Day at the Tide pools

Whoops! Did you get a little wet?

Jeremy made a new friend!

These 2 seals jumped up to say hi!

Maggie adores all things that swim in the ocean.

This one was the brave one!

A "gift from a seagull! And what is that? Might that be a fingerprint?

Mommy, look it is sticky?

Sean holding up the world!

What do you do when your oldest needs to be picked up at camp 2 and a half hours away? Spend the day at the tide pools! After reuniting with Jeremy, (what sweet stuff to a mommy's heart) we spent a few hours at Natural Bridges. I am always so stunned at the power of the Lord when we get to go to the ocean. The Bridges used to be two but the water has shaved them down to one! Power in water, water made by our Lord, Power in God our creator! It is a nice reminder as I struggle with being overwhelmed with today's economy, friends that have cancer (check out Aimee's blog on the sidebar...better picture is coming), and teaching 4 children that will have a bigger job to do in helping to reconstruct this world that we are giving them. I was reminded last week during our Truth study how the Lord has never given up and throughout history he has given His Church a job to do, and the honor of doing it! Ultimately, He is the one in charge and He never makes a mistake. Catherine Dang said during one of her training classes, "The Lord will always use evil to accomplish His good!" I am waiting and watching and working with hope! I hope you are too!

Garrett was here!

Garrett and his buddy Joey with my 4 kids!

Extremes!

Garrett, my cousin visited us last week! What an incredible man he has become! He joined the military last year and has been stationed in San Diego. He drove through our town and stopped by on his way back home to Washington. After a month of rest...he will go to Virginia to train and then off to somewhere in the world to guard one of our embassies. What a joy it is to know him and an honor to call my cousin. He lived with my folks for the last 2 years of his High School career so sometimes it feels as if I have a little brother! He is 6 foot something...taller than my husband by a few inches! It was very cute to see my smallest daughter who will probably never pass 5 feet look up to her 2nd cousin who probably was never that small!!! Garrett, you be very careful wherever they place you. I will be praying for you and counting the days till we see you again! Thank you for being an incredible role model for my kids to "look up to"! Most of all, thank you for protecting the freedom that we still have in America.

Mom

My Mom is here! We are having a terrific day. She had Sean for a few days and they rode the train up here. I want to be like her when I grow up!

Don't you wish everything was made of cinnamon rolls?

This was the question me adorable MaggieAnn said today. I felt as if I had been in the kitchen all morning. Made smoothie for Jeff before he left for work, breakfast for Rebekah who got up before everyone else, pottied in the kitchen...had to clean that up...pottied again in the kitchen...made smoothie for Jeremy who has decided that sleeping in is wonderful, taught a piano lesson, cleaned up the kitchen, put in cinnamon rolls, pottied again in kitchen, then heard my sweet Maggieann say this!!!! All was worth it! (I was not the one pottying in the kitchen...adorable daughter number 2 was!!!!) Off to go get the car fixed and get out of the kitchen!!!!

The Pictures!

Sorry! I was having trouble uploading the pictures for the last post! Here they are!

Happy Birthday Jeff!

Happy Birthday My Dear Jeff!

Once upon a Time there were 2 little girls named Debbie and Peggy! They were best friends! They would always talk about growing up and having children and their children would marry! Well, In this story, happily ever after really happened! These 2 little girls actually did grow up, did not live next door to each other but lived clear across the state. Debbie had a boy and named him Jeff. Peggy had a girl and named her Tricia. The kids would see each other a few times as they were growing up but that would stop shortly after Jeff was 10 and Tricia was 8. It came to be time for these kids to go to college. Tricia went out of state as Jeff decided to go to Fresno. It just so happened that Tricia's parents moved to Fresno. Peggy was deperatly needing a child around so she rejoiced when she learned that Jeff had started Fresno State. Peggy "adopted" Jeff and he would be welcomed into that household just as if he was Peggy's son! Tricia would come home from college and meet Jeff only to think he was wierd. (You should have seen his clothes that he wore!) But Peggy would often tell her that the woman who captured JEff's heart would be the luckiest woman around! After a year of out of state tuition, Tricia decided to go to college in Fresno. She moved to the same apt. complex that JEff lived in. They would often walk to class together and reminis about younger days! They would talk to each other about everything! Jeff's roomate even asked Tricia on dates and bring Jeff along for support! One day, Jeff decided to ask Tricia to come home with him to visit his folks. She had not seen them for 10 years. What fun they had as they went out on the town. It was then that Jeff knew he had to ask Tricia to share the rest of his life with him.

Jeff, what a life you have given me! Thank you for your constant love, your dedicated learning of what makes me tick, your undivided affection. The Lord has truly blessed me by providing me such a great husband. I am honored to be your teamate. What a joy it is to watch you grow and learn how to lead our family. I am so glad the Lord choose to give you life 38 years ago today. I am so looking forward to your next 38 years! Happy Birthday!