at Target, but the pharmacy employees were kind enough to give me some out of their first-aid kit.) So doctor mom, in her doctor's office of a Nissan Quest, went to work at cleaning and bandaging the wound. (We did mange to puchase goggles too)
We went home and the adrenaline rush stopped and I about got sick.
I could have NEVER been a doctor or nurse!
Do you ever have one of those days where the things that went wrong caused you not to even be able to do the things that caused what went wrong?
Does that even make sense?
I think you probably get what I am saying.
There was no way I was going to let Mason swim now.
But Merritt and Molly were very much anticipating the pool.
We made a compromise and waited until Bruce got home so Mason didn't have to go sit in the heat and watch everyone else swim. (Even though he would have been perfectly happy doing that if I would have let him play his Nintendo DSi, which he had already played all of his earned time for the day.)
He wasn't too much worse for the wear at the end of the day.

The rest of the week put us in the full swing of summer activities.

Free movies at the Regal Cinemas Family Film Festival, reading, playing with friends, more swimming at grandma's house, a Jr. High graduation for a friend that we don't get to see nearly enough of anymore (pictures on that later this week.)

I am finally feeling rested and caught up.

Mason managed to split his eye wound back open on Sunday, wrestling or something like that in Sunday school. This time the wound is deeper.

And I wonder if he shouldn't have seen a doctor.

But it was Sunday and that would have meant a trip to the ER all the way in Fresno.

So we went to the drug store, got some steri-strips and decided to see how it was doing on Monday before making that decision. He's doing GREAT. Although he IS going to have one heck of a scar.

He did miss swimming again on Monday, but he got to go in the pool at grandma's on Tuesday - with lots of rules on how to protect his owie.

Summer's off to a bang here in the Kane household and we have lots of fun and adventure on the calendar for the rest of it.

I hope it will include spending time with some of you!

How He Loves Us SO

2010-06-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

You may have already seen this video.
I just felt it was the right thing for this Worship Wednesday.
It's time to get back to worship Wednesdays here.
HOW HE LOVES US SO!!!!

What a week - part 2

2010-06-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

Part 1

I was so exhausted when I woke up on Sunday morning.
I just wanted to cry because I was so tired.
I definitely didn't want to lead worship.
I didn't have anything left to give and lead, but that was the whole reason I even drove home on Saturday.
So I clung to 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:
"He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
And while I was getting ready, Bruce tells me of a conversation he had the night before with Brenda Holz (one of the missionaries from Africa that the team from Epic helped last summer), who was in Hanford to come to Epic that morning, about our family going to Africa next year to minister to the pastors in Africa.
I was too tired to grasp this. My first thought was how expensive it would be to get us there and that we could actually adopt a child from Uganda with that money.
God is so good though.
In my fatigue I just didn't have the energy to be rational or think about the what ifs. I just put those thoughts aside and said, "God if it's Your will, I will go anywhere You call me."
Now, hear me here when I say, I always (although not always very quickly) get to that point.
That is ALWAYS the expression of my heart.
But sometimes I have to struggle with my mind and my flesh in these matters.
I actually surprised myself this time, because my usual response to the idea of a missions trip is excitment, not trepidation.
God is really changing me in so many ways these days.
Maybe I'll get the opportunity to share more about that in other posts.

Back to the purpose of THIS post...
I got myself to Pioneer Middle School (where Epic meets on Sunday mornings) and met with God and His people. I can't explain to you how good that was for me if you don't already know from personal experience.
Just know that It was SOOOO GOOD!
Especially considering all that the rest of the day would hold.
* Lunch and Superior Dairy ice cream (a treat saved for when we have visitors in town) with the Volz family and some Epic family too.
* Hearing a bit of what God has been laying on Brenda's heart for our family in Africa next year straight from Brenda's mouth. (more on that later too as God reveals His plan.)
* And an end of the season Baseball party for Merritt's baseball team.

Knowing that Monday would bring rest kept me going!
Monday brought more than rest, but that is for another post...

(please join us in praying about God's purposes for our family in regards to Africa, and I will keep you up to date as God reveals more to me.)

What a Week

2010-06-14T20:12:00.000-07:00

(Well really week and a half if you count the days getting ready for the weekend and the end of school on Friday.)
It started off with a whirlwind of a weekend, driving to Southern California to throw a baby shower for my sister-in-law, Stephanie.
I'm soooo excited for my brother and Stephanie to be parents!
We've been waiting for this moment for many years.
So my mom and I got in the car on Friday morning, after getting the boys off to their first day of school
(and hardly any sleep for the previous 2 nights trying to get things done),
and started the journey to Irvine.
The plan was to get there fairly early in the day.
Do the shopping for the shower.
Prep the food that needed to be prepped.
Then, go out to dinner with my sister and her twins, and my brother and his wife to celebrate my mom's birthday.
Oh and get some maternity pictures of Stephanie while we were out to dinner too.
It was not in the plan, however to hit traffic so early in the day.
(It took almost 2 hours to go from Glendale to Cerritos and if you know the area, you know that I was in a lot of traffic.)
Therefore, the food prep would have to wait until after dinner.
(as well as getting the items for the shower that I couldn't get at Costco.)
We had a really nice dinner.
I got some nice maternity pictures.
And I started the food prep at 10pm.
(which equals a third night in a row of only 4 hours of sleep)

Saturday morning started really early - 6:00 am to be exact so that we could get the cupcakes from the bakery by 6:30, get back to the house to finish up the prepwork, get ready and leave by 8:30 for the shower.
That would get me to the shower site an hour early for set up - perfect!

If only things would always work out as planned!!!
Regardless of everything that didn't go according to the plans, Stephanie was blessed and a nice time was had by all.

It was so good to see so many friends.
(I wish I could have visited with and not just seen more than I got to visit with - Christy, Ruth and Melissa!)

I did get to see one of those friend's new house before I went home though.

It's REALLY beautiful Mary!
When all was said and done, we were starting our 4 1/2 hour drive back home starting at 9:00 pm.
(What's one more late night anyways?)
I had to be home on Sunday to lead worship because most of my team had requested that weekend off.
Sunday was another FULL day...
The missionaries that Epic helped in Africa last year were in town so we had lunch and Superior Dairy with them after our worship gathering. Then headed out to Merritt's end of the season baseball team party.
When my head hit the pillow around 9pm on Sunday night - boy did it hit hard!

To be cont....

An appointment with God in Seattle - the end

2010-06-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Sunday morning was a little more rushed than Satuday morning for me, because I slept in a little longer.
What can I say? I was tired.

I still left the hotel in time to get to Starbucks and back before the teaching would start.What I wouldn't have the time for was some alone time, sitting and reading my Bible and journaling like I did on Saturday morning (because when we got to the workshop room no one else was there yet.) My roommate opted to stay at the hotel and get some breakfast, so I changed my strategy for getting with God before the workshop as I headed to my rental car. It took 2 clicks on the radio search to find some worship music and because I was alone, I got to pray out loud as I drove. When I got to Starbucks it was closed, but there was another one not far away that was open. Boy was that place hoppin'. The cool thing is, most everyone there had their Bible with them and the conversations I overheard were about God. That completely blessed me!

I got back to the hotel just as everyone was getting settled in for the day's learning.
And the first item on the agenda, was a writing assignment - really it was 10 minutes set aside for journaling.
The only guideline was that it was to be about something that had changed in us since we showed up on Friday evening for the meet and greet.

This is one of the things (among many things) that I LOVE about MeRa Koh.
She gets - and encourages - the fact that what we have to offer others flows from who we are.
Writing is just one tool in that process - one that works great for her that she wanted to share with us.

Here is what I LOVE about God in that moment.
The thing I was most disappointed about in my "sleeping in" was that I didn't get to start my day out in His word and journaling. I got some nuggets from His word on the way back to the hotel from Starbucks. And here was this little gift to me, where journaling was part of our assignment for the moment.

A little of my journal entry:
I stepped off a plane on Thursday anxious and excited about what God had in store for me this weekend. I left dinner last night encouraged and confirmed in what He has been calling me towards. I am confident I am going to step back on the plane Monday afternoon filled because of His mercy and grace, and used for His glory because of obedience.

After a little more instruction, we headed out to the University of Washington campus in Tacoma for another photo shoot, this time of families and high school seniors. Again, the highlight for me was watching MeRa in action.

This day was definitely a little more difficult for me photographically. It was the first time I had ever worked with seniors and I struggled to find the balance with the other photographers I was teamed up with. It's a challenge to work with 3- 4 other photographers like we did. But I had some amazing ladies in my group and went with it.

Ladies, I hope I didn't get in your way too much or take over too much.
Jennifer, I LOVED watching you interact with the models and learned a lot from you.
You have a certain way with people that is amazing.
Thanks!

Here's a few more images from the outing...

You can see some of the images I got from the day here.

We eventually went back to the hotel, had some lunch and got on with the learning.

And at the end of the day, MeRa had us all gather in a circle in the middle of the room and share one word that summed up the weekend for us.

Now let me back up just a little here...

When I was on the airplane on Thursday, one of the things I felt God impressing me to do this weekend was to lay hands on Brian and MeRa and pray for them. I questioned this throughout the day on Saturday.

How could that happen?

Would I have an opportunity to do this with them on Sunday after the workshop was over?

Would they even be receptive to this?

Was that really God asking me to do that?

But after Saturday evening, I knew that God was going to provide the opportunity for it. And when MeRa asked us to get in that circle, I felt that tugging on my heart saying, "this is where I want you to pray for them."

Again, I questioned. I was prepared for Him to provide the opportunity in private after the workshop was over, but I wasn't really prepared for this. What if this would offend some of the ladies here? But I knew I was hearing God, so with my hands shaking from nerves, after everyone was done going around the circle with their one word answer, I asked the ladies and Brian and MeRa if they would mind if we took time to pray for MeRa and Brian. What a God moment that was, for me at least. And how blessed we all were because of obedience. (More than one lady thanked me for that moment.)

We prayed for MeRa and Brian.

We prayed for one of the ladies who was there, who had been diagnosed with cancer just before the workshop AND who was going home to plan a funeral for her father who had died just before the workshop.

We prayed for the Soar recipients who were there with us for the weekend.

I indeed left the workshop full.

It was called the Confidence Workshop because it was designed so that the attendants would leave being "confident" behind the camera and shooting in manual. And I have to say it definitely does that. I am confident that had I come to the workshop, taking my camera out of the box for the first time, I would leave with a really great understanding of how to get great images in manual mode - with creative control over the final product. One of the girls there was actually in that position (she just learned how to charge her camera battery the week before the workshop). And she was getting some amazing images (in manual mode) by the time we all said goodbye.

But for me, the title of the workshop gave new meaning.

I have a deeper Confidence in God -

in trusting His voice as I hear it

in following His leading even when others are trying to discourage me

in trusting His plan and timing

I am incredible grateful for the appointments in Seattle and am excited for what is yet to come as a result of my deeper confidence in Him.

An appointment with God in Seattle - part 3

2010-06-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

Part 1
Part 2

We walked to the Thai food restaurant that we were going to eat dinner at and sat at 2 different long tables - there was a lot of us. I had hoped to get the opportunity to share some of the things I thought God wanted me to share with MeRa about Soar at this dinner, but she sat at the other table. So I figured that sharing would come on Sunday after the workshop was over - if there was time. I knew that if God really did want me to share with her, then He would provide the opportunity.

We ate an amazing dinner and had a GREAT time getting to know each other a little better. And as the evening was winding down, MeRa came and sat next to me to talk to me.
Isn't God so good? I knew what He wanted me to share with MeRa, but I wasn't sure how to make the opportunity happen. The thing is, I didn't have to make it happen, because God worked it all out - just like He always does. I shared all that God wanted me to tell her, but I believe God orchestrated that conversation just as much (if not more so) for me. As she shared some of the details around the things God had laid on my heart to speak to her about, details that I would have never know had she not shared them with me, God spoke to my heart so deeply about trusting His voice as I hear it.
I've doubted His voice a lot in the past year because of what others have said to me.
I've doubted His voice because I've been embarrased to step forward the way He wanted me to.
I've doubted His voice because the things He was telling me seemed silly or insignificant or just plain too hard to handle.
But in that moment God was telling me, "See? That WAS my voice when I asked you to pray for that thing. That WAS my voice when I asked you to step out like that. That IS my voice calling you to the things I am calling you to. Stop letting what others say cause you to doubt my voice and just follow me."

You see, we don't need the details to follow God.
We don't need others to agree with us to follow God - as a matter of fact, if we're not careful, we could unknowingly allow others to quench what the Spirit of God is doing in and through us.
We just need to do our best to nurture our relationship with God so that we KNOW His voice - so we CAN follow Him.

After dinner, we walked back to the hotel to get some sleep for another big day on Sunday.

I'll share the rest of the story tomorrow.
Have a great day!!!

The End

Our Princess is 3

2010-05-31T16:07:00.000-07:00

A little over a month ago, she started telling me that when her birthday came, she wanted it to be pink.

"Can my daddy make me pink cupcakes?"

So pink is what she got.

3 is lots of fun, because at that age they can really understand what "birthday" means -

at least what it means for a 3 year old...

"I'm not 2 anymore, I'm 3 now", cake, presents, and for her, a pink celebration.

She was even counting down the days for the past couple of weeks, telling me, "Mommy, my birthday is coming to Fresno and I'm going to be big. I'm going to be 3."

(I'm still not sure what she meant about it coming to Fresno. But it made me giggle every time she said it.)

Here was the conversation on the morning of her birthday:

"Guess what sweetie? Today is your birthday and your 3 now."

"No mommy, I'm only 2"

"But today is your birthday."

"(Big grin) I'm really 3?"

"Yes, you're really 3 now."

"(disappointed) But my friends didn't come."

"Honey, it's still early. You will see your friends in your Sunday school class."

"But you have to sing. My brothers have to sing to me."

She got sung to a lot.

And she's proud to be 3.

Can you guess what kind of gifts she got?

(hint: look at the difference in how she looks in the picture above, taken before she opened her gifts, and below, taken after she opened her gifts.)

WE LOVE YOU PRINCESS!!!

And we're so excited for what 3 years old will hold for you.

An Appointment with God in Seattle - part 2

2010-05-26T03:01:00.000-07:00

Part 1

After I spent a fabulous afternoon with the Jones family, I headed to the airport to pick up Leslie.
We had spoken on the phone a few times, but had never actually met in person.
She was one of those gifts from God to get me to this workshop.
I had no idea where I would stay in Tacoma.
The hotel that the workshop was being held at was way too expensive for me - even at the special rate we would get. I still had to make reservations at a hotel when we got our first email with instructions to introduce ourselves. After a couple of email exchanges, Leslie had offered to share her room with me and I would be her transportation for the weekend. God is so good.
(And what's even cooler (and I believe another God thing) about that set up is that a couple of weeks before we actually met in Seattle and after we had made our arrangements, Leslie called me to tell me she just realized that I was the Rhonda from Exposing Grace - a blog she had been following for awhile because she saw one of my posts at I Heart Faces. She had even been considering joining us at Through The Lens of Worship.)

Ok - back to the story...
I picked up Leslie, and after driving for an hour and a half for what should have been 30 minutes, we were already have a fun adventure and getting to know each other. (Seattle and Tacoma aren't the easiest cities to drive in. If you miss your turn-off there may not be a way to turn around for quite awhile, especially in rush hour traffic.) We checked in to the hotel and headed out to the meet and greet at MeRa's house.
And that began the appointments with people that God really took me to Seattle for.
Some of those appointments were so that I could minister to others and some of those appointments were so that others could minister to me. God showed me in no uncertain terms, many ways that He has been using me in the lives of some of these women that I hadn't ever met. One of the ladies wasn't even someone I knew of by name from the internet, but she knew me and God had used me in her life.
Can I just tell you what a gift that is?
God didn't have to do that.
Yet he chose to bless me and encourage me.
I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

We left MeRa's house already filled and our workshop hadn't even begun yet.
Leslie and I shared a little more adventure finding a drug store so she didn't have to pay $15 for the hotel toothbrush, because she broke hers that morning. Then we got to the hotel to try to get some sleep and be ready for the morning.
Saturday morning started off with some worship music (there was an ipod player in our hotel room), a cup of Starbucks and an eagerness for what the day would hold.
Really, it doesn't get much better than that!

MeRa and her husband, Brian, are amazing.
They are gifted as photographers and teachers.
They are funny.
And they are humble.
The things they taught about the camera were basic things I mostly already knew, but what they taught in the in-between moments about who God made me as a photographer and dare I say, artist, was priceless.
God used them to teach me to trust Him and let go in these areas.
Don't get me wrong here. This was a photography workshop, not a Christian conference of some kind.
MeRa and Brian didn't talk about God, but God used them to teach me and help me grow as an artist.
Another aspect of my appointment with God.

I just LOVE how God works.
He brings me to Seattle to a photography workshop that focused on a lot of stuff I already know, to teach me things that weren't even the focus of this workshop so that He could get the glory.
Does that make sense to you the way it does to me?
He does things in such a way (if we will let Him) that He will be glorified.
He is showing me this a lot lately.
When I applied for the Soar scholarship and didn't win, God told me that He didn't ever want anyone to say that my opportunities as a photographer were because of that Scholarship.
He wants and deserves all the glory for anything He works in and through me.
And even if I would always point to Him, others wouldn't on my behalf.

So after our morning session on Satuday, we got to actually photograph some beautiful models.
My favorite part of the photo sessions we did was watching MeRa at work -
Watching her see light and work with the model, posing them and interacting with them in such a way that they relax and enjoy their time.

Here she is at work, along with many of the girls I shared the weekend with.

And once she showed us how she goes about setting up the shot, she set us off to take some pictures ourselves.

We finished up the day with a fabulous lunch and some more learning and then headed off to dinner at a fabulous Thai food restaurant, where God had yet another appointment for me.

But that is for another day, as I must get my tired body into bed.

You can see the Mommy & baby shots I took here.

Part 3
The End

An appointment with God in Seattle

2010-05-23T18:47:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those moments that, although it was planned for one purpose, God intended it for His purposes? That's what last weekend was like for me - an appointment with God.
When I was praying about whether or not I should go to Seattle for this workshop, I knew that God wanted me there and that He had a purpose bigger than the workshop, but I could have never anticipated all that the weekend held for me.

When I got off the plane on Thursday and got in my rental car, I was excited about what God wanted to do that weekend.
I was excited to spend time with friends from Epic that had moved to WA.
I was excited to learn more about photography.
I was excited to spend time with friends that I had met via the internet.
I was excited to meet all together new friends.
But I was mostly excited about the unknown stuff that I knew God had prepared for me.

Some of you understand this and some of you are wondering how I knew that God wanted me there.
I just want to share a little about that.
I had been praying about going to one of these workshops for over a year. For one reason or another there was just no way I could get there. And when it came up this time I wondered if it was even a wise use of my resources. I mean, a trip and workshop like this isn't cheap. But I couldn't get over the nagging feeling that I had to be there. I even sensed God telling me that He would provide the money if I would just sign up. So I did. I signed up on the payment plan (to give God time to provide.)
I don't know why I had any doubt. God is so good and came through in ways that I could never have conjured up myself. Half of the cost came from a job in which I still don't even know how they got my number. He not only provided for the workshop, He provided the airfare, the rental car, the hotel room.
He had a purpose for me being there.

I didn't have to be in Tacoma until Friday so I drove to Bellingham to spend the night at the Jones' house.
They had other company in town and were already planning to visit Seattle on Friday, which was perfect for me. I not only got to hang out with some of the coolest people I know, but I got to experience Seattle with them. AND I got to meet their cool family members that still live in Hanford and are considering coming to Epic. Yay!

On the way to Seattle, I drove alone because I had to leave them early to pick up a new friend (my room mate for the weekend) at the airport and get to the meet and greet for my workshop. The drive to Seattle was a little over an hour and a half and I had the sweetest time of worship during that drive.
(God even gave me a new worship song that I might share with you some time.)
God was meeting me there in that rental car and preparing me for what was still to come.

I'll share more tomorrow.

Part 2
Part 3
The End

2010-05-20T13:33:00.000-07:00

I spent last weekend with an AMAZING group of women.
(more on that in my next post)

Friday was the first day I met some of those women, and some of them I met via the internet a while ago.
I believe the internet can be a tool of the enemy, but I also KNOW that God uses the internet for His purposes as well. And this past weekend was such a confirmation of that for me.
I don't even have words to express the extreme gratitude I have towards God for the gift He gave me last weekend.

Ladies, it was an EXTREME pleasure and blessing.
Thank you!

MeRa and Brian, you two are such a gift!
Thank you!

There is a song that God brings to my mind often and I want to share it with you ladies.
(If you just want to read the lyrics, I posted them below the video)

MORE
© copyright 2001 Brian Ray, Crystal Lewis
Dirty devices, divide and devise
A plan to diminish our creative minds
Distorting our views, of ourselves and our minds
Destructive dirty devices; destructive dirty devices

We are more than we know
We are more than we know
We are meant for more than this world would suppose
We are more than we know

I believe in all things spiritual
That God is in this place
Always watching, guiding, knowing what the look on my face means
Knowing every thought before I think it and it's gone
Knowing each word I'm gonna say before it rolls off my tongue
Knowing each word I'm gonna say before it rolls off my tongue

We are more than we know
We are more than we know
We are meant for more than this world would suppose
We are more than we know

Listen and let go, You will hear and know
You'll see and believe, You can walk on water

Merritt is in LOVE

2010-04-24T23:43:00.000-07:00

Completely and utterly in love.

You know, the kind of love where he won't stop talking about her.
He brings her up multiple times a day.
He asks us to call her family and see if we can visit her regularly.

Don't worry... he still thinks girls have cooties.
But boy, oh boy does he want a horse.
It's funny how quickly the birthday wish list can change
from video games to cowboy boots and riding lessons.

This love affair started like this...

But has progressed to this...

He doesn't mind watching and waiting patiently to get a turn

And when he's getting some instruction, he listens carefully.
He really wants to learn!

And oh what joy to not be on the lead...

He even WANTS to help out with the work (at least so far)

He isn't the only one who gets in on the fun...

He's just the only one who's in LOVE!
(at least so far)

Pretty Lips

2010-04-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

She has a bit of a love affair with lip gloss,
Or as she calls it "pretty lips."

Good Friday

2010-04-02T16:29:00.000-07:00

Today has been a busy day.
But as I get ready to share in the Passover meal with my family at Epic,
here is where my heart is meditating...

He was despised and rejected -

a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.

We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way.

He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was OUR weaknesses He carried;

It was OUR sorrows that weighed Him down.

And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God,

a punishement for His own sins!

But He was pierced for OUR rebellion,

crushed for OUR sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole.

He was whipped so we could be healed.

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.

We have left God's paths to follow our own.

Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all.

He was oppressed and treated harshly,

yet He never said a word.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,

He did not open His mouth.

Unjustly condemned, He was led away.

No one cared that He died without descendants,

that His life was cut short in midstream.

But He was struck down for the rebellion of my people.

He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone.

But He was buried like a criminal;

He was put in a rich man's grave.

But it was the Lord's good plan to crush Him and cause Him grief.

Yet when His life is made an offering for sin,

He will have many descendants.

He will enjoy a long life,

and the Lord's good plan will prosper in His hands.

When He sees all that is accomplished by His anguish,

He will be satisfied.

And because of His experience,

my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous,

for He will bear all their sins.

Isaiah 53:3-11

May God bless you this good Friday!

HE IS AMAZING!!!

2010-03-25T00:47:00.000-07:00

Yikes!
It's already Thursday - again.
Baseball season has started and with both boys playing in different divisions, it is practically 6 days a week with double duty on some nights.
Add that to Life Group, Worship Practice, Ballet class, not to mention homework, dinner, baths for the kids - it makes the days FLY by!
(I'll post some baseball pictures as soon as I can get them off the camera.)

And in the midst of all that, I'm still working on simplifying.
I've been working on cleaning up the computer hard drives, sorting out kids clothes that don't fit anymore, sorting out my clothes that don't fit anymore (ouch!), and organizing so much that needs organizing. I'm not done, but I'm working on this necessary step.
Clutter is such a distraction for me.
And sometimes it feels suffocating.

But as I simplify, I'm trying to hear God better.
And I want to share something He's done in the past month or so that has overwhelmed me with how amazing He is.
As I share this story, I know it probably won't have the same effect on you as it did on me, but try to imagine how you might have felt if you walked through this. And please don't think I am sharing this to tell you what I did. I'm sharing this to shout praise to God for what He did.

HE IS AMAZING!!!!

There is a family I know of because of the internet.
I don't know them personally. I don't even know their family or friends.
I happened upon their blog in my search to learn more about photography.
In the beginning of February they left Seattle for an almost 2 month vacation in Thailand. Its the place they go to get away from the hussle and bustle and be renewed by God. When I first read on FB that they were going again (they went last summer) I sensed God asking me to commit to pray for them every day while they were gone. I agreed, but I have to admit that I didn't do the best job of it. I often prayed as I was falling asleep, "oh yeah God, please be with Brian, MeRa and their kids and bless their time in Thailand."
That was a lame copout for what I felt God was really asking of me.
During their first week in Thailand, they were ill.
The second week they went to Cambodia to help out in an orphanage (which was a God thing). While they were there, they had a very scary moment being chased by apes in the jungle as they tried to navigate their way back to their hut.
When they returned to Thailand they were ill again.
By last week they were diagnosed with Dengue Fever.

Now let me take a break in their story to share where I was in the midst of this story and my commitment to pray for them...
On Wednesday, March 10, I woke up with a real burden for this family.
I knew I hadn't been praying the right way for them.
Yes, I had prayed, but only because I said I would, with the obligatory prayer above.
I was convicted about this and spent a good amount of time interceding the way I knew I was supposed to.
I got my prayer partner to join me in this and decided to fast and pray on their behalf on Sunday, the 14th.
This was posted on her blog on the 15th. And this was posted on the 16th.
But the post this last Tuesday was where God's glory shone so brightly for me as He revealed why He wanted me to pray, and how He was there in the midst of their suffering.
Here is an excerpt from a letter MeRa wrote to her brother...

Pascaline is about two days behind me. She is still suffering on and off. She has been such a trooper. I sat and cried in the doctor’s office and told him that we felt like our bones were breaking, and he told me the fever’s street name “The Bone Breaker”. It was comforting in a very disturbing but relieving way. I have never felt pain like this Shauni—ever. I have been in and out of delirium with faint memories of Brian putting cold washcloths all over me, trying to bring my body temp down to no avail. I have seen his eyes scared. It’s hard to see it in his eyes, and at the same time feel like the fever has taken me a hundred miles away. Yesterday morning Pascaline woke up screaming. She was screaming that her nose broke off. Her whole body was twisting and turning in pain. I had just been through it all night, and I held her and wept. There is no medicine. There is no immunization. Your body must simply let go. Everything in you wants to fight the pain away, but this only makes it worse. Brian sat above her, as he sat above me the last five nights, and whispered instructions to her as he gently held her legs down. “Pascaline, the fever has already lost. Don’t fight the pain. Let go and focus on this spot.” He laid his hand over her collar bone. “There is no pain there, and that is where God is resting. Rest with Him, and let the fever swallow you b/c I won’t let it take you. I will be on the other side.” To stop fighting the pain and let it pull you under like the sea’s undertow is overwhelming…but to feel like you won’t ever surface, to see the sheer fear in my baby’s eyes… As I held her, I couldn’t help but cry with a feeling of such helplessness. Our Thai housekeeper came up behind me. Her name is Cha, and she has the most beautiful smile in all of Thailand. She laid her hands gently on my shoulders and whispered words to me in Thai, comforting words that I couldn’t understand, but I knew she was speaking from one mother to another. And then something magical happened that I must back up to tell you about… We have monkeys here, as you remember. There are two kinds of monkeys, and then we also have Gibbon Apes. The Gibbon Apes are high up in the trees and give off a beautiful call in the morning. It’s like a whirling, siren noise that washes over you, repeating itself, with different apes joining in at different octaves, and the whole jungle is quiet as these beasts sing. They never come down to our house level, but you can see them with binoculars. And yet the other day, Pascaline was mimicking their sound off the back deck. And FIVE of them came down to the trees off our deck and watched us, mimicking back to her, swinging through the trees with such speed and fierce ability, your mouth dropped open. That morning, Blaze was fevering his worst. Yesterday, when Pascaline was screaming with pain, the Gibbons started singing. I didn’t notice at first until someone said something. Except they weren’t high up in the hills, they were all around the outside of our bedroom and back deck—watching from the trees. They were in the low trees and whooping their call so loud and so divine, it swallowed Pascaline’s screaming. It was then that she actually smiled with her eyes closed from the pain. “Can you hear them mom? They’ve come back down. I think they’re singing to me.” And so they were. I can’t explain how magical the moment felt with Cha whispering faith into my ear in an unfamiliar tongue, and Gibbons singing to my daughter, but I felt held by the jungle, held and not shunned by this fever any longer.

I am overwhelmed by how amazing our God is.
How amazingly He met this family.
How He burdened someone to pray for them, even though I don't know them.
How He taught me more about prayer and obedience in the midst of this.

HE IS AMAZING!!!

Psalm 55:22

2010-03-03T17:33:00.000-08:00

I happened upon Seeds Family Worship the other day.
I LOVE this ministry!!!
Worship for kids that is directly from scripture and GOOD music.
I love it as much as the kids do.
Check it out...

There's a give away for one of the CDs here. I'm not sure how long the give away is going on though.

Simplicity

2010-02-24T10:53:00.000-08:00

One needs to be dispossessed of the possessions that possess – before one can be possessed of God.
~Ann Voscamp

I have been overwhelmed with a feeling of clutter in my life lately.
I need to clean out my closets and spare room
and let's not mention the garage.
It even goes beyond the physical stuff to things like my computer hard drive, which is nearly at capacity and desperately needs to be cleaned up and organized.
I'm ready to purge so much stuff.
Over the past 6 months, God has been opening my eyes to what I really need.

We have been studying Matthew chapter 6 in our life group
and this is exactly the discussion that entailed last week -
God knows what we need and He WILL provide for those needs
The problems come with how OUR definition of need meets up with God's definition.
How often I call wants needs.

We don't need to increase our goods nearly as much as we need to scale down our wants. Not wanting something is as good as possessing it. ~Donald Horban

So we've committed this week to the spiritual discipline of simplicity -
only spending money on sincere needs.
And for me it means some purging.
And most importantly, praying for God to change my definition of need -
to align my desires with His desires.

Because simplicity starts from within.

Its easy to deny oneself for a week or maybe even a month if you know that, eventually, your commitment to denying that thing will be over and you can have it again.
I don't want just a week long or month long change though -
I want my desires to be in line with God's desires.

What if I started praying this prayer...

O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die.
First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.
Proverbs 30:7-9

What if you started praying that prayer?
Give me neither poverty nor riches. Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
That is SIMPLICITY.

Unredeemed by Selah

2010-02-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

This song really ministered to me so I wanted to share it with you.
Enjoy...
(for those of you that would rather just read the lyrics, I posted them below the player.)

Unredeemed

(written by by Chad Cates, Tony Wood, Brian Petak)

The cruelest words, the coldest heart

The deepest wounds, the endless dark

The lonely ache, the burning tears

The bitter night, the wasted years

Life breaks and falls apart, but we know these are…

Places where grace is

Soon to be so amazing

They may be unfulfilled

They may be unrestored

But when anything that’s shattered

Is laid before the Lord

Just watch and see

It will not be Unredeemed

For every choice that led to shame

And all the love that never came

For every vow that someone broke

And every life that gave up hope

We live in the shadow of the fall

But the cross says these are all

Places where grace is

Soon to be so amazing

They may be unfulfilled

They may be unrestored

But when anything that’s shattered

Is laid before the Lord

Just watch and see

It will not be Unredeemed

Places where grace is

Soon to be so amazing

They may be unfulfilled

They may be unrestored

but You never know the miracles

The father has in store

Just watch and see

It will not be Unredeemed

forgiven by LOVE

2010-02-18T23:52:00.000-08:00

Molly stepped on my foot this morning and immediately said,
"I'm sorry mommy. I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?"
"Yes honey, I forgive you."

She even told the dog, whom she calls "boy", she was sorry the other day.
"I'm sorry boy. You ok?"
"Mommy, my boy's ok."

Yet, when she hit her friend last week she refused to apologize.
She would rather have discipline than apologize.

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday.
It is the day that marks the beginning of lent - a time to focus on repentance.
Now, neither Ash Wednesday nor lent are in the Bible, but they both come from biblical concepts.

Repentance.

Why is it sometimes so easy and yet sometimes so hard?
Really, I know the answer to that and I realize the question I should be asking is,
"Why do I hold on to some sins the way I do?"
I want to hate my sin.

I am so grateful I serve a God who is faithful and just to forgive me my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
He loves me and wants to help me have a repentant heart over every sin.

Read Psalm 103:1-14

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-

who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases

who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

I can't remember where I read it, but earlier this week I read someone being grateful that
God records our names in His book of life and not our sins.
What LOVE He has for us!

And look at what else He records...

You keep track of all my sorrows.

You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

You have recorded each one in Your book.

Psalm 56:8

What LOVE He has for us!!!

Sorry this post is coming to you a day late.
We are busy trying to get ready for a retreat this weekend, but I have been looking forward to getting here and meeting with you.

This side of the cross

2010-02-10T16:15:00.001-08:00

I just finished reading Leviticus.

This is usually a book one skims or skips over completely, but as I focus on worship this year, I found it incredibly relevant and the timing of it God-appointed.

As we live in grace on this side of the cross, we tend to lose sight of how seriously God takes holiness.

And how seriously He takes worship.

(Two of Aaron's sons died because they burned the wrong kind of fire in worship.)

“You must be holy because I the Lord your God am holy.”

Leviticus 19:2

And as I read it, I am so incredibly grateful that God chose that I would serve Him on this side of the cross.

Lord, let my life be an offering of worship that honors your holiness.

Worship

2010-02-04T23:47:00.000-08:00

I have to be honest with you ..
I have struggled lately to get here and post (as if it isn't obvious).
Really I have struggled since last summer.
Early in the summer I had someone tell me that I'm not careful enough about what I post here and that, although I don't name names, people can figure out who I am talking about.
That caused me to question EVERYTHING I posted and put me in this downward spiral concerning what I should and shouldn't post.
Before that comment to me, I had considered this blog useful for 2 purposes:
1. To share what we are up to with family and friends that we don't get to speak with much and
2. To share my walk with God

#1 is why I started the blog, because a blogging friend (who doesn't blog anymore) REALLY encouraged me to do so.
But, #2 gave me purpose to keep going on this blog.
It seemed to make it have a little bit of meaning for me. And from emails and comments and phone calls, God was using those posts.
And yet, it is in those posts that I must have shared something I shouldn't have. (That person couldn't give me specifics.)

So I have struggled.
I have prayed about whether or not I should even keep this blog going (for my 5 or 6 readers?).
I mean, what is the point if I can't be honest with you?
Because it is in the honesty that God has used me through this blog.
Thus the lack of posts since the summer - a season in my life that has brought more tears, struggle, spiritual attack and growth since I can't remember when.
With all that I was going through emotionally and spiritually I just couldn't post random family goings on and pretend that all was well.
It just felt so dishonest.

God has been speaking to my heart about this though.
I realize that I have let well-meaning, good people who strive to follow Christ quench what the Holy Spirit was trying to do in and through me.
I'm sorry for that. This truly has been a time of stretching and growing for me. A time of growing closer to God and learning how to follow Him more closely.

And I feel like God has given me some direction regarding this blog.
One of the things I have read about every January for the past few years is the idea of NOT having a New Year's resolution, but rather having a word to focus on for the year. I'm not sure who started that, but this year I prayed about what my word would or should be if I were to join the ranks in the "word of the year" thing.
My word was WORSHIP (and I'm joining the ranks).

So I'm going to focus on worship here on this blog this year.
Really, that means the sky is the limit because worship is about how I live my life.
It SHOULD affect the way I eat and exercise, what kind of wife and mom I am, what kind of friend I am, how I treat those that are unlovely, what I give back to God versus keep for myself, how I handle not only the amazing things that instantly cause me praise God, but also the difficult trials that I WILL go through...
Part of my focusing on worship has ignited a new passion for using every gift God has given me (not just music) as an act of worship.
It has been the catalyst for Through The Lens Of Worship.
(if you have no idea what that is, click on the link and see what God has been up to with me and photography)
And honestly, Through The Lens Of Worship is where I will focus most of my blogging energy.
You will find my photo worship experiences on Exposing Grace on Wednesdays.
I have decided to dedicate Wednesdays to worship here too.
And I'm going to be honest.
If I offend you in any way, I'm sorry. I have never meant to do that.
So the plan is to at least be here once a week (more than you've had in quite a while around here ; ) ), on Wednesdays. I will do my best to be here more, but life with my 3 hooligans is busy and time is precious.
For those of you who have been praying for me - THANK YOU!!!
For those of you who had no idea about any of this - THANK YOU for being patient with me!!!
I love all 5 or 6 of you!!!
See you Wednesday (if not sooner).

what's HUGE in 2010

2010-01-02T16:49:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that it is already 2010.
Really what I can't believe is that it was already 10 years ago that we were sitting in Bruce's parent's den, waiting for the Times Square ball to drop, wondering if there would really be any adverse affects to Y2K.
I was pregnant with Merritt - our first child.
We were still pastoring SBCC in San Bernardino.

When I consider where God has brought us in the last 10 years - so many things that were even beyond our dreaming - I can't help but wonder what God has in store for the next 10 years.

What does He have planned for us that we don't even know to dream about?
I know that the dreams He has given me for 2010 are huge.
I know that the burden He has laid on my heart for prayer in 2010 is huge.
I know that what He wants to do in Hanford in 2010 is huge.

So I look forward to 2010 with anticipation and excitement
because I serve a HUGE God
and I know He will show up in a huge way if we just look for Him.

What huge dreams has God given you for the year ahead?

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T20:40:00.000-08:00

I pray you all had a day filled with God's wonder and glory.

Merry Christmas!!!

Thankful for life in the cracks

2009-11-26T10:56:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

There is so much to be thankful for this year.
There are the things that are always in my list…

Jesus
Family
Friends
A house to give me shelter
A home to share life, love, laughter,
Food on my table
Health

But God has been stirring in me so much more to give thanks for…

I’m thankful for dishes piled up in the sink still needing to be washed
Because of the quality time spent over a meal that they represent
I’m thankful for muscles that are still sore after a week
Because they represent where I’m going instead of where I came from
I’m thankful for all the tears shed this past year
Because they drew me closer to God
I’m thankful for the constant Spiritual attack we feel under the pressure of
Because it means that the enemy feels a need to fight against me
I’m thankful for the move my good friends and neighbors are making even though I am going to miss them terribly
Because it means I will have new opportunities to be a light for new neighbors
I’m thankful for the constant chaos that I feel with toys and stuff strewn all over my house - all the time.
Because it represents the young ones that I love so much who are healthy and able and vivacious
I'm thankful for the friendships that aren’t the same anymore
Because in my grappling with the fact that I can’t make people want my friendship God shows me how much my grief resembles His when I don’t choose Him.
I’m thankful that God is in the middle of the deep cracks in my life that cause so much pain sometimes.

For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:17, 18 NLT

There is abundant LIFE in the cracks!

So proud!!!

2009-11-07T19:04:00.000-08:00

I am SO PROUD of my brother!!!!
Yesterday, he graduated from paramedic school.

He and his wife have made some really hard choices for him to get to this point.
And he finally made it.

A few years ago, I sat with my brother at the mall at 5am on the day after Thanksgiving, listening to him tell me how he was taking this step to change careers.

About how he knew he had missed his calling and had to follow God's lead in this.

How every time he passed an accident on the road he had the urge to stop his car and get out and help.

He would be giving up a very successful career, in a job that he excelled at and made very good money in. Not the worldly choice to make, but he had a calling.

He knew the cost and was asking me to be praying for him as he and his wife prayed about this decision.

Congratulations Derek!!!!

Have I told you yet how PROUD I am of you?

Christmas Cards for a 5 year old boy - Meet Noah Biorkman

2009-11-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

Update: Noah passed away on Monday November 23. Please continue to pray for his family.

Hi friends. I'm posting once again with a plea for prayer.
I don't know this family or anyone involved, but read about it here and felt compelled to share it with you too.

This is directly from the blog post I read...

A dear friend sent this to me, and I’ve done some digging to see if this situation is really true. I wish it wasn’t. This is what she wrote: Dr Tom Curran is a radio personality, and he is in the process of setting up a 24 hour live) online Rosary where people around the world can meet together online and pray. One of the prayer requests last night was for a family in Michigan where 5 year Noah is in the final stages of his 2.5 year battle with Neuroblastoma…a particularly vicious form of childhood cancer with a 0% chance of survival. (If you’ve read the amazing book Gloria’s Miracle you know how ruthless this disease really is.) Well, Noah is probably not going to make it to Christmas so the family is going to celebrate the holiday this coming weekend. Apparently, Noah likes Christmas Cards and receiving things in the mail. The request was sent out to have people flood their mailbox with Christmas Cards encouraging Noah in his final struggle! If you could take a moment to send him a Christmas Card in the next few days, it would really be appreciated!
The news about Noah’s early Christmas has spread through a number of radio stations. This is Noah.

Noah’s address is below.
Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain View Circle
South Lyon, MI 48178

There is also a radio station collecting cards for the family.
I have read a few entries on the care page his family has set up for him.
The latest update was posted yesterday. He gets to see Santa on Friday and Sunday is his family celebration. His prognosis is 1-3 weeks at best. He is on A LOT of pain medication to help him be able to walk and play. He lives with his mom and grandma, but dad lives nearby and he gets to go to his dad's whenever he wants.

If you want to pray for them specifically, or send cards to his parents, his mom's name is Diana and his dad's name is Scott. The above address is mom's. On the care page she gives dad's address as well:
Scott Biorkman
3480 Petoskey Way
Milford, Michigan 48380

I don't ever want to know what it feels like to be in their position or Angel's parent's position. My heart is breaking for these families, but God is using the outpouring of love that is coming in to help this family get through this. Here is a quote from their most recent update:

This is the hardest thing that we have had to deal with on a daily basis and the packages and cards and messages have been a great distraction for all four of us (my mom is included in this group as she lives with me). Noah's spirit is undeniable and you can see it in his eyes and smile. He has a way about him that is both unique and special. Yeah, yeah I know, I'm biased, but it has been amazing to watch.

Praise God for the opportunity to come together as His body in unity to pray for and minister to this family. From my reading, I'm not sure where they stand with God - all the more reason to pray for their family.

Here is a news report about Noah.
I have some letter writing to do today!

Prayer request

2009-11-03T18:52:00.000-08:00

Hi friends,

I am passing on a prayer request from a dear friend.

You can read the request here.

Not only does Angel and his family need prayer, but so do the families of the friends of Angel's.

My friend specifically needs to know how to help her 8 year old daughter who loves Angel dearly understand the seriousness of Angel's condition.

He truly needs a miracle.

As Promised...

2009-11-02T22:36:00.000-08:00

Halloween pictures!

Meet Captain Hook, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell!

My kids were pretty funny about this this year.

Molly was adamant about calling everyone by their character name, but Mason was adamant about being Mason. Merritt went along with both of them.

Molly was soooo incredibly cute.

We didn't even show her her costume until it was time to get her dressed (even though we'd had it for over a month) because we knew she'd want to wear it all the time, and I didn't want to have to clean it or repair it. So when I got it out, she was ecstatic.

I got her dressed and then sat her on the bathroom counter to put her hair up (because she had to have Tinkerbell hair.)

When she saw herself in the mirror she said to me, "Oh mommy, I Mollyrooscay no more. I Tinkerbell. See? I have Tinkerbell eyes."

And when we were out and about in the neighborhood, she would run and tell me, "Mommy, I FLY!"

Merritt played it up as Hook. He loved every minute of it.

Mason loved his dagger.

Can't you just hear her telling me about her Tinkerbellness?

I love this picture. See the mask Bruce is wearing?

That goes to Mason's Mr. Incredible costume and he wore it all evening as he passed out candy.

The kids in our neighborhood think Bruce is the coolest.

(Most of them have had him as a substitute.)

Here she is flying...

(Aren't those wings great? They even light up.)

Molly almost didn't make it home before sleep overtook her.
And in the middle of the night that night, she woke Bruce up talking in her sleep.
She was saying, "I fly. I fly."

Soccer

2009-11-01T01:14:00.000-07:00

The last time I posted about Soccer was 2 years ago.
And it was about Merritt.
This year Mason is playing.
Merritt opted out this year - and last year (and maybe forever?).
2 years of soccer was enough for him.
You see, he's not too keen on running for an hour straight, so soccer isn't really that high on his list.
Mason, on the other hand, doesn't mind the running and is loving soccer.
And he's doing really well.
His head is constantly "in the game".
Check it out for yourself:
(Warning: glowing uniforms - you may want your sunglasses for these pictures.)

I hope you all had a nice Halloween.
We did.
You can check back tomorrow for pictures of the kids all dressed up and ready for sugar comas.

Finally!!!

2009-10-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

I am finally done with this...

This book was supposed to be last year's Christmas gift to all my in-laws.
This is yet one more excuse why I have been so scarce here. But my Wednesdays (when my mom has Molly) have been sacred in getting this done.
I feel like I can breathe more deeply now.
And I am so excited to actually get the finished product in the mail.
I should have it in about 10 days (maybe less?)

Here are a few of the pages from the book...
(which ended up being 35 pages with 112 photos)

Yay for one more completed project!
And by the way, if you click on the picture you can see it bigger.

The third commandment

2009-10-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

I've never really studied the 10 commandments in depth before, but we are doing that in our lifegroup and I am loving it.

This last week was about the 3rd commandment:

"You shall not take the name of the Lord Your God in vain."

This commandment has always been about cursing to me.

That's what I learned in Sunday School.

I had never really thought about what "in vain" means beyond that.

Here's what my bible dictionary says...

"To take His “name in vain” means to consider the name empty or meaningless: to deny or doubt His presence and power."

The Hebrew word translated as "in vain" here is often also translated as emptiness, nothingness, worthlessness, to no good purpose. It is a word used for idols. It also connotates using the Lord's name lightly, unthinkable or by rote. Or using God's name for selfish gain.

(Does that last part remind anyone else of the Pharisees?)

Of course that means to not use His name in cursing, but it means soooo much more.

I love John Stott's commentary on this. He says:

"What kind of misuse of God's name is envisaged? The commandment certainly forbids blasphemy and profanity. It will also include false swearing, that is, taking an oath and breaking it. It is better, Jesus taught, not to swear at all. Honest people do not need to make promises by oath; a simple yes or no should be enough (Matt. 5:33-37). Then there is a yet more serious misuse of God's name. It arises from the fact that a name is more than a word; it is a person and that person's character. We then misuse God's name whenever our behavior is incompatible with his character. To call God "Father" and mistrust him or to call Jesus "Lord" and disobey him: this is to misuse his name."

Wow. This goes hand in hand for me with what I said in my last post about words and actions. If I say I trust God and don't represent that in my actions, then I am definitely misrepresenting who God really is.

Forgive me Lord where I fall short here.

Help me to be more aware of my actions and what they truly say.

Am I the only one who never learned the depth of what "taking the Lord's name in vain" means?

Repentance

2009-09-28T14:42:00.000-07:00

Bruce recently posed this question on his blog:

WHY IS TRUE REPENTACE SO DIFFICULT TO REALIZE?

This is a question we have discussed a lot around here, because we spent the last week in preparation to celebrate the Day of Atonement with Epic, so… I have been pondering this question a lot myself.

Why IS true repentance so difficult to realize?
I have come up with a lot of reasons why…
1. We are only repentant because that’s what the Bible says we should do.
2. We aren’t really sorry for that sin - maybe we’re sorry someone got hurt or that we got caught, etc.., but we’re not really sorry for the actual sin.
3. Our values are too entwined with the world’s values and we don’t really agree that what we are needing to be repentant for is that bad.
4. We have a small view of God.
5. We don’t trust God to take care of us better than we can take care of ourselves.
6. …. (I could go on.)

Yet, as I think about those reasons and any other I can come up with, I think the real reason – the hard reason – is that we love ourselves more than we love God.

Are you now saying, "No, I really LOVE God?"
That was me when the Holy Spirit first revealed this to me.
But I took a step back and looked at my actions.
What do my actions say about how I love God more than I love myself and my desires?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

I'm a firm believer that actions speak louder than words.

You can tell me you love me all you want, but if your actions don't fall in line then I don't feel loved and have a really hard time believing your words. Because, honestly, if you really did love me then you wouldn't treat me like that.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
And honestly, if I really did love Him more then I wouldn't treat Him like that.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

My love for Him can't have worldly standards.

And yes, we have a sin nature that flares its ugly head all too often.
Paul talked about that in Romans 7 saying, “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me…” It goes on and it’s a really good argument. But Paul doesn’t just leave it saying, “I have no control and no answer to this sin nature in me.”
No, he says in the end of Chapter 7, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
And then in Chapter 8 goes on to say, “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”

For me, the truth of the matter is that, when I am having trouble with true repentance – committing the same sin over and over – I have to face the reality of either my love for that sin, or my love for how that sin seems to help me, the reality that I have my mind set on what the sinful nature desires.

And I have to ask God to give me His perspective and help me to love Him MORE so that my mind can be set on what the Spirit desires.

For me, the answer is SOOOO simple and yet SOOOOO hard.
Lord help me to love you MORE!

This is the song that I have been singing a lot this week…

Every Day in every way
I need more of You and less of me
To sacrifice and to obey
I need more of You in my life
I need more of You in my will,
More of You in my ways,
I need more of You in my thoughts,
More of You in my days.

Jesus, You are so holy
And Jesus, You are so good
More of You and less of me is what
I need each day to bring
Until the day You consume my everything

I am excited to be...

2009-09-18T10:53:00.000-07:00

Finally reading this...

Making this for my little girl's "big girl" bed...

(I'll post pictures of the bed when I finish the owls & pillows I am making too.)

And finally getting a mini-vacation with my family.
We haven't had the chance to all get away together this year because of so many other things going on.

I haven't had the opportunity to blog much because, well, Molly just doesn't want me to be at the computer - AT ALL. And I have had to spend the time I do get on other projects. BUT my mom has offered to watch her on Wednesday mornings so I can get some computer work done. And I hope to be able to get a little more time with you as a result of that.

Have a GREAT rest of your day today!

Catch up #3 - Keeping cool!

2009-08-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

One thing no one can deny about the valley is that it is HOT in the summer.
We try to swim as much as possible (thank you Gillums and Pimentels) - but that is for another post.

So when we have to make the trip to Fresno, and aren't in a total rush, we try to pack swim suits (or a dry set of clothes). Then we hit Fashion Fair mall.

They're always initially shocked by the spouts of water...

But it doesn't take long for the Jedi battle to ensue - Gotta love boys!

I know this picture is blurry, but I just love it - I love how you can tell Mason is loving the attack on the water. AND I love how it shows Molly's approach to the water as well.

She LOVES playing in water...

Oh the anticipation of the fountain shooting up. It got her in the face a couple of times.

Catch up #2 - FIRSTS

2009-08-20T00:06:00.000-07:00

July held a couple of FIRSTS for my boys.

Mason lost his first tooth...

And Merritt got glasses...

(you can see more pictures of Merritt with his new glasses here.)

As for Molly...
Well, Molly has firsts all the time. She is only 2.
And while there is much to update for Molly, she really needs her own posts.
So those will come soon.
I am glad to report though that she has decided that she will no longer put her fingers in her diaper to check for poo. That was getting old really quickly!

Catch up #1

2009-08-15T15:45:00.000-07:00

I decided to start where I left off...
With the Africa team coming home.
My mom was in Southern CA with my sister and her new babies on the day the team flew into San Francisco, so I packed the kids up and we took a family trip to get daddy.
They loved the trip.
They missed their dad A LOT and the anticipation of seeing him was almost too much to handle. We were all giddy!

We arrived at the airport about 10 minutes before their plane was scheduled to land, but we had a LONG wait until they actually walked through the doors and into our arms. And we weren't the only ones anxiously awaiting our loved ones from the Epic team.

In the International Arrival Terminal, there is a monitor that shows who is about to come out the doors (AFTER going through customs and getting their baggage from baggage claim. Thus the almost 1 hour wait for us.)

The kids watched for daddy for awhile, but an hour is a long time.
They played around, danced, sat - you get the picture.

They made friends with the lady reading the magazine in this picture...

And FINALLY we saw Amanda, and the first greeting was made.

And we continued to wait (Amanda said they were held up in baggage waiting for some over-sized pieces.) until eventually...

Mason took off running with Merritt close on his heels.

Molly hadn't seen daddy on the screen, but followed her brothers.

And when she spotted him, well...

She kept telling me "That's my daddy."
And she asked Bruce if he was home on a regular basis for a couple of weeks.
Once the greetings were made THE question flew off both of the boys lips.
"Daddy did you bring me something?"

What a great daddy. He had at least one item easily accessible for each child.

She LOVES baby dolls

And when we got home, there were more gifts, but the boys wanted pictures in these...

We are so glad to have Bruce home!!!

Back To School

2009-08-12T16:26:00.001-07:00

Summer vacation is over.
We are officially back in school.

The boys were pretty excited for their first day of school.
Mason already knew that one of his buddies from last year and from t-ball was going to be in his class. (They called each other as soon as they got their class lists to see if they would be in the same class again.) And Merritt knew of one friend that would be in his class that lives down the street.
But the anticipation was high about who else they would share a class with this year.
I mean, really, its all about who is in your class (and, for Mason, who will notice your new shoes and think they're cool.)

I'm happy to report good things all around!

For the last couple of years, Merritt has anticipated a specific friend possibly being in his class, but it hasn't ever happened. This year Merritt hadn't even mentioned him in his anticipation of the new class, but to his great surprise, not only is his friend in his class, but they are seated next to each other.
(Although I'm not too confident that will last very long for my social child.)
As a matter of fact, he is one of the first friends we ran into when we got to school this morning and he was excited to tell Merritt the news that they were finally in the same class.

Once we dropped the boys off, guess what Mom, Dad & Molly did...

We haven't had this kind of morning all summer.

One more picture, just because...

Hope you had a great day today!

I'm still here...

2009-08-12T09:23:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm alive and still here.
Sorry I've been such an awful blogger.
I have so many reasons why I haven't been HERE, but I hope you forgive me and don't abandon me.

The kids started school today.
I can't believe the summer is over.

I promise update posts throughout the week today,
starting with photos of the first day back at school later today.

In the meantime, check out these blogs that I designed, helped update the design of, and have nothing to do with, but its brand new to encourage women and so far I love it.

Our visit in Southern California

2009-07-05T02:35:00.000-07:00

Hi love,

We're back home now.
It was soooo good to get away and visit family and friends.

Here's a recap of our week in pictures...
(be prepared for A LOT of pictures. We were busy.)

Monday:

Tuesday:
Molly helped Janina celebrate her birthday early

And 10 minutes after we got in the car

The boys' treat in the evening

Wednesday:

Thursday:
I DON'T miss this at all!!!

Apparently MANY people had Friday off.
It took almost 6 hours to get home.

We're counting down the days til we get to see you.
xoxoxo

2009-06-29T06:55:00.000-07:00

Hi love,
Everything went well yesterday at Epic. Scott did a great job!
Once we were done with our responsibilities at the middle school (and got packed up), we drove to Erin's.
We got here at about 9:30 last night. Molly didn't go to sleep until 1 am and she's already up today (it's 7am here.) I'm tired!
I will get to go to the hospital a little later today.
Little Onne is doing really well. He's off all IVs and eating on his own. He just needs to grow now. Caliana on the other hand is having some trouble and may have to have surgery this week for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Basically, its a congenital heart disease where a valve between the heart and lungs (necessary for an embryo's lung function as they don't take in oxygen) fails to close after birth, making it difficult for the baby to get the oxygen it needs. The Drs. are going to give her little body until Thursday to start doing what its supposed to do on its own. But because her duct is zigzagged instead of straight, the Drs. anticipate surgery.

The boys are excited to be here, (they have that whole water park instead of just a pool) and Stephanie's coming over to play.
Merritt read every sign on the way here and is begging to go to a Dodgers game AND an Angels game. He's even tried to talk me into the Padres.
"Mom, Legoland isn't that far from Aunt Erin's house and that is where the Padres play."
As far as he's concerned every day we're here should have a game scheduled and we should have tickets.

Speaking of baseball, Merritt's team played a really exciting game in the tournament on Saturday. The game was almost 3 hours long and they WON! I think the final score was 28-27.
It was over 100 degrees, but those boys were troopers.

We are praying for you.
I love you and look forward to the day you get home.

Bruce - I miss you!

2009-06-26T23:48:00.000-07:00

Hi love,
Today has been a roller coaster ride.
You have a new niece and nephew.
I haven't seen pictures yet, but I'm sure they're beautiful.
They had some scary moments, but everyone is doing well.
Both of the babies are in ICU, but are progressing nicely.

Merritt's team didn't do so well tonight, but Merritt had a couple of GREAT hits.
I took Mason to the Dr. and he's on antibiotics now too.

I wish you were here today more than any other day that you've been gone.
I'd hoped that I wouldn't need you so much in your absence, but when I've had a day like I had today, I realize that that is impossible.
I always need you.
I love you and I look forward to the next time I get to talk to you.

June 24 update for Bruce...

2009-06-25T00:52:00.000-07:00

Hi love,

I ended up having a really nice birthday today.

Even though it looked as if it would be full of
kids not feeling well
laundry
friends who are too busy to actually call
laundry
dishes
HEAT
did I say laundry? (you know how motivated I am there. And didn't we just finish the laundry?)

It turned out to also have
strawberry shortcake with a candle
birthday singing
yummy paninis for lunch
meeting new friends
and these...

All thanks to a very nice surprise from Annie.

The kids are doing ok.
They miss you.
Mason woke up this morning saying, "when I see a shooting star, I'm wishing that daddy NEVER goes away again."
Molly seems to be back to her healthy self, but Mason has a fever now.
He slept a lot today.

At bedtime tonight, Molly was calling for you.
And when you didn't answer asked me, "where's my daddy?"

Merritt had a great baseball game tonight.
They didn't win, but they only lost by 2 and the whole game was close like that, with each team swapping the lead regularly.
Your dad came out to watch, which made Merritt's day.

We prayed for you tonight.
Can't wait to hear more updates.
We LOVE and miss you!!!!

They’re On Their Way

2009-06-23T15:29:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, the team going to Uganda met at my house at noon. We had some lunch, made sure all the donations found a spot in someone’s luggage, gathered out front to pray, then loaded up 2 vehicles and headed to the San Francisco International Airport.

We made it by 5pm so they could get checked in for their 7pm departure, unloaded passengers and luggage, gave hugs and kisses and said goodbye for 2 1/2 weeks.

Right now as I am typing this, the team should be in the air on their way from London to Nairobi where they have a 2 hour layover before heading to their final destination of Entebbe. They will arrive in Entebbe at 9:45 am tomorrow (which is 11:45 pm tonight our time).

Please pray for them over the next couple of weeks – they’re going to need all the prayer they can get.

Bruce, our day today has run pretty smoothly. The boys went to VBS this morning. I had to pick Mason up early though because he was crying. He said he just wanted to be with me (too many kids he didn’t know and not enough that he did know to feel ok for him.) After VBS Cara picked both boys up to go swim at their house. Molly had a nap at 1 and went to swim at grandma’s. I’m getting ready to pick the boys up and take Merritt to baseball practice. We love you and are already counting the minutes until you get home. (Mason thinks it would be cool if it were only 2 seconds. – Me too!) We look forward to hearing from you once you get settled in there.

Princess

2009-06-19T00:09:00.001-07:00

Apparently our little fairy is actually a princess.
We already knew that, but we now know she does too.
And she's only 2!

Tonight we celebrated my birthday as a family.
It's early, I know.
But Bruce is going to be in Africa on the actual day, and we don't have any other free time between now and when he leaves.
We had dinner, ran a couple of errands then stopped at Starbucks for a treat
and for me to open my presents before we came home.

Molly was so excited.
She didn't care what was in the boxes, she just wanted them opened.
(She gets what presents are all about since her birthday!)

While we were sitting there enjoying each others company
she got the ribbon (from my package) tied on her head.

(Sorry about the picture quality, but it was from my phone.
And I don't have an iphone.)

"Mommy, I princess." (as she strokes her hair.)
"I Cinderella"

That's right baby.
And don't you ever let anyone convince you that you're not a princess.
Our princess.

Bruce's blog...

2009-06-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been scarce around here this past week.
Summer is in full swing and we've been busy with swimming, baseball, playing with friends - you know, summer stuff.
And when I've had time at the computer I've been working on Bruce's blog redesign.
Check it out.
Blogger has lots of limitations and Bruce wanted a multi-page design.
There's a page for blogging His spiritual journey, insight, etc. A page for photography. And a page for his passions - family, cooking (already there's a yummy cupcake recipe), gardening, and whatever else he comes up with.
So multi-page design it is, but if you follow him through an RSS feed reader, it has 3 different feeds (because I couldn't figure out how to get them all into one feed.)
Bruce designed the new header and I put it all together for him.
And when you go there to check it out, leave him some love in the comments!

Look who's 2...

2009-05-30T02:12:00.000-07:00

2 years ago today, this SWEET girl joined our family...

I can't believe she is already 2.

Molly, you bring such joy to our family.
Yes, you're bossy and sassy.
But you LOVE your brothers.
You LOVE your dog.
You LOVE your mommy and daddy.
You LOVE your grandma.
You LOVE your papa.
You LOVE your aunts, uncles & cousins.
You LOVE your friends.
AND they all LOVE YOU back just as much.

Here are a few of the things that I love about you...
I love that you love to sit on my lap and cuddle or read a book.
You LOVE books.
You want "pretties" in your hair, but you don't keep them there very long.

See what your hair looked like 30 minutes after we put it up?

Did I say you were bossy and sassy?

What I meant to say was, you're soooo silly.

You often come up to me out of blue and say, "Mommy, taco tongue."
You show me your little rolled up tongue and expect me to show you mine.
Then you giggle.
This is our fun little game, because daddy can't make a taco tongue.

You are my little artist.
You LOVE music, and dancing, and coloring and drawing.
You sing along with most every song you hear, even if you've never heard it before.
And this week you want everyone to "make an owl" - 100 times a day
(as you hand us your colors and paper)

You love shoes.
Especially flip flops, or mommy's heels.
You love PRETTY things.
I took you into the Carter's store the other day and as soon as you walked in the door, you gasped and exclaimed, "OOOOOO. Pretty dresses."
I love how girly you are.

You LOVE animals too.
It doesn't matter what kind they are.
Owls or caterpillars or tigers or anything in between.

I love you sweet girl!!!
God has truly blessed us with the gift of YOU!

The Zoo...

2009-05-28T23:16:00.000-07:00

We didn't have a Memorial Day picnic this year.
So instead of sitting around doing nothing,
We packed up the kids and went to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.
MUCH fun was had by all!
This was Molly's first trip to the zoo.
And even though Mason has been before, he didn't remember.
So, in essence, it was his first trip too.
Here are a few pictures of the fun...

Last time we were at this zoo, they didn't do this...
(I'm glad they do now though as it was quite a highlight for the kids.)

Molly zonked out before we got into the petting zoo.

As I have been editing pictures today, Molly keeps getting in my lap so she can see the animals.
She calls out what she wants to see and expects me to get that picture up.
Molly: "uuummmm Tiger."
Mom shows her the tiger.
Molly: "uuummmm Monkey"
Mom shows her the black Siamang
Molly: "No, the monkey with the grass"
Mom shows her the orangutan
Molly: "There it is. Uuummmmm, Elephant."

You get the idea.
I obliged for about 30 minutes and then found a way to distract her.
But every time I've sat at the computer since then (this morning), she finds me, begs to get in my lap ("I hold you"), and says, "I want the tiger" (or another animal. It's different each time.)

So here is one of those animal pictures...

I posted more here.

Kane Kid happenings

2009-05-23T00:40:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've posted what we've been up to on the kid front.

Basically it has been school and baseball for the boys,
but that is all coming to an end soon.
Wednesday is their last games for the regular season.
Merritt has been nominated for the All-Star team, but that doesn't mean he'll actually be chosen.
And school gets out in less than 2 weeks.
Summer is peeking around the corner.
We plan to do lots of swimming, visit family, play with friends, read, go camping.
Who knows what else.
I'm looking forward to it.

Here are some pictures of the kids...

BASEBALL Merritt style:

BASEBALL Mason style:
(Gotta LOVE T-Ball)

Sliding into home is his favorite part.

And not to forget Molly:

These 3 bless me daily!

Tonight....

2009-05-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

I'm tired.

I'm tired of sickness in my family.
Tired of fevers and a child who HATES to take medicine to break the fever
Tired of coughs echoing down the hall to my bedroom throughout the night
Tired of having to see Drs and nurses
Tired of not knowing what to do to help my mom
Tired of Drs not knowing what is REALLY going on in my mom's body (or face to be more exact)
Tired of waiting in ERs
Tired from sleepless nights with sick kids

TIRED!

Adding to our family

2009-05-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

I read an anonymous quote the other day that said this...

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it.”
“Well, why don’t you ask Him?”
“Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.”

The truth is (according to Micah 6, Matthew 25:31-46, Isaiah 58, ...) me doing something about those things is pretty important to God.
I believe God IS doing something about it and it is through His people that He accomplishes that. And really, its not that hard to be a participant in what God is doing.
The opportunities are there.
The question for me is not about opportunity, it's about willingness.
Willingness to possibly give up some of MY comfort, MY luxury, MY time, MY, MY, MY.
The crazy thing is, NONE OF IT was MINE to begin with. I only have it because God gave it to me and I am humbled by the thought that I probably spend more at Starbucks in a month than some families in other countries make in a month.

Imagine what could be accomplished if WE as Christians just cut back (I'm not even talking about giving it up completely) on our Starbucks addictions (or maybe your addiction is Diet Coke, or Cold Stone, or Target, or ....) and used the money we didn't spend to help someone else.

Did you know that for around $30 a month you can help a family not only survive but find hope and joy in Jesus? (Do you spend more than that on your cable bill or maybe the gym?)
There are SEVERAL ministries out there set up to do this.
I don't know if you noticed it or not, but there is a new widget on my blogs for one of those ministries. And at the bottom of my photoblog, there are a couple of links as well.
These particular ministries are ones that I have researched to make sure that the money isn't used up in administration costs. But if they aren't something you feel like you can get behind, I encourage you to find something that you can.

As I have prayed about choosing what to do, I have really focused on finding something that our kids can be involved with. Something that will help them develop a sense of unselfishness, even at their young ages now. I pray that they can already see others through God's eyes and have hearts of compassion -that they will learn to see the importance of helping others before splurging on their own selfish desires. (Don't hear that my kids don't get nice things that they want and don't need. They do. Too much.) So when we went to Catalyst I felt pretty strongly that the answer was sponsoring a child that each of my children could relate to. I decided to let them pick the child and started praying for God's divine intervention in who we would eventually choose. And the more I prayed, the more I felt like we could and should do more. So earlier this week I started telling them about the opportunity we would have to help someone in need on a regular basis and then last night I sat at the computer and let each boy choose a boy that was their age to sponsor through Compassion. (side note... one of the things I love about Compassion is that you don't just send your money. You actually get involved in the child's life by writing letters, sending gifts and even possibly visiting.)

Merritt is SOOOO excited about this. Once he knew we were going to do this, he wouldn't let me be until I sat down at the computer with him to pick the boy we were going to sponsor for him. He picked a boy from India because the boy had been waiting for more than 6 months to get a sponsor and he liked the same things Merritt likes (playing ball games and reading). Once we finished processing the request he asked me to print out the boy's picture and name. He has shown it to everyone he has come across since then. He even took it to the neighbors house to show them. He can hardly wait to get the packet in the mail so he can send his first letter. And for the first 1/2 hour after we finished he kept coming over to me and kissing me and telling me he loved me. Sooooo excited!!! He has lots of questions, but I love his outlook on it all. He said to me, "Mom, it's like God gave me another brother that won't ever live with me." And when he asked if he would ever get to visit his new brother, and I told him that I wasn't sure because of how far away he lived. He told me, "Mom, we CAN visit him. If we really want to some day I just know we can!"

Mason is excited too, but not like Merritt. He has been home sick with a pretty high fever, but he didn't want to wait to pick the boy for him either. So I sat at the computer with him on my lap and we look through all the 5 year old boys needing sponsors and he picked a boy from Peru. When I first opened the sponsorship pages, the boy Mason finally picked was the first boy he pointed to and said he was the one. I encouraged him to look through some more and make sure because Mason is the fickle one of my children. The more we looked though the more certain he was of the boy he wanted to choose. Once we were all done I asked him why he picked that boy, he said it was because he liked his shirt the best. (He did comment on every boy's shoes too.)

I am soooo looking forward to how God is going to use this bit of willingness on our parts in not only the lives of the children we are sponsoring, but in the hearts of my own children. Merritt is particularly concerned about Molly having a sponsored child too. I told him we would sponsor a child for Molly when she was 5 and old enough to handle the responsibility that comes with it. Merritt even suggested that we have some new family rules that include praying for our sponsored children at least 1 time a day and writing them a letter at least 1 time a month.
Sounds like GREAT rules to me!

If you want to read some awesome stories about Compassion.
Check these out...
http://www.shaungroves.com/shlog/comments/holding_hands_with_uncle_john/
http://www.flowerdust.net/2009/04/28/lakshmi/
http://jonesbones5.com/2009/05/01/doll/
http://www.pensieve.me/2009/04/compassion-international-india-day-5.html
http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/2009/05/revelation.html
http://www.spencesmith.com/2009/04/30/street-kids-prostitutes-slums-and-a-better-future/

What are you going to DO about it?

2009-04-26T16:07:00.000-07:00

This is the book I am currently reading...

If you're looking for a good non-fiction / Christian Living book to read, I recommend this one.

God has been challenging me in the way I live out Christianity.
This change in me started awhile ago, but I really got that "what are you going to DO about it" question from God when I was reading Crazy Love.
During that time, God gave me vision for one way He wanted me to "do something."
I have been working on my part of bringing that vision to fruition and trusting God for His part.
And He is definitely showing me that I heard Him correctly as He is already providing what I need to do my part. So I continue to take one step at a time in this.

And ever since I sensed His nudging when I was reading Crazy Love, everywhere I turn, every person I talk to, every book I read, every speaker I hear just reiterates what I sensed. I LOVE how God confirms what He tells me so that I can't doubt His leading in my life.

Fast forward to this new book I am reading...
Do you ever read something and get chills because God is confirming something in you?
I started reading this book on the way home from Catalyst and couldn't even get past the forward without that sensation. I had to read it out loud to those who were in the car with me.
Here is part of that forward (written by John Ortberg):

"The prophet Micah said a long time ago that the devine requirements for human life are not rocket science. Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before your God. Worship is the humble walk. It is the knee-buckling, jaw-dropping acknowledgment of the gap between the creature and the Creator, the finite and the Infinite, the sinful and the Holy. It is the heart-rending, spirit-mending
gratitude and joy of those who have tasted the wonder that words like redemption can only hint at.

But apart from doing justice and loving mercy, worship means no more than a child's "thank you" means if it is accompanied with a selfish unwillingness to share what she claims to be thankful for."

It is time for God's church to start doing what Jesus did - to get their hands dirty. It has become too easy to ignore the part of Micah about doing justice and loving mercy (or at least only considering that part as long as it doesn't make us uncomfortable), even the walking humbly part is conditional in so many people who say they are Christians. We care too much about ourselves and our comfort.

Bruce and I went to Catalyst last week. I haven't even fully finished absorbing all that I heard and that God did in me. Maybe I will have more to share as I wrap myself more around it. God definitely used the conference to reconfirm what He is doing in me. He also used it to make that vision larger. So those are my thoughts for now.

I want to leave you with my favorite video clip from Catalyst. This clip came from Mosaic church and was the opener for Erwin McManus - who's point was that Jesus died so we could live our most heroic life for Christ. Enjoy! (I know this is a long post so if you don't have time, come back when you do have time. It lasts about 5 1/2 mins.)

Jump rope extravaganza...

2009-04-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

I got an email today to watch this video I posted.
These girls are amazing.

Uncle Brent and Aunt Gina

2009-04-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

We got to go visit family last week.
Brent (Bruce's brother) and Gina got married last October and recently bought a new home. This was the first time we got to go to their new house.
We had a really great time.
They have a beautiful new home.
We are soooo happy for them.

This was a favorite feature of the new backyard...

Molly LOVED the jacuzzi. This makes me even more excited for summer to get here.
The boys braved the pool, but it was tooooo cold for everyone else.

Check out this visitor that was watching the fun. I wish I'd had the zoom lens with me.

Thanks Brent and Gina for a great day!

New design and photoblog

2009-04-06T02:05:00.000-07:00

Well I finally got around to customizing my blog.
What do you think?
And for those of you who have been asking Bruce and I to start a photoblog, I finally did it.
You can visit it here.
Two blog designs in one evening.
Can you tell I didn't have all of my kids at home?

Achieving the look of a tilt-shift lens using Photoshop

2009-04-05T17:03:00.000-07:00

I first came to love the effects that can be created by a tilt-shift lens or a lensbaby reading this blog. Of course a tilt-shift lens is expensive (what great lens isn't?). So I decided to play around in photoshop to find a way to accomplish this look in post-production. I found that there is a whole community out there doing this, trying to make images that look like miniatures. And there were many tutorials on how to do it, but I didn't want my images to look like miniatures and I obviously didn't have the right version of Photoshop for most of the tutorials I did read. Because they required me to work in 2 different masking modes, which I couldn't find in my version. So I got ideas from the tutorials and started trying different things myself.
This is the tutorial that came from my playing around in Photoshop.
I finally wrote it out to enter a contest to win this. (The tutorial I entered wasn't as thorough because I was limited to 350 word and 3 pictures.)
I probably won't win, but I loved the challenge of actually putting my work into words, so I went for it.

So here is how to do it:

After you open your image…

(My original image)

Create a new layer that is a copy of the image.
To do this, either go to Layer – then Duplicate Layer. Or you can, in the layers palette, drag the original background image to the create a new layer button.

Or you can use the key command Ctrl-J.

Then, on the background copy layer, click on the add layer mask button in the layers palette.

Next, get the gradient tool. Click on radial gradient in your gradient options.
Make sure you are still in the background copy layer and that the mask box (see image above) is called out. Click on the center point of the area you want to keep in focus and drag out as far as you want the focal point to go. If your gradient selection went from white to black, your mask box will show a white circle. If your gradient went from black to white, your mask box will show a black circle. It is important to be aware of this for the next step.

Now, click on the image box of the new layer. You will no longer be working in the mask box.

Go to filter – blur – lens blur.
In the lens blur dialog box, make adjustments until you get the affect you want.
In the depth map section, make sure the Layer mask is called out in the source drop down box. And if you had a black circle in your mask box you need to make sure you click the box next to invert.

Click ok when you have the results you want.

If your image needs some fine tuning, select the paintbrush tool. Click on the mask box. Set the foreground color to black if you want to make a portion of your image in focus again, or white if you want to blur more and paint away.
Also, you can adjust the opacity of your brush to vary the amount of the effect to make it look more authentic.
When your done, flatten image (in the layers drop down list) and save.

This is what the final image looked like when I was done...

My Peeps Rock!!!

2009-03-29T23:49:00.000-07:00

Remember this post?
Well, suffice it to say that my list is still incomplete.
The day I wrote that, this was the extent of the cleaning I finished in the boys room....

The bookshelf had MOSTLY stayed clean, but the rest of the room still looked like a bomb went off. And that isn't even considering the items that we bagged up and put in the garage that belonged in the room. That is until my peeps showed up on Friday to help me sort and such.

Now look at the room....

I know its not a great picture, but I don't have a wide enough angle lens to show you more in one shot (and the boys were asleep in their beds when I took this.)

Thanks girls!
You really do rock!!!!

Happy Birthday Brandi!!!

2009-03-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

Today is my friend Brandi's birthday.

I overheard her mention to another friend awhile ago that she was in the mood for some french jazz.
So I thought I would try to find her some for her birthday.
I didn't realize what a difficult task that would be, but I have to say that my search was sooooo worth it.
And when all is said and done, I see why she wanted it.
I LOVE it!

Brandi, I hope you LOVE it too my friend.
(I hope this music is what you meant when you mentioned it, since we didn't talk about the details of what "french jazz" is to you. I trusted that I knew you enough to interpret that on my own. And I won't be upset if you don't like it because I got it totally wrong. Well, I will be disappointed, because I wanted it to be right, but I really just want you to get what you wanted.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

And for those of you who want this kind of music too, I saved my search as an iMix on iTunes.
Check it out.

Stocking stuffer?

2009-03-23T23:52:00.000-07:00

Ladies, no need to be jealous of the boys when you're out in the middle of nowhere and there's no bathroom in site.
Just keep one of these handy...

I hope you didn't take me seriously on the title of this post.
But I know that you want one - now that you know something like this exists.
What cracks me up is the sales pitch on their website.
Their tag line is "You won't be like a man, you'll just pee like one."
I WON'T be buying one of these.
I probably definitely won't be buying one of these.

Psalm 29

2009-03-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings.
Honor the Lord for his glory and strength.
Honor the Lord for the glory of his name.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea.
The God of glory thunders.
The Lord thunders over the mighty sea.
The voice of the Lord is powerful.
The voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars.
The Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf.
He makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord strikes with bolts of lightning.
The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake.
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare.
In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!”

The Lord rules over the floodwaters.
The Lord reigns as king forever.
The Lord gives his people strength.
The Lord blesses them with peace.

Fun frame giveaway...

2009-03-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

Check out this unique frame...

Well, I ♥ faces is having a giveaway for this frame (The Wrap Around The Corner Frame) and this bottle cap tripod...

You can check it out here.
And what's cool is that I'm getting an entry for the giveaway just by telling you about it.

I ♥ Faces - Green

2009-03-17T01:49:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This week at I ♥ Faces the theme is green so I thought I would join in since I happen to have a green photo.

What song was #1 on the billboards the day you ...

2009-03-12T01:21:00.000-07:00

I came across this website today through Facebook. It is a list of the number one songs on the Billboard charts by date. Kind of fun, useless information.
The number one song on the day I was born was "The Love You Save" by the Jackson 5.
The number one song the day I graduated high school was "Head to Toe" by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam.
The number one song when I went on my first date with Bruce was "How Do You Talk to an Angel" by The Heights.
The number one song on the day I got married was "Macarena [Bayside Boys Mix]" by Los Del Rio.
And as for the number one songs on the days my kids were born...
Merritt - "Bent" by matchbox twenty
Mason - "Baby Boy" by Beyoncé featuring Sean Paul
Molly - "Makes Me Wonder" by Maroon5

I had never heard some of these songs before I clicked on the link that takes you to the song samples in itunes.
I guess that tells you how much I listen to the top 40 radio stations.

Clouds after the rain

2009-03-06T11:57:00.001-08:00

Have you ever checked the clouds after it rains, or when the sun pokes through between showers. If you haven't, it's definitely worth a look.

I have been obsessed with the sky lately.
How can I not be? It's beautiful.

Last week, while I was taking the boys to school, more than once I wanted a picture of what I was seeing. But by the time I would get my camera, the picture was gone.
So I got smart and took my camera with me on a couple of occasions.
Here is what I got (this was over the kids' school) ...

This last picture was with my lens zoomed as wide as I could get it.

But, in the midst of my trying to capture the sky, I read this post with a link to this tutorial on how to stitch images together in Photoshop to create a panorama.
So the next opportunity I had to capture the amazing sky after the rain, I remembered the instructions on how to photograph the scene.
I brought it home, plugged it into Photoshop, followed the incredibly easy instructions and here is the result (if you click on the picture, you can see a larger version of it)...

Honestly, it is incredibly easy. My images were basically SOOC when I followed the tutorial. And I didn't have to do any touchup work on the finished product. All I did was flatten the layers and crop the jagged edges off.
So cool!

Evidence

2009-03-04T23:11:00.000-08:00

Spring is arriving in the valley...

What's wrong with this picture?

2009-02-26T14:05:00.000-08:00

Since my last post...

2009-02-24T09:18:00.001-08:00

* Molly got RSV
* While she was sick we found that she had this in her nose (the red foam ornament, not the penny).

(This had to have been in there since Christmas.)
* We had a VERY busy Valentine's weekend, starting out with making these (and packaging and delivering) for the whole staff at one of the elementary schools in town.

(Sorry. I didn't get pictures of them all individually packaged in chinese take-out containers with cute ribbons and a sticker with a Valentine's Day wish.)

*Then we made these for the boys to take to school as valentines.

* Then our house became a floral shop for the 78 dozen roses we arranged, sold and delivered to raise money to purchase a well for a community in Uganda. You can read more about that here if you would like.

* Baseball season started for both Mason and Merritt this year, and basketball isn't quite over yet.

And on a side note, Molly is not only a cookie monster, but she has a fond love for cupcakes too. We lost a couple while we weren't looking...

Daniel and Julie Boyer!

2009-02-10T23:51:00.000-08:00

Last weekend Bruce and I had the privilege of photographing Julie and Daniel's wedding. We met Julie when Mason was just a baby and she quickly became a dear friend. We have shared laughter and tears, worship and discipleship, stinky water and GREAT ice cream - lots of memories and GREAT friendship.
We met Daniel shortly after he started dating Julie and it didn't take too long to realize just how fun he was.
Daniel and Julie, we are sooooo happy for you guys!!!!
Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day.
We love you!

Here is a sneak peek of the images we captured...

Didn't she look stunning?

RINGS...

This is one of the funnest first dances I have ever seen...

And I just LOVE these images.

Congratulations again!!!

More Molly...

2009-01-30T09:46:00.000-08:00

Here is another of Molly's favorite activities...
(this one makes me laugh - a lot! It usually happens while I am trying to fold the laundry and almost always involves her brothers' underwear.)

(The blue underwear are Mason's and the camoflauge ones are Merritt's)

And then Mason's pajama bottoms (you can't really tell in the pictures, but she still has both pairs of underwear on - Merritt's are still around her waist)...

And after taking those three items off, she attempted Mason's pajama top...

But usually, this is her favorite outfit...
I took this picture around noon, after already getting her re-dressed 4 different times.
I think this is the real reason onesies and over-alls were designed.

We appear to have an artist in our family..

2009-01-30T09:45:00.001-08:00

We're not sure how much actual TALENT will surface (as the artist is only 20 months old).
But there is NO lack of passion.
I only wish that her canvas of choice would be paper.
Instead, she prefers her foot...

Her belly.
She will write on her clothing if she can't have skin (although skin is preferred)...

And for the first time this week, she decided to try out the wall and her brother's bed...

We have had to be creative about where we put sharpies these days. Luckily, in all instances seen above, she was using washable markers (and pencil on the wall).
One more difference between girls and boys in this Kane household - the boys preferred paper.

Bethany's blog

2009-01-23T15:12:00.000-08:00

My friend Beth has been wanting to start a blog for awhile now, but felt a little overwhelmed by what it would involve. So I offered to show her the ropes and design her blog page for her.
(This is my first custom blog. Thanks Jessica for the info on how to get started.)

I got the design done before Christmas and finally we had the time for me to show her just how easy blogger is.

So welcome Bethany to the world of blogging!
I'm so excited to have you join us.

http://bethanycantrell.blogspot.com/

If You Give Rhonda A To Do List...

2009-01-22T12:34:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have so much on your "to do" list that you are overwhelmed?
For me, that means things just don't get done as quickly.
I put things off until later (which in the case of my boys' bedroom means the problem gets worse.)
I start on one project and let myself get distracted because I'm tired of how long it is all taking me. Or I think about another thing I should do and let myself wander to that project for awhile.
This post is a case in point. I sat down to work on the last of the photos I need to touch up to finish the CHRISTMAS PRESENT photo book for Bruce's family. See how behind I am? I have been working on this book since September! It SHOULD be done by now. But while I was working on one of the pictures I thought about posting a before and after on my blog. Then I thought about how it has almost been 2 weeks again since I've blogged.
So here I am BLOGGING instead of tackling my "to do" list.

The before and after of the picture I was working on this morning when I got distracted here on my blog...

I think I am now going to take a break from the computer and tackle this mess....

See what I mean - OUT OF CONTROL!
Really, this mess was my goal when I got up this morning.
I took Molly to my mom's so she would let me work and when I got home I started working on pictures instead of cleaning. (Much to share about Molly in my NEXT post)
I think I could write a new Laura Numeroff book ("If You Give A Mouse A Cookie") by the way I have been distracted this week.

Have a GREAT day.
Hopefully I can get productive for the rest of mine!

December

2009-01-09T16:50:00.000-08:00

I know, I know... I have been an awful blogger.
It has been more than a month since my last post - and a busy month at that.
I hope you haven't given up on me.
The Christmas season was a bit wierd for me.
It came and went without ever truly feeling like Christmas.
I'm not really sure why either.
Honestly, I think it was just too busy in a non-Christmasy way.
And I am amazed that it is already 2009.
I can't believe that we were sitting in Bruce's parents living room 9 years ago - almost a decade - anticipating what might or could happen as a result of Y2K. I was pregnant with Merritt on that New Year. Wow has time flown by!

Amidst the craziness of last month, I do have some highlights to share with you.

First (and maybe best) I got to meet this fabulous little boy for the first time (and go to Louisiana for the first time too)...

Joshua is the son of my best friend from High School. We met when we were 14 years old. And today is her birthday. Happy Birthday Yvette!

I am so grateful that God has woven our paths together in such a way that our friendship is still strong (if not stronger) in 2009 - and we both love God (something we didn't share in high school).

Next, I started working again providing daycare for my neighbor's children (a 3-month old, a 6- year old and a 9-year old). I watch the baby all day, take the older kids to school with my kids, and keep them after school until their mom gets home from work.
My kids LOVE this. The 9-year old and Merritt are in the same class at school and have become great friends. And Molly thinks she has her own baby to care for.

It's not the office job I used to have, but it keeps me busy for sure, and helps a little with the household finances. And the best part is that I still get to be home.

Molly learned how to open the doors in our house. And she loves that she can get in the pantry to get herself "nacks". Unfortunately, that means A LOT more sweeping for me.
She also likes to take the trash cans out of the trash drawer and carry them around the house.
She's pretty busy these days. As a result, we didn't put any of our regular Christmas ornaments on our tree this year. Our tree was decorated with ornaments and garlands we made (& some silk flowers). At first I was a little disappointed, but I ended up liking the finished product very much.

Merritt started playing Basketball for the Hanford NJB. His first game was today. I still haven't taken any pictures, but I will.

Here are some pictures from December...

And our New Year card...

As I think about 2009, I plan on focusing more on Love.
I want to Love God more and let His love flow through me to those around me more abundantly. I pray 2009 is off to a great start for you!

Family

2008-12-03T16:59:00.000-08:00

First of all - yes the flu has left our house. Praise God!!!

We went to visit my family for Thanksgiving this year and one thing my sister asked of me while we were there was to take some pictures of my mom with our kids.
The three girls all had dresses that my mom purchased for them that matched, so the goal was to get pictures of the three girls in their dresses and then also pictures of all 5 grandkids with my mom.
On Thanksgiving the girls all took naps at different times of the day, so no picture taking on that day.
We came back to my sisters house on Friday with the goal of getting the pictures.
Let me just say that that is NO EASY TASK with 3 little girls under the age of 3.
We never did get the boys in a picture, because by the time we got pictures of the girls in their dresses they were DONE. Oh well.
Mom, eventually (when the girls are older), you WILL get a picture of all of them together.

So here are some of my favorites...
And just for you Erin, I am posting LOTS of them.

This one is my FAVORITE of the day...

And I took this on Thanksgiving of the girls having a shared moment eating cookies and watching baby Einstein. Not part of our photo shoot, but I love it nonetheless...

I leave for Louisiana early in the morning. Hopefully I'll have some fun pictures to post when I get back.

Sick of being sick

2008-11-26T00:10:00.000-08:00

It appears that we are all finally healthy again.
This one was a doozy. Poor Mason had a fever over 100 degrees for over 3 days straight. Molly got an awful rash, but no throwing up for her. Merritt however managed to stay well through it all. Maybe that flu shot was helpful?

This is what our home has looked like since last Friday...

A gift for Jesus on his birthday...

2008-11-14T10:04:00.000-08:00

We have been having a conversation around here about Christmas.
It is going to be here before we know it.
Every year Bruce and I make efforts to keep Christmas focused on Christ, but kids will be kids and mine still love Christmas because of presents.
They are already working on Christmas music at Epic, and when the leaders asked the kids what Christmas was about, Mason was quick to announce that it was PRESENTS.
Don't get me wrong, my kids understand that Christmas is celebrated because Jesus was born. They love making a birthday cake for him every year, but presents are still their priority.
So this year our conversation is about what present Jesus will get.
About how upside down it is that we are the ones who get all the presents for someone else's birthday.
(They didn't like the idea of doing that for their birthday.)
We are reading in the Bible and talking about what kind of gifts Jesus wants (and what a gift for Jesus even could be on tangible terms.)
We have talked about the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46).
That when we do things for others that have needs, we are doing things for God.

This is something that God has been doing in MY heart.
I have been challenged with what loving God really looks like.
He is showing me how to love him in tangible ways.
Showing me that loving him is bigger than having a quiet time with him and trying to obey his commands, by not ____ (there’s a huge list of nots. You can fill in the blank.)
I am trying to teach this to my kids too – in small bits that they can grasp.
It is my constant prayer that my children will love God with all their heart, soul and mind. I am doing my best to model that for them and include them in the tangibles whenever I can.

So as for a birthday gift for Jesus, Merritt suggested we make muffins and coffee and take it to the homeless people in Hanford on Christmas morning.
And we even talked about doing it before the gifts under our tree get opened, so that Jesus gets the first gift.
We are still having the discussion. I want it to be their ideas not mine so that they never feel like this takes away from their Christmas. I want them to be excited about it and look forward to it.

Check out this video (that I found on Scott’s blog) about Christmas...

Another Advent Conspiracy video

2008-11-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

The video from my previous post was made by Advent Conspiracy Indy.
This is what their mission statement says:
Advent Conspiracy is an international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by worshipping Jesus through compassion, not consumption.

Here is another video they made:

On their website, their challenge to Christians is to give $200 of your Christmas budget for the sake of worshipping God through compassion.
Something to think about.

Beauty

2008-11-10T15:11:00.000-08:00

I love Dhalias.
I think they are absolutely beautiful.
This one particularly is a reminder to me of the gift of God's beauty.
(It came from my grandmother's funeral)

God's beauty is all around us.
Where did you see it today?
I saw it in my children's eyes as they told me they loved me.
I saw it in the beautiful clouds that were displayed across the sky.
I saw it in my friends as we laughed together.
I saw it in my husband as he cuddled with my daughter.

I often encounter God's beauty in a certain smell, or refrain of music, or a smile.
I have had such a season of sadness in my spirit (not sadness for my grandma getting to be with Jesus though. That is beauty!), but even in sadness God's beauty is there.
It is never far from us. It resides within us and surrounds us everyday.
And I've learned that my experience of God's beauty is directly related to my perspective.
Today I choose to place my eyes on God (off of me), and let God's beauty prevail.

Halloween fun

2008-11-02T17:37:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's November already!

We almost missed going to the pumpkin patch this year. But we promised Merritt, so we squeezed in an hour on Wednesday.

This was the whole reason he wanted to go...

He did a pretty good job, with only a little help from dad.

We had a rather uneventful Halloween (compared to last year). Bruce and Molly stayed home and passed out candy, while the boys and I joined the Parsons and the Gillums for some trick-or-treating. I love it when Halloween falls on a Friday, because the late night doesn't affect the next school day.

Here are some pictures....

Mason started out the morning wearing a Mr. Incredible costume, which he decided was too itchy before he left for school.

So after some hard decisions for him, he went to school as Batman (the costume he actually asked for this year).

When he got home, he changed into Peter Pevensie (from the Chronicles of Narnia) for the evening trick-or-treating. (He got this costume last year some time and it still fits.)

At one point he asked me if he could just not dress up and be absent for the day.

I am including this picture so you can see Mason's evening costume...

Here is our whole trick-or-treating group

Thanks Parsons and Gillums. We had a lot of fun!

And here are the cupcakes I made on Thursday night and Friday morning, for Merritt's class party...

On to November...

Portrait contest

2008-10-30T19:26:00.000-07:00

***UPDATE***
Apparantly voting ended the same time as the deadline to submit an entry, so voting is over.
The rules say that there will be a judging panel and it seems like the popular vote isn't very important. We'll see. Thanks to those who tried. You can still see the image in a larger version by clicking on the link below.

Bruce took this picture and we entered it in a portrait contest.
Please vote for us!
This is the link given to us by Photrade (the site holding the contest).
I haven't tried the link yet so I'm not completely sure it works.
You may have to sign up for a free Photrade account in order to vote.
Let me know if it works.
Thanks!!

Vote for my photo!vote

Dancing showdown...

2008-10-24T11:32:00.000-07:00

I got this picture in an email yesterday and wanted to share it with you.
I usually keep away from political posting, but this is funny.
(AND is some GREAT photoshop work.)

I did my research to give credit. The picture was created by a Tampa Bay graphic designer named Martin Rice. I read about it at iphonesavior.com.