California Dreamin'

After years of planning and dreaming, collecting frequent flier miles, and tossing loose change into our "family vacation" piggy bank, we finally got to take our long awaited trip out West.

This had been a goal of ours (okay, mine) for over four years! I was pinching myself during the five and a half hour flight to San Francisco, thinking over and over again, "I can't believe this day is finally here!"

We did the typical touristy stuff like...

                                          Driving over the Golden Gate Bridge

We actually drove over the bridge twice because Keith took a wrong turn (the GPS told him to) but we ended up discovering the beautiful quaint town of of Sausalito.  

                                          Sausalito, California

  We also walked around Golden Gate Park

We took in the sights and sounds of Pier 39 while eating our way through all the fun stores and souvenir shops.

 We even stopped by Bubba Gump's Shrimp Company. Pss....Check out Brody's giant shoes!

We strolled down Famous Lombard Street, even though it took us f-o-r-e-v-e-r to find it.

 There were so many other fun things that we enjoyed like Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman's Wharf, Boudin's Bakery, Buena Vista, North Beach, Little Italy and even Beach Blanket Babylon.

But, our favorite part of San Francisco was touring Alcatraz.

 

 At first, I wasn't sure about taking the tour. I honestly was not interested in spending half a day exploring an old dilapidated jail. But, Keith and the boys really wanted to go and I figured the boat ride would be kind of fun, right? 

Once we arrived on the island, a tour guide lead us from building to building, explaining all the interesting facts of what life was like when the jail was in operation.

Did you know that families lived on Alcatraz Island? I didn't either!

The jail workers and wardens had private living quarters for their families. Their children would take a boat ride into the city every day for school and then return home in the afternoons. The women created beautiful gardens along the walk ways, which bloomed a natural sanctuary for all sorts of birds.

They certainly had a spectacular view of the city skyline!

 

 Once inside the jail, we walked through the long hallways, listening to our private headsets. The narrator explained what life was like for the prisoners and what they could and could not do during their stay.

Although sunlight flooded in through the ceilings, there was a darkness you could sense that felt so tangible but wasn't visible.

 We were then lead to solitary confinement row. It consisted of several cells along one long hallway. They were double secured with two rows of steel bars.

Cells number 10-14 were designed to house those criminals considered "the worst of the worst". These cell doors were made of solid steel and once shut, no light, not even a tiny stream of visibility, was apparent.

The tour guide allowed anyone who was brave enough, to enter one of these dark claustrophobic chambers. He would slam the door behind them and keep it closed for about 30 seconds, so they would get a sense of what the prisoners experienced for hours, days, weeks, and sometimes months at a time.

I had no desire to go inside and neither did Keith, but the boys quickly pushed their way to the front of the line without hesitation. I held my breath as the tour guide slammed the door shut behind them.

As I waited for the 30 seconds to end, I could feel my heart beat pulsing faster and faster. Something about them being inside the same dark and dungy space, where hardened criminals resided years ago, was totally creeping me out! 

You'll never guess what happened next!

Since this post is getting pretty long, I'll sign off now and you'll just have to check back next week to hear what happened to our boys...

While You Were Sleeping

Do you ever watch your children while they're sleeping? I use to all the time when my boys were babies. I'd get the biggest kick out of watching all their funny facial expressions as they slept in my arms.

Their little lips puckering up and then turning into a smile.

Their tiny eyebrows raising and then scrunching together, as if they were dreaming. 

Their adorable faces turning red and puffy when they were passing gas...yep, even that.

I'd sit and hold them for what seemed like hours, staring at their silky smooth faces. I had every eyelash counted and each tender curve of their nose and chubby cheeks memorized.

So tiny and so intricately designed. 

So peaceful. 

So precious.

Those days have long passed but every now and then, I still get a chance to see one of my boys sleeping.  It's a rare occasion but one that is priceless to me.

Just the other morning, I slipped into Brody's room to put some bath towels away. As I quietly tip-toed past his bed, I couldn't help but pause and notice how peacefully he was sleeping. I gazed for only a few seconds but it brought back so many memories of when he was little.

As I stared at his face, only remnants were left of that little baby boy I would rock for hours, so long ago.

Chubby cheeks have been replaced by strong masculine cheek bones.

There were so many more eyelashes to count.

A strong chin now covered with manly whiskers that have developed from shaving.

So grown up and so intricately designed

So peaceful.

So precious.

Where have the years gone and why have they passed so quickly?  No more babies to hold. Only sweet memories to treasure deep within my soul.

Did I hold them enough? Did I pause and relish those special moments while they were sleeping in my arms? Could I have held them closer or rocked them longer? 

Years have passed and circumstances have changed. My little boys have grown into young men. And yet still, there are brief moments left, to pause and notice. To unfold those long-ago memories tucked deeply within my heart. To pray just another simple prayer as they quietly sleep.

So peaceful.

So priceless.

So intricately designed...

  



Photo credit here

What is Your One Thing?

This morning I was all dressed and ready to go the gym...

But, when I got ready to leave, my car wouldn't start!

So, I immediately thought about doing this...

Instead, I was determined not to throw a hissy-fit or go back to bed and throw the covers over my head.

Gosh, if it's not one thing it's another!  Is it just me or do you feel that way  sometimes?

I sat for a minute at my kitchen table and as I looked out the window, I realized that my poor plants desperately needed watering. They were all droopy, sad, and craving some attention.

So, I grabbed my watering pitcher and headed outside. As I watered my plants, I could hear the birds singing in my front yard. They sounded so happy and not at all bothered by any unexpected  "one thing" that may have changed their morning plans and left them in a tizzy. 

As the warm sunshine rested on my shoulders, I took a deep breath and inhaled pure gratitude. I realized that what really mattered was not so much the unexpected "one thing" of my battery dying but how I chose to respond to it.

Now, don't think for a second that this comes naturally. What comes naturally is for me to throw a its-not-fair! party or fall into the I-give-up! mode. But, I'm learning that choosing what comes naturally isn't always choosing what's best.

Can I ask you something? What is your "one thing" that might have happened to you today? What was your initial response and how did you react? Did it put a complete wrench in your plans or were you able to make something good out of a not-so-good situation?

Choosing wisely can be really hard at times, especially when it's not the most popular choice from our point of view. But, if we pause in the midst of our "one thing" and determine ourselves to choosing wisely, I believe peace,  inner joy, and God's blessings will follow. 

Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.
                                                                                                        Proverbs 2;11 (NLT)  

Summer is Calling

Are you planning a family vacation this year? If so, where are you headed? To the beach, the mountains, maybe back "home" for a family reunion?

Can you tell that I've got a bad case of Spring Fever?  My kids aren't even out of school yet, but all I can think about is Summer break. I think it's because we have some exciting plans for next month.  

After four years of planning, saving, wishing, and dreaming, our family is finally getting to take a trip to California this summer!  I'm SO excited and can't wait to see San Francisco, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe with my family.

I'm sure this is going to sound crazy to some of you, but I'm even hoping to get a few good family pictures so that when Christmas rolls around I can actually send out a fancy photo card this year.

I don't know about you, but when we go on vacations, I'm always the one taking pictures instead of being in them with my family. Does that happen to you too?

Anyway, the flights have been so expensive each year, that we could never afford to go. But,  we've saved up enough points through our credit card purchases to get four FREE tickets with U.S. Airways. The best part is that they're non-stop flights!!  Ya gotta love those credit card points that can earn you miles!!

Here's the thing...

I thought it would be fun to hear what other families are planning for this summer. Do you have any summer plans already in the works?  Maybe, you've decided to have a "STAYcation" this year?

We had a stay-cation over Spring Break when several of our friends went on a cruise. Instead of going with them, we decided to save our money for California by staying home and doing a few fun things right here in our local community.   

If you're not planning a vacation right now, then tell me what your DREAM vacation would be. 

I'll start us off...

My dream trip would be a Mediterranean Cruise with an extended stay in Italy.  What about you?

I Give Up!

Do you ever have those moments when you just want to give up? Those moments when you're feeling like everything is out of control and you're frustrated at the world and everyone in it?

I've have so many of those moments this week. Too many to count.

In fact, I woke up this morning determined to have a good day (T.G.I.F.). Then the phone rang. More frustrating news. In a matter of minutes, I found myself back in that pit of frustration.

FRUSTRATION!

Circumstances beyond my control have choked the joy right out of my heart this week.  I've felt as though I've been held hostage by someone else's choices. Someone I really don't even know that well.

Sounds crazy? Yes!!

But... it's true. Or, so I "think" it's true.

A gentle whisper in my heart says "The real Truth is that you are not in control of this situation, I AM".

Let' me repeat that....

"The real Truth is that you are NOT in control of this situation, I AM."

So this morning I'm choosing to GIVE UP!

I'm giving up control of this frustrating situation and I'm handing it over to God.  He is the One who is in control of my life and He is the Only One that can truly do something about it.

I can't change the heart or decisions of someone else I hardly know. The someone who I "think" is holding me hostage today.

But, the truth is that God can.  Here is what He promises us today...

"The king’s heart is like streams of water. Both are under the Lord’s control. He turns them in any direction he chooses.  Proverbs 21:1 (God's Word Translation)

Oh, that gives me hope this morning! 

I'm going to write this verse on an index card and carry it around with me today. That way, when those frustrating thoughts and feelings rise up in my heart, I can focus on the truth that God has this whole situation under His perfect control.



Are you feeling frustrated this morning? Is there someone or something in your life that you think is holding you hostage? 

I want to encourage you to GIVE UP!

Give up control of your situation and hand it over to God. He loves you and knows what's best for you today! He wants to bless you and doesn't want you to be held hostage. We were created to worship Him - not to live in frustration, fear, and defeat. With God on our side, we can't loose.

Let's agree to pray for each other today.  

Let's ask for wisdom to make the right choices. Let's focus on the truth of God's Word that will breathe hope and joy into our circumstances.  Let's believe God's very best for our lives.

Are you with me?  Let's do it!

House Fire

I heard the most amazing story on K-Love radio station and wanted to share it with you today. 
It's a tragic story but includes an incredible life lessons about God's indestructible and eternal Word.  
 Click on my video below to hear the details.

When you've finished watching the video, I'd love for you to leave a comment sharing how this story impacted you and what you've gleaned from it.
 Only in God's eternal Word will we ever find lasting solutions to our struggles and needs.  Lets start claiming His truth over our circumstances today.

Merry Christmas Y'all

Can you believe that we only have two more weeks until Christmas!!

Where on earth has the time gone ~ or should I say, Where on earth has 2011 gone?

I hope that you're enjoying this time of year and not getting all stressed out with your Christmas to-do list. 

I have to admit that I'm quite stress-less. But, the reason why is because I haven't started Christmas shopping yet. YIKES!!  Nope, not even a single present has been bought and you think I'd been wigging out by now. Christmas shopping stresses me out so, I'm just avoiding it all together. That is until this weekend rolls around...

Actually, I've surveyed our boys and neither one of then have a clue as to what they'd like this year.  Translation: They have everything they could possible need or want. We are very blessed!

If you're looking for some last minute gifts, I'd love to tell you about a way to win some great gifts for FREE. The best part is YOU get to pick them out!!

My friend, Karen Ehman, is hosting the 12 Days of Christmas on her blog this month and today's special guest is my other P31 Pal, Whitney Capps.

Whitney is offering $30 worth of merchandise from our Proverbs 31 online store.

Click here to find out more and if you have a few minutes, check out Whitney's video. She talks about celebrating Christmas Adam.  Have you ever celebrated Christmas Adam> I haven't but I think it's a great idea. What do you think?

Merry Christmas Y'all,