SISTERS...FRIENDS

 

They couldn't be more different, these 2.

 

She's 5. She's 1...They share shoes and clothes.

 

She takes pride in little things like heart shaped eucalyptus leaves.

 

 

...which she promptly crumbles up without remorse.

 

 

 What?!
 

Differences make the world go 'round...and these sisters such great friends.

"A friend loves at all times."
Proverbs 17:17

PRAYING FOR YOU

 

Could I have received a cooler gift?!

Thanks, Jacob...I love it!

 

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

James 5:16



BLOOMING WHERE WE'RE PLANTED

It's not new...this feeling of being caught in between. We've been off the beaten trail more than a few times.
 

(...found this on my phone today...Aida??)
 

We live in the city but are bucolic in our hearts. We make it work here, but have a taste for there.

And, we're perfectly content with accepting God's will for us now...it's just that we sense He has more.

 

 We figure it's all about timing and we love our current life and home, but we long for freedoms our immediate area doesn't offer.

We feel a bit fish-out-of-water...and have for a very long time. But, we embrace where we are today and very

intentionally and contentedly make the most of this time while it's here.

 

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."

Ecclesiastes 9:10

 

Yet, it seems the tides may be turning for us again soon. By soon, I probably mean within the next couple years, and years are lots of days piled one on top of the other. I'm not about waiting for my "real life to begin" over here, so in the mean time (especially as we transition after our adoption this fall) we're blooming where we're planted and have some exciting ideas in store.

 

. . . . . .

 

Here's the list (for now):

 

Be people of prayer.

 

Invest intentionally in each individual heart of each

family member in this home and the relationships within.

Invest in the body of Christ in our current local community.

 

Invest even more in the children's instruments, gifts, and musical talents.
 

Plant and learn through an edible garden and tend to our current fruit trees.

 

Build a bookshelf library.

(The kids have missed this designated area for our loved books

ever since we gave it up for our also loved loft project.)

 

Enjoy the area where we live now with stay-cation type activities.

Start using Azure Standard for bulk groceries.

Invest intentionally in each individual heart of each

family member in this home and the relationships within.

 

Be people of prayer.

 

. . . . . .

 

We realize that where we live is not eternal. In fact, it's quite temporal. And, how we live wherever we live matters infinitely more!
Of these things, we are certain. That said, we also realize that God does move us through seasons with purpose and we always want to remain open to His will as He leads. There is an inkling toward change and because we know that we are delighting ourselves in the Lord, we believe the desires of our hearts are in line with His for us for now. It's a heavenly home that we ultimately find ourselves longing for, but till then, here we are...and we're open! We only want His will.

 

"Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4

 

We're listening. Change is (still) brewing. We're waiting. We're patient. We know it's coming, but not when or where.

And, "IF the Lord wills, we will do this or that", but till then we'll be blooming where we're planted.

 

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'"
James 4:13-15

STAY-CATION

With our adoption around the corner (and 2 new children adjusting...been there before), we realize this is a good time to do some of the things that may be more difficult once our family grows again. We're usually the simple types, not big on lots of outings and events other than our usual, the beach. But, every now and then it's fun to get out of our "normal" and enjoy some new experiences.

 

So...since Brodie had the week off from work this past week, we decided to create a stay-cation
and be tourists in our own home town. We had the BEST time! And the kids did amazingly well!

 

We set up our living room with sleeping bags and left them out during the week while we were here.

(The kids thought half the fun was camping out somewhere different...we get it!)

 

 

 Then, we set about town exploring new places we'd never been before.

. . . . . .

 

First, was our trip to the Compassion International event, Change The Story.

It was INCREDIBLE! A highlight of the week!

 

Afterward, we went out to lunch at Ruby's Diner in Laguna Beach (something we've never done as a family of 10) as we celebrated Noble's birthday...BIG boy! It was such a special treat, Shirley Temples and all!!!

  

After lunch, we went for a walk around the Montage Resort across PCH,

taking in the BEAUTY of this place where we live!

 

 

 

 

When we got home that evening, the cousins came over for Noble's birthday dinner (our tradition)

to help us celebrate with a special ending to a special 1st day!!

 

. . . . . .

 

 The next morning, we ventured out to the California Surf Museum and Oceanside Pier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was fun and educational...one of our favorite combinations.

 

When we got home, the big kids hit the pool with Daddy! They do NOT run out of steam!

(And fortunately for them, they have a VERY good sport of a dad...'cause it was COLD!)

 

. . . . . .

 

On day 3, we went to the Orange County Zoo in Irvine Regional Park.

Our little ones got to ride the ponies, but poor Olia (who was the MOST eager of all the kids to ride a real pony for her first time!) was too tall for the only size ponies they had. :( The trotting ponies were only available on the weekend...poor sweetie!

She was crushed but handled it all so well! We are hoping to take her back sometime...we will see..

 

 

 

 

 

 

After we got home, Olia and I went on a Jesus Act Stick date she had been due for and it's definitely safe to say there was some serious redemption after the whole pony ride disappointment. Olia is "fancy" and she loves dress up...but she has never had her own real live fancy dress. So, I had an idea to take her to Burlington Coat Factory where they have froufrou dresses galore to let her try them on (a dream come true for her!!) and even let her buy one to bring home. She had a BALL!!! She was so cute and so sweet and felt SO amazingly special!! Plus, all the dresses were on clearance (none over $19!), I guess because they were leftover from Easter perhaps?? Anyway, it was a thrill for her and a thrill for me to see her feel so "fancy" and feminine...that's our Ols. :)

Once Olia and I returned home, the kids were all set for another (chilly!!) night swim with Daddy.
(He deserves a medal.)
They swam their hearts out while India and I made dinner at home...my little side kick.

Later that night, the kids got to have a movie night in their sleeping bags while Mom and Dad had a bonfire date night in the backyard full of great conversations and sweet time together in the midst of a much-busier-than-normal week.

All around...it was a great day!!!

. . . . . .
 

And last but not least, we finished the week out with a trip up to Lake Arrowhead to visit Oma and Funny G.

The girls picked wild flower bouquets and everyone enjoyed the open spaces.

 

Then we headed out to the lake.

 

 

 

 

(my hero)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had SO much FUN!

...AND...

On the way home from the mountains, we got the idea to stop by the ponies again (since it was the weekend) to see if the trotting ponies were available for Olia...and sure enough, they WERE! She was just a bit thrilled...

...and her big brother got to ride too!

What a great way to end our week with a bonus!

And, true to form, we didn't stop there. We literally just kept driving right past our house and up over yonder to explore a property listing in the boonies we'd heard about. Just exploring, but you never know! With all this adventure we just might be on the verge of a new adventure of our own, but more permanently. How long has that been brewing?? God knows the whole plan. We trust Him. We wait to see what time reveals, but for now, exploration is necessary and exciting as we continue to bloom where we're planted.

This was our first stay-cation, and I have to admit it's been SO fun...I'm sure it won't be our last!!

 

"Enjoy life."
Ecclesiastes 9:9