Five Minute Friday

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. 2. Link up and invite others to join in.
3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & leave an encouraging comment.
Ok, GO!
“He trusts in the LORD,” they say, “let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”
Psalm 22:8
DELIGHT
Joy, trust, crazy,
perserverance,
strength, peaceful,
diligent, love,
intense, quiet spirit,
faithful, gentle,
loud, laughter,
outgoing, steadfast,
kind, dedicated,
peaceful, trustworthy,
helpful, servant, funny!
WORDS THAT DESCRIBE
THOSE CLOSEST TO ME
THAT BRING ME
DELIGHT EVERDAY

 My precious kids!

 MY MAN

(and his childhold sock monkey,ha)

Happy Birthday

to the man that

has brought me

DELIGHT

everyday for the last 24 years!

I LOVE YOU~

Dear Daughters of Mine~

Dear Little Daughters of Mine,

I did not write this but I love everything it says and want to pass it on! It’s some great advice on life, being a Godly girl and being the best you can be! I love you two princesses so very much and pray you find JOY, PEACE and a full abundant life in who Jesus created you to be! You girls rock my world!~

So here are the things I desperately want you to know…..

1. Everyone is NOT doing it: I don’t know what “it” is at this particular moment, but “it” is always something. And you are not the only person who isn’t doing “it”. And you are better off not doing “it”. And most of the other girls who are doing “it” probably wish they had the guts to say no to doing it too.
2. I am not your friend: I am your mom first, then your friend. Someday I hope we get to the point in our relationship where we are best friends. But right now is not that time, I AM MOM!
3. Don’t EVER pretend you are dumber than you are: Somewhere along the way being a “stupid” girl became cool. Being dumb is never cool! You are super smart girls. Rock your smart girl self. Oh and while we are at it, science and math are not for boys. If you want to be a mathelete, your mama will be in the front row cheering you on.
4. Modesty is classy: Thank goodness for Princess Kate bringing classy back. Dressing covered up and with class needs to be trendy again. Showing boys all your stuff in clothes that reveal far too much is not going to attract the kind of boys you want to attract. It might attract the boys you think you want to attract but it will also attract looks from men who are your grandfather’s age. Cover yourself up appropriately.
5. Marry someone like your daddy: While we are on the subject of boys, marry someone who cherishes and respects you. Marry someone who brings out your very best. And watch how that boy treats his mother and his waiter. They both say volumes about what kind of person he is.
6. There is no such thing as casual sex: I know the world would love you to believe that sex is harmless and silly and can be enjoyed without strings attached. It might even try to make you believe that when you love someone and it “feels right” you should go for it. There is a reason God designed sex for marriage. I know many people who have a lot of regret about their sexual past. I don’t know any who regret that they waited. (see also #1)
7. Girls can be mean: Teenage friendships can be brutal. Girls can be horribly mean. Don’t be a mean girl. When you are way out of high school you might not remember all the girls who were mean to you (although unfortunately you might), but you will most likely remember the girl who rose above it all and treated people with kindness. Be that girl.
8. You can ALWAYS use your mom and dad as an excuse: I can’t tell you how many bad situations I got myself out of growing up by using my parents as an excuse of why I couldn’t do something I didn’t feel comfortable doing. Tell them we won’t allow you to do xyz. I have NO problem being thrown under the bus so that you don’t end up in a bad situation.
9.   You are beautiful:  Because I know the One that made you and I know you are made in Christ’s image. Work on looking like Him on the inside and you will be gorgeous on the outside. Guaranteed.
10. I can’t fix it: I wish I could keep you sheltered from the hard stuff. I wish I could take away your pain. But I really don’t. The hard stuff is what will grow you and shape you and make you into an amazing adult. I will listen and hold you hand and wipe your tears.  I will hopefully guide you back to the One who knows you best. I will mess up, a lot! (as you already know after living with me this long), but He never will. He Never Will.

I love you so mucho!

Mom

*This post was written by Jill and linked to Top Ten Tuesday at Oh Amanda  and The Saturday Evening Post at Elizabeth Esther

Christmas Break Fun~

This has been such a full month of fun things that I don't want to miss posting it..since this is my current method of scrapbooking right now :) The month started with our 21 year anniversary and although he was working in Cali, I did get some beautiful flowers and he got a basket of fruit..ha! He has no interest in flowers, candy or anything like that and he seriously loves fruit, so it was the best I could do :) When he came home for Christmas break, we were able to sneak away to the beach for a few days. PRICELESS~ We hurried home from that trip to celebrate our 20 YEAR OLD son's birthday..say what? How can that be!? We just got married..ha! It was perfect because my brother and sis n law had just gotten into town so we had a big family dinner together. Somewhere in between all of that I ran a half-marathon and Molly went to her last Christmas formal. It was a fun night of "CandyLand" theme party! Once my bro and sis arrived the week was filled with baking, eating, shopping, movies, playing games, celebrating my mom's bday by painting pottery together ending with Christmas Eve service in a barn, communion and a sleepover at mom and dad's! SUPER FUN! Dad read the Christmas story, we prayed together and dug into the presents! I am so beyond blessed by my family and sad to see the season end! I love it..all of it! 

Christmas 2011

 What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories. ~George Eliot

Christmas Eve

feelingfrosty

It's here!

Presents are wrapped, grocery shopping done,

heading to bake some more with my fam

then off to Christmas Eve service in a barn :)

With the ones I LOVE THE MOST!

That's what's it's all about!

Thank-you Father for sending Your Son~

MERRY CHRISTMAS~

Love the last line..AND IT TURNED OUT EXACTLY AS IT HAD BEEN TOLD~

Praise Your Name!

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.  Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!  Luke 2:16-20 Msg

I came across this picture taken

on Christmas Eve, 8 years ago!

SISTERS~

 

Christmas 2003

Christmas 2011

Wordless Wednesday

HOMECOMING QUEEN

photo by Skip Reichmuth

Homecoming was the night before we left for the Dominican Republic. The days before were crazy packing, getting ready and spending time with Darren who was home from Cali. This was such a blur that I didn't want to let it pass without posting this beautiful girl!

Thirteen~

My baby girl turned 13 last weekend!!
Her best friend's grandparents own this corn maze
and had this pumpkin waiting for her! Sweet!

Just a few of her awesome friends
She had invited a few guys but they
had football, I love that one guy, Noah,
 still came...he said it was his dream
come true! haha!

After the haunted corn maze....that took 1 hour to go through!

Lunch with her bro and sis~

It was a fun weekend of celebration!

I love celebrating this girl,

she celebrates life everyday!

She is crazy, funny,

passionate, compassionate,

insightful, caring, self-confident,

loving, thoughtful, spontaneous,

and a lover of life..PERIOD!

I wrote this a few years ago...it's a little

story of her rough start in life and how

she came out FIGHTING!

She blesses me and the Lord has

used her to change and heal so much of me!

Sweet Angels

Sometimes we can spend 30 minutes with someone

and you know that you will always have

them in your heart!

That in a short time, they have wedged a space in your memory

that will never be forgotten.

This darling face, contagious giggle (usually at my spanish)

and huge heart will ALWAYS be  a memory from the Dominican Republic!

~ISABELLE~ 

She and her husband live on the base.

I met her during dinner one night

and she ask me to come to her home

to  give me a pedicure. Such a sweet, joyful

23 year-old mom. I ended up

spending longer than I had planned that afternoon.

She spoke little English and my Spanish is "un poquito"

Most of the time we understood eachother..other times we

just laughed at eachother, having no idea what the other just said! ha!

Her daughter Isabella

Her son, Samuel, shared all of his art work with us!

She was such a JOY~

I went back the next day with Molly and her

friend Christa.

This is Isabelle and her sister Julie.

This sweet angel had the gift of hospitality

in her home~ not alot to offer, just her smile and her nail art!

A SWEET blessing~

I love fall-really I do~

Trying to get my head ready for fall.

I do not want to give up the flip flops,

tank tops and shorts!

Yes, I love the sweaters, jeans, boots,

pumpkin everything and beautiful leaves...

I just like summer better :)

Posted this-like I said-preparing my head!

The NW has BEAU-tiful falls!

(I just like to be warm)

Homecoming Week at school~

Pajama Day

A few happy items:

*Darren is home this weekend (yahoo)

after 24 days apart, happy to see his face!

*Molly is on Homecoming Court tonight :)

Molly and I are leaving for a missions trip

with 18 other students from school tomorrow..yikes..excited!

Headed to the Dominican Republic

Can't wait to write about our

8 days we get to spend there!

Pray for us!~thx

Last weekend the kids and I made these

Pumpkin Muffins..2 ingredients..YES..only 2!

AMAZING and easy! We topped them

with cream cheese frosting!

Haley had to add fall colored sprinkles :)

Pumpkin Muffins

2 ingredients~

Delish~

Five Minute Friday: Growing

I am so happy about today's 5 Minute Friday! GROWING! Today we are celebrating my dear daughter's 17th birthday! Impossible, we just had her 5th birthday tea party, complete with pearls, white gloves and little sandwiches!  FIVE MINUTES.....

GROWING............

My dear little sunshine,

from the moment i held you,

you have been a complete JOY

to our family!

your smile, your tender, tender heart,

your love, compassion and gentle spirit

always leave me speechless..and thankful.

you are just like your daddy in that area..patient,

kind..not much rattles you, miss molly!

I don't think i've ever seen you angry,

mad or mean! you shine Jesus,

and leave me wanting to be more like HIM!

you are a great sister, always pulled by the big

brother that wants to hang out and

the little sister that wants to play!

Thank you for being a constant

calm in this family!

You are my sunshine

and I thank God for you everyday!

mom and molly~

Senior picture~

I'm so behind on this here little blog! Lot's of back to school stuff happening! Senior pictures, sports, school stuff, parent meetings, weddings, and more school stuff and life in general happens!  Lots of thoughts I am dying to write about..life with my husband working out of state, God's grace, (and endless topic :) Bible study, running and another half marathon! Hopefully, I will make the time to sit down and write..soon! Until then, here's an update in pictures :)

Sassy Haley~

Miss Molly~

Senior Picture moments~

A Summer Run in September~
Fall in Oregon, right there!

Senior class hanging out in the river~

End of summer pictures!

Hello, Class of 2012~

Source: windmillsnat.tumblr.com via Becky on Pinterest

Tomorrow I will be back in the office, ready for a new school year!

Wow, 2011-2012 school year! This will be my second year out of the classroom

and it still feels strange to not be setting up my room and getting ready for my 4th graders!

I'm ecstatic to be working with the class of 2012 this year, most of all because I taught this class

when they were in first grade 11 years ago! Amazing...time stinkin flies, ya'll!

AND, the best reason, my Miss Molly is a senior!

I feel refreshed after spending some sweet time in California. Helping Darren get set up and into the groove of his new job was priceless. I know we have quite a year ahead of us being
apart for 9 months, but

I also am ready to embrace it!

Source: flickr.com via Becky on Pinterest

My verse for the week!

 But you'll welcome us with open arms
when we run for cover to you.
Let the party last all night!
Stand guard over our celebration.
You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers,
for decking us out in delight.

Psalm 5:11

Delight us, Lord! For that is why You are famous,

You are so good at welcoming us and giving us a party..

YOUR love is AMAZING!

Wordless Wednesday

Big Bear Lake,  CA   8/21/11