Coming Home!

Going away is great....but sometimes coming home is even better. I spent the last 4 days in an amazing cabin at Big Bear Lake with 21 girlfriends. What a time we had!!

We slept in....ate well....shopped....went to the movies.....played Dance, Dance Revolution and just connected with each other on level that is always hard to do when you are involved in the 'hurry up and go' attitude our society seems to live in. I think the trip up the mountain, although exhausting, has refreshed spirits and we all will be better because of it.

Then we get to come home and that was completely amazing.....we met up at a park...where all the daddies and children had gathered to spend the morning together. These guys rock!
Can you imagine what people at the park were thinking when these 22 daddies and their lots of kids showed up...the daddies toting diaper bags, blankets, sand toys, ice chests....phenomenal! They all spent Friday evening, Saturday and now today together with all the kids. They totally bonded just like we did. Greg even remembered to put sunscreen on the kids and my house is totally clean!!

Living in community is a huge thing to us right now....being deeply connected with our friends and living a life of total involvement with each other....it's a good thing!

ScrapAddict Challenge #1

I'm on vacation but I got the wifi to work so I decided to check SA and found Annette's new challenge....I needed to update so here we go.....

favorite color: robin's egg blue
word I most liked to be described as: having integrity
best meal I cook: if you ask my kid's it's Mac & Cheese
favorite dessert: Mud Pie
favorite book: The Ragamuffin Gospel
favorite outfit: a skirt, t-shirt and flip flops
usually in bed by: 9:30
favorite sounds: laughter
I wish: an end would be put to human trafficking
What I crave: living in peace
Surround me with: things that smell good

It's Sunday.....

we woke up to rain today....weird because yesterday was gorgeous! in the high 70's......but the rain is good....my garden needs it.....it's always just a nice cleansing.

We still have no decision regarding my friend's son and the death penalty....11 days.....still waiting to hear after 11 days.....waiting sucks.....when you have a concrete decision it's so much easier.....the not knowing.....I hate that.

Greg's softball team lost the championship last night!
After about 7 years at the top of the league they did not get to bring home the first place t-shirts. It's kind of cool because this team is considered "the old guys"....they're only in their 30's and 40's but they always whopped up on the 20 year olds. So when a team actually beats them it is huge bragging rights. This season they added 4 young-uns to the roster....19, 20, 21 and 25 year old guys.....but that didn't do the trick. Summer season starts soon so I'm sure these guys will come out swinging. They're okay with letting another team have some bragging rights....but not for very long!

Then there's Kade's team....they also enter the playoff tournament as the team to beat. They are very, very good. They lead the league in runs scored and have the lowest total in runs allowed. It's been a tough season for my little guy though.....being the youngest and smallest has it's disadvantages. We keep telling him though, if they didn't think you were good enough to play up they wouldn't have drafted you. His batting average is about .500 which is great....but he still dwells on the strike-outs. They have this upcoming week off and I think that will be good for him. He and Greg can hit the batting cages and just play around for fun. I'm hoping that will help him out....bring some more joy back into the game for him.

Have a great day - and live in peace!

Momma Told Me There'd Be Days Like This

There'll be days like this my momma said!! Wowzers! That's my theme song today.

I have a dear friend who suffers from debilitating migraines.....the last two weeks have been very rough on her poor head so today Keira and I brought her son home after preschool with us to play. It was great! Kade was excited to find his little buddy here when he got home from school too!

I have another dear friend suffering from a yet to be determined autoimmunological disease that is just crippling her body. Really bad day for her today so I got her 2 little girls and brought them over too.

Then a neighbor and her 2 kids and their dog came over to have lunch with us all. It was chaos...but lovely chaos. Here's a little sample....

The neighbor had to leave to pick up another friend's kiddo from school so she took her son and Kade with her.

They weren't gone but about 2 minutes before I heard a slam and a scream. Rushed downstairs to find one of the oldest girls bringing in a hysterical Keira. I looked at her finger and totally froze....it was flattened in the middle and had absolutely no color....thinking about it now I feel so lame...I couldn't even decide what to do......finally grabbed an ice pack from the freezer.....called another neighbor to come over and sit with my kids....called my Dr. and told them I was on the way.

Of course I met every red light and slow driver that were to be found.....but we got there....dear dh was waiting for us....I had called him at some point and so had my really nice neighbor.....

After checking her out our Dr. decided it wasn't broken....just very badly smashed.....expect it too swell a lot.....expect it to turn black, blue and purple......expect it to hurt.

My poor baby....we got in the car to come home and she said "Mommy you need to tell the kids that I can't play anymore. I need to lay in my bed and sleep with ice." And that's where she is...snuggled in her bed with ice on her finger, napping, while 7 other kiddos are playing downstairs.

Enough drama for today! Bring on the weekend!!

In 6 Days

a decision is going to be made that is going to change and affect many lives. I am not making or looking for political commentary.....not trying to sway your opinion one way or another on this social issue.....simply looking for prayer and thoughts for all involved.

Almost a year and a half ago, a friend - one who had shared holiday tables and birthday celebrations - one whom my children love - one who had shared joy and sorrow - one who is loved my many - made a tragic, terrible and irrevocable decision. The outcome of this decision has left this friend eligible for the death penalty. On May 10, this case goes before a committee that will decide if the District Attorney will be allowed to seek the death penalty.

Never in my wildest imagination would I have thought someone I love would be capable of participating in something that would lead to this. "Things like that only happen on television" or "People like that only come from horrible families" or "I'm a good judge of character. I'd never be around someone like that." Guess what - all of those comments are crap! Things like this do happen and it could happen to anyone. We don't live in ivory towers where we're immune to depravity and the evil that Satan wrecks about our world. We are in the midst of it.

So, on May 10, and the days leading up to it....I ask that you would pray....that God's will would be done and His hand will be seen in this situation....for strength of soul for all involved....peace....compassion.....comfort.

Random Wednesday

My list -

I have dark circles under my eyes......

True friends have the capability of embracing honest, loving rebuke - not turning and running out the door.....

My kids take direction from their daddy much better from their mommy!

Keira's hair is getting curlier every day......

My husband.....well....he's great

National Scrapbook Day is coming!! I can't wait to play with paper...........

I'm France.....

I got this email from my dear husband.....pretty funny.....

GEOGRAPHY OF WOMEN
Between 18 and 22, a woman is like Africa, half discovered, half wild, naturally beautiful with fertile soil.
Between 23 and 30, a woman is like America, well developed and open to trade, especially for someone with cash.
Between 31 and 35, a woman is like India, very hot, relaxed and convinced of her own beauty.
Between 36 and 40, a woman is like France, gently aging but still warm and a desirable place to visit.
Between 41 and 50, a woman is like Great Britain, with a glorious and all conquering past.
Between 51 and 60, a woman is like Yugoslavia, lost the war and haunted by past mistakes.
Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Russia, very wide and borders are now unpatrolled.
After 70, she becomes Tibet. Wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past and the wisdom of the ages....only those with an adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge visit there.

There also was a part about what geographical location men are like, but it's pretty naughty, so I won't put it up here but if you're interested I can email you the whole thing.

Have a peace-filled day!