Did you know...

1. That I have a blog? I'd almost forgot... three or so months can sure slip by.
2. I know where those 3 months have gone: traveling home to GA, starting a new teaching career, working with an organization to evaluate schools, working on an additional credential through Stanford, getting the kids settled into 1st grade and pre-k, helping run a church... did I mention that I was starting a new job at a BRAND NEW school?

There are lots of funny things that happen every week that I should be sharing. Like, Emmie Ann now can't remember "Santa Clause" as his name, but she just keeps talking about "that Christmas Man" when she comes up with something she wants to add to her Christmas list. Or, just the fact that Will asked to take breakdancing lessons...
I also tend to think on deep levels, at times, and should share this stuff, too.

Right now, I think I should share that for our ambitious Trunk-or-Treat, my Life Group has adopted the Enchanted Forrest theme... and we're going ALL OUT. Each life group has taken a theme and is decorating their cars, dressing up, and doing that whole thing. But, (shhh) we've taken two trailors (the kind that race cars are transported in) and have renovated the inside to make a walk-through experiences, complete with twinkle light stars, foliage, and fairy tale characters. Watch out, we're out to win this one. I mean, Scott's wearing leggings... this is good stuff. [Pictures to come.]
Seriously, our church is awesome. For such a "small" church, we sure to bring-it. We do great things! I know God's always at work, but when we can be apart of that- WoW!

Last week a certain thought, mentioned during Sunday's service, REALLY hit me: "In America, we tend to DO church well- really well. But, do we BE the church equally as well?"
Doesn't that make you wonder- when do we jump out of our comfort zone and actually BE what God wants? Instead of pouring into ourselves, when do we pour into others?
So, I'm on this adventure just waiting to see where God takes me!

devastated

Our TV has been broken for almost 2 months. While we've been watching morning cartoons and the news in our bedroom, the DVR has continued to record all "our shows." Well, we finally moved the bedroom TV in to the living room, hooked it up to DVR, and are getting caught up on season finales... from Memorial Day.
Anyways, I've just gone back and watched my Jon and Kate Plus 8 shows. I've seen tabloids and know a bit about what is going on, but I just don't want to face it. Last summer, I started watching, and somewhere between their taking the kids to church, the Isaiah t-shirts, and their candid (yet a bit scary) conversations with one another, I grew attached to the Gosslins! I thought that just maybe they'd be a family to follow. It didn't take long, however, for questions to grow: are they for real? how much is scripted? are those kids okay? how much money do they want to make before they quit? is the next house going to be big enough? will she ever leave jon alone? can he do anything right? does she watch herself on tv? does she really believe that everything she does is for the kids? will they ever give it up? why haven't they mentioned counseling at all? are they really Christians? would they give up the big house/bad marriage for the small house/better looking marriage? was it all a scheme? is TLC evil? why don't they turn off the cameras and work on their marriage if they're so concerned about their kids?

I have to say I'm totally devastated by the way their life is turning out. The youngest just turned 5. That's my kids' age. No kid should have to deal with the mess their parents are going through- much less have it recorded on film and broadcasted to the world. With a broken heart, I took Jon and Kate Plus 8 off my DVR "scheduled recording" list and added them to my "seriously pray for them" list.

Then, in an attempt to be an informed individual, I did what any wondering ex-fan would do: I googled them. And, I found this article.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/juneweb-only/122-11.0.html?start=1

7 and counting

Seven years ago we got hitched. To celebrate this event, we handed the kids off to friends and went out to lunch. Nothing fancy. Just Napa Valley.
In just under an hour and a half (well, maybe two with the couple wrong turns), we made it to Napa Valley and dined at the Rutherford Grill for lunch. Fabulous. Just across the street we wondered in to a cute little tasting room from the Elizabeth Spencer Vineyards. Nice, nice people and yummy selections!
Then, we went to Peju, recommended to us by friends (thanks Kyle and Bekah!), they had the most beautiful grounds! Lots of groomed and blooming bushes and flowers that take you right up to the vines. Inside, there was an amazing art gallery on the second floor that looked out over the vineyard. Nice tasting there, too!
Finally, on our way out of town, we stopped into the Father of Napa Valley's winery to pay homage to Robert Mondavi. Also, we wanted pictures!!
It was a GREAT day! And, while it's hard for Scott to admit, it sure beats how we've spent the last two anniversaries... Cracker Barrel and a movie.

One Day Vacations

Sacramento itself is not the most impressive thing I've ever seen. It's actually funny to me that it's the California state capital.
But, what Sac has is pretty impressive; the real estate world would sum it up with "location, location, location."
For example, last week we piled the kids and dog in the mini-van and went to the ocean. For the day. It was about 3 hours to the cutest little city by the sea, Carmel by the Sea, specifically. We ate at a fun little pizza joint, played on the beach ( though not much in the cold Pacific Ocean), laid in the sun, ran the dog in the surf, and dug our toes in the sand.




Later, we wiped ourselves off and walked the hill up to Carmel. It is too cute. Very European or fairy tale like. Dog friendly. Tinkerbelle not only was allowed in all the stores and had a menu tailored to dogs at dinner, but she even drank from the Fountain of Woof- built to show just how friendly Carmel is to K-9s.
After attempting to watch the sun set (a bit cloudy), we piled back in the van and headed home. The kids slept. The dog slept. And me too.
I took enough pictures to make it seem like we were there a week.

Optometrist

Well, we're old. Scott and me. We found out this week at the optometrist.
Not to be "gotten" by the insurance company, I made us all appointments with the eye doctor (and dentist) before my old insurance ran out. There, we learned that both of us have astigmatisms and needed new glasses. They make contacts for this, but that involved an additional appointment only partially covered by insurance. I made an executive decision- contacts could wait for the FSA with the new insurance plan in a couple months. It didn't matter, though, because as soon as Scott saw (with the new lens) what he hadn't been able to see (because of the contacts) he only wanted glasses. He'd forgotten that trees have leaves and not just branches with blobby greens surrounding them.
Our appointments were back to back- so the kids accompanied us to the eye doctor. Walking in, Will asks which door we're going to. Scott says to Will, "The one that says Optometrist. Where is the word Optometrist?" Will points it out and we head in.
I don't mind the eye doctor. It's kind of fun- trying on all the frames while you wait and all. (Now, I won't blog about the dentist visit. Hate those visits.) And, this eye doctor is great- very personable, a Christian, and friendly. He loved the story of how I shared my "used glasses" with Scott in high school...
Anyways, while we were there, the doctor recommended that the kids start an every other year rotation to get their vision checked out once they turn four- and seeing as both Scott and I are near-sighted, Will and Em "don't stand a chance" (the eye doctor's words, not mine). Eventually, they'll probably need glasses. And, due to the great insurance plan I was taking advantage of, I scheduled the kids an appointment for the next week.
So, this week, I hauled the kids across the street and into their appointment. We pull up , and Will points to the sign he remembers from last week and says, "Optometrist- that must be Spanish for eye doctor."

Will and Em do not need glasses. Yet. But, Spanish lessons may be in Will's future.


Handsome Scott with new glasses and Sushi in his mouth







Handsome Scott with new glasses and Will and Em on Father's Day

timing is everything

God said so. At least that's what Em would say. (Or, she'd say "God made it that way." these are her remarks for EVERYTHING)
But, really, it is. And, it's all about God's timing. Leonard (our pastor, Scott's boss...) speaks in series, and the most recent is Life in Limbo. I'm really working on the whole "live by faith and not by sight" thing. God's patient and knows just when to reveal Himself. Those times when I'm waiting for him to reveal Himself, I tend to bite my nails and chant "I trust You... I trust YOu..." I don't like to wait- I like to get it done now. I don't like to have to rely on someone else- I want to do it myself. I like to control it all. Hence, my lists. I list everything: to-do today, to-do tomorrow, to-do in the next 5 years... I make these lists for Scott, too. Sometimes I email them to him. Other times, I type them directly onto an open Word Doc on his computer and leave it open- so he can't miss it. Sometimes, If I accomplish something that's not on my list, I'll even go back and add it so that I can cross it off!
Recently, I've HAD to (not just wanted to, or would have liked to- but HAD to) turn over to God all the things I can not (no matter how BADLY I've wanted to) control in my life (and sometimes the lives of those around me...). One is the house in Georgia; another is the direction for our church; and, the third is a job. All these have financial burdens that keep me awake at night. I know, I know. God has a plan. I know, I know. Put my faith in Him. And, my heart says "done." It's my head working out a budget, worrying about preschool enrollment, and telling Scott that "losing the house is not the worst thing that could happen." (at least in my mind.) So, for a few months now, God's been nudging me to get my attention. Mostly, I'd sigh, tell Him I understood, then I'd find myself working up a plan for Him to agree to. He'd laugh a little and tell me, "that's not how it works- it's not your plan but My plan." I'd sigh, say I understood, and then basically start reworking the plan for Him again.
Through all this, God got my attention and reminded me, like only He knows how to do, to put my faith in Him. Find rest for my soul in Him. And, (what I'm worst at) just TRUST Him. It was only a couple weeks ago that I actually started to follow His plan and began to trust Him, and Him alone. He waited for me to walk by faith, and I have to admit that sure was lighter than walking alone. Then, once I had really started to walk by faith, the phone rang. It was God calling, in the form of a job offer, and He let me glimpse Him with my eyes.
Now, His plan is unveiling (it always has been...)and it's like He says, "Now, SEE! I had it planned all along!" To boot- my sister-in-law, Alex's wife, was hired for a teaching position this week, too! Praise the Lord!!
So, for someone typically against change- I say Bring It On! And, God being God, started with my heart-mind balance!
So,in this one week we've now seen a lot of change. I went from a crammed front-to-back side to-do list to a very scratched out, marked up to-do list. You know, lists kinda run my life, and being able to mark "find a job" off my list was great- especially when the job called me up! And, I think it's gonna be that kind of job that stretches you, challenges you, and you like it.
I went from being an unemployed mother of a kindergartner and a child who was preschool-less to an Teacher and mother of a rising 1st Grader and an enrolled Preschooler for next fall.
I marked off "buy plane tickets home," and we'll be seeing ya'll the end of July!
I marked off "insurance, eye doctor appointments, Breakaway registration (VBS), upload pictures, laundry, mail packages, meal calendar, and (now) blog!!
(In my head I hear one of those old men at church-like Southern Baptist church- call out "AMEN!")
I'll post pictures of ALL Our Recent Accomplishments- ballet, tball, Kinder Graduation:

I'm too young to have a 4 year old

four years ago this week, Scott was on Good Day Alabama. I remember this because he left me at the hospital with our second child, a new born only 2 days old. My dad checked me out of the hospital and drove Emmine Ann and I home... did I mention she was a C-Section?

now, my baby is four. her birthday was full between a ballet performance and a garden tea party. She is a doll, a delight, and our 100% girly-girl!

bobbing suits and other funny things

I know we all say "kids say the funniest things." So, here are some of their funny things:

We went to the neighbor's pool today as it was in triple digit degrees. Em swam for about 10 minutes, got out, made her way around the pool to me, and said with genuine surprise... "Mom, my bobbing suit is WET!"

Will, after a small little accident in his pants, let me know that "it's okay, Mom. It's just a little bit of poop slobber."

We slid the Em's captain chair of the mini-van next to Will's so that she could be in the middle to "look outta ta front winda betta." Will tried to explain to her that her seat wasn't really THE true middle, but "the crack in between our seats tells the real middle." Em shouted out, "NO Will- the seat can't talk."

Em was so confused when she couldn't see the "black window" dad had smushed in the garage... the back widow was there, however...

Strawberry Festival

Did you know Will likes cars?




There are at least 20 more pictures like these. He could have walked around the Roseville Strawberry Festival looking at the car display all afternoon... if Scott hadn't been in pulling me to the Grilled Corn...


Strawberry EVERYTHING


Em Dancing with Dad to a local band

DIY

The evening news tonight reported that "Do It Yourself" is now the cool thing to do. So many people can't afford their contractors, gardeners, pool boys... so they're "doing it themselves." (roll of the eyes) A true DIYer does not turn to DIY out of necessity. I have a theory. A REAL DIYer has certain traits that are an inate desire that drives them to accomplishment. To get their hands dirty and be proud of their creativity, hard work, and ability to do something nice all by themselves. I mean, who could enjoy a garden if they didn't plant it and care for it??? And, that wall's color would NOT be as nice if you didn't paint it yourself! So, to be a DIYer, you really have to be born with that trait or raised in a home that nurtured it.

Well, I don't know much, but of Barbara Mandrell was country when country wasn't cool... then Ron and Sheron were DIYers when DIY wasn't cool...
Now, Mama and Dad didn't DIY just out for fiscal frugality- it wasn't because they had a choice with a contractor, gardener, or pool boy. They are the true, original DIYers. I mean, it started when they basically built their own house.

Here's why I know my theory about my parents as the original DIYers is true:
1. My dad has single handedly (except when we were helping him- or when he'd let us help him) re-roofed the house, re-carpeted the house, finished a basement, put in a pool, taken out a pool, re-tiled the floors, installed hardwood flooring, built and installed his own cabinets, crown molding, shelving, and porches, and built furniture for us- desks, lop-sided picnic tables (just one...), and maintained all appliances in the house...
2. 5 acres- 30 years, 2 riding lawnmowers... mom rides a mean lawnmower...
3. The only mechanic I've ever met is dad. Did anyone besides me and my brother have to learn how to change both a tire and their oil before getting a drivers licence?
4. Why hire a painter when mom can reach the ceiling on a stool?
5. Curtains? Easter outfits? Quilts? Answer: sewing machine.
6. Half the finished basement is storage for future craft projects...
7. Did anyone else have a tree house with the roof of a truck camper- 10 feet off the ground?
8. There were curtains in the treehouse...
9. Why order pizza when you can make your own?
10. What teenager's Saturday alarm wasn't a weedeater at 6 AM?
11. My parents are past 60, and they are spending the weekend tearing out the back porch, rebuilding it, and extending it. (an entire story off the ground...)
12. Best of all, Home Depot knows Dad by name (and if you ask Will, nothings better than a Saturday morning, riding in Papa's truck and shopping at the Home Depp-O.)

The first time I ever saw Dad let someone else do something to his house, I was 25 and they had to replace the HVAC system. And that poor installation guy. It's gotta be hard to work with a big man following you around and breathing down your neck.

Lesson Learned: If Mama and Daddy couldn't do it, then it wasn't important.
Oh, if I could've known then what I know now: man, my parents are cool!
And, they've taught me everything I know!
Now,Lord, help me pass these talents on to my kids.

Something Small

It starts small, and then it grows. Lately, that's my weight... but that'd be a different blog...
What I'm talking about is harder to measure... but it is still growing.
I can see it in my kids.. their comments, ideas, new words they learn and how they use them.
I see it in my church.. new faces, new ideas, excitement to make a difference somewhere pouring out in action.
And, I see it in the stories on the news, stories from friends, stories from home...
Sure- there are people out there who get paid to create a study, measure, poll, interview, document... and they come out with results to wow us. Of course, that's one way we discover this growth- because someone wrote an article and we overheard someone else talking about it...
But, then there's the growth we see- the growth without any scale, pie chart, or statistic attached.
It's simply a God thing. God growing out all around us. God growing IN us.
Is it always going on and I'm just now really noticing it? Or, is because in the face of "one of the toughest times since the Depression" we need to see it more?
It really doesn't matter, though, because He is here. He's here to grow us.

Easter '09

Easter 2009 Easter Sunday Outfits Sliding at our new Church Building's Slide
Face Painting at Easter in the Park Bunny Faces Bounce House and Jump Slides...

Will runs sound-check...

So spring's got us busy out here...
Let me let you in on what we've been up to.
It all started in January (way before spring) when the cargo trailer for BCR was stolen... right out of the parking lot at our church offices. Being a mobile church, we used that trailer in the "off seasons" to store up things for children's ministry. And, at the time of January, it housed spring and summer items.. you know, a few puppets, an outdoor speaker system, a couple tricycles, and 20,000 Easter eggs. Yes, 20,000.
Each spring BCR has done an Easter in the Park event. We're doing it again this year, April 11... with WAAAAAYYY more than just 20,ooo egges.
Let me back up. So, the trailor was stolen. It left us standing their thinking, "What???" What do we do now? What can we do to make up for all those eggs? What are those thieves thinking now? (Can you imagine hauling a cargo trailer away thinking you're making off with something good inside- only to find out when you crack that lock that it's full of plastic eggs? Now, those eggs are in some dumpster somewhere or someone's having a heck of an egg hunt in their back yard this weekend.)
That last "what" made us laugh.
Then we got back to worrying a bit and asking "how". How did this happen to us? How are we ever going to come up with 20,000 more eggs when times are as tough as they are?
Next, "why" was our question. Why us? Why now?
But, as the next few months unfolded, God answered all those questions.
It's amazing what a church of about 100 people can pull off when they pull together. We bought eggs oursevles (you can get 200 eggs at Wal-Mart for $10, you know.), we told friends who bought eggs for us, it was posted on facebook and random strangers (who said they don't like church much but hate it when people steal from kids) brought us eggs. Then, after the police report for the missing trailor was taken, and the Roseville police got ahold of our story, they sent out a press release. The next day, there we were on the six o'clock news. Not only did it get up free publicity to let everyone know about our egg hunt, but we had people call in to donate more eggs and money to help with the event!
Now, we're standing around, looking at close to 30,000 eggs, and just in awe. All our questions now are turned to prayers- prayers asking God to bless this event (as if He hasn't already showed us it's in His hands!), bless the families who will come, and to prepare hearts to find his love and bit of hope from this small church doing big things.
Ain't it something what can be done when we step back and stop asking oursevles What, How, Why and start asking God those same questions?

The Sound of Hope (Easter at Bayside Central)

We're Baaaaack!

We are finally back on a sleep schedule. Our little, fast trip to the South really confused us... I mean, when my kids are running down the hall at midnight, I know somethings wrong... See Schedule below to understand:

Visit Home Itenerary:
Wenesday (PST)
4:00 AM- wake up and mentally list everything I need to write down on an actual list for Scott to do... charge camera, clean sippy cups, pack toothbrushes (after brushing kids teeth)...
6:00 AM- get out of bed and finish packing..
12:40 PM- get my lunch duty covered so I can leave work- race home
1:15- leave home for airport
2:00- check in at airport
2:15- security
2:20 arrive at gate (we're leaving from Sacramento- not ATL!!)
3:30- board plane, settle kids, take out coloring books, DS games, and blankies

5:30- arrive in Vegas, bathroom, eat, board another plane for Birmingham, AL
11:55 PM (CST)- arrive in Birmingham, go to Billy and Bethany's, try to calm down wired kids, watch Bethany play the Wii (and do it very well)

Thursday-
spend day with the Alabama Ivey's

4ish central time, borrow Billy's car and head to Tyrone
7:45 (EST) arrive at mom's- hug, laugh, smile, giggle, run around, EAT real Southern food, and visit with the Fam

Friday-
Divide and conquer: Alison to RSMS and Mandy's (RE: Lily!!!); Scott and kids to visit Mimi
4:30- reconveine, load up with Nana and Papa, go to Alex's b-ball game to watach him coach and watch Dad stand up for him...
8:00- dinner at Ted's (wedge salad and bison burgers... yum!)

Saturday-
Sleep-in
biscuist and gravy, visit with Nana, Papa, Stretch and the girls
11:30- Partner's Pizza with friends
2:00- Happy Birthday Ella and good-byes
4:00- good-byes at Nana and Papas... depart for Birmingham
7:30 (Central time again)- arrive in B'ham, pick up dinner, hang out, watch Bethany dominate at Wii again

Sunday-
7:00- Scramble to get 5 kids ready for church
9:00- Church
Cracker Barrel for lunch
1:30- depart for airport
3:55- "non-stop" flight leaves for Sacramento
6:15- stop in Chicago- do NOT get off plane...
7:30(PST)- arrive in Denver- again, do NOT get off plane
9:40 (PST)- Finally arrive in Sacramento, get kids McDonalds as promised if they slept the last leg of the trip, crash

A Night in South Lake Tahoe

Scott and I took off yesterday afternoon to South Lake Tahoe to celebrate, a month late, our birthdays. Marc Broussard was playing at the South Shore Room at Harrah's, and, since we've followed him for years, we took the opportunity to make the 1.5 hour drive into the snowy Sierras and spend a night alone. The kids went to a great friend's house (Thank you, Sovia and Andy!!), and, for the first time in 8 months, Scott and I got a night without sippy cups, cutting someone else's dinner, pull-ups, and bed times. Although, we were in bed by eleven and watching Ocean's 11 on the TV.


We ate dinner in the Hard Rock Cafe at the Casino...







Here is the best picture we could get at the show.






Below is the view from our hotel room... Scott took several pictures and pasted them together for the panaramic view.



It's in the shadows, but it's the 30+ stairs I slipped on (at stair 3...) and slid to the bottom... Scott reached out to help me, but he fell, too- we laughed all the way to the bottom... but it's our bottoms that aren't laughing now!!



Our "Snow Shoes" (ha!) that helped us slide all the way down the stairs... we're actually standing on part of the frozen lake- can you see the crack in the ice below us?